London Writers' Salon (Parul Bavishi, Matthew Trinetti)
Explore every episode of London Writers' Salon
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jan 2025 | #127: Holly Black — Crafting Bestselling Fantasy: World-Building, Character Development, and The Prisoner’s Throne | 00:51:58 | |
Holly Black, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of fantasy novels, on her process for writing bestselling fiction, on getting vital feedback on drafts, how she overcomes rejection and what success in publishing actually is. * ABOUT HOLLY BLACK Holly Black is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of fantasy books, including the novels of Elfhame, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, the Spiderwick Chronicles, her adult debut, Book of Night, as well as an Arthurian picture book called Sir Morien. The Prisoner’s Throne is Holly's latest novel, the conclusion to the no.1 bestseller The Stolen Heir. RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 11 Mar 2023 | #050: Jasmine Richards — Creating Bestselling Children’s Book Series, Ideating, Secrets Of A Great Pitch & The Business Of Children’s Publishing | 01:02:03 | |
Jasmine Richards, editor, writer, and award-winning founder of StoryMix Studio talks to us about the business of children’s publishing and how she generates and sells her ideas to publishers and works with writers to create commercial fiction for children. * ABOUT JASMINE RICHARDS Jasmine Richards is the author of over a dozen children's books ranging from picture books to teen fiction. Her most recent novel, Keeper of Myths, was published by Harper Collins. She has over 15 years of experience as an editor, including roles at Hamish Hamilton, Puffin, and Dutton Books in New York. Jasmine is the founder of Storymix, an award-winning children's fiction studio, where she uses her unique experiences to develop new voices and inclusive stories. * RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED:
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 22 Feb 2025 | #133: Michael Dean – The Invisible Patterns Behind Great Essays: How Essay Architecture Can Shape Your Writing and Break Through Perfectionism. | 00:42:44 | |
Essayist, editor and creator of Essay Architecture, Michael Dean on the hidden structures and key patterns within great essays. * ABOUT MICHAEL DEAN Michael Dean is a writer, editor, and creator of Essay Architecture. A former architect and virtual reality specialist, he now studies the hidden frameworks that make essays work. * RESOURCES & LINKS
* This episode is brought to you by our friends at Lulu. If you're interested in self-publishing, Lulu has free resources such as helpful tutorials, templates to help you layout a book, design for print, and they have a very watchable YouTube University channel. Our community anthology is in fact published using Lulu. Check them out at lulu.com. * For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 20 May 2023 | #059: Madeleine Dore — Rethinking Writing Ruts & Routines, Imperfect Creative Processes, Substack, Blogging, Creative Cycles | 01:01:03 | |
Madeleine Dore, author of ‘I Didn’t Do The Thing Today’ on rethinking writing routines and ruts, how to rid ourselves of the pressure to do more, embracing imperfection in the creative process, and her unique approach to her Substack newsletter. * ABOUT MADELEINE DORE Madeleine Dore is a writer, interviewer and author of I Didn’t Do The Thing Today'. As a labour of love, Madeleine spent over five years exploring how we can broaden the definition of a day well spent in her popular blog Extraordinary Routines and podcast Routines & Ruts. She continues to write, speak and explore themes of creativity and connection—but mostly tries to hold things lightly. * Follow Madeleine:
Links & Resources Discussed:
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 24 Jun 2023 | #063: Krystal Sutherland — Writing Young Adult Novels & Bringing Characters to Life | 00:48:29 | |
NYT bestselling author Krystal Sutherland on writing young adult novels and bringing characters to life. We also talk about her experience of having her debut novel Chemical Hearts adapted into a film by Amazon Studios. We also talk about she's honed her craft. how she’s learned to plot visualise her stories. * ABOUT KRYSTAL SUTHERLAND Krystal Sutherland’s debut novel, Chemical Hearts, was published in over 20 countries and was named by the American Booksellers Association as one of the best debuts of 2016. The film adaptation, produced by Amazon Studios, stars Lili Reinhart and Austin Abrams. Her other books include A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares and the New York Times bestseller House of Hollow. * RESOURCES: Follow Krystal:
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 26 Nov 2022 | #036: Pragya Agarwal — From Academic Writing to Big Idea Nonfiction & Tackling Complex Ideas | 00:50:18 | |
In this episode we talk with Professor Prayga Agarwal about her writing journey from academia to commercial non-fiction, how to tackle difficult and complex subjects, and what it takes to research, write and publish 'big idea' non-fiction books. We also discuss overcoming procrastination, writing within small pockets of time, her writing and research process and how she brings together the hard research alongside the personal narrative. * ABOUT PRAGYA AGARWAL Pragya Agarwal is a behaviour and data scientist and Visiting Professor of Social Inequities and Injustice at Loughborough University in the UK. She is the founder of a research think-tank The 50 Percent Project investigating women’s status and rights around the world. Pragya is the award-winning author of (M)otherhood: On the choices of being a woman, SWAY: Unravelling Unconscious Bias and Wish we knew what to say: Talking with children about race, and a book for children Standing up to Racism. RESOURCES:
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 13 Sep 2022 | #025: Will Storr — The Science of Storytelling, Moving Past Rejection & Writing Impactful Non-Fiction | 00:54:07 | |
In this episode we speak to the award-winning author, Will Storr (@wstorr) about The Science of Storytelling, from his research process to planning and writing his first draft, why he thinks “writing is mostly about rejection” and why ultimately critics' feedback doesn’t matter to him. We also delve into his signature “Sacred Flaw” technique, which will help you truly understand your character (if fiction), or yourself if you’re writing a memoir. * ABOUT WILL STORR Will Storr is an award-winning writer. He’s the author of five critically acclaimed books: The Status Game (Sept 2021), The Science of Storytelling, The Selfie, The Heretics and The Hunger and The Howling of Killian Lone. His journalism has appeared in titles such as The Guardian, The Sunday Times, The New Yorker and The New York Times. His prizes include a National Press Club award for excellence and the AFM award for Best Investigative Journalism. He’s an in-demand ghostwriter whose books have spent months at the top of The Sunday Times bestseller chart. * QUOTES BY WILL: "There was a study in the 1950s of a small island in Micronesia which ran this status game of yams and whoever brought the biggest yam to the feast was declared number one. The yam growers would grow in secret plots on the island and cover them with overgrow. I always think about the yams because this book is it's a yam is what it is and all the things that we're trying to do, it's just a big, bloody yam. That's all it is. And it can feel really important. And if I get a shitty review this week from The Guardian, it's just somebody mocking a yam. It sounds contradictory because on the one hand saying status is really important and it is really important. We need it. But I do think it's really useful to remind ourselves that it's just symbols that we're chasing. And we are kind of drugged into thinking that it is of immense importance that this critic likes my book, but it isn't. No one else really cares. It's just a yam."
RESOURCES: Connect with Will Twitter:@wstorr Website: willstorr.com Will’s Books: * For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 10 Aug 2024 | #112: Olivia Petter — The Power of Vulnerability, Finding Your Niche in Journalism, Viral Posts, Writing about Love, Relationships & Culture | 01:06:25 | |
Olivia Petter, award-winning journalist & author on breaking into journalism, vulnerability, writing about consent and celebrity (Gold Rush), finding her niche in journalism and landing a book deal. * ABOUT OLIVIA PETTER Olivia Petter is an award-winning journalist, author, and broadcaster based in London. As a journalist, she specialises in violence against women, pop culture, relationships, mental health, sexual health, travel, fashion, and beauty. (The Sunday Times, British Vogue, British GQ, Grazia). She is the author of Millennial Love and Gold Rush. * RESOURCES & LINKS
Follow Olivia:
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 07 Jan 2025 | #126: John Muirs Laws — The Nature Journaling Framework To Unlock Boundless Creativity, Curiosity as a Superpower, and How to Deepen Your Writing | 00:58:35 | |
Naturalist, artist, and educator John Muir Laws on how writers can awaken curiosity, deepen their connection to nature, and unlock boundless creativity through the transformative practice of nature journaling. * ABOUT JOHN MUIRS LAWS John (Jack) Muir Laws is a principal leader and innovator of the worldwide nature journaling movement. He is the author and illustrator of several books including The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling (also available in Spanish), The Laws Sketchbook, The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds, Sierra Birds: A Hiker’s Guide, Sierra Wildflowers: A Hiker’s Guide, and The Laws Guide to the Sierra Nevada. RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 12 Aug 2023 | #070: Hannah Bos — Writing TV From The Heart, HBO’s Somebody Somewhere, Artistic Partnerships, Writing Friendships For The Screen | 01:02:31 | |
Hannah Bos, co-creator and showrunner of HBO’s Somebody Somewhere on landing a series with HBO, her journey as a storyteller, how she navigates collaboration, and her approach to change and character development when writing for the stage and screen. * ABOUT HANNAH BOS Hannah Bos is a Brooklyn-based writer who, along with her writing partner Paul Thureen, is the creator/showrunner of HBO’s Somebody Somewhere. The first season of the show received an AFI Award and Peabody nomination and Hannah and Paul were nominated for a 2022 Humanitas Prize for Comedy Teleplay for the pilot episode. Season 2 is available now and the series was recently picked up for a third season. Together they have also written for HBO’s High Maintenance and Amazon’s Mozart in the Jungle. * RESOURCES Follow Hannah Bos: Other links: * For show notes, and transcripts and to attend our live podcasts, visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 04 Dec 2022 | #037: Daniel Paisner - Secrets from the 'World's Most Prolific Ghostwriter', Working With Serena Williams, How To Unearth The True Story | 01:04:54 | |
New York Times Bestselling author and ghostwriter Daniel Paisner on how he landed his first ghostwriting job, how the ghostwriting process works, working with celebrities like Serena Williams and Whoopi Goldberg and what it takes to unearth the real story of a person’s life. Also, how his ghostwriting work helps him with his own creative work including his latest book Balloon Dog. * ABOUT DANIEL PAISNER Daniel Paisner is a journalist, author, and podcaster. He is the winner of two NAACP Image Awards for his work with Shark Tank panellist and serial entrepreneur Daymond John. His novel A Single Happened Thing was named an Indies Finalist for Best Book of the Year by the editors of Foreword Reviews. Paisner hosts As Told To, a podcast that features interviews with fellow authors about their ghostwriting experiences. His most recent novel is Balloon Dog, published by Koehler Books. * LINKS: Twitter: @DanielPasiner. Website: danielpaisner.com * For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free silent writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 21 Sep 2022 | #026: Julia Cameron — Writing With Intuition, Overcoming Perfectionism & Pursuing The Artist’s Way | 00:51:22 | |
In this episode we talk with Julia Cameron (@j_cameronlive), creative teacher and the author of over forty books including The Artist’s Way and The Listening Path. We explore Julia’s early career as a journalist, her relationship with sobriety and spirituality, and how she still uses morning pages and artist dates each week to decide what to write next. She explains the importance of Believing Mirrors - people who mirror us back to ourselves as powerful, strong, and in our most positive light. We also talk about essential tools to help you listen to your intuition, learn how to play again and overcome perfectionism. Julia’s Memoir Floor Sample, has been released in the UK. * ABOUT JULIA CAMERON Julia Cameron is the author of forty books, including her bestselling works on the creative process: The Artist’s Way, Seeking Wisdom, The Listening Path, Walking In This World and Finding Water. Her work has been translated into more than forty languages. Also a novelist, playwright, songwriter, and poet, she has multiple credits in theatre, film, and television. Her memoir Floor Sample takes behind the scenes of her extraordinary life and career as a writer and teacher. * QUOTES BY JULIA: “I believe in something called Believing Mirrors. And Believing Mirrors are people who reflect back to us, our possibility, our probability, our strength, our recovery, and I have in my intimate circle, many people who are for me, Believing Mirrors. And so by committing to write a poem week with Nick, I keep my poet alive and I write music on a little teeny keyboard and play it for Emma and Emma writes harmony, and that keeps my musician alive. And I think it's very important that you are committing to your own art and finding people who reinforce that. You're an artist and not just a teacher. And one of the things that I would I teach is that I sometimes sing or I'll read a poem and it's a chance to sort of duck out from behind the teacher and say, actually, I'm an artist.” * RESOURCES: Connect with Julia: Twitter:@j_cameronlive Website: juliacameronlive.com Julia’s Books:
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 19 Jan 2025 | #128: Sanjoy K. Roy — From 0 to 500k: Growing the Jaipur Literature Festival and Shaping Global Culture, How Art & Festivals Transform Cities | 00:58:21 | |
Sanjoy K. Roy, the visionary behind the Jaipur Literature Festival in India, on growing the largest literary festival in the world (half a million visitors) expanding it to the US, UK and beyond and how storytelling and creativity can shape culture and change cities. * * ABOUT SANJOY ROY Sanjoy is the Managing Director of Teamwork Arts, the company behind the Jaipur Literature Festival, which has grown from a single room with 230 attendees to a global event attracting over 400,000 visitors. His work focuses on using arts, culture, and storytelling as platforms to drive social change and inspire dialogue, and he has curated over 33 festivals in over 42 cities worldwide. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 08 Jul 2024 | #110: Beth Morrey — Writing Funny, Upmarket Fiction | 00:58:22 | |
Sunday Times Bestseller Beth Morrey (Saving Missey, Lucky Day) on her journey as a writer and TV producer and writing humorous upmarket books while exploring darker themes. We talk about her latest book Lucky Day and what it means to stop saying ‘yes’ and start living for yourself. * ABOUT BETH MORREY Previously Creative Director at RDF Television, Beth Morrey now writes full time. Her debut novel, Saving Missy, was a Sunday Times bestseller and longlisted for the Authors' Club First Novel Award. Beth lives in London with her husband, two sons and two poodles. * RESOURCES & LINKS
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 04 Mar 2023 | #049: Huma Qureshi — Writing the Memoir You're Not Sure You Can Write, Writing About Grief, Importance Of Role Models | 00:51:55 | |
Writer Huma Qureshi on how you know you’re ready to write a memoir. Plus, the importance of role models, writing about grief, loss and love and how she wrote and edited her memoir: How We Met: A Memoir of Love and Other Misadventures. This episode was recorded during the global lockdown in 2021. * ABOUT HUMA QURESHI Huma started her career at The Observer and The Guardian, working as a reporter and features writer before going freelance to write her first book, In Spite of Oceans, Migrant Voices, in 2015. Her short story The Jam Maker won Harper’s Bazaar Short Story Competition in 2020. Huma’s memoir, How We Met: A Memoir of Love and Other Misadventures, is about how she rebelled against tradition and fell in love on her own terms. She is also the author of a short story collection, Things We Do Not Tell The People We Love. * RESOURCES
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 25 Nov 2023 | #084: Jean Kwok — Writing Family Drama & Constructing Thrillers, Successful Daily Writing Routines, Handling Failure & Pressure, How to Stay Focused On Your Craft | 01:02:30 | |
