Episodes
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Are you querying? or nearly querying? Maybe you’re fearing querying? Or merely getting weary and a bit teary querying? Well let’s hear from three writers who’ve been down in those querying trenches for a while now.
Find out how they're approaching it, what agents' responses have been like and how they’re holding up under pressure.
Because when it comes to finding an agent, it’s more often than not, a long and painful process. No matter how talented a writer you are.
Byddi Lee:
Byddi’s website:
https://www.byddilee.com
Byddi's Books:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Byddi-Lee/author/B00OICWYUU?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3&qid=1726051761&sr=1-3&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
Özgür Uyanık:
Short stories MEN ALONE
https://www.parthianbooks.com/products/men-alone-short-stories?_pos=1&_sid=53c734e1d&_ss=r
Short story from the collection, BANTER:
https://nation.cymru/culture/short-story-banter/
Novel CONCEPTION:
https://www.fairlightbooks.co.uk/conception/
THREADS
https://www.threads.net/@liberatedsleepless
SUBSTACK
https://ozguruyanik.substack.com
Mari Stewart:
Mari’s website:
https://mari-stewart.com
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... What? Did 2 weeks just fly by since the last episode? No flippin' way.
Time, I think, we had a chat about time. The fact that there's never enough of it. Especially for writing.
Why is that?
Well Oliver Burkeman might just have some answers.
Prepare to face the subject of time and limitation face-on.
Get ready to completely re-think how we view those precious hours, minutes and seconds. And ask... 'what would happen if we spent less of it worrying about the fact it's running out, and more of it just... being in it.'
Or even becoming time itself?
Might this shift in thinking actually help us stop procrastinating? and start spending more of our time doing the things that actually matter?
Hopefully, yes.
But what does actually matter?
You might have to answer that one yourself.
Regardless, whatever you do, you should definitely spend the next forty five minutes wasting your time listening to Oliver Burkeman.
Get a load of Oliver's brilliant 400 Weeks here:
https://www.oliverburkeman.com/fourthousandweeks
Get free incredible anti-procrastinatory tips here:
https://www.oliverburkeman.com/posts
And get Oliver's sparkly, life changing new book here:
https://www.oliverburkeman.com/meditationsformortals
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Missing episodes?
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Well, that’s the summer hiatus done with - and we're back with an episode which asks the question, "how do you know if your writing is good enough?"
In an attempt to answer that question, we’re going to be looking at a couple of Tom’s flash fiction stories and asking if, why, and how, one of them is slightly less rubbish than the other. Both stories were entered into the same competition, but only one of them got published. Can Dave guess which one is which? Can YOU guess which one is which? Well, to answer either of those questions, you're gonna have to have a listen, aren't you!
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Do you have what it takes to quit your day job and follow your dreams to become a full time author?
Well, there's only one way to find out...and that's to listen to our interview with J C Duncan!
Hear how he bravely decided to give himself a year to become a professional writer and, even bravelier, decided to tell everyone about it!
Plus home made knives, Vikings and our usual top quality chat!
Find out more about our most excellent guest (and check out that sword!) HERE: www.jcduncan.co.uk.
Buy his Vikingly books here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/J-C-Duncan/author/B08WCYR1DR
And check out his #oneyeartopro threads here:
https://x.com/JCDuncanauthor/status/1707002271010079150
https://twitter.com/JCDuncanauthor/status/1708465357424365671
https://twitter.com/JCDuncanauthor/status/1719670719628358012
https://twitter.com/JCDuncanauthor/status/1732823188453650477
https://twitter.com/JCDuncanauthor/status/1741821890270798104
https://twitter.com/JCDuncanauthor/status/1753131464768532959
https://x.com/JCDuncanauthor/status/1755575800626073768
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A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet...but would he have written that line if he wasn't called Shakespeare?
This week Jon, Tom and Dave (or possibly Rod, Jane and Freddy) look into pseudonyms, nom-de-plumes, pen names...and basically just being someone else for a bit.
Does your name affect your chances of success? Does it even have an impact on how you write?
Join us to find out as the Failing Writers try to become the not-so-failing writers....for at least one chapter.
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A change is in the air here at Failing HQ. A scent on the wind, a signal that the new dawn will herald the arrival of long overdue success.
This week, not only do Tom and Jon have a lovely chat with acclaimed author and current Richard and Judy Book Club pick Mike Gayle...but Jon also discusses his submissions to some actual writing competitions. AND Tom talks a bit more about the book he's actually published!
Oh, and Dave's there too.
Mike's latest novel:
A Song of Me and You: a heartfelt and romantic novel of first love and second chances, picked for the Richard & Judy Book Club
https://amzn.eu/d/2DqUyK9
Or see more at www.mikegayle.co.uk
"Under A Blood Red Sun" from Aaron Brooks in our WIP up a storm feature.
