In this episode of the BuildWriting Podcast, I sit down for a deeply inspiring conversation with British actor and voice artist James Beaumont. What started as a simple January writing challenge—1,000 words a day using prompts from my website—became 31 Stories, a full audio fiction podcast where James writes, performs, edits, and produces his own short stories.

We talk about how prompts can unlock creativity, why performing your own writing brings a story to life in ways the written page alone cannot, and how actors blend creativity with interpretation to create something truly unique. We also discuss the joy (and challenge) of short-form audio fiction, the possibilities of radio plays, and the importance of trying new creative territory—even when you don’t think you’re “a writer.”

If you’re a storyteller, poet, fiction lover, or creator exploring new artistic paths, this episode will leave you excited to experiment, write, perform, and build something entirely your own.

Connect with James

Website : https://linktr.ee/jamesbeaumont

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Chapters

00:00 Opening & Guest Intro
00:41 Who James Is
02:38 How the Writing Began
03:44 Turning Stories Into a Podcast
05:24 New Prompts & New Process
06:54 Why Audio Fiction Matters
09:37 Radio Plays & Sound Design
11:08 Becoming a One-Man Producer
12:19 Writing for the Ear
14:58 Writing for Yourself First
16:04 AI vs Human Performance
18:40 Poetry + Music + Drama Ideas
22:05 Interpretation as Creativity
24:21 Why the Messenger Matters
27:26 Acting Range & Character Work
32:04 Trying New Creative Territory
37:02 Practice Over Perfection
45:34 Considering Radio Plays
48:03 Audience & Growth
51:36 Cross-Platform Creativity
51:59 Where to Find James
53:46 Closing Thoughts