Jean Kwok (New York Times bestselling author) on the process of creating compelling characters and structuring a psychological family drama thriller. Plus we talk about narrative tension, handling criticism and dealing with pressure and failure as a writer. * ABOUT JEAN KWOK Jean Kwok is the award-winning, New York Times and international bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie Lee, Girl in Translation and Mambo in Chinatown. Searching for Sylvie Lee was selected for the Today Show Book Club and featured in The New York Times, Time, Newsweek, CNN, The New York Post, The Washington Post, and more. * RESOURCES & LINKS
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 11 Nov 2023 | #081: Publisher Natalie Doherty — The Magic of Writing for Children, Market Trends, Behind the Scenes of Publishing, Children’s Book Categories, Social Media | 00:55:30 | |
Natalie Doherty, Children’s Publishing Director at HarperCollins, on what she looks for when acquiring books, the case against writing toward market trends, different categories of children’s books, and what makes a magical children’s book. * ABOUT NATALIE DOHERTY Natalie Doherty is Fiction Publishing Director at HarperCollins Children’s Books, where she joined the team in May 2023 and is now working to build a brilliant new list of talent. She was previously an editor at Penguin Random House Children’s, working with a list of award-winning and bestselling authors including Tom Fletcher, Robin Stevens, R J Palacio, Tamzin Merchant and Nazneen Ahmed Pathak. * RESOURCES & LINKS
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com
FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 01 Jun 2024 | #106: David Heinemeier Hansson — Turning Blogs into Bestselling Books, Writing Non-Fiction, Books as Products, Selling 1 million copies, Rethinking Work, Finding Meaning In Business & Writing | 01:10:20 | |
David Heinemeier Hansson, serial entrepreneur and bestselling author on his 14-year journey to selling millions of copies of his books, why you should view your books as valuable products, and how he has co-written and marketed his books—all while running multiple successful businesses, including Basecamp, Ruby on Rails, and Hey.com. Plus how he used his blog to create a viral book, why his editing process took years and why he’s certain that working more than 40 hours a week isn’t smart. * ABOUT DAVID HEINEMEIER HANSSON David Heinemeier Hansson is the creator of Ruby on Rails and co-owner of 37signals. He is also a Le Mans class-winning racing driver, antitrust advocate, investor in Danish startups, frequent podcast guest, and family man. His bestselling books include Rework and Remote: Office Not Required and Getting Real. * RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 13 Jan 2024 | #090: David Arnold — Writing Love Stories, Building Strong Characters, Mastering Young Adult Novels, From Musician to Writer | 00:59:41 | |
New York Times bestselling author David Arnold on his journey from professional musician to writer, choosing POV, using vignettes and writing characters that YA readers can’t resist in his latest book, 'I Loved You In Another Life.' * ABOUT DAVID ARNOLD David Arnold is the New York Times bestselling author of Mosquitoland, I Loved You in Another Life, The Electric Kingdom, Kids of Appetite, and The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik. He has won the Southern Book Prize and the Great Lakes Book Award, and was named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start for his debut. * RESOURCES & LINKS Follow David Other links mentionedL
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 18 May 2024 | #105: Krystal Sutherland — Secrets To Writing a Page-Turner, Writing Young Adult Fantasy & Thrillers, How to Motivate Yourself, Amazon Studios | 00:58:33 | |
Young Adult Bestselling author Krystal Sutherland on the reality of hitting the New York Times Bestseller list, how she constructs compelling hooks and endings for each chapter, moving across genres, and her advice for getting your book done and creating a page-turner. * ABOUT KRYSTAL SUTHERLAND Krystal Sutherland is the New York Times and indie bestselling author of House of Hollow, A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares and Our Chemical Hearts, which was adapted into a film by Amazon Studios. Her books have been published in more than twenty countries and nominated for the Carnegie Medal and YA Book Prize, among others. Originally from Australia, she has lived on four continents and currently calls London home. * RESOURCES & LINKS Follow Krystal:
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 28 Jan 2024 | #92: Alex Bescoby - Documentary Storytelling, Brand Partnerships, Funding for Filmmaking, Editing for TV and Pulling Together The Right Team | 01:06:38 | |
Filmmaker, author, presenter Alex Bescoby (The Last Overland) takes us behind the scenes of his Channel 4 documentary. We discuss brand partnerships, finding the right team, dealing with setbacks and the editorial process. * ABOUT ALEX BESCOBY Alex Bescoby is an award-winning filmmaker, best-selling author, and an experienced broadcaster. His films have been broadcast in more than 80 countries on Channel 4, History, BBC, Discovery and Canal+ International. His films include ‘The Last Overland’ (accompanied by his book), The Story of Burma’s Lost Royal Family and Searching for Burma’s Forgotten World War Two Heroes. * RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 19 Nov 2022 | #035: Soman Chainani — Writing Dark Tales For Children, Navigating Hollywood & Balancing Creative Work With Discipline | 00:55:19 | |
In this episode we speak to bestselling children’s author Soman Chainani about working in the film industry, overcoming failure and rejection, working as a tutor to make ends meet and how he wrote and pitched his first book series 'The School For Good And Evil' that sold 3 million copies and is now a Netflix film. Plus how he balances deep creative work with life and the power of myth and fairytale. Plus why you should never believe anything anyone tells you in Hollywood. * ABOUT SOMAN CHAINANI Soman Chainani’s debut series, The School for Good and Evil, has sold more than 3 million copies, been translated into 30 languages across 6 continents, and is a Netflix film starring Charlize Theron and Kerry Washington. He has made films that have played all over the world, and his writing awards include honors from Big Bear Lake, the CAPE Foundation, and the Sun Valley Writers’ Fellowship. His latest book, Beasts & Beauty: Dangerous Tales, Soman reimagines old stories into fresh fairy tales for a new era. * RESOURCES: * For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 19 Apr 2025 | #141: Jono Hey – Build a Creative Practice That Sticks: Mastering Visual Thinking, 900+ Sketches, Deep Simplicity and Collaborating with Bill Gates | 01:02:22 | |
Jono Hey, author of Big Ideas Little Pictures and creator of Sketchplanations, shares insights from over a decade of explaining the world through sketches. We discuss:
* ABOUT JONO HEY * RESOURCES
* This episode is brought to you by our friends at Lulu. If you're interested in self-publishing, Lulu has free resources such as helpful tutorials, templates to help you layout a book, design for print, and they have a very watchable YouTube University channel. Our community anthology is in fact published using Lulu. Check them out at lulu.com. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 27 Aug 2024 | #114: David Whyte - Reads poems: A Seeming Stillness, A Song for the Salmon and Start Close In. Plus Writing Rituals, Fallow Periods and Frontiers | 00:19:24 | |
A curation of our favourite questions and poems from our interview with poet David Whyte. We ask him: What we can do when we can’t access our writing? How do we live through fallow periods of writing and what rituals he uses for writing. He shares the poems: A Seeming Stillness, A Song for the Salmon and Start Close In. * ABOUT DAVID WHYTE David Whyte is an internationally renowned poet, author, and speaker. His books include The Heart Aroused: Poetry and the Preservation of the Soul in Corporate America, Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words, and The Bell and the Blackbird. His latest collections are David Whyte: Essentials and Still Possible. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 25 Mar 2023 | #052: Orna Ross — How to Succeed as Indie Author, Marketing Essentials, Paying Yourself First | 01:07:54 | |
Poet, novelist and founder of the Alliance of Independent Authors, Orna Ross, on her career from traditional to indie publishing and what it takes to succeed as an indie author. We talk about the benefits of self-publishing, marketing tips, reaching income goals, the '20 Books to 50k' goal, and why pushing past the 1st book is critical. She also tells us why paying yourself first is so important, even in the early days. * ABOUT ORNA ROSS Orna Ross is a bestselling and award-winning author of historical fiction and inspirational poetry. She is also a creativity facilitator and the founder-director of the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi). She has been named one of The Bookseller's Top 100 people in publishing and advocates for self-publishing as an artistic expression and viable business option for authors. * RESOURCES
FOLLOW ORNA ROSS
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com
* FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 23 Apr 2022 | #005: Ben Hardy — Setting Ambitious Writing Goals, Designing Your 'Future Self' & Mastering Articles on Medium.com | 00:51:26 | |
Benjamin Hardy’s articles have been read by over 100 million readers. He has also been the #1 writer, in the world, on Medium.com. How does he do it? In this episode, he shares his writing process and how he plans, structures and ships his articles. We also talk about why it’s important to set the right goals to help us reach our most courageous dreams, how our goals shape our identity and personality, and the importance of the environment in achieving our goals. * Dr Benjamin Hardy (@BenjaminPHardy) is an organizational psychologist, bestselling author and the world’s leading expert on the application of the Future Self science. His books include Be Your Future Self Now, The Gap and the Gain, Willpower Doesn’t Work and Personality Isn’t Permanent. His blogs have been read by over 100 million people and are featured on Forbes, Fortune, CNBC and many others. He is a regular contributor to Inc. and Psychology Today and from 2015-2018, he was the #1 writer, in the world, on Medium.com. * SHOW NOTES [02:47] How we underpredict our future selves [04:15] How Ben clarified his goal to become a professional writer and land a six-figure book deal [06:55] How Ben used Medium to grow his email list from 0 to 400k [10:05] Ben’s systems and processes to create consistently popular articles [14:47] Ben's writing process and how he plans, structures and ships his articles [17:30] On using Medium vs LinkedIn. [19:18] On repurposing an article for two different platforms [27:50] What does it mean to orient our lives towards our goals? From LeBron to watching Youtube late at night [31:26] How James Clear’s goal led him to sell 2 million copies of Atomic Habits [33:40] The importance of environment in changing your life and achieving your goals [39:35] Why being useful is important, and how you can get what you want by helping other people [40:51] Resources for crafting good headlines [44:29] Why ‘empathetic witnesses’ can encourage you to write, publish and more * QUOTES FROM BEN HARDY “...most people think that who they are today is who they're gonna be in the future. So their future self actually isn't imagined far different. They think that their future self is going to kind of pretty much be the same person that they are today, which is just not what the research shows. We massively under predict how much we're going to change in the future. And we spend so little time imagining our future and turning that into concrete plans and strategies for courageously becoming the person we wanted to be” * “What is the actual objective of this article? What am I trying to accomplish? Or what am I trying to have the reader accomplish? What is the purpose of this article? Like just answering that question, like, what am I trying to accomplish? What am I trying to solve here?” * RESOURCES: Podcast Offer: To access the Genuis Blogging Course, email ben@benjaminhardy.com and mention the LWS interview offer along with proof of purchase of Ben’s book. Follow Ben Hardy: Website: benjaminhardy.com Twitter @benjaminphardy Instagram @benjamin_hardy_phd Ben’s Books:
Authors mentioned: Other books mentioned:
Courses mentioned: Guest Blogging by Jon Morrow - (summary here) & Genius Blogging * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS' SALON For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon * CREDITS Production by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 19 Aug 2023 | #071: Ed Wilson — Submitting to Agents & Navigating Publishing, Junior vs Experienced Agents, How to Follow up with Agents, Smaller vs Larger Literary Agencies | 00:43:19 | |
London-based Literary Agent Ed Wilson (Johnson & Alcock) @literarywhore on the relationship between agents and authors, finding the right agent for you, what agents are looking for and how long to wait before following up on a submission. Plus, an insight into Ed’s career, examples of submissions he’s taken on and shifts in the publishing industry. * ABOUT ED WILSON Ed Wilson is a literary agent and director at Johnson & Alcock, a London-based literary agency established in the 1950s. Ed has a diverse and developing list of authors of fiction and nonfiction. He represents everything from award-winning literary fiction to bestselling crime, science-fiction, and fantasy. Find Ed on Twitter here. * RESOURCES & LINKS
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON: Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 20 Nov 2024 | #121: Kate Mosse — From Aspiring Writer to Literary Game-Changer, Launching The Women's Prize For Fiction, Writing Historical Fiction, Finding Success After Rejection | 01:00:25 | |
Literary Legend Kate Mosse on writing 11 + novels, finding her voice with her fifth novel, researching historical fiction, pushing past doubt, dealing with rejection and how she launched the Women's Prize For Fiction. * ABOUT KATE MOSSE Kate Mosse is the author of eleven novels & short story collections, including the No 1 bestselling The Joubert Family Chronicles. Her books have been translated into 38 languages and published in more than 40 countries. Kate is the Founder Director of the Women's Prize for Fiction & the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction - the largest annual celebration of women's writing in the world - and is the Founder of the global campaign #WomanInHistory launched in January 2021 to honour, celebrate and promote women’s achievements throughout history. She was awarded a CBE in the King’s New Year’s Honours List 2024 for services to literature, women and charity. * RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 29 Jul 2023 | #068: Samantha Shannon — Writing Fantasy Fiction, Plotting, Worldbuilding & Keeping Anxiety At Bay | 01:05:53 | |
Bestselling fantasy writer Samantha Shannon on dealing with early success, plotting a seven-book series and keeping anxiety at bay. * ABOUT SAMANTHA SHANNON Samantha Shannon is a New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of The Bone Season and The Priory of the Orange Tree. * LINKS FROM THE SHOW
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 14 Jan 2023 | #042: Laura Kay — Writing Romantic Comedy, Creating Relatable Characters and Queer Visibility in Fiction | 00:58:01 | |
Novelist Laura Kay (@lauraelizakay) on her writing journey from journalism to novels, how her writing career was launched from Penguin WriteNow programme, queer visibility in fiction, writing sex scenes and how Laura writes and edits her romantic comedies. Laura also talks about tackling writer’s block with an ‘ideas walk’, the reality of forging a career as a full-time writer and her approach to dealing with critics and feedback. * ABOUT LAURA KAY Laura Kay is an author and journalist whose work has appeared in Diva Magazine, The Guardian, Stylist, The Metro, and more. Laura was one of ten writers selected for Penguin’s 2018 WriteNow programme, during which she developed her debut novel, The Split, published by Quercus in 2021. Her second novel, Tell Me Everything is out in paperback now. * RESOURCES: Laura’s books: The Split: Amazon UK/ Amazon USA Tell Me Everything: Amazon UK/ Amazon USA Wild Things (coming in May 2023) * Follow Laura on socials: Twitter: lauraelizakay Instagram: lauraekay Website: laurakayauthor.co.uk * Books and links mentioned in the interview:
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 17 Feb 2024 | #095: Hester Musson — Writing Gothic Historical Thrillers, Querying Agents, Moving Past Rejection, Creating Tense Dialogue | 00:58:34 | |
