Posts Tagged Writer
Archive
January 2, 2022 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Joan Didion
Just ahead of Christmas it was very sad to hear of the passing of Joan Didion. She lived a long and extraordinary life and wrote so beautifully, so dutifully also. She was a chronicler of times, putting art into journalism, putting her life down on the page alongside all she captured. She’s been one of […]Archive
November 21, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
In Praise of Tom Scharpling
Some days I reckon Tom Scharpling is one of the funniest people alive. Certainly, Tom Scharpling is one of the great underground wizards of radio, and podcasting. I don’t know how I first heard about him – or when I first started tuning in properly, but he has backstory and projects for days. And as […]Archive
November 16, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
So You Think You Wanna Be A Freelance Writer…
I finished school in Hawke’s Bay and moved to Wellington for University. I didn’t really know exactly what I wanted to do – but I was always interested in writing, so I figured I’d be a journalist. My plan was to do a BA in English and then apply to journalism school. In my second […]Archive
November 4, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Sweetman Podcast # 272: Jean Sergent
Hi and welcome to episode 272 of Sweetman Podcast – the first episode in a while. As with last year’s lockdowns I took a break from the podcast. But we’re back now – at least through until the end of the year. Now – as you probably know, as well as the usual platforms (this […]Archive
September 3, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
The Ben Elton Interview
Earlier this year I spoke to Ben Elton. What a dream. I shared the audio as an episode of my podcast. But there was also a transcript and written piece (for my Sounds Good newsletter). So if you missed that at the time I offer it up here now. I feel like Ben Elton’s work […]Archive
August 19, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Sweetman Podcast # 271: My Talk at the 2020 Manawatu Writers Festival
Hi and welcome to episode 271 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T and Yeastie Boys and thanks to you readers and listeners. Now – as you probably know, as well as the usual platforms (this site, soundcloud, iTunes/Apple) you can get to Sweetman Podcast on Spotify – follow it […]Archive
July 19, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
In Praise of Selima Hill
Look at this poem by Selima Hill. I didn’t so much read it as feel runover by it. It stalked me from the page. It lured me. And I just kept staring at it and re-reading it. I shared it on my pages. And people commented. They felt seen. And heard. They were floored. They […]Archive
July 8, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Sweetman Podcast # 265: Ben Elton
Hi and welcome to episode 265 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T and Yeastie Boys and thanks to you readers and listeners. Now – as you probably know, as well as the usual platforms (this site, soundcloud, iTunes/Apple) you can get to Sweetman Podcast on Spotify – follow it […]Archive
July 6, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
In Praise of Hanif Abdurraqib
Hanif Abdurraqib is a writer of words, observer of worlds. He’s a poet, essayist, cultural critic. I remember reading some of his articles on pop music – and liking them, but things really came alive for me with the release of his second book, They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us, a selection of essays. It […]Archive
June 19, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Janet Malcom
Janet Malcolm has died. She was 86. I only ever wrote about Janet Malcolm as part of a university essay – that is where I met her work. I’m so pleased to have met with it, the best of her work stays with me forever. She wrote several books – many of them great, two […]Archive
June 2, 2021 by Simon Sweetman