The Writing Life

By National Centre for Writing

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Subscribers: 69
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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
Writing poetry with Martin Figura
May 06, 2024
Reintroducing Harriet Martineau with Stuart Hobday & Gaby Weiner
Apr 22, 2024
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
Writing and chronic illness with Polly Atkin
Feb 05, 2024
Writing for younger audiences with Chip Colquhoun
Jan 22, 2024
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
How to Write Suspense Fiction with Claire McGowan
Jul 31, 2023
Writing a Biography with Patrick Barkham
Jul 17, 2023
Life as a Poet - with Raymond Antrobus
Jul 03, 2023
Writing About Historical Figures with Victoria Mackenzie
Jun 19, 2023
Working with a Translator - with Caroline Lamarche and Katherine Gregor
Jun 05, 2023
In conversation with Max Porter at the Book Hive
May 22, 2023
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
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
How To Build Your Writing Routine - with Megan Bradbury
Dec 07, 2022
New voices: 10 emerging writers read their work
Nov 22, 2022
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
Writing About Love - A Conversation With Maddie Mortimer
Sep 28, 2022
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
How To Balance Story And Plot
Jul 18, 2022
How To Structure A Novel
Jun 24, 2022
SPECIAL: Wandering Words poems and soundscapes
Jun 07, 2022
We Are Always Translating
May 26, 2022
Research for writing with Megan Bradbury and Sam Ruddock
Apr 21, 2022
The poetry process with Khairani Barokka
Mar 21, 2022
From Taekwondo to literary translation with Mattho Mandersloot
Feb 25, 2022
Translation as activism with Anam Zafar & Meena Kandasamy
Feb 07, 2022
Lucy van Smit’s Writer’s Journal Workbook
Jan 18, 2022
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
Going from self-publishing to traditional publishing with AE Warren
Oct 15, 2021
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
Megan Abbott on crime writing‘s power to change society
Sep 17, 2021
Structuring a novel: Rebecca Watson talks to Chitra Ramaswamy about Little Scratch
Sep 09, 2021
Kate Mosse on the Women‘s Prize, Discoveries and research
Sep 03, 2021
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
Shash Trevett & Geetha Sukumaran on translating Tamil poetry
Aug 13, 2021
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
J. Michael Straczynski on Becoming A Writer, Staying A Writer
Jun 11, 2021
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
Derek Owusu: Weather With You #2
May 25, 2021
Kerri ní Dochartaigh: Weather With You #1
May 24, 2021
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
Julian of Norwich & biscuits with Vahni Capildeo and Jeremy Noel-Tod
Apr 29, 2021
Writing a short story collection with Jo Lloyd + Norfolk & Norwich Festival!
Apr 23, 2021
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
Writing a novel on a phone - with Jon Ransom
Feb 03, 2021
Kate Worsley on the value of mentoring & the challenges of Covid-19
Jan 28, 2021
Nicola Upson on why books are more vital than ever
Jan 20, 2021
Owen Nicholls on his first novel & the Escalator scheme
Jan 13, 2021
World building using narrative voice - with Abi Daré
Jan 06, 2021
Characters in translation - with Thomas Heerma van Voss
Dec 16, 2020
The Black Writers on Democracy Project
Dec 11, 2020
Form & feeling with poet Will Harris
Dec 02, 2020
The Artful Dickens, literary conjuror - with John Mullan
Nov 26, 2020
Research, editing & planning novels with Stuart Turton
Nov 20, 2020
Publishing with a small press - with Sally-Anne Lomas & Sam Ruddock
Nov 12, 2020
Oyinkan Braithwaite on My Sister, The Serial Killer - Noirwich 2020
Nov 06, 2020
What happens when Covid-19 cancels your book launch? - Richard Lambert returns!
Oct 28, 2020
Writing narrative non-fiction with Kate Summerscale
Oct 21, 2020
Agents, representation, childcare & moving out of London - with Emma Shercliff
Oct 14, 2020
How to be an organised writer with Antony Johnston
Oct 07, 2020
Kieron Gillen on world building in Eternals, Wicked+Divine, Star Wars
Oct 01, 2020
Attica Locke on Power, Property And Prejudice
Sep 24, 2020
Book Club:: RENDANG by Will Harris
Sep 17, 2020
Noirwich 2020: Poirot Special with Sophie Hannah & Mark Aldridge
Sep 13, 2020
Noirwich 2020: Anita Terpstra, virtual writer in residence
Sep 11, 2020
Noirwich 2020: Paddy Richardson, virtual writer in residence
Sep 10, 2020
How to get your poetry published - with Flo Reynolds
Sep 02, 2020
Okechukwu Nzelu's 10 year writing journey
Aug 26, 2020
Debut author Eliza Clark on Boy Parts, being published during Covid-19 & lazy comparisons
Aug 20, 2020
How Arts Council National Lottery Grants Work
Aug 12, 2020
Elvira Dones on identity and translation in Sworn Virgin
Aug 07, 2020
The Writing Life Trailer
Aug 04, 2020
Sarah Perry on crafting characters
Jul 29, 2020
Designing Your Plot - Nicola Upson returns!