Hester Musson (The Beholders) on her writing and querying process for her gothic historical thriller. She also talks to us about how she overcame rejection and got published. * ABOUT HESTER MUSSON Hester Musson studied at Bristol University and the RCS in Glasgow. She worked as an actress and autocue operator in London before writing full time, and now lives in Scotland.The Beholders is her debut novel. * RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 18 Nov 2023 | #083: Peter Komolafe — Rewriting Your Relationship with Money & Visualising Success, Writing Non-Fiction, Building A Brand | 01:03:35 | |
Nonfiction writer and financial advisor Peter Komolafe, on pulling himself out of homelessness, struggles with debt through to becoming a financial expert. We explore how we might rewrite our relationship with money, his 5 "BASIC" principles of financial security, how visualisation helped him achieve his goals, and his experience writing The Money Basics. Peter also shares his advice on how he utilized platforms like YouTube, and his podcast to build his brand. * ABOUT PETER KOMOLAFE Peter Komolafe founded Conversation of Money (a YouTube Channel and weekly Podcast) in 2020 to have conversations he wished someone had with him when he was in his twenties. Peter has been featured on Lorraine, Steph’s Packed Lunch, BBC World Service, The Times, The Express, ITV and has appeared as the Financial Expert on Secret Spenders: Beat the Price Rises on Channel 4. He's also the author of The Money Basics. * RESOURCES & LINKS
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 20 Jan 2024 | #091: Suzie Sheehy — Writing Popular Science, Making Complex Subjects Accessible, Narrative Nonfiction, The Reality Of Getting Published, Twelve Experiments That Changed Our World | 01:04:11 | |
Accelerator Physicist and author Dr. Suzie Sheehy (The Matter OF Everything: Twelve Experiments That Changed Our World) on simple storytelling techniques to make science and other complex subjects engaging. Plus, Suzie's early impressions as a first-time author, her process for writing and researching The Matter of Everything, and overcoming her 'valley of death' moment with the book to complete it. * ABOUT SUZIE SHEEHY Suzie Sheehy is an accelerator physicist and academic who divides her time between her research groups at the University of Oxford and the University of Melbourne. She is currently focused on developing new particle accelerators for applications in medicine. An award-winning public speaker, presenter and science communicator, Suzie is dedicated to sharing science beyond the academic community. Her 2018 TED talk has been viewed over 1.8M times, and she has been an expert TV presenter for several Discovery Channel shows, including four seasons of Impossible Engineering. 'The Matter of Everything' is her first book. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 14 Aug 2022 | #021: Yancey Strickler — Overcoming Creative Anxiety, The Importance Of Sharing Your Ideas With Others, and How To Create A Better Future with Bentoism | 00:56:29 | |
In this episode we speak with writer and co-founder of Kickstarter, Yancey Stricker, about his origins as a writer, tools he’s used to overcome creative anxiety, why it's important to share your ideas early and how he wrote his book: This Could Be Our Future: A Manifesto for a More Generous World. He explains why the Bento model - rethinking short-term interest - can create a better future for us all. * SHOWNOTES
* ABOUT YANCEY Yancey Strickler is the founder of The Bento Society, the cofounder of Kickstarter, and the cofounder of the artist resource The Creative Independent. His book This Could Be Our Future: A Manifesto for a More Generous World, explores a vision for building a society that looks beyond money and toward maximizing the values that make life worth living. * QUOTES FROM YANCEY: “Holding ideas is bad. You have got to, you know, even if it's just a close friend, you gotta let ideas feel the oxygen. You have got to try to talk them through” * RESOURCES Connect with Yancey: Twitter: @ystrickler Instagram: @ystrickler Other links:
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON: Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 08 Apr 2022 | #001: Alastair Humphreys — Make a Living Writing About Your Life & Adventures | 00:48:07 | |
Alastair Humphreys has built an impressive career as a creator using a simple formula: Step 1: Go on an adventure. Step 2: Write a story about it. Step 3: Earn money from it. Step 4: Repeat. Sounds Simple. But far from easy. In this episode, we dive into Alastair’s creative process – from planning, adventuring, writing to publishing and eventually, getting paid. We’ll also discuss how Alastair has navigated hard times to persist as a creator for 15+ years, his journey from teaching to writing to filmmaking to children’s books to podcasting, balancing family life with adventuring and creating, and tips for writing stories about your personal experiences that readers will love and publishers will buy. * Alastair Humphreys is a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, podcaster, filmmaker, and author of 13 books. He spent over 4 years cycling around the world, a journey of 46,000 miles through 60 countries and 5 continents. More recently Alastair has walked across southern India, rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, run six marathons through the Sahara desert, completed a crossing of Iceland, and participated in an expedition in the Arctic. In 2018, Alastair trekked over 350 miles across Spain in the footsteps of his adventurer-author hero Laurie Lee, feeding himself only with money he earned busking. He turned that story into the enthralling, raw memoir, My Midsummer Morning: Rediscovering a Life of Adventure. * SHOW NOTES [05:07] Alastair's rowing experience across the Atlantic Ocean [07:06] How to push yourself in your path of adventure by starting small [09:48] Big adventures and how to turn them into micro-adventures when life gets in the way [12:10] Alastair’s coping mechanisms during the pandemic including climbing a tree, plus the importance of passive income [15:49] How to find an audience for your writings that's beyond friends and family [18:24] Alastair’s love for travel books and what inspired him to write [19:13] About Alastair’s busking adventure in Spain and how this led to this book, My Midsummer Morning, and balancing adventuring life and home life [28:31] Alastair’s journey from having a publisher to self-publishing his own books [33:22] On trying new things and becoming an expert in your own niche [37:04] How to get paid gigs with brands & and how to approach brands [40:11] On self-doubt and how to get past it [42:53] What would your eighty-year-old self tell you to do today? * QUOTES FROM ALASTAIR “There's a blog post called, The Long Tail, which shows you graphically like, how many times you'll hug your parents again, how many times you'll swim in the ocean again, and if you see it graphically, there are so few. And if he'd been so inclined, he could probably have written on his little bar chart: here are the books you have time to write in your life. And I suspect once you see that, your eighty-year-old self would suggest that you begin.” * “If you're a writer and you compare yourself to Shakespeare, it's pointless. If you're going to play football in the park and you compare yourself to Lionel Messi, it’s pointless. But we spend all our lives measuring ourselves against people like this. It’s ridiculous. So call yourself a working whatever, and then get to work and try and find a thousand people who read your books and then repeat the process and try and get 2000 for the next one. And you'll probably be alright.” * SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE Connect with Alastair Humphreys: Twitter: @Al_Humphreys Instagram: @al_humphreys Facebook: Al Humphreys Facebook Page Website: www.alastairhumphreys.com Wait but Why Blog by Tim Urban - The Long Tail * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS' SALON For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon * CREDITS Production by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 03 Jun 2023 | #061: Joanna Nadin — Lessons From Writing 90+ Books for Kids, Teens & Adults, Writing Tools & Plotting Your Book | 01:00:44 | |
Award-winning author of 90 books, Joanna Nadin, talks about writing engaging stories for and about kids, and the writing practices and tools that have helped her write so many books and how she plots her stories. * ABOUT JOANNA NADIN Joanna has written more than 90 books for children and adults. She has a doctorate in adolescent identity and YA literature and is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Bristol. Her books have garnered a number of prizes including the Fantastic Book Award and the Surrey Book Award. She's also been shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, the Booktrust Best Book award, the Telegraph Sports Book of the Year, the Hearst Big Book Awards, and Queen of Teen. She was twice nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal: for Everybody Hurts, and forJoe All Alone, which was made into a BAFTA-winning and Emmy-nominated BBC drama series. * RESOURCES Follow Joanna
Joanna’s books
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 28 Dec 2024 | #125: Vicky Reynal — Financial Therapy for Creatives, Balancing Art & Income, Financial Resilience, Writing Non-Fiction | 00:55:44 | |
Financial therapist and writer Vicky Reynal on how creatives can better understand our belief systems around money and what tools we can turn to when making hard decisions around money. * ABOUT VICKY REYNAL Vicky Reynal is a psychotherapist, and runs her own clinic in London specialising in financial therapy. She has a weekly column in the Daily Mail answering reader’s money dilemmas. Her book "Money on Your Mind: the Psychology behind your Financial Habits" won the MAIA Best Book Award in 2024. * RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 16 Apr 2022 | #004: Anna Wilson — Writing About Grief and Bringing Your Whole Self to Your Writing | 00:50:48 | |
As writers, there may be times when we must delve deep into the harder ‘themes’ of life - that of grief and loss. How might we start to write about loss and in what medium - a blog? Or a book? And where do we begin? How can we be vulnerable on the page? Join our conversation with Anna Wilson, as we talk about the craft of writing memoirs, having the confidence to tell the truth, and the mindset that has enabled her to write 50+ books. * Anna Wilson is the author of over 50 books for children and young teens. In 2016 she started her blog Good Grief about mid-life, loss and new beginnings. This eventually led to her memoir A Place for Everything which tells the searing account of a mother’s late-diagnosis of autism – and what it means to care for our parents in their final years. Anna is also an editor and lecturer, a tutor for the London Lit Lab and the Writer's Block in Cornwall and for the Arvon Foundation. * SHOW NOTES: [03:53] Anna's love for swimming and how it helped her deal with grief [06:23] Anna's struggle to write during lockdown [08:16] How Anna chooses the themes for her books [11:23] On pitching ideas [14:42] Anna's blog and how it started [19:42] How to move from draft to a polished piece + Anna's writing practices [23:03] What to include and what not to when writing a memoir [24:56] How Anna decided to write a book about her mom and dad [27:09] Why Anna suggests reading other people's memoirs [30:29] Anna shares what the book A Place for Everything is about [33:39] On being vulnerable in your writing [37:24] Anna's advice for someone who wants to tell the truth [38:29] On how Anna came up with the title for the book [41:21] Why having a good relationship with your editor is important [44:39] Anna’s favourite writing exercises [46:10] Pigheaded attitude and being disciplined as a writer * QUOTES FROM ANNA: “I think it's quite a pigheaded attitude. I think you have to be pretty disciplined. I love Margaret Atwood when she says, “Show up, show up, show up. And the muse will too.” In other words, don't talk to me about, oh, I'm just waiting for the muse to come. I'm just waiting for that moment when I'm going to feel writer-y, and then I'll write something. Now you've got to show up every single day.” * SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE Connect with Anna Wilson Twitter: @acwilsonwriter Instagram: @acwilsonwriter Website: acwilsonwriter.wordpress.com Vlad the World’s Worst Vampire Paddington2 - The Story of the Movie (Movie Tie-in) For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com Follow London Writers’ Salon: Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon CREDITS Production by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 23 Jul 2022 | #018: Ruta Septys — How to Write Gripping Historical Fiction, The Importance of Melody And Rhythm & Giving Voice to Underrepresented History. | 00:55:51 | |
In this episode we talk with the Carnegie winner and #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction, Ruta Sepetys, about the joy of writing historical fiction, building believable characters, the research process, how she finds objects from history to have by her side as she’s writing and why she writes her first draft like the world’s on fire. Plus, the importance of melody and rhythm in writing, the power of collaboration and dealing with critics. * ABOUT RUTA SEPETYS Ruta Sepetys (Rūta Šepetys) is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over sixty countries and forty languages. Sepetys is considered a “crossover” novelist as her books are read by both students and adults worldwide. Winner of the Carnegie Medal, Ruta is renowned for giving voice to underrepresented history and those who experienced it. Her books have won or been shortlisted for over forty book prizes, are included on over thirty state reading lists, and are currently in development for film and television. * QUOTES FROM RUTA: “Tonight you might hear a song that you haven't heard in five years and you can sing every word to that song, every word. And that's because melody and rhythm make things memorable and powerful. Melody and rhythm are often overlooked and writers I want you to read your work aloud, listening for rhythm and flow” RESOURCES Connect with Ruta: Twitter: @RutaSepetys Instagram: @rutasepetysauthor Ruta's Website - Ruta’s Website * LINKS FROM THE SHOW Books by Ruta Sepetys: * For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON: Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon CREDITS Production by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 17 Jul 2023 | #066: Ricardo Fayet — How to Promote Your Book In a Crowded Marketplace, Finding Readers, Finding Freelance Help with Reedsy | 00:53:15 | |
Marketer and Reedsy Co-founder Ricardo Fayet on the essential elements of marketing your book, the importance of knowing your target audience and how to utilise different platforms to find your readers. This interview was recorded in 2021. * ABOUT RICARDO FAYET Ricardo Fayet is one of the co-founders of Reedsy, a marketplace connecting authors to the world's top publishing talent--from editors to cover designers, book marketers, or literary translators. He oversees the marketing for all Reedsy products--Marketplace, Book Editor, Learning, Discovery--and is a big SEO and Facebook advertising enthusiast. He is the author of How to Market Your Book where he has distilled lessons learned from helping thousands of writers His weekly book marketing newsletter is read by over 150k writers. * RESOURCES Follow Ricardo Fayet:
Other links mentioned: * For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 11 Jun 2022 | #012: Anthony Anaxagorou — Push Past Self-Doubt and Think Like a Poet | 01:02:23 | |
