Seán Padraic Birnie: 'I was quite depressed and pissed off with work'

Seán Padraic Birnie: 'I was quite depressed and pissed off with work'

Author: Fictionable October 14, 2023 Duration: 22:57

This autumn we've already heard from M John Harrison, Irena Karpa and her band, Qarpa. This week we have an appointment with Seán Padraic Birnie and his story The Medical Room.


Birnie tells us how he was fuelled by frustration at work and struggles with chronic fatigue syndrome. "It made me laugh, I think," he says, "but I wasn't sure it would make anyone else laugh."


Elements of the gruesome office mechanics in The Medical Room are drawn from life, Birnie explains, but the pull of horror fiction lays bare the power structures that are always at play.


Next time we welcome Shauna Mackay, with Catriona Bolt joining us the following week.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Fictionable is a space for those drawn to the compact power of short stories and the vivid narratives of graphic fiction. Each episode delves into the craft and culture surrounding these forms, featuring conversations with the writers and artists themselves. We explore the techniques behind compelling brevity, the unique challenges of visual storytelling, and the diverse literary scenes influencing work today. The discussion often extends to broader book chat, examining how these shorter pieces fit into the wider landscape of reading and creativity. It’s a podcast built for curious readers who find entire worlds in a few pages or panels, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the stories published in the Fictionable collection. You’ll hear about inspiration, process, and the personal connections that fuel these works, all sourced from a global community of creators. The aim is to deepen appreciation for the art form while celebrating the voices shaping it. This isn’t just analysis; it’s an invitation into the ongoing conversation between author, artist, and audience. Join us for a thoughtful and engaging exploration of narrative in its most concentrated and visually dynamic forms.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 59

Fictionable
Podcast Episodes
Joanna Kavenna: 'We all make fictions about the future' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:18
After hearing from Helga Schubert, Ben Sorgiovanni, Julian George and Rachida Lamrabet, we bring this Winter series of podcasts to a close with Joanna Kavenna and her short story Notes on the Future.Kavenna tells us how…
Julian George: 'Any word out of place, the whole thing is worthless' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:56
So far we've heard from Helga Schubert and Ben Sorgiovanni in this Winter season. We'll be welcoming Joanna Kavenna and Rachida Lamrabet over the next couple of weeks, but for this feature we present Julian George and Th…
Esther Karin Mngodo: 'I am more myself when I write in Swahili' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:09
Last year we heard from Daisy Johnson, Judith Vanistendael, Scott Jacobs and Hannah Webb. We bring our Autumn series to a close – just in time for Winter – with Esther Karin Mngodo and the translator Jay Boss Rubin, who…
Hannah Webb: 'I always seem to end up writing at the extremes' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:09
We opened this Autumn season with Daisy Johnson and followed up with Judith Vanistendael and Scott Jacobs. We'll be sitting down with Esther Karin Mngodo over the next week or so, but this episode is devoted to Hannah We…
Scott Jacobs: 'I made a few things up along the way' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:18
This season we've already heard from Daisy Johnson and Judith Vanistendael. Over the next few weeks we'll be sitting down with Esther Karin Mngodo and Hannah Webb, but this time we welcome Scott Jacobs and his short stor…
Judith Vanistendael: 'This first love has defined my storytelling' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:37
In the first of our Autumn podcasts, Daisy Johnson told us how she was living on the edge when she was writing her collection The Hotel, and read from her short story Conference. Over the course of this season we'll be r…
Daisy Johnson: 'Most of the things I write do have a twist' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:07
The leaves are swirling, there's a nip in the air, so it's time for a whole new bunch of Fictionable podcasts. Over the next few weeks we'll be hearing from Judith Vanistendael, Esther Karin Mngodo, Scott Jacobs and Hann…