"It's a performance, not a reading", so says audio narration expert Sean Pratt. Sean has 30 years experience as an actor and voice-over artist, and in 22 years as an audiobook narrator, he has worked on close to 1,000 projects. In this episode, he lifts the lid on the audiobook business and gives us writers some expert tips on speaking well at public events, including book readings. He also tells us what an author needs to know if they decide to narrate their own book.
Jun 13, 2018•49 min
This episode looks at the emotional and psychological cost of marketing and promotion for writers. There are plenty of opportunities but it's hostile territory, so we look at the need to create an excellent product, what to do when you're feeling addicted to the numbers, and how to be sociable on social media.
May 28, 2018•15 min
Tim is an award-winning travel writer, the author of a number of books including The World’s Cheapest Destinations, Travel Writing 2.0, and Make Your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune: The Contrarian Traveler’s Guide to Getting More for Less. He is also an established blogger, speaker and ghostwriter and in this episode, we talk about Tim’s experiences as a writer of non-fiction, how to get started and thrive as a blogger, and Tim gives us his hints and tips on making your writing time more efficie...
May 18, 2018•1 hr 2 min
In this second part of a two-part series on point of view, we look at the challenge of using omniscient third person point of view. Often seen as old-fashioned, and definitely a challenge to use successfully, this PoV option is making something of a comeback and is the right choice for some work.
May 07, 2018•13 min
Getting Point of View (PoV) right is one of the fundamental challenges for any writer. In the first of a two-part series on the subject, we look at what point of view is, and how to make a success of third person limited point of view in your work.
May 06, 2018•21 min
I recently spoke with fellow podcaster, essayist and award-winning journalist Brendan O'Meara. We talked about the challenges that writers of both fiction and non-fiction face, the issue of finding time to write, the value of having momentum, and the goal of building up a body of work to close the creative gap
Apr 13, 2018•58 min
Writing the first draft of a novel, like scaling the north face of the Eiger, presents particular difficulties. In this episode, we look at what those challenges are, and how we can overcome them to get the first draft done.
Mar 25, 2018•15 min
Deus Ex Machina or 'god out of the machine' endings have a rich heritage going back to the Ancient Greek Theatre. But they are a terrible model for endings in creative writing. In this episode, we explore what Deus Ex Machina endings are, why they are so bad for creative writers, and how we can create a much better ending that will give credibility to our work and satisfy our readers.
Mar 13, 2018•17 min
This episode is a conversation with story grid developmental editor Lori Puma. In our conversation we talk about why stories matter, and what we as writers should do about that. We discuss the way in which Story Grid, and a developmental editor can actually help authors, and we reflect on the way in which personal tragedy can inform both our lives and our stories. You can find out more about the Story Grid process here: www.storygrid.com and about non-violent communication here https://www.youtu...
Mar 03, 2018•50 min
Writer's have the most important job in the world. Does that sound like hubris? Well I would suggest that it isn't. Stories are of profound importance, and as storytellers, we are the custodians of these precious artefacts, as such it behoves us to be as authentic as possible, to practice our craft, and to be as brave and persistent as we can be.
Feb 24, 2018•17 min
This episode is a conversation with award winning science fiction and alternative reality author Gareth L Powell. We talk about how maturing as a writer and a person can inform our work, Gareth’s advice for developing authentic and rich characters, and the inspiration behind his new book Embers of War. Gareth can be reached at his website www.garethlpowell.com and on twitter at @garethlpowell
Feb 21, 2018•45 min
This episode is a conversation with book coach Jennie Nash. We learn about the difference between wishing you had written a book and actually writing one, the three essential pillars of effective book coaching, and how to work out what your story is really about. Don't just have a good idea, write the book! Jennie can be reached at jennienash.com and authoraccelerator.com/blueprintworkshop
Feb 14, 2018•56 min
In this episode we explore the unavoidable truth that writing is really hard work. We look at why that is the case and think about ways to acknowledge this truth, and keep writing anyway. We learn the one fundamental truth about writing that everyone from the most obscure writer to the likes of Stephen King will tell you, and we identify three 'tools' for the toolbelt to help us keep going with our writing even when it's tough going.
Jan 11, 2018•17 min
Want to know how to query an agent? I do, so I decided to talk to talk to one of the best agents in the business right now; someone with international clients, and experience of selling book, TV, and film rights. This episode is a wide-ranging conversation with Juliet Mushens of CaskieMushens literary agency in which we talk about how to approach an agent, what to put in the query letter, and what in a single sentence, the agent is really looking for.
Dec 22, 2017•1 hr 8 min
This episode is a spirited and warm conversation with two authors, Jon Wallace and Antonia Honeywell. In this conversation my guests talk about strategies for approaching an agent, decoding responses to submitted work, and what makes a writer, enjoy!
Dec 18, 2017•57 min
Fake news, and false information generally, are hot topics in the media at the moment. Fake news might offend us personally, but there's also a very good reason for us as writers to identify and avoid it. In this episode we look at fake news and some of its associated phenomena, like click bait, with insights from the International Federation of Library Associations and institutions. Their publication that I reference can be found here: https://www.ifla.org/publications/node/11174
Nov 29, 2017•13 min
What can genre writers learn from literary fiction? In this episode we tiptoe across the (false) divide between literary and genre fiction and look at how the best literary fiction can inspire us to create characters with subtle and complex emotions, and settings that are evocative of detail, mood, and emotion. We look at description from the general to the specific and see how an aspect of setting can be used as a metaphor for theme and moral.
