
Always Take Notes is a fortnightly podcast from London for and about writers and writing. Hosts Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd speak to a diverse range of people in the industry on a variety of topics, from the mysteries of slush piles and per-word rates, to how data are changing the ways newspapers do business and how to pitch a book. patreon.com/alwaystakenotes
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 239 | Founded | 9 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | Arts | |||

In this episode Simon and Rachel speak to the novelist Dean Koontz. The author of over 120 books, Dean is published in 38 countries and has sold 500m copies to date. His suspense thrillers blend science fiction, horror, crime and comedy. Fourteen of ... more
Rachel and Simon speak to the novelist Sarah Perry. Sarah is the internationally bestselling author of four novels - "After Me Comes the Flood" (2014), "The Essex Serpent" (2016), "Melmoth" (2018) and "Enlightenment" (2024) - as well as two works of ... more
Rachel and Simon speak with the screenwriter and novelist James Alistair Henry. James first started writing while working as a bookseller. He joined the writing team for Channel 4’s "Smack the Pony" and went on to write the BAFTA-award winning "Green... more
Rachel and Simon speak with the novelist Eimear McBride. Born in Liverpool to Irish parents, Eimear studied acting before pursuing writing. Her debut novel, "A Girl is a Half-formed Thing", was published in 2013 after almost a decade of rejections; i... more
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I look forward to hearing these interviews.
I really enjoy Always Take Notes. It has the most incredible guests. My favourites so far are Harlen Coben and Lee Child. But it’s great when they move away into screenwriting and other platforms (James Graham and David Nicholls are also fab interviewees.)
Simon and Rachel are intelligent and articulate interviewers.
The most heartening thing to hear is how successful writers have struggled, either creatively, financially or emotionally with their work - but have found a way through.
Also a us... more
Philippe Sands episode absolutely fascinating. The best episode. Highly recommend!
As a graduate of an MA in Magazine Journalism, I recently discovered a podcast that perfectly complements and extends what I learned during my course. Even after graduation, I continue to learn something new from each episode. The best part is that most of the guest speakers are working journalists, making it feel like attending hundreds of journalism seminars without actually having to go. I highly recommend it!
I enjoy the Always Take Notes Podcast. I don’t listen regularly but I do listen from time to time, I enjoy the hosts and being exposed to writers with which I’m otherwise unfamiliar. I took a point off just because I wouldn’t rate it a perfect 5, however I took another point off for the Naomi Klein interview. The approach Klein took to write her book Doppelgänger doesn’t sit well. It seems attacking, unaccepting and condemning of the work of Naomi Wolfe in a way that’s almost underhanded. Kle... more
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Apple Podcasts | #163 |
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This podcast is a biweekly exploration into the world of writing, featuring interviews with a diverse array of authors, journalists, and industry professionals. Topics frequently include writing techniques, the publishing process, and personal experiences that shape creative careers. It delves into the challenges and nuances of a writing life, such as navigating financial aspects and industry changes, appealing to both aspiring writers and those interested in the broader literary landscape. Unique insights into the struggles of writers, the intricacies of character development, and the intersection of personal narratives with professional storytelling set this podcast apart as a valuable resource for its audience.
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5. Backlisted
Always Take Notes launched 9 years ago and published 239 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Always Take Notes from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.
Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Always Take Notes. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.
Recent guests on Always Take Notes include:
1. Dean Koontz
2. Sarah Perry
3. James Alistair Henry
4. Eimear McBride
5. Jacqueline Wilson
6. Jesse Armstrong
7. Hallie Rubenhold
8. Viet Thanh Nguyen
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.