The Pleasure of the Text
Episodes
Review of Cruddy by Lynda Barry
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we dive headfirst into the raw, surreal, and unforgettable world of Cruddy by Lynda Barry. Part coming-of-age, part fever dream, Barr...
A Punishing Breed - An Interview with Author DC Frost
14 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For this episode it was our utmost pleasure to interview author DC Frost about her debut novel, A Punishing Breed, published by Red Hen Press.DC Frost...
Writing as Translation
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Here at the Pleasure of the Text, many a time has the topic of translation come up. In this episode we consider the art of translation further, and ta...
Writing. Re: Solution Update
08 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
And we are back! At the turn of the new year we sat down with beloved friend and fellow writer Patrick (Writing Solutions) and discussed our writing g...
Review of Stanislaw Lem's Solaris
10 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A long time in the coming (and the making); review of Solaris by Stanislaw Lem. Two books and two movies (and more), in this episode at The Pleasure o...
Book Recommendations - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly!
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Another fun episode here at the Pleasure of the Text, where talk about our favourite (and worse) book recommendations. As always, if you like our vid...
Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez
14 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"The Darkness is a mouth, and it consumes all."Our first book review for 2024 is Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez, a haunting, thrilling novel f...
Reading and Writing Solutions for 2024
02 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the first episode of the year, we talk about reading and writing goals, and strategies on how to increase reading and writerly no matter what your ...
Review of Yōko Ogawa's Revenge
23 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Spoilers Alert!! What an amazing book to end the year on! Each short story in this collection of eleven is a stand alone piece, yet each is more than ...
Bookends and Oddities
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ambling thoughts and meandering words are the ilk of the writer. In this podcast, we explore new and interesting topics happening in the writing and p...
Review of The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall
11 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Another month, another book review. In this episode, we look at 'The Well of Loneliness' by Radclyffe Hall. Frowned upon, banned under the Obscenity A...
Writerly Self Suppression
01 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Within the realm of self-suppression and writers destroying their own words, Kafka, Nikolai Gogol, James Joyce and Proust always make the lists. But h...
One Year Anniversary for The Pleasure of The Text!
16 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The time has gone with a flash! It feel unbelievable to say that we have been podcasting (and entertaining) our believed audience for one whole year! ...
Traditional Publishing VS Self Publishing.
03 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore the pros and cons of the different publishing options available to authors. We also look at the journey of publishing for ...
Under the Skin by Michel Faber
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Another month, another book review. In this episode, we look at 'Under the Skin' by Michel Faber. Most famously known for his book, 'The Crimson Petal...
The Magic of Seeing Anew: Defamiliarization in Writing
24 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast episode, we use the act of translation as a technique/device to develop "The Reticence of Lady Anne" by Saki. This method forces the r...
Substantive Feedback - The Creative Writing Process - Starring Shahn
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We are incredibly grateful and fortunate to have a long-time friend and fellow writer join us for this podcast episode; Shahn. As a dedicated writer, ...
Literary Censorship - Part Two
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we continue our discussion on the impact of literary censorship, sensitivity readers and publishers, as they stand, on the future of ...
Literary Censorship - Part One
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we talk about the impact of literary censorship, sensitivity readers and publishers, as they stand, on the future of fiction. As alw...
A Disappearing Act: Book Bans and What They Mean for Literature
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore the books that have been banned throughout history (and even now). Please enjoy the latest episode from The Pleasure of t...
One Episode. Two Book Reviews. Honey and Spice, and Book Lovers.
24 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Read apart, reviewed together. One Episode, two reviews. A plot twist they didn't see coming...Wrapping up our month of romance, we review romance nov...
Bad to Great Sex (Writing)
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We are back, baby!In this week's episode, we delve into the topic of sex writing; what makes a good sex scene, how you can win awards for bad sex (wri...
Writing Romance: How to write a first kiss scene and have fun doing it!
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we delve deeper into our creative writing craft and work together to create the first kiss between our protagonists. WE WANT YOUR INP...
