Steve Toltz on writing fear, Here Goes Nothing, and nailing why we do what we do

Featuring: Steve Toltz's new book Here Goes Nothing and why it’s set in the afterlife; using time in the writing process like a painter uses light; Steve’s spiritual home; juggling editorial notes from different countries; the overarching project of Steve’s work; a short reading; on writing humour and hilarious characters (who are also very entertaining to write); his experience in writers' rooms, how Steve first got an agent; his play that didn't eventuate; what's next and some wonderful reading recommendations. ‘A writer uses time like a painter uses light - without time you can’t even see what it is that you’ve done.’ ‘Years go by without ever showing anyone a word…I get it as good as I can possibly get it without burying it in the garden for six months' ‘I don’t feel like I’ve ever really been in a literary world that much’ On editorial notes: ‘There’s always the clear understanding that you can take them or leave them...I end up always taking about 80% of the notes because they’re always generally great.'