The Merry Writer podcast

25:30

EPISODE SHOW NOTES Yes, we're back talking about author websites again! This time, we're discussing plugins you can add to improve your author website and make it more unique and easier for you to maintain. In this episode, we cover: What plugins are and where you can get them Cost of plugins 6 useful plugins you can use As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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Should AI Be Used In The Writing Industry? | Ep. 269 | The Merry Writer Podcast 1:08:57

7 days ago1:08:57

1:08:57

EPISODE SHOW NOTES We did it, we finally took the plunge and recorded an episode about AI. Is it ranty? Yes. Do we tangent all over the place? Also yes. Is it painfully long? Yes. We do still open some of you, give it a listen. Also, if you are a published author and have not checked already, please visit the Atlantic Link below and check to see if your novels were pirated and then used to train AI. In this episode, we cover: Generative and Assistive AI The dark side of AI (outside of the writing industry) Bad indicators AI Scraping Was your book stolen? Why skill development is important Our overall thoughts on AI As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! Sources and links: - The Atlantic (CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR BOOK WAS STOLEN) - Authors Guild - What Authors Need to Know - Futurism - Google AI scraping sites - Bloomberg - Google training AI even after sites opt out - National Library of Medicine - Alzheimers Research UK - Dementia cases triple - BBC News: Call for Ban on AI apps creating n*ked images of children - Care.Org: 8 in 10 Brits ban back on AI N*dify - CNN: Meta scrambles to delete its own AI accounts after backlash intensifies DISCLAIMER EXAMPLE © [AuthorName]. All Rights to the works and publications on this blog are owned and copyrighted by [AuthorName] or their respective owners in the case of guest posters. The Owner of this site reserves all permissions for access and use of all documents on this site. NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and the development of machine learning language models. WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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Should Authors Be On AllAuthor? | Ep. 268 | The Merry Writer Podcast 41:13

14 days ago41:13

41:13

EPISODE SHOW NOTES AllAuthor is a platform that's well known by some, but others have never heard of it. Rachel checked it out and discussed her findings with Ari to see if it's really worth it for authors be on. This week, we dissect the free account version of AllAuthor. In this episode, we cover: What AllAuthor is and what you can do there Paid vs. free plan Featuring your book and more! As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! Episodes referred to: 252 - What Book Platforms Can Authors Be On? 94 - What Are Some Tips For Launching A Debut Book? (with Cassie Sanchez) WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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Who Is Jeremy Russell? | Ep. 267 | The Merry Writer Podcast 51:22

21 days ago51:22

51:22

EPISODE SHOW NOTES Today, we are joined by Writer Jeremy Russell again. Last time Jeremy was on the podcast, he shared his insights regarding how writers with ADHD can stay motivated. Now he's back for our newly introduced interview style. In this episode, we cover: His writing processes and writing style Writing by hand Favourite character and more! As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! ABOUT JEREMY Jeremy Russell writes Middle-Grade fiction for people who like an anxiously cozy and dangerously fun paranormal adventure. He is not an award-nominated author, nor has he been on the New York Times best-selling author list…yet. He is a husband, a father, a shipbuilder, an artist, a collector of nostalgic toys from his childhood and full-time beard grower. Instagram WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy, Kris & Jackie Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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Which Draft Is The Hardest To Write? | Ep. 266 | The Merry Writer Podcast 16:09

28 days ago16:09

16:09

EPISODE SHOW NOTES Writing one book takes multiple drafts throughout the process. Some of those drafts are easier than others, so this week’s we’re talking about the draft that usually hardest for us. In this episode, we cover: Rachel’s hardest draft to write Ari’s hardest draft to write Our easiest drafts As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy & Kris Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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Should You Do A Kickstarter? | Ep. 265 | The Merry Writer Podcast 31:20

5 weeks ago31:20

31:20

EPISODE SHOW NOTES Need to raise funds to get your book off the ground? Have you considered using Kickstarter? Well, in today's episode, we are going to be discussing a few things you might want to think about before making that decision. What we cover: What is Kickstarter Why Kickstarter Audience Size Expenses Extras Money-to-work ratio Track your campaign As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy & Kris Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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How Do You Decide On A Book Title? | Ep. 264 | The Merry Writer Podcast 18:23

