Death Of 1000 Cuts

In this episode I chat with Adam Christopher about fanfic, discipline and making a career out of writing both original fiction and stories in existing universes. Adam tells me how he got into writing partly through his love of Doctor Who, and a fandom full of novelisations. He shares his initial overconfidence and how he worked through setbacks to forge a career writing in various universes, such as Star Wars, Elementary and most recently Stranger Things. He explains the process of pitching and negotiating with the creators of a show, the differences between writing original work and licensed novels, and how he uses routines to keep going and get his work done. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I write novelisations of existing TV shows, films or video games? - what's the process for pitching and writing a licensed novel? - how can I keep writing on bad days? - how can I plan my novel and still be creative? Adam Christopher's latest book is an official Stranger Things nove

In this episode I chat to author and miniboss of creative writing pedagogy Chuck Wendig, about ideas, being in it for the long haul, and the end of the world. We chat about his new novel WANDERERS, how it survived through the Idea Thunderdome, and how he found ways of telling an epic story through a few key humans. We talk about how he became a fixture of the creative writing community, the books that have influenced him, and keeping going in an uncertain publishing industry. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - do I need to have a clear author 'brand'? - how should I pick which of my ideas to write? - how can I keep going if things go wrong? Here's where you can grab his new novel, WANDERERS: https://wordery.com/wanderers-chuck-wendig-9781781088104#oid=1908_1 And here's his website where you can get all sorts of writing advice: http://terribleminds.com/ramble/ If you'd like to support me, it'd be ace if you picked up a copy of my novels, THE HONOURS, & the new sequel THE ICE HOUSE

This episode is an unscripted, unedited talk about the judgemental voice so many writers hear: the inner critic. I chat about what the inner critic is, why I resisted admitting it was a problem for so long, why we might have it and what we can do to engage with the challenge it presents. As with all writing rambles, this is just my talking off the top of my head, so here be dragons. If you're new to the podcast, you might like to start with a more focused episode, like one of my first page feedback episodes, or a chat with an author, to get a sense of what it is we do here. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - what is the inner critic? - why do I have any inner critic? - how can I deal with my inner critic? If you'd like to support me, it'd be ace if you picked up a copy of my novels, THE HONOURS, & the new sequel THE ICE HOUSE. THE ICE HOUSE links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-ice-house-tim-clare-9781786894816#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/th

In this episode I chat with Dr Alexander Cummins about magic, inspiration and designing writing rituals. Dr Alexander Cummins is an historian, poet, and consultant whose practice centres around religion, philosophy, medicine, and magic. His work focuses on folk magic, necromancy, and divination. His doctoral thesis from the University of Bristol explored the history of magical approaches to the emotions. We chat about ways of using divination to come up with story ideas or solve problems with your plot, different historical approaches to the nature of inspiration, and ways you can use magical rituals as warm-up and mindset-framing exercises when you sit down to write. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I get inspired? - how can I get myself in the mood to write? - how do ideas work? - how can I solve problems with my novel? - how can I get past writers' block? Al has a fantastic range of offerings on his website, from fascinating online classes about different aspects of m

In this episode I chat with author Will Storr about his latest book, THE SCIENCE OF STORYTELLING. We chat about the many books he's written, covering topics from ghosthunting to nazis to narcissists, and how they led him to his latest book, an investigation into why we tell stories, and how we can use the science to tell better ones. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - why do we tell stories? - what elements does a good story have? - how can I hook readers? And you can grab yourself a copy of THE SCIENCE OF STORYTELLING right here: https://wordery.com/the-science-of-storytelling-will-storr-9780008276935 I recommend all of his books, including WILL STORR VS THE SUPERNATURAL: https://wordery.com/will-storr-vs-the-supernatural-will-storr-9780091910136#oid=1908_1 And THE HERETICS: https://wordery.com/the-heretics-will-storr-9780330535861#oid=1908_1 If you'd like to support me, it'd be ace if you picked up a copy of my novels, THE HONOURS, & the new sequel THE ICE HOUSE. THE ICE HOUS

