Death Of 1000 Cuts

Buy THE HONOURS: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-honours/ Pre-order THE ICE HOUSE: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-ice-house/ This week the podcast is dedicated to exploring my first novel, THE HONOURS. This first episode is about adventure stories, their roots in social justice, and how the British establishment used them to send a generation to their deaths. My hope for this week, aside from entertaining and informing you, is that you find yourself enthusiastic to support my work through buying THE HONOURS for yourself and friends, and also preordering the forthcoming sequel, THE ICE HOUSE. If you think helping me in this way would bring you some happiness, then kindly click one of the links below, and please do let me know once you've done so, so I can thank you. THE HONOURS PURCHASE LINKS Why not buy THE HONOURS via Mr B's Emporium? A brilliant independent bookshop who do worldwide shipping and are really great. They do a gift-wrap option so you can support me, an indie bookstore AND

In this episode I chat to author R F Kuang about her debut novel THE POPPY WAR. We chat Fantasy, grimdark, character arcs, representation of marginalised people, Shonen Manga, maintaining a positive attitude towards your work and writing great fight scenes. You get grab a copy of THE POPPY WAR here: https://wordery.com/the-poppy-war-rf-kuang-9780008239800#oid=1908_1 Here's NK Jemisin's BROKEN EARTH TRILOGY that Rebecca recommends: https://wordery.com/the-broken-earth-trilogy-n-k-jemisin-9780316527194#oid=1908_1 Here's my novel, THE HONOURS: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 I'd be very grateful if you pre-order my upcoming novel, THE ICE HOUSE: https://wordery.com/the-ice-house-tim-clare-9781786894816#oid=1908_1 And if you want to chuck the podcast something direct for upkeep, here's my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

This episode is all about how readers can best help authors they love. Where and when should you buy their books? What's the best way of sharing praise? What can you do to boost authors you want to see more of? And is it possible to do all of this while getting big benefits for yourself, like - I don't know - maybe increased resistance to illness and a longer life? Come with me, friends. If you're a reader who loves books or an author who wants to know how best your readers can help you, I break down in thorough detail everything you need to know. If you want to read the text version of today's episode, complete with links to studies supporting various claims, and links to all the sites I mention, here it is: http://www.timclarepoet.co.uk/17-best-ways-boost-authors/ If you think what I do is good and you'd like to show your love and help me do more of it, click here to pre-order my new novel THE ICE HOUSE: https://wordery.com/the-ice-house-tim-clare-9781786894816#oid=1908_1 While you're pre-ordering you

This is the Death Of 1000 Cuts Pitch Rush Special episode. 55 authors, 55 novels looking for agents and editors. I read out a rapid-fire showcase of 100-word synopses and extracts. This is a great episode to listen to if you're trying to figure out how to pitch your novel, how to write a synopsis, how to write a query letter, and what makes the best extract of your work to share. It's also a great episode to listen to if you're interested in finding new talent! If you fancy supporting me and this podcast, please buy my novel, THE HONOURS: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 You can also drop me a few quid via my Ko-fi page: https://ko-fi.com/timclare Here are the authors and novel titles, in order. Full extracts on my website, www.timclarepoet.co.uk Number 1 Thomas Russell The Curse Of The Go Force Warriors 5 Number 2 Neil Hughes 'The Shop Before Life' Number 3 JOYCE CHNG DRAGON PHYSICIAN (YA) Number 4 Christopher Galvin ARTHUR SMALLWOOD'S QUEST FOR MAGIC Number 5 Josep

In this episode I chat to author R O Kwon about her novel THE INCENDIARIES. We talk about the pain of losing her faith and how her yearning for God lit the fuse that would become THE INCENDIARIES, a story about characters pulled into a religious terrorist sect. We talk about the 10 years the novel took to write, how she dealt with the challenge of writing convincingly about fanaticism, and what it's like being a cool author. She also opens up about some personal creative quirks, and I actually ask the question 'what's your favourite letter of the alphabet?' because that is how a serious adult interviews a writer about literature. But I genuinely wanted to know! If you'd like a copy of THE INCENDIARIES with free shipping it'd be churlish of me to stop you, and I will in fact aid you - click this link to order it with free worldwide shipping: https://wordery.com/the-incendiaries-r-o-kwon-9780735213890#oid=1908_1 And you can read my novel, THE HONOURS, by ordering it here: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-

