Barnaby Martin, author of 'The Quiet' - Writer, composer and YouTuber discusses influences, why it's all in the edit, and being anxious to get things done

Writer's Routine

#Writing #Storytelling #Books and Writing #Books #Arts #Dan Simpson #Lifestyle #Hobbies #Weekly Chat

34:01

I think you could probably go back and track the stages of grief, probably that is what I went through. But I think if you do it right, you end up at acceptance. And that's where I ended up. And that's not to say that I've fully accepted the idea that the golden toad is extinct. Personally, I do still hold out hope that it could still be out there in those forests." - Trevor Ritland This conversation is with Trevor Ritland, who—along with his twin brother Kyle—authored The Golden Toad . The book chronicles their remarkable journey into Costa Rica’s cloud forest, once home to hundreds of brilliant golden toads that would emerge for just a few weeks each year—until, one day, they vanished without a trace. What began as a search for a lost species soon became something much more profound: a confrontation with ecological grief, a meditation on hope, and a powerful call to protect the natural world while we still can. Links: SpeciesUnite.com Kyle and Trevor: https://kyleandtrevor.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventureterm/ Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222249677-the-golden-toad Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Toad-Ecological-Mystery-Species/dp/163576996…

about a year ago 46:34

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It tells the story of a dystopian world covered by the Soundfield. A domer which surrounds the Earth and changes everyone's life. It brings deadly heat, ravages food and water supplies, and everyone lives with its constant background hum. When scientist Hannah learns her son Isaac has a gift which could threaten the Soundfield, she must battle to keep him safe.

We talk about why his influences across science and music have all led to this story, and how everything affected the other. You can hear why he was surprised about one key difference between writing and composing, and why he's always anxious to get new ideas done.

Barnaby's YouTube channel, 'Listening In', dissects how music is used throughout our lives and the role it plays in other entertainment, and it's got more than 10 million views with over 200k subscribers. How does he divide his creative energy between all these projects?

You can hear about who is novel is influenced by and how heavily he can wear those in the narrative. We discuss his quest to make things new and exciting every time, and what questions he asked when given a brilliant initial hook of an idea.

Get a copy of the book - uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine

Support the show -

patreon.com/writersroutine

ko-fi.com/writersroutine

@writerspod

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364 episodes

Barnaby Martin, author of 'The Quiet' - Writer, composer and YouTuber discusses influences, why it's all in the edit, and being anxious to get things done

Writer's Routine

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published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

Get a copy of the book - uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine

Support the show -

patreon.com/writersroutine

ko-fi.com/writersroutine

@writerspod

writersroutine.com

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

364 episodes

#Writing #Storytelling #Books and Writing #Books #Arts #Dan Simpson #Lifestyle #Hobbies #Weekly Chat

All episodes

1
Claire Douglas, author of 'The New Neighbours' - Thriller writer discusses character USPs, the routine of the year, and knowing your brand 50:09

1 day ago50:09

50:09

Claire Douglas is a bestselling thriller author. Her work has been published across the world, sold many copies everywhere, and she's been a Richard and Judy Book Club Pick. She's just published her 11th novel in 10 years, 'The New Neighbours'. It's about Lena who overhears a conversation between her kind, retired neighbours... that must be a mistake. It sounded like they were planning something awful. Lena can't stop thinking about it, it creeps into memories of her past, and she is consumed by choices of whether to do something. We discuss how Claire discovers her character's unique selling points, and how much she outlines their movements... knowing they're likely to do what they want regardless. You can hear her routine of the year, why she finishes one day thinking of the next, and how useful it is knowing what the 'Claire Douglas' brand is. Get a copy at uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine Support the show at - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Guy Jenkin, author of 'Murder Most Foul' - BAFTA winning writer discusses alluring research, finally writing a novel, and playing with the past 53:23

8 days ago53:23

53:23

Guy Jenkin is a multi Emmy and Bafta winning writer. Along with Andy Hamilton, he co-wrote the sitcoms 'Drop the Dead Donkey' and 'Outnumbered'. He also worked on the films 'What We Did On Our Holiday', and 'The Sleeping Dictionary'. His new novel is called 'Murder Most Foul', a witty and fast-paced Tudor detective novel that plays with fact and fiction. In the middle of a deadly plague outbreak in 1593, William Shakespeare is implicated in the murder of his friend and rival, Christopher Marlowe. Teaming up with Marlowe's sister and his former flame Ann, they embark on a quest to clear his name, uncovering a web of treachery and corruption that inspires Shakespeare's future masterpieces. You can hear how much he enjoyed the research, so much so that he had to drag himself away to finally write the story. He reveals why it's normally the smallest, hardest to find details, that bring the story to life. We discuss why it's taken him so long to write a novel, after a long career in screenwriting, and how he learned to actually do it. We talk about 'Outnumbered', and why it was much more scripted than many believed, and what it taught him about writing novels. You can support the show at - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine Get a copy of the book - uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Lucy Foley, author of 'The Midnight Feast' - Mystery bestseller reveals her quick first drafts, keeping in close contact with the story, and 53:43

15 days ago53:43

53:43

Lucy Foley is a mystery behemoth. She's sold 5 million copies of her novels which have been translated in over 40 countries. All of them are currently being made for film and TV right now. Following the success of 'The Hunting Party', 'The Guest List', and 'The Paris Apartment', 'The Midnight Feast' is out now in paperback, and focuses on the opening weekend of a luxury countryside retreat. Only, under the burning midsummer sun, darkness stirs. When a body is found, old friends and enemies are trapped in the countryside, trying to discover whodunnit. It's the second time Lucy has been on the show, and she's our first ever returning guest. She originally talked us through her writing day in February 2020, and I was keen to figure out what had changed in the last 5 years, what with 2 children and a global pandemic chucked in to stir up her routine. Lucy is currently writing a new Miss Marple novel, after being asked by the Agatha Christie Estate. You can hear how success has brought the changes, along with some imposter syndrome, also about her quick first draft, why she focuses on quantity over quality, and how she's discovering her very own Miss Marple. You can get a copy of the book, and support your local independent bookshop, at uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine Watch the episode in glorious technicolour at youtube.com/@writersroutine Support us at - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Frances Quinn, author of 'The Lost Passenger' - Historical Fiction author discusses advice from ABBA, what other markets want, and the privilege of an editor 54:39

22 days ago54:39

54:39

Frances Quinn is a journalist, copywriter and bestselling author. Her new novel, 'The Lost Passenger', tells the story of Elinor Coombes, who boards the Titanic trapped in an unhappy marriage to a controlling husband. When it starts to go down, she sees an opportunity to escape for a new life. Frances began writing after winning a place on the Curtis Brown Creative Novel Writing Course, which led through a meandering path toward publication in 2021. Her debut was 'The Smallest Man'. She followed that up with 'That Bonesetter Woman', which both sold well, yet didn't manage to secure international rights. You can hear what Frances did to learn about foreign markets, in order to get her newest novel sold overseas. As a journalist and copywriter, Frances has written for 'Good Housekeeping', 'Woman's Weekly', and 'Ideal Home', also producing words for Waitrose and Easyjet. We discuss how this has influenced the novels she writes, and why she's forever thankful to her editor. We discuss genre, research, and how Frances learns about her character while having decided exactly what they're up to. You can hear why she's a moany writer, why she likes to exercise early, and why she still keeps office hours. Support the show at - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine Get a copy of the book - uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine If you have science-mad kids, come and see my science-mad show this summer - funkidslive.com/tour Subscribe to the newsletter - writersroutine.substack.com @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Mike Gayle, author of 'The One That Got Away' - Romance award-winner discusses starting loose, being pigeon-holed, and novellas 1:04:35

