Tue, March 11, 2025

How To Start Writing

Whether you're a seasoned novelist or a newcomer to the craft, we all come to the page and need to BEGIN. It's easy to say "Just start," but it's often not that simple. This week, I have some fresh encouragement and practical tips to help you start writing with confidence. Links mentioned: Write Now Episode 102: Journaling & You Write Now Episode 142: No Rules, Just Write Write Now Episode 014: Creating A Space For Writing Write Now Episode 001: What's Keeping You From Writing? For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/how-to-start-writing-wn-165 Thank you for listening! To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, you can become a patron on Patreon at   https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner , or send me a tip on Ko-Fi at  https://ko-fi.com/sarahwerner . Happy writing! — Sarah

Tue, February 18, 2025

Is "Good Enough" Good Enough? - WN 164

How do you decide when to publish your creative work? Is there a point at which you say it's "good enough"? Or do you have a tendency to polish and play around with those "last final tweaks" indefinitely? This week, we're talking about what it means to do your best in a world where "best" is subjective and perfect doesn't exist. Get ready! For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/is-good-enough-good-enough/   Thank you for listening! To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, you can become a patron on Patreon at   https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner , or send me a tip on Ko-Fi at https://ko-fi.com/sarahwerner. Happy writing! — Sarah

Mon, February 03, 2025

Cynicism About Goals

Have you ever felt hopeless, helpless, or disillusioned about goal-setting, or found yourself asking, "Why bother?" This week, we're looking at what happens to make us feel that way, and how to set our writing lives on the path to success going forward. For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/cynicism-about-goals-wn-163/   Thank you for listening! To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, you can become a patron on Patreon at   https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner , or send me a tip on Ko-Fi at https://ko-fi.com/sarahwerner . Happy writing! — Sarah ©2025 by Write Now, LLC. All rights reserved.

Wed, December 04, 2024

Should I Self-Publish?

Have you ever wondered if you should self-publish your book, or go through a traditional publisher? This week, we're weighing the pros and cons of each to figure out which method is best for you. Links mentioned:  Talking Scared Podcast , Episode #003:  Spotify | Apple Podcasts Sarah's indie (self-published) audio drama,  Girl In Space The  Write Now Podcast Discord Community Thank you for listening! For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/should-i-self-publish-wn-162/   To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon at   https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner , or send me a tip on Ko-Fi at  https://ko-fi.com/sarahwerner . Happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, November 27, 2024

Focus and Distraction - WN 161

Do you ever struggle to focus on your writing — even on a project you actually enjoy ? Whether due to internal or external factors, distraction comes to us in many different forms, for many different reasons. This week, we’re talking about tools, strategies, and habits we writers can use to find our focus again. Thank you for listening! For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/focus-amp-distraction-wn-161 To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon at   https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner , or send me a tip on Ko-Fi at  https://ko-fi.com/sarahwerner . Happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, July 03, 2024

Saying vs. Doing

Have you ever noticed a disconnect in what you say you want to do, and what you actually end up doing? Because I have! This week, I'm talking about some of the reasons we might experience a gulf between our desires and our actions — and what to do about it.  Thank you for listening! For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/saying-vs-doing-wn-160/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon at https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner , or send me a tip on Ko-Fi at https://ko-fi.com/sarahwerner . Happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, April 10, 2024

Expectation vs. Reality

This week, we're talking about expectations and how they tint our reality and shape our experiences... and what we can REALLY expect if we want to write full-time. Thank you for listening! For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/expectation-vs-reality-wn-159/   To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon at   https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner , or send me a tip on Ko-Fi at https://ko-fi.com/sarahwerner . Happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, March 13, 2024

Being A Slow Writer

No matter how much coffee I drink, I’m never able to write as quickly as I want to. This week, we’re taking a look at what it means to be a "slow writer" — and all of the baggage that comes along with it. Thank you for listening! For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/   To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon at   https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner , or send me a tip on Ko-Fi at  https://ko-fi.com/sarahwerner . Happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, November 29, 2023

Consistency For Writers - WN 157

Creating consistently strengthens your command of the craft and builds trust with your audience. But if you're anything like me, creating on a consistent basis feels impossible. Why are we like this? What do we do when we fail to live up to our own — and others' — standards? Thank you for listening! For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/consistency-for-writers-wn-157/   To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner   Happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, September 20, 2023

When Your Writing Dreams Change

What happens when your childhood dream feels like it's no longer achievable? What does it mean if (and when) your five-year plan goes off the rails? Today we're talking about what happens when our writing dreams change — and what it means for us as creators. For show notes and a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/when-your-writing-dreams-change-wn-156/   To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, September 13, 2023

It's Good To Have A Hobby - WN 155

What is writing to you — a hobby, a second job, a meditative practice? Something else? All of the above? This week, we’re talking about the role of writing in our lives and how we can feel more satisfied and fulfilled in doing what we love. For show notes and a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/its-good-to-have-a-hobby-wn-155/   To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner   Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, September 06, 2023

Selling Art Or Selling Out? with Asa Merritt

How should we navigate selling our creative work? I speak with Asa Merritt about pitching a project, which hill(s) to die on, and the pros and cons of telling a personal story on a commercial platform. TRIGGER WARNING: This podcast episode contains mention of suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please talk to someone you trust, contact your local crisis center, or (if you're in the United States) call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.  For show notes and a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, January 18, 2023

No One Gets To Tell You Who You Are

Sometimes it feels like everyone wants to tells us who we are — our friends, our enemies, and even random strangers on the internet. But what do we do when the identity we've chosen for ourself, such as "writer" or "creator", is challenged? For show notes and a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/no-one-gets-to-tell-you-who-you-are-wn-153/   To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, November 23, 2022

Endings Are Hard

Why are endings so darn hard to write? Is it just because it's difficult to wrap up all of the loose ends... or is there something more going on? What makes for a truly satisfying ending, and how do we create one? For show notes and a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Mon, November 14, 2022

Why Do I Write By Hand?

Why did I ditch my laptop and start writing everything by hand? (It's not even clickbait — I actually did this!) What are the benefits to writing by hand, and what have I learned from it about the craft of writing?  For show notes and a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Mon, October 24, 2022

Improvised Storytelling with Cat Blackard

 If you've ever been curious about how live-action roleplaying game podcasts are planned, created, recorded, and produced, or if you have any interest in RPGs like D&D, Pathfinder, or improv in general, give this episode a listen. Cat is an expert in plucking meaningful narrative from a scattered story and provides tons of great advice on how to clarify your own creative work. For show notes and a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, August 31, 2022

Reclaiming Your Voice with Kate Wallinga - WN 149

No matter who you are, Kate Wallinga's story of wielding creativity to take back agency in her life will inspire and astound you. And if you're neurodivergent or have experienced life with disability in some regard, her story may hit home in a profound way. Kate is the host of Ignorance Was Bliss , an interview podcast about how we become who we are. It's a show rooted in transformation - created as a an outlet as Kate, a psychologist and crisis clinician, survived a series of life-altering, disabling events. Her lived experience and her perception of self changed, and as she developed tools to live in this new paradigm, the work of creation helped her see herself and carry on. In this interview, Kate graciously shares her story with me as we explore creative power - both what the act of creation do for ourselves and for others. For a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah ©2022 by Write Now, LLC.

Wed, August 03, 2022

Forgiving Yourself - WN 148

Regrets can consume creatives and they can sometimes take the place of the creative output we'd like to have. In my case, it keeps me dwelling on the past, instead of focusing on the future or even the present. In this episode I'm asking why might creatives we hold onto regrets? What are we punishing ourselves for? Why do we spend so much time and energy focusing on our regrets and what purpose might they serve? For a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah ©2022 by Write Now, LLC.

Wed, July 27, 2022

What Are You Balancing? - WN 147

What is your ideal balance or imbalance? What would it take to actually get there? What can you drop in your life that does not feed your purpose? What are you balancing that doesn't necessarily need to be on that scale? Are you allowing yourself to be honest about it? For me, it was really hard to be honest with myself about balance, because I felt like letting myself do creative stuff was selfish, greedy, or indulgent. But it was also my purpose. And I could not get away from that. For a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah ©2022 by Write Now, LLC.

Wed, July 20, 2022

My Top 10 Tools For Writing - WN 146

It has been a while since I last talked about my favorite writing tools — and by “a while”, I mean more than seven years . Whew! Suffice to say a lot has changed since then, including the tools and processes I use to write. In this episode, I break down my writing process, tool-by-tool. It's my own process, and everyone has their own comforts and methods to write, but maybe some aspect of how I do things might inspire you to pick up some new habits like I have over the years.  For a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah ©2022 by Write Now, LLC.

Wed, July 13, 2022

Collaborative Storytelling with Erik Saras and Dan Lovley - WN 145

I’m thrilled to share a discussion with my longtime colleagues in sci-fi audio drama; two of the co-creators of the award-winning series, Marsfall : Writer-Director, Eric Saras and Writer-Director and actor Dan Lovley (ANDI). They discuss their process for writing their series collaboratively and how that process has evolved as the project has grown from a home-spun operation to a much larger show. Eric and Dan also share how their identities as authors intermingle and the struggle kill egos and darlings throughout the editorial process. Marsfall homepage: https://marsfallpodcast.com/ Marsfall Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/marsfallpodcast Marsfall Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marsfallpod/ Marsfall Twitter: https://twitter.com/marsfallpod For a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah ©2022 by Write Now, LLC.

Wed, July 06, 2022

When You're Not Okay

Times get tough and sometimes I am not okay. I haven't been okay for a while. Maybe you can say the same. Lately, I've woken up every morning to a pounding heart, racing breath, and a very intense feeling of panic and anxiety. I feel like my heart is a runaway stage coach driven by a horse that got spooked and is now dragging my body through the crowded town square of life. I can't say for certain, whether it's anxiety, fear, overwhelm, burnout, depression, ADHD, or just the world that we live in today. It's hard to overcome this feeling. It's hard to write when it's present. I've been puzzling out a path through it. Maybe we can get through it together. For a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah ©2022 by Write Now, LLC.

Bonus · Wed, June 15, 2022

Write Now Update & #AmWriting Episode Swap

Hello friends, this is Sarah and I've got good news! Write Now is coming back. New episodes start July 6th will release every Wednesday morning hereafter - New words and warmth and new author interviews. I wanted to touch base with you, share this announcement and to give you something substantial to enjoy in the meantime, swap an episode with a podcast I love. After you hear from me, you'll hear a full episode of #AmWriting , a podcast series that offers entertaining, actionable advice on craft, productivity, and creativity for writers of all genres. This is an interview episode of theirs that I really like called "Writer De-Snobbification" where they talk to author Katherine Center. The subject matter of this discussion is really near and dear to my heart. Center started out as a literary writer and didn't discover genre work until later in life. She found that she really loved working in genre, but struggled with her formal training as a literary author versus the often stigmatized romance genre. You'll hear Center and the  #AmWriting  hosts dig deep into the process of figuring out what you love in a book and how to find it in your own work: analyzing other books and the importance of the reading journal. They also get into the craft of writing books that satisfy your own readerly urges, embracing unifying tropes, finding a compelling hook, and how to ground a story that's to big to be true by creating real characters with relatable problems in familiar settings. You can find #AmWriting at https://amwriting.substack.com and on your favorite podcast app. To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah ©2022 by Write Now, LLC.

Thu, February 24, 2022

Interpreting Your Circumstances - WN 143

I've been thinking a lot about our circumstances lately, and how we interpret what we are going through, and how that interpretation informs a huge part of our self-identity and self-worth as writers and creators. What would we do, and who would we become, if we interpreted our situation(s) a little bit differently? For show notes and a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/interpreting-your-circumstances-wn-143/   To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner As always, thank you for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Thu, January 20, 2022

No Rules, Just Write

Are there any absolutely universal writing rules? In this week's episode, we're taking a look at not only writing advice but the context surrounding it. For show notes and a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Fri, January 07, 2022

Regaining Your Magic with Tomi Adeyemi

I'm starting 2022 with an interview with the AMAZING Tomi Adeyemi, author of Children of Blood & Bone and all-around incredible individual. We're talking about getting un-stuck from writer's block, what it means to be a successful author, the sensory/aesthetic experience of writing, and more. (And Midori loudly plays with a plastic bag in the background!) You won't want to miss it. To enroll in Tomi's Writer's Roadmap Course: https://www.thewritersroadmap.net   For show notes and a full episode transcription, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Bonus · Fri, December 10, 2021

A Quick Announcement

Sarah here with a quick announcement! No, the show isn't ending — rather, I'm coming back in January 2022 with all new episodes! This announcement explains what's been going on behind the scenes and what's in store for the future of the Write Now podcast. :) Read the original statement here: https://www.sarahwerner.com/what-the-heck-is-up-with-the-write-now-podcast/   Subscribe to the "Dear Creators" newsletter at https://sarahwerner.com/dearcreators   Thank you as always for listening, and I'll see you in January 2022! P.S. I was wrong in this episode — "Sarah Tries Outlining!" is episode 095 of the Write Now podcast, and you can hear it here: https://www.sarahwerner.com/sarah-tries-outlining-wnp-episode-095/  

Fri, October 08, 2021

The Bulletproof Writer

We're constantly trying to move toward being better writers — but how do we make ourselves bulletproof against life? Is one particular system or another the answer... or is it, as we fear, impossible? For show notes, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/the-bulletproof-writer-wn-140/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, September 29, 2021

Taking Down Hustle Culture with Amie McNee - WNP 139

Are you ready to take on the Hustle Culture? Then tune in to this week's episode, where I get to interview fellow podcaster, novelist, and journal enthusiast Amie McNee! Together, we'll talk about transforming the narrative, choosing yourself, and finding your creative stride. Don't miss out! For show notes, please visit:  https://www. sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/ sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, September 22, 2021

Getting Into Flow - WNP 138

Have you ever experienced that magical moment when the words pour from your fingers and send you into a timeless creative zone? That's what I call flow, and this week's episode explores what it is and how to get there.     For show notes, please visit:  https://www. sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/ sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Tue, September 14, 2021

Creative Input & Output - WNP 137

Where do our ideas come from? How intentional are we about curating our input and inspiration — and how does it affect our creative output? Today, we’re exploring different types of creative input and how what we pay attention to affects our art.     For show notes, please visit:  https://www. sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/ sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, September 08, 2021

Making Your Own Opportunities - WNP 136

If you've ever wasted time waiting for the perfect creative opportunity to come along, then you need to listen to today's episode! In it, we talk about what it takes to stop waiting for opportunities and start creating our own!   For show notes, please visit:  https://www. sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/ sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, August 25, 2021

Too Afraid To Create - WNP 135

Like all creatives, I deal with the fear that comes with producing new things—and I don’t always deal with it well . This fear is the reason I haven't created a solo episode in weeks, and it might just be the reason why you're stuck in a creative rut right now. So tune in, and let's tackle the fear together!   For show notes, please visit:  https://www. sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/ sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, August 18, 2021

Creativity & Survival with Charlie Jane Anders - WNP 134

Charlie Jane Anders has a list of publication credits as long as my arm, so you can imagine my excitement when she agreed to let me interview her! Join us as we talk about her new books, her experience writing for TV, her past in journalism, and more! For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, August 11, 2021

Judgment & Acceptance with Rebecca Wiener McGregor - WNP 133

Is your fear preventing you from releasing your creativity into the world? Then you'll want to check out the recent interview with my friend and mentor, Rebecca Wiener McGregor! Rebecca is a transformational hypnotist, love amplifier, and all-around life coach, and she's ready to shed some light on our fears as creators. It's an insightful interview that you shouldn't ignore! For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Tue, August 03, 2021

Doing All The Things with David S. Dear - WNP 132

Have you ever wanted to write an audio drama but didn't know where to begin? Then you need to join me as I interview fellow audio dramatist David S. Dear! David is the creator of A Ninth World Journal , and we discuss everything from plotting an audio drama, where to find inspiration, how to use elements of theater, and more!   For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, July 28, 2021

Surviving Burnout with K.B. Wagers - WNP 131

Want to talk about Science Fiction? Then I’ve got the perfect interview for you! Join me as I interview the one and only Kate (K.B.) Wagers, author of the Indranan War trilogy, the Farian War trilogy, and more! It’s a show you won’t want to miss!   For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Tue, July 20, 2021

Dormant Creativity with Lee Shackleford - WNP 130

There's nothing quite like a deep conversation with a good friend, and that's why I'm excited to bring you this week's episode! In it, I get to talk with Lee Shackleford, the creator of RELATIVITY, about loss, the burnout of creativity, and how to accept ourselves for who we are. Don't miss it! For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Thu, July 08, 2021

Hooks & Characters with Kate Brauning - WNP 129

This week, I had the honor to sit down with Kate Brauning, one of the developmental editors at Dovetail Fiction, the creator of the Breakthrough Writers' Boot Camp, and the author of several YA novels with an unusual twist. If you're an author or writer of any capacity, then you need to listen to this interview! For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah  

Fri, July 02, 2021

Structure, Genre, &The Craft with Jamieson Ridenhour - WNP 128

This week, I get to visit with my good friend (and acclaimed author) Jamieson Ridenhour! Join us as we discuss Jamie’s work on  acclaimed audio drama “Palimpsest”, as well as his upcoming play, "Bloodbath: Victoria's Secret." We'll also explore what it's like to have a Ph.D. in 19th Century Gothic Literature, writing for different narrative forms, and more! Don't miss it! For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, June 23, 2021

Honoring the Dreamer with Marguerite Croft - WNP 127

Join us this week as we sit down with author and fellow audio-dramatist Marguerite Croft to talk about honoring the Dreamer in our lives and stories. We'll also talk about her work with Point Mystic , as well as what it means to figure out what you want from your life, and to be surrounded by people who support you. Tune in today!    For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Fri, June 18, 2021

Fun Is Better Than Perfect with Jimmie Bise, Jr. - WNP 126

This week, I get to interview my good friend, author Jimmie Bise, Jr.! We talk about the uncertainty and fear involved in claiming the title of “Writer”, starting and giving up on projects, and the necessary but often overlooked element of fun in our craft. It's an interview you won't want to miss!   For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Thu, June 10, 2021

Procrastination - WNP 125

Procrastination and laziness often go hand-in-hand, but those labels do not define you or the work you do. Today, we’re exploring the various ways we procrastinate, where our procrastination comes from, and how we can take time to own our "laziness" and put it to work!   For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Fri, May 28, 2021

Beautifully Broken with Sean Howard - WNP 124

I’m going to be honest — I have not been okay lately. And maybe you haven’t either. So I sat down with my good friend Sean Howard to talk about mental health among creators, why it's okay to ask for help, and how we're all "Beautifully Broken." For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Thu, May 20, 2021

Starting Ugly with David duChemin - WNP 123

David duChemin, the best-selling author of such titles as Start Ugly and The Problem With Muses , is joining us today to talk about his creative process, why creativity isn't about making masterpieces, and the wisdom of letting yourself "start ugly" and seeing where it goes. It's an interview you won't want to miss! For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Thu, May 13, 2021

Seeking Validation - WNP 122

Searching for validation takes a lot of time and energy, but we all do it because we want to feel like our work is good and that people enjoy it. However, are we receiving validation from people we respect, or are we relying on the standards of others to determine our worth? For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, May 05, 2021

A Writing Practice That Works For YOU - WNP 121

There's a lot to be said about writers with dedicated writing practices, and they make it seem so easy to "just sit down and write!" However, you don't need a dedicated writing practice to become successful. Here’s why... For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, April 28, 2021

Rejection and Resilience with Sherrilyn Kenyon - WNP 120

This week, we're sitting down with the famous Sherrilyn Kenyon, author of the Dark-Hunters book series, to talk about life as a writer with a capital W. It's an interview you don't want to miss! For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, April 21, 2021

Trusting Yourself - WNP 119

Do you trust yourself? Or have you ever been at a point where the sage phrase, “All I know is that I know nothing” has turned into, “I am wrong, and everyone else is right”? Today we’re talking about why — and how — writers can learn to trust themselves.   For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, April 14, 2021

Podcast Storytelling

We talk a lot about writing for the reader, stage, and screen — but how about for the ear? Whether it's for a nonfiction or fiction (audio drama) podcast, today we're talking about what makes audio-only storytelling really come to life. For show notes, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, April 07, 2021

It's Not Too Late

Have you ever felt like you're too old to start, too late, or that you've missed your chance? Do you have regrets about not writing, publishing, or creating sooner or earlier in life? This week's episode will help you take the pressure off as Sarah explains why it's NOT too late for you as a creator. For show notes, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, March 24, 2021

A Writer's True Work

What is our True Work? And how do we discern between our True Work and the busy work which fills our days? Today, I’m going to ask you a series of questions to help you deep dive and discover if you are doing your True Work— the work that fills your heart — or if you are simply filling your time with busy work. For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, March 17, 2021

Is Writing Hard Work?

