How To Write A Book

In these final two episodes of How to Write a Book, Elizabeth Day’s new podclass series, hosts Sara Collins, Sharmaine Lovegrove and Nelle Andrew discuss navigating the world of publishing! Publishing is a daunting experience for a seasoned writer, let alone a debut author. But - don’t worry - we’ve got you covered. From what our literary agent, author and publishing expert wish they knew about the publishing process before they started, to managing expectations, and what makes it all worthwhile in the end. We hope you find this discussion a heartening listen that emboldens you to take the enormously brave step into the world of publishing. Together, Sara, Sharmaine and Nelle are your on-hand writing community giving you the push you need to get started on that novel, memoir, or piece of non fiction you've always dreamed of writing. Next week, stay tuned for Part 2 on PUBLISHING which is…sob!…our finale. Books discussed in this episode include: •  Bird by bird by Annie Lamott We also discuss: Octavia Butler, Cool Runnings Executive produced by Elizabeth Day for Daylight Productions and Carly Maile for Sony Music Entertainment. Produced by Imogen Serwotka. Please do get in touch with us, your writing community, with thoughts, feedback and more at: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this tenth, rather special episode, of the How to Write a Book podclass series, hosts Sara Collins, Sharmaine Lovegrove and Nelle Andrew turn the microphone around to quiz their friend, executive producer and bestselling author Elizabeth Day, on her life’s work and writing journey. Of course, Elizabeth knows more than most about the trials and tribulations of writing a book - having penned nine of them herself, writing her first novel at 29 and since then working in every form - non-fiction, children’s and screenplays. She has come up against all of the questions we ask throughout this series and, like every writer, she’s travelled a long and winding road along the way. Throughout her journey, she’s received gentle help and guidance from people who saw something in her. This is particularly true of Sara, Nelle and Sharmaine, who have all offered Elizabeth wise literary guidance and are exceptionally qualified to do so. Together, Sara, Sharmaine, Nelle and Elizabeth are your on-hand writing community giving you the push you need to get started on that novel, memoir, or piece of non fiction you've always dreamed of writing. We hope you enjoy our tenth episode. Stay tuned next week for our final two-part discussion on…PUBLISHING. You won’t want to miss it. Books discussed in this episode include: •  The Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard •  Slipstream, a memoir by Elizabeth Jane Howard •  Paradise City by Elizabeth Day •  Paper, Scissors, Stone by Elizabeth Day •  Magpie by Elizabeth Day We also talk about: Margaret Forster, Sathnam Sanghera, Rose Tremain Executive produced by Elizabeth Day for Daylight Productions and Carly Maile for Sony Music Entertainment. Produced by Imogen Serwotka. Please do get in touch with us, your writing community, with thoughts, feedback and more at: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this ninth episode of How to Write a Book, Elizabeth Day’s new podclass series, hosts Sara Collins, Sharmaine Lovegrove and Nelle Andrew discuss genre. From literary fiction to romance and even the occasional fantasy novel, no genre is left un-discussed. What has genre-blending got to do with braiding a Senegalese Twist? Should writers stick to one genre or experiment across multiple? And why should genre be thought of as an identity for your book? Our three experts are here to help you answer these questions. Together, Sara, Sharmaine and Nelle are your on-hand writing community giving you the push you need to get started on that novel, memoir, or piece of non fiction you've always dreamed of writing. And as ever, Elizabeth ends the episode with her own final reflections. We hope you enjoy our ninth episode. Stay tuned for next week’s episode on… GENRE. Books discussed in this episode include: •  World War Z by Max Brooks •  Lord of the Rings by John Tolkein •  A Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion •  Friendaholic by Elizabeth Day •  In Cold Blood by Truman Capote •  This Is Not A Pity Memoir by Abbi Morgan •  Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte •  Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte •  How the Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk We also talk about:  Margaret Atwood, Elizabeth Gilbert, Josie Silver, Benjamin Black, Lisa Jewel, Emily Henry, Jojo Moyes and Marian Keyes Executive produced by Elizabeth Day for Daylight Productions and Carly Maile for Sony Music Entertainment. Produced by Imogen Serwotka. Please do get in touch with us, your writing community, with thoughts, feedback and more at: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the eighth episode of How to Write a Book, Elizabeth Day’s new podclass series, hosts Sara Collins, Sharmaine Lovegrove and Nelle Andrew take a slightly more structured approach to their discussion, having plotted out how best to talk about plot. After wise advice on plot mastery  from Nelle in part 1, we continue our discussion on structuring ideas, how plots vary across commercial and literary strands? And why novels with an interior focus, or stream of consciousness writing, still need to be plotted. As ever, Elizabeth joins us at the end for her final reflections. Together, Sara, Sharmaine and Nelle are your on-hand writing community giving you the push you need to get started on that novel, memoir, or piece of non fiction you've always dreamed of writing. Join us next week for a very special interview with Elizabeth Day herself. Books discussed in PLOT (part 1 and part 2) include: •  Secret History by Donna Tart •  Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins •  The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins •  Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn •  Fingersmith by Sarah Waters •  August Blue by Deborah Levy We also talk about: Jonathan Coe, Cormac McCarthy, Sara Collins’ new novel, Ghost Story,  Succession, Thomas Hardy,  Deborah Levy, Rachel Cusk, Toni Morrison, Will Storr, Elizabeth Strout, classical music and hip-hop. Executive produced by Elizabeth Day for Daylight Productions and Carly Maile for Sony Music Entertainment. Produced by Imogen Serwotka. Please do get in touch with us, your writing community, with thoughts, feedback and more at: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices