Paper Places
Relay FM
Paper Places is the podcast that demystifies the journey to becoming a professional writer. Each episode, columnist-turned-author Kerry Provenzano sits down with an acclaimed writer who shares where their words have taken them. Hosted by Kerry Provenzano.
- 1 hour 20 minutes12: Becoming an Organised Writer and Working for Hollywood, with Antony Johnston
Antony Johnston joins Kerry to talk about writing productivity, building a career as a multi-facted writer and how his graphic novel became a Hollywood movie starring Charlize Theron.
This episode of Paper Places is sponsored by:
- St Louis Pen Show: Join us June 26-29. Tickets on sale now!
Guest Starring:
Links and Show Notes:
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The Wobble
My Substack post about what happened when I spoke to a literary agent.
Antony Johnston
Writing and Breathing
The Organised Writer by Antony Johnston
How to stay on top of all your projects and never miss a deadline.
The Organised Writer (The original blog post)
Getting Things Done by David Allen
The Coldest City
Watch the Atomic Blonde trailer
Antony being interviewed at the Berlin Premier of Atomic Blonde
Sally Rooney Doesn't Want Her Third Novel Adapted for TV
Can You Solve the Murder? by Antony Johnston
The Dog Sitter Detective Series by Antony Johnston
28 March 2025, 12:30 pm - 56 minutes 34 seconds11: Journalism 101 with Shahed Ezaydi
In this episode, Kerry is joined by Shahed Ezaydi, full-time writer at Stylist Magazine and author of 'The Othered Woman: How White Feminism Harms Muslim Women'. They discuss freelance vs in-house journalism and Shahed's process of writing her book.
Guest Starring:
Links and Show Notes:
Support Paper Places with a Relay FM Membership
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Subscribe to Kerry's Substack (Paid and Free Tiers)
Shahed Ezaydi's debut, The Othered Woman: How White Feminism Harms Muslim Women
Shahed's articles for Stylist Magazine
Follow Shahed Ezaydi on Instagram
Subscribe to Shahed Ezaydi's Substack
28 February 2025, 9:00 am - 51 minutes 43 seconds10: From Writing in Lockdown to a Publishing Deal, with Kerry Downes
In this episode, Kerry Downes joins Kerry (the regular one) to discuss how one writing course, taken after delving into fiction writing during lockdown, lead to her career as a author.
This episode of Paper Places is sponsored by:
- ProWritingAid: The essential toolkit for every creative writer. Sign up for free today. Get 20% off annual subscriptions with code paperplaces
Guest Starring:
Links and Show Notes:
Support Paper Places with a Relay FM Membership
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Pre-order Kerry's book, 'That Time Everything Was On Fire'
Writing Your Novel — 3 Months | Curtis Brown Creative
The course Kerry undertook to write her debut fiction novel.
'Notes to Self' by Emilie Pine
“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” — Toni Morrison
"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." — Ernest Hemingway
'The Midnight Library' by Matt Haig
Faber Academy | Creative Writing Courses
Follow Kerry Downes on Instagram
31 January 2025, 9:30 am - 34 minutes 40 seconds9: Christmas Special 2024
In this festive special, Kerry revisits the books she read in 2024, shares her To Be Read list for next year, and talks about her Yearly Themes.
This episode of Paper Places is sponsored by:
- ProWritingAid: The essential toolkit for every creative writer. Sign up for free today. Get 20% off annual subscriptions with code 'paperplaces'.
Links and Show Notes:
Support Paper Places with a Relay FM Membership
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Yearly Themes — Cortex
HMD Barbie™ Phone
Logging Off Club by Adele Zeynep Walton
You Don't Need a Smartphone by August Lamm
The Tidal Year by Freya Bromley
Lost Cat by Mary Gaitskill
The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella
Open by Andre Agassi
This Much is True by Miriam Margolyes
Emily Henry books
We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
The White Album by Joan Didion
Maggie Rogers' essay on Joan Didion
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
Piglet by Lottie Hazell
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Bunny by Mona Awad
Goodlord by Ella Frears
The Vegetarian by Han Kang
The Signalman by Charles Dickens
The Serpent and the Wings of Night
If Only by Vigdis Hjorth
A Year of Nothing by Emma Gannon
24 December 2024, 12:00 pm - 58 minutes 9 seconds8: How to Reclaim Your Creative Focus by Logging Off, with Adele Zeynep Walton
In this episode, Kerry is joined by Adele Zeynep Walton, author of Logging Off: The Human Cost of Our Digital World. They discuss the ways technology impacts our attention, Adele's writing process and the importance of spending time offline.
