The Writing Life

Happy New Year! We begin 2021 with a conversation with Desmond Elliott Prize shortlisted Abi Daré, whose debut The Girl With The Louding Voice caught everyone's attention last year. Abi talks about her approach to world building and how she used the narrative voice in the book to explore its setting. Asking the questions is novelist Sarah Bower. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna, who start the episode by celebrating that it's not 2020 anymore. If you like this episode don't forget to subscribe! Get more free resources on world building: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/5-world-building/ Find out about our Early Career Awards, including the Desmond Elliott Prize: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/early-career-awards/ Check out our online courses: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/creative-writing-online/ More on what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Made possible with support from Arts Council England. Music by Bennet Maples.

We're joined on the pod by Dutch writer Thomas Heerma van Voss, who is talking about his new chapbook, Thank You For Being With Us. We're also very pleased to have editor, writer and lecturer Andrew McDonnell asking the questions. They discuss the translation of Thomas' work, how lockdown has affected his writing in 2020 and how he crafted his short stories. Thomas' residency was made possible by support from the Dutch Foundation for Literature and New Dutch Writing. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Find out more at https://nationalcentrefowriting.org.uk More info on our residency programmes: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/residencies/ Music by Bennet Maples.

We talk to producer Tamsin Flower about Black Writers on Democracy, a project conceived following the Black Lives Matters protests in 2020. Funded rapidly via crowdfunding, a commissioning call was sent out to find writers from around the world to address the theme. The five written pieces have now been published and on the podcast today we talk to Olu Alakija, Nike Igbaroola, Chinua Ezenwa-Ohaeto and Tamsin about how it was put together. Read and watch the pieces on the StreamLyric website: https://streamlyric.co.uk/digital/ Our previous episode talking to Tamsin in 2018: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/the-importance-of-arts-funding/ Hosted by Simon Jones. Find out more about we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Join our free Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Music by Bennet Maples & library sources.

Award-winning poet Will Harris, creator of RENDANG (Felix Dennis Prize for Best First Collection and a Guardian best poetry book of 2020), is our guest this week. Will discusses how he perceives his writing career and explores form and feeling with Flo Reynolds. Meanwhile Simon and Steph talk about our fundraising campaign for the Escalator talent development scheme, our lovely 'All Shall Be Well' prints to cheer everyone up in this tail end of 2020 and whether it's OK to have your Christmas tree up already. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Find out more at https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Donate to the Escalator campaign: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/escalator-donations-2020/ Get your 'All Shall Be Well' print: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/buy-a-julian-of-norwich-screen-print/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Think you know everything there is to know about Charles Dickens? Professor John Mullan is back with his new book The Artful Dickens to show us Dickens and his work in a completely new light, exploring the famous author's often overlooked experimental and ground-breaking techniques. John came on the show to talk everything Dickens, from the original serialisation of his novels (which gets Simon very excited) to his surviving manuscripts and why he was often dismissed in his time. Whether you're a fan of Dickens or not, this episode (and John's book!) will make you think again about one of Britain's best-loved authors. And, yes, we do discuss Muppet's Christmas Carol. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Find out more about our Creative Writing Courses: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/creative-writing-online/ More info on why we're asking for donations to Escalator: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/escalator-donations-2020/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Stuart Turton discusses the research, editing and planning process behind The Devil and the Dark Water, as well as his route into publishing his first novel, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. Stuart's talking to Vicki Maitland and their conversation is packed full of practical tips, fascinating insights and historical stories you will feel compelled to immediately Google. Meanwhile, Simon talks to Peggy Hughes about Open Doors, the new fund of exciting commissions from the National Centre for Writing. Hosted by Simon Jones. Join our free Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Full details about the Open Doors commissions: http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/open-doors/ And to save you the need to manually search, a link to the astonishing true story of the Batavia shipwreck: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batavia_(1628_ship) Check out what we do: http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Debut author Sally-Anne Lomas shares her route to being published, which resulted in Gatehouse Press picking up her book Live like Your Head’s on Fire. Sally-Anne talks about her experiences on our Escalator talent development scheme and the process of reaching publication. We're also joined by Sam Ruddock of Gatehouse who talks about assessing manuscripts and why small presses are essential to the literary ecology and early career writers. Asking the questions is Sarah Bower. For more information on the Escalator talent development scheme: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/escalator/ Can you donate to Escalator? http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/escalator-donations-2020/ Listen to Michael Donkor on the pod: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/creating-characters-with-michael-donkor/ Join our Discord community! https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Sign up to our newsletter: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Hosted by Simon Jones and Vicki 'Rock DJ' Maitland. Music by Bennet Maples.

