Begin - Derbyshire Writing School Podcast

Episode 50 - New Year, New Goals! Writing in 2022.

In this episode, Pete and Laura chat about the difference between New Year Resolutions or New Year Intentions.

Pete talks about his newsletter – The Art of Memorialising as well as his ‘Intentions’ to increase the % of his income from online projects and products. 

Laura maps out her first quarter plans based on yearly intentions, quarterly goals, and daily actions. 

PERSONAL PROJECTS – In this section, we share what we’ve been working on.

• Pete has been using Atticus writing and formatting software and is finding it helpful with his Gathering Rosebuds project. 
• Pete offers a free ebook copy of his book Gathering Rosebuds in Kerala for listeners to the podcast when published in the next month. To get your copy, email [email protected] and request a copy of the ebook. We will also add you to the mailing list of our newsletter as a bonus! 
• Laura has been updating the blogs on Derbyshire Writing School and encouraged, as other writing organisations are now recommending the blogs as a substantial source of information and help. 

LESSONS LEARNT – In this section, we share what we are learning about writing and publishing, as it never stops! 

Pete drifts off to sleep as he tells about the podcast Nothing Much Happens and Laura mentions The Desire Map Experience: A Guide to Creating Goals with Soul by Danielle LaPorte. 

Recommended Product of the Week – Audible

Laura and Pete have benefited from having an audiobook subscription with Audible.

Not tried ‘reading’ the latest books while out walking or doing a job around the house? Then try Audible for 30 days free by using our affiliate link - Audible - Derbyshire Writing School. 

BOOKS WE ARE READING AND RECOMMEND – What books are we reading this week?

Pete speaks about his love of the book Mortimer and Whitehouse Go Fishing. Laura is reading All About Love: New Visions: 1 by Bell Hooks. 

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT DERBYSHIRE WRITING SCHOOL THIS WEEK? – How are we building the business this week?

We talked about our course - Memories to Memoir – An Introduction

We want to hear from you! info@derbyshirewritingschool.com

Thanks for listening!

Episode 49 - Guest Interview - Derbyshire Author - Shirley Mann 

Shirley Mann is a journalist who has worked across newspapers, radio and television. She spent most of her career working as a reporter, producer, and presenter for the BBC on programmes across radio and television, including Radio 4 and Countryfile. She then set up her own media company with lecturing as a sideline, producing short films for environmental organisations.

Her first book, ‘Lily’s War’, was inspired by the wartime romance of her parents. Her mother was a WAAF in Bomber Command and her father was in the 8th Army. She then raced around the country to talk to servicewomen who were already in their 90s to make sure her books were authentic. 

Her second book, ‘Bobby’s War’ is inspired by Air Transport Auxiliary pilot, Mary Ellis and she has since gone on to write ‘Hannah’s War’ about a Land Army girl and is now creating ‘Bridget’s War’ which focuses on a policewoman in the internment camp in the Isle of Man.

She lives in a market town on the edge of the Derbyshire Peak District, heading off regularly with her husband in their camper van.

In this episode Pete and Laura ask Shirley:

• What captivates you about writing in this genre and period in history?
• ‘Lily’s War’ was written to rediscover the life your parents may have lived. What surprised you with your research?
• What lessons from your journalistic career do you bring to your novel writing?
• Do you have a formula you follow for the books?
• Bobby's War was shortlisted in six authors for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Saga Novel of the Year Award and you won it! Tell us more about that process and what happened?
• Tell us a little about getting an agent for the book and then publisher. What advice would you offer our listener who wants to seek a traditional route to publishing?

Want to learn more about Shirley? You can find her at:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Amazon books

We want to hear from you! info@derbyshirewritingschool.com

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Episode 48 - The Writer’s Toolbox - The Tool of Journaling

In this episode, Pete and Laura chat about journaling. 

• What exactly is journaling?
•  How can this help us as writers?

