Roz Morris's Blog, page 30

What’s it like to be an independent bookseller? Ep 17 FREE podcast for writers and booklovers

This was one of my favourite episodes. Until now, we’ve mostly concentrated on writing and publishing. But what’s it like to be an independent bookseller? What keeps them awake at night? What keeps the lights on? How do they decide which books to stock and promote? How do they see authors and the publishing world? […]

Criticism for your writing – how to seek it, how to take it: Ep 16 FREE podcast for writers

There’s a lot of criticism involved in being a writer. It’s part of every stage of writing a book. Early on, you need feedback to help you with your personal vision. Later, you might get input from publishing professionals – editors, literary agents, publishers. Some of them might reject your work! (Rest assured, this happens […]

Using pictures and music to inspire your writing – Ep 15 FREE podcast for writers

Although our medium is words, our inspirations don’t have to be. In this episode, we talk about ways to use pictures and music to help our writing along. This was such a creative episode – storyboards to help map out plots, collecting photos of strangers who suggest mental images of our characters. And music – […]

Writing resolutions – making them and keeping them – Ep 14 FREE podcast for writers

Welcome back to the rerun of my radio show, So You Want To Be A Writer. In today’s episode you’ll see one glaring hazard of the seasonal show – the new year issue that’s no longer at new year. But today’s a new week! And, more seriously, we’re all getting used to new normals, so […]

Restoring your spirits in lockdown and self-isolation

Adapting, restoring your spirits, a sonata sent to the Moon, skylarks and the birth of the universe, writing your lockdown book (with Peter Snell ), memoir and art with Peter Andrew Selgin , art, music and light with Michael Fairfax , breaking glass, organised crime and a little horse. My newsletter for trying times https://mailchi.mp/d806c210aad8/adapt...

Masterclass in writing style and voice – Ep13 FREE podcast for writers

What do we mean when we talk about a writer’s voice or style? How do writers develop this? How might they make it distinctive? Might it change over the years or even from book to book? How can writers learn style from other authors… without sounding like a copy or pastiche? How do you find […]

All about reading groups and writing groups – Ep12 FREE podcast for writers

In this episode we’re spanning the entire spectrum of the book-reader continuum. What makes a good writing group? What makes a good reading group or book club? How do you organise such a group? How do you find a group that suits you? Should authors visit book groups or does it cramp everyone’s style? We […]

All about character arcs – Ep 11 FREE podcast for writers

Today we’re talking about character arcs. What is a character arc? What do we mean by that? Why do stories have arcs anyway? How do characters help you to develop a satisfying plot and vice versa? Can you write about people who aren’t like you? How might you apply this to non-fiction as well as […]

Masterclass in titles, book covers and spines – Ep 10 FREE podcast for writers

What makes a good title and cover? What mistakes do authors generally make when devising a book title and how can they get a title that does the job well? What job is that, indeed? How about covers? What conventions do you need to consider for both? Why have we made a special point about […]

Writing the first draft of your book – Ep 9 FREE podcast for writers

Ready, steady… write! You’re out of the starting gates, pounding the keys or working the pen, head full of characters and plot and a big dream of a finished book. What do you need to know to keep going to the end? That’s what we’re talking about in today’s episode – getting the first draft […]