Lockdown didn't stop us from putting on the Noirwich Crime Writing Festival this year in partnership with our friends at the University of East Anglia. One of the many highlights was this conversation between Oyinkan Braithwaite and Femi Kayode, discussing Oyinkan's My Sister, The Serial Killer. If you missed it during the festival, now's your chance to listen on the pod! Meanwhile, Steph and Simon are joined by Flo to introduce the latest NCW Book Club book: Our Place by Mark Cocker. Find out more here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/the-ncw-book-club/ You can watch the video version of Oyinkan's event here: https://youtu.be/aQx3AcmpW6Q Catch up on Noirwich 2020 here: https://noirwich.co.uk/ Find out more about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Music by Bennet Maples. Oyinkan photo by Amaal Said.

We spoke to Richard Lambert on the podcast in October 2019 about his debut novel The Wolf Road, which was to be published in early 2020. It never came out: instead, Covid-19 triggered global lockdowns, which forced bookshops and libraries to close, distributors shut down and Richard's dream of publication became another casualty of 2020. Fast forward to October 2020 and not only is Richard back on the pod to talk about the challenges and difficulties of the year, but The Wolf Road has, at last, been released into the wild. We talk about why the book had to be delayed, what Richard's publisher did about it and how he coped with the turbulent year. You can listen to the 2019 podcast with Richard here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/preparing-for-publication/ Hosted by Steph McKenna and Simon Jones. Find out more about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Information on the Escalator Talent Development programme: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/escalator/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Kate Summerscale, the award-winning author of The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, joins the pod to talk to Chris about her new book, The Haunting of Alma Fielding: A True Ghost Story. They discuss the origins of the book, Kate's approach to research and how she had to track down the facts, and how the book sets poltergeists and the increased interest in the supernatural in the 1930s with the rise of Hitler and looming war. Hosted by Steph McKenna and Simon Jones. Find out more about what we do: http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Join the Book Club: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/the-ncw-book-club/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Emma Shercliff of Laxfield Literary Associates talks to us about being an agent outside of London and her efforts to better represent both regional writers and authors from Africa and the Middle East. Following a globe-trotting career with Macmillan, Hodder and Cassava Republic Press, encountering the Common People report prompted Emma to set up Laxfield Literary Associates with the aim of making agenting more transparent and representative of the population. We discuss the challenges of representation, the lack of childcare support for writers, how and when to contact an agent and lots more - including the two prizes being run by Laxfield Literary Associates which you can find out about on their website: https://laxfieldliterary.com/ Hosted by Simon Jones & Steph McKenna. Find out more about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Check out our workshops and Agent Insights sessions: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/courses/ Join our (free!) Discord community and say hi: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Music by Bennet Maples.

Want to be a more organised writer? On the pod this week we have Antony Johnston, prolific and bestselling creator of comics, novels, podcasts and more. He created the graphic novel that was turned into the movie Atomic Blonde, has worked extensively on his own comics as well as Marvel books, video games including Dead Space and Shadow of Mordor and numerous crime thrillers. His latest book is The Organised Writer, a manual for professional writers based on Antony's own experiences and techniques. If you've struggled to stick to deadlines and carve out time for your writing, Antony is someone you need to pay attention to. The Organised Writer is published by Bloomsbury and is available from all good bookshops! Meanwhile Vicki jumps on the pod to discuss the challenges of our school work in Covid-19 times and our continuing efforts to keep delivering workshops to young people. Hosted by Simon Jones and Vicki Maitland. Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW FREE course: Supercharge your productivity: https://courses.nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/p/supercharge-your-productivity How to write more and stay happy: https://courses.nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/p/how-to-write-more Find out more about what we do: http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Check out Antony's website: https://antonyjohnston.com/ Watch Antony's film debut Crossover Point: https://bit.ly/crossoverpoint Music by Bennet Maples.

