Write for Your Life podcast

Write for Your Life is a weblog about writing, reading and all things digital. It features articles, video tutorials and much writerly food for thought, including this very podcast.

http://writeforyourlife.net

• Subscribe with iTunes
• Grab our RSS feed

Write for Your Life podcast Episodes		Date
PLAY	#33 A sense of perspective	January 6, 2012
	In this episode of the Write for Your Life podcast, the first of 2012, I talk about some of the life trials and tribulations of the last month or so and how I've tried to keep perspective. I then go on to relate that way of thinking to writing, and look at why it's important to keep your head together at all times!
PLAY	#32 If you don't have time, you don't have time	December 1, 2011
	This episode comes to you from my local supermarket. I've been feeling bad about not having time to write recently. But with a huge house move underway, lots of high-pressure projects on at work and a wife with a gall stone operation on the horizon, maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself. And maybe, if you've got a lot going on in your non-writing life, shouldn't be either.
PLAY	#31 Use your commute	November 29, 2011
	We all lead such busy lives that we never get chance to think or be bored. In this episode, I suggest using your commute to switch off and let your thoughts run wild. Or to get stuck into some serious reading.
PLAY	#30 Get motivated, stay motivated	November 24, 2011
	In this episode I'm joined by the marvellous Rob Mills to discuss the perils of writing motivation (or lack thereof). Fortunately, we've both had plenty of experience in the area, so there's plenty to talk about.
PLAY	#29 Cleats, car parks and writing with intent	November 14, 2011
	We all have have the occasional lapse in confidence, but it's important to keep writing with intent and conviction. Just like cycling with cleated pedals. Honestly, it's exactly the same.
PLAY	#28 Writing and disappointment	November 10, 2011
	Writing, I'm afraid to say, is pretty much a process of constant disappointment. It comes in many forms and from a wide range of sources, but it's something you have to learn to deal with as a writer. I this episode, I talk about how and why.
PLAY	#27 Hey writers! Why would you not be on Twitter?	October 27, 2011
	I recently spoke to a bunch of design students about social media and the opportunities it brings when you're looking to build a career. The same principles apply to writers - you don't need to be on Twitter to get published or shift copies, but what an opportunity. Why would you not take it?
PLAY	#26 Two ideas are better than one	October 24, 2011
	It's easy to think that when you have a good idea for a piece of writing, that's your job done. But most great pieces of work have two ideas.
PLAY	#25 Two audio tools for writers - Dropvox and Audioboo	October 18, 2011
	Sometimes you just want to dictate an awesome idea, sometimes you want to publish your thoughts to the world. Dropvox and Audioboo provide two excellent ways of doing those very things.
PLAY	#24 Getting a writing job - project, projects, projects	October 10, 2011
	Iain talks about what it takes to get a writing job. Basically, professional experience and good qualifications are fine, but it's what you do outside of those things that will catch an employer's eye. What do you do simply because you choose to do it? What have you created that no one else has? These are the things that will make the difference and get you noticed.
PLAY	#23 The space in between	October 5, 2011
	A few thoughts on productivity for you. If you're losing time, it's probably not hours or days, it's the minutes you spend doing unnecessary tasks. It's your meddling with nonsense. The fiddling about. Much better to think about work, life and the space in between. Then figure out which bits are most important.
PLAY	#22 Going solo and double spaces	October 3, 2011
	A quick look at the future of the podcast followed by some sound advice for all those people who use a double space after a full stop. Honestly.
PLAY	#21 How to start your own podcast	September 7, 2011
	In this episode, I'm joined by podcast expert, Myke Hurley. We talk about all aspects of starting a podcast, from what gear to get to the software you need, plus how to then get your episodes online.
PLAY	#20 Ideas, beating writer's block and the science behind your muse	August 25, 2011
	Iain is joined by author's mentor and wizard of lightbulb moments, Tom Evans. Topics include the idea of the muse and whether there is such a thing, understanding what success and failure actually means, plus Tom answers a few of Iain's writing own concerns! Fascinating stuff, folks.
PLAY	#19 Writing lyrics, writing fiction	August 17, 2011
	On this week's episode of the Write for Your Life podcast I'm joined by Joe Rose, musician, singer and the songwriter behind the marvellous, Native and the Name. We talk about writing songs and how the process has some similarities with writing fiction. Who'd have thought?
PLAY	#18 Writing to a set structure, Kindle Cloud Reader and Bruce the mechanical shark	August 11, 2011
