Join Beth and Mary on this week’s episode of the Write Club Podcast, where we go behind the pages and into the fascinating world of writing. Our guest is the multi-talented Bibi Berki - a fiction and non-fiction writer, podcaster, and creator of the acclaimed audio series The Kiss.Bibi talks about her journey from news reporting to storytelling in novels and audio, and how her debut novel The Watch — shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Prize — gave her the confidence to explore different formats. She also discusses her latest release, The Youngster (Deixis Press, August 2025), a tense literary domestic thriller shaped by the Covid lockdowns and set in South East London.Tune in to hear Bibi on:* The influence of place and atmosphere on her writing* The emotional challenges of crafting a domestic thriller* Her approach to storytelling for audio versus print* Collaboration, creative experimentation, and her future projects* And her top book and audio recommendationsListen now and get inspired to tell your story! Get full access to Writers’s Substack at writersonline.substack.com/subscribe
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Danny Fontaine
Danny coaches teams and pitches multi-million-dollar deals to some of the world’s biggest brands, blending creativity, psychology, storytelling, and immersive experiences. He also hosts the Pitch Masters podcast and is the author of Pitch, a guide to mastering the art of selling ideas.Danny shares his journey to becoming The Pitch Guy, explores why so many people fear pitching, and reveals practical tips to help writers confidently pitch their work. From externalising your novel’s themes to flipping your mindset and enjoying the process, this episode is packed with insights for anyone looking to get their writing noticed. Plus, Danny shares his top piece of advice and a recent book recommendation for listeners.Danny’s book Pitch is out now. Get full access to Writers’s Substack at writersonline.substack.com/subscribe
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Sara Grant
Struggling with how to edit your novel? In this episode of The Write Club Podcast, bestselling author, editor, and mentor Sara Grant shares expert editing tips every writer needs. Sara is the author of The Ultimate Guide to Editing Your Novel: A revolutionary approach to transform your writing and co-founder of Undiscovered Voices, which has launched the careers of over 100 authors.We talk about why editing can feel so daunting, the most common mistakes writers make, and the powerful ways editing can elevate your work. Sara also tells us about her work with Storymix, co-founding Undiscovered Voices, and what a typical writing day looks like for her.If you’re a novelist or aspiring writer looking for clear, professional editing advice, this episode will help you take your work to the next level. Get full access to Writers’s Substack at writersonline.substack.com/subscribe
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Georgie Codd
Georgie’s writing life has taken her from shadowing drug dealers in Florida City to teaching English in a Himalayan nunnery, editing publications for the Tibetan Government in Exile, and even working behind the scenes at a funeral parlour. A graduate of UEA’s Prose-writing MA, her debut memoir We Swim to the Shark (2020) chronicled her journey to overcome deep fears by travelling the world, learning to scuba dive, and attempting to swim alongside a whale shark.Her latest book, Never Had a Dad, was sparked by a trip to Scotland and grew into a fascinating quest exploring fatherhood. The project has been featured across the BBC World Service, The Times, iNews, and more, and has even been optioned for TV by a major production company.In this episode, Georgie talks with us about her unconventional path into writing, the challenges of turning personal quests into gripping memoir, and why non-fiction and adventure continue to inspire her work. We also dive into the surprising discoveries behind Never Had a Dad, her thoughts on balancing truth and storytelling, and what’s next in her creative journey.This episode of the Write Club Podcast is sponsored by Arvon.Since 1968, Arvon has been helping writers at every stage of their journey, with inspiring courses and retreats led by leading authors. Whether you’ve got just an hour, a day, or a week to spare, Arvon offers the space, support, and community to unlock your creativity.And with grants and concessions available, their courses are open to anyone who wants to write.Find out more at arvon.org. Get full access to Writers’s Substack at writersonline.substack.com/subscribe
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Episode 29 - The Stolen Child
In this month’s Bookclub episode, Mary and Beth talk all about The Stolen Child by Carmel Harrington – a gripping, emotional novel that weaves together three timelines across decades of love, loss, and mystery.From the shocking disappearance of two-year-old Robert on a Mediterranean cruise in 1983, to the lives of two orphan girls in 1970s London, and finally to 2023, where new revelations shake the Murphy family to their core – this story asks haunting questions about family, resilience, and the secrets we carry.We talk about our reading experience, the characters who captured our hearts (and the ones who broke them), the emotional punches, and the imagery that lingers long after the last page. As Carmel was our very first guest on Write Club (and our most popular episode to date!), we couldn’t resist revisiting her work. We even play an eerie excerpt from our conversation with her that sets the tone perfectly. Get full access to Writers’s Substack at writersonline.substack.com/subscribe
Welcome to Write Club, the ultimate podcast for anyone passionate about the written word. Brought to you by Writers Online, in each episode we'll give you an insight into the world of writing, creativity, and publishing.
Join us as we sit down with celebrated authors, literary agents, industry mentors, and creative professionals to uncover their stories, insights, and advice. Write Club delivers everything you need to spark your creativity and sharpen your skills.
Every great writer knows: the first rule of Write Club is to never stop writing. writersonline.substack.com
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