The Writing Life
By National Centre for Writing
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Subscribers: 88
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Episodes: 200
Description
We’re a podcast for anyone who writes. Every week we talk to writers about their writing journeys and techniques, from early career debuts to self-publishers and narrative designers. We’ve featured Margaret Atwood, Jackie Kay, Sara Collins, Antti Tuomainen, Val McDermid, Sarah Perry, Elif Shafak and many more!
The Writing Life is produced by the National Centre for Writing at Dragon Hall in Norwich.
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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Writing relationships: Jem Calder on I Want You to Be Happy
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Jul 13, 2026 |
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Finding balance in writing: Sithuraj Ponraj on working across languages, jobs, and genres
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Jun 29, 2026 |
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From draft to debut: Anna Goldreich on The Leveret
|
Jun 15, 2026 |
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Madness and Magic: Hannah Murray on her memoir The Make Believe
|
Jun 01, 2026 |
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Experimenting with narrative form: Ashley Hickson-Lovence on About to Fall Apart
|
May 18, 2026 |
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Writing the self in memoir: Camilla Balshaw on Named
|
May 04, 2026 |
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Storytelling in graphic novels: Anna Trench on Florrie
|
Apr 20, 2026 |
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Stories of humanity & connection: Jenni Fagan on The Delusions
|
Apr 06, 2026 |
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The path to publication: Grace Murray on Blank Canvas
|
Mar 23, 2026 |
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Wonder and Loss: Writing Grief and Memoir with Sam Meekings
|
Mar 09, 2026 |
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Family and Caribbean folklore: Celeste Mohammed on Ever Since We Small
|
Feb 23, 2026 |
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Writing dystopian fiction: Matt Greene on The Definitions
|
Feb 09, 2026 |
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Writing speculative fiction: Choo Yi Feng on ecology, world building, and creating mysterious characters
|
Jan 26, 2026 |
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Poets in conversation: John Osborne & Lewis Buxton on performance, humour, and place
|
Jan 12, 2026 |
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New year, new writing goals: Julia Crouch on getting started, finding inspiration, and writing what excites
|
Dec 29, 2025 |
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Writing festive thrillers: Nicola Upson on The Christmas Clue
|
Dec 15, 2025 |
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What is ‘experimental fiction’?: Clara Chow on travelling, writing about taboo subjects, and having fun
|
Nov 17, 2025 |
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Writing grief and the body: Lisabelle Tay & Heather Parry in conversation with Yan Ge
|
Nov 03, 2025 |
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Writing flawed characters: Sarah Moss on Ripeness
|
Oct 20, 2025 |
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The poetry of motherhood: Erica Hesketh and Jenny Pagdin on language, recovery, and balance
|
Oct 06, 2025 |
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A writer’s journey: Vanessa Bell on book tours, friendship, and revisiting old projects
|
Sep 22, 2025 |
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Representation in children’s literature: Hayley Wells on The Spectacular Suit
|
Sep 08, 2025 |
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Reimagining classics: Pat Barker on the Regeneration Trilogy
|
Aug 25, 2025 |
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Writing contemporary crime fiction: Val McDermid on Past Lying
|
Aug 11, 2025 |
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Becoming a published author: Wen-Yi Lee on representation, writing residencies, and building a readership
|
Jul 28, 2025 |
|
Writing between genres: Michael Pedersen on Muckle Flugga
|
Jul 14, 2025 |
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World building in horror fiction: Julia Armfield on Private Rites
|
Jun 30, 2025 |