Multi-award-winning comics writer Kieron Gillen joins us on the pod today to discuss his methods for world building. Kieron is perhaps best known for The Wicked + The Divine, the hugely ambitious collaboration with artist Jamie McKelvie which presents a pantheon of gods who happen to also be pop stars, as well as UBER, Phonogram, DIE, Once & Future and Ludocrats. Beyond his own books he's also worked extensively with Marvel on X-Men, Thor, Iron Man and with LucasFilm on Darth Vader and Star Wars books. In the interview we explore the different challenges and opportunities of writing for established franchises compared to your own work, and how he approaches research and making things feel 'real' in fantasy stories. We spoke to Kieron just as he had been revealed as the writer on The Eternals, the return of a long-running series from Marvel. This episode is part of our Early Career Writers' Resource Pack on World Building, which also features insight and tips from Abi Daré, Farhana Shaikh and Ian Nettleton. These packs are made possible by support from Arts Council England. See the rest of the pack here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/5-world-building/ Hosted by Stephanie McKenna and Simon Jones, who is barely able to contain his excitement. More info on the Desmond Elliot Prize: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/desmond-elliott-prize/ Find out about what we do: http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Kieron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kierongillen Music by Bennet Maples.

It's a very special episode this week award-winning US author and screenwriter Attica Locke joins us to deliver the annual Noirwich Lecture, in which she explores the ways that crime writing can challenge the distribution of power and authority at a structural and individual level, addressing how power, property and privilege intersect. Attica’s most recent novel, Heaven, My Home, is an expertly-crafted thriller mystery, but also a sharp examination of ‘Trump-era’ America and issues of race, power, prejudice and white supremacy which still exist today. Her recent work as a television writer and producer includes When They See Us (Netflix); a portrayal of the 1990 wrongful conviction of five teenage boys from Harlem for a brutal attack in Central Park; and Little Fires Everywhere (Amazon Prime). You can watch the live Q&A that followed Attica's lecture over on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/bA2R3FRTBR8 Meanwhile, Steph and Simon talk about free resources to help you keep writing through the latest Covid-19 lockdown rules and regs, what they're currently reading and the upcoming 'World Building' resource pack! Noirwich is a co-production from the National Centre for Writing and the University of East Anglia. Find out more here: http://noirwich.co.uk/ Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Sign up to our newsletter and find out more about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Lewis Buxton on poetry in lockdown: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/poetry-in-lockdown-with-lewis-buxton/ Jenny Offill and Joe Dunthorne about catastrophising: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/jenny-offill-talks-to-joe-dunthorne/ Mark Stay on finding your new normal: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/finding-your-new-normal/ Ben Johncock's free productivity course: https://courses.nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/p/supercharge-your-productivity End music by Bennet Maples. Intro music from YouTube audio library. Portrait by Jenny Walters.

RENDANG by Will Harris has been revealed as our new Book Club book! Flo Reynolds returns to the pod to introduce the book and why it's been selected for the book club. They also give some great tips for beginners on how to read poetry, so if you're more used to fiction and non-fiction don't feel like you need to sit this one out. We'll be doing live Zoom sessions to discuss the book in October and you can jump into the book club area on our Discord community right away by clicking here: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW If you missed our previous Book Club book, Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke, you can still catch up on the website where you'll find links to Flo's additional resources: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/book-club-bluebird-bluebird-by-attica-locke/ You can also rewind and catch up on all the Noirwich 2020 events over on the website: http://noirwich.co.uk/ Hosted by Steph McKenna and Simon Jones. Music by Bennet Maples.

Is Hercule Poirot the world's greatest detective? Dr Mark Aldridge certainly think so, as he explores in his latest book Poirot: The Greatest Detective In The World. Mark is joined on the podcast for the Noirwich 2020 finale by crime writer Sophie Hannah, author of the Poirot continuation novels including the new The Killings at Kingfisher Hill. Their conversation takes in everything a Poirot fan could want, from discussing his best - and most unusual - cases, and why Agatha Christie's detective continues to be popular a century after his introduction. If you missed any of the Noirwich Crime Writing Festival 2020, or want to rewatch or relisten, do head over to http://noirwich.co.uk/ where you can find links to all of this year's amazing free events. Hosted by Steph McKenna and Simon Jones. Event chaired by NCW Chief Exec Chris Gribble. Music by Bennet Maples.

The Noirwich Crime Writing Festival continues with Anita Terpstra joining us on the pod from Leeuwarden in the Netherlands to discuss her crime writing. Talking with Flo Reynolds, Anita reveals her path to becoming published and how keeping the faith and continuing to write are essential. It's an inspiring and positive conversation. Check out yesterday's pod with Paddy Richardson if you missed it and keep an eye on your podcast feed for our Hercule Poirot special this Sunday, featuring Sophie Hannah and Dr Mark Aldridge. Noirwich 2020 is packed full of amazing live videos, including appearances from Attica Locke, Oyinkan Braithwaite and Olivier Norek. Full details at over at https://noirwich.co.uk. You can find the short stories by Anita over on the Noirwich blog: https://noirwich.co.uk/news/ Hosted by Steph McKenna and Simon Jones. Join our Discord community and ask us questions: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Photo by Harry Cock. Music by Bennet Maples.

Noirwich 2020 has begun! Our crime writing festival is online this year, which means all the author events can be accessed for free here on the podcast and over on our YouTube channel. We kick off with an interview with Paddy Richardson, one of our 'virtual' writers in residence. Paddy is talking from Dunedin in New Zealand to our programme director Peggy Hughes. Paddy Richardson is the author of two collections of short stories and seven novels. Traces of Red and Cross Fingers were long-listed for the Ngaio Marsh Crime Fiction Award and Hunting Blind and Swimming in the Dark were shortlisted. Through the Lonesome Dark was shortlisted for the New Zealand Historical Novel Award and longlisted for The Dublin International Literature Award. Paddy has been awarded Creative New Zealand Awards, the University of Otago Burns Fellowship, the Beatson Fellowship and the James Wallace Arts Trust Residency Award. She has been a guest at many writing festivals and was one of the New Zealand writer representatives at both the Leipzig and Frankfurt Book Fairs in 2012 when New Zealand was the guest of honour. In 2019, she was awarded the Randell Cottage residency in Wellington where she spent six months writing and researching her latest novel to be published in 2021. Read an extract from Swimming in the Dark: https://noirwich.co.uk/swimming-in-the-dark/ Read A Soft Flowing Veil of Grey, an exclusive reflection from Paddy: https://noirwich.co.uk/a-soft-flowing-veil-of-grey/ Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Join our Discord writer and reader community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW View the complete Noirwich programme: http://noirwich.co.uk/ Find out about everything we do and sign up to our newsletter: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Poet Flo Reynolds joins us on the pod to share their tips on getting published as a poet. This episode is packed full of practical advice, including what NOT to do, guiding you along the process of building your writer CV through zines and competitions towards being ready for larger pamphlets, chapbooks and collections. Flo has been writing for over ten years and is also an essayist and editor. Their debut pamphlet, the other body, is forthcoming from Guillemot Press in 2021. Recent poems have appeared in The White Review, Stand, The Interpreter’s House, amberflora, Magma, Datableed and more. When they're not writing, Flo is a literature programmer who works here at the National Centre for Writing. You can usually find them on our Discord community, where Flo runs the NCW Book Club and the Drop-in Writing Sessions. If you've been to any of our workshops or festivals over the years, there's a good chance you'll have benefited from their programming skills! Check out Flo's what-to-do checklist on the blog here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/how-to-get-your-poetry-published/ You can join our Discord community to ask follow-up questions here: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Flo's website: http://floreynolds.com/ Noirwich Crime Writing Festival: http://noirwich.co.uk/ Drop-in Writing Sessions: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/drop-in-writing-time-0920/ Join the Book Club: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/book-club-bluebird-bluebird-by-attica-locke/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Okechukwu Nzelu joins us on the pod to talk about his debut The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney, writing in lockdown and balancing life as a full-time teacher and author. Okey was shortlisted for the Desmond Elliot Prize and Polari First Book Prize and won a 2020 Betty Trask Award. Turns out that award-winning debut author + experienced English teacher = a brilliant podcast full of tips and insight. Hosted by Steph McKenna and Simon Jones. Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW All about our work: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Get Noirwich workshop tickets: http://noirwich.co.uk/ Photo of Okechukwu Nzelu (c) Martin Glacken Music by Bennet Maples.

