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The Invisible CollegeEpisodes

  1. Lesson Eighteen: Writer’s Block

    Discover Ray Bradbury’s simple trick for overcoming writer’s block.

  2. Lesson Seventeen: What I Learned from James Baldwin

    Novelist Caryl Phillips considers what we can learn from the great American writer.

  3. Lesson Sixteen: Dealing with Critics

    If you’re going to put your work out in the world, someone’s going to take a pop at it.

  4. Lesson Fifteen: Write and Repeat

    “Easy reading is damned hard writing,” says Maya Angelou.

  5. Lesson Fourteen: In Search of a Character with Graham Greene

    Hear how Graham Greene gradually evolves a character.

  6. Lesson Thirteen: Place

    On capturing the soul of a place in words.

  7. Lesson Twelve: A Workshop with Allen Ginsberg

    How often do you get the chance to attend a lecture by one of the Beats?

  8. Lesson Eleven: Listen Up!

    If you want to write good dialogue, you need good ears.

  9. Lesson Ten: Find your Story

    Waiting for the muse to strike? Give it up and get writing.

  10. Lesson Nine: Keep Human

    This lesson exalts the importance of time off.

  11. Lesson Eight: The Writer’s Mind

    The subconscious mind can be the writer’s greatest helper – or nastiest foe.

  12. Lesson Seven: Routines and Rituals

    Yes, we need talent – but we also need discipline.

  13. Lesson Six: A Note on Style

    Show don’t tell. Well, no, actually – show AND tell.

  14. Lesson Five: Planning a Route

    To plot or not to plot – that’s the question.

  15. Lesson Four: Creating Characters

    How nosy are you about your protagonist? Do you know what she eats for breakfast?

  16. Lesson Three: Getting Better Acquainted with Words

    How do we recognise a hell-raising word from one that just wants a quiet life?

  17. Lesson Two: Sell your Heart

    How do we find a voice? Figure out what’s ours – and only ours – to say?

  18. Lesson One: The Importance of Reading

    If you want to write – read. Marinate your mind in the sentence and the word.

  19. Welcome to the Invisible College

    Welcome to this new BBC podcast. The first episode will be published within seven days.