Death Of 1000 Cuts

In this episode I chat to author and miniboss of creative writing pedagogy Chuck Wendig, about ideas, being in it for the long haul, and the end of the world. We chat about his new novel WANDERERS, how it survived through the Idea Thunderdome, and how he found ways of telling an epic story through a few key humans. We talk about how he became a fixture of the creative writing community, the books...

This episode is an unscripted, unedited talk about the judgemental voice so many writers hear: the inner critic. I chat about what the inner critic is, why I resisted admitting it was a problem for so long, why we might have it and what we can do to engage with the challenge it presents. As with all writing rambles, this is just my talking off the top of my head, so here be dragons. If you're new...

In this episode I chat with Dr Alexander Cummins about magic, inspiration and designing writing rituals. Dr Alexander Cummins is an historian, poet, and consultant whose practice centres around religion, philosophy, medicine, and magic. His work focuses on folk magic, necromancy, and divination. His doctoral thesis from the University of Bristol explored the history of magical approaches to the em...

In this episode I chat with author Will Storr about his latest book, THE SCIENCE OF STORYTELLING. We chat about the many books he's written, covering topics from ghosthunting to nazis to narcissists, and how they led him to his latest book, an investigation into why we tell stories, and how we can use the science to tell better ones. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - why...

In this episode I chat with Emily Troscianko about bibliotherapy and eating disorders in fiction. Heads up - this episode features discussion of eating disorders and mental health challenges. I chat with Emily about her research into the putative therapeutic benefits of reading when it comes to eating disorders, and why we should treat any assumptions about the efficacy of reading fiction to solve...

This episode was recorded live at Storysmith bookshop in Bristol. I chat to special guest, BSFA-award-winning author Gareth L Powell, about his new book on creative writing, ABOUT WRITING. Then we look at three first pages from listeners' novels and give feedback. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I find time to write? - what does show, don't tell actually mean? -...

On this episode I chat with Ashley Hickson-Lovence about his debut novel, THE 392. We talk form, style & place, from growing up in Hackney to thinking about your audience. Ashley takes us through the full process of writing his novel, chats about his experiences as a football referee, and explains his number one writing rule for this book: no boring bits. You can grab a copy here: https://wordery....

Since it's Mental Health Awareness Week I thought I'd chuck you a bonus episode which should be useful if you're mental like me or just a regular ol' enthusiastic end-user of this bizarre glob of thinking apparatus we fancifully refer to as a brain. In this unscripted, unedited episode I outline five rules for better mental health hygiene. By which I mean, simple principles to stick to when you're...

It's the first ever LIVE recording of Death Of 1000 Cuts. Recorded at Foyles, Charring Cross, with Joe Dunthorne. Thanks to everyone who came! Here's a bunch of places you can get my new novel THE ICE HOUSE, which is out now: http://www.timclarepoet.co.uk/theicehousepreorder/ Here's Joe Dunthorne's new poetry collection, O POSITIVE: https://wordery.com/o-positive-joe-dunthorne-9780571342556#oid=19...

In this episode me and Nate Crowley lay some idea eggs live for your edification. Following his hugely-popular previous appearance on the show, writer Nate Crowley returns to help me practise the dark art of coming up with lots of ideas. I gab about creativity a lot but I thought it was about time to put my money where my mouth was. We attempt to create film pitches on the spot for an imagined wea...

This episode I chat with Zen Cho, author of Regency Fantasy novels SORCERER TO THE CROWN and THE TRUE QUEEN. We talk getting started in fanfic as a form of mentorship and granting yourself permission to write. We discuss developing the voice of the novel, junking stories if they're not good enough, and finding a strong protagonist you want to write about. Hey, if you'd like to buy Zen's books, her...

I chat about how I'm feeling 1 week before my second novel, THE ICE HOUSE, drops. I'm nervous! I chat about reviews, writing and connecting with readers. If you'd like to support me, the podcast and all the things I'm putting out into the world, if you like what I do and would like me to do more of it, and if you'd like to be the first to read my brand new novel, please help me by pre-ordering a c...

