202 episodes

How Writers Write is a podcast for creative writers to learn how their favorite writers tell their stories. The podcast's host, Brian Murphy, interviews world-class writers to decode their tips, routines, and motivations for producing best-sellers.

How Writers Write by HappyWriter Hosted by Brian Murphy

    • Arts
    • 4.9 • 165 Ratings

How Writers Write is a podcast for creative writers to learn how their favorite writers tell their stories. The podcast's host, Brian Murphy, interviews world-class writers to decode their tips, routines, and motivations for producing best-sellers.

    Episode 124 - How Matthew Quick Writes

    Episode 124 - How Matthew Quick Writes

    Welcome to the Episode 124 How Matthew Quick Writes 
    Matthew Quick is the New York Times bestselling author of The Silver Linings Playbook—which was made into an Oscar-winning film—and eight other novels. His work has been translated into more than thirty languages, received a PEN/Hemingway Award Honorable Mention, was an LA Times Book Prize finalist, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, and many more awards & accolades. 
    Matthew lives with his wife, the novelist Alicia Bessette, on North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
    Matthew's upcoming novel, "We are the Light," will be released in the US on November 1, 2022. 
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    • 49 min
    Episode 123 - How Deanna Raybourn Writes

    Episode 123 - How Deanna Raybourn Writes

    Welcome to Episode 123 - How Deanna Raybourn Writes
    Deanna Raybourn is a 6th-generation native Texan. 
    Her novels have been nominated for numerous awards including two RT Reviewers’ Choice awards, the Agatha, and most recently the 2019 Edgar Award for Best Novel. She launched a new Victorian mystery series with the 2015 release of A CURIOUS BEGINNING, featuring intrepid butterfly-hunter and amateur sleuth, Veronica Speedwell. Veronica has returned in several more adventures, most recently AN IMPOSSIBLE IMPOSTOR, book seven, which released in early 2022. 
    Deanna's first contemporary novel, KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE, about four female assassins on the cusp of retirement was published on September 22nd, 2022.
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    • 48 min
    Episode 122 - How Mur Lafferty Writes

    Episode 122 - How Mur Lafferty Writes

    Welcome to Episode 122 - How Mur Lafferty Writes

    Mur is a podcaster and writer from Durham, NC. She made her name with podcasting (I Should Be Writing, The Angry Robot Podcast, and Escape Pod, the premier SF podcast magazine) and has written for magazines, roleplaying games, and audio and video podcasts.
    In 2018 Mur was a Hugo, Nebula, Philip K. Dick, Manly Wade Wellman Best Novel nominee for Six Wakes.
    Her latest novel, Station Eternity (The Midsolar Murders Book 1), was published on October 4, 2022.

    Here is the episode Mur Lafferty 
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    • 43 min
    Episode 121 - How Alexandra Rowland Writes

    Episode 121 - How Alexandra Rowland Writes

    Welcome to Episode 121 How Alexandra Rowland Writes

    Alexandra is the author of several fantasy books, including A Conspiracy Of Truths, A Choir Of Lies, and Some by Virtue Fall, as well as a cohost of the Hugo Award-nominated podcast, Be the Serpent.
    Alexandra holds a degree in world literature, mythology, and folklore from Truman State University. 
    Here is the episode with Alexandra Rowland
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    • 52 min
    Episode 120 - How Alexis Henderson Writes

    Episode 120 - How Alexis Henderson Writes

    Welcome to Episode 120 - How Alexis Henderson Writes

    Alexis is a speculative fiction writer with a penchant for dark fantasy, witchcraft, and cosmic horror. She grew up in one of America’s most haunted cities, Savannah, Georgia, which instilled in her a life-long love of ghost stories. 

    And now here's episode 120 with Alexis Henderson
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    • 38 min
    Episode 119 - How Jamie Ford Writes

    Episode 119 - How Jamie Ford Writes

    Welcome to Episode 119 - How Jamie Ford Writes
    In this episode, Jamie and I dive into my current favorite topic - writing and reading dystopia. Jamie and I ponder what pulls us into dystopia, and whether or not our generations are more drawn to the genre. We also chop up themes, and how a writer can get to know themselves. We cover a ton of ground in this one.
    I want to take a quick minute to say thank you to Jamie for the interview. I had a blast.
    And now, here is episode 119 with Jamie Ford.
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    • 50 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
165 Ratings

165 Ratings

Lucy&Lucky ,

I’m honestly a little concerned…

I just finished my 3rd episode and I am officially convinced the creators and host of this podcast have infiltrated my brain, read my mind, and made this podcast specifically for me. Super creepy.

In all seriousness… I think I may have just realized nothing is wrong with me.

Mark Huntley Parsons ,

Wonderful and helpful…

This is a wonderful podcast. If nothing else, it will give all aspiring writers the idea that there is no one specific way toward success. Every writer has their own path and they all seem to be different, with the only common factor being extreme persistence. Brian has a knack for getting at the heart of how each of his guests crafts their stories, and presents it all in an honest, heartfelt way.

Becki Svare ,

Love this podcast

I’ve enjoyed every episode I’ve listened to!

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