Best Writingcommunity Podcasts (2024)

1
Episode 432: Betsy Golden Kellem, Scholar of the Unusual, Closet Historian, Atavist Writer 57:02

17m ago57:02

57:02

Betsy Golden Kellem (@bgkellem on IG) is a lawyer and historian whose "City on Fire" appears in The Atavist Magazine and chronicles a conspiracy in 1864 by northern Confederate sympathizers to burn Manhattan to the ground. Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Support: Patreon.com/cnfpod…

1
Balancing Scene Work and Interiority 38:03

3h ago38:03

38:03

Today, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe critique a family saga submission and a psychological thriller. They discuss whether there's a need for personalization at the top of your query; the importance of having POV information at the beginning of your letter; being concise with your wording; ensuring you illustrate how your multiple POV characters connect t…

1
September Comp Titles Segment 39:41

1d ago39:41

39:41

In today's second Bonus Episode of the month, Emilie Sommer from East City Bookshop answers all your burning comp title questions! To connect with Emilie Sommer go to https://www.instagram.com/emiliegsommer/ and you can find East City Bookshop at https://www.instagram.com/eastcitybookshop/ To ask for your own comp title recommendations, go to: http…

1
Bumper September Bonus Episode 1:33:36

3d ago1:33:36

1:33:36

In this month’s bonus episode, Bianca interviews Reese's book pick and best-selling author Marissa Stapley, to discuss her latest, The Lightning Bottles. They chat about the genesis of the novel; taking your time writing and the beauty that lies in the process of creating; the inspiration behind Marissa's protagonist; why she chose specific charact…

1
Episode 431: Sean Enfield, Author of 'Holy American Burnout' Hates the Word Burnout 59:54

7d ago59:54

59:54

Sean Enfield (@seanseanclan on IG) is an essayist, education, gardener, bassist, and author of the collection Holy American Burnout (Split/Lip Press). Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Support: Patreon.com/cnfpodBy Brendan O'Meara

1
#270 – "Industry's" High-Stakes World of Finance, Joe Rogan’s Comedy Special and the current Political state in the U.S. 50:02

5d ago50:02

50:02

Welcome to another thought-provoking episode of Spun Today, where we fuse the art of writing with the pulse of current events, pop culture, and creative inspiration. In Episode 270, we're diving deep into the compelling narratives of HBO’s "Industry," exploring the multifaceted characters navigating the ruthless world of investment banking. Alongsi…

1
Insights from NYT bestselling authors, Liane Moriarty and Hannah Nicole Maehrer 1:22:28

7d ago1:22:28

1:22:28

In today’s episode, we have two epic author interviews! The first is with NYT best-selling romance-fantasy author, Hannah Nicole Maehrer, and her agent, Brent Taylor. Bianca interviews Hannah and Brent to discuss Hannah's latest novel, Apprentice to the Villain; Hannah's unique, TikTok-related inspiration for her debut novel; how Hannah views her g…

1
Episode 430: Louisa Thomas Knows How to End a Story 26:53

14d ago26:53

26:53

Louisa Thomas is a staff writer for The New Yorker and the author Louisa: The Extraordinary Life of Mrs. Adams and Mind and Matter. We talk about a profile she wrote on Nikola Jokic as well as her incredible knack for a great kicker. Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Support: Patreon.com/cnfpod…

1
Digging Deep to Find Your Characters’ Messy Emotions 34:15

14d ago34:15

34:15

Today, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe discuss a humorous contemporary fiction query and an upmarket book club query. They discuss clearly defining your genre; the importance of time stamps when you have a ticking time bomb situation; writing characters that are likeable or interesting enough that readers will want to follow their arc and journey; the nece…

1
103 | When reviews get personal with Robyn Harding, author of 'The Haters' 53:37

14d ago53:37

53:37

What's it like putting your creative work out in the world and discovering that some people hate it? In episode 103 of James and Ashley Stay at Home, international bestselling author Robyn Harding joins James and Ashley to explore her extensive career in writing. She shares her experience of releasing her first book in 2004, and how her journey has…

1
Episode 429: What Does It Mean to be a 'Hungry Author'? 52:32

21d ago52:32

52:32

Liz Morrow (@liz_morrow) and Ariel Curry (@arielkcurry) are the co-authors of Hungry Authors (@hungryauthors): The Indispensable Guide to Planning, Writing, and Publishing a Nonfiction Book (Rowman & Littlefield). They are a special team and — with their powers combined — created a wonderful guide that is tactical, practical, and informative about …

