The Writer's Toolkit

We asked all of the guests from the first season of The Writer’s Toolkit Podcast to share their top tips for maintaining a healthy writing practice. This special episode is a round of what they had to say, featuring words of wisdom from Diane Samuels, Mark Sanderson, Douglas Lyons, Marjorie Chan, Gary Goldstein, Norman Yeung, and Kathryn Burnett.

The Writer’s Toolkit Podcast is returning with another round of writer-to-writer conversations very soon, when Paul will be talking practice, process and projects, with more inspiring playwrights and screenwriters. Be sure to like, subscribe and follow to be notified when new episodes are published. 

Connect with Paul

• Buy the book, The Writer's Toolkit
• Visit Paul's website
• Connect on Instagram @PaulKalburgi
• Connect on Twitter @PaulKalburgi

Support the show!

This podcast is fuelled by coffee. If you'd like to support the show, please send some writing juice via the link below.

• Buy me a coffee
• Make a donation

Want to advertise or sponsor the show?

Click here to get in touch

In this episode, I chat to Kathryn Burnett - an award-winning screenwriter and playwright, whose name can be found on many successful TV series in New Zealand. We talk about the development journey of her new comedy play, The Campervan, the iconic kiwi sit-com writing room that provided her first TV credit (plus enough stories to dine out on for a lifetime!), as well as her latest work on TV comedies, My Life is Murder and Under the Vines.

Words of Wisdom

Kathryn Burnett on writing to a deadline... "The pressure of a deadline I find a very good spur. If it's commissioned work, obviously that's one thing. If it's something that is speculative - so I'm just writing it for myself, or I'm just chipping away at my own project, I have to find a different type of deadline. Sometimes that's a competition or something I can just enter. Generally, I always advise people to do that - find a deadline of some sort. Otherwise, time can just roll by".

Conversation Highlights & Links

• [03:00] Kathryn's new play, The Campervan
• [08:30] Writing routines, time-blocking, and setting deadlines
• [17:35] Finding community, online and in-person
• [23:45] Balancing time in the classroom with writing
• [28:36] Finding the funny and discovering the talent within
• [31:34] Hands-on learning through self-producing
• [33:53] Melody Rules (RNZ podcast: The Worst Sitcom Ever Made)
• [38:20] Writing on My Life is Murder
• [39:50] - Final Scene 

Connect with Kathryn

• Visit Kathryn's website
• Connect on Instagram @KathrynIsAWriter
• Connect on Twitter @KBurnettDotCom
• Discover Kathryn's writing workshops

Connect with Paul

• Buy the book, The Writer's Toolkit
• Visit Paul's website
• Connect on Instagram @PaulKalburgi
• Connect on Twitter @PaulKalburgi

Next time...

Be sure to follow or subscribe and we'll let you know when the next episode is published.

Support the show!

This podcast is fuelled by coffee. If you'd like to support the show, please send some writing juice via the link below.

• Buy me a coffee
• Make a donation

Want to advertise or sponsor the show?

Click here to get in touch

In this episode, I talk to Norman Yeung - a Chinese Canadian writer for whom the use of language takes on a whole new meaning. As we discuss Norman's body of work in this episode, he explains how he uses 'magical realism in his work to encourage empathy through dialogue, blurring of the lines between fantasy and reality in order to break down language barriers. And of course, we talk all things Theory, following the publication of his multi-award-winning play earlier this year.

Words of Wisdom

Norman Yeung on drafting by hand... "I like to have a physical, tactile approach, or connection to the words. There’s something about the physical effort of writing with [a] pen that I think naturally makes the brain maybe want to think more succinctly... the delete button of keyboards if not my best friend for the first draft or two... because I’m getting all my ideas out there and there will be more drafts to delete then."