Most writers will admit that writing is work, enjoyable work though it may be. But how do we respond to people who insist that it’s “just a hobby”, “not a real job”, or “not real work”? Is it possible for something to be a mix of work and play — and what does that mean for us as creators? For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, March 10, 2021

Is Ambition Bad?

What does it mean to be ambitious? By definition, “ambition is a strong desire to do or achieve something, usually requiring determination and hard work”. Today I’m going to talk about what it means to be ambitious, especially as writers, and why ambition has such a bad reputation, and finally, whether or not you might be ambitious, too.  For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, March 03, 2021

The Writing Plateau

Have you ever experienced a writing plateau? The point in your writing journey where your growth and progress taper off, and you get comfortable resting on your laurels? Today we’re taking a look at whether this is a good or a bad thing, and how to re-ignite your ambition and your upward trajectory — if that’s the right move for you. For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, February 24, 2021

Writer's Guilt

Do you ever feel guilty, as a writer? It’s more common than you think. Writers feel guilty for writing too much, not enough, “selfishly” taking time away from their families, making money, not making money… the list goes on. Today let’s talk about writer’s guilt and how to begin to alleviate it. For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, February 17, 2021

From Surviving To Thriving

Some, if not most of us, have been in survival mode at one point or another. Survival mode means that you're barely hanging on by your fingernails, doing what you need to in order to get through the day in one piece. But it’s not the most pleasant way to live, and it’s possible to not just survive but thrive. Here’s how.. For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, February 10, 2021

Being “Productive Enough”

Do you consider yourself a “productive” creator? Productivity seems to be everywhere these days, and we spend a ton of time planning our days to ensure we get the most done we can in the time we have. In this week's episode, we’re going to look at productivity in a different way. So if you have been struggling and feeling like you aren’t getting enough done, this episode is for you! For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah  

Wed, February 03, 2021

The Blank Page

Do you ever feel like when you sit down to write, there's just nothing there? Many writers will say that the blank page is their biggest fear — and it can represent many different obstacles. In this week’s episode, I am going to share some reasons you may be experiencing writer's block and a few things you can do to work past it.  For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, January 27, 2021

Outrunning the Avalanche

What happens when we fall behind? It might feel like you’re running down a snowy mountain as a giant avalanche barrels down behind you. If you feel constantly stressed, behind, and that you can’t produce content fast enough in order to keep up, then this week’s episode is for you! I am going to give you some tips on how to outrun and avoid being buried by the avalanche of creating content.  For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, January 20, 2021

Strong Female Characters

When you think of a strong female character, what comes to mind? Maybe you think of physical strength or the size of the gun they might be holding. Today, I am going to break down the different traits and ways you can build and incorporate strong female characters into your work. For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, January 13, 2021

Why Do We Self-Sabotage?

Have you ever gotten in your own way and stopped yourself from starting (or finishing) a creative project, going after success, or even being happy? If this sounds familiar, you’ve experienced self-sabotage.  For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah  

Wed, January 06, 2021

Writers As Entrepreneurs

If you’re a writer, do you also think of yourself as a business owner or entrepreneur? Should you? This can be a touchy subject, especially given the social perception that you can be an artist or a businessperson — but not both. So let’s talk about the implications, the “should”s, and how it all works together in this week’s episode. For show notes, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah  

Wed, December 30, 2020

Protecting Your Time

This week, we're talking about what eats up your writing time — internal or external forces — and how to protect that precious time by setting boundaries! For show notes, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Bonus · Wed, December 23, 2020

The Writer's Mindset Manifesto - Audiobook

A special holiday bonus from me to you — my very first audiobook! The Writer's Mindset Manifesto will help you break through the barriers of fear and inadequacy to help you create your very best work. For show notes, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, December 16, 2020

Enjoy The Journey

Are you enjoying the journey? If you find yourself focused on the end goal, success or waiting to be happy until you finish your long list of projects, you might not be. Today I’m talking about how to find joy on your creative journey.  For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, November 25, 2020

Daily Journaling

Do you have stacks of beautiful, unused journals? Have you been contemplating a daily journal routine but are hesitant to start? Maybe you’ve tried journaling in the past and hated it. Today I am going to share my experience with journaling and why it is a crucial part of my morning routine. For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah  

Wed, November 18, 2020

The Slog

Do you ever get that soggy or stuck feeling while working on a project? The never-ending revisions, the question of, “Why am I doing this?” popping into your head? If this is something you have ever experienced (or are currently dealing with), this episode is for you. I am going to share why this happens and what you can do about it.  For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Fri, November 13, 2020

I Have No Idea What I'm Doing

  It’s the 100th episode of the Write Now podcast! Today I’m asking: Do we place ourselves in an area of our lives where we expect ourselves to know all the answers? Do we bring on stresses over our creative journeys, over things that we expect ourselves to have the solutions for? What would happen if we truly allowed ourselves to admit that we have no idea what we’re doing? For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, November 04, 2020

My 10 Biggest Writing Struggles

Every writer faces their own struggles, from time to mindset to spelling to making money. There is nothing perfect in our journeys, and conditions will never be perfect. All we can do is take today, get rid of the negative impacts, replace them with positive impacts, and move forward purposefully in your growth as a writer who is enough.   For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, October 28, 2020

Writers' Risk And Potential Loss

What happens after you create something successful? Do you still have the “permission to suck” we talked about in the last episode? What do we risk, and what’s at stake? Is it possible to peak? And what happens after? Join me in this week’s episode as we go over Writers’ Risk And Potential Loss. For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, October 21, 2020

Permission to Suck

Does that little voice inside your head tell you that you cannot produce anything but perfection, or that you are not qualified to have the title of “writer”, or even that you are not good enough to be in a “writer’s world”? In this episode, I give you permission and the secret key to move forward on your creative path.    For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, October 14, 2020

Creative Seasons

What does it mean to be in — or out of — a creative season? What happens if a period of your life shifts? Let’s talk about how to support yourself in both creative and self-health needs as life changes around you. For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, October 07, 2020

Sarah Tries Outlining

“Won’t you just outline already?” I’ve always been a pantser, and felt that outlining puts limits on the creation of my stories! At least those were my thoughts — until my perspective shifted in a way I never thought possible.   For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, September 30, 2020

Level Up As A Writer

What’s next for you as a writer? In this episode, we will go over how to level up, and how to deal with any self-sabotage that might be keeping you from reaching your full potential.   For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, September 23, 2020

Motivation To Write

Are you feeling unmotivated to write or create? You’re not alone. In this episode we dive into what motivates us and why we tend to lose it in the first place. It’s time to get your motivation back! For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, September 16, 2020

10 Harmful Creativity Myths

There are tons of lies floating around about creativity and creative writing, and from them. I’ve compiled ten myths that it’s time we expose and expel once and for all. Ready? Let’s bust some myths. Download my free "10 Harmful Creativity Myths" ebook (PDF) here! http://sarahwerner.com/10myths   For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, September 09, 2020

How To Start A Successful Blog Or Podcast

Are you ready to start your own blog or podcast? This week we discuss the steps to start a successful podcast or blog with some helpful tips and tricks along the way.  For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, September 02, 2020

How To Develop Themes In Your Writing

This week we’re focusing on the literary element of theme. Theme can be expressed on purpose or by accident, and added to your work while you’re creating it or afterward. How can we be intentional about the themes in our work — and why should we be?  For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, August 26, 2020

Maybe Your Day Job Is Okay

Are you ready to leave your day job and become a full-time writer? This episode discusses the pros and cons of what writing full time looks like, and helps you set expectations for yourself. For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, August 19, 2020

The Dangers Of Comparison

The comparison race will always be unwinnable. This episode discusses six ways that comparison can be dangerous and how to overcome those dangers to find a path that is right for you. For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, August 12, 2020

PR For Writers

We’re talking about marketing again! This time, we’re digging into PR (public relations), how to get discovered as a writer, and finding what works for you when it comes to interacting with fans and peers. For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah  

Wed, August 05, 2020

What Do Writers Owe the World?

As creators, what do we owe the world? And what do our readers want and expect from us? There’s only so much time and energy in one day -- so should we be using it to write, to interact with fans, to market? This episode discusses the importance of protecting your integrity while setting boundaries to fit the expectations of your fans. For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah    

Wed, July 29, 2020

Marketing Dos & Don'ts

In part 2 of the marketing series, you will discover how to create a comprehensive marketing plan that suits your needs and aligns with your goals. Ready? For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, July 22, 2020

Marketing Isn't A Dirty Word

What's the difference between a book that sells and a book that doesn't sell? I didn't know it at the time, but that difference was marketing. In this episode, we will take a deep dive into the world of marketing. For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah  

Wed, July 15, 2020

Fear of Success

Do you find yourself self-sabotaging, or unconsciously not allowing yourself to grow to your full potential as a creator? You might have fear of success — and yes, it's 100% a real thing that holds us back without us even knowing it. For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah  

Wed, July 08, 2020

What Should I Write Next?

"Which one of these projects should I write next?" If that question frequently floats around in your head, this episode is for you. I'll help you decipher which projects to tackle and when! For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Wed, July 01, 2020

Writing As Leadership

You're a writer — but do you think of yourself as a leader? In today’s episode we talk about the 3 keys to being a successful leader through your writing. For show notes, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Thu, April 23, 2020

My Creative Process

I've broken down my creative process into 6 phases, from brainstorming to publication, all of which we'll talk about in today's episode. For full show notes, please visit https://www.sarahwerner.com/my-creative-process-wnp-080/ To support the work I do here at the  Write Now  podcast, consider becoming a patron on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! Words  & warmth, Sarah

Thu, April 02, 2020

Facing Resistance

Sometimes, the only thing that gets in the way of my writing is... me. Today, we're talking about resistance — what it is, when and why it strikes, how to resolve it, and what happens if we don't. For show notes, please visit https://www.sarahwerner.com/facing-resistance-wnp-079/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing!

Wed, March 18, 2020

Under Pressure

There's a lot going on in the world right now, and as always, that comes with a lot of pressure -- even the pressure to create. Today, we're talking about internal and external pressures, how they impact (and often disrupt) our creative processes and inspiration, what they mean for us as writers, and how we can respond to them in a productive way. Content Warning: Coronavirus and the resulting quarantine. Support the Write Now podcast on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/sarahrheawerner

Wed, February 05, 2020

When Writing Isn't Writing

When is writing not writing? I know, it sounds like a riddle. But it's actually a great question in disguise that leads to a necessary discussion of what the writing process actually *is*. Buckle in! For show notes, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/when-writing-isnt-writing-wnp-077/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Tue, January 14, 2020

What Makes A Good Writing Goal?

How do you know if you've set a good writing goal for yourself? Or is goal-setting for writing even a good idea? Today's episode explores how we move along the path toward success. Links: Your New Year's Writing Resolution - WNP 032 Crafting Your Mission Statement - WNP 046 For full show notes, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ what-makes-a-good-writing-goal-wnp-076 / To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Mon, January 06, 2020

What Are You Afraid Of?

Fear shows up for us writers in a lot of ways we don't expect or recognize. Let's explore those fears — and how they're holding us back — together. For show notes, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Fri, December 20, 2019

Getting Back Into Writing

It's been a while — maybe longer — since you've written. And with all of the rust buildup, thoughts of inadequacy, and other factors... how do you get back into it? For show notes, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Mon, August 26, 2019

How Do I Know When I'm Good Enough?

Today's topic comes from a listener question: How will I know when I'm good enough to publish — and that I won't look back on my work in 10 years and cringe? Join us for a chat about fear, bravery, and constant action. For show notes, please visit:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/how-do-i-know-when-im-good-enough/ To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Mon, July 22, 2019

Finishing What You Start

Not to toot my own horn here, but I am really, really good at starting new creative projects. Finishing them... not so much. Today, we're talking about the fears that keep us stuck and how to finish a creative project in a smart and snappy way. Enjoy! For show notes, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/finishing-what-you-start-wnp-072 To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon! https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thank you as always for listening, and happy writing! — Sarah

Mon, July 08, 2019

Supposed To For Writers

There are a lot of "supposed to"s in the writing world. We're "supposed to" write every day, love every minute of the writing process, and punch fear in the face. But are we REALLY supposed to do these things? Where do the "supposed to"s come from? How do we escape the guilt and obligation that come with them? And what could we create if we were free of the "supposed to"? Find the show notes for this episode of Write Now at  https://www.sarahwerner.com/supposed-to-for-writers-wnp-071  . Support my work on the show by becoming a patron on Patreon!  https://www.patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Thanks as always for listening, and happy writing. :) 

Thu, April 18, 2019

Burned Out, Exhausted, & Overwhelmed

So many of us -- writers, parents, employees, students -- are in a state of constant burnout, exhaustion, and overwhelm. Today's episode will help you identify where you are on that spectrum... and how we might begin to deal with it. Support us on Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Full show notes & links:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/burned-out-exhausted-overwhelmed-wnp-070

Mon, April 01, 2019

Affirmations for Writers

As if doubting our own work wasn't enough, most writers also doubt themselves. But a little positivity can go a long way. This week, Sarah shares several affirmations that can help get your mind not only ready to write but ready to write successfully and joyfully. Support the Write Now podcast on Patreon!  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner View show notes and more at  https://www.sarahwerner.com/

Mon, March 25, 2019

Putting Yourself Out There

Some of the most frequent questions I get asked by writers are, "How do I get my name out there?" and "How do I get noticed as a writer?" Today, we'll talk about the two things you can do to find an audience. Become a Write Now patron on Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/sarahrheawerner View show notes on my website:  https://www.sarahwerner.com/ Thanks for listening, and happy writing!

Mon, September 03, 2018

Coffee Break 086: Sam Boush

Author and publishing veteran Sam Boush shares his insight into the politics behind book distribution, marketing, and becoming a full time writer.

Mon, August 27, 2018

Coffee Break 085: Jonathan Small

Writer and podcaster Jonathan Small dishes all about the wild and wonderful topics and people you can discover when you uncover a good story.

Mon, August 20, 2018

If and When Someone Steals Your Idea - WNP 067

Has someone ever had the same idea as you or just downright stole it? Let's talk about how writers should handle idea theft and when to reclaim credit.

Mon, August 13, 2018

Coffee Break 084: Erin Forbes

Teen fantasy author Erin Forbes shares her unique perspective on self-publishing, as well as time management and how to market your book on social medias.

Mon, August 06, 2018

Coffee Break 083: Raul Vega

Podcaster and film sound designer Raul Vega shares his experience telling stories through sound with Hans Zimmer and developing his own audible mysteries.

Mon, July 30, 2018

Coffee Break 082: Cheryl Muir

Media strategist and life coach Cheryl Muir shares her experiences with personal branding, social media promotion, and thinking like an entrepreneur.

Mon, July 23, 2018

Coffee Break 081: Ginger Moran

Author and writing coach Ginger Moran exposes the vulnerability of storytelling, the pitfalls of literary writing, and why you should trust your characters.

Mon, July 16, 2018

Critics and You - WN 066

How should writers approach criticism? How do we tell if it's constructive or not? Most importantly, should we allow criticism to affect our writing?

Mon, July 09, 2018

Coffee Break 080: Jason Pinter

Author and publisher Jason Pinter talks about the entire publishing industry—from a writer's daily time sacrifices to founding his own publishing house.

Mon, June 25, 2018

Coffee Break 079: K.A. Statz

Horror podcaster and writer K.A. Statz shares her thoughts on writing and self worth, opening up to criticism, and the surprising merits of scary stories.

Mon, June 18, 2018

Coffee Break 078: Philip Kenney

Psychotherapist and author Philip Kenney sheds some light on the universal obstacles of creatives, the benefits of meditation, and trusting in your muse.

Mon, June 11, 2018

Coffee Break 077: Anthony Olivieri

Audio drama creator Anthony Olivieri and I talk about balance, inspiration, and building both a sense of mystery and deeper meaning into your work.

Mon, June 04, 2018

Coffee Break 076: Andrew Chamberlain

Podcaster and creative writer Andrew Chamberlain shares advice on building characters, utilizing story structure, and listening to writing advice.

Mon, May 28, 2018

Coffee Break 075: Mark Millien

Podcaster Mark Millien shares how to overcome the fear of creative exposure, avoid world-building pitfalls, and flex your creative muscles through D&D!

Mon, May 21, 2018

Coffee Break 074: Jennifer Blanchard

Author, blogger, and creative enabler Jennifer Blanchard talks personal branding, pursuing multiple passions, and living a writer's dream life.

Mon, May 14, 2018

Coffee Break 073: Julia Samuel

Psychotherapist and bereavement counselor Julia Samuel shares methods of healthy grieving and finding a literary narrative within death and loss.

Mon, May 07, 2018

Coffee Break 072: Eli McIlveen and Sean Howard

Alba Salix creators Eli McIlveen and Sean Howard talk about creativity and comedy, hobbies and hiatuses, and the undeniable power of roleplaying games!

Mon, April 30, 2018

Coffee Break 071: Jeff Leisawitz

Writer, counselor, and all-around creator enabler Jeff Leisawitz shares tips, tricks, and stories to help get your creative goals airborne.

Mon, April 23, 2018

Coffee Break 070: Jewel Eliese

Blogger and busy mom Jewel Eliese shares the benefits of joining and starting online communities, as well as giving yourself permission to write.

Mon, April 16, 2018

Coffee Break 069: Jon Negroni

Author, podcaster, and movie nerd Jon Negroni reveals the secrets behind breaking the rules by breaking writing conventions and trusting your writer's gut.

Mon, April 09, 2018

Writing Full-time - WN 065

Making the switch to a career writer is tough, but you can do it! Here are some pointers that can help your writing dream become a reality.

Mon, April 02, 2018

Coffee Break 068: Anne Bogel

Author, podcaster, and literary matchmaker Anne Bogel talks about personality tests, the value of believable characters, and how books can change the world.

Mon, March 26, 2018

Coffee Break 067: Albert Flynn DeSilver

Poet, author, and speaker Albert Flynn DeSilver talks about transformation through writing, striving for beauty, and our shared human birthright.

Mon, March 19, 2018

Coffee Break 066: Esther Goldenberg

Teacher and independent author and publisher Esther Goldenberg makes reading fun for reluctant readers and talks about children's and YA self publishing.

Mon, March 12, 2018

Coffee Break 065: Kenny Porter

Comic book writer and publisher Kenny Porter chats about the essential relationships needed to make great comics, asking for help, and dealing with critics.

