How big a deal is social class when it comes to writing and being published? In this five-minute episode Derek shares his blog post 'Not Quite Our Sort', which started life as an article and ended up as a boomerang. Five magazines and counting, not including the one that is - in theory - making up its mind. * * It isn't, unless they make decisions...really...slowly ..read more

This time we explore what failure means to (two) writers, how to cope with it, and whether the problem is expectation. Along the way: Derek gets sexist about escalators, Lynn talks rejection from a publisher's perspective, and we throw in the odd swearword to try and be edgy. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-about-fiction/message ..read more

It's the end of 2023. Lynn and Derek are looking back and looking forward. This time we talk about how well the average book does in its lifetime, the joys of book promotion, what else writers do with their skills, the house that's haunted by a story, sheep, the importance of community, adapting your own work, and divergent views on the latest series of Shetland. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-about-fiction/message ..read more

1. Changes in Lightning Source and Kindle that affect authors. 2. Should we expect fairness in the world of writing and publishing? 3. When it comes to writing, did McFly get it wrong? 4. Is the greatest enemy of creativity expectation? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-about-fiction/message ..read more

This time Derek chats with Emma Bennet, an author of contemporary romance and a children's book. We chat about what makes for a good romance, writing for children and self-publishing, the importance of understanding - and meeting - audience expectations, reader reviews, writer events, and why no book should smell of egg. You can find out more about Emma and her work here: https://linktr.ee/emmabennetromance The Snotty Princess can be purchased here: https://amzn.to/452ZbMF --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-about-fiction/message ..read more

Derek tries to make a meal (well, snack) out of four bullet-points. Contains references to false narratives, imposter syndrome, and the occasional use of the word sh*t. It will make sense when you get there. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-about-fiction/message ..read more

Derek chats with Sue Louineau, a literary fiction and magical realism author, about the joys of self publishing, which social media platform works best for her, and why writers cannot afford to hold back when it comes to telling the stories that matter.  Grab yourself a brew and come and join us. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-about-fiction/message ..read more

In this episode Derek talks with Dave Brown aka The Bullshit Detective, who hosts his own 'A Dose of Dave' podcast' and who was instrumental in getting Lynn and Derek started here. Expect occasional adult language and a chat that takes in: books, brassicas, football, dancing (or not...), music, feedback, an intentional use of the word 'thus', comedy recommendations, an unfortgettable band that Derek can't remember* and whatever else comes to mind. Enjoy. * It was Edgar Winter Group (Thanks, Charles) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-about-fiction/messa ..read more

You've written your novel and it's been published - now what? And how do you cope with relative success?  Lynn and Derek ponder these questions and fess up about the novel that took soooo long to finish, the tension between art and commerce, and what happens when the muse ghosts you. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-about-fiction/message ..read more

Lynn waxes lyrical and Derek waxes cynical, and somehow they meet in the middle. This time they chat about writing during a pandemic and also manage to take in looking for the mojo, snooker, competition and swimming. See if you can count how many times Derek literally says literally. Contains three swearwords. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-about-fiction/message ..read more