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On Creative Writing podcast show
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The On Creative Writing Podcast Show is now live, and more episodes will be dropping in the coming weeks.
Go to the Podcast page to listen, or find the show on your favourite podcast listing app.
On Writing


Short stories in lifestyle magazines started author's writing success
Alan Williams' latest novel is Mystery in the Snowy Mountains, is published by Holand Press and is available on Amazon, along with his short story collection, The Rain, The Park and Other Things. In this interview he talks about his writing, how he's had success with short stories in women's magazines, the happy ending themes he's drawn to, and why being a pantser works for him.
2 days ago4 min read


Past rejection: Hard-earned advice on getting published includes persistence and proofing
Emma Marns' first novel The Walk was published in 2023. In this interview with On Creative Writing Emma shares thoughts on generative AI, favourite authors, and books, and offers hard-earned advice on getting published. Emma has a BA in English Literature from UEA, an MPhil in Irish Writing from Trinity College Dublin and is starting a PhD in Creative Writing at The University of Essex this year. She is a freelance journalist and has had words featured in The Independent and
5 days ago3 min read


Fusing identity and healing: Author explores memoir writing, chaos, pain, writing process, and more
Content trigger warning: This episode touches on topics including self-harm, alcoholism, drug use, and eating disorders. Sheelagh Caygill talks with acclaimed Iranian-Canadian multigenre writer Hollay Ghadery about the themes and inspirations behind her powerful memoir, Fuse. The conversation opens with Hollay discussing being a mixed-race woman and navigating the complexities of identity, family, belonging, and cultural heritage.
Jun 55 min read


How does a writer get an agent or publishing contract? Persist, adapt, understand the publishing industry
On Creative Writing co-founders Emma Woodhouse and Sheelagh Caygill discusses Emma's experiences writing a novel, finding an agent, and eventually getting a publishing contract in episode 001 of the On Creative Writing podcast. Emma, a new and prolific author of poetry, non-fiction, and fiction, delves into her writing process, distinctive style, and experiences through the agent and publishing landscape in the UK.
Jun 15 min read


Fiction author Edoardo Albert on how AI is a threat to writers
It’s difficult to AI it being anything other than a threat, says seasoned author Edoardo Albert. He thinks it will be worst for writers who work within established intellectual properties, such as the Warhammer universe. These sorts of stories seem to be exceptionally vulnerable to AI as it's the editors who look after the intellectual property and, frankly, they could work just as easily with AI as with human writers.
Jun 13 min read


Novelist on exploring the intricacies of relationships in fiction
In this engaging author question and answer interview, author Teri Vlassopoulost explores the importance of writing communities, how her writing has evolved and her writing process, her love of exploring the intricacies of relationships in fiction, and how she first found a publisher for her books.
May 293 min read


Be an emotionally invested writer; write about what you care about
John Cullimore was a hospital doctor and eventually a surgeon. Now retired, his time is his own. For years, he was fascinated by Swindon’s railway heritage and the story of Alfred Williams, his debut novel’s real-life protagonist. He was an uneducated factory worker who developed a passion for learning and became a celebrated writer. Sadly, he died prematurely, amidst poverty and hardship. John's novel is based on Alfred Williams.
May 254 min read


Alice Fitzpatrick: Let go of expectations of immediate perfection in your creative writing
Canadian novelist Alice Fitzpatrick spent her summers with her Welsh family in Pembrokeshire which inspired the creation of the Meredith Island Mysteries series. Secrets in the Water, released in June 2024, is the first in the series. The second book, A Dark Death, is coming in June of this year. Alice has contributed short stories to literary magazines and anthologies and has recently retired from teaching in order to devote herself to writing full-time.
May 204 min read


Chris Coppel: Varied creative writing styles open up markets
Chris Coppel followed in his father’s footsteps (Alec Coppel wrote the screenplay for Vertigo, among other successful screenplays), and can use varied creative writing styles. He has written gentle fable-like adventures (Lucy) as well as dark and terrifying stories. Born in the U.S.A, he spends his time between the U.S., Europe, and the U.K. Chris held the position of Director of Operations for UCLA’s Film School where he also taught advanced screenwriting.
May 203 min read


Writing tips plus advice from creative writing teacher Chris Hutchinson
Chris Hutchinson offers tips plus writing advice in Writers Reveal. Chirs is the author of five poetry collections, as well as the cult-classic auto-fictive verse-novel Jonas in Frames. He has lived all over North America, from Dawson City, Yukon, to Brooklyn, New York, working as a line cook and, more recently, teaching creative writing to undergraduates. Chris is presently a permanent faculty member of the English Department at MacEwan University, located on Treaty 6 Territ
May 186 min read


Inspiring creative writing prompts for writers
Every writer enounters periods when they are low on ideas and inspiration is hard to come by. If you're a creative writer, explore these creative writing prompts for writers set in Canada, Ireland, and the UK. We hope they fire up your imaginination and that your creativity flows. If you create something from one of these prompts you're especially happy with, send it to us and we'll look at publishing it on the site. We hope they help you find ideas for your next piece of wri
May 185 min read


Charting your writing journey: Top creative writing courses in Canada, Ireland, UK
Canada, the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom have some of the best creative writing programs in the world. Discover the top creative writing programs for diverse needs and aspirations in our list of 20 exceptional programs to nurture your writing. We look at the immersive classroom experience, flexible distance learning, Bachelor's degrees, focused Master's, and specialized creative writing certificates.
May 176 min read
News


Exclusive! get our free creative writing advice guide tomorrow - Subscriber benefit
We know you're serious about your creative writing craft, which is why this isn't your average collection of fleeting tips. We asked 16 talented authors and writers to share their most valuable insights, and we've compiled over 2,500 words of actionable advice you won't find just anywhere. Forget the bland soundbites; this guide dives deep into the real nitty-gritty of the writing life.
May 14


Don't miss out! The On Creative Writing newsletter is coming soon!
Are you a writer looking for inspiration, guidance, and a supportive community? Then you've come to the right place! On Creative Writing is your go-to resource for everything you need to hone your craft and navigate the writer's life. We're excited to announce the upcoming launch of our new newsletter!
Why subscribe to On Creative Writing
By subscribing to our newsletter, you'll be the first to know about all the exciting things happening at On Creative Writing.
Apr 23


Powerful Canadian spring poetry releases
In her debut collection titled Elergy for Opportunity, Natalie Lim asks: How do we go on living and loving in a time of overlapping crises? Anchored by elegies for NASA’s Opportunity rover and a series of love poems, this collection explores the tension and beauty of a world marked by grief through meditations on Dungeons & Dragons, Taylor Swift’s cultural impact, the all-engulfing anxiety of the climate crisis and more.
Mar 8


The Prendergast Watch - how and why Emma Woodhouse wrote her first novel
Author Emma Woodhouse shares the intriguing and engaging story behind her writing of The Prendergast Watch, a Victorian mystery.
Mar 7


Debunking the study that AI generates better poetry than poetry written by humans
An October 2024 University of Pittsburgh report erroneously reports that AI can generate better poetry than poems by humans.
Dec 19, 2024
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