Journaling is getting your thoughts from your head onto paper. But what are some benefits of Journaling?

Journaling can:

• Help us manage stress and anxiety – positively affecting our mental health. 
• Develop our creativity and build ideas. We can see patterns in our work, and we’ll learn what ideas have potential and which topic we keep returning to. 
• Increase our gratitude. Just writing three things we’re grateful for each day can influence the impact gratitude has on our happiness. 
• Help to find joy in difficult times. A 2006 study found journaling to have a positive effect for participants who initially had higher levels of psychological distress, as it provided reducing distress or even trauma. 

Different Methods For Journalling 

• Morning Pages. Morning pages are a form of journaling. Julia Cameron made this tool famous in her book called ‘The Artist’s Way’.
• Logbook. We can use a logbook as a form of journaling.
• Bullet journal. A bullet journal is a planner, diary and journal all in one.
• We often associate free writing with journaling.

10 Journaling Prompts to Help You Reflect 

1. What has been the best thing that’s happened this week?
2. Make a list of the things that bring you joy.
3. What lessons have you learnt this week? This month? This year?
4. Who are you?
5. List your dreams, hopes, and goals. 
6. Write a letter to all the places you’ve lived. 
7. Write about your perfect day. 
8. Think about the people in your life and what they mean to you. 
9. When did you last feel disappointed? How did you overcome it?
10. What is the biggest challenge you’ve overcome?

12 Days of Journaling 

This festive season we’re also creating a free journaling project and we’d love to invite you to take part. So, that is why we are giving you our FUN and FREE journaling prompts.

Spend five minutes a day or an hour each evening and reflect and re-energise with a burst of creativity on us. Sign up here.

We want to hear from you! info@derbyshirewritingschool.com

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Thanks for listening!

Episode 47 – The Writer's Toolbox – The Tool of  Creativity 

Writing is an act of creation. When we write, we bring new ideas, stories, even people, into existence. The more we write, the more we learn to craft and shape narrative. We learn what sounds good and we develop extra levels of creativity and imagination.

In this Writer's Toolbox episode, Pete and Laura chat about the tool of creativity - where they find ideas spark and how they develop those ideas. 

The dictionary defines creativity as the ability to produce original ideas, or to make something new or imaginative. 

At Derbyshire Writing School, we believe creativity is a skill. It can be taught and practiced.

3 Reasons Creativity Is The Most Important Skill In The World:

1. The most important thing creativity leads to is new thinking. If you can use your imagination to see problems differently, to see ideas differently, you will come up with solutions that nobody else has thought of. 

2. Creativity can lead to more positivity. If you know there is over one way of doing something, if you know, there will always be a way. You can be positive about finding a solution. 

3. Creativity can lead to more confidence. Once you allow yourself to come up with lots of ideas, you learn that some will be great and some will need work. You can then become more confident in your ability to keep generating ideas, and know that’s all that matters.

How To Develop Your Writer’s Tool Of Creativity

The best way to develop your creativity is to practice, practice and practice some more! Creativity isn’t just important for creative writing, employers all over the world, and seeking employees who are creative.

In this episode, Pete and Laura chat about creativity - where they find ideas spark and how they develop those ideas. 

We want to hear from you! info@derbyshirewritingschool.com

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Thanks for listening!

THE WRITERS’ ROOM - Where Do Ideas Come From? 

Where do ideas come from? Do find you have a never-ending supply of creativity coursing through your mind? Or do you struggle to find inspiration?

In this episode, Pete and Laura chat about creativity – where they find ideas spark and how they develop those ideas. They also ask, can we have too many ideas? 

Where to look for ideas?

• Go on an Artist Date.
• Get a writer’s journal and update with something every day.
• Write 10 ideas a day for 5 days.

PERSONAL PROJECTS – In this section, we share what we’ve been working on. 

Pete and Laura discuss the week’s activities – Laura is working on the second Everyday Storytellers book. Pete mentions the discovery of the new writing and formatting software Atticus. 

