best creative writing podcasts

Podcast Review

The 14 Best Writing Podcasts

I n 1959, Jack Kerouac sat down at his typewriter and compiled a haphazard list of thirty “guidelines” for writers. His nuggets of wisdom included such zingers as “blow as deep as you want to blow” and “struggle to sketch the flow that already exists intact in mind.”

Whether Kerouac would have done the podcast circuit to promote “ Belief and Technique for Modern Prose ” is a question lost to history, but the enduring fetishization of the writing process shows that sources of creativity have always been elusive. If these writing podcasts are anything to go by, writers’ secrets are coveted like truffles amongst hungry pigs.

We all know that talking about writing is easier than actually writing. Listening to the podcasts on this list won’t substitute sitting down and putting words on paper. But it is impossible to deny that whether you are a freelance journalist or a budding novelist, the process of looking for inspiration can be a lonely one. This is where writing podcasts can become a useful resource to support your creative practice.

If you’re going to procrastinate, at least do so by listening to one of the best podcasts for writers to inspire your work.

DIY MFA Radio

Prestigious graduate programs have been coveted by aspiring writers for decades. But times are changing. Having an MFA is not necessarily a prerequisite for success — or a financially accessible option.

Gabriela Pereira is not claiming that her podcast, DIY MFA Radio, is a complete replacement for a grad program. But her popular show provides a toolkit for writers seeking to diversify and strengthen their craft. The show delves into most questions about the publishing world you’ve always wanted to ask — if you can get past being referred to as a “word nerd” in the first thirty seconds.

Through interviews with award-winning writers like Jojo Moyes, Brenda Jackson, and Steve Berry, DIY MFA substitutes a seminar for soundwaves. It explores everything from the obvious (“How to Turn Characters Into People”) to the useful (‘An Inside Look at Tropes in Literature’) and the unexpected (‘Crafting an Amish Romance’). The best part: no student debt.

Longform Podcast

Many career journalists dedicate their lives to longform writing. Chronicling the development of such writers and storytellers is Longform , a weekly podcast that showcases the slow burn of creative nonfiction in an internet age that rewards clickbait.

A recent surplus of episodes featuring writers promoting books and novels isn’t necessarily a drawback. It’s perhaps symptomatic of the recent resurgence in book sales , hardly something to be disappointed about. With a broad scope and a diverse set of guests, Longform does a great job covering a changing industry — especially the way people previously excluded from magazine writing have broken onto the scene.

The Writer’s Voice

For nearly a century, The New Yorker has been publishing some of the best new fiction, from extracts of the latest Ben Lerner novel to short stories by Rachel Kushner and Tessa Hadley. But here’s a secret: you need neither a subscription nor much spare time to enjoy new prose. The Writer’s Voice is part of the magazine’s excellent podcast catalog, which includes shows dedicated to both fiction and poetry as well as The New Yorker Radio Hour .

What makes The Writer’s Voice different is suggested in its title. These writers are reading their own work, giving each an additional layer of intimacy. Sure, it’s no indie show. But the prestige attached to the magazine attracts some of the best writers working today. If you’re a contemporary writer interested in how “our moment” is represented on the page, this is the podcast you should be listening to.

The Underground Writing Podcast

Describing the aim of Underground Writing, the organization’s executive director, Matt Malyon, writes: “We use creative writing as a shovel. . . And the soil, prepared by the literature, is pliant.” An accomplished and poignant example of how writing can create a positive impact beyond bookshop shelves, Underground Writing is a creative writing program that serves migrant, incarcerated, and other at-risk groups in northern Washington. The long hours involved in completing a book can breed solipsism, even egotism.

Although sometimes necessary to finish a project, these feelings often make the process isolating. Listening to The Underground Writing Podcast reminds us that, at its core, writing can inspire hope. We don’t need fancy grad programs to create something with substance. Writing belongs to everyone — even, and perhaps especially, the disadvantaged. Created by Malyon alongside Alvin Shim, the project has continued to produce podcast content throughout the pandemic, giving a platform to voices often forgotten in the noise.

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The Writer Files

With episodes like “How to Write a Book in One Month” and “5 Things Only Serious Writers Do,” The Writer Files is a response to our obsession with productivity. The show features a combination of interviews with writers on the minutiae of their routines and analyses of the science behind creativity, tapping into behavioral techniques to make its listeners more efficient writers.

Some might argue that using neuroscience to deconstruct the magic behind writing risks turning artists into automatons, yet it is undeniable that The Writer Files fills a hole in the discourse around career writing. Occasionally, we must abandon the romanticization of the lonely writer scrawling longhand into a notebook, uninhibited by modern workloads. The episode “ Busting the Myth of the Starving Artist ” is an important conversation about writers having the right to live a healthy life. We do not have to die for our art, and The Writer Files is an important reminder.

Between the Covers

Between the Covers is a writing podcast with literary clout. Brought to us by the publisher and literary journal Tin House , the show is hosted by David Naimon, a softly-spoken modern sage who may or may not be the most knowledgeable person in the genre, though this fact has yet to be verified.

The show’s standing as a platform for diverse writers and sharp, reflective conversation makes it the perfect gateway drug for a first audio hit of high-brow literature. Even if you come for its reputation, you’ll stay for the show’s mini-series “Crafting with Ursula,” where writers discuss their craft alongside the work of science fiction writer Ursula Le Guin. Le Guin’s masterful world-building proves a perfect vessel for conversation on topics ranging from nature writing to the poetic form. Current and innovative, Between the Covers provides writers with an anchor to a world of its own making, an unapologetically literary world.

Sponsor Working Drafts: A Writing Podcast

Novelist/humorist/coffee enthusiast Ted Fox (DATE WEEK, SCHOOLED) talks with other writers about their work—not so much the books they’ve published (although those definitely come up) but more what they’re writing right now, aka their works in progress, their working drafts, their open Word documents making them want to throw their computers out a window. Covering the good, the bad, and the daunting word counts, these are conversations about the craft of writing meant to be both fun and helpful. New episodes released each month on the 15th.

Writing Excuses

Writing Excuses is a punchy, fifteen-minute podcast that focuses on the craft behind creative writing. The success of the show is down to the dynamism of its presenters. Each one a working writer, the hosts represent a wide range of interests and genres, offering ideas on hundreds of writing topics.

Have you ever wondered how to use food as a creative device? Do you know how to write a character who is out of their depth? In many ways, Writing Excuses is delightfully old-school, yet it also reflects emerging and important trends in writing, such as gender, writing “the other,” and using sensitivity readers. Episode highlights include their recent live recorded shows, where the hosts’ cross-talk is funny and engaging; combined with the frequency of their episodes, Writing Excuses is a solid resource.

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Let’s talk about rejection. For the emerging writer, failure inevitably precedes publication. To continue writing is a feat of daily endurance not dissimilar to running a marathon wearing nothing but a loincloth that reads “desperate for industry acceptance” across one’s butt cheeks.

The answer, for those hungry for affirmation, might be a prestigious graduate program. But having a degree is by no means a guarantee for success. Plan B? Sorry to break the news, but the odds of winning a literary prize are very low. So what does a new writer do? This question, and plenty of others like it, are answered in The Shit No One Tells You About Writing , a podcast that provides a toolkit for writers seeking to understand a writing and publishing industry that is often impenetrable.

Host Bianca Marais knows exactly how to answer the tough questions; she’s a best-selling novelist herself. Alongside industry insiders, Marais never sugar coats the road to publication, instead offering useful and realistic advice that leaves writers with a better sense of the chaotic industry they’re determined to be a part of. The best part? Her co-hosts Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra critique two query letters in every episode, just in case you weren’t suffering enough.

Supercontext

A self-proclaimed “media autopsy,” this cult podcast by Christan Sager and Charlie Bennett was not overtly aimed at aspiring writers. The goal of Supercontext — which ran from 2016 to 2020 — was to understand why a book, television show, film or album was made, forgoing performing plot analysis or becoming a Cliffnotes hack-job to instead place media in its cultural context. Supercontext was a show that was hard to categorize, encompassing both mainstream and indie genres. Much like the podcast Philosophize This! (the similarity in tone and quality should also be noted), Supercontext relied almost exclusively on the support of its listeners who helped decide that topics became episodes. The podcast was a textbook example of how, as with writing, building a fanbase through authenticity is still achievable today. The show exemplified an important lesson for budding authors and screenwriters: how your writing is consumed will determine whether you can produce more.

The Critic and Her Publics

Critics are writers, too. In The Critic and Her Publics, a collaboration between The New York Review of Books and Literary Hub, Merve Emre speaks to the most prolific critics of our time. But there’s a twist: these guests must perform criticism on the spot about an object they’ve never seen before. It’s delightful, masochistic fun that most writers will enjoy.

There has been a recent resurgence in podcasts about criticism. The New Yorker recently launched Critics at Large , a weekly pop culutre podcast from the magazine’s most opinionated voices. While these shows will never match the trend towards big personalities espousing their thoughts as a personal branding exercise, it’s encouraging to see critics support each other in their powerful, yet often maligned profession.

The Plot Thickens

As the name suggests, The Plot Thickens is a writing podcast about craft. Specifically, it’s about the craft of writing crime fiction, possible the most complex of all genres. The show is hosted by bestselling author Elly Griffiths, a crime aficionado interested in everything from cozy crime to Scandi Noir. It helps that she has a voice straight out of an Agatha Christie novel.

In conversation with expert guests, Griffiths takes writers behind the scenes of writing a crime novel. If you want to challenge your plotting and develop your character writing, The Plot Thickens is has useful episodes like “ Writing Female Investigators “. Take this as a sign to finally write that murder mystery.

Start With This

For fans of cult podcast Welcome to Night Vale , anything that comes out of the brain of Jeffrey Cranor is gold dust. The success of his fiction podcast has made Cranor’s thoughts on writing useful for aspiring authors — especially those who are struggling with writer’s block. Start With This is a podcast that doubles as a creative playground. Cranor’s goal is to spark new ideas in this listeners by exploring topics like world building, opening lines — and what to do when you fail.

Each episodes includes two short assignments, one to consume and one to create. Cranor encourages listeners to begin gradually, making these habits a sustainable part of their routine. Trying to write as a “sprint” risks burn out (but it doesn’t stop us doing it). In a world full of flashy advice, Start With This offers pragmatism. Just get started.

“Crossing a threshold” is an ambiguous phrase. It reminds us of vampires and reaching targets and even smashing ceilings. But for Jordan Kisner, the author of Thin Places , a threshold can mark a moment of transformation. She interviews artists and writers about their transformative experiences, unraveling how these life-changing moments changed their work and inspired new ideas.

For those interested in how personal revelation can impact writing will enjoy Thresholds. It’s full of essayists and poets — the sort of writers who thrive in MFA workshops. Their stories of surprises, crisis, failures and breakthroughs are authentic and inspiring.

The Institute of Black Imagination.

The Institute of Black Imagination. is a podcast with a clear agenda. It aims to elevate black voices in the arts, calling itself a “collection of iconoclasts” offering alternative visions of the world. The podcast is hosted by writer and artist Dario Calmese, the first African American to photograph the cover of Vanity Fair .

Calmese is a curious mind with plenty of ambition for his audio project. It’s refreshing to hear someone take the interview genre into a space where provocative ideas blend easily with beguiling production. Unlike many other niche writing podcasts, which often sound like little more than unedited Zoom calls, TIBI has a clear artistic vision and the production quality to back this up.

While the show employs a lot of labels, its strength comes from its fluidity. With an emphasis on radical art and thought, Calmese amplifies the voices of marginalized writers and marginalized ideas, engaging with a diverse range of perspectives. Courageous and timely, let Calmese and his guests inspire you beyond established boundaries.

Alice   Florence   Orr  is a staff writer for  Podcast Review  and is based in Edinburgh . Her work has appeared in  Scottish Review ,  Like The Wind , and  Nomad Journal . You can connect with her on  Twitter  or  Instagram .

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30+ Writing Podcasts You’ve GOT to Hear (Best of 2024)

by Mel Wicks

on Aug 19, 2024

Looking for the top podcasts for writers? We listened to hours and hours of writing podcasts so we could bring you this definitive list.

This post is for writers.

Authors of fiction and non-fiction. Freelancers and copywriters. Bloggers and content creators.

We all need information to help us hone our craft, we all crave inspiration when we’re feeling blocked, and we’re all short on time.

It’s no wonder writing podcasts have exploded in popularity the last few years — they’re convenient, portable, and packed with valuable insights.

But with hundreds of great podcasts for writers to choose from, in niches covering everything from self-publishing to freelancing, which podcasts should you listen to, and where do you even start?

Right here.

Because we’ve done the hard work for you.

We’ve listened to over 80 hours of different episodes from around the world to compile this epic list of the best writing podcasts.

It’s the largest, most-definitive guide of its kind, and we’ve organized it to help you answer the only question that matters:

Which podcasts are right for me?

How to Find Your Perfect Writing Podcasts

To make it as easy as possible to find the best writing podcasts for you and your unique situation, we’ve divided our list into 6 categories:

Making a Living as an Author or Writer

Advice and support for freelance writers and content creators, improving your writing skills, finding inspiration, support, and a writing community, self-publishing and book marketing.

• The All-Rounders: The Craft, Business, and Process of a Writer’s Life

You can save time by jumping to the podcast category that best fits your needs. Or, dip in and out of a couple of categories to get a feel for content and style before you subscribe to your favorites.

Want to start your own podcast? Check out How to Start a Podcast: No Fluff (Just the Essentials)

Each podcast listing provides you with:

• A brief introduction on what to expect;
• Links to all sources where you can listen and/or download episodes;
• An audience reference guide to judge if this podcast is relevant to you;
• The reasons why we think you’ll love it;
• The average length of each show (based on the 10 most recent episodes);
• A link to a standout episode so you can take the podcast for a quick spin.

Plus, we have a bonus writing podcast at the end. (More on that later.)

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your AirPods and let’s dive in.

Writing podcasts to help you earn money doing what you love.

#1: Create If Writing Podcast

Cute name, huh?

Hosted by Kirsten Oliphant, Create If Writing is a weekly podcast for writers and bloggers who want to build an online platform “without being smarmy.”

Chock full of practical episodes (“How to Cut Your Business Expenses” and “A Simple Book Launch Framework” are two standouts), Kirsten also does regular interviews with successful writers and bloggers who share tips on everything from the importance of community to copywriting basics .

Who Should Listen to This Podcast:

Why you will love this writing podcast:, “if you tell someone about your book and say, ‘it’s kind of like a sci-fi thriller, with a little romantic comedy and fantasy mixed in,’ then you are in trouble.” – @kikimojo, average length of episode:.