How does a poet see the world? How can we move past self doubt and keep writing after rejection? In this episode we talk to Anthony Anaxagorou about how his journaling practice helps him generate ideas for his work, what his editing process looks like, and why he might spend eight or nine hours working on a single poem. Anthony is candid about his experience of failure and rejection, shares why we should be wary of the temptations of ‘prize culture’ (always seeking validation through the next prize), and why it’s crucial to develop our own internal value system to sustain ourselves and our writing. He even reads us some of his poetry! * ABOUT ANTHONY ANAXAGOROU Anthony Anaxagorou is a British-born Cypriot poet, fiction writer, essayist, publisher and poetry educator. His second collection After the Formalities was shortlisted for the 2019 T.S Eliot Prize. He was awarded the 2019 H-100 Award for writing and publishing, and the 2015 Groucho Maverick Award for his poetry and fiction. He’s the founder of one of London's leading poetry nights, Out-Spoken, and the independent publisher Out-Spoken Press. * SHOW NOTES [03:22] The experience of writing a book during the pandemic [04:41] Anthony talks about his uncle and how he influenced him as a writer [08:07] On failures and why it's important to ask yourself searching questions and see rejection as part of your job [11:48] What is prize culture and why does Anthony think it's dangerous? [14:06] Measuring success and creating your own value system [15:04] Anthony reads his poem, "Uber" [18:31] On being dissatisfied with his own work [21:53] On why he carrys a notebook with him all the time, and a writing habit he got from Lydia Davis [22:34] Anthony’s morning writing exercise [24:15] Anthony talks about his writing process, including 7-8 hours of focusing on one poem [27:43] How do you stop feeling intimidated by the academic side of poetry? [31:32] Anthony reflects on what "pushing your writing as far as it can go" means to him [34:32] Anthony shares the exercises he gives to his students to help them in writing a poem [36:38] What is the loaf of bread analogy, and why is playing with timelines when you write essential? [37:40] Resolving the poem and the idea of leaving the reader with questions [39:15] How do you know when a poem is done? [43:33] On being in conversation with the reader and why the writer is only half the conversation [46:13] Anthony shares how he started his London-based Out-Spoken open mic nights [49:44] Anthony reads his poem, "After the Formalities" * QUOTES BY ANTHONY: “The more you read, the more you get a sense for how poems work. And it's literally just from reading and you get a sense of where things end and where is an interesting place to end. If you think along the lines of—if you think the word interesting as opposed to kind of definitive. Then it kind of—it swaps. I just want to be interesting on the page. I don't want to be correct. I don't want to be certain. I want to be interesting.” * RESOURCES: Connect with Anthony: Twitter: @Anthony1983 Facebook: anthonyanax Website: anthonyanaxagorou.com * Links from the show: After the Formalities by Anthony Anaxagorou How To Write It by Anthony Anaxagorou Suppose a Sentence by Brian Dillon Uber by Anthony Anaxagorou After the Formalities by Anthony Anaxagorou * Authors/Poets mentioned:
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon * CREDITS Production by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 23 Sep 2023 | #075: Natasha Lance Rogoff — Bringing Sesame Street to Russia & Writing Memoir, Behind the Scenes Of A Global Television Series, Art in Times of War | 01:00:43 | |
Documentary filmmaking Natasha Lance Rogoff on bringing Sesame Street to Russia, the mechanics of a television global series, what makes Sesame Street so successful, the driving force behind creating art in dangerous circumstances and how she learned to write a memoir. * ABOUT NATASHA LANCE ROGOFF Natasha Lance Rogoff is an award-winning American television producer, filmmaker, and the author of the bestselling book, Muppets in Moscow: The Unexpected Crazy True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia. Lance Rogoff executive produced Ulitsa Sezam, the Russian adaptation of Sesame Street from 1993-1997. * RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 30 Mar 2024 | #100: Clara Vulliamy — Crafting Picture Books and Older Children's Stories, Dealing with Rejection, Finding Your Voice | 01:01:21 | |
Clara Vulliamy, a children’s author of over 30 books talks about how she approaches collaboration, and what she’s learned from decades in the world of children's publishing as an author and illustrator. * ABOUT CLARA VULLIAMY Clara Vulliamy is the daughter of author-illustrator Shirley Hughes and architect John Vulliamy. Her first experience of making pictures was being allowed to use up her Mum’s paints at the end of the day, which she says ‘was like scraping the icing out of the bowl after baking’. She studied Fine Art at Chelsea School of Art, The Ruskin and The Royal Academy. After graduating she began illustrating in newspapers and magazines, and doing a weekly cartoon in The Guardian. She started writing and illustrating children’s books when she had a family of her own, and she’s been hooked ever since. She’s made 30 + books, including the Dixie O Day series, Marshmallow Pie, Dotty Detective and many others. Her latest series The Dog Squad is out with HarperCollins. * RESOURCES & LINKS
Between April 12-13, we’re hosting our epic, annual 🌏 24-hour Writing Sprint! Join us for 1,2 or 24 hours of writing, bring a friend or two, and make serious progress on a creative project. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 21 Oct 2023 | #079: Herminia Ibarra — Navigating Career Transitions & Owning the Writing Identity. Also, Writing Big-Idea NonFiction, Being a Confident Writer, Learning Goals Vs Performance Goals | 00:58:32 | |
Professor Herminia Ibarra on her hugely influential books Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader, and Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career. In this conversation with Herminia, we discuss reinventing your career, how to gain confidence as a writer, why thinking first and then acting doesn’t always work, navigating periods of flux, advice for leaders and the art of writing big-idea nonfiction. * ABOUT HERMINIA IBARRA Herminia Ibarra is the Charles Handy Professor of Organizational Behavior at London Business School. She is also the author of two best-selling books, Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader and Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career. * RESOURCES & LINKS
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 13 May 2023 | #058: Steven Pressfield — The War of Art, Battling Resistance, Having A Creative Calling, Writing Memoir | 01:00:04 | |
Steven Pressfield on what it means to have a creative calling, overcoming rejection and resistance, how faith in something bigger than ourselves can play a role in our creative lives, his experience writing across multiple genres, and his latest memoir, Govt Cheese. * ABOUT STEVEN PRESSFIELD Steven Pressfield (@SPressfield) is the author of The War of Art which has sold over a millions copies globally and been translated into multiple languages. He is a master of historical fiction with Gates of Fire being on the required reading list at West Point and the the recommended reading list of the Joint Chiefs. His other books include A Man at Arms, Turning Pro, Do the Work, The Artist's Journey, Tides of War, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Last of the Amazons, Virtues of War, The Afghan Campaign, Killing Rommel, The Profession, The Lion's Gate, The Warrior Ethos, The Authentic Swing, An American Jew, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t, and The Knowledge. * RESOURCES Follow Steven Pressfield:
Other links mentioned:
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 06 Apr 2024 | #101: Eliza Reid — Writing Fiction & Nonfiction as Iceland's First Lady | 01:03:41 | |
The First Lady of Iceland Eliza Reid on her writing habits, her creative life and why the Iceland Writers’ Retreat is a perfect place for writers. We also discuss her fiction and nonfiction, navigating self-doubt, being tenacious with time and how she balances her responsibilities as a writer with her role in public service. * ABOUT ELIZA REID Eliza Reid is a journalist, editor, and cofounder of the annual Iceland Writers Retreat. Eliza grew up in the countryside near Ottawa, Canada, and moved to Iceland in 2003, five years after winning a student raffle for a date with the man who became her husband, Gudni Jóhannesson. When he took office as president of Iceland on August 1, 2016, Eliza became the country’s First Lady. In that capacity, she has been active in promoting gender equality, entrepreneurship and innovation, tourism and sustainability, and the country’s writers and rich literary heritage. Being the spouse of the head of state is an immense privilege, full of surreal and wonderful experiences. Eliza has been candid about the role, which is an unofficial position with no job description, penning a lauded op-ed in the New York Times and delivering a TEDx Talk on the topic. Her first book, Secrets of the Sprakkar, was an instant bestseller in Iceland and Canada, a New York Times Book Review Editors' Pick, and was recommended by Hillary Rodham Clinton, Margaret Atwood and many others. * RESOURCES & LINKS
* Join our 24-hour Writing Sprint! Between April 12-13, we’re hosting our epic, annual, online, FREE 🌏 24-hour Writing Sprint! Join us for 1,2 or 24 hours of writing, bring a friend or two, and make serious progress on a creative project. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 12 Nov 2022 | #034: Bonnie MacBird — Sherlock Holmes, Crime Fiction, Lessons from Hollywood & NaNoWriMo | 01:06:15 | |
In this interview we speak with Bonnie MacBird, a screenwriter and author (@macbird), about writing Sherlock Holmes mystery novels, lessons from Hollywood and screenwriting, how Bonnie’s Sherlock Holmes novels came from a personal NaNoWriMo, and why Sherlock Holmes has stood test of time. * ABOUT BONNIE MACBIRD Bonnie MacBird is an American writer, actress, and producer. She is the writer of the original screenplay for the film Tron. Her Sherlock Holmes series (HarperCollins) written in the style of Arthur Conan Doyle and featuring Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, has been released in 17 languages worldwide to critical acclaim. Her latest Holmes Adventure is a Christmas novella, What Child is This? with illustrations by Marvel Artist FRANK CHO. * RESOURCES:
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 23 Sep 2024 | #117: Kate Young — Writing Cookbooks, Viral Blogs, Plotting Romcoms and Writing Sex Scenes | 00:58:25 | |
Award-winning cookbook writer, blogger and novelist Kate Young on creating a viral cooking blog, how she turned her blog into a series of cookbooks, and what goes into a pitch for a cookbook. Plus her approach to plotting rom com, adding depth to rom-com characters, her approach to writing sex scenes and what she thinks every rom com should have. * ABOUT KATE YOUNG Kate Young is a writer and cook, whose award-winning Little Library Cookbooks feature food inspired by beloved works of literature. After a sunny Australian childhood (spent indoors reading books) she moved to London, which suited her much better. She now lives in a converted mill in a Gloucestershire town. Experienced is her first novel. * RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 28 Feb 2023 | #048: Oliver Burkeman — Writing Impactful Articles, Making the Most of Our Finite Lives, Reevaluate Your Relationship With Time, Being Happier | 00:59:50 | |
Bestselling author Oliver Burkeman @oliverburkeman on his process for writing impactful articles plus how he wrote his popular book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. We chat about reevaluating our relationship with time, the truth about perfectionism, why it’s liberating to know that we are insignificant in the cosmos, and how we might use this reality to lead happier and more creative lives. * ABOUT OLIVER BURKEMAN Oliver Burkeman is a feature writer for The Guardian. He won the Foreign Press Association's Young Journalist of the Year Award and has been short-listed for the Orwell Prize. He wrote a popular weekly column on psychology, "This Column Will Change Your Life". His books include Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals and The Antidote: Happiness for People who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking. * RESOURCES
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 30 Dec 2023 | #089: Emma Gannon — The Success Myth, Substack, Self-Publishing, Productivity Dysmorphia, The Arrival Fallacy, Being A Happy Creative | 01:04:19 | |
Emma Ganon on The Success Myth, our obsession with achievement and how to let go of the idea of having it all. We dive into her creative journey as an entrepreneur and writer of both nonfiction and fiction and the world of Substack. We also talk about Emma’s different income streams, reflections on her Self-Publishing Era, and we look at how she distributes her time and energy. This was a heartfelt discussion about the pressure of wanting success and wanting happiness, navigating those both and how we might ultimately craft a creative life on our own terms. * ABOUT EMMA GANNON Emma Gannon is a Sunday Times bestselling author, broadcaster, speaker, novelist and creator of the no.1 careers podcast in the UK, Ctrl Alt Delete. She has been a columnist for The Times, Telegraph and Courier magazine. Emma has published multiple bestselling books, including The Multi-Hyphen Method; Sabotage and Disconnected. She writes a popular weekly newsletter called The Hyphen that is an exploration of ideas that have got her thinking in new ways. * RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 21 Jan 2023 | #043: Tom Rob Smith - Writing Thrillers, Screenplays & High-Stakes Stories | 01:06:04 | |
Award winning novelist and screenwriter Tom Rob Smith (Child 44 Trilogy & American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace) on his writing journey from Cambodian soap operas to screenplays and novels, why creating a treatment is integral to his planning process and how he thinks about writing quick-paced high-stakes stories,. We dive into his latest novel Cold People, a sci-fi thriller set in Antarctica and why he eagerly experiments with genres like sci-fi and romance. * ABOUT TOM ROB SMITH Tom Rob Smith is the author of the acclaimed Child 44 trilogy, a global publishing sensation, selling over two million copies. His most recent novel, The Farm, was a Number One international bestseller. Tom also writes for television and won a Writer's Guild Award for best adapted series and an Emmy and Golden Globe for best limited series with American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace. * RESOURCES & LINKS Tom’s Work:
Follow Tom:
* QUOTES “Be open, and be open to opportunities that might not be on your dream scenario. There is lots of stumbling but you know when you come across something that you have a strong reaction to and if you trust that, that is powerful” “Passion and love for the material always shines through” * For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 09 Sep 2023 | #073: Nicola May — Self-Publishing Bestselling Rom-Coms, Using Price To Drive Sales, Writing From The Heart, Marketing Tips and The Importance of Persistence | 00:58:31 | |
Nicola May, a bestselling rom-com author, on publishing 16 books, making money through self-publishing what authors need to know about marketing, and how persistence has been a key part of her writing journey. Note from Parul & Matt: We had some mic issues when recording this episode, and our sound is a little scratchy; thank you for bearing with us on this episode * ABOUT NICOLA MAY Nicola May is the author of sixteen romantic comedies, all of which have appeared in the Kindle bestseller charts. Two of them won awards at the Festival of Romance, and another was named ebook of the week in The Sun. The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay became the best-selling Kindle book in the UK, across all genres, in January 2019, and was Amazon’s third-bestselling novel in that year. Described by Winifred Robinson of BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours as ‘the invisible bestselling author’, Nicola campaigned successfully for the introduction of ebook charts in the publishing trade press. She lives near Ascot racecourse with her black-and-white rescue cat, Stan. * RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 15 Mar 2025 | #136: Tessa Hadley – The Secrets of Literary Fiction: How to Craft Powerful, Resonant Stories, Creating Compelling Stories, Publishing in your 40s, 50s and beyond | 01:04:05 | |
Best-selling Author Tessa Hadley on getting published in her 40s and beyond, the craft of literary fiction, developing character and conflict, and the importance of conflict. * ABOUT TESSA HADLEY: * RESOURCES & LINKS
* This episode is brought to you by our friends at Lulu. If you're interested in self-publishing, Lulu has free resources such as helpful tutorials, templates to help you layout a book, design for print, and they have a very watchable YouTube University channel. Our community anthology is in fact published using Lulu. Check them out at lulu.com. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 20 Aug 2022 | #022: Kat Falls: How to Brainstorm Like a Screenwriter, Writing YA and Creating Complex Fantasy Worlds | 00:56:31 | |
Award-winning Young Adult writer and screenwriting tutor Kat Falls on how to brainstorm your story using techniques from screenwriters, why it’s important to make your character feel uncomfortable, how to easily generate an outline for your story and what it takes to create complex complex fantasy and sci-fi worlds. * ABOUT KAT FALLS Award-winning novelist Kat Falls writes fast-paced science fiction for middle schoolers and young adults. Her Dark Life series has been translated into 18 languages and is in development for a film at Disney. In addition to her work as an author, Fall is an adjunct professor at Northwestern University in the Writing for the Screen and Stage MFA program. * RESOURCES AND LINKS: For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW KAT ONLINE Kat’s Website Kat’s YA Books: Dark Life Series * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon * CREDITS Mixed by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 08 Apr 2023 | #054: Anna Jordan — Developing as a Playwright, TV Writing (Killing Eve/ Succession), Shitty First Drafts, Overcoming Self Doubt. | 00:59:49 | |
