How should you plot your novel? What shape should your story have? How can you grip the reader from page one? How can you keep the tension and surprise up through the middle? And how can you make your ending as satisfying as possible? Death Of 1000 Cuts, the writing podcast with author Tim … Read more

In this episode author Tim Clare (that’s me) looks at another listener’s first page and gives a detailed critique of the opening to their story. I talk about how you can use vocabulary to build mood and imply things. I talk about how to write great similes and when to dial them back. I talk … Read more

On the latest episode of the creative writing advice podcast, author Tim Clare (that’s me) responds to listener requests to an episode dedicated to editing your work. What are the best rules for editing your fiction? What are some simple techniques you can apply right now to your work to make it immediately better? How … Read more

In this episode I give advice about changing your relationship with your writing, and the perils of seeing making art as a war, or viewing your novel as the enemy, or listening to your self-doubt as if it were your boss. I talk about Steven Pressfield’s non-fiction book The War of Art, and David Bayles’ … Read more