TOM'S BOOK - If you can't be bothered to go to Amazon and put in "Two Hour Sales Bible" then here's a link to it - GO AND BUY IT!
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If we were really clever, we'd have written the show notes for this week's episode in the form of a cryptic crossword clue in honour of our guest, Samuel Burr.
We spoke to him about his debut novel "The Fellowship of Puzzle Makers", his frankly unbelievable journey to getting published and even had a chat about all things cryptic.
But, unfortunately, we're not really clever...so we didn't.
Which makes Tom's incredible publishing news even more puzzling!
Find Sam's already bestselling novel here
Or... if you're feeling adventurous, join an exclusive club and be one of the few to buy a copy of Tom's hilarious satire on the world of sales and salespeople...
PAPERBACK - KINDLE - AUDIO BOOK
Here's the link to Writers HQ - Write a Novel Month
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The average age of our guests this week is 64. Nothing too amazing about that you might say… until you find out the first of our two guests is in her mid-twenties! This week we ask, “Is there a best age to write?”
Plus we enjoy a WIP from Geoffrey G N Harrison.
And here’s a load of links…
Check out Aline’s YouTube here!
Here's Aline's Toktok
Here's Babette's new book and her website: https://www.babettehughesbooks.com
And you can read more of Geoff's story "Divided" here!
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Would you like a pun? Well, that's handy because this week we've been punning for gold and ended up with a bucket load.
Director, writer and stand up comedian Darren Walsh chats to us about his career, the art of a good pun and whether AI will ever be funnier than him.
Plus Jon comes up with what is almost certainly not an entirely new form of joke!
Find out more about Darren here...
https://darrenwalsh.co.uk
Here's Darren doing his award winning joke (and some others)
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Have you ever been to Scarfolk? It's a strange, yet hauntingly familiar place. Join us as we take a bus trip into the mind of the man who dreamt it all up, Richard Littler.
Plus we take a look at another listener's bit o' writing they've kindly sent in to share with the class. This week we try and make Madelyn Postman cry...
Find out more about Richard here...
https://scarfolk.blogspot.com
and here...
https://www.richardlittler.com/
And thanks [email protected] for letting us use those bangin' music tracks in Data Double! https://www.totim.audio/music
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If comedy writing is your thing, we've got a real treat for you. This week we talk to the super talented and rather prolific Robert Popper. From how he broke into the industry via Steve Coogan and The Comic Strip to his smash hit sitcom Friday Night Dinner. We also chat about Robin Cooper, The Timewaster Letters, South Park, Look Around You, and plenty more besides.
Robert’s Wikipedia
Plus, in our regular 'Dare To Share' feature (where we have a look at what our listeners have been writing, read it out, then discuss it) we look at an excerpt from J. Aaron Courts' 'Hot Box'.
See more from Aaron here:
https://www.instagram.com/aaron.courts/
https://aaroncourts.substack.comHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The great Carl Reiner once said “Improvisation is just writing in front of an audience”.
So we figured if we could brush up on our improv skills it's bound to make us better writers... right?
This week improv extraordinaire, and official Comedy Store Player, Ruth Bratt talks to us about her life, her craft and the eating habits of her cat... before putting us to the test with our own improvised play. What could possibly go wrong?
Go and see Ruth with the legendary Comedy Store Players here:
https://comedystoreplayers.com
Get your ticket for Showstopper! The Improvised Musical here:
https://showstopperthemusical.comHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Unfortunately we're not able to include show notes this week, for legal reasons.
Thanks for listening.
www.floraopil.com
Find out more about Flora hereHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Writing can be a solitary business. All those hours spent with nothing but a blank page and a bottomless coffee cup.
On reflection we reckon it's probably good to interact with other human beings occasionally.
It can stop you going full fruit-loops. (You know...dressing as your main character and wandering around the house talking to yourself.)
It can help you find friendly Alpha / Beta readers.
It can boost the learnies.
It can even help you become more productive... apparently.
So this week, we thought we'd have a look at the benefits of reaching out to other writers. Be it through communities like Writers' HQ, classes, retreats or social media.
And in the process we stumble across a writer who is living proof of just how beneficial reaching out to others can be...and then some!
Check out Writers' HQ here:
https://writershq.co.uk
Buy Sam's excellent book here:
https://geni.us/Puzzlemakers
And thanks to Jennifer Last for sharing her excellent Not Dead Girl extract!Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Join Tom & Jon on another rambly exploration.
This time we're off back to the 1840s to take a good, hard look at the Brontë sisters. Who were Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë? What were they like? How is it possible that three sisters all wrote so brilliantly? Why are they still so revered by readers across the world? and what was the deal with Branwell?
