The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

How NY Times Bestselling Author Fiona Barton Writes


Listen Later

New York Times bestselling author, Fiona Barton, spoke to me about why so many famous journalists have turned to crime fiction, the power of the deadline, and her latest hit novel LOCAL GONE MISSING.

Fiona Barton is the award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author of novels The Widow, The Child, and The Suspect – all three featuring journalist Kate Waters.

Her latest thriller, Local Gone Missing, follows a new protagonist in Detective Elise King and follows the brewing changes of a small seaside town. 

Kirkus Reviews said of the book, “Barton presents such an embarrassment of riches … Layers and layers of unlovely revelations about people who seemed perfectly nice.” And BookPage wrote, “Thanks to Barton’s airtight plotting and impeccable characteri­zation, a minibreak by the sea will never seem relaxing again."

In her past life, Fiona was a senior writer at the Daily Mail, a news editor at the Daily Telegraph, and chief reporter at the Mail on Sunday. She has trained and worked with journalists all over the world.

[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]

[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file, Fiona Barton and I discussed: 

  • What it was like to be a Chief Reporter in the UK during the 90s and Noughties 
  • Why crime reporters don’t have time to write fiction
  • How she made the transition to bestselling novelist
  • Why journalism is so akin to crime fiction
  • The definition of a “duvet writer”
  • How to beat procrastination
  • And a lot more!
  • Show Notes:

    • fionabartonauthor.com
    • Local Gone Missing By Fiona Barton (Amazon)
    • Fiona Barton Amazon Author Page
    • Fiona Barton on Facebook
    • Fiona Barton on Twitter
    • Kelton Reid on Twitter
    • Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store

      The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and NeuroscienceBy Kelton Reid

      • 4.5
      • 4.5
      • 4.5
      • 4.5
      • 4.5

      4.5

      211 ratings


      More shows like The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

      View all
      The Book Review by The New York Times

      The Book Review

      3,899 Listeners

      On Being with Krista Tippett by On Being Studios

      On Being with Krista Tippett

      10,252 Listeners

      The New Yorker: Fiction by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

      The New Yorker: Fiction

      3,346 Listeners

      The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers by Joanna Penn

      The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

      627 Listeners

      Helping Writers Become Authors by K.M. Weiland

      Helping Writers Become Authors

      996 Listeners

      Otherppl with Brad Listi by Brad Listi

      Otherppl with Brad Listi

      521 Listeners

      Writing Excuses by Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler

      Writing Excuses

      1,285 Listeners

      The History of Literature by Jacke Wilson / The Podglomerate

      The History of Literature

      1,114 Listeners

      The History of Standup by Wayne Federman & Andrew Steven / The Podglomerate

      The History of Standup

      335 Listeners

      Micheaux Mission by The Podglomerate / Micheaux Mission

      Micheaux Mission

      215 Listeners

      Freelance to Founder by Millo

      Freelance to Founder

      69 Listeners

      Writer's Routine by Dan Simpson

      Writer's Routine

      312 Listeners

      Book Dreams by Eve Yohalem and Julie Sternberg / The Podglomerate

      Book Dreams

      59 Listeners

      Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips by Savannah Gilbo

      Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips

      1,458 Listeners

      The Shit No One Tells You About Writing by Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra

      The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

      778 Listeners

      Trail Weight by Andrew Steven / The Podglomerate

      Trail Weight

      62 Listeners

      Poured Over by Barnes & Noble

      Poured Over

      300 Listeners

      31 for 31 by Chris Boniello, Jamie Lansdowne, and Cody Mason

      31 for 31

      14 Listeners

      NPR's Book of the Day by NPR

      NPR's Book of the Day

      635 Listeners

      Essential Guide to Writing a Novel by James Thayer

      Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

      362 Listeners

      Writers on Writing by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett and Marrie Stone

      Writers on Writing

      80 Listeners

      No Write Way with V. E. Schwab by V. E. Schwab (Author)

      No Write Way with V. E. Schwab

      68 Listeners