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How to Write a Book | 2. IDEA (Part 2)

April 2, 2025 · 28 min

Show notes

In this episode of How to Write a Book, Elizabeth Day’s new podclass series, hosts Sara Collins, Sharmaine Lovegrove and Nelle Andrew continue their discussion of IDEA.

Just where do ideas for books come from? How do you know if they’re any good, or even if they’re right for you to pursue? Our expert podclass provides answers to all of this - and even a lesson in how to know when your idea might be ready to send to an agent.

And at the end, you’ll hear Elizabeth provide her own reflections on how the lessons discussed relate to her own writing journey.

We hope you enjoy our part 1 & part 2 on IDEA and stay tuned for next week’s chat on…VOICE.

Books discussed in these episodes include:

• The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins

• The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

• Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

• Sacred Hunger by Barry Unsworth

• The Color Purple by Alice Walker

• Scissors, Paper, Stone by Elizabeth Day

• Paradise City by Elizabeth Day

• Magpie by Elizabeth Day

We also talk about Christopher Booker, Kit de Waal, The Seven Basic Plots and Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park.


Executive produced by Elizabeth Day for Daylight Productions and Carly Maile for Sony Music Entertainment.

Produced by Imogen Serwotka.

Please do get in touch with us, your writing community, with thoughts, feedback and more at: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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