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The world of Substack: Eleanor Anstruther & Simon K Jones on serial fiction
|
Jun 16, 2025 |
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Writing love stories: André Aciman on Room on the Sea
|
Jun 02, 2025 |
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The power of language: Eimear McBride on The City Changes Its Face
|
May 19, 2025 |
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Writing strong female characters: Joanna Miller on The Eights
|
May 05, 2025 |
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The rise of romantasy with Sangu Mandanna
|
Apr 14, 2025 |
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Writing about sports and masculinity with George Harrison, Alex Allison, and Ashley Hickson-Lovence
|
Mar 17, 2025 |
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Developing your creative practice with Julia Bird
|
Feb 10, 2025 |
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Writing about nature with Chloe Dalton
|
Jan 13, 2025 |
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Writing a festive bestseller with Abiola Bello
|
Dec 16, 2024 |
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Writing about music with Aniefiok Ekpoudom
|
Dec 02, 2024 |
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Researching for crime novels with Peter James
|
Nov 18, 2024 |
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Routes into writing with S G Bell
|
Nov 04, 2024 |
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Writing dialect in fiction with Ferdia Lennon
|
Oct 21, 2024 |
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Writing through place: Heidi Williamson & Rebecca Goss on poetry, memory and healing
|
Oct 07, 2024 |
|
Structuring non-fiction with Nick Acheson
|
Sep 23, 2024 |
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Writing collaboratively with Maarja Pärtna & Penny Boxall
|
Sep 09, 2024 |
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Advice for emerging writers with Benjamin Johncock & Megan Bradbury
|
Aug 26, 2024 |
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Writing the 'difficult second novel' with Melissa Fu
|
Aug 12, 2024 |
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Writing romantic comedies with PJ Ellis
|
Jul 29, 2024 |
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Researching for fiction with Jon McGregor
|
Jul 15, 2024 |
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Writing soaps with James McDermott & Stephen Keyworth
|
Jul 01, 2024 |
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Writing narrative non-fiction with Dan Richards & Edward Parnell
|
Jun 17, 2024 |
|
How to be a craftivist with Sarah P Corbett
|
Jun 03, 2024 |
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Writing for performance with HighTide
|
May 20, 2024 |
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Writing poetry with Martin Figura
|
May 06, 2024 |
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Reintroducing Harriet Martineau with Stuart Hobday & Gaby Weiner
|
Apr 22, 2024 |
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Crafting identity in fiction with Michael Donkor
|
Apr 08, 2024 |
|
Writing subversive women with Naomi Wood
|
Mar 25, 2024 |
|
Virtual residencies with Nur-El-Hudaa Jaffar, Sim Wai-chew and Tse Hao Guang
|
Mar 11, 2024 |
|
Writing the grotesque body with Heather Parry
|
Feb 19, 2024 |
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Writing and chronic illness with Polly Atkin
|
Feb 05, 2024 |
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Writing for younger audiences with Chip Colquhoun
|
Jan 22, 2024 |
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Writing modern noir with Margot Douaihy
|
Jan 08, 2024 |
|
Writing unreliable narrators with Hannah Vincent
|
Dec 18, 2023 |
|
Into the contemporary poetry archive
|
Dec 04, 2023 |
|
How to Write a Script with Molly Naylor
|
Nov 20, 2023 |
|
In conversation with bestselling crime writer Ian Rankin
|
Nov 06, 2023 |
|
The craft of life writing with Fiona Mason
|
Oct 23, 2023 |
|
Writing Short Stories with Yan Ge
|
Oct 10, 2023 |
|
Music and translation with Kalaf Epalanga & Daniel Hahn
|
Sep 26, 2023 |
|
Priscilla Morris on writing resistance and community in Black Butterflies
|
Sep 11, 2023 |
|
Working Class Noir with Tom Benn
|
Aug 28, 2023 |
|
Writing Real People in Memoir with Katy Massey
|
Aug 14, 2023 |
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How to Write Suspense Fiction with Claire McGowan
|
