Writing Is Lonely, Talking Is Hard: Recent Episodes

Oliver Blakemore

Stories about stories.

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Mostly, don't. Book recommendation: The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling

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Reading advice, from one writer to the rest.

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I am working, in spite of appearances. Follow me on Patreon, if you're into that sort of thing.

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Book recommendation: Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson

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Book and music recommendations: "Underground" by Tom Waits, and Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard

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In this one we talk about what to do with the doubt coming from the thought, "Nobody wants what I have to offer." And how to never have writer's block again.

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Part writing tips, part the story of stories. I'm doing an audio blog, because I have stuff to say, and I get impatient with writing it down sometimes.

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Reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling and Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

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Reading Wool by Hugh Howie. PS: this episode may contain spoilers, depending how you define spoilers.

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Reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling.

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Some light reading. How free are you?

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I think sexism is fundamentally cowardly.

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I don't believe in conspiracy theory. But I do respect a good plot.

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It's important to learn to think of worst case scenarios when coming up with stories. It's also important to think of solutions to those scenarios. That's where satisfying stories happen.

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Cataclysmic events drop on us sometimes, and they cause paradigm shift. I take comfort in history.

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Recorded during the discount plague. It's a metaphor, like all the best stories. Harry Potter is also disturbing.

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I finished reading Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee. I THINK I liked it...

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Peter Clines writes good books. And if you should happen to read some of my stories, I do like to know what people think, even if I never ask.

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In which I express my impatience to share my collection of short stories with you.

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Tuesday is named after an old, old god. He was once the Sky Father. Now he is a multitude. Also, so far, Ninefox Gambit is a good book. We shall see if it continues to be.

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Characters need to be consistently inconsistent, like real people, but they shouldn't be too much like real people. Characters from Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke examined.

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Society isn't designed for shy people to thrive.

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Make your heroes smart by making your villains competent.

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Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke is a book I once judged by the cover. It turned out pretty well.

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Self-employment is an interesting world. I am a professional writer. It's pretty sweet. Check out my book on Amazon: Ragged Museum by Oliver Blakemore.

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I talk about being glad to be understood. The book is Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick.

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Keep an eye out for my upcoming book of short stories, Ragged Museum by Oliver Blakemore.

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The book I talk about in this is Anno Dracula by Kim Newman.

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In which I talk about sympathy for characters in stories.

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What I like about The Expanse books, my dad's approach to new technology, and why those of us who like the idea of space travel should take comfort in human nature.

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I think it's time to find tools for genre distinctions that are less prescriptive and more responsive.

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I want to start an institution that funds all the life expenses of creative types while they get their careers started.

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Build a relationship of trust with your hairdresser, and never make the same mistakes as Hitler.