London Writers' Salon

In this episode we talk with Psychotherapist and podcaster Emma Reed Turrell on developing her writing practice alongside her day job, launching a book around her expertise, and how she wrote without expectation - in fact it was more important that she meant what she said than it was to get published. Emma also talks about how we can stop "people pleasing" in our writing.*ABOUT EMMA REED TURRELL Emma Reed Turrell is a Clinical Supervisor, therapist and podcaster (Best Friend Therapist which she hosts with Elizabeth Day). In her practice she works with people pleasers every day. Her book Please Yourself: How to Stop People-Pleasing and Transform the Way You Live, Emma offers insights and techniques that will help you understand yourself more fully and live more authentically.*QUOTES FROM EMMA:“If your reader was already on your side and already bought into everything you had to say, what would you say next?” “People cannot respect your boundaries if you don't set any. And resentment is a fantastic symptom for you to spot because resentment is the felt symptom of unfelt anger. So if you start to notice that you're resenting people, you might want to reinstate a boundary with the person you resent. So the first thing to do is be really honest with yourself. Have you set any boundaries before you wonder whether anyone's crossed them?”RESOURCESConnect with Emma:Twitter: @etcounsellingInstagram: @emmareedturrellEmma's Website: emmareedturrell.comEmma’s book: Please Yourself: How to Stop People-Pleasing and Transform the Way You Live.*For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON:Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

In this episode we talk with the Carnegie winner and #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction, Ruta Sepetys, about the joy of writing historical fiction, building believable characters, the research process, how she finds objects from history to have by her side as she’s writing and why she writes her first draft like the world’s on fire. Plus, the importance of melody and rhythm in writing, the power of collaboration and dealing with critics.*ABOUT RUTA SEPETYSRuta Sepetys (Rūta Šepetys) is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over sixty countries and forty languages. Sepetys is considered a “crossover” novelist as her books are read by both students and adults worldwide. Winner of the Carnegie Medal, Ruta is renowned for giving voice to underrepresented history and those who experienced it. Her books have won or been shortlisted for over forty book prizes, are included on over thirty state reading lists, and are currently in development for film and television.*QUOTES FROM RUTA:“Tonight you might hear a song that you haven't heard in five years and you can sing every word to that song, every word. And that's because melody and rhythm make things memorable and powerful. Melody and rhythm are often overlooked and writers I want you to read your work aloud, listening for rhythm and flow” RESOURCESConnect with Ruta:Twitter: @RutaSepetysInstagram: @rutasepetysauthorRuta's Website - Ruta’s Website*LINKS FROM THE SHOWBooks by Ruta Sepetys:I Must Betray YouThe Fountains of SilenceSalt to the SeaOut of the EasyBetween Shades of Gray*For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON:Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonCREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

How can you reclaim your creative and emotional life? How can you create content that impacts your audience deeply? We talk to the influential blogger, Natalie Lue, about how she launched and grew her blog, Baggage Reclaim, and how she created a profitable business around her writing. We dive into her success in both self-publishing and traditional publishing, and what it feels like to be an outsider in the publishing industry. We also talk about how to deal with the inner critic, reclaim our emotional lives and learn to say ‘no’.*ABOUT NATALIE LUENatalie is the author of the hugely popular relationship and self-esteem blog, Baggage Reclaim where for over a decade, she’s shared the journey of her transition from toxic relationships to love, care, trust and respect. Her podcast The Baggage Reclaim Sessions have been downloaded over 2 million times. Natalie has sold hundreds of thousands of copies of her books including including Mr Unavailable & The Fallback Girl, and How to Self-Sooth Quick Guide.*SHOW NOTES:[02:03] Finding inspiration and setting boundaries with social media.[04:05] How her mother's advice that she should learn to love herself, led to the start of her blog.[07:03] The story behind Baggage Reclaim and what her early posts looked like[12:35] What's kept her writing consistently over the years[17:42] How she approaches her blogging today versus 18 years ago[19:10] Coming up with new ideas and topics for her blog[20:20]  Natalie explains what “future faking” is[21:43] How she decides what to focus on and how Seth Godin’s advice: ‘what is the change you're seeking to make?” helped[23:11] Dealing with imposter syndrome and self-doubt[28:56] Trusting our intuition and how to be more intuitive with creative work[35:04] Allocating time across different projects and mediums[36:44] How her income is distributed[38:17] Why she ventured into self-publishing[41:18] Managing her publishing team, and why she recommends hiring help[43:06] Tips on how to promote and market your own book[46:06] Why Natalie’s upcoming book will be published traditionally[51:04] A difficult experience with an agent and how she bounced back[54:56] The importance of saying no*QUOTES FROM NATALIE:“If you can quiet the negative voices down, what do you hear? Because I think that your creativity will show itself. Your intuition, your ideas will show what's out there.”“So I've realized that no, no is just the inverse of yes. So when you say no to certain things, then you're gonna be saying yes to something else. No can release you from stuff that you don't even know that you need to be released from. I've realized that no can actually be the, really the greatest gifts of your life, that those nos, that kind of wounded you in the past.”*RESOURCESConnect with Natalie Lue:Twitter: @baggagereclaimInstagram: @natlueBaggage Reclaim - Natalie’s blogBaggage Reclaim Sessions - Natalie’s podcastBambino GoodiesBooks by Natalie Lue:Mr Unavailable and the Fallback GirlThe No Contact RuleThe Joy of Saying NoThe Dreamer and the Fantasy RelationshipLove, Care, Trust & RespectOther books mentioned:Disconnected by Emma GannonStill Writing by Dani ShapiroThe Practice: Shipping Creative Work by Seth GodinThis is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn To See by Seth Godin*For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON:Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