We're joined on the pod by Eliza Clark, the debut author of Boy Parts. Eliza talks to Steph about being published in her mid-20s, the inevitable comparisons with other authors and the series of unlikely events that led to publication. She also discusses how writing fan fiction in her teens helped hone her craft before embarking on her first book, as well as how Covid-19 has affected the book's launch. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Early Career Writers' Resource Packs: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/free-resources/ Noirwich Crime Writing Festival: https://noirwich.co.uk/ Produced by the National Centre for Writing https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Image by Richard-Kenworthy Music by Bennet Maples

Our CEO Chris Gribble joins us on the pod to discuss Arts Council England's new National Lottery Funding Grants. Available now to artists they offer much-needed support and relief during Covid-19. Applications are open, and Chris is on the show to provide starter tips and an introduction to the grants system: plus why arts funding is critical, especially at times like this. It was very hot when recording this episode, so we're going to blame the heat for the slightly glitchy audio quality on Chris' end. Heat rises, so we can only assume that it stole away some of the soundwaves before they reached the mic. Apologies! Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Find out more about the ACE grants: https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/projectgrants Here's what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Long overdue, we finally have this wonderful recording from the BCLT Summer School 2019, featuring Swiss-Albanian writer Elvira Dones, her translator Clarissa Botsford and publisher Stefan Tobler. Chaired by Rosie Goldsmith, it's a wide-ranging discussion taking in themes of identity, linguistics, translation processes and the creation of Elvira's book Sworn Virgin. This event took place in partnership with the British Centre for Literary Translation, with support from Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia. Meanwhile, Simon and Steph talk about lots of exciting NCW things, from the Book Club and drop-in Writing Sessions to the new Creative Writing Online courses and the exciting announcement of NOIRWICH 2020. Some useful links: Join the National Centre for Writing's Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Check out the full Noirwich 2020 programme: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW More info on all of our work to support writers: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Music by Bennet Maples.

Get a taste of what we do and meet hosts Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. We're a weekly podcast for anyone who writes - find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and all good podcast apps. Produced by the National Centre for Writing in the UK. Find out more at https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk

We are very excited to have Sarah Perry back on the podcast! Sarah talks to Chris Gribble about crafting characters and what it means when an author talks about their creations 'coming to life'. This conversation was part of our Early Career Writers' Resource pack back in May, so do check out the other contributions from Michael Donkor and Joe Dunthorne - https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/pack-3-character/ The pack was made possible by support from Arts Council England. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Find out more about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk Music by Bennet Maples.

Crime writer Nicola Upson returns to the pod to talk about designing a good plot. Nicola tells us how her process has adjusted over time and discusses the unique requirements of the crime genre. Nicola's latest book is Sorry for the Dead, continuing her hugely successful Josephine Tey series. This episode is part of our latest Early Career Writers' Resource pack, which is all about PLOT. Check out the website for more amazing free stuff from Okechukwu Nzelu and Inua Ellams. https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/4-plot/ Supported by Arts Council England. Hosted by Steph McKenna and Simon Jones. More about us: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk Music by Bennet Maples.

