I knew it was about a dream, and a battle and a colour-blind soldier. I didn’t know that the commanders in the army were magical birds of prey. I didn’t know the birds hate wizards and the enemy has magic (I did say I was I having a day off from the contemporary).

I didn’t know the protagonist would need to shelter an armoured falcon, trapped between fallen armour. I didn’t know, until I had written it, that he would use a jewelled disc the size of a dinner plate that would lead others to mistakenly identify him as something he is not.

I didn’t know the coin purses would be in the story, or the standard bearers. It was a fun Sunday morning.

One of my day jobs (I try to keep a healthy roster) is in science. The powerful computing of AI offers some really exciting possibilities. I’m not really an AI luddite, I just don’t think it has much of a role to play in human creativity and imagination. Because nothing auto-completes colour-blind soldier to belligerent army general falcon except my imagination before I’ve really woken up for the day.

Of course writing means there are some days when you don’t know where the story will go. Or you have a clear idea of what you want to say about the world, but you can’t get it down on the paper. Of course you’ll write yourself into dead ends, and your character will do something so uncharacteristic it introduces an inconsistency that undermines the story. Of course objects will appear proclaiming their own importance and you have no clue what to do with them.

But turning to AI to solve any of these problems denies the writer the chance to know what would have happened if they had gone for a walk, hung some laundry out, made tea. Suddenly finding an unexpected answer, an imaginative leap, that’s the fun part.

A novel isn’t a series of questions to be answered or challenges to overcome. It’s a whole story, and the satisfaction for the reader comes from the whole.

More than once, I’ve written what I call an ‘empty scene’ where nothing much happens, my mind seems to be sculling around in circles, finding its way to the next rapid. It’s only on the fourth, fifth, sixth edit that I realise a vital piece of information is missing for the reader, and that empty scene is the perfect place to put it. If I had ‘solved’ the problem of that scene as I drafted, it wouldn’t be waiting for me there when I need it. This is the fun part of writing.

For me, AI writing is like saying to a footballer; that looks exhausting, let me design an algorithm where everyone gets a touch of the ball, wouldn’t that be easier?

Or to a cook; what a lot of work! Let me order you a microwave meal.

I’m writing this just after a book has been pulled by a publisher because of AI content. The ins and outs of that particular case are none of my business, but I feel sorry for anyone relying on AI to get their novels to the end.

And just last week a video instructing me how to make and publish two hundred books a year using AI crept into my YouTube feed. What would be the point?

The process is where the fun is, it’s the whole point. I want, need, to do the writing equivalent of running around in the sunshine, exhausting myself, chopping onions too large and burning things at the edges. I want to discover characters, be confused by objects, create worlds, follow narrative threads, retrace my steps and tie it all together.

To anyone turning to AI to ‘solve a problem’ in your writing, I’d say, make sure you don’t accidentally skip the fun. It really is the best type of fun.

This workshop plays with idea of being literally alone in a busy setting to explore how a character feels when they realise a momentous decision might be theirs, and theirs alone.

You’ll need a pen and paper or the notes app on your phone,. The first few minutes will be a writing warm up. Then I’ll talk a little about why I chose the topic and why it’s interesting for writers and we’ll get to the main writing session. During the writing I’ll speak about every 2 to 5 minutes to give you a chance to concentrate. The idea is that I keep track of time so you can concentrate on the writing.

Towards the end of the main session I’ll give you an opportunity to press pause, so you can write for longer if you like. Then I’ll invite you to reflect on your writing.

Have fun!

I’m going to change the usual format today and instead of a warm up and guided prompts I’m going to invite you jump straight in and keep going, abandoning whatever you should be doing, whether that’s dusting or life admin, and just committing to the pleasure of writing for an hour or so without any thought of anything other than the fun of it.

As promised in the episode, here are some reflection questions.

Is there a new character in this piece of writing you would like to continue with?

Read back over the moment of change. Could you work on a piece of writing that is just about that moment, making it as long as possible, experimenting with interiority and actions as an expression of our desire to escape?

Is there a nice turn of phrase or expression you’ve written that could be the jumping off point for another piece, used in a different context?

What worked to get you going, was it an image, a sentence in the piece, a character, a world? If you know where you find it easy to begin, you can always begin.

Happy writing!

Welcome to the creative writing workshop podcast. The title of this episode is The Invention of a Room.

You’ll need pen and paper or the notes app on your phone. The first few minutes will be a writing warm up. Then I’ll talk a little about why I chose the topic and why it’s interesting for writers and we’ll get to the main writing.

During the writing I’ll speak about every 2 to 5 minutes to give you a chance to concentrate. The idea is that I keep track of time so you can concentrate on the writing. Towards the end I’ll give you an opportunity to press pause, so you can write for longer if you like. Then I’ll invite you to reflect on your writing.

This is a writing workshop so you’ll need pen and paper or the notes app on your phone. The first few minutes will be a writing warm up.

During the writing session I’ll speak about every 2 to 5 minutes to give you a chance to concentrate. The idea is that I keep track of time so you can concentrate on the writing. Towards the end of the main exercise I’ll give you an opportunity to press pause, so you can write for longer if you like. Then I’ll invite you to reflect on your writing.

As always, happy writing!

And just a reminder I’m running a free live workshop, Doors:

Book a free ticket for 11 am GMT Wednesday 18th March

Book a free ticket for 7 pm GMT Wednesday 25th March

A character faced with a decision, making a decision, working through the consequences of a decision, these are some of the building blocks of all fiction – though they are far from the only ones. This workshop is a chance to experiment with characters making decisions, building a skill you can use in all sorts of writing situations.

During the writing sessions I’ll speak about every 2 to 5 minutes to give you a chance to concentrate. The quiet moments in between are an invitation to put words down on the page. Towards the end of the main session I’ll give you an opportunity to press pause, so you can write for longer if you like, but of course you can press pause at any point if you need more time. Then I’ll invite you to reflect on your writing.

The title of this episode is Cure.

Just a reminder this isn’t a writing advice podcast, it’s an invitation for you to get your own words down on the page.

You’ll need pen and paper, the notes app on your phone, or a new word doc.

The first few minutes will be a writing warm up. Then I’ll talk a little about why I chose the topic and why it’s interesting for writers and we’ll get to the main writing session.

During the writing I’ll speak about every 2 to 5 minutes to give you a chance to concentrate. The idea is that I keep track of time so you can concentrate on the writing. Towards the end of the writing I’ll give you an opportunity to press pause, so you can write for longer if you like. Then I’ll invite you to reflect on your writing.

A few episodes ago we took a slightly metaphorical look at the concept of poison, today we’re going to be much more literal with the idea of a cure.

You’ll need pen and paper or the notes app on your phone. The first few minutes will be a writing warm up. Then I’ll talk a little about why I chose the topic and why it’s interesting for writers and we’ll get to the main writing session. During the writing I’ll speak about every 2 to 5 minutes to give you a chance to focus. The idea is that I keep track of time so you can concentrate on the writing. Towards the end of the main exercise I’ll give you an opportunity to press pause, so you can write for longer if you like. Then I’ll invite you to reflect on your writing.

Have fun!

You’ll need pen and paper or the notes app on your phone, or a blank screen. The first few minutes will be a writing warm up.

Then I talk very briefly about why I chose the topic and why it’s interesting for writers and we’ll get to the main writing exercise.

During the writing exercise I’ll speak every 5 minutes to give you a new prompt, press pause if you want to write for longer. Then I’ll invite you to reflect on your writing.

Listening on Spotify or another podcast platform? Join the mailing list and I’ll send occasional emails about live writing workshops and other projects:

https://mailchi.mp/67855607af93/creativewritingpodcast

You’ll need pen and paper or the notes app on your phone, or a blank screen. The first few minutes will be a writing warm up.

Then I talk very briefly about why I chose the topic and why it’s interesting for writers and we’ll get to the main writing exercise.

During the writing exercise I’ll speak every 5 minutes to give you a new prompt, press pause if you want to write for longer. Then I’ll invite you to reflect on your writing.

Listening on Spotify or another podcast platform? Join the mailing list and I’ll send occasional emails about live writing workshops and other projects: https://mailchi.mp/67855607af93/creativewritingpodcast

You’ll need pen and paper or the notes app on your phone, or a blank screen. The first few minutes will be a writing warm up.

Then I talk very briefly about why I chose the topic and why it’s interesting for writers and we’ll get to the main writing exercise.

During the writing exercise I’ll speak every 5 minutes to give you a new prompt, press pause if you want to write for longer. Then I’ll invite you to reflect on your writing.

Listening on Spotify or another podcast platform? Join the mailing list and I’ll send occasional emails about live writing workshops and other projects: https://mailchi.mp/67855607af93/creativewritingpodcast

You’ll need pen and paper or the notes app on your phone, or a blank screen. The first few minutes will be a writing warm up.

Then I’ll talk briefly about why I chose the topic and why it’s interesting for writers.

During the writing exercise I’ll speak every 2 - 5 minutes to give you a new prompt, press pause if you want to write for longer. Then I’ll invite you to reflect on your writing.

Join the list for occasional emails about live writing workshops and other projects: https://mailchi.mp/67855607af93/creativewritingpodcast

Weather can be a fantastic way into a story, especially if landscape is going to play a key part in your work. Whether you want to write a hurricane, a deluge, high winds or a sand storm, your characters will have to struggle to survive.

You’ll need pencil and notebook or the notes app on your phone, or a shiny new word document. The first few minutes will be a writing warm up.

Then I’ll talk about why I chose the topic and why it’s interesting for writers and we’ll get to the main writing exercise.

During the writing exercises I’ll speak every 2 to 5 minutes to give you a new prompt, press pause if you want to write for longer. Then I’ll invite you to reflect on your writing.

Welcome to the creative writing podcast. The theme of this episode is The Storm Inside.

You’ll need pen and paper or the notes app on your phone. The first few minutes will be a writing warm up. Then I’ll talk a little about why I chose the topic and why it’s interesting for writers and we’ll get to the main writing exercise.

During the writing exercises I’ll speak about every 2 to 5 minutes to give you a chance to concentrate in the silence, the extra prompts will help you refocus if you need to.

Towards the end of the main exercise I’ll give you an opportunity to press pause, so you can write for longer if you like. Then I’ll invite you to reflect on your writing.

Have fun!

Listening on Spotify or YouTube?

Sign up for occasional emails about live writing workshops and other projects: https://mailchi.mp/67855607af93/creativewritingpodcast

You’ll need pen and paper or the notes app on your phone, or a blank screen. The first few minutes will be a writing warm up.

Then I talk very briefly about why I chose the topic and why it’s interesting for writers and we’ll get to the main writing exercise.

During the writing exercise I’ll speak every 5 minutes to give you a new prompt, press pause if you want to write for longer. Then I’ll invite you to reflect on your writing.

Sign up for occasional emails about live writing workshops and other projects: https://mailchi.mp/67855607af93/creativewritingpodcast

You’ll need pen and paper or the notes app on your phone, or a blank document. The first few minutes will be a writing warm up. Then I’ll talk a little about why I chose the topic and why it’s interesting for writers and we’ll get to the main writing exercise.

During the writing exercises I’ll speak about every 2 to 5 minutes to give you a chance to concentrate. Towards the end of the main exercise I’ll give you an opportunity to press pause, so you can write for longer if you like. Then I’ll invite you to reflect on your writing.

Have fun!

Sign up for occasional emails about live writing workshops and other projects: https://mailchi.mp/67855607af93/creativewritingpodcast

You’ll need pen and paper or the notes app on your phone, or a blank screen. The first few minutes will be a writing warm up. Then I’ll talk a little about why I chose the topic and why it’s interesting for writers and we’ll get to the main writing exercise.

During the writing exercises I’ll speak about every 2 to 5 minutes to give you a chance to concentrate. Towards the end of the main exercise I’ll give you an opportunity to press pause, so you can write for longer if you like. Then I’ll invite you to reflect on your writing.

Have fun!

Sign up for occasional emails about live writing workshops and other projects: https://mailchi.mp/67855607af93/creativewritingpodcast

Have fun!

Sign up for occasional emails about live writing workshops and other projects: https://mailchi.mp/67855607af93/creativewritingpodcast

You’ll need pen and paper or the notes app on your phone, or a blank screen. The first few minutes will be a writing warm up. Then I’ll talk a little about why I chose the topic and why it’s interesting for writers and we’ll get to the main writing exercise.

During the writing exercises I’ll speak about every 2 to 5 minutes to give you a chance to concentrate. Towards the end of the main exercise I’ll give you an opportunity to press pause, so you can write for longer if you like. Then I’ll invite you to reflect on your writing.

Have fun!

Sign up for occasional emails about live writing workshops and other projects: https://mailchi.mp/67855607af93/creativewritingpodcast