The Dale Hurst Writing Show
Le Carré Productions
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A fortnightly discussion podcast where novelist, journalist and broadcaster Dale Hurst and a special guest explore issues relating to writing, publishing, and storytelling.
Available episodes
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15 Dec 2022
20. Season 1 Reunion (with Nels Challinor, Collin Glavac, Dale Hall and S.P. Thane)
To end Season 2 with a festive treat, we brought back some old friends to catch up with what they've been getting up to over the last year or so. Spy novelist Collin Glavac, award-nominated poet and rapper S.P. Thane, and Nels Challinor and Dale Hall from Great Ape literary journal all brought news and readings. Plus our host picks their brains for their favourite Christmas stories.
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24 Nov 2022
19. On Hook-Up Culture (with Conor Ó'Cuinn and Tazy Harrison-Moore)
Fresh off of their run at the King's Head Theatre, London, playwright and actor Conor Ó'Cuinn and director Tazy Harrison-Moore join Dale for a chat about their play 'Looking For Fun?' and explore its greater theme of hook-up culture.
Contains instances of moderate language.
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10 Nov 2022
18. Stories in Foreign Parts (with Avanti Centrae)
From published short stories set on French boulevards to his ongoing project in a hotel in Nazi Germany, setting stories outside of his native England is hardly a new battle for our host. But this experience and expertise is eclipsed by special guest, international bestselling thriller writer Avanti Centrae. Speaking to her from Florida, Dale explores with Avanti the research methods and considerations required to successfully set a story in foreign parts.
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27 Oct 2022
17. Scaring on the Page (with Alex Colvin)
With the spookiest time of year approaching, we thought we'd dedicate an episode to talking about horror stories, how to scare readers, and interpretations of the monster. Joining all the way from Canada is author Alex Colvin, whose recently-released second book Unquestionably Monstrous deals with these topics in great depth.
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12 Oct 2022
16. Social Media for Authors (with Jack Newman)
If you're an independent and/or self-published author and you really don't know your Tweets from your TikTok, then this episode will be right up your street. Jack Newman from UKB Marketing dishes on a load of tips and tricks for setting up, managing and maintaining social channels and brands.
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28 Sept 2022
15. Understanding Screenplays (with Daniel Riccio)
With only a shred of training in screenwriting himself, our host brings screenwriter Daniel Riccio on to the show to explain more about the layout and format of screenplays, and how to bring a story to life from script to screen. What is the process (if there is one set in stone)? What are the basic fundamentals? What should be on the page, and what shouldn't? All these questions and more answered in this edition.
Contains one use of strong language.
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14 Sept 2022
14. The Fall and Rise of Video Game Adaptations (with Sam Randall)
It's something that has annoyed our eponymous host for years and years... with such a wealth of character backstory and visual inspiration to draw from, why are adaptations of video games to film and TV generally so hit-and-miss? What led to the flops in the early years? What is being done now to ensure the growing successes? Writer Sam Randall joins us to discuss further.
*Contains strong language*
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1 Sept 2022
13. The Basics of Poetry (with T. H. Carrington)
We decided to listen to our... well... listeners and deliver an episode themed around the basics fundamentals of poems and poetry writing. Acclaimed poet T. H. Carrington joins for an in-depth discussion about the poetry writing process, overused and underrated devices, and more. Plus, stay to the end for a reading of one of her own sonnets.
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18 Aug 2022
12. Constructing Crime Fiction (with Jason R Vowles)
We're in familiar territory with crime fiction this time as we look to go against some of the "advice" of Internet reviewers and Redditors. How is best to construct the modern-day crime story? A veteran of the genre and author of the DC Daniel Hudson series, Jason R Vowles, joins us for the discussion.
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4 Aug 2022
11. Saying it in Song (with Calum Lintott)
We thought we'd do something a bit different to kick off our second season and grilled Southampton singer-songwriter superstar Calum Lintott for his drives and inspirations as a songwriter, and what any aspiring lyricists should look out for when telling stories in song form. We also find out a bit about his upcoming debut album Sunshine Moonlight.