Tue, March 06, 2018

Coffee Break 064: Mike Papantonio

Attorney, radio host, and thriller author Mike Papantonio exposes law myths, reveals the truth of fiction, and shares some great writing tips!

Mon, February 19, 2018

Coffee Break 063: Monica Leonelle

Is there a correlation between an author's word count or financial success and the quality of a book? Monica Leonelle has a few things to say about that!

Tue, February 13, 2018

Coffee Break 062: Matthew Brough

Writer, pastor, and podcaster Matthew Brough talks about baby steps, the ups and downs of self publishing, and how he helped his 70-year-old mother publish her first novel.

Mon, February 05, 2018

Coffee Break 061: Bob Stromberg

Bob Stromberg shares the secrets of living a creative life, taking control of your "muse", and rediscovering the creativity of your childhood.

Thu, February 01, 2018

Coffee Break 060: Erin Pringle

Short story author Erin Pringle shares how loss and grief spurred her to publish, as well as the therapeutic and calming power of creative writing.

Mon, January 22, 2018

Coffee Break 059: Joseph Bendoski

Thriller author and podcaster Joseph Bendoski talks literary psychology, media manipulation, and the prehistoric survival instincts of storytelling.

Mon, January 15, 2018

Coffee Break 058: Audrey Knapp

Can you gain readers by supporting other authors? Can you make money marketing on social media? Can you successfully self publish? Audrey Knapp thinks so!

Mon, January 08, 2018

Coffee Break 057: Alan Alda

Alan Alda talks about innovative communication methods, the benefits of empathy and listening, and the joys of life's unexpected interruptions.

Mon, January 01, 2018

Coffee Break 056: Win Charles, Cerebral Palsy, and the Writing Life

Win Kelly Charles was born with Cerebral Palsy, but she has never let it stop her from achieving her dream of writing and publishing books.

Mon, December 04, 2017

Coffee Break 055: Corey Vilhauer

What do writers do when they're not working on their novels? Corey Vilhauer is glad you asked! Let's talk about online journalism, copyediting, and UX!

Thu, November 16, 2017

Coffee Break 054: Helen Scheuerer

Fantasy author HelenScheuerer explains how exercise, daily routine, and group critiques fuel her writing and helped publish her latest novel.

Wed, November 08, 2017

Coffee Break 053: Grant Faulkner

NaNoWriMo Executive Producer Grant Faulkner talks about the process behind National Novel Writing Month, as well as how to develop superhuman creativity!

Wed, November 01, 2017

Coffee Break 052: Joanna Penn

Scalable income? IP assets? No problem! Podcaster and author Joanna Penn shares some realistic options to turn your writing side-hustle into a career.

Mon, October 23, 2017

Coffee Break: Lora Mitchell

Instagram, poetry, and therapy through storytelling. Lora Mitchell shares her love of the written word and her journey to self publishing.

Thu, October 12, 2017

Coffee Break: Randal Greene

Author Randal Greene exposes the secret life of a full-time writer, as well as a sure-fire way to capture 'the muse' and beat writer's block!

Tue, October 03, 2017

Coffee Break: Nicole Gulotta

Food and poetry? Yes, please! Nicole Gulotta dishes on deadline-free writing, building an audience, and rediscovering your forgotten passions.

Mon, September 25, 2017

How To Rest As A Writer

Today we'll take a look at what we should do if (& when) we find ourselves exhausting, burned out, and feeling hopeless as we stare down a blank page.

Wed, September 13, 2017

Coffee Break: Katie Cross

Author Katie Cross talks having it all: a loving family, a legitimate writing career, and a supportive network of peers. It's possible AND practical!

Wed, September 06, 2017

Tips for Writing While Traveling

Trying to write while traveling can be one of the most frustrating things for a writer. Let's explore some ways to jumpstart our creativity on the road!

Tue, August 29, 2017

Jeffery Weaver

Long-time fan of the show and cancer-fighting author Jeffery Weaver shares his incredible story and talks character building, rejection, and motivation.

Mon, August 07, 2017

Coffee Break 046: Rachel Stout

Think self publishing is your only option? Think again! Rachel Stout spills the beans on traditional publishing and working with literary agents.

Wed, August 02, 2017

Do I Need A Writing Degree?

"Do I need a writing degree?" It's a complex question that involves factors like time, money, lifestyle, goals, & more. Work through your own decision with help from today's episode of the Write Now podcast!

Thu, July 27, 2017

Ryan Dalton

YA novelist and nerd culture extraordinaire Ryan Dalton talks about unorthodox writing, tips for green authors, and pushing through publisher rejections.

Mon, July 17, 2017

Coffee Break 044: Aminah Iman & Jaqueline Stone

Join the ladies from Red Ink Publications for a chat about genre writing, delicious cake, and finding confidence in writing what you love.

Mon, July 10, 2017

Self-Writing and Self-Talk - WN 061

Words have power—especially the words we say and think about ourselves. So whether you think you're slime or God's gift to writing, the way you think about yourself can have an immense effect on your work.    For show notes, links, & more, visit  http://www.sarahwerner.com/self-writing-and-self-talk-wn-061/ . 

Tue, June 27, 2017

Coffee Break 043: Mark Rubinstein

Award-winning novelist and psychiatrist Mark Rubinstein talks about the psychology behind sharing stories and the courage it takes to write them down.

Tue, June 20, 2017

WN 060: Make Them Tell You No

What's the worst that will happen if you put yourself out there? How will you handle rejection? Even worse, what happens if you do nothing?

Tue, June 13, 2017

Coffee Break 042: Randy Wayne White

Randy Wayne White talks the virtues of trusting your characters, connecting with readers, leaving behind a legacy, and the secret to writing over 40 books!

Sun, June 04, 2017

Coffee Break 041: Megan Hannum

Editor Megan Hannum shares some new and innovative options for writing, editing, and publishing that you may not have considered.

Thu, June 01, 2017

Coffee Break 040: Vahan Zanoyan

Vahan Zanoyan shares the literary benefits of breaking through comfort zones, sharing fact through fiction, and becoming lost in different cultures.

Mon, May 29, 2017

SEO for Writers - WN 059

You finally have a website! Now how do you let the internet know you exist? How do you attract users? Never fear: SEO (search engine optimization) is here!

Fri, May 19, 2017

CB 039: Robert Tanenbaum

In this fascinating discussion, novelist Robert Tanenbaum unpacks judicial integrity, American history, and what makes a classic story truly timeless.

Tue, May 16, 2017

All Of The Best Writing Excuses - WN 058

Do you ever put off writing because you need to wash the dishes or watch American Idol with your spouse? Are these legit reasons -- or just excuses? Learn how to ditch the excuses and just write in this week's episode of the Write Now podcast!

Mon, May 08, 2017

Coffee Break 038: Renita Bryant

You just finished your first novel! But... now what? Renita Bryant shares what it takes to go from "hot off the press" to "meet the press"!

Thu, May 04, 2017

Coffee Break 037: Mya Kay

Join me for a chat with Philadelphia-born author Mya Kay, whose passion and dedication to the craft of writing are changing the landscape of YA fiction.

Mon, May 01, 2017

How To Survive Your Day Job - WN 057

Corporate structure crushing your spirit? Wishing you could quit your day job and write full time? This episode is for you.

Mon, April 24, 2017

Coffee Break 036: Barbara Kyle

Do you think about writing all day, every day? Barbara Kyle does! That's what makes her a master of her craft. And today, she's sharing what she knows.

Mon, April 17, 2017

Coffee Break 035: Kale Lawrence

Today I talk to local writer Kale Lawrence about writing a book series, giving yourself a second chance, and trusting in your own impulsive talent!

Sun, April 09, 2017

Coffee Break 034: Jonathan White

The tides and oceans mean many things to many people around the world. Today's guest, Jonathan White, won't rest until he explores them all!

Mon, April 03, 2017

Living A Creative Life - WN 056

Are you living the life you want to live? Living a creative life is about making your own decisions and breaking the mold. But what does that mean?

Mon, March 27, 2017

Coffee Break 033: Jay Greenfield

Think it's too late to start your novel? After listening to 84-year-old, first-time published Jay Greenfield's story, you'll need a new excuse!

Mon, March 20, 2017

How to Prioritize Your Writing - WN 055

Where does the time go? Between work, family, and countless other obligations, who has the time to write these days? You do! Let's prioritize.

Wed, March 15, 2017

Coffee Break 032: Sandy Kreps

Blogging, bullet journaling, and networking. Oh my! Sandy Kreps gives us the honest truth and helpful tips about becoming a full-time freelance writer.

Mon, March 06, 2017

Coffee Break 031: Jake Heilbrunn

Where there's a will, Jake Heilbrunn has a way! Join us for an inspiring talk about leaving it all behind and finding yourself in the process.

Mon, February 27, 2017

Introvert & Extrovert Writers - WN 054

Don't let myths about personality keep you from fully exploring yourself as a writer. Discover your strengths, weaknesses, and how you recharge!

Mon, February 20, 2017

Does Listening to Music Help You Write? - WN 053

What's the best music to listen to (if any) while you write? Let's talk about music curation and what different genres of recorded sound can do for you!

Thu, February 16, 2017

Coffee Break 030: Janna Maron

How can creative nonfiction help you to connect with people? What does it take to find or even create a supportive community? Tune in to find out!

Mon, February 06, 2017

Personal Branding for Writers - WN 052

If you write, you have a personal brand! Let's discuss some ways you can grow, maintain, and market your brand to help readers find your work.

Mon, January 30, 2017

Should I Use A Pen Name? - WN 051

How do you know if writing under a pen name is right for you? This week's episode of Write Now lays out 6 reasons a pen name might be a smart choice.

Fri, January 20, 2017

Coffee Break 029: Paul Sating

FRIENDS! On today's Coffee Break episode, I'm talking with writer Paul Sating with a kind of storytelling I haven't featured before: the audio drama!

Mon, January 16, 2017

The Most Important Question A Writer Can Ask - WN 050

Sometimes the most important aspect of writing is not the words you string together but the questions you ask. And one question in particular is incredibly helpful.

Thu, January 12, 2017

Coffee Break 028: David Galef

Novels, poetry, short stories... if you can name it, David has probably written it. In this fantastic episode, we're talking about the power of brevity, compartmentalizing your life, & more.

Mon, January 09, 2017

What I Learned From Writing A Book In 1 Week - WNP 049

Get the 10 invaluable writing lessons I learned while writing a book in one week. (That's right: ONE WEEK.)

Mon, December 19, 2016

Coffee Break 027: Jocelyn K. Glei

Creativity expert-turned-full-time writer Jocelyn K. Glei & I talk about the balance between business and creativity, distraction, and so much more!

Thu, December 08, 2016

Coffee Break 026: Patrick Hicks

"Whatever scares you to write... that's what you should be writing." I talk with author Patrick Hicks about how to see the world through a writer's eyes, how traveling can change the way you write, how to deal with fear, and more.

Tue, November 29, 2016

Coffee Break 025: Fauzia Burke

Fauzia and I talk about the NY book publishing bubble, the joys of self-publishing, social media marketing, taking risks, and more!

Wed, November 16, 2016

Coffee Break 024: Ginny Carter

Ginny "The Authormaker" Carter and I have a lovely conversation for you about the nonfiction book-writing process, different modes of publication, and Ginny's favorite aspect of being a writing coach. 

Wed, November 02, 2016

30 Tips for 30 Days of NaNoWriMo - WNP 048

From turning off your phone to staving off fear and/or hunger, this episode of the Write Now podcast is here to help you write through NaNoWriMo.

Thu, October 20, 2016

Coffee Break 023: Kevin T. Johns

Fellow writer, podcaster, ghostwriter, and writing coach Kevin T. Johns and I have a great (and honest) conversation about making the most of our time as busy writers.

Fri, October 14, 2016

Coffee Break 022: Honoree Corder

Honorée is a speaker, business coach, writing coach, and Writer with a capital W. She is also a smart, successful entrepreneur who has published 20 books and knows what it takes to sell them.

Wed, October 05, 2016

What They Didn't Teach You In School - WN 047

We learned a lot of great things in school. But our educational system isn't perfect, and there are some things we should have learned about writing (and life) that we didn't. All of those (and more!) in this week's episode!

Fri, September 23, 2016

Coffee Break 021: Jenny Bravo

Author Jenny Bravo & I talk about writing sprints, handwriting with pen & paper, keeping a scene list, our mutual love of Twitter, and tons more!

Mon, September 12, 2016

Crafting Your Mission Statement - WN 046

A mission statement is a valuable tool for a writer -- it can help you understand your own story, remind you of your purpose, and guide you toward your goals. Today's episode of Write Now podcast will help you create one!

Mon, September 05, 2016

Coffee Break 020: Andrew Coons

Poet & filmmaker Andrew Coons and I have a great conversation about career writing, anxiety, depression, self-worth, and getting back into the things you love after putting them on hold.

Wed, August 31, 2016

Careers for Writers - WN 045

Stuck in a soul-sucking, toxic day job while you dream of being a paid writer? Today's episode covers 10 different career paths for writers just like you.

Mon, August 22, 2016

Coffee Break 019: Hend Hegazi

Today's show is an interview with Arab-American author Hend Hegazi, who has just published her second novel about gratefulness, forgiveness, and the universal yet hidden struggles we all deal with. I hope you enjoy it.

Tue, August 16, 2016

Coffee Break 018: Mark Messick

Meet Mark Messick, the 16-year-old bestselling author of more than eleven books. Today we're talking about possibility, positivity, and living the life you want to live. Join us!

Wed, August 10, 2016

How Do I Find My Muse? - WN 044

Chances are, you've heard of the concept of a muse, whether you've read your fair share of Shakespeare or simply seen Disney's "Hercules". But can a muse possibly have an effect on us here in the modern world?

Wed, July 27, 2016

Coffee Break 017: Andrew Chapman

Wed, July 06, 2016

How Important Is Networking For Writers? - WN 043

I know, I know. You hate networking. I hate networking. It feels so corporate and shallow and sell-out-y. But it's important for writers nonetheless. That's why this episode is here to help you navigate the turbulent waters of this essential skill.

Mon, June 20, 2016

Coffee Break 016: Melissa Johnson

Enjoy a great conversation about how to fit creative writing into a busy schedule with entrepreneur, author, and my own personal mentor, Melissa Johnson.

Mon, June 06, 2016

Are There Any Original Ideas Left? - WN 042

Is it true that there's "nothing new under the sun", that we just keep retelling the same 3 stories over and over, and that Hollywood is out of ideas? Find out in the latest episode of Write Now!

Fri, May 27, 2016

Coffee Break 015: Karan Bajaj

I absolutely loved interviewing bestselling Indian author (& striving yogi!) Karan Bajaj, whose new book, The Yoga of Max's Discontent, hit bookstores earier this month. Join us as we talk about the burden and freedom of a creative habit, the power of a journey, and so much more.

Tue, May 17, 2016

Should Writers Be Paid? - WN 041

We hear it all the time: "We can't afford to pay our writers," or, "Your payment will be exposure and experience!" But is that true? Should we take that unpaid internship? Find out in Episode 041 of Write Now.

Thu, May 12, 2016

Coffee Break 014: David Faux

David is a church-custodian-turned-tow-truck-driver who is querying his first sci-fi novel. We're talking worldbuilding, NaNoWriMo, & hope in today's show.

Wed, May 04, 2016

How To Deal With Rejection - WN 040

Rejection happens to every writer. This week's episode explores different types of rejection and how some of them can actually help us to become better writers.

Sun, April 17, 2016

Coffee Break 013: Diane Vallere

Diane & I talk about finding the courage to do what you love and love what you're doing, the ups and downs of self-publishing, and what it's like to be a "pantser".

Tue, April 05, 2016

The Worst Writing Advice - WN 039

The internet is brimming with writing advice -- both good and bad. Episode 039 of Write Now talks about how to determine which advice is worth following, and gives you a rundown of what I think are the worst offenders. Bad advice is bad. I think we've all received bad general advice at one time or another, such as: "Gun it! You can totally make it through that yellow light." "Aw, come on. You can totally handle one more drink." "You don't really need to study for the bar exam." "Your kids would totally respect you more if you dyed your hair blue." Sometimes it's easy to tell whether advice is good or bad -- it's just up to us to make the correct decision. But other times, the line between good and bad is a bit more blurry. Discerning good advice from bad advice. Advice, like so many things, is relative. Advice that's good for one person might be bad for another person (think of medical advice as an example here). So when you receive a piece of advice that sounds pretty good, ask yourself: Is it true? Who is giving me this advice? (Are they trustworthy?) Why is this person giving me this advice? Alex Cavoulacos of themuse.com offers two more great questions to ask when considering the source of the advice, in her article called "A Simple Test That Will Help You Tell If You're Getting Bad Advice": "The vast majority of advice you’ll be given in your life will be one of two types: Either ‘Do what I did’ or ‘Do what’s best for me right now.’ Make sure you take the time to identify if either is the case before taking the advice at face value." If either is the case, that doesn't immediately mean the advice is bad -- it just means that you have extra context to consider. And again, advice is only ever just advice. It's not a marching order, and so it's your responsibility to consider it fully before taking or not taking it. The worst writing advice. Here's my list of the worst offenders: "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life." -- This is simply untrue. I love to write, but at the same time I recognize that it is often frustrating and incredibly hard work. "Art is never finished, only abandoned." -- This quote from da Vinci may ring true, but it's terrible writing advice. It seems to be saying that if you decide a piece is finished (and gasp! submit it for publication), you're abandoning it, which is shameful and guilt-inducing.  When a mother bird pushes her baby birds out of the nest, she's not abandoning them -- she's sending them out into the world to flourish and grow. "You can't force good writing." -- Au contraire! If you've written for a deadline before and produced anything decent, you've likely forced good writing. Now, what you may not be able to force is creativity -- but if you take this as writing advice, all you're going to get is the license to be lazy. "I'm ag

Fri, April 01, 2016

Coffee Break 012: JoAnna Ver Meer

Episode 012: JoAnna Ver Meer Oh my friends, I am so very excited about today's Coffee Break episode (a.k.a. Tea Break, just for today). That's because I'm talking with my good friend & poet JoAnna Ver Meer, and I think that, by the end of this episode, you'll adore her as much as I do. "I don't think I would be a happy person if I couldn't write every day." Today's episode is a celebration of JoAnna's newest book of poetry, Syllables and Other Poems (published under her maiden name of JoAnna Tatman), and a look at how this poet balances her creative writing life with her technical writing life. "There's so much beauty around us that we miss it." JoAnna is a gentle and quiet spirit who has worked to develop a writer's mindfulness, read widely from the classics, and find confidence amidst her natural shyness. Listen to today's episode using the controls above or on iTunes, and while you're at it, be sure to follow Jo on Twitter or snag her books Walking After Rain or Syllables and Other Poems. (Again, her books are published under her maiden name of JoAnna Tatman.) Enjoy! You can help keep my dream (a.k.a. my podcast) alive. You can help support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast and Coffee Break spinoff by pledging $1 or more per episode on Patreon! :D I will send you emails. You won't regret it if you sign up for my email newsletter! (Probably!) Subscribe to Coffee Break (& Write Now). You can listen to the full Coffee Break episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or! You can listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher: iTunes Overcast Stitcher Spreaker TuneIn Radio Acast Podbay Android Help support this podcast! >> Or visit my sweet swag shop! That's right -- Write Now MERCH has landed. :) Shop for the writer, reader, or podcast listener in your life today! I'm on social media. Connect with the Write Now and Coffee Break podcasts on your favorite social media platform(s): Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Instagram The post Coffee Break: JoAnna Ver Meer appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner .

Fri, March 25, 2016

Coffee Break 011: Matt Paulson, Take 2

Episode 011: Matt Paulson You might remember Matt Paulson from one of my very first Coffee Break episodes, where we talked about his digital publishing company, automating the writing process, and blogging, as well as a book he had recently written. Five months later, Matt is publishing another book. It's called The Ten-Year Turnaround and it's about achieving financial freedom within a ten-year time period. "All writers are entrepreneurs, whether they realize it or not." Want to feel even more inadequate by comparison? Matt wrote this entire book while walking on a treadmill. "Fitbit tells you 'good job, you got your steps in,' and you also got a bunch of work done." During today's Coffee Break, we're talking about multitasking, being smart enough to know when you've hit a wall, the perks of self-publishing, and writing on the treadmill. Also, I recorded this after a very long week and while incredibly sleep-deprived, so I am in rare form. (You'll see.) And #neverforget: "Be a tool." ...Which reminds me, you can help support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast and Coffee Break spinoff by pledging $1 or more per episode on Patreon! :D Anyway, give today's episode a listen using the controls above or on iTunes, and while you're at it, be sure to visit Matt's website, snag his latest book, or listen to our previous conversation. I will send you emails. You won't regret it if you sign up for my email newsletter! (Probably!) Subscribe to Coffee Break (& Write Now). You can listen to the full Coffee Break episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or! You can listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher: iTunes Overcast Stitcher Spreaker TuneIn Radio Acast Podbay Android Help support this podcast! >> Or visit my sweet swag shop! That's right -- Write Now MERCH has landed. :) Shop for the writer, reader, or podcast listener in your life today! I'm on social media. Connect with the Write Now and Coffee Break podcasts on your favorite social media platform(s): Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Instagram The post Coffee Break: Matt Paulson, Take 2 appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner .

Mon, March 14, 2016

Give Yourself Some Grace - WN 038

I ended the last episode of the Write Now podcast (#037) with the concept of giving yourself some grace. I ended up thinking about that concept for a long time after that, so decided to give grace its own episode. I hope you enjoy it here in Episode 038. My deep, dark secret. No, I'm not Batman. Let's just get that out of the way. My deep, dark secret is that often I don't like myself very much. Maybe you feel like this sometimes, too. Or a lot of the time. You see, I never feel like I'm quite enough. I'm never thin enough, tall enough, fashionable enough, smart enough, motivated enough, or driven enough. I don't clean my house enough and I'm certainly not wealthy enough. I don't write enough. I have really, really high standards for myself and the work I do. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, in and of itself. But it can have troubling echoes throughout your life. SET ALL THE GOALS??? Recently, I made the mistake of taking a leadership course that focused on setting (and achieving) goals. The course essentially said that there are X number of hours in a week, and you are responsible for making each one work toward your goals. If you do this, you will be fulfilled. Well hey, that sure sounds nice. But I found that when you implement it into your life, things begin to break down. You start defining your self-worth by the goals you accomplish. You start packing in more and more goals to accomplish. You start to see any time not spent toward goal-achievement as wasted time. You see no value in relaxation. You see no value in enjoying life. This is a problem. Even worse, at the time, you think that you're chasing success. You think that you're doing something good. But then you find success. And you find that, even though you've accomplished something, you're not fulfilled. Not in the way you hoped you'd be. Because even though you've accomplished something, it hasn't changed who you are. You're still you. Which means you're still not thin enough or rich enough or smart enough or whatever it was you were dissatisfied with in the first place. So what are we chasing, anyway? What will it feel like when we're finally "enough"? I think that what we're really looking for is love. We feel like if we are thin enough or well-read enough that we'll finally be worthy of or earn the love that we want. Well guess what? You don't need to be worthy of anything. You don't need to earn anything. Enter grace. Grace is what we need to give to ourselves and to others. The basic tenet of grace is the understanding that we are all human, and no human being is or can be perfect. With that in mind, grace is favor—approval or preference—given without merit. Without having to earn it. Grace is the antidote to all of those awful feelings that keep us from writing, or from writing well: doubt, fear, hatred, guilt, anxiety, wort

Mon, February 29, 2016

Coffee Break 010: Kaitlyn Mirison

Episode 010: Kaitlyn Mirison Kaitlyn Mirison was one of the first people to get in touch with me when I first launched the Coffee Break offshoot of the Write Now podcast. And I am so grateful that she did. Kaitlyn is the author of An Artist's Pillars, and host of the Potential & Possibility Podcast, both of which encourage creative folks like you & me to believe in ourselves and deepen our experience of living. "It felt like I was standing on the sidelines of my life." For years, Katilyn worked as an accounting executive, a role in which she was successful but ultimately unfulfilled. She had dreamed of being a writer ever since she was a little girl, but those dreams had been crushed by fear and self-doubt. "At the very core, I didn't believe that I was valuable as a person." In this beautiful and moving episode, Kaitlyn talks about finding the permission you need to write, going against well-intentioned advice when necessary, making peace with your inner critic, and discovering your self-worth & value as a person. "When I started writing my book... that's when I felt like I was coming home." Give today's episode a listen using the controls above or on iTunes, and while you're at it, check out Katilyn's book and podcast. They are both as lovely as she is. :) I will send you emails. You won't regret it if you sign up for my email newsletter! (Probably!) Subscribe to Coffee Break (& Write Now). You can listen to the full Coffee Break episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or! You can listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher: iTunes Overcast Stitcher Spreaker TuneIn Radio Acast Podbay Android Help support this podcast! >> Or visit my sweet swag shop! That's right -- Write Now MERCH has landed. :) Shop for the writer, reader, or podcast listener in your life today! I'm on social media. Connect with the Write Now and Coffee Break podcasts on your favorite social media platform(s): Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Instagram The post Coffee Break: Kaitlyn Mirison appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner .

Tue, February 23, 2016

De-Clutter Your Life So You Can Write - WN 037

I've been thinking a lot about work/life/writing balance ever since I committed to writing a book this year. And so Episode 037 of the Write Now podcast is about just that -- balance, clutter, distraction, scheduling, and so much more. Just keep spinning... This is what I feel like a lot of the time: It's not incredibly fun (though maybe it looks cool from the outside). Being busy is fine if you can balance it well. But how many of us can actually claim that we balance it well? What's really important? Before we take a look at what's cluttering our life, let's look at the non-clutter -- the important stuff. In today's podcast episode, I encourage you to think of 5 things that are deeply important to you -- 5 things, whether they're objects or entities -- that are integral to who you are. Here are some suggestions to get you started: Spending time with family Nurturing healthy relationships with your friends Serving the community and volunteering Your faith Your creative time spent writing, drawing, painting, dancing, photographing, etc. Your vintage car collection Your career Personal fitness That plant your mother gave you that you've triumphantly managed to keep alive for nearly a year Reading Etc., etc., etc. If the other stuff in your life doesn't support these things, it might just be clutter. Distraction destruction. Clutter creates distraction. I know that when I used to think about my email inbox of 300,000-odd unread emails, my eyes would glaze over and my stomach would knot with dread. It's hard to write when your mind is on all of the emails you've never responded to. Same goes with a cluttered desk or office, a cluttered sink full of dishes, even a cluttered schedule. Sometimes it's worth it to devote the time to purge that stuff from your life. Sometimes it's even worth sacrificing one writing session for. Clean it up, get it over with, and get back to writing. Ultimately, the question you need to ask is: What needs to happen for you to sit down and write with the focus that you need to write? The answer might surprise you. It also might be time to give yourself some grace. I'm not very good at all at doing this for myself. But if you accidentally spend 45 minutes answering emails instead of writing during your writing hour, just forgive yourself, move on, and be more intentional about writing during your writing hour tomorrow. We're human, after all. We're not perfect. So give yourself some grace, move on, and set yourself up for a successful distraction-free writing session tomorrow. The Book of the Week is on its way. Uh. Yeah. I am still working on reading Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey. It's really, really good, but also really, really long. (And I've been really, really busy.) More to come... in the mea

Mon, February 15, 2016

The Pressure To Be Great - WN 036

We're under tons of pressure all the time -- as writers, family members, employees, and just as human beings in general. That stuff can really get to you -- and that's what we're talking about in Episode 036 of the Write Now podcast. Under pressure. Pressure surrounds us all the time -- and I'm not just talking about the type that keeps our heads from exploding. I'm talking about the type that keeps us in line socially, that often dictates our behavior without us even realizing it. Pressure isn't necessarily good or bad -- it's just a neutral force that presses against us, against our morals and values and strength of character. And we can decide how we respond to it. And that's what today's episode is all about: how to take a step back and reassess the pressure you're under. It's about how to deal with and respond to pressure in a way that creates positive outcomes (inspiration) instead of negative outcomes (crippling fear & doubt). At the end of the day, pressure doesn't control you. Your decisions about how you react to pressure determine how things turn out. So give today's episode a listen, and give in to the pressure -- in a good way, in a way that keeps you writing and fulfilled. Speaking of pressure... I've decided I'm going to write a book this year. I can't tell you whether or not it'll be any good. But it's something I've wanted and needed to do for a really long time now, and I've decided to commit. One thing I do know is that it's going to take a ton of time and hard work. So I'm going back and listening to Episode 009, "Say Yes To Writing", and remembering that when you say "yes" to one thing, it means you say "no" to something else. And that can be a good thing. So I'm honing my naysaying abilities. More about what that means in an upcoming episode. The Book of the Week is not really a book. OK SO. I am still working on reading Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey. It's really, really good, but also really, really long. (And I've been really, really busy.) HOWEVER! The Black Tapes Podcast has been my companion this week during my workouts, and I've gotta say -- this modern radio drama really takes the "work" out of "workout." It's the serial story of a naive audio journalist who finds herself in the midst of an adventure when she begins investigating the videotape collection of a paranormal investigator who doesn't believe in the paranormal. Something fun for you to listen to while you're awaiting new episodes of the Write Now podcast. ;) Keep up-to-date on my book-reading adventures on Goodreads. Coming soon: MERCH! My friends! I am currently building a store where you will soon be able to support my work at the Write Now podcast with sweet, sweet merchandise (a.k.a. MERCH)! Get very, very pumped. :D Until then, please do feel free to take full advantage of my Tip Jar: Do you feel the

Fri, February 05, 2016

Coffee Break 009: reShoUNn Foster

Episode 009: reShoUNn's Story Welcome to another Coffee Break episode of the Write Now podcast. I'm so glad you're here. Today I'm talking with beautiful poet, corporate writer, anthroponymist, jazz den owner, community builder, & kindred spirit reShoUNn Foster, who is working to invigorate Detroit with the art of words through her Out My Write Mind and Hip n Zen in the Northend projects. "Facebook saved my life." In today's episode, reShoUNn shares her story of what she went through during a long period of depression (she terms it her "Job period"), as well as the importance of having a writing identity, the healing power of journaling, writing, poetry, & friendship. She also speaks passionately about developing communities through teaching individuals to develop themselves and learn all they can about who they are. Check out reShoUNn's projects, and be sure to look out for her new website & podcast, coming soon. Want to be on Coffee Break? I'm always looking for exciting writers, authors, and other creative-type people to showcase with casual conversations about creativity, writing, and work/life balance. Send me an email at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com or contact me if you're interested in a guest appearance. I will send you emails. You won't regret it if you sign up for my email newsletter! (Probably!) Subscribe to Coffee Break (& Write Now). You can listen to the full Coffee Break episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or! You can listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher: iTunes Overcast Stitcher Spreaker TuneIn Radio Acast Podbay Android Help support this podcast! >> Or visit my sweet swag shop! That's right -- Write Now MERCH has landed. :) Shop for the writer, reader, or podcast listener in your life today! I'm on social media. Connect with the Write Now and Coffee Break podcasts on your favorite social media platform(s): Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Google+ | Pinterest | Tumblr The post Coffee Break: reShoUNn Foster appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner .

Wed, January 27, 2016

Coffee Break 008: Deane Barker

Episode 008: Deane Barker Hi friends! Welcome to your monthly Coffee Break episode of the Write Now podcast. Today I want to share with you the delightful and fun conversation I had with Deane Barker, who has been an authority in the web content management space since the mid-'90s and is wrapping up his first book on the subject. So! Even if you're not in to nonfiction (or especially if you are), Deane's insights about finding time to write, getting "friend-zoned" by your dream, dealing with writers' block, "parking lots" for ideas, imposter syndrome, chronic & acute editing fatigue, and giving yourself permission to fail (AND SO MUCH MORE!) are incredibly insightful and valuable. Also: cats! Curious to learn more about Deane? (I wouldn't blame you; he's a crazy-intelligent & super-awesome dude.) Check out his blog at Gadgetopia or his profile at Blend Interactive, grab your own copy of his book, Web Content Management, or follow him on Twitter at @gadgetopia. Oh, and if you were interested in checking out the link to Deane's raw, unedited "parking lot" full of notes for this podcast episode (per our conversation about collection systems), you can find that here. Want to be on Coffee Break? I'm always looking for exciting writers, authors, and other creative-type people to showcase with casual conversations about creativity, writing, and work/life balance. Send me an email at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com or contact me if you're interested in a guest appearance. I will send you emails. You won't regret it if you sign up for my email newsletter! (Probably!) Subscribe to Coffee Break (& Write Now). You can listen to the full Coffee Break episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or! You can listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher: iTunes Overcast Stitcher Spreaker TuneIn Radio Acast Podbay Android Help support this podcast! >> I'm on social media. Connect with the Write Now and Coffee Break podcasts on your favorite social media platform(s): Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Google+ | Pinterest | Tumblr The post Coffee Break: Deane Barker appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner .

Fri, January 22, 2016

The Power of a Writers' Group - WN 035

One thing I always want to stress in the Write Now podcast is the fact that you are not alone. Despite what you might feel, despite what you might what (or think you want), you're not alone. This is important. And it's the focus of Episode 035 of the Write Now podcast. Before we begin, a quick note that I've made it easier than ever before to support the work I do with the Write Now podcast with my new Tip Jar! :D OK. Enough of that. Let's begin... Starting a great writers' group -- or making your current writers' group even better. Podcast listener Laura emailed me with some questions about best practices for writers' groups: I wondered if you would consider doing a podcast on good practices for a writing group?  Do you have any suggestions based on your experience?  Exercises and activities? Resources? Pitfalls to avoid? Great questions, Laura. And YES! I have experience with both successful and failed writing groups, and I'm excited to share what I've learned with you. Different types of writing groups. Writer-Specific Groups What type of writers' group do you want to have? Writing groups that focus on a specific type of writer can include groups for mystery writers, women, veterans suffering from PTSD, sci-fi writers, poets, dissertation students, adolescents, and tons more. You could also simply just have an umbrella group for people who love to write, regardless of what they're writing. The Spectrum of Groups: From Encouraging to Critiquing What do you want your writers' group to do for the folks who join (including yourself)? I've been part of writers' groups that are 75% critique and 25% encouragement, and groups that are 90% encouragement and 10% critique (if that). Each offers different benefits. Critique-heavy writers' groups will help you develop your skills as a writer, and improve your manuscript (or whatever you happen to be working on) as well as your editing and critiquing skills. They are also great if you want to get better at reading your work in front of others. Encouraging writers' groups can tend to be a bit more laid-back -- they are places of social inspiration and discussion, and can equip you with the energy and encouragement you need to go home and write up a storm. Both will give you community and fellowship with like-minded writers, and can help you make both friends and the important connections you need to be successful. Group Size, Dynamic, & More You'll want a group that's neither too large nor too small. I recommend the sweet spot of 4-8 regular participants. There's also the dynamic to consider. I've been in writers' groups where one person is just a really bad fit (perhaps better described as a toxic personality), and we've had to find a way to ask them to leave. It's unpleasant, to say the least. If you're beginning your own group, consider carefully whom you'll be inviting. I'm not adv

Thu, January 14, 2016

Feeling Like A Fraud - WN 034

  Oh, my friends. It's time for episode 034 of the Write Now podcast. And I am so glad about that. :) Before we begin, a quick note that I've made it easier than ever before to support the work I do with the Write Now podcast with my new Tip Jar! :D All right, enough of that. Let's begin. "Who gave you permission to be a writer?" I know that often, on this very podcast, I've encouraged you to stand up (or stay seated, whatever) and proudly proclaim, "I am a writer." But sometimes (or maybe a lot of the time) saying this can make us feel like a fraud. Or perhaps you feel so fraudulent that you say it with a blush and a grimace, or you never say it at all. Because despite all the positive, affirming statements, there's always that voice. That mean, nasty little voice in the back of your mind that causes you to doubt yourself. The voice that asks, so viciously, "Who gave you permission to call yourself a writer? This is all part of something called the Imposter Syndrome, and today we're going to talk about how to respond to it. Why is it so hard for us to see our own value? The Imposter Syndrome is described beautifully in a New York Times article by Carl Richards entitled "Learning to Deal With the Imposter Syndrome", published on October 26, 2015. The article credits psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes for coining the term in 1978, and Richards describes it as follows: They described it as a feeling of “phoniness in people who believe that they are not intelligent, capable or creative despite evidence of high achievement.” While these people “are highly motivated to achieve,” they also “live in fear of being ‘found out’ or exposed as frauds.” Sound familiar? Why, yes. Yes it does. Remembering your worth. Obviously, it's not healthy to think that you are the most amazing writer in the cosmos, and that your writing is going to, like, liberate all people everywhere from shackles real and imagined. But it's also not healthy to feel worthless or fraudulent. Because you are neither of those things. You. Are. A. Writer. And you have immense worth as a person... whether or not you are working on a writing project at this moment. And just think -- the fact that you even deal with imposter syndrome is an indicator that you have the depth of intelligence and creativity that it takes to be a really fabulous writer. So what I want you to do, right now, is take a deep breath and say, "My name is [your name], and I am a writer." I don't care if you stand up and shout it or remain seated at your desk and whisper it. Just say it. Believe it. Do it. Be it. Prove that voice in your head wrong. And show the world how amazing you are. Book of the week. This week's book is Among Others by Jo Walton. And... wow. Just wow. Reading this book felt like coming home to myself -- there's no other way of putting it. I've

Mon, January 04, 2016

Do I Need A Website? - WN 033

Welcome to episode 033 of the Write Now podcast! Today I am answering the question, "As a writer, do I need a website?" I am also answering the inevitable follow-up questions of "Why?" and "How?" Stay tuned! Though as you listen, please note: I am not a lawyer! So please take what I say in this episode as my own thoughts & opinions and not official legal counsel. :) As a writer, do I need a website? Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Yessssssssssssssss. Seriously, a website is a great tool for any writer, whether you're a novelist, a blogger, a journalist, a poet, or... you know. Any other kind of writer. First, I'd like to establish the need for every writer to have an online presence of some type (if not a website). Whether that's a Twitter profile or an Instagram account, there's a community of other writers and (perhaps more importantly) readers online that you can't afford to ignore. So why would you need a website if you already have a digital presence on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Ello, etc.? Because you don't own those properties. Not 100%. But! BEFORE I GET IN TO ALL OF THAT, just a quick heads-up that I now have a Tip Jar live on my site! If you feel that the content I provide is valuable and encouraging, tossing a buck or two into my tip jar will help me continue to produce fun, interesting, & ad-free content on a regular basis. Thank you! :D All right. Now back to the good stuff. Home... home on the web... You need a home on the web -- a digital base camp -- that you own and control fully. Here's why: Branding. You can more fully brand yourself -- you're no longer constrained by the blue boxes and formatting of Facebook, or the 140-character limit of Twitter. You don't have to worry about being censored or having posts removed if you're a fan of four-letter words. Trust & credibility. Your own website lends you trust and credibility. You can refer people to [yourname].com instead of encouraging them to find you on Facebook/Twitter/etc. Professional email. And you can set up email on your domain so that your queries and correspondences come from something like hello@sarahwerner.com instead of saucylibrarian82@hotmail. Blog and write whatever you want. Your website is also a great place to host a blog, where you can establish yourself as an expert in your field -- whether that's novel writing, poetry, book or music reviewing, technical writing, and more. Build your audience, readership, or tribe. Your own website is also a great home base from which to build your tribe, a.k.a. your audience or readership. Build loyalty, collect email addresses, send emails to the list you build, and more. (For example, check out the black bar at the top of this page, where you have the option to sign up for the Write Now newsletter!) Make the money you deserve from your work.

