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Writer's Routine

Dan Simpson
Writing Process
Character Development
Creative Writing
Writing
Faber Academy
Fiction Writing
Historical Fiction
Publishing Industry
Journalism
Screenwriting
Fantasy Literature
The Fathers
World-Building
Writing Routine
Editing
Storytelling
Caroline Dunford
How Not To Murder Your Ex
Writing Routines
Knife Skills For Beginners

How do the best writers get to work?

In every episode, we'll chat to an author about their writing day. Where do they work? What time do they start? How do they plan their time and maximise their creativity, in order to plot and publish a bestseller?

Some are frantic night-owls, others roll out of bed into their desks, and a few lock themselves away in the woods - but none have a regular 9 to 5, a... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes420Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsHobbiesLeisure

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Artwork for Writer's Routine

Latest Episodes

Benjamin Abravenel practiced medicine for 35 years, whilst in snatches of spare time, started work on a novel with a message he was passionate to get heard in the world. When he retired with something like a first draft, he hired a Professor to help ... more

This week, we're chatting to the million-copy bestseller, Claire McGowan. She's an Amazon bestselling crime and thriller author, with almost 30 novels. Best known for the 'Paula Maguire series', she's also known for non-fiction true crime, and has pu... more

This week we're chatting to one of the UK's best-selling thriller writers. Scott Mariani has published 30 novels in the 'Ben Hope series', a few more in his 'Will Bowman historical thriller adventures', and some chilling books about vampires. He writ... more

Simon Wroe started work as a chef and still works in a kitchen. Only this time, he writes novels in them. He's worked as a journalist for The Guardian, The Economist, The Times and more, and his debut, 'Chop Chop', was nominated for the Costa First N... more

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Recent Guests

Benjamin Abravenel
Debut author of The Past, Again
Author, The Past, Again
Episode: Benjamin Abravenel, author of 'The Past, Again' - Debut author discusses learning from history, hybrid-publishing, and keeping busy in retirement
Claire McGowan
Million-copy bestselling author of The Other Couple; writer across genres including women's fiction, radio, and screenplays
Episode: Claire McGowan, author of 'The Other Couple' - Million-Copy Bestseller discusses what's changed in 5 years, spreading the net wide, and challening yourself to make things better
Scott Mariani
Author of the Ben Hope series and Will Bowman novels
Author, Ben Hope Series
Episode: Scott Mariani, author of the 'Ben Hope series' - Bestselling thriller writer discusses keeping the discipline, finding new mysteries, and learning what readers want
Simon Wroe
Author of Ghost Month, BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick
Author, Ghost Month
Episode: Simon Wroe, author of 'Ghost Month' - BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick discusses listening to your instinct, getting into your characters' heads, and writing a novel for London
Kevin Wade
Screenwriter and showrunner for Blue Bloods, author of One Good Eye
Filmmaking/Television; author
Episode: Kevin Wade, author of 'One Good Eye' - 'Blue Bloods' showrunner talks learning the rules of crime shows, writing 20 individual mysteries, and switching to novels
Matt Hill
Author of Rex; Philip K. Dick award-nominated writer
Author ( Rex )
Episode: Matt Hill, author of 'Wrecks' - Speculative fiction author discusses a big editing change, feeling guilty about creating, and keeping the pace up
Vaseem Khan
Author of crime and psychological thrillers, including The Edge of Darkness and Quantum of Menace
Author
Episode: Vaseem Khan, author of 'Quantum of Menace' - CWA Award Winner discusses bringing to life a caricature, having the energy to keep going, and editing on the go
Ajay Chowdhury
Author of Eden Falls; five Kamil Rahman crime stories; theatre director; former CEO/investor in tech startups
Author, Eden Falls; Kamil Rahman series
Episode: Ajay Chowdhury, author of 'Eden Falls' - Thriller writer discusses creating with AI, finishing things off, and writing in different genre
Cathy Bramley
Sunday Times bestselling author
Transworld (publisher)
Episode: Cathy Bramley, author of 'Somewhere Only We Know' - Sunday Times Bestseller discusses inspiration from location, being particular, and embracing being an author

Host

Dan Simpson
Host of Writer's Routine; lead interviewer focused on authors' daily writing habits, routines, and craft.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Excellent podcast!