Conversation Highlights & Links

• [03:30] A nocturnal writing schedule
• [09:30] Writing with pen and ink: a physical approach
• [15:40] Skipping a draft in the transcription process
• [18:15] Norman’s ’shower solutions’
• [21:10] Play discussion: Theory
• [27:30] Working with a diversity editor
• [32:32] Giving Theory a thriller genre packaging
• [34:00] The ten-year development journey of Theory
• [35:35 Language: magical realism
• [40:10] Language: the power to alienate, unite and divide
• [43:20] Language: a body of work
• [45:00] The hip-hop heartbeat of East Vancouver
• [47:55] Final scene 

Connect with Norman

• Visit Norman's website
• Connect on Instagram @NormanYeung
• Connect on Twitter @NormanYeung
• Theory, the play script from Playwrights Canada Press
• Eunuch X Pirate with Outside the March
• Feature WIP, Rowds
• Transformations project, The Zoonotic Story
• Short film, I Know I'm Supposed To Love You

Connect with Paul

• Buy the book, The Writer's Toolkit
• Visit Paul's website
• Connect on Instagram @PaulKalburgi
• Connect on Twitter @PaulKalburgi

Next time...

I talk to New Zealand screenwriter, playwright, and writing coach, Kathryn Burnett, ahead of the world premiere of her play, The Campervan. Be sure to follow or subscribe and we'll let you know when the next episode is published.

Support the show!

This podcast is fuelled by coffee. If you'd like to support the show, please send some writing juice via the link below.

• Buy me a coffee
• Make a donation

Want to advertise or sponsor the show?

Click here to get in touch

In this episode, I talk to Gary Goldstein. Since cutting his teeth in the writer's room on TV shows like Saved By The Bell and Beverley Hills 90210, Gary has seen more than fifteen of his screenplays produced, including Hitched for the Holidays, starring Emily Hampshire and the first two movies in the Flower Shop Mystery series, starring Brooke Shields. Marking a new chapter in his career, Gary recently turned his hand to novel writing and is celebrating the publication of his debut novel, The Last Birthday Party, which is out now.

Words of Wisdom

Gary Goldstein on maneuvering around a writing roadblock... "I try to give myself three choices if I’m not sure what to do. I’ll pick the one that makes the most sense and go that way, and if it doesn’t work then I’ll back up and try number two. I’ve become over time more confident in the choices that I make, just knowing that they can change. But you have to make decisions and I think one thing that holds a lot of writers up; and causes some of what may be considered a block, is being indecisive".

Conversation Highlights & Links

• [03:06] An unwavering work ethic
• [07:00] The perfect pandemic project
• [08:49] A writing room with a view
• [12:52] Maneuvering around a writing roadblock
• [16:31] Staying connected to the wider industry
• [18:13] Gary's debut novel, The Last Birthday Party
• [21:23] From screen and stage to the printed page
• [30:23] Breaking into TV, Saved by the Bell 

Connect with Gary

• Visit Gary's website
• Connect on Instagram @GaryGoldsteinLA
• Connect on Twitter @GaryGoldsteinLA
• Buy Gary's book, The Last Birthday Party

Connect with Paul

• Buy the book, The Writer's Toolkit
• Visit Paul's website
• Connect on Instagram @PaulKalburgi
• Connect on Twitter @PaulKalburgi

Next time...

I talk to Chinese-Canadian playwright, Norman Yeung following the publication of his hit play, Theory. Be sure to follow or subscribe and we'll let you know when the next episode is published.

Support the show!

This podcast is fuelled by coffee. If you'd like to support the show, please send some writing juice via the link below.

• Buy me a coffee
• Make a donation

Want to advertise or sponsor the show?

Click here to get in touch

In this episode, I meet Toronto-based playwright and librettist Marjorie Chan. Best known for her epic dramas focusing on Chinese history, including; China Doll, A Nanking Winter, and The Madness of the Square, Marjorie is also the Artistic Director of Toronto's Theatre Passe Muraille - Canada’s original alternative theatre. We talk about her practice and process and how she balances artistic leadership with a prolific writing career.