• 30 minutes (16 to 47 minutes)

Standout Episode:

• Episode #152: How to Successfully Self-Publish on Amazon

Where You Can Listen:

• createifwriting.com
• Apple Podcasts
• ListenNotes

#2: Ditch Diggers

Ditch Diggers , launched in 2015, is about the business of writing.

It’s aimed squarely at writers who are facing deadlines, rejections, and everyday bills.

Presented in a conversational tone by Hugo Award Finalist, Mur Lafferty, and co-host Matt Wallace, Ditch Diggers is raw and honest and often sprinkled with colorful language.

You have been warned.

Leaving aside the practical advice from the lived experience of the two presenters, you’re going to love the podcast’s funky theme tune.

“I would tell my younger self, put your ass in that chair, write more things and get them out there.” – @MattFnWallace

• 22 minutes (9 minutes to 1 hour)
• Ditch Diggers #74: Drinks With an Agent
• murverse.com

#3: High Income Business Writing Podcast

Ed Gandia is a successful copywriter and coach who shares actionable advice, ideas, and interviews with industry experts in this monthly podcast.

Ed is a systems man who talks about processes and strategies — which he has applied to his own writing business — as well as real case studies from the industry to help you propel your writing business to the next level.

Or, in Ed’s own words:

“In this nuts-and-bolts, no-nonsense podcast, you’ll discover how to get better clients, earn more in less time, and bring more freedom and joy into your writing business.”

Copywriters, bloggers, and freelance writers who want to “earn more in less time, doing what they love for better clients.”

This is a must-listen if your livelihood depends on your writing chops and you need a dose of expert advice and guidance from the trenches.

“Writers underestimate what they bring to the table. The ability to create content is an important part of being able to scale a business.” – @EdGandia

• 38 minutes (29 to 45 minutes)
• Episode #176: Sonia Simone on Becoming a Higher-Value Resource for Your Clients
• b2blauncher.com

Writing podcasts to offer guidance, direction, and counsel.

#4: The Copywriter Club Podcast

The Copywriter Club is hosted by Kira Hug and Rob Marsh, who interview talented copywriters, copy editors, and other professional content creators.

The results are weekly snapshots of the successes, failures, processes, and habits of talented writers, and plenty of other ideas worth stealing.

Recent episodes have included “Symphonic Copywriting With Doug Pew,” “Telling the Truth About Advertising With Bob Hoffman,” and “What Copywriters Need to Know About Design with Lori Haller.”

Copywriters, bloggers, and content creators who want to take their skills and writing business to the next level.

Writing, in general, can be a lonely business, but listening to the Copywriting Club makes you feel connected, inspired, and educated. Plus, you get a written transcript with every episode.

“You want your copy to sound like you’re talking with friends. So, you’ve got to break these stodgy old grammar rules.” – @copywriterclub

• 50 minutes (43 to 58 minutes)
• Episode #134: Copy Editing With Autumn Tompkins
• thecopywritingclub.com

#5: Copyblogger FM

Copyblogger FM is hosted on Rainmaker.fm — a podcast network from the people behind Copyblogger.

Presented by Sonia Simone, along with the occasional guest expert, each episode focuses on an aspect of content marketing , copywriting, managing creative slumps, mindsets, and more.

Recent episodes have tackled topics such as moving from “making a living” to driving real revenue, how to reenergize your email list, and the reasons good writers sometimes have trouble finding good clients.

Copywriters, bloggers, and content marketers who want to stay up to date with emerging content marketing trends and best practices in copywriting.

Sonia Simone is the queen of content marketing and one of the best content writers in the business. If you are interested in this form of writing, you will hang on her every word.

“Listening is one of the most powerful things that any kind of writer can do.” – @soniasimone & @copyblogger

• 20 minutes (12 to 34 minutes)
• Becoming the ‘Chief Empathy Officer’ of Your Copy and Content
• rainmaker.fm

#6: Hot Copy Podcast

Presented by co-hosts and Australian copywriters Belinda Weaver and Kate Toon, Hot Copy is chock full of copywriting techniques , interviews with other successful copywriters, advice on how to find and manage clients, and more.

According to their podcast description, it’s “perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about copywriting, the writing bits and the running a business bits.”

Recent episodes have included “How to Work With Agencies,” “Super Tips from the Experts,” and “Sweary Copy: Smart Tactic or Trying Too Hard?”

Copywriters, freelance writers, and bloggers who want to hone their copywriting skills and learn more about running a freelance writing business.

These girls have so much fun! It’s like eavesdropping on a conversation between two besties who happen to be sharing great advice and expert tips on all things copywriting.

“There are enough clients out there who are willing to pay what you’re worth if you market yourself right.” – @hotcopypodcast

• 42 minutes (14 to 59 minutes)
• Episode 88: The science of conversational copywriting with Nick Usborne
• hotcopypoodcast.com

#7: B2B Writing Success Podcast

This one is for freelance writers who specialize in the business to business (B2B) niche.

Hosted weekly by copywriter Steve Slaunwhite, topics include copywriting tips, landing new clients, finding your niche, and growing your copywriting business.

Recent episodes have tackled topics such as how to raise your rates, getting better paying gigs , and Zig Ziglar’s 5-step process for overcoming any challenge.

B2B writers who want to grow their business and improve their writing skills.

Because it hones in on everything a B2B writer wants to know about running a successful business and provides a weekly dose of inspiration.

“Your positioning needs to drive a stake in the ground and say this is where I shine, this is where I add the most value.” – @steveslaunwhite

• 21 minutes (14 to 30 minutes)
• Focusing Your Writing Business With Michael Katz
• b2bwritingsuccess.com

Writing podcasts to help you hone your craft and perfect every syllable.

#8: Writing Excuses

Writing Excuses is a weekly podcast by writers, for writers. It’s all about the craft of writing.

Launched in 2008, it began introducing season-long themes in 2015, each one focused on a different aspect of the writing process. Themes have included structure, character, elemental genres, and how to write a novel. The current theme is worldbuilding.

The podcast is presented in a conversational format by a group of six, plus the occasional guest writer, and each episode comes with a writing exercise and a book of the week.

Fiction writers, whether they write for fun or profit. It’s all about becoming a better writer .

Because the presenters live up to its tagline, “15 minutes long because you’re in a hurry and we’re not that smart,” which of course is not entirely true.

The average length of the episodes is still short and snappy at 19 minutes, but they’re packed full of insight from seasoned writers, who are very smart.

“Like many of the great ironclad writing rules, ‘show-don’t-tell’ is not only not ironclad, it’s really squishy.” – @WritingExcuses

• 19 minutes (15 to 25 minutes)
• Episode #10:25: What Makes a Scene
• writingexcuses.com
• Subscribe on Android

#9: Writing Class Radio

Writing Class Radio is a podcast of a writing class.

Or rather, it originated from a writing class and continues to broadcast real-life stories from students and any aspiring writer who wants to submit their story.

Created and presented by writers and teachers Andrea Askowitz and Alison Langer, Writing Class Radio covers the art and process of writing, by analyzing individual stories, as well as discussions with editors and publishers.

Anyone with a passion for writing, telling stories , and studying the craft of writing.

It’s raw, emotional, unexpected, and sometimes tear-jerking, but everything is done with a passion for writing .

“The truth is what makes a reader want to read a story.” – @wrtgclassradio

• 19 minutes (13 to 29 minutes)
• Episode 60: If You Want to Write About Death and Get Published, Tell The Truth
• Writingclassradio.com

#10: Helping Writers Become Authors

Want to learn how to write a book?

How to outline and structure your story, and polish your prose?

Then this podcast is for you.

Presented by award-winning and internationally published author, Karen (K.M.) Weiland, each episode focuses on a different aspect of the craft of writing.

And with 465 episodes broadcast to date, you’re sure to find something of value.

Fiction writers looking for an experienced and down to earth mentor who delivers actionable advice in spades.

Apart from the wonderful classical music at the start of each episode, which provides a dramatic sense of arrival, Karen delivers her podcast in a “let’s get straight down to business” approach.

“My estimate is that as much as 75% of what is referenced as writer’s block is really just plot block.” – @KMWeiland

• 16 minutes (15 to 18 minutes)
• Episode 458: 7 Things to Try When Writing is Hard
• helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com

#11: Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach

Ann Kroeker is a published author, professional speaker and writing coach who shares her love of writing through her podcast.

She keeps each episode to around 15 minutes and focuses on writing tips, ideas, and concepts to help writers at all stages, interspersed with longer interviews with publishing professionals.

Subjects include everything from outlining and editing, to goal setting and writing schedules.

Established and emerging writers who want to reach their writing goals .

Ann delivers each episode in a light, easy-to-listen-to tone and instills confidence as she breezes through her topics and interviews.

Plus, each episode comes with full show notes and links to resources.

“Don’t let the fear of a messy, awkward first attempt stop you from trying.” – @annkroeker

• 15 minutes (9 to 52 minutes)
• Episode #186: Write to discover Your Favorite Type of Writing
• annkroeker.com

#12: Story Grid Podcast

This podcast takes the form of a one-on-one coaching session between Shawn Coyne, a successful author and editor, and Tim Grahl, a self-confessed struggling writer, as they discuss Tim’s progress and road bumps on his way to becoming a published author.

The Story Grid is a tool developed by Shawn to analyze stories and provide helpful editorial comments. It tells the writer what’s working, what’s not, and how to fix it.

Tim is both brave and lucky. It’s hard for him to hide his fears and struggles, but wow, what great advice he’s getting.

It’s like being a fly on the wall. But what’s going to happen when Tim finishes his book?

Book writers who are struggling with the process of structuring, editing, building characters, and other technical issues.

If you’re partial to the deeply analytical and process-driven approach to fiction writing, this one’s for you.

“The fact is that the creative act requires blue-collar effort 99% of the time.” – @StoryGrid

• 46 minutes (32 minutes to 1 hour)
• Why can’t I finish my book?
• storygrid.com

#13: The Creative Writer’s Toolbelt

Presented by British writer and creative writing mentor, Andrew J Chamberlain, this podcast combines practical teaching and interviews with writers, editors, and authors.

Each episode explores an aspect of the creative writing technique, with examples, allowing you to apply what you learn immediately to your writing.

Topics include story, style, character, and the writing process.

Book writers who are looking for the best advice and insight to take their story from concept to first draft.

Because this podcast is for all writers (from beginner to intermediate), it serves up practical advice in bite-size morsels. It’s packed with useful writing tips and tools.

“Sometimes you just have to be brave enough to jump and know that the universe is going to catch you.” – @writerstoolbelt

• 48 minutes (11 minutes to 1 hour, 19 minutes)
• Episode 132: Challenge Accepted! A conversation with New Zealand writer Steff Green

#14: The Taylor Stevens Show

Taylor Stevens is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author.

And she has one of the most interesting backstories in the business.

Taylor presents this podcast with co-host and indie author, Steve Campbell. They talk about all things writing, research, publishing, productivity, mindset, and more.

Recent episodes have tackled topics such as generating emotion in your reader, what happens when you let plot drive your characters, and the importance of understanding your audience.

Aspiring writers and authors who want to “kick writing in the butt one word at a time,” as they say at the beginning of each episode.

The two co-hosts have great chemistry, which leads to a casual half hour, often sprinkled with humor and inspiration. But at its heart, it delivers real gems of advice about the craft of writing.

“Your villains and heroes can only be as real and authentic as you, the author, is capable of creating them. And that takes empathy.” – @Taylor_Stevens

• 25 minutes (13 to 35 minutes)
• Episode 179: The Value of a Wandering Mind for Authors
• theshow.taylorstevensbooks.com

#15: Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Presented by Mignon Fogarty, Grammar Girl was the winner of the best education podcast in the 2017 podcast awards.

Mignon describes herself as “your friendly guide to the English language: writing, history, rules and cool stuff,” and that’s exactly what she delivers.

In recent episodes, she’s discussed dangling participles, what it’s like to be an editor and translator, and how to find work as a freelance writer.

Writers and bloggers who have a fascination for the origin of English words, and want to sharpen their skills when it comes to grammar and sentence structure.

Because it’s a wonderful reference source, but also a fascinating history lesson for all writers, poets, and word-nerds alike.

“By studying how others write and use specific grammar styles, you give yourself an opportunity to strengthen your writing in new and exciting ways.” – @GrammarGirl

• 15 minutes (4 to 23 minutes)
• What is a Schwa?
• quickanddirtytips.com

Writing podcasts to inspire you, support you, and help you find your tribe.

#16: Story-A-Day Podcast

Storyaday.org is an online hub for writers who want to “write every day, not someday.”

It sets creativity challenges, provides writing prompts , and publishes posts on creativity and the craft of writing.

The podcast, presented by Julie Duffy, was launched in 2010 and provides 15 minutes of pep talks and writing prompts every second Saturday. Recent posts have included “Finding Support” and “Goals vs. Reality.”

Writers and bloggers who are looking for support, insight, and inspiration to keep writing.

Because it’s more than a podcast. It’s a supportive community of like-minded writers who want the freedom to write well or badly, as long as they are inspired to keep writing.

“I didn’t know that making friends with other writers was going to be so important to my writing journey, but it really has been.” – @StoryADayMay

• 15 minutes (9 to 19 minutes)
• Episode #122: A Room of One’s Own
• storyaday.org

#17: Beautiful Writers Podcast

Presented monthly by author, Linda Sivertsen, together with different co-hosts, the podcast presents in-depth conversations with some of the world’s best-known writers.

Recent interviewees have included:

• Candice Bergen;
• Seth Goden;
• and Ann Patchett.

Writers looking for inspiration and practical advice on everything from writing practices to dealing with rejection.

Because Linda and her co-hosts manage to provoke honest, funny, and insightful discussions from writing celebrities who are happy to bare all.

“Write like no one will ever read it because it will make you braver and more audacious and free.” – @LindaSivertsen

• 62 minutes (29 to 90 minutes)
• Interview with Seth Godin: This is Marketing
• beautifulwriterspoodcast.com

#18: 88 Cups of Tea

88 Cups of Tea (what a great name!) was created in 2015 by actor, producer and writer, Yin Chang. It’s self-described as a safe space for storytellers to ”learn and feel empowered, inspired, and motivated.”

Each weekly episode is an interview with a writer, novelist, literary agent, or storyteller of another kind. Topics cover how-to’s, writing advice , career nuggets, and the highs and lows of being a storyteller.

So pull up a chair and a cup of tea, and enjoy!

