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Always Take Notes

Always Take Notes
Publishing Industry
Philippa Gregory
Writing
Journalism
Jhumpa Lahiri
Everything You Have
Television Production
John Le Carré
Biography Writing
Central African Republic
Greece
The Secret Lives Of Colour
Kassia St. Clair
The Race To the Future
English Wine
Roman Stories
Interpreter Of Maladies
Crime Fiction
Harry Hole
Eleanor Moran

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

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes239Founded9 years ago
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Arts

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Latest Episodes

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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Recent Guests

Dean Koontz
Novelist known for his suspenseful and speculative fiction, including bestsellers like 'Watchers'.
Publisher: Thomas and Mercer
Episode: #224: Dean Koontz, novelist
Sarah Perry
Novelist known for her works exploring themes of faith, science, and personal struggle.
Published by Vintage
Episode: #223: Sarah Perry, novelist
James Alistair Henry
Screenwriter and novelist
Moonflower Books
Episode: #222: James Alistair Henry, screenwriter and novelist
Eimear McBride
Novelist known for her distinctive linguistic style and character-driven narratives.
Faber and Faber
Episode: #221: Eimear McBride, novelist
Jacqueline Wilson
A renowned children's author known for her books exploring themes of childhood and personal experiences.
Episode: #219: Jacqueline Wilson, novelist
Jesse Armstrong
Screenwriter and Director, known for Succession and Mountainhead
HBO, Sky
Episode: #218: Jesse Armstrong, screenwriter
Hallie Rubenhold
Historian and author known for her works on Jack the Ripper's victims and other historical narratives
Author of 'Story of a Murder' and 'The Five'
Episode: #217: Hallie Rubenhold, historian
Viet Thanh Nguyen
Novelist and Academic
Episode: #216: Viet Thanh Nguyen, novelist and academic
Jojo Moyes
Novelist and author known for her book 'Me Before You'
Michael Joseph
Episode: #215: Jojo Moyes, novelist

Hosts

Rachel Lloyd
Co-host and an experienced writer, likely involved in various writing projects and discussions on writing technique and the personal aspects of storytelling.
Simon Akam
Co-host with a background in writing and storytelling, likely sharing insights drawn from his experiences in various creative fields.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 205 ratings
  • Outstanding interviews

    I look forward to hearing these interviews.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NeverBored.
    United States3 months ago
  • Entertaining, helpful and informative

    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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rob M U rphy
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • Philippe Sands episode is exceptional

    Philippe Sands episode absolutely fascinating. The best episode. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cbsurm
    Australia10 months ago
  • Really helpful

    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!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wangmo44
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Podcast overall good, but

    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

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Jesus-in-the-City
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners have praised the insightful and engaging interviews with authors and industry professionals, highlighting the hosts' ability to facilitate valuable conversations.
Some feedback mentions that while the interviews are interesting, improvements in host interaction could enhance the overall experience.
There are positive comments about the educational value of the podcast, with many noting it as a great resource for aspiring writers and journalists.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#163
United Kingdom/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#224: Dean Koontz, novelist
Q: Do you think your interest in secrets and what goes on behind people's closed doors is because you knew or intuited as a child that stuff was being held from you?
Yes, Dean believes it is connected to his childhood experiences and his mother's struggles, influencing the compassion in his writing.
#224: Dean Koontz, novelist
Q: Could we start with Going Home in the Dark? Tell us a little bit about where this idea came from.
Dean mentions he wanted to write something with a comic edge after darker novels, and it evolved without a clear initial direction.
#223: Sarah Perry, novelist
Q: Can we talk now about After Me Comes the Flood?
It's such an amazing story that I'm still kind of gobsmacked when I think about it.
#223: Sarah Perry, novelist
Q: Could you tell us about Thomas Hart?
He's a man of 50 but has this kind of double life raised in a very strict Baptist chapel, but was a gay man.
#223: Sarah Perry, novelist
Q: Can we start with your latest novel, Enlightenment?
In particular, the point of departure for the novel and the experience or the memory that you had, the false memory that you had of seeing Halle's Comet with your father.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Always Take Notes

What is Always Take Notes about and what kind of topics does it cover?

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.

Where can I find podcast stats for Always Take Notes?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Always Take Notes. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Always Take Notes and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Always Take Notes get?

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What are the audience demographics for Always Take Notes?

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How many subscribers and views does Always Take Notes have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Always Take Notes has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Always Take Notes?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Always Take Notes:

1. Writer's Routine
2. The Waterstones Podcast
3. The Shakespeare and Company Interview
4. London Review Bookshop Podcast
5. Backlisted

How many episodes of Always Take Notes are there?

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.

How do I contact Always Take Notes?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Always Take Notes?

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What guests have appeared on Always Take Notes?

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.

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