We've got Ben Aaronovitch on the pod this week.

I mean, what else do you need to know?

That's the important bit.

Just that.

Ben Aaronovitch.

On this podcast.

Oh, apart from to say THANK YOU to our amazing sponsor Scrivener.

Which you can get right now.. with 20% off - as long as you use our special code FAILING.

Just pop along to https://www.literatureandlatte.com/

Oh... and one other thing!

Check out our HYPE-WRITER feature this week - We've got listener Genevieve Marenghi-Daly's brilliant little piece: 'Team Drinks'

(INSTA: @genevievemarenghi)

OK.

Pretty sure that's it.

Now here's some Aaronovitch details as promised...

Ben's website:

https://www.benaaronovitch.com/

Buy Stone & Sky

https://www.orionbooks.co.uk/titles/ben-aaronovitch/stone-and-sky/9781473226715/

Buy 'em all!

https://www.waterstones.com/author/ben-aaronovitch/27460

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For many, the idea of having their book published is an actual dream. A beautiful, glorious, waking dream. But for others, perhaps even most writers, the dream isn't quite as dreamy as people might imagine.

So let's draw back the curtain and have a little peek at the actual, unfiltered, no-bull realities of giving birth to a beautiful baby book, with the supremely talented (and honest) journalist and author, Hamilton Nolan.

And if you too want to be all professional and authory, you could do a lot worse than getting yourself a copy of Scrivener.

It's a brilliant bit of software that honestly and genuinely makes writing easier.

Use our cheeky little code FAILING and get yourself 20% off the usual cost! Go to https://www.literatureandlatte.com right now.

And you'd assume, wouldn't you, that THAT might be all. Because any more of this aural nourishment could easily result in indigestion.

Well no. Sorry, but you should undo your belt a couple o' notches and ready yourself for pudding. Because we've got our brand new feature starting this week.

Yep. It's HYPE-WRITER! Where you send us a bit of writing you're real proud of. Could be your novel, could be a piece of flash, could be a short story, could be an article, could be a comedy sketch, could be a play, could be a sitcom episode. OR... it could be a poem, which is what we've got this week from the talented Guy Jones, founder of Hothouse Theatre, Nottingham:

https://www.hothousetheatre.com/

Insta: @hothouse_theatre

If you'd like to send us a bit of writing you're proud of so we can hype YOU up - send it over to [email protected] with a bit of blurb about it, and you could see your name in lights*

*Forgive us a bit of hyperbole. x

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Well oh my gosh, haven’t we got a right proper banger for you today?

I know. We spoil you.

But it’s only cos you’ve been so good recently.

Yeah. Don’t be coy. You have.

So we thought. Oh heck, why not…

Let’s do an episode with the lovely Jessica Knappett. She of Inbetweeners / Drifters / Avoidance / Ghosts / Travel Man / Taskmaster and countless other stuff on telly- fame. BUT… also… you may not be aware... a very experienced and talented writer.

So pin back yer lug’oles and get comfy for a really fascinating chattanooga choo choo all the way to Jessicatown.

Here’s Jessica Knappett’s delightful podcast, now you've realised you need more Jess in your life:

https://podfollow.com/1744320313

And then, when you’re done listening to all that, and you’re all jazzed up on a cocktail of oxytocin and inspiration juice… why not make like a proper writer and get yourself a copy of SCRIVENER!

You can get 20% off with the code FAILING at https://www.literatureandlatte.com

And finally finish that pesky novel / screenplay / sitcom / poetry collection / academic book about the sexual proclivities of sea lions.

Finally. Please don’t forget to send in some writing you're reaaal proud of to [email protected]

Then we can start our HYPE-WRITER feature, and start spreading love across the globe.

Wait, that sounds bad.

Spreading glory and huge, well deserved celebrations of YOU... to the world.

Clunky, but it’ll do.

x

Photograph of Jessica by Jiksaw.

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OK, first things first, before you read any more of this, go to https://www.literatureandlatte.com and get yaself 20% off Scrivener right now with the code: FAILING

Done that?

Brilliant. First step towards becoming a proper writer - DONE.

Perfect.

Now... it’s time to settle the score, turn the tables, slip the shoe onto the other foot. Tom sets up a chat with Samia Rida, who’s taking her one woman play to Edinburgh.  A cunning way of encouraging Jon and Katie to crack on with their play.

