The Writers’ Gym Podcast

Narrators

In this episode we look at the role of narrators in fiction and discuss when, how and whether to deploy them.  As usual Dr Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen bring examples from their own writing and from the wider worlds of literature and drama. 
 
Rachel would like to point out that it was Arthur Dent's upper arm that was bruised and not his elbow.
 
Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writing workout at https://www.rachelknightley.com/the-writers-gym/
The Writers Gym Podcast is an Alternative Stories production for The Writers' Gym.
Find out more about The Writers' Gym and Rachel Knightley by going to: https://www.rachelknightley.com/
Find out more about Emily Inkpen and her work by going to: https://www.emilyinkpen.com/
Learn more about Chris Gregory and Alternative Stories here https://alternativestories.com/
Follow the Writers’ Gym and contact us on Social Media:
https://x.com/TheWritersGymRK
https://www.instagram.com/jointhewritersgym/
https://www.facebook.com/JoinTheWritersGym/
Subscribe to The Writers’ Gym in your favourite podcast app to be notified of all new episodes as they are released.
Contact us by email at thewritersgym@rachelknightley.com

Reading For Writers

In this episode we look at reading and how it can help to fire creativity and inspire imagination for authors.  As usual, Emily and Rachel bring plenty of stories and anecdotes about ways in which books have inspired them.  We end with a look at books about writing. 
 
Books mentioned in this podcast include 
Ursula Le Guin: Steering the Craft and Conversations on Writing
Stephen King: On Writing: A Memoir of the CraftRachel Knightley: Your Creative Writing ToolkitMargaret Atwood: Negotiating with the DeadDavid Lynch: Catching the Big FishJohn Cleese: Creativity: a short and cheerful guide
Sandra Newman & Howard Mittelmark: How Not to Write a Novel
 
Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writing workout at https://www.rachelknightley.com/the-writers-gym/
 
The Writers Gym Podcast is an Alternative Stories production for The Writers' Gym.
Find out more about The Writers' Gym and Rachel Knightley by going to: https://www.rachelknightley.com/
Find out more about Emily Inkpen and her work by going to: https://www.emilyinkpen.com/
Learn more about Chris Gregory and Alternative Stories here https://alternativestories.com/
Follow the Writers’ Gym and contact us on Social Media:
https://x.com/TheWritersGymRK
https://www.instagram.com/jointhewritersgym/
https://www.facebook.com/JoinTheWritersGym/
Subscribe to The Writers’ Gym in your favourite podcast app to be notified of all new episodes as they are released.
Contact us by email at thewritersgym@rachelknightley.com
 
 

Viewpoint and Perspective

In this episode we explore viewpoint and perspective in fiction.   Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen discuss the different types of perspective and the ways in which a writers' instinct might dictate the best approach to telling their particular story. 
In the discussion Rachel references “Point of View: the thing that makes all other things more doable” which you can find on YouTube here 
https://youtu.be/GgB7_I37efM?si=bVCVYAxNTsrWZ0OU
It is presented by Rachel Knightley and produced by Simret Cheema-Innis
 
Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writing workout at https://www.rachelknightley.com/the-writers-gym/
The Writers Gym Podcast is an Alternative Stories production for The Writers' Gym.
Find out more about The Writers' Gym and Rachel Knightley by going to: https://www.rachelknightley.com/
Find out more about Emily Inkpen and her work by going to: https://www.emilyinkpen.com/
Learn more about Chris Gregory and Alternative Stories here https://alternativestories.com/
Follow the Writers’ Gym and contact us on Social Media:
https://x.com/TheWritersGymRK
https://www.instagram.com/jointhewritersgym/
https://www.facebook.com/JoinTheWritersGym/
Subscribe to The Writers’ Gym in your favourite podcast app to be notified of all new episodes as they are released.
Contact us by email at thewritersgym@rachelknightley.com
 
 

Principles of Scriptwriting

In this episode Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen talk about scriptwriting and offer advice to writers wishing to get started in writing for stage, screen or audio drama.  
 
