Best Writingcommunity Podcasts (2024)

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Episode 417: 'Stories Can Save Us' and the Enduring Legacy of Matt Tullis 1:24:05

38m ago1:24:05

1:24:05

Justin Heckert (@justinheckert) is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in countless publications from Esquire to The Ringer, from Garden & Gun to the New York Times Magazine. Justin wrote the afterward to the late Matt Tullis's post-humous book Stories Can Save Us (Univ. of George Press). Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes…

1
#263 – Writing, Directing, and The Power of Authentic Creativity with Marlene Rhein 1:13:26

10h ago1:13:26

1:13:26

Welcome to another captivating episode of the Spun Today Podcast! In this episode, we dive deep into the creative universe of Marlene Rhein, a distinguished director and writer with an impressive portfolio, featuring her work with iconic artists like Tupac and Amy Winehouse. Join us as Marlene opens up about the struggles and triumphs of her career…

1
How Interiority Makes a Character Come Alive 1:12:27

7h ago1:12:27

1:12:27

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe critique a rom-com and a YA submission. They discuss the importance of clarity in your query and avoiding language that might cause confusion; the necessity of a clear major dramatic question in your query; ensuring your protagonists aren't anticipating everything that happens in your pages; the …

1
Episode 416: A Lifelong Search for Voice with Acamea Deadwiler 1:06:47

6d ago1:06:47

1:06:47

Acamea Deadwiler is an essayist and memoirist and the author of Daddy's Little Stranger. This is a really rich conversation about how her book was once a collection of essays, but she had to rewrite it as a more cohesive memoir, finding voice, breaking down a piece of writing like game tape, and what playing basketball and getting cut taught her ab…

1
We want you to be a part of episode 100! 3:24

7d ago3:24

3:24

We want to hear from you! The 100th episode of 'James and Ashley Stay at Home' is fast approaching, and it’s going to be a very special one. To celebrate this milestone, we want you to send us a voice memo with your thoughts, comments and memories about the show, to be included in episode 100. This is open to anyone, whether you're an old listener,…

1
An Inspiring Journey to Publication 1:05:49

7d ago1:05:49

1:05:49

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, CeCe, and Carly critique two upmarket submissions, one of which is in the gothic genre. They discuss the reasoning behind placing your metadata at the top of a query; avoiding unnecessary detail in your query; avoiding slipping from pitch to synopsis; the need for interiority, particularly interiority that will …

1
98 | Come for the misophonia with Imbi Neeme, author of 'Kind of, Sort of, Maybe but Probably Not' 45:13

9d ago45:13

45:13

We've made it to episode 98! Author Imbi Neeme joins James and Ashley to discuss life with misophonia, a hypersensitivity to sounds that she describes as 'like a cheese grater against the brain'. Imbi speaks both about how she discovered that her personal experiences are shared by others, and how she's explored the condition in her latest novel, 'K…

1
Episode 415: Sam Jefferies, Hammering Out Screed 1:09:04

13d ago1:09:04

1:09:04

Sam Jefferies is the author of Legacy on Ice: Blake Geoffrion and the Fastest Game on Earth (Univ. of Wisconsin Press). Sam talks about how he built scenes, folded in the book writing and reporting around his family and day job, listening to tape on commutes to get the material into his bloodstream, and maintaining a sense of individual style witho…

1
#262 – Free-Writing Session (From Stoicism to Creativity: Reflecting on Viktor Frankl's Impact on Meaning and Writing) 44:56

13d ago44:56

44:56

Welcome back to Spun Today, the podcast where we dive deep into the realms of writing, creativity, and personal growth. I’m your host, Tony Ortiz, and in today's episode, we’re taking a reflective journey through my writing stats over the past few months and discussing how to navigate the creative struggles we all face. We’ll explore insightful adv…

1
Writing That Evokes All the Feels 1:04:48

14d ago1:04:48

1:04:48

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, CeCe, and Carly are joined by guest literary agent, Mary C. Moore. They critique a resubmission and a sci-fi query, during which they discuss: the importance of making tropes as fresh and different as possible; how to ensure your pitch isn't too dense, especially in genres that involve world-building; highlighti…

1
Episode 414: John Rosengren on Cuts, Note Taking, and Darkness for The Atavist 57:11

20d ago57:11

57:11

John Rosengren is a journalist based out of Minnesota whose "Anatomy of a Murder" marks Issue 151 for The Atavist Magazine. Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Support: Patreon.com/cnfpodBy Brendan O'Meara

1
Choosing How to Frame Certain Aspects of Your Work 1:11:00

22d ago1:11:00

1:11:00

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe are joined by listener, Kelly Fuller, as they critique her book club fiction submission. They discuss picking comps that match the genre you're writing in; using your query to discuss the plot of the book rather than backstory about your characters; ensuring your stakes are high enough; pitching …

