I don’t usually cross-post my podcast reviews and blog posts, but today I have – because there’s a more personal flavour to my latest pod review. Read on …
After finally training myself to write regularly, I didn’t think anything could distract me from regular writing.
Then, 2020 happened.
And being distracted from writing has been awful, annoying and deflating.
So when I listened to the latest episode of Two Crime Writers and a Microphone, I felt a lot better.
Two Crime Writers and a Microphone is always fun, and episode 96 featured writer Adrian McKinty, which meant even more laughs. I love McKinty’s novels and he seems to be just as irreverent and sarcastic as a lot of his characters. This episode gave me a lot of chuckle moments (I loathe the word chuckle, but it’s the most appropriate). But what I really appreciated was hearing all three writers talk about how DISTRACTED they are right now.
They admitted it’s become very difficult to write in this COVID-19 world, and they’ve heard similarly from other writers, who may find it even harder to meet deadlines. McKinty said his brain isn’t firing on all cylinders. It’s disappointing for all of us, but heartening to hear that we’re in the same boat and that being distracted right now is completely normal.
I don’t listen to Two Crime Writers regularly; I dip in now and then. It’s typical of a lot of panel podcasts, where the two hosts are friends and have a rambling chat before moving onto interviews with guests (in this case, usually crime writers). Steve Cavanagh and Luca Veste also talk about what they’re reading and watching.
What I like about this podcast is it’s “messier” than some (which might annoy you). They can take a long while to begin sharing book reviews at all – this happens in the McKinty episode, where in fact McKinty (currently holed up in a cabin two hours outside of New York) has to raise the topic.
In that way, this podcast is a little like Chat 10 Looks 3. It’s a style that won’t suit all listeners, but I like feeling that I’m a part of crime book club, sitting around to have a leisurely chat about whatever comes up – and eventually getting onto crime writing.
You can read more of my podcast reviews here.
Michelle Prak Writer 