In this episode I chat with Emily Troscianko about bibliotherapy and eating disorders in fiction. Heads up - this episode features discussion of eating disorders and mental health challenges. I chat with Emily about her research into the putative therapeutic benefits of reading when it comes to eating disorders, and why we should treat any assumptions about the efficacy of reading fiction to solve our problems with caution. She explains how she got into researching the subject after her own challenges with an eating disorder. If you'd like to support me, it'd be ace if you picked up a copy of my novels, THE HONOURS, & the new sequel THE ICE HOUSE. THE ICE HOUSE links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-ice-house-tim-clare-9781786894816#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-ice-house/ Forbidden Planet: https://forbiddenplanet.com/272064-the-ice-house-hardcover/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1786894815/ THE HONOURS links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-c

This episode was recorded live at Storysmith bookshop in Bristol. I chat to special guest, BSFA-award-winning author Gareth L Powell, about his new book on creative writing, ABOUT WRITING. Then we look at three first pages from listeners' novels and give feedback. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I find time to write? - what does show, don't tell actually mean? - how can I hook a reader with my opening sentences? - why is point of view important? If you'd like to read some of Gareth's work, why not try EMBERS OF WAR: https://wordery.com/embers-of-war-gareth-l-powell-9781785655180#oid=1908_1 Or the sequel, FLEET OF KNIVES: https://wordery.com/fleet-of-knives-an-embers-of-war-novel-gareth-l-powell-9781785655210#oid=1908_1 Or his crime novel RAGGED ALICE: https://wordery.com/ragged-alice-gareth-l-powell-9781250220189#oid=1908_1 Pre-order his field guide for writers, ABOUT WRITING, here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/About-Writing-Gareth-L-Powell/dp/191114359X If you'd like to

On this episode I chat with Ashley Hickson-Lovence about his debut novel, THE 392. We talk form, style & place, from growing up in Hackney to thinking about your audience. Ashley takes us through the full process of writing his novel, chats about his experiences as a football referee, and explains his number one writing rule for this book: no boring bits. You can grab a copy here: https://wordery.com/the-392-ashley-hickson-lovence-9781916052307 Here's that article about the first 3 weeks of The Ice House's life: http://www.timclarepoet.co.uk/3-weeks-in-the-life-of-a-new-book/ It'd really help me an awful lot if you bought The Honours and The Ice House right now. THE ICE HOUSE links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-ice-house-tim-clare-9781786894816#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-ice-house/ Forbidden Planet: https://forbiddenplanet.com/272064-the-ice-house-hardcover/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1786894815/ THE HONOURS links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/t

Since it's Mental Health Awareness Week I thought I'd chuck you a bonus episode which should be useful if you're mental like me or just a regular ol' enthusiastic end-user of this bizarre glob of thinking apparatus we fancifully refer to as a brain. In this unscripted, unedited episode I outline five rules for better mental health hygiene. By which I mean, simple principles to stick to when you're writing, that will help you keep sharp, keep motivated, and stick the distance. Some basic, fundamental practices and habits everyone should be applying to their writing lives, backed up with research, that will help you optimise the writing time you have available, squeeze the most out the big juicy orange o' creativity, and not end up crumpled in a heap beneath your desk, sobbing. Enjoy! And support the show by dropping me a few beans via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

It's the first ever LIVE recording of Death Of 1000 Cuts. Recorded at Foyles, Charring Cross, with Joe Dunthorne. Thanks to everyone who came! Here's a bunch of places you can get my new novel THE ICE HOUSE, which is out now: http://www.timclarepoet.co.uk/theicehousepreorder/ Here's Joe Dunthorne's new poetry collection, O POSITIVE: https://wordery.com/o-positive-joe-dunthorne-9780571342556#oid=1908_1 Here's the episode of Distraction Pieces I recorded with Scroobius Pip: https://play.acast.com/s/distractionpieces/timclare-distractionpiecespodcastwithscroobiuspip-266