Recommended Product of the Week – Audible

Laura and Pete have benefited from having an audiobook subscription with Audible.

Not tried ‘reading’ the latest books while out walking or doing a job around the house? Then try Audible for 30 days free by using our affiliate link - Audible - Derbyshire Writing School. Not only will you have time to hear a book for free, but by using our link, it helps support the work of Derbyshire Writing School. Thanks!

BOOKS WE ARE READING AND RECOMMEND – What books are we reading this week?

Laura is recommending - Steal Like An Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon. 

Pete is reading – Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Virtual Worlds - The Impact of Converging Technologies On Authors and the Publishing Industry by Joanna Penn. 

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT DERBYSHIRE WRITING SCHOOL THIS WEEK? - How are we building the business this week?

This week Laura shared a new project she working on: Get ready for - The 12 Days of Journaling!

THE WRITERS’ ROOM - Who Else Thinks Technology Can Hinder Or Help Our Writing?

Do you find technology helps you write, or does it become something else you can use to procrastinate and put off writing your novel? Pete lists 19 – yes 19! Software, apps or platforms he thinks he might use to publish the book his working on. Excessive? You need to listen to find out.

PERSONAL PROJECTS - In this section, we share what we’ve been working on. 

Pete and Laura discuss the week’s activities - Laura is working on the second Everyday Storytellers book. Pete mentions the good news of permissions granted, and personal story releases received.

LESSONS WE’VE LEARNED THIS WEEK – What have we learned about writing and publishing this week?

Pete talks about Kindlepreneur. Laura talks about a blog post she enjoyed reading, helping to demystify the agent submission process. You can read the letter here. 

BOOKS WE ARE READING AND RECOMMEND – What books are we reading this week?

Pete throughly enjoyed reading: A Man at Arms: A Novel, and Killing Rommel, both by Steven Pressfield.

Laura read The Testaments by Margaret Atwood.

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT DERBYSHIRE WRITING SCHOOL THIS WEEK? – How are we building the business this week?

Laura talks through a changed approach to The Prompt Boxes

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We want to hear from you! info@derbyshirewritingschool.com

Send us a voice message.

Thanks for listening!

Episode 44 - How To Write Crime Mystery Fiction - Guest Interview Tom Mead

Tom Mead is a Midlands-based author. He has previously written for Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine (amongst various others). 

He is a great admirer of golden age authors of the locked-room mystery subgenre (John Dickson Carr, Clayton Rawson, Helen McCloy) and has written many stories in tribute to these masters. 

His story Heatwave was included in The Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2021 (edited by Lee Child) and his debut novel Death and the Conjuror is coming soon from Mysterious Press.

--
Peter and Laura ask Tom

• Can you tell us about your writing journey?
• Tom, you are a great admirer of the golden age authors of the locked-room mystery subgenre. Please tell us more about this subgenre?
• Congratulations - your story Heatwave was included in The Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2021 (edited by Lee Child) in auspicious crime writing company - how did you get your story reviewed?
• What advice would you give to someone who wanted to write in the mystery genre?
• How important is it to understand and use the tropes of the subgenre you are writing in? Can you tell us about some of these tropes?
• You are an active member of the UK Crime Writers’ Association, can you tell us more about this? How do the CWA help authors? 
• Your debut novel, Death and the Conjuror, is coming soon from Mysterious Press, what's it about?
•  What was your path to publication like? Do you have advice for other writers? When will our listeners be able to get a copy of your book? 

 Tom Mentions - 

• • The Crime Writers Association
  • The Society of Authors
  • The Hollow Man by John Dickson Carr
  • Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
  • On Writing by Stephen King

You Can Find Out More About Tom

On Facebook or his website Tom Mead 

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email: [email protected]

Episode 43 - The Writer’s Toolbox  - The Tool of NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo = National Novel Writing Month.

