PODCAST · arts
Writing and Breathing
by Antony Johnston
A podcast about why, how, and what we write. Bestselling writer Antony Johnston talks frankly with other authors about their motivations, methods, and processes. A must-listen for anyone interested in the craft and business of writing.
Episodes
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32: Jenni Hill
Jenni Hill (Editorial Director of Orbit Books) joins Antony for our first episode with a non-author, to talk about being a book shepherd, the beauty contest of acquisitions, and how the job involves much less actual editing than you might think.
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31: Simon Scarrow
Simon Scarrow (Eagles of the Empire, Blackout) joins Antony to discuss balancing research with the needs of a story, how every reader creates their own version of a book, and why Italian tomatoes still haunt him.
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30: Jody Houser
Jody Houser (Critical Role, Doctor Who) joins Antony to talk about finding new directions in existing properties, whether thinking about writing counts as writing, and getting irate about notes.
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29: Helene Wecker
Helene Wecker (The Golem and the Djinni, The Hidden Palace) joins Antony to discuss telling details, research that both enlightens and frustrates, and pulling the spine out of a manuscript.
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28: Vinay Patel
Vinay Patel (Doctor Who, Murdered by My Father) joins Antony to talk about using practice to push yourself, focusing on nailing the parts only you can do, and the balance between empathy and sympathy.
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27: Bonnie MacBird
Bonnie MacBird (Tron, Sherlock Holmes) joins Antony to discuss applying cinematic writing to prose, why truth is important even in fiction, and the joys and dangers of writing a beloved character.
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26: Joshua Hale Fialkov
Joshua Hale Fialkov (Chicago Med, The Bunker) joins Antony to talk about collaboration in TV, being too mainstream for indie (but too indie for the mainstream), and solving problems instead of creating them.
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25: Ram V
Ram V (Paradiso, Catwoman) joins Antony to discuss being a planner who doesn't stick to the plan, making sure every scene exists for more than one reason, and hating structural changes.
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24: Robert Muchamore
Robert Muchamore (Cherub, Henderson’s Boys) joins Antony to talk about too much research, meticulous planning, and wondering what other authors do all day.
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23: Toiya Kristen Finley
Toiya Kristen Finley (Outer Rims, The Game Narrative Toolbox) joins Antony to discuss seeing stories in her head, building stories on epiphanies, and imagining fuzzy apples.
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22: Patrick Gale
Patrick Gale (A Place Called Winter, Take Nothing with You) joins Antony to talk about stories existing independently of how we tell them, using research as immersion, and being a non-linear writer who also doesn’t outline (!)
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21: Zoë Sharp
Zoë Sharp (Killer Instinct, Dancing on the Grave) joins Antony to discuss women who can look after themselves, ending stories at just the right speed, and the value of summarising your own book.
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20: Stephen Graham Jones
For Hallowe’en, horror writer Stephen Graham Jones (Mongrels, The Only Good Indians) joins Antony to talk about the exhilaration of terror, finding a story’s unique voice, and making the boring bits interesting.
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19: James Moran
James Moran (Cockneys vs Zombies, Doctor Who) joins Antony to discuss digital brains, spending months on preparation, and working harder than everyone else.
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18: Fonda Lee
Fonda Lee (Jade City, Exo) joins Antony to talk about finding the courage to start, unexpected skillsets for being a writer, and the value of even a poorly-drawn map.
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17: Greg Rucka
Greg Rucka (The Old Guard, Stumptown) joins Antony to discuss perpetual dissatisfaction, changing techniques (a lot!), and writing angry.
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16: Rhianna Pratchett
Rhianna Pratchett (Tomb Raider, Mirror's Edge) joins Antony to talk about hitting deadlines, the advantages of having a roadmap, and being surprised that the work gets done.
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15: CL Taylor
CL Taylor (Sleep, Strangers) joins Antony to discuss turning disasters into opportunities, reading non-fiction, and hating revisions.
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14: John Gruber
"John Gruber (Daring Fireball) joins Antony to talk about being your own editor, writing in an idiosyncratic voice, and just what is a 'system', anyway? PS Stick around after the closing music for some extended nerdery about Markdown and pens...!"
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13: James Swallow
James Swallow (Nomad, Deus Ex) joins Antony to discuss transferring writing skills between media, writing licensed franchise novels, and revising half a book.
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12: Lauren Beukes
Lauren Beukes (The Shining Girls, Zoo City) joins Antony to talk about hustling for stories, why finding an agent is like dating, and the importance of trust.
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11: Steve Cavanagh
Steve Cavanagh (Thirteen, Twisted) joins Antony to discuss being deluded enough to write a book, not outlining, and ideas that make a noise.
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10: Paul Cornell
Paul Cornell (Doctor Who, London Falling) joins Antony to talk about being yourself, worldbuilding cues, and the freedom of knowing you're going to rewrite it anyway.
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9: Amal El-Mohtar
Amal El-Mohtar (This is How You Lose the Time War, Seasons of Glass and Iron) joins Antony to discuss how poetry strengthens prose, the joy of co-writing, and adapting one's own work.
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8: Bryan Hill
Bryan Hill (Titans, Batman and the Outsiders) joins Antony to talk about writing for TV, meditating on outlines, and writing twenty pages a day (!)
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7: Kieron Gillen
Kieron Gillen (The Wicked + The Divine, X-Men) joins Antony to discuss turning criticism into fiction, being transparent, and doing all the research.
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6: Cherie Priest
Award-winning novelist Cherie Priest (Boneshaker, I Am Princess X) joins Antony to talk about very specific research, making up what you can't find out, and the trials of book tour geography.
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5: Kelly Sue DeConnick
Kelly Sue DeConnick (Captain Marvel, Emerald City) joins Antony to discuss her daily routine, favourite notebooks, and why she wishes she could still wake up at 3am.
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4: Vaseem Khan
Vaseem Khan (The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra, Bad Day at the Vulture Club) joins Antony to talk about doing justice to an idea, his five rules for writing series, and plotting with a spreadsheet.
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3: Dan Moren
Novelist and tech journalist Dan Moren joins Antony to talk about his journey to writing novels, seeking distraction in order to focus, and forgetting everything once it's published.
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2: Maya Rodale
Bestselling novelist Maya Rodale (Duchess by Design, Dangerous Books for Girls) joins Antony to talk about being prolific, finding your routine, and writing in layers.
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1: An Introduction to Writing and Breathing
A short introductory episode to the Writing and Breathing podcast. Who is Antony? What's the show about? Why does it exist? All these questions may or may not be answered in the next two and a half minutes.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A podcast about why, how, and what we write. Bestselling writer Antony Johnston talks frankly with other authors about their motivations, methods, and processes. A must-listen for anyone interested in the craft and business of writing.
HOSTED BY
Antony Johnston
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Writing and Breathing have?
Writing and Breathing currently has 33 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Writing and Breathing about?
A podcast about why, how, and what we write. Bestselling writer Antony Johnston talks frankly with other authors about their motivations, methods, and processes. A must-listen for anyone interested in the craft and business of writing.
How often does Writing and Breathing release new episodes?
Writing and Breathing has 33 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Writing and Breathing?
You can listen to Writing and Breathing on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Writing and Breathing?
Writing and Breathing is created and hosted by Antony Johnston.
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