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Artwork for The Hidden Lives of Writers

The Hidden Lives of Writers

Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard
Writing Process
South Africa
South African Literature
Nthikeng Mohlele
Khaya Dlanga
Grief
Creative Writing
Apartheid
Historical Fiction
Storytelling
Joanne Fedler
Children's Literature
John Van Der Ruit
Young Adult Fiction
The Whale's Last Song
Life Is Like That Sometimes
Johannesburg
Music
Feminism
The Gospel According To Wanda B. Lazarus

How and why writers write. Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel are working writers - and their favourite people are writers. Join them as they dive deep into HOW and WHY successful writers write. Mail us at hiddenlivesofwriters@gmail.com

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes73Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Arts

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Artwork for The Hidden Lives of Writers

Latest Episodes

Zakes Mda is one of South Africa's best known and most awarded writers. He is a novelist, playwright, short story writer, and painter. A Professor Emeritus of English at Ohio University, Zakes now lives and works in Johannesburg.

He joins Fiona Sny... more

YouTube

Nadia Davids is an award-winning playwright, novelist, and short story writer. She won the Caine Prize in 2024 for her short story 'Bridling'. Her latest novel CAPE FEVER has been released to great acclaim, published by Simon & Schuster.

Nadia joi... more

YouTube

Damon Galgut is one of South Africa's most distinguished writers. He won the Booker Prize in 2021 for The Promise, which was his third novel to be shortlisted for the award.

Damon joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how writing se... more

YouTube

Marguerite Poland is one of South Africa's most decorated authors, having won the Percy Fitzpatrick Award numerous times, as well as the Order of Ikamang for lifetime achievement. Her career spans many decades and includes books for children, works o... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Khaya Dlanga
Author, marketing executive, and speaker known for multiple memoirs.
Episode: S05 E07 Khaya Dlanga
Joanne Fedler
Author of 15 books including The Whale's Last Song
Magyarji Books
Episode: S05 E06 Joanne Fedler
Morabo Morojele
Author of 'How We Buried Pusso' and 'Three Egg Dilemma', winner of the University of Johannesburg Prize for Fiction.
Episode: S05 E05 Morabo Morojele
Cliffordene Norton
Author of two young adult novels and a collection of short stories.
Pan Macmillan
Episode: S05 E04 Cliffordene Norton
Terry-Ann Adams
Author of the novel Those Who Live In Cages and the short story collection White Chalk.
Jokana
Episode: S05 E03 Terry-Ann Adams
Penny Haw
Author of children's books and historical fiction, including 'Follow Me To Africa' and 'The Wilderness Between Us'.
Episode: S05 E02 Penny Haw
Shameez Patel Papathanasiou
Author of the Selene Trilogy of fantasy novels and the romantic comedy Playing Flirty
Author
Episode: S05 E01 Shameez Patel
John van der Ruit
Renowned South African author, playwright, and actor
Author of the Spud series
Episode: S04 E11 John van der Ruit
Gareth Crocker
Author of seven novels and one book of nonfiction
Episode: S04 E10 Gareth Crocker

Hosts

Fiona Snyckers
Host of The Hidden Lives of Writers; co-host focusing on writing craft, publishing perspectives, and author journeys.
Gail Schimmel
Co-host of The Hidden Lives of Writers; concentrates on editing, storytelling techniques, and author development.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 17 ratings
  • Loved your Margie Orford interview!

    It inspired me to read the book which I devoured over the weekend. So resonant of the story of my, and so many of my friends’ lives.

    And the creative tips - the dedicated space and the story board - are most helpful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jackie Standish-White
    South Africa2 years ago
  • Fascinating podcast about local authors

    I’ve just stumbled across this podcast and so glad I did!

    I listen to a lot of book-related podcasts but it’ such a nice change to have one featuring local writers. We don’t get to learn enough about our local authors and this really fits the bill!

    And my TBR pile is groaning under the weight of every episode!

    Thank you Fiona and Gail!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LollyjSA
    South Africa2 years ago
  • Great podcast for writers

    I am enjoying Fiona and Gail discussing life as writers, interviewing writers and sharing writers tips. I’m excited for season 3

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PhillyBeth1
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests and topics are consistently aligned with writing craft and publishing insights.
Listeners value practical tips and writer-focused conversations from seasoned hosts.
Positive take on discovering local authors and expanding TBR lists.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#143
South Africa/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S05 E06 Joanne Fedler
Q: Can you tell us about journaling and its importance in your writing?
Fedler explains that journaling helps her track her writing process and stay connected to her creativity.
S05 E06 Joanne Fedler
Q: How was your writing week?
Fedler shares her challenges with jet lag and personal events affecting her writing discipline.
S05 E07 Khaya Dlanga
Q: Will we ever see any fiction from you?
Khaya expresses uncertainty about writing fiction, finding it challenging due to the need for multiple characters and motivations.
S05 E07 Khaya Dlanga
Q: How did you get into speaking in the first place?
Khaya mentions that people assume he's intelligent because he writes, leading to speaking invitations, initially through social media.
S03 E10 Ivan Vladislavic
Q: How do you teach people to access that creative energy?
I think most people who come to study creative writing have had that experience; they would like to give themselves permission to write and have that excitement.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Hidden Lives of Writers

What is The Hidden Lives of Writers about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Listeners tend to be writers, aspiring authors, and readers with a strong interest in craft, publishing, and storytelling. The show centers on the practical and emotional aspects of writing, with guests ranging from memoirists to novelists and editors. It often covers the writing process, editing, promotion, and the personal journeys behind successful books, highlighting authentic storytelling, creativity, and resilience. A standout trait is the hosts' focus on local and contemporary writers, plus practical tips like journaling, storytelling room setups, and marketing strategies that feel actionable for aspiring guests and sponsors alike.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Hidden Lives of Writers?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Hidden Lives of Writers:

1. PAGECAST
2. How To Fail With Elizabeth Day
3. Backlisted
4. Desert Island Discs
5. Off Air with Jane & Fi

How many episodes of The Hidden Lives of Writers are there?

The Hidden Lives of Writers launched 3 years ago and published 73 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 Hidden Lives of Writers?

Recent guests on The Hidden Lives of Writers include:

1. Khaya Dlanga
2. Joanne Fedler
3. Morabo Morojele
4. Cliffordene Norton
5. Terry-Ann Adams
6. Penny Haw
7. Shameez Patel Papathanasiou
8. John van der Ruit

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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