1
May Bonus Episode 1:25:08

25d ago1:25:08

1:25:08

In this month’s bonus episode, Bianca chats with Courtney Preiss to discuss her debut novel, Welcome Home, Caroline Kline. They speak about the inspiration behind Courtney's novel and her journey to publication; her experiences with rejection during the querying process; being aware of cultural moments that could propel your novel forward when you’…

1
#261 – Steven Almonte: From Busboy to Business Owner! Entrepreneurial Insights from a Journey of Passion and Persistence Through the Restaurant Industry 1:01:22

27d ago1:01:22

1:01:22

Welcome to the latest episode of the Spun Today podcast, where we dive into the entrepreneurial journey of Steven, a driven and passionate restauranteur. Join host Tony as he delves into Steven's inspiring story of hard work, resilience, and dedication to pursuing his dreams in the restaurant industry. From discussing the challenges of starting new…

1
Episode 413: Young Woman and the Sea, from Book to Movie 56:44

28d ago56:44

56:44

Glenn Stout is the author of Young Woman and the Sea: How Trudy Ederle Conquered the English Channel and Inspired the World. It's now out in movie theaters and re-issued as a movie tie-in paperback by Mariner Books. Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Social: @creativenonfiction podcast on IG and Threads Support: Pa…

1
A Debut Experience All Authors Dream Of 57:13

29d ago57:13

57:13

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe critique a YA submission and a literary coming-of-age horror. They discuss avoiding using repetitive language in a query; considering SEO when choosing a book title; the concept of 'scene work'; the need for disruption to occur in opening pages; matching word choice to genre when writing your que…

1
Episode 412: Leaving the Emotional Moments Unsaid with Lilly Dancyger 57:46

1M ago57:46

57:46

Lilly Dancyger (@lillydancyger) is a writer and editor whose latest book is First Love: Essays on Friendship (Dial Press). In this episode Lilly talks about her trepidation around writing a true-crime memoir, braided essays, book marketing, and when to let the emotion of the moment do the talking. Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: …

1
97 | Needing to know – Ashley discusses narrative drive 29:12

1M ago29:12

29:12

Throughout their careers, James and Ashley have each picked up some excellent writing tricks, plus developed a few of their own. Now, they’re each sharing a few of their most effective writing techniques (starting with episode 94 - James’ shortcut to compelling characters). In this episode, Ashley gives a mini-masterclass on narrative drive and sha…

1
Insights from Publishing Phenomenon, Veronica Roth 53:40

1M ago53:40

53:40

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe critique a literary fiction query and a high concept YA fantasy query. They discuss the necessity of being specific with plot details and your protagonists' motivations in your query; honing in on world-building when your novel takes place in a reality that's different from ours; the issue with n…

1
Episode 411: The Heart Part and Big Dreams with Isa Adney 1:15:27

1M ago1:15:27

1:15:27

Isa Adney (@isaadney) is a writer and documentary producer and the author of The Little Book of Big Dreams: True Stories About People Who Followed a Spark (She Writes Press). Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Social: @creativenonfiction podcast on IG and Threads Support: Patreon.com/cnfpod…

1
#260 – Diving Deep into Creativity with Comedy Specials, Rap Battles and Action-Packed Movies 47:50

1M ago47:50

47:50

Welcome to Episode 260 of Spun Today, I’m your host Tony. In today’s episode, we dive into a mix of humor, culture, and personal challenge. We’ll kick things off with comedian Brian Simpson’s controversial yet comical takes from his Netflix special "Live from the Mothership", where no topic is off-limits, from C0VID to the quirks of political affil…

1
Rewriting Instead of Giving Up 1:09:05

1M ago1:09:05

1:09:05

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe are joined by Paige to discuss her query for her action-adventure romance novel. They discuss the importance of spelling out your protagonist's motivation in your query; the need for story-forward plot escalation; accurately positioning your novel’s genre; making an agent's job easier by picking …

1
Episode 410: Brian Fairbanks and "The Last Shall be First" 1:19:22

2M ago1:19:22

1:19:22

Brian Fairbanks is an author and journalist whose piece for the 150th issue of the Atavist Magazine, The Last Shall be First, chronicles the actions of a corrupt New Orleans cop and his trail of victims still crying for justice. Newsletter: Rage Against the Algorithm Show notes: brendanomeara.com Social: @creativenonfiction podcast on IG and Thread…

1
Metaphor and Meaning in Memoir 1:22:51

2M ago1:22:51

1:22:51

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe are joined by two guests, author Rachel Kapelke-Dale and her agent, Sarah Phair. They discuss ensuring your comps align with each other and with your work; making sure your query is representative of your whole novel and not just one part; using your author bio to help show why you're the one to …

1
April Bonus Episode: Writing Without a Pricetag 1:11:31

2M ago1:11:31

1:11:31

In this month’s bonus episode, Bianca interviews poet, novelist, and Chair of the Amherst Writers (AWA), Sue Reynolds. They discuss the AWA workshop method and how it differs from other workshops; what occurs in an AWA workshop; the importance of giving writers a safe and encouraging space to share their work; the concept of strength-based feedback…

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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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…

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