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First things first. Our Big Flash Fiction Competition is Awaaaaaay! And a special big ole THANK YOU to Scrivener for sponsoring it! If you fancy 20% off their wonderful and frankly invaluable writing app, git yourself to https://www.literatureandlatte.com Pop in the code ‘failing’ and Bob’s yer nuncle! So get cracking – and get yourself a free audiobook courtesy of the beautiful folk at https://libro.fm the ethical audiobook alternative, just for taking part! Now… Jon has been a big admirer of Benjamin Myers’s writing for a while now. So you can imagine he was pretty blummin thrilled when the opportunity to chat to him arose. Of course, as usual, Jon played it very calm, cool and collected on meeting one of his literary heroes. Didn’t he? Presumably? I mean, that’s what a professional would do. Well… No. He didn’t. Not especially. No. So come and hang out with Benjamin Myers with us. Get the skinny on the slog to get his writing career launched, how he tricks himself into writing an entire book and even the story of his punk band Sour Face’s first big gig… plus a whole ancient cathedral-full of other fascinating facts about this frankly brilliant writer. And yes, Jon did write that bit. The big bum-suck. Here’s a link to Ben’s website: https://www.benjaminmyerswriter.com And here’s a link to his amazing books: https://uk.bookshop.org/beta-search?bkshp-astro=t&keywords=benjamin+Myers This week on our Hypewriter feature we have… another writer called Ben… Ben Chase. Hither be Ben Chase’s substack: https://ratracereleases.substack.com/ for all his writing bits n bobs, and here’s Ben’s website for all things… you know… Ben Chase: https://benchasewrites.com/ Finally check out the excellent vocal athleticism of Ben Chase's Voice-Over friend, Dawn Falato here: https://dawnfalato.com Great job! Thank you Dawn! x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ya know what they say. When one door closes another door opens. And following the joyful culmination of our poetry competition comes.... OUR MASSIVE ANNUAL £500 FLASH FICTION COMPETITION - Sponsored by Scrivener! Scrivener? Yes, of course. The wonderful writing software Scrivener.  Which you should quickly go and buy a copy of, before you do anything else, in order to make the writing of things easier, more intuitive and less brain-hurty. It's an invaluable writing tool trusted by top writers for 20 odd years! (And also us two… but, you know… don't let that put you off - it's not Scrivener's fault, is it?!) Well OK then. Sure, why not? We'll let you use our special secret code and get 20% off... Just go to: https://www.literatureandlatte.com/ and use the code: failing No problem. Now, where were we? Ah yes! Our big, annual, £500 flash fiction competition… Which we're renaming The AMAZING writers flash fiction competition, in honour of our frankly magnificent listeners. YOU. Yes! I'm talking about YOU! If you're up for getting involved, which of course you are, just go to https://www.failingwriterspodcast.com/flashentry And don't forget to listen to this episode for all the details including the special phrase you must include in your story! Right about now, I'd like to give a big shout out to our star judge… David Gaffney! Thank you David, for some great advice and a couple of beautiful little bits of short prose… For all things Gaffney click here And to buy David’s excellent short story collection, Concrete Fields, you’ll want to click here. Finally... check out Tommy on the excellent Hellish podcast … here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time for us to reveal the winners in our rather spontanious poetry competition. Huge thanks to Rowan McCabe for being head judge and helping us choose the winning poems. If you want to see him live on his new tour, check out https://rowanthepoet.com/home/upcoming-gigs/ Thanks to everyone who entered - and a MASSIVE thanks to our prize sponsors - in particular Libro.fm and WritersHQ. Please do check out their stuff. Right, without further ado, get listening and find out who's won... 'cos no-one likes all that fake tension build up stuff do they?? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fergus Craig. Not to be confused with Craig Ferguson. or Fraig Cergus... as sometimes happens... but not very often. You may have seen Fergus on telly. This is because he is an actor. Who acts in things. Or, perhaps you've seen him on your phone screen; a place where he likes to pop up from time to time. This is because he is also a comedian. Who does comedy. Mostly on people's phone screens. Or, OR, maybe you've read his words on the page of a book. More than one page probably. This is because he is also an author. So many hats. which is ironic, because he is very rarely seen actually wearing a hat. Fergus was a delight to chat to about all manner of writerly-type things. That is to say, I can't right at this minute remember the specifics, but I'll have a quick listen to remind myself and pop it all down here soon as I'm done. So enjoy this little-itty-bitty-inbetweeny chitty-chat and we'll be back Get Fergus’s new book here: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/fergus-craig/im-not-the-only-murderer-in-my-retirement-home/9781408734629/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You know what it's like. You've just tapped the words "The End" into your laptop. You've only