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

Knife Skills For Beginners

Writing Routines

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

1.1k ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	417	Founded	9 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	BooksArtsHobbiesLeisure

Listen to this Podcast

Guests Host Reviews Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

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

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

20 Aug 2026 • 58 min

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

Kevin Wade is a screenwriter and show-runner, behind some of the biggest films and series of recent times. After acting for a bit, he started off penning Off-Broadway plays. Kevin moved on to write on 'Working Girl', 'Meet Joe Black', 'Maid in Manhat... more

13 Aug 2026 • 1 hr 2 min

Matt Hill, author of 'Wrecks' - Speculative fiction author discusses a big editing change, feeling guilty about creating, and keeping the pace up

Matt Hill is a Philip K. Dick nominated author, having published 6 books over the last 13 years. 'Lamb', 'The Breach', 'Zero Bomb', 'Graft' and 'Folded Man', have all be acclaimed for their prose, innovation and invention... he descibes them as 'gett... more

6 Aug 2026 • 58 min • Most popular

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

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

30 Jul 2026 • 1 hr

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Accepts Guests

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Number of Listeners

Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Writers on WritingBarbara DeMarco-Barrett and Marrie Stone

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Helping Writers Become AuthorsK.M. Weiland

Essential Guide to Writing a NovelJames Thayer

The Creative Penn Podcast For WritersJoanna Penn

Recent Guests

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

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

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 Statesa month 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 Kingdom3 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 States6 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

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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	#121	United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts	#36	United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts	#94	United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts	#149	Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts	#35	Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts	#109	Australia/Arts

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.

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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?

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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Which podcasts are similar to Writer's Routine?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Writer's Routine:

1. Writers on Writing
2. Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo | How to Write a Novel & Writing Advice
3. Helping Writers Become Authors
4. Essential Guide to Writing a Novel
5. The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

How many episodes of Writer's Routine are there?

Writer's Routine launched 9 years ago and published 417 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. Kevin Wade
2. Matt Hill
3. Vaseem Khan
4. Ajay Chowdhury
5. Cathy Bramley
6. Julie Owen Moylan
7. Joseph Eckert
8. Foluso Agbaje

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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