First Graft Podcast

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This episode I talk with Duke Garwood about his creative process, getting stuck and how to free yourself from creative blocks. Duke is a multi instrumentalist, singer, songwriter who has released six studio albums (including Holy Week, Emerald Palace, Heavy Love) and has collaborated and worked with many other artists including Mark Lanegan, The Orb, Morcheeba, The Archie Bronson outfit and more…
Links to Duke's work below:

https://youtu.be/8oS4H9Gt98c?si=yYwwlJpOE7Vfc4kH

https://youtu.be/Dsj14awsQgI?si=vwVH6YqGY3sQnAbo

https://youtu.be/h0MqEtqSoH4?si=mCIE6LU9Zdu4KtTG

https://youtu.be/KLwn64B4QDc?si=6TwywzZPfvY4QzOy

https://youtu.be/s0qHseKcLJo?si=FL8s_uVcS-EmqTAL

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*TW* Child poverty, abuse, neglect.

In this episode Terri White and I discuss our personal experiences of child poverty, sexual abuse and neglect. Please take care listening if these issues are difficult for you. We also talk about our right to tell our stories, privilege and what inspires and lifts Terri (Rocky II features high!).
Links to Terri's work:
https://terriwhite.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=email&utm_source=post&utm_content=152259302&utm_campaign=email-checkout&next=https%3A%2F%2Fterriwhite.substack.com%2Fp%2Fyour-monster-the-madness-and-a-sally&r=24uuz

https://canongate.co.uk/books/2716-coming-undone-a-memoir/


If you'd like support around the issues discussed see links below:
https://napac.org.uk
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/help-after-rape-and-sexual-assault/
https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/child-abuse-survivors/

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In this episode I talk about make believe, dialogue, the minute ways characters (and all of us!) reveal themselves and paying close attention with Wendy Erskine. 

Wendy Erskine is the author of two short story collections, Sweet Home and Dance Move, She has been listed for the Gordon Burn Prize, the Republic of Consciousness Prize, the Sunday Times Audible Short Story Award and the Edge Hill Prize.  She was awarded the Butler Prize for Literature and the Edge Hill Readers’ Prize. Dance Move was a BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime. Her writing on arts of all kinds, from sculpture to body-building, has been published in the Guardian and the Quietus among others, and for PVA Books she edited well I just kind of like it, an anthology about art in the home and the home as art.  A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, she is a frequent broadcaster, interviewer and willing collaborator on all manner of projects. She is also a secondary school teacher in Belfast.  Her debut novel The Benefactors will be published in June 2025.  

https://cwagency.co.uk/client/wendy-erskine

https://www.instagram.com/wednesdayerskin/?hl=en-gb

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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. 

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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

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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. 

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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

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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

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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

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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