6 weeks ago18:23

18:23

EPISODE SHOW NOTES There are many difficult parts to writing and sometimes that includes coming up with a title for your book. It sounds simple, but it’s not always. This week, we’re sharing ideas to come up with great titles for your books. In this episode, we cover: The purpose of a book title Thinking about genre Thinking about the book’s main theme and more! As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy & Kris Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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Who Is Amanda Blake? | Ep. 263 | The Merry Writer Podcast 58:01

7 weeks ago58:01

58:01

EPISODE SHOW NOTES Today, we are joined by Author Amanda Blake for our newly introduced interview style. In this episode, we cover: Their processes and writing style What their favourite things to write are Publishing journey and more! As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! ABOUT AMANDA A mass of tentacles and rose vines masquerading as a person, Amanda M. Blake is the author of such horror titles as QUESTION NOT MY SALT, DEEP DOWN, and OUT OF CURIOSITY AND HUNGER, dark poetry collection DEAD ENDS, and the Thorns fairy tale mash-up series. Website | Facebook | Threads WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy & Kris Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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What New Things Have We Learnt Running A Podcast? | Ep. 262 | The Merry Writer Podcast 43:06

8 weeks ago43:06

43:06

We're celebrating FIVE YEARS of The Merry Writer Podcast! Crazy, right? We asked what you guys wanted to see for our fifth-year anniversary and you chose for us to talk about all the things we've learned from podcasting in these five years. In this episode, we discuss: How podcasting is a part-time job The importance of consistency and knowing our equipment Working well with your co-hosts Networking and more! As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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What Do You Wish You Were Better At As A Writer? | Ep. 261 | The Merry Writer Podcast 23:44

9 weeks ago23:44

23:44

EPISODE SHOW NOTES Join us on the podcast today, as we discuss things we wish we were better at as writers. And stick around for the random tangents we seem to find ourselves drifting into. :) As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy & Kris Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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How Important Is Hands-On Research? | Ep. 260 | The Merry Writer Podcast 22:44

10 weeks ago22:44

22:44

EPISODE SHOW NOTES We all know what research is, but how often do you go out into the world and get the experience your characters get? Hands-on research is great, which is why we’re discussing it this week. In this episode, we cover: What hands-on research is Taking classes Interviewing people Train/study the profession yourself and more! As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy & Kris Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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What Do You Need To Consider When Creating Book Covers? | Ep. 259 | The Merry Writer Podcast 29:24

11 weeks ago29:24

29:24

EPISODE SHOW NOTES A well-made book cover is (in our opinion) the single most important marketing tool for your book. So what do you need to think about when getting a cover created? That's what we are breaking down in today's episode. Things we cover: - What to include in a brief (for the designer) - Research - Target audience - Titles & author-name - Pre-made covers RESOURCE - 99Designs As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy, Kris & Jackie Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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Who Is Dr. Marie-Helene Pelletier? | Ep. 258 | The Merry Writer Podcast 43:21

12 weeks ago43:21

43:21

EPISODE SHOW NOTES Welcome to the first official guest episode of 2025! This week, Ari and Rachel invite Dr. MH Pelletier to a show to discuss her work on her book, The Resilience Plan. In this episode, we cover: What inspired MH to write this book What her writing process was like Researching for books and more! As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! About Dr. MH Pelletier Throughout her career in business management and psychology, Dr. Pelletier has spearheaded a dialogue on the crucial issues of leadership resilience and workplace health. Drawing on her extensive background in corporate, insurance, governance and public sectors, she brings national and international perspectives and expertise on mental health and resilience as a key pillar of overall health. She is a bilingual practicing psychologist with over 20 years of experience in clinical psychology and advisory workplace psychology and holds a Ph.D. and an MBA from the University of British Columbia. Marie-Helene is a Member of the Global Clinical Practice Network of the World Health Organization, and past Director on the boards of the Canadian Psychological Association and the International Association of Applied Psychology. She has presented, authored and co-authored a number of industry and academic publications and has won numerous academic and industry awards. In 2024, Dr. Pelletier will release her new book, The Resilience Plan: A Strategic Approach to Optimizing Your Work Performance and Mental Health. Website | LinkedIn Buy The Resilience Plan Amazon | Barnes & Noble | !ndigo WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy, Kris & Jackie Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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What Are The Risks With Sending Out ARCs? | Ep. 257 | The Merry Writer Podcast 23:24

