Mark Stay's Creative Differences
A monthly podcast where I talk to writer friends about those little things that make a big difference to their craft and careers in the hope that we can give readers some insight to the creative process, and writers and creative folk practical advice that they can actually use!
The podcast is a recording of a monthly livestream.
Episodes
11 episodes
Nicola Whyte: THE PERCOLATION | Mark Stay's Creative Differences Episode 11
I had a wonderful time chatting to Nicola Whyte the debut writer of 10 Marchfield Square about how she was inspired by the nooks of London and Douglas Adams's whodunnits. We also discuss planning the middle of a novel, "soft boiled crime", desi...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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50:50
Sarah Pinborough: THE LIES WE TELL | Mark Stay's Creative Differences Episode 10
I chat with Sarah Pinborough, the bestselling and award-winning author of Behind Her Eyes about her new thriller We Live Here Now, spooky houses, her method of 'triple writing', going on tour and the lies we tell each other...LINKS
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Episode 10
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45:21
Tracy Buchanan: "CELEBRATE THE GOOD STUFF!" | Mark Stay's Creative Differences Episode 9
Tracy Buchanan is the bestselling author of the Dr Vanessa Marwood thrillers and she runs one of the best author groups on Facebook and is a brilliant advocate for authors.We discuss: Which comes first: research or plot?I...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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35:31
Nadine Matheson: "THROW EVERYTHING AT IT!" | Mark Stay's Creative Differences Episode 8
Nadine Matheson is the bestselling author of the DI Henley crime thrillers and presenter of the Conversation Podcast.We discuss: Writing as a plannerNadine's great tip for finishing first draftsWhy not reading the small...
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Episode 8
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54:04
Gareth L Powell: Future's Edge | Mark Stay's Creative Differences Episode 7
Award-winning author Gareth L Powell takes us into the future with his latest science fiction novel Future's Edge.We discuss: Writing SF in an era when fact is in danger of overtaking fictionRunning the Stars and Sabers i...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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51:38
Nicola May: "Persistence over Resistance" | Mark Stay's Creative Differences Episode 6
Nicola May is the author of heartwarming and funny romantic comedies, including the hugely successful Ferry Lane and Cockleberry Bay series, she’s a great champion for indie authors and she’s here to kick off 2025 with another bestseller ‘How D...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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39:11
GB Ralph "Share the Excitement!" | Mark Stay's Creative Differences Episode 5
In this special festive edition of the podcast I welcome GB Ralph, author of the cozy Milverton Mysteries series!We discuss:Slow burn romanceWriting in scenes and converting them to chaptersChapter word count a...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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54:12
Mike Shackle and the Squeaky Toy of Doom | Mark Stay's Creative Differences Episode 4
I'm joined by Mike Shackle, author of the epic LAST WAR fantasy trilogy, and he also writes thrillers under the name Michael Dylan: we talk about the perils of writing epic fantasy when publishers are imposing word limits, the pros and cons of ...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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36:11
Zoë Richards: Rethinking Resilience for Writers | Mark Stay's Creative Differences Episode 3
Zoë is the author of Garden of Her Heart, and host of the podcast, Write Damn It! An experienced coach with more than 35 years working on mindset, Zoë shares a ton of practical advice for writers including how to deal with self-doubt and reject...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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1:00:04
LJ Shepherd and the Trails of Lila Dalton | Mark Stay's Creative Differences Episode 2
My special guest on the podcast this month is LJ Shepherd, author of the stunning debut novel The Trials of Lila Dalton. We discuss first lines and opening pages, the benefits of attending festivals, the book that inspired her to choose her age...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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47:17
SC Gowland and the Law of Consequences | Mark Stay's Creative Differences Episode 1
Welcome to the first episode of Creative Differences with my special guest SC Gowland. We discuss curating the short story anthology The Law of Consequences, how to write a short story, and Steve reveals the little things that have made a big d...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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51:05
