S08 E02 Deon Meyer
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Deon Meyer is a multi-award-winning and bestselling author whose books regularly smash sales records. His latest book SKORPIO is available in Afrikaans, while SCORPIO RISING will be released by Pan Macmillan on 1 October.
Deon joins Fiona and Gail to talk about his early days of writing as a single father of young children, and how Benny Griesel forced his way out of minor-character status. Is this the most useful writing advice dropped in a single episode? Quite possibly!
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Deon joins Fiona and Gail to talk about his early days of writing as a single father of young children, and how Benny Griesel forced his way out of minor-character status. Is this the most useful writing advice dropped in a single episode? Quite possibly!
For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up here for our weekly newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/icon/the-hidden-lives-of-writers-newsletter-signup
Ask your writing-related questions here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8i1_vFmUwsd7E_nvPgQOtqEscvZIircT0imdHm_qYJK5eXA/viewform
Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you. Please join the conversation here:
Email: hiddenlivesofwriters@gmail.com
Instagram: @thehiddenlivesofwriterspod
Twitter: @hiddenwriterpod
YouTube: The Hidden Lives of Writers
Threads: @thehiddenlivesofwriters
Facebook discussion group: The Hidden Lives of Writers
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction and Hosts' News
- 03:30 Pitching a Non-Fiction Book to a Publisher
- 06:10 Books Fiona and Gail Have Been Reading
- 09:30 Welcome: Deon Meyer
- 10:00 Writing Furiously: Deadlines and Daily Word Counts
- 11:30 Starting Slow, Finishing Fast: Meyer's Writing Rhythm
- 13:30 Plotter or Pantser: The Headlighting Method
- 16:10 Growing Up in Klerksdorp: Becoming a Reader and Writer
- 21:15 Challenging Yourself With Every New Book
- 22:50 The Long Road to Commercial Success
- 27:10 Why Write in Afrikaans Rather Than English
- 29:00 Writing for TV and Film: Lessons From Screenwriting
- 32:00 Setting Books in South Africa for an International Audience
- 34:20 How Benny Griessel Refused to Stay a Minor Character
- 39:40 Scorpio Rising: What Readers Can Expect
- 43:10 How Much of Deon Is in Benny
- 45:10 Writing Humour Organically: Vaughn Cupido and Dad Jokes
- 47:30 The Internal Reader: Why Writers Must Read Widely
- 48:30 The Pressure of International Success and Sustained Self-Doubt
- 50:50 The Translation Process: Working With Laura Sieghardt
- 55:10 Advice for Getting Through the Boggy Middle
- 57:15 What Deon Has Been Reading
- 59:00 Farewell and Hosts' Reflections
