Reviewing my most recent creative progress from the last few weeks…

I’ve been on something of a hiatus this month, with progress on certain projects drawing to a temporary halt. This gave me time to reflect on these projects’ direction and future, and what I plan to work on next. Some big decisions being made behind the scenes. Here’s how things have been going across September.

The Dale Hurst Writing Show

Regular visitors will probably know plenty about my podcast, The Dale Hurst Writing Show, which is approaching the halfway point of its third season. So far, I’ve released episodes with a diversity of guests — novelists, poets, filmmakers and publishing pros — with more of the same to come as we build up to Christmas. Speaking of which, this last couple of weeks has been spent planning the final episodes, including our festive special. Many more interesting guests to listen in on.

The main consideration for the podcast is its future… where do I take it from here? Several ideas are on the table at the moment. Currently weighing up pros and cons, and choosing over my favourites, some of which involve working with more people than just my guests. More news to come once I’ve arrived at a final decision.

You Can Hear Chopin from the Attic

The majority of August saw some of the highest productivity from me in terms of writing my war thriller novel, You Can Hear Chopin from the Attic. To the point where, based on chapters, I’m over 80% of the way through the first draft.

In September… I’m ashamed to say I’ve barely moved. It’s been a much slower month, not least due to the heat wave that coincided with a trip to Wales. However, it gave me a chance to think about what’s going to happen to the story in the re-drafting and editing process. What’s going to change. Currently, the changes could be quite extreme. Not just a different ending, but also a change to the main protagonist, which could even put the novel’s title out of commission!

Nothing is confirmed yet until I read through the draft once it’s finished. I’m just very aware that there are things I need to change off the bat.

Other projects

I have far too many ideas floating around for what to take on as my next project, following completion of You Can Hear Chopin. Not that we’re anywhere near that stage yet. But I find it helps to know what I’m moving onto next. Having gone from novel to novel to novel, with very little variety in between, I’m entertaining the idea of a more collaborative project next. So, rather than moving straight onto Book 4 — whether that’d be another standalone project or a return to Berylford — I’m thinking more along the lines of a film or play.

On the other hand, I could compile a load of poem and short story ideas into a collection and publish that instead. These ideas have been growing in number lately, and with a lack of recent success in competitions, it would be good to give them an outlet.

What would you like me to work on next? Let me know in the comments or on my socials. Like my Facebook page and Follow me on Instagram and get in touch.

A message to fans, writers and storytellers alike… the wait is over. The Dale Hurst Writing Show Season 3 is on its way…

When the first season of our podcast The Dale Hurst Writing Show came to a close, there was some debate over whether we’d return for a second. But our fanbase appreciated enough to request Season 2, which we delivered last year. The feedback during that second season was overwhelmingly positive and so The Dale Hurst Writing Show Season 3 was a no-brainer. Had to be done. And now, we can reveal it is due for launch in the next couple of weeks. Listen to the trailer now.

What can listeners expect?

Listeners and guests alike have praised the show’s format, referring to it as easy to listen to, informative, and in many ways different to other writing podcasts. With this in mind, we’ve tried to go with more of the same. A new episode released every fortnight leading up to Christmas. Guests on The Dale Hurst Writing Show Season 3 will range from traditionally published authors to up-and-coming screenwriters; from filmmakers with huge followings to members of the publishing industry. As usual, we tried to deliver a mixture. All of them discussing topics and issues from the worlds of writing, publishing and storytelling.

This season will include a couple of episodes that tackle more serious issues from a writing standpoint. Themes including the cost of living crisis, female honour, and knife crime. Other topics include the role of the commissioning department in publishing, how much magic is too much in fantasy, and scripting a TV series from start to finish.

Another small addition to the proceedings is a focus on advice for aspiring and new writers and storytellers. Those who may be starting out on their careers or even just toying with the idea. This season, our guests offer tips and advice, warn of traps and bust myths, based on their own experiences.

Who will feature in The Dale Hurst Writing Show Season 3?

As with previous seasons, Season 3 will comprise ten episodes, including a Christmas special to serve as a finale. And as previously mentioned, we have invited a mixture of writers and storytellers from a variety of backgrounds, genres and areas of the industry to discuss topics relating to their own expertise.

In one episode, we talk to novelist Awais Khan, whose work No Honour deals with the serious subject of female honour and honour killings. Meanwhile, fellow author Ashley Hickson-Lovence also features this series. In his episode, he discusses the themes of knife crime and county lines prevalent in his upcoming novel Wild East.

Poet Winston “Mayor” Lindsay, filmmaker Bertie Brosnan, playwright Justin McDevitt, publishing professional Abbie Rutherford, author E.B. Hunter, and screenwriter Ryan Avery also feature on this year’s programme.

Irish filmmaker, actor and author Brosnan commented on how important it is for writers of any stage of their careers to have a platform like this podcast to discuss their work:

“Discussing your craft at any stage of your development is vitally important because that’s how you reflect on what you’ve learned. It is also a way of seeing objectively where you are, if you can look at what you’ve achieved from an eagle-eye perspective. That inadvertently helps the listener, too, because they are listening to the processes of the craft.”

Where can we listen, and when?

Season 3 will launch on Thursday 3 August 2023, with new editions releasing every two weeks thereafter. They’ll be available in full on Spotify, Google Podcasts and Amazon Music. This is also where you can catch up on the first two seasons if you haven’t caught them before. Listen to the trailer now.

Want to find out more about the podcast? Or maybe you have an idea for a guest or topic for an episode? Get in touch with us via Facebook and Instagram.