Best Writingcommunity Podcasts (2024)

1
Episode 409: Chain Smoking Book Projects with Earl Swift 1:02:39

6h ago1:02:39

1:02:39

Earl Swift is the best-selling author of Hell Put to Shame: The 1921 Murder Farm Massacre and the Horror of America's Second Slavery (Mariner Books). In this episode we talk about how Earl strings together book projects and what this story from more than 100 years ago still says about today. Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brenda…

1
#259 – Insights from Sandra Holtzman: Copywriting, Marketing Strategies, and Business Building 1:11:12

1d ago1:11:12

1:11:12

Welcome to episode #259 of Spun Today. I’m your host, Tony, and in today’s episode, we are joined by Sandra Holtzman, an award-winning copywriter, entrepreneur, and author who has profoundly impacted the marketing world. Sandra will share her transformative journey from aspiring writer and choreographer to becoming a key figure in the realm of mark…

1
Caroline Leavitt’s Insights and Encouragement 1:04:10

1d ago1:04:10

1:04:10

In today’s Book with Hooks, Carly and CeCe critique two listener queries, a resubmission and a YA fantasy. They discuss the issue of starting with a protagonist that has a 'simple, stable' life; a great example of an inciting incident; ensuring your major dramatic question is strong enough; good storytelling as the promise of change; making your pr…

1
96 | Living to tell the tale with Tracy Sorensen, author of 'The Vitals' 41:24

3d ago41:24

41:24

'The doctors were telling me, "We’re going to take your greater omentum out" … I had no idea what these terms meant.' In episode 96, author Tracy Sorensen joins us to discuss her remarkable novel/cancer memoir, The Vitals, narrated by her internal organs. After her original cancer diagnosis, a desire to better understand her body led Tracy to croch…

1
Episode 408: North to Trees, South to Gold with Ruby McConnell 1:02:50

7d ago1:02:50

1:02:50

Ruby McConnell (@rubygonewild) is one of our great environmental writers and her latest book is Wilderness and the American Spirit. It's published by Overcup Press. Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Social: @creativenonfiction podcast on IG and Threads Support: Patreon.com/cnfpod…

1
Figuring Out What Genre You Should Be Writing In 56:24

8d ago56:24

56:24

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe critique a children's picture book and a literary fiction query. They discuss avoiding vagueness, no matter the genre; using illustrator notes in a picture book pitch; the need for tension, even in a children's book; framing your novel in your query so agents aren't confused when they get to the …

1
Episode 407: Alex Squadron Respects the Grind 1:04:59

14d ago1:04:59

1:04:59

Alex Squadron is a sports writer for Slam Magazine and the author of Life in the G: Minor League Basketball and the Relentless Pursuit of the NBA. Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Social: @creativenonfiction podcast on IG and Threads Support: Patreon.com/cnfpodBy Brendan O'Meara

1
#258 – From the gritty drug world of Griselda to the humor of Loudermilk and innovations of Artificial Intelligence 35:07

15d ago35:07

35:07

Welcome back to Spun Today, the podcast that's rooted in the art of writing, yet boundless in its journey. I'm your guide, Tony Ortiz, and this is episode 258. As we settle into our narrative voyage today, we're diving into the gritty Netflix original series "Griselda," exploring the life of the infamous drug baroness Griselda Blanco. We'll also sh…

1
Choosing the Best POVs for a Multi-POV Novel 1:00:36

15d ago1:00:36

1:00:36

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe are joined by guest agent, Jo Ramsay, to critique two queries. They discuss the issue of withholding too much plot in a query; highlighting the stakes in your query; the importance of first lines in a novel; the need for psychological depth and acuity in your characters; the issue of comping to titles tha…

1
Episode 406: When to Share a WIP with Darrell Hartman 58:20

21d ago58:20

58:20

Darrell Hartman (@dwhartman) is the author of The Battle of Ink and Ice: A Sensational Story of News Barons, North Pole Explorers, and the Making of Modern Media. It is published by Viking. Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Social: @creativenonfiction podcast on IG and Threads Support: Patreon.com/cnfpod…

1
Insights from Mary Kubica 1:04:55

22d ago1:04:55

1:04:55

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly and CeCe discuss choosing a unique title for your work; having a strong plot connection between your main characters in a multi POV novel; avoiding situations where the agent has to make too many assumptions in a query; choosing between italics and dialogue tags when having a character talk to themselves; …

1
95 | 'I'm Tom Cruise in Bulgaria' with Liz Nugent, author of 'Strange Sally Diamond' 43:37

