The Diary Of A Wannabe Writer
The (mainly) daily ramblings of a wannabe writer, Richard A. Boxshall... Now in its second thrilling season!
Episodes
160 Surgery Update (23rd August 2026)
I explain why you haven’t heard from me for a while and why regular podcasts may not be imminent…
159 The Case Of The Deadly Decoy T. G. Campbell Interview (14th August 2026)
Today is the release of the eighth book in T.G. Campbell’s Bow Street Society mystery series - The Case Of The Deadly Decoy. In this special extended episode, I give you a spoiler free interview, she talks about the new book.
158 Man versus Bin (12th August 2026)
I talk about tomorrow’s by election and the likely outcome.
157 The Lord Of The Rings BBC Radio Drama (5th August 2026)
As I continue with the final chapter my this novel, I talk about the original BBC Radio 4 adaptation of the “Lord of the Rings” which is about to be released in its original broadcast form for the very first time, both on vinyl and CD.
156 LHR to TFE to LHR (2nd August 2026)
Did some work today! I’ll try not to get used to it!
155 Welcome to August (1st August 2026)
Well, it looks like I’m working tomorrow so I’ve had a lazy day to make sure that my hip is okay for a long working day, and I’ve done some reading eating and watching TV as well.
154 Dune: Obsession (31st July 2026)
I waffle on more about the Frank Herbert books I’ve been reading (I was going to stop after book 2 but now I’ve got the desire to carry on into book 3 and maybe beyond). No writing, sorry.
153 Why has Paul Atreides got a pug? (30th July 2026)
I talk about the fact I’m reading Dune: Messiah, reading and watching the BBC version of Anthony and Cleopatra, and watching the classic 1984 David Lynch Dune film. Just not much writing.
152 I can’t talk about it (29th July 2026)
I had a very productive meeting with my publisher today, but foolishly forgot to ask what I can and cannot say on this podcast. As a result, I have chosen to err on the side of caution and say nothing for now. Instead I talk about the differences between the second half of the book of Dune and the second movie, including talking about the incredibly powerful and moving performance from Zendaya.
151 Dune Book and Film (28th July 2026)
No writing today, but I did finish reading Frank Herbert’s Dune followed by watching the first part of the recent movie.
150 My Other Podcast (27th July 2026)
I chat a bit about my music podcast, the small amount of editing I did today on my writing project, and how bad my sleep was last night.
149 The Odyssey (26th July 2026)
As well as talking about my visit to the cinema, I talk about the fact I got the zero draft of chapter 30 of Self Portrait finished today.
148 The “What Richard had for breakfast” Podcast (25th July 2026)
Didn’t get any writing done today, but I talk about what I did achieve which was mainly eating and making some decisions about my other podcast.
147 Music and Television (24th July 2026)
I talk about a day where I’ve been in pain and struggled to write.
146 More Writing (23rd July 2026)
I talk about why you didn’t get a podcast yesterday, as well as the writing I got done today.
145 Chapter 30 started (21st July 2026)
I talk about my day which included writing the first 2000 words of chapter 30 (the penultimate chapter) of Self Portrait!
144 Self Portrait Chapter 29 Signed Off (20th July 2026)
I talk about watching too many Marvel films in one day and about the writing I managed to get done today, as well as my writing plan for the next month or so.
143 Watching Marvel (18th July 2026)
Having had a couple of days off, I talk about the writing I plan to do plus the movie I’m watching kind of now actually…
142 Cleaning Frenzy 3 - Civil Bore (15th July 2026)
I’m nearly done making my house look less terrible.
141 Cleaning Frenzy Part 2 (14th July 2026)
Today I did more cleaning. Don’t bother listening it’s rubbish.
140 Apathy Frenzy (13th July 2026)
Today was mainly not getting round to cleaning. Or writing. Or anything, really.
139 Cleaning Frenzy Part 1 (12th July 2026)
A month ago I realised I probably should do some cleaning before my friend visits on the 16th. And then I forgot until today.
138 Coin Locker Babies (11th July 2026)
Having failed to write, I talk about a book that I finished reading…
137 Sad News and Writing (10th July 2026)
I talk about the upsetting news today about the murder of former MP Ann Widecombe, as well as talking about my writing.
