Episode #34: NaNoWriMo 2019... Part 1

We're back! Well, one of us is back. As Marc gets busy creating amazing art and prints (shop here and here), Jen is being a lady of (temporary) leisure and that can only mean one thing - It's Nanny WriMo, baby!

Jen is challenging herself to write a brand new novel over the course of November. That means 50,000 words. It is, as she finds out, a challenge. That is why they call it a challenge. Join her in an audio diary to find out exactly how many words she manages to write each day (although less of this as we go on), her struggles with procrastination, and whether the dog barks at the postman (spoiler alert, she does).

It's only a short episode, so take a few moments of your day to have a listen. If you're also doing NaNoWriMo, Jenni's profile is JenniPOW so come and say hello on the NaNoWriMo site!

Thanks to our sponsor, BadFish - use offer code POW for 10% off
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @POWpodcastUK
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com
Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes

Music credit: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes

If you're reading this far, maybe you have time to like and leave a review on our podcast...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

Episode #33: The POWer of the Workspace

While Jenni only cleans her desk when she gets told off by her cleaner, and Marc settles into his brand new tailor-made studio workspace, we talk about the impact that your workspace has on your productivity and creativity.

Listen to us on

> iTunes

> Stitcher

> Spotify

> Acast

or right here...

Looking after and improving your environment is an extension of self-care, and will help you not only avoid procrastination but also being called Mr Treebus (if you don’t know who Mr Treebus is, all is explained in the episode). It makes an impact on your state of mind and when you feel good about where you are, you’re bound to create some amazing things.

We chat about dream workspaces – and they are pretty fantastical, lovely smells, what you can do to make your workspace better, routines and much more. And then we start talking about the Muppets and the new Harry Potter game.

Also this episode:

• Marc makes a stand about excess packaging
• Jenni’s candle recommendations – Emporio Green Army
• Christmas Day viewing and essential Christmas Eve/Day movies

Thanks to our sponsor, BadFish - use offer code POW for 10% off
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @POWpodcastUK
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com
Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes

Music credit: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes

If you're reading this far, maybe you have time to like and leave a review on our podcast...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

Episode #32: 5 Ways to Find Inspiration

This episode we’re discussing motivation and how to find inspiration!

What are your quick go-to points of inspiration?

What are the tools you always have on hand to fire up your brain and fuel your creativity?




Listen to us on

> iTunes
> Stitcher
> Spotify
> Acast

or right here...




Marc talks about the music, and the different types of music, he listens to to help his creativity. To get Jenni focused, she uses podcasts (even if she isn’t really listening to them). We discuss how music can set the mood of what you’re writing, free writing, exercising your brain (and your hands/wrists!) and more.

We also explore how important self-care is for keeping you inspired and motivated, something that is very easily forgotten about. The practical aspects of motivation, avoiding procrastination, confronting your fear of failure and making the tasks you have to do work for you in terms of simplicity are also covered. There's a mad tangent where Jenni creates a new phrase ‘deadlining yourself out’ which is sure to catch on, and is basically just creating lists, priorities and deadlines to motivate yourself, and then we make up some weird anthropomorphic characters that are based on keyboard buttons and it goes a bit strange. Enjoy!

Also this episode:

• Can you watch TV (well, Project Runway) while being creative?
• Jen does her best Norbert impression
• Philippa Perry ‘The Book You Wish Your Parents Read’ and Fearne Cotton’s podcast ‘Happy Place’
• Who should play Ursula in The Little Mermaid? Should actors be representative of the parts they play?
• Jenni on the radio!
• Imogen Heap and Lizzo

Thanks to our sponsor, BadFish - use offer code POW for 10% off
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @POWpodcastUK
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com
Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes

Music credit: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes

If you're reading this far, maybe you have time to like and leave a review on our podcast...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

Episode #31: Therapy for Procrastinators

Focusing on procrastination and taking on a new angle for this episode, we look at new directions, career paths and how we (well, Jen) could be avoiding big decisions by generally just faffing about.

Listen to us on

> iTunes
> Stitcher
> Spotify
> Acast

or right here...



What would you do if you could do it all again? Would you make different choices?

Jen is very interested in career changes and how people turn their lives in different directions. As someone who’s been in the same sort of job since uni, she’s fascinated about the reasoning and decision making that goes into changing your life completely.

We delve deep into the reasons why Marc has changed from his childhood dreams to be an animator, 

to his new print making and design business – MarcoLooks. Marc also tries to pin down the theorectical ‘Jennifer’ (not based on Jen in any way) on what she wants to do next.

We also discuss the difference between having these thoughts and conversations and then actually taking some action, and the fear of failure behind it. Marc goes into full on therapy-mode to ‘Jennifer’ (not a real person at all) for a really thought-provoking podcast.


Also in this episode

• We miss drinking while recording
• Catch up with the fantastic Esther Fairfax and Jenifer Klepfler interview
• The well known ‘Cobbler’s children’s shoes’ analogy (a little bit better explained here)
• Find out what Marc really wanted to be when he grew up!
• It gets extremely deep and we ask some tough questions for our made up persona "Jennifer' (again, this is a fictional person).
• That Tick Tock song.

Thanks to our sponsor, BadFish - use offer code POW for 10% off

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @POWpodcastUK

Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com

Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes


Music credit: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes


If you're reading this far, maybe you have time to like and leave a review on our podcast...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

Episode #30: More Games to Help Character Development

This episode Marc and Jenni look at games and tips to help your character development.

Just like Mary Poppins (Disney version, not the PL Travers version) we are going to sprinkle some fun into the ways you can develop your characters.




Listen to us on

> iTunes
> Stitcher
> Spotify
> Acast

or right here...

You want to make characters that people believe in and care for, so how can you create depth for the personalities that make up your novel or creative writing piece? Jenni and Marc look at the different games and situations that you can use with your characters to make them well rounded, interesting people that your readers want to get excited about.

Whether it’s moral dilemmas, practical spreadsheets, jumping off points, interesting questions or suggestions to push your characters forward, we cover it all. We had two years pretending to be trees in Theatre Studies A Level so we know characterization. Come and join us on our journey!

Also this episode:

• We steal a whole episode of The Good Place
• Marc is very stern with himself about tangenting
• We rate the attractiveness of various Robin Hoods
• Sexy foxes!
• Introducing improvisation into your life in a safe space.
• Put the TV on and... TELLY TIME!

This episode we looked at:
The Readsy Website
FuckYeahCharacterDevelopment


Thanks to our sponsor, BadFish - use offer code POW for 10% off

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @POWpodcastUK
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com
Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes

Music credit: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes


If you're reading this far, maybe you have time to like and leave a review on our podcast...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

Episode #29: How to Start Writing Again After a Break

This time Marc and Jen talk about getting back to creative work after a break. If life has got in the way of your writing, how can you get back in the swing of things?

We also chat about last episode’s interview with the very nice Chris Billingham.




Listen to us on

> iTunes
> Stitcher
> Spotify
> Acast

or right here...

We discuss 'Percolating', the new phrase Chris started using to brew ideas and mull over stories in his head, and how this has impacted on Jenni’s work positively. The dwell factor and reflection is an important process, reducing writer’s block and giving you time to really deepen your plot, plus it sounds like you're just about to make a lovely coffee!

We talk about getting back to work after a break with some tips! How can big events, or just plain old life stuff, affect your writing? How do you get back into a routine? Some of the tips we cover are to really think about your framework, finding the right environment to work in, changing up your routine and looking after yourself and your wellbeing. Marc also talks about artists that he has worked alongside that have actually gone on a physical break before they start up on projects.

Also this episode:

• We talk about that time Jenni stripped on stage and had a girly kiss.
• Jenni’s Nan’s penchant for a ‘lovely story’ (ie a dirty book).
• The return of the word’s nincompoop and ninny.
• Diversity, privilege and how to overcome this in your writing.
• Who appreciates a bad smell?
• Our dream locations for short breaks.
• Marc has some very rich friends.

Listen to the episode with Chris Billingham here.

Thanks to our sponsor, BadFish - use offer code POW for 10% off
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @POWpodcastUK
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com
Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes

Music credit: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes


If you're reading this far, maybe you have time to like and leave a review on our podcast...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

Episode #28: Interview with Chris Billingham

This episode Jenni talks to Chris Billingham, one of our favourite people and a writer of many things.

We talk about how it's different writing with a partner, how to increase the diversity in our work, procrastination, deadlines, expectations and even term a band new writing phrase - 'percolation'.


Listen to us on
> iTunes
> Stitcher
> Spotify
> Acast

or right here...



Chris Billingham has written three plays, a web series, two short films and won at least two awards. This means he is an 'award winning writer', although he doesn't like us saying that at all. He's a fantastically proficient writer, as well as having a proper job and having two/three podcasts with podcast partner Dan Doolan.

All the details for Chris's work will be below, so please check it out. We talk about the process of writing and how we write and plan plots (or not!), the importance and potential drawbacks of deadlines, how you should write for characters that don't fit your own gender, race or sexuality and also Chris's background in screenwriting.

Also...

• Jenni's laptop died on the first attempt of this interview so listen to us try to remember what we said the first time round
• How we wasted the opportunities of our uni years
• Chris's percolation process
• Using our lovely supportive partners as procrastination excuses
• Our daydreams of musical stardom and Jenni's failed band experience
• Actual kisses (and some stripping) on stage

If you want to find out more about Chris's writing and podcasting...

• Go With Him - AWARD WINNING Short film (Written and directed by Chris Billingham, produced by James Watts and Chris Billingham)
• I Did - Short film (Written by Chris Billingham, produced and directed by James Watts)
• Sneaking into the Theatre - Trailer (Written by Chris Billingham). Jenni is in this but thankfully not in her underwear.
• Nothing But Static - YouTube channel and podcast. Also on Twitter @Nothinbutstatic
• Steven University podcast
• Writing Space - TV Pilot Edit

Thanks to our sponsor, BadFish - use offer code POW for 10% off

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @POWpodcastUK
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com
Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes

Music credit: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes

If you're reading this far, maybe you have time to like and leave a review on our podcast...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.