The Writing Life

#33 How to write video games with 80 Days' Jon Ingold

Jon Ingold, co-founder of Inkle Studios, joins us on the podcast today. The studio has produced award-winning adventures for mobile and PC, including the Sorcery series and 80 Days, and they're only weeks away from releasing their latest project, Heaven's Vault. Jon somehow found the time to talk to us about his career, the founding of Inkle and the creation of their games, as well as diving into the nuts and bolts of what it means to write interactive, branching fiction and dialogue. There's incredible insight here from one of the most experienced writers in gaming, and if you're interested in games writing this is a must-listen. Hosted by Simon Jones, writer and Digital Marketing Manager at the National Centre for Writing. Find out more about the National Centre for Writing: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Links: Inkle Studios: https://www.inklestudios.com/ Music by Bennet Maples: https://sonicfruit.co.uk/

#32 How to write collaboratively with Nicci French

This week we have an interview with the entity that is Nicci French, comprised of wife-and-husband team Nicci Gerrard and Sean French. They discuss their Frieda Klein books and how they write collaboratively. Asking the questions is Chris Rushby, the much-loved and recently retired bookseller from the classic department store Jarrolds, here in Norwich. This interview is from the Noirwich Crime Writing Festival in 2018 and provides a superb insight into how two very different writing techniques combine to form singular novels. Noirwich will of course be back this year, so make sure you get the dates of 12- 15 September into your diary. Hosted by Simon Jones, writer and Digital Marketing Manager at the National Centre for Writing. Find out more about the National Centre for Writing: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Links: Noirwich: https://noirwich.co.uk/ Music by Bennet Maples: https://sonicfruit.co.uk/

#31 Alan Moore And John Dee

This week we're visiting the archives to pull out an amazing recording of comics writer Alan Moore. This is from the Norfolk and Norwich Festival way back in 2013, when audiences were treated to a rare glimpse of an unreleased Moore project. It was to be an opera about the alchemist John Dee, but the show never reached the stage in this form. Instead, here we have Alan reading a tantalising extract. Alan Moore has an astonishing back catalogue of work, ranging from Marvel and DC work to the genre-redefining 1980s masterpieces Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. He's exerted a huge influence on the comics form and wider culture, and what follows is a remarkable glimpse of a project that was not to be... Hosted by Simon Jones, writer and Digital Marketing Manager at the National Centre for Writing. Find out more about the National Centre for Writing: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Links: Norfolk & Norwich Festival: https://nnfestival.org.uk/ Events: Dragon Hall Salon: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/dragon-hall-salon-3/ All upcoming events: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on Photo of Alan Moore by Matt Bidulph: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alan_Moore_at_the_ICA_on_June_2nd_2009.jpg Music by Bennet Maples: https://sonicfruit.co.uk/