#016: Marti Leimbach — The Art of Writing a Novel

NY Times Bestselling Author and Oxford University Creative Writing Tutor, Marti Leimbach, on the art and craft of writing and plotting a novel. She shares her journey across two decades within publishing from being on a film set with Julia Roberts to dealing with family loss, and writing about difficult subjects. Also lessons learned including how writing a draft is like being in a ‘sandbox’, what it takes to finish and move beyond the first draft, and why some of the best works of art are great because of their imperfection. 

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ABOUT MARTI LEIMBACH

Marti Leimbach is known for her bestsellers Dying Young  which was made into a film starring Julia Roberts, and Daniel Isn’t Talking. Her interest in science influenced her eighth novel, a YA thriller, Dragonfly Girl. She teaches on the Masters Programme in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford.

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QUOTES FROM MARTI:

“Novels are never perfect. And some of the best work of art works of art, whether it's novels or screenplay or paintings or whatever else are very imperfect, actually, if you analyze them, that's what made them a great work of art. And Picasso has something to say about that. In fact, he said that the really original work, the important work never looks as good as its imitators. And the reason is that there's something in that first thrust of creativity that is ugly and raw, and the people who imitate you come after you.”

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RESOURCES

Connect with Marti:

Twitter: @MartiLeimbach

Instagram: @Marti Leimbach

Marti’s website

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Books mentioned in the show:

Daniel Isn’t Talking by Marti Leimbach

Dragonfly Girl by Marti Leimbach

Save the Cat  by Blake Snyder

The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne

Bird by Bird  by Ann Lamott

People mentioned in the show:

Connor O’Brien - Comedian

Julia Roberts - Actress

Joel Schumacher - Director

Leonard Cohen - Songwriter

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For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.com

For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com

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FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON:

Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalon

Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon

Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon

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CREDITS

Production by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen

For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.

For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.

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FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON

Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalon

Instagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon

Facebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon

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