Mon, December 28, 2015

Your New Year's Writing Resolution - WN 032

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Let's take a look at New Year's resolutions specifically for writers in episode 032 of the Write Now podcast. Make & keep your New Year's resolution. Let's be honest -- we are not part of the 8% of the populace that actually sticks to a New Year's resolution. For most of us, a New Year's resolution is lucky to last through the third week of January. And many of us, I'm sure, see New Year's resolutions as dumb, hypocritical, or useless. But maybe this year we can use the idea of a New Year's resolution to improve ourselves as writers. 8 tips for making and keeping your New Year's resolution: Keep it positive. Make it realistic and focus on just one thing. Make sure it's something you actually want to do. Establish a way to hold yourself accountable. Set baby-step goals and celebrate every time you reach one. Remember, you're establishing a new habit and that is hard. Set the stakes, if you need to. Start before January 1! (Yes, you can do that!) Remember to fail a lot. My New Year's resolution for 2016 is to write 100 words per day, 7 days a week. I'll keep you posted on how it goes. And I'd love for you to keep me posted, too. Contact me or send me an email telling me about your New Year's resolution. We'll hold each other accountable and make 2016 a year of amazing writing. Book of the week. This week's book is the complete Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson. Because I'd been feeling down and cranky and maybe just a little bit cynical. "Calvin and Hobbes" is a syndicated comic strip that ran in U.S. newspapers from 1985-1996 and, unlike "Cathy", "Family Circus", and "Rex Morgan MD", it wasn't terrible. In fact, it was delightful, and a source of constant and consistent inspiration for my young writer's mind. This strip follows the adventures of an imaginative boy named Calvin and his best friend, a stuffed tiger named Hobbes. But it's anything but childish. Bill Watterson has struck the perfect balance of sharp wit and scathing brilliance, raising the question over and over again of why we (whether child or adult) are constantly made to squash our creative impulses. Through "Calvin and Hobbes", Bill Watterson challenges the reader time and time again to live freely and creatively, and to make the very most of the time we are given. Keep up-to-date with my book-related adventures on Goodreads. Support the Write Now podcast! The best thing you can do to support Write Now is completely free -- simply tell your family, friends, and fellow writers to listen to it! But you can also help keep the Write Now podcast happily independent and ad-free with just $1/episode (or more or less, depending on how generous you're feeling): Or! There is also now the option to give a one-time gift or donation through PayPal! Simply type in any amount and y

Tue, December 22, 2015

Coffee Break 007: Vanessa Blakeslee

Episode 007: Vanessa Blakeslee Hi friends! Welcome to your weekly Coffee Break. Today I'm talking to Vanessa Blakeslee, the acclaimed short-story writer (and, I can add, distinguished and delightful personage) who has published her first novel, Juventud. Juventud (or "Youth") is a beautifully and vividly written coming-of-age novel set in Santiago de Cali, Colombia, and follows the story of Mercedes Martinez, a young woman who is in love and determined to make her own choices in life -- until tragedy strikes. Vanessa was a pure delight to talk to and I think you'll enjoy our conversation, which delves into the agency that we give our characters when we write about them, the differences between crafting a novel and a short story, giving your subconscious the time to "stew" over your story, and more! Curious to learn more about Vanessa Blakeslee? Check out her official website, snag your own copy of Juventud, or enjoy her award-winning volume of short stories, Train Shots. Want to be on Coffee Break? I'm always looking for exciting people to showcase with casual conversations about creativity, writing, and work/life balance. Send me an email at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com or contact me if you're interested in a guest appearance. I will send you emails. You won't regret it if you sign up for my email newsletter! Probably! Subscribe to Coffee Break (& Write Now). You can listen to the full Coffee Break episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or! You can listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher:          Help support this podcast! >> I'm on social media. Connect with the Write Now and Coffee Break podcasts on your favorite social media platform(s): Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Google+ | Pinterest | Tumblr The post Coffee Break: Vanessa Blakeslee appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner .

Mon, December 14, 2015

Creating In A Time of Destruction - WN 031

Talking about creation and destruction go hand-in-hand. And I think that writers play a special part in not only conveying the destruction of the present, but creating the future. Makers gonna make, yo. Let's do this together in episode 031 of the Write Now podcast. Creation, destruction, & writing. Destruction is hard to talk about -- it's so deeply tied with loss and grief and pain. But it's a reality that we as writers have to deal with, whether it's the latest in a string of mass shootings, the bulldozing of a beloved local forest, or an illness that's ravaging the body or mind of someone dear to us. Today's episode is based on a quote that I love by Maxine Hong Kingston: "In a time of destruction, create something." -- Maxine Hong Kingston And so when we're in the midst of a time of destruction, a long and vast stretch of wilderness, I think what matters is how we respond to it. Because we are powerful, creative beings. I've said it before and I'll say it again until the day I die -- words have power. The power to create and the power to destroy. The power to expose truth and shape the future. The world is changing. Let's change it for the better, together. Book of the week. The book this week? The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. What did I think? Well, I'm never one for hype -- back when the movie "Juno" came out, approximately 1.3 million people told me how much I'd love it, and when I finally got around to seeing this movie that was "MADE FOR ME" and would "CHANGE MY LIFE", according to everyone else... it was good, but it didn't quite live up to the hype. This book, much like "Juno" and Gillian Flynn's somewhat comparable Gone Girl, came to me with a similar amount of hype. So I went into it with a fair amount of trepidation. And for the first couple chapters, I was disappointed. The book seemed to be about a bitter British woman who rode around on a train staring out at the world around her. But. I sallied forth to give it a fair chance, and soon found myself lost in a wonderfully subtle psychological mystery that didn't so much smack you in the face as creep under your skin. Because you are the narrator. Even if you're not an unemployed alcoholic who commutes via train. You are her. And you get to learn with her and grow with her and develop at an extremely well thought out and strategic pace. This book has been compared to Gone Girl because it's subtle and psychological and full of murder. But I think it stands very well on its own. I think you'll enjoy the slow-burning character development, the recurring themes, the artful writing, and the sweetly optimistic ending. Recommended to folks who don't mind taking a harrowing journey with a flawed heroine, who appreciate a solid murder mystery, and who don't mind a bit of sex and violence in the mix. Keep up-to-date with my book-related adventures on Goodr

Fri, December 04, 2015

Coffee Break 006: Kate Dyer-Seeley

Episode 006: Kate Dyer-Seeley My friends, I have to admit: this episode of Coffee Break almost turned me into a hypocrite. Earlier this week, I released an episode of Write Now titled Letting Go, especially re: perfectionism. I proclaimed, several times, that "done is better than perfect!" This episode of Coffee Break really challenged that belief. The audio quality is not very good, thanks to a shoddy Skype/internet connection and echo-chamber-like setting, and my interview questions were total lame-sauce. I considered simply deleting this episode and sending an effusive apology letter to the interviewee, Kate Dyer-Seeley, who despite my flailing was absolutely delightful. But I couldn't do that, because on top of everything else I am stubborn as heck. So instead I'll apologize to you, lovely listener, for the substandard audio quality, let it go, and move on. :) Kate Dyer-Seeley on mystery plotting, hiking, & the magic of editing: Today's Coffee Break focuses on Pacific Northwest author Kate Dyer-Seeley. She's the author of several mysteries in the "cozy" genre (one of my faves), and a pure delight to talk to. Mystery writers need to be particularly strategic with their craft to keep the reader guessing, and Kate very graciously goes into detail about her strategizing and sketching process, from mapping out the murder on her whiteboard to creating suspect sheets, "adding the magic back in" with editing, and more. We also talk a bit about the New Adult genre, writing places as characters, "NaNo-ing" throughout the year, and more. Talking to Kate just really made me want to go home, shut myself in my office, and WRITE. I hope our conversation makes you feel the same way. :) Curious to learn more about Kate Dyer-Seeley? Check out her official website, or curl up by the fireplace with a mug of cocoa and one of her delightful cozy mysteries. Want to be on Coffee Break? I'm always looking for exciting people to showcase with casual conversations about creativity, writing, and work/life balance. Send me an email at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com or contact me if you're interested in a guest appearance. WOOOO, email! You won't regret it if you sign up for my email newsletter! Probably! Subscribe to Coffee Break (& Write Now). You can listen to the full Coffee Break episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or! You can listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher:          Help support this podcast! >> I'm on social media. Connect with the Write Now and Coffee Break podcasts on your favorite social media platform(s): Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Google+ | Pinterest | Tumblr ++Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee++ The post Coffee Break: Kate Dyer-Seeley appeared first on <a href="http://www.

Mon, November 30, 2015

Letting Go - WN 030

  Letting go is one of the hardest things a writer (let alone a human being) has to do. It speaks of loss -- whether willful or not -- and grief and all manner of unpleasant things. But as a writer, you have to do it. And it would benefit you to learn to do it well, and with grace. Today, in Episode 030 of the Write Now podcast, we'll talk about the different types of letting go you may face in your daily writing, work, and life overall. And I'll try not to get that Disney song stuck in your head. How to let go of: Perfectionism. Remember, done is better than perfect. Things that have changed and you cannot change back. And how to be OK with it. Needing to change other people (and letting go of your own ego). You are a finite resource, and you may need to pick your battles. Your own self-deceit. Sometimes clinging to a good idea prevents you from working on a great idea. Finally, we'll talk about how to know when to let things go, and how to give yourself some breathing room. This is important stuff. I hope you like it. Book of the week (x3!). This week, I read three books that ended up in my "started-but-never-finished" pile. :/ YES, I am one of those people who is willing to put down a book that isn't particularly engaging or to my liking. The way I see it, there are just too many amazing books in the world (and too little time) to spend time on books I'm not enjoying. Here's what I read: The Killing Floor by Lee Child Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs Orchid Beach by Stuart Woods None of these books are bad books. I think I was just in a wrong place/wrong time scenario with them. Keep up-to-date with my book-related adventures on Goodreads. What do you think? Do you have trouble letting go -- of words, of situations, of your own ideas or ego? I sure do. And if you do, too, I'd love to hear from you. Submit your thoughts or questions on my contact page, or simply email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. Get weekly inspirational emails. Every Wednesday, I'll send you the inspiration you need to write (or maybe just get through your day). All you have to do is add your name to my email list! >> Subscribe to the Write Now podcast for free! You can listen to the full podcast episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or! You can listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher:          Help support this podcast on Patreon! >> The Write Now podcast is on social media, too. Connect with the Write Now podcast on your favorite social media platform(s): Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Google+ | Pinterest | Tumblr Leave me a review. Like the Write Now podcast? Help me reach more listeners on iTunes when you write a five-star review. I might even read your review on the air! FUN! xoxo The post <a

Mon, November 23, 2015

Writing With All of Your Senses - WN 029

I'm back from my mission trip to Jamaica, my friends. And I have several stories and writing insights to share with you. It's all here in episode 029 of the Write Now podcast. Is travel a "must" for writers? Travel is a great way for writers to learn, grow, and gain an entirely new perspective. The only downside is that it's not feasible or accessible for everyone. Travel can be expensive, and not everyone can take an extended leave of absence from work, family, or other duties. This is why I'm so grateful to my employer, Click Rain, for sending me on an annual overseas mission trip to inland Jamaica for the past three years. In today's podcast episode, you'll hear all about my trip and how it affected me as a writer. A more complete and engaging story. I acknowledge the irony of lauding "writing with all of your senses" in the same episode in which I visit a village for the deaf. But I'm not saying that you need all five senses (or only five senses) to be a good writer. Not at all. I think that films and movies have done great things for our imaginations, but they have rather limited the way we tell stories. I've read many writers that rely on the same two elements -- sight and sound -- that movies use... and nothing else. But what about touch and taste and smell? Or any other kind of knowing? Today's podcast episode encourages you to create a multi-sensory experience for your reader, and not just convey sights and sounds in the tradition of the silver screen. Book of the week. This week's pick is Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn, an incredibly fun mashup between historical fiction and mystery. Lady Julia Grey is recently widowed and GASP! is there the possibility that her husband could have been murdered? This book has everything I love about the mystery genre, from lovable, genuine characters to smart and snappy plot twists, and in some ways pays a gentle homage to Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series. Lady Julia completes an enjoyable character arc that leaves us with a spunky, satisfying heroine who's quite progressive for her time. Plus, there's a dashing, mysterious, and very Heathcliff-ian hero named Brisbane, plenty of tea, a tiny dog named Mr. Pugglesworth, and a raven named Grim. I think you'll like it. Keep up-to-date with my book-related adventures on Goodreads. What do you think? I'd love to hear from you. Submit your thoughts or questions on my contact page, or simply email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. Get weekly inspirational emails. Every Wednesday, I'll send you the inspiration you need to write (or maybe just get through your day). All you have to do is add your name to my email list! >> Subscribe to the Write Now podcast for free! You can listen to the full podcast episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or! You can listen and subscribe using your favor

Thu, November 19, 2015

Coffee Break 005: Abraham Allende

Episode 005: Abraham Allende It's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy another episode of Coffee Break. I love talking with people who have interesting stories to tell. And Abraham Allende -- former Cleveland sportscaster and current bishop of the Northeastern Ohio Synod of the ELCA -- has many. Language has been a central part of Bishop Allende's career, from teaching high-school French to broadcasting Cleveland Indians games under the name Allen Davis. And he continues to speak, teach, and write professionally today -- though now it's from the pulpit. Despite any misgivings you may have about organized religion, I think you'll enjoy our conversation about the power of language and the messages we choose to share. We also talk about what it means to be called to a vocation. (You know, like writing. Or teaching. Or whatever it is you feel called to do.) Oh, and the importance of being authentic. All good stuff. Visit Bishop Allende's blog, or read more about him at Cleveland.com. Want to be on Coffee Break? I'm always looking for exciting people to showcase with casual conversations about creativity, writing, and work/life balance. Send me an email at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com or contact me if you're interested in a guest appearance. WOOOO, email! Find out all of the latest haps when you sign up for my email newsletter! I promise I won't spam you. :) Subscribe to Coffee Break (& Write Now). You can listen to the full Coffee Break episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or! You can listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher:          Help support this podcast! >> I'm on social media. Connect with the Write Now and Coffee Break podcasts on your favorite social media platform(s): Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Google+ | Pinterest | Tumblr The post Coffee Break: Abraham Allende appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner .

Mon, November 16, 2015

My Writing Retreat - WN 028

Welcome to Episode 028 of Write Now. I've returned from my annual writing retreat and we've got some catching up to do. Should I take a writing retreat? I've spoken with a lot of writers over the years about the merits of a writers' retreat. And the question of Should I? isn't really fair to ask, since the answer has been a resounding Yes! from all surveyed. Perhaps a better question to ask is: How do I keep the good effects of a short-term writing retreat going throughout the year? Takin' it to the woods. I know the woods aren't for everyone, but they're where it's at for me. And this year, I witnessed a lot of cool stuff, including a tiny snake, a toad that sat on my foot, and something mysterious howling in the night. But best of all, I found stillness and silence. I had time to process my thoughts (and time to even have thoughts in the first place). I ate when I was hungry and slept when I was tired, and read and wrote whenever the urge struck me -- which, in this environment, was often. You don't need to escape to a one-person cabin in the middle of nowhere to have a great writing retreat. I mean, I do because I am the introvert's introvert. But you can do whatever speaks to you -- whether it's taking a weekend at a hotel, bed & breakfast, or retreat center, a week at a friend's loft in Chicago, or simply a couple hours barricaded in your basement away from your kids. Read. Write. But most importantly, listen. Get back in touch with who you are as a person and as a writer. And don't expect to have your life changed (though that might happen), but rather leave yourself open to finding meaning in even the most mundane experiences. Book of the week. During my retreat/hermitage, I read several books. But my absolute favorite was Charles Yu's How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe. It's the story of the man who invented time travel and mysteriously disappeared, and his son, a time machine repairman who tries to find him. I've said it before and I'll say it again -- I'm a huge sci-fi nut. But even if you aren't, chances are you may still enjoy this book. It's a quick read, full of wit and humor and deep human feeling. It's also incredibly accessible -- Yu writes with plain language so that even talk of the space-time continuum and matters of physics are easily understood. There's none of the "parsecs" and "terraforming" and characters with a thousand apostrophes in their names (U'Zorge'drr) that can turn people off to sci-fi. Just a really interesting story about a father and a son, and a nonexistent but ontologically valid dog named Ed. Keep up-to-date with my book-related adventures on Goodreads. What do you think? Have you ever taken a writing retreat? What are the benefits you've taken away? And has your writing life changed at all because of it? Submit your own thoughts or questions on my contact page, or simply email

Mon, October 26, 2015

NaNoWriMo and You - WN 027

Help support this podcast on Patreon! >> It's November--and you know what that means! Or maybe you don't, in which case I'll tell you: it's NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH! And the way I see it, November is a time to celebrate all writers, not just novelists. That includes you. Get ready for the writing frenzy with episode 027 of Write Now. What is NaNoWriMo, and is it right for me? NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month (because who wants to say that over and over?), and over the years this has become a sort of marathon for writers. The challenge? To write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days, from November 1-30. Yes, that's nearly 1,700 words per day. Yes, that's insane. But it can also be kind of fun, and a great way to get into a daily writing habit. Keeping NaNoWriMo realistic. NaNoWriMo is a positive, inclusive event that encourages everyone to tell a story, and I love it for that. But it can also be incredibly difficult to meet and keep up with the daily word count. That's why I advocate participating in NaNoWriMo without the expectation of winning (i.e., reaching the 50,000 word count by November 30). Instead, set a daily writing goal that is more reasonable for your situation (e.g., 170 words a day, 800 words a day) and focus on reaching that goal every day in the month of November. Thinking about giving it a try? Friend me on the NaNoWriMo site and we'll do this together. And don't forget to enjoy the pep talks by some of your favorite novelists along the way. Book of the week. I'm a huge fangirl of Kelley Armstrong, who writes PNR (paranormal romance) for adults. So when I saw she'd published a YA series, I was curious to see how it would differ. The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong is the tale of 16-year-old Maya -- or at least it's the beginning of her tale. Because as much as I adored Maya's character (for once a whip-smart, funny, and likable heroine so much unlike Bella Swan), I had a hard time grappling with the fact that I was essentially reading 25% or 33% of a story. I love YA series, and I love cliffhangers. But I have really little patience with partially-told stories. A full book's worth of story should establish expectations that it then follows up on. If it ends on a cliffhanger, that's fine, as long as the reader feels satisfied (if tense, and excited for the next installment) by the final page. But with The Gathering, none of my expectations were met or fulfilled, and the abrupt, anticlimactic ending wasn't a cliffhanger so much as a "meh." It wasn't enough to lure me in to buying the next book (of which there are currently three). Keep up-to-date with my book-related adventures on Goodreads. Tell me your thoughts. Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year? Or have you done it in the past? I'm eager to hear all about your experience, or what you hope to get out of it! Submit your own tho

Thu, October 22, 2015

Coffee Break 004: Dave Booda

Episode 004: Dave Booda It's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy another episode of Coffee Break. Dave Booda (that's him, with the magnificent man-bun) of the Darken the Page podcast got in touch with me a while ago about recording a podcast episode together, and I thought it sounded like a great idea. SO THAT IS WHAT WE DID. Enjoy our banter about the creative process and all the STUFF that comes with it. :D Please note: This episode originally aired as Episode 43 of the Darken the Page podcast, but Dave very generously let me use it for today's Coffee Break as well. Thanks, my friend! Interested in Coffee Break? I'm always looking for exciting people to showcase with casual conversations about creativity, writing, and work/life balance. Send me an email at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com or contact me if you're interested in a guest appearance. WOOOO, email! Find out all of the latest haps when you sign up for my email newsletter! I promise I won't spam you. :) Subscribe to Coffee Break (& Write Now). You can listen to the full Coffee Break episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or! You can listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher:          Help support this podcast! >> I'm on social media. Connect with the Write Now and Coffee Break podcasts on your favorite social media platform(s): Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Google+ | Pinterest | Tumblr The post Coffee Break: Dave Booda appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner .

Mon, October 19, 2015

When Life Kinda Sucks - WN 026

Help support this podcast! >> Episode 026 of the Write Now podcast is once again sponsored by my good friend Dave Booda at the Darken the Page podcast. Check it out! Life isn't always as amazing as we'd like it to be. ...To put it lightly. Sometimes the Powers That Be decide that juggling the usual work/life/writing balance just isn't hard enough, and sends us fun new things to deal with on top of it all. Things like illness, depression, toxic people, and bad situations at work. So what's a writer to do? Keep yourself from getting lost. Sometimes, it's easy for all that rotten stuff to get to us -- to corrupt us, to dishearten us, to discourage us from writing. But you're stronger than that. Today we're going to talk about that, and about how to stay true to yourself during the toughest times. Tell me your thoughts. How do you deal with all of the negative stuff that life throws your way? Submit your thoughts or questions on my contact page, or simply email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. I can't wait to hear from you! Leave me a review. Like the Write Now podcast? Help me reach more listeners on iTunes when you write a five-star review. I might even read your review on the air! Get weekly inspirational emails. Every Wednesday, I'll send you the inspiration you need to write (or maybe just get through your day). All you have to do is add your name to my email list! >> Subscribe to the Write Now podcast for free! You can listen to the full podcast episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Alternately, listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher:          Help support this podcast! >> The Write Now podcast is online. Connect with the Write Now podcast on your favorite social media platform(s): Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Google+ | Pinterest | Tumblr The post When Life Kinda Sucks – WN 026 appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner .

Sat, October 03, 2015

Coffee Break 003: Matt Paulson, Take 1

Episode 003: Matt Paulson Hey friends. It's time for another Coffee Break! Today, I'm speaking to my good friend Matt Paulson, the author of two books and finance blogger-turned-entrepreneur. Matt is a smart dude who did something really interesting. He built a software program to gather financial data and generate blog posts about it. So today he's talking to us as the writer who literally built his own robot replacement. It's like science fiction, but it's REAL LIFE! And Matt has seen an incredible amount of success. That left Matt the writer with nothing left to write -- so he started writing books. One of those books he wrote in just 18 days (which you'll hear more about in this episode), and it's about an aspect of being a writer that often gets overlooked or pushed to the sidelines -- marketing. Matt's newest book, Email Marketing Demystified, is a great and accessible way to gain a following for bloggers, novelists, and writers of all kinds. He spills some secrets in this episode about when to start collecting email addresses through your website, how to use them, and more. I think you'll agree it's pretty cool stuff. Get a free copy of Matt's book! Want to learn how, as a writer or a blogger, to get started with email marketing? Matt's book, Email Marketing Demystified, is available free on Kindle through October 4, 2015, and if you'd still like a free copy after that, please contact him through his website. And while you're there, you can sign up for his email list. :) Interested in Coffee Break? I'm always looking for exciting people to showcase with casual conversations about creativity, writing, and work/life balance. Send me an email at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com or contact me if you're interested in a guest appearance. Receive incredibly exciting emails from me. Find out all of the latest haps when you sign up for my email newsletter! I promise I won't spam you. :) Subscribe to Coffee Break (and Write Now). You can listen to the full Coffee Break episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or! You can listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher:          Help support this podcast! >> I'm on social media. Connect with the Write Now and Coffee Break podcasts on your favorite social media platform(s): Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Google+ | Pinterest | Tumblr The post Coffee Break: Matt Paulson appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner .

Mon, September 28, 2015

My 10 Favorite Books - Part II - WN 025

Help support this podcast! >> Episode 025 of the Write Now podcast is sponsored by my good friend Dave Booda at the Darken the Page podcast for creatives of all kinds. He's a smart and funny dude. Check it out! LET'S TALK ABOUT BOOKS AGAIN! Today's podcast is a follow-up to last week's episode about 5 of my 10 favorite books. In this episode, you'll learn about the remaining five, as well as the reasons why they're so important to me: My remaining 5 favorite books! All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy The Ape Who Guards the Balance by Elizabeth Peters A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle Sabriel by Garth Nix Storm Front by Jim Butcher I'm so excited to share these books with you! Tell me your thoughts. Do you have a favorite book (or two or three or fifty)? Have you read any of the 10 books on my list of favorites? What did you think of them? Submit your own thoughts or questions on my contact page, or simply email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. I can't wait to hear from you! Leave me a review. Like the Write Now podcast? Help me reach more listeners on iTunes when you write a five-star review. I might even read your review on the air! Get weekly inspirational emails. Every Wednesday, I'll send you the inspiration you need to write (or maybe just get through your day). All you have to do is add your name to my email list! >> Subscribe to the Write Now podcast for free! You can listen to the full podcast episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Alternately, listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher:          Help support this podcast! >> The Write Now podcast is ON THE INTERBLAG, yo. Connect with the Write Now podcast on your favorite social media platform(s): Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Google+ | Pinterest | Tumblr The post My 10 Favorite Books (Part 2) – WN 025 appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner .

Fri, September 25, 2015

Coffee Break 002: Mad Like Alyce

Episode 002: Mad Like Alyce Welcome to another episode of Coffee Break! This week, I'm talking to lifestyle blogger Mad Like Alyce, who offers a special focus on living a healthier life with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and chronic pain. This is a great podcast episode for any writer who has a blog or is thinking about starting a blog! In our conversation, Alyce & I talk about the importance of selecting a niche for your blog without letting it confine or label you, how to draw inspiration from other bloggers while maintaining your own voice, how much time to spend writing a post vs. how much value it provides to your readers, and so much more. Alyce is not only a writer but a tech geek like myself, and so you'll also get some tips on starting your blog on a shoestring budget, using Google Analytics to understand and grow your blog traffic, and finding the right blogging platform. I hope you enjoy it. Visit Alyce's blog. You'll find Alyce online at madlikealyce.com, where she blogs about living a happier and healthier life with PTSD and chronic pain. She also offers fun lifestyle features highlighting new music, fashion, recipes, and more. Check it out. Interested in Coffee Break? I'm always looking for exciting people to showcase with casual conversations about creativity, writing, and work/life balance. Send me an email at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com or contact me if you're interested in a guest appearance. Receive riveting weekly emails from me. Find out all of the latest haps when you sign up for my email newsletter! I promise I won't spam you. :) Subscribe to Coffee Break (and Write Now). You can listen to the full Coffee Break episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or! You can listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher:          Help support this podcast! >> I'm on social media. Connect with the Write Now and Coffee Break podcasts on your favorite social media platform(s): Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Google+ | Pinterest | Tumblr The post Coffee Break: Mad Like Alyce appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner .

Thu, September 24, 2015

My 10 Favorite Books - Part I - WN 024

Help support this podcast! >> DID YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE BOOKS? This is a good thing, because episode 024 of the Write Now podcast is all about books. Hooray! This week's episode is sponsored by my good friend Dave Booda at the Darken the Page podcast. Dave is passionate about exploring the creative process, and his interview-style podcast lends some great perspective. Check it out! What are your favorite books? As writers, we tend to love books. Many books, various books, perhaps even all books. But we still have our favorites -- those books that we've had since childhood, books that comforted us when we were afraid, that kept us company when we were lonely. Those books that contain characters we count closer than our friends and remind us of all the possibilities life can bring. Here are 5 of my 10 favorite books, along with the reasons why. My favorite books! Today's podcast is about 5 of my 10 favorite books, and it gives you some background on why they're so important to me: Pattern Recognition by William Gibson Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte I'm super excited to share these books with you! Tell me your thoughts. What are your favorite books, and why? (Look at me, assuming you have more than one. It's OK if you don't.) Submit your own thoughts or questions on my contact page, or simply email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. I can't wait to hear from you. :D Leave me a review. Like the Write Now podcast? Help me reach more listeners on iTunes when you write a five-star review. I might even read your review on the air! Get weekly inspirational emails. Every Wednesday, I'll send you the inspiration you need to write (or maybe just get through your day). All you have to do is add your name to my email list! >> Subscribe to the Write Now podcast for free! You can listen to the full podcast episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Alternately, listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher:          Help support this podcast! >> The Write Now podcast is on all of those newfangled social mediums. Connect with the Write Now podcast on your favorite or not-so-favorite social media platform(s): Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Google+ | Pinterest | Tumblr   The post My 10 Favorite Books (Part 1) – WN 024 appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner .

Bonus · Thu, September 17, 2015

Coffee Break: Barbara Kyle

A truly delightful conversation with the author of the Thornleigh Saga about crafting a real page-turner. Support us on Patreon!  https://www.patreon.com/sarahrheawerner  

Wed, September 09, 2015

What Does Success Look Like For You? – WN 023

Help support this podcast! >> Oh man. Episode 023 of the Write Now podcast is about SUCCESS. Get ready  for some kind of MONTAGE or MOTIVATIONAL POSTER, probably! ...Or, you know, a nice earnest discussion on what it means to find success as a writer. What does success look like for you as a writer? It's something that we all daydream about but rarely give any serious thought: What would it look like if we were successful? I think that a lot of writers interpret success as a "luck of the draw" type fate, and to a certain degree, that's true. But I think those writers also tend to underestimate the power of strategic planning and goal-setting. It all starts with understanding and defining what success means for and looks like to you as a writer. For you, is success: Changing the way your society operates? Shaking up the status quo? Spreading an idea? Selling a lot of books? Making a ton of money from selling a ton of books? Hitting the New York Times or Amazon bestseller list? Or is it something else entirely? Success is possible. Success is not impossible for you. Now, I'm not saying it's necessarily probable, either. I'm just saying that, if you're willing to set goals and put enough work into it, success is possible. So have hope. Take heart. And get to work. I'll give you the rundown on what to do in today's podcast episode. Here's that motivational  poster I promised you. I hope you like it.   Book of the week. This week, I decided to read This is Water by David Foster Wallace. It was a good decision. Originally given as a commencement speech in 2005 to the graduating class at Kenyon College, this brief book takes up about 100 pages and 20 minutes of your time, but will leave a lasting impression that will keep you thinking throughout the week. I'd never read David Foster Wallace before (I know, shame shame), and this seemed a bit more digestible than The Infinite Jest. But now I've got a taste for it and can't wait to dive in to his heavier works. Keep up-to-date with my book-related adventures on Goodreads. Tell me your thoughts. How do you define success as a writer? And how do you plan to get there? Submit your own thoughts or questions on my contact page, or simply email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. I can't wait to hear from you. Leave me a review. Like the Write Now podcast? Help me reach more listeners on iTunes when you write a five-star review. I might even read your review on the air! Get weekly inspirational emails. Every Wednesday, I'll send you the inspiration you need to write (or maybe just get through your day). All you have to do is add your name to my email list! >> Subscribe to the Write Now podcast for free! You can listen to the full podcast episode using the controls at the beginning of

Mon, August 31, 2015

Was I Meant To Be A Writer? - WN 022

Help support this podcast! >> Hey friends. Have you ever questioned your writer-ly destiny? Then Episode 022 of the Write Now podcast is for you. What if I simply wasn't meant to be a writer? I received a letter from a very bright, very talented young writer named Amanda who was wondering whether she was actually meant to be a writer. Her letter affected me so much that I decided to dedicate this episode to exploring the topic. Amanda writes, I'm not sure if I'm meant to be writing... I like coming up with characters and thinking about the situations they would get into. I like developing the characters. I love dialogue particularly. ...But I spend maybe 5% of my writing time actually writing. The rest of the time, I am in misery. I agonize over my faults until I can barely move, let alone be creative... I'm just wondering if I should even be writing at all. Can someone maybe have a passion for writing but then shouldn't do it anyway? Wow. It took me a while, but I was finally able to provide Amanda with an answer, and I'd like to share it with you. There is no "should". The first thing I would do is question your "shoulds" and "meant tos". When you wonder whether you were "meant" to be a writer, or whether you "should" be writing, whose mandate are you following? Who is imposing those "shoulds"? Fate? God or a higher power? A teacher, professor, or friend? Yourself? That feeling of enjoyment/satisfaction/joy when you're able to write? I went through a time when my own "shoulds" seriously conflicted with what I wanted and needed to do with my life. I would bet that you have been through something similar as well. What's hard to remember amidst all those "shoulds" is that your life is not just one pre-determined path. Your life isn't just point A to point B. It's point A to LITERALLY ANYWHERE. There are thousands of possibilities, and thousands of choices you make in any given day that will determine the course of your life. You were given (or have, depending on your perspective) a talent for writing. And it's up to you to decide what you want to do with that talent. Do you want to write as a hobby? As a career? Or do you not want to write at all? The only person who can make that choice is you. Have you ever asked yourself this question? Let me know what conclusion you came to, or what happened because of the choice you made, by sending an email to hello [at] sarahwerner.com or sharing your thoughts in the comments below! Book of the week. (Okay, books.) I got lost in not only a great book but a great series this week. Karen Marie Moning's excellent urban fantasy "Fever" pentalogy (like a trilogy, but with five parts!) begins with Darkfever and ends with Shadowfever and wow is it a wild, gripping, breathtaking ride. I read all five books in some sort of fever of my own, often staying up significantly

Mon, August 24, 2015

How To Defeat Writers' Block - WN 021

Help support this podcast! >> My friends. Episode 021 of the Write Now podcast is about writer's block and how to defeat it. GET READY. Have you ever struggled with writers' block? Writers' block can seize any writer at any point during the writing process. But that doesn't mean you can't fight back! In today's podcast episode, I talk about what to do when: You can't come up with an idea You have too many ideas and you can't commit to just one You don't know what to write next You've strayed from your outline and you don't know how to get back on track You're bored with what you've written You don't feel like writing You're paralyzed by fear You're stuck in revision purgatory The many cures for writers' block. From writing exercises to the steps to getting unstuck (WN 013), getting yourself in a writing mood (WN 008), or regaining your confidence (WN 005), you'll want to make sure that you choose the cure that fits your situation. I'll help you do that in today's episode. Going through a period of writers' block does not make you a failure. Even if you miss a day or two of writing (or a month or two, or a year or two), it doesn't mean you're any less a writer. Writers' block happens to most writers. What really determines if you're successful or not is how you deal with it. What do you do? What do you do when writers' block strikes? Let me know or share your thoughts in the comments below! Question of the week. Thanks to podcast listener Brian for this week's question! It's about social media. Brian asks: Would you recommend having two separate social media accounts? One for your writing, professional self, and another for everything else? I'm especially interested in Twitter, but wonder if this would apply to other services as well. I have a background in digital marketing, so this was a fun question for me to tackle. It starts at about the 31:11 mark and will hopefully help you sort out what's right for you. Submit your own thoughts or questions on my contact page, or simply email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. I can't wait to hear from you. Leave me a review. Like the Write Now podcast? Help me reach more listeners on iTunes when you write a five-star review. I might even read your review on the air! I will send you things. I'll send you fun emails when you least expect it. All you have to do is add your name to my email list! >> Subscribe to Write Now right now! You can listen to the full podcast episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or! You can listen and subscribe using your favorite app/website/podcatcher:          Help support this podcast! >> The Write Now podcast on social media, too. Connect with the Write Now podcast on your favorite social media platform(s): Twitter | F

Mon, August 10, 2015

Truth In Fiction - WN 020

Help support this podcast! >> I never intended to go into marketing. In fact, I just kind of fell into it -- and realized I was fairly decent at it. In marketing, I've learned a lot about truth (and how people respond to truth) that I'll share with you today in Episode 020 of the Write Now podcast. Truth! Beauty! Right? There's an adage that says, "Writers are professional liars." I can understand the cynicism and humor that lie beneath that statement, but I don't agree with it. Not a bit. When you're writing to connect with people, whether it's an account of factual events or a story about unicorns piloting spaceships through a multiverse of rainbows, you have a responsibility to tell the truth. The fiction writer is the penultimate truth-teller. The resonant and enduring beauty of fiction doesn't lie in a mere faithful retelling of events. And simply writing what you know (yet another writing adage) is not enough. We write and read fiction to connect with others -- to find truths in one another. As Ernest Hemingway once said, "From all things that you know, and from all those you cannot know, you make something through your invention that is not a representation but a whole new thing, truer than anything true and alive." I really can't say it any better than that. Read more about it. Podcast listener Maggie referenced a rich and lovely interview with Maya Angelou in her letter to me. If you'd like to read that interview yourself, you'll find it here, in the Paris Review No. 119. I also quote a couple passages from Stephen King's On Writing in this episode. It's a great book, and you should read it if you haven't already. The book of the week. I re-read Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried for this week's podcast episode, and I'm glad I did. Not because I especially enjoy war stories or Vietnam War fiction, or even because I missed a lot of its finer nuances as a college student. It just felt... refreshing to know that I'm not the only one who struggles with truth-telling in fiction. It's a relief to know I'm not the only one who gets frustrated by the gross inadequacy and inability of our language to convey the complex spectrum of emotions that can be packed into one single event, one single moment. I'm not alone in this. You're not alone in this. And that's truth-telling at its finest. Keep up-to-date with my book-related adventures on Goodreads. Leave me a review. Like the Write Now podcast? Help me reach more listeners on iTunes when you write a five-star review. I might even read your review on the air! Is your email inbox lonely? I'll send you fun emails when you least expect it. All you have to do is add your name to my email list! >> Comments? Questions? What sort of truths have you discovered in your own writing? What do you think of the adages "Writers are liars" and "Write

Wed, July 29, 2015

7 Reasons You Need A Writing Mentor - WN 019

Help support this podcast! >> Do you have a writing mentor? Find out why it's super-important to have one in Episode 019 of the Write Now podcast! Every writer needs a mentor. What are the benefits of having a writing mentor? How do you go about finding one? Is it possible you have one already? And how can you tell a good mentor from a bad one? SO MANY QUESTIONS! Good thing I have so many answers. You are not alone. I think that, in general, writing as seen as a fundamentally solitary, isolated, and alone process. We imagine writers sitting up late at night at a well-shadowed desk, sipping cognac by the fire, shut into an office or study, out for a lonely walk. Maybe it's a man, maybe it's a woman. Heck, maybe it's this guy: (Sorry, I couldn't resist. That pipe-chomping, suspender-wearing image of a writer really cracks me up.) Point is, I don't think it's healthy for a writer to be perfectly 100% alone in their craft. Good vs. bad mentors! I share the story of how I met my current mentor, Melissa, and what a good mentor should be. I also talk a little bit about a mentorship with a different mentor (one that had been assigned to me) that did not turn out so well. 7 ways a mentor can help you in your writing: A mentor has been there -- he or she knows what it takes, and can offer trustworthy advice. You can trust a mentor to be honest and unbiased with you. A mentor can help open doors that might otherwise be closed to you. A mentor can act as a counselor, lifeline, or anchor during times of stress. A mentor can be a great role model, especially in the social graces. A good mentor will challenge you in ways you wouldn't challenge yourself. Meeting with your mentor will leave you feeling refreshed and inspired -- and in love with writing again. Really, nothing will get you fired up about writing like someone who is really fired up about writing. :) Where can I find a mentor? You can look for mentors pretty much anywhere. Here are some ideas: An old teacher or professor A member of your writer's group or book club An editor of your acquaintance A coworker who gets storytelling A spiritual or religious leader A writer you admire -- whether within your own circle of friends or a nationally recognized author And, as a special bonus, from my own personal bias: Six traits to look for in a mentor: Your mentor should be someone you can trust. Try to find someone you admire & respect, whose advice you'll look forward to following. Make sure your mentor is someone who is willing to be honest with you. Your mentor should be willing to take an interest & invest time in you. While you want them to be invested in you, make sure they're not going to take over your life. (Forceful personalities can be forceful.) You find yours