Will it work?

Find out in this week’s episode, as we chat to Samia about how you go about taking a show to Edinburgh, the benefits of taking your writing into your own hands and turning it into a show, the trauma and comedy inherent in being kidnapped and taken to Saudi Arabia, the life of artists generally, and lots of other stuff that you’ll have to listen to the show to find out.

Samia’s play is called Kidnap, it’s on at the Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh from 30th July to the 10th August, and it sounds excellent!  Get your tix here:

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/samia-rida-kidnap

Samia on Instagram:

@rida_samia

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Hello Children, welcome to another lovely wuvvly episode of The Failing Writers Podcast in association with Scrivener, a podcast for people who love to write and want to move ever closer to the elusive realm of success.

In this episode we’re looking at writing done especially for you.  Yes you, my Kiddiewinklepops. All the younger humans upon this little space rock we call Earth.

Why?

Because we are turning the spotlight on co-host Tommy Turner. He’s been a bit of a naughty boy and not been writing very much recently.  Can you believe that?

Oh you can.

Well, perhaps with a bit of inspiration from fabulotastimungouscintilliously brilliant middle grade author Thomas Taylor, he of Malamander fame, it might just be our turn to turn Turner into a page turning turn.

Let’s see shall we?

Righteeho… enough of this bothersome blather…. on with the show…

Oh wait… don’t forget that if you want to write like one of those successful, professional writers – get yourself a copy of SCRIVENER!

With our super secret magical code, you can get 20% off!

Just go to https://www.literatureandlatte.com and pop in the code FAILING

And for some SUPERB aged 7 – 12-ish books (Although I loved reading it and I’m quite a bit older than 12 – so maybe just ignore the whole age-thing)  check out Thomas Taylor’s Eerie on Sea series:

Visit Eerie on Sea here:

https://eerie-on-sea.com

Buy Malamander here:

https://eerie-on-sea.com/about-the-books/malamander/

Check out Thomas and his other stuff here:

https://www.thomastaylor-author.com

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Poetry, as Percy Bysshe Shelley once said, lifts the veil from the hidden beauty of the world, and makes familiar objects be as if they were not familiar.

And so, off we go, to try and defamiliarise the things which stare us in the face every blummin’ day. Relationships. Words. Coffee. Social Media. Prejudice. Siblings. Aging. Home. Industrial Estates. Nature. Sex. Love. Yep. We’re off to a poetry night, aren’t we? To find out what they’re all about. Who goes to them. What the poetry is like, and whether it’s something every writer should have a go at.

Poetry Jam in Durham to be precise. Wish us luck!

Here’s Kate Fox’s lovely new book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sycamore-Gap-2024-celebration-those/dp/0008735611

Here’s organiser Steve Urwin:

@urwin_steve on X.

http://steveurwintalkingpen.blogspot.com/

And here are the guest poets: 

Rach Lydon.  Insta & Threads:  @rachwritesreal

Gaeron Southern: https://gaeransouthern.wordpress.com

Julie Egdell:  https://aliceinwinterland.weebly.com

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Right.

This week you're in for a treat. Cos, this week on the Failing Writers Podcast in association with Scrivener.... we've got a fantastic guest....

Pardon? Scrivener? You know! The brilliant writing app? Yeah. What's that? you've been thinking about buying a copy for a while?

Well... you're in luck! Just use our code "FAILING" and you can get 20% off right now! just go to https://www.literatureandlatte.com and make writing easier for yourself!

OK... where was I? Oh yes.... we've got a fantastic guest... Libbie Hawker. Writer of lots of historical fiction and lit fic... as well as "Take off Your Pants."

When it comes to writing guides, Take off Your Pants is a modern classic. It's a method that gives writers a scaffold to outline a great story, without necessarily nailing down all the plot points in your book. So it can work for plotters and even for pantsters! Designed to help you write your book more quickly and efficiently and make sure you end up with a really well considered, satisfying story.

So you'll definitely want to listen. In fact, probably stop reading this and crack on if I were you.

Actually before you stop reading, you might also like to know, we're revealing our writing goals for the rest of the year, as well as yours too!