136 Another Nil Return (8th July 2026)
I talk about my day, which unfortunately involved nothing creative at all. In fact, nothing at all at all apart from a haircut.
135 The Last of the Summer Wine fan podcast (7th July 2026)
This almost turned into a podcast about a comedy show I don’t even like. Luckily, I realise what I’m doing about halfway through and stop talking about it. Sorry.
134 Safely Home (6th July 2026)
After an extraordinarily long day, I’m safely home.
133 I wonder if I’ve already used this episode title? (5th July 2026)
It’s the last day of this trip away from home and I’ve achieved nothing I intended to, oh well!
132 It’s US Independence Day and I completely forget to mention it on the podcast (4th July 2026)
Happy fourth of July! Not that I mention it on the podcast at all. I waffle on about not sleeping or writing.
131 Shattered in Singapore (3rd July 2026)
Back in Singapore and very, very tired!
130 Sleep? What Sleep! (2nd July 2026)
I’ve just had breakfast in Sydney, on a date that is technically tomorrow, and tell you the little that I’ve done since yesterday (not much).
129 DVD Hunting in Sydney (1st July 2026)
After a pleasant flight from Singapore to Sydney, I’m exploring JB Hi-fi to try and find a particular DVD box set for a friend…
128 Sleepless In Singapore II (30th June 2026)
An update from Singapore, which includes, yes, shock, some writing…
127 Unsober in Singapore (29th June 2026)
The thoughts of a man who’s had too much whiskey.
126 The Return of Emergency Questions (28th June 2026)
I’m flying to Singapore later today and I’ve done no writing, so I didn’t really know what to talk about today… Then I remembered something I used to do a while back, and have chosen to resurrect it…
125 Mainly doing my other podcast today (27th June 2026)
Today, I mainly spent reading and working on my other podcast. And I’m off to Singapore tomorrow…
124 Buy the kid an Ice Cream, Dad! (26th June 2026)
As well as reflecting on how “Last Of The Summer Wine” dealt with the death of Bill Owen and therefore the loss of his character Compo, I also went and did some bloody writing!
123 Still Recovering (25th June 2026)
Exhausted and catching up from my very long day yesterday. Did very very little today.
122 Exceedingly-mega-tired (24th June 2026)
See show title so to understand why I can’t be bothered to write this blurb today.
121 A disappointing update from Japan (23rd June 2026)
I was quite active today, sadly none of it was literary.
120 Can I please have Big Mac meal, fries, Sprite, and a medium Prime Minister? (22nd June 2026)
Didn’t do much today after my flight, did watch the news though, great.
119 Haneda Bound (21st June 2026)
3500 is the answer to yesterday‘s question! I’m going to Tokyo today where I hope to record a podcast on location tomorrow…
118 I’ve been Mr. Productive-Face today (20th June 2026)
I tell you about my day (I recorded next week’s music podcast) plus found a new home for some glasses and did a bit of editing on chapter 28.
117 What I ate, what I tidied, what I washed, and what I wrote (19th June 2026)
I’ve had a genuinely productive day today, so why not listen to podcast and find out what I’ve done? (laundry and writing. It’s not that exciting, laundry and writing).
116 Four point five litres (18th June 2026)
I’ll talk about my flight home and the crazy amount of water my new fitness app has told me I need to consume per day!
115 WIEIAD (17th June 2026)
Greetings from Mumbai in India! In this episode I remonstrate with myself about my terrible eating habits at the moment and attempt to put something in place to do something about it.
114 BOMbound (16th June 2026)
I’m off to Mumbai in India for work today, in this podcast I talk about how I need to get off my backside and do some writing (whilst there and beyond).
113 Finished Reading BSS8 (15th June 2026)
I talk about my day, including the fact I finished beta reading the 8th Bow Street Society book…
112 Home later than anticipated (12th June 2026)
A general update and a bit more of a Doctor Who rant, sorry.
111 Goodbye Doctor Who (11th June 2026)
Yesterday the BBC announced that the Doctor Who Christmas Special is not going ahead and that they are tendering out the show in the hope a new production company will take it over. My thought on that are here…
110 More Memories (10th June 2026)
I talk more about my bike theft from 12 years ago.
