Writer's Routine

Dan Simpson
  • 5.0 (3)
  • BOOKS
  • EVERY TWO WEEKS
Writer's Routine

How do the best writers get to work? In every episode, we'll chat to an author about what they do through a day. Where do they work? What time do they start? How do they plan their time and maximise their creativity, in order to plot and publish a bestseller? Some are frantic night-owls, others roll out of bed into their desks, and a few lock themselves away in the woods - but none have a regular 9 to 5, and we'll find out how they've managed it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    Grady Hendrix, author of 'Witchcraft for Wayward Girls' - Horror writer discusses what readers actually want, making every word count, and why questions make horror scary

    On this week's episode of 'Writer's Routine', the show that takes a look inside an author's working day, we're chatting to horror writer, Grady Hendrix. Grady is the bestselling author of "The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires", "Horrorstör", and "My Best Friend’s Exorcism". He blends horror and humour with incredibly inventive plots and creative ways of creating terror. His new novel is 'Witchcraft for Wayward Girls'. It tells the story of a home for unwed expecting mothers, who can have their baby in secret whilst their family figures out what to do next, and how to forget the whole thing. Every moment of the girls' waking day is controlled by adults who "know what's best for them", that's until the girl Fern finds a book of the occult, all about witchcraft... suddenly the power is in the girls' hands. We discuss how it was partly inspired by his family history and why he sat on the idea for more than 4 years. You can hear what he thought about when he finally decided to write it, and how he managed to plot and plan such a character-heavy story. Grady reveals what he remembers to make horror fiction scary, who inspires him, and what a day in the life of his novel-writing looks like. Support the show - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine Get a copy of the book - https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine This episode is sponsored by Faber Academy's 'Writing a Novel' course. Find out more - https://faberacademy.com/writing-a-novel @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 8m

  2. 20/12/2024

    Cathy Hayward, author of 'The Secret of the Brighton House' - Multitasker discusses dual timelines, mining trauma, and the 5 AM Club

    This week, we're chatting to Cathy Hayward. Cathy is busy. She runs an award-winning PR agency, bought a bookshop in Brighton on a whim, runs a 5 AM writing club, and manages a creative writing programme. Amongst all that she's just re-released her debut novel, 'The Girl in the Midnight Maze', and has just published her new novel, 'The Secret of the Brighton House'. The novel is all about Jackie, who always thought her mother died in childbirth. However, when she's preparing for her own, much longed-for, child, she discovers a truth that will change everything. It explores trauma, history and psychosis, and you can hear how Cathy's own experience as a new mother inspired and influenced the story. We discuss why she writes in dual timeline, and how she plans her space round that. Also, when characters develop tics, the mechanics of a plot twist, and how to go again after a rejected book. Get a copy of the book at uk.bookshop.org/store/writersroutine This week's episode is sponsored by Faber Academy. Enroll in 2025's Writing a Novel course - faberacademy.com/writing-a-novel Support the show - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min

  3. 13/12/2024

    Daniel Sellers, author of 'Murder on Skye' - Crime writer discusses a through schedule, writing 3 books a year, and the change that FINALLY got him published

    Daniel Sellers is the bestselling author behind the 'Detective Lola Harris' series. Each involves a mysterious crime set across Scotland. The new one is 'Murder on Skye', which sees Lola track a potential murderous reality TV star out to the remote, windswept island. It starts as Lola discovers the body of a woman pulled from the river. Instantly, she knows it's Kathryn Main, who has been missing for a while, and was on the juror which convicted reality star Carter Craig of a double murder. When his conviction was overturned, people started disappearing... Kathryn is the latest body to be found. We discuss why readers have taken to Detective Lola Harris so well, and how he brings to life evocative locations around Scotland. You can hear why he has a tight schedule, how precise he is with word-count, and what he does to try and write THREE BOOKS A YEAR. It took Daniel many. years to finally get published, and you can hear what, after years of rejection, he changed to finally get signed. You can watch the episode fully visualised on the Writer's Routine YouTube channel. This week's episode is sponsored by Faber Academy's 'Writing a Novel' course. Find out more - faberacademy.com/writing-a-novel Support the show - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine Get a copy of the book - uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 5m

  4. 06/12/2024

    Nayantara Roy, author of 'The Magnificent Ruins' - TV Executive and writer discusses comfortable sanctuaries, learning from your debut, and being influenced by culture

    Nayantara Roy is a TV executive for the channel Starz over in Los Angeles, and now a published author. Her debut is 'The Magnificent Ruins'. It tells the story of Lila, on the verge of a massive career breakthrough, only to inherit her grandfather's home in Kolkata. She returns to face a resentful family and an unresolved childhood. We discuss learning from many sources and how she's grown from her debut. You can hear why with an office, she chooses to write in the sanctuary of the comfortable sofa, and how she remembers characters are thoughts and emotions, not just two-dimensional ideas. Get a copy of the book - https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine This show is sponsored by Faber Academy's 'Writing a Novel' course. Find out more about their January submissions - faberacademy.com/writing-a-novel Support the show - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine writerspod.com @writerspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min

  5. 29/11/2024

    Niall Williams, author of 'Time of the Child' - Star of Irish Literature discusses what makes a good day, the perfect opening sentence, and why he keeps writing

