The Failing Writers Podcast

S5 Ep21: Flash Fiction Contest Runners Up 2025

Hello writers. Just when you thought the competition was all wrapped up… this week we look at the almost-winners of our big annual comp. Yep, these are the brilliant writers who made the shortlist, but didn’t quite manage to snaffle a place on Sarah’s podium. And here are those five wondrously wizard-like word weavers: Kieran Ahern Jonathon Davies Steven Stilbech Stuart James Taylor Jasmine Sears Well done to them all, and keep an eye out for them in future! All we need do now I think, is thank our beaaauuutiful sponsor Scrivener, without whom there would be no competition frankly. Or there would, but the prize would be a bag of chips, a pack of Dairylea Triangles and some post-it notes.  So… you know… Thank you very much Scrivener! Who, aside from being a bunch of lovely people, also happens to be a really fantastic bit of writing software which you can secure for 20% less than the usual price, simply by using the code FAILING at checkout Just go to https://www.literatureandlatte.com [https://www.literatureandlatte.com/] Finally a massive well done to all of you who wrote one or more stories. You’re all winners in our book. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S5 Ep20: 2025 Flash Fiction Contest FINAL!

Lovers of flash fiction… prepare to have your ears blown into absolute blummin smithereens, because this episode is the big reveal of the winners of our annual writing competition, and there’s FIVE HUNDRED SQUIDS up for grabs. Which, as I’m sure you’ll agree, is a serious amount of squids. Think of all the ink you could buy. So, come on in, and hear the traditional ‘YOU’RE ALL WINNERS SONG’, listen to Sarah Lewis from Writers HQ pick a winner, some runner-uppers and a couple of honourable mentions to boot and then follow that up by immersing yourself in the unbelievably high quality of 1st, 2nd & 3rd place. But before you do all that…  just think.  One of them could be yours! There’s only one way to find out though, and I’m not daft enough to give the game away and write them here in the show notes…  so you’d best get listening instead. Big thanks again to Sarah and the excellent Writers HQ: https://writershq.co.uk [https://writershq.co.uk/] Also a massive thanks to our amazing competition sponsor - the esteemed writing app, Scrivener! Don't forget to pick up your copy NOW. Go to https://www.literatureandlatte.com/ [https://www.literatureandlatte.com/] - use the code failing & you can get 20% off! Whoop. Get in! Early Christmas present to yourself. And finally... huge congratulations to our winner. Whoever that might be. And don’t forget to join us next week, when we’ll be hearing more First Class, A-Grade, Top Shelf….  Flash Gorge-uns. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S5 Ep19: Talking self publishing with a very special guest

So, here we are again for the actually now offically award winning Failing Writers Podcast. You were perhaps hoping this was the competition reveal episode weren’t you? Well, look, it’s not that one… not yet, however, we’ve got a little treat for you today. ’Specially for long time fans of the podcast. Someone we’ve had on before and was a delight from start to finish. Someone who's just self published a book, and has come to talk to us all about their experiences of putting a book out into the world, all on their own* Anyway, I won’t say any more in case I ruin the surprise, but you should definitely have a listen. What I will say though, is that our mystery guest is also a genuine fan of Scrivener. And if you’d like to join the thousands of people who swear by the wonderful writing app Scrivener, why not go to https://www.literatureandlatte.com/store/scrivener [https://www.literatureandlatte.com/store/scrivener] and download it now! It’s currently only £55 - which is already a bargain, BUT if you’d like 20% off on us - simply use the code failing at checkout and it will only cost you… wait… quick bit of arithmetic… erm… roughly… wait… is it £44? I think so! So that’s blummin great innit? Anyway… if you like the sound of our guest’s book… you can purchase it right here: https://amzn.eu/d/eKujSNA [https://amzn.eu/d/eKujSNA] Please do support the indie book world! It makes a helluva difference to your fellow writers, as I’m sure you know. *OK, maybe not entirely on their own. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S5 Ep18: Map Men (Map Men Map Map Map Men Men)