	Iain is joined by Rob Mills, studio manager and copywriter for Bluegg design agency and author of Designing the Invisible, published by Five Simple Steps. They talk about writing to a set structure and how it can determine your approach. There is also talk of Amazon. And Sharks.
PLAY	#17 Seven-week books, airport writing and announcing the Write for Your Life shop	August 3, 2011
	Iain and Manuela discuss the ins and outs of writing a book in seven weeks. You might even call it an argument. This episode also features regular feature, Our favourite things, where Manuela goes for the new Heathrow Laureate and Iain announces the upcoming Write for Your Life shop.
PLAY	#16 For love or money: what motivates you to write?	July 7, 2011
	Iain and Manuela talk about what motivates them to write, although the conversation gets heavily sidetracked into the whys and wherefores of independent publishing! Some great contributions from the Twitter crew too.
PLAY	#15 Getting funky with rhythm and prose	June 30, 2011
	Iain goes solo to talk about rhythm in writing, specifically when it comes to prose. He even reads a bit of his novel to show you what he means. Imagine. Also, some talk of the suspended John Llewellyn Rhys Prize for 2011 and a near-crowdfunding.
PLAY	#14 Large writing projects, Olympic poetry and Unbound	June 1, 2011
	Iain and Manuela talk about what it's like to be faced with a large, daunting writing project, a new poetry festival to coincide with the Olympics next year and an interesting new service for authors called Unbound.
PLAY	#13 Don't be scared to change direction	May 4, 2011
	Iain and Manuela talk about the tough decisions writers have to make when they need to change direction with their work. In 'Our Favourite Things', Iain also talks about Keeping it Straight, a new book by Patrick Rhone.
PLAY	#12 Do as you're told: the submission process for writers	April 6, 2011
	Iain and Donna Sørensen talk about the process of submitting work to literary agents, magazine, publishers and competitions. Other topics include the Do Lectures and how not to receive criticism of your writing. Contains minor horseplay.
PLAY	#11 Writing advice and upcoming changes to Write for Your Life	March 24, 2011
	Iain talks about the tricky nature of offering advice to writers and looks ahead to upcoming changes to the site.
PLAY	Hypergraphia - do you feel compelled to write?	March 10, 2011
	Iain and Manuela talk about the compulsion to write (or lack thereof). Regular feature, our favourite things looks at the iPad 2, Random House and World Book Night.
PLAY	Being a writer, being a brand	February 24, 2011
	In this podcast, Iain and Manuela revisit the thorny topic of personal branding for writers (and other artists too). Should you behave yourself or is it better to be a social media maverick? Also, this week's 'favourite things' include National Book Night and a post on metadata by Enhanced Editions.
PLAY	Libraries (our wonderful libraries) and the best rejection letter ever	February 10, 2011
	Iain is joined by widely published children's author, Kathryn White, to discuss the proposed closure of so many of the UK's public libraries. Iain also shares his favourite thing this week - a rejection letter sent to Gertrude Stein. Incredible.
PLAY	Writing confidence: how to deal with it and how to get it back	January 27, 2011
	In this latest podcast Iain talks about writing confidence, including how to deal with a lack of it and what you can do to get your confidence back. He also plugs Read & Trust, a new group of writers who you really rather might like.
PLAY	Writing and place, famous writers' pubs and (sort of) hate mail	January 13, 2011
	Iain and Manuela talk about the idea of 'place' and how it can be used in different ways in your writing. A new feature, 'My favourite thing...' sees chat about drinking holes of famous writers and Iain's first blogging-related hate mail.
PLAY	The iPad for writers: how it feels, why I recommend it and the applications I use	November 2, 2010
	A writer's eye view of the iPad, including what it's physically like to write with and what applications to use.
PLAY	Glassesgate, green publishing and defending literary agents	October 7, 2010
	Iain looks at the dramatic theft of Joanthan Franzen's spectacles and whether e-readers are in fact greener than printed books. He also defends the role of literary agents, editors et al in a changing industry.
PLAY	Reading at and setting up a spoken word event	April 28, 2010
	In this episode Iain chats to Manuela Boyle about spoken word nights, including how to set one up and the benefits of performing your work. He also talks arts funding with Donna Sørensen from the Irish Writers Centre in Dublin. Regular feature, 'In the news', covers tips for a better physcological approach to writing.
PLAY	Copywriting versus creative writing	April 11, 2010
	Episode 2 of the Write for Your Life podcast sees Iain and Manuela discuss the merits and complications of combining both a copywriting and creative writing career. Other topics include writing distractions, blogging every day (or otherwise) and the future of Write for Your Life.
PLAY	Me, me, me!	February 8, 2009
	The first ever Write for Your Life podcast, which gives you a bit more background about, erm, me (Iain) and a spoken word rendition of last month's most popular post.