Death Of 1000 Cuts

This episode features me chatting to writer, performer, poet, podcast presenter, film-maker, playwright and educator Ross Sutherland about his work experimenting on words to make them do cool stuff. His podcast Imaginary Advice recently won Best Fiction Podcast at the British Podcasting Awards, he's produced work for radio and TV, he's a legend of the UK poetry scene and his critically-acclaimed s...

In this episode I chat to writer Melissa Harrison about becoming a writer, the pressures of writing, and the process of bringing the past and the natural world to life. We chat about her new novel ALL AMONG THE BARLEY, how she struggled to admit to herself that she wanted to write, research, farming, fascism, and why we write when, at times, it can be difficult and painful. This is a great episode...

This episode I chat to debut Fantasy novelist Micah Yongo about his novel of warring assassins and clashing ideologies, LOST GODS. We get into everything, from working with an editor to researching crossbow physics, to how you go from big ideas and sprawling, complex imaginary worlds down to a story, and the character who's going to propel you through it. Micah also talks about what it's like to b...

This episode I chat to debut author Temi Oh about her upcoming novel DO YOU DREAM OF TERRA-TWO? We talk research, handling big casts, giving characters motivation, & novels of ideas. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I research my story if some aspects (like space travel) aren't accessible to me? - how can I make sure my characters are well-differentiated? - how c...

In this episode I talk about some things I've learned from the 4 year process of writing my 2nd novel, THE ICE HOUSE (out May 2019). This is an unscripted episode where I talk through some of my first thoughts about the process, which at times was not easy, to put it mildly. Like anything difficult, doing this novel and seeing it through to completion has taught me a great deal, and so I break dow...

In this episode I chat with Lauren Groff, bestselling author of FATES & FURIES, about her latest short story collection, FLORIDA. We chat about her writing career spanning 6 books thus far, how she moves from short stories to novels, her ways of working, and how she gets her language and characters to sing. (spoiler: I *love* her work - she is really good) This is a great episode to listen to if y...

This episode is a chat with author Mark Stay. He's an indie author, he's worked in traditional publishing, he's co-authored a novel and a screenplay, and he's crowd-funded a novel. Not only that, but he's a presenter of the podcast for writers, THE BESTSELLER EXPERIMENT. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - what are my options for getting my book published? - how can I promo...

In today's episode I look at the first page of a listener's story and suggest ways of making it better. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I get some tips for editing my novel? - how can I write a great first line? - how should I describe my characters? - what makes good dialogue? - how can I think about the flow of a sentence? If you'd like to submit your work for...

This episode I chat to multi-award-winning writer Helen MacDonald, author of H IS FOR HAWK, about finding the right words, finding your voice, and pushing through in the face of self-doubt. We discuss her poetic influences, Top Gun, madness, painting and masculine crisis in interbellum England. We really dig down into how you might go about turning your experiences, traumas and big questions into...

In this episode I chat with social psychologist James W Pennebaker about his research into expressive writing, and the tiny words we use each day but don't notice. We talk about a specific way of writing that can improve your mood, sleep, immune system function and even help your body heal faster. We discuss computer analyses of language, from old diaries to emails to poems, and how a particular c...

In this episode I chat to novelist and film-maker Guy Gunaratne. We chat about how he got into telling stories, the movie that changed his life, and the challenge of listening to the voices of the five very different characters in his debut novel, IN OUR MAD AND FURIOUS CITY. We also chat about saunas, road talk, finding the stories that obsess you, freestyle rap battles, and the performative natu...

This episode I report from deep in the middle of teaching a writing retreat at Arvon's Totleigh Barton. Many issues about creative writing, developing your practice, and growing as a writer are on my mind, so I try to get down to some fundamental principles as they occur to me. This is an unscripted episode, where I have a go at getting to the bottom of a problem or topic and puzzle out what I thi...

In this episode I chat to SF author Gareth L Powell about his pistol-toting flying ace monkey, ACK-ACK MACAQUE, writing sentient spaceships, winning awards and being nice on the internet. We get into his new novel, EMBERS OF WAR, and he shares his best writing tips for novice authors. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how much should I plan my story? - how do I get to kno...