Pack a rain coat, a poetry book and a flask of tea and come with us o'er the moors, as we chat to experts: biographer - Lucasta Miller, English Lit Professor - Gregory Dart, and the lovely folk at the Brontë Museum in Haworth, to learn more about these fascinating and extraordinary writers.
Lucasta's Website:
https://www.lucastamiller.com/theauthor
Buy The Brontë Myth:
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/355538/the-bronte-myth-by-lucasta-miller/9780099287148
Visit The Brontë Parsonage Museum:
https://www.bronte.org.uk
And thank you to Professor Gregory Dart - a total legend.
See him give Philomena Cunk a run for her money here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beP0rZIITmIHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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As an aspiring young writer it's easy to be put off by even the most well intentioned constructive criticism...what's not so easy is to revisit that critique many years later and be inspired to write a novel that has publishers literally fighting each other for the chance to print it.
Join us for a fascinating interview as Jessica Bull, author of the much anticipated "Miss Austen Investigates" describes the downs and very significant ups of her writing journey.
Buy Miss Austen Investigates here:
https://shor.by/MissAusten
Jessica’s soash:
Twitter: @NovelistJessica (https://twitter.com/NovelistJessica)
Instagram: @jessicabullnovelist (https://www.instagram.com/jessicabullnovelist/)
author pic by Cassie BarucHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Aaaaaand we're back!
The Failing Writers return for what some are calling the fourth season of this spectacular podcast. We look forward to a whole new smorgasbord of writing tips, challenges, goals and cock-ups plus a raft of interviews with some of the biggest names in the writing world. Starting with a real corker courtesy of writer, presenter and thoroughly lovely fella Danny Wallace.
So hold tight and keep your legs and elbows tucked in at all times... it's gonna be a hell of a ride!
Danny stuff:
https://dannywallace.com
Preorder Danny's new book here:
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/393456/somebody-told-me-by-wallace-danny/9781529931181
Phil Oddy's Echoes:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Echoes-Entanglement-Book-Phil-Oddy/dp/B0CSRZVPQZ
Danny's photo: www.selashiloniphoto.comHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Happy New Year Folks! We continue our seasonal ghost stories with a handful of listener-written tales. So gather around the hearth with us again as we bring you a selection of eerie yarns, to make your timbers shiver.
Massive thanks to our fantastic contributors:
AB Finlayson: https://abfinlayson.com Threads: a.b.finlayson
Craig Margolis: X: @damnblankpage
Steve Salisbury: X: @SalisburyWriter Threads: salisbury.writer
Christian Fieldhouse
Steven Stilbech: X: @stilbech
Simon Curtis: X: @simonmcurtis
Geoffrey G. N. Harrison: https://www.deaf-duck.uk Threads: gharrisonauthor
(In this weeks episode, we also completely forgot to mention that Simon Curtis sent us a brilliant M.R. James Christmas picture quiz! Check the blog to see how many M.R. James stories you can recognise from his natty little sketch!)
A history of ventriloquist dummies coming to life:
It appears Gerald Kersh was one of the first to publish such a story in 1939 called “The Extraordinarily Horrible Dummy," this was adapted by screenwriter John Baines for the Dead of Night movie.
Dead of Night Movie
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_of_Night
Magic
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_(1978_film)
Goosebumps
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goosebumps_(film)Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Please accept this as a most cordial invitation to accompany Jon, Tom and as yet unnamed guests for an evening of traditional ghost story telling. We have chosen the most atmospheric venue we could acquire at short notice and now request your company, to consummate this joyously Victorian Christmas night of heebiejeebies. Please bring only yourself. We shall provide the spirits.
Talking Scared:
https://talkingscaredpod.com/about/
Michelle Paver:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/talking-scared/id1530064310?i=1000638347893
The King:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/talking-scared/id1530064310?i=1000623833730
Dark Matter:
https://michellepaver.com/dark-matter/
‘Cherry Ripe’ Painting
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/cherry-ripe-detail-john-everett-millais.htmlHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Alec Worley is an award-lacking (his own words!) author from South London. He writes comics, fiction and audio drama about swords, fangs and lasers. He’s best known for his work on 2000 AD (home of Judge Dredd), Star Wars, and for legendary horror director John Carpenter.
He's one of those really annoyingly talented people, with an eye for story and an ear for dialogue.
You know the ones.
He's also a dead nice bloke.
You can read his newsletter, ‘Agent of Weird: Exploring the Write Fantastic’ (alecworley.substack.com)
Or find out more on his website alecworley.com
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AlecWorley
Dredge Runners audio drama:
https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/178999229X?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=library_overflowHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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