It started back in 1999 in the States and has grown into a vast community. It’s a non-profit organisation, with the sole aim of helping you to tell your story. The challenge is to write 1,700 words a day, every day for a month. 

There are a few rules:

• Only words you write in November count.
• One author writes the words.
• You must write fiction.

Should You Take Part In NaNoWriMo?

Writing a novel in a month might not be for everyone. But, there are lots of benefits for taking part and saying ‘yes’ to the challenge!

Our Top Tips for A Successful NaNoWriMo

1. Plan your story.

2. Plan your writing routine.

3. Ask friends to help keep you accountable.

4. Track your progress!

Some fantastic books have been born during NaNoWriMo. The most famous is Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. It became a film with Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson! You can check out some more great NaNoWriMo novels in this article, too.

We’d love to know if you will join NaNoWriMo in 2021 - Send us a message now!

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email: [email protected]

Episode 42 – The Writer’s Toolbox – A Writing Tribe

In this episode, Pete and Laura take another delve into The Writer’s Toolbox and add the tool of a Writing Tribe to the toolbox.

Writing can feel lonely. Not just the act of tapping away at the keys, but losing yourself in your work and wondering if another pair of eyes will ever read it. 

Creating a writing tribe can be a wonderful way to find motivation, encouragement, accountability, and community. That’s why this week we are adding the tool of the writing tribe to our writer’s toolbox.

What Is A Writing Tribe?

A writing tribe is simply a writing community. It’s a group of like-minded people, a group of writers that support each other, a group of friends or professionals with something in common – writing. 

It’s important to note that a writing tribe can look different to different people. 

A writing tribe can also offer motivation and accountability. 

Where Do We Find A Writing Tribe?

• Join a course or a workshop.
• Join a Facebook group. 
• Start a book club! 
• Start a writing circle with friends. 

How can Derbyshire Writing School help?

The 3% Club – Online Writing Community.  We offer group programmes, like our 3% Club, to help you meet other writers and network. 

Our Time to Write online programme can also help you to feel part of a writing tribe. We believe in you and your story, so keep going!

We’d love to know how you got on with the tool of a writer’s tribe. Use the email below and tell us how you have used this tool in your writing. 

We want to hear from you! info@derbyshirewritingschool.com

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Thanks for listening!

Episode 41 - Guest Interview - Chris Gregory - How To Write Audio Drama

Chris Gregory is the founder of the Alternative Stories and Fake Realities Podcast. 

Alternative Stories have provided content to BBC and North American radio stations, represented the UK at the International Radio Drama Festival for the past two years and has been nominated for many Audio Verse Awards (for podcast drama) as well as nominated for Best Arts Podcast in this year's Discover Pods awards.

The podcast provides opportunities for writers to hear their work professionally produced and shared with the podcast’s global audience.

Chris also runs workshops on writing for audio drama and many aspects of recording, performance, and podcasting for writers and publishers. His four-part audio drama "Anglia" appeared on Alternative Stories.

Pete and Laura ask Chris:-

• How did your journey into writing begin?
• What is it about audio drama that captured your creative imagination enough to bring it to a wider audience through your podcast?
• What are three differences between writing for audio rather than writing a novel or a short story?
• What advice would you give to someone who wanted to write an audio drama? How should they get started?
• How do you capture a listeners’ attention through an audio drama?
• ‘There’s never been a better time to make audio drama.’ Why is that?
• How do you see the future of audio drama being opened up to creatives to record and develop their own storytelling and online platform?

Where to find the - Alternative Stories Podcast

Twitter - @StoriesAlt
Instagram - @stories.alt
Apple Podcasts - Alternative Stories and Fake Realities
Website - Alternative Stories and Fake Realities
Email Chris - Chris Gregory [email protected]

Training Course -  Introductory workshop about writing audio drama

Thank you for being a part of our journey so far. We are glad you’re here and we are grateful or your support. We want to hear from you! info@derbyshirewritingschool.com

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