Jul 31, 2023 |
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Writing a Biography with Patrick Barkham
|
Jul 17, 2023 |
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Life as a Poet - with Raymond Antrobus
|
Jul 03, 2023 |
|
Writing About Historical Figures with Victoria Mackenzie
|
Jun 19, 2023 |
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Working with a Translator - with Caroline Lamarche and Katherine Gregor
|
Jun 05, 2023 |
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In conversation with Max Porter at the Book Hive
|
May 22, 2023 |
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Interviewing difficult subjects with Richard Balls
|
May 08, 2023 |
|
In Conversation with British-Nepali Writer and Translator Rabi Thapa
|
Apr 24, 2023 |
|
The Martineau Lecture with Kit De Waal
|
Mar 20, 2023 |
|
How to Develop Compelling Characters in Your Fiction - with Okechukwu Nzelu
|
Mar 06, 2023 |
|
Writer Insights with James Kinsley
|
Feb 22, 2023 |
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Common ground: writing, culture and community in Singapore
|
Feb 06, 2023 |
|
How to write humour - with Caimh McDonnell
|
Jan 24, 2023 |
|
From writing craft to witchcraft with Kirsty Logan
|
Jan 02, 2023 |
|
Literary Translation and Neurodivergence - with Clare Richards
|
Dec 21, 2022 |
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How To Build Your Writing Routine - with Megan Bradbury
|
Dec 07, 2022 |
|
New voices: 10 emerging writers read their work
|
Nov 22, 2022 |
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How To Grip Your Readers - with Julia Crouch
|
Nov 07, 2022 |
|
Writing Using The Senses
|
Oct 24, 2022 |
|
What makes a great short story? With Jenn Ashworth
|
Oct 10, 2022 |
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Writing About Love - A Conversation With Maddie Mortimer
|
Sep 28, 2022 |
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Partners in crime: Yelena Moskovich in conversation with Julia Crouch
|
Sep 14, 2022 |
|
Revision: rewriting and redrafting with Lynne Bryan
|
Aug 30, 2022 |
|
Mohsin Hamid discusses The Last White Man
|
Aug 18, 2022 |
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How To Balance Story And Plot
|
Jul 18, 2022 |
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How To Structure A Novel
|
Jun 24, 2022 |
|
SPECIAL: Wandering Words poems and soundscapes
|
Jun 07, 2022 |
|
We Are Always Translating
|
May 26, 2022 |
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Research for writing with Megan Bradbury and Sam Ruddock
|
Apr 21, 2022 |
|
The poetry process with Khairani Barokka
|
Mar 21, 2022 |
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From Taekwondo to literary translation with Mattho Mandersloot
|
Feb 25, 2022 |
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Translation as activism with Anam Zafar & Meena Kandasamy
|
Feb 07, 2022 |
|
Lucy van Smit’s Writer’s Journal Workbook
|
Jan 18, 2022 |
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Sawad Hussain & Archana Madhavan on translating webtoons & Korean literature
|
Jan 10, 2022 |
|
Andy Hamilton on writing in Longhand
|
Dec 10, 2021 |
|
How to be self-published AND traditionally published with Nicola May
|
Dec 03, 2021 |
|
Jarred McGinnis on blending fact and fiction in The Coward
|
Nov 26, 2021 |
|
Derek Barretto‘s path to literary translation
|
Nov 19, 2021 |
|
Jennifer Anne Champion on poetry and embroidery
|
Nov 12, 2021 |
|
Adam Z Robinson on theatre, Patreon and adapting to Covid-19
|
Nov 05, 2021 |
|
Editing & translating for young readers with Ella Micheler
|
Oct 28, 2021 |
|
Writing fantasy with Nuraliah Norasid
|
Oct 22, 2021 |
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Going from self-publishing to traditional publishing with AE Warren
|
Oct 15, 2021 |
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Jenn Ashworth on writing fiction & non-fiction
|
Oct 08, 2021 |
|
Nazry Bahrawi & Vineet Lal in conversation
|
Sep 30, 2021 |
|
Carole Angier on writing the first biography of W.G. Sebald
|
Sep 24, 2021 |
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Megan Abbott on crime writing‘s power to change society
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Sep 17, 2021 |
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Structuring a novel: Rebecca Watson talks to Chitra Ramaswamy about Little Scratch
|
Sep 09, 2021 |
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Kate Mosse on the Women‘s Prize, Discoveries and research
|
Sep 03, 2021 |