13 weeks ago23:24

23:24

EPISODE SHOW NOTES If you are planning to be an indie author, you may very well want to send out ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) but what are some of the risks with these? In this episode, we cover: Piracy Non-completion Methods to combat these Link regarding Stephanie Meyer's leaked manuscript As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you still feel like you’re a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks To Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy, Kris & Jackie Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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How Many Hats Do Indie Authors Wear? | Ep. 256 | The Merry Writer Podcast 22:29

14 weeks ago22:29

22:29

EPISODE SHOW NOTES As an author, about how many tasks do you do for one book? How much do you do in a week? In a day? This week, we’re talking about how authors aren’t just “writers.” We’re much more than that. In this episode, we cover: The act of writing Learning and improving Marketing Business As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy, Kris & Jackie Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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Do You Need Author Insurance? | Ep. 255 | The Merry Writer Podcast 17:39

15 weeks ago17:39

17:39

EPISODE SHOW NOTES Today we are talking about Author's Insurance... which some of you may not even realise is actually a thing (yup, it is!) and all that goes along with it. In this episode we cover: - Why you might need it - What insurance can protect against - Risks to fiction and non-fiction writers - Commerical licenses - A quick note about traditional publishing As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy, Kris & Jackie Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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Who Is Ari Meghlen? (2.0) | Ep. 254 | The Merry Writer Podcast 40:33

16 weeks ago40:33

40:33

EPISODE SHOW NOTES The Merry Writer Podcast is trying a new format for guest episodes! Since we haven’t talked about ourselves in a while, we decided to be our own guinea pigs. This week, Rachel interviews Ari about her author career and books! In this episode, we cover: How Ari got into writing What her writing process is like Her writing goals and more! As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! ABOUT ARI MEGHLEN Ari is a fantasy author, blogger, podcaster, and small business owner. Born in England, she escaped the dull, wet landscape of her home by creating wild and wonderful worlds deep in her imagination which she still enjoys exploring to this day. When she’s not writing stories, recording podcasts or grappling with business paperwork, she creates jewellry and artwork, walks in nature, buys more books for her TBR pile and “re-arranges” her office… again. Website | Instagram | LinkTree WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy & Kris Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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How Do You Make Writer Friends? | Ep. 253 | The Merry Writer Podcast 25:00

17 weeks ago25:00

25:00

Writing is considered quite an isolated endeavour. If you are new to writing, it can help to connect with other writers, to share your woes and your wins. But how do you make writer friends? That's what we are talking about in today's episode! In this episode, we cover: Finding Friends Making Friends Do's and Don'ts Etiquette What the most important parts are As always, thank you for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, like the video, and subscribe to the channel if you're not already! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you still feel like you’re a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy & Kris Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

1
What Book Platforms Can Authors Be On? | Ep. 252 | The Merry Writer Podcast 19:29

18 weeks ago19:29

19:29

EPISODE SHOW NOTES Authors are meant to be present in many places on the internet, but did you know there are some platforms you don’t necessarily have to be on but can still add your book? This week, we’re discussing some of those places. In this episode, we cover: Goodreads BookBub Book Sirens AllAuthor As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy & Kris Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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Who Is Rachel Poli (2.0)? | Ep. 251 | The Merry Writer Podcast 36:18

19 weeks ago36:18

36:18

EPISODE SHOW NOTES We are changing things up with how we run guest episodes and to see if the new format is going to work, we decided we would use ourselves as guinea pigs. So in this episode, I am interviewing Rachel about her work, her book, her processes and more. As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! ABOUT RACHEL POLI Rachel Poli is a cozy mystery and paranormal author, writing short stories, novels, and the occasional flash fiction piece. Her work explores the obscurities of life through themes of love, loss, and mental health. These stories unleash genuine emotion that will leave you with deep thoughts. In her spare time, she's usually organizing something or playing video games with a coffee in hand. She lives in New England with her zoo. Website | Instagram | Amazon WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy & Kris Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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Would You Rather: Podcast Edition | Ep. 250 | The Merry Writer Podcast 22:30