NY Times Bestselling Author and Oxford University Creative Writing Tutor, Marti Leimbach, on the art and craft of writing and plotting a novel. She shares her journey across two decades within publishing from being on a film set with Julia Roberts to dealing with family loss, and writing about difficult subjects. Also lessons learned including how writing a draft is like being in a ‘sandbox’, what it takes to finish and move beyond the first draft, and why some of the best works of art are great because of their imperfection. *ABOUT MARTI LEIMBACHMarti Leimbach is known for her bestsellers Dying Young  which was made into a film starring Julia Roberts, and Daniel Isn’t Talking. Her interest in science influenced her eighth novel, a YA thriller, Dragonfly Girl. She teaches on the Masters Programme in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford.*QUOTES FROM MARTI:“Novels are never perfect. And some of the best work of art works of art, whether it's novels or screenplay or paintings or whatever else are very imperfect, actually, if you analyze them, that's what made them a great work of art. And Picasso has something to say about that. In fact, he said that the really original work, the important work never looks as good as its imitators. And the reason is that there's something in that first thrust of creativity that is ugly and raw, and the people who imitate you come after you.”*RESOURCESConnect with Marti:Twitter: @MartiLeimbachInstagram: @Marti LeimbachMarti’s website*Books mentioned in the show:Daniel Isn’t Talking by Marti LeimbachDragonfly Girl by Marti LeimbachSave the Cat  by Blake SnyderThe Story Grid by Shawn CoyneBird by Bird  by Ann LamottPeople mentioned in the show:Connor O’Brien - ComedianJulia Roberts - ActressJoel Schumacher - DirectorLeonard Cohen - Songwriter*For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON:Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

How can a writer start and grow their career in TV? What does it take to work your way into a Writer’s Room for a hit TV series? What happens behind the scenes of deals between producers and media giants like Netflix, BBC, and Amazon Prime? In this interview, held during lockdown, we talk with TV and film agent Nish Panchal (Curtis Brown) about his role as an agent, the main players in the TV industry and how budding writers can make connections and forge a career as a screenwriter. *ABOUT NISH PANCHALNish Panchal is an agent at Curtis Brown, working closely with Sam Greenwood. Their mission is to find unique filmmaking talent that they’re passionate about and enable them to build careers in the UK film and television industry, and beyond. They work  with book agents from Conville & Walsh.*SHOW NOTES:[02:35] Desert Island Disks - the TV show Nish would take on a desert island[5:29] The influences and people that led Nish to pursue a career in film and TV[08:01] Nish’s journey to getting a job in Curtis Brown[15:18] His role as an agent and how he helps writers[19:06] Understanding the market and what production companies are looking for[20:21] An overview of the main players in the TV industry [24:10] How he helps a writer move from an idea to a commercial project [27:27] How might writers get representation? What emails have caught his eye recently?[31:10] The importance of a good spec script[33:06] Recent trends in the industry[36:47] How books get turned into TV deals [38:36] How TV writers get paid from treatment to script fees[42:32] The process of getting a deal with the BBC versus Netflix [44:36] Can writers make a full-time living from writing for TV?[47:04] What motivates Nish as an agent?*QUOTES FROM NISH:“People ask - what do I send through? I think just one good spec script is, is really what we need…If you're an aspiring television writer, um, you know, having a strong spec, pilot that can demonstrate that you can tell a story in 60 pages, set up a character and throw something interesting at them and set up a world. And then also at the end of it, ask enough questions for us to make us to make me think, oh, this is a great world. I'd love to know what happens next. Those things are quite really hard to do.”*RESOURCESConnect with Nish Panchal:Twitter: @Nish_PanchalCurtis Brown Website*Links from the show:TV shows:Mad MenThe CrownOzarkDeath in ParadiseMidsomer MurdersHANNAFriendsLutherLine of DutyGrey’s AnatomySex EducationBooks:This Is Going To Hurt by Adam KFor show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON:Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

Why are creative partnerships so powerful? How can we work on multiple creative projects at one time? In this interview, we talk to the award-winning investigative journalist and Channel 4 News presenter Cathy Newman, we discuss her non-fiction book It Takes Two: A History of the Couples Who Dared to Be Different which is all about the power of collaboration. We deconstruct how she writes news stories, books, and her research process. We also explore the idea of creative partnerships from Beyonce and JayZ to Clement Attlee and Winston Churchill, how these partnerships are like a ‘dance’ and how we might spot our own creative collaborator. *ABOUT CATHY NEWMANCathy Newman is an award-winning investigative journalist and Channel 4 News’ first female main presenter. Cathy is also the author of Bloody Brilliant Women: Pioneers, Revolutionaries & Geniuses Your History Teacher Forgot to Mention, and her latest book, It Takes Two: A History of the Couples Who Dared to Be Different.*SHOW NOTES:[03:41] Cathy’s love for music, and why she shifted from music to writing[05:15] Playing in The Commons, and about her music group, The Statutory Instruments[07:40] Transitioning from writing journalistic articles to writing for TV[10:10] Some examples of what Cathy’s writing process for TV looks like[14:19] How she stays on top of things, including the tools she uses[16:18] The inspiration behind her book It Takes Two[19:19] The themes that unify the power collaborators, including competitiveness, muses, and the idea of the power couple[22:34] The pas de deux and the concept of balance in relationships[26:20] The partnerships and collaborations that have helped Cathy with her career[30:18] How to find and form creative partnerships[33:39] The writing and research process for her book[43:24] Self-doubt and responding to positive and negative reception[45:40] The power of reading and how it’s helped Cathy in difficult times*QUOTES FROM CATHY:“I was fascinated by the idea that a coupledom is a dance and whether that's a work relationship, a romantic relationship, and as part of the research, I read, um, a German sociologist called Georg Simmel, who talked about this concept of dyads and why this relationship of two is so crucial. And here's what I felt was quite revolutionary, was that he was talking about the need for balance and a horizontal type approach to any relationship…you've got to be finely tuned and balanced for the dance to work.”*RESOURCESConnect with Cathy Newman:Twitter: @cathynewmanInstagram: @cathynewmanc4Links from the show:A dilemma for Nick Clegg as Lord Rennard apologisesManhunt: Closing in on a British PaedophileUkraine conflict: Military actions unfortunately connected to human loss, says Sergei Lavrov‘You’re being emotional’: What happened when I asked Sergei Lavrov about the blood on his handsBloody Brilliant Women: The Pioneers, Revolutionaries and Geniuses Your History Teacher Forgot to Mention by Cathy NewmanIt Takes Two: A History of the Couples Who Dared to Be Different by Cathy NewmanThe Statutory Instruments - UK Parliamentary String QuartetGeorg Simmel - A German sociologist, philosopher, and critic.Serial podcastFor show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON:Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonCREDITS:Production by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

