Authors' Matters by ALCS
Authors' Matters is a podcast by the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) where we talk to writers from across the profession about how they earn their living, or at least try to. From copyright to contracts, we’ll also talk about issues that make the writing living easier or more difficult.
Episodes
31 episodes
Season 4 episode 6: Gwyneth Hughes
Writer of the ITV hit series Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Gwyneth Hughes joins Authors' Matters to discuss how her beginnings as a journalist informed her writing and gave her an early instinct for real people's stories. She also shares her ins...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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21:23
Season 4 episode 5: Sarah Shaffi
Journalist Sarah Shaffi joins us on Authors' Matters to talk all things freelance – how to make the decision to go freelance, what to charge and what to expect from your working life. She also shares details of her work championing writer...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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32:08
Season 4 episode 4: Nathanael Lessore
Winner of the Branford Boase 2024 for his debut, author Nathanael Lessore talks to Authors' Matters about the importance of writer/editor relationships, how to write authentically for a young audience and why school libraries are so important.
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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26:43
Season 4, episode 3: Vybarr Cregan-Reid
Author and academic Vybarr Cregan-Reid talks to Authors' Matters about his fascinating career trajectory (shout-out to Brighton bus company!) and shares his belief in the importance of protecting the humanities in the education sector and also ...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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26:01
Season 4, episode 2: Natasha Carthew
Novelist, poet and non-fiction writer Natasha Carthew talks class, the privilege gap and how she created her own literary festival to tackle these issues head on.
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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24:55
Season 4 episode 1: Vaseem Khan
Crime writer and current Chair of the Crime Writers' Association, Vaseem Khan talks to Authors' Matters about the diversification of the most popular literary genre and how he'd love to punch ChatGPT in the face.
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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26:46
Season 3, episode 7: Tom Chatfield on AI
Everything you ever wanted to know about generative artificial intelligence (AI) but were afraid to ask! Author and tech expert Tom Chatfield breaks down what AI is and what it means for authors and creators on the season finale of Authors' Mat...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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22:15
Season 3, episode 6: Simon Ashdown talks telly
With almost 20 years writing for EastEnders and multiple BAFTAs to his name, there's not much about screenwriting that Simon Ashdown doesn't know. In this episode, he talks to Caroline Sanderson about how he got started in the industry, what ma...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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22:10
Season 3, episode 5: Anna Codrea-Rado celebrates freelancer life
Whether you’re new to freelancing or a saged pro, this episode of Authors' Matters with journalist, author and podcast Anna Codrea-Rado is guaranteed to give you a fresh perspective on the profession and plenty of useful advice.
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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29:55
Season 3, episode 4: Alice Jolly gets real
Expect frank discussion of the publishing industry, author advances, and the ongoing academic strikes in this episode with novelist and creative writing lecturer, Alice Jolly.
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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31:35
Season 3, episode 3: Jeffrey Boakye on his writing adventures and where he's going next
Author and educator Jeffrey Boakye joins us for episode 3 where he shares how he manages being a full-time writer with primary school teaching (spoiler: he doesn't) and talks us through his latest works and the goals for social justice behind e...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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30:21
Season 3, episode 2: Connor Allen shares how writing turned his life around
In episode 2, multidisciplinary artist and current Children's Laureate Wales Connor Allen shares how he got given a second chance at a young age to turn his life around. This is what made him into the successful poet, performer and ambassador f...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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27:18
Season 3, episode 1: Sita Brahmachari on childhood, memory and rites of passage
We're back with season 3 of Authors' Matters! In this season opener, our host Caroline Sanderson chats with celebrated children's writer Sita Brahmachari. Sita shares what inspires her to write stories that cross genres and explore themes of cu...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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25:12
Season 2, episode 8: Darren Chetty talks education, diversity and publishing
In the season finale, we hear from writer, teacher and researcher Darren Chetty on the economics of the publishing industry and what needs to change in order to level the playing field. Darren also shares his passion for children's literature a...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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19:59
Season 2, episode 7: Claire Wade shares how her imagination has been her lifeline
In this episode, novelist and co-founder of the Authors with Disabilities & Chronic Illnesses (ADCI) group, Claire Wade tells us how she got established as a writer and the challenges she has faced in an industry that is centred around well...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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16:19
Season 2, episode 6: Antony Johnston gets organised
In this episode, Antony Johnston gives us the lowdown on how to organise your writing life! No matter what kind of author you are, Antony's advice could get you focused and meeting every deadline.
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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17:36
Season 2, episode 5: Salena Godden on why pessimism is for lightweights
Get inspired with this episode of Authors' Matters - poet Salena Godden tells us about her roots in the DIY punk scene of the 1990s, how she learnt to reject the starving poet cliché and shares the secret to her creative productivity.
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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16:07
Season 2, episode 4: writer and doctor Gavin Francis on his two vocations
In this episode of Authors' Matters, writer and full-time GP Gavin Francis tells us how he manages to write alongside his busy medical career. Plus we take a deep dive into a writer’s relationship with their physical body – how being active is ...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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17:40
Season 2, episode 3: Helen Blakeman on writing for stage and screen
In episode 3, BAFTA and International Emmy Award-winning writer Helen Blakeman tells us how she got established, why she's drawn to telling the stories of those who aren’t always heard, and she shares some top tips on how to improve your writin...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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19:49
Season 2, episode 2: Daniel Hahn talks translation
In episode 2, writer and editor Daniel Hahn tells us how he got into translating books, how to carve out a career in languages, and how essential translation is in making books accessible to readers.
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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16:42
Season 2, episode 1: Anita Sethi on identity, nature and storytelling
Authors' Matters is back for its second season! In this first episode, our host Caroline Sanderson talks to award-winning author and journalist Anita Sethi about finding her own voice and claiming her space, in terms of identity and as a writer...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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16:41
Season 1, episode 10: Award-winning poet Karl Nova, SoA writing grants plus a record ALCS distribution
In this episode of Authors' Matters, we chat to Karl Nova, Hip Hop artist, poet and winner of the 2020 ALCS-sponsored Ruth Rendell Award for Services to Literacy. He tells us about how he discovered his love for poetry, how he's still working t...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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31:30
Season 1, episode 9: Focus on your finances
In the new episode of Authors' Matters, we talk to novelist and Royal Literary Fund (RLF) fellow Sanjida O’Connell about how the RLF has supported authors for over 200 years, and how it continues to provide those in need with hardship grants an...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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26:59
Season 1, episode 8: Funding from the Arts Council England and a look back at 2020
In the final Authors’ Matters episode of 2020, Paul Farrelly, Advocacy consultant at ALCS, talks to James Urquhart, Senior Manager for Libraries and Literature at the Arts Council England (ACE). They discuss the ways in which ACE has supported ...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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39:25
Season 1, episode 7: Celebrating National Poetry Day with Nikita Gill and Adam Horovitz
In this episode of Authors' Matters, we celebrate National Poetry Day (1 Oct) by chatting to contemporary poets, Adam Horovitz and Nikita Gill. They discuss how they earn their livings in one of the most challenging genres in which to pursue a ...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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37:18