Words of Wisdom

Marjorie Chan on making time to write... "I think it comes to the urgency of the stories I want to tell. When I feel that urgency, whether that’s because a story is timely to me, or it has an emotional urgency... I figure out a way to move it forward and tell it. I always advise when I talk to writers… if you’ve carved yourself out forty minutes, then make sure for those forty minutes you’re at the very least thinking about your work. You might be researching and not actively putting words on a page, but that’s the time you’ve given yourself, so you better take it".

Conversation Highlights & Links

• [03:03] Welcoming back audiences and online offerings
• [05:40] Juggling a writing life and artistic leadership
• [09:55] Finding the right space to write
• [13:12] Epic stories and how to tackle them
• [17:35] Finding the form of A Nanking Winter
• [20:15] Reimaging Cao Yu's Sunrise
• [24:50] China Doll - from China to Canada... and back again
• [34:17] Making opera accessible with M'dea Undone
• [37:27] What on earth is a 'cell phone play'?
• [40:41] Audience Accessibility at Toronto's 'theatre beyond walls' 

Connect with Marjorie

• Visit Marjorie's website
• Visit Theatre Passe Muraille's website
• Connect on Instagram @MagicalMudge
• Connect on Twitter @MagicalMudge
• Discover Marjorie's published works
• Marjorie's upcoming projects:
• The Nightingale of A Thousand Songs at CCOC
• Singer and the Strand at Factory Theatre

Connect with Paul

• Buy the book, The Writer's Toolkit
• Visit Paul's website
• Connect on Instagram @PaulKalburgi
• Connect on Twitter @PaulKalburgi

Next time...

I talk to Gary Goldstein, a successful screenwriter and playwright, celebrating the publication of his debut novel. Gary Goldstein. Be sure to follow or subscribe and we'll let you know when the next episode is published.

Support the show!

This podcast is fuelled by coffee. If you'd like to support the show, please send some writing juice via the link below.

• Buy me a coffee
• Make a donation

Want to advertise or sponsor the show?

Click here to get in touch

In this episode, I chat to Douglas Lyons - the playwright behind Broadway's newest comedy, Chicken & Biscuits - and notably, one of seven Black writers whose names have just been etched in the history books of American theatre. Douglas is one half of the sensational musical theatre writing partnership, Lyons & Pakchar - creators of Beau: The Musical.

Words of Wisdom

Douglas Lyons on the writer's potential to gift joy to an audience... "On stage during closing, I broke down. I cried openly in front of strangers... because there was a different version of power in the theatre, and I had only felt it [before] as an actor. But there's a power in the pen if we use it with intention".

Conversation Highlights & Links

• [04:58] Getting the words on the page - writing spaces and inspiration
• [09:25] The journey to Broadway for Chicken & Biscuits
• [21:58] Beau: the making of a future-hit musical
• [26:29] Championing the next wave of black voices on American stages
• [30:28] Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical

Connect with Douglas

• Visit Douglas' website
• Connect on Instagram @ChocolateHipster
• Connect on Twitter @Douglassings
• Tickets for Chicken & Biscuits on Broadway

Connect with Paul

• Buy the book, The Writer's Toolkit
• Visit Paul's website
• Connect on Instagram @PaulKalburgi
• Connect on Twitter @PaulKalburgi

Next time...

I talk to playwright, librettist and Artistic Director of Toronto's Theatre Passe Muraille, Marjorie Chan. Be sure to follow or subscribe and we'll let you know when the next episode is published.

Support the show!

This podcast is fuelled by coffee. If you'd like to support the show, please send some writing juice via the link below.

• Buy me a coffee
• Make a donation

Want to advertise or sponsor the show?

Click here to get in touch

In this episode, I sit down for coffee with Mark Sanderson. Aside from writing over fifteen produced screenplays, Mark is the author of the utterly brilliant, A Screenwriters Journey to Success, a book I devoured in one weekend last year, and which continues to inspire me today. In his book Mark takes you on a hike around Hollywood, sharing invaluable tales from the screenwriting trenches.