This episode of Paper Places is sponsored by:
- ProWritingAid: The essential toolkit for every creative writer. Get 50% off in the Black Friday Sale.
- Retro 51: Life's too short to carry an ugly pen. Shop now and get free shipping on orders over $75.
Guest Starring:
Links and Show Notes:
Support Paper Places with a Relay FM Membership
Submit Feedback
Tell me what you're working on via the Paper Places feedback form
Message me on Instagram
The Poetry Pharmacy Forever
Adele Zeynep Walton
The Tidal Year by Freya Bromley
Freya's episode of Paper Places
Trusted Housesitters
The Logging Off Club Instagram
The Logging Off Club Substack
Bereaved Families for Online Safety
Opal: The #1 Screen Time App
Forest: Stay Focused, Be Present
Look After Your Eyes | Screen use and eyes
#NotYourPorn
Smartphone Free Childhood
Keelin Moncrieff | Content Creator
Adele’s Agent — Megan Staunton at Bergstrom Studio
Trapeze Books
Mikaela Loach
Follow Adele on Instagram
Follow Adele on TikTok
Follow Adele on Bluesky
Grieving My Sister Online Made Me Lonelier Than Ever by Adele Zeynep Walton | Refinery29
Adele's Book — Logging Off: The Human Cost of Our Digital World
29 November 2024, 10:00 am - 47 minutes 24 seconds7: Independent Publishers, Writing in the Bath, and Rejecting Structure, with Rebecca Perry
In this episode, author Rebecca Perry joins Kerry to discuss her move from poetry into lyrical non-fiction, including what a typical week looks like, her unconventional writing location and her experience working with an independent publisher.
This episode of Paper Places is sponsored by:
- Hinze Pens: Custom hand made fountain pens, made using traditional methods. Use PAPERPLACES for 15% off.
- Scrivener, from Literature & Latte: The #1 app for writers of all kinds. Use PAPERPLACES for 20% off.
Guest Starring:
Links and Show Notes:
Support Paper Places with a Relay FM Membership
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Rebecca Perry’s Poetry
Rebecca Perry’s Debut Non-Fiction, ‘On Trampolining’
The T. S. Eliot Prize
Michael Murphy Memorial Poetry Competition
The Poetry School
Makina Books
7 November 2024, 5:00 pm - 43 minutes 58 seconds6: Pitching to the New York Times, Writing Competitions and Tuning Up, with Stephen Harrison
Stephen Harrison joins Kerry to discuss his career as a columnist, and the process of writing his Wikipedia-themed novel, 'The Editors'. They cover different methods of getting ready to write, including Stephen's essential 'tuning up' time.
This episode of Paper Places is sponsored by:
- Hinze Pens: Custom hand made fountain pens, made using traditional methods. Use code PAPERPLACES for 15% off.
Guest Starring:
Links and Show Notes:
Support Paper Places with a Relay FM Membership
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Relay for St Jude - St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
The Bridport Prize for Memoir
Subscribe to Kerry's Substack
Stephen's Slate Column
Wallace Stephens (Poet)
Ulysses: Writing app
Obsidian: Notetaking app
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book On Novel Writing You'll Ever Need
Hemingway’s advice on writing
History of the New York City Subway
Stephen's first piece for The New York Times
Inkshares: The writing competition Stephen Harrison entered (and won!)
Subscribe to Stephen’s Substack, Source Notes
Stephen’s website
Buy Stephen’s book, ‘The Editors’
27 September 2024, 10:00 am - 1 hour 4 minutes5: Writing a Successful Blog in 2024, with Stephen Hackett
In this episode, Kerry is joined by Relay co-founder, podcaster and blogger Stephen Hackett. They delve into Stephen's 16 years of writing at 512 Pixels and uncover the key advice writers should follow if they want to write successful blog.