29 days ago1:04:35

1:04:35

Mike Gayle is a prolific author. He's published 20 novels, many of which land on the Sunday Times Bestseller List, and has been translated in over 30 countries. He was the first male writer, and writer of colour, to win the Romantic Novelist Association's Outstanding Achievement Award. He's back with a new novella called 'The One That Got Away'. It tells the story of Reuben and the love of his life who is getting married... only to someone else. He has a day full of activities planned to take his mind of the wedding, only when a phone call changes everything, he must face the truth about what he's trying to outrun. It's a novella written for Amazon's 'Original Stories' imprint, and was the perfect place to put this small seed of a story he was mulling over. You can get a copy here - https://shorturl.at/khaDI Mike's career started as an Agony Uncle, and writing for teen magazines during the 90s and 00s, in their pomp. We discuss how writing for such a specific audience made him learn key secrets for writing novels. You can hear what else he has learned in a 26 year long writing career, why his chair tells a lot of stories, how his collection habit distracts him, and what he thinks about being pigeon-holed as a 'romance writer'. Find more of Mike's stuff here - uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine Support the show - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine writersroutine.com @writerspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Barnaby Martin, author of 'The Quiet' - Writer, composer and YouTuber discusses influences, why it's all in the edit, and being anxious to get things done 46:34

6 weeks ago46:34

46:34

Barnaby Martin is a busy man. He works as a teacher, runs a successful YouTube channel with over 10 million views, as a composer he's had pieces performed across the world, and now he's released his first novel, 'The Quiet. It tells the story of a dystopian world covered by the Soundfield. A domer which surrounds the Earth and changes everyone's life. It brings deadly heat, ravages food and water supplies, and everyone lives with its constant background hum. When scientist Hannah learns her son Isaac has a gift which could threaten the Soundfield, she must battle to keep him safe. We talk about why his influences across science and music have all led to this story, and how everything affected the other. You can hear why he was surprised about one key difference between writing and composing, and why he's always anxious to get new ideas done. Barnaby's YouTube channel, 'Listening In', dissects how music is used throughout our lives and the role it plays in other entertainment, and it's got more than 10 million views with over 200k subscribers. How does he divide his creative energy between all these projects? You can hear about who is novel is influenced by and how heavily he can wear those in the narrative. We discuss his quest to make things new and exciting every time, and what questions he asked when given a brilliant initial hook of an idea. Get a copy of the book - uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine Support the show - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Caitlin Davies, author of 'Private Inquiries: The Secret History of Female Sleuths' - Narrative Nonfiction author discusses remembering how tough novels are, one book inspiring the next, and strange… 54:04

7 weeks ago54:04

54:04

Caitlin Davies has always wanted to be a writer. It took her a long time to admit it to herself, let alone voice it aloud. She started writing as a journalist, covering stories across Europe and Africa, and now, finally, is a published author. She writes widely, switching genres and styles, releasing 6 novels and 8 narrative nonfiction books along the way. Caitlin tends to be inspired by forgotten women from history, and water. Her most recent book is 'Private Inquiries: The Secret History of Female Sleuths'. It was partly inspired by 'Queens of the Underworld' and 'Bad Girls', two books that told a history of crime from the other side of the coin - from the crooks. Caitlin has also published books about swimming in the Thames River, the Ponds on Hampstead Heath, and the history of Camden Lock. To make time to write, Caitlin has fingers in many different creative earning pies - occasionally teaching, designing and decorating sea shells for local businesses. We discuss how all this feeds into inspiration for her books. You can hear whether, as her writing seems so varied and eclectic, there is any grand plan for where it'll take her, also why she wnet back to school for reserach, and why she forgets how tricky it is writing fiction after a time away. You can get a copy of the book here - uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine Support the show - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Heidi Perks, author of 'Someone is Lying' - Thriller Bestseller discusses underwriting drafts, throwing words away and starting over again 51:22

8 weeks ago51:22

51:22

Heidi Perks is the bestselling author of 7 novels, 'Now You See Her', 'Come Back for Me', 'Three Perfect Liars', 'The Whispers', 'The Other Guest', 'The Next Girl', and her new one, 'Someone is Lying' It tells the story of Jess and her daughter, Issie. They have an unbreakable bond and for years it's just been the two of them. However, when a new boyfriend, Dylan, takes Issie travelling... and contact dries up, Jess needs to figure out who is lying. The story is told through mixed media, merging true crime, podcasts and traditional prose, and we talk about the inspiration for that, and the practicalities of getting it done. You can why she writes things over and over in a notebook, and why she always underwrites her first draft. Also, we chat about why, before writing, she went back to school and enrolled on the Curtis Brown Online Novel Writing Course, and you can hear why picking yourself up and going again really matters. Get a copy of the book - uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine Support the show - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Simon Scarrow, author of 'Eagles of the Empire' - Bestselling Historical Fiction author discusses the rules of genre, thorough research, and why you need to get on with it 30:09