    This week, we're looking inside the writing routine of Niall Williams. He is an acclaimed Irish author whose evocative storytelling has captivated readers and audiences around the world. He loves to capture a sense of place Born in Dublin in 1958, his writing is rooted in the rich cultural and literary traditions of Ireland. Niall studied English and French at University College Dublin before moving to New York City, where he worked in publishing and honed his craft. He moved back home to 'see if he had any talent'. In addition to his fiction, Williams is a playwright and co-author of four non-fiction books on healing, written with his wife, Christine Breen. Together, they live in Kiltumper, County Clare, where they restored a 19th-century cottage and continue to draw inspiration from the natural world around them. Their love of gardening inspires his fiction... we find out how much, and what the balance between the two is. Best known for novels like 'This is Happiness' and 'Four Letters of Live', Williams’s work often explores themes of love, loss, resilience, and the profound connections between people and place. Niall's writing has been shortlisted for prestigious awards, including the Man Booker Prize, and his works have been translated into numerous languages. His newest novel is 'Time of the Child' - here's the blurb: Doctor Jack Troy was born and raised in the village of Faha, but his responsibilities for the sick and dying mean he has always been set apart from his community. A visit from the doctor is always a sign of bad things to come. His eldest daughter, Ronnie, has grown up in her father’s shadow, and remains there. But in the advent season of 1962, as the town readies itself for Christmas, Ronnie and Doctor Troy’s lives are turned upside down when an abandoned baby is left in their car. As Christmas approaches, a deep and abiding love for this secret visitor takes root in the doctor’s household. But it is Ireland in the 1960s, and under the eye of the church, and the gossip of the parish, what chance does the unmarried Ronnie have of holding on to this most unexpected gift? We discuss how a busy home-life through the years has dictated how his writing routine has evolved. Also his search for the perfecf first sentence, and why he keeps returning to write 11 novels later... what is he searching for? Support the show at patreon.com/writersroutine and ko-fi.com/writersroutine Get a copy of the book at uk.bookshop.com/shop/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min

  6. 22/11/2024

    Steven Veerapen, author of the 'Anthony Blanke' series - Historical fiction author and academic discusses morbid curiosity, sparse writing environments, and Tudor love

    This week, we chat to the historical fiction author and academic, Steven Veerapen. He's best known for his Anthony Blanke series, set in the Tudor period, about the son of a black trumpeter, John Blanke, who was a real figure in the court of King Henry VIII. There's 'Of Blood Descended' and 'Of Judgement Fallen', which are out in print and just released as audiobooks. He's also written 3 in the 'Simon Danforth' series, and a few about the playwright Christopher Marlowe as a spy. We talk about the balance of writing academia and finding time for novels. Also about the morbid curiosity which gives him ideas, and why we all love the Tudors. You can hear about his sparse writing environment, how he plans a busy year, and what Tudor fiction needs to have in it. Get a copy of the book at uk.bookshop.com/shop/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min

  7. 08/11/2024

    Alex Pavesi, author of 'Ink Ribbon Red' - Thriller writer discusses why his characters will do what he wants, the routine that finally got him published, and murder mysteries

    Alex Pavesi spent a long time writing many debut novels. He would write a few thousands words, get struck by a brilliant new idea, get bored, stop writing and the cycle would continue. Finally, he landed upon a way of storytelling that allowed him to write a finished book. That became 'Eight Detectives', which was a Sunday Times Crime Book of the Year and a smash-hit. He's followed it up with 'Ink Ribbon Red'. It tells the story of a group of old friends who meet for an annual birthday weekend away, deep in the English countryside. One of them suggests a parlour game in which they write murder mystery stories about each other... what happens when murders really start happening. Will you be able to tell the real murder, from the ones they're writing? It's a brilliant way of telling stories within stories, and twisting the murder mystery genre even further. We discuss how he landed on a writing routine that helped him finally get published, also how the success of the first novel changed what his second had to be, and why he's obsessed with pen and paper. You can hear about accidentally becoming a full-time writer, about the balance of plot and character, and why he doesn't agree with a classic piece of writing advice. If you'd like a copy of 'Ink Ribbon Red', please do take a look at our dedicated Writer's Routine bookstore at - uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine You can get a writing tip everyday through NaNoWriMo on our TikTok and Instagram page. Support the show! Pledge - patreon.com/writersroutine Tip - ko-fi.com/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    59 min

  8. 01/11/2024

    Sarah Easter Collins, author of 'Things Don't Break on their Own' - Author and painter discusses showing and not telling, poetry focusing prose, and bringing themes together

    Sarah Easter Collins is an all-round creative. Alongside being a painter, she's just published her debut, 'Things Don't Break on their Own'. It tells the story of Willa, whose life shattered into tiny pieces when her sister disappeared on the way to school, and she has never been able to put them back together again. Willa sees Laika everywhere: on buses, at parties, in busy streets. It’s been twenty-five years, and the only thing that has kept her going is her belief that her sister is alive, somewhere. But when a dinner party conversation about childhood memories spirals out of control, a shattering revelation from one of the guests forces Willa to rethink everything she thought she knew about her past. It was inspired by many things - travelling around Africa and Thailand, teaching in the South West of England, the first dog in space, and also an obnoxious dinner party guest. We discuss bringing those themes together, also the art of showing without telling, and how her painting inspires her writing... and vice versa. You can hear how she knew the beats of a genreless novel, why she wakes up shockingly early, and how poetry helps her focus on prose. Get a copy of the book - uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine Support the show: patreon.com/writersroutine https://ko-fi.com/writersroutine writersroutine.com @writerspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

How do the best writers get to work? In every episode, we'll chat to an author about what they do through a day. Where do they work? What time do they start? How do they plan their time and maximise their creativity, in order to plot and publish a bestseller? Some are frantic night-owls, others roll out of bed into their desks, and a few lock themselves away in the woods - but none have a regular 9 to 5, and we'll find out how they've managed it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Dan Simpson
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    338
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dan Simpson
  • Show Website
    Writer's Routine

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