The Failing Writers Podcast

S5 Ep23: The Scottish Literary Legends

The second stop on our literary whistle stop tour of Edinburgh is The Writers Museum in Makars Court. Focussing on the three writers generally considered to be the great Titans of Scottish Literature: Robbie Burns, Sir Walter Scott & Robert Louis Stevenson. We have a wander round, read some poetry and look into why these fellas are so revered. We also go on a literary pub tour and have a chat with actor Mike Daviot, who just so happened to be an absolute font of knowledge about poetry and the Scots language. Turns out literary pub tours are one of our favourite kinds of tour! Now who could have guessed that?! So hop on board the Failing Writers Tour Bus and join us for a fascinating, if admittedly wholly inadequate look at three of the greatest writers, not just of Scotland, but the world. The Writer's Museum: https://cultureedinburgh.com/our-venues/writers-museum [https://cultureedinburgh.com/our-venues/writers-museum] The Literary Pub Tour we enjoyed: https://www.edinburghliterarypubtour.co.uk/ [https://www.edinburghliterarypubtour.co.uk/] Tam o' Shanter: http://www.robertburns.org.uk/Assets/Poems_Songs/tamoshanter.htm [http://www.robertburns.org.uk/Assets/Poems_Songs/tamoshanter.htm] Hopefully that's inspired you to take a closer look at the poems and novels of these absolute titans. More than that, maybe it's encouraged you to have a go yourself. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S5 Ep22: Michael Pederson

Ahoy there, you weary word-wanderer. You found us. Finally!  Thank goodness. Welcome to the Failing Writers Podcast. Think of us as your writing harbour. Your safe haven. Your Lighthouse. Come and moor here for a while and have your brain de-barnacled by the glorious mind of poet Michael Pederson. Writer, linguaphile, Edinburgh Makar and all-round inspirational wordsmitherizer. And once you’ve been inspired… time to get involved and write something wonderful yourself. But hang on… before you do… you might want to consider the fantastic writing software Scrivener? An app that makes writing novels, plays, screenplays, poetry and all the other stuff soooo much easier. Plus we’ve got a special code you can use at https://www.literatureandlatte.com/store/scrivener [https://www.literatureandlatte.com/store/scrivener] to get yourself a majestic 20% off. Our little gift to you for being awesome. FAILING (That’s the code btw, I’m not just shouting FAILING! at you.  That would be mean) And now you’ve listened to Michael, I’ll bet you want all his essential info?... Yep. Thought so. Insta:  @michaelpedersonoyster Go see Michael live: https://www.michaelpedersen.co.uk/events [https://www.michaelpedersen.co.uk/events] Buy Muckle Flugga: https://linktr.ee/muckleflugga [https://linktr.ee/muckleflugga] Buy Boy Friends: https://linktr.ee/boyfriendsbook [https://linktr.ee/boyfriendsbook] Other stuff: https://www.michaelpedersen.co.uk [https://www.michaelpedersen.co.uk/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

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.