The Writing Life Podcast
1) Sarah Moss on 'Ripeness' and writing flawed characters
In this episode of The Writing Life, acclaimed British author and academic Sarah Moss (known for Ghost Wall and Summerwater) joins us to discuss her latest novel, Ripeness, ‘a breathtaking story of lo...Show More
2) The poetry of motherhood: Erica Hesketh and Jenny Pagdin on language, recovery, and balance
In this episode of The Writing Life, poets Erica Hesketh and Jenny Pagdin share insights into the poetry of motherhood, and how they each share their ‘emotional truth’ in their writing. Erica Hesket...Show More
3) A writer’s journey: Vanessa Bell on book tours, friendship, and revisiting old projects
In this episode of The Writing Life, poet, editor, and literary activist Vanessa Bell discusses the journeys she has taken as a writer, both literally and figuratively, and her recent book tour around...Show More
4) Representation in children’s literature: Hayley Wells on The Spectacular Suit
In this episode of The Writing Life, illustrator Hayley Wells delves into the importance of representation in children’s books. Hayley Wells is an Essex-based illustrator with an MA in Children’s Bo...Show More
5) Reimagining classics: Pat Barker on the Regeneration Trilogy
Content warning: Mentions of rape, sexual assault, and war. In this episode of The Writing Life, bestselling author Pat Barker shares insights about the art of retellings, and the craftsmanship and ...Show More
6) Writing contemporary crime fiction: Val McDermid on Past Lying
In this episode of The Writing Life, award-winning writer Val McDermid shares insights on writing contemporary crime fiction, and the importance of learning patience as a writer. One of the UK’s mos...Show More
7) Becoming a published author: Wen-Yi Lee on representation, writing residencies, and building a readership
In this episode of The Writing Life, writer and Dragon Hall Cottage resident Wen-yi Lee shares insights into building a writing career, and the process of taking a project from conception to completio...Show More
8) Writing between genres: Michael Pedersen on Muckle Flugga
In this episode of The Writing Life, prize-winning poet and writer Michael Pedersen shares his experience writing between genres, and how pushing the boundaries of literary categories can enhance your...Show More
9) World building in horror fiction: Julia Armfield on Private Rites
In this episode of The Writing Life, prize-winning writer Julia Armfield shares insights on world building in horror fiction, and writing catastrophic and intense circumstances. Julia Armfield's wor...Show More
10) The world of Substack: Eleanor Anstruther & Simon K Jones on serial fiction
In this episode of The Writing Life, writers Eleanor Anstruther and Simon K Jones discuss the world of Substack, and how they use the platform to publish and share their work. Eleanor Anstruther is ...Show More