1
Problem-Solving Your Way Through a Story 31:08

21d ago31:08

31:08

In today’s author interview, Bianca interviews Amanda Peters, author of Waiting for the Long Night Moon, which is a collection of short stories. Amanda reads the first short story in the collection, and the two discuss framing and POV and Amanda's deliberate choices regarding POV in her stories; tension that comes from the reader knowing something …

1
#269 – Voices of 9/11: Recounting Stories from New Yorkers (Re-release) 2:23:45

20d ago2:23:45

2:23:45

Welcome to Episode 269 of Spun Today, where we dive deep into personal stories of resilience, reflection, and creativity in the face of one of the most transformative events in modern history—the 9/11 attacks. Today, we are honored to have a plethora of voices sharing their firsthand experiences, each providing a unique lens on that tragic day. Fro…

1
Episode 428: Brin-Jonathan Butler Remembers Flacco the Owl 1:43:54

28d ago1:43:54

1:43:54

Brin-Jonathan Butler is a journalist and author of The Grandmaster and The Domino Diaries. Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Support: Patreon.com/cnfpodBy Brendan O'Meara

1
Making Something Unexpected Happen in Your Opening Pages 41:20

28d ago41:20

41:20

In today’s Book with Hooks episode, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe critique an upmarket women's fiction query and a dark romance one (spicy content warning!). They discuss the need for cause and effect between your plot points; avoiding overwriting in dialogue; the difficulties with having a very insecure protagonist; the need for something unexpected to …

1
#268 – Free-Writing Session (Embracing Self-Evolution and Nurturing Big Ideas – Reflecting on Get Honest or Die Lying by Charlamagne Tha God) 35:33

1M ago35:33

35:33

Welcome to Episode 268 of Spun Today, the podcast that dives deep into the world of writing, creativity, and the stories that both inspire and challenge us. I'm your host, Tony, and in this episode, we're exploring a rich tapestry of thought-provoking topics, from the emotional connections we share with loved ones, to the narratives we craft about …

1
Episode 427: Kelsey Rexroat on Dealing with the Monstrosity 57:56

1M ago57:56

57:56

Kelsey Rexroat is a freelance journalist and copy editor who recently reported and wrote a brilliant love story for The Atavist Magazine. Visit magazine.atavist.com to read it. Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Support: Patreon.com/cnfpodBy Brendan O'Meara

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Coco Mellors' Incredible Insights on Writing 1:12:00

1M ago1:12:00

1:12:00

In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment. After which Bianca interviews bestselling author, Coco Mellors, to discuss her latest novel, Blue Sisters. They discuss writing on the line level while using metaphor and similes to describe things in ways that no one else has expressed them before; the creation of Co…

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102 | 'You had me at bog people' with Zahid Gamieldien, author of 'All the Missing Children' 32:46

1M ago32:46

32:46

'I wasn't even sure I was going to write a novel.' Author Zahid Gamieldien joins us to discuss his debut novel, All the Missing Children. Zahid speaks about his start writing short stories, his decision to transition to novel writing based on the advice of a publisher, and how he sees the differences between prose and screenwriting. He also speaks …

1
August Bonus: Insights from Fiona Barton and Jean Meltzer 59:57

1M ago59:57

59:57

In this month’s bonus episode, Bianca interviews writer, journalist, and author Fiona Barton. They discuss the resounding success of Fiona's debut, The Widow, and its unique journey to publication; the editing process with her agent; the transition from journalism to writing fiction; why Fiona included a prologue in her latest thriller, Talking to …

1
Episode 426: Asking for Blurbs, Unauthorized Biographies, and the Mystery of Aaron Rodgers with Ian O'Connor 1:11:44

1M ago1:11:44

1:11:44

Ian O'Connor (@Ian_OConnor) is the author of several best-selling books. His latest is Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers (Mariner Books). Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Support: Patreon.com/cnfpodBy Brendan O'Meara

1
Writing the So-Called ‘Unlikable Protagonist’ 1:19:10

1M ago1:19:10

1:19:10

In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment. After which, Bianca interviews sisters, Lynne and Valerie Constantine, who write under the pen name, Liv Constantine. The three discuss Lynne and Valerie’s latest bestselling novel, The Next Mrs. Parish; their decision to write a sequel following their Audible prequel…

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#267 – The Art of Cooking: Chef Papi’s Creative Process and Entrepreneurial Spirit (Re-Release) 1:19:50

2M ago1:19:50

1:19:50

Welcome to Episode 267 of the Spun Today podcast! I'm your host, Tony, and today we have an extraordinary guest joining us - Stephen Rodriguez aka Chef Papi, also known as. Chef Papi's journey is a testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and the importance of embracing the process of success, rather than shortcuts. In this episode, we delv…