Writers of every persuasion who are looking for a nurturing and inspiring community of like-minded souls.

Because Yin is a warm and considerate host, filled with unabashed enthusiasm and curiosity about writing. Or, as one listener puts it: “It feels like I’m sitting with my friends talking about books and I LOVE IT!”

“Do it when you feel you have this story pouring out of you and you have to write it out.” – @88cupsoftea

• 1 hour and 7 minutes (56 minutes to 1 hour and 40 minutes)
• S. A. Chakraborty: On Finding Joy in Your Craft
• 88Cupsoftea.com

#19: Write Now With Sarah Werner

A weekly podcast hosted by podcast coach and writer, Sarah Werner.

Sarah focuses on finding a healthy work, life, and writing balance, by talking about writing struggles, breakthroughs, and sharing writing tips and secrets.

Episodes are interspersed with “Coffee Breaks,” which are conversations with other writers.

Recent episodes have discussed burnout, how to handle it when someone steals your idea, and affirmations for writers.

Aspiring writers who are looking for encouragement and inspiration to write every day.

Because it’s honest, personable (listen to the Burned Out, Exhausted, and Overwhelmed episode), and very motivating.

Listening to Sarah is like a great session with your therapist who says all the right things to get you back in the chair and writing.

“The only person who can tell you who you are and what you can do – and can’t do – is you.” – @WriteNowPodcast

• 33 minutes (23 to 54 minutes)
• Episode #69: Affirmations For Writers
• sarahwerner.com

#20: Reading and Writing Podcast

It’s a very simple concept:

Host Jeff Rutherford interviews published authors who share their writing experiences and life stories. Occasionally, writers will read excerpts from their novels.

It’s like a cross between your favorite book club and the insider secrets of successful authors.

Episode schedule is intermittent, with new episodes sometimes published weekly, but usually monthly.

Book writers of any genre who want to learn from and be inspired by the experiences and wisdom of published authors.

Because it’s a valuable insight into the ideas, work processes, and lessons learned from contemporary fiction and non-fiction writers.

“Read all you can of the really good stuff out there. It inspires and it teaches.” – @JeffRutherford

• 17 minutes (12 to 28 minutes)
• Episode #214: Interview with Dean Koontz
• readingandwritingpodcast.com

#21: Story Makers Podcast

Presented by published writers Angie Powers and Elizabeth Stark, Story Makers Podcast mainly features interviews with other writers, filmmakers, and industry experts.

These interviews are intermingled with conversations between the two presenters about their current projects, what they’re struggling with, tips and advice, and their love of writing.

Recent topics have included simplicity in storytelling, setting goals, revisions, and writing humor .

Writers who want to be inspired by other writers’ stories, and who want to pick up some valuable writing techniques along the way.

The two hosts present the podcast as a spontaneous and informal conversation.

They invite you into their writing world and sweep you up with their passion. In fact, there’s a whole episode about why they love writing.

“That voice in your head that comments, while you’re writing, doesn’t know anything about writing. It’s just panicking, but it’s convincing.” – @Elizabeth_Stark

• 31 minutes (27 to 39 minutes)
• Episode 98: Writing and Reading it
• storymakersshow.com

#22: Write-minded Podcast

Write Minded describes itself as “weekly inspiration for writers.”

It’s presented by co-hosts Brooke Warner of She Writes and Grant Faulkner of National Novel Writing Month.

Brooke and Grant interview published writers and industry professionals, and tease out a weekly “green light” moment.

The podcast is professionally produced and provides valuable insight, while still sharing the hosts’ spirit of community and collaboration.

Anyone who loves to write, but needs a nugget or two of inspiration to keep going.

Because it’s presented by two confident and polished writers, who treat their audience and guest writers with the same respect.

And because each episode comes with a “writing action” — a set of instructions based on the theme of the discussion to make you think about, and practice, your skills as a writer.

“It’s all about serving your story.” – @brooke_warner

• 30 minutes (27 to 34 minutes)
• How to Get Out of Your Own Way, featuring Garth Stein
• shewrites.com

#23: The Worried Writer

This monthly podcast is stuffed full of tools, techniques, and inspiration to help you overcome your self-doubt and fear of writing.

Presented by author, Sarah Painter, each episode has a motivational title (“Just Keep Swimming,” “Little and Often is the Key”), and comes complete with show notes and links to resources.

Sarah also interviews other writers about their processes, their mindset, and their writing life.

Aspiring writers who struggle with fear and procrastination.

Established authors looking for ways to increase their productivity.

Sarah’s sing-song (Scottish) voice is the perfect tone for this empathetic and comforting podcast.

If you suffer at all from self-doubt (and what writer doesn’t?), Sarah is your new best friend and champion.

“Writing advice is like a buffet, take what you like… Leave everything else behind.” – @SarahRPainter

• 43 minutes (21 minutes to 1 hour)
• Episode #49: Kate Harrison ‘I Still Get Imposter Syndrome’
• theworriedwriter.com

#24: Write or Die

Very edgy, fly-on-the-wall style podcasting by two young debut authors, Claribel Ortega and Kat Cho.

Recent episodes start seemingly mid-conversation with guest writers, and with little introduction.

It’s like listening to friends hanging out in a café talking about writing and publishing.

Often funny and brash, the girls are bitingly honest about the real, unglamorous side of writing. And they love to champion the underdog.

Young aspiring authors who feel alone on their writing and publishing journey, and want inspiration and camaraderie from their peers.

Because this one doesn’t sweep the struggles and challenges under the rug.

Hearing writers you love admit they also struggle is oddly comforting.

“I think publishing loves the overnight success story narrative, but it’s never really the truth.” – @WriteOrDiePod, @claribel_ortega, and @KatCho

• 1 hour and 8 minutes (40 minutes to 1 hour 37 minutes)
• Episode #33: Joan He and A Slice of Life
• writeordiepodcast.com

Writing podcasts for authors, new and old.

#25: SPA Girls Podcast

The SPA (Self-Publishing Authors) Girls Podcast is presented weekly by four romance and urban fantasy writers from New Zealand.

While it’s aimed at those who want to self-publish, it covers all aspects of the craft and process of writing.

For example, recent episodes have included: “Facebook Ads with Maria Luis,” “Learn Dictation with Kilby Blades,” and “How to Write a Regency Romance.”

Anyone who is new or curious about self-publishing, especially in the romance genre.

Because it covers such a variety of subjects — from deep-dives into micro-topics to broad interviews with published authors and industry professionals. And each episode comes with show notes and links to useful resources.

“When you get close to publishing, you have to get someone to read it who is going to give you the absolute truth.” – @spagirlspodcast

• 45 minutes (28 to 60 minutes)
• Episode #173: How To Identify Your Writing Weaknesses
• selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com

#26: Book Marketing Mentors

Book Marketing Mentors is a weekly podcast presented by international best-selling author, Susan Friedmann.

It’s dedicated to helping writers market and sell their book.

Susan interviews marketers and publishers, and presents proven strategies, tools, ideas, and tips.

Recent episodes have included selecting the right niche, embracing change, and attracting more readers.

Authors who want to take their creative work to the next level and need help with the business of publishing and marketing their book.

Because Susan asks the right questions, puts her guests at ease, and presents a professional half-hour, chock full of actionable advice.

And for those who prefer to read the interviews, there’s a downloadable transcript.

“Success is nothing magical. It’s just a few simple disciplines repeated over time.” – @bookmrktgmentor

• Episode #165: How to Use Simple Habits to Become Enormously successful
• bookmarketingmentors.com

#27: The Self Publishing Show

The premise of this podcast is there’s never been a better time to be a write.

Why? Because the world of publishing is changing: “No more barriers or gatekeepers between you and your reader.”

It’s presented by two Brits: Mark Dawson, a renowned success story in the self-publishing industry, and James Blatch, a wannabe author who is currently writing his first novel.

Together, they explore all topics in the world of self-publishing, with a focus on actionable tips for new and experienced indie authors.

Any writer or author who wants to self-publish and avoid the same mistakes made by those who came before them.

This is an essential resource for anyone thinking of publishing their fiction or non-fiction book.

Packed full of tips and advice from industry experts, it also comes with downloadable transcripts of every episode.

“There are traditional publishing deals that are the right move, but 90% of them – in this market – I’d walk away from.” – @SelfPubForm and @JamesBlatch

• 1 hour (39 minutes to 2 hours)
• Episode #169: Six Indie Mistakes to Avoid – with Alessandra Torre
• selfpublishingformula.com
• Google Play

The All-Rounders – The Craft, Business, and Process of a Writer’s Life

Writing podcasts that cover pretty much everything.

#28: The Well-Storied Podcast

Presented by Kristen Kieffer, an author of fantasy fiction and creative writing resources, The Well-Storied Podcast has been running since early 2017.

Kristen sets out to encourage and inspire fiction writers across all aspects of the writing life.

Recent episodes have included “How to Rediscover Your Love for Writing,” “Why I Set & Quit a Hundred Book Reading Challenge,” and “Do You know What Drives Your Story’s Narrative?”

Fiction writers who want to make a living out of writing.

Kristen’s advice is practical and inspiring, and it comes from the heart as she develops her own writing career.

Her friendly style takes writers by the hand and helps them learn from her experiences, insights, and mistakes.

“Forget about what other writers are doing, figure out what you want from your writing, and go rock your vision with confidence.” – @kristen_kieffer

• 16 minutes (11 to 20 minutes)
• How Reading Critically Can Improve Your Writing
• well-storied.com

#29: The Writer Files

The Writer Files is hosted by Kelton Reid, who studies the “habits, habitats, and brains” of writers to learn their secrets of productivity and creativity.

Guests have included bestselling authors John Scalzi (Old Mans War), Greg Iles (Natchez Burning), Jay McInerney (Bright Lights, Big City), and Kevin Kelly (founder of WIRED magazine).

Recent episodes have included “How to Stay Creative with Bestselling Author Austin Leon” and “The Writer’s Brain on Productivity v. Creativity.”

Writers and bloggers who crave to learn and be inspired by the experiences and knowledge of successful writers and authors.

Because it digs deep into the motivation and psyche of a broad range of authors.

It provides useful insights into the methods and practices of the writers we’d like to emulate.

“You can have the best writing skills in the world, but if you don’t go out and market them, how is the world is going to find you?” – @KeltonReid

• 27 minutes (18 to 37 minutes)
• How to Make a Living as a Pro Content Marketer
• writerfiles.libsyn.com
• Google Podcasts

#30: The Creative Penn Podcast

The Creative Penn is hosted by British author Joanna Penn, who writes fiction (as J.F. Penn) and non-fiction for authors, so she knows her stuff.

The weekly episodes cover everything from improving your writing skills to publishing, book marketing, and making a living as a writer.

Topics in recent episodes have included voice search for authors, how to pitch your book for television and movies, and the importance of self-publishing.

Aspiring writers and authors who want to know everything about the writing life.

Because it’s got it all: information, inspiration, and interviews with successful writers.

Plus, each episode comes with show notes and a full transcript.

“Read widely, look further, dig deeper – because each of us has stories that need telling, and a voice that is distinct.” – @thecreativepenn

• 1 hour (46 minutes to 1 hour 18 minutes)
• Verbalize: Strengthen Your Writing With The Power Of Words With Damon Suede
• thecreativepenn.com

The Bonus Writing Podcast

We promised you a bonus podcast, and here it is.

To be included in our epic compilation, the 30 podcasts we’ve listed above are all current, with new episodes uploaded at least monthly.

This bonus podcast is no longer running, but we still think it’s worthy of your attention.

Here’s why:

#31: Zero to Book

Zero to Book ran for 26 episodes during 2016 and followed the process of turning an idea into a published book in real time.

Bestselling author Jeff Goins and Pamela Wilson hosted an on-going conversation in the Rainmaker.fm network about Pamela’s journey to become a published author.

While the show is no longer running, the episodes are still available and make for compelling listening.

Writers and bloggers who all believe they have a book inside them, but they’re not quite sure how to go about getting it out.

Because it’s a frank and fascinating guide on how to write and publish a book . It covers every step of the process from how to figure out your big idea, to building an audience of readers and how and when to launch. It’s the complete compilation.

“The best marketing of any book is the content of the book itself.” – @pamelaiwilson & @jeffgoins

• 30 minutes (18 to 51 minutes)
• Name Your Book: How to Go From a Working Title to a Title That Works

Editor’s Note:

Pamela successfully published her book, Master Content Marketing: A Simple Strategy to Cure the Blank Page Blues and Attract a Profitable Audience (affiliate link), in late 2016.

Besides being full of valuable insights on content marketing, the book is an excellent companion piece to anyone who followed Pamela’s and Jeff’s journey.

Which Writing Podcasts Will You Listen To?

It’s hard to choose, isn’t it?

Do you want to grow your freelance business? Want to improve your craft and become a better writer ? Or maybe you need inspiration and guidance to write your first book, and successfully launch it to a multitude of devoted fans.

But whatever your need, know this: you’re not alone.

There’s a whole community of like-minded writers out there, just waiting to provide you with the support, insight, and motivation you need.

They’ve got your back. And they share the answers and advice you’re looking for, week in, week out.

So, go on. Sign up to a few writing podcasts today. Find some new friends and take your writing to a whole new level.

And if there’s a great writing podcast we missed, be sure to tell us about it in the comments.

This post was originally published on April 30, 2019. It's been updated for clarity and comprehensiveness.

A certified copywriter with more than 25 years of experience, Mel Wicks listened to over 80 hours of episodes to compile this definitive list of writing podcasts.

The ultimate toolkit for becoming one of the highest-paid writers online. Premium training. Yours for free.

Written by Mel Wicks

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The Best Writing Podcasts

To be the best storytellers possible, we must embark on a never-ending journey of self-discovery. We must commit ourselves to constant learning. And we must be willing to take risks to find our true creative selves. This journey will take us to the tops of mountains, the valleys below, and sometimes through deep, dark woods. We’ll encounter beautiful, lush vistas and trudge through desert wastelands. The good news is that we don’t have to take the journey alone.

This adventure is where podcasts come in handy.

Podcasts can be a treasure trove of knowledge and motivation for writers. They offer tools to help us on our journey. Podcasts provide practical advice on refining our writing techniques, constructing engaging plots, and developing unforgettable characters. They delve deep into the nuances of the publishing industry, keep us updated about market trends, and guide us through the business side of being an author.

Listening to writing-related podcasts is like joining a virtual community of fellow writers, where we can glean from like-minded individuals' experiences, triumphs, and struggles. We can draw inspiration from other writers' journeys, gain confidence from their success stories, and learn valuable lessons from their challenges.

