Death Of 1000 Cuts

In this episode, I had a chat with author Nikesh Shukla. You may have heard him in Season 1 where the two of us looked at a listener’s first page. If you’re not familiar with his work he’s written three novels so far: Coconut Unlimited which was nominated for the Costa, Meatspace and his latest, The One Who Wrote Destiny. He’s got a fourth, a YA title, called Run, Riot coming out in June of this y...

In today's episode I answer a listener's question about character motivation and stakes. How do you know whether the stakes in your story are enough to carry a whole novel? How do you stress test your protagonist's motivation before writing the entire book? Why do some character goals seem to matter more than others? This is a great episode to listen to if: - you're at the planning stage of your n...

In this episode, author Tim Clare (that's me) talks about what's been going on in fiction writing this week. I discuss the dangers of writers' semi-jokey fixation on productivity and 'laziness', and why I think it makes us sad while creating the very problem it claims to tackle. Then I dive into a topic I've been avoiding for a while - who has the right to tell what stories? After reading an inter...

This episode teaches you everything you need to know about structuring your novel. No need to fear formula! Learn to tame it and bend it to your will. Following on from our episode on the 7 Pillars of Line-Editing Your Novel, this time we look at how to sculpt your novel into a pleasing shape, how to think about where to start and where to end, and how to make sure you make promises that you payof...

In this episode author Tim Clare (that's me) looks at another listener's first page and gives a detailed critique of the opening to their story. I talk about how you can use vocabulary to build mood and imply things. I talk about how to write great similes and when to dial them back. I talk about how to handle time in your story. I have a strange revelation about bundles of sticks. If you want to...

On the latest episode of the creative writing advice podcast, author Tim Clare (that's me) responds to listener requests to an episode dedicated to editing your work. What are the best rules for editing your fiction? What are some simple techniques you can apply right now to your work to make it immediately better? How can you make your novel more readable? How can you make your stories more pacy?...

In this episode I give advice about changing your relationship with your writing, and the perils of seeing making art as a war, or viewing your novel as the enemy, or listening to your self-doubt as if it were your boss. I talk about Steven Pressfield's non-fiction book The War of Art, and David Bayles' & Ted Orland's book Art & Fear, both of which tackle this subject in detail, while coming to di...

On this episode I chat to author Nate Crowley about ideas - specifically the incubation, hatching and rearing thereof. Lots of discussion of how to generate ideas, how you know when an idea is ready, how to turn an idea into a story, as well as in-depth chat about world-building, good and bad. We go quite deep into a lot of SF, Fantasy and genre chat, but the talk should be accessible for all auth...

This is one of my unscripted chats, where I talk about where I am with my writing, and things I've learned recently about creative anxiety, doing the work, and ways of dissolving perfectionism that actually work, without making your writing total crap. A mix of pep talk and impromptu strategy briefing for fiction writers. Please buy my novel, The Honours: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-...

On this episode I chat to Joe Dunthorne, author of SUBMARINE, WILD ABANDON and most recently, THE ADULTERANTS. We talk about the uncertainty of the writing process, unusual ways to immerse yourself in your writing, the idea of 'match fitness' when you write your novel, and how to cope when it becomes a struggle. Joe has a bunch of very useful, very honest insights into his experience of the writin...

On today's episode of the writing advice podcast, Tim Clare (that's me) talks about holding yourself to high standards while being kind to yourself, and looks at a listener's first page. You can submit your own first 250 words of a novel at www.timclarepoet.co.uk This is a great episode to listen to if you want practical advice on how to edit your novel. I take you through a real first page and go...

Everything you need to know about the Death Of 1000 Cuts Couch to 80k Writing Boot Camp in just over 2 minutes. What is it? How long does it take? How much does it cost? Who is Tim Clare? Does he know what he's talking about? All this and more will be answered in less than the time it takes to make a decent cup of coffee. Please buy my novel, The Honours: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-...

This is the episode to listen to once you've completed the 8 week Couch to 80k Writing Boot Camp. Go and listen to Week 1 Day 1 before you listen to this. In this episode Tim Clare (that's me) talks about what to do once you finish the Couch to 80k Writing Boot Camp. How to fill the weeks and months that follow? How to keep the momentum going and capitalise on your gains? He reveals The 7 Pillars...

The final episode of the Couch to 80k Writing Boot Camp, an 8 week writing course taking you all the way from generating ideas to writing a novel. Today author Tim Clare (that's me) teaches you the final and most important rule of writing fiction, before leading you through a timed writing session. If you'd like to try the course, start at Week 1 Day 1. Please buy my novel, The Honours: https://wo...

The penultimate part of the 8 week Boot Camp to get you match-fit for writing a novel. Just this and one more day and you're there, you'll have done it, you've completed the course and you're ready. Hosted by Tim Clare (that's me). Please support the podcast by buying my novel, THE HONOURS: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#=oid1908_1

Week 8 Day 4 of the 8 week fiction writing boot camp by author Tim Clare (that's me). We're nearly there! Today we continue our last week of full-power focused writing, working on your novel. Please start with Week 1 Day 1 if you'd like to try the course. Please buy my novel, The Honours: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1

The final week of the 8-week writing boot camp continues, guiding you towards working on your novel. If you'd like to support the podcast, please buy my novel, THE HONOURS: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1

Day 2 of the final week of the 8-week writing boot camp. Please buy my novel, The Honours: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1

The final week of the 8 week Couch to 80k Writing Boot Camp begins! In the last six days, you'll transition into daily writing on your novel. It's nice and chill, promise. Please buy my novel, The Honours: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1

An extended episode of Death Of 1000 Cuts, where Tim Clare (that's me) talks about motivation, missteps, uncertainty, and building an attitude of exploration when attempting a novel. Please buy my novel, The Honours: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1

In the final episode of Week 7, Tim (that's me) has a special message for anyone who has been listening to the episodes without doing the exercises. Then it's on to the last exercise of the week, in preparation for Week 8: THE ULTIMATE WRITING SHOWDOWN. Please buy my novel, The Honours: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1

Today's exercise is about backtracking when you write your novel. Please buy my novel, The Honours: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1

In today's episode of the 8 week Couch to 80k writing boot camp, you can let yourself fantasise a little bit, and also seriously plan a little bit, what an ideal writing day would look like to you. Then I talk about the mechanics of making it happen. Please support the podcast by buying my novel, THE HONOURS: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1

Week 7 of the 8 week fiction boot camp continues with a warning about the limits of book blurbs and plans, then a headfirst no-planning dive straight into your novel's most exciting, climactic scene. Please buy my novel, The Honours: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#=oid1908_1

Want to write more, and better, and not hate it? On this special New Year motivation mega-episode, Tim Clare (that's me)will leave you so inspired that you may PASS OUT through pure joy and wake up 72 hours later having written an entire novel in a fugue state. Learn the two most common writing resolutions and why they're doomed to fail, hear the best way to custom-build your own writing goal - ba...