Sarah Ardizzone is a translator from the French with forty-something titles to her name. This week she joins us on the pod to discuss her career as a translator, the importance of forging a bond with writers and how translation techniques differ between mediums. Asking the questions is Sarah Bower. Meanwhile, Steph and Simon talk about the upcoming drop-in writing sessions and Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke, this month's Book Club selection. Join our Discord community of writers and readers here: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Sarah's work spans picture books, graphic novels and travel memoirs as well as children’s, young adult and literary fiction. Notable authors include Alexandre Dumas (a fresh version of The Nutcracker), Faïza Guène, the outspoken young French-Algerian voice from the banlieue, and former ‘dunce’ Daniel Pennac, whose autobiographical polemics about education are illustrated by Quentin Blake. Twice recipient of the Marsh award, she has won the Scott-Moncrieff prize and a New York Times notable book accolade. What we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Drop-in Writing info: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/drop-in-writing-time-8/ Book Club info: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/book-club-bluebird-bluebird-by-attica-locke/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Eva Meijer, writer and philosopher, joins Kate Griffin on the pod to discuss her work. Topics range from understanding animal languages to writing routines and redrafting. Meanwhile, Steph has been back to Dragon Hall as lockdown restrictions are eased in the UK, and everyone is getting excited about The Book Club. If you'd like to read Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke with the rest of us, you can find out more here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/book-club-bluebird-bluebird-by-attica-locke/ To join the Discord discussions click here: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Also check out this interview with Eva in The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/nov/13/of-course-animals-speak-eva-meijer-on-how-to-communicate-with-our-fellow-beasts Eva Meijer is an author, artist, singer, songwriter and philosopher. Her non-fiction study on animal communication, Animal Languages, was translated to English in 2019. Bird Cottage was her first novel to appear in English, translated by Antoinette Fawcett and published by Pushkin Press. It has been nominated for the BNG and Libris prizes in the Netherlands and is being translated into several languages. Music by Bennet Maples.

Join us for our summer Book Club! We're reading Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke, a crime thriller set in Texas. Flo Reynolds joins us on the pod today to excitedly introduce the book! Meanwhile, Steph and Simon are similarly excited about the Desmond Elliott Prize's winner announcement which happens this evening at 6.30pm UK time - tune in live here: https://youtu.be/UOUtj5xAecc Get involved with the book club: Join the Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Find us on Twitter and Instagram @writerscentre https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Music by Bennet Maples.

We're 100 episodes old! To celebrate, Simon and Steph indulgently look back on The Writing Life show and pick out their favourite episodes, which turns out to be an almost impossible task. You're not going to find a podcast anywhere else that combines Val McDermid, Jenny Offill, Joe Dunthorne, Jon Ingold, Kelsey Beachum, Ed Parnell, Ian Nettleton, Sian Cain and Joe Hedinger. Thanks for listening! Find out more about what we do at https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Photo by Floris Andréa on Unsplash Music by Bennet Maples.

This week Eimear McBride shares her writing method with advice on characters, how to finish a book and what makes someone a writer. Interview originally broadcast on YouTube in March as part of the Early Career Writers' Resources. More info here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/2-method/ Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Find out more at https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Time for a burst of optimism and inspiration, courtesy of poet, producer and tutor Lewis Buxton. If lockdown is getting to you, have a listen to this week's pod and hopefully you'll feel a little brighter about the future. Lewis talks about TOAST, his regular live literature events, his own route into poetry and how coronavirus has affected his work. Then he treats us to readings of a couple of his own poems plus material from selected TOAST headliners. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Get in touch with TOAST: https://toastpoetry.com/ Find out more about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Music by Bennet Maples.

The time to reveal the Desmond Elliott Prize shortlist has finally arrived! NCW Programme Assistant and almost absurdly well-organised person Lillie Coles joins us on the pod to introduce the shortlisted titles and provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the running of the prize. The Desmond Elliott Prize is part of the National Centre for Writing's Early Career Awards. Find out more about them here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/early-career-awards/ Hosted by Steph McKenna and Simon Jones. Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW More about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Bregje Hofstede returns to the podcast with this full length version of her conversation with our Programme Director Peggy Hughes. Bregje stayed with us back in October as a writer in residence at Dragon Hall, back when such a thing was still possible. Bregje came to work on her new novel – working title De oplossing van Hadewych (The Hadewych Solution). Dragon Hall was the ideal location, as the Middle Ages feature large in the novel while Norwich is the most complete medieval English town to have survived and has more medieval churches than any other European city north of the Alps. The wide-ranging discussion takes in how your writing changes when you're away from your normal situation (something we're all at least vaguely familiar with by now...), as well as what happens to spirituality in a secular society. There are no clear answers anymore: is that a good thing? Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Find out about everything we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Owen Sheers, author, poet and playwright and Professor in Creativity at Swansea University, reveals his selection of ten inspiring writers asking the questions that will shape our future, as part of the International Literature Showcase. In this conversation with award-winning jouranlist Chitra Ramaswamy you'll discover the details of Owen’s list, including his introduction to each writer and the reasons why he finds their work to be so important – spanning topics including the environment, structural inequality and the role of a writer at times of transition and change. What role can writers play in shaping a more just world, and how do we ensure that we don’t go back to ‘business as usual’ after such a catastrophic event? The ILS is a partnership project between the National Centre for Writing and British Council, supported by Arts Council England and Creative Scotland. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Find out more about the International Literature Showcase: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ils Check out everything we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk Music by Bennet Maples.