Planning on doing NaNoWriMo? Don't. It's a bad idea, and in this episode, I explain why. I also chat about ways you can get yourself writing more, while loving it. This is a writing ramble episode, which is one of my completely unscripted talks with just me, you and the mic. A few people said they'd like to hear my thoughts on NaNoWriMo, so here they are. I hope it stimulates some useful thoughts for you. My novel is THE HONOURS - it's weird historical Fantasy with secret tunnels in 1935 England. Please treat yourself to a copy with free worldwide shipping: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 If you'd like to try the first day of my (completely and forever) free 8-week writing course, the Couch to 80k Writing Boot Camp, you can download all the episodes here: http://www.timclarepoet.co.uk/couchto80kwritingbootcamp/ And if you like the show and would like me to make more, you can help me cover my overheads by dropping me a buck or two here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare Thank you

This episode I speak to bestselling author Jonathan Stroud about finding stories, developing characters, and channelling demons. Jonathan Stroud is the author of the 4-book BARTIMAEUS series - about an alternate London run by magicians, and the demons who serve them - which is published in 35 languages and has sold over 6 million copies. He also wrote the LOCKWOOD & CO series, about a plague of ghosts haunting Great Britain and the child agents sent to tackle them. We talk about his start in publishing, how he writes and how the challenges differ from book to book. We also talk about the value of walks for the creative process. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I find the voice of a character? - how can I raise my chances of being struck by a flash of inspiration? - what are good ways of thinking about conflict in a story? - how can I make sure my plot is progressing? Here are the first 3 books in Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus series. I urge you, mortal, DO NOT BE SILLY, bu

In this episode I chat to author Tade Thompson about creating worlds, unsympathetic protagonists and the 'killable other'. Tade Thompson is the author of ROSEWATER, a near-future SF novel set in Nigeria. We have a great conversation about the roots of his writing in the visual medium of comics, why we're driven to create for ourselves, the uncomfortable truths that lie within us and the art of making the deeply weird feel real. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I make my science fiction feel plausible? - should my narrator or protagonist be likeable? - where is science fiction headed? Here's Tade Thompson's novel, ROSEWATER: https://wordery.com/rosewater-tade-thompson-9780356511368#oid=1908_1 And here's SAGA Vol 1, which he recommends: https://wordery.com/saga-volume-1-brian-k-vaughan-9781607066019#oid=1908_1 Here's my novel, THE HONOURS, that I'd love you to buy: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 If you like the show, please consider su

This episode I chat to author Kirsty Logan about fairy tales, the subconscious, and stories outside the mainstream. Kirsty Logan is the author of Fantasy novel THE GRACEKEEPERS, about an ocean-filled world where land is scarce, a travelling circus boat, a bear, and a girl charged with tending the souls of the dead. We talk about her fascination with fairy tales while growing up, her short stories, writing retreats, perceptions of mainstream versus niche books, and why weird is good. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - what if my ideas aren't like most other books? - how can I write about weird things? - how can I use fairy tales in my work? - what's it like going on writing retreat? - how can I bounce back from criticism or rejection? If you'd like to read Kirsty's work for yourself click here to get THE GRACEKEEPERS delivered to your door with free shipping worldwide: https://wordery.com/the-gracekeepers-kirsty-logan-9781784700133#oid=1908_1 And if you're interested in what I can

In this episode I chat with author and creative writing teacher Andrew Cowan about writing fiction, finding details, perfectionism and helping bring others' stories to life. Andrew talks switching from pottery to fiction, finding his own voice, ways round perfectionism and self-doubt, and his career in teaching creative writing on residential courses and at the University of East Anglia. He shares some of his favourite creative writing exercises, including ones that helped him break through serious blocks and get the words flowing again. We also talk about the novels he's written so far, how he's researched topics from pig-rearing to eugenics, and the authors and mentors who inspired him. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I get myself going again after my writing grinds to a halt? - what are the best ways to research my novel? - how can I get over perfectionism in my writing? - what is the best creative writing exercise? - can creative writing be taught? - what's it like go