Mon, July 20, 2015

Fail A Lot - WN 018

Help support this podcast! >> Hey there, friends. In episode 018 of the Write Now podcast, I'm going to give you some advice that I'll bet you don't hear all that often: Fail a lot. As writers, why are we such perfectionists? Why do we expect perfection from ourselves? Shouldn't we understand better than anyone else that the human creature is inherently and beautifully flawed? I know, I know. I'm guilty of this, too. But let's do something we writers tend to be not-super-great at and dive headfirst into REALITY and admit: We are human. We are not perfect. And that is okay. Go ahead and repeat that a couple times, whether out loud or simply to yourself. Because it's true, and it's true of everyone. Especially if you're the type of person who protects yourself from failure -- and by doing so also prevents yourself from trying. And protects yourself from success. Failure fun facts: Failure is not rejection -- rejection is subjective feedback. Failure is not the opposite of success -- failure is a step toward success. Failure is not consequence -- before you stop yourself from failing at (a.k.a trying) something, it pays to find out what the consequences for that failure are, if any. If anyone has been successful at anything, whether it's writing a book or painting a mural or learning to walk, it's because they failed a lot on the way there. The more you fail, the more you'll succeed. In short, you have all the permission you need to fail a lot. Now go out and make it happen. The book of the week. The paranormal romance genre (often called PNR) has been gaining popularity over the past decade or two, recently exploding into the Twilight phenomenon. But far before Edward began stalking Bella, Buffy romanced Angel and Spike, readers fell in love with Christine Feehan's dark side, and Elena Michaels was bitten. I love PNR -- as long as it's well written. There are so many coattail-riders out there post-Twilight success that sometimes it can be hard to tell the good from the bad. However, I picked up Dark Currents by Jacqueline Carey with blissfully blind confidence. Jacqueline Carey has long been one of my favorite writers. I first read her (in)famous Kushiel's Dart series in high school and found a whole new world of sexy political intrigue in a uniquely feminine high-fantasy setting. It was new and surprising and soaked in syrupy language while remaining imminently readable. So when I saw that Ms. Carey had written a PNR series, I was ecstatic. How was she going to deviate from the norm this time? I wondered. I bought all the volumes I could find (which, at time of writing, is 3) and happily began to devour the first, Dark Currents. Unfortunately, Ms. Carey's considerable skill wasn't enough to elevate this novel from what it was: a perfectly by-the-book (no pun intended) PNR standard. Love t

Mon, July 13, 2015

Your Professional vs Creative Self - WN 017

Help support this podcast! >> Welcome to Episode 017 of the Write Now podcast, my lovelies. I am so glad you're here. Today we're going to talk about your work/life/writing balance. Where are you putting your energy? If you go out to iTunes and check out the Write Now podcast "about" info, you'll see it says: "A weekly podcast for aspiring writers looking to find a healthy work/life/writing balance." Sometimes, I feel like three separate selves trying to work together, instead of one self trying to find balance: my work self, my life self, and my creative writing self. And they don't always get along: Work self: This is your professional side -- the one that is paid to meet & greet clients, counsel people over the phone, make sandwiches, pour concrete, teach math, serve lasagna, balance the company budget, and lead a team. Life self: This is the "home" you -- the part of you that takes care of and hangs out with your family & friends, washes the dishes, binges on Star Trek: TNG reruns, volunteers at the animal shelter, and loves chili dogs. Writing/creative/passion-project self: This is often your most personal or secret self -- the you that loves, desires, and needs to create. The you that stays up until 2:30 a.m. drinking coffee and hammering out the next chapter of your novel (or bemoaning your writer's block). Think about how much energy you devote toward each of these three realms. (Not how much time you spend in each! Time and energy are different.) This can be per day, per week, per year -- however it makes sense to you. My lineup: Work = 70% of my energy Life = 25% of my energy Writing = 5% of my energy Don't judge me too harshly, please. Next, I'd like you to think about what it would take for you to be balanced or more satisfied with how you're prioritizing your life. Please be aware that balance is different from equal. A healthy work/life/writing balance doesn't mean each one should get 33.33% of your energy. It means that you need to determine what a satisfying, healthy balance would be for you, and be very intentional about living that out. For me, that healthy, ideal balance would look like this: Work: 30% Life: 35% Writing: 35% What is your ideal balance? How does it differ from the balance you're juggling right now? And what can you do to balance out the energy you spend in each realm? The book of the week. This week, I gave in to my curiosity (no puns about cat-killing, now) and read what I had long viewed as a member of a weird fringe genre of literature -- cat mysteries. The Cat Who Could Read Backwards by Lilian Jackson Braun is the first in one such series (dubbed "The Cat Who..." mystery series). I was a little disheartened that the cat (named Koko) was not the main character -- rather, he plays supporting actor to newspaper reporter Jim Qwilleran as the latt

Mon, July 06, 2015

How to Make Writing Fun Again - WN 016

Help support this podcast! >> This is the sweet 16th episode of the Write Now podcast with yours truly. Sometimes we lose that spark. Remember when writing used to be fun? Or better yet, satisfying? You can find that feeling again. It might just be a matter of letting go of some other stuff that matters less. It's about understanding what it is you love about writing. Here are some simple questions you can ask yourself that will guide your mind back into a happy writing place. Ask yourself... What was it that made you fall in love with writing in the first place? Reveling in the sheer number of possibilities? Getting lost in a unique story that was all your own? Playing out an imagined fantasy? Sharing a message you were passionate about? Next, ask: What changed? Did someone kill your confidence and tell you your writing wasn't great? Did you, for some reason, begin to feel ashamed of what you had written? Did you lose yourself in trying too hard to be like another, more famous, writer? Finally! What would it take for you to feel real joy and satisfaction in your writing again? That's where happiness lies. I'll help you find it in this week's episode of Write Now.  The book of the week. What first drew me to Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer, book 1 in the Southern Reach Trilogy, was a couple things: That pretty, pretty cover Rave reviews from two wonderful and well-read friends Insinuations that it is similar to LOST How could I resist? It is so hard to do horror right, in my eyes. Despite being a genre that gets looked down upon by critics and the public alike, good horror is difficult. It's so easy to be cheap -- so easy to be gory and cruel, to follow a common trope to its logical conclusion. It's hard to write something both truly awful and truly beautiful. But that is what Jeff VanderMeer has done in Annihilation. Four female scientists -- a biologist, anthropologist, psychologist, and surveyor -- are sent to investigate the mysterious "Area X", where 11 expeditions have gone before them and never returned -- or returned changed. You know me and my affinity for the Weird, so be prepared. This book is certainly Weird, and it's not for everyone. A quick scan of fellow reader reviews on Goodreads suggests that people tend to either love or hate this book. If I were you, I'd take my chances regardless. The narrator is unreliable and the science questionable, but I think you'll appreciate VanderMeer's beautiful, speculative, and deeply insightful writing. Keep up-to-date with my reading exploits on Goodreads. Featured quote: Leave me a review. Like the Write Now podcast? Help me to stay visible on iTunes when you write a review. I might even read your review on the air! Want to receive emails from me? Join the moveme

Fri, June 12, 2015

Why Is It So Important For Writers To Read? - WN 015

Help support this podcast! >> Welcome to Episode 015 of the Write Now podcast. We're going to be talking about something I've wanted to talk about for a while. SO I HOPE YOU HAVE BEEN WANTING TO HEAR IT! (Hint: the topic is BOOKS, you guys!) Why do writers need to read? "Reading is essential if you're going to be a writer." You've heard it from teachers and fellow writers and books on writing. Heck, you've even heard it from me. (And from Stephen King.) But why? Why is it so essential for writers to read? 8 benefits of reading for writers: Reading lets you understand what a reader wants -- and what you need to give your own readers. Reading gives strong fundamentals in story structure and plot development. Reading gives you a feel for and can expand your own ideas of stylistic items such as graceful narration, metaphor, transition, voice, and more. Reading gives you both inspiration and drive to move forward in your own work. Reading is a great way to get ideas! Reading shows you what's already been done. Reading lets you take advantage of lessons already learned by generations of smart writers. And, via our good friend Stephen King's excellent book On Writing: "The real importance of reading is that it creates an ease and intimacy with the process of writing... Constant reading will pull you into a place... where you can write eagerly and without self-consciousness." My point is, a writer who doesn't have time to read is like a musician who doesn't have time to listen to music, or a chef who doesn't have time to eat. The two activities are complementary and necessary if you're going to write well. 6 ways to fit reading into your busy schedule: Starting with the most obvious! Read in your favorite reading place during your free time -- whether that's out on the beach, in a cozy armchair by the fireplace, or in bed before falling asleep. Read over lunch at your desk or in the break room. Wear headphones (whether or not they're playing music) as necessary. Read while waiting -- at the doctor's office, in line at the DMV, while you're waiting for your daughter to emerge from school, on the toilet... wherever you can. Read during your commute to work, if you happen to ride a train or bus, or travel via carpool (but not if you're driving, bicycling, or walking). Read while you're exercising on a treadmill, elliptical, spinner, or another piece of equipment that doesn't need you to, you know, keep an eye on anything. Read EVERYWHERE ELSE (while jogging, gardening, vacuuming, driving, attending a boring party, etc.) with the magic of audiobooks! Bonus: I coin the phrase "predilection for fiction" in this episode. You're welcome. The book of the week. It must be Stephen King week in my brain or something. YOU GUYS. I read Bag of Bones and I was really glad I did.

Sat, June 06, 2015

Creating A Space For Writing - WN 014

Help support this podcast! >> YOU GUYS it has been a while. But I am back, and the foam on my delicious cappuccino is as fluffy and delightful as the suds in an angel's bathtub. (Is that weird? Maybe that's weird. But it's TRUE.) Anyway, I'm glad you're here. Where do you write? It surprises me sometimes -- where I am able and where I am unable to write. Can you write anywhere? Or do you have certain objects, snacks, or environmental enhancements (whatever that means) that you need to be able to write? The conditions can never really be perfect, I've found. BUT. If they could be perfect... Sarah's perfect writing environment: Large flat wooden desk for handwriting, brainstorming, and doodling. Plenty of paper, pens, and pencils to alleviate scarcity anxiety. Plants. Plants everywhere. Comfortable upright chair (too comfortable or slouchy and I will fall asleep). A window. Perfect silence -- or, if that's not realistic, lyric-less music to drown out sound. A soft rain or snow. Coffee-accessible. My own personal office incorporates these elements as much as possible, and adds in: Pale yellow walls for creative energy. Inspirational imagery and interesting knicknacks. Computer for typing. Books for research, inspiration, and periodic breaks. Piano. Two cats who don't always get along. Impressive and/or shocking supply of M&Ms. My point is that we curate these spaces -- we take them very seriously. Many famous writers, such as Jane Austen and Roald Dahl, do (or did, during their lifetimes). And yet I've done some great writing in the most unexpected places. Does the environment shape the work or does the writer shape the environment? What about your writing environment inspires you? Or what about your writing has inspired the environment? Do we change as we write? Does writing change us? I have so many questions, you guys. But the question I'm most interested in is: What is your perfect writing environment? And is that where you do your best writing? The book of the week. I wandered back into YA fantasy territory with this week's book of the week: Graceling, by Kristin Cashore. It's about a teenage girl with a keen talent for killing in a world where the Graced (those with superpowers) and the un-Graced (those without) must coexist. There are some similarities here with The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (including heroines Katniss and Katsa, a bond with a younger girl, themes of survival and rebellion against a corrupt government, and more) -- and in fact both books were published in the same year. But this book is strong enough to not feel like a derivative from its popular companion with a great love story (better than The Hunger Games'), compelling narrative, and unique fantasy world. My only complaint about the book was that,

Tue, May 19, 2015

7 Ways to Write Yourself Out of a Corner - WN 013

Help support this podcast! >> Oooh. Lucky episode 013. Or unlucky, if you suffer from triskaidekaphobia. And I hope you don't, because I think you'll enjoy this episode. Help! I've written myself into a corner! We've all been there. That point where you realize a scene's just not working. Or where you realize that your character's motivations don't match the action you need him or her to take. Or where you realize your outline sucks, or that you've been writing an extended idea and not a story. You've written yourself into a corner and you have no idea how to fix it. Well, I don't want you to be in the corner. The corner sucks. Here are seven ways to get out of that corner. Go back and your novel and search for the last place you didn't feel lost. This will help you find the "wrong turn" you took, or the mistake you made -- wherever things went wrong. Delete everything after that point (or, less drastically, copy-paste that chunk of text into a new file called "Leftovers"). Stephen King calls this "killing your darlings." And I know, it hurts. But sometimes you need to cut off the hand to save the arm. Throw a weird twist in there and see what happens. This means that you must give up your iron control over the plot -- you must stop caring for just a moment and be willing to see what happens. You can do this after having completed method #1 above, or all on its own. Realize it's OK to deviate from your outline. Sometimes we get into a place where our own ideas (or adherence to what we think is best) can limit us. Crumple up your outline (or tuck it neatly away into your "Leftovers" folder) and free yourself to imagine a new route. Re-examine who your characters are and determine what they would do leading up to a given situation -- not what you want them to do. Put yourself into your characters' shoes, flip on the empathy switch, and be willing to let your characters surprise you. Sleep on it. You might just be frustrated and burned out. If you are stuck, either take a nap or go to bed and let your mind heal itself. Just make sure you start again the next day -- otherwise, this is known as quitting. I don't want you to quit. Meditate. Turn off your computer and give yourself the time and the space to think. Writing isn't all active production -- sometimes we just need to sit and reflect and know it's okay to sit and reflect. Go for a walk. Take a shower. Doodle as you watch the pigeons strut along your window ledge. Have some tea. Clear your mind and see what happens. Ask for help. I KNOW. I am really bad at this, too. But sometimes it can really help to have someone you trust take a look at what you've written and offer suggestions or insights. Do not ask this person or these people to solve your problem for you -- only you can do that. But they can help point out weak and strong points within your writing and give you a fresh outlook or a new idea you hadn't c

Tue, May 05, 2015

My 8 Favorite Writing Tools – WN 012

Help support this podcast! >> In this week's episode of the "Write Now" podcast, I talk about caffeine addiction, my obsession with Bic 0.7mm #2 mechanical pencils, an intense personal dislike of sports, the ubiquitous egg timer, and (bonus!) Jane Austen's homemade ink recipe. Buckle up, because this is going to be ONE WILD RIDE. What are the tools of the writer's craft? Sculptors use a hammer and chisel. Knitters use needles. Writers use... what? A word processing program on a laptop? A composition notebook and pencil? A vintage Lillian Rose typewriter from 1945? My point here is that YOU COULD LITERALLY USE ANYTHING to write. Soggy Alpha-Bits floating in milk. Chalk. Blood and bones. But every writer has his or her preference -- and not only regarding what they use to create their art, but what they use to get inspired, stay focused, and get published. John Steinbeck used only one specific type of pencil. Jennifer Crusie uses a program called Scrivener. You'll hear more about all of that in today's episode. My eight favorite writing tools, you guys. And bonus -- they're all free, or at least incredibly cheap! OmmWriter: OmmWriter is a beautiful, minimalist writing program that enhances your focus and removes distractions. It's about $5 and up for either Mac or PC. Pencil & paper: I prefer Bic 0.7mm #2 mechanical pencils (they're SUPER cheap) and yellow college-rule legal pads. Idea book / reminder app: I use a more affordable knockoff version of the Moleskine ruled cashier journal. They're unobtrusive and fit perfectly into pockets and purses. Coffee: Oh you guys do I ever love coffee. (Not free, sadly.) Timer: I simply use the timer app on my phone. Otherwise, a kitchen timer, stopwatch, or online timer will do. Pinterest: Free! Might want to use your timer in conjunction with Pinterest to ensure you don't waste all of your lovely writing time. Sound: Be it music, silence, or a tool such as Rainymood (free website) or Noisli (app & free website). Dropbox: Don't lose your novel to a faulty hard drive or fried motherboard. Save it to the cloud using Dropbox and access it from any electronic device. The basic version is free. Please note that I'm not getting paid to shill any of the above products -- rather, I'm telling you about them because I use them myself.  The book of the week. Another home run this week! (AAA! Sports metaphor!) I'd never read Isaac Asimov before (he's the guy who wrote I, Robot and all sorts of other formative sci-fi), and I figured it was about time. Written in 1954, The Caves of Steel is a sci-fi murder mystery that stars a cop and his robot partner. It sounds cheesy, but OMG SERIOUSLY it is amazing. The twist is that robots are slowly replacing humans in the workforce, and if this cop wants to keep his job, he'll have to solve the murder before his robot counterpart.</p

Mon, April 27, 2015

Finding Your Voice - WN 011

Help support this podcast! >> Hey friends. Welcome to Episode 011 of the "Write Now" podcast. I'm glad you're here. How do I develop my writer's voice? You can probably name a lot of great writers who have their own particular voice. You might have heard something referred to as "Kafka-esque" or "Lovecraftian", or you might recognize echoes of similarity between one particular writer and his or her mentor. So what is this elusive element we call a voice? And how do we go about developing our own? Fortunately, you've already taken care of the first step. Unfortunately, you might have taken a ton of additional steps that you didn't need to take, or that you need to un-take. As the wise Yoda said, sometimes we must un-learn what we have learned. It's about finding yourself all over again. This week's episode of "Write Now" will help you get to the root of where your own personal writer's voice lives, and develop it from there. It's not a quick or easy process, but I think you'll find it's well worth the journey. Your voice will allow you to create real, innovative works that will set you apart from the million other writers out there. The book of the week. It's so RARE that a book consistently surprises me. Lev Grossman's The Magicians did just that. Readers either tend to love or hate this book -- and I'm not sure I loved it, but I certainly enjoyed reading it, to the point where the mind-momentum had built up to a point where I couldn't stop reading it. And I valued (so lame a word!) the constant surprise. This is not so much a cohesive novel as it is a collection of connected vignettes centered around two conceits -- first, that the Harry Potter world is real, and real teenagers react realistically (and more raucously) to the situations such a world presents them with; and second, that the Narnia world is real, and the Harry Potter-world young adults have access to it. The result is this oddly wonderful mish-mash of the naive and the profane, the cheerful and the dirty, the wondrous and the cynical. I thought it was an excellent portrayal of the post-college-graduation dump into the "real world" of 8-5 jobs and the magical possibilities that seem just out of reach. Keep up-to-date with my reading exploits on Goodreads. Get email newsletters from me. I like writing electronic letters to my friends. Add your name to my email list! >> Ask me stuff. I will give you answers! Just submit a question when you visit my contact page and type out your thoughts. You can also email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. I can't wait to hear from you. Subscribe! You can listen to the full podcast episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or! You can also subscribe using your favorite podcasting app! Find the "Write Now" podcast on  Stitcher, iTunes, Overcast, and pretty much everywhere