Our City of Literature festival continues with today's podcast: A fascinating glimpse into the daily process of making and writing from Sara Baume (Spill Simmer Falter Wither) and Elizabeth Macneal (The Doll Factory), chaired by Jen McDerra. Through writing, sculpture and ceramics, they will offer reflections on isolation, motivation, nature and beauty. This episode is presented by the National Centre for Writing and the Norfolk & Norwich Festival. Hosted by Steph McKenna and Simon Jones. Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/ERQhsGj More City of Literature free events: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/city-of-literature/ Music by Bennet Maples.

City of Literature 2020 begins! Today's special episode features Max Porter and Sam Winston, talking about the collaborative exhibition A Delicate Sight. Originally intended to be part of this year's Norfolk & Norwich Festival, we're now taking the event online so that you can experience it at home. Place darkness at the centre of your perception and explore how your senses, thoughts and emotions are heightened with this free creative resource. A number of the UK’s leading writers – including Bernardine Evaristo, Max Porter, Raymond Antrobus and Don Paterson – were commissioned to spend time in a dark room installation as part of artist and producer Sam Winston’s interactive exhibition A Delicate Sight. Now it’s your turn! Find out more and get involved: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/city-of-literature/ Thanks to Arts Council England. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Join the Discord community: https://discord.gg/ERQhsGj Music by Bennet Maples.

Michael Donkor, author of HOLD, graduate of our Escalator talent programme and a Desmond Elliot Prize nominee, guests on the pod to talk about creating and developing characters. It's a chat full of amazing tips for any writer - and you can find even more with our Early Career Writers' Resources Pack this month, as it's all about CHARACTER and is packed full of insight from Sarah Perry, Joe Dunthorne and more. Check out the full pack: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/pack-3-character/ Join the Discord community with this limited-time invite: https://discord.gg/ERQhsGj Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Music by Bennet Maples.

We have something of a mini-episode this week as NCW Programme Officer Flo Reynolds joins Simon and Steph to introduce our new Book Club. Starting today, the Book Club is reading A Line Made By Walking by Sara Baume - we hope you'll join us on the read! There are many ways to get involved - all of them free, of course. Read along, chat with us on Twitter and join our scheduled Zoom chats to share your opinions. We're also launching a new online community on Discord, which is open now and you can find an invite for podcast listeners below. We can't wait to discuss the book with you all! Follow this link to join the new NCW community on Discord (limited places available): https://discord.gg/ERQhsGj Book your place on the free Zoom chats: Thursday 21 May: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/ncw-book-club-a-line-made-by-walking/ or Tuesday 26 May: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/virtual-book-club-2-a-line-made-by-walking/ Full details on the Book Club can be found here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/join-the-ncw-virtual-book-club/ Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Find out more about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk Music by Bennet Maples.

Moto Shibata returns to the podcast for an in-depth conversation about how he became a translator, balancing the academic and more accessible styles of translation and his new serialised adaptation of Gulliver's Travels. Asking the questions: Peggy Hughes! Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna, who talk excitedly about our new Time To Write workshops for younger writers (https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/working-with-schools/young-workshops/), the transformed INN CROWD (remote) residencies (https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/apply-to-be-a-remote-writer-in-residence/) and why you should sign up to our excellent newsletter (https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/newsletters/). Enjoy and hear you next week! More about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Poets Kendel Hippolyte and Flo Reynolds talk on the pod about Kendel's career, taking in his work on page and stage, sharing tips and techniques for poets and considering the responsibilities - and obligations of artists to society. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Find out more at https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk Music by Bennet Maples.