You can find everything Libbie related here:

https://www.hawkerbooks.com/

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Welcome back to the Failing Writers Podcast - Sponsored by the brilliant and indispensable writing software: Scrivener.

Get 20% off Scrivener right now, by using the code FAILING at https://www.literatureandlatte.com/

OK. Now, People…  buckle up.

You’re about to enter the Murverse.

Cos our guest this week is the lovely Mur Lafferty. A scifi / fantasy writer and podcaster whose refreshingly candid insights into writing and publishing caught our eye a while ago.

Being a fan of all things brutally honest, we thought it would be a fascinating exercise to join Mur in drilling down into the dark corners of our psyches by asking those horribly uncomfortable questions about writing. The idea being, that hopefully they might shed some light on the ways we could face down some of our demons.

And so… we created… THE WHEEL OF TERROR. A random-spinny-machine designed to pick all the questions we’d rather not answer.

There is no escape from the Wheel of Terror.

Why not ask yourself the questions?  (See all the questions at the bottom of the show-notes)

Find out more and connect with Mur here: as well as finding a list of her books... (‘Six Wakes’ is the book Jon read and enjoyed.)

https://murverse.com/

And check out Mur’s podcast “I Should Be Writing” here:

https://podfollow.com/79085800

1          What is holding you back from being one of the most celebrated writers of our time? (Oh… you have a list…)

2          What’s your biggest weakness as a writer?

3          What’s your current criteria for ’success’?

4          Why do you reaaaally write? I mean… the deep, gnawing, psychological need inside you… what actually IS it?

5.         What’s the most common thing that prevents you writing?

6.         Is there a project you regret giving up on?   

7.         Are you easily distractable by electronic devices? If so what’s the app you go to most?

8.         What’s the last thing you used as an excuse to not write?

9.         What was your absolute worst moment as a writer?

10.      When the doubt demons come at night, what do they whisper?

11.      What one thing (in relation to writing) would you like to be known for in the future?

12.      What do you usually think when you read back your first draft?

13.      Which writer are you most jealous of?

14.      What is your most embarrassing success daydream?  

15.      Who is responsible for making you think you’d be a good writer?

16.      At what point in a project do you tend to get stuck?

AND THEN, DON’T FORGET TO ASK THE QUESTION:

IF THIS IS A PROBLEM, WHAT’S YOUR STRATEGY TO OVERCOME IT?

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First of all, thank you SCRIVENER for sponsoring Season 5!

You can try Scrivener free for 30 days. And if you love it, (which you will) you can use the code FAILING and get 20% off, you lucky, lucky duckies.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/

OK... This week, be prepared to have your beautiful, unsullied little brain absolutely stuffed to the brim with a gigantic, Haribo party-bag of sugary treats.

We reveal our new sponsor - Did I mention it's the amazing writing app, SCRIVENER?

We welcome the wonderful ADAM BUXTON onto the podcast to talk about memoir writing, journaling, agonising research, and the ups and downs of dredging up old memories.

Then, as though you're not already sick and bloated with aural glory.... as promised.... Tom tosses an array of sweet, sweet Clerihews into the crowd. Short, easy to swallow, biographical poems designed to make you chuckle and groan simultaneously.

And DO NOT FORGET to buy Adam's book here: It will be bloody excellent, we promise.

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/ramble-book-2-adam-buxton/7722311

Or for the full Buckles experience... pre-order the audiobook.

And if you haven't read the first one yet... here's a link to that:

https://www.waterstones.com/book/ramble-book/adam-buxton/9780008293338

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We nattered and we caterwauled 'bout lyrics, punk and bands,

and we shed a little light upon how melody can expand,

and we talked of books and words and how they sometimes change a man,

and by the end, our mate Paul Armfield had another couple o' fans.

Lyrics. Are they different to poems? Are they an art form all of their very own?

Is it best to write lyrics and then fit the music around them?

How do the words of songs develop?

All will be revealed in this episode of The Failing Writers Podcast where we talk to the extremely talented and delightful Singer-Songwriter and bookstore manager Paul Armfield.

Whose brilliant new album is all about books!

Check out his tour dates and buy his music here:

https://paularmfield.com/

We also discuss dream interpretation, an imminent open mic poetry night and Clerihews.

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