Anna Jordan, playwright (Yen/ Bruntwood Prize) and screenwriter (Killing Eve, Succession) on her early years of writing, how she got commissioned and developed as a playwright. Plus, a behind the scenes look at her writing process and how she deals with self-doubt and the reality of making money as a writer. * ABOUT ANNA JORDAN Anna is a playwright, theatre director, and writer for television. Anna is best known for her play Yen, which won the 2013 Bruntwood Prize, going from a successful run in the UK to be performed off-Broadway. Anna's TV credits include Succession (Season 1, HBO), Killing Eve (Season 3, Sid Gentle) and currently Becoming Elizabeth (The Forge / Starz). She originally trained as an actor at LAMDA and runs her own training company for actors and writers: Without a Paddle Theatre. * RESOURCES: Follow Anna: Other links mentioned:
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 11 Jun 2024 | #107: Niamh Mulvey — Writing Literary Fiction, Short Stories & Navigating The Publishing Industry, Creating Memorable Characters | 00:59:07 | |
Short story and literary novelist and former Hachette Editor, Niamh Mulvey on how to create memorable characters, finding her voice as a writer after years of failing, overcoming rejection and what she’s learned from her years in the publishing industry. * ABOUT NIAMH MULVEY Niamh Mulvey is from Kilkenny, Ireland. Her short fiction has been published in The Stinging Fly, Banshee and Southword and was shortlisted for the Seán O’Faoláin Prize for Short Fiction 2020. Her short story collection Hearts & Bones: Love Songs for Late Youth was published by Picador. The Amendments is her first novel. * RESOURCES & LINKS
Follow Niamh: For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 08 Mar 2025 | #135: Anne-Laure Le Cunff — The Science of Creativity: Using Tiny Experiments to Unlock Growth, Learning, and Better Writing | 01:08:13 | |
Writer, neuroscientist, and Ness Labs founder Anne-Laure Le Cunff shares insights on redefining success, writing in public, and using tiny experiments to fuel creativity. She talks about growing her newsletter from 0 to 100K+, transitioning from writing articles to a book, and the neuroscience behind sustainable ambition. * ABOUT ANNE-LAURE LE CUNFF: Anne-Laure Le Cunff is the founder of Ness Labs and author of Tiny Experiments. A former Google digital health lead turned award-winning neuroscientist, her research explores curiosity, lifelong learning, and mental adaptability. Her work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Forbes, and WIRED. *
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 22 Apr 2024 | #102: Michael Jamin — Writing for TV, Personal Essays, Self-Publishing & Building a Platform | 00:59:12 | |
TV writer Michael Jamin (‘Just Shoot Me!’ and ‘King of the Hill.’) on his experience as a writer and showrunner, growing his platform and how he created, promoted and self-published his book A Paper Orchestra, * ABOUT MICHAEL JAMIN Michael Jamin has been writing for television since 1996. His many credits include Just Shoot Me, King of the Hill, Beavis & Butthead, Wilfred, Out of Practice, Rules of Engagement, Lopez and Tacoma FD. He’s also served as Executive Producer/Showrunner on Glenn Martin DDS, Maron, and Rhett & Link’s Buddy System. Michael currently lives in Los Angeles, where he continues to work in TV and is the author of the essay collection A Paper Orchestra. * RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 14 Oct 2023 | #078: Chris Guillebeau — Embracing Experimentation in Money-Making and Creativity, Plus Writing Non-Fiction and Tools for Creators | 00:59:03 | |
New York Times-bestselling author Chris Guillebeau (Side Hustle School podcast) on the new rules of money, how people are making money in the new economy and his philosophy for how we as creators can experiment with new technology and platforms and turn creativity into income. * ABOUT CHRIS GUILLEBEAU Chris is an entrepreneur, explorer, and New York Times-bestselling author. He visited every country in the world (193 in total) before his 35th birthday. He’s the author of eight books: The Art of Non-Conformity, The $100 Startup, The Happiness of Pursuit, Born for This, and Side Hustle. Chris is also the founder and host of the podcast Side Hustle School, which is downloaded more than 2 million times per month. His latest book is Gonzo Capitalism: How to Make Money in an Economy That Hates You * RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 04 Nov 2024 | #120: Dr. Isaac Prilleltensky — Wellness For Writers, How to Matter, Writing Non-Fiction, Building Communities, Why You Should Stay Away From Narcissists | 00:57:18 | |
Dr. Isaac Prilleltensky has dedicated his life to studying happiness. In this episide we talk to him about ‘mattering’ and how we can use his research findings to write more, worry less about our status and embrace a lightness in our creative work. * ABOUT DR. ISAAC Dr. Isaac Prilleltensky holds the inaugural Erwin and Barbara Mautner Chair in Community Well-Being at the University of Miami. He has published 12 books and over 140 articles and chapters on wellness and creativity. His most recent book is How People Matter: Why it Affects Health, Happiness, Love, Work, and Society, co-authored with his wife, Dr. Ora Prilleltensky. * RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 04 Nov 2023 | #081: Ellie Middleton — Writing While Neurodivergent & Building An Audience, Writing Nonfiction, Content Creation & Going Viral | 01:11:50 | |
Youtuber and author Ellie Middleton on how she started sharing her work publicly, her viral posts, how she’s built an audience of 300k and rules she follows for content creation. Plus her experience of writing and publishing her nonfiction book Unmasked: The Ultimate Guide to ADHD, Autism and Neurodivergence. * ABOUT ELLIE MIDDLETON Ellie Middleton is an autistic and ADHD creator, speaker, writer, consultant and founder of the (un)masked community for neurodivergents. After a lifetime of feeling misunderstood, she was diagnosed with both Autism Spectrum Condition and ADHD at the age of 24. Since then, Ellie has gone on to build an audience of over 300,000 people online, create the (un)masked community for neurodivergents, and work with global brands like The Independent, Google & LinkedIn to change the narrative on neurodiversity. * RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 25 May 2025 | #146: Alda Sigmundsdóttir — How Blogging Changed My Life, Indie Publishing 101, Memoir, Writing About Culture With Integrity | 00:59:06 | |
Alda Sigmundsdóttir is a journalist, author, and independent publisher who has built a thriving literary life outside the traditional system. From blogging about Iceland to launching her own press, Alda has published over 11 books and grown a loyal global readership—while staying in full control of her creative work. We discuss:
* ABOUT ALDA SIGMUNDSDÓTTIR RESOURCES & LINKS:
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 27 May 2023 | #060: Natalie Lue & Hattie Crisell — Forging A Portfolio Career: From Journalism To Starting A Substack Newsletter, Launching A Podcast, Self Publishing and Landing A Publishing Deal | 01:02:39 | |
Natalie Lue (@natlue) and Hattie Crisell (@hattiehattie) are writers who have forged successful portfolio careers. We explore their adventures in journalism, blogging, podcasting and publishing. We dive into the reality of forging a portfolio career and they give us advice for how they might start today. * ABOUT NATALIE LUE Natalie Lue is behind the incredibly popular Baggage Reclaim Blog. Nat’s self-published books, including Mr Unavailable and the Fallback Girl, The No Contact Rule and Love, Care, Trust & Respect, have sold 150K+ copies, and her podcast, The Baggage Reclaim Sessions, has over 3 million downloads. Earlier in 2023, her book The Joy of Saying No was published by Harper Horizon. * RESOURCES Follow Natalie Lue:
* ABOUT HATTIE CRISELL Hattie Crisell is a freelance writer and journalist. In her popular podcast In Writing with Hattie Crisell, Hattie interviews writers of all kinds in their studies, and she's a contributing editor of Grazia magazine. She has written for publications including The New York Times, Style Magazine, The Cut, The Telegraph and Vogue. In 2022 she launched her Substack newsletter, In Writing and in March 2023, she announced her book deal with Granta, to be based on her podcast. * Follow Hattie Crisell:
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 22 Jul 2023 | #067: Megan Davis — Writing Literary Thrillers & Crime Fiction, Dual Timelines, Bringing Conflict To The Page | 00:59:43 | |
Award-winning and debut thriller writer Megan Davis on her book The Messenger, which was influenced by her experience as a whistleblower. We explore her use of dual timelines, conflict and essential elements of a psychological thriller. ABOUT MEGAN DAVIS Megan Davis has worked in the film industry, and her credits include Atonement, In Bruges, Pride and Prejudice, and the Bourne films. Megan is also a lawyer at Spotlight on Corruption. Her debut, The Messenger, won the Bridport and Lucy Cavendish prizes. * FOLLOW MEGAN DAVIS: OTHER LINKS MENTIONED:
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 01 Oct 2023 | #076: Harriet Johnson — Writing Non-Fiction, Storytelling Like a Barrister & Writing to Inspire Change | 00:52:51 | |
Writer and barrister Harriet Johnson on her process for writing, researching, planning and pitching her nonfiction book: "Enough: The Violence Against Women and How to End It”. We talk about using storytelling to advocate for change, combining statistics with personal narratives to provide a holistic understanding of the issues and how she deals with online comments. * ABOUT HARRIET JOHNSON Harriet Johnson is a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers specializing in human rights and criminal law and a fierce advocate of women's rights. She is a founding member of Women in Criminal Law, and Joint Chair of Trustees of the charity Women in Prison. In 2016 she founded #DoughtyStWomen events, an annual series of conferences to consider what more the law can do for women. Harriet has given keynote legal addresses worldwide and spoken in the media about law and justice through the lens of gender. She is the author of Enough: The Violence Against Women and How to End it. * For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com
* FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 10 Jun 2023 | #062: Emilie Marneur — The Business of Publishing, Role of A Literary Scout, Behind-The-Scenes at the Launch of Amazon Publishing & Audible, Launching Digital-First Imprint Embla & Marketing Essentials. | 00:49:02 | |
Emilie Marneur shares her experience of being at the forefront of innovations in the publishing industry. We talk to her about her early days as a Literary Scout to being one of the first two employees at Amazon Publishing’s UK arm, working at Audible in its startup days and her experience of launching Bonnier’s digital-first imprint, Embla Books. Plus, we talk about how Embla (digital-first publisher) approaches digital marketing and lessons learned from years of marketing books. This episode was recorded in 2021. * ABOUT EMILIE MARNEUR Emilie began her publishing career as a Literary Scout at Ann Louise Fisher Associates (now Eccles Fisher) where she helped publishers abroad navigate and acquire books in the UK market. In 2005 she left ALF to join Amazon where she spent 7 years at Audible and 7+ years at Amazon Publishing where she rose from Senior Editor to Editor-in Chief, and later Head of Film Acquisition at Prime. As the editor in chief, she oversaw Amazon Publishing’s fiction imprints and editorial strategy, managed the editorial team in the UK and worked closely with the editorial teams in the US, Germany, France, Italy and Spain and was responsible for publishing many of the company’s bestselling authors, including Mark Edwards, Nick Spalding, John Marrs, and Amanda Prowse. A few years ago, she decided she wanted to build a digital-first imprint, and wrote the business plan at her dining table. This led to the launch of Bonnier’s Embla Books where Emilie works today. * RESOURCES Follow Emilie Marneur: LinkedIn Emilie's digital-first imprint: Embla. Other links mentioned: Embla Books that we mentioned:
Embla's Website Some of the resources discussed:
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 24 Dec 2024 | #124: Beth Kempton — Writing Non-Fiction, Turn Life’s Challenges into Creative Fuel, Unlocking Your Intelligent Heart, Fearless Creativity, Navigating Grief | 00:53:36 | |
Bestselling nonfiction author Beth Kempton shares how writers can navigate life’s transition,s embrace impermanence, and unlock fearless creativity by drawing on Japanese philosophy and the profound power of writing. * ABOUT BETH KEMPTON Beth Kempton’s bestselling titles include Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life and Kokoro: Wisdom for a Life Well Lived, https://bethkempton.com/calmchristmas, We Are in This Together and Freedom Seeker. Beth’s books have been translated into 24 languages. Follow Beth on instagram. * RESOURCES & LINKS
by Carlo Rovelli For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 29 Mar 2025 | #138: Nicola Slawson – From Journalism to Book Deals: Pitching, Newsletters, and Building a Writing Life on Your Own Terms | 01:11:25 | |
Nicola Slawson, creator of the award-winning newsletter The Single Supplement, shares her journey of building a creative career on her own terms. From launching her newsletter with zero subscribers to securing a book deal, Nicola offers insights into embracing your unique story, building an authentic community, and navigating the realities of freelance journalism and book writing. * ABOUT NICOLA SLAWSON Nicola Slawson is a freelance journalist, writer, and public speaker. She is the creator of The Single Supplement newsletter and author of Single: Living a Complete Life on Your Own Terms. Nicola is passionate about telling human stories and empowering others to embrace their own. * RESOURCES & LINKS
* This episode is brought to you by our friends at Lulu. If you're interested in self-publishing, Lulu has free resources such as helpful tutorials, templates to help you layout a book, design for print, and they have a very watchable YouTube University channel. Our community anthology is in fact published using Lulu. Check them out at lulu.com. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 10 Dec 2022 | #038: Derek Sivers - Focus, Ambition, Writing Clearly & How to Live | 01:18:43 | |
Entrepreneur, publisher and writer Derek Sivers (@sivers) on giving away $22 million, breaking rules, why “If it’s not a hell yeah, it’s a no.” Plus how to stay focused, why he sells directly to his readers and what it means to live a good life. * ABOUT DEREK SIVERS Originally a professional musician, Derek created CD Baby in 1998. It became the largest seller of independent music online with $100 million in sales for 150,000-plus musicians. Derek Sivers is the author of four non-fiction books, as well as a musician, entrepreneur, and publisher. His latest book is How to Live: 27 conflicting answers and one weird conclusion * RESOURCES:
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 17 Dec 2022 | #039: Nikesh Shukla: Breaking Into Publishing, Lessons From Running A Literary Agency & Writing A Memoir | 00:51:55 | |
Award-winning writer and the founder of The Good Agency, Nikesh Shukla (@nikeshshukla), on the journey to becoming a writer, running a Literary Agency, crowdfunding The Good Immigrant and the process for writing his memoir. ABOUT NIKESH SHUKLA Nikesh Shukla is a novelist and screenwriter. He is the author of Coconut Unlimited (shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award), Meatspace, and the critically acclaimed The One Who Wrote Destiny. Nikesh is the editor of the bestselling essay collection, The Good Immigrant, which won the reader's choice at the Books Are My Bag Awards. He co-edited The Good Immigrant USA with Chimene Suleyman. He is also the author of two YA novels, Run, Riot (shortlisted for a National Book Award) and The Boxer (longlisted for the Carnegie Medal). Nikesh was one of Time Magazine’s cultural leaders, Foreign Policy magazine's 100 Global Thinkers and The Bookseller's 100 most influential people in publishing in 2016 and in 2017. He is the co-founder of the literary journal, The Good Journal and The Good Literary Agency. Nikesh is a fellow of the Royal Society Of Literature and a member of the Folio Academy. Nikesh’s new book, Brown Baby: A Memoir Of Race, Family And Home was released on Bluebird in February 2021. He is also the host of the Brown Baby Podcast. * RESOURCES:
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 18 Mar 2023 | #051: Cecile Pin — Writing Literary Fiction, Telling Your Family’s Story, Starting Your Career as an Author, Reality of Working In Publishing, Advice For First-Time Authors | 00:53:46 | |
Debut novelist Cecile Pin author of Wandering Souls (nominated for the Women's Prize for Fiction, 2023), on her choice of using a fragmented structure, having multiple narrators and why she chose to fictionalise a story that was inspired by her mother’s past. Plus, lessons from working in publishing and what all first-time authors should know. * ABOUT CECILE PIN: Cecile Pin grew up in Paris and New York City. She moved to London at eighteen to study philosophy at University College London and received an MA at King's College London. She writes for Bad Form Review, was long-listed for their Young Writers' Prize, and is a 2021 London Writers Award winner. Wandering Souls is her first novel and was longlisted for the Women's Prize For Fiction, 2023. She previously worked as an Editorial Assistant at Jonathan Cape, PRH. * RESOURCES:
* FOLLOW CECILE PINN
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 11 Jun 2022 | #011: The One With Matt & Parul — Why We Created This Podcast | 00:20:59 | |
We have published 10 episodes and we realised that we had never really introduced ourselves… So, we’re going to talk a little about where we’ve come from and why the London Writers’ Salon exists and what this podcast means to us. We’re going to do this by interviewing each other! * ABOUT MATT AND PARUL Matt Trinetti and Parul Bavishi are the co-founders of the London Writers' Salon (@WritersSalon) and the creators of the Webby-nominated Writers' Hour where they write with hundreds of writers every week day. The Salon began as an in-person monthly interview series in central London and has since evolved to become a global community. In addition to the daily Writers' Hours, they host weekly interviews with writers and run workshops to help writers get published. They have partnered with organisations like Soho House, Allbright and Women's Prize for Fiction. Matt Trinetti is a writer, publisher, TEDx speaker, and facilitator. In addition to running LWS, Matt designs programs to help unfulfilled professionals pursue creative work, start businesses, and reinvent their careers. Matt's work has appeared in Quartz, Observer, Creative Mornings, and on his blog GiveLiveExplore. Parul Bavishi has been an editor for over a decade. In addition to running LWS she helps thriller, YA and non-fiction writers level up their craft and get published. She previously worked as an editor and literary scout at Quercus and Random House. * RESOURCES AND LINKS: For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon * CREDITS Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 25 Jun 2022 | #014: Cathy Newman — Juggling Creative Projects, Writing News Stories and The Power of Creative Collaboration | 00:49:13 | |
Why are creative partnerships so powerful? How can we work on multiple creative projects at one time? In this interview, we talk to the award-winning investigative journalist and Channel 4 News presenter Cathy Newman, we discuss her non-fiction book It Takes Two: A History of the Couples Who Dared to Be Different which is all about the power of collaboration. We deconstruct how she writes news stories, books, and her research process. We also explore the idea of creative partnerships from Beyonce and JayZ to Clement Attlee and Winston Churchill, how these partnerships are like a ‘dance’ and how we might spot our own creative collaborator. * ABOUT CATHY NEWMAN Cathy Newman is an award-winning investigative journalist and Channel 4 News’ first female main presenter. Cathy is also the author of Bloody Brilliant Women: Pioneers, Revolutionaries & Geniuses Your History Teacher Forgot to Mention, and her latest book, It Takes Two: A History of the Couples Who Dared to Be Different. * SHOW NOTES: [03:41] Cathy’s love for music, and why she shifted from music to writing [05:15] Playing in The Commons, and about her music group, The Statutory Instruments [07:40] Transitioning from writing journalistic articles to writing for TV [10:10] Some examples of what Cathy’s writing process for TV looks like [14:19] How she stays on top of things, including the tools she uses [16:18] The inspiration behind her book It Takes Two [19:19] The themes that unify the power collaborators, including competitiveness, muses, and the idea of the power couple [22:34] The pas de deux and the concept of balance in relationships [26:20] The partnerships and collaborations that have helped Cathy with her career [30:18] How to find and form creative partnerships [33:39] The writing and research process for her book [43:24] Self-doubt and responding to positive and negative reception [45:40] The power of reading and how it’s helped Cathy in difficult times * QUOTES FROM CATHY: “I was fascinated by the idea that a coupledom is a dance and whether that's a work relationship, a romantic relationship, and as part of the research, I read, um, a German sociologist called Georg Simmel, who talked about this concept of dyads and why this relationship of two is so crucial. And here's what I felt was quite revolutionary, was that he was talking about the need for balance and a horizontal type approach to any relationship…you've got to be finely tuned and balanced for the dance to work.” * RESOURCES Connect with Cathy Newman: Twitter: @cathynewman Instagram: @cathynewmanc4 Links from the show: A dilemma for Nick Clegg as Lord Rennard apologises Manhunt: Closing in on a British Paedophile Ukraine conflict: Military actions unfortunately connected to human loss, says Sergei Lavrov ‘You’re being emotional’: What happened when I asked Sergei Lavrov about the blood on his hands It Takes Two: A History of the Couples Who Dared to Be Different by Cathy Newman The Statutory Instruments - UK Parliamentary String Quartet Georg Simmel - A German sociologist, philosopher, and critic. Serial podcast For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON: Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon CREDITS: Production by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 29 Oct 2022 | #032: David Whyte — Poetic Imagination & The Way of the Poet | 01:05:57 | |
Internationally renowned poet David Whyte (@whytedw) on his life and craft as a poet, writer, and speaker. We explore poetic imagination, how we might use poetry as a tool to engage more deeply with the world and balancing soul vs survival work. David reads his poems: Blessing of the Morning Light, Song for the Salmon, Your Prayer and Start Close in. * ABOUT DAVID WHYTE David Whyte is an internationally renowned poet, author, and speaker. His books include The Heart Aroused: Poetry and the Preservation of the Soul in Corporate America, Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words, and The Bell and the Blackbird. His latest collections are David Whyte: Essentials and Still Possible. * RESOURCES: David on Instagram: @davidjwhyte David on Twitter: @whytedw All of David's books including Consolations, Three Marriages and Still Possible David's Online Sunday Series David's Walking Tours * QUOTES: “One of the reasons poetry is so difficult is because we’re under the delusion that we’re going to find the part of us that’s going to know what to say. But actually, you’re going to find the part of you that doesn’t know what to say. That’s the part of you that will write the poetry, because you’re paying attention in a deeper way through not speaking and not knowing.” "We write because we want to be deeper friends with the world." * For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 07 May 2022 | #007: Mike Michalowicz — Break Free from the Starving Artist Mindset and Manage Your Money with Confidence | 00:55:35 | |
Can creativity and money go hand in hand? How can we guarantee that we pay ourselves a profit no matter how much we earn? In this episode we talk to Mike Michalowicz about his Profit First method that helps creatives manage their money better, pay themselves well, and make a profit. We also talk about guerilla marketing strategies, connecting with your readership and how to build your confidence. * Mike is the author and creator of Profit First, a methodology used by hundreds of thousands of companies across the globe to drive profit. Profit First is a perennial global Top 20 Book, in the category of Personal & Business Finance (Publishers Weekly) and has transformed readers’ lives. Mike is the author of Fix This Next, Clockwork, Surge, The Pumpkin Plan and The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur. Simon Sinek calls Mike Michalowicz “the patron saint of entrepreneurs.” SHOW NOTES [05:26] On being considered as the patron saint of entrepreneurs by ‘Start With Why’ author, Simon Sinek, and how Mike built a relationship with him [08:31] Mike shares how he lost everything and how it became his purpose to eradicate entrepreneurial poverty and pursue his dream of becoming an author [11:37] How journaling became an outlet for Mike to address his depression and a source for ideas for his book [14:30] Mike's dream of being an author and how to qualify the naysayers [16:40] Mike shares how he went from having 20,000 copies of his books and zero sales to selling a hundred thousand copies using guerrilla tactics [18:46] Mike shares his ultimate hack for freelancers, writers, creatives to be permanently profitable [24:43] On doing different and why we should overcome our fear of rejection and being an outsider [25:56] What does it mean to pay yourself first? And why it became Mike's ethos for his book Profit First [32:48] Other key tenants of the Profit First system, including what he calls the five foundational accounts [37:52] On why it's our responsibility to share our work and ask people to consume what we have [42:34] Life's mission as the ultimate motivator, and how we can use our pain to help you reach your goals [47:01] Mike shares how he uses pain and pleasure to manage his finances, and the difference between denial and delay [49:34] Mike's battle with self-doubt, why reaching out to your followers—no matter how small—is important, and the recipe for confidence * QUOTES FROM MIKE “So many authors, poets, writers are simply just trying to scratch by, to survive and therefore they can't give their best. There's this constant worry. They're going to sleep, not thinking about their next great creation. They're going to sleep saying, “Holy shit, how am I going to eat tomorrow?” To give our best, we must make sure that we're satisfied that we're served and protected. And that's what profitability does. It allows you to protect yourself. So our clients, our readers thirst for that. So you have to be profitable. The technique to do this is the pay yourself first principle. Apply it to your business. Every time you have income coming in from the work you sell, you subtract a predetermined percentage of that money as profit, hide it from yourself and then run your work off the remainder. And what this does is it starts accumulating profit...” RESOURCES Mentioned books of Mike Michalowicz Books mentioned: Others:
* FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon CREDITS Production by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 27 Apr 2024 | #103: Pádraig Ó Tuama — Reading, Analysing & Writing Poetry; Making A Living as a Poet | 01:02:42 | |
The poet and theologian Pádraig Ó Tuama tells us about his journey into poetry, how he knows a poem is complete and how poets might practice noticing. He also reads from his collection and deconstructs his poetry. We also discuss what it means to make a living as a poet. * ABOUT PÁDRAIG Ó TUAMA Pádraig Ó Tuama is a theologian, writer, and conflict transformation practitioner. His books include In the Shelter: Finding a Home in the World; Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community; Sorry For Your Troubles; Borders & Belonging and Poetry Unbound: 50 Poems to Open Your World. He hosts the On Being Studios podcast Poetry Unbound with Krista Tippett’s studio. * RESOURCES & LINKS
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 05 Aug 2023 | #069: Polina Marinova Pompliano — Writing Newsletters and Non-Fiction, Ambition vs Delusion, How to Study & Learn From Geniuses | 01:00:44 | |
Former Fortune writer Polina Marinova and founder of the popular newsletter 'The Profile' talks about growing her Substack to make a full-time income, landing a non-fiction book deal, writing non-fiction, making difficult decisions, taking risks, and how to study and learn from 'geniuses'. * ABOUT POLINA MARINOVA Polina Marinova Pompliano is the author of Hidden Genius: The Secret Ways of Thinking That Power the World's Most Successful People. She is behind The Profile, a Substack newsletter that studies successful people and companies. * RESOURCES
Follow Polina: For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 25 Feb 2024 | #96: Lucinda Halpern — How to Get Signed With a Literary Agent, Unlock Your Book’s Big Idea, Query Letter Essentials, Unconventional Ways to Engage With Beta-Readers | 01:02:06 | |
New York Literary Agent Lucinda Halpern on positioning your book, finding the big idea for your pitch and finding and getting signed with a literary agent. Also, query letter essentials and how to get feedback from beta readers. * ABOUT LUCINDA HALPERN Lucinda Halpern is a New York literary agent with over 15 years' experience securing book deals with Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, Macmillan, and the author of Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author. She represents a range of New York Times and internationally bestselling authors in the categories of business, health, lifestyle, popular science, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and upmarket fiction. Her classes and coaching programs have been taught to hundreds of writers worldwide. Learn more at lucindaliterary.com or download Lucinda’s free author training. Follow Lucinda Halpern on Instagram and Twitter. * RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 05 Apr 2025 | #139: Steve Almond – The Truth About Creative Failure, Overcoming Ego, and Writing Stories That Actually Matter | 01:00:34 | |
Steve Almond, bestselling author on ‘failing’ for decades, finding flow, finding success in Hollywood, overcoming writer’s block and telling the stories only you can tell with truth and mercy. ABOUT STEVE ALMOND Steve Almond is the award-winning author of twelve books of fiction and nonfiction, including the New York Times bestsellers Candyfreak and Against Football and Which Brings Me To You (turned into a Netflix show). For four years, Steve hosted the New York Times Dear Sugars podcast with his pal Cheryl Strayed. He also publishes crazy, DIY books. His latest book is Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow. * RESOURCES & LINKS
* This episode is brought to you by our friends at Lulu. If you're interested in self-publishing, Lulu has free resources such as helpful tutorials, templates to help you layout a book, design for print, and they have a very watchable YouTube University channel. Our community anthology is in fact published using Lulu. Check them out at lulu.com. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 10 May 2025 | #144: Eleanor Anstruther – The Book Industry Rejected Me. So I Built My Own Audience on Substack; Serialising Online, Writing Literary Fiction; Being an Independent Artist, Creating Your Artist DNA | 01:00:32 | |
What if the traditional publishing world says “no”? Eleanor Anstruther—acclaimed novelist and creator of The Literary Obsessive—shares her bold leap into indie publishing, serialising fiction and memoir on Substack, and why you need an Artist DNA to draw an audience. We discuss:
* ABOUT ELEANOR ANSTRUTHER * RESOURCES & LINKS
* This episode is brought to you by our friends at Lulu. If you're interested in self-publishing, Lulu has free resources such as helpful tutorials, templates to help you layout a book, design for print, and they have a very watchable YouTube University channel. Our community anthology is in fact published using Lulu. Check them out at lulu.com. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 27 Sep 2022 | #027: Hamish McKenzie — The Future of Newsletters, Writing About Elon Musk & How to Make It on Substack | 00:40:10 | |
In this episode we go behind the scenes with writer and Substack co-founder Hamish McKenzie (@hamishmckenzie) to explore his journey from journalism to working at Tesla, writing a book about Elon Musk, and his motivation for creating Substack, a newsletter platform that allows independent writers to publish directly to their audience and if they choose to, monetize their writing. We discuss what commonalities he sees with the more successful writers on the platform, why he's excited about new writers that will emerge in the coming years and his take on the future of publishing and newsletters. * ABOUT HAMISH MCKENZIE Hamish McKenzie is the co-founder of subscription publishing start-up Substack and author of Insane Mode: How Elon Musk’s Tesla Sparked an Electric Revolution to End the Age of Oil. In recent years, he has been the lead writer for Tesla, an advisor to Kik, a tech reporter, and a freelance journalist covering everything from the World Beard and Moustache Championships to the world’s most comprehensive face transplant. Hamish is a New Zealander who lives in San Francisco. * RESOURCES: Connect with Hamish: Twitter:@hamishmckenzie Website: Hamish's Substack Other resources mentioned in the interview:
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 27 Apr 2025 | #142: Chris Banks – How To Use AI In Your Writing , Staying Weird & Keeping Control as Creatives | 00:39:21 | |
(Interview from 2024) The founder of ProWritingAid, Chris Banks, shares his thoughts on how AI is reshaping writing, editing, and the creative process. Recorded in front of a live audience after Writers' Hour.