gone and bloody done it! You've written an actual book. Congratulations. All that blood sweat and tears has paid off. You have pushed a great big 7 pounder out your imagination-hole. Time to celebrate! But hang on... waaaait up just a teeny tiny moment... Before you pop the cork on that 1998 Dom Perignon... there's something you need to do... Yes. Friend.. you need to do some EDITING. But what exactly does that entail? Can you do it in a couple of hours, while simultaneously watching reruns of Friends? Is it a quick bit o' spit and polish? Well... perhaps... if you're a genius. But for the rest of us... probably not. So lets hear from an expert about what the best ways of breaking down the process are, in order to give us the best chance of succeeding. Yes, we've got Sara Grant here. Writer of "The Ultimate Guide to Editing your Novel" and she's about to stuff your brain with her revolutionary approach to the entire process... So c**k your lugoles, and lets begin. You can check out Sara here Not only that but our Hypewriter this week features the fabulous Lucy Brazier. Check out her What-nottery here OK. Now go lie down. You deserve it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you incredibly sad you missed out on seeing us live at the Alton Arts Festival? Well, don't worry! Here's the next best thing - a recording of that legendary night. And even better, we've edited out all the boring bits - like the interval and Tommy's literary quiz. (Although that is available on the full video we've posted on YouTube, if you fancy) Video of our live podcast with Claire Fuller We had a lovely time with multi-award-winning author Claire Fuller, discussing her newest book, Hunger and Thirst, as well as discovery writing, character detail, coming up with titles, eavesdropping, writing awards, a whole load of other writingy things. Claire's website Then there was our live Hypewriter feature, starring the amazing Madelyn Postman. Check out her book, Staring Into The Sun, here! Thanks to everyone who came, to the organisers of Alton Festival, and a HUGGGGGE thanks to Gary and the team at Goldfinch Books. They were the bestest hosts anyone could wish for. Goldfinch Books Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should you quit your job to write? Seems like an obvious answer to an obvious question. (No! No is the correct answer!) But hang on. It's the dream isn't it? Writing full time. Quitting the day job and having time and energy to write the great novel you've thinking about for ages. Well let's have a closer look at some writers who've done exactly that - and it ain't worked out too badly for 'em. People like... Children's author, Stuart Reid. Thriller author, Jessica Payne. and author of Bright I Burn - Molly Aitken, shortlisted for Royal Society of Literature's Encore Award. All very different stories. All very fascinating and inspiring. So come and find out what you need to do to become a full-time author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our cheeky little bonus episode! The poetry competition has landed.  What started off as a crazy little idea from Jon, has turned into a crazy BIG idea.  We’ve got prizes (quite a few actually - huge thanks in particular to https://writershq.co.uk/ and https://libro.fm/) We’ve got a judge (the amazing Rowan McCabe https://rowanthepoet.com/) All we need now… are your poems!!! Less than 250 words - FREE to enter - up to two entries per person. Any subject, any style.  Send them to [email protected] Good luck!!! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been a while since we had a little poetry splurge. So to rectify that terrible neglect of our duty, Tom and I had a lovely natter with Hollie McNish. We meandered through where her love of poetry began, how it helps her assimilate ideas, writing essays, and the Olympic Breakfast at Little Chef, Chieveley Services. Oh... and we also discuss her brilliant new book, Virgin. Buy it now... in fact, heck, buy all her books! ... right here We also bring you our regular feature Hypewriter, where we celebrate one of our listener's glorious bits of work. And what better to round off an episode about poetry, than a lovely, crisp little villanelle from Nichole Johnson. Nichole's Insta: @nichole_johnson_poetry Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writing competitions. Clearly they’re not all made the same. Some are free, some are costly, some are actually impossible for mere mortals to enter due to their criteria. The prizes vary too. From small cash prizes, to publishing deals. Today, we’re asking the question… on the whole, if you’re serious about being a writer… are they actually worth it? Are they worth the money, the - let’s face it – likely disappointment, the effort and most importantly of all… the time? And the biggest question of all - are there any quantifiable things you can do to help nudge your entry to the top of the pile? We consider such things as: Where’s the best place to send your piece? Maybe a competition isn’t the right destination? Maybe it’s a literary journal instead? We get some top notch insider insight, from Bath Flash Fiction Award past winner and judge - Kathryn Aldridge-Morris to get the skinny on what works and what doesn’t. What will wow the judges, what will make them spit their tea out and what will make them slide you into their shortlist. https://www.kamwords.com   Plus we hear from fabulous literary agent Joanna Swainson from Hardman & Swainson, for an agent’s eye-view. https://www.hardmanswainson.com   Finally, the winner of a competition who we suspect is quite glad she entered DFB & Arvon Search for a Storyteller prize, because it won her a publishing deal with David Fickling Books – Miranda Moore. I can personally recommend her excellent YA book, A Beautiful Terrible Thing. Yes, devastating & emotional, but also joyful & redemptive. https://www.mirandamooreauthor.com   And speaking of competitions… look out next week for our BRAND NEW POETRY COMPETITION!   