Mon, April 20, 2015

Writing Is Our Passion - WN 010

Help support this podcast! >> This is Episode 010 of the "Write Now" podcast. I HOPE YOU LIKE IT. It's about passion. What do we really mean when we say writing is our "passion"? Passion. It's part of the "Write Now" podcast tagline -- this is "the podcast that helps aspiring writers to find the time, energy, and courage you need to pursue your passion and write every day", after all. But what does that mean? Are we in love with writing? Do we feel called or compelled to write? Or does it mean something else entirely? This episode looks at the root of the word "passion", which in both Latin and Greek means "to suffer" or "to do harm". Wait, so do writers have to suffer for their craft? No. Absolutely not. But there are different ways to have passion about a craft like writing. One is life-enhancing and fulfilling. The other is detrimental and might just drive you mad. We'll look at both types of passion (harmonious and obsessive) in today's episode. GET PUMPED. The book of the week. This week, I tried to read City of Bones, the first book in Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series. It's about a girl who realizes she's magic and goes on adventures. It originally started as Harry Potter fan fiction. It was made into a movie. It has become embroiled in plaigiarism scandals. It had so much going for it! But I just couldn't finish it -- in fact, I had to put it down after the first four chapters.  Find out why when you listen to Episode 010. Keep up-to-date with my reading exploits on Goodreads. I will email you sometimes! I'll send you interesting emails when you least expect it. Don't worry, I hate spam, too. Sign up to get email updates from me. >> Submit a question (or two or ten). Submit a question when you visit my contact page and type out your thoughts. You can also email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. I can't wait to hear from you. Subscribe! You can listen to the full podcast episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or! You can also subscribe using your favorite podcasting app! Find the "Write Now" podcast on  Stitcher, iTunes, Overcast, and pretty much everywhere else you can think of. Hooray! What do you think? Do you talk about writing as a "passion" of yours? Do you find that passion and suffering are intertwined when it comes to writing? Do you ever suffer for your craft -- or do others ever suffer for your craft? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Help support this podcast! >> I'm on the socials media. That's correct grammar, right? (Kidding, kidding.) Twitter | Facebook | Ello | Google+ | Pinterest | Tumblr The post Writing Is Our Passion – WN 010 appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http:/

Thu, April 02, 2015

Say Yes to Writing - WN 009

Help support this podcast! >> As Joaquin Phoenix once said, "I'M STILL HERE." Mockumentary and hip-hop career to follow shortly. (Seriously, though, I've realized I turn out new episodes about every 10 days instead of strictly weekly. I hope that is okay with you.) Either way, welcome to Episode 009 of the "Write Now" podcast. Small note: If my voice sounds weird in this episode, it is because I have both a new microphone and a head cold. Life is fun like that. In order to say "yes" to writing, you have to say "no" to other stuff. When we were little, our teachers told us, "You can be anything!" But my ambitious little brain interpreted that to mean, "You can be everything!" Which is simply not true. Because despite our best efforts, there are only 24 hours in a day. And we can only fill those 24 hours with 24 hours worth of activity, from sleeping to going to work, cooking, driving the kids to clarinet lessons, reading, grocery shopping, tuning up your bicycle, rewatching all 144 episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, washing behind your ears, going to church meetings, and yes, writing. So if you're going to say "yes" to writing... well, sometimes that means saying "no" to other stuff. Fun stuff. Important stuff. Stuff society deems essential. And that can be hard. You are enough. When we start to examine our limits, we begin to feel... well. Kinda crappy. Kinda small. Kinda worthless. We realize we can't do everything we want to do. We realize we have limits, that we'll never be smart enough or fast enough or strong enough to do it all. But while you can't do everything, you can do anything. You have the power to choose how you spend your time. You have all the permission you need to call yourself a writer. You are a whole person, however broken you might feel, and I want to reassure you that whatever that "anything" is that you want to do? You are enough to do it. So the question becomes -- what are you willing to sacrifice for your art? What can you do within the limits you've been given? The book of the week. When I was instructed to read The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst for a women's group that I belong to, I'm kind of embarrassed to admit I rolled my eyes. I don't usually read a lot of self-help books, and the cover of this one was just so... Pinterest-y. But as I read through this book (which has a Christian bent to it, if that turns you on or off to it), I realized -- I needed help. I was overstressed, overbooked, overwhelmed, and racked by guilt. In short, things were LESS THAN OPTIMAL. I'm not going to say this book fixed me or changed my life, but it did help me to see more clearly all of the self-destructive things I do to myself when I say "yes" to too many things out of a people-pleasing mindset, and it reminded me that it's OK to prioritize my commitments and (kindly, graciously) say "no" to requests. Ke

Sun, March 22, 2015

How to Write When You Don't Feel Like Writing - WN 008

Help support this podcast! >> If you're looking for episode eight of the "Write Now" podcast, you've come to the right place. OR SHOULD I SAY THE WRITE PLACE BAH HA HA HA HAAA haaaaaaaaa I'm such a dork. I probably should be writing, but I just don't feel like it. There are days when it's hard to even think about writing. I know -- I've been there. (In fact, I may or may not be there right now.) It's so easy to feel disheartened or stupid or restless or any of those other thousand things that can keep you from writing. But I've come up with a decision tree you can follow that will help you start writing and keep going on even the worst days (or to know when it's time to get the rest you need). 1. Enter your writing space. Shut the door and sit down. 2. Honestly assess how you feel. If you are actually exhausted, go to sleep. But if you are simply feeling lazy (i.e., if you feel a tinge of guilt or regret when you think about ditching your writing session), then you need to write. 3. Create a "journal" file on your computer, or grab a notebook you can use as a journal. In it, begin writing about why you don't feel like writing today. 4. Take action to combat whatever you've written down, or simply use your journaling momentum to continue writing for your writing project. Either way, the key here is finding a active/creating path, and not tripping merrily along a passive/consuming path. Listen to this episode to get the full details. I also reference episode WN 004, "Go On, Surprise Yourself", which you can listen to if you need to liven up your storytelling. Also, while I'm at it, here are a couple of the passive "Do Not"s: 1. Do not watch a movie. 2. Do not watch TV. 3. Do not play video games. 4. Do not take a nap. 5. Do not surf the internet. Despite your best intentions, you will get lost in a black hole of unproductivity. I hope this helps. Because you're a smart, capable writer with a great story to tell. And I want you to tell it. The book of the week. I just finished Rachel Hartman's Seraphina. It's a YA fantasy novel about a 16-year-old girl and dragons and political unrest and OMG YOU GUYS I LOVED IT. And despite your age/gender/whatever, you might love it, too. Seraphina is a great example of a strong female character -- not in the "Angelina Jolie can bend bullets" or "Viking woman is a better fighter than the Viking men" way, but in a way that's real. She's confident, passionate, and true to herself while dealing with various personal flaws and realistic relationships. There are a few plot holes here and there, but it was otherwise an incredibly satisfying read. I can't wait to start the sequel. Keep up-to-date with my reading exploits on Goodreads. I will email you. I'll send you super-fun emails when you least expect it! Don't worry, none of it will be spam. Promise. Sign up

Wed, March 11, 2015

Who Is My Audience? - WN 007

Help support this podcast! >> Welcome to episode seven of the "Write Now" podcast. This episode is kind of a two-for-one special, in which I talk not only about finding and writing to your audience, but how to deal with that irritating little perfectionist who lives in your brain and doesn't want you to finish anything. Ever. Should I be writing for myself? My audience? Help! You want people to read and like (and buy!) your novel/book/etc. A great way to do that is to write stuff that people want to read. But who are those people, and how do you engage them? Should you focus on engaging everyone on the planet, a mid-sized audience, or one single person? Or should you simply write for yourself and hope that others share your interests? So many questions. But I have answers! You'll find them by listening to this week's "Write Now" podcast. Spoiler alert: My advice is to write for yourself, and edit for an audience of one person you respect and who encourages you. For me, that person is Walt Wangerin, Jr., one of my favorite professors from Valparaiso University and winner of the 1978 National Book Award for The Book of the Dun Cow. This is he: Remember, at the end of the day, done is better than perfect. Squash that little perfectionist who lives in your brain. I'll help you. Book of the week! I enjoyed a lovely re-read of one of my favorite poetry anthologies this week, Staying Alive: Real Poems for Unreal Times, edited by Neil Astley. It's an amazing compilation, and I can't stress enough how much you should pick up a copy for yourself, and potentially all of your friends and family and the strangers you bump into on the street. I also talk about "Wild Geese", my favorite Mary Oliver poem which also appears in this anthology. I debated whether or not it would be legal for me to read it out loud to you on the air, and erred on the side of caution. BUT! You can hear Mary Oliver herself read this short, lovely, & inspiring piece herself, courtesy of Maria Popova from Brain Pickings. And please do. Get inspired and keep up-to-date with my reading exploits on Goodreads. Get fun, random emails from me! I'll send you emails when I feel like it. Don't worry, I promise not to send you spam or do anything evil with your email address. I respect your privacy and I like you as a person. Sign up to get email updates from me. >> Submit a question. I like answering questions, and I didn't have one this week! So visit my contact page and type out your thoughts. You can also email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. Listen to the full podcast. You can listen to the full podcast using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or find it on iTunes! >> (And subscribe!) Tell me your thoughts. Whom do you write for? Yourself? Someone special or important in your life? Let me know in the comments! Like what you've heard? I

Tue, March 03, 2015

Walk It Off - WN 006

Help support this podcast! >> Dumpster diving. Mall walking. A 19th-century transcendentalist. These are only a FEW of the things that you have to look forward to in the sixth episode of the "Write Now" podcast. Walk it off. It was my dad's advice to me as a child, and it's my advice to you now as a writer. There's an interesting relationship between writing and moving -- between kinetic and creative energy. I hope you've had a chance to discover this for yourself. But if not, there's no time like the present to try it out. Going for walks helps me deal with writers' block and find new (or rediscover old) inspiration. It is a great way to refresh your perspective, get the blood/oxygen pumping into your brain, and simply reconnect with the world around you. And if walking isn't your thing, or if you face physical challenges or medical difficulties, that is completely fine! I've noticed that I get very similar benefits from riding in a car and gazing out the window, or otherwise having my physical body transported through time & space. Also! Here are the texts I reference in this episode, if you're interested in checking them out: 1. "Walking" by Henry David Thoreau, via The Atlantic 2. "A Poem is A Walk" by A.R. Ammons, via Claims for Poetry Energy begets energy. Remember that next time you get stuck. Book of the week! Ugh. I read the next book in the "Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter" series, and in doing so decided I was done with the "Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter" series. Burnt Offerings by Laurell K. Hamilton is the seventh book in the series and... for a number of reasons, I simply didn't enjoy this installation. It was relatively plot-light, which is sometimes OK with books and book series where the main focus is the main character's growth and relationships with other characters. But I really can't say those are especially well done here, either. Don't get me wrong -- I love horror. But everyone has subtle preferences where genres are concerned. I prefer creepy tales of psychological horror and madness and supernatural creatures and loud crashes in the basement. (See: House of Leaves, The Haunting of Hill House.) I don't enjoy the side of horror that revels in torture and cruelty and hurting people. And that is what's in the spotlight here. There are multiple violent rapes, intentional cruelty, and much else that I find personally distasteful. So! You might enjoy continuing with this series if you're OK with the more torture-y side of horror (and no judgment here if you are!) -- it simply wasn't something I enjoyed. It was fun while it lasted, Anita. Keep up-to-date with my reading adventures on Goodreads. Want to get sweet emails from me? I have the power to make that happen: Sign up to get email updates from me. >> Submit a question. Give me more cool stuff to talk about! Visit my contact page and type out your thoughts.

Wed, February 25, 2015

Regain Your Confidence - WN 005

Help support this podcast! >> It's the fifth episode of "Write Now"! Hooray! I hope that this podcast is helping you to find the time, energy, and courage you need to pursue your passion and write every day. Regain your lost confidence in 5 steps. Say it's been a long time since you've written. Say you've been rejected, you've been told (or told yourself) you're not good enough, you've lost a job, or you've simply been intimidated by the sheer number of books at the bookstore. Fear not! Seriously. I'm here to tell you that you're awesome, and that you can regain the confidence you need to start writing again. Here's how: 1. Free yourself of the pressure. 2. Remember that you are a writer, and nothing can change that. 3. Be proactive -- don't let despair win. 4. Form a habit of writing every day -- for while practice won't make you perfect, it will make you better. 5. Find a writing coach, mentor, or someone you trust to read your work. I mention a couple of previous podcasts in this episode, which you can find below if you haven't listened to them already: WN 001: What's keeping you from writing? WN oo3: Writing as self-care Remember, you have potential. So regain your confidence, get back on the horse (or bicycle or Vespa or dinosaur or whatever you prefer to ride), and live it out. I know you can do it. Book of the week! I am DEFINITELY NOT EMBARRASSED about what I read this week. Which is The Killing Dance by Laurell K. Hamilton, a.k.a. the sixth book in the infamous "Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter" series. It's kind of like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"-meets-paranormal romance-meets-'90s noir. If that sounds like something you'd enjoy, I'd recommend starting with the first book in the series, Guilty Pleasures. Or not. It's your life, and you're free to read whatever books you like in whatever order you wish. Keep up-to-date with all of my reading exploits on Goodreads! Submit a question. Give me more cool stuff to talk about! Visit my contact page and type out your thoughts. You can also email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. I'm not telling you what today's question is. Ha! Listen to the full podcast. You can listen to the full podcast using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or find it on iTunes! >> (And subscribe!) Tell me your thoughts. If you've ever lost confidence in your ability to write, how did you gain it back? Or if you haven't yet gained it back, what's keeping you from doing so? I WILL EMAIL YOU. Sign up to get email updates from me. >> Like what you've heard? I'm on Patreon! It's a great platform that helps folks who appreciate the arts to support content creators like myself. I'm trying to do this without sounding like a sales-y jerk. So if you find value or inspiration in the information I share, please consider becoming a

Sat, February 07, 2015

Go On - Surprise Yourself - WN 004

Help support this podcast! >> Welcome to the fourth episode of "Write Now", the podcast that helps aspiring writers to find the time, energy, and courage you need to pursue your passion and write every day. I'm so glad you're here. Go on -- surprise yourself. My own ability to surprise myself is my all-time favorite thing about writing. I've never been able to fully articulate how it works, or where the magic comes from. But I take a stab at it in today's podcast episode. I also talk about what it means to be "in the zone" when you're writing. Get very excited. AND SO! Today you'll get the answers to questions such as: 1. What is the value of surprise for both the writer and the reader? 2. How do I get to that place where I'm surprising myself in my own writing? 3. How do I get into the "writing zone"? 4. Is writing an inherently selfish or narcissistic act? 5. Am I insane? Since I'm not a particularly humble person, I'd like to tell you that I think this is my favorite episode I've recorded yet. But I'll let you be the judge of that. Book of the week! This week's book gave me the inspiration for today's podcast. I heartily recommend Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury if you haven't read it before. Keep up-to-date with all of my reading exploits on Goodreads! Submit a question. I'll do my best to answer it. Just visit my Contact page and type out what you're thinking. You can also just email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. Today's question is: "What can I do with an English major?" Listen to the full podcast. You can listen to the full podcast using the controls at the beginning of this post. OR! Download it from iTunes! And maybe also subscribe on iTunes! :D Tell me your thoughts. How do you get into the "writing zone"? Or is it something you haven't yet experienced? Let me know in the comments below! My words. Your inbox. Sign up to get email updates from me. >> Like what you've heard? I'm on Patreon! It's a great platform that helps folks who appreciate the arts to support content creators like myself. I'm trying to do this without sounding like a sales-y jerk. So if you find value or inspiration in the information I share, please consider becoming a contributor on Patreon. :) Your generosity will go a long way in helping me continue to produce fun, interesting, and useful content on a regular basis. Thank you! Help support this podcast! >> The post Go On – Surprise Yourself – WN 004 appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner .

Fri, January 23, 2015

Writing as Self Care - WN 003

Help support this podcast! >> You guys, I am super stoked about this week's podcast topic. BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT: Writing as self care. The idea of using writing as a way to attain and maintain both physical and mental health isn't new. From amateur journaling to more official psychoanalysis efforts, writing is often used for external processing, personal introspection, and the sheer (and necessary) act of creation. Today's podcast explores: 1. Writing as healing. 2. Writing as maintenance. 3. Writing as social healing. My question to you is: how do we make the act of writing -- and its inherent benefits -- part of our daily routine? Book of the week! This week's book is the sparse and starkly beautiful The Cold Dish, the first of the Walt Longmire mystery series by Craig Johnson. Ever wonder what would happen if Cormac McCarthy were to write a mystery novel set in rural Wyoming? Wonder no more. Keep up-to-date with all of my reading exploits on Goodreads! Submit a question. I'll do my best to answer it. Just visit my Contact page and type out what you're thinking. You can also just email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. Listen to the full podcast. You can listen to the full podcast using the controls at the beginning of this post. You can also download or subscribe to the Write Now podcast on iTunes! I tend to release new episodes on Mondays. Tell me your thoughts. Have you ever experienced healing via writing or reading? Let me know in the comments below! My words. Your inbox. Sign up to get email updates from me. >> Like what you've heard? I'm on Patreon! It's a great platform that helps folks who appreciate the arts to support content creators like myself. I'm trying to do this without sounding like a sales-y jerk. So if you find value or inspiration in the information I share, please consider becoming a contributor on Patreon. :) Your generosity will go a long way in helping me continue to produce fun, interesting, and useful content on a regular basis. Thank you! Help support this podcast! >> The post Writing as Self Care – WN 003 appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner .

Wed, January 14, 2015

5 Steps to Making Your Writing Goals a Reality

Help support this podcast! >> Woo! I've officially made it to the second episode of "Write Now", the podcast that helps aspiring writers to find the time, energy, and courage you need to pursue your passion and write every day. I've also been told by several listeners that my voice is "soothing" and "mellow", which I'm counting as a win. 5 Steps for making your writing goals a reality. You probably already know that goals are extremely important to writers of all kinds. But how do we set goals -- and stick to them? This episode explores five steps for setting realistic goals and following through on them: 1. Begin to set your goal by defining something tangible you want to accomplish. 2. Establish your own realistic expectations. 3. Translate those realistic expectations into realistic goals. 4. Stick to those goals. 5. Move beyond your goals by internalizing them. I also take a look at some of the goals and habits of famous American writers, including Ernest Hemingway, Flannery O'Connor, and others. You can read more about these fascinating folks in this Flavorwire article. Book of the week! This week's book is the lovely (and starkly honest) On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. This is a must-read for any writer -- yes, even despite the fact that King is widely regarded as a hack. I don't care. This book offers fantastic, practical advice on world-building, vocabulary, truth-telling, plotting, getting an agent, and more. You should read it. Q&A I answer your burning questions! This week, it's, "Help! I'm constantly distracted by the internet! What should I do?" Submit a question. I'll do my best to answer it. Just visit my Contact page and type out what you're feeling. You can also just email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. Listen to the full podcast. You can listen to the full podcast using the controls at the beginning of this post. IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON iTUNES, YO! Download and subscribe and all of those pretty things. Tell me your thoughts. How do you stick to your writing goals? Shout it out in the comments below! What's that? You wish there was some way you could receive awesome emails from me? WELL MY GOOD SIR/LADY, YOU ARE IN LUCK. Sign up for awesome email updates here. >> Like what you've heard? I'm on Patreon! It's a great platform that helps folks who appreciate the arts to support content creators like myself. I'm trying to do this without sounding like a sales-y jerk. So if you find value or inspiration in the information I share, please consider becoming a contributor on Patreon. :) Your generosity will go a long way in helping me continue to produce fun, interesting, and useful content on a regular basis. Thank you! Help support this podcast! >> The post <a href= "http://www.sarahwerner.com