9 weeks ago30:09

30:09

This week's guest is the phenomenally bestselling author, Simon Scarrow. He mainly writes historical fiction, best known for his 'Eagles of the Empire' series, and has written about Ancient Rome and Nazi Germany too. He's also published futuristic sci-fi, and began writing dystopian fiction and comedy, before realising he should write what he wants to read, not what he thought might sell. Simon has sold more than 6 million books, and has been translated into 25 languages. His passion for storytelling was perfected at boarding school, learning how to engage class-mates, and keep them hooked with a daring cliff-hanger. He then expanded this passion as a teacher, before finally becoming the author he always wanted to be. His new novel is 'A Death in Berlin'. It's an Inspector Schenke book, with a tale about the exceptional investigator fighting to keep criminals off the streets of Nazi Berlin at a time of war. We discuss the inspiration for the novel, and what he does to pull together a threadbare skeleton to write with. You can hear why he's a stickler for the rules of historical fiction, also why he's inspired to write new series, and why the great illusion of writing is something you can fall prey to... instead, get on with it! Get a copy of the book at uk.bookshop.org/writersroutine Support the show at - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Chris Bridges, author of 'Sick to Death' - Thriller author discusses getting life experience, the crucial mid-point, steering clear of tropes 59:58

10 weeks ago59:58

59:58

Chris Bridges has worked as an NHS Nurse, a theatre reviewer, a columnist and now is a published author. It was his work as a nurse, coupled with his Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis, that gave him the inspiration and experience to get the novel done. The novel is 'Sick to Death', it tells the story of Emma who can't go to work because of a neurological condition. When her boyfriend won't finally leave his wife, she takes matters into her own hands. Emma is sick, but not in the way you think. WHAT A LINE! Chris talks about why he wanted to write a character with disability, where the disability wasn't simply a trope that allows other characters to get on with the plot. Yet also, how that influenced the character arc he could write. You can hear how he got into Emma's head, and told her side of a story dealing with disability. We discuss how much he thought about the genre he was writing in, how he found the crucial mid-point, and how living with M.S. affects his daily writing in ways we don't consider. You can get a copy of the book at uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine Support the show at - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine Subscribe to the newsletter - writersroutine.substack.com @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
M.G. Leonard, author of 'Hunt for the Golden Scarab' - British Book Award Winner discusses making your work stand out, an ideal working day, and living your research 56:49

11 weeks ago56:49

56:49

M.G. Leonard is the author of 16 children's books, which have won heaps of awards. She was awarded Sainsbury's Childen's Book of the Year, and the British Book Awards Children's Book of the Year 2021. Meanwhile, as a child at school, she was told she'd never become a published author - that she simply wasn't smart enough. Before becoming a writer, she managed bands, ran an indie record label, and worked as a professional actor with some of the biggest names around. She now uses her performance experience to help her write, by reading her work aloud to get the flow and editing that way. Maya started writing her first children's book to overcome a lifelong phobia of insects. So, to get past her fear of beetles, she wrote about them, turning the story 'Beetle Boy' into a bestseller, and now has over 100 of them. She has co-written the 'Adventures on Trains' series with Sam Sedgman, published 'The Twitchers Quartet', along with other books for young readers. Her newest novel is 'Hunt for the Golden Scarab', it's the first in the 'Time Keys' series, which tells the story of Sim who discovers his Mum has the power to open doors through time. You can hear about the cabin she's had made to stop her lazy children from interfering, also about the way writing and publishing for children has changed rapidly and why, and we discuss how she dives into extremely thorough research. Support the show at - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine Get a copy of the book - uk.bookshop.org/writersroutine Subscribe to the newsletter - writersroutine.substack.com @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Hanna Thomas Uose, author of 'Who Wants to Live Forever' - Debut writer discusses getting specific with questions, going back to study, and the pressure of a good ending 53:39

