All Episodes
The Writing Life — 201 episodes
Writing the self in memoir: Camilla Balshaw on Named
Storytelling in graphic novels: Anna Trench on Florrie
Stories of humanity & connection: Jenni Fagan on The Delusions
The path to publication: Grace Murray on Blank Canvas
Wonder and Loss: Writing Grief and Memoir with Sam Meekings
Family and Caribbean folklore: Celeste Mohammed on Ever Since We Small
Writing dystopian fiction: Matt Greene on The Definitions
Writing speculative fiction: Choo Yi Feng on ecology, world building, and creating mysterious characters
Poets in conversation: John Osborne & Lewis Buxton on performance, humour, and place
New year, new writing goals: Julia Crouch on getting started, finding inspiration, and writing what excites
Writing festive thrillers: Nicola Upson on The Christmas Clue
What is ‘experimental fiction’?: Clara Chow on travelling, writing about taboo subjects, and having fun
Writing grief and the body: Lisabelle Tay & Heather Parry in conversation with Yan Ge
Writing flawed characters: Sarah Moss on Ripeness
The poetry of motherhood: Erica Hesketh and Jenny Pagdin on language, recovery, and balance
A writer’s journey: Vanessa Bell on book tours, friendship, and revisiting old projects
Representation in children’s literature: Hayley Wells on The Spectacular Suit
Reimagining classics: Pat Barker on the Regeneration Trilogy
Writing contemporary crime fiction: Val McDermid on Past Lying
Becoming a published author: Wen-Yi Lee on representation, writing residencies, and building a readership
Writing between genres: Michael Pedersen on Muckle Flugga
World building in horror fiction: Julia Armfield on Private Rites
The world of Substack: Eleanor Anstruther & Simon K Jones on serial fiction
Writing love stories: André Aciman on Room on the Sea
The power of language: Eimear McBride on The City Changes Its Face
Writing strong female characters: Joanna Miller on The Eights
The rise of romantasy with Sangu Mandanna
Writing about sports and masculinity with George Harrison, Alex Allison, and Ashley Hickson-Lovence
Developing your creative practice with Julia Bird
Writing about nature with Chloe Dalton
Writing a festive bestseller with Abiola Bello
Writing about music with Aniefiok Ekpoudom
Researching for crime novels with Peter James
Routes into writing with S G Bell
Writing dialect in fiction with Ferdia Lennon
Writing through place: Heidi Williamson & Rebecca Goss on poetry, memory and healing
Structuring non-fiction with Nick Acheson
Writing collaboratively with Maarja Pärtna & Penny Boxall
Advice for emerging writers with Benjamin Johncock & Megan Bradbury
Writing the 'difficult second novel' with Melissa Fu
Writing romantic comedies with PJ Ellis
Researching for fiction with Jon McGregor
Writing soaps with James McDermott & Stephen Keyworth
Writing narrative non-fiction with Dan Richards & Edward Parnell
How to be a craftivist with Sarah P Corbett
Writing for performance with HighTide
Writing poetry with Martin Figura
Reintroducing Harriet Martineau with Stuart Hobday & Gaby Weiner
Crafting identity in fiction with Michael Donkor
Writing subversive women with Naomi Wood
Virtual residencies with Nur-El-Hudaa Jaffar, Sim Wai-chew and Tse Hao Guang
Writing the grotesque body with Heather Parry
Writing and chronic illness with Polly Atkin
Writing for younger audiences with Chip Colquhoun
Writing modern noir with Margot Douaihy
Writing unreliable narrators with Hannah Vincent
Into the contemporary poetry archive
How to Write a Script with Molly Naylor
In conversation with bestselling crime writer Ian Rankin
The craft of life writing with Fiona Mason
Writing Short Stories with Yan Ge
Music and translation with Kalaf Epalanga & Daniel Hahn
Priscilla Morris on writing resistance and community in Black Butterflies
Working Class Noir with Tom Benn
Writing Real People in Memoir with Katy Massey
How to Write Suspense Fiction with Claire McGowan
Writing a Biography with Patrick Barkham
Life as a Poet - with Raymond Antrobus
Writing About Historical Figures with Victoria Mackenzie
Working with a Translator - with Caroline Lamarche and Katherine Gregor
In conversation with Max Porter at the Book Hive
Interviewing difficult subjects with Richard Balls
In Conversation with British-Nepali Writer and Translator Rabi Thapa
The Martineau Lecture with Kit De Waal
How to Develop Compelling Characters in Your Fiction - with Okechukwu Nzelu
Writer Insights with James Kinsley
Common ground: writing, culture and community in Singapore
How to write humour - with Caimh McDonnell
From writing craft to witchcraft with Kirsty Logan
Literary Translation and Neurodivergence - with Clare Richards
How To Build Your Writing Routine - with Megan Bradbury
New voices: 10 emerging writers read their work
How To Grip Your Readers - with Julia Crouch
Writing Using The Senses
What makes a great short story? With Jenn Ashworth
Writing About Love - A Conversation With Maddie Mortimer
Partners in crime: Yelena Moskovich in conversation with Julia Crouch
Revision: rewriting and redrafting with Lynne Bryan
Mohsin Hamid discusses The Last White Man
How To Balance Story And Plot
How To Structure A Novel
SPECIAL: Wandering Words poems and soundscapes
We Are Always Translating
Research for writing with Megan Bradbury and Sam Ruddock
The poetry process with Khairani Barokka
From Taekwondo to literary translation with Mattho Mandersloot
Translation as activism with Anam Zafar & Meena Kandasamy
Lucy van Smit’s Writer’s Journal Workbook
