Best Amwriting Podcasts (2025)

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How Writers Play Small Without Even Realizing It (Ep 2) 7:59

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2d ago7:59

7:59

In this episode, Jennie digs into the sneaky ways writers “play small”—circling endlessly around an idea, polishing the same chapters, getting lost in research, or waiting for perfect timing instead of taking real action. With stories from her years as a book coach, including one writer who finally broke free from years of fear and went on to becom…

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247 Alis Hawkins & Emma Corfield Walters | Crime/Mystery Author alongside an Independent Bookshop Owner 31:47

1d ago31:47

31:47

Crime and mystery novelist, Alis Hawkins is here alongside her good friend Emma Corfield Walters who co-founded, owns and runs Book-ish, an independent bookshop in Crickhowell (and now also Abergavenny). We had a great chat about how Alis and Emma got to where they are and the value of booksellers and authors knowing each other on a personal level.…

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Shooting the Shit: About publishing’s ghosting problem and when sales are “not good” 28:25

3d ago28:25

28:25

It’s Fall in publishing — which means colds, caffeine, and chaos. Carly and CeCe catch up after a whirlwind few weeks to unpack two hot topics from listener DMs: what to do if your agent ghosts you, and what editors really mean when they say “sales aren’t good.” They also get into whether publishing is truly a “retail business,” how to handle AALA …

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The Roots Run Deep with CM Forest 16:05

2d ago16:05

16:05

C. M. Forest, also known as Christian Laforet, is the author of multiple projects including the 2023 Benjamin Franklin silver award winning novel Infested (Eerie River Publishing), and the novella, We All Fall Before the Harvest (Timber Ghost Press.) and the upcoming (Sept. 2024) short story collection, The Roots Run Deep and Other Stories (Eerie R…

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The Bold Shift That Changes Everything (Ep 1) 12:51

3d ago12:51

12:51

In this episode of the Write Big series, Jennie unpacks what it really means to “write big”—not chasing bestseller lists or movie deals, but making the bold internal shifts that bring your truest work to the page. Through stories of writers daring to name their ambition, rebuild drafts, honor personal truths, and even reimagine entire projects, Jen…

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The Bold Shift That Changes Everything (Ep 1) 12:50

3d ago12:50

12:50

In this episode of the Write Big series, Jennie unpacks what it really means to “write big”—not chasing bestseller lists or movie deals, but making the bold internal shifts that bring your truest work to the page. Through stories of writers daring to name their ambition, rebuild drafts, honor personal truths, and even reimagine entire projects, Jen…

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Episode 495: On Being Merciless with Peter Rubin of Longreads 1:09:15

4d ago1:09:15

1:09:15

"When I came in [to Longreads], I didn't come in and say, I think we need to grow aggressively. I said, 'Let's figure out who we are. Let's figure out what other people aren't doing, that we do , and that we can do better.' And so the only real thing that changed when I first came in was to try to make the editors known quantities," says Peter Rubi…

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470: Write Big: Welcome to the Write Big Sessions (Ep 0) 8:27

4d ago8:27

8:27

Jennie kicks off the new Write Big series with a conversation about what it really means to stop playing small in your writing life. If you’ve ever felt the tug to bring more of yourself to the page—or wondered why your words aren’t landing the way you want—this episode will spark reflection and give you permission to choose courage, clarity, and c…

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Write Big: Welcome to the Write Big Sessions (Ep 0) 8:28

4d ago8:28

8:28

Jennie kicks off the new Write Big series with a conversation about what it really means to stop playing small in your writing life. If you’ve ever felt the tug to bring more of yourself to the page—or wondered why your words aren’t landing the way you want—this episode will spark reflection and give you permission to choose courage, clarity, and c…

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Balancing Emotional Depth and Action In Your Story 44:38

5d ago44:38

44:38

In this episode of Books with Hooks, author Judith Jaeger puts her query letter for ‘The Family We Choose’ in the spotlight. Carly and CeCe dig into what makes a query stand out—clear plot points, layered characters, and that all-important balance between heart and momentum.They offer practical feedback on sharpening present-day stakes and tighteni…

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246 Becky Thomas | Literary Agent and Founder of Lewinsohn Literary Agency 23:14