Jul 24, 2020
Earning a writer's trust - with translator Sarah Ardizzone
Jul 17, 2020
Eva Meijer and Animal Languages
Jul 10, 2020
Book Club: Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke
Jul 02, 2020
Simon & Steph Celebrate 100 Episodes
Jun 24, 2020
Eimear McBride's Method
Jun 17, 2020
Poetry In Lockdown - with Lewis Buxton of TOAST
Jun 10, 2020
Announcing the Desmond Elliott Prize Shortlist
Jun 03, 2020
Searching For Answers with Bregje Hofstede
May 28, 2020
Owen Sheers' International Literature Showcase Reveal
May 23, 2020
A Portrait Of An Artist And A Writer
May 20, 2020
A Delicate Sight: Max Porter & Sam Winston
May 18, 2020
Creating Characters With Michael Donkor
May 13, 2020
Join our Book Club!
May 07, 2020
Becoming A Translator with Motoyuki Shibata
May 01, 2020
The responsibilities of writers - with Kendel Hippolyte
Apr 24, 2020
Researching True Crime with Stephanie Scott
Apr 17, 2020
Writing In Interesting Times - with Vahur Afanasjev
Apr 09, 2020
Finding Your New Normal - Mark Stay returns!
Apr 01, 2020
Method And Digital Tools - Bregje Hofstede & Moto Shibata
Mar 25, 2020
Jenny Offill: Catastrophising, coronavirus & Weather
Mar 20, 2020
Exploring Themes Through Characters: Ayobami Adebayo
Mar 13, 2020
BookTube & Your Online Platform - with Leena Norms
Mar 06, 2020
The Writing Life podcast trailer
Mar 04, 2020
From Teacher To Writer: Ashley Hickson-Lovence
Feb 26, 2020
Taking Yourself Seriously - with Cat Woodward
Feb 21, 2020
Leaving Your Job To Become A Writer - with Nuril Basri
Feb 14, 2020
How To Pitch To An Agent - Ed Wilson
Feb 07, 2020
How To Work With An Editor - Ashley Stokes
Jan 31, 2020
Six Top Tips For Writing Crime Fiction - Julia Crouch Part 2!
Jan 23, 2020
Anyone can be a writer - with Julia Crouch Part One!
Jan 17, 2020
How Mentoring Can Help Your Writing
Jan 10, 2020
Structuring non-fiction with Ed Parnell
Dec 19, 2019
Making a living as a literary translator with Ekaterina Petrova
Dec 05, 2019
How to get children excited about writing with Ruthie Collins
Nov 27, 2019
How to self-publish children's picture books with Mandy Stanley
Nov 22, 2019
How to pitch for travel writing with Agustinus Wibowo & Suzanne Joinson
Nov 13, 2019
Progressive politics in crime fiction with Denise Mina
Nov 01, 2019
Balancing a job & writing with Yrsa Sigurðardóttir
Oct 23, 2019
10 BAED Writers Chosen By Jackie Kay
Oct 18, 2019
Representation in fiction With Sara Collins
Oct 11, 2019
Preparing For Publication With Richard Lambert
Oct 04, 2019
Changing direction with Antti Tuomainen
Sep 27, 2019
Fiction & Fact: George Alagiah's 2019 Noirwich Lecture
Sep 20, 2019
Translators Jeremy Tiang & Anton Hur
Sep 11, 2019
Starting an indie bookshop + Primadonna Festival
Sep 06, 2019
Writing crime fiction protagonists with Claire McGowan
Aug 28, 2019
The Golden Hare And Lighthouse Bookshops
Aug 21, 2019
Val McDermid's 10 compelling LGBTQI+ writers in the UK
Aug 10, 2019
Alicia Morgan in a Room of Her Own
Aug 07, 2019
Jeremy Tiang, Writer And Translator
Aug 01, 2019
Henry Sutton On Noirwich 2019
Jul 22, 2019
Writing for children with Debby Lukito Goeyardi & Mitch Johnson
Jul 19, 2019
Fantasy world building with Neon Yang
Jul 10, 2019
Writing non-linear narratives with Outer Wilds' Kelsey Beachum
Jul 05, 2019
#50 Chris Gribble on year one of the National Centre for Writing
Jun 27, 2019
#49 Sarah Perry gives the Harriet Martineau Lecture
Jun 19, 2019
#48 Ivanka Mogilska on finding time to write as a new parent
Jun 12, 2019
#47 Writing about grief and hope with Carl Gorham
Jun 07, 2019
#46 Reda Gaudiamo In Conversation
May 29, 2019
#45 The 10 year road to publication with Kelleigh Greenberg Jephcott
May 23, 2019
#44 Walking Norwich and Kathleen Vereecken
May 16, 2019
#43 Literature at the Norfolk & Norwich Festival
May 08, 2019
#42 Developing a new project with Hannah Jane Walker
May 01, 2019
#41 Life of a Bookseller: Joe Hedinger
Apr 24, 2019
#40 Elif Shafak, Patience Agbabi, Charlotte Higgins & Evie Wyld
Apr 17, 2019
#39 Charlotte Higgins In Conversation
Apr 11, 2019
#38 Celebrating Granta At 40 with Ros Porter
Apr 03, 2019
#37 Elif Shafak talks to Bernardine Evaristo, Lucy Caldwell & Sara Maitland
Mar 28, 2019
#36 What it's like to be shortlisted for an award with Caroline Goldsworthy
Mar 21, 2019
#35 Elif Shafak's 10 Exciting Women Writers in the UK
Mar 14, 2019