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James Runcie, author of the Grantchester Mysteries series, is a writer in search of the best way to tell a story. In this series, he meets high profile authors to discuss the craft of novel writing. Using extracts from the author’s own work, as well as classic texts, the conversations will reveal the secrets of the storytelling craft. Most writers spend more time on their opening sentence than on any other. In today's episode, James is joined by the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Richard Ford to consider the tricky business of starting a story, maintaining momentum and delivering a satisfying conclusion. By analysing extracts from Ford's award-winning novels, as well as classics like The Odyssey and The Great Gatsby, James discovers that making the ordinary extraordinary is key to good storytelling. Presenter: James Runcie Producer: Ellie Bury Readers: Harriet Walter and Paterson Joseph
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