We discuss: - AI as a creative partner: Can it replace writers? - Using AI responsibly to save time, enhance editing, and elevate your craft. - How to adapt AI tools to fit unique writing style and needs. - Privacy & data concerns for writers and creatives. - The importance of weirdness and the human touch in the AI era. * LINKS & RESOURCES
OFFER: Since our interview, ProWritingAid have released their Manuscript Analysis tool. Get feedback on your whole manuscript, discover what’s working well and where you can improve your plot, characters, settings and more. Sign up (+1 free credit). Use code London20 for a discount on your subscription. This episode is brought to you by our friends at Lulu. If you're interested in self-publishing, Lulu has free resources such as helpful tutorials, templates to help you layout a book, design for print, and they have a very watchable YouTube University channel. Our community anthology is in fact published using Lulu. Check them out at lulu.com. * ABOUT CHRIS BANKS Chris Banks is the founder and CEO of ProWritingAid, a comprehensive writing and editing toolkit that uses artificial intelligence to helps authors, editors, and professionals improve their work. Chris built ProWritingAid to bridge the gap between technology and creativity. Chris is deeply involved in discussions about AI’s impact on the writing world and how authors can harness it to enhance—not replace—their unique voice.
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 23 Dec 2023 | #088: Seth Godin — The Practice of Making & Shipping Work That Matters, Marketing, Creative Courage, The Resistance, Finding Purpose, Building Community | 00:59:25 | |
Seth Godin is one of the most influential writers and thinkers of our time. He is the author of twenty-one international bestsellers, and his work has been translated into over thirty-nine languages. In this conversation with Seth, we discuss his latest books, The Song of Significance and The Practice, and how we might find the courage to make and share creative work. We also talk about the importance of prioritizing process over outcome, dealing with resistance, how creatives can measure success and why Seth believes that authenticity is a trap. * ABOUT SETH GODIN Seth Godin is the author of 19 international bestsellers that have changed the way people think about work and have been translated into 39 languages – among them Unleashing the Ideavirus, Permission Marketing, Purple Cow, Tribes, The Dip, Linchpin, Poke the Box, and All Marketers Are Liars. He writes the most popular marketing blog in the world and speaks to audiences worldwide. He is the founder of the altMBA, the founder and former CEO of Squidoo.com, the former VP of Direct Marketing at Yahoo!, and the founder of the pioneering online startup Yoyodyne. * RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 01 Mar 2025 | #134: Jody Eddy – Michelin Kitchens, Monks & The Cookbook Playbook: What Top Chefs Taught Me About Rituals & Success; NonFiction Proposal & Food Writing | 01:07:20 | |
Foodwriter and Chef Jody Eddy on what goes on in Michelin-star kitchens, monastic culinary traditions, and the rigorous world of food writing. From working 17-hour shifts in elite restaurants to uncovering the rituals of monks and chefs alike, she reveals the hidden ingredients of storytelling, discipline, and turning culinary ideas into bestselling books. * ABOUT JODY EDDY Jody Eddy is a writer, editor, and cookbook author whose work explores the intersection of food, culture, and storytelling. She has written for Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, and The Wall Street Journal and has authored several acclaimed cookbooks, including Come In, We’re Closed, North: The New Nordic Cuisine of Iceland, and Chaat. Jody Eddy is a writer, editor, and cookbook author whose work explores the intersection of food, culture, and storytelling. Her latest book is Elysian Kitchens: Recipes Inspired by the Traditions and Tastes of the World's Sacred Spaces. * RESOURCES & LINKS
* This episode is brought to you by our friends at Lulu. If you're interested in self-publishing, Lulu has free resources such as helpful tutorials, templates to help you layout a book, design for print, and they have a very watchable YouTube University channel. Our community anthology is in fact published using Lulu. Check them out at lulu.com. * For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 16 Jul 2022 | #017: Natalie Lue — Reclaim Control of Your Emotional & Creative Life & Choose Your Own Publishing Path | 01:01:11 | |
How can you reclaim your creative and emotional life? How can you create content that impacts your audience deeply? We talk to the influential blogger, Natalie Lue, about how she launched and grew her blog, Baggage Reclaim, and how she created a profitable business around her writing. We dive into her success in both self-publishing and traditional publishing, and what it feels like to be an outsider in the publishing industry. We also talk about how to deal with the inner critic, reclaim our emotional lives and learn to say ‘no’. * ABOUT NATALIE LUE Natalie is the author of the hugely popular relationship and self-esteem blog, Baggage Reclaim where for over a decade, she’s shared the journey of her transition from toxic relationships to love, care, trust and respect. Her podcast The Baggage Reclaim Sessions have been downloaded over 2 million times. Natalie has sold hundreds of thousands of copies of her books including including Mr Unavailable & The Fallback Girl, and How to Self-Sooth Quick Guide. * SHOW NOTES: [02:03] Finding inspiration and setting boundaries with social media. [04:05] How her mother's advice that she should learn to love herself, led to the start of her blog. [07:03] The story behind Baggage Reclaim and what her early posts looked like [12:35] What's kept her writing consistently over the years [17:42] How she approaches her blogging today versus 18 years ago [19:10] Coming up with new ideas and topics for her blog [20:20] Natalie explains what “future faking” is [21:43] How she decides what to focus on and how Seth Godin’s advice: ‘what is the change you're seeking to make?” helped [23:11] Dealing with imposter syndrome and self-doubt [28:56] Trusting our intuition and how to be more intuitive with creative work [35:04] Allocating time across different projects and mediums [36:44] How her income is distributed [38:17] Why she ventured into self-publishing [41:18] Managing her publishing team, and why she recommends hiring help [43:06] Tips on how to promote and market your own book [46:06] Why Natalie’s upcoming book will be published traditionally [51:04] A difficult experience with an agent and how she bounced back [54:56] The importance of saying no * QUOTES FROM NATALIE: “If you can quiet the negative voices down, what do you hear? Because I think that your creativity will show itself. Your intuition, your ideas will show what's out there.” “So I've realized that no, no is just the inverse of yes. So when you say no to certain things, then you're gonna be saying yes to something else. No can release you from stuff that you don't even know that you need to be released from. I've realized that no can actually be the, really the greatest gifts of your life, that those nos, that kind of wounded you in the past.” * RESOURCES Connect with Natalie Lue: Twitter: @baggagereclaim Instagram: @natlue Baggage Reclaim - Natalie’s blog Baggage Reclaim Sessions - Natalie’s podcast Books by Natalie Lue:
Other books mentioned:
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON: Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon * CREDITS Production by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 03 Sep 2022 | #24: Steph Smith - Beyond Blogging: Self-Publishing, Creating Content & Selling with Heart | 01:05:49 | |
Steph has used her blog (stephsmith.io) to explore everything she's interested in – from learning to write with confidence to Antifragility at work to her favourite destinations as a digital nomad. She also publicly tracks the books she's reading, her personal goals and monthly income. It's also where she launches side projects like Make Yourself Great Again and Eunoia (words that don't translate). We talk to Steph about launching side projects quickly, how she evolved her blog (400k readers) into a book, self-publishing her book on Gumroad and making $40k in the first week and why she’s experimenting with pricing and how she sells with heart. * ABOUT STEPH SMITH Steph Smith is a growth marketer, writer, and indie maker. Steph left consulting and a 2+ hour commute to redesign her life. Since then she's set up a blog read by 400k+ readers, wrote a book, Doing Content Right, that sold $40k and over 1500 copies within a few weeks of launch. She learned to code with a $20 course, and created products like Make Yourself Great Again that hit #1 on Product Hunt, and led to a nomination for Maker of the Year. She also works for the Hustle (you may know them for running one of the largest newsletters in the world), leading Trends. * RESOURCES AND LINKS: For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * Follow Steph online: Twitter: @stephsmithio Steph’s Book: Doing Content Right, Steph’s Side Projects: Make Yourself Great Again , Eunoia, Make Yourself Great Again * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 29 Jan 2023 | #044: Eimear Ryan — Learning to Write a Novel, Creative Resilience & Behind The Scenes of a Literary Press | 00:59:25 | |
Author and co-founder of Banshee Press, Eimear Ryan (@eimear_ryan) on her 13-year journey to writing her award-nominated debut book, the importance of creative resilience and a behind-the-scenes look at Banshee Press & Banshee Literary Journal. * ABOUT EIMEAR RYAN Eimear Ryan is a co-founder of the literary journal Banshee and its publishing imprint, Banshee Press. She was shortlisted for the Newcomer of the Year Award at the Irish Book Awards for her first novel, Holding Her Breath and she was nominated for the Bookseller's Rising Star Award 2021 for her work with Banshee Press. * RESOURCES:
* QUOTES “In terms of common mistakes, throat clearing is my number one thing — a sense that the story hasn’t been redrafted enough by the writer. It is talking themselves into a story…A lot of these stories are really well written. They just haven’t been honed. When you’re a writer, you don’t realize that an editor is reading dozens and dozens of stories, so something really has to grab you from the first page for them to remember it and to fight for it.” * For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 09 Feb 2025 | #131: Sophie Flynn — Writing Thrillers, Should You Be A Kindle Bestseller or Go Down The Traditional Publishing Route? Plus the Mindset for a Long-Term Writing Career | 01:02:22 | |
Bestselling thriller author Sophie Flynn reveals the raw truth about publishing—traditional vs. indie, rejection, and what it really takes to succeed. As Managing Director of Jericho Writers, she’s seen what separates thriving authors from those who quit. We dive into storytelling psychology, career-defining decisions, and the mindset shifts every writer needs. ABOUT SOPHIE FLYNN Sophie Flynn is a psychological thriller author and the Managing Director of Jericho Writers. RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 02 Dec 2023 | #085: Maggie Smith — Crafting Viral Poems, Writing Memoir, Becoming a Better Poet, Narrative Device, Substack, Commercial vs Creative Work | 00:55:22 | |
Award-winning poet and writer on her process of crafting a poem, how she brought lyric sensibility to her memoir, and how we can observe and distill our experience of the world. We also talk about how she constructed her memoir, chose what to include, and navigated the intensity of publication as a memoirist. * ABOUT MAGGIE SMITH Maggie Smith is an award-winning author and poet. her poem Good Bones was called the “Official Poem of 2016” by Public Radio International. Her latest book, a memoir, You Could Make This Place Beautiful, explores the disintegration of her marriage and her renewed commitment to herself. * RESOURCES & LINKS
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 02 Jul 2022 | #015: Nish Panchal — How to Build a Writing Career in TV & Film | 00:50:28 | |
How can a writer start and grow their career in TV? What does it take to work your way into a Writer’s Room for a hit TV series? What happens behind the scenes of deals between producers and media giants like Netflix, BBC, and Amazon Prime? In this interview, held during lockdown, we talk with TV and film agent Nish Panchal (Curtis Brown) about his role as an agent, the main players in the TV industry and how budding writers can make connections and forge a career as a screenwriter. * ABOUT NISH PANCHAL Nish Panchal is an agent at Curtis Brown, working closely with Sam Greenwood. Their mission is to find unique filmmaking talent that they’re passionate about and enable them to build careers in the UK film and television industry, and beyond. They work with book agents from Conville & Walsh. * SHOW NOTES: [02:35] Desert Island Disks - the TV show Nish would take on a desert island [5:29] The influences and people that led Nish to pursue a career in film and TV [08:01] Nish’s journey to getting a job in Curtis Brown [15:18] His role as an agent and how he helps writers [19:06] Understanding the market and what production companies are looking for [20:21] An overview of the main players in the TV industry [24:10] How he helps a writer move from an idea to a commercial project [27:27] How might writers get representation? What emails have caught his eye recently? [31:10] The importance of a good spec script [33:06] Recent trends in the industry [36:47] How books get turned into TV deals [38:36] How TV writers get paid from treatment to script fees [42:32] The process of getting a deal with the BBC versus Netflix [44:36] Can writers make a full-time living from writing for TV? [47:04] What motivates Nish as an agent? * QUOTES FROM NISH: “People ask - what do I send through? I think just one good spec script is, is really what we need…If you're an aspiring television writer, um, you know, having a strong spec, pilot that can demonstrate that you can tell a story in 60 pages, set up a character and throw something interesting at them and set up a world. And then also at the end of it, ask enough questions for us to make us to make me think, oh, this is a great world. I'd love to know what happens next. Those things are quite really hard to do.” * RESOURCES Connect with Nish Panchal: Twitter: @Nish_Panchal * Links from the show: TV shows:
Books:
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON: Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon * CREDITS Production by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 17 Aug 2024 | #113: Lyn Slater — How to Reinvent Yourself At All Ages, Becoming An Accidental Icon, The Reality of Going Viral, Blogging for Pleasure, Writing Memoir & Moving Beyond Fame | 01:02:50 | |
Lyn Slater on going viral with her blog, Accidental Icon in her 60s, writing memoir How to Be Old and starting a Substack in her 70s and why getting older can be the most invigorating phase of life—full of rebellion, reinvention, connection, and creativity. * ABOUT LYN SLATER Lyn Slater is a cultural influencer, model, writer, content creator and former professor. She started Accidental Icon in September of 2014 and has since garnered a loyal fan base of almost a million followers across platforms. Her memoir is How to Be Old: Lessons in Living Boldly from the Accidental Icon * RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 21 May 2022 | #009: Polina Marinova Pompliano — Growing Your Newsletter, Dealing With Self-Doubt and Criticism & the Future of Media | 00:46:53 | |