In this episode I chat to Dr Tim Pychyl, psychologist and head of the Procrastination Research Group at Carleton University, Canada. Tim has devoted over 20 years to the 'breakdown in volitional action' we call procrastination. Since I get more letters about struggling with procrastination than all other creative writing topics combined so I thought it was worth approaching one of the world's leading experts on procrastination for advice. We talk neuroscience, specifically the roles of the amygdala and prefrontal cortex in procrastination, and what recent MRI scans of the brains of procrastinators and non-procrastinators have revealed. We talk psychology - what's going on with procrastinators, what we're trying to achieve when we procrastinate, and why procrastination fails on its own terms, let alone frustrating us in other ways. We talk statistics - the latest data from various studies all over the world, showing what, verifiably, works and what doesn't work when we're trying to reduce procrastination. An

This episode features me chatting to writer, performer, poet, podcast presenter, film-maker, playwright and educator Ross Sutherland about his work experimenting on words to make them do cool stuff. His podcast Imaginary Advice recently won Best Fiction Podcast at the British Podcasting Awards, he's produced work for radio and TV, he's a legend of the UK poetry scene and his critically-acclaimed solo show Standby For Tape Backup stormed the Edinburgh Fringe and has toured the world. His work is funny, dark, emotive and brain-melting. He's really cool, you guys. He's also my mate. We talk about how he got into writing, his early experiences learning from his grandma and punk poet John Cooper Clarke, how he uses repetition to induce trance states in audiences and get past his own internal censor, and his advice as an experienced creative writing teacher for finding the 'game' of a piece of writing. He explains how the work of French experimental literature group the Oulipo inspired him to rip Little Red Ridin

In this episode I chat to writer Melissa Harrison about becoming a writer, the pressures of writing, and the process of bringing the past and the natural world to life. We chat about her new novel ALL AMONG THE BARLEY, how she struggled to admit to herself that she wanted to write, research, farming, fascism, and why we write when, at times, it can be difficult and painful. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how should I research my novel? - should I keep writing if I'm not enjoying myself? - how can I find the story amongst the scenes in my head? If you enjoyed this chat and want more, please support Melissa Harrison by grabbing a copy of her latest novel, ALL AMONG THE BARLEY: https://wordery.com/all-among-the-barley-melissa-harrison-9781408897997#oid=1908_1 Here's her Costa-shortlisted novel AT HAWTHORN TIME: https://wordery.com/at-hawthorn-time-melissa-harrison-9781408859070#oid=1908_1 And her first, CLAY: https://wordery.com/clay-melissa-harrison-9781408842553#oid=1908_1 I

This episode I chat to debut Fantasy novelist Micah Yongo about his novel of warring assassins and clashing ideologies, LOST GODS. We get into everything, from working with an editor to researching crossbow physics, to how you go from big ideas and sprawling, complex imaginary worlds down to a story, and the character who's going to propel you through it. Micah also talks about what it's like to be published for the first time, building a writing routine, and representation in SFF and beyond. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I turn my ideas for a setting into a story? - what's the best sort of character for a Fantasy story? - how can I research my Fantasy world when it doesn't exist? - what it like working with an editor? - who has the right to write what stories? I know you are awesome and I can rely on you to treat yourself and support Micah Yongo by ordering LOST GODS right now - do it, it's ace! https://wordery.com/lost-gods-micah-yongo-9780857667373#oid=1908_1 If yo

This episode I chat to debut author Temi Oh about her upcoming novel DO YOU DREAM OF TERRA-TWO? We talk research, handling big casts, giving characters motivation, & novels of ideas. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I research my story if some aspects (like space travel) aren't accessible to me? - how can I make sure my characters are well-differentiated? - how can I handle a big cast in my novel? - how does Science Fiction deal with big themes? - how does Science Fiction deal with autobiographical elements? If you like today's episode and want to read Temi's upcoming novel, DO YOU DREAM OF TERRA-TWO? you can pre-order it here. Pre-ordering makes a huge difference to authors, so I encourage, beseech and coax you towards doing so in this instance, right now: https://wordery.com/do-you-dream-of-terra-two-temi-oh-9781471171246#oid=1908_1 You can also support me by ordering my novel, THE HONOURS: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 And if you'd

