About this podcast
We're a weekly podcast for anyone who writes. We talk to writers about their writing journeys and techniques, from early career debuts to self-publishers and narrative designers. We've featured Margaret Atwood, Jackie Kay, Sara Collins, Antti Tuomainen, Val McDermid, Sarah Perry, Elif Shafak and many more!
The Writing Life is produced by the National Centre for Writing at Dragon Hall in Norwich.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 200 episodes
- What it means to write about disability: Anaïs Van Ertvelde on representation & liberation · 54 min · Episode 381In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, Anaïs Van Ertvelde explores what it means to write about disability through her essay collection Handicap: Een bevrijding…
- Writing across locations: Dieter Rogiers on research, writing formulas, and international settings · 55 min · Episode 380In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, Belgian author Dieter Rogiers explores how place shapes his writing, discussing both the locations where he writes and the…
- The magic of storytelling: Isabel Allende on crafting stories · 47 min · Episode 379In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, bestselling novelist Isabel Allende shares insights into her creative process and craft, as outlined in her latest book Storytelling…
- Unearthing stories: Archaeology, liminality & the body with Ruthy Mason · 48 min · Episode 378In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, debut novelist Ruthy Mason shares how she explores the creative possibilities of liminality and transformation in Death Do Us – a…
- From mentorship to literary translation: Polly Barton & Charlotte Goff on translating Nao-Cola Yamazaki’s works · 40 min · Episode 377In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, Polly Barton andCharlotte Goff discuss their paths into literary translation and their experience translating Nao-Cola Yamazaki’s…
- The spirit of place: Laurence Mitchell on Flint Country · 46 min · Episode 376In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, Norfolk-based writer Laurence Mitchell reveals how he brought the spirit of landscape and place onto the page in his award-winning…
- Back to basics: Sarah L. Kaufman on Verb Your Enthusiasm · 60 min · Episode 375In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, award-winning writer Sarah L. Kaufman discusses mastering the art of the verb and transforming your writing with language, grammar…
- The world of self-publishing: Pip Landers-Letts on Pyg · 52 min · Episode 374In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, award-winning writer Pip Landers-Letts discusses her experience self-publishing her action-packed novel Pyg – a queer retelling of…
- Writing relationships: Jem Calder on I Want You to Be Happy · 42 min · Episode 373In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, debut novelist Jem Calder shares insights into developing the complex central relationship in his novel, I Want You to Be Happy – a…
- Finding balance in writing: Sithuraj Ponraj on working across languages, jobs, and genres · 46 min · Episode 372In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, Singapore-based writer Sithuraj Ponraj shares how he balances his dual life as an international cyber-policy specialist and a…
- From draft to debut: Anna Goldreich on The Leveret · 38 min · Episode 371In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, Norwich-based writer Anna Goldreich reflects on the personal and creative journey behind her debut novel, The Leveret – a bruisingly…
- Madness and Magic: Hannah Murray on her memoir The Make Believe · 57 min · Episode 370Hannah Murray shares the experience of writing her debut book, a memoir called The Make Believe: A memoir of magic and madness.
- Experimenting with narrative form: Ashley Hickson-Lovence on About to Fall Apart · 51 min · Episode 369In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, Norwich-based writer Ashley Hickson-Lovence discusses experimenting with narrative, form, and structure in his latest novel, About to…
- Writing the self in memoir: Camilla Balshaw on Named · 46 min · Episode 368In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, Norfolk-based writer Camilla Balshaw shares insights into exploring themes of identity and belonging in her memoir, Named – an…
- Storytelling in graphic novels: Anna Trench on Florrie · 43 min · Episode 367In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, illustrator and writer Anna Trench shares the process of writing and illustrating her debut graphic novel, Florrie – a warm-hearted…
- Stories of humanity & connection: Jenni Fagan on The Delusions · 43 min · Episode 366In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, award-winning writer Jenni Fagan shares the process of writing her latest novel, The Delusions – a story of profound human…
- The path to publication: Grace Murray on Blank Canvas · 35 min · Episode 365In this episode of The Writing Life, literary newcomer Grace Murray shares the process from mentorship to the publication of her debut novel Blank Canvas – a work of literary…
- Wonder and Loss: Writing Grief and Memoir with Sam Meekings · 1 h 4 min · Episode 364In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, novelist, poet and Associate Professor of Creative Writing Sam Meekings shares the process behind writing his latest book, Wonder and…
- Family and Caribbean folklore: Celeste Mohammed on Ever Since We Small · 53 min · Episode 363In this episode of The Writing Life, Trinidadian writer Celeste Mohammed reflects on the role of family, mythology, and Caribbean folklore in her writing. Celeste has been a…
- Writing dystopian fiction: Matt Greene on The Definitions · 53 min · Episode 362In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, novelist and essayist Matt Greene shares the process of writing his latest novel, The Definitions – a work of dystopian fiction which…
