The most comprehensive podcast for all things writing and publishing

Episodes

April 22, 2021

The Pen to Published Podcast

Episode 1: Introducing the two Alexas - who they are and what they do.

Episode page
April 23, 2021

The Pen to Published Podcast

EPISODE 2: ALL ABOUT THE WHO Identifying your target audience: as a writer, this is crucial. The two Alexas discuss why knowing your audience is so important before you begin to write.

Episode page
May 9, 2021

The Pen to Published Podcast

EPISODE 3: WRITING FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS It's vital to understand the age category you're aiming to write for. The two Alexas explain the categories and discuss what's required when writing within each one.

Episode page
May 16, 2021

The Pen to Published Podcast

EPISODE 4: THE WRITING PROCESS - PART ONE Have you ever asked the question, 'Just where do writers get their ideas?' In episode 4, the two Alexas give some guidance on where to start in the hunt for a great …

Episode page
May 24, 2021

The Pen to Published Podcast

EPISODE 5: THE WRITING PROCESS - PART TWO To plan or not to plan? This episode is all about planning your fiction or non-fiction book, where to begin, and how to nail your plan so that you have a rock-solid …

Episode page
May 31, 2021

The Pen to Published Podcast

EPISODE 6: GETTING INTO THE WRITING HABIT This week, the two Alexas talk about how to get your book written. Managing your time can be a real issue but to achieve your writing goals, writing needs to become a regular …

Episode page
June 7, 2021

The Pen to Published Podcast

EPISODE 7: KICKING WRITER'S BLOCK Writer's block: what is it? Why does it happen? What can you do to help overcome it? In this episode, Alexas 1 and 2 dig into the causes of creative block and discuss various ideas …

Episode page
June 14, 2021

The Pen to Published Podcast

EPISODE 8: INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR KYLIE DIXON In the last episode of series 1, the two Alexas talk to an author they've both worked with, Kylie Dixon, about her wonderful debut children's book, Inkcap and the Nethers. A fascinating insight …

Episode page
Sept. 12, 2021

The Pen to Published Podcast

SERIES 2 EPISODE 1: PREPPING YOUR MANUSCRIPT FOR AN EDITOR Welcome to series 2 of the podcast, in which the two Alexas chat about the editing side of the self-publishing process. In this episode, you'll learn the dos and don'ts …

Episode page
Sept. 19, 2021

The Pen to Published Podcast

SERIES 2 EPISODE 2: EDITING: THE VARIOUS LEVELS Editing is a staged process. Alexa 1 and Alexa 2 introduce the various levels, or types, of editing, explaining why each one is important and how, together, they work to craft your …

Episode page
Sept. 27, 2021

The Pen to Published Podcast

SERIES 2 EPISODE 3: PROOFREADING MATTERS After the editing of a book comes the all-important proofreading. The two Alexas explain what proofreading involves and why it's a vital stage in the production of a polished publication.

Episode page
Oct. 4, 2021

The Pen to Published Podcast

SERIES 2 EPISODE 4: STYLE SHEETS AND WHY WRITERS NEED THEM So what is a style sheet and what's it got to do with writing a book? This episode explains all, from why style sheets are so important for writers …

Episode page
Oct. 11, 2021

The Pen to Published Podcast

SERIES 2 EPISODE 5: FINDING THE RIGHT EDITOR FOR YOUR BOOK AND FOR YOU Editing may seem all much of a muchness, but to get the most out of the editing process, authors do need to find the right editor …

Episode page
Oct. 18, 2021

The Pen to Published Podcast

SERIES 2 EPISODE 6: WRITING AND EDITING RHYMING BOOKS FOR CHILDREN Rhyming books aren't an easy option for authors wanting to write for children, but used well, rhymes can create beautiful, memorable books. In this episode, the two Alexas talk …

Episode page
Oct. 25, 2021

The Pen to Published Podcast

SERIES 2 EPISODE 7: FIVE EDITING MYTHS TO RETHINK Throughout series 2 of the podcast, the two Alexas have emphasised the importance of having your book professionally edited and proofread, and what those services can do for your final product. …

Episode page
Nov. 1, 2021

The Pen to Published Podcast

SERIES 2 EPISODE 8: INTERVIEW WITH ACTOR AND WRITER JOSEPH MILLSON In the series 2 finale, the two Alexas chat to actor and writer, Joseph Millson, whose first book, Work ... and other four-letter words (a memoir about his first …

Episode page
Jan. 3, 2022

The Pen to Published Podcast

SERIES 3 EPISODE 1: TYPESETTING - THE BASICS In this brand-new series of The Pen to Published Podcast, the two Alexas are back and the topic of conversation is typesetting. This episode delves into what typesetting is, why choosing the …

Episode page
Jan. 10, 2022

The Pen to Published Podcast

SERIES 3 EPISODE 2 - PART 1: TYPEFACES - THE DOS AND DON'TS The typeface you choose for the pages of your book is a huge part of its personality. Getting it right for the cover is vital too. Continuing …

Episode page
Jan. 17, 2022

The Pen to Published Podcast

SERIES 3 EPISODE 3 - PART 2: TYPEFACES - UNDERSTANDING THE DETAIL Episode 3 is a second delve into typefaces and this time, the two Alexas explain the two main styles in use and the differences between them. They also …

Episode page
Jan. 24, 2022

The Pen to Published Podcast

SERIES 3 EPISODE 4: TYPESETTING - PET PEEVES What are the most common mistakes in typography? The two Alexas give the lowdown and explain how poor typesetting can really affect the ultimate finish of your book.

Episode page
Jan. 31, 2022

The Pen to Published Podcast

SERIES 3 EPISODE 5: THE INGREDIENTS OF A BOOK There are key ingredients to books. Alexas 1 and 2 explore the various elements that make up a book, in addition to the main content – for example, forewords and introductions, …

Episode page
Feb. 7, 2022

The Pen to Published Podcast

SERIES 3 EPISODE 6: GETTING YOUR BOOK COVER RIGHT This episode is all about covers: what you need and what works well for different genres. The cover is the all-important 'shop window' for your book so it really does pay …

Episode page
Feb. 14, 2022

The Pen to Published Podcast

SERIES 3 EPISODE 7: ALL THINGS IMAGES The topic for this week’s episode is images and what you need to know when getting your book ready for print. Even if your book contains no images, there’s still the cover to …

Episode page
Feb. 21, 2022

The Pen to Published Podcast

SERIES 3 EPISODE 8: INTERVIEW WITH LUCILLE OSSAI In this final episode of series three, the two Alexas talk to Lucille Ossai, author, communications trainer, advisor, speaker and multi-award-winning blogger. Having both worked on Lucille's book,...

Episode page