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 not…

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:…

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 t…

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 d…

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 epis…

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/…

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…

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, conta…

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-tel…

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 N…

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 …

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 cla…

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…

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 …

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 fel…

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 me…

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…

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 cr…

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 po…

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 episod…

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/s…

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 backg…

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-…

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, beco…

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.co…

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 …

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 N…

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 …

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…

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 Wr…

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 intervie…

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 …

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 N…

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.…

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:…

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, a…

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, pl…

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.sarahwer…

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…

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…

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: htt…

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 …

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 patr…

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://patr…

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…

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…

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.sarahw…

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:/…

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/ T…

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 n…