First Graft Podcast
Join writer Heidi James as she chats with a special guest to explore the creative process from scratch. From the first idea, the first marks on the blank page, wrong turns, successes, making a mess and completing the first draft. Listen to conversations about craft, the creative process, fear, procrastination and the hard graft behind the artwork we love.
Episodes
30 episodes
First Graft with Adelle Stripe
In this episode Adelle Stripe and I talk about her writing process, living with another writer, working through self-doubt and the punk rock gardening club. We also give a shout out to 3:AM, Andrew Gallix, Ben Myers and Lee Rourke. ...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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42:53
First Graft with Naomi Booth
In this episode I talk with Naomi Booth about how place sparks inspiration, enmeshment, resistance to and the demands of the creative impulse and how vital it is to decolonise our minds from patriarchal capitalism if we are to create.Nao...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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40:07
First Graft with Cauvery Madhavan
In this episode I talk to Cauvery about self doubt, claiming your voice, and the importance of naming in finding your characters. Born in India, Cauvery Madhavan moved to Ireland 38 years ago and has been in love with the country ev...
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53:15
First Graft with Annabel Dover
In this episode I talk to Annabel about her painting, writing in fragments, the value of small things and writing with and through depression.Through a variety of media including painting, photography, video, cyanotype, and drawing. Anna...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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42:33
First Graft with Kirsteen McNish
In this episode I talk to Kirsteen McNish about writing grief, place and writing as an act of vulnerability. Kirsteen writes a regular column for Caught By The River, and was long listed for the Nan Shepherd Prize in 2023. She is ...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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34:04
First Graft with Luke Seomore
In this episode I talk to filmmaker and musician, Luke Seomore, about finding your own style as an artist, collaboration, falling in love with image and our mutual love for the Werner Herzog film, Stroszek.Luke Seomore is an award winni...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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37:09
First Graft with Amanda Mason
In this episode I talk Amanda Mason, author of The Wayward Girls, about writing the uncanny, fear, nostalgia-washing, and art as reciprocity. https://greyhoundliterary....
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44:54
First Graft with Noemi Kiss-Deaki
In this episode I talk to author of Mary and the Rabbit Dream, Noemi Kiss-Deaki about writing as a form of exorcism after a long pause, indulging in playfulness and anger as a fuel for creativity.
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35:47
First Graft with Rose Ruane
In this episode I talk about writing, visual art, trauma and noticing with Rose Ruane; Rose is an artist & writer who lives in Glasgow with her ever expanding collection of 20th Century kitsch.Her novels This is Yesterday and Birding ar...
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59:28
First Graft with Duke Garwood
This episode I talk with Duke Garwood about his creative process, getting stuck and how to free yourself from creative blocks. Duke is a multi instrumentalist, singer, songwriter who has released six studio albums (including Holy Week, Emerald ...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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36:36
First Graft with Terri White
*TW* Child poverty, abuse, neglect. In this episode Terri White and I discuss our personal experiences of child poverty, sexual abuse and neglect. Please take care listening if these issues are difficult for you. We also talk about our ...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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1:08:05
First Graft with Wendy Erskine
In this episode I talk about make believe, dialogue, the minute ways characters (and all of us!) reveal themselves and paying close attention with Wendy Erskine. Wendy Erskine is the author of two short story collections, Sweet Hom...
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58:59
Reintroducing First Graft
We're back.Join me while I explore the hard graft of creating the work we all love. I'll be talking to writers, artists, musicians and film makers about what inspires and drives them, what gets in the way and how they overcome obstacles.&nb...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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1:20
Chapter sixteen - Katherine Angel
In this chapter I talk to the wonderful Katherine Angel, the author of Daddy Issues (Peninsula Press, 2019), and Unmastered: A Book On Desire, Most Difficult To Tell (Penguin, 2012). Her next book is called Tomorrow Sex Will Be Good Again, and ...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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55:31
Chapter fifteen: Chatting with Hetha Duffy, Editor and Co-owner of Bluemoose Books
In this chapter I share some news... and chat with my editor Hetha Duffy about editing, our process, what to look out for in your work, what Hetha loves to read and she also gives us top tips on submitting your work and the intricacies of writi...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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35:34
Chapter Fourteen: I chat with Rónán Hession, author of Leonard and Hungry Paul
Join me as I chat with Rónán about his novel, music, silence, making meaning, translation, writing and the wild creativity of family lexicons and fibs. Read this book!https://www.bluemoosebooks.com/books/leonard-and-hungry-...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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1:00:12
Chapter Thirteen -Incurring the Wrath of a Spiteful and Minor God
Hey, How're you?This chapter we talk about writing in a colloquial voice; it's importance in reflecting diverse characters, but not misrepresenting or diminishing them. How do we do it? And do it well? I share a sh...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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16:36
Chapter Twelve: First Draft of Section One is Done
Triumph, wobbles, anxiety and first draft trials...So, had recorded the charming and talented Ronan Hession, author of Leonard and Hungry Paul but the quality wasn't good enough for you beauties... hence just me this chapter. I will be ...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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18:29
Chapter Eleven: Chatting with Sharon Duggal
I chat with Sharon about writing her novel The Handsworth Times and her forthcoming novel, Should I Fall Behind, process, confidence, social media, empathy, appropriation, Nick Cave, music playlists, swearing and more...We mention write...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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1:03:49