5 Podcasts for Writers

I listen to podcasts while I walk the dog, make dinner, and clean the house. Here are five about writing that you might enjoy*:

Narrative Breakdown – “The craft of creative writing, screenwriting, playwriting, children’s books, and literary fiction as discussed by Cheryl Klein and James Monohan. We share tips and techniques of interest to any writer, student, or fan of quality prose fiction, screenplays, plays, English literature, etc. Each episode, we analyze popular novels, movies, Broadway shows, television shows, short stories, and more. Featuring various expert guests as well as material from Cheryl Klein’s book ‘Second Sight’ and James’ app ‘The Storyometer.'” This is the first writing podcast I ever listened to. It inspired the novel revision class I taught a few years back. Every time I listen in, I need a pencil nearby.

Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach – “Writing Coach Ann Kroeker wants you to reach your writing goals and believes you’ll make significant progress (and have fun!) by being more curious, creative, and productive. She provides practical tips and motivation for writers at all stages, keeping episodes short and focused so writers only need a few minutes to collect ideas, inspiration, resources and recommendations to apply to their work.” I love these short snippets of encouragement (recordings run from five to ten minutes).

Hope*Writers – “You want your writing to help people and give hope, and we want to help YOU and give YOU hope! Maybe you’re a beginner stumped with questions about your next steps. Or you’ve been writing for a while but feel you need some clarity in why you write. Maybe you want help to live the life you’re encouraging others to live, without feeling like a phony. Or maybe you’re an author who’s been doing this for years but you long to see how other writers balance the business side of the writing life. Well, we fill every episode with encouragement, inspiration, and practical advice about the writing craft, business, and calling. Emily and Myquillyn have been writing online for nearly ten years. The four of us have published a total of seven books, several of them best sellers. We know what it’s like to feel stuck, aimless, and uninspired in our writing. And we want to help you skip the learning curve we’ve had to struggle through. With The HopeWriters Podcast you’re going to feel so far ahead of the game. You’re going to see your writing dreams more clearly than ever. You’re going to gain hope. And you’re going to have fun.” This faith-focused podcast is mainly geared toward non-fiction and doesn’t apply directly to what I do, but I still benefit from and enjoy listening in on the conversation.

Pub(lishing) Crawl – “We’re a group of authors and publishing professionals (formerly known as Let the Words Flow) who blog about all things reading, writing, books, and occasionally booze.” I enjoy the meaty part of this one — conversations on author careers, craft, revision, brand, queries, advances — but tune out when things turn toward discussions on what the hosts are currently reading. That’s the beauty of the podcast: You get to listen to what you want.

Magic Lessons – “Bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert returns for the second season of her hit podcast MAGIC LESSONS, ready to help another batch of aspiring artists overcome their fears and create more joyfully.” If you are a fan of Gilbert’s Big Magic or are someone who wrestles with fear in the creative process, this is worth the listen.

*All descriptions come from the podcasts themselves.