Podcasts can also provide us with a keen understanding of contemporary literary genres and trends. They allow us to study successful novels and accomplished authors and give us a deep analysis that is often instrumental for our growth as writers. And for those who find marketing our work a daunting task, some podcasts provide expert advice on book promotion, audience engagement, and platform creation.

Writing can often be a solitary pursuit, and the mental wellness topics covered by many podcasts remind us that it's okay to seek balance, prevent burnout, and prioritize our well-being.

In this round-up, we explore the top podcasts to which every author should consider subscribing. These podcasts have been carefully curated to provide a balance of inspiration, practical advice, industry insights, and mental support.

Let’s get started.

• The #AmWriting Podcast - Join Jessica Lahey, KJ Dell'Antonia, and Sarina Bowen as they offer entertaining yet actionable advice across all genres.
• Amie Kaufman On Writing - In this podcast, bestselling author Amie Kaufman guides you through crafting stories and answers a new writing-related question each week.
• Book Riot - The Podcast - In this weekly podcast, the hosts offer fresh insights into the coolest and most relevant topics in the literary world.
• The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers - This podcast by Joanna Penn will arm you with the necessary knowledge to successfully navigate the ever-evolving publishing world.
• The Creative Writer's Toolbelt with Andrew Chamberlain - This podcast is a gateway to practical advice, creative techniques, and inspirational interviews that will revolutionize your writing process.
• Deadline City - In this podcast, two prolific authors unravel the industry's mysteries and share their unique insights into creating books.
• DIY MFA Podcast - Elevate your writing from good to great with industry insider advice from bestselling authors and master writing teachers.
• Essential Guide to Writing a Novel with James Thayer - Step into the writer's workshop with James Thayer as he navigates the art of novel crafting and offers a hands-on guide to story development, scene construction, and masterful sentence writing.
• Fated Mates Romance Novel Podcast - Join the captivating world of top-rated romance genre bestselling author Sarah MacLean, and critic Jen Prokop as they delve deep into the genre and into fighting the patriarchy, one romance novel at a time.

• Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo - Join Savannah Gilbo for weekly tools, tips, and strategies to navigate your writing journey, whether you’re a novice or a seasoned author.
• First Draft with Sarah Enni - Tune in for enlightening conversations with storytellers, exploring their creative processes and the professional aspects of their artistic journey.
• Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing - Get your weekly dose of writing improvement with Grammar Girl, a five-time winner of the Best Education Podcast.
• Helping Writers Become Authors with K.M. Weiland - Let this podcast be your guide to crafting compelling characters and polished prose.
• How Do You Write with Rachael Herron - Join bestselling author Rachael Herron as she unravels the mysteries of the writing process.
• In Writing With Hattie Crisell - Dive into the studies of various writers with journalist Hattie Crisell and gain invaluable insights into their writing habits, motivations, and unique approaches.
• I Should Be Writing with Mur Lafferty - Kick your writing blocks to the curb with this motivational podcast.
• Lit Match with Abigail K. Perry - Embark on a journey to find the perfect literary agent for your writing career with the insightful and tailored advice of this podcast.
• Longform Podcast - Join Aaron Lammer, Max Linsky, and Evan Ratliff for intimate conversations with writers, journalists, and filmmakers who delve into their work routines and methodologies.
• The Manuscript Academy #MSWL - Let this podcast, which offers enlightening dialogues with agents, editors, and writers, be your compass in the publishing journey.
• Master Fiction Writing with Stuart Wakefield - Join Stuart Wakefield, a certified book coach, and accomplished writer, as he shares his deep understanding of storytelling drawn from 26 years of experience.
• The New Yorker Fiction Podcast - Enjoy insightful monthly readings and conversations with Deborah Treisman, the renowned fiction editor of the New Yorker.
• Nightvale Presents Start With This - With this podcast by Jeffrey Cranor and Joseph Fink, your creativity will be sparked while they guide you in crafting stories through engaging writing assignments.
• Novel Marketing with Thomas Umstattd Jr. - Tune into the world's longest-running book marketing podcast. Thomas Umstattd Jr. and industry experts offer insights to help you build your platform, sell more books, and make an impactful change through writing.
• NPR's Book of the Day - Dive into a compact podcast guide to the best contemporary writing, featuring authors addressing the pressing questions of our times or offering a refreshing escape.
• The Rebel Author Podcast - Ignite your inner rebel with a motivational podcast that offers industry news, tips, tricks, and tools to elevate your creative business to the next level.
• Self-Publishing Advice & Inspirations - Alliance of Independent Authors - Get your twice-weekly dose of advice and inspiration with the Self-Publishing Advice & Inspirations Podcast.
• Self-Publishing Insiders with Draft2Digital - This podcast delivers weekly interviews covering self-publishing topics to help you build and grow your author career.
• The Self Publishing Show Podcast - Join best-selling self-published author Mark Dawson and aspiring writer James Blatch as they explore the world of self-publishing, providing actionable tips drawn from Dawson's successful marketing strategies and personal experiences.

• The Shit No One Tells You About Writing - Featuring Bianca Marais, Carly Watters, and CeCe Lyra, this podcast provides emerging writers with insights into the publishing industry, interviews with key figures in the book market, and critiques on query letters and opening pages.
• Six Figure Authors - Lindsay Buroker, Jo Lallo, and Andrea Pearson share their experiences and industry insights as authors from the inception of the e-reader revolution.
• So You Want to be a Writer with Valerie Khoo - Valerie Khoo, CEO of the Australian Writers’ Centre, hosts this podcast and provides practical writing techniques and insider insights into how authors break into the industry.
• SPA Girls Podcast - The SPA Girls' weekly show offers information, tips, and advice for newcomers to self-publishing and shows the positive side of the self-publishing world.
• Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing - Join Mark Leslie Lefebvre as he explores inclusive and collaborative opportunities for writers and publishing professionals.
• Story Grid Writing Podcast - On this podcast, Shawn Coyne, a seasoned editor, and Tim Grahl, an aspiring writer, delve into the components of great storytelling.
• Story Nerd - Hosted by Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill, this show simplifies story theory for writers and analyzes storytelling principles through weekly film examples.
• Subscriptions for Authors by Ream - With this podcast, you’ll get help for authors trying to monetize their fiction and build reader communities through weekly discussions with pioneering authors.
• Tim Clare’s Death Of 1000 Cuts - This podcast provides motivational rants, writing exercises, interviews with authors, and detailed critiques of the first pages submitted by listeners to enhance writing skills and enjoyment.
• Tin House Between the Covers - Featuring in-depth interviews with today's best writers, both established and up-and-coming, this podcast aids authors in fiction, nonfiction, and even poetry.
• Wish I'd Known Then . . . For Writers with Sara Rosett and Jami Albright - Authors Jami Albright and Sara Rosett discuss the journey of self-published authors, sharing lessons and celebrating indie creativity.

• Write-minded Podcast - Brooke Warner and Grant Faulkner offer weekly inspiration to writers, discuss challenges, and share the latest book industry trends.
• Write Now with Sarah Werner - This podcast delivers daily encouragement and advice to writers seeking balance, with themes including books, coffee, rainy days, and more.
• The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience - Kelton Reid studies renowned writers' habits and shares secrets of productivity and creativity to keep the words flowing.
• WriterSpark: Business, Creativity, and the Craft of Writing - Melissa Bourbon shares her journey from reader to bestselling author and provides lessons to help writers grow and succeed in the industry.
• Writer’s Routine - This podcast explores writers' daily routines and strategies to uncover their success in writing and publishing bestsellers.
• Writing Excuses - This is a fast-paced weekly podcast discussing writing techniques and the business aspects of writing.
• The Writing Life - National Centre for Writing - A podcast for writers at all stages, featuring interviews with authors discussing their writing journeys and techniques.
• Your Daily Writing Habit with ChristineInk - Christine "Ink" Whitmarsh shares expert writing secrets and aims to inspire and assist others in writing and completing transformative books.
• Your Next Draft with Alice Sudlow - Alice Sudlow guides transforming a first draft into a publication-ready book and offers weekly editing tips and strategies.

Final Thoughts

There you have it, fellow writers—Our curated list of top podcasts that every author should consider following. Each one offers its unique flavor of wisdom, inspiration, and advice to help you on your writing journey. Whether you're looking to hone your craft, get insights into the publishing industry, find marketing strategies, or simply need inspiration and community, these podcasts have you covered.

Remember, writing is a journey, not a destination, and with these podcasts, you've got some excellent companions for the ride. Happy listening and even happier writing!

The Best Writing Podcasts for All Aspiring Authors

No matter where you are in your creative journey, take a moment to explore some of these insightful writing podcasts that will guide you from first draft to publication.

While writing is a craft often undertaken in solitude, you don't have to feel like you're alone while embarking on your creative journey. There are so many steps to the writing process, from strengthening your writing skills to forming story ideas, from drafting and revisions to pursuing publication. Luckily, there is a podcast out there for nearly every phase of this path. These podcasts offer a range of information, gentle inspiration, community encouragement, facts and strategies for navigating the publishing industry, and insight and wisdom from authors who have built successful careers on bestselling books.

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Hosted by Mignon Fogarty, aka Grammar Girl, internet personality and bestselling author, this award-winning podcast offers fast, accessible tips and tricks to improve your writing and communication. Along the way, it also dives into some of the mysteries of the English language, why we say and write the things we do, and the origins of some of the most interesting phrases, words, and grammatical constructions. If you're a voracious reader who may not have extensive experience or formal education in writing, Grammar Girl will help you sharpen your technical skills while keeping you engaged.

The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

Kelton Reid is fascinated by writers—their habits, processes. and brains. On each episode of this podcast, he interviews a different writer about their creative life, how they stay productive, and their secrets for overcoming writer’s block. Guests include bestselling authors spanning a variety of genres and styles— John Scalzi , Emma Donoghue , Dennis Lehane , Jay McInerney , and Andy Weir among them—as well as TV and film writers. Occasionally, Reid turns over the mic to guest hosts like journalist Adam Skolnick , short story writer Robert Bruce, and neuroscientist Michael Grybko. Follow The Writer Files to hear from a wide range of writers, or simply peruse the archives to find your favorite author.

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

Since "tough," "through," and "dough" all end in O-U-G-H, why don't they rhyme? Why do we say "That's bananas!" to describe something wacky instead of "That's pineapples!"? If you're a word nerd, this podcast is for you! Cohosted by journalist Martha Barnette and linguist Grant Barrett, A Way with Words ponders and probes all sorts of interesting phrases, grammatical structures, and slang from all over the world. Weekly episodes also welcome callers to share their questions, insights, and stories about language, meaning that you'll learn a lot about not only words but also about different regional vernacular and cultural understandings.

Write Now with Sarah Werner

Struggling to find the right healthy and fulfilling balance of work, life, and writing? On Write Now , award-winning podcaster and writer Sarah Werner and an assortment of creative guests offer encouragement, candid advice, and practical tips and techniques to help you let go of excuses, self-doubt, and guilt in order to make time and mental space for writing—every day. While warm and inviting, playful and uplifting, this podcast is serious about placing a priority on writing in your life.

The Writers Panel

If your writing goals and dreams tend to focus on film and television projects, then The Writers Panel is essential listening. Hosted by Ben Blacker, this podcast offers a mix of panel discussions and intimate interviews with the writers, producers, and showrunners behind some of the best known, most acclaimed movies and shows. Writing for film and TV is a collaborative and unique process, and insiders from Jordan Peele ( Get Out ) to Amy Sherman-Palladino ( The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel ), from Vince Gilligan ( Breaking Bad ) to Natalie Chaidez ( The Flight Attendant ) talk about the business, the craft, the challenges, and what keeps them inspired and motivated.

Deadline City's Podcast

If you're an aspiring author, publishing may seem like big, overwhelming, mysterious world. On Deadline City , hosts Dhonielle Clayton and Zoraida Córdova, New York City-based authors with 40 books published or under contract between them, pull back the curtain and simply talk about all things publishing—defining your genre, the editing process, reading reviews, the pros and cons of pen names, and industry trends and news, including the unsettling surge in book banning. They also let listeners in on lots of insightful, funny, and honest conversations about their own publishing journey.

This Creative Life with Sara Zarr

Sara Zarr is the author of 10 books, including both works of fiction and nonfiction. Her debut novel, Story of a Girl was a National Book Award finalist. On her podcast This Creative Life , Zarr talks with writers of all kinds about writing and what it means to be a writer juggling a full-time job, relationships, kids, and other obligations. Their wide-ranging conversations touch on everything from the creative process and the psychology of writing to the business side, alternatives to traditional publishing, finding and connecting with an audience, and taking advantage of social media. Guests include authors such as Faith Gardner , Laurel Snyder , Mike Jung , and Preeti Chhibber .

Write-minded: Weekly Inspiration for Writers

Hosted by Brooke Warner of She Writes, the world's largest online community for women writers, and Grant Faulkner of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), this weekly podcast offers a helpful blend of writing and craft-focused advice as well as industry insight. Each episode features an interview with a writer or publishing industry professional, followed by mini feature exploring a trend in the publishing world. Whether you're an aspiring author or a working writer, Write-minded offers a great mix of creative inspiration and business insight. Recent guests include Stephanie Foo on the challenges of writing about trauma and A.M. Homes on the craft of characterization.

Writer's Routine

Looking for inspiration both practical and creative from real working writers? Writer's Routine is a podcast specifically designed to glean perspective from the lives and habits of successful writers. In each episode, host Dan Simpson interviews a writer about their daily routines, their writing process, and the lifestyle choices that support their literary lives. Everyone from novelists to journalists to poets have been interviewed, and past guests include Dervla McTiernan , Sara Blaedel , Ken Follett , and Zen Cho . With more than 200 episodes to explore, there's no shortage of thoughtful advice housed in this podcast.

Helping Writers Become Authors

With more than 500 episodes, Helping Writers Become Authors is one of the most comprehensive writing podcasts out there. Host K.M. Weiland is passionate about giving writers the tools they need to take their career from aspiring to published author. Each episode looks at a micro-element of the craft, from opening a story to creating cohesive structure to developing believable characters. This podcast tends to focus on a topic for three to six episodes, allowing Weiland to break it down in depth and then talk about how to leverage those elements to market your novel. This is the perfect listen for writers looking to sharpen their skills to craft a story that an agent will buy and the right audience will love.