Guest Starring:
Links and Show Notes:
Support Paper Places with a Relay FM Membership
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Relay for St Jude - St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Relay for St Jude 2024 - 512 Pixels
The Bridport Prize for Memoir
Farrow and Ball in Brinjal (Kerry's Reading/Writing Room colour)
Stephen Hackett
Read Stephen’s Blog: 512 Pixels
Stephen Hackett's Computer Collection
Myke Hurley
Stephen’s Ultimate Writing Music: Tron Soundtrack
Daring Fireball by John Gruber
Heather Armstrong
How a Series of Blog Posts Turned into a Multi-million Dollar Bestseller
The Martian: A Novel
Hands-on Impressions from Apple’s Wonderlust Event (Stephen’s First iPhone Event) — 512 Pixels
The iMac G3 Project — 512 Pixels
“My iMacs ARE IN A MUSEUM” — 512 Pixels on YouTube
Stephen looking at his iMacs on display at the Henry Ford Museum
Stephen and David Sparks interview the Mac Pro Product Manager
Performa Month on 512 Pixels
Performa Month: Reflections on a Messy Macintosh Era — 512 Pixels
Stephen’s shows on Relay
Follow Stephen on Instagram
Follow Stephen on Threads
Follow Stephen on Mastadon
30 August 2024, 1:45 pm - 51 minutes 8 seconds4: Writing Poems, Finding Rhythm and Publishing Collections, with Will Harris
In this episode, Kerry sits down with poet and non-fiction writer, Will Harris. They discuss Will's first foray into poetry, the importance of creating access points in your work, and the process of publishing poetry.
Guest Starring:
Links and Show Notes:
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Overcooked! All You Can Eat | Nintendo Switch
Bake Off: The Professionals | Wikipedia
French Pâtisserie: Master Recipes and Techniques from the Ferrandi School of Culinary Arts
The Bridport Prize for Memoir
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
Episode 3: Writing Residencies and Getting a Six-Figure Book Deal, with Ellen Atlanta
Pavement (Band)
Native Speaker by Chang-rae Lee
John Ashbery
The New York School of Poets
Granta | The Home of New Writing
Pilot V5 Pens | Amazon
Fourth Person Singular by Nuar Alsadir
Will Harris' Website
Brother Poem by Will Harris
Rendang by Will Harris
31 July 2024, 2:45 pm - 1 hour 15 minutes3: Writing Residencies and Getting a Six-Figure Book Deal, with Ellen Atlanta
In this episode, Ellen Atlanta joins Kerry to discuss the process behind writing her debut non-fiction book, Pixel Flesh. They discuss Ellen's experience at an artists' residency in Italy and the details behind her book going to auction.
This episode of Paper Places is sponsored by:
- Notion: Start turning ideas into action. Try it free today.
- Enigma Stationery: Shop online with code PAPERPLACESLAUNCH for a free gift and discounted shipping on orders of $50 or more.
Guest Starring:
Links and Show Notes:
Support Paper Places with a Relay FM Membership
Submit Feedback
Become a Paper Places member
Submit show feedback
Ellen Atlanta on Instagram
Ellen Atlanta's website
Buy Pixel Flesh
What is productivity porn?
Ellen's Bluetooth keyboard
What are Morning Pages?
Villa Lena Residencies
Poets & Writers Directory of Writing Residencies
The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf
Break the Internet by Olivia Yallop
Women Don't Owe You Pretty by Florence Given
What are comp titles?
My Body by Emily Ratajkowski
14 June 2024, 1:15 pm - 1 hour 13 minutes2: How to Meet Other Writers, and the Joys and Challenges of Writing Memoir, with Freya Bromley
In this episode, Kerry sits down with author and wild swimmer Freya Bromley. They discuss the importance of finding your writing community, the unexpected side of publishing, and how it feels to share your inner world through memoir.
This episode of Paper Places is sponsored by:
- Enigma Stationery: Shop online with code PAPERPLACESLAUNCH for a free gift and discounted shipping on orders of $50 or more.
- Notion: Start turning ideas into action. Try it free today.
Guest Starring:
Links and Show Notes:
Support Paper Places with a Relay FM Membership
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What’s a Tidal Pool?
Freya Bromley on Instagram
Freya Bromley's website
The Tidal Year by Freya Bromley
The Artist’s Way
Scrivener: Plan, Plot, Write and Restructure Your Writing
Caroline Bird
Ella Frears
Sharon Olds
Poetry Foundation
Poem a Day
Tessa Hadley
One Art by Elizabeth Bishop
Elizabeth Bishop’s Drafts of One Art
31 May 2024, 9:00 am - More Episodes? Get the App