The Writing Life

#21 NaNoWriMo Progress Report

This week we're checking in with a selection of NaNoWriMo writers to find out how close they are to hitting 50,000 words and hear their tips for surviving the month. 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: Christmas Open House: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/christmas-open-house-at-dragon-hall/ NanoWriMo: https://nanowrimo.org/ The Thirst podcast: https://twitter.com/thethirst Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash Music by Bennet Maples: https://sonicfruit.co.uk/

#20 How to put podcasts into your novel with Matt Wesolowski

Matt Wesolowski is the author behind Six Stories and Hydra. In today's episode we talk to him about the notion of 'hybrid writing' - incorporating other forms such as podcasts, emails, Reddit threads into novels. Also discussed: pink glue sticks. 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/ Mentioned events: Matt's blog post about 'hybrid writing': https://noirwich.co.uk/2018/09/06/what-is-a-hybrid-writer/ Noirwich Crime Writing Event: https://noirwich.co.uk/ Links: NaNoWriMo: https://nanowrimo.org Music by Bennet Maples: https://sonicfruit.co.uk/

#19 NaNoWriMo 101 with Elizabeth Haynes

National Novel Writing Month is upon us! We speak to crime fiction writer Elizabeth Haynes about how NaNoWriMo kickstarted her career and helped in the creation of several of her bestselling novels. 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/ Mentioned events: Who Are We Now? https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/life-writing-in-a-post-brexit-world/ Lamanby: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/jacob-polley-lamanby/ Dragon Hall Salon: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/dragon-hall-salon-2/ UEA Live: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/uea-live-patrick-langley/ Links: NaNoWriMo: https://nanowrimo.org Music by Bennet Maples: https://sonicfruit.co.uk/

#18 Writing historical crime fiction with Nicola Upson

Crime writer Nicola Upson discusses the history of crime fiction and writing a historical detective series without it being old fashioned. 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/ Mentioned events: Noirwich: https://noirwich.co.uk/ Music by Bennet Maples: https://sonicfruit.co.uk/

#17 Translation and censorship with Sara Khalili

In the third part of our Found in Translation series Kate Griffin talks to Sara Khalili about translation and censorship. 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/ Music by Bennet Maples: https://sonicfruit.co.uk/

#16 Translation in action: Gerbrand Bakker, David Colmer and Andrew Burton

Continuing our series focusing on translation, we talk to with author Gerbrand Bakker, translator David Colmer and scriptwriter Andrew Burton about how they are linked through Gerbrand's award-winning novel The Twin. 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/ Mentioned events: Dragon Hall Salon: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/dragon-hall-salon-2/ Life & Times of Michael K: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/life-times-of-michael-k/ Interview with Sam Ruddock of Story Machine Productions: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/exploring-live-literature-with-story-machine-productions/ Portrait image (c) Gunter Gluecklich Music by Bennet Maples: https://sonicfruit.co.uk/

#15 Found in Translation

In the first in a new series focusing on translation, we talk to Susan Harris and Samantha Schnee from magazine Words Without Borders about the how translation works, why it's important and how it has the potential to bring the world together. These interviews were recorded at London Book Fair - apologies for the background noise of intense hubbub. 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/ Useful links: Words Without Borders: https://www.wordswithoutborders.org/ Music by Bennet Maples: https://sonicfruit.co.uk/

#14 The Noirwich Lecture: Val McDermid

Val McDermid delivered the annual lecture at the 2018 Noirwich Crime Writing Festival, on the subject of "What we really talk about when we talk about crime fiction", and we have the full speech on the podcast for you today. As well as being a legendary crime author, Val is also one of this year's Man Booker Prize judges, and her lecture examines where crime fiction sits in the wider literature scene and how it relates to society and the real world. The Noirwich Lecture is presented by The Times and Sunday Times Crime Club, and the Noirwich festival is a partnership between us and the University of East Anglia. 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/ Mentioned events: Noirwich Crime Writing Festival: https://noirwich.co.uk Dragon Hall tours: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/dragon-hall/ Music by Bennet Maples: https://sonicfruit.co.uk/

#13 Bring books to life with Story Machine Productions

We talk to Sam Ruddock, director of Story Machine Productions, about reinventing live literature and how to create transformative experiences based on the reading of books. 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/ Mentioned events: Life & Times of Michael K: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/life-times-of-michael-k/ Related links: Story Machine Productions: https://storymachineproductions.co.uk/ Neil Gaiman on finding your tribe: http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2008/03/at-eastercon.html Norfolk & Norwich Festival: https://nnfestival.org.uk/ Wigtown: http://www.wigtownbookfestival.com/ Edinburgh Book Festival: https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/ Extract from 'The Quiet' by Carys Davies, one of the stories in the 2017 show The Story Machine: Under Surveillance, co-produced by National Centre for Writing and Norfolk & Norwich Festival. Sound design by Jose McGill, featuring the voice of Joanna Swann. Music by Bennet Maples: https://sonicfruit.co.uk/

#12 Anthony Horowitz on The Word is Murder

As the Noirwich Crime Writing Festival 2018 kicks off, we look back at the 2017 festival when Anthony Horowitz sat down with Chris Gribble to discuss his long and varied career and the creation of The Word is Murder. 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/ Mentioned events: Noirwich Crime Writing Festival: https://noirwich.co.uk Dragon Hall Salon: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/dragon-hall-salon/ Music by Bennet Maples: https://sonicfruit.co.uk/