The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

Honing your craft skills as a writer is important—but so is understanding the wider literary market and your place in it. Joanna Penn is the bestselling author of fantasy, thriller, and nonfiction books, and in this long-running podcast, she dives into the nuances of the publishing industry. The Creative Penn covers everything from how to find your niche in the book world to how to build and sustain a long-term career, along with looking at publishing trends and hot-button topics, including auto-narration of audiobooks. With insights from special guests like physician turned internationally bestselling medical thriller author Tess Gerritsen , this podcast is critical listening for anyone determined to make a comfortable living off their creative writing.

The First Draft Club

Created and hosted by author and writing coach Mary Adkins, The First Draft Club aims to help you overcome whatever creative blocks you might be facing and write with more clarity, more confidence, and less stress. It's meant for anyone working on a novel or memoir, even if your last written work was an essay for English class. Filled with pep talks, helpful hacks, mini workshops, and writing assignments, this weekly podcast gives you the tools and know-how you need to complete your first draft and troubleshoot any problems that might come up along the way—because, as Adkins believes, writing should be a source of joy, not agony.

The Self Publishing Show

Eager to dive into the wide world of self-publishing? Hosted by Mark Dawson, a successful self-published author, and James Blatch, a former reporter who recently self-published his debut thriller, this podcast is not only an invaluable resource for emerging authors but also a fun exploration of the exciting innovations and opportunities in the self-publishing sphere. With more than 300 episodes to explore, you can pick and choose which topics will be most helpful to you or immerse yourself in the knowledge found in the archives. Episodes range from 40 to 60 minutes and oftentimes feature guest authors, both self- and traditionally published. The Self Publishing Show also offers some great craft resources, plus brand- and wealth-building pointers.

Kobo Writing Life Podcast

From Kobo, one of the world's biggest Ebook platforms, this podcast offers invaluable insights into self-publishing and the Ebook market. The Kobo team has curated a collection of resources, from the latest information about how to create a Kobo best seller, based on Kobo's sales metrics and platform affordances, to interviews with successful bestselling indie authors about everything from writing your way across mediums to word-of-mouth marketing. Kobo Writing Life has an archive of 300-plus episodes, ranging in length from 45 to 60 minutes, and many conversations are adapted from Kobo's Facebook community, which listeners are welcome to participate in.

Between The Covers : Conversations with Writers in Fiction, Nonfiction & Poetry

Hosted by David Naimon of Tin House Books, a prominent independent publisher, Between the Covers offers probing long-form conversations with writers on the craft of writing. Along with plenty of nuts and bolts craft talk to satisfy any writer looking to build their toolbox, the conversations often turn philosophical as the writers dig into the whys of writing. With more than 200 episodes featuring bestselling authors such as William Alexander and Becky Chambers , there's so much here for writers of all experience levels and styles to explore. As a bonus, this podcast has a recurring feature of special interest to science fiction and fantasy writers called Crafting with Ursula, exploring the influence of the great Ursula K. LeGuin on the genre and its particular craft elements.

88 Cups of Tea

88 Cups of Tea is more than a writing podcast. Rather, it aims to be a community for writers looking for connections and encouragement. While episodes offer craft and publishing advice, the main focus is on the emotional life of the writer—how to find ideas, cultivate a creative life, and stay motivated to keep writing and publishing in the face of rejection. Host Yin Chang often interviews prominent figures in the children's and YA literary sectors, from authors like Stacey Lee , Kelly Yang , and Sara Zarr to industry professionals like agents and editors.

Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast

In one of the year’s most anticipated new podcasts, Michelle Obama brings listeners deeper into the world of her bestselling memoir, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times . Where the audiobook initiated a dialogue with listeners on some of life’s biggest challenges—from building lasting relationships and meaningful success to overcoming obstacles and navigating identity—the podcast will explore these themes and more with an esteemed selection of friends and luminaries. In intimate recordings from her star-studded book tour, the former First Lady draws on her trademark humor, warmth, and compassion to elicit moments of startling insight and vulnerability from guests including Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Tyler Perry, and Conan O’Brien. The result is a series of searching conversations that will leave you feeling smarter, inspired, and, yes, lighter.

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Posted on Apr 26, 2019

30+ Writing Podcasts You Should Be Listening To

About the author.

Reedsy's editorial team is a diverse group of industry experts devoted to helping authors write and publish beautiful books.

About Martin Cavannagh

Head of Content at Reedsy, Martin has spent over eight years helping writers turn their ambitions into reality. As a voice in the indie publishing space, he has written for a number of outlets and spoken at conferences, including the 2024 Writers Summit at the London Book Fair.

Well… don’t try to listen to all these writing podcasts — or you’ll never get any writing done!

With the massive popularity of audiobooks and podcasts, you could easily say that we’re in an era of ‘peak audio content ’ — and for book fans and budding writers, there’s never been a better time to get intimate advice from a range of voices. To celebrate the second season of Reedsy's Bestseller podcast , we’re giving you the skinny on some of the best writing podcasts around.

Publishing and Self-Publishing

Publishing a book is no easy feat. And if you choose to do it yourself by going down the independent publishing route , there’s a lot you’ll need to learn about marketing, design, and distribution. Thankfully, you won’t be short on great advice from those who have done it before.

Bestseller by Reedsy

Hosted by Casimir M. Stone, Reedsy’s podcast follows a single author over a season, charting their journey to becoming a self-published author. Covering both practical writing tips and anecdotes, each episode aims to cut through the BS and make self-publishing less daunting. The latest season centers on Bella Falls, the bestselling author of the indie  Southern Charms cozy mystery series.

SPA Girls Podcast

Short for “Self-Publishing Authors,” the SPA Girls Podcast covers a lot of ground. Some episodes are devoted to writing craft and encouragement, while others look closely at publishing topics like Facebook advertising, Amazon metadata, and more.

The Creative Penn

As one of the leading voices of independent publishing, Joanna Penn is as close as you can get to an apostle in the self-publishing world. She’s racked up over 400 episodes and played host to countless guests including Reedsy’s Emmanuel Nataf who talks about the role blockchain will play in the future of publishing. Yawn. (Just kidding, Emmanuel!)

The Self Publishing Show

This one’s a master-and-apprentice-style podcast from Mark Dawson , the author of the John Milton novels (a popular series of self-published thrillers). He and co-host James Blatch bring on some of the heaviest hitters in independent publishing — and on occasion, Dawson will take a deep dive into the complex parts of digital book marketing like Amazon ads for authors.

Kobo Writing Life Podcast

From the team behind Kobo’s author platform, the KWL podcast gives you access to some of the brightest minds in indie publishing, while also providing a first look at new developments on Kobo.

The Bestseller Experiment

What started as an attempt to reverse-engineering a bestselling novel (with the advice of big-name guests like Ian Rankin, Michael Connolly and Joanne Harris) has since outgrown its one-year mission. Approaching its 200th episode at the time of writing, the Bestseller Experiments continues to attract some of the most insightful guests in publishing.

Sell More Books Show

Author (and friend of Reedsy ) Bryan Cohen co-hosts this show with veteran online marketer Jim Kukral that’s focused on just one thing. You guessed it: selling more books! If you’re looking for tips on getting the most out of your Amazon listing or managing your mailing list, you don’t need to look any further.

The Book Marketing Show

Writer and book marketing guru Dave Chesson (also a friend of Reedsy ) is one of the most enthusiastic personalities and focused minds in indie publishing. In his show, he and his guests offer up marketing strategies and practical hacks that could help you go from being a starving artist to a publishing success story.

Wordslinger

The hugely prolific author of the Dan Kolter archeological thrillers also happens to be a podcast host whose mission is to inform, inspire, educate, and entertain. He also has a real knack for booking interesting guests… such as this episode with Reedsy co-founder Ricardo Fayet where they talk about the tricky issue of discoverability.

Helping Writers Become Authors

Another prominent voice in the online writing community, author K.M. Weiland guides writers through the creative process of writing a book. Now in its tenth year, her podcast shows no sign of slowing down, with new episodes dropping each week.

Bestseller , Season 2 Episode 2: The People v. Cozy Mysteries

If you’re into writing, there’s a good chance you love to read, right? Here are a few shows that can help you find better books (and read them more mindfully).

What Should I Read Next?

In each episode, host Anne Bogel invites a new guest to chat about books: what they love, what they hate, and what you, gentle listener, should be reading next. Bogel has since recorded over 180 episodes as of this article.

Between the Covers

This Portland-based production is created in association with Tin House , one of America’s leading literary magazines. Leveraging the prestige of this association, host David Naimon converses with acclaimed authors like Marlon James and provides a platform for a diverse set of newer voices.

Literary Friction

Literary Friction is both a) a superb pun and b) one of the most innovative and culturally on-the-nose podcasts out there today. Hosts Carrie Plitt and Octavia Bright have a splendid rapport and razor-sharp instincts for conversational topics — though they’re helped by their range of diverse and fascinating guests.

Harry Potter and the Sacred Text

Or, to be more accurate — it’s an English class where the only books on the syllabus happened to be written by J.K. Rowling . In each episode, hosts Vanessa Zoltan and Casper ter Kuile focus on a different scene from the canon and discuss it through the prism of a chosen theme.

Dead Author’s Podcast

Though now on permanent hiatus, this comedy podcast sees H.G. Wells, science fiction icon, using his time machine to interview authors from the past (played by comedians the likes of Maya Rudolph and Ben Schwartz). Most of the time, the guests know very little about the authors they’re playing, but the episode featuring L. Ron Hubbard (Andy Daly) is as weird and funny as it is meticulously researched.

Bestseller Addendum 1: Choice Words for First Drafts (with Brett Putter)

Now let’s take a look at a few shows that concentrate on the craft of writing — writing podcasts that examine the artistic side of being an author.

Write Now with Sarah Werner

A show with a greater focus on self-care than most of the other entries here, Write Now with book coach Sarah Werner is a healthy mix of practical advice, interviews with authors, and positive creative affirmations.

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

The Internet’s #1 authority on whether it’s who or whom , Mignon Fogarty (aka Grammar Girl) also has a podcast aimed squarely at anyone with a fascination for words — which, surely, is all of us.

88 Cups of Tea

Hosted by actor Yin Chang (from TV’s Gossip Girl ), 88 Cups of Tea is a writing podcast with a slight YA bent (that occasionally takes a diversion in the world of TV). The eclectic guests range from bestselling authors like Meg Cabot, to top literary agents and the man who translates Murakami’s works into English!

Writers Who Don’t Write

Have you ever struggled with writer’s block? Well you’re not alone. Hosts Jeff Umbro and Kyle Craner started this podcast as a way to get over their writing fears, only for it to evolve into something much more ambitious. Their most recent episode was in late 2018, but there’s still a mountain of archived episodes featuring guests like Andy Weir ( The Martian ) and Lev Grossman ( The Magicians ).

DIY MFA Radio

Host Gabriela Pereira guides listeners through deep conversations, homing in on practical steps to help writers develop their skills. With her signature upbeat style and deep well of literary knowledge, Pereira offers listeners an immersive MFA-style experience (without the accompanying student debt). Recent guests have included Sara Dessen, Jojo Moyes, Eoin Colfer, and Orson Scott Card.

The Creative Writer’s Toolbelt

Writer and creative coach Andrew J. Chamberlain is the host of this writing podcast. He’s ghostwritten award-winning biographies and published a number of titles under his own name as well. He has since adapted this long-running show into a book titled The Creative Writer’s Toolbelt Handbook (a little wordy if you ask us).

Writing Excuses

If you’re tired of too many hour-plus podcasts filling up your feed, you need to check out Writing Excuses . Now in its eleventh year, the show’s evolving panel of hosts (which has included fantasy bestseller Brandon Sanderson) takes the listener through a new topic each season and drills into specifics in bite-size chunks.

The Am Writing Fantasy podcast

Hosted by two bestselling authors, who have published more than twenty books between them, this great podcast releases new episodes every single Monday. It’s chock-full of good practical information on writing, publishing, and marketing of books. With a pitch of humor sprinkled on top, it’s even entertaining (or tries to be 😊).

The Drunken Odyssey with John King

Each episode, writer John King welcomes a new guest for a lively, uncensored literary discussion. Don’t know where to start? We recommend the episodes with novelist Elliot Ackerman ,  poet Denise Duhamel ,  or publishing superstar  David Sedaris .

I Should Be Writing

The road to publishing success is often long and winding, something that Mur Lafferty knows better than most. Her podcast is a semi-confessional and highly personal account of her career as a genre author — which recently reached new heights with multiple nominations for her novel Six Wakes , and a commission to write the novelization of Solo: A Star Wars Story .

Beautiful Writers Podcast

If you want a bit of star power in your audio content, check out Linda Sivertsen’s show. Her celebrity guests have included the likes of Tom Hanks, Candice Bergen, Abby Wambach, and Anne Lamott.

First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing

This weekly interview show from host Mitzi Rapkin largely focuses on authors, with the occasional poet, screenwriter, playwright, or musician joining her on the mic for an insightful chat on the art of storytelling.

Shawn Coyne’s Story Grid is one of those writing books that most new novelists own — and on which almost all writers have a strong opinion, one way or another. In his podcast, the veteran editor is joined by ‘struggling author’ Tim Grahl to discuss the finer points of the craft. If you can't get enough of The Grid ,  there's a spin-off program called Editor Roundtable   where five editors analyze stories according to Shawn's methods.

Writing Class Radio

Now in its seventh season, Writing Class Radio is the brainchild of writers Andrea Askowitz and  Allison Langer. They read stories, talk to editors, and encourage listeners to submit their own stories — much like a real writing class!

The Secret Library Podcast

Prolific book podcaster ( bookcaster ?) Caroline Donahue interviews authors and figures from the publishing world and gets deep into the nitty-gritty of creating the books that we all love. Recent guests include Jasper Fforde, Susan Orlean, and Diana Gabaldon.

So You Want to Be a Writer

If you like your podcasts to a little more antipodean, the Australian Writers' Centre official podcast might be your cup of tea (or dollop of Vegemite).

The Writers Panel

Ben Blacker of The Thrilling Adventure Hour lets his listeners eavesdrop into conversation with some of the biggest names in television writing. If you dream of writing TV drama, or are just a Netflix addict, you’ll want to tune in for his talks with the likes of Vince Gilligan ( Breaking Bad ), Amy Sherman-Palladino ( Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel ) and Damon Lindelof ( Lost ).

3 responses

Peter B Dudley says:

14/05/2019 – 18:32

I listen to most episodes of the Taylor Stevens Show. She's a thriller writer and she shares her struggles with being a writer and gives advice on writing better stories.