8d ago23:14

23:14

Literary agent, Becky Thomas is here, talking about how she became a literary agent, her experiences in the industry and founding her own agency. We also get into lots of advice for querying agents and some of the early impacts of AI on publishing. Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. …

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Shooting the Shit: About digital first book deals and negative experiences with writers' contests. 34:25

10d ago34:25

34:25

In this episode, Carly and CeCe spill all on their latest conference adventures, dive into the fast-changing world of digital-first publishing, and tackle the tricky art of managing client expectations. They get real about ethics in the industry, read some juicy listener DMs, and share why communication is everything in this competitive publishing …

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Episode 494: Co-Writing a Memoir, Becoming a Publisher, and Finding the Passion with Jeremy X. Wagner 1:17:34

12d ago1:17:34

1:17:34

"As a reader, if I were a fan reading this book, I want the good, the bad and the ugly. I want you to rip the band aid off and tell the truth. Because, from my from my experience, I've read a lot of memoirs that are super boring and just fluff," says Jeremy X. Wagner, co-author of Curtis Duffy's Fireproof: Memoir of a Chef (Dead Sky Publishing). We…

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On Interviewing Kids 37:33

12d ago37:33

37:33

Kate Rope’s new book, Strong as a Girl is not only well-written and thoroughly researched, it includes the voices of so many girls and young women. In this week’s episode, Jess talks with Kate about how she managed to secure interviews with these girls, get permission to use their voices, and manage the paperwork around all those releases. Find Kat…

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469: On Interviewing Kids 37:33

11d ago37:33

37:33

Kate Rope’s new book, Strong as a Girl is not only well-written and thoroughly researched, it includes the voices of so many girls and young women. In this week’s episode, Jess talks with Kate about how she managed to secure interviews with these girls, get permission to use their voices, and manage the paperwork around all those releases. Find Kat…

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Insights from Marjan Kamali and Kirsten Miller 1:11:39

12d ago1:11:39

1:11:39

Today’s author interview episode features two interviews! The first is with Kirsten Miller, author of The Women of Wild Hill, and the second is with Marjan Kamali, the NYT bestselling author of The Lion Women of Tehran. First up, Bianca chats with Kirsten as they delve into how fury can fuel your writing, ensuring that you keep going when staring d…

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245 Sarah Beth Durst | Bestselling Fantasy Author 29:05

15d ago29:05

29:05

Fantasy author Sarah Beth Durst swings by to chat about her latest cosy fantasy novel, writing fantasy across all of its different sub-genres and age groups as well as the long and winding roads of publishing. Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏 For audio listeners: Spotify Apple Am…

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Shooting the Shit About External Publicity, Publishing in the age of Kickstarter, and the alleged gambling problem 46:05

17d ago46:05

46:05

They’re back! Carly and CeCe are talking about all things publishing — the chaos, the business, and the fun. This week they dive into: When (and why) to hire a publicist What it really takes to make it as an agent How Ali Hazelwood & Adriana Herrera raised $1M on Kickstarter Lauren Martin’s viral Porsche essay and women owning their power Why publi…

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Episode 493: Masha Hamilton Asks Is the Writing Worth Rearranging Your Calendar For? 1:18:16

19d ago1:18:16

1:18:16

"This has to be meaningful to you. It has to be a story that won't leave you alone, a story that you're willing to rearrange your calendar for," says Masha Hamilton, whose Atavist Magazine story is titled "I've Gone to Look for America." Today we have Masha Hamilton, a journalist, a novelist, a fan of the show, a fan of Pitch Club. You’ll want to v…

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The Scammer's Guide to Writers 30:08

19d ago30:08

30:08

THE SCAMS. They’re getting wilder and wilder, and harder and harder to spot up front or even before you hand over the cash, if the scammer is faking a service you’d have to pay for. We’re all getting these endlessly in non-writing life too, the ticket you didn’t get, the recruiter who isn’t one… I had a friend get a VERY real one that looked like i…

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468: The Scammer's Guide to Writers 30:07