24d ago43:37

43:37

‘I had thought I was going to be like Harper Lee. I was going to write one book, it was going to be a massive global success, and then I would go into hiding.’ Hear from award-winning Irish author Liz Nugent, whose novel Strange Sally Diamond may have turned Ashley into a total fangirl. Liz discusses her journey from a childhood accident leading to…

1
Episode 405: Hallie Lieberman and the Drawer of Dead Pitches 1:17:55

29d ago1:17:55

1:17:55

Hallie Lieberman (@hallielieberman) is a journalist, writer, and historian. She's the author of Buzz: A Stimulating History of the Sex Toy. Her latest piece for The Atavist is "The Handcuff Man." Visit magazine.atavist.com to read it. Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Social: @creativenonfiction podcast on IG and …

1
#257 - The Fusion of Humor and Heart, from the comedy specials of Akaash Singh and Fahim Anwar to the award-winning film CODA 42:25

29d ago42:25

42:25

Welcome back to the Spun Today podcast where we weave creativity into the everyday fabric of our lives. In this episode for you comedy aficionados we'll dissect the success of stand-up specials like Akaash Singh's "Gaslit" and Fahim Anwar's "House Money," examining the innovative ways these comics are delivering their content directly to fans, bypa…

1
Defining Book Club Fiction 1:01:44

29d ago1:01:44

1:01:44

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe discuss keeping your author bio paragraph concise; the need for causality in a plot paragraph; paying attention to the language you use in a query so you don't create confusion surrounding the book's premise; knowing who your protagonist is and highlighting their interiority and inner life over o…

1
March Bonus Episode 47:33

1M ago47:33

47:33

In this month’s bonus episode, Bianca interviews game designer, curator, and writer, Holly Gramazio to discuss her debut novel, The Husbands. The two discuss Holly's journey to publication; the novel’s inspiration and genre; how game design lends itself to novel writing; how she structured the novel; the importance of causality; Holly's approach to…

1
Episode 404: Hanif Abdurraqib's Nod to Witnessing in 'There's Always This Year' 1:02:51

1M ago1:02:51

1:02:51

Hanif Abdurraqib is poet, critic, and author of several books, including There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension (Random House). In this episode we talk about his nod to witnessing, specificity, intentionality, making it, and LeBron James. Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Social: @creativenonfiction…

1
How Research Should Inform a Novel Without Leaving Too Many Fingerprints 1:06:23

1M ago1:06:23

1:06:23

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly, CeCe, and Bianca are joined by Ron, to discuss his query submission. They chat about Ron's curiosity-inducing first query paragraph; the line between giving away too much plot and sharing just enough in a query; how subjective agents’ opinions can be; the right emotional calibration within your characters; the is…

1
Episode 403: Elizabeth Rush Moves Toward Exactitude 1:07:43

1M ago1:07:43

1:07:43

Elizabeth Rush is the author of The Quickening: Creation and Community at the Ends of the Earth (Milkweed). Liz talks about writing toward exactitude, lyricing her way through sticking points, being a character in her own work, and voice. For a couple weeks, visit combeyond.bu.edu, use the promo code NARRATIVE25 at checkout and get 25% your tuition…

1
#256 – Mastering the Myth: Navigating Imposter Syndrome and Cultivating Creative Currency (Free-Writing Session) 31:38

1M ago31:38

31:38

Welcome to the latest episode of the Spun Today podcast! In this episode, host Tony shares his personal writing stats for the past few months and reflects on his creative journey. He delves into the writing tips he has picked up, including an insightful perspective from actor and filmmaker Kevin Smith. Tony also discusses the books he's been readin…

1
Balancing Curiosity Seeds and Tension Without Making the Reader Feel Cheated 1:01:36

1M ago1:01:36

1:01:36

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe discuss the need for external pressure in your major dramatic question; the three sets of questions that create tension at the beginning of a story; surprising your reader in your first five pages; the accuracy of third party manuscript wishlists; the need for world-building in a fantasy query; b…

1
94 | Cloning, shame and principles – James shares tips on writing character 31:55

1M ago31:55

31:55

Throughout their writing careers, James and Ashley have each picked up some excellent writing tricks, plus developed a few of their own. In the coming months, they’ll each share a few of their most effective writing techniques, starting with James’ shortcut to compelling characters. British science-fiction author Karen Traviss writes remarkably nua…

1
Episode 402: The Stentorian-Voiced Dudely Bro-ness of Rob Harvilla 1:09:11

2M ago1:09:11

1:09:11

Rob Harvilla (@harvilla on X) is a staff writer for The Ringer and the host and creator of the long-running 60 Songs that Explain the 90s. His first book is 60 Songs that Explain the 90s. We talk about the end of the podcast, the evolution of voice, and the maze he purposefully escapes each episode. For a couple weeks, visit combeyond.bu.edu, use t…

