The Secrets Of Storytelling

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Character Studies

20220705

20220902 (R4)

James Runcie, author of the Grantchester Mysteries series, is a writer in search of the best way to tell a story. In this series he meets high profile authors to discuss the craft of novel writing. Using extracts from the author's own work, as well as classic texts, the conversations will reveal the secrets of the storytelling craft.

In this episode, James is joined by novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2021. They discuss how to create characters that we root for, and give them a satisfying arc. Through analysis of scenes from Great Expectations and Jane Eyre, as well as Abdulrazak's own novels By the Sea, Paradise and Memory of Departure, they consider why characters need to change and grow, and how to make their journeys believable.

Presenter: James Runcie

Producer: Ellie Bury

Readers: Harriet Walter and Paterson Joseph

James Runcie and Abdulrazak Gurnah consider how to create and develop characters.

A contemporary author takes a classic text to shine light on the craft of writing fiction.

Presenter: James Runcie

Producer: Ellie Bury

Readers: Harriet Walter and Paterson Joseph

James Runcie and Abdulrazak Gurnah consider how to create and develop characters.

A contemporary author takes a classic text to shine light on the craft of writing fiction.

Real And Imagined Worlds

20220621

20220831 (R4)

In this episode James is joined by Kamila Shamsie to explore the art of creating a convincing sense of place, using analysis of Dickens's Bleak House and Calvino's Invisible Cities, and Kamila's own prize-winning novels including Home Fire and Burnt Shadows.

Presenter: James Runcie

Producer: Ellie Bury

Reader: Paterson Joseph

James Runcie and Kamila Shamsie explore how writers transport us to faraway places.

A contemporary author takes a classic text to shine light on the craft of writing fiction.

Presenter: James Runcie

Producer: Ellie Bury

Reader: Paterson Joseph

James Runcie and Kamila Shamsie explore how writers transport us to faraway places.

A contemporary author takes a classic text to shine light on the craft of writing fiction.

Setting The Tone

20220614

20220830 (R4)

James Runcie, author of the Grantchester Mysteries series, is a writer in search of the best way to tell a story. In this series, he meets high profile authors to discuss the craft of novel writing. Using extracts from the author's own work, as well as classic texts, the conversations will reveal the secrets of the storytelling craft.

Most writers spend more time on their opening sentence than on any other. In today's episode, James is joined by the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Richard Ford to consider the tricky business of starting a story, maintaining momentum and delivering a satisfying conclusion. By analysing extracts from Ford's award-winning novels, as well as classics like The Odyssey and The Great Gatsby, James discovers that making the ordinary extraordinary is key to good storytelling.

Presenter: James Runcie

Producer: Ellie Bury

Readers: Harriet Walter and Paterson Joseph

James Runcie and Richard Ford discuss how to begin a story and keep the reader hooked.

A contemporary author takes a classic text to shine light on the craft of writing fiction.

Presenter: James Runcie

Producer: Ellie Bury

Readers: Harriet Walter and Paterson Joseph

James Runcie and Richard Ford discuss how to begin a story and keep the reader hooked.

A contemporary author takes a classic text to shine light on the craft of writing fiction.

The Art Of Conversation

20220628

20220901 (R4)

In this episode James is joined by Booker Prize-winning novelist Anne Enright to discuss the role dialogue plays in storytelling. Through analysis of scenes from Pride and Prejudice and Anna Karenina, as well as Anne's own novels Actress and The Forgotten Waltz, they consider how silence, subtext and inarticulacy can play just as important a role as speech.

Presenter: James Runcie

Producer: Ellie Bury

Reader: Harriet Walter

James Runcie and Anne Enright consider how to write dialogue that rings true.

A contemporary author takes a classic text to shine light on the craft of writing fiction.

