Begin - Derbyshire Writing School Podcast

We have a guest in The Writers’ Room this week - Alex Davis. Alex is an author and literature professional based in Derby. As a writer, Alex has published a novel - THE LAST WAR - a science-fiction novel and a non-fiction book along with 50+ short stories and poems. Among them four short stories called - FIGHTING CATS AND DOGS . Alex currently works as an Associate Lecturer in Creative and Profess...

Episode 24 - The Writer’s Toolbox - What are Morning Pages? In this episode, Pete and Laura take another delve into The Writer’s Toolbox and add the tool of ‘Morning Pages’.  Julia Cameron made this tool famous in her book called ‘The Artist’s Way ’.  “In order to retrieve your creativity, you’ll need to find it. I ask you to do this by an apparently pointless process I call the morning pages… Mor...

We are back in the writers’ room and we have a guest in our hot seat this week! We are really pleased to introduce Derbyshire author Daniel Henshaw .   Daniel is the author of 5 children’s books, all featuring Jeremy Green: ‘The Great Snail Robbery’ ‘The Curious Case of the Missing Orangutan’ ‘Jeremy’s Shorts’ ‘Glenkilly’ ‘Killer Cat from Outer Space’. Daniel is a qualified primary school teacher...

Episode 22 - Why It’s Absolutely Essential For A Writer To Rest In this episode, Pete and Laura take another delve into The Writer’s Toolbox and add the tool of rest.  Talking about rest as a writer can feel tricky. It stirs up lots of emotions about self-worth, productivity, and output. Often, we associate our worth with what we produce, and we tie up our success in how much we have achieved. Thi...

Episode 21 — How To Deal With Feedback? THE WRITERS’ ROOM - How To Deal With Feedback? “We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve.” Bill Gates. In the Writers’ Room this week, Pete and Laura chat about getting and giving feedback on our writing. Pete and Laura recognise how important it is to receive feedback, but through their conversation recognise how we ask for, and h...

Episode 20 — How Can I Be More Productive? THE WRITERS’ ROOM - How Can I Be More Productive? In the Writers’ Room this week, Pete and Laura chat about productivity. How can you achieve more in less time? This is often a question we find ourselves asking.  But what does productivity mean for writers, and what systems ideas and methods can help?  During the conversation, Laura mentions - The Checkli...

We are back in the writers’ room and we have a guest in our hot seat this week!  We are really pleased to introduce Derbyshire author Dawn Brookes .  Dawn Brookes is an international bestselling author whose books have hit the number one spot in the USA, UK and Canada. Dawn is also the founder of a local literature festival in Oakwood, Derby. Dawn Brookes holds an MA in creative writing and is the...

We are back in the writers’ room and we have a guest in our hot seat this week - John Woodhouse John is an author, journalist, and broadcaster. He is a writer of bestselling autobiographies, including I Love the Bones of You with Christopher Eccleston and Stronger with Gareth Thomas. John is a TV and film critic for BBC radio.  John has run his own comedy club and has extensive interests in popula...

Episode 17 -  What Are The Benefits of Writing? THE WRITERS’ ROOM - What Are The Benefits of Writing? In the Writers’ Room this week, Pete and Laura chat about the joy they have found in writing, and the benefits it brings into their lives. They also tell a little about how their journey into writing started. What are the benefits and joy you received from writing? Please write to info@derbyshirew...

We have a guest in The Writers' Room this week - Lauren Davison Lauren Davison is a Creative and Professional Writing student, currently studying at the University of Derby and she answers the big question – What is a creative writing degree really like?  Lauren developed a passion for writing at a young age and in an interesting place! She enjoys writing both fiction and non-fiction, and exp...

THE WRITERS’ ROOM - How do I write a blog post? In the Writers’ Room this week, we chat about a question we have received from Laura, who attended one of our Online Courses : ‘Hi Laura and Pete, I want to move ahead with my writing and start blogging. How do I write a blog post?’ Laura suggests to: Take some time to conduct a bit of research. Looking at blogs that you enjoy reading. Then decide wh...

Episode 14 - The Writer’s Toolbox - What is creative play? In this episode, Pete and Laura take another delve into The Writer’s Toolbox and add the tool of creative play.  When you write, does it feel like all work or play? What if taking your writing opportunities too seriously stifled your creative writing, rather than unleashing heaps of energy to change the world through your words? There is a...

Episode 13 - Guest Interview - Charlotte Lunn - How Do I Get Started With Poetry? We have a guest in The Writers’ Room this week - the Derbyshire Poet, Charlotte Lunn. Charlotte Lunn is a published poet, workshop facilitator and bookseller.  After completing her creative writing degree at The University of Derby, Charlotte became the events co-ordinator at Scarthin Books and has regularly reviewed...

Episode 12 - Guest Interview - Alex Davis - How To Self Edit Your Writing We have a guest in The Writers’ Room this week - Alex Davis. Alex is an author and literature professional based in Derby. As a writer, Alex has published a novel - THE LAST WAR - a science-fiction novel and a non-fiction book along with 50+ short stories and poems. Among them four short stories called - FIGHTING CATS AND DO...

Episode 11 - The Writer’s Toolbox In this episode we take a delve into The Writer’s Toolbox Pete and Laura introduce an occasional format of the podcast they will visit from time to time - The Writer’s Toolbox.  “To the man who only has a hammer, everything he encounters begins to look like a nail.” ― Abraham Maslow This quote by the father of understanding the hierarchy of needs puts Pete in an a...

Episode 10 - How Do I Set Writing Goals? THE WRITERS’ ROOM - How Do I Set Writing Goals? In the Writers Room this week, Pete and Laura chat about setting objectives and writing goals. This last year has been challenging for everyone, but there is a significant benefit for a writer to set goals remembering that being kind to yourself is the highest priority. This last year, among many lessons, it h...

Episode 9 - Hot Seat Interview - How Do I Write A Eulogy? THE WRITERS’ ROOM HOT SEAT  What could you learn about creative writing from someone who has written 700 eulogies or more?  A eulogy is ‘good words’ spoken, usually at a funeral. At 3000 words a eulogy - that’s about 30 novels worth of writing our hot seat guest has written.  Could you improve an aspect of your writing by understanding how...

THE WRITERS’ ROOM - What’s the best writing advice that you have ever received. In the Writers’ Room this week, Pete and Laura chat about the source of the best writing advice they have received. (So far.) ‘Hi Laura and Pete, with so many resources in books, and online in videos, podcasts and courses, say nothing of any formal education or study, the question I have is this, “What is the best writ...

Episode 7 - How Do I Read Like A Writer? Stop Press! Pete gets very excited receiving his first fan mail, even more so when it is a book he once had, but disappeared not long after Laura once visited! Thanks to Sheri, Pete has his own copy of - ‘The Artist’s Way.’ THE WRITERS’ ROOM - What’s the biggest problem you are experiencing with writing this week? In the Writers’ Room this week, Pete and La...

Episode 6 - How Do I Overcome Self-Doubt As A Writer? THE WRITERS’ ROOM - What’s the biggest problem you are experiencing with writing this week? In the Writers Room this week, Pete and Laura chat about how to overcome the one problem all writers face, and that is self-doubt. ‘Hi Laura and Pete, the question I have is, How do I overcome self-doubt as a writer? I’m always wondering about whether an...

Episode 5 - How Do I Fill My Creative Well? THE WRITERS’ ROOM  In the Writers’ Room this week, Pete and Laura chat about how you can maintain creativity for the long haul.  Hi, my question is, ‘How do I fill my creative well? What can I do to make sure I feel I want to write and have things to write about?’ Pete and Laura think about creativity being a well that can run dry or muscle you need to e...

Episode 4 - How Do I Develop A Writing Habit? THE WRITERS’ ROOM - What’s the biggest problem you are experiencing with writing this week? In the Writers' Room this week, Pete and Laura chat about how you can develop a writing habit. Pippa the office dog joins in too! Hi, I’m a new writer and I struggle to write each day, what suggestions to you have for me to make it a habit? YOU DON’T NEED A...

Episode 3 - How Do I Return To Writing? THE WRITERS’ ROOM   In the Writers Room this week, Pete and Laura chat about a listener’s question.  I'm looking at getting back into writing after a time of being away. What is your advice for someone like me? Laura talks about the benefits of writing with many practical suggestions. But remember the importance of having fun! Pete thinks about how gett...

Episode 2 - Is Writer’s Block Fact or Fiction? THE WRITERS' ROOM - What’s the biggest problem you are experiencing with writing this week?  In the Writers' Room this week, Pete and Laura chat about writer's block. Is writer’s block fact or fiction? Does it really exist or is it just an excuse I make when I can’t write? Pete talks about the Steven Pressfield article link.  First Draf...

Episode 1 - How Do I Get From Short Stories To A Novel? THE WRITERS' ROOM - What’s the biggest problem you are experiencing with writing this week?  In the Writers' Room this week, Pete and Laura chat about Phil's question.  "I seem to have no shortage of creative ideas. I'm fine with short pieces, but I struggle to get from an overall idea to a longer piece of writing. An...