How might we launch our newsletter and build a loyal following for our writing? How can we monetize our newsletter to six figures and beyond? In this episode, we interview Polina Marinova Pompliano who quit her job at Fortune in 2020 to focus on building her weekly Substack newsletter The Profile, where she profiles interesting figures like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Brandon Stanton, the creator of Humans of New York. We talk about tactics for growing a loyal and paying readership, how she develops ideas for her newsletter and the importance of feedback to improve our writing. * Polina Marinova is a former Fortune Magazine editor and writer, and founder of newsletter The Profile where she studies the world's most successful people & companies. She’s written for CNN, CNN Travel, Business Insider, Yahoo Finance, Boston Herald, Food & Wine Magazine, Odyssey, The Hustle and more. Polina is part of an emerging trend of writers who are looking ahead to the future of media and content and considering what it might take to start a media company on their own terms. * SHOW NOTES [02:39] Polina shares what gave her the courage to quit her job at The Fortune and dedicate her time to The Profile despite the pandemic and why you only need 100 true fans [06:42] Polina shares how she's become good at time management over the years, and how she stays productive [09:06] The importance of sharing your work with the public and opening yourself up to criticism and feedback as a writer [11:56] How Polina deals with feedback today versus how she dealt with it in the past [13:00] What Polina learned from writing articles and getting feedback, and how she used them to get more readers [15:33] Polina talks about her relationship dynamic with her husband who's also a writer, and how their differences help her get a business perspective for her newsletter [21:07] Polina shares the tools and systems that have helped her to be better at writing [27:42] The challenges Polina encounters in writing newsletters and what keeps her writing [29:15] Polina shares some newsletters that inspired her, including James Clear's blog [30:51] The business side of The Profile: how Polina grew her newsletter, and how she focused on quality content [31:58] Monetizing The Profile, and what made Polina’s readers convert to a paid subscription [34:09] Polina shares some of the ways she earns from The Profile [37:07] Why you don't need a massive following to monetize your work [37:33] Polina talks about her future goal of building a human interest company [38:32] The future of newsletters and why it's the perfect time to be a writer right now [41:30] On dealing with self-doubt and criticisms, and why patience and consistency is important if you want to start a newsletter * QUOTES: “So I think a lot of times people think they need this massive, massive following to monetize anything. It's not true. As long as you can prove that the audience is really high quality and really engaged and they actually click and they actually open, and they actually read it.” “The best piece of advice I heard was from Kat Cole, who's the president of Focus Brands. She said that every time you get a piece of feedback, the first thing you should do before you reject it—before you think it’s stupid is accept it and try and be like, okay, if this is true, then what can I do about it?...Accept it as truth before you outright dismiss it. Because after a while, that was not the only email I got like that. I got a number of them that were very critical, but it made me have thicker skin. It made me evolve in my writing. And by the end of my time there, I'd like to think that my voice, my tone, how I wrote, [the] people really liked because it was me and I wasn't trying to be somebody else.” * RESOURCES
* FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com Follow London Writers’ Salon: Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon * CREDITS Production by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 03 Feb 2024 | #93: Jami Attenberg — Writing 1000 Words A Day, Learning How to Write Again, Finding Creative Inspiration, Committing to Creativity Daily | 01:02:56 | |
The New York Times bestselling author Jami Attenberg talks about her latest non-fiction book 1000 Words: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round, her journey from being a broke writer to creating a successful creative career, creating the #1000wordsofsummer movement and how she fights for a life of writing. We also discuss the financial struggles and risks of a writing career, finding inspiration even when you’re feeling disconnected, how she stays focused, and how we can commit to creativity every day. * ABOUT JAMI ATTENBERG Jami Attenberg is a New York Times bestselling author of seven books of fiction, including The Middlesteins and All Grown Up, and, most recently, a memoir, I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself Home. Her work has been published in sixteen languages. She is also the creator of the annual online group writing accountability project #1000wordsofsummer. In 2024 she will publish a new novel, and also a creativity book, 1000 Words:A Writer’s Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round. * RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 01 Oct 2022 | #028: Nir Eyal — How to Build An 'Indistractible' Writing Life | 01:05:36 | |
In this episode we talk with bestselling author and behavioral design expert, Nir Eyal @nirandfar on what it means to be ‘Indistractible’, and how we as writers can master our internal and external triggers, make time for our writing, and build more productive, successful, and creative writing lives. Nir also shares how he built his audience and his email list, why he crowd-edited his book with over 500 readers, and how he stays engaged with his readership. * ABOUT NIR EYAL Nir Eyal writes, consults, and teaches about the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. Nir previously taught as a Lecturer in Marketing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford. He is the author of two bestselling books, Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products and Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. * QUOTES BY NIR EYAL: “All human behaviors are prompted by a desire to escape discomfort, which means that time management is pain management…Money management is pain management. Weight management is pain management. Fundamentally, if you don't figure out what are those internal triggers that spur you to escape? If you don't figure out what those are and learn to deal with it, if you don't master them, they will become your masters” * RESOURCES:
* For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 17 Dec 2023 | #087: Victoria Hislop — Writing Bestselling Historical Fiction, Researching History, Character Development, Evoking Sense of Place, Planning A Novel | 00:57:51 | |
Bestselling historical fiction novelist Victoria Hislop (The Island, The Figurines) on how she started writing, how she weaves her love of travel and history into her books, the realities of research, and her process for writing books that engineer conversation. We talk about how she evokes a sense of place, how she absorbs a new environment to write about and why she begins with a synopsis before writing a book. * ABOUT VICTORIA HISLOP Victoria Hislop is the international bestselling author of The Island and The Return. In the United Kingdom, she writes travel features for The Sunday Telegraph, The Mail on Sunday, House & Garden, and Woman & Home. The Island sold over a million copies in the UK and has been translated into 24 languages. Victoria’s second novel, The Return, has been published in more than a dozen languages. * RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 29 Jun 2024 | #109: Nora Neus — Turn Your Ideas Into Newsworthy Stories, Pitching Articles, Books and Graphic Novels | 01:08:03 | |
Nora Neus, Emmy-nominated producer, writer, and freelance journalist (CNN, Vice News, The Washington Post) and creator of the Long Form Lab on finding a story from the seed of an idea, how writers can discover and use their strengths and how to choose which media to use for a potential story. * ABOUT NORA NEUS Nora Neus is an Emmy-nominated journalist whose reporting has appeared in CNN, VICE News, the Washington Post, and more. Neus field-produced Anderson Cooper’s coverage of the 2017 white nationalist riot in Charlottesville, Virginia for CNN. She is the co-author of the YA graphic novel Muhammad Najem, War Reporter: How One Boy Put the Spotlight on Syria. * RESOURCES & LINKS
Follow Nora For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 09 Apr 2022 | #003: Chris Guillebeau — How to Spark a Movement and Build a Readership (and Make Money Doing It) | 00:39:19 | |
So you've started a blog, written a book. What next? How can you find your first 100 readers and grow that to 10,000 and beyond? Chris Guillebeau talks about how he grew his audience, one by one, from zero readers to thousands hanging on his every step. He's authored multiple New York Times bestsellers. And today when he launches a new book product or even an event, it sells out instantly. Join us for our conversation with Chris Guillebeau about becoming a disciplined writer, building a global community around your work, and making it as a full-time writer. ABOUT CHRIS Chris Guillebeau is the author of seven books. His first book, The Art of Non-Conformity, was translated into more than thirty languages. His second book, The $100 Startup, was a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, selling more than 700,000 copies worldwide. His newest book, The Money Tree is all about finding fortune in your own backyard. He’s also built Side Hustle School, a wildly popular podcast with more than 2 million monthly downloads, to help people create a new source of income without quitting their job. * SHOW NOTES [03:04] Chris talks about his secret to getting an NYT review [04:28] Chris talks about his relationship with role models and the people that inspire him [07:39] The core components of being a writer, and the importance of serving others [10:36] Discipline as part of being professional and how doing things every day is sometimes easier than doing them less frequently [13:53] The abundance mindset and why this is important [17:16] Chris talks about what it's like transitioning from doing book tours to doing everything online during the pandemic. [20:28] How to allocate time to finish different projects without feeling overwhelmed [22:25] Chris talks about where he generates more income [27:02] Chris shares his thoughts on monetizing his works [29:21] How to build and grow an audience [32:47] Blogging before vs now [34:26] Chris shares his approach when it comes to talking about a difficult subject * QUOTES FROM CHRIS GUILLEABEAU “A guiding value has always been — there's gotta be something I can do today to help somebody … it could be highlighting other people's projects. It could be like doing whatever you can to get someone else to have attention or whatever it is.” “The other secret about the podcast is it would be easier for me, or it's easier for me to do it seven days a week than it would be to do it like three to five days a week. Like if it was like Monday, Wednesday, Friday, it would be harder than every day because every day it has to happen, right. Whereas if it's on like a staggered schedule, it's like, oh, you just kind of get off the rhythm.” “And so the only thing you can do is take more hits or try, you know, like you take more chances. That quote about, like, to be luckier…I'd like to have more luck, take more chances” * “Most of the time I'm not selling anything. Like most of the time, it's like for months or years go by without doing much. The podcast is free. The blog is free. Other stuff is free. I'm not really working on trying to build out that part of the online business. So I guess when the time comes to launch the book, I don't hesitate to push it a little bit because I mean like I said, I know that that's going to help people, and then I know it's going to help me as well.” * “...[A]nybody who joins my email list, that person has chosen to give me like their most valuable asset, which is their time and their attention…As much as possible, I want to build individual relationships with those people… And so for the first 10,000 people that joined over the course of, I don't know, two years, I wrote to each one of those people. Not just like an autoresponder, but I wrote an actual email to those people, and said, “Hey Matt, thanks so much for joining”, you know, “Hope you like it. Let me know what you're up to.” … [I built it] one by one.” * SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE Connect with Chris Guillebeau Website: https://chrisguillebeau.com Twitter: twitter.com/chrisguillebeau Instagram: instagram.com/193countries Gretchen Rubin & The Happiness Project For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com Follow London Writers’ Salon: Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon * CREDITS Production by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 11 Feb 2024 | #094: Farrah Storr — Lessons from a former Editor-In-Chief at ELLE & Cosmopolitan on Writing Engaging Articles, Substack, and Leaning into Discomfort | 00:54:59 | |
Farrah Storr, former Editor-In-Chief (ELLE/ Cosmopolitan) and Head of Writer Partnerships for Substack on what it takes to grab the attention of a reader, overcoming the fear of publishing work and leaning into discomfort. We also discuss how we might think like an editor with our own writing, and how we might use feedback constructively. We also chat about why it's important to experiment and talk to your readers. * ABOUT FARRAH STORR Farrah Storr was the Editor-in-Chief of ELLE and Cosmopolitan where she grew the brand to become the No.1 UK women’s glossy. She was also the launch Editor of Women’s Health magazine. Farrah was included in the GG2 Power List, profiling Britain’s 101 most influential Asians. Farrah was also awarded Editor of the Year at the PPA Awards, for the second year running and was included in the Evening Standard’s Progress 1000 list of London’s most influential people of 2019. She is the author of The Discomfort Zone (Piatkus) and is the Head of Writer Partnerships for Substack. * RESOURCES & LINKS For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 04 Sep 2024 | #115: Rachel Blackmore & Literary Agent Juliet Pickering — Getting Published, Historical Fiction, Making Your Pitch Stand Out & Inside a Literary Agent’s World | 01:06:00 | |
For decades, Rachel Blackmore dreamed of becoming an author. In 2020, she joined Writers’ Hour and began her first novel. Now, her debut, COSTANZA, is being published by Dialogue Books (Hachette) and is hailed as an addictive tale of desire and betrayal. In this special interview, we're joined by Rachel and her literary agent, Juliet Pickering. We discuss Costanza's path to publication, what makes manuscripts stand out to agents, and techniques for crafting 'outrageously evocative' fiction. * ABOUT RACHEL & JULIET Rachel Blackmore spent more than a decade working and raising a family, before taking a career break to write historical fiction about marginalised women, as a way of looking at contemporary issues. In 2021 she was a runner-up in Harper’s Bazaar Short Story Competition and won the Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair in 2022. Her debut novel, COSTANZA, a historical novel set in Renaissance Rome telling the story of Costanza Piccolomini, the muse of Bernini, was published by Dialogue Books (part of Hachette). Juliet Pickering joined Blake Friedmann in 2013, becoming Vice Head of the Book Department in 2017. Alongside literary, book club and commercial fiction, Juliet represents non-fiction writers including narrative writing on relationships, pop culture, social history and food, and a small number of cookery and other illustrated books. * RESOURCES & LINKS
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com. For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com. * FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON Twitter: twitter.com/WritersSalon Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon If you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show! | |||
| 16 Sep 2023 | #074: Joy Sullivan — Growing a Community Around Your Poetry & Writing, Dealing With Creative Blocks, Avoiding Cliches, Tips for Reading & Writing Poetry | 01:01:08 | |
Poet and community builder Joy Sullivan @joysullivanpoet on the craft of poetry, tips for reading and writing poetry, how writers can avoid cliches and why she thinks writing from the heart is terrible advice. We talk about the business of writing, how she's grown an online following and how she balances her creative work with her business. * ABOUT JOY SULLIVAN Joy Sullivan is a poet, educator, and community leader. A former brand copywriter, Joy decided to leave her day job and devote herself to poetry. She is now the founder of Sustenance, a writing community that helps poets hone their craft. Her debut collection of poems, Instructions for Traveling West, will debut next year from Dial Press. You can find her on Instagram @joysullivanpoet. * RESOURCES & LINKS
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