The Craft: stories about writing & the writers' spirit
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
Navigating neurodiversity and creative life with Kolbie Blume
19 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For Mental Health Awareness Week and Month I speak to artist and educator Kolbie about how we can navigate neurodiversity and creative life in a kind ...
How to build a writing practice
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I share my top tips to help build a sustainable writing practice so that you can find flow and flourish with your writing.  ...
'Dreaming on the page' with author Tzivia Gover
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What if you could find a way to allow dreams to inspire your writing? I speak to author and Certified Dreamwork Professional Tzivia Gover, about how d...
Writing about South Asian culture with Awais Khan
07 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this espidoe I speak to award-winning author Awais Khan, (author of SOMEONE LIKE HER, NO HONOUR and IN THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS) about what i...
Crafting Characters: Bringing Real People into Your Memoir
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode podcast, I delve into the importance of bringing real people into your memoir or food memoir. I discuss the significance of creating s...
Make a seasonal plan to write your memoir
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Season 4 of The Craft! In this episode, I share a seasonal journey into penning down your personal stories to begin the bones of your memoi...
How to keep your creative spirit alive
30 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this year-round-up episode, I share my thoughts on how this year changed me in ways I never imagined and how following your purpose with audacity i...
Benefits of a writing mentor with Malachy Tallack
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I speak to my own mentor - author, singer/songwriter Malachy Tallack, who helped me write my memoir Andaza, through the Scottish Book ...
How to structure your life writing project
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I talk about how to structure your life writing project whether its a memoir, autobiography or family history. Learn more abou...
Food writing to fiction with Orlando Murrin
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I speak to a food writer, author, President of the Guild of Food Writers and Masterchef semi-finalist, Orlando Murrin about how he mo...
Balancing creative flow and writing
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I’ll be sharing some tips and strategies to help you strike that delicate balance between nurturing creativity, making ti...
Embracing the blank page
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I talk about how to overcome the fear of the blank page and finding inspiration to begin your writing and share my top tips to push th...
Creativity and Community
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our 1st episode of season 3 (with the new podcast title, The Craft) I speak to New York based therapist and author Israa Nasir about how creativity...
How to become an author
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you always dreamt of being an author? In this episode I share some practical steps I took to pave the path towards an author’s life and hop...
Begin with Belief
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It was only when I began to believe I was a writer that doors opened up for me. In this episode I talk about how the journey as a writer begins with t...
Menopause and Creativity
03 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I will be candid about what it felt like tackling perimenopause and now menopause as a creative and why it’s an advantage in many wa...
Self care for writers
26 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I’ll share the reasons why it’s important to nurture self care as a writer and a creative. I talk about some of the ways I have le...
5 reasons to return to university at 50
05 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I speak to Glasgow based author Sarah Smith and chat about her top 5 reasons to return to university at 50. An inspiring talk that res...
Of hearth and herbs with Mark Diacono
27 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I talk to the author, gardener and food writer Mark Diacono, (founder of Otter Farm in Devon) about the magic of creating flavour and ...
Writing with nature
06 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I talk to nature writer, author and mentor Kathryn Aalto about how nature can help the writer to see the world in a different light an...
The Art of Slow Writing
20 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I talk about how the art of slow writing helps you through the barriers of mindset and practicalities of a writing practice and makes ...
Sensory recollection and memory
26 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this new year episode I talk to Victoria Frolova, author, writer of Bois de Jasmin and professionally trainer perfumer, about how the sense of smel...
Begin the year with intentional writing
02 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this new year episode I encourage you to make a goal to set time for intentional writing, and offer my top tips to set up a mindful writing practic...
Finding my financial flow as a writer
26 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I share my own mindset issues with finances while building a writing career and my 2023 promise to myself. Music credit: Simple Melody...
Finding creativity through chronic pain
12 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I speak to Moneeza Khan from Lotusblu Book Art who manages her chronic pain with creating beauty in her work and in her life. Music cr...
Does adversity fuel creativity?
14 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I discuss whether adversity actually fuels creativity and how you can use the power of mindset to find strength to create during tough...
My food and freedom story
31 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the next few episodes I'm delving deeper into what makes a creative life thrive with adversity and challenges and how we can find direction through...
A week of nurturing your creative soul
03 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I offer the invitation to spend a week nurturing your creative soul in small intentional ways to help rest and recover your creative s...
Writers Roadblock 4: fear of rejection
26 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is the last in the 4 series of Writer’s Roadblocks - I offer support to calm the fear of rejection and why it’s important to be resis...
A Writer’s Roadblock 3
29 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is the third of 4 episodes that tackle the roadblocks we as writers and creatives face - blocks created by self-sabotage that stop us from fulfil...
A Writer’s Roadblock 2
01 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is the second of 4 episodes that tackle the roadblocks we as writers and creatives face - blocks created by self-sabotage that stop us from fulfi...
A Writer’s Roadblock 1
25 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is the first of 4 episodes that tackle the roadblocks we as writers and creatives face - blocks created by self-sabotage that stop us from fulfil...
Chronicling spices and stories
04 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I chat to award-winning food writer and author Eleanor Ford about the way one can chronicle stories of food and culinary culture of fa...
The soulful art of food writing
27 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I talk to award-winning food writer and Guardian columnist, Felicity Cloake about the soulful art of writing about food and how to forge a career as a...
The Sensory Heirloom of food & memory
06 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I talk about the way food and memories are intertwined and how they can shape us and make us a who we are. Music credit: Simple Melody...
Manifestation: finding ‘magic and meaning’ in life
30 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I am joined by Manifestress Jess Collins, a copywriter and a soulful coach who has allowed the magic of manifestation to offer her the...
Tuning into the natural world with Jane Lindsey
02 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I talk to Jane Lindsey of Snapdragon Life on location in her home in the Trossach’s near Loch Lomond, and discuss how to harness creativity and get ...
Decluttering for creativity: with Moneeza Khan
25 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This month’s theme is finding creativity naturally: in this episode I speak to Moneeza Khan, a bookbinder and artist based in West Yorkshire who sha...
Saved by the ink: the healing, mediative magic of calligraphy
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This month’s theme is ‘making magic’ in our creative lives. I’m joined by guest Gaelle Jolly who is a calligrapher and bookbinder. We chat abo...
Finding the right literary agent
28 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing this month’s theme An Aspiring Author, I speak to London-based literary agent Emily Sweet who shares inspiration, insight and informati...
3 tips to realise your publication dreams
07 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This month’s theme is An Aspiring Author – in this episode I’ll share my top tips to helping you realise your book publication dreams. I’ll sh...
Breaking the comparison cycle by listening to your creative voice
28 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We are all guilty of comparison – in this episode I talk about the key ways this negative mindset can affect our creativity and how best to stop it ...
Build a spice sanctuary for calm and connection
07 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I share ways in which you can harness the magic of spices to create a sanctuary of connection and calm in your life. I’ll also share...
Memoir – how to tell your story
24 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Finding the connection to ourselves through the power of memoir-writing / life-writing is powerful. Tapping into our memories, our lived experiences a...
Hone your intuition: 5 ways to hear your inner voice
03 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve stopped listening to our own gut feelings, that little voice inside our heads that always paves the perfect path for us. We are blessed with t...
Welcome to The Craft
20 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
WELCOME TO THE CRAFT, A PODCAST THAT SHARES STORIES ABOUT WRITING AND THE WRITERS’ SPIRIT I’m your host: Sumayya Usmani ...