Writing podcast best
What are the best podcasts about writing, publishing, and the craft?
Projekt-Plan
Why: This podcast provides rapid-fire, 15-minute lessons on specific craft techniques from industry giants like Brandon Sanderson and Mary Robinette Kowal.
How:
- Search for 'Writing Excuses' in your podcast app.
- Prioritize Season 10, which is structured as a year-long masterclass.
- Download episode 6.10 (M.I.C.E. Quotient) and 7.41 (Seven-Point Story Structure) for foundational knowledge.
Done when: Subscription active and the 'Masterclass' season is bookmarked.
Why: Joanna Penn is the leading voice for indie authors, focusing on the business of writing, marketing, and the impact of AI in 2025.
How:
- Subscribe to 'The Creative Penn Podcast'.
- Listen to the '2025 Creative and Business Goals' episode to understand the current market landscape.
- Focus on episodes regarding 'Selling Direct' and 'Author Entrepreneurship'.
Done when: Latest business-focused episode listened to.
Why: This is the gold standard for understanding the traditional publishing industry and the 'querying' process.
How:
- Listen to the 'Books with Hooks' segment where literary agents Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra critique real query letters.
- Take notes on what makes a 'hook' effective in the first five pages of a manuscript.
- Use their advice to avoid common debut author pitfalls.
Done when: Three 'Books with Hooks' segments analyzed for common patterns.
Why: Research prevents 'hollow' world-building and ensures your setting feels authentic and lived-in.
How:
- Identify three core topics (historical, scientific, or cultural) central to your plot.
- Use non-fiction sources or specialized podcasts (e.g., 'The History of Rome' or 'Science Vs') to gather specific details.
- Create a 'Research Bible' in a generic note-taking app to store facts and inspiration.
Done when: Research document contains at least 10 unique, applicable facts for the story.
Why: K.M. Weiland’s deep dives into story structure prevent the 'sagging middle' and ensure emotional resonance.
How:
- Find episodes on the 'Three-Act Structure' and 'Character Arcs'.
- Apply the 'Positive Change Arc' principles to your protagonist.
- Map out your 'Inciting Incident' and 'First Plot Point' based on her structural guides.
Done when: Protagonist's internal and external goals are clearly defined.
Why: An outline acts as a roadmap, significantly increasing the chances of finishing the first draft.
How:
- Use the 'Seven-Point Story Structure' learned from Writing Excuses.
- Write a one-sentence summary for each of the 20-30 major scenes.
- Identify the 'Midpoint'—the moment where the protagonist shifts from reacting to acting.
Done when: A complete scene-by-scene outline of at least 2,000 words.
Why: Consistency is the only way to overcome the resistance of a long-form project.
How:
- Commit to either a word count (e.g., 500 words) or a time block (e.g., 60 minutes) daily.
- Use a simple spreadsheet or a generic habit tracker to log your progress.
- Write during your 'peak creative hours' (usually early morning or late night).
Done when: Writing log shows 7 consecutive days of met goals.
Why: The first draft is about getting the story down, not making it good.
How:
- Follow your outline but allow for 'happy accidents' where characters take over.
- Disable your 'internal editor'—do not delete or rewrite during this phase.
- Use placeholders like [INSERT COOL FIGHT SCENE] if you get stuck to maintain momentum.
Done when: Manuscript reaches 'The End' with a word count of 50,000+ (for novels).
Why: Structural editing ensures the 'bones' of the story are strong before you polish the prose.
How:
- Listen to 'The Story Grid' podcast episodes on the 'Five Commandments of Storytelling'.
- Analyze each scene: Does it have an Inciting Incident, Turning Point, Crisis, Climax, and Resolution?
- Cut or combine scenes that do not move the plot forward or reveal character.
Done when: Second draft completed with all structural gaps filled.
Why: You are too close to the work to see its flaws; external eyes are essential.
How:
- Find 3-5 'Beta Readers' who read your specific genre.
- Provide them with a specific questionnaire (e.g., 'Where did you get bored?', 'Which character did you dislike?').
- Look for consensus: if three people say the middle is slow, it is slow.
Done when: Feedback received from at least 3 readers and summarized into an action list.
Why: The query letter is your 'sales pitch' to agents and the gateway to traditional publishing.
How:
- Re-listen to 'The Shit No One Tells You About Writing' specifically for query structure.
- Include: The Hook (the stakes), The Book (stats/genre), and The Cook (your bio).
- Ensure your 'Comp Titles' (comparative books) are from the last 3-5 years.
Done when: A polished one-page query letter ready for submission.