April 2018 -

Month: April 2018

#28 – Andrew David Barker – Write Through The Roof

By Madeleine D'Este

On April 29, 2018

In interview, movies, podcast, write through the roof, writers, writing, writing tips

Welcome to Write Through The Roof, the podcast for writers who want to improve their craft.

Episode 28 with Andrew David Barker – author and film-maker

“When you finish something, it gives you the fire to do more.”

Episode 28 – Andrew David Barker – Show Notes

Pantser for fiction, Plotter for screenplays
Fueled by independent US film makers; Duplass Brothers and Joe Swanberg
Writing about 80s kids and movies as backdrops. Harking back to period which personally inspired the creative life
Wayward journey into writing; leaving school with reading and writing difficulties, self education
Finish everything
Playing with Point of View
Stephen King, Spielberg, Scorsese, Paul Auster, Cormac McCarthy, Bret Easton Ellis
Screen adaption of own novel – screenplays are all story, everything has to drive the story forward
Screen writing teaches a minimal and clean approach to prose
Renaissance of the novella
Making short films

“I’m a creative cannibal.”

“I use movies like John Grisham uses lawyers.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

#27 – Charles Chu – Write Through The Roof

By Madeleine D'Este

On April 22, 2018

In interview, non fiction, psychology, reading, rejection, write through the roof, writers, writing, writing tips

Welcome to Write Through The Roof, the podcast for writers who want to improve their craft.

Episode 27 with Charles Chu – non-fiction writer & Medium top contributor

“You need to do a little guerrilla warfare as a new writer.”

Episode 27 – Charles Chu – Show Notes

Starting with an emotion or aesthetic in essays and non-fiction
Walking as a ritual and Japanese coffee
As a Chinese American growing up in a white culture
Psychology first – consistency, then building on improving writing practice
Writing for the internet; how digestible is the writing? Trial and error approach
John McPhee, On Writing Well by William Zinsser, copywriting
Moving into fiction; the Year of 100 Rejections
Gene Wolfe, Haruki Murakami, Ken Liu
Juggling lots of projects to balance out the failures
Ray Bradbury inspiring the year of 100 rejections
Tips on how to get stories featured on Medium

“I grew as a child questioning where my place was.”

“Visualising things from the reader’s perspective.”

“Reframing failure as something I should try to do.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

#26 – Burhan Wazir – Write Through The Roof

By Madeleine D'Este

On April 15, 2018

In editing, interview, non fiction, podcast, research, write through the roof, writers, writing, writing tips

Welcome to Write Through The Roof, the podcast for writers who want to improve their craft.

Episode 26 with Burhan Wazir – award winning journalist & editor

“Why is this happening? And why now?”

Episode 26 – Burhan Wazir – Show Notes

Career progression from reporter to editor and back to writing
Morning person and productivity
Proper Scottish writing fuel
Middle East, immigration, Brexit
The personal in journalism; adding yourself into the story
Constant refining: 20% writing and 80% rewriting
Reading other good writers: William Finnegan’s Cold New World
More historical context; the world has always been complex
History of British mosques and the Rotimatic
WikiTribune model: news stories as living documents
Madeleine’s tip – strange writing rituals

“20% writing and 80% rewriting.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

#25 – Stephen Volk – Write Through The Roof

By Madeleine D'Este

On April 8, 2018

In horror, interview, podcast, storytelling, write through the roof, writers, writing, writing tips

Welcome to Write Through The Roof, the podcast for writers who want to improve their craft.

Episode 25 with Stephen Volk – horror screenwriter & author

“If you can’t write a good scene, write a bad one.”

Episode 25 – Stephen Volk – Show Notes

Mixing up different lengths and mediums helps storytelling
Surrounding writing space with ‘friends’
Alcohol is a truth killer
Clash between belief and rationalism, fear of the unknown, how finding out about your past affects your future
Exploring horror, asking why are we attracted to the genre and exploring through story
Cool down, don’t rush and go back to it
Keeping your story secret or testing it?
Patrick McGrath, Stephen Gallagher, Taylor Sheridan, Liam Gavin, Yiorgos Lanthimos, Damon Lindelof, Tom Perrotta
Exploring repercussions of crime and criminals rather than solving a crime
The Dark Masters trilogy; Whitstable with Peter Cushing, Leytonstone with Alfred Hitchcock and a new story with secret true life character.
With a long project you can lose impetus if you take a break
Madeleine’s tip – battling the mushy middle

“After 30 years, it’s still hard to look at a blank page.”

“Don’t start the day with a problem hanging over you.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

#24 – Sione Aeschliman – Write Through The Roof

By Madeleine D'Este

On April 1, 2018

In characters, editing, feedback, interview, podcast, poetry, reading, storytelling, write through the roof, writers, writing, writing tips

Welcome to Write Through The Roof, the podcast for writers who want to improve their craft.

Episode 24 with Sione Aeschliman – editor, writer & writing coach

“Approaching both praise & constructive criticism with curiosity”

Episode 24 – Sione Aeschliman – Show Notes

Pantsing short stories but plotting novels
Defining Prose poetry
The Beverage Triangle
Key theme – being your true self without shame
Attitude towards feedback both positive and negative
Learning about reader’s expectations and ask questions
Giving editing clients at least a week to process their feelings
Editing improves ability to read critically. Making notes as you read and going back to analyse why you reacted this way.
Learning about structure and storytelling. Working on beginnings
Margaret Attwood, Ursula le Guin, Alexander Weinstein, James Tate, Russell Edson
#RevPit: annual Twitter contest focused on editing and learning. Starts April 21st 2018
Working on four or five projects at the same time, including historical pirate romance novel and an ebook on structure, plot points and pacing.
Madeleine’s tip – Grief and change

“It’s hard to know what you’re going to write until you’ve written it.”

“We all need an outlet for our angst.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén

%d bloggers like this: