In the fourteenth episode of the MIR Podcast, Peter J Coles talks with the winner of the Bricklane Bookshop short story prize, 2020 Alice Haworth-Booth, and the head of the prize, Kate Ellis. They discuss writing climate change and what it takes to run a big prize. Show Notes: Bricklane Bookshop
In the thirteenth episode of the MIR Podcast, Peter J Coles talks to writer Golnoosh Nour. They discuss her short story collection ‘The Ministry of Guidance and Other Stories,’ writing about queerness, and why we are reading Iran wrong. Show Notes: Golnoosh Nour The Ministry of Guidance and Other
In the twelfth episode of the MIR Podcast, Peter J Coles is in Brick Lane Bookshop with the winner of their short story prize James Mitchell, and the head of the prize, Kate Ellis. They discuss what it takes to craft a winning short story, issues surrounding writing the ‘other’,
In the eleventh episode of the MIR Podcast, Peter J Coles talks to Elizabeth Dearnley and Michael Eades about their project The Secret Diary of Bloomsbury. They discuss how the project came about, bringing the private into the public space, and keeping a diary. Oh, there is also the mystery
In the tenth episode of the MIR Podcast, Peter J Coles talks to author Julia Bell about the republication of The Creative Writing Coursebook. They discuss how the coursebook came about, the perennial question of whether writing can be taught, and the influence of the digital on creative writing.
In the ninth episode of the MIR Podcast, Angèle Eliane talks to author Toby Litt about his latest novel, Patience. They discuss why the novel took 12 years to write, the importance of finding a voice, and coping with other peoples’ success. Show Notes: Toby Litt Pre-order Patience
In the eighth episode of the MIR Podcast, Peter J Coles talks to author Sean Preston and Joe Johnston about their literary magazine Open Pen. Sean and Joe explain how the magazine came about, why they’ll take a risk on new writers, and publishing the stories others might not.
In the seventh episode of the MIR Podcast, Peter J Coles talks to author Rob True about his debut collection of short stories, ‘Gospel of Aberration’. Rob talks openly about living with schizophrenia, learning to write stories at the age of 40, and gives his advice on writing good dialogue.
In the sixth episode of the MIR Podcast, Peter J Coles talks to author Mazin Saleem about his debut novel ‘The Prick’. They discuss what it means to be a terrible person, middle-class malaise, and the crisis of masculinity. Show Notes: Mazin Saleem Open Pen Strange Horizons The
In the fifth episode of the MIR Podcast, Peter J Coles talks to author Lily Dunn about ‘A Wild and Precious Life: A Recovery Anthology’. They discuss how the anthology came about, writing addiction, and the ups and downs of alternative forms of publishing. Show Notes: A Wild
In the fourth episode of the MIR Podcast MIR15 editor Lauren Miller talks to author Jane Roberts about her story “Our Lady the Sheela Na Gig.” They discuss what inspired the story, Jane’s writing background and they get to the bottom of exactly what a Sheela Na Gig actually is.
The third episode of the MIR Podcast comes from a live recording taken at The Climate for Writing: A MIR16 Masterclass. Deputy Managing Editor of MIROnline, Peter J Coles hosts a panel discussion on writing ‘climate’ with acclaimed authors Jean McNeil and Richard Hamblyn in which they discuss what it means
In the second episode of the MIR Podcast, MIR 15 editor Amy St Johnston talks to author Lou Kramskoy about her short story “The Front Line.” They discuss ways of writing anxiety, the struggle of choosing a good title, and the importance of reading your work aloud. Lou also gives us her short
In the first episode of the MIR Podcast, MIR 15 editor Lauren Miller talks to author Arhondia about her short story “Tom Corridan.” They discuss the influence of music on her writing, the power of drawing on real experience in prose, and how to develop convincing dialogue. Arhondia also gives her short story recommendation.