Death Of 1000 Cuts

In this episode me and author Nate Crowley chat about his work before looking at an author's first page and suggesting ways to make it better. If you want to grab a copy of Nate Crowley's NOTES FROM SMALL PLANETS you can here: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Nate-Crowley/Notes-from-Small-Planets/22869592 You can support the show via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare And you can get in touch with me here: www.timclarepoet.co.uk

On this episode I chat with Simon Akam about his book THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD: THE BRITISH ARMY SINCE 9/11. We talk about writing nonfiction, dealing with sources, and how to handle when things go wrong, based on Simon's experiences when the army objected to some of the things he'd written, and his publisher didn't back him up. If you want to grab a copy of THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD you can get it here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-changing-of-the-guard/simon-akam/9781913348489 You can listen to the ALWAYS TAKE NOTES podcast here: https://www.alwaystakenotes.com/ And if you'd like to support Death Of 1000 Cuts you can bung me a few beans via my Ko-fi page here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

In this episode I look at the first page of a listener's story and suggest ways to make it better. In this episode I talk about starting in the middle of things, when it's better to tell, not show, the art of motivation and making things interesting. If you enjoy the show and you want to be an official superfan while helping me make more episodes please drop me a few beans here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare And if you'd like to submit the first 250 words of your super-polished good-as-you-can-make-it novel or story, you can send them to me via my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk

In this episode I talk about what I've been up to recently, the teaching I did, what's involved in editing and copyediting a book, some differences in process between fiction and non-fiction, George Orwell, doing interviews, my top three card games and avoidance behaviours. Phew! It must be a writing ramble. If you like the show and you'd like to help me keep going, you can drop a few beans into the war chest here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare And if you'd like to drop me a line, you can do so via the 'Contact Me' button here: www.timclarepoet.co.uk

In this episode I respond to a listener's email about how you know if it's time to throw in the towel. When, as a writer, should you quit? When is enough, enough? If you enjoy the show and you believe what I do is worth something, please drop me a few beans via my Ko-fi page - it's how I keep everything going: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

This is the 6th episode of the series where I take you with me on the process of trying to write a novel. It's been a few weeks... uh oh? Have I hit a snag already? On this episode I share my first 500 words and critique them, trying to drill down into where I think they fall short, and how I might move forward from here. If you want to hear previous episodes in the series they're all in a single Soundcloud playlist, here: https://soundcloud.com/timclare/sets/writing-a-novel If you'd like to support the show, you can drop me a few beans via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

In this episode I chat with artist John Allison about storytelling in comics. John is the creator of comics SCARY-GO-ROUND, BAD MACHINERY, GIANT DAYS and, most recently, STEEPLE. We chat about finding characters from their shape or look, the secret to making characters who feel real, how characters develop over time, writing good dialogue, and the particular flavour of English weirdness. A good jumping in point is STEEPLE, which you can read online here: https://steeple.church/comic/2020-02-17/ You can also follow John on Twitter: @badmachinery If you like the show and you'd like to support it so I can make more, you can drop me a few beans via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

On today's episode I look at the first 250 words of a listener's fiction and suggest ways to make it better. I talk about point of view in third-person limited fiction, clarity in your establishing scene, and how to avoid 'writer's voice'. Hope it's useful. If you'd like to support the show, drop me a few beans here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

In this episode I chat with author Tasha Suri. We talk about writing Fantasy, creating worlds, strategies for tricking yourself into writing a novel, and questions of genre and reader expectations - how much should we meet readers where they are, and how much should we challenge them? If you're in the UK you can pre-order THE JASMINE THRONE here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-jasmine-throne/tasha-suri/9780356515649 US listeners grab it here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-jasmine-throne-tasha-suri/1137427867 Tasha's website is here: https://tashasuri.com/ And you can follow her on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/tashadrinkstea If you'd like to support the show, drop me a few beans via my kofi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

In this episode I chat with poet and writer Vanessa Kisuule about poetry, building a creative career and expectations audiences have of us on stage, online and in print. Vanessa's website is here: https://www.vanessakisuule.com/ And you can follow her on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/vanessa_kisuule If you'd like to support the show, drop me a few beans here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

In this episode I talk about the importance of getting blurbs or endorsements from other authors. Why are they so crucial for a new book? How do you go about getting them? And why has the situation got worse? As (I think) I mentioned, if you'd like to know a bit more about the art of nonfiction, here is my chat with author Musa Okwonga: https://soundcloud.com/timclare/s4e17-chatting-with-musa-okwonga And Keiron Pim: https://soundcloud.com/timclare/s4e21-chatting-with-keiron-pim If you'd like to support the show drop me a few beans via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare And if you'd like to submit the first page of your story, click on the 'Contact Me' button via this link and send me no more than 250 words, plus a title: www.timclarepoet.co.uk