Words of Wisdom

Mark Sanderson... on the need for screenwriters to get out from behind our desks and bring real-world experiences to our writing: "I always say, writers, it's your job and duty to live amazing, adventurous lives, outside of your comfort zone, because these are things that you'll need to draw on."

Conversation Highlights & Links

• [04:06] Growing up on Hollywood's backlot
• [07:18] A commitment to craft
• [11:05] Writing in La La Land - pencils, post-it's and places
• [17:03] What's in a coffee ring? The accidental cartoon series.
• [19:09] Seeking inspiration and escaping routine
• [23:55] Just a kid with a dream... A Screenwriters Journey to Success
• [27:30] 'The Insanity of us Dreamers'
• [32:27] Collaborating remotely on '60 Seconds'
• [38:55] Currently reading > Once Upon A Time in Hollywood: A Novel

Connect with Mark

• Visit Mark's website
• Connect on Instagram @marksanderson_scriptcat
• Connect on Twitter @ScriptCat
• Mark's book, A Screenwriters Journey to Success

Connect with Paul

• Buy the book, The Writer's Toolkit
• Visit Paul's website
• Connect on Instagram @PaulKalburgi
• Connect on Twitter @PaulKalburgi

Next time...

I talk to playwright, actor and composer Douglas Lyons. Be sure to follow or subscribe and we'll let you know when the next episode is published.

Support the show!

This podcast is fuelled by coffee. If you'd like to support the show, please send some writing juice via the link below.

• Buy me a coffee
• Make a donation

Want to advertise or sponsor the show?

Click here to get in touch

In this episode, I chat with Diane Samuels, the British playwright behind the hugely successful, Kindertransport. Diane's beautifully confronting play won the Verity Bargate Award in 1992 and Meyer-Whitworth Award in 1993 - enjoying a West End run at the Vaudeville Theatre in 1996 and an Off-Broadway production by Manhattan Theatre Club. We talk about Diane's playful approach to playwriting, her unique Writing & Meditation workshops; plus, a writing adventure that inspired a new creative direction.

Words of Wisdom

Diane Samuels... on being more of a cottage writer than an industrialist: "I want a writing life - the career is only part of that. It's not the point, it's an expression of it. If all you're concerned about is high-output and produce, you're gonna start making tasteless tomatoes!"

Conversation Highlights & Links

• [04:22] Remaining productive and inspired during lockdown
• [06:38] Daily practices in form
• [09:12] Diane's writing space and daily routine, rituals and process
• [20:15] Proprioceptive Writing (Writing the Mind Alive)
• [24:47] A chance writing adventure
• [34:36] Diane's Writing & Meditation workshops
• [38:55] Currently reading > Hamnet & A Swim in a Pond in the Rain

Connect with Diane

• Visit Diane's website
• Connect on Instagram @dianeesamuels
• Connect on Twitter @WritingBright
• Diane's published plays and books

Connect with Paul

• Buy the book, The Writer's Toolkit
• Visit Paul's website
• Connect on Instagram @PaulKalburgi
• Connect on Twitter @PaulKalburgi

Next time...

I talk to screenwriter and author Mark Sanderson. Be sure to follow or subscribe and we'll let you know when the next episode is published.

Support the show!

This podcast is fuelled by coffee. If you'd like to support the show, please send some writing juice via the link below.

• Buy me a coffee
• Make a donation

Want to advertise or sponsor the show?

Click here to get in touch

Hosted by Paul Kalburgi, The Writer's Toolkit Podcast is your go-to resource for navigating the journey of writing for screen and stage. Paul takes you inside the writing rooms of his favourite writers to explore their processes and projects, while sharing inspiring stories from writers who have forged their own paths. The podcast also highlights proactive strategies and innovative ideas for sharing your work with audiences.

Please like and subscribe so that we can let you know when the first episode is published. In the meantime, follow Paul on Instagram @PaulKalburgi for updates and click here to visit Nick Hern Books and save 20% on your copy of The Writer's Toolkit!

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This podcast is fuelled by coffee. If you'd like to support the show, send some writing juice via the link below.

• Buy me a coffee or Make a donation