The Writing Life

We're a weekly podcast for anyone who writes. We talk to writers about their writing journeys and techniques, from early career debuts to self-publishers and narrative designers. We've featured Margaret Atwood, Jackie Kay, Sara Collins, Antti Tuomainen, Val McDermid, Sarah Perry, Elif Shafak and many more!Brought to you by the National Centre for Writing at Dragon Hall in Norwich.


All Episodes

How to Write a Script with Molly Naylor

In this episode of The Writing Life podcast, writer and theatre director Jen Dewsbury speaks with writer, performer and NCW Academy tutor Molly Naylor about the craft of scriptwriting.
Molly Naylor is the co-creator and writer of Sky One comedy After…

In conversation with bestselling crime writer Ian Rankin

In this episode of The Writing Life podcast, former NCW CEO Chris Gribble spoke to bestselling crime writer Ian Rankin about his new standalone short thriller The Rise.
Ian Rankin was born in the Kingdom of Fife in 1960 and graduated from the Univers…

The craft of life writing with Fiona Mason

In this episode of The Writing Life podcast, former NCW CEO Chris Gribble caught up with author Fiona Mason to discuss her memoir 36 Hours and the craft of life writing.
Originally from the Midlands, Fiona Mason now lives between the salt marshes of …

Writing Short Stories with Yan Ge

In this episode of The Writing Life, NCW Programme Officer Vicki Maitland caught up with writer and NCW Academy tutor Yan Ge to discuss the process of writing short stories.
Yan is a fiction writer, writing in both Chinese and English, and is the aut…

Music and translation with Kalaf Epalanga & Daniel Hahn

This episode of The Writing Life features musician and writer Kalaf Epalanga and writer, editor and translator Daniel Hahn on the process of writing and translating Kalaf’s exhilarating debut novel, Whites Can Dance Too. They were interviewed by NCW …

Priscilla Morris on writing resistance and community in Black Butterflies

In this episode we’re bringing you a conversation with debut novelist and creative writing teacher Priscilla Morris. Priscilla’s first novel Black Butterflies is the author’s personal response to the war that devastated her mother’s hometown of Saraj…

Working Class Noir with Tom Benn

In this episode of The Writing Life, we are joined by author, screenwriter and lecturer Tom Benn to discuss his latest novel, Oxblood. Set in 1980s South Manchester, Benn’s blazing novel of female solidarity and the legacy of male violence centres on…

Writing Real People in Memoir with Katy Massey

In this episode of The Writing Life, NCW Programme Officer Vicki Maitland speaks with writer, editor and workshop leader Katy Massey about the process of writing real people in memoir.
Katy was a journalist for many years before studying for an MA an…

How to Write Suspense Fiction with Claire McGowan

In this episode of The Writing Life, NCW Chief Executive Chris Gribble caught up with Claire McGowan to discuss how she got started as a writer, her route(s) into publishing and how she’s maintained and developed a career in writing across a range of…

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