    Just discovered your podcast and find it entertaining, helpful and inspiring. Thanks for the interesting podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wendybx
    United States2 months ago
  • Amazing

    This podcast is the best I’ve found on this topic by far. Dan’s interviews are well structured and there’s always nuggets of inspiration from the writers and often really helpful tips. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    css2493
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Stokes the fire for writing!

    Dan’s podcast provides a wealth of inspiration and encouragement. To paraphrase David Goodman from a recent episode: ‘Just get started typing ten words. Almost any ten words, as they will impel you forward and very soon it will be one hundred, and so on.’ Dan’s podcast provides a comforting insight into the isolative existence of a writer’ routine in a most helpful and reassuring way. Hearing all the different but similar accounts of authors going about their process opens the way for me to feel... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Poparhino
    United States7 months ago
  • Bad host

    Dan has a habit of being condescending and judgy with his questions to authors. It’s pretty obvious when he starts each question with “now I’m not trying to judge…” for someone who doesn’t have any books he has a lot of opinions about real author’s work ethics

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    auddupl
    United States10 months ago
  • Perfect for MFA students

    Anyone in an MFA program or any kind of creative writing program or job should listen to this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Norsefortress
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the actionable craft tips and authentic, varied writing routines.
The host keeps interviews focused and guests open up about their processes.
Some listeners note occasional concerns about host style, but overall the show is praised for depth and practicality.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#124
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#36
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#97
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#201
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#34
Ireland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#44
Denmark/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Matt Hill, author of 'Wrecks' - Speculative fiction author discusses a big editing change, feeling guilty about creating, and keeping the pace up
Q: How does a typical fiction day start for you, especially given you balance a copywriting job with writing Rex?
Hill describes waking early, exercising for headspace, preparing breakfast for his kids, then retreating to the shed to write in focused morning sessions before the day's interruptions.
Vaseem Khan, author of 'Quantum of Menace' - CWA Award Winner discusses bringing to life a caricature, having the energy to keep going, and editing on the go
Q: Let's talk about Quantum of Menace. How did you approach turning Q into a fully realized character rather than a film caricature?
Khan discusses creating a backstory for Q, grounding him as a serious scientist with a personal arc, and integrating James Bond cameos and Fleming Estate guidance to preserve the essence of the character while making him feel human and credible.
Vaseem Khan, author of 'Quantum of Menace' - CWA Award Winner discusses bringing to life a caricature, having the energy to keep going, and editing on the go
Q: What is there that's more relevant for whatever you're working on now, post-inspiration and awards?
He explains starting with notebooks and spreadsheets for plotting, using a structured approach to scene-by-scene planning, and refining through multiple rounds of edits to build solid, publishable manuscripts.
Vaseem Khan, author of 'Quantum of Menace' - CWA Award Winner discusses bringing to life a caricature, having the energy to keep going, and editing on the go
Q: Those 20 years of trying to get published, turning your hand to all different forms of genre, what keeps you going, failure after failure, really?
Failure was a catalyst; perseverance stemmed from a belief in the work and continual learning. Khan describes using rejection as fuel, learning from craft, and repeatedly revising until the work aligns with publisher expectations and his own standards.
Cathy Bramley, author of 'Somewhere Only We Know' - Sunday Times Bestseller discusses inspiration from location, being particular, and embracing being an author
Q: You've got all these ideas floating around and you say that recently you tend to focus quite heavily on character. What are you doing before you start writing?
I like to know a lot about the story, including the main plot points, romance, and potential roadblocks; I plot first, but I'm open to new ideas as the story develops and it becomes richer as I write.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Writer's Routine

What is Writer's Routine about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on the daily practices and routines of writers, exploring where and when they work, how they plan their time, and what keeps them productive from project to publication. Across episodes, guests range from speculative fiction to thrillers and historical fiction, with common threads around disciplined drafting, editing methods, handling research, and balancing day jobs or family life with creative work. A standout feature is how different writers tailor environments and rituals to sustain momentum, with occasional discussions on technology, AI in research, and the emotional dimensions of pursuing a writing career. For potential listeners, it's a practical, craft-forward look at the realities of writing and finishing books, o... more

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How many episodes of Writer's Routine are there?

Writer's Routine launched 9 years ago and published 420 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 Writer's Routine?

Recent guests on Writer's Routine include:

1. Benjamin Abravenel
2. Claire McGowan
3. Scott Mariani
4. Simon Wroe
5. Kevin Wade
6. Matt Hill
7. Vaseem Khan
8. Ajay Chowdhury

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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