Some of my writing buddies have been struggling to find the words lately. I’m no different. There are days I sit at my desk and stare at a blank page and wonder why I am even bothering to get up. Seriously, I could be sleeping right now. I never get enough sleep.
However, there are also days that I plunge my mind into other things besides working for someone else and wrestling with the words on the page. Sometimes, I like to immerse myself in other creative activities such as sketching, painting, and photography. Sometimes, I create colourful quilts and blankets from scraps of material found in a material bin. Sometimes I spend hours designing a new baby blanket (because who wants to use someone else’s pattern). And, sometimes, I bake cookies, experiment without a recipe, and eat every last one of them.
The thing is, I have found a way to get my writing mojo back during these other creative moments in my life. I’ve been multi-tasking.
I’ve discovered audiobooks are great, but they put my mind in other people’s stories, not mine. In order to think about writing my stories, I’ve been listening to podcasts, ones specifically for writers that are so engaging that it has turned me into a BINGER! I have become a person who exhibits excessive or uncontrolled indulgence in podcasts—a podcast binger who often listens to four podcasts in one single day.
But, why? How could they be that good?
All of the podcasts listed below are so inspiring for writers. You start listening to other authors explain how they balance their family life with their writing life, what time of day works better for them, or how they came up with such brilliant story ideas. I love hearing how my favourite authors churn out bestsellers after another.
Whether these podcasts will help you improve your craft or help you understand how other people are making a living doing the one thing you are passionate about and dream about doing yourself. I should warn you that you have hours of binge-worthy episodes waiting for you.
Here are a few of my absolute favourite writing podcasts:
“The Shit No One Tells You About Writing” with Bianca Marais.
This podcast has a segment called “Books and Hooks” featuring two Literary Agents as cohosts: Carly Watters and Cecilia Lyra. Writers are encouraged to send in a query letter and the first five pages of their manuscript. They discuss what the writer did well, what the agents were confused about, and suggest what the writer could do to improve it. I have listed some examples of their podcasts to try, but you can find hundreds to choose from on their website. Following the Books and Hooks, Bianca interviews an author about a specific topic such as:
- Plotting Outlining and Structuring Your Novel with Hannah Mary McKinnon.
- What Goes Into Overnight Success & Mastering Pacing with Heather Chavez.
- Why Writing is a Marathon with Marissa Stapley.
- Genre Tropes and Conventions with Uzma Jalaluddin.
How Writers Write hosted by Brian Murphy
How Writers Write is a podcast for creative writers to learn how their favorite writers tell their stories. The podcast’s host, Brian Murphy, interviews world-class writers to decode their tips, routines, and motivations for producing bestsellers.
- Episode 81: How Tess Gerritsen writes.
- Episode 77: How Linwood Barclay writes.
- Episode 73: How Anjali Enjeti writes.
- Episode 57: How Sabaa Tahir writes.
The Crew Reviews Podcast
- Episode 83: Interview with Author Don Bentley
- Episode 72: Author Interview with Hank Phillippi Ryan
- Episode 66: Author Interview with Nick Petrie
- Episode 59: Author Interview with Michael Connelly
- Episode 45: Interview with Ryan Steck (aka “The Real Book Spy”)
- Episode 34: Author Interview with Jennifer Hillier
Thriller Talk Podcast with K.J. Howe and Ryan Steck (YouTube Channel)
- Episode 18: Interview with Andrews and Wilson
- Episode 15: Author Interview with J.T. Ellison
- Episode 10: Author Interview with Chris Haughty
- Episode 7: Author Interview with Lisa Gardner
The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience with Kelton Reid
- How Bestselling Crime Novelist Walter Mosley writes.
- How NY Times Bestselling Author Lisa Scottoline writes.
- How to Research Historical Fiction with Patrick Hicks.
- How to Submit Your Short Story to Literary Magazines.
The Creative Penn Podcast: Writing, Publishing, Book Marketing, Making A Living With Your Writing with Joanna Penn
- Crime Writing and Tips On Getting An Agent With Sam Blake.
- Writing Supernatural Themes and Fight Scenes With Dark Fantasy Author Alan Baxter.
- Lauren Roche on Writing As Therapy and her Inspirational Memoir.
The Writer’s Digest Podcast with Gabriela Pereira:
- Episode 12: Writing for the Screen and the Page with Doug Richardson.
- Episode 7: Ask the Agent — Interview with Barbara Poelle.
- Episode 2: Business Strategy for Writers — Interview with James Scott Bell.
If podcasts are not for you:
If you have tried listening to podcasts and they are not lighting a fire under your butt, then perhaps you should try listening to author interviews. Live events are happening across the globe almost every single night. Most of these events can be listened to while you lounge in the bathtub, eating cookies (meaning your face will not be on ZOOM camera). This is always a plus because no one needs to comb their hair during a pandemic if they don’t want to.
Live Events (Live Facebook or Instagram Events):
Murder By The Books ~ Live Author Interviews via Facebook Live
Anderson’s Bookstore ~ Live Author Interviews via Facebook Live
Genre Masters ~ Live Interview via ZOOM
Day Drinking with Authors with Molly Fader~ Live Interviews via Facebook
First Chapter Fun with Hannah Mary McKinnon and Hank Phillippi Ryan
*NOTE: Many live interviews are archived online after the event and are available to listen to at any time.
Last Words:
After binging on a few podcasts or author interviews, I am positive you will be inspired and motivated to write your own words down on the page. There is no stopping you now. Get to it. Just put your butt in the chair and write all the words. I can’t wait to read them.
Thank you so much for this, Lori. Living, practically alone–hubby is wrapped up in work and gone most of the time–I have focused my entire life around writing, studying the masters, attempting to self publish a second novel, and …more writing. I need to get back to baking cookies and quilting and walking on the beach if for no other reason than to ‘reset’.
So, I will need all your podcast suggestions to help me move away for a while and yet not give up the writing totally.
Thank you for reading the blog, Jeanette. I love to hear from you. Depending on where you are on your writing journey, you will gravitate to certain podcasts that will motivate you and inspire you to continue with your writing. However, you just launched your second book! Congratulations! It sounds like you don’t need any motivation at all. Keep writing… and I’ll keep being jealous of you being able to write at the beach every single day. Hope to see you soon. Hugs!