In the early days of podcasts, I happened upon a production out of UC Irvine (which for the life of me I cannot relocate) in which a soft-spoken host interviewed new and upcoming authors about their recently published books. Despite its occasionally poor sound quality and the lengthy, unedited interviews, that podcast felt like a treasure for a young writer in a small town like me, looking for some connection to the larger writing world.
Nowadays, we have hundreds, if not thousands, of writing- and reading-related podcasts to devour, and I’ve subscribed and listened to many of them. I’ve compiled here a list of some of my favorites (in no particular order) that are still producing episodes and have plenty to offer the writing community, from the newest writer to the most seasoned.
I hope you find these helpful! And please feel free to comment with additional writing podcasts you’d recommend that I may have missed.
Creative Penn with Joanna Penn: Writing, Publishing, Book Marketing, Making A Living with Your Writing
The Creative Penn is a fantastic resource for any author looking to learn more about the industry, find inspiration for future projects, and especially understand what it means to be a successful independent/self-published author. Joanna Penn’s long-running podcast is regularly updated, highly rated, and just an all-around wholesome and informative listen. The Creative Penn
Writing Excuses
I love Writing Excuses because it’s short (they aim for fifteen minutes per episode, but it’s usually closer to 25), it’s informative, and its multiple hosts have varied backgrounds, which lends diverse perspectives to their topics. They tend to focus on genre writing, including screen writing, but their craft advice applies across the board. Brandon Sanderson is one of the cohosts for the current season, though he is not a founding member. Writing Excuses
A Way with Words
While not strictly a “writing” podcast, A Way with Words is my favorite podcast about language, an important part of the writer’s toolkit. Listening to this podcast will give you plenty of historical and regional context to add to your characters and more than a few fascinating family history ideas. You can also write in or call to ask about a phrase or word you’re interested in. A Way with Words
Selected Shorts from Public Radio Exchange (PRX)
Every good writer should also be a good reader. And while I love reading a physical book (or e-reader), I also love listening to stories. On Selected Shorts, host Meg Wolitzer introduces us to stories new and old, usually around a theme, and read by professional actors. Each story ranges from about ten to thirty minutes long, a perfect length for any commute. Selected Shorts
The Sh*t No One Tells You About Writing
I’ve recently begun listening to this podcast and have found it extremely useful and entertaining. The co-hosts include author Bianca Marais and two literary agents from P.S. Literary Agency who regularly critique query letters and first pages on the show. They also do deep-dives into craft and interview authors like Ann Patchett and many, many others. The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
Write Now with Sarah Werner
Write Now with Sarah Werner is an inspirational podcast for writers in a rut. Listening to Sarah discuss her own writing trials and tribulations and offer advice to the audience feels like talking to your closest writing buddy. Her advice is affirming and encouraging. As an interesting side note, she also writes and produces radio plays, a genre that seems to be making a resurgence. Write Now