In this episode me and Nate Crowley lay some idea eggs live for your edification. Following his hugely-popular previous appearance on the show, writer Nate Crowley returns to help me practise the dark art of coming up with lots of ideas. I gab about creativity a lot but I thought it was about time to put my money where my mouth was. We attempt to create film pitches on the spot for an imagined wealthy but bizarrely-capricious producer, using a system of dice and random concepts. Along the way we discuss creativity, the three principles behind getting more and better ideas, and invent a tragic new street drug. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I come up with ideas for stories? - how can I make my ideas original? - how can I make my film pitch original? - what's the best way to combine ideas? Pre-order Nate Crowley's new book (the one he couldn't talk about on the podcast) NOTES FROM SMALL PLANETS: https://wordery.com/notes-from-small-planets-nate-crowley-9780008306861#oid=

This episode I chat with Zen Cho, author of Regency Fantasy novels SORCERER TO THE CROWN and THE TRUE QUEEN. We talk getting started in fanfic as a form of mentorship and granting yourself permission to write. We discuss developing the voice of the novel, junking stories if they're not good enough, and finding a strong protagonist you want to write about. Hey, if you'd like to buy Zen's books, here they are! SORCERER TO THE CROWN: https://wordery.com/sorcerer-to-the-crown-zen-cho-9781447299462#oid=1908_1 THE TRUE QUEEN: https://wordery.com/the-true-queen-zen-cho-9781509801077#oid=1908_1 If you'd like to support me, the podcast and all the things I'm putting out into the world, if you like what I do and would like me to do more of it, and if you'd like to be the first to read my brand new novel, please help me by pre-ordering a copy of THE ICE HOUSE. It's got an old lady pulled out of retirement for one last job, a 400-year-old forensic pathologist field medic battle nun looking to bring down an empire, p

I chat about how I'm feeling 1 week before my second novel, THE ICE HOUSE, drops. I'm nervous! I chat about reviews, writing and connecting with readers. If you'd like to support me, the podcast and all the things I'm putting out into the world, if you like what I do and would like me to do more of it, and if you'd like to be the first to read my brand new novel, please help me by pre-ordering a copy of THE ICE HOUSE. It's got an old lady pulled out of retirement for one last job, a 400-year-old forensic pathologist field medic battle nun looking to bring down an empire, psychedelics, dungeon crawls, jungle adventures, a locked-room murder mystery, intrigue, romance, minotaurs, a secret testing facility, giant sentient beetles, immortal mutant aristocrats, knife fights, an angel, larceny and ancient menaces rising from the depths. You're going to dig it and it helps me so much. Here are some places you can order now: Mr B's Emporium are an indie bookstore who deliver worldwide - I'll sign all pre-ordered co

This episode is a chat with bestselling author Professor Richard Wiseman. You may have read his fascinating non-fiction books :59 SECONDS, THE LUCK FACTOR, NIGHT SCHOOL, or indeed his latest, SHOOT FOR THE MOON, about the thinking that got us to the moon and how we can apply it in our own lives. We chat about how he got into writing, how his manages his schedule, how to overcome creative fear, and how to capture ideas when they occur to you. If you'd like to check out his latest, SHOOT FOR THE MOON (which I think I accidentally call 'The Apollo Mindset' in my intro - sorry, I'm poorly, my brain's in bits!), here it is: https://wordery.com/shoot-for-the-moon-richard-wiseman-9781787474437#oid=1908_1 I'd also recommend THE LUCK FACTOR: https://wordery.com/the-luck-factor-richard-wiseman-9780099443247#oid=1908_1 If you'd like to support me, the podcast and all the things I'm putting out into the world, if you like what I do and would like me to do more of it, and if you'd like to be the first to read my brand

This is an unscripted, unedited episode where I chat a bit about what's been going on in writing this week. I talk about Ian McEwan's comments about his new novel, MACHINES LIKE ME, and literary fiction authors crossing over to science fiction. I also talk about the controversy surrounding John Boyne's new YA novel, MY BROTHER'S NAME IS JESSICA, where he attempts to write about a trans character through the eyes of her younger brother, and the objections raised by trans writers and readers about his handling of it. I use both of these as a stepping off point to again return to the topic of who gets to write what. I share my thoughts on it, the tricky notion of 'authenticity', and the reasons why the whole thing matters. If you'd like to support me, the podcast and all the things I'm putting out into the world, if you like what I do and would like me to do more of it, and if you'd like to be the first to read my brand new novel, please help me by pre-ordering a copy of THE ICE HOUSE. It's got an old lady pu

