Writer's Routine

Dan Simpson
Podcast de 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. 12 SEPT

    Catherine Gray, author of 'Versions of a Girl' - Award-winning journalist talks switching to fiction, giving characters flexibility, and why taking a break from alcohol boosts creativity

    Catherine Gray is an award-winning journalist who has written for The Guardian, Stylist, The Telegraph, Grazia, and many more. She's published 4 non-fiction books, which have sold over a million copies and been translated into 9 languages. She's best known for her book, 'The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober', which takes you through the benefits of going alcohol-free, and how it can positively impact your creativity. Her debut novel is 'Versions of a Girl'. It's a classic sliding doors story, which tells the tale of Fern, whose mother is a former ballet dancer and formidable social climber, while her father is a layabout who lives hand to mouth in Californian motels. When Fern is 14 she needs to chose who she is living with... and we follow both of those narratives. It's the ultimate nature v nurture questions - do we become who we are because of our parents, or in spite of them? We talk about avoiding stereotypes when writing characters, also why working as a journalist has helped her write on cue, and why it's vital to be critical of your own work. This week's episode is sponsored by Faber Academy's 'Writing a Novel' course. Submissions for their October 24 programme finish on the 15th and 16th September. Be quick, and find out more at faberacademy.com/writing-a-novel Support the show at patreon.com/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min
  2. 29 AGO

    Santa Montefiore, author of 'The Deverill Chronicles' - World-renowned bestseller discusses finally finding success at home, getting it written before getting it right, and why she needs spirituality

    This week, we're joined by Santa Montefiore. A bestselling author, published across the world, who has sold millions of copies of her 31 novels. She's known for her richly drawn characters, intricate plots, and a deep sense of place, often set in the countrysides of England, Ireland, and Argentina. Her books, including The Deverill Chronicles series and The Beekeeper’s Daughter, have been translated into more than 25 languages, captivating audiences worldwide. Beyond her novels, Santa is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and spirituality and often explores themes of love, loss, and redemption in her work. Her newest novel is 'Shadows in the Moonlight', which tells the story of time-shifter Pixie Tate, who needs to solve a mystery in the past, using her unique gifts. We discuss why her writing space is determined by her dog, also why a change of publisher finally landed her success in the UK, and why she's a pretty committed panster. You can hear hear why Santa's biggest problem is getting to her desk, also how she felt with immense European success, but not much at home, and what happens if your characters don't take you down the right path. This episode is sponsored by Faber Academy. Their flagship, 'Writing a Novel' course is taking admissions for their new 6 month programme. Find out more at https://faberacademy.com/writing-a-novel/ If you enjoyed the episode, please do watch a new visualised version on our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@writersroutine Support the show at patreon.com/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min
  3. 15 AGO

    Catherine Steadman, author of 'Look in the Mirror' - Actor turned bestselling thriller writer discusses career pivots, character nuances, and why word count doesn't matter

    Catherine Steadman had a very successful acting career, starring in 'Downton Abbey', 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen', 'Fearless' and many more. In her early 30s, she started to think about how her future as an actor might pan out. It's been well documented that roles for older women are depressingly stark, and often frustratingly uninspired. Giving that some thought, Catherine decide to switch things around, and trusting that her story-telling and improvisational abilities learned from acting would transfer well, started writing fiction. Her debut was 'Something in the Water', it became a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick, which launched her to success. She's a New York Times Bestseller, has sold millions of copies and been published around the world. Her newest novel is 'Look in the Mirror', which looks at the lives of Nina and Maria, and how their lives become entangled with a huge house in the British Virgin Islands. It's a mysterious thriller which Catherine was keen to keep speculative, and not let it creep into being gritty or grimy. Catherine talks about how acting has helped her writing, why she feels able to understand the nuances of characters well, also why novelty is key to her day, and how she keeps grounded after sudden success. You can support the show at patreon.com/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min
  4. 8 AGO

    Milly Johnson, author of 'The Happiest Ever After' - Bestselling Romance Writer discusses keeping the concentration up, why greeting cards help novels, and how to keep the plates spinning

    Milly Johnson is one of the top 10 Female Fiction authors in the UK, with over 3 million sales in the country alone, and many more across the world as she's been published in more than 20 different countries. She's been honoured with the Romantic Novelists' Association's Outstanding Achievement Award, and has just published her 21st novel in 20 years. It took her a long time to finally get published, and we discuss her desperate quest to become a novellist, and how it, at last, happened. Also, you can hear how she spent her time before in an incredibly unique job, and how it hugely helped her aspirations to write novels. Her newest novel is 'The Happiest Ever After', which tells the story of Polly Potter... someone taken for granted by everyone in her life. The only place where things are working is in her evening classes learning to write a novel - there she has created Sabrina Anderson, someone who has their life together. Yet, when Polly suddenly finds herself in a seaside hospital, with no recollection of why she is there... she finds her identity changing. She starts to believe she is not Polly, but Sabrina… her fictional character. It’s a novel about whether she can move on and get the life she's always dreamed of... or will the past catch up with her? You can hear about how Milly keeps herself concentrating, whilst being surrounded by the best things. Also, why she still feels like everything might slip away tomorrow. We talk about the pressure of the 2nd and 3rd books, after finally securing a publishing contract, and why you have to be good at switching train tracks through the year. Support the show at patreon.com/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min

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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.

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