You get a podcast, and you get a podcast, and you get a podcast!
Are you an emerging writer just learning your craft? A writer ready to query agents with your completed novel? A voracious reader who loves a deep craft dive into books? A screenwriter? A would-be full-time novelist who’s currently doing whatever it takes to pay the bills and support your writing habit?
No matter where you are in your writing journey, I’ve got a podcast for you!
Make That Paper
Unless you’re one of the 17 writers able to support themselves entirely by writing, you’re working a day job or a side hustle to keep the dream alive. Make That Paper! podcast is for you. Hosts are husband and wife Jason Beeber and Jaime Parker Stickle; they are actors and writers, so they get it. Guests include creative types all across the spectrum of the arts. Recent guests including writers, actors, directors, photographers, comedians, voice-over artists, and puppeteers. They talk about the jobs they had (or still have) to earn a living while pursuing a passion that doesn’t quite pay the bills. I’m a writer who has always had to work a day job and pursue side hustles. This podcast lowers my stress levels by making me laugh, motivates me to keep pushing, and puts it all into perspective. 77 delightful episodes and counting.
P.S. Writers, start making that list of all your old jobs, the weirder the better, for the day when you’re a guest on the show.
Podcast Description: “The show that talks about all those side-hustles, survival jobs, day gigs we do as artists to support the dream. Check out the article Voyage LA did on our show! http://voyagela.com/interview/conversations-jaime-parker-stickle-jason-beeber/ Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/makethatpaperpodcast/support”
The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
The Shit No One Tells You About Writing (TSNOTYAW) is perhaps the most helpful podcast out there for writers. Bestselling author and podcast host Bianca Marais has been there, and she generously shares the things she’s learned along the way. The podcast often features guests–a recent episode included guests Jennie Nash, the CEO of Author Accelerator (the book coaching certification program I completed) discussing writing helps and the book coaching profession; bookshop owner Emilie Sommer discussing comp titles; and author Amy Tector discussing the writing life. Bianca is often joined by rock star literary agents Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra of P.S. Literary Agency, who live-evaluate pitch packages submitted by listeners and offer suggestions for improvement. 176 episodes and still going strong.
Podcast description: “This is a podcast for emerging writers who want to improve the quality of their work and learn more about the publishing industry. Your one host, Bianca Marais (the bestselling author of The Witches of Moonshyne Manor) interviews authors, agents, editors and just about anyone and everyone who’s involved in bringing a book to market. She’s joined by her cohosts, literary agents Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra from P.S. Literary Agency, who read and critique query letters as well as opening pages in their Books with Hooks segment. Expect good advice, honest insights, and a few laughs along the way.”
Literary Disco
Good writers are good readers, and the hosts of Literary Disco, “the last book club you’ll ever need,” are the best of both. Bestselling novelist Tod Goldberg, essayist Julia Pistell, and filmmaker Rider Strong have all the writing bases covered. The three met in grad school, and they have the kind of chemistry only longtime friends can have. Come for the fun banter and stay for the insights into craft. Recent episodes include interviews with authors like George Saunders and genre discussions. Book dives run the spectrum from classics like East of Eden, childhood favorites like The Baby-Sitters Club, and contemporary fiction like Circe. The podcast is currently on hiatus, but the good news is there are 207 episodes to tide you over until their return.
Podcast Description: “Writers talk about reading. Hosted by Tod Goldberg, Julia Pistell, and Rider Strong.”
Master Fiction Writing
You know how you stumble onto a podcast you love so much you want to listen to every episode, but you’re already 367 episodes behind? This is your chance to get in on the ground floor, writers. Fellow book coach Stuart Wakefield’s recently launched podcast Master Fiction Writing is only 8 episodes in. Stuart covers craft and the writing life, and his voice is a dream. The episodes are a manageable 10 to 20 minutes long. I cannot believe how much information Stuart packs into each episode, from deep dives into genre to beating imposter syndrome. A recent episode not only gives us easy-to-understand examples of various nontraditional novel structures, but also ends up gifting us with a meaty lesson on the revision process. 8 groundbreaking episodes and well-positioned to take on the world!
Podcast Description: “Hi, I’m Stuart Wakefield, certified book coach and writer. With 26 years in theatre, broadcast media, and coaching under my belt, I know what makes stories work, and I want to share that with you because the world of storytelling is like the ocean: deep, mysterious, and a little scary to those who don’t know how to navigate it. And with so much left to luck and timing, it’s my life’s mission to give great books the best chance of getting into readers’ hands. I’m an Author Accelerator Certified book coach and was recognised as one of the top book coaches by Coach Foundation: https://coachfoundation.com/blog/top-book-coaches/ You can find my website at https://www.thebookcoach.co/”
Scriptnotes
Confession: Scriptnotes is my screenwriting school. Every screenwriter I know told me to listen to this podcast if I want to learn about screenwriting. So I grabbed a blank notebook, labeled it “Leanne Learns Screenwriting,” and started with episode 1. Hosts are veteran screenwriters John August (Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride) and Craig Mazin (The Last of Us, Identity Thief, The Hangover II and III). This podcast is a must in the toolbox of any screenwriter, but I’ve also learned so much I now apply to my prose writing and my writing career in general. The 20 most recent episodes are available for free, but you can go to their website and subscribe for $4.99 a month to access all the earlier episodes. Dear writers, it’s the cheapest screenwriting school you’ll ever find.
Podcast Description: “Screenwriters John August and Craig Mazin discuss screenwriting and related topics in the film and television industry, everything from getting stuff written to the vagaries of copyright and work-for-hire law.”