First Graft Podcast

We're back.
Join me while I explore the hard graft of creating the work we all love. I'll be talking to writers, artists, musicians and film makers about what inspires and drives them, what gets in the way and how they overcome obstacles. 

In this chapter I talk to the wonderful Katherine Angel, the author of Daddy Issues (Peninsula Press, 2019), and Unmastered: A Book On Desire, Most Difficult To Tell (Penguin, 2012). Her next book is called Tomorrow Sex Will Be Good Again, and will be published by Verso. Katherine teaches creative and critical writing at Birkbeck College, University of London, and has a PhD in the history and philosophy of sexuality and psychiatry from the University of Cambridge. 

We talk about consent, complexity, Stranger Things, relationships, inspiration, Sophie MacKintosh's The Water Cure, Adam Phillips on Winnicott, writing ourselves into being, trusting the process and so much more. 

See links below:

https://www.waterstones.com/book/unmastered/katherine-angel/9780718194772

https://www.waterstones.com/book/daddy-issues/katherine-angel/9781999922399

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-water-cure/sophie-mackintosh/9780241983010

In this chapter I share some news... and chat with my editor Hetha Duffy about editing, our process, what to look out for in your work, what Hetha loves to read and she also gives us top tips on submitting your work and the intricacies of writing, editing and publishing. 

Join me as I chat with Rónán about his novel, music, silence, making meaning, translation, writing and the wild creativity of family lexicons and fibs. 

Read this book!

https://www.bluemoosebooks.com/books/leonard-and-hungry-paul

Hey, 
How're you?

This chapter we talk about writing in a colloquial voice; it's importance in reflecting diverse characters, but not misrepresenting or diminishing them. How do we do it? And do it well? 

I share a short extract of the first draft of The Sound Mirror, where I'm working on voice.

Also I chat about the following books:

Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh
The Panopticon by Jenni Fagan
The Colour Purple by Alice Walker
The Wake by Paul Kingsnorth
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

and

Lucia by Alex Pheby
Murmur by Will Eaves

Let me know what you're working on, who you'd like hear on the podcast and what you think about writing in a character's idiom.

Next chapter I have a special guest! 

twitter - @heidipearljames
Facebook - First Graft

Triumph, wobbles, anxiety and first draft trials...

So, had recorded the charming and talented Ronan Hession, author of Leonard and Hungry Paul but the quality wasn't good enough for you beauties... hence just me this chapter. I will be recording Ronan when he's in London promoting his book. Sorry Ronan!

If you would like to come on and discuss your work (ANY creative process not just literary endeavours) let me know, get in touch!

Books I mention this chapter are:

Dogwood by Lindsay Parnell

Mothlight by Adam Scovell

Union Street by Pat Barker

I chat with Sharon about writing her novel The Handsworth Times and her forthcoming novel, Should I Fall Behind, process, confidence, social media, empathy, appropriation, Nick Cave, music playlists, swearing and more...

We mention writers: 

Janet Frame

Kit de Waal

(check out their work if you haven't already)

Sharon's book is available here:

http://www.bluemoosebooks.com/books/handsworth-times

In this episode I talk about time; theory, experience, the novel, death, ageing, New Years Resolutions and writing. Pretty basic then. 

I am indebted to the incredible website, http://www.exactlywhatistime.com
for all the information I discuss on theories and philosophies of time and I recommend you check it out if it interests you; and it should!!

I also talk about:
From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell
Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
Nabokov's Dream Diary
Innocents and Others by Dana Spiotta

Let me know how you're doing and how you write time... 

Happy New Year, you gorgeous bunch!

Hey...
In Chapter nine I talk about...

Books
Anne Fine - Raking the Ashes

Fleur Jaeggy - Sweet Days of Discipline

David Seabrook - All the Devils are Here

Podcast
This Podcast Will Kill You

And a soup... Recipe below (I swear it makes you glow like the Ready Brek kid)

Plus I share a couple of monologues I wrote from two character points of view and discuss how these exercises can help get under the skin of your characters (ouch).

Get in touch and tell me about your reading and writing, and have a very darling festive season.

Coconut lentil soup

you need:
Split red lentils (handful or two)
Can of coconut milk
turmeric (teaspoon)
ginger (I use the powder kind... it's fine)
lime juice (a good squirt)
Sesame oil
Veg stock (about as much as the coconut milk)
chilli (dried flakes)
garlic (3 cloves)
spinach leaves

Chuck it all in, boil it, simmer it till the lentils have softened and dissolved... 

Trust me. It's delicious, and I can't cook.

In this chapter I talk about class, writing difficult, unlikeable characters and process.

In Ketchup I chat about:

Olivia Sudjic's book, Exposure

Dead Ink's collection of essays, Know Your Place

And

The TV adaptation of Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend.

If you have any suggestions for my character's name, give me a shout on twitter or the First Graft facebook page!