109 Antihistamines and Old Diaries (9th June 2026)
I talk about realising that my tiredness might be due to the fact I’m not taking antihistamine for my hayfever.
108 Twelve years ago today (8th June 2026)
I didn’t have much to talk about today but for once Facebook memories was actually useful… I tell you a story of something that happened to me exactly 12 years ago today, on the 8th of June 2014.
107 Talking to people in various places (7th June 2026)
I spent most of today feeling really tired but I did catch up with quite a few people, some in person and some by the electric telephone… (well, internet voice call)
106 A music day (6th June 2026)
I listen to a lot of music today. And not much else.
105 Back Home (5th June 2026)
Mainly drove home today. I tell you about my plans for tomorrow though.
104 Don’t let a moron order things from Amazon (4th June 2026)
Visited Jedburgh Abbey today as well as proving I don’t know how to use Amazon.
103 Abbotsford (3rd June 2026)
Today I visited the home of Sir Walter Scott, Abbotsford, in the Scottish border region.
102 Hello from the Borders (2nd June 2026)
A minor correction to what was said on yesterday’s podcast, the best place to buy Peter O’Mahoney’s “The Taming of the Bard” is here: https://shop.rsc.org.uk/products/the-taming-of-the-bard-hb. I mention this in the podcast and the fact I’m visiting my mother in the Borders region of Scotland.
101 The Play’s The Thing (1st June 2026)
I talk to Peter O’Mahoney (writer) and Charlie Tomkins (Creative Director of Suddenly Publishing) about a project related to Peter’s recently published book, The Taming Of The Bard.
100 Centenary Waffle (31st May 2026)
A little bit of chat about my plans for next week and the week after.
99 Waffling On in Texas (30th May 2026)
I talk about reading and the fact that I’m in Texas and not much else.
98 Sad News (29th May 2026)
A follow-up to what I was talking about in episode 63 from earlier in the year, unfortunately the story does not have a happy ending. Rest in peace my friend.
97 A funny thing happened on the way to the bathroom (28th May 2026)
I talk about my non-reading non-writing day.
96 Scary Big Traffic Jam (27th May 2026)
What it says on the title.
95 The Case Of The Fatal Flaw (26th May 2026)
I talk about the fact that I managed to finish the seventh Bow Street Society book today in preparation for beta reading the new book coming out later in the year…
94 Hot! Hot! Hot! (25th May 2026)
I’ve done a lot of reading today. Not much writing but a lot of reading and jobs that needed doing in my home.
93 Montréal Airport Showers and Arriving Too Early for John Lewis (24th May 2026)
As it says on the tin.
92 Too Many People (23rd May 2026)
Reporting from Montréal, Canada. Where the Formula One is happening and there are far far too many bloody people.
91 Dreams can’t come true (22nd May 2026)
I rant about bad customer service from bed supplier “Dreams.”
90 Long Chapter (21st May 2026)
I talk about my spare bedroom again, you must be so fed up of hearing about that, and today’s writing.
89 Decorating Aftermath (20th May 2026)
I spent most of today buying and assembling furniture as well as buying other items for my new spare room including linen. Did get a tiny bit of writing done as well though…
88 My spare room is done! (19th May 2026)
No writing today but not for a lazy reason, all is explained with it…
87 Mystery 8 (18th May 2026)
I talk about a non-writing day and my plans for the next couple of days.
86 Sleeping in São Paulo (17th May 2026)
I talk about my plans for tomorrow after my flight home.
85 Being Productive in São Paulo (16th May 2026)
I talk about my day, the nonsense that’s going through my mind, and the writing I did today.
84 Writing in Brazil (15th May 2026)
I catch you up on what I’ve been doing for the last few days, and announce that I’ve started chapter 28 of Self Portrait!
83 No Writing and Who Rumours (9th May 2026)
I chat about the future of Doctor Who which seems to be up in the air at the moment…
82 Unexpectedly in Washington (8th May 2026)
An update on my day, an unexpected flight and how I almost didn’t get to the airport on time…
81 Standing By (7th May 2026)
Not much exercise or writing today, but plans to do so tomorrow.
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