Maps? What's that got to do with writing? Men? How are they relevant in 2025? Oh no… wait … Er. OK... let me explain what’s going on today... by introducing you to (another) 2 handsome and charismatic young men. Jay Foreman – comedian, singer songwriter (bloody great songs-look em up!) & Map-enthusiast. And Mark Cooper-Jones – Ex-geography teacher, producer & comedian. Both… now… primarily You-Tubers.  (Ha! because that’s a real job.) Together, they are… Map Men.  An absolutely genius bit of infotainment, which I’m willing to bet my last rolo, that you will love: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfxy4_sBQdxy3A2lvl-y3qWTeJEbC_QCp [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfxy4_sBQdxy3A2lvl-y3qWTeJEbC_QCp] Tell me I’m wrong! I dare you! But, right… and here’s the important bit….  they’ve written a book! A brilliant book, which like their show is both brain-engorging and extremely funny. Here’s a link to purchase several copies for yourself, your family & friends:  https://lnk.to/mapmen [https://lnk.to/mapmen] And while we’re on the subject of books. Have you ever tried writing one? It’s bloody difficult isn’t it? Yeah. Seriously.  Who knew? So may I be so bold as to recommend that you try using Scrivener. It has more features than you’ll ever need! However that does mean that if you do need one, Scrivener has got it! It just makes writing easier.  Not just for books either, but also for plays and screenplays and radio plays and non-fiction and stuff. PLUS – if you go to https://www.literatureandlatte.com/store/scrivener [https://www.literatureandlatte.com/store/scrivener] You can make 20% of the price of Scrivener completely disappear by using the magic word “failing” at checkout. (You could even simultaneously imagine that you’re a flamboyant 80s stage magician with a white tiger and an open collared shirt while you do it, if that’s the kind of thing you enjoy doing.) And then – our HYPEWRITER feature! Where you send us something you’ve written that you’re proud of and then we go and celebrate the living babaganoosh out of it. (If you’d like to join in, just send a bit of writing - roughly 5 – 8 mins-worth - to failingwriterspodcast@gmail.com [failingwriterspodcast@gmail.com] – explain what it is, why you wrote it and a bit about yourself and you could feature on the pod!) This week we introduce the extraordinarily talented Aaron J Courts, who sent us a lovely piece called Pass & Review. You can find out more about Aaron here: https://aaroncourts.substack.com And behold. The shownotes are done for another episode. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S5 Ep17: Autumn Woods - How to go viral on TikTok

You know those writers who seem to have managed effortlessly to harness the awesome power of social media to hook increasing numbers of readers into their gravitational pull? Well good for them! No but seriously, wouldn’t it be fascinating to talk to someone who’s become an actual viral sensation themselves and find out what their strategy was? (That’s your cue to stop reading and crack on with listening to this episode btw.) BUT WAIT, THESE CAPITAL LETTERS STOPPED YOU IN YOUR TRACKS DIDN’T THEY? Well that’s good, because now I can tell you all about our sponsor, the indispensable writing app: Scrivener! The writing app that you can get 20% off! by going to https://www.literatureandlatte.com/store/scrivener [https://www.literatureandlatte.com/store/scrivener] and using the code: failing (I promise you won’t regret it.) So there you go. How to blow up on TikTok? A chat with a lovely writer? Some great advice about not reading reviews?  A discount of some amazing writing software? What more could you want? Ah you want to know how to get your hands on a copy of Autumn’s excellent romance novel? OK. Fair enough. Should have seen that coming. Just click on this link… https://www.authorautumnwoods.com [https://www.authorautumnwoods.com/] What? You still want more?  Wow… you’re in quite a demanding mood today aren’t you? Well… you’re in luck, m’friend.  Cos this week in our regular Hype-Writer feature we’ve got a darkly disturbing but excellent little extract from last year’s flash fiction competition winner, Katie Holloway! She’s promised to post more of Cups of Tea at the End of the World on her substack – so keep your eyes peeled here: https://substack.com/@loseyourselfbooks [https://substack.com/@loseyourselfbooks] Right. Ya happy now? Phew. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.