Zack Urlocker says:

24/05/2019 – 18:54

I've listened to several of these shows but for my money, The Bestseller Experiment is a cut above. It's got the right mix of practical advice, good interviews, inspiration and humor.

Frank D says:

08/10/2019 – 14:07

A Writer’s Life Podcast is the most honest podcast on writing. And the funniest.

Comments are currently closed.

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The Creative Life

Coaching for creatives

Ten of the best podcasts for writers

There are so many podcasts about writing now, covering the craft, the business, the pleasures – and the pain. Here are ten of the best.

So let’s talk about writing.

It’s a process that is interesting to virtually no one except other writers. Luckily, there are a lot of us. And podcasts talking about writing seem to increase by the week now. So you know, I also often recommend specific episodes or mention new podcasts in my bi-weekly newsletter for creative professionals .

But these are some of my favourites, covering the craft and the business of writing, the pleasures and the pain. What are yours? 

1. In Writing with Hattie Crisell

Each episode sees British journalist Hattie Crisell go deep with a writer over 60 minutes. She’s an excellent interviewer who does her research, so she asks great questions and gets a good rapport with each guest. There are gems, new ways of thinking about writing, in every episode. I loved novelist Maggie O’Farrell talking about why she has two desks – each for a different project; Lucy Prebble on how the  Succession  writing room works; and Charlie Booker and James Acaster just being their brilliant comedic selves. 

2. Write Now with Sarah Werner

If you’re feeling lonely on your writing journey, this is the place to go. Most of these short (around 15-minute) podcasts are monologues about the writing life, filled with wisdom, vulnerability and discussing the kind of blocks and insecurities that will be familiar to most writers. There are occasional guest interviews, and these are wonderful too. But mainly it’s Sarah Werner , talking with warmth, humour and searing honesty about her own struggles and those of the writers she knows and works with. Whatever your challenge is right now, she’ll have an episode that can help.

3. The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

The format here is the star. The first segment is Books With Hooks, and involves author and creative writing teacher Bianca Marais and literary agents Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra critiquing query letters and the opening pages of works submitted by authors hoping to get representation. If you’re interested in getting an agent or submitting your work for publication, this is a treasure trove of information, insight and intelligent criticism gently focussed on making each author better. It’s followed by more conventional interview with a writer or someone involved in the publishing business. While this is always interesting, the first section is pure gold.

4. The Offcuts Drawer

Host Laura Shavin is a British actor, comedian and also a voiceover artist. She interviews writers about the scripts that never got made, the work that was rejected, rewritten or otherwise never published: then gets fellow actors to read excerpts. It’s comforting to know how many top writers have work that never found an audience. Lisa Jewell’s episode offers down-to-earth insights into the novel-writing and editing processes; Val McDermid showcases her usual dry, self-effacing wit (I want to see her unmade minimalist TV cop drama); the scriptwriters leave you awestruck that anything ever gets made for the screen at all, when so many obstacles lie in wait.

5. The Creative Penn

Joanna Penn is a successful independent author of both fantasy thrillers and non-fiction books about writing and self-publishing. Her long-running podcast sees her discussing new developments in the world of publishing and what they might mean for independent authors especially in the first part of the show, then often chatting with another author about the business and process of writing.

If you like this, you might also enjoy The Self-Publishing Show , hosted by successful indie thriller writer Mark Dawson.

6. Writing Excuses

Long-running podcast offering short but information-packed 15-minute episodes in which a guest writer or the rotating list of writer/hosts discuss the business but mainly the mechanics of writing fiction. Is it acceptable to change the geography of a real city to suit your plotline? And you do you build believable worlds? How do you name a non-existent plant or animal? Do side-characters need their own story arc? And how do you make non-human characters convincing? Worth looking at for the titles alone: a recent episode was called  The Gun On The Mantel is Actually a Fish .

7. Writer’s Routine

Dan Simpson is a children’s TV presenter and he brings that somewhat breathless, bumptious style to his interviews with authors. He doesn’t seem to read a great deal – his 2020 target was 20 books, which doesn’t seem a lot if you’re talking to writers regularly. But with over 200 episodes so far he’s managed to secure interviews with big names like Ian Rankin, Ken Follett. Kate Mosse and Joanne Harris, all talking about how, where and when they write; the tools they use; and even what fonts they choose to write in.

8. The Writer Files

Host Kelton Reid has an odd habit of sighing when he’s thinking, which sometimes gives the impression he’s bored with the whole thing. Which can’t be true, because he has kept this going for seven years now, interviewing hundreds of interesting writers. I’ve discovered lots of new (to me) books via these 30-minute episodes, most recently crime writer Tana French. Stand-out episodes include  Always Sunny co-creator/star Rob McElhenney giving great advice to anyone wanting to break into TV comedy, but also writers in general; and the brilliant Walter Moseley’s thoughts on writing Los Angeles.

9. Literary Friction

This one is a happy new find for me, as there are 120 episodes to catch up on. It’s as much about intelligent reading as writing. Literary agent Carrie Plitt and her friend, the academic and writer Octavia Bright, interview a writer about their latest book. They then have a more general discussion about the genre/theme (they are fearsomely well-read), before they and the guest each recommend a book. I’ve only listened to a handful of episodes so far, but each led me to order at least one new book (Maggie Nelson’s  On Freedom  was the latest). I usually binge on a new podcast, but I might have to ration these out! 

If you like authors (and other creators) talking about books they love, there’s also Daisy Buchanan ’s entertaining podcast  You’re Booked . Daisy examines her guest’s bookshelves, and asks about the books that inspire and entertain them – happily including popular fiction as well as more high-brow literature.

10. Longform

Each weekly episode of this long-running podcast sees a non-fiction writer talking in-depth about the story behind their stories. Having worked as a journalist for 30 years, I’m passionate about longform stories, and the need to give writers the space to stretch out and really tell the tale they researched. But this is about more than news reporting. Hosts Aaron Lammer. Max Linsky and Evan Ratcliff ask great questions and gently encourage discussion of craft, ethics, insecurities, career progression, and the challenges of telling the truth in a world addicted to lies.

And finally..

Neil Gaiman is one of my favourite authors. He also happens to be very wise about the creative process. So his appearance on The Tim Ferriss Show is well worth a listen. Every morning, from 8-9am I follow Gaiman’s advice and sit at my desk. For that hour, I can stare into space, or I can write. Nothing else. The writing usually wins…

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Reader Interactions

The Real Person!

11th July 2022 at 5:18 pm

Rankin and Billingham big favourites in this house, Christopher, so looking forward to checking this out.

11th July 2022 at 4:31 pm

This list is great, although, it does lack a live streaming YouTube podcast! Made for the Writing Community, featuring over 200 episodes, LIVE every Thrusday. The likes of Iain Rankin, Sarah Pinborough, Mark Billingham, Julia Donaldson, Dom Joly, Adele Parks, John Kennedy, Max Brooks, and many more, have appeared and loved the show. Wink wink…. The Writing Community Chat Show!

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The Best Writing Podcasts to Listen to in 2023

Last updated on December 29th, 2022

If you’re a writer looking for advice, inspiration, and motivation, podcasts are a great way to get it. With so many writing-related podcasts out there (we looked at 238 for this article!), knowing which ones are worth your time can be challenging. That’s why we’ve rounded up our own and our  readers’ favorites of 2022  on a range of topics that you should start listening to in 2023.

The popularity of podcasts continues to grow, with forecasts for listener numbers in the US to surpass 160 million in 2023. The top two podcast listening apps continue to be dominated by Apple Podcasts and Spotify ( as of Nov. 2022 ):

Whether you’re a copywriter, screenwriter, novelist, or aspiring freelance writer, these podcasts offer valuable guidance and insight into the writing process. From grammar and character development to plot pacing and prose polishing, you’ll find something new to learn and hopefully some inspiration with each episode. So tune in today and get ready to become a better writer!

Our criteria for this list is that the podcast is highly recommended/rated/reviewed, which generally means it’s been around for a while, and it is still active with a new episode released in the last 90 days (as of Dec. 2022).

The Creative Writer’s Toolbelt

Best for creative writers looking for practical advice and encouragement to help them improve their writing.

The Creative Writer’s Toolbelt is a podcast that focuses on giving practical advice and encouragement to creative writers. Each episode explores an aspect of writing technique with examples and interviews with successful writers across different mediums such as books, TV, comics, and more.

Hosted by British writer and mentor Andrew J. Chamberlain, the podcast covers topics such as story structure, technique, genre, process, and industry design with 30-60 minute episodes, including discussions on story, style, and character development. The podcast is officially on hiatus, but Andrew occasionally releases new episodes.

Best for emerging authors interested in finding an agent who represents Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction, and YA.

This podcast is hosted by book coach and developmental editor Abigail K. Perry with the purpose of aiding authors in finding the perfect literary agent to further their writing and business careers. Writers interested in finding an agent for Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction, and YA may find this particularly beneficial, but all writers may learn from this insight.

Each week she interviews a literary agent discussing their manuscript wishlist, requirements for submission, and their approach to working with authors. Additionally, Abigail and editor/book coach Savannah Gilbo come together to analyze and discuss the effectiveness of an opening chapter from a chosen book.

Review highlights

Listeners have found Abigail’s analysis of first chapters and interviews with agents incredibly helpful for their own writing and editing businesses. Many appreciate the podcast’s accessible approach and the valuable insight into the craft and business of writing. All in all, the podcast is praised for being a valuable resource for authors seeking representation or publication.

The Creative Penn

Best for aspiring or experienced authors who want to learn more about the writing, publishing, book marketing, and creative entrepreneurship process.

The Creative Penn Podcast, hosted by award-nominated and New York Times bestselling author Joanna Penn, offers weekly advice and information to authors wanting to go down the self-publishing route. Penn, an international speaker and creative entrepreneur, shares her experiences and interviews professionals in the field, covering topics such as developing craft and finding inspiration, publishing options, book marketing, and creative entrepreneurship. She frequently interviews well-known authors and professionals in the field.

Each episode lasts 45-60 minutes and includes show notes and a full transcript. The podcast has been downloaded millions of times across 228 countries, making it one of the most successful in its field.

Listeners praise Joanna Penn for her joyful, lovable style, positive attitude, comprehensive and reliable information, and excellent curation and analysis. They appreciate her progressive and rebellious mindset and willingness to dive deep into topics. Her guests are praised for providing insights into the business and craft of publishing. Listeners also praise the podcast for providing useful notes and transcripts.

Write-minded

Best for writers who are looking for a supportive and honest community to help them overcome creative blocks and to find their unique voice and story.

Write-minded is a podcast designed to provide writers with inspiration and advice to help them navigate the ups and downs of the writing life. Hosted by Brooke Warner of She Writes and Grant Faulkner of NaNoWriMo, each episode features an interview with a professional from the writing industry.

Topics range from addressing writer’s block to taking risks, dealing with fear, and finding one’s own voice. Each episode has a takeaway emphasizing the belief that everyone is a writer and that everyone’s story matters. Writers struggling with creative blocks will benefit from the conversation, assurance, and advice offered.

Listeners appreciate the thoughtful and inspiring content presented by knowledgeable hosts. The episodes are informative, motivating, and engaging, introducing many amazing writers to the audience. The topics discussed include memoir writing, marketing, publishing, and book trends, providing invaluable insight to aspiring authors. The reasonable length of the episodes makes it easy to fit in during the day, and the quality and variety of content are appreciated.

Helping Writers Become Authors

Best for aspiring fiction writers who want to gain actionable advice and mentorship from an experienced author .

K.M. Weiland hosts the Helping Writers Become Authors podcast, providing writers with practical advice and guidance on topics such as story structure, novel outlining, crafting characters, and honing prose. Each episode is roughly 15-20 minutes long and full of actionable tips and techniques.

With over 600 episodes, Weiland – an award-winning and internationally published author – is a great mentor for anyone looking to improve their writing craft. Her blog also offers posts on creativity, lifestyle changes that protect creativity, and more. Whether you prefer reading or listening, this podcast offers a great way to take your writing to the next level.

The podcast provides well-researched and impactful craft wisdom that has improved listeners’ writing. Many listeners found the content concise, expert advice, beneficial and inspiring. Listeners also appreciate the short length of each episode and the fact that there is no filler or unnecessary information; a “writing class on the go.”

Best for writers looking for an immersive experience to hone their writing and publishing skills.

DIY MFA is a podcast hosted by Gabriela Pereira and producer and co-host Lori Walker, offering insight and advice for aspiring writers. Through interviews with bestselling authors, master writing teachers, and publishing industry insiders, listeners (who they call “Word Nerds”) will gain tools and techniques to take their writing to the next level.

Replicating an MFA lecture series, past guests have included Delia Ephron, Fran Hawthorne, Terena Elizabeth Bell, and Jojo Moyes. Along with discussions about the craft and business of writing, topics range from unique characters to tropes in literature, and more. Whether you’re trying to finish a draft, craft a story, or make that publishing dream a reality, DIY MFA is a resource to help you achieve your writing goals. All without taking out any student loans!

Listeners appreciate Gabriela’s enthusiasm and ability to ask insightful questions and draw out brilliant insights from her interactions, as well as her expert guests for offering useful advice and diverse perspectives on the creative writing journey. They also enjoy the humor and helpful content and highly recommend the podcast to others. The podcast is seen as a great resource for authors, providing helpful tips and advice on writing and collaboration.

Write Now with Sarah Werner

Best for aspiring or professional writers looking for honest and inspiring advice on pursuing their passion and creating a healthy work/life/writing balance .

Write Now is an inspirational podcast hosted by Sarah Werner that provides encouragement and advice to help aspiring writers of all levels pursue their passions. It features conversations about the writing life, including struggles, breakthroughs, and tips, as well as topics like burnout, idea stealing, and affirmations for writers.

Sarah offers a personal touch, with a relatable and honest tone, and conversations with other writers in her “Coffee Breaks” segments. Listeners can get the motivation they need to stay on top of their writing goals and balance their work, life, and writing.

Listeners appreciate the insightful advice and information Sarah and her expert guests provide. Listeners have found the podcast immensely helpful, inspiring, uplifting, motivating, and compassionate. They have found the short episodes particularly inspiring and appreciate Sarah’s openness and vulnerability in sharing her journey. Many have recommended the podcast to others, describing it as a “therapy session” and a “writing therapist.”

Between the Covers

Best for readers and writers looking for deep insights into the creative writing process and who want to hear conversations with some of the top authors in the world.  Or those with long commutes!

