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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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes414Founded9 years ago
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Artwork for Writer's Routine

Latest Episodes

Vaseem Khan tried to be an author for a long time. He wrote widely, in all genres, even analytically studied the greats to learn from how they did it, but kept gettiing rejected. Finally, after many turned down pitches, he landed a deal for 'The Unex... more

Ajay Chowdhury was the first winner of the Harvill Secker Bloody Scotland Prize. His 'Kamil Rahman' crime stories are incredibly successful, works on various boards, ran a global deep-tech business, and co-founded Shazam! Also he runs a few groups, a... more

Cathy Bramley has published 18 novels, and sold over 2 million of them. Since her debut in 2015, it's taken a while to finalise she is actually an author. Cathy writes light-hearted romantic uplit, often focused on ordinary women doing extraordinary ... more

Julie Owen Moylan's debut novel, 'That Green Eyed Girl', was a Waterstones' Welsh Book of the Month and a runner up for the Paul Torday Memorial Prize. She followed that up with '73 Dove Street' and 'Circus of Mirrors'. Her short film, 'Baby Cakes', ... more

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Recent Guests

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
Julie Owen Moylan
Historical fiction author of Elizabeth and Marilyn; author of past works including That Green Eyed Girl and 73 Dove Street
Episode: Julie Owen Moylan, author of 'Elizabeth and Marilyn' - Historical fiction writer discusses thorough research, her path to publication, and remembering you've done the hard stuff before
Joseph Eckert
Author of The Traveller, a sci-fi debut
Author
Episode: Joseph Eckert, author of 'The Traveller' - Sci-fi writer discusses great hooks, 15 years of planning, and editorial push-back
Foluso Agbaje
Author of The Parlour Wife and The Talk of the Party
Author
Episode: Foluso Agbaje, author of 'The Talk of the Party' - Thriller writer discusses writing in Dubai, worldwide influences, and her pursuit of perfection
Sara Sheridan
Author of The Jewel Keepers; writer of crime and historical fiction
Episode: Sara Sheridan, author of 'The Jewel Keepers' - Book of the Year winner discusses treasure hunt thrillers, long lunches, and the role of a writer
Ollie George Clark
Author of Youngest Faircrest and the Search for a Sorcerer
Author (DK)
Episode: Ollie George Clark, author of 'Youngest Faircrest and the Search for a Sorcerer’ - Award-winning writer discusses making reading accessible, why strict word-counts help the pace, and finding the audience
Kate Lord Brown
Author
Author of The Silver Thread
Episode: Kate Lord Brown, author of 'The Silver Thread' - Historical fiction bestseller talks about writing out of order, fact or fiction, and thorough research
Lucy Ashe
Author of The Model Patient, historical fiction with psychological thriller elements
Author
Episode: Lucy Ashe, author of 'The Model Patient' - Historical Thriller writer discusses finding control, why a book deal changes things, and unpacking therapy

Host

Dan Simpson
Host of Writer's Routine; leads conversations with authors about their writing day and process

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 States20 days 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 Kingdom2 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 States5 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 States9 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 States10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the practical, craft-forward focus and authentic interviews.
Many praise the host's questioning style and ability to draw out useful tips for daily writing.
The show is occasionally critiqued for potential bias toward full-time professional authors, but overall positive on insights and motivation.
Fans love hearing a wide range of writers share varied routines and spaces.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#93
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#45
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#117
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#212
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#51
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#137
Australia/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Kate Lord Brown, author of 'The Silver Thread' - Historical fiction bestseller talks about writing out of order, fact or fiction, and thorough research
Q: Kate, the show is Writer's Routine. What does a day in your life look like now as you write a novel?
A more civilized routine in London with dedicated morning writing hours from about eight o'clock through lunch, followed by reading or admin in the afternoon, and evening editing sessions; the routine has evolved from strict early starts to a balanced day that accommodates travel and research.
Foluso Agbaje, author of 'The Talk of the Party' - Thriller writer discusses writing in Dubai, worldwide influences, and her pursuit of perfection
Q: How does living in Dubai influence your writing?
She finds Dubai's peace and multicultural dynamism a fertile ground for creativity, and notes that proximity to a diverse literary and publishing ecosystem helps with inspiration and collaboration.
Liz Alterman, author of 'A Different Type of Poison' - Thriller writer discusses embracing the meta, always having a listen, and changing how you write depending on how it's read
Q: So Liz, talk us through the day, a day in the life of you writing a novel. How does the whole thing look? Tell us your routine.
Liz describes varying routines per book but emphasizes early-morning, high-focus writing sessions, often finished by lunchtime, followed by lighter creative work like marketing in the afternoon; she values flexibility, keeps notes handy, and uses a mix of printed pages and laptop to stay on track.
Mark Frost, co-creator of 'Twin Peaks' - Thriller author and screenwriter discusses working with David Lynch, super-agents, and his new novel, 'The Yankee Sphinx'
Q: What is the standard an idea must meet to be pursued for two years of work?
It must be something I can live with for two years, enjoyable to work on, and capable of delivering something meaningful and commercially viable, rather than a project that will dry up after initial enthusiasm.

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
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Frequently Asked Questions About Writer's Routine

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

A long-running writing-focused interview series that pulls back the curtain on authors' daily writing habits, spaces, and routines. Episodes typically explore where and when guests write, how they plan and structure work, and the rituals that help them produce fiction and non-fiction, from longhand note-taking to sprinting word count. Across guests, a recurring thread is balancing day jobs, family, and creative projects, with many sharing practical tips on environment, time management, and responding to feedback. A stand-out aspect is the emphasis on authentic, craft-forward conversations rather than hype, making it useful for aspiring writers, editors, and publishers looking for real-world process insights and sponsorship-friendly storytel... more

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How many episodes of Writer's Routine are there?

Writer's Routine launched 9 years ago and published 414 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. Ajay Chowdhury
2. Cathy Bramley
3. Julie Owen Moylan
4. Joseph Eckert
5. Foluso Agbaje
6. Sara Sheridan
7. Ollie George Clark
8. Kate Lord Brown

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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