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EPISODE · Jan 8, 2026 · 6 MIN

Three Exercises for Starting a New Book from Scratch

from A Writer's Diary Podcast · host Toby Litt

Today I share three exercises that might work if you don't have any idea what to write next.The first is based on something I do in Creative Writing workshops, encouraging students to write the worst dialogue ever.The second comes out of a trip I paid to Foyles Bookshop in London.And the third is inspired by the very inspiring Wes Anderson, and his plain yellow notebooks. Get full access to A Writer's Diary at awritersdiary.substack.com/subscribe

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jan 8, 2026

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Three Exercises for Starting a New Book from Scratch

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