​​In this episode, Selina Lim, BAFTA-nominated screenwriter (Sex Education, Hanna) shares her screenwriting journey from her first BBC script to earning a BAFTA nomination, and how she broke into the industry as an outsider. Selina also gives us a peek at the inner workings of a writers’ room on hit TV shows - including the roles, exercises they use, and how writers collaborate inside it. We deconstruct what it takes to write a great scene, including sex scenes, what it means to write authentic dialogue and the importance of knowing our characters. *ABOUT SELINA LIMSelina is a BAFTA and BIFA nominated screenwriter currently writing on series 3 of Sex Education (Eleven/Netflix) and season 3 of Hanna (Amazon/NBC) and has previously written for Hollyoaks (Lime Pictures/Channel 4) and was in the writers’ room for The Night Manager Series 2 (The Ink Factory/AMC).*SHOW NOTES[02:42] Selina talks about how she became one of the Sex Education writers and her experience of being in an online writers' room[07:22] How she started as a screenwriter[13:24] The dynamics in a writers' room[17:01] How to understand a character's role in your story and why it’s important to know your characters really well[19:45] How a writers’ room function, how writers ideate and collaborate[22:14] Writing a scene and knowing the bigger picture[27:08] Creating a scene's structure,  why she believes you should "write drunk, edit sober", and showing instead of telling[29:32] On writing sex scenes [32:14] What makes good and authentic dialogue?[33:34] Selina shares what helps her understand her character more[36:04] Dealing with self-doubt*QUOTES FROM SELINA LIM“What is the work that the scene is doing? Why is it there? You have to ask so you know what emotional beat you are hitting.” *RESOURCES:Connect with Selina Lim:Website: selinalim.co.ukTwitter: https://twitter.com/muppet0013Instagram: instagram.com/selinalim888Links from the show:Instagram picture we mention at the start of the show TV Shows mentioned:HANNASex EducationSuccessionThe Night ManagerOthersPlaying Ball - a  short written by Selina for BBCPainkiller - a 15-minute short film*For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

We have published 10 episodes and we realised that we had never really introduced ourselves…So, we’re going to talk a little about where we’ve come from and why the London Writers’ Salon exists and what this podcast means to us.  We’re going to do this by interviewing each other!*ABOUT  MATT AND PARULMatt Trinetti and Parul Bavishi are the co-founders of the London Writers' Salon (@WritersSalon) and the creators of the Webby-nominated Writers' Hour where they write with hundreds of writers every week day. The Salon began as an in-person monthly interview series in central London and has since evolved to become a global community. In addition to the daily Writers' Hours, they host weekly interviews with writers and run workshops to help writers get published. They have partnered with organisations like Soho House, Allbright and Women's Prize for Fiction.Matt Trinetti is a writer, publisher, TEDx speaker, and facilitator. In addition to running LWS, Matt designs programs to help unfulfilled professionals pursue creative work, start businesses, and reinvent their careers. Matt's work has appeared in Quartz, Observer, Creative Mornings, and on his blog GiveLiveExplore.Parul Bavishi has been an editor for over a decade. In addition to running LWS she helps thriller, YA and non-fiction writers level up their craft and get published.  She previously worked as an editor and literary scout at Quercus and Random House.*RESOURCES AND LINKS:For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.comEscape the City*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSArtwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

