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Writer's Routine

Dan Simpson
Writing Process
Character Development
Creative Writing
Writing
Faber Academy
Fiction Writing
Publishing Industry
Journalism
Screenwriting
Fantasy Literature
The Fathers
World-Building
Historical Fiction
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes406Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureBooksHobbiesArts

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Artwork for Writer's Routine

Latest Episodes

Kate Lord Brown is a bestselling historical fiction author. She was a finalist in ITV's 'The People's Author Contest', has been shortlisted for Romantic Novel of the Year, and is read all over the world. Her books travel fantastically well, that coul... more

This week, we're chatting to Lucy Ashe. Lucy trained at the Royal Ballet school, and now works as a teacher in Brooklyn, whilst writing brilliant books. Her debut, 'Clara and Olivia', was shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger Award. Her follow up... more

Deepa Anappara's debut, 'Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line' was a critically-acclaimed bestseller. It was named as one of the best books of the year by The New York Times, the Washington Post, The Guardian and National Public Radio. Time Magazine inclu... more

Liz Alterman has written all sorts. Young adult fiction, uplit, memoir, and is back with a new psychological, campus thriller, 'A Different Type of Poison'. It's about the author Molly Archer, whose latest novel, 'Birds at Night', is an instant hit. ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
Deepa Anappara
Author of The Last of Earth and Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line
Author
Episode: Deepa Anappara, author of 'The Last of Earth' - Multi-award-winner discusses dealing with success, writing by hand, and keeping track of characters
Liz Alterman
Author of A Different Type of Poison; thriller writer
Episode: 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
Mark Frost
Writer and co-creator of Twin Peaks, author of The Yankee Sphinx
Twin Peaks / The Yankee Sphinx
Episode: 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'
Sarah Vaughan
Author of Based on a True Story and other thrillers
Author
Episode: Sarah Vaughan, author of 'Based on a True Story' - Bestselling writer discusses streaming success, a chaotic writing room, and realising you're too busy
Annie Elliot
Author of Mr & Mrs Charles Dickens, Her Story
Author
Episode: Annie Elliot, author of 'Mr & Mrs Charles Dickens: Her Story' - Knowing when you need to get words written, mining your own past, and was Charles Dickens a narcissist?
Stig Abell
Editor of the Times Literary Supplement, now Breakfast Show host on Times Radio
Times Radio / Times Literary Supplement
Episode: Stig Abell, author of 'A Twist in the River' - Breakfast Show host discusses golden age crime fiction, why planning sets you up for failure, and why AI will kill culture
Elle McNicholl
Best-selling author and autism advocate
Author
Episode: Elle McNicoll, author of 'Unapologetic Love Story' - Carnegie Award nominated writer discusses making your book stand out, the importance of representation, and being full-time whilst never having time to write
Jane Dougherty
Author of Pasiphae, poet and novelist
Author, Pasiphae
Episode: Jane Dougherty, author of 'Pasiphae' - Re-imagining Greek mythology, capturing a moment in poetry, and detaching from technology

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
  • 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 States4 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 States7 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 States8 months ago
  • 4 writer(s)

    A few nice words….

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    A..P..
    United Statesa year ago
  • Excellent

    Always excellent questions that draw each writer out. I love listening to this podcast. One of the very best.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    green mountain cabin
    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 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
#127
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#45
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#123
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#134
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#56
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#182
Australia/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Farah Naz Rishi, author of 'The Flightless Birds of New Hope' - Bestselling writer discusses being genre-less, getting into character through voice, and calming anxiety
Q: What is your approach to researching unfamiliar worlds, like the tech bro world in your current thriller?
I start with real-world truth and oddities from news, then study other narratives that portray similar environments to understand how to balance accuracy with narrative flair.
Farah Naz Rishi, author of 'The Flightless Birds of New Hope' - Bestselling writer discusses being genre-less, getting into character through voice, and calming anxiety
Q: How does voice acting influence how you develop characters in your novels?
Acting teaches me to inhabit a character rather than just observe them on the page, which deepens my empathy and helps me capture authentic speech and gestures.
Farah Naz Rishi, author of 'The Flightless Birds of New Hope' - Bestselling writer discusses being genre-less, getting into character through voice, and calming anxiety
Q: How does your nightly schedule affect your writing rhythm and productivity?
Being a night owl, I work best when the world is quiet; late hours help my brain feel calm and creative, so I embrace that time rather than fight it.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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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 406 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. Lucy Ashe
2. Deepa Anappara
3. Liz Alterman
4. Mark Frost
5. Sarah Vaughan
6. Annie Elliot
7. Stig Abell
8. Elle McNicholl

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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