The Writers’ Gym Podcast

Whether it be ensuring the correct amount of nourishment for your body, exercise, a good sleep or combinations of aspiration and fear, writers tend to need to look after themselves in order to produce their best work.  In this episode Dr Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen look at fuel for writing.  And coffee...lots of coffee. Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writing workout at https://www....

In this episode Dr Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen discuss prologues and epilogues and how writers can use them to create intriguing openings and satisfying endings for their fiction.  As usual we range from novels to TV, film, and audio drama looking at good and not-so-good examples.    Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writing workout at https://www.rachelknightley.com/the-writers-gym/...

In this episode we look at the role of narrators in fiction and discuss when, how and whether to deploy them.  As usual Dr Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen bring examples from their own writing and from the wider worlds of literature and drama.    Rachel would like to point out that it was Arthur Dent's upper arm that was bruised and not his elbow.   Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writi...

In this episode we look at reading and how it can help to fire creativity and inspire imagination for authors.  As usual, Emily and Rachel bring plenty of stories and anecdotes about ways in which books have inspired them.  We end with a look at books about writing.    Books mentioned in this podcast include  Ursula Le Guin: Steering the Craft and Conversations on Writing Stephen King: On Writing:...

In this episode we explore viewpoint and perspective in fiction.   Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen discuss the different types of perspective and the ways in which a writers' instinct might dictate the best approach to telling their particular story.  In the discussion Rachel references “Point of View: the thing that makes all other things more doable” which you can find on YouTube here  https:/...

In this episode Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen talk about scriptwriting and offer advice to writers wishing to get started in writing for stage, screen or audio drama.     You can listen to Rachel Knightley's audio drama "Winter Spring" here https://open.spotify.com/episode/2gBu6Bqmc7CiC8zwXTYIPZ?si=b2c423862aaf4438   Emily's drama serial "The Dex Legacy" can be heard here  https://open.spotify...

In this episode Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen discuss pace and structure in fiction.  They ask whether pace comes from structure or can be added at the editing stage and ponder examples of well structured stories on page and screen.   Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writing workout at https://www.rachelknightley.com/the-writers-gym/   The Writers Gym Podcast is an Alternative Stories...

In this first episode of season three of The Writers' Gym Podcast, Dr Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen look at animosity in fiction and the ways in which writers can use conflicts, feuds, fights and arguments to add interest and plot lines to their work.    This episode begins with a conversation about the Green Ink Sponsored Write 2024 which is taking place on Saturday 19th October.  You can fin...

In this special episode of the podcast Rachel and Emily are in conversation with multi-disciplined writer Rhianna Pratchett about her work in video games, comics, TV, radio and books.     To find out more about Rhianna and her work please visit her website at https://rhiannapratchett.com/ and you can follow her on X here  https://x.com/rhipratchett   Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writin...

In this episode Dr Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen look at the ways in which writers use time in their storytelling.  From linear narratives following a traditional chronology to fractured, repeating and circular narratives we compare them and look at the advantages of playing around with time in your work.    Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writing workout at https://www.rachelknightle...

Dropping hints about events to come in your stories can raise tension and add depth and interest to your work.  In this episode we look at the art and technique of foreshadowing and ask why should writers consider it an important tool in their skillset.  Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writing workout at https://www.rachelknightley.com/the-writers-gym/ The Writers Gym Podcast is an Altern...

In this week's episode we'll look at short fiction and the skills and techniques you'll need to master concise storytelling.  We discuss the pros and cons of writing short fiction and some of the drawbacks and limitations of the form.  As usual we end with a writing challenge from Rachel.    Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writing workout at https://www.rachelknightley.com/the-writers-gym...

In this episode we talk about relationships in your fiction and how they can mould and shape your stories and the arcs of your characters. We explore the ways in which characters interact and consider sources of conflict and interest in these interactions.  From dysfunctional families to romantic attachments via warring parties and long-held feuds we hope to provide you with some ideas and  inspir...

In this episode we look at the challenges of making time for your writing and how best to use time when you have it.  As usual we have tips advice and experience from Dr Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen and a writing challenge from Rachel.    Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writing workout at https://www.rachelknightley.com/the-writers-gym/ The Writers Gym Podcast is an Alternative Stori...

In this edition Rachel, Emily and Chris each share pieces of writing advice which we hope you'll find useful. Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writing workout at https://www.rachelknightley.com/the-writers-gym/ The Writers Gym Podcast is an Alternative Stories production for The Writers' Gym.   Find out more about The Writers' Gym and Rachel Knightley by going to https://www.rachelknightle...

In this episode of the Writers' Gym Podcast we're joined by actor, comedian, novelist and poet Nigel Planer for a discussion about his writing life and the challenges of working on a memoir.  To find out more about Nigel Planer and to purchase copies of his books as discussed in today's podcast please follow the links below Website  www.nigelplaner.co.uk Patreon  https://www.patreon.com/NigelPlane...

In this episode of the Writers' Gym Podcast with Dr Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen we're looking at inspiration and perspiration and whether one or other of them is the predominant force in the lives of our presenters.  As usual we have advice, anecdotes, ideas and a writing challenge that listeners can participate in   Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writing workout at https://www.rac...

In this edition of the Writers' Gym podcast we are joined by the award-winning novelist Gareth L Powell to talk about his work across several genres.  Known primarily as a science-fiction author, Gareth has also written thrillers and fantasy. His guide for writers "About Writing : A Field Guide for Aspiring Authors" (Gollancz 2022) was described as "Brilliant" by The Guardian.  In this conversatio...

In this edition of the Writers' Gym Podcast with Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen we'll look at the relationship between music and writing.  We'll explore music as inspiration and motivation, music as a creator of moods and as an accompaniment to your work and books inspired by or suggested by music.    Artists mentioned in this podcast include  Thomas Bergersen Mogwai David Bowie Sigur Ros  Alle...

In this episode of the podcast we’ll be looking at the art of generating characters for your fiction.  We’ll look at the secrets of creating believable and authentic characters that can drive your story forward.  Emily and Rachel will talk about their own characters, the inspiration behind them and the ways in which they have shaped events in their fiction.    Join the Writers’ Gym and book your n...

In this episode of the Writers’ Gym Podcast we will be thinking about starting to write.  Writing the opening  page of your story needn’t be a battle against that glaring white first page and all the psychological demons it implies.  Rachel and Emily offer tips, advice and hacks for starting to write and share examples and anecdotes from their own writing lives.   Join the Writers’ Gym and book yo...

In this edition of the Writers’ Gym Podcast with Dr Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen we take a look at one of the most common pieces of advice offered to writers: “Write what you know”  We examine this advice to consider what it means for our writing and consider how it works in the worlds of science fiction and fantasy as well as in general fiction.    Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next wr...

In this episode Rachel and Emily look at unreliable narrators and how to create and use them in your writing.  With examples from literature we look at the ways in which unreliable narrators can give your stories depth, authenticity and a plot-twist or two to keep your readers guessing.  The references in today’s episode include   Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov The other lives of Miss Emily White b...

In this episode we look at the art and science of laying out and formatting your writing.  We ask when you should begin to format your work, how you should go about doing it and explore a few good reasons for starting the process early …or indeed later.  We look at some of the formatting skills and techniques you’ll need for getting your manuscript ready if you’re self-publishing including some th...

In this episode Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen look at the process of worldbuilding for fiction writers.  Normally associated with science fiction and fantasy writers, world building skills can also be applied to real places adapted for fiction.     In our conversation we mentioned the map creation services of Dewi Hargreaves who you can follow on twitter  https://twitter.com/Dewiwrites   Rache...