We’re too good to you.  Seriously. We are. Lovely episode art by Katie Rand. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hang on... before we start... let us just fill you in on a very exciting evening happening on Monday the 6th of July, in Alton, Hampshire. At 8pm in the lovely Goldfinch Books on Alton High Street, we are doing our first ever proper LIVE podcast. Our guest will be the fabulous Costa-Novel-Prize-Winning Claire Fuller. We'll be talking about her brilliantly unsettling new book Hunger & Thirst and asking her all the questions you want to know the answers to but don't want to sound stupid. Whereas - we don't mind. We're used to it. So come and join us in the flesh! I promise it's gonna be a reet proper laugh, as well, obviously, as being incredibly, edifyingly educational! GET YOUR TICKETS HERE! Right... on with the show... Do you love sci-fi? We love sci-fi. Sometimes I think we forget how much we love sci-fi. Why do we like sci-fi? well let's explore that for a moment. Hmmmmmm. I think it's because sci-fi is all about human possibility. About the extrapolation of all our greatest qualities. And yes, of course, our absolute worst. Sci-fi gives us a glimpse into the future of the human race. And none more so than Joseph Eckert's brilliant new book The Traveler. A sort of family drama / sci-fi mashup that brings some big emotional hits and meanwhile taps into our deep curiosity about where this strange and wonderful species we call Homo Sapiens are heading. We talk to Joseph about time travel, about where the stunning concept for his novel came from, about movie options, spending years trying to get a publishing deal, and about how you fit in writing when you have a full time job! Buy The Traveler HERE Joseph Eckert's website Then we check out another sci-fi novel! In our HYPEWRITER feature, we're celebrating David Deane Haskell's latest work of science fiction: Solarian Deep. A first contact, distant-future, flooded-planet, techno-mermaid story, which sounds great. In fact we strongly advise you to take the plunge and buy a copy! Buy Solarian Deep HERE Right... I think's that's all the admin done.... now... on with the show... Do you love sci-fi? We love sci-fi. Sometimes I think we forget how much we love sci-fi. Why do we like sci-fi? well let's explore that for a moment. Hmmmmmm. I think it's because sci-fi is all about human possibility. About the extrapolation of all our greatest qualities. And yes, of course, our absolute worst. Sci-fi gives us a glimpse into the future of the human race. And none more so than Joseph Eckert's brilliant new book The Traveler. A sort of family drama / sci-fi mashup that brings some big emotional hits and meanwhile taps into our deep curiosity about where this strange and wonderful species we call Homo Sapiens are heading. We talk to Joseph about time travel, about where the stunning concept for his novel came from, about movie options, about spending years trying to get a publishing deal, and about how you fit in writing when you have a full time job. Buy The Traveler HERE Joseph Eckert's website Then we check out another sci-fi novel! In our HYPEWRITER feature, we're celebrating David Deane Haskell's latest work of science fiction: Solarian Deep. A first contact, distant-future, flooded-planet, techno-mermaid story, which sounds great. In fact we strongly advise you to take the plunge and buy a copy! Buy Solarian Deep HERE Wait a minute... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Come and see us LIVE! We'll be at Alton Arts Festival on July the 6th, at Goldfinch Books, doing our thing in full colour, 4K, Ultra HD, real life. There will be laughter. There will be genuine writing tips and insight from Costa Novel Prize Winner Claire Fuller. There will be a ditty or two. There will be give-aways, impromptu poetry and even Tom’s very-very-serious-wordy-writery-quiz-thing! Get yer tickets here Little warning, by the way. There are a couple of sweary-type words in this episode. So get ready to clap your hands around your children's ears! (unless you're driving… then maybe just listen on your headphones, eh?) Our guest writer this week is the brilliant, funny and whip-smart writer & actor Ashley Storrie. We talk about performing stand up at the age of 11, writing fan fiction, her Mum - Janey Godley, autism, writing sitcoms & guest writing on projects, serendipity in art, and giving your characters a tough time. And I don't know if you can tell... but we really blummin enjoyed it. And when you've heard Ashley, you'll also want to see her sitcom. Because it's excellent. Watch 'Dinosaur' here And just when you thought all the glorious chatterage was over, Geoffrey G.N. Harrison goes and sends us a lovely little sci-fi story about DUST, for our Hypewriter feature. Check out more of Geoff's stuff here And if you've got some work you think should be celebrated in HYPEWRITER don't be shy! Send it to [email protected] and we'll bring it to glorious audio life and tell you why WE like it too! Go on do it. Do it now. Well that's no excuse. OK, but don't leave it too long, OK? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're doing a live podcast at Goldfinch Books in Alton on Monday the 6th of July, with the brilliant Claire Fuller. Come and join us! CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO SEE US LIVE AT ALTON ARTS FESTIVAL!!! So what do we have in today's episode? An absolute treat, that's what. Philippa Perry, agony aunt, psychotherapist, artist, self-help-book writer and now cosy crime author. How the heck does she do it all? She must be either: A) Some sort of magic fairy-person. or B) An amazing human being. Have a listen and I'll let you decide. We talk about: Failing and rejection. How to develop meaningful relationships with your family and friends. Writing for fun. Cats. Making your main character a sorta-kinda-loosely-based-but-actually-quite-similar version of yourself. and of course Philippa's excellent new cosy crime novel, Shrink Solves Murder. You can buy that here: Buy Shrink Solves Murder But also don't forget to buy the book that has changed Jon's life the most (in a good way!) :) The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read Hell... buy 'em all... they're all great! All the books! OK. Is that it? No! It's HYPEWRITER, Silly. And this week we've got the opening of a hardboiled detective novel called No Saints Only Killers by Luke Deckard. (Released on the 10th of June) Details below! Luke's podcast Cinema Sleuths Website: lukedeckard.com & Facebook Photo of Philippa by Pal Hansen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

OK, so you've written something. Well done. *light applause* That's nice. But the next stage - getting it out into the world... that's a really tricky bit. However... one sure fire way of doing that, if you can't persuade some other mug to do it for you, is to blummin'-well slap on some grease paint, don some tights and perform it yourself, on what we call... ... the stage. Well that's what Jon and his wife Katie did with their play How to be The Perfect Couple. A project you may remember from earlier episodes (Such as S1 Ep10 - 30mins in - where Jon first reveals the logline of the show.) And now.... Will you look at that! Years later, the play has finally come to fruition and a tour is in progress. If you like the sound of it, you can catch Jon & Katie at: Alton Arts festival 10th July: https://wegottickets.com/event/696218 Also at Buxton Fringe on the 14th 15th & 16th of July: https://www.buxtonfringe.org.uk/descriptions2026.html And at Seven Arts in Leeds on the 12th of September: https://www.sevenleeds.co.uk/event/how-to-be-the-perfect-couple-2/ Have a listen to the episode and learn how it all went down, including the rather meta reveal of how Jon & Katie managed to stay a couple during the process. And while we're on the subject of relationships..... we should mention Relate. If anyone's struggling with a relationship… and a massive amount of people do…  there are amazing resources available. Relate offer relationship counselling at a reduced rates depending on household income. As well as other things like… sex therapy, family counseling, online courses and toolkits… all sorts. Life’s hard enough!  Don't just muddle on - Relate might be able to help. https://www.relate.org.uk And here are the books Jon & Katie recommend: (We promise you won't regret reading these!) Getting the Love you Want The 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work Philippa Perry's The Book You Want Everyone You Love to Read: Also a massive THANK YOU! to Aaron Courts! Steve Salisbury & May King! David Lucas! and of course Kristof Mikes-Liu. We love you all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oh, you've listened to this episode already and you'd like to cross our palm with gold? Well, you're in luck.... Simply click HERE to show your appreciation in a pecuniary fashion And speaking of fashion - take a look at our merch HERE and THANK YOU! Now... onto the less grubby business of writing... and this week we're lucky enough to be joined by the excellent Gareth Rubin, a writer whose career caught our eye recently from, of all things, an article about pensions! What do writers do about pensions when your income is so unpredictable? Well... that introduced us to Gareth... who it turns out isn't just interesting about pensions! No, seriously. I know that seems crazy, but it's true. He's written some books that are right up our street. Books within books within books within books, tête-bêches, an officially estate-sanctioned Sherlock Holmes book, a choose your own adventure-type murder mystery! OK... now you can see why we had to talk to him. Check out Gareth's website: https://www.garethrubin.com/ Buy Gareth's books here: https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/authors/Gareth-Rubin/188678671 But that's not bloody all. Of course not! Because our HYPEWRITER feature is BACK. and this week we're celebrating the rather splendid Simon John Parkin. Support a fellow writer by buying his excellent book of short stories (all 999 words!) HERE’S Simon’s info - and he’s @sparkin.lit on instagram - That's a follow! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.