1
Episode 425: The Most Brazen of Genres with Madeleine Blais 1:10:39

2M ago1:10:39

1:10:39

Madeleine Blais is the author of several books, her latest being Queen of the Court: The Many Lives of Tennis Legend Alice Marble (Grove Press), now out in paperback. Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Support: Patreon.com/cnfpod In the parting shot, I made an error in math referring to the number of hypothetical M…

1
The Idea of Writing the Book That Doesn’t Exist 1:19:33

2M ago1:19:33

1:19:33

In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment. After which, CeCe interviews Claire Jiménez, assistant professor and author of What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez. They discuss the three pivotal moments in Claire's writing career; Claire's experience writing a multitude of POVs; how she went about developing her charact…

1
Episode 424: Tommy Tomlinson on Aiming for One-Word Summations, the Blurt, and 'Dogland' 1:06:14

2M ago1:06:14

1:06:14

Tommy Tomlinson is a journalist and author of Dogland: Passion, Glory, and Lots of Slobber at the Westminster Dog Show (Avid Reader Press). Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Support: Patreon.com/cnfpodBy Brendan O'Meara

1
Why You Shouldn’t Make Every Change Your Beta Readers Suggest 1:07:53

2M ago1:07:53

1:07:53

In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment. After which, Bianca interviews MK Pagano, author of the YA thriller romance, Girls Who Burn. The two discuss MK's journey to publication; the importance of knowing when to part ways with an agent, even if s/he is a good agent; MK's experience with beta readers and fol…

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101 | Surviving betrayal (and so much more) with Khin Myint, author of 'Fragile Creatures' 42:23

2M ago42:23

42:23

'I didn't believe that I'd stalked my partner.' In episode 101, we speak with debut author Khin Myint about the multiple strands of biography he explores in his memoir Fragile Creatures. One of these is the sudden and extreme betrayal he faced from his ex-partner, who accused him of stalking her. We also discuss the ambiguous illness his sister The…

1
#266 – Finding Hope in Uncertainty: Zoila Ortiz on her Battle with Breast Cancer and Resilience in the Face of Adversity 1:22:02

2M ago1:22:02

1:22:02

Welcome back to another episode of the Spun Today podcast! It's your host Tony here, and today we have a very special guest and topic to discuss with you. In this episode, we're going to be sharing the incredible story of my wife Zoila and her recent battle with breast cancer. Zoila, underwent a hysterectomy last year and was subsequently diagnosed…

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Episode 423: Rhana Natour and Eman Mohammed Take You Up Close for The Atavist 1:15:28

2M ago1:15:28

1:15:28

Rhana Natour (@rnatourious) and Eman Mohammed (@emanit) collaborated for their Atavist story "Coming to America" about a teenage girl from Gaza who lost her legs in an Israeli airstrike and the journey she's on to walk again. Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Support: Patreon.com/cnfpod…

1
Working With an Agent on Edits Ahead of Submission 1:16:14

2M ago1:16:14

1:16:14

In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment. After which, CeCe speaks with her very own client, Anamely Salgado Reyes, author of My Mother Cursed My Name. They discuss Anamely's query letter to CeCe and CeCe's response to it; Anamely's experience with her first round of edits from CeCe; the inspiration behind he…

1
From Self-Publishing to Traditional Publishing: You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know 34:23

2M ago34:23

34:23

In this month’s bonus episode, Bianca interviews Kern Carter, author of And Then There Was Us. They discuss the different routes to publication and the differences between traditional and self publishing; how Kern worked to improve his craft while trying to land an agent; the challenges of writing from a perspective that isn’t your own, and why you…

1
Episode 422: Thirty Years of "The Last Shot," Lessons from Obstacles, and Old-School Note Taking with Darcy Frey 1:13:38

2M ago1:13:38

1:13:38

Darcy Frey is the author of The Last Shot: City Streets, Basketball Dreams, a masterpiece of a book celebrating its 30th anniversary. It's out with a new audio version performed and read by J.D. Jackson. Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Support: Patreon.com/cnfpodBy Brendan O'Meara

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Giving Characters Changing Wants and Needs to Fulfill Their Character Arcs 1:27:19

2M ago1:27:19

1:27:19

In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment. After which, Bianca interviews creative writing professor, essayist, and author of Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance, Alison Espach. They discuss falling into the mode of writing the same sorts of novels repeatedly; the genre that Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance w…

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