Stephanie Scott's debut What's Left Of Me Is Yours releases on April 21st - that's Tuesday, for fast listeners - and Laura Stimson sat down to discuss the creation of the book and its true crime inspiration. There's great tips from Stephanie about conducting research, finding agents and working through a large project. Meanwhile, Simon and Steph talk about the on-going weirdness of working from home during Covid-19 and highlight some of the exciting opportunities and writer resources we're putting out every week. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Find out more about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk Music by Bennet Maples.

Former Dragon Hall resident Vahur Afanasjev joins the pod to talk to Lewis Buxton about his books, how coronavirus has affected his writing and why he writes a lot about fish. Vahur is an Estonian author and creator of the award-winning Serafima and Bogdan, a bloody, funny and surreal family saga about the Russian Old Believer minority in Estonia. ALSO on this week's episode is guest-host Peggy Hughes, joining Steph and Simon to talk about Bibliotherapy and recommend some great books for us all to read while stuck in isolation. Hosted by Steph McKenna & Simon Jones. Music by Bennet Maples.

Writer and presenter Mark Stay, co-creator of The Bestseller Experiment and author of Robot Overlords and The End of Magic, returns for this week's episode to discuss his publishing experiments and why 'finding a new normal' is something we all do multiple times in our lives. If you're struggling to be productive while under isolation, listen to this right now. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Find out more about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk Mark's website: https://markstaywrites.com/ Listen to the Bestseller Experiment: https://bestsellerexperiment.com/ Music by Bennet Maples.

It's a bumper edition of the pod today, with TWO special guests: Bregje Hofstede and Motoyuki Shibata. As part of our new Early Career Writers' Resource pack they are talking all about their METHOD: from the writer's perspective and the translator's. Simon also shares his favourite digital tools for writers! Check out the full METHOD resource pack: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/2-method/ Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Find out more: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk Music by Bennet Maples.

None other than Jenny Offill joins the podcast to talk about her new book Weather with Joe Dunthorne. Along the way they discuss catastrophising, doomers, coronavirus and seismic historical events. This conversation is in partnership with The Book Hive. Weather is available direct from them at a special discount for pod listeners and event ticket holders! Hosted by Steph McKenna and Simon Jones. Find out more about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Writing courses: https://courses.nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Flo talks to Ayobami Adebayo about the writing of her debut novel Stay With Me, in particular focusing on the creation of the characters. Meanwhile, we introduce our new online courses! These can be found at https://courses.nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk and include lots of free courses packed full of practical writing tips. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Find out more about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk Music by Bennet Maples.

Prominent BookTuber Leena Norms joins us to talk about developing and maintaining an online profile, handling abuse and her parallel careers on YouTube and in the publishing industry. Also, she politely explains to Simon what BookTube actually means. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna, who are joined by special guest - and BookTube afficionado - Vicki Maitland. Find out more about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk Leena's website: https://www.leenanorms.com/ Leena on Twitter: https://twitter.com/leenanorms

Get a taste of what we do and meet hosts Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. We're a weekly podcast for anyone who writes - find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and all good podcast apps. Produced by the National Centre for Writing in the UK. Find out more at https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk

"If you write, you're a writer." This week we talk to Ashley Hickson-Lovence about the creation of his debut novel The 392, and how he had to fit writing time in and around his job of being a teacher. Ashley shares his journey from poet to teacher to novelist and talks about his next project. Interview by Florence Reynolds. Meanwhile, Simon and Steph introduce the Norfolk & Norwich Festival's City of Literature strand which was announced last week. Hosted by Steph McKenna and Simon Jones. More about our work: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ City of Literature events: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/city-of-literature-at-norfolk-norwich-festival/ NNF: https://nnfestival.org.uk/ Music by Bennet Maples.