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The Failing Writers Podcast

The Failing Writers Podcast
Writing
English Education
Comedy
Publishing
Scrivener
Flash Fiction
Children's Literature
Creative Writing
Flash Fiction Competition
Science Fiction
Creativity
Memoir Writing
Anything 4 U
Character Development
Publishing Industry
Scammers
Emotional Well-Being
Take Off Your Pants
Imposter Syndrome
Yorkshire Ripper

Becoming a better writer, writing a novel, being a successful author - whatever your writing goal is, we’re here for you! Join two struggling writers learning everything there is to know about writing. They talk to best-selling authors, screenwriters and poets - people who actually know what they’re talking about. The award-winning Failing Writers Podcast is the best writing podcast around. Why? I... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes171Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsEducationSelf-Improvement

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Artwork for The Failing Writers Podcast

Latest Episodes

First things first. Our Big Flash Fiction Competition is Awaaaaaay!

And a special big ole THANK YOU to Scrivener for sponsoring it!

If you fancy 20% off their wonderful and frankly invaluable writing app, git yourself to www.literatureandla... more

Ya know what they say. When one door closes another door opens.

And following the joyful culmination of our poetry competition

comes....

OUR MASSIVE ANNUAL £500 FLASH FICTION COMPETITION - Sponsored by

Scrivener!

Scrivener?

Yes, of course. The ... more

It's time for us to reveal the winners in our rather spontanious poetry competition.

Huge thanks to Rowan McCabe for being head judge and helping us choose the winning poems. If you want to see him live on his new tour, check out rowanthepoe... more

Fergus Craig. Not to be confused with Craig Ferguson. or Fraig Cergus... as sometimes happens... but not very often.

You may have seen Fergus on telly. This is because he is an actor. Who acts in things.

Or, perhaps you've seen him on your phone sc... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Sara Grant
Author of The Ultimate Guide to Editing Your Novel
Self-published/ Bloomsbury publisher
Episode: S6 Ep12: The Ultimate Guide To Editing - with Sara Grant
Lucy Brazier
Writer and author featured with a reading segment
Independent author
Episode: S6 Ep12: The Ultimate Guide To Editing - with Sara Grant
Claire Fuller
Award-winning author, special guest
Author (Hunger and Thirst, Unsettled Ground)
Episode: S6 Ep11: The Failing Writers Podcast - LIVE - with special guest, Claire Fuller!
Stuart Reid
Children's author who left a hotel-management life in Dubai to write in Scotland
Author, Publisher
Episode: S6 ep10: Quit your job and become a full-time author
Jessica Payne
Writer and mother who shifted from neonatal nursing to full-time writing while navigating family and relocation
Author
Episode: S6 ep10: Quit your job and become a full-time author
Molly Aitken
Author, master's in creative writing, multiple novels, and advocate for writing communities
Author
Episode: S6 ep10: Quit your job and become a full-time author
Kathryn Aldridge-Morris
Recent judge for the Bath Flash Fiction Contest
Bath Flash Farkshund Contest
Episode: S6 Ep7: How to win writing competitions
Miranda Moore
YA author, debut published through contest win
Self or publisher with Open Submission/Watch for agent
Episode: S6 Ep7: How to win writing competitions
Joseph Eckert
Author of The Traveler
Episode: S6 Ep6: Science Fiction - with Joseph Eckert

Hosts

Tom
Co-host of The Failing Writers Podcast; primary host with a humorous, practical take on writing and publishing.
John
Co-host of The Failing Writers Podcast; known for engaging interview style and craft-focused discussion.
Tommy
Host on The Failing Writers Podcast; contributes across topics from craft to industry insights.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 100 ratings
  • An honest and hilarious take on the struggles, failures and rare victories of trying to be a writer.

    I only recently discovered this podcast amongst the myriad other writing podcast, and after listening to the newest couple episodes, I went back and started at episode 1. The guys openly share their excuses, folly’s and rare victories, and will keep you laughing throughout. they even express their doubts as the realities of life, work and family impede their efforts to meet their goals, which I find incredibly relatable. They also bring in outstanding guests to speak on their own failures an... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Austin_1055
    United States5 months ago
  • Perfect procrastination partners

    I decided the to start listening from the beginning. As I follow their journey, I am laugh out loud charmed and enchanted and inspired.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HeidiDeMontreal
    Canada10 months ago
  • Loads of fun!