In this episode I look at a listener's first page and offer robust, honest feedback. I talk about first sentences, the art of parallel construction, pronoun confusion, character crush and much more. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - what makes a great first line? - how can I open a scene? - how can I arrange information to make it easy for the reader to follow? - how many named characters can I have in a first scene? - how can I think about the cadence of a sentence? If you'd like to support me, the podcast and all the things I'm putting out into the world, if you like what I do and would like me to do more of it, and if you'd like to be the first to read my brand new novel, please help me by pre-ordering a copy of THE ICE HOUSE. It's got an old lady pulled out of retirement for one last job, a 400-year-old forensic pathologist field medic battle nun looking to bring down an empire, psychedelics, dungeon crawls, jungle adventures, a locked-room murder mystery, intrigue, romance, m

In this episode I chat to celebrated SF & Fantasy author Emma Newman about fae, fabulism, fear and finding futures. Emma talks about her early love of stories, why she stopped writing for a decade, and how she got over it. We chat about faeries and patriarchy, inventing future technologies, and writing good characters who manage mental health challenges like anxiety or post-natal depression. We also cover roleplaying (because I will take literally any excuse to gab about RPGs) and ways to beat procrastination and creative fear. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I get writing again if I've stopped? - how can I create believable new technologies in Science Fiction? - how can I use SFF to explore themes? - can I turn my roleplaying sessions into a book? I really enjoyed this one! If you'd like to check out some of Emma's work, here's a - not even exhaustive! - list of her novels. Her latest is ATLAS ALONE, which is due out in a couple of weeks so you can either pre-order or b

Today's episode is an unscripted talk from me about the ways writing changes the way you see the world, and how, by changing what your characters notice or ignore, you can tell us powerful things about their personality and the world they inhabit. If you'd like to support me, the podcast and all the things I'm putting out into the world, if you like what I do and would like me to do more of it, and if you'd like to be the first to read my brand new novel, please help me by pre-ordering a copy of THE ICE HOUSE. It's got an old lady pulled out of retirement for one last job, a 400-year-old forensic pathologist field medic battle nun looking to bring down an empire, psychedelics, dungeon crawls, jungle adventures, a locked-room murder mystery, intrigue, romance, minotaurs, a secret testing facility, giant sentient beetles, immortal mutant aristocrats, knife fights, an angel, larceny and ancient menaces rising from the depths. You're going to dig it and it helps me so much. Here are some places you can order now

Ooh! Look! It's a first-page critique! On today's episode I look at the first page of a listener's novel and offer suggestions on how to make it better. We get into the willing suspension of disbelief as conceived by Coleridge and the problems therein, similes and metaphors, and our old foe pounding upon the fortress gates, show, don't tell. If you'd like to support me, the podcast and all the things I'm putting out into the world, if you like what I do and would like me to do more of it, and if you'd like to be the first to read my brand new novel, please help me by pre-ordering a copy of THE ICE HOUSE. It's got an old lady pulled out of retirement for one last job, a 400-year-old forensic pathologist field medic battle nun looking to bring down an empire, psychedelics, dungeon crawls, jungle adventures, a locked-room murder mystery, intrigue, romance, minotaurs, a secret testing facility, giant sentient beetles, immortal mutant aristocrats, knife fights, an angel, larceny and ancient menaces rising from t

It's another Writing Ramble episode, where I, your host Tim Clare, 'go off on one' about writing, life and the universe. Even by the standards of Writing Rambles this episode is rangy and digressive, going from procrastination to French experimental literature movement the Oulipo, to discovery writing to brain training to the heat death of the universe. It's gooey and unfettered, like liberating blancmange. I hope you enjoy, but if my gabbing freeform into a mic isn't your cup of tea, please do check out other episodes where I interview authors or critique listeners' first pages. If you'd like to support me, the podcast and all the things I'm putting out into the world, if you like what I do and would like me to do more of it, and if you'd like to be the first to read my brand new novel, please help me by pre-ordering a copy of THE ICE HOUSE. It's got an old lady pulled out of retirement for one last job, a 400-year-old forensic pathologist field medic battle nun looking to bring down an empire, psychedeli