12 weeks ago53:39

53:39

This week, we're taking a look inside the writing life of Hanna Thomas Uose, author of 'Who Whats to Live Forever'. Hanna won the Morley Prize for Unpublished Writers of Colour, was shortlisted for Orion and DHA's Space to Write project, selected for the Asian Women Writers Mentorship Programme, and went back to study for an MA in Prose Fiction. Her new novel is 'Who Wants to Live Forever', and it comes from the simple question - how would the world change if we didn't have to die? We discuss how Hanna expanded on that idea, yet also narrowed down the focus to the other questions she really wanted answered. It's about Yuki and Sam who are soulmates, destined to spend the rest of their lives together. However, when a miracle drug is created that can extend your life indefinitely, what happens when Sam decides to live forever, rather than love Yuki forever? You can hear about the pressure of delivering a good ending, also how Hanna feels with a one-book deal. We discuss why she went back to University, what she does to get ready to tell the story, and why she is in two minds when getting feedback for the edit. You can support the show at patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine Subscribe to the newsletter - writersroutine.substack.com Get a copy of the book - uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Robert Whitlow, author of 'Guilty Until Innocent' - Suspense Thriller author discusses keeping characters fresh, being relaxed about getting the words done, and why the secret is consistency 57:44

14 weeks ago57:44

57:44

This week, we're chatting to Robert Whitlow, prolific writer of over 20 bestselling novels. His new one is 'Guilty Until Innocent', a legal thriller that looks an an old case being reopened, and the two lawyers who have to prove the convicted's innocence against the odds. His debut novel, 'The List', was adapted into a successful movie starring Malcolm McDowell. In fact, four of Robert's novels have been adapted for the big screen, and Robert still divides his time between writing and working as a local attorney. You can hear how he seperates his day, energy and creativity for that, and why he thinks the secret is to relax and be consistent... it's to discover your 'writing bio-rhythm' Faith plays a huge part in Robert's work, and we figure out why that is, how organic it can ever be, and whether he's bothered about how a reader's opinion towards religion might change with his writing. It's led him to win the prestigious 'Christy Award for Contemporary Writing' in 2001. He reveals why he loves editing, how he wrestles characters back to his ideas, and why he needs a few drafts to really figure out who his protagonist is. Get a copy of the novel - uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine Support the show - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine Subscribe to the weekly newsletter - writersroutine.substack.com @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Jennifer Saint, author of 'Hera' - Sunday Times Bestseller discusses writing what you know YOUR readers will love, teasing yourself into work, and the point of mythology 1:01:57

15 weeks ago1:01:57

1:01:57

Jennifer Saint worked as an English teacher in a secondary school for thirteen years, when all of a sudden, with an unexpected confidence, she felt the urge to write a novel. It wasn't just the confidence she could do it that surprised her, but the belief that it would do well. She was inspired by Greek mythology, and wanted to emphasise their relevance for the 21st Century. Her debut was 'Ariadne', which tells the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur from a female prespective. It was a Sunday Times Bestseller, a Waterstones Book of the Month, and was nominated for as their Book of the Year. She's also published 'Elektra' and 'Atalanta', also Sunday Times Bestsellers. Jennifer's new novel is 'Hera', who is Zeus' brother. Together, they overthrow their tyrannical father Titan Cronos... only Hera becomes confused with thoughts of power and leading. She is often portrayed as the jealous wife and wicked stepmother - Jennifer explains why she decided to spend a year with one of Greek mythology's most hated figures. We discuss how she picks her next retelling, also why as a teacher she wouldn't have liked how she gets to work as a writer, and what the point of Greek mythology is in 2025. Subscribe to the newsletter - writersroutine.substack.com Support us on - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine Get a copy of the book - uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Paul S. Edwards, author of 'The Triton Run' - Sci-Fi writer discusses working anywhere, being inspired but not derivative, and finding the right path to publication 45:03

16 weeks ago45:03