This episode is a chat with bestselling author Professor Richard Wiseman. You may have read his fascinating non-fiction books :59 SECONDS, THE LUCK FACTOR, NIGHT SCHOOL, or indeed his latest, SHOOT FOR THE MOON, about the thinking that got us to the moon and how we can apply it in our own lives. We chat about how he got into writing, how his manages his schedule, how to overcome creative fear, and...

This is an unscripted, unedited episode where I chat a bit about what's been going on in writing this week. I talk about Ian McEwan's comments about his new novel, MACHINES LIKE ME, and literary fiction authors crossing over to science fiction. I also talk about the controversy surrounding John Boyne's new YA novel, MY BROTHER'S NAME IS JESSICA, where he attempts to write about a trans character t...

In this episode I look at a listener's first page and offer robust, honest feedback. I talk about first sentences, the art of parallel construction, pronoun confusion, character crush and much more. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - what makes a great first line? - how can I open a scene? - how can I arrange information to make it easy for the reader to follow? - how many...

In this episode I chat to celebrated SF & Fantasy author Emma Newman about fae, fabulism, fear and finding futures. Emma talks about her early love of stories, why she stopped writing for a decade, and how she got over it. We chat about faeries and patriarchy, inventing future technologies, and writing good characters who manage mental health challenges like anxiety or post-natal depression. We al...

Today's episode is an unscripted talk from me about the ways writing changes the way you see the world, and how, by changing what your characters notice or ignore, you can tell us powerful things about their personality and the world they inhabit. If you'd like to support me, the podcast and all the things I'm putting out into the world, if you like what I do and would like me to do more of it, an...

Ooh! Look! It's a first-page critique! On today's episode I look at the first page of a listener's novel and offer suggestions on how to make it better. We get into the willing suspension of disbelief as conceived by Coleridge and the problems therein, similes and metaphors, and our old foe pounding upon the fortress gates, show, don't tell. If you'd like to support me, the podcast and all the thi...

It's another Writing Ramble episode, where I, your host Tim Clare, 'go off on one' about writing, life and the universe. Even by the standards of Writing Rambles this episode is rangy and digressive, going from procrastination to French experimental literature movement the Oulipo, to discovery writing to brain training to the heat death of the universe. It's gooey and unfettered, like liberating b...

On today's show I chat to poet, playwright and storyteller Inua Ellams about myths, gods and how stories build people. Inua talks about the mentors who shaped and inspired him when he was growing up, his love of story and poetry, and how he turned that into a creative career performing on stage and writing for others. We discuss his new book, THE HALF-GOD OF RAINFALL, the story of a basketball-pla...

What's the point of writing when there's so much suffering in the world? When there might not even *be* a world in not so many years time? Is it indulgent? Pointless? A form of denial? Why write at the end of the world? This is an unscripted, unplanned 'writing ramble' episode where I just talk about what's on my mind. I've been struggling a bit, and so I talk about that, in the context of how hor...

Today I chat with Martin Lotze, neuroscientist at the University of Greifswald, about his research into the brains of writers. Martin has researched how the minds of writers and non-writers operate, using fMRI scans to observe which areas of the brain are activated during the writing process. His fascinating work demonstrates that wholly different parts of the brain are used by experienced writers...

This episode is an unscripted, unedited chat from me, about why you don't need to be thick-skinned to be a writer. Before I go any further, here are the pre-order links for my forthcoming novel, THE ICE HOUSE. If you listened to today's episode and you'd like to help me on the #Roadto1500 please click these, share these, and get in touch if you've got any ideas or offers, no matter how crazy, how...

On this episode I chat with author Nick Harkaway about accelerating futures, detective stories and the meaning of life. Nick Harkaway is the author of several novels, most recently GNOMON, set in a near-future Britain where everything is recorded, monitored and shared. In this wide-ranging chat we cover everything from writing from multiple viewpoints, to reader expectation, to knowing when to sto...

This episode is an unscripted, unedited talk from me about creative writing and fiction and motivation. So I decided to record this one evening a few days ago, to get out a few things about writing, and keeping going with your writing, that had been on my mind. (I'm aware that the language I use in this one is quite florid bordering on Biblical - just so you know, I'm fine, I'm not about to start...