Sawad Hussain & Archana Madhavan on translating webtoons & Korean literature
Andy Hamilton on writing in Longhand
How to be self-published AND traditionally published with Nicola May
Jarred McGinnis on blending fact and fiction in The Coward
Derek Barretto‘s path to literary translation
Jennifer Anne Champion on poetry and embroidery
Adam Z Robinson on theatre, Patreon and adapting to Covid-19
Editing & translating for young readers with Ella Micheler
Writing fantasy with Nuraliah Norasid
Going from self-publishing to traditional publishing with AE Warren
Jenn Ashworth on writing fiction & non-fiction
Nazry Bahrawi & Vineet Lal in conversation
Carole Angier on writing the first biography of W.G. Sebald
Megan Abbott on crime writing‘s power to change society
Structuring a novel: Rebecca Watson talks to Chitra Ramaswamy about Little Scratch
Kate Mosse on the Women‘s Prize, Discoveries and research
Finding hope in an age of crisis - with Tom Whyman
Lewis Buxton on boyhood, sexuality, sport and publishing his first poetry collection
Shash Trevett & Geetha Sukumaran on translating Tamil poetry
Olivia Hellwell on translating from Slovene (+ the cultural importance of crisps)
Substack, the creator economy & serialised storytelling with Elle Griffin
Tommy Sissons on writing a prose polemic
How to become a literary translator: deep dive
Tsitsi Dangarembga on representation, feminism and Zimbabwean literature
William Ryan's Guide to How to Write
Jen Campbell on building your writer platform
We pick our top episodes from lockdown
J. Michael Straczynski on Becoming A Writer, Staying A Writer
Jessie Greengrass on The High House
Lynn Buckle on positive climate writing with Flo Reynolds
Abir Mukherjee: Weather With You #3
Derek Owusu: Weather With You #2
Kerri ní Dochartaigh: Weather With You #1
Valur Gunnarsson & Sarah Bower on writing alternate histories
Liz Breslin & Tiffany Atkinson on discovering yourself through writing
Polish writer Marcin Wilk talks to Joe Hedinger from The Book Hive
Julian of Norwich & biscuits with Vahni Capildeo and Jeremy Noel-Tod
Writing a short story collection with Jo Lloyd + Norfolk & Norwich Festival!
Neill Cameron on writing for young comics readers, representation, The Phoenix & MEGA ROBO BROS
Ambiguity & metaphor in The Last Good Man with Thomas McMullan
Writing HADES with Greg Kasavin of Supergiant Games
Crowdfunded publishing with Tom Cox
Writing about the slave who became Queen Victoria's goddaughter - with Anni Domingo
Writing creative non-fiction with Sonia Faleiro
Horatio Clare's journey through madness, mania & healing
Theatre in translation with William Gregory & Sue Healy
To Olivia - film adaptation with Stephen Michael Shearer & John Hay
Styles of dialogue with Chris Beckett
Writing a novel on a phone - with Jon Ransom
Kate Worsley on the value of mentoring & the challenges of Covid-19
Nicola Upson on why books are more vital than ever
Owen Nicholls on his first novel & the Escalator scheme
World building using narrative voice - with Abi Daré
Characters in translation - with Thomas Heerma van Voss
The Black Writers on Democracy Project
Form & feeling with poet Will Harris
The Artful Dickens, literary conjuror - with John Mullan
Research, editing & planning novels with Stuart Turton
Publishing with a small press - with Sally-Anne Lomas & Sam Ruddock
Oyinkan Braithwaite on My Sister, The Serial Killer - Noirwich 2020
What happens when Covid-19 cancels your book launch? - Richard Lambert returns!
Writing narrative non-fiction with Kate Summerscale
Agents, representation, childcare & moving out of London - with Emma Shercliff
How to be an organised writer with Antony Johnston
Kieron Gillen on world building in Eternals, Wicked+Divine, Star Wars
Attica Locke on Power, Property And Prejudice
Book Club:: RENDANG by Will Harris
Noirwich 2020: Poirot Special with Sophie Hannah & Mark Aldridge
Noirwich 2020: Anita Terpstra, virtual writer in residence
Noirwich 2020: Paddy Richardson, virtual writer in residence
How to get your poetry published - with Flo Reynolds
Okechukwu Nzelu's 10 year writing journey
Debut author Eliza Clark on Boy Parts, being published during Covid-19 & lazy comparisons
How Arts Council National Lottery Grants Work
Elvira Dones on identity and translation in Sworn Virgin
The Writing Life Trailer
Sarah Perry on crafting characters
Designing Your Plot - Nicola Upson returns!
Earning a writer's trust - with translator Sarah Ardizzone
Eva Meijer and Animal Languages
Book Club: Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke
Simon & Steph Celebrate 100 Episodes
Eimear McBride's Method
Poetry In Lockdown - with Lewis Buxton of TOAST
Announcing the Desmond Elliott Prize Shortlist
Searching For Answers with Bregje Hofstede
Owen Sheers' International Literature Showcase Reveal
A Portrait Of An Artist And A Writer
A Delicate Sight: Max Porter & Sam Winston
Creating Characters With Michael Donkor
Join our Book Club!
Becoming A Translator with Motoyuki Shibata
The responsibilities of writers - with Kendel Hippolyte
Researching True Crime with Stephanie Scott
Writing In Interesting Times - with Vahur Afanasjev
Finding Your New Normal - Mark Stay returns!
Method And Digital Tools - Bregje Hofstede & Moto Shibata
Jenny Offill: Catastrophising, coronavirus & Weather
Exploring Themes Through Characters: Ayobami Adebayo
BookTube & Your Online Platform - with Leena Norms
The Writing Life podcast trailer
From Teacher To Writer: Ashley Hickson-Lovence
Taking Yourself Seriously - with Cat Woodward