Writing Tips: Podcasts on Writing

Credit: Bruno Gomiero

Podcasts are a great way of learning while getting other tasks done at the same time (think boring housework, driving, walks/bike rides etc). Here are some regular ones I listen to, which focus specifically on writing, and always have me itching to get to a pen and paper or my laptop once an episode has finished.

So You Want To Be A Writer – with Valerie Khoo and Allison Tait (AUS)

This weekly podcast with Valerie Khoo and Allison Tait is full of interesting and helpful tidbits on writing, building your author platform, and publishing; PLUS each week they interview a different writer from the industry, from romance and fantasy authors to non-fiction writers. The hosts are energetic and entertaining, and the podcast flows nicely as a conversation between the pair. Episodes usually last for 1-1.5 hours.

The Garret (AUS)

A new one on the scene, The Garret launched in November last year and is Melbourne-based podcast. It’s promoted as a podcast ‘by writers for writers about writers’, which pretty much sums it up. Each episode is an interview with a highly successful author, and it focuses on their craft rather than a particular book or series. So far authors have come from a range of genres, from fantasy author Jay Kristoff, to YA literary author John Marsden, to crime fiction author Kerry Greenwood. If you want to hear from the best, this is one to add to your playlist.

Writing Excuses — with Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, and Howard Tayler. (USA)

This is a nice little short one, about 15–20 minutes per episode. It’s mainly targeted at listeners who are in the midst of writing a novel, however I find lots of the content relevant to short stories as well, not to mention writing tips in general. The four authors have a conversation about a set topic, which usually flows through multiple episodes. For example they might focus on beginnings for a few episodes, and break this up into topics such as opening sentences and worldbuilding, with titles like ‘Where is my story going?’ I particularly enjoy the Book of the Week, where they review an audio book available on Audible. Lots of good recommendations! It is skewed towards science-fiction and fantasy writers.

Odyssey Writing Workshop (USA)

This podcast is specifically for science-fiction and fantasy writers, and it's a goodie. Odyssey Writing Workshop is a six-week intensive workshop held for science-fiction/fantasy/horror writers, at a college in Manchester, New Hampshire. Authors, editors and agents lecture as guests, and the podcasts are excerpts from lectures. Topics range from Creating A Magic System (Holly Black) to The Fiction Publishing Market (Gordon Van Gelder), and are both helpful and inspiring.