In this episode I look at the first page of a listener's story and suggest ways to make it better. If you'd like to support the show drop me a few beans via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare And if you'd like to submit the first page of your story, click on the 'Contact Me' button via this link and send me no more than 250 words, plus a title: www.timclarepoet.co.uk

It's another writing ramble! Unscripted, unplanned, unedited - me talking about whatever is on my mind, writing-wise. Today, I talk about the writing community's romanticisation of crunch culture and unhealthy working practices. I hope you find it useful. If you'd like to support the show drop me a few beans via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare And if you'd like to submit the first page of your story, click on the 'Contact Me' button via this link and send me no more than 250 words, plus a title: www.timclarepoet.co.uk

In this episode, I chat about the weird valley between one project ending and another beginning, and I answer some questions suggested by listeners to the best of my ability, which, as we know from bitter experience, is seldom up to the task. This is a writing ramble episode, so it's unplanned, unscripted and unedited. If you'd like to support the show drop me a few beans via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare And if you'd like to submit the first page of your story, click on the 'Contact Me' button via this link and send me no more than 250 words, plus a title: www.timclarepoet.co.uk

In this episode I chat with Ted Hughes Award-winning poet and author Hollie McNish. We chat about writing poems on what you care about, mixing genres, dealing with critics and snobbery, and using poetry to make yourself feel better. Hardback (signed edition via Waterstones): https://t.co/QAomJ8R5rE?amp=1 Audiobook (via Google Play): https://t.co/rHH5fYE1Ng?amp=1 Twitter: @holliepoetry Website: https://t.co/TKg0tuikyH?amp=1 If you'd like to support the show drop me a few beans via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

In this episode I chat with writer and performer Salena Godden about her debut novel MRS DEATH MISSES DEATH. We talk about mortality and inspiration, giving voice to characters and using the poetic form in prose, messing with reader expectations and how juggling different projects can help productivity and motivation. Buy MRS DEATH MISSES DEATH here in hardback: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Salena-Godden/Mrs-Death-Misses-Death/25330558 Or as an ebook: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Salena-Godden/Mrs-Death-Misses-Death/25655278 Or the audiobook: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Mrs-Death-Misses-Death-Audiobook/1838851216 Here's Salena's website: http://www.salenagodden.co.uk/ And if you'd like to help the podcast keep going you can drop me a bean or two here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

In this episode I chat with author Keiron Pim about how he wrote his biography of larger-than-life sixties underworld fixer and friend to the stars, David Litvinoff, JUMPIN' JACK FLASH. We talk about Keiron's background in journalism, approaching people for interviews, and how to use 'footstepping' to get a sense for your subject. You can grab a copy of JUMPIN' JACK FLASH HERE: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jumpin-Jack-Flash-Litvinoff-Underworld/dp/0099584441/ If you'd like to support the show, thank you, and you can drop me some beans here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

This is the 5th episode of my series where I try to write a book from first idea to final draft, and take you along for the ride. In this episode, I talk about making mistakes and first drafts, I then go onto to make some mistakes trying to come up with place names for my world, then I think 'stuff it' and go ahead and start plotting out the first quarter of my novel. By the end... I feel like I've got somewhere? Oh, and I discuss the importance of strong verbs in quests. If you enjoy the show, please show your support via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare You can get in touch with me via my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk Listen to the first episode in this series here: https://soundcloud.com/timclare/s4e13-writing-a-novel-pt1

This is the 4th episode of my series where I try to write a book from first idea to final draft, and take you along for the ride. In this episode, I do a deep dive into the art of 'crunchy specificity'. Having struggled to zero in on a character through general traits, I try to follow Michael Moorcock's advice and come at it from the opposite direction - building characters from the sound of their names alone. If you enjoy the show, please show your support via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare You can get in touch with me via my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk Listen to the first episode in this series here: https://soundcloud.com/timclare/s4e13-writing-a-novel-pt1

In this episode I chat with author and neuroscientist Dean Burnett about writing about the brain, science and mental health, and his new book, PSYCHO-LOGICAL. We discuss the challenges of conveying complex ideas to a broad readership, reflecting the messiness of science, and current theories underpinning our understanding of conditions like depression. You can grab a copy of PSYCHO-LOGICAL: Why Mental Health Goes Wrong and How We Can Make Sense Of It here: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Dean-Burnett/Psycho-Logical--Why-Mental-Health-Goes-Wrong---and-How-to-Make-Sense-of-It/25440016 And here's THE IDIOT BRAIN: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Dean-Burnett/The-Idiot-Brain--A-Neuroscientist-Explains-What-Your-Head-is-Really-Up-To/20508227 If you enjoy the show, please consider dropping me a few beans via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare And you can drop me a line via my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk