The Writers’ Gym Podcast
Episodes
Project or Palette Cleanser?
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
One thing at a time, or freedom to flip between? What system of working really summons your creativity and what gets in the way? Dr Rachel Knightley w...
Sarah Bax Horton in conversation with Dr Rachel Knightley
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Rachel Knightley is joined by her client, award-winning true crime writer and researcher, Sarah Bax Horton. Sarah is currently appearing in Lucy...
Unblocking
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Unblock your writing and your right to write: Dr Rachel Knightley identifies and debunks the myth that's most got in her way as a writer, and how beli...
Dr Xavier Aldana Reyes joins Dr Rachel Knightley at The Writers' Gym
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Xavier Aldana Reyes joins Dr Rachel Knightley on the Writers' Gym Podcast, discussing how we turn interests and passions into writing careers. Xav...
No, Reading isn't Stealing
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Rachel Knightley shares how a Writers' Gym member's fear of plagiarizing can be turned from a 'reason' not to write into a reason to write as much ...
Ally Wilkes, Stoker-award nominated author, joins Dr Rachel Knightley at the Writers' Gym
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ally Wilkes joins Dr Rachel Knightley at the Writers' Gym to discuss the power of horror fiction to explore identity and the highs and lows of creatin...
True Resolutions are Realisations
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Rachel Knightley shares three resolutions for creative confidence on the page and in life.
Jenny Rogers author, editor & executive coach
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Rachel Knightley is joined by author and editor Jenny Rogers, one of the UK’s most experienced executive coaches. Jenny’s book, Are You Listeni...
Kayleigh Hobbs, Happy Goat Horror founder, joins Dr Rachel Knightley on the Writers' Gym
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Kayleigh Dobbs is an author, editor, and playwright from South Wales. She is the founder of Happy Goat Horror, a review site and podcast with a focus ...
Emeritus Professor Andrew Cowan joins Dr Rachel Knightley at the Writers' Gym.
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew was for ten years the Director of the Creative Writing programme at UEA, where he taught for twenty years on the MA in Creative Writing. He is ...
Alison Littlewood, Shirley Jackson award winning author joins Dr Rachel Knightley on the Writers' Gym
12 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Alison Littlewood’s latest novels, published as A. J. Elwood, are The Other Lives of Miss Emily White and The Cottingley Cuckoo. Her first book, A C...
Jade Robertson, founder and creative director of Little Lies joins Dr Rachel Knightley on the Writers' Gym
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today Dr Rachel Knightley explores a different kind of storytelling that has been part of her exploring and expressing the stories she contains for ne...
Ashley Thorpe, award winning animator joins Dr Rachel Knightley on the Writers' Gym
29 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Rachel Knightley's guest at the Writers' Gym today is Ashley Thorpe. Ashley is a self taught Devon based animator whose early films (SCAYRECR...
Claire Louise Amias, actor and playwright joins Dr Rachel Knightley on the Writers' Gym
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Claire Louise Amias is an actor and playwright. She has worked extensively on screen and stage, including feature films, No. 1 touring, West End and r...
Kim Morgan MCC, author, speaker and Barefoot Coaching founder joins Dr Rachel Knightley at the Writers' Gym
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Rachel Knightley is joined by Kim Morgan MCC, author, speaker, Barefoot Coaching founder and internationally recognised expert in coaching and coa...
Tim Lebbon, New York Times-bestselling author joins Dr Rachel Knightley on the Writers' Gym
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tim Lebbon is a New York Times-bestselling writer from South Wales. He’s written over fifty novels, as well as hundreds of novellas and short storie...
Joanne Harris (OBE, FRSL) joins Dr Rachel Knightley at the Writers' Gym
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joanne was born in Barnsley in 1964, of a French mother and an English father. She studied Modern and Mediaeval Languages at Cambridge and was a teach...
What makes you write
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Build confidence in writing through focus on the inspiration already in your writer's artist palette – with author and coach Dr Rachel Knightley. ...
Plots and protagonists
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Build confidence in writing through focus on the inspiration already in your writer's artist palette – with author and coach Dr Rachel Knightley. ...
Antagonist exercises
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Build confidence in writing through focus on the inspiration already in your writer's artist palette – with author and coach Dr Rachel Knightley. ...
Symbols and characters
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Build confidence in writing through focus on the inspiration already in your writer's artist palette – with author and coach Dr Rachel Knightley. ...
The brain is a toy cupboard
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Build confidence in writing through focus on the inspiration already in your writer's artist palette – with author and coach Dr Rachel Knightley. ...
Setting and character
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Build confidence in writing through focus on the inspiration already in your writer's artist palette – with author and coach Dr Rachel Knightley. ...
Rachel Knightley in conversation with British Fantasy Award 2025 nominee Steve Toase
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Steve Toase is a British Fantasy Award 2025 nominated fiction and non-fiction author. He was born in North Yorkshire, England, and now lives in the F...
Green Ink Sponsored Write 2025
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From creation to publication in 48 hours: Green Ink Sponsored write for Macmillan Cancer Support unites a team of published and developing authors at...
Green Ink Sponsored Write 2025 with Sarah Brooks
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From creation to publication in 48 hours: Green Ink Sponsored write for Macmillan Cancer Support unites a team of published and developing authors at...
Building your writing world
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Rachel Knightley talks about how one Green Ink Sponsored Write author, actor, comedian and writer Nic Lamont, found her annual Sponsored Write stor...
Abandon the idea of ‘enough’ time and start writing
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Instead of waiting for enough time or enough confidence, Dr Rachel Knightley shares how Green Ink Sponsored Write was invented to help writers dive in...
Writing that makes a difference
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Writing that makes a difference: Green Ink Sponsored Write for Macmillan Cancer Support Dr Rachel Knightley begins the lead-up to this year’s Gree...
Rachel Knightley talks to award winning author Anthony McGowan
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anthony McGowan books have won several major awards, and been shortlisted for many more. He has also written highly regarded adult fiction, as well as...
Rachel Knightley talks to BAFTA-winning writer, director and producer Dan Berlinka
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
BAFTA-winning writer, director and producer joins Dr Rachel Knightley on the Writers’ Gym. Dan co-created and co-wrote “The A List” for Kindle...
Rachel Knightley talks to British Fantasy, Shirley Jackson and World Fantasy Award winner Priya Sharma
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Priya Sharma's fiction has appeared in Interzone, Black Static, Nightmare, Weird Tales, and Tor.com (now Reactormag.com). She's been anthologis...
Rachel Knightley talks to Tiny Pieces of Skull author and 2016 Lambda winner Roz Kaveney
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“I have a long and complicated personal history which I am in the process of turning into a huge memoir; crucial facts are that I was reared Catholi...
Rachel Knightley talks to six-time Bram Stoker award winner Lisa Morton
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Six-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award, author of four novels and 200 short stories, and a world-class Halloween and paranormal expert, screenwriter...
Rachel Knightley talks to instant Sunday Times Bestselling author Sarah Brooks
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Dr Rachel Knightley is joined by instant Sunday Times Bestselling author Sarah Brooks. Sarah won the Lucy Cavendish Prize in 2019. Sh...
Rachel Knightley talks to screenwriter, sci-fi/fantasy novelist and TV/radio dramatist Philip Palmer
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Rachel Knightley is joined today by screenwriter, TV and radio dramatist and science fiction/fantasy novelist Philip Palmer. Philip has a backgro...
Rachel Knightley talks to award winning Nordic Noir crime novelist Alex Dahl
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Dahl is the author of six psychological thrillers. Her third novel, Playdate, is currently streaming on Disney+ and she’s published by (among o...
Rachel Knightley talks to award-winning author, journalist and ovarian-cancer-wrangler Jennifer Steil
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
‘Liminal’ is much more than the name of award-winning author, journalist and Ovarian cancer wrangler Jennifer Steil’s Substack newsletter. In th...
Rachel Knightley talks to Macmillan Cancer Support's Andy Gould
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Green Ink Sponsored Write brings together published authors and developing writers to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Each year's theme ...
Bookmark Bible
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Showing up authentically on the page — and off the page — can feel like a big ask at first. But all it takes is a few simple truths to make the pr...
Landing Patterns
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Procrastination gets — entirely rightly — a pretty bad press. So how do we differentiate it from warming up and getting into the zone? In this epi...
Welcome to the Writers Gym Podcast
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Shooting the Should Fairies
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anxiety is not a documentary. It’s creative writing at its most natural and automatic. Yet we so often hear our own projected worst case scenarios m...
Our Characters in Space and Time
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Being in your character’s body as well as their mind isn’t always first-draft territory. For many writers, it’s easier to begin in an internal m...
Part Two: How to Trust Your Reader
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Trusting your reader is one of the most famous phrases in creative writing teaching. But how do we do that? And what might be stopping us? Dr Rachel K...
Part One: How to Trust Your Reader
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Trusting your reader is one of the most famous phrases in creative writing teaching. But how do we do that? And what might be stopping us? Dr Rachel K...
Why Point of View is Everything
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Rachel Knightley’s Sherlock Holmes Snoopy lamp is something of a co-presenter this week. What object do you love, that connects you with your pas...
Vulnerability is Strength
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
‘Say the Thing’ is one of our most transformational pieces of writing advice Dr Rachel Knightley ever had. That editor wasn’t just showing her a...
Stealthwriting
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What’s the difference between procrastination and a gentle ‘landing pattern’ on your way down to where the words are? If your bookshelves are no...
Perfect Was Never On the Menu: Two Creative Writing Exercises
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re listening to a podcast about writing, there’s a good chance you’ve experienced how a book you love has added to your life: how valuabl...
Think On The Page
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“But don’t you HAVE to wait for inspiration?” Every writing voice is unique — but how we stand in our way can be a lot less so. Inspired (see ...
Why Normal Jobs Need Not Apply - Kim Newman
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Multi-award-winning author, journalist, film critic and fiction writer Kim Newman joins Dr Rachel Knightley at the Writers’ Gym for the final episod...
Confidence, Magic and Terry Pratchett – Gabrielle Kent joins the Writers' Gym
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gabrielle Kent talks to Dr Rachel Knightley about the magic of the stories we inherit as well as those we create. Afull-time children's author who beg...
Embracing the Strange – Aliya Whiteley joins the Writers' Gym
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Rachel Knightley speaks to her Great British Horror 5 co-contributor, award-winning author of ovels, short stories and articles (“Usually strange...
Eyebrows and Imagination – Rosie Garland joins the Writers' Gym
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning poet, long and short fiction author, performer and vocalist with the March Violets, Rosie Garland talks to Dr Rachel Knightley about cur...
JD Barker's Writing Life
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week at the Writers’ Gym, Dr Rachel Knightley is joined by New York Times and international bestselling thriller writer JD Barker. His work has...
Returning to Being a Writer – Prano Bailey-Bond joins the Writers' Gym
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode and writing workout feature the art and life of Prano Bailey-Bond. Prano is an award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter who grew up ...
Adrian Tchaikovsky talks Writing Health (and Insects)
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 2: Adrian Tchaikovsky Today at the Writers’ Gym, Dr Rachel Knightley is joined by multi-award-winning science fiction and fantasy author ...
Dr Rachel Knightley and Ashley Lexine - Building Creative Confidence at the Writers' Gym
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Writers’ Gym is not just a podcast: it’s a membership platform, supporting writers (and writers-to-be) in buildingcreative confidence, growing...
Memory and Flashback
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this final episode of season 3, Dr Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen chat about memory and flashback and the ways in which authors can use them to ...
A Writer's Fuel
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Whether it be ensuring the correct amount of nourishment for your body, exercise, a good sleep or combinations of aspiration and fear, writers tend to...
Prologues and Epilogues
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Dr Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen discuss prologues and epilogues and how writers can use them to create intriguing openings and sa...
Narrators
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we look at the role of narrators in fiction and discuss when, how and whether to deploy them. As usual Dr Rachel Knightley and Emily...
Reading For Writers
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we look at reading and how it can help to fire creativity and inspire imagination for authors. As usual, Emily and Rachel bring plen...
Viewpoint and Perspective
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we explore viewpoint and perspective in fiction. Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen discuss the different types of perspective and ...
Principles of Scriptwriting
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen talk about scriptwriting and offer advice to writers wishing to get started in writing for stage, sc...
Pace and Structure
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen discuss pace and structure in fiction. They ask whether pace comes from structure or can be added ...