Episodes

Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
Character Studies	20220705	20220902 (R4)	James Runcie, author of the Grantchester Mysteries series, is a writer in search of the best way to tell a story. In this series he meets high profile authors to discuss the craft of novel writing. Using extracts from the author's own work, as well as classic texts, the conversations will reveal the secrets of the storytelling craft. In this episode, James is joined by novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2021. They discuss how to create characters that we root for, and give them a satisfying arc. Through analysis of scenes from Great Expectations and Jane Eyre, as well as Abdulrazak's own novels By the Sea, Paradise and Memory of Departure, they consider why characters need to change and grow, and how to make their journeys believable. Presenter: James Runcie Producer: Ellie Bury Readers: Harriet Walter and Paterson Joseph James Runcie and Abdulrazak Gurnah consider how to create and develop characters. A contemporary author takes a classic text to shine light on the craft of writing fiction. James Runcie, author of the Grantchester Mysteries series, is a writer in search of the best way to tell a story. In this series he meets high profile authors to discuss the craft of novel writing. Using extracts from the author's own work, as well as classic texts, the conversations will reveal the secrets of the storytelling craft. In this episode, James is joined by novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2021. They discuss how to create characters that we root for, and give them a satisfying arc. Through analysis of scenes from Great Expectations and Jane Eyre, as well as Abdulrazak's own novels By the Sea, Paradise and Memory of Departure, they consider why characters need to change and grow, and how to make their journeys believable. Presenter: James Runcie Producer: Ellie Bury Readers: Harriet Walter and Paterson Joseph James Runcie and Abdulrazak Gurnah consider how to create and develop characters. A contemporary author takes a classic text to shine light on the craft of writing fiction.
Real And Imagined Worlds	20220621	20220831 (R4)	James Runcie, author of the Grantchester Mysteries series, is a writer in search of the best way to tell a story. In this series he meets high profile authors to discuss the craft of novel writing. Using extracts from the author's own work, as well as classic texts, the conversations will reveal the secrets of the storytelling craft. In this episode James is joined by Kamila Shamsie to explore the art of creating a convincing sense of place, using analysis of Dickens's Bleak House and Calvino's Invisible Cities, and Kamila's own prize-winning novels including Home Fire and Burnt Shadows. Presenter: James Runcie Producer: Ellie Bury Reader: Paterson Joseph James Runcie and Kamila Shamsie explore how writers transport us to faraway places. A contemporary author takes a classic text to shine light on the craft of writing fiction. James Runcie, author of the Grantchester Mysteries series, is a writer in search of the best way to tell a story. In this series he meets high profile authors to discuss the craft of novel writing. Using extracts from the author's own work, as well as classic texts, the conversations will reveal the secrets of the storytelling craft. In this episode James is joined by Kamila Shamsie to explore the art of creating a convincing sense of place, using analysis of Dickens's Bleak House and Calvino's Invisible Cities, and Kamila's own prize-winning novels including Home Fire and Burnt Shadows. Presenter: James Runcie Producer: Ellie Bury Reader: Paterson Joseph James Runcie and Kamila Shamsie explore how writers transport us to faraway places. A contemporary author takes a classic text to shine light on the craft of writing fiction.
Setting The Tone	20220614	20220830 (R4)	James Runcie, author of the Grantchester Mysteries series, is a writer in search of the best way to tell a story. In this series, he meets high profile authors to discuss the craft of novel writing. Using extracts from the author's own work, as well as classic texts, the conversations will reveal the secrets of the storytelling craft. Most writers spend more time on their opening sentence than on any other. In today's episode, James is joined by the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Richard Ford to consider the tricky business of starting a story, maintaining momentum and delivering a satisfying conclusion. By analysing extracts from Ford's award-winning novels, as well as classics like The Odyssey and The Great Gatsby, James discovers that making the ordinary extraordinary is key to good storytelling. Presenter: James Runcie Producer: Ellie Bury Readers: Harriet Walter and Paterson Joseph James Runcie and Richard Ford discuss how to begin a story and keep the reader hooked. A contemporary author takes a classic text to shine light on the craft of writing fiction. James Runcie, author of the Grantchester Mysteries series, is a writer in search of the best way to tell a story. In this series, he meets high profile authors to discuss the craft of novel writing. Using extracts from the author's own work, as well as classic texts, the conversations will reveal the secrets of the storytelling craft. Most writers spend more time on their opening sentence than on any other. In today's episode, James is joined by the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Richard Ford to consider the tricky business of starting a story, maintaining momentum and delivering a satisfying conclusion. By analysing extracts from Ford's award-winning novels, as well as classics like The Odyssey and The Great Gatsby, James discovers that making the ordinary extraordinary is key to good storytelling. Presenter: James Runcie Producer: Ellie Bury Readers: Harriet Walter and Paterson Joseph James Runcie and Richard Ford discuss how to begin a story and keep the reader hooked. A contemporary author takes a classic text to shine light on the craft of writing fiction.
The Art Of Conversation	20220628	20220901 (R4)	James Runcie, author of the Grantchester Mysteries series, is a writer in search of the best way to tell a story. In this series he meets high profile authors to discuss the craft of novel writing. Using extracts from the author's own work, as well as classic texts, the conversations will reveal the secrets of the storytelling craft. In this episode James is joined by Booker Prize-winning novelist Anne Enright to discuss the role dialogue plays in storytelling. Through analysis of scenes from Pride and Prejudice and Anna Karenina, as well as Anne's own novels Actress and The Forgotten Waltz, they consider how silence, subtext and inarticulacy can play just as important a role as speech. Presenter: James Runcie Producer: Ellie Bury Reader: Harriet Walter James Runcie and Anne Enright consider how to write dialogue that rings true. A contemporary author takes a classic text to shine light on the craft of writing fiction.