20 weeks ago22:30

22:30

EPISODE SHOW NOTES It’s been a while since we’ve done a Would You Rather episode! So, for this week’s episode, and for another milestone, we’re doing a podcast edition of Would You Rather. Enjoy! As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy & Kris Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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What Colors Do You Associate With Writing? | Ep. 249 | The Merry Writer Podcast 19:40

21 weeks ago19:40

19:40

EPISODE SHOW NOTES It's the start of a new year and we decided to do something silly and fun. So we are discussing what colours we associate with our writing. In this episode, we cover: Ari's colour association with her writing process Rachel's colour association with her writing process Slight disagreement Ari's colour association with her specific projects Hearty discussion about the colour yellow Rachel's colour association with her specific projects Rude behaviour from Rachel during the outro :p As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you still feel like you’re a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting it at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks To Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy & Kris Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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What Changes Are Happening For The Podcast In 2025? | Ep. 248 | The Merry Writer Podcast 18:10

22 weeks ago18:10

18:10

EPISODE SHOW NOTES It's the last episode of 2024! This week, we're talking about all the new and exciting updates that are coming to the podcast in 2025. Thanks for your support of the year and we wish you a Happy New Year and a Happy Holiday! In this episode, we cover: Changes from 2024 New guest format in 2025 The podcast turns 5-years-old in 2025! As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you still feel like you’re a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy & Kris Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

1
How Can You Get Your Manuscript Finished? | Ep. 247 | The Merry Writer Podcast 22:46

23 weeks ago22:46

22:46

EPISODE SHOW NOTES Have you ever struggled to finish your manuscript? Do you have several writing projects languishing unfinished? Check out today's podcast episode where we share our experiences and advice on getting to the finish line. In this episode, we cover: Schedules Sacrifice Small time Deep in the minutiae Curb the Editor As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy & Kris Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

1
Which Is Stronger: The Beginning, Middle, Or End? | Ep. 246 | The Merry Writer Podcast 24:45

24 weeks ago24:45

24:45

EPISODE SHOW NOTES Writing a novel isn't easy; we all know that. But which part of your novel do you typically get stuck with? This week, we discuss our opinions about the beginning, middle, and ends of stories. In this episode, we cover: The purpose of enticing beginnings The purpose of the journey of middles The purpose of satisfying endings As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you still feel like you’re a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy & Kris Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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Should Authors Read Reviews Of Their Books? | Ep. 245 | The Merry Writer Podcast 17:26

25 weeks ago17:26

17:26

EPISODE SHOW NOTES To all you published authors, do you read reviews left for your books? Today, we share our own thoughts on this topic. In this episode, we cover: - Reviews are everywhere - Everyone has an opinion - Why authors should not read reviews - Why authors should read reviews - Needing tough skin As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy & Kris Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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What Is The Cozy Genre? | Ep. 244 | The Merry Writer Podcast 21:09

26 weeks ago21:09

21:09

EPISODE SHOW NOTES We've all heard of the cozy mystery genre, but did you know there's at least two more? One has been circling the reading community and the other... we haven't heard of before. In this episode, we cover: What the cozy genre is Cozy Mystery A trending cozy genre A cozy genre that may not be as well known As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you still feel like you’re a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy & Kris Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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Do You Track Your Writing Journey? | Ep. 243 | The Merry Writer Podcast 17:44

27 weeks ago17:44

17:44

EPISODE SHOW NOTES When writing a book, it can be fun to keep track of the journey along the way. In today's episode, we discuss ways to track it, what you might want to log and some benefits. What we covered in this episode: Recording the dates Different milestones Sharing the hurdles Accountability Useful data As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you still feel like you’re a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy & Kris Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

1
How Can You Use Scrivener To Write Your Novels? | Ep. 242 | The Merry Writer Podcast 25:29

28 weeks ago25:29

25:29

EPISODE SHOW NOTES It's no secret Ari and Rachel love using Scrivener for their creative writing projects. This week, they decide to dive into the software, gush about why they love it, and the cool features Scrivener offers. In this episode, we cover: What Scrivener is How Rachel uses it How Ari sets hers up Cool features it has Using it for non-writing You can check out Scrivener here. As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you still feel like you’re a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi, Jeremy & Kris Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0…

The Merry Writer Podcast

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What Is Some Bad Writing Advice? | Ep. 241 | The Merry Writer Podcast 24:58

29 weeks ago24:58