The Failing Writers Podcast

Latest Episodes:

S4 Ep 13: Tune that name! All about pseudonyms Jun 24, 2024

Show notes

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4 Ep 12: Mike Gayle Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

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!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4 Ep11: Samuel Burr & The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4 Ep10: Does Age Matter? with Aline Dufflocq & Babette Hughes May 27, 2024

Show notes

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!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4 Ep9: Darren Walsh - He Knows His Punions May 13, 2024

Show notes

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)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4 Ep8: A tour of Scarfolk, with Richard Littler Apr 29, 2024

Show notes

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 Mark@getcarterproductions.co.uk for letting us use those bangin' music tracks in Data Double! https://www.totim.audio/music

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4 Ep7: Robert Popper Apr 15, 2024

Show notes

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.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4 Ep6: Improv Your Writing - with Ruth Bratt Apr 08, 2024

Show notes

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.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4 Ep5: The Interview That Went A Bit Wrong Apr 01, 2024

Show notes

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 here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4 Ep4: Writers Unite! with Sarah from Writers' HQ & Debut Novelist Samuel Burr Mar 18, 2024

Show notes

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.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Failing Writers Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected