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this episode was recorded at the end of february before the actual apocalypse happened and one of the reasons we sat on it for so long was because, like everyone else in the world, we've been FREAKING THE FREAK OUT!!! and we never use capital letters so that just shows how weird the world is right now. and what's the podcast even about anyway? and what's the point? these and millions of other important questions are not answered at all in this week's episode of sotw with ann and tim. wash your hands. don't touch your face.

just hear those sleigh-bells jingaling, ring ting tingaling too! come on it's lovely weather for a podcast together with you! christmas greetings from the last sotw of 2019 and in fact the last one of this mad, strange decade, whose name we still can't fathom. was it the teens? the tens? who cares because in a few days we'll be out of those and into the twenties and who knows what else? in this episode ann berates her own pathetic lightweightedness when it comes to festive consumption, while tim recounts the downside of meat dehydration, plus his weekly career update and maybe, just maybe, he's found his calling...fingers crossed. merry christmas one and all. if anyone is feeling out of sorts, alone or lonely this christmas and wants to chat, head over to twitter, add the hashtag #joinin and someone will be there to help you get through the day. come find ann at @Annhirst. peace and love❤️

join ann and tim in the lead up to christmas with discussions on pressing issues such as tim's tinsel textural terror, dehydrator and doorperson news, festive films and, of course, the weekly career update. Also ann's aromatic anxiety and tim makes a potentially life-changing decision.

ann discovers she's really karen but doesn't give a shit and there are updates on tim's career and dishwasher-gate, from way back when in episode 2 or 3 or something. tim's got a bugbear with impractical pub toilet cubicles and ann's dodging the mother-of-the-year awards for the sixteenth year running. plus some live (recorded) improv in which ann gives tim a present. oh, and welcome to all our new listeners, from all over the world!

warning: this is a koala-heavy episode. weirdly, animal lover tim doesn't like them, ann does, so you can only imagine the mild-mannered non-debate that ensues. what about you, listener? do you have any thoughts on koalas? cute or devil spawn? let us know, we're genuinely interested! 😃🐨there's also a career update from tim (obvs), a literal highlight for ann and some improv that features, yeah, you got it, bloody koalas. sheesh. how much more exciting can these episodes get? (that's a rhetorical question, we already know the answer 😐) please subscribe, rate and review. get in touch: ann@theterrifiedwriter.com or come find us on social media (details at the end of the podcast).

this week tim shares a couple of phoney bugbears and ann declares she's definitely not posh, despite living close to Waitrose. there's a career update from tim, a sponsorship update from ann and a tear-jerker of an improv scene involving two unusual household items on a mountain trek. You'd be completely within your rights to give it a miss. Got something to say to us? Email ann@theterrifiedwriter.com and we'll read out your contributions. @theterrifiedwriter @Annhirst @merryweathertim

This week, tim gives us a career update and describes what it's like to eat meat rope and ann might be rubbish at celeb spotting but recounts a wünderbar encounter with the glorious Eddie Izzard. Also, is it pronounced GIF or GIF? 🤔And stay till the end if you want to hear us perform some real (imagined) live (recorded) improv.💡🥮

Ok, so we have a format, the audio is sorted and the best we can say about this episode is: we're getting there 🤨 This week, an update on Tim's career path, social awkwardness, the dangers of too much vitamin C and what's the word for the thing where you can't stop bad thoughts taking over your brain? Answers please to ann@theterrifiedwriter.com Find us! Ann: theterrifiedwriter.com/@annhirst on Twitter/@theterrifiedwriter on Instagram Tim: just google Tim Merryweather, you'll find him,

If you've ever wondered what a podcast sounds like if two people really want to make a podcast but haven't quite worked out the finite details, then this is the episode for you! Join Ann and Tim as they combine low quality production values with exceptionally low-brow discussions on luke-warm topics from wealth chickens, thru terrifying children's TV characters to the global hum. So much to listen to, enjoy and forget. Think you can do better? Send us your ideas and contributions and we'll read them out: email ann@theterrifiedwriter.com Find us: Instagram: @theterrifiedwriter @merryweathertim Twitter: @Annhirst Blog: theterrifiedwriter.com

Unlike the name suggests, speak of the week is nothing whatsoever to do with news or current affairs :D It's Ann Hirst (the Terrified Writer) and her improv bud Tim Merryweather chatting about stuff that's happened to them in the past 7 days. That sounded better in our heads. Tune in, you might be surprised! We were (surprised face emoji).

In this, the series finale of The Terrified Writer Podcast, I get Christmassy and cosy with the Queen of Electroswing, DJ, producer and singer/songwriter Tallulah Goodtimes. Over a steaming cup of ginger tea in her DJ-stylee Santa's Grotto living room, we discuss our 2018 stories, Christmas (of course)and our plans for 2019. And there's music from Ms Goodtimes herself. Indeed, let the Goodtimes roll... www.tallulahgoodtimes.com That genius guitarist she talks about and who features on Love You So can be found here: https://www.filippodallasta.com/music Get in touch: ann@theterrifiedwriter.com Insta: @theterrifiedwriter Twitter: @Annhirst Blog: www.theterrifiedwriter.com PS. For those of you who were wondering about the plumber on Episode 9, in fact he's a Heating Engineer, he's lovely and he DID give me permission to feature him on the episode. What a sport!

Artist, sculptor, yogi and university lecturer Nikki Bailie joins me in this episode in which we discuss what it's like to be a self-confessed catastrophiser. The word looks so wrong written down. What happens when your worst fears come to fruition? Does having a tendency to catastrophise help or make matters worse? And where and how does creativity fit in? Lots of chat, plus the odd interjection from various tradesfolk make this compelling listening, let me tell you. Enjoy x

In Episode 8 I consider a name change - what do you think? Do I drop Life Is Scary and just stick with The Terrified Writer Podcast? Or not? Also, Fred the dog gets involved and you can witness a bit of real time yips, creative u-turns and procrastination. My guest is stand-up-comedian-in-waiting and local barista Tim Merryweather, who has a thing about polystyrene, not in a good way. Enjoy!

Episode 7 is all about letting go. How letting go of fears, of ego and all the unhelpful junk we tell ourselves can liberate us and free us up to be as creative as we like. I'm joined by improv and creative thinking coach, Alex Menhams. From an office that resembles my gran's living room circa 1978 we discuss structured liberation, how be comfortable with the discomfort of looking like an idiot in public and death by parrot. Or was that carrot? Alex is founder of www.creativeleadershiplab.com and www.theunqualifiedyes.com Contact me: ann@theterrifiedwriter.com www.theterrifiedwriter.com Insta: @theterrifiedwriter Twitter: @Annhirst

In Episode 6 I'm joined by writer Belinda Moore and we talk about the curse of all artists and writers: Rejection. We share personal stories and uncover some shocking rejections of well-loved and respected authors. It's a must for all writers going through the same thing as it will help you realise you're not alone and there’s always someone with a worse story. On that note, I finally reveal my Worst Rejection Ever as promised in the previous episode. It’s a belter. To put it into context, read ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’ on The Terrified Writer blog. Belinda's blog: https://takingtheair.blogspot.com/ Get in touch: E: ann@theterrifiedwriter.com Blog: theterrifiedwriter.com Insta: @theterrifiedwriter Twitter: @AnnHirst

This episode looks at the complex and contradictory characteristics that makes us US. We're not always who everyone says we are, nor do we have to be, especially when we want to express creativity. I'll also recommend some spine-chilling books, share my worst halloween memory and reveal last episode's 'what scares you' challenge. Get in touch: ann@theterrifiedwriter.com www.theterrifiedwriter.com Insta: @theterrifiedwriter Twitter: @Annhirst

Hi! I'm Ann, the Terrified Writer and welcome back to Life Is Scary. In this episode I talk about sleep, how small changes are more effective than big ones and why upsetting people isn't a reason not to write. If you want to get in touch, find me at: The blog: theterrifiedwriter.com The instagram: @theterrifiedwriter The twitterland: @Annhirst

The podcast that slick, high quality production values forgot. In this episode I'm joined by Sophie Hargraves, creative coach, entrepreneur, mum, rebel marketeer and soon-to-be broadcaster. Um yeah, so the recording cut us off sooner than we wanted but what can you expect from someone who's trying to record a podcast while lying back in a chair, eyes closed, lashes standing up like soldiers on a piece of silicon stuck to my eyelid? Exactly. If that hasn't put you off, hurrah! Come on in and have a listen. FYI, Sophie is the founder of The Gellie Hut (Insta @thegelliehut) You can get hold of me here: www.theterrifiedwriter.com Instagram @theterrifiedwriter Twitter @Annhirst

Life is Scary is about all things writerly, how fears and doubts can get in the way of our creative goals, how we can combat them and even turn them around to our advantage. This episode explores whether age is a factor. Kind of. It's actually me having a nice chat with someone much younger to get their views on the subject. If you enjoy, please leave a review. Thanks.

Life Is Scary. It sure is. And fear is good. Usually. Until it starts getting all up itself and stops us doing the things we really want to do. Then it becomes a bit a pain tbh. Sometimes that inner scaredy cat needs a little, ahem, management. I'm Ann Hirst, a self-confessed terrified writer and earlier this year me and my fear made friends. In this podcast we'll explore the ways fear can actually help us achieve our goals rather than hold us back.