The podcast Between the Covers, hosted by David Naimon and presented by Tin House, is a long-form literary show which features in-depth interviews with writers from various genres. These conversations explore the creative process behind successful books and sometimes last two hours or more. Praised by the Guardian, Book Riot, the Financial Times, and BuzzFeed, the show has become a go-to for writers and readers who want to learn more about literature.

The podcast also includes a special mini-series, “Crafting with Ursula,” which discusses the work of science fiction writer Ursula Le Guin. Through these conversations, Between the Covers provides a unique insight into the world of writing and literature.

Listeners highlight the in-depth conversations, thoughtful questions and preparation, and educational value of the podcast. David’s meticulous preparation is often commended, and the episodes are widely regarded as the most intelligent, deep, and generative conversations available.

A Way with Words

Best for an audience who enjoys language, culture, and the nuances of expressions and words and who has an appreciation for language and its history.

A live, stimulating call-in radio show and podcast discussing language, including its evolution, debates, and variations. Hosted by author/journalist Martha Barnette and linguist/lexicographer Grant Barrett, the show invites callers to share their insights, questions, and stories about new words, old sayings, slang, family expressions, language change, varieties, word histories, linguistics, regional dialects, word games, grammar, books, literature, and writing.

In addition to listening on your favorite podcast app, the show is also broadcast on many local NPR radio stations .

Listeners of A Way with Words praised the show for its entertaining and educational content, diverse topics, passionate hosts, and ability to bring people together. Educators, radio station programmers, and linguistics experts have also expressed their appreciation for the show, calling it one of the best on public radio, a fantastic resource, and an excellent opportunity to engage with the English language.

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Best for anyone who wants to brush up on their grammar, punctuation, and writing style or to gain a deeper appreciation for the English language.

Grammar Girl is a popular podcast from Mignon Fogarty offering insight into English grammar, punctuation, storytelling, and other aspects of writing. Whether you are a first- or second-language speaker of English, this podcast will help you become a better and more successful writer.

Episodes feature tips for grammar basics and more detailed writing advice, usually lasting less than 15 minutes, and are accessible on many audio platforms. Listeners can enjoy learning about how grammar has developed historically over time and understanding how to apply the rules and when to break them.

Listeners appreciate the podcast’s informative yet fun content that is easy to listen to and follow. They enjoy Mignon’s storytelling and find her lessons valuable and practical. They praise the podcast for its clear and concise information that is up-to-date and highly relevant. Additionally, the 10 to 30-minute format was appreciated for fitting into everyday life. However, some do complain about the ads-to-content ratio.

Contributing Writer

Molly Rittenhouse

Molly has a passion for writing and helping others improve their writing skills. She is a strong advocate for clear and concise writing, and she enjoys helping others find their voice and improve their writing. When she’s not busy writing, Molly enjoys spending time with her family and friends, exploring new places, and reading good books.

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Writers get their inspiration from all sorts of places — real life, current events, favorite books, other writers, their own imagination, and more recently: podcasts. Podcasts about writing have been around practically as long as podcasts themselves have been, (with the longest-running writing podcast on this list airing for the first time in 2005!) and they’re the perfect dose of advice, inspiration, and motivation — especially for working writers on the go . Because let’s face it: while most of us aspiring and/or working writers would love to pause our daily lives in favor of losing ourselves in a writers’ workshop for weeks, months, or even years at a time, for many writers that’s not so realistic. These podcasts — as helpful as a creative writing workshop itself, in many ways — might be the next best thing. (With the added bonus of not having to worry about your GPA and your muse showing up in a timely manner.)

Featuring the experiences of hundreds of writers working in every genre; practical tips on everything from grammar and character development to plot pacing and prose polishing; advice on what to do once you finally do have a manuscript worth publishing; and so much more, here are 20 podcasts just as good as a creative writing workshop — no homework (or tuition) required.

1 Magic Lessons

While we writers aren’t yet sure about a season three yet (though we’re keeping our fingers crossed) Magic Lessons with bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert features two seasons worth of creative inspiration. Offering advice, hope, and plenty of to-do lists to all sorts of artists — not only writers, but painters, photographers, dancers, and more — Magic Lessons will leave you motivated to recommit to that creative project of your own.

2 Helping Writers Become Authors

Author and mentor K.M. Weiland is the mastermind behind Helping Writers Become Authors , a podcast that covers every in-and-out of the writing process: from idea generation and character development, to plot structuring and prose polishing, to fighting writers’ block and sustaining your story across the long expanse of a novel. If you love Weiland’s podcast, be sure to check out her tweets too — for when you don’t have time for an entire episode, she still offers tons of tips and writing prompts in 140-characters or less.

3 So You Want to Be a Writer

Co-hosted by published journalists and authors Valerie Khoo and Allison Tait, So You Want to Be a Writer covers all sorts of things you'll want to know about today’s publishing world: writing opportunities, publishing trends, author gossip, and the latest and greatest news in writing, blogging, and publishing. Khoo and Tait also offer their own analysis of current publishing news, in addition to writing tips.

4 The Narrative Breakdown

Though The Narrative Breakdown isn’t currently broadcasting new episodes, there’s a library of 52 info-packed past episodes available for you to enjoy. Co-hosted by Cheryl Klein and James Monohan, The Narrative Breakdown features discussions on the craft of writing and covers topics for working fiction writers, children’s book authors, screenwriters, playwrights, and more.

5 I Should Be Writing

You should be writing — but first, check out the podcast I Should Be Writing , hosted by science fiction author Mur Lafferty. Airing for over 10 years, regular episodes range from five minutes to over 90, and in addition to covering an expansive range of topics concerning the craft, business, and career of writing, Lafferty also features tons of interviews with authors of a new or forthcoming work.

6 Dead Robots’ Society

Inspired by Mur Lafferty’s podcast (see above) Dead Robots’ Society describes themselves as “a gathering of aspiring writers, podcasting to other aspiring writers” — so you know you’re in good company. With playful and compelling titles like “So Many Bobs!” and “Care and Feeding of Narrators” each episode features writing insights for fiction and novel writers.

7 Writing Excuses

With over 120 episodes around 20 minutes each, Writing Excuses will keep you in short, inspirational podcasts for weeks (or longer.) Hosted by Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, and Daniel Wells, Writing Excuses offers fast-paced and effective talks and tips about writing techniques and the writing life.

8 The Writing University Podcast

If you can’t actually enroll in the famed Iowa Writers Workshop yourself, then this podcast might just be one of the next best things. The Writing University Podcast offers a library of recordings of events affiliated with the Iowa Writers Workshop, including craft talks, author readings, and various events hosted during the Iowa Summer Writing Festival.

9 Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach

Offering practical advice and easy-to-follow tips to writers of all ages and genres, Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach is a podcast designed to boost creativity, productivity, and confidence in your craft. Airing for the first time this April and hosted by writing coach Ann Kroeker (obviously), this podcast offers solutions for a wide range of writing issues and concerns — usually in ten minutes or less.

10 Writing Unblocked with Britney M. Mills

Running 70 episodes long, Writing Unblocked with Britney M. Mills is the podcast for writers struggling with writers’ block. Mills interviews published authors while sharing her own insights and advice on the craft of writing, encouraging you to stick with your work, push past challenges, and publish the book of your dreams.

11 Longform

Learn about the writing craft, business, and life from some of the best writers working today. Particular to non-fiction writers and journalists, the Longform podcast features lengthy interviews with writers, focusing on new or noteworthy work and digging deep into how each writer got their start and where they’re going now.

12 First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing

Featuring cannot-miss guests like writers Elizabeth Gilbert, Celeste Ng, Ann Patchett, and tons of other award-winning and bestselling contemporary literary greats, First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing is all about the excitement, creativity, energy, and inevitable pitfalls of the first draft. Host Mitzi Rapkin interviews a different author during each episode, who share firsthand experience on the ins-and-outs of getting through that beautiful, messy first draft.

13 Write Now with Sarah Werner

Taking your writing off the page and into your life, Write Now, an inspirational podcast hosted by Sarah Werner, will help you find the necessary, healthy balance between work, life, and — of course — writing. Filled with encouragement, practical advice, and tons of inspiration, Write Now will leave you feeling more passionate and in better control of all the things you have to juggle in your average day.

14 Creative Writing Career Podcast

Designed for aspiring writers in all genres, the Creative Writing Career Podcast features visual effects artist Stephan Bugaj, videogame writer Justin Sloan, and author Kevin Tumlinson, who share their thoughts, experiences, and tips for writing books, movies, video games, and more.

15 Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

We can talk about the writing life and the beauty of craft all day long, but without the nuts-and-bolts mechanics of grammar, punctuation, and basic writing style, you’re not going to get very far. Good thing you can listen to Grammar Girl’s (aka: Mignon Fogarty’s) podcast offering “Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing.” Plenty of helpful tips on great storytelling, structure, voice, and more are included too.

16 A Way With Words

A National Public Radio program, A Way With Words is a podcast perfect for writers and word-nerds. Exploring language through the lens of history, culture, and family, A Way With Words features fun and funny conversations between radio show co-hosts Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett and callers from around the world, asking questions about linguistics, slang, new words, jokes, riddles, word games, grammar, old sayings, word origins, regional dialects, family expressions, speaking and writing well, and more.

17 Beautiful Writers Podcast

Writer Linda Silversten (aka: “Book Mama”) hosts the Beautiful Writers Podcast — an ongoing and in-depth conversation on writing, publishing, and creativity. Featuring tons of amazing guest writers, including Arianna Huffington, Elizabeth Gilbert, Brené Brown, Anne Lamott, Glennon Doyle, Dani Shapiro, and so many more, every episode includes advice and personal anecdotes from each author.

18 10 Minute Writer’s Workshop

If you’ve ever wondered how great writers like Salman Rushdie, Roxane Gay, Jonathan Safran Foer, Caitlin Moran, Emma Donoghue, Colson Whitehead, Judy Blume, and others manage to get all their brilliant thoughts out of their heads and onto the page, the 10 Minute Writer’s Workshop will answer exactly that — all in around ten minutes or less.

19 The Creative Penn Podcast

Hosted by author Joanna Penn, The Creative Penn Podcast offers a series of hour-long episodes about everything related to writing and publishing. From advice on finding and maintaining your initial inspiration, to tips on developing your craft, to information on publishing and marketing your work, Penn pairs her own words with guest interviews.

20 The Newbie Writers Podcast!

220-plus episodes long, The Newbie Writers Podcast! is hardly a newbie to podcasting. Inspired by the motto: “Because talking about writing shouldn't be boring!” The Newbie Writer’s Podcast! is an upbeat and informative podcast designed to help you figure out what to do with your great book idea. Author interviews (and the occasional digression) are featured.

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In 1959, Jack Kerouac took to his typewriter and typed a spontaneous list of thirty ‘guidelines’ for writing, offering gems of advice such as “write what you want bottomless from the bottom of the mind” and “write in recollection and amazement for yourself.” 

We don’t know if Kerouac would have embraced the podcast circuit to share his Belief and Technique for Modern Prose .

But we know the writing process is endlessly fascinating and elusive, and writers’ secrets are sought after.

Talking about writing often seems more straightforward than actually writing. While listening to the podcasts recommended here won’t replace sitting down to write, it can help you overcome the isolation of seeking inspiration, whether you’re a creative writer or an aspiring novelist. 

That’s why writing podcasts are so valuable. They offer support, guidance, and encouragement for your creative efforts.

Writing podcasts are audio programs that explore the many aspects of writing, from the craft to the lifestyle. 

They are essential tools for anyone looking to enhance their creativity, refine their skills, or find community in the sometimes lonely writing endeavor. 

By tuning into these podcasts, you can learn from other writers’ experiences, learn new techniques, and stay motivated throughout your writing journey.

Different Types of Writing Podcasts

1. write-minded, 2. the creative penn podcast, 3. grammar girl quick and dirty tips for better writing, 4. the writers’ hangout, 5. self-publishing school, 6. the writer files, 7. london writers’ salon, 8. the power of storytelling, 9. writing around the kids, 10. creating happy writers, 11. beautiful writers podcast, 12. the drunken odyssey with john king, 13. the creative writer’s toolbelt, 14. the big gay fiction podcast, 15. writer’s routine , 16. well-read black girl, 17. helping writers become authors, how to use writing podcasts for inspiration and learning, grow your writing career with clickup, brush up your creative skills with writing podcasts, common faqs.

Writing podcasts come in various flavors, catering to the diverse needs and tastes of the writing community. 

Here are some of the main types of podcasts about writing and what they can offer you:

• Instructional podcasts: These podcasts offer practical advice on improving writing skills, covering topics from grammar to story structure. They provide a wealth of knowledge accessible to beginners and experienced writers
• Inspirational podcasts : These podcasts are designed to motivate you by sharing success stories and delivering pep talks. They serve as a source of encouragement, fostering the resilience and creativity needed to face the challenges inherent in your writing career
• Genre-specific podcasts: If you wish to dive into the nuances of writing within particular literary categories such as mystery, romance, or science fiction, genre-specific podcasts are meant for you. They provide insights tailored to writers seeking to refine their craft within specific genres 
• Author interviews: These podcasts offer an intimate look into the lives of bestselling authors, giving you a glimpse of the creative processes and experiences that shape their work. This gives you a behind-the-scenes perspective on the art and profession of writing
• Community-oriented podcasts: These podcasts establish virtual spaces for writers to connect and share their diverse journeys and insights. They actively guide you on your path, serving as beacons for those seeking to master their craft and find creative fulfillment

Now that you know the different types of podcasts, you can choose the one that best suits your preferences. 

To help you further, we have compiled a list of the year’s best podcasts, providing valuable insights to refine your writing skills and spark inspiration. 

Top Ranking Writing Podcasts

No matter where you are in your writing journey, we’ve curated a list of the 17 best writing podcasts of this year to get the creative juices flowing:

Hosted by Brooke Warner from She Writes, the world’s largest online community for women writers, and Grant Faulkner from National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), Write-minded is a weekly podcast that offers a dynamic blend of writing advice, craft-focused discussions, and industry insights. 

In each episode, the hosts conduct engaging interviews with writers and publishing professionals, accompanied by a mini-feature exploring current trends in the publishing world. 

Whether you’re an aspiring author or an established writer, Write-minded delivers a compelling mix of creative inspiration and business insight. 

Recent episodes feature Stephanie Foo discussing the challenges of writing about trauma and A.M. Homes sharing insights on the craft of characterization, making it an invaluable resource for writers at all stages of their journey.

