{"podcast":{"title":"This Might Work","slug":"this-might-work-7856602","podcast_index_feed_id":7856602,"rss_url":"https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/69f4a8b3e1fad0f98a5abc72","website_url":"https://shows.acast.com/this-might-work","image_url":"https://assets.pippa.io/shows/69f4a8b3e1fad0f98a5abc72/1778076464757-c69ee5de-2333-446d-aaae-497061fd33d5.jpeg","author":"Bec Evans","episode_count":8,"summary":"When a writer tells you how to get the work done, they’re telling you what works for them. That’s useful. But it might be completely wrong for you. So we test it. This Might Work is a podcast about creative experiments. In each episode, host Bec Evans takes one idea from a writer, artist or thinker - something practical, surprising or slightly unconventional - and puts it to the test with a real writer, working on a real project. Every experiment is different. Every writer responds differently. But each episode leaves you with something concrete to try in your own work. Because writing advice is everywhere. The only question that matters is: will it work for you? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-08T14:18:40.530272+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/this-might-work-7856602"},"episode":{"title":"Starting afresh with Oliver Burkeman","slug":"starting-afresh-with-oliver-burkeman","published_at":"2026-05-18T05:00:31+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/this-might-work-7856602/starting-afresh-with-oliver-burkeman","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/this-might-work-7856602","url":"https://open.substack.com/pub/breakthroughsandblocks/p/this-might-work-what-happens-when","audio_url":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/69f4a8b3e1fad0f98a5abc72/e/6a01d9436304701dd82b70f2/media.mp3","summary":"The writer Oliver Burkeman types out every draft from scratch - then deletes the original. In this first episode of This Might Work , host Bec Evans puts Burkeman's 'starting afresh' technique to the test, following writer and literacy educator Elizabeth Morphis as she uses it to revise her book - across a transatlantic flight, a sleepless night in Athens and the journey home. Does the discomfort of retyping every word actually make the writing better? It might. About the guests Oliver Burkeman is the author of four  books  and writes The Imperfectionist , a newsletter on productivity, mortality, the power of limits and building a meaningful life in an age of bewilderment He also wrote the  foreword  to the book that inspired this podcast  Written: How To Keep Writing and Build A Habit That Lasts .   Elizabeth Morphis is an associate professor of childhood education and literacy, founder of  The Literacy Teacher’s Life . She is currently writing a book for parents about how to make reading a central, joyful part of family life so children become confident and lifelong readers. Credits Presenter: Bec Evans Featuring: Oliver Burkeman and Elizabeth Morphis Extracts from Matt Bell, Refuse To Be Done and an Elizabeth Day interview with Jilly Cooper’s where she talks about Riders . Producers: Bec Evans and Chris Smith of Breakthroughs & Blocks Podcast production: Suzi Dale, Story Publishing Pilot episode Starting afresh with Oliver Burkeman was released on Substack last November with a bonus episode and link to the full transcript .  For bonus material and conversations about the experiments featured in the show, visit  Breakthroughs & Blocks   on Substack. If you enjoy the show, please leave a five-star review. It’s…","meta_description":"The writer Oliver Burkeman types out every draft from scratch - then deletes the original. In this first episode of This Might Work , host Bec Evans puts…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":994,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/this-might-work-7856602/episodes/starting-afresh-with-oliver-burkeman/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/this-might-work-7856602/starting-afresh-with-oliver-burkeman.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}