How does a poet see the world? How can we move past self doubt and keep writing after rejection? In this episode we talk to Anthony Anaxagorou about how his journaling practice helps him generate ideas for his work, what his editing process looks like, and why he might spend eight or nine hours working on a single poem. Anthony is candid about his experience of failure and rejection, shares why we should be wary of the temptations of ‘prize culture’ (always seeking validation through the next prize), and why it’s crucial to develop our own internal value system to sustain ourselves and our writing. He even reads us some of his poetry!*ABOUT ANTHONY ANAXAGOROUAnthony Anaxagorou is a British-born Cypriot poet, fiction writer, essayist, publisher and poetry educator. His second collection After the Formalities was shortlisted for the 2019 T.S Eliot Prize. He was awarded the 2019 H-100 Award for writing and publishing, and the 2015 Groucho Maverick Award for his poetry and fiction. He’s the founder of one of London's leading poetry nights, Out-Spoken, and the independent publisher Out-Spoken Press.*SHOW NOTES[03:22] The experience of writing a book during the pandemic[04:41] Anthony talks about his uncle and how he influenced him as a writer[08:07] On failures and why it's important to ask yourself searching questions and see rejection as part of your job[11:48] What is prize culture and why does Anthony think it's dangerous?[14:06] Measuring success and creating your own value system[15:04] Anthony reads his poem, "Uber"[18:31] On being dissatisfied with his own work [21:53] On why he carrys a notebook with him all the time, and a writing habit he got from Lydia Davis[22:34] Anthony’s morning writing exercise[24:15] Anthony talks about his writing process, including 7-8 hours of focusing on one poem[27:43] How do you stop feeling intimidated by the academic side of poetry?[31:32] Anthony reflects on what "pushing your writing as far as it can go" means to him[34:32] Anthony shares the exercises he gives to his students to help them in writing a poem[36:38] What is the loaf of bread analogy, and why is playing with timelines when you write essential?[37:40] Resolving the poem and the idea of leaving the reader with questions[39:15] How do you know when a poem is done? [43:33] On being in conversation with the reader and why the writer is only half the conversation[46:13] Anthony shares how he started his London-based Out-Spoken open mic nights [49:44] Anthony reads his poem, "After the Formalities"*QUOTES BY ANTHONY:“The more you read, the more you get a sense for how poems work. And it's literally just from reading and you get a sense of where things end and where is an interesting place to end. If you think along the lines of—if you think the word interesting as opposed to kind of definitive. Then it kind of—it swaps. I just want to be interesting on the page. I don't want to be correct. I don't want to be certain. I want to be interesting.”*RESOURCES:Connect with Anthony:Twitter: @Anthony1983Facebook: anthonyanaxWebsite: anthonyanaxagorou.com*Links from the show:After the Formalities by Anthony AnaxagorouHow To Write It by Anthony AnaxagorouSuppose a Sentence by Brian DillonUber by Anthony AnaxagorouAfter the Formalities by Anthony Anaxagorou*Authors/Poets mentioned:Don PatersonTa-Nehisi CoatesEmily DickinsonOcean VuongMatthew SweeneyJericho BrownFor show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

During times of enormous change, how can you harness the power of ritual to create stability and creativity? How can ordinary practices, such as writing, help us find meaning and cultivate deeper spiritual lives? We talk to author Casper Ter Kuile (The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities Into Soulful Practices) about the difference between habit and ritual and how to turn habits into meaningful rituals. We explore Casper’s journey in publishing, how he moved past the first draft and his practices for overcoming the pitfalls of comparison. *Casper ter Kuile is the author of The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices, co-host of the award-winning podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, and co-founder of startup Sacred Design Lab - a research and design consultancy working to create a culture of belonging and becoming. *SHOW NOTES[03:18] Casper talks about his 24-hour tech sabbatical and why rest isn't just about preparing us for the workweek[07:45] Why Casper, an atheist, was drawn to Harvard Divinity School to study and the surprising pull of community, ritual and tradition in the religious community[11:18] How his observation of the growing disaffiliation from religion and the fraying of our connections with each other led him to explore the power of ritual[13:11] The difference between habit and ritual and how to turn habits into  meaningful rituals[15:51] Why we should develop our ability to be choiceful[17:23] An observation of connection practices during the pandemic, including the absence of ritual[19:57] Applying the triptych: intention, attention, and repetition to his writing[22:23] Casper talks about moving past a terrible first draft of his book, The Power of Ritual, and how he landed his book deal[27:14] How Casper deals with self-doubt and imposter syndrome, including going on long walks[29:25] Casper shares how he balanced researching and studying while he was writing his first book, also how he deals with the pitfalls of comparison[31:13] Casper shares advice from Seth Godin for when you're having self-doubt[32:43] On how to move away from introspection, and writing not just as something to make you great, but as a gift[35:08] Casper shares how accountability is important in creating practices in new communities[36:14] How to both hold on and let go of a growing community[38:23] Casper shares the origin of his podcast with friends, Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, and the community it built[41:50] What are the things that started and changed as the podcast community grew, and how did it even bring the community closer?[44:44] A parting note - understanding the sufficiency of the gift that you have to give*QUOTES:“Think of writing, not as something that is going to make you great, but as a gift to someone who might need it."*RESOURCESThe Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities Into Soulful Practices by Casper Ter KuileHarry Potter and the Sacred Text podcastSeth GodinThe Sabbath by Abraham Joshua HeschelHarperOneHow We Gather - Casper’s co-written paperDavid SedarisVanessa  Zoltan*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONFor show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.comFollow London Writers’ Salon:Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!