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2 Dec 2021
10. Crafting a Christmas Story (with James Boxall and Aaron Hayes)
A festive treat to close off the season. Dale's former podcasting partners James Boxall and Aaron Hayes join him for a discussion about Christmas stories. What are our enduring favourites? What do we look for in a Yuletide tale? And what stories are yet to be told at Christmas? All this, plus jokes, songs, and seasonal snippets, in this festive finale...
NOTE: Contains some moderate language.
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18 Nov 2021
9. Self-Publishing: Thoughts on Marketing (with Dan Buckley)
Marketing specialist Dan Buckley from Ocean View Marketing joins to offer a number of insights into things self-publishing authors should think about and look into when it comes to marketing. He busts some common myths, points out a few common traps, and pinpoints the key components to the marketing strategy of an independent publishing project. All this and more in rather a different episode of this podcast...
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4 Nov 2021
8. True Crime's Proper Place (with Jamie Webb)
True crime stories are enduringly popular, whether in documentary format like The Ted Bundy Tapes, in drama form such as ITV's Des, or even in podcasts like the recent The Clown & The Candyman. But which format suits such stories best? Award-winning videographer and documentary filmmaker Jamie Webb joins to debate the proper place for true crime stories.
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21 Oct 2021
7. Women in Sci-Fi (with Amy Scott)
Theorists (and probably many fans) believe female characters are often side-lined in science fiction stories as sidekicks and devices to further the development of male protagonists, with heroines such as Ellen Ripley and Sarah Connor being exceptions to the rule. In this episode, writer, sci-fi enthusiast, and cosplayer Amy Scott joins me in a discussion about the role of women in the science fiction genre. How it's developing and where changes are still yet to be made.
WARNING: Contains occasional use of moderate language.
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7 Oct 2021
6. Getting Absurdism (with Nels Challinor and Dale Hall)
What is absurdism? What constitutes an absurdist piece? And how does one go about writing one? In this episode, we talk to not one but two experts on quite a complex and multifaceted style. Writers Dale Hall and Nels Challinor, also co-founding editors of the absurdist humour journal Great Ape, dole out their wisdom.
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23 Sept 2021
5. Chopin (with Sebastian Gardner)
In this episode, we don't debate so much an issue of writing and storytelling, as much as come together over a common influence. Sebastian Gardner, writer of the award-winning play I Lost My Virginity to Chopin's Nocturne in B-Flat Minor, joins for a discussion about how composer Frédéric Chopin and his music inspired the title of his work, just as it did with Dale's current work-in-progress, the war thriller You Can Hear Chopin from the Attic...
WARNING: Contains occasional use of moderate language.
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9 Sept 2021
4. Writing a Good Antagonist (with Josh Feiner)
Writer Josh Feiner joins us as we whittle down a so-called checklist for the traits a good antagonist should have. How many do we end up agreeing with? Also featuring an exclusive snippet from Dale's second novel, The Berylford Scandals: Sin & Secrecy.
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26 Aug 2021
3. The Eastern Influence (with S. P. Thane)
He's not just a master of rhythm and rhyme; poet and lyricist S. P. Thane is also something of an expert on Far Eastern literature, storytelling, and art forms, such as manga and anime. While his current projects circulate his poetry and short stories, he also has a manga in the works. One that blurs the lines between Eastern and Western storytelling conventions, which began as a collaboration with graphic designer and illustrator Michał Musiałek.
*Contains strong language*
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12 Aug 2021
2. The Art of the Thriller (with Collin Glavac)
Spy novelist Collin Glavac lets us in on a few secrets of writing a good thriller. What are the key ingredients that he implemented into his works, including his most recent release, Operation Nicaragua? And what makes the thriller genre so versatile?
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29 Jul 2021
1. Keeping Fantasy Fresh (with Daniel Pride)
Fantasy writer Daniel Pride joins for a discussion about fresh ways to write stories in the done-to-death fantasy genre.
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