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We’re a podcast for anyone who writes. Every week we talk to writers about their writing journeys and techniques, from early career debuts to self-publishers and narrative designers. We’ve featured Margaret Atwood, Jackie Kay, Sara Collins, Antti Tuomainen, Val McDermid, Sarah Perry, Elif Shafak and many more! The Writing Life is produced by the National Centre for Writing at Dragon Hall in Norwic... more

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Artwork for The Writing Life

Latest Episodes

In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, Norfolk-based writer Laurence Mitchell reveals how he brought the spirit of landscape and place onto the page in his award-winning book, Flint Country: A Stone Journey.

Laurence Mitchell is a travel write... more

In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, award-winning writer Sarah L. Kaufman discusses mastering the art of the verb and transforming your writing with language, grammar, and style.

Sarah L. Kaufman is a Pulitzer Prize-winning critic, an award... more

YouTube

In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, award-winning writer Pip Landers-Letts discusses her experience self-publishing her action-packed novel Pyg – a queer retelling of George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion.

Pip Landers-Letts is an emerging qu... more

YouTube

In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, debut novelist Jem Calder shares insights into developing the complex central relationship in his novel, I Want You to Be Happy – a sharp-eyed tale of two people searching for meaning and connection in mod... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Sarah L. Kaufman
Award-winning writer and Pulitzer Prize-winning critic; author of Verb Your Enthusiasm
The Washington Post (former chief dance critic)
Episode: Back to basics: Sarah L. Kaufman on Verb Your Enthusiasm
Pip Landers-Letts
Award-winning self-published author of Pyg, The Weight of What Was, Chameleon
Self-published author; works published via Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
Episode: The world of self-publishing: Pip Landers-Letts on Pyg
Jem Calder
Author of I Want You to Be Happy
Faber & Faber
Episode: Writing relationships: Jem Calder on I Want You to Be Happy
Sithuraj Ponraj
Singapore-based writer; Director of the International Cyber Policy Office at the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (as discussed in the episode)
Cyber Security Agency of Singapore
Episode: Finding balance in writing: Sithuraj Ponraj on working across languages, jobs, and genres
Anna Goldreich
Author of The Leveret
Author, The Leveret
Episode: From draft to debut: Anna Goldreich on The Leveret
Hannah Murray
Author of The Make Believe, memoirist
Author
Episode: Madness and Magic: Hannah Murray on her memoir The Make Believe
Ashley Hickson-Lovence
Norwich-based writer and teacher; author of About to Fall Apart
Author, About to Fall Apart
Episode: Experimenting with narrative form: Ashley Hickson-Lovence on About to Fall Apart
Camilla Balshaw
Norfolk-based writer, memoirist
Writer, Named
Episode: Writing the self in memoir: Camilla Balshaw on Named
Anna Trench
Writer and illustrator, winner of the 2025 East Anglian Book of the Year for Florrie
Independent author/illustrator
Episode: Storytelling in graphic novels: Anna Trench on Florrie

Hosts

Stephanie McKenna
Co-host and writer facilitator with NCW connections, frequently guiding conversations and segments.
Peggy Hughes
Co-host with deep involvement in NCW programming and guest coordination.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 127 ratings
  • tantric meditation

    On Hannah Murrays recent episode, I’d like to share something about tantric meditation. It’s “not” magic, you need to ground yourself in your body (otherwise it’s just mind wandering) and is about using your imagination to exploring hypothetical stories. Your needs and desires play a big role. and is more about your relationship to needs and what stories can teach you.

    There’s a set of talks from an acclaimed meditation teacher (Rob Burbea from Gaia House) called the path of the imaginal. its on... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tommy Gee 123
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Nope

    I’ve tried this podcast twice now. Don’t know why—think I was tricked by the change of thumbnail/image. The conversations are terribly boring, waffly. Couldn’t find anything helpful or insightful.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    broadcastappeal
    Australia2 years ago
  • Nourishing a writing community

    As a writer based in Edinburgh, this podcast makes me feel like part of a wider writing community. The conversations between writers on this podcast - particularly the episode feat. Joelle Taylor, Jay Bernard, Anthony Capildeo & Gail McConnell - are so enriching and motivating, they’ve become part of my writing practice. Thank you for all you do!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EDubhglas
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • What a find.

    There are so many podcasts about books and writing, offering advice on different aspects of the trade. The Writing Life tackles the practicalities of getting those words down and in order and flowing and interesting and gripping ….. I could go on.

    There are so many really good discussions with people (authors) who are actually doing it and sometimes making the mistakes that we do and explaining the pitfalls.

    Well worth a listen to if you are a writer or want to be.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Wee-Stan
    Spain4 years ago
  • Great podcast!

    It is the perfect companion for everyone interested in all aspects of the book industry. Packed with insightful tips and great guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Novel reader
    United Kingdom4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are frequently established authors whose experiences are valuable for aspiring writers.
The discussions are viewed as motivating and community-building for writers in Norfolk and beyond.
Listeners praise the show as a calm, insightful resource for writers seeking practical craft tips.
Some episodes receive criticism for pacing or overly broad topics, but overall reception highlights depth and usefulness.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#72
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#201
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#243
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#165
Germany/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#44
Indonesia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#92
Indonesia/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Writing relationships: Jem Calder on I Want You to Be Happy
Q: Would you talk a little about what you think it is about Joey that draws her to Chuck?
He represents validation of her intellectual ambitions and offers a pathway to a life she aspires to, though the dynamic becomes more complex as the novel progresses.
Writing relationships: Jem Calder on I Want You to Be Happy
Q: That must be fun, sitting opposite from someone on the train. Are you somebody who has always written?
Calder discusses his long-running relationship with writing, noting he started young, paused during teens and early twenties, and then returned with more discipline, balancing work with creative pursuits.
Finding balance in writing: Sithuraj Ponraj on working across languages, jobs, and genres
Q: How do you decide which language to start a piece in, Tamil or English?
I start with the language that lets me express the core feeling most clearly; English often works better for conveying universal themes to a broader audience, while Tamil can ground me in local texture and identity.
Madness and Magic: Hannah Murray on her memoir The Make Believe
Q: You spent years, obviously, taking other people's dialogue, other people's stories and transforming them into a three-dimensional performance. Was it quite a challenge to pivot from that outside-in approach to an inside-out process of writing your own inner monologue?
She notes the fundamental differences between acting and writing, acknowledging the desire for her own voice earlier in her career and explaining how memoir became the form that allowed her to control voice, truth, and representation while still engaging with others' voices thoughtfully.
Madness and Magic: Hannah Murray on her memoir The Make Believe
Q: And how did that decision making happen? How did you decide where to begin and where to end?
Murray details choosing a two-year window (2016–2018) as the book's core arc, then building around that period to create a coherent, chronological narrative that centers on the central experience while including surrounding context and memory.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Writing Life

What is The Writing Life about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful interview-focused show that centers on writers' journeys, craft techniques, and publishing realities. Episodes cover a broad range of topics—from language and style decisions and memoir writing to indie publishing, graphic novels, and genre-bending fiction—often featuring practical, experience-driven advice for aspiring authors. The format blends in-depth author conversations, craft analysis, and tips for navigating writing careers, agents, and editors, with a strong regional emphasis on the Norfolk writing community. A standout signal is its consistent pairing of seasoned authors with emerging voices, creating a mix of mentorship-style guidance and fresh perspectives, which can be especially appealing to writers at various sta... more

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How many listeners does The Writing Life get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Writing Life have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Writing Life 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 The Writing Life?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Writing Life:

1. Writers on Writing
2. Writer's Routine
3. Essential Guide to Writing a Novel
4. Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo | How to Write a Novel & Writing Advice
5. Writing Excuses

How many episodes of The Writing Life are there?

The Writing Life launched 15 years ago and published 200 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 The Writing Life?

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What guests have appeared on The Writing Life?

Recent guests on The Writing Life include:

1. Sarah L. Kaufman
2. Pip Landers-Letts
3. Jem Calder
4. Sithuraj Ponraj
5. Anna Goldreich
6. Hannah Murray
7. Ashley Hickson-Lovence
8. Camilla Balshaw

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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