This week it's all about REJECTION.

Rejection from agents.

Rejection from publishers.

And rejection from readers.

And how writers just have to move on and get over it.

There's a short history of some famous writer rejections and Will and Steve share some of their best one-star reviews, before talking about this year's longlist for the Theakston's Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year.

Oh, and Diane from Dudley gets a little saucy.

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They're BACK!!

After a sporadic but entertaining first season, Will Carver and SJ Watson return for more talk about books and the literary world, while sampling a few drinks along the way.

In this first episode of the new season, they discuss VOICE. What is a writing voice? Who are the most distinctive writers? What does it mean to have a voice? And does it affect success?

Current reads include, Ring, The Puppet Master and Christ on a Bike, and in the news they discuss AI again – this time with regard to apps that condense novels into a more 'manageable' size – and the fact that Will Dean has a new jacket...

There's also a new guest spot for Debbie from Dudley as Sandra, sadly, makes way for a new super-fan.

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In this special publication-day episode, Will and Steve are recording live at Fourbears Books for the launch of Will's latest book, UPSTAIRS AT THE BERESFORD, where they will be talking about what should be the most exciting part of the process and how it has changed from when they started.

There are questions from the live audience as well as the usual probing insights from Kidderminster's very own Sandra.

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This week we get a little more serious and talk about failure. Weirdly, Steve has a lot more to discuss...

How do we fail? Why do we fail? Is it always a way to learn? Can writing save us?

All of these questions will be answered along with more probing insights by Sandra from Kidderminster.

We also try recording remotely, rather than in the snazzy Soho podcast studio.

There is also a discussion about Murakami but it went on too long and was edited out.

Get involved with the discussion by finding us on Twitter/X @GetLitPodcast.

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This week we get deep and talk about the idea of 'imposter syndrome'.

Do we really belong here? When do you feel like you are a writer?

We also catch up on the latest hot topics in the world of literature as we head in to the Capital Crime festival, where Will is up for an award and we are 100% sure he will maintain his losing streak

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From movie deals and foreign rights to awards and reviews, this week we talk about the worst emotion: jealousy.

Is everybody else really doing as well as it seems or is it just social media bluster?

Can we ever be happy for the success of others?

And what happens when you get a bunch of writers in the same room?

We also discuss getting paid and doing things for free.

And Sandra from Kidderminster is back with one of her probing questions.

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This week we get a little more serious and talk about what it means to be successful and just what success, actually, is. (While sharing a bottle of reasonably priced Champagne.)

Book world issues include the topics of ghost-writing and celebrity novels.

And Sandra from Kidderminster returns with another probing question.

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You can be the hardest working, most talented, charismatic, connected writer out there. You could have a killer idea for a story. It doesn't matter. There's one other thing that you are going to need that you can't learn.

Luck.

Will Carver and SJ Watson discuss luck - in all its forms: good, bad, non-existent - and how it has played a part in their careers so far.

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