In this episode I talk about some things I've learned from the 4 year process of writing my 2nd novel, THE ICE HOUSE (out May 2019). This is an unscripted episode where I talk through some of my first thoughts about the process, which at times was not easy, to put it mildly. Like anything difficult, doing this novel and seeing it through to completion has taught me a great deal, and so I break down some key principles which I'm going to be taking with me into future writing projects. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - what's it like writing a novel? - why are second novels harder than first ones? - how can I be prolific? - what are some specific strategies for overcoming blocks and procrastination? - how should I approach my first draft? - how should I approach redrafting? If you like this episode and you'd like to support my writing, please click this link and order yourself a copy of my first novel, THE HONOURS. It will be good prep for reading THE ICE HOUSE: https://wordery.com/t

In this episode I chat with Lauren Groff, bestselling author of FATES & FURIES, about her latest short story collection, FLORIDA. We chat about her writing career spanning 6 books thus far, how she moves from short stories to novels, her ways of working, and how she gets her language and characters to sing. (spoiler: I *love* her work - she is really good) This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I improve the language that I use in my stories? - how can I learn to see the world around me more clearly? - what are some unusual techniques I can bring to my writing? - how can poetry help my prose? - how can I sustain and develop my voice over several projects? This episode is supported in part by Mslexia Magazine, the UK’s best-selling magazine for women who write. To subscribe, or check out their competitions and submission opportunities, visit: https://Mslexia.co.uk You can pick up an issue here: https://mslexia.co.uk/product-category/single-issues/ And subscribe here: https://m

This episode is a chat with author Mark Stay. He's an indie author, he's worked in traditional publishing, he's co-authored a novel and a screenplay, and he's crowd-funded a novel. Not only that, but he's a presenter of the podcast for writers, THE BESTSELLER EXPERIMENT. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - what are my options for getting my book published? - how can I promote my work? - what are the secrets of writing a bestseller? Hope you enjoy it. Here's Mark Stay's website, with a link to his new novel, THE END OF MAGIC, which you can - and should - back on Unbound: https://markstaywrites.com/the-end-of-magic/ Here's Mark's novel, BACK TO REALITY, which he co-wrote with Mark Oliver: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Back-Reality-feel-good-novel-year-ebook/dp/B076GD5F6H/?tag=bxp05-21 You can check out Mark's fantastic podcast THE BESTSELLER EXPERIMENT here: http://bestsellerexperiment.com/podcasts/ Here's the Ben Aaronovitch episode we talk about: http://bestsellerexperiment.com/ep22-b

In today's episode I look at the first page of a listener's story and suggest ways of making it better. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I get some tips for editing my novel? - how can I write a great first line? - how should I describe my characters? - what makes good dialogue? - how can I think about the flow of a sentence? If you'd like to submit your work for a future show, you can do so via my website, here: http://www.timclarepoet.co.uk/ If you'd like to support me, please buy my novel, THE HONOURS. It's temporarily unavailable on Wordery, so here's a link to wonderful UK indie bookshop, Mr B's Emporium, who ship worldwide: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-honours/ Finally, you can support the running of the show directly via my Ko-fi page: http://ko-fi.com/B0B17913 And here's today's extract (PS - I realise now 'against' is a two-syllable word - oops!): THE DENTIST (by Morgan) Joy wore a short, black, cotton dress, her hair tied back in a blond ponytail.

This episode I chat to multi-award-winning writer Helen MacDonald, author of H IS FOR HAWK, about finding the right words, finding your voice, and pushing through in the face of self-doubt. We discuss her poetic influences, Top Gun, madness, painting and masculine crisis in interbellum England. We really dig down into how you might go about turning your experiences, traumas and big questions into meaningful writing that connects with others. And, as well as talking about how to deal with setbacks and doubt, we cover that so rarely discussed of topics: how to cope with success. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I find my voice as a writer? - what sort of writing routine should I establish? - how can writing poetry help with my prose? - what's it like when your book does really well? - what are some techniques for overcoming low self-confidence? If you enjoy this episode and you haven't yet read H IS FOR HAWK, I suggest you click here to get it delivered (with free P&P) to y