1
Insights from Acquisitions Editors & Working on Author Collaborations 1:10:59

2M ago1:10:59

1:10:59

In today's Books with Hooks segment, Carly, CeCe, and Bianca are joined by two acquisitions editors at Atria Books, Elizabeth Hitti and Melanie Iglesias. Melanie is a senior editor at Atria Books and has worked on various bestselling titles, including It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover. Elizabeth joined Atria in 2022 and has worked on various best…

1
Episode 401: Jessica Camille Aguirre on Racking Up Rejections, Online Nothing Burgers, and The Atavist's "Watch It Burn" 1:15:41

2M ago1:15:41

1:15:41

Jessica Camille Aguirre (@jessicacaguirre) is a freelance journalist and wrote "Watch it Burn" for The Atavist Magazine. In this episode we talk about racking up rejections, voice, and what makes climate stories drag. For a couple weeks, visit combeyond.bu.edu, use the promo code NARRATIVE25 at checkout and get 25% your tuition for the two-day Powe…

1
#255 – Jose De La Rosa: Golden Gloves Champ, Firefighter and Fitness Aficionado (Re-Release) 2:41:16

2M ago2:41:16

2:41:16

In this episode I sit down and speak with my long-time friend Jose De La Rosa. We speak about Jose’s journey to becoming a gold & silver Golden Gloves boxing Champion. We speak about his decision to become one of New York’s Bravest, a FDNY Firefighter and also about his lifelong dedication to fitness and much more! *Original Release Date: August 19…

1
Being Intentional With Your Novel's Timeline 1:01:14

2M ago1:01:14

1:01:14

In today's Books with Hooks segment, Bianca, Carly and CeCe discuss the importance of specifying between awards for published and unpublished manuscripts; the difficulty with trying to sell a book whose main character’s race and culture differs from the author’s lived experience; the need for a main character’s interiority to accurately reflect the…

1
Bumper February Bonus Episode 2:15:24

2M ago2:15:24

2:15:24

In today's Bumper February Bonus Episode, Bianca kicks it off by interviewing interviews tech anthropologist and author, Nikki Payne. They discuss her latest novel, Sex, Lies, and Sensibility, a retelling of the classic, Sense and Sensibility; how Nikki approached writing her retelling, one which specifically centred diversity; decentering whitenes…

1
Episode 400: Richard Blanco on Fever Writing and Finding the Poem within the Poem 1:15:49

2M ago1:15:49

1:15:49

Richard Blanco was the Presidential Inaugural poet at Pres. Obama's second inauguration, a winner of the National Humanities Award medal, and the author of Homeland of My Body (Beacon Press). Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Social: @creativenonfiction podcast on IG and Threads Support: Patreon.com/cnfpod…

1
How Some Stories Need You to Become a Better Writer Before Telling Them 1:02:32

2M ago1:02:32

1:02:32

In today's Books with Hooks segment, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe are joined by emerging author, Sarah. They discuss ways to make a novel sound less quiet in a query; the necessity of a hook; when it's acceptable to comp to a hugely successful novel; how to convey a longer timeline; how to share pivotal plot points in a query without spoiling the novel;…

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93 | Tricking yourself into writing with Adele Dumont, author of 'The Pulling' 37:02

2M ago37:02

37:02

’I kept this condition very, very secret from everybody.’ Adele Dumont's remarkable new memoir, The Pulling, details her life with trichotillomania — a mental health condition that, at times, has consumed her life. In this episode, she discusses the unique writing process that enabled her to put long-held secrets first on the page and then into the…

1
Now in Paperback: 'Simple is the Way to Go' with Mirin Fader 1:09:27

2M ago1:09:27

1:09:27

This originally aired on December 10, 2021 as Episode 291. Mirin Fader is the author of Giannis: The Improbably Rise of an MVP and a staff writer writing features for The Ringer. She is @mirinfader on social media. Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Social: @creativenonfiction podcast on IG and Threads Support: Pat…

1
#254 – Black Mirror, Jack Ryan Finale, American Fiction, Joe Rogan’s renewed Spotify deal! 1:08:25

2M ago1:08:25

1:08:25

In this episode I speak about season 6 of Black Mirror on Netflix, the final season of Jack Ryan on Amazon, the movie American Fiction and another addition to our GOATs doing GOAT $hit segment! The Spun Today Podcast is a Podcast that is anchored in Writing, but unlimited in scope. Give it a whirl. Twitter: https://twitter.com/spuntoday Instagram: …

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