The Writing Life

What happens when Covid-19 cancels your book launch? - Richard Lambert returns!

We spoke to Richard Lambert on the podcast in October 2019 about his debut novel The Wolf Road, which was to be published in early 2020. It never came out: instead, Covid-19 triggered global lockdowns, which forced bookshops and libraries to close, distributors shut down and Richard's dream of publication became another casualty of 2020. 

Fast forward to October 2020 and not only is Richard back on the pod to talk about the challenges and difficulties of the year, but The Wolf Road has, at last, been released into the wild. We talk about why the book had to be delayed, what Richard's publisher did about it and how he coped with the turbulent year.

You can listen to the 2019 podcast with Richard here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/preparing-for-publication/ 

Hosted by Steph McKenna and Simon Jones.

Find out more about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/

Information on the Escalator Talent Development programme: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/escalator/ 

Music by Bennet Maples.

Writing narrative non-fiction with Kate Summerscale

Kate Summerscale, the award-winning author of The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, joins the pod to talk to Chris about her new book, The Haunting of Alma Fielding: A True Ghost Story. They discuss the origins of the book, Kate's approach to research and how she had to track down the facts, and how the book sets poltergeists and the increased interest in the supernatural in the 1930s with the rise of Hitler and looming war.

Hosted by Steph McKenna and Simon Jones.

Find out more about what we do: http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/

Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW

Join the Book Club: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/the-ncw-book-club/

Music by  Bennet Maples.

Agents, representation, childcare & moving out of London - with Emma Shercliff

Emma Shercliff of Laxfield Literary Associates talks to us about being an agent outside of London and her efforts to better represent both regional writers and authors from Africa and the Middle East. Following a globe-trotting career with Macmillan, Hodder and Cassava Republic Press, encountering the Common People report prompted Emma to set up Laxfield Literary Associates with the aim of making agenting more transparent and representative of the population.

We discuss the challenges of representation, the lack of childcare support for writers, how and when to contact an agent and lots more - including the two prizes being run by Laxfield Literary Associates which you can find out about on their website: https://laxfieldliterary.com/

Hosted by Simon Jones & Steph McKenna.

Find out more about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/

Check out our workshops and Agent Insights sessions: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/courses/

Join our (free!) Discord community and say hi: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW

Music by Bennet Maples.

How to be an organised writer with Antony Johnston

Want to be a more organised writer? On the pod this week we have Antony Johnston, prolific and bestselling creator of comics, novels, podcasts and more. He created the graphic novel that was turned into the movie Atomic Blonde, has worked extensively on his own comics as well as Marvel books, video games including Dead Space and Shadow of Mordor and numerous crime thrillers. His latest  book is The Organised Writer, a manual for professional writers based on Antony's own experiences and techniques. If you've struggled to stick to deadlines and carve out time for your writing, Antony is someone you need to pay attention to.

The Organised Writer is published by Bloomsbury and is available from all good bookshops!

Meanwhile Vicki jumps on the pod to discuss the challenges of our school work in Covid-19 times and our continuing efforts to keep delivering workshops to young people.

Hosted by Simon Jones and Vicki Maitland.

Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW

FREE course: Supercharge your productivity: https://courses.nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/p/supercharge-your-productivity

How to write more and stay happy: https://courses.nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/p/how-to-write-more

Find out more about what we do: http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/

Check out Antony's website: https://antonyjohnston.com/

Watch Antony's film debut Crossover Point: https://bit.ly/crossoverpoint

Music by Bennet Maples.

Kieron Gillen on world building in Eternals, Wicked+Divine, Star Wars

Multi-award-winning comics writer Kieron Gillen joins us on the pod today to discuss his methods for world building. Kieron is perhaps best known for The Wicked + The Divine, the hugely ambitious collaboration with artist Jamie McKelvie which presents a pantheon of gods who happen to also be pop stars, as well as UBER, Phonogram, DIE, Once & Future and Ludocrats. Beyond his own books he's also worked extensively with Marvel on X-Men, Thor, Iron Man and with LucasFilm on Darth Vader and Star Wars books. In the interview we explore the different challenges and opportunities of writing for established franchises compared to your own work, and how he approaches research and making things feel 'real' in fantasy stories. We spoke to Kieron just as he had been revealed as the writer on The Eternals, the return of a long-running series from Marvel.

This episode is part of our Early Career Writers' Resource Pack on World Building, which also features insight and tips from Abi Daré, Farhana Shaikh and Ian Nettleton. These packs are made possible by support from Arts Council England. See the rest of the pack here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/5-world-building/ 

Hosted by Stephanie McKenna and Simon Jones, who is barely able to contain his excitement.

More info on the Desmond Elliot Prize: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/desmond-elliott-prize/ 

Find out about what we do: http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/

Kieron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kierongillen 

Music by Bennet Maples.