Nov 17, 2017•20 min
This episode is an interview with Jeff Leisawitz (jeffleisawitz.com). Jeff is an award-winning musician/ producer, a critically acclaimed author and internationally distributed filmmaker. In this interview we talk about the healing power of creating something, why creativity is not a luxury item, and Jeff's online creativity workshops where he goes deep with the creative process. You can find out more about these workshops at http://jeffleisawitz.com/nfa-for-screenwrtiers-and-storytellers/
Oct 15, 2017•53 min
This episode's guest will need no introduction for many of you. Jeff Goins is a writer, speaker, and entrepreneur, and the host and organiser of the annual Tribe conference. In this conversation Jeff gives honest, sometimes poignant answers to my hard questions. Also in this episode - The Creative Writer's Toolbelt Handbook is out! Find it at Amazon and www.andrewjchamberlain.com
Oct 05, 2017•59 min
This episode focuses on the just published Creative Writer's Toolbelt Handbook. Condensing all of the best advice and insight from three and a half years of podcasting over 100 episodes, and with over twenty different writers editors and artists as guests, the Handbook gives you the practical advice you need to be a better writer and produce great work. Also in this episode we feature The Writer's Jump-start conference from Equipped to Write (www.equippedtowrite.co.uk) where I will be speaking w...
Sep 20, 2017•11 min
This is a guest episode with the independent author and blogger Monica Leonelle. Monica has written across several genres and series, most notably her young adult urban fantasy and paranormal romance series, 'Waters Dark and Deep'. She also writes about indie publishing at ProseOnFire.com. Before becoming an independent author, Monica led digital marketing efforts at Inc. 100 companies like Hansen’s Natural and Braintree. She’s been an avid blogger of marketing and business trends since 2007. To...
Jul 13, 2017•56 min
The professional writers and editors I speak to tell me that one of the biggest challenges for the writers they come across is that they don't get down to the writing! Or if they do they don't then submit or publish the material. So in this episode we examine the barriers to writing, submitting, and publishing, and we look at ways to overcome these barriers and get our work written and out there
Jun 28, 2017•18 min
After just over three years the Creative Writer's Toolbelt reaches 100 episodes! To mark the occasion I'm reflecting on some of the best advice and insight I've received over that time, and to do that I am joined by writer, editor, speaker and fellow podcaster Sarah Werner. In our conversation I ask Sarah some great questions(!) and we reflect on story structure, character, setting, genre, research and the writers life. I'll also give you an update on the Handbook, which is due out in October, a...
May 20, 2017•49 min
Continuing the theme of "the writer's life" this episode offers some evidence based advice and practical steps for looking after ourselves so that we can live well and write well. From getting enough water and sleep, to eating well, exercising, socializing, and being mindful of our spiritual well-being. These tips will help us all to look after the totality of who we are, so that we can look after ourselves and our writing.
Apr 28, 2017•15 min
This episode is a conversation with Ottawa based speculative writers Marie Bilodeau and Derek Künsken. In the conversation we explore how to live the writer's life well, and what it means to follow the navy maxim that we need to be able to float, sail and shoot. We explore Marie's experiences with retreats, and Derek's experiences with sabbaticals, and we reflect on Derek's best advice for writers: Don't be a jerk.
Apr 09, 2017•1 hr
As of this month (April 2017) I’m working hard on the Creative Writer's Toolbelt Handbook. As I look back on nearly 100 episodes I’ve realized that there's one fundamental thing we writers have to do to create great work, and it's this: be authentic! In this episode we explore what it is to be authentic, and we look at some practical tools to achieve that authenticity.
Apr 03, 2017•18 min
This episode is a conversation with two authors who have come to publication by different routes. Wendy H Jones has self published crime fiction with the DI Shona McKenzie series, and a book on marketing for authors, she has also traditionally published a YA novel. Ryan Dalton is the author of the Time Shift Trilogy, and the first book in that series, his debut novel, The Year of Lightening was published in January 2016, Book 2 in the series The Black Tempest is published in April of this year....
Mar 28, 2017•50 min
In episodes 92 and 94 we explored the landscape of genre and trope, theme and moral, and in this episode we continue that exploration with a look at symbol and motif. We step back to look at how all of these aspects of creative writing are connected and how we can use the power of symbols, the fascination with dilemma, and the potential to subvert tropes as tools to empower our work.
Feb 27, 2017•19 min
In this episode we explore the right and wrong way to handle themes in our work. We say 'no' to preaching and lecturing the reader, and 'yes' to weaving the themes we want to present into the story, and giving the engagement of the characters with those themes real consequences. We explore some great examples of how themes can be explored in story, from Elizabeth and Darcy to Harry Potter, and Jesse Pinkman to Lady Macbeth
Feb 20, 2017•22 min
This episode is an interview with award winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky. Adrian and I talk about the long road to producing publishable quality material, how to work with genres and their tropes, the writer's life, and why it's always helpful to have a contact at the Natural History Museum.
Feb 13, 2017•41 min