Review of A Lover's Discourse: Fragments by Roland Barthes
10 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, we delve into the man, the legend, the creator of our podcast's namesake (The Pleasure of the Text), Roland Barthes.
From BC, Jane Austen, and Now: The History and Future of Romance
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
At the Pleasure of the Text, we are theme-ing up the month of February! Whether you loathe or love, well, LOVE, in this episode, we talk about the his...
Pastoralia by George Saunders
23 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you like our videos, please like and subscribe to our channel, The Pleasure of the Text, for more videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEp9cZ4H...
Creative Writing and Feedback
15 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode is a continuum on last week's podcast, "It was a dark and stormy night...", which can be watched here. In that episode, we disc...
It was a dark and stormy night...
08 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The year is 2023 - the year of auspicious beginnings! In this episode, we talk about great beginnings: the first lines of a story, first chapters, and...
The Pleasure of the Text - New Year Special!!
31 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you like our videos, please like and subscribe to our channel, The Pleasure of the Text, for more videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEp9cZ4H...
Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung
24 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For our fourth book review, we discuss Bora Chung's, Cursed Bunny. For the first time, we had very different opinions on the short stories within this...
How to use Point of View - 3rd Person
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, we continue to develop a deeper understanding of how to use 'Point of View (POV)' effectively. Dive in to learn what 3rd-perso...
How to use Point of View - 1st and 2nd
09 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes.This episode continues Episode 15 - Murder in the Dark by Margaret Atwood. Murder In The DarkMurder in the Dark is a collection of short fi...
Murder in the Dark by Margaret Atwood
02 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For our third book review, we discuss Margaret Atwood's collection of short stories, Murder in the Dark. Pieces within this collection showcase the ma...
'Women's Work': Forgotten Writers
25 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes Articles Referenced during the Podcast: Homme de Plume: What I Learned Sending My Novel Out Under a Male Name by Catherine Nicols. (2015...
Feedback on Writing Examples - Part 1
19 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast, Shannen and Gareth take the work that they developed in the previous week's podcast, Transcribing Music, and give each other feedback...
Transcribing Music - Character Building
12 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: Thank you so much to Alex-Production for the music we used in this video:Wonders by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/ Music promote...
The Books That Shape Us
04 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, we talk about the books that shaped the way we read and write, from childhood to now. Join us and enjoy as we navigate this tr...
Writing Buddies aka "Literary Collaborators"
29 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show NotesObviously, no work of art is created in a vacuum – but what are the more noteworthy examples of literature owing its existence to a second...
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes. Poe Anne Decatur Danielewski, stage name Poe, is a musician who rose to celebrity in the mid to late 1990s, fusing jazz, rock, folk, hip-h...
Street Sketching - Character Building
14 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part of a series of creative writing exercises we have put together to help writers develop strong, well-rounded, characters. Listen t...
Spoilers Alert! “Pseudo-review” of Smile and Caveat
07 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Spoilers Alert! “Pseudo-review” of Smile and Caveat Smile Official Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcDK7lkzzsURose (Sosie Bacon) fir...
Textual Portraiture - Character Building
30 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes: In our second creative writing segment, we practice our writing craft to develop strong characters. Join us as we look at mugshots from t...
Why Join a Book Club?
26 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this latest podcast, Shannen and Gareth discuss why you should join a book club. This episode is filled with many wonderful gems, including discuss...
Secret Rendezvous by Kobo Abe
09 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Show Notes and More:Kōbō AbeThe late Kōbō Abe (安部 公房), (1924-1993), was a Japanese writer, playwright, photographer, and inventor. He was ...
Is Writer's Block Real?
02 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Writer's Block has plagued aspiring writers since the dawn of time. In this episode, Shannen and Gareth discuss whether Writer's Block is real, how to...
What Can You Achieve in 48 Hours?
26 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In our very first podcast episode, numero uno, we talk about what can be achieved in 48 hours or a weekend to progress your writing forward. Please en...