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Finding hope in an age of crisis - with Tom Whyman
|
Aug 27, 2021 |
|
Lewis Buxton on boyhood, sexuality, sport and publishing his first poetry collection
|
Aug 20, 2021 |
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Shash Trevett & Geetha Sukumaran on translating Tamil poetry
|
Aug 13, 2021 |
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Olivia Hellwell on translating from Slovene (+ the cultural importance of crisps)
|
Aug 06, 2021 |
|
Substack, the creator economy & serialised storytelling with Elle Griffin
|
Jul 30, 2021 |
|
Tommy Sissons on writing a prose polemic
|
Jul 23, 2021 |
|
How to become a literary translator: deep dive
|
Jul 16, 2021 |
|
Tsitsi Dangarembga on representation, feminism and Zimbabwean literature
|
Jul 09, 2021 |
|
William Ryan's Guide to How to Write
|
Jul 02, 2021 |
|
Jen Campbell on building your writer platform
|
Jun 24, 2021 |
|
We pick our top episodes from lockdown
|
Jun 18, 2021 |
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J. Michael Straczynski on Becoming A Writer, Staying A Writer
|
Jun 11, 2021 |
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Jessie Greengrass on The High House
|
Jun 04, 2021 |
|
Lynn Buckle on positive climate writing with Flo Reynolds
|
May 28, 2021 |
|
Abir Mukherjee: Weather With You #3
|
May 26, 2021 |
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Derek Owusu: Weather With You #2
|
May 25, 2021 |
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Kerri ní Dochartaigh: Weather With You #1
|
May 24, 2021 |
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Valur Gunnarsson & Sarah Bower on writing alternate histories
|
May 21, 2021 |
|
Liz Breslin & Tiffany Atkinson on discovering yourself through writing
|
May 14, 2021 |
|
Polish writer Marcin Wilk talks to Joe Hedinger from The Book Hive
|
May 07, 2021 |
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Julian of Norwich & biscuits with Vahni Capildeo and Jeremy Noel-Tod
|
Apr 29, 2021 |
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Writing a short story collection with Jo Lloyd + Norfolk & Norwich Festival!
|
Apr 23, 2021 |
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Neill Cameron on writing for young comics readers, representation, The Phoenix & MEGA ROBO BROS
|
Apr 15, 2021 |
|
Ambiguity & metaphor in The Last Good Man with Thomas McMullan
|
Apr 07, 2021 |
|
Writing HADES with Greg Kasavin of Supergiant Games
|
Mar 31, 2021 |
|
Crowdfunded publishing with Tom Cox
|
Mar 26, 2021 |
|
Writing about the slave who became Queen Victoria's goddaughter - with Anni Domingo
|
Mar 18, 2021 |
|
Writing creative non-fiction with Sonia Faleiro
|
Mar 11, 2021 |
|
Horatio Clare's journey through madness, mania & healing
|
Mar 04, 2021 |
|
Theatre in translation with William Gregory & Sue Healy
|
Feb 25, 2021 |
|
To Olivia - film adaptation with Stephen Michael Shearer & John Hay
|
Feb 17, 2021 |
|
Styles of dialogue with Chris Beckett
|
Feb 10, 2021 |
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Writing a novel on a phone - with Jon Ransom
|
Feb 03, 2021 |
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Kate Worsley on the value of mentoring & the challenges of Covid-19
|
Jan 28, 2021 |
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Nicola Upson on why books are more vital than ever
|
Jan 20, 2021 |
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Owen Nicholls on his first novel & the Escalator scheme
|
Jan 13, 2021 |
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World building using narrative voice - with Abi Daré
|
Jan 06, 2021 |
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Characters in translation - with Thomas Heerma van Voss
|
Dec 16, 2020 |
|
The Black Writers on Democracy Project
|
Dec 11, 2020 |
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Form & feeling with poet Will Harris
|
Dec 02, 2020 |
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The Artful Dickens, literary conjuror - with John Mullan
|
Nov 26, 2020 |
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Research, editing & planning novels with Stuart Turton
|
Nov 20, 2020 |
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Publishing with a small press - with Sally-Anne Lomas & Sam Ruddock
|
Nov 12, 2020 |
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Oyinkan Braithwaite on My Sister, The Serial Killer - Noirwich 2020
|
Nov 06, 2020 |
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What happens when Covid-19 cancels your book launch? - Richard Lambert returns!