Animosity in Fiction
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this first episode of season three of The Writers' Gym Podcast, Dr Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen look at animosity in fiction and the ways in w...
Rhianna Pratchett at the Writers' Gym
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode of the podcast Rachel and Emily are in conversation with multi-disciplined writer Rhianna Pratchett about her work in video ga...
Chronological Versus Fractured Narratives
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Dr Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen look at the ways in which writers use time in their storytelling. From linear narratives follow...
Foreshadowing
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dropping hints about events to come in your stories can raise tension and add depth and interest to your work. In this episode we look at the art an...
Short Fiction
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode we'll look at short fiction and the skills and techniques you'll need to master concise storytelling. We discuss the pros and...
Relationships in Fiction
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk about relationships in your fiction and how they can mould and shape your stories and the arcs of your characters. We explore ...
Making Time to Write
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we look at the challenges of making time for your writing and how best to use time when you have it. As usual we have tips advice an...
Writing Tips from the Writers' Gym Team
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition Rachel, Emily and Chris each share pieces of writing advice which we hope you'll find useful. Join the Writers’ Gym and book your...
Writing with Nigel Planer
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Writers' Gym Podcast we're joined by actor, comedian, novelist and poet Nigel Planer for a discussion about his writing life an...
Inspiration Versus Perspiration
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Writers' Gym Podcast with Dr Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen we're looking at inspiration and perspiration and whether one or...
Writing Across Genres with Gareth L Powell
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of the Writers' Gym podcast we are joined by the award-winning novelist Gareth L Powell to talk about his work across several genres. ...
Music and Writing
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of the Writers' Gym Podcast with Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen we'll look at the relationship between music and writing. We'll e...
Character Building
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the podcast we’ll be looking at the art of generating characters for your fiction. We’ll look at the secrets of creating beli...
Beating the Blank Page
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Writers’ Gym Podcast we will be thinking about starting to write. Writing the opening page of your story needn’t be a b...
Write What You Know: A Discussion
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of the Writers’ Gym Podcast with Dr Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen we take a look at one of the most common pieces of advice offe...
Unreliable Narrators
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Rachel and Emily look at unreliable narrators and how to create and use them in your writing. With examples from literature we look ...
Layout and Formatting
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we look at the art and science of laying out and formatting your writing. We ask when you should begin to format your work, how you ...
Worldbuilding
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen look at the process of worldbuilding for fiction writers. Normally associated with science fiction...
"What's your Wessex?": Place, setting and location in fiction
13 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen look at the role and influence of place in creative writing. We look at the ways in which setting ...
Editing 101
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast we’ll talk about the art and techniques of editing. We’ll discuss approaches to editing, what you should take out and keep in an...
How Not to Give Feedback
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Rachel Knightley and Emily Inkpen discuss the art of giving and receiving feedback. We’ll have advice on how and who to ask for fe...
Nigel Planer and Friends
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Acclaimed actor, poet and novelist Nigel Planer joins Dr Rachel Knightley for a very special, between-series episode of The Writers’ Gym podcast. Fr...
The Horror Muse and the Freelance Life – with Trevor Kennedy, Big Hits Radio UK
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ahead of the launch of Twisted Branches (coming Oct 2023 from Black Shuck Books), Rachel Knightley talks to Trevor Kennedy of Big Hits Radio UK for hi...
Writing Lives: with Maura McHugh
03 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What does full-time writing look like? It depends on the writer – and what we create in our lives off the page depends directly on what we imagine. ...
Connection Through Imperfection
03 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Internationally best-selling author, artist, journalist and speaker John-Paul Flintoff trained in improvisation with Keith Johnstone. He designs today...
Not Writing Every Day: Being a Writer Every Day.
07 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"What writing advice really pisses you off?" was one of my favourite questions to ask award-winning author and editor Dan Coxon. At the time (an inter...
The Political Is The Personal: Mike Jones on Memoir, Poetry and Songwriting
31 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One thing that becomes clear the more accomplished we get in any area of writing (or of anything else): the kind of writing somebody else is doing sti...
Rachel Knightley talks to Jennifer Steil
26 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A painter doesn't need permission to mix any colours they like. Yet, as writers, our memories, imagination, observations and questions about the world...