Meet Michael Brissenden who chats about his latest novel Smoke. He discusses his research process, where he gets his ideas, how he uses a whiteboard in his writing process and transition from journalism to fiction writing.

0:00 Introduction and welcome
00:23 Success story: Sarah Speedie
03:40 Nat Newman's writing tips
05:58 Finding beta readers
12:41 Competition: Win 'Death in the Air' by Ram Murali
14:52 Word of the week: Embrocate
17:55 Interview with Michael Brissenden, author of Smoke
23:30 Facing rejection and finding inspiration
24:25 From journalism to fiction writing
25:13 Crafting a nuanced story
26:42 Developing characters and plot
27:36 The writing process and challenges
28:35 Exploring themes in 'Smoke'
32:45 Research and authenticity
34:30 Daily writing routine
36:18 Planning and structuring a novel
41:23 Journalism skills in fiction writing
46:00 Creating a strong female protagonist
51:22 Top writing tips for aspiring authors
53:54 Conclusion and final thoughts

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