|
Oct 28, 2020 |
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Writing narrative non-fiction with Kate Summerscale
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Oct 21, 2020 |
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Agents, representation, childcare & moving out of London - with Emma Shercliff
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Oct 14, 2020 |
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How to be an organised writer with Antony Johnston
|
Oct 07, 2020 |
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Kieron Gillen on world building in Eternals, Wicked+Divine, Star Wars
|
Oct 01, 2020 |
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Attica Locke on Power, Property And Prejudice
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Sep 24, 2020 |
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Book Club:: RENDANG by Will Harris
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Sep 17, 2020 |
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Noirwich 2020: Poirot Special with Sophie Hannah & Mark Aldridge
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Sep 13, 2020 |
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Noirwich 2020: Anita Terpstra, virtual writer in residence
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Sep 11, 2020 |
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Noirwich 2020: Paddy Richardson, virtual writer in residence
|
Sep 10, 2020 |
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How to get your poetry published - with Flo Reynolds
|
Sep 02, 2020 |
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Okechukwu Nzelu's 10 year writing journey
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Aug 26, 2020 |
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Debut author Eliza Clark on Boy Parts, being published during Covid-19 & lazy comparisons
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Aug 20, 2020 |
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How Arts Council National Lottery Grants Work
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Aug 12, 2020 |
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Elvira Dones on identity and translation in Sworn Virgin
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Aug 07, 2020 |
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The Writing Life Trailer
|
Aug 04, 2020 |
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Sarah Perry on crafting characters
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Jul 29, 2020 |
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Designing Your Plot - Nicola Upson returns!
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Jul 24, 2020 |
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Earning a writer's trust - with translator Sarah Ardizzone
|
Jul 17, 2020 |
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Eva Meijer and Animal Languages
|
Jul 10, 2020 |
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Book Club: Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke
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Jul 02, 2020 |
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Simon & Steph Celebrate 100 Episodes
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Jun 24, 2020 |
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Eimear McBride's Method
|
Jun 17, 2020 |
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Poetry In Lockdown - with Lewis Buxton of TOAST
|
Jun 10, 2020 |
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Announcing the Desmond Elliott Prize Shortlist
|
Jun 03, 2020 |
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Searching For Answers with Bregje Hofstede
|
May 28, 2020 |
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Owen Sheers' International Literature Showcase Reveal
|
May 23, 2020 |
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A Portrait Of An Artist And A Writer
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May 20, 2020 |
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A Delicate Sight: Max Porter & Sam Winston
|
May 18, 2020 |
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Creating Characters With Michael Donkor
|
May 13, 2020 |
|
Join our Book Club!
|
May 07, 2020 |
|
Becoming A Translator with Motoyuki Shibata
|
May 01, 2020 |
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The responsibilities of writers - with Kendel Hippolyte
|
Apr 24, 2020 |
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Researching True Crime with Stephanie Scott
|
Apr 17, 2020 |
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Writing In Interesting Times - with Vahur Afanasjev
|
Apr 09, 2020 |
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Finding Your New Normal - Mark Stay returns!
|
Apr 01, 2020 |
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Method And Digital Tools - Bregje Hofstede & Moto Shibata
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Mar 25, 2020 |