A podcast for and about writers and writing.

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Hannah Barnes spent 15 years working as a broadcast journalist before she wrote her book “Time to Think”. In our latest episode, she tells us how she found the move from the studio to the solitude of the writer’s desk. Listen now
In our latest episode journalist and author Hannah Barnes breaks down the differences between writing for broadcast media and writing for print publications. Listen now via the link in our bio. #AuthorInterview #Novelists #FictionWriters #WritingP
#FromTheArchive: In 2019 Simon spoke to @mark__haddon, author of “A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”, about writing for children and adults & why his first (unpublished) novel is a “dire warning for young men who t
What alchemy is needed to create a successful debut? A good idea, a bit of luck and a certain amount of chutzpah – as Michael Lewis tells us was the case for his bestselling first book, “Liar’s Poker”. Listen now via the li
After writing “The Big Short”, about the build-up to the financial crisis of 2007-08, Michael Lewis decided to review some of his own business dealings. The result was the creation of a profit-sharing deal with his publisher. Listen now
#FromTheArchive: In 2018 @simonakam and @kassiastclair spoke to @RoryStewartUK, then MP for Penrith and the Border, about travel writing and his books “Occupational Hazards”, “The Places in Between”, a NYT bestseller, and &ldq
In Clare Alexander’s (@clarealexander6887) 30-year career as a literary agent, the most successful book she’s represented was “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”. In our latest episode she tells us the moment s

 

Who we are

SIMON AKAMCo-host of Always Take Notes, Simon is the author of "The Changing of the Guard" on the post-9/11 evolution of the British Army. He is a contributing writer for the Economist's 1843 magazine, and his journalism has appeared in The New York Times, the Guardian, GQ, the Atlantic, Outside and Bloomberg Businessweek.

SIMON AKAM

Co-host of Always Take Notes, Simon is the author of "The Changing of the Guard" on the post-9/11 evolution of the British Army. His writing has appeared in publications including the New Yorker, the London Review of Books, The Economist, The Guardian, Outside, the New York Times, and GQ.

RACHEL LLOYDCo-host of Always Take Notes, Rachel is the assistant editor of the Books and Arts section of The Economist. As well as commissioning and editing the online culture features, Rachel writes reviews and essays for the newspaper and the website. 

RACHEL LLOYD

Co-host of Always Take Notes, Rachel is the deputy culture editor of The Economist. Rachel edits and writes reviews and essays for the newspaper and the website. 

Our mission statement

Journalism, publishing, screenwriting... if you don’t know anyone in these professions, they can sometimes seem distant and elitist. Even if you’re well established, writing can be a lonely business. 

But what if you could go out for a coffee with someone who was at the top of their game in one of these industries and ask them about what they do? What if you could get them to talk to you about all the nitty-gritty details of their career: How did they make their first steps in their chosen industry? How do they divide up their working day? What do they use to take notes? What’s their research process like? What makes a successful pitch or book proposal?

Always Take Notes aims to demystify every aspect of the world of writing. Our in-depth interviews change the narrative around success and, crucially, explore how people have made a living from their creative pursuits.

At Always Take Notes, it’s not about who you know but what you know.