In episode 3 I talk to John McKinstry. John is a writer of non-fiction and also published his first novel, Life and Other Contact Sports, in 2016. We talk about what he learned in writing his business self-help books – about what he calls the “bad stuff” like redundancy, bullying and dealing with anger –…

Writing Perspectives

Episode 3: John McKinstry

This short episode brings the first series of Writing Perspectives to an end. I talk a little bit about each of the ten episodes in the series and think about what I’ve learned from talking to each of my ten insightful and interesting guests. Thinking particularly about the advice they would each give to aspiring…

End of Series 1: Recap

In episode 10 I talk to Philip Wark. Philip spent his career managing, running and championing public libraries. We discuss how writers and their local libraries can successfully work together; what Philip has seen work in his years of running and organising writers’ groups, author talks and much more. Philip also tells us about what…

Episode 10: Philip Wark

In this episode I get a very different perspective as I talk to sports writer Sam Pilger. Sam has spent over twenty years writing magazine features, mainly on football (soccer) and cricket. In that time he has interviewed many of the most famous names – from Bobby Charlton to Lebron James; from Sachin Tendulkar to…

Episode 9: Sam Pilger

Welcome to episode 8, where I talk to writer Neal Sillars. Neal is the author of five books that, on the face of it, seem very different. His work includes a thriller (Revolutionary Tax), a novel infused with Celtic folklore (A Conspiracy of Ravens), an historical novel set over a thousand years of Spanish history…

Episode 8: Neal Sillars

In episode 5 we heard from first-time novelist Andrew Okey. He told us about his experience of writing The Alternative and his adventures in trying to get it published. I’m delighted to say that Andrew has recorded a short reading from The Alternative, especially for Writing Perspectives. I hope you enjoy it. Please leave me a comment below,…

Bonus Episode: Andrew Okey Reads from ‘The Alternative’

Welcome to the seventh episode of Writing Perspectives. I talk to writer and journalist Arnar Eggert Thoroddsen. Arnar can be considered to be the ‘go to guy’ for everything to do with popular music in Iceland. He worked for over ten years for the Morgunblaðið daily newspaper in Reykjavik – where he reviewed countless gigs…

Episode 7: Arnar Eggert Thoroddsen

In this episode I talk to illustrator and comixator Zu Dominiak. Zu is a talented artist who creates comic strips; she tells stories using words and pictures. We talk about how the interplay between images and narrative influences her work. She talks us through her planning process and we discuss the challenge of ‘killing your…

Episode 6: Zu Dominiak

In this episode I talk to first-time novelist Andrew Okey. We discuss what spurred him on to take time out to concentrate on writing and about his approach to writing the manuscript for his novel, The Alternative. We cover Andrew’s approach to planning his work, in particular the challenge he had with The Alternative in…

Episode 5: Andrew Okey

  Welcome to episode 4 where I talk to writer and poet Mel Woodend. Mel’s poetry is heavily influenced by her love of nature and the outdoors. We explore the relationship between her work the inspiration she gains from the world around her in the English Midlands. Mel is a self-published poet so we explore…

Episode 4: Mel Woodend

In this episode I have the great pleasure of speaking to Lucy McCarraher. Lucy has a huge amount of experience in writing and publishing, starting her first publishing company whilst at university. She has been a book and magazine editor, a print journalist, a TV journalist, a writers’ agent, an editor for Methuen and has…

Episode 2: Lucy McCarraher

  In this episode I have the privilege of speaking to Martin Cathcart Froden. Martin is a novelist and poet.  Originally from Sweden, he has lived in Canada, Israel, Argentina, almost Finland and London. He’s worked as a drummer, avocado picker, magazine editor and prison teacher. In 2015 he won the Dundee International Book Prize…

Episode 1: Martin Cathcart Froden

Edinburgh-based writer Steve Borley interviews other writers - and people who work with writers - to learn from their experiences and insights.