On this episode, author Tim Clare (that's me) shares 7 easy ways to help your writing that aren't actually writing. That's right! I've gone all lifestyle guru. Except not really. These are 7 small tweaks you can make to your daily routine or lack thereof, that have helped me write quite a bit. What are they? Well... - Get In The Shower - Get A Wall Calendar - Make A Could-Do List - Read Stuff You...

In this episode I chat to novelist Claire North (aka Catherine Webb) about her amazing career spanning 20 (!) novels so far, starting when she was just 14. We chat about genre, growing up geeky, dystopias, craft, and changing the world - and her latest novel, 84K, set in a frighteningly familiar corporate near-future where everything - including murder - has a price and ad support. This is a great...

This episode I chat to Peter Newman, author of Fantasy trilogy THE VAGRANT, THE MALICE and THE SEVEN, and - released in the UK *this week* (!) - his latest, THE DEATHLESS. I grill him for precious, precious info on how he builds worlds, his philosophy on creating characters, and what makes Fantasy so compelling. We end up chatting about everything from roleplaying on school buses, to why goats mak...

To mark the 100th episode of Death Of 1000 Cuts, my writing advice podcast, I thought I'd record a Q&A, answering listeners' questions. Here are the questions I answer, in the order I answer them. Thanks very much to everyone who submitted questions! - How do you know when you’re being original? - When can you quit the day job? Should you quit the day job? - How do you balance writing and family l...

In this episode author Tim Clare takes a look at a listener's first page and suggests ways to make it better. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I be a better self-editor? - how can I make my world-building great? - what sort of things should I think about when designing a planet? - what are good ways to introduce a character in a novel? - how should I think about...

In this episode I chat to tabletop game designer Grant Howitt about creating stories out of thin air. We talk about the magic of gathering together to make stories with friends, how characters flow out of the simplest backstories, and ways in which you can use the techniques of roleplaying and improv to get over your creative fears and be happy, prolific and daring in your writing. Grant also talk...

In this episode I talk about creative ways of getting unstuck when you're working on a project, and showcase John August's Writer Emergency Pack - a deck of cards designed to help storymakers out of jams. I also review what I've learned from speaking to the various authors I've had as guests on the show so far, and talk about some key takeaways you can apply to your writing practice right now. NOT...

In this episode I chat to author Jeannette Ng about her Gothic Fantasy novel UNDER THE PENDULUM SUN. We discuss how she came upon her tale of a gothic heroine travelling to the mysterious and threatening continent of Arcadia, in search of her missionary brother who has been trying to convert the Fair Folk. We chat about Chinese vampires, world-building, colonialism, the creative freedom of youth,...

I chat to Hayley Webster, author of JAR BABY and MEET THE TWITCHES. We talk about the origins of her love of reading, the ways a story engages your senses, and her approach to writing across genres, from mystery to literary fiction to memoir to children's adventures. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how do I write a book for children? - what's it like working with an ill...

In this episode I chat to author Emma Healey, about her bestselling Costa-winning debut ELIZABETH IS MISSING, and her new novel WHISTLE IN THE DARK. We have a wide-ranging, frank and occasionally funny chat about finding the voice of your protagonist, transmuting research into living characters and stories, and how to start again from scratch when you begin your second book. This is a great episod...

In this episode I chat to author V C Lancaster about her work and the world of self-publishing. If you've ever considered publishing your own work, or you're interested in how it all works, this is the episode for you. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I get started as a self-published author? - how does Kindle work for self-published authors? - how much do I have...

Writing a novel? Finding it too easy? This episode isn't for you. In this episode, author Tim Clare (that's me) packs your 10-piece first draft survival kit. It has everything you need to get you through the first draft of your novel - the tools, the mindset, and proven strategies. The 10 Tools in your First Draft Survival Kit are: 1. You’re Allowed To Give Up. 2. Challenges, Not Obligations 3. Sh...