The Writing Community Chat Show
A non-profit UK-based interview show demystifying the writing craft and publishing industry for aspiring authors through candid, long-form conversations.
This is a masterclass-style interview show where two hosts create a relaxed, supportive space for authors to get brutally honest about the publishing industry. It's less about literary theory and more about the practical, often harsh, realities of getting published, building a career, and the creative process. The hosts act as enthusiastic guides, encouraging guests to share unfiltered stories about everything from contract negotiations to marketing failures.
“Its combination of a non-profit, community-focused mission with a willingness to host "explosive" interviews that expose the controversial side of the publishing industry stands out. The hosts' supportive, conversational style encourages guests to be unusually candid, making it feel like a virtual pub for writers.”
Who hosts this show
The Writing Community Chat Show is a non-profit educational resource based in Wales, dedicated to democratizing access to literary expertise. Co-hosted by Christopher "CJ" Aggett and Chris Hooley, the show features in-depth interviews with New York Times best-sellers, indie authors, and industry insiders. It serves as a digital archive of masterclasses on the craft and business of writing, aiming to support authors at all levels, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds.
Credentials & credits
- Christopher Aggett: Founder and host of the show, self-published author.
- Chris Hooley: Co-host, author of books including "Death, Just Grinn and Bear It", and an English teacher.
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- uk
When new episodes drop
- 01Melanie Blake Rips Up 'The Guilty Women' & Unpacks Publishing Drama.Jun 1, 2026 · 18s
- 02
- 03She’s Pivoting to Vampires #substack #shortsMay 19, 2026 · 1 min
- 04Where are superstar authors helping new readers? #substack #shortsMay 19, 2026 · 29s
- 05Did Money Buy Bestseller Status? #substack #shortsMay 19, 2026 · 1 min
- 06
- 07What No One Tells You About Publishing a Book | Courtney Maum Interview.May 15, 2026 · 1h 17m
- 08The Dark Side of Amazon, Writing Sagas & Publishing Secrets | The Story Forge.Apr 25, 2026 · 1h 16m
Notable episodes
- 01Escaping 'Publishing Prison': Melanie Blake Exposes the Big Five & Launches Piranha Publishing.
An explosive, exclusive interview where a bestselling author details her negative experiences with a major publisher and her move to indie publishing.
- 02What No One Tells You About Publishing a Book | Courtney Maum Interview.
A deep dive into the practical realities of a writing career with a respected author and book coach, covering everything from rejection to marketing.
- 03The Dark Side of Amazon, Writing Sagas & Publishing Secrets | The Story Forge.
A collaborative interview that contrasts the writing processes of two authors and discusses building a brand through podcasting.
What you'll be asked on this show
Hosts CJ Aggett and Chris Hooley act as supportive guides rather than interrogators, creating what guests describe as a "very safe space". They open with long, laudatory introductions to build rapport before moving into questions about a guest's origin story ("Do you remember the point you realized writing was for you?") and creative process. [W9lqvCK6X-0] They are skilled at probing the realities of the industry, asking questions like, "How did your second book open your eyes to the publishing world?" to elicit candid, often critical, commentary. [NsoohCoRuKc] The hosts allow for long, uninterrupted answers and friendly tangents, often concluding by asking for a single piece of actionable advice for new writers. [TyHP3F_KaMA]
A two-host video interview show with a relaxed, conversational vibe; one host has been seen drinking a beer. [W9lqvCK6X-0] They provide long, highly complimentary introductions and give guests ample, uninterrupted time to tell their stories, often using a split-screen format. [NsoohCoRuKc, TyHP3F_KaMA]
Questions the host keeps coming back to
11 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
personal
1- Q.01
“How has your week been and what have you been up to?”
A casual icebreaker used at the beginning of the conversation to create a relaxed atmosphere.
origin
2- Q.01
“Do you remember the point you realized writing was something you wanted to do?”
This question is used to explore a guest's foundational passion for writing, often eliciting their creative origin story.
- Q.02
“How did you go from writing as a hobby to deciding to get your first book published?”
This question pinpoints the transition from amateur enthusiast to professional author.
backstory
1- Q.01
“How did you get into writing and cross paths with your collaborators?”
Used in interviews with multiple guests to uncover the backstory of their creative partnership.
craft
2- Q.01
“How important is life experience for a writer versus formal writing courses?”
This question sparks a discussion on the value of lived experience in a writer's development.
- Q.02
“How is your writing process different from another writer's?”
A technique to compare and contrast the creative methods of different guests on the same show.
process
1- Q.01
“When writing a saga, do you keep the multi-book character arc in mind from the start?”
This question targets authors of series to understand their long-term planning process.
industry
1- Q.01
“After your initial success, how did your experience change your view of the publishing world?”
A pointed question designed to surface a guest's experiences and potential disillusionment with the industry.
mindset
1- Q.01
“It's a long and tricky journey to get noticed as an author, isn't it?”
The host uses this framing to open a discussion about the theme of perseverance in a writing career.
community
1- Q.01
“Do you connect with local authors or readers in your area?”
This question explores the guest's engagement with their local writing community.
advice
1- Q.01
“What one tip would you give to someone just starting their writing journey?”
A signature closing question to provide the audience with a single piece of actionable advice.
Signature segments
- · Tagline: 'Together as one, we get it done.'
- · WCCS Welcome
- · Long, laudatory guest introductions
- · Hosts' casual chat before the interview
- · Asking for one final tip for aspiring writers
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
The show books a mix of New York Times best-selling authors, debut novelists, and publishing insiders (like book coaches) who are willing to share both practical advice and candid stories about their careers, including struggles and industry controversies.
- Melanie Blakeon Escaping 'Publishing Prison': Melanie Blake Exposes the Big Five & Launches Piranha Publishing.
- Courtney Maumon What No One Tells You About Publishing a Book | Courtney Maum Interview.
- Dominique Mondesiron The Dark Side of Amazon, Writing Sagas & Publishing Secrets | The Story Forge.
- Gabriel Rathwegon The Dark Side of Amazon, Writing Sagas & Publishing Secrets | The Story Forge.
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The show is a registered non-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) and is not primarily profit-driven. It offers promotional slots for authors, such as trailer placements or script reads, for a fee to support its operations.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who are the hosts of The Writing Community Chat Show?
- The show is co-hosted by its founder, Christopher 'CJ' Aggett, and Chris Hooley.
- What is the show's format?
- It's a long-form, live-streaming video podcast featuring interviews with authors and publishing professionals about their careers and the writing craft.
- Is the podcast still running?
- Yes, it is an active podcast that releases episodes weekly, though the hosts announced a 3-month break to write their own novels starting in mid-2026. [3, TyHP3F_KaMA]
- Where can I listen to the show?
- The show is available as a video podcast on YouTube and Substack, and the audio version is on major podcast platforms like Spreaker.
- Is this show only for UK writers?
- No. While based in the UK, the show features international guests (like American author Courtney Maum) and has a large listener base in the USA. [17, W9lqvCK6X-0]
- Is The Writing Community Chat Show a non-profit?
- Yes, it is registered as a Community Interest Company (CIC), a type of non-profit organization in the UK.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
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