You can listen to Rachel Knightley's audio drama "Winter Spring" here https://open.spotify.com/episode/2gBu6Bqmc7CiC8zwXTYIPZ?si=b2c423862aaf4438
 
Emily's drama serial "The Dex Legacy" can be heard here  https://open.spotify.com/show/1aphgDiefw4FdO8EN5LJxy?si=2908e95681354b81
 
Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writing workout at https://www.rachelknightley.com/the-writers-gym/
 
The Writers Gym Podcast is an Alternative Stories production for The Writers' Gym.
 
Find out more about The Writers' Gym and Rachel Knightley by going to: https://www.rachelknightley.com/
Find out more about Emily Inkpen and her work by going to: https://www.emilyinkpen.com/
Learn more about Chris Gregory and Alternative Stories here https://alternativestories.com/
 
Follow the Writers’ Gym and contact us on Social Media:
https://x.com/TheWritersGymRK
https://www.instagram.com/jointhewritersgym/
https://www.facebook.com/JoinTheWritersGym/
 
Subscribe to The Writers’ Gym in your favourite podcast app to be notified of all new episodes as they are released.
Contact us by email at thewritersgym@rachelknightley.com
 

Pace and Structure

In this episode Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen discuss pace and structure in fiction.  They ask whether pace comes from structure or can be added at the editing stage and ponder examples of well structured stories on page and screen.
 
Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writing workout at https://www.rachelknightley.com/the-writers-gym/
 
The Writers Gym Podcast is an Alternative Stories production for The Writers' Gym.
 
Find out more about The Writers' Gym and Rachel Knightley by going to: https://www.rachelknightley.com/
Find out more about Emily Inkpen and her work by going to: https://www.emilyinkpen.com/
Learn more about Chris Gregory and Alternative Stories here https://alternativestories.com/
Follow the Writers’ Gym and contact us on Social Media: https://x.com/TheWritersGymRK https://www.instagram.com/jointhewritersgym/ https://www.facebook.com/JoinTheWritersGym/
 
Subscribe to The Writers’ Gym in your favourite podcast app to be notified of all new episodes as they are released.
 
Contact us by email at thewritersgym@rachelknightley.com
 
Join us next week for the third episode of season three in which we'll be talking about scriptwriting.

Animosity in Fiction

In this first episode of season three of The Writers' Gym Podcast, Dr Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen look at animosity in fiction and the ways in which writers can use conflicts, feuds, fights and arguments to add interest and plot lines to their work. 
 
This episode begins with a conversation about the Green Ink Sponsored Write 2024 which is taking place on Saturday 19th October.  You can find out more and sponsor Rachel and the other writers via this link:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/greeninksponsoredwrite2024
 
 
Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writing workout at https://www.rachelknightley.com/the-writers-gym/
 
The Writers Gym Podcast is an Alternative Stories production for The Writers' Gym.  
 
Find out more about The Writers' Gym and Rachel Knightley by going to https://www.rachelknightley.com/
 
Find out more about Emily Inkpen and her work by going to https://www.emilyinkpen.com/
 
Learn more about Chris Gregory and Alternative Stories here: https://alternativestories.com/
 
Follow the Writers’ Gym and contact us on Social Media: 
https://x.com/TheWritersGymRK
https://www.instagram.com/jointhewritersgym/
https://www.facebook.com/JoinTheWritersGym/
 
 
Subscribe to The Writers’ Gym in your favourite podcast app to be notified of all new episodes as they are released.  
 
Contact us by email at thewritersgym@rachelknightley.com
 
Join us next week for the second episode of season three in which we'll be talking about pace and structure.

Rhianna Pratchett at the Writers' Gym

In this special episode of the podcast Rachel and Emily are in conversation with multi-disciplined writer Rhianna Pratchett about her work in video games, comics, TV, radio and books.  
 
