A podcast for and about writers and writing.
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Who we are
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 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.