18d ago30:07

30:07

THE SCAMS. They’re getting wilder and wilder, and harder and harder to spot up front or even before you hand over the cash, if the scammer is faking a service you’d have to pay for. We’re all getting these endlessly in non-writing life too, the ticket you didn’t get, the recruiter who isn’t one… I had a friend get a VERY real one that looked like i…

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Untangling Complex Queries: Writing with Clarity Across Timelines 38:03

19d ago38:03

38:03

In this episode of Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe break down a speculative query that juggles multiple timelines and POVs. They explore the craft challenges of pitching complex narratives, from maintaining clarity to grounding readers in emotional depth. The discussion digs into how to use (or avoid) prologues, strategies for balancing ambition w…

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244 Leeanne Slade | Audible's Best of the Year 2023 & 2024 Romance Author 30:51

22d ago30:51

30:51

Romance author, Leeanne Slade joins us this week to chat about her fourth novel, burnt toast theory and embracing her unexpected and amazing publishing journey as an audiobook first author. Find out more about IngramSpark: www.ingramspark.com/learnmore Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone el…

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September Bonus Episode 1:06:19

22d ago1:06:19

1:06:19

It’s bonus episode time! We’re thrilled to welcome back Emilie Sommer for her popular comps segment. But first, Bianca sits down with bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan to talk about her latest thriller, ‘All This Could Be Yours’. They dive into the realities of book tours, the challenges writers face in the spotlight, and the layered psycholog…

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Episode 492: The Host Becomes the Hosted — Brendan O'Meara in conversation with Daniel Littlewood 52:01

25d ago52:01

52:01

"My editor was like, hold on, you need to put your thumb on the scale of why this matters. Now, there's no first person in this, but you have your thumb on the scale, you need to assert your own point of view. Like, this matters, why? says Brendan O'Meara, author of The Front Runner: The Life of Steve Prefontaine Mariner Books. Who the heck does th…

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When You’ve Written the Right Scene in the Wrong Place 21:57

26d ago21:57

21:57

Here’s this week’s episode, which we accidentally tucked behind the paywall in the first send. Friday #AmWriting is always free—but if you’re already a paid sub, thanks! And if not… maybe now’s the time? Every draft gets messy. Characters show up too early, reveals happen too late, and suddenly nothing’s where it “should” be. In this episode, Jenni…

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467: When You’ve Written the Right Scene in the Wrong Place 21:57

25d ago21:57

21:57

Every draft gets messy. Characters show up too early, reveals happen too late, and suddenly nothing’s where it “should” be. In this episode, Jennie and KJ talk how to tackle the chaos and keep your words flowing. Episode is free for all and romping through podplayers everywhere. Transcript is below—for paid subscribers only (because they cost $$ to…

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Plausibility: Serendipity and Kismet vs. Coincidence 32:05

26d ago32:05

32:05

Bestselling author Bianca Marais sits down with New York Times bestselling author of multiple novels, Marissa Stapley (writing as Julia McKay) to unwrap the magic behind her latest novel, ‘Christmas at the Ranch.’ From swoony romance and second chances to the inspiration that fueled the story, Marissa pulls back the curtain on her writing process. …

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243 Lucy Jane Wood | Cosy Fantasy Author and YouTube Vlogger 34:26

1M ago34:26

34:26

Cosy fantasy author and YouTube vlogger, Lucy Jane Wood is here. Tune in to hear about the amazing tale of how a vlog about a trip she did to New York ended up landing her a publishing deal! Find out more about IngramSpark: www.ingramspark.com/learnmore Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone e…

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Shooting the Shit Live From New York! 29:22

29d ago29:22

29:22

Fresh off the People of Publishing Conference in NYC, Carly and CeCe spill all the tea! From why newsletters are hotter than ever, to the high-stakes drama of book auctions, to the buzz around the creator economy—they’ve got stories, laughs, and insider tips you won’t want to miss. Networking, publishing, and plenty of laughs: this episode has it a…

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Episode 491: How Tracy Slater Broke Her Book into Steps 1:13:31

1M ago1:13:31

1:13:31

"Writing a book is so overwhelming. I need to have a book that's like so many steps in between. So what I do to manage my own anxiety and overwhelm about that is I'm really, really obsessed with breaking everything into little steps so that all I need to do is the next step and then I don't get overwhelmed," says Tracy Slater, author of Together in…