To find out more about Rhianna and her work please visit her website at https://rhiannapratchett.com/
and you can follow her on X here  https://x.com/rhipratchett
 
Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writing workout at https://www.rachelknightley.com/the-writers-gym/
The Writers Gym Podcast is an Alternative Stories production for The Writers' Gym.  
Find out more about The Writers' Gym and Rachel Knightley by going to https://www.rachelknightley.com/
Find out more about Emily Inkpen and her work by going to https://www.emilyinkpen.com/
And learn more about Chris Gregory and Alternative Stories here https://alternativestories.com/
 
Follow the Writers’ Gym and contact us on Social Media 
https://x.com/TheWritersGymRK
https://www.instagram.com/jointhewritersgym/
https://www.facebook.com/JoinTheWritersGym/
Subscribe to The Writers’ Gym in your favourite podcast app to be notified of all new episodes as they are released.  
Contact us by email at thewritersgym@rachelknightley.com
 
This is the final episode of our second season.  We'd like to thank everyone who has listened, rated and reviewed the show.   We'll be back in the autumn for a new series but until then, enjoy your summer and your writing.   

Chronological Versus Fractured Narratives

In this episode Dr Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen look at the ways in which writers use time in their storytelling.  From linear narratives following a traditional chronology to fractured, repeating and circular narratives we compare them and look at the advantages of playing around with time in your work. 
 
Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writing workout at https://www.rachelknightley.com/the-writers-gym/
The Writers Gym Podcast is an Alternative Stories production for The Writers' Gym.  
Find out more about The Writers' Gym and Rachel Knightley by going to https://www.rachelknightley.com/
Find out more about Emily Inkpen and her work by going to https://www.emilyinkpen.com/
And learn more about Chris Gregory and Alternative Stories here https://alternativestories.com/
 
Follow the Writers’ Gym and contact us on Social Media 
https://x.com/TheWritersGymRK
https://www.instagram.com/jointhewritersgym/
https://www.facebook.com/JoinTheWritersGym/
Subscribe to The Writers’ Gym in your favourite podcast app to be notified of all new episodes as they are released.  
 
Contact us by email at thewritersgym@rachelknightley.com
 
Join us next week for the final episode of season 2 in which we'll be joined by a very special guest. 

Foreshadowing

Dropping hints about events to come in your stories can raise tension and add depth and interest to your work.  In this episode we look at the art and technique of foreshadowing and ask why should writers consider it an important tool in their skillset. 
Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writing workout at https://www.rachelknightley.com/the-writers-gym/
The Writers Gym Podcast is an Alternative Stories production for The Writers' Gym.  
Find out more about The Writers' Gym and Rachel Knightley by going to https://www.rachelknightley.com/
Find out more about Emily Inkpen and her work by going to https://www.emilyinkpen.com/
And learn more about Chris Gregory and Alternative Stories here https://alternativestories.com/
 
Follow the Writers’ Gym and contact us on Social Media 
https://x.com/TheWritersGymRK
https://www.instagram.com/jointhewritersgym/
https://www.facebook.com/JoinTheWritersGym/
Subscribe to The Writers’ Gym in your favourite podcast app to be notified of all new episodes as they are released.  
Contact us by email at thewritersgym@rachelknightley.com

Short Fiction

In this week's episode we'll look at short fiction and the skills and techniques you'll need to master concise storytelling.  We discuss the pros and cons of writing short fiction and some of the drawbacks and limitations of the form.  As usual we end with a writing challenge from Rachel. 
 
Join the Writers’ Gym and book your next writing workout at https://www.rachelknightley.com/the-writers-gym/
The Writers Gym Podcast is an Alternative Stories production for The Writers' Gym.  
Find out more about The Writers' Gym and Rachel Knightley by going to https://www.rachelknightley.com/
Find out more about Emily Inkpen and her work by going to https://www.emilyinkpen.com/
And learn more about Chris Gregory and Alternative Stories here https://alternativestories.com/
 
Follow the Writers’ Gym and contact us on Social Media 
https://x.com/TheWritersGymRK
https://www.instagram.com/jointhewritersgym/
https://www.facebook.com/JoinTheWritersGym/
Subscribe to The Writers’ Gym in your favourite podcast app to be notified of all new episodes as they are released.  
Contact us by email at thewritersgym@rachelknightley.com