    This podcast is a great blend of entertainment and education. I feel like I always learn something new and get a good laugh.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jessi Hartnett
    United Statesa year ago
  • Best Writing Podcast

    You will not be disappointed if you listen to The Failing Writers Podcast. In fact you will be very happy that you did .

    This podcast cast is full of talent and humour and is very entertaining, encouraging and inspiring.

    Thank you to Jon, Tom, Dave and everyone else involved in the creation of this brilliant podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ugly old hag
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Back after a brief hiatus, and that was the Failing Writers’ fault. But wait sec… Hear me out.

    I’ve been listening to The Failing Writers for a couple of years now. I started while driving across the United States, headed back to Texas to begin a new journey as a writer post-service in the Marine Corps. I discovered TFWs and they’ve been like friends and mentors and comrades in literary arms since.

    So much so, that they helped inspire me to write my first novel. I spent the last six months hammering out the first draft, and really kept my head down during that time. A lot of reading and... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CourtsFamily
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the show for honesty about writing struggles and relatable humor.
Guests are described as insightful and varied, offering practical takeaways.
The banter and camaraderie feel authentic and entertaining, not overly polished.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#50
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#118
United Kingdom/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S6 Ep6: Science Fiction - with Joseph Eckert
Q: What can readers expect from the book's ending and its broader themes about humanity?
The guests stress that the ending should be expansive and satisfy the enormous premise, tying together themes of time, family, and humanity's cycles of progress and regression, with the book offering a hopeful yet sober meditation on existential scales rather than concluding with simple resolution.
S6 Ep6: Science Fiction - with Joseph Eckert
Q: Why did you choose first-person narration, and how did you handle the writing process given it wasn't your full-time job?
The author explains he chose first-person to heighten emotional immediacy and to place readers directly in Scott's experience, while acknowledging the challenge of showing internal emotions in first person. He writes around a day job and emphasizes writing in available time, focusing on consistency and emotional clarity rather than heavy edits early on.
S6 Ep6: Science Fiction - with Joseph Eckert
Q: How did the publication journey unfold, including agents and potential film options?
Eckert describes a long publication arc: several agents, a decision to split the manuscript that didn't pay off, and eventually Hollywood interest that yielded an option with MGM and later Skydance, plus a competitive script path that brought two versions of the movie to him for input, ultimately aligning the film treatment more closely with the novel.
S6 Ep6: Science Fiction - with Joseph Eckert
Q: Where did the overall concept come from, and how did it evolve over time?
The concept originated from an exponential growth idea Eckert had since childhood, imagining an everyman who ends up traveling through time. He kept refining the mechanism—limiting time travel to forward jumps with doubling intervals—while expanding the world and the father-son dynamic, which grew more meaningful as his own life changed over 15 years.
S5 Ep19: Talking self publishing with a very special guest
Q: What tips would you give aspiring self-published authors?
A practical tip shared is to record and listen to the audiobook version of your manuscript to catch continuity issues, repeated phrasing, and structural problems that are hard to spot by reading silently.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Failing Writers Podcast

What is The Failing Writers Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A candid, humor-infused show where two writers chronicle their creative struggles while interviewing a wide range of guests from fiction, journalism, and stage. Episodes blend practical writing craft—editing, competitions, publishing, career pivots—with personal storytelling, live readings, and behind-the-scenes festival or venue vibes. The tone stays light and self-deprecating, yet audience-friendly, often pulling actionable tips from guests who have navigated publishing, screenwriting, and literary contests. Noteworthy is the consistent mix of craft deep-dives and community-building moments, plus occasional live event formats and creative format experiments that keep discussions fresh for aspiring and established writers alike.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Failing Writers Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Failing Writers Podcast:

1. Writer's Routine
2. No Write Way with V. E. Schwab
3. Sara & Cariad's Weirdos Book Club
4. Simon Mayo's Books of the Year
5. The Rest Is Entertainment

How many episodes of The Failing Writers Podcast are there?

The Failing Writers Podcast launched 5 years ago and published 171 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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What guests have appeared on The Failing Writers Podcast?

Recent guests on The Failing Writers Podcast include:

1. Sara Grant
2. Lucy Brazier
3. Claire Fuller
4. Stuart Reid
5. Jessica Payne
6. Molly Aitken
7. Kathryn Aldridge-Morris
8. Miranda Moore

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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