The Secret Library Podcast

#113 Donal Ryan


Listen Later

Donal Ryan is the best argument for staying hopeful about writing.

In this conversation, we discuss how Donal Ryan stayed optimistic as his first few books were rejected nearly 50 times before he broke in to get one published.

Once he did, he was long listed for the Booker Prize.

We have all heard these stories: of Stephen King impaling rejection letters on a nail driven into the wall by his desk, and writers who just kept sending in their work dozens – and sometimes hundreds– of times.

While these stories are meant to motivate, they rarely explore the heartbreak that is experienced along the way. In this conversation, Donal Ryan shares what kept him going, as well as his thoughts on structure and craft related to his latest book, From a Low and Quiet Sea.

Spoiler Alert: it's a knockout. You won't want to miss this episode! I predict repeat listening...


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



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.book-alchemy.com/subscribe
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Secret Library PodcastBy Caroline Donahue

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

85 ratings


More shows like The Secret Library Podcast

View all
Scotland Outdoors by BBC Radio Scotland

Scotland Outdoors

241 Listeners

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 by BBC Radio 4

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

2,129 Listeners

Sounds True: Insights at the Edge by Tami Simon

Sounds True: Insights at the Edge

1,849 Listeners

The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers by Joanna Penn

The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

621 Listeners

Mamamia Out Loud by Mamamia Podcasts

Mamamia Out Loud

573 Listeners

Happier with Gretchen Rubin by Gretchen Rubin / The Onward Project

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

12,943 Listeners

Giles Coren Has No Idea by The Times

Giles Coren Has No Idea

91 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,539 Listeners

In The News by The Irish Times

In The News

59 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics

3,106 Listeners

Kermode & Mayo’s Take by Sony Music Entertainment

Kermode & Mayo’s Take

317 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

19,745 Listeners

The News Meeting by The Observer

The News Meeting

15 Listeners

Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus by Lemonada Media

Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

10,530 Listeners

The Rest Is Entertainment by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Entertainment

897 Listeners