Sue Cook interviews a host of writers for The Write Lines exclusive podcasts for National Short Story Week.

Programme 1: British Short Stories

The guests discuss their own work and opportunities for short story writers, including the market for short stories and the recent increase in short story festivals and competitions. A unique and fascinating look at the short story in the UK today.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/26130139?secret_token=s-aiF9Q" params="auto_play=false&player_type=artwork&color=a10f25" width="300" height="300" ]

Programme 2: Women’s Fiction

The guests discuss the definition of women’s fiction and what makes good women’s fiction. They give a wealth of valuable tips for those wanting to break into the genre, including how to crack the women’s interest magazine short story market, what makes a good heroine and how to choose your characters’ names. A lively programme full of anecdotes and advice for budding women’s fiction writers.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/26131282?secret_token=s-ccE5K" params="auto_play=false&player_type=artwork&color=a10f25" width="300" height="300" ]

Programme 3: Children’s Fiction

The guests discuss what children like reading, what makes a good protagonist in children’s fiction and how children’s authors today use social media to connect with their readers. The guests also give their tips on writing a good short story to those children who will be entering the Year 7 and 8 students short story competition. An entertaining and valuable insight into writing children’s fiction.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/26132220?secret_token=s-Gpxom" params="auto_play=false&player_type=artwork&color=a10f25" width="300" height="300" ]

One of the UK’s most experienced and well known broadcasters, Sue Cook, brings her radio programme The Write Lines online for some exclusive shows to tie in with this year’s National Short Story Week.

Sue will be interviewing a host of writers about the short story form, their favourite short stories and their own short story collections.

Three online programmes will be available by podcast, from www.thewritelines.co.uk, www.nationalshortstoryweek.org.uk and other selected websites from Monday 24th October.

Programme 1: British short stories

Sue is joined in the studio by Emily Bullock (Winner, Bristol Short Story Prize 2011), Stuart Evers (Ten Stories About Smoking, Picador 2011), Linda Leatherbarrow (award winning writer, regular contributor to Slightly Foxed) and Jonathan Pinnock (Winner, Scott Prize 2011) with further contributions via Skype from Nicholas Royle (editor, The Best British Short Stories 2011, Salt) and Helen Oyeyemi (Mr Fox, Picador 2011).

The guests discuss their own work and opportunities for short story writers, including the market for short stories and the recent increase in short story festivals and competitions. A unique and fascinating look at the short story in the UK today.

Programme 2: Women’s Fiction

Sue is joined in the studio by Rowan Coleman (Lessons in Laughing Out Loud, Arrow, 2011), Sophie King (The Wedding Party, Hodder, 2009) and Sue Moorcroft (Love and Freedom, Choc Lit, 2011).

The guests discuss the definition of women’s fiction and what makes good women’s fiction. They give a wealth of valuable tips for those wanting to break into the genre, including how to crack the women’s interest magazine short story market, what makes a good heroine and how to choose your characters’ names. A lively programme full of anecdotes and advice for budding women’s fiction writers.

Programme 3: Children’s Fiction

Sue is joined in the studio by Joe Craig (Jimmy Coates series, Harper Collins, 2005 – ), Tamsyn Murray (My So-Called Phantom Lovelife, Piccadilly Press, 2011) and Chris Priestley (Mister Creecher, Bloomsbury, 2011) with a further contribution via Skype from Jon Mayhew (The Demon Collector, Bloomsbury, 2011).

The guests discuss what children like reading, what makes a good protagonist in children’s fiction and how children’s authors today use social media to connect with their readers. The guests also give their tips on writing a good short story to those children who will be entering the Year 7 and 8 students short story competition. An entertaining and valuable insight into writing children’s fiction.

Sue Cook will be sharing tips and information for aspiring writers at the Verulam Writers’ Circle annual Get Writing conference at the University of Hertfordshire on the 19^th February.

“I love writing. For me, the writing process is like a muscle you have to exercise. I used to set myself a target of 5,000 words a week.”

Sue’s first novel, On Dangerous Ground, was published in 2006. She is currently working on her third novel and adapting On Dangerous Ground for a film of the title.

Visit Verulam Writers’ Circle website for more information about Get Writing 2011.

St. Albans Review: Broadcaster Sue Cook shares writing tips with Verulam Writers’ Circle

We are currently working on the new Sue Cook website. Please bear with us during this changeover.