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Episode 490: Seeing the Fish and the Tank with Jeff Chang 1:16:30

1M ago1:16:30

1:16:30

"When I got back to [writing], it was like an athlete or a martial artist coming back to the practice, and the endorphins start running back. And you remember the joy that you had in it, also the struggles of it, but you're back in it, and then I couldn't be stopped," says Jeff Chang, author of Water, Mirror, Echo. Today we have Jeff Chang, and wha…

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466: Publishing Nerd Corner: Your Copyright and the Anthropic Settlement 18:13

1M ago18:13

18:13

Hey ho, welcome to the Publishing Nerd Corner, where we dive into the more technical aspects of authorship. Jess here. I love it when Sarina schools me on all things publishing nerdery, so we decided to make it official and create a whole new series. I have a long list of things I want her to explain for us, so stay tuned for more. In the meantime,…

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Publishing Nerd Corner: Your Copyright and the Anthropic Settlement 18:13

1M ago18:13

18:13

Hey ho, welcome to the Publishing Nerd Corner, where we dive into the more technical aspects of authorship. Jess here. I love it when Sarina schools me on all things publishing nerdery, so we decided to make it official and create a whole new series. I have a long list of things I want her to explain for us, so stay tuned for more. In the meantime,…

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How to Find The Hook in Your Book 46:13

1M ago46:13

46:13

In this episode of Books with Hooks, hosts Bianca, Carly and CeCe chat with Leslie, winner of our flash fiction contest, about her query letter for a YA dystopian novel. They explore the story’s themes, how to structure a compelling query, and why tension and stakes are key. Carly and CeCe weigh in with feedback on character depth, the virus’s role…

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242 Carmela Dutra | Cosy Mystery Author and Indie Picture Book Writer/Illustrator 23:59

1M ago23:59

23:59

Cosy mystery author and indie picture book writer and illustrator Carmela Dutra joins us this week to chat about how she persevered through years of querying before landing an agent and a two book publishing deal! Find out more about IngramSpark: www.ingramspark.com/learnmore Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a w…

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Shooting The Shit: About book blurb culture, how to sell a book in a “tough category” and the Anthropic Settlement 51:47

1M ago51:47

51:47

In this episode of Shooting the Shit, Carly and CeCe tackle some of publishing’s messiest realities with their usual mix of honesty and humor. They dig into the alarming trend of agents offering representation with 24-hour decision windows—and why that’s predatory. The conversation then shifts to the world of blurbs: pre-written pitches, the hidden…

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A Town With No Noise featuring Karen Smythe 35:47

1M ago35:47

35:47

Karen Smythe’s previous books include the novel This Side of Sad (Goose Lane Editions, 2017), the story collection Stubborn Bones (Polestar/Raincoast, 2001), and the critical study Figuring Grief: Gallant, Munro, and the Poetics of Elegy (McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1992). Her family background is Norwegian and German/Irish. She lives with her…

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Episode 489: Staying Power, Book Promotion, Platform, and 'Slip,' a Memoir-Plus with Mallary Tenore Tarpley 1:25:20

1M ago1:25:20

1:25:20

"For many of us, myself included, it's easy to want to be on the New York Times bestseller list, or the USA Today bestseller list, and to try to get an amazing number of week-one sales, but it's important to remember that those lists are really hard to get on, and there can be this nice long tail in terms of the impact of a book where maybe it does…

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Episode 488: Bill McKibben, the Dark Realist, Faces the Light 59:25

1M ago59:25

59:25

"The point of my book and the point of this big day of action that we're doing across the country is to drive that notion away that this isn't alternative energy, that it's the obvious, straightforward, common sense and very beautiful way to power the world going forward. To use the analogy I've been using, it's not any longer the Whole Foods of en…

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465: Interviewing with Jeff Selingo 38:21

1M ago38:21

38:21

Jess here. My guest this week is Jeff Selingo, an author and speaker I’ve admired for a long time. His work on college, college admissions and the transition to work and life in emerging adulthood are essential reads for anyone looking to understand what want and need in higher education and life. His books, There is Life After College, Who Gets In…