Must-listen episodes

• How to Be Self-Revealing in Memoir When You’re Not In Real Life , featuring Dr. Brian H. Williams
• The Future of the Book , featuring Maja Thomas
• The Subtle Art of Attunement and Its Bearing on Our Writing , featuring Baron Wormser

What listeners say

I can’t stop listening. If you are a writer, you won’t be able to either.

Hosted by Joanna Penn , a successful indie author and entrepreneur, The Creative Penn Podcast provides insights into writing, self-publishing, book marketing, and also how to make a living with your writing. 

Each episode covers topics ranging from genre exploration to the technical aspects of publishing aimed at helping authors understand the book industry. 

Joanna often invites guests like Mark Dawson and Orna Ross, who share their expertise on specific subjects, offering listeners actionable advice to apply to their writing and publishing endeavors.

• A Creative Approach to Generative AI in Book Cover Design with James Helps
• Facing Fears, and Writing Unique Characters with Barbara Nickless
• How Generative AI Search Will Impact Book Discoverability in the Next Decade with Joanna Penn

The mix of audience and the style of the podcast (monologue followed by interview) make it entertaining. Very highly recommended.

Mignon Fogarty , the voice behind Grammar Girl, offers short, friendly tips to improve your writing. Covering grammar, style, and usage, each episode dives into common writing errors and stylistic nuances that can make or break your work. 

The podcast helps writers of all levels clean up their prose and communicate more effectively, making it one of Writer’s Digest’s 101 best websites. 

Guests like linguists and authors discuss language evolution and writing best practices, making complex language rules accessible to everyone.

• Technology changes how we write. Who was the first Goody Two Shoes?
• The psychology (and language) of time. Commas are like people on the subway. Fox chores.
• Why English has silent letters. Dayjamas

The Grammar Girl podcast is the best!!! I especially like the parts about how English has changed over time.

The Writers’ Hangout is a space for writers to share stories, challenges, and victories. 

It’s hosted by various members of the writing community, including PAGE Social Media Director Sandy Adomaitis and co-host Terry Sampson . Each episode dives into different aspects of the writing life, from overcoming writer’s block to exploring creative processes. 

The podcast offers community and practical advice, helping writers feel less isolated.

One of the notable guests featured on the show is the screenwriter Matias Caruso, whose inclusion holds particular significance. As a self-taught screenwriter from Argentina, Caruso brings a unique perspective and journey to the podcast. 

His story of mastering English and screenwriting skills independently amidst cultural and linguistic challenges is inspiring and relatable for aspiring writers globally. 

By featuring Caruso’s insights, the podcast not only enriches its content with diverse experiences but also highlights the inclusivity and encouragement it aims to foster within the creative community.

• How Writers Find Their Agents And Managers
• 7 Quick Tips for Creating Memorable Character Names
• Billy Wilder’s 10 Crucial Tips To Write A Great Screenplay

Podcasts like these are exactly what I need when I’m taking a writing break. It feels like you’re in the space with them and enjoying the conversation.

Chandler Bolt hosts the Self-Publishing School podcast, which focuses on how to write, publish, and market your books effectively. 

Each episode provides step-by-step guidance on self-publishing, making it a valuable resource for authors at any career stage. 

Chandler and his guests, including successful self-published authors such as Joanna Penn and Derek Murphy, discuss strategies for book launches, marketing, and building an author brand, offering listeners a blueprint for self-publishing success.

• Mastering Marketing and Book Promotion with Dr. Joe Vitale
• Portable Stories, Great Case Studies, And Writing Books People Share with Joey Coleman
• The Story Blender: How I Sold 1 Million Copies Of My Novels with Steven James

This is a good podcast for anyone who wants to write a book, no matter what their situation in life is.

Kelton Reid studies the habits, habitats, and brains of famous writers to understand what makes them tick. 

The Writer Files covers everything from productivity hacks to the psychological challenges of writing, offering insights into how successful writers overcome common obstacles. 

Guests have included bestselling authors such as David Sedaris and Gretchen Rubin, who share their routines, writing techniques, inspirations, and tips for maintaining creativity and productivity.

• How to Land a Book Deal with Agent & Author Lucinda Halpern
• How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jim Butcher Writes
• The Art and Craft of TV Drama with Aaron Tracy

If you’re a writer (and even if you’re not), you’ll find listening to The Writer Files to be time well spent

Hosted by writers and co-founders of the London Writers’ Salon , Matthew Trinetti and Parul Bavishi , this podcast invites listeners into the world of writing workshops and literary discussions. 

Each episode explores the craft of writing through conversations with authors, editors, and literary agents, offering practical advice and inspiration. 

The London Writers’ Salon supports writers in honing their craft and finding their community, with guests discussing topics relevant to both new and experienced authors.

• Writing Love Stories, Building Strong Characters, Mastering Young Adult Novels, From Musician to Writer with David Arnold
• Navigating & Succeeding in Self-Publishing, Pros and Cons of Traditional Publishing, Writing Sales Copy, Amazon Categories, Building an Audience, Handling Rights, Hiring Help with Gwyn Bennett
• Writing & Reading as Tools for a Meaningful Life, Writing Big Idea Nonfiction, Learning from Literary Greats with Benjamin Hutchinson

It’s very thought-provoking. I loved it!

The Power of Storytelling , hosted by former journalist and PR expert Nicola J. Rowley , explores the art and impact of storytelling across various mediums. 

The different episodes cover how stories are crafted, shared, and received, offering insights into narrative techniques that captivate audiences. 

The podcast explores the question, “How can my story impact my life and other people’s lives?”

Guests, including renowned journalists, authors, and speakers, share their experiences and tips for creating compelling stories, making it a valuable resource for writers looking to enhance their narrative skills. 

• Onto your next Chapter with Sarah Walker
• Create a Legacy: Write your Story with Abigail Horne
• Unlock the Power of Storytelling , Nicola J. Rowley’s Journey

Inspiring conversations about the power of storytelling. Nicola is a great interviewer drawing out the stories of her guests.

Writing Around the Kids is a podcast designed by Anna Jefferson and Sam Johnson for writers navigating the complexities of parenting alongside their creative endeavors. 

Each episode offers strategies for effective time management, establishing clear boundaries, and enhancing creativity even amid family chaos. 

A highlight of the series is the participation of Elizabeth Haynes, a former police intelligence analyst residing in Norfolk with her husband and son. 

On the podcast, Elizabeth shared her insights on the liberating experience of writing across genres and the creative freedom of drafting without a predefined plan, particularly highlighting her participation in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). 

Her journey from drafting her first novel in the month-long writing challenge (NaNoWriMo) to becoming a published author in 37 countries is not only motivational but also filled with practical tips for listeners who are striving to balance their passion for writing with their responsibilities as parents.

• Writing/Life Balance November with Nicola Williams, Jacqueline Roy, and Annie Garthwaite
• Writing & Motherhood panel discussion with Jo Clegg, Rosie Walker & Nicola Gill

Loved it so much, great ideas.

Creating Happy Writers focuses on the joy and fulfillment writing can bring. The podcast is for writers of non-fiction and business books. 

Hosted by Steph Caswell , each episode explores ways to maintain the passion for writing, overcome self-doubt, and embrace the creative process. It also aims to educate, inspire, and empower writers with the necessary tools.

Guests, including authors, psychologists, and creativity coaches, offer insights into staying motivated and happy in your writing practice, making it a source of inspiration for writers seeking to reignite their passion.

• How to Make Time to Write Your Business Book in 2024
• 10 Lessons I’ve Learned From 10 Years of Writing
• Irresistible Introductions: Hooking Your Reader From Page On e

Steph Caswell eloquently shares phenomenal value in these bite-sized podcasts. Well, worth a listen if you run your own business, and want to stand out within your niche. Or if you have any other reason to be writing a non-fiction book.

Linda Sivertsen hosts Beautiful Writers Podcast , featuring intimate conversations with some of the most beloved authors and creative minds. 

Each episode dives into the writing process, publishing industry insights, and the personal journeys of guests like Elizabeth Gilbert and Brené Brown. 

The podcast offers a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and triumphs of writing, providing listeners with inspiration and practical advice from those who have found significant success in their writing careers.

• How to Write a Book (& Actually Finish It!) with Marie Forleo
• Answering the Biggest Questions that Stump Writers with Cheryl Strayed & Nia Vardalos
• A Top Lit Agent & Writer on Togetherness with Jennifer Rudolph Walsh & Dani Shapiro

Great advice, inspiration, and lessons here. A treasure!!!

The Drunken Odyssey , hosted by John King , is a podcast about writing that combines literary discussion, interviews, and the occasional writing workshop. 

John and his guests, including poets, novelists, and essayists, discuss the nuances of writing, the importance of literature, and the joys and struggles of the creative process. 

The podcast stands out for its eclectic mix of content, from in-depth literary analysis to lighthearted conversations about the writer’s journey.

• A Discussion of Kathleen Alcott’s Emergency , with Samantha Nickerson
• A Discussion of Myhouse.wad for Doom , with Michael Merriam

The Drunken Odyssey is a brilliant podcast! I love that we get sneak peeks into the minds of authors and what it’s like to live that life.

Andrew J. Chamberlain hosts The Creative Writer’s Toolbelt , offering practical, tangible advice to writers looking to hone their craft. Although he hasn’t released a new episode since October 2022, the nearly 200 earlier episodes are full of helpful knowledge and tips for writers.

Each episode focuses on specific aspects of writing, such as character development, setting, or plot, providing listeners with tools and techniques to enhance their storytelling. 

Guests include authors, editors, and literary agents who share their expertise and experiences, making complex writing concepts accessible and actionable.

• Getting the marketing basics right with Written Word Media’s Clayton Noblit
• Trust the process that gives you joy! with Jessie Kwak
• Make your reader feel smart with Jessica Brody

This is my favorite podcast on creative writing and I’ve listened to every episode. Andrew’s method of explaining concepts and techniques is straightforward and easy to understand.

Hosted by Jeff Adams and Will Knauss , The Big Gay Fiction Podcast celebrates gay romance fiction and offers insights into the writing and publishing of LGBTQ+ stories. 

Each episode features interviews with authors, reviews of recent works, and discussions on trends within the genre. 

Guests, including popular authors like TJ Klune and Gregory Ashe, share their writing experiences, providing inspiration and advice for authors in or supportive of the LGBTQ+ community.

• Empowering Readers and Storytellers with Subscriptions
• Timothy Janovsky’s Time Traveling Rom-Com
• Tales of “Vices” and “Restless Rogues” with Jess Everlee

I have found some wonderful authors & books thanks to these two. Highly recommended!

Dan Simpson hosts Writer’s Routine , a podcast that explores the daily routines of successful writers to uncover how they achieve their goals. 

Each episode offers a glimpse into the writing habits that foster productivity and creativity, with guests discussing their schedules, workspaces, and methods for overcoming writer’s block. 

Authors like Ian Rankin and Lisa Jewell have shared their routines, offering useful insights for listeners looking to optimize their writing practices.

• How to plan and write historical fiction with D.V. Bishop
• Why the biggest barriers to writing are your own excuses with Denzil Meyrick
• How to write around a day job with Alex Hay

I love this podcast. Great tips and insights from varying writers that really help inspire and empower.

Well-Read Black Girl , hosted by Glory Edim , features conversations with Black women writers, highlighting their work and exploring themes of representation, diversity, and identity in literature. 

Each episode celebrates the contributions of Black female authors to the literary world, with guests discussing their writing processes, inspirations, and the importance of Black voices in storytelling. 

Guests have included luminaries like Jesmyn Ward and Tayari Jones, making it an empowering listen for writers and readers alike.

• Brit Bennett on Writing Confidently
• Gabrielle Union on Writing Her Truth
• Zeba Blay Brings Healing to the Page

This is an inviting space for listeners to hear from influential authors and public figures, but in a way that’s welcoming.

K.M. Weiland hosts Helping Writers Become Authors, a podcast that offers advice on crafting compelling stories. 

Focusing on story structure, character arcs, and themes, Weiland provides listeners with the tools they need to improve their writing. 

Through solo episodes and conversations with guests, the podcast dives into the technical aspects of writing, offering clear, actionable tips that writers can apply to their work to create more engaging and compelling stories.

• Writing Multiple Plotlines: Everything You Need to Know
• How to Market a Book: 6 Steps from a Full-Time Author
• Do’s and Don’ts of Time Management for Writers

Although I work in a completely different writing genre, Helping Writers Become Authors has become my most valued writing guide

Want to listen to podcasts for writers but unable to find the time? Start by scheduling podcast-listening time into your daily routine. 

Starting the day on an inspirational note with a writing podcast during breakfast or your morning routine can set a positive tone for a productive day of writing. 

Your daily commute, whether driving, walking, or using public transport, is a perfect opportunity to absorb new writing ideas and information, turning travel time into a learning session. 

Scheduled breaks are also a prime time to engage with a podcast, providing a relaxing escape that keeps your mind actively involved with writing. 

Besides, you can combine podcast listening with exercise or household chores and transform these routine tasks into enjoyable and educational moments. 

Wind down at the end of your day with a few minutes spent listening to a writing podcast. Select episodes that inspire or relax you and prepare your mind for the next day’s writing tasks. For episodes that strike a particular chord, dedicating time to active listening and note-taking can also help you reflect on and apply the insights gained to your writing. 

This structured approach to integrating podcasts into your daily activities keeps you connected to the broader writing community and ensures a continuous stream of motivation and learning.

Jotting down key points, interesting phrases, or writing prompts mentioned in the podcast is a great way to consolidate your learnings. Also, try to incorporate new techniques or vocabulary you learned into your writing.

To boost your writing career, you need more than talent and dedication. The right tools can help streamline your creative process and make you more productive. That’s where ClickUp comes in.

ClickUp is a comprehensive platform that caters to writers who want to refine their workflows and step up their creativity. 

With ClickUp Docs and ClickUp Brain , you can access advanced features to optimize your writing tasks and skills.

Create beautiful docs, wikis, and more

ClickUp Docs is an all-in-one workspace where writers can draft, edit, and organize their documents. 

If you engage in heavy research and note-taking, consolidate your material in these documents and organize them well. You can also create wikis while working on larger writing projects.

Connect your tasks, docs, people, and all your company’s knowledge with AI  

ClickUp Brain’s AI capabilities act as a writing assistant , offering an innovative solution to overcome writer’s block. It can generate outlines, summaries, or prompts, kickstarting the writing process for any task. 

This feature also functions as an outline generator , helping you structure your ideas and develop a coherent flow for your pieces. 

It enables content teams to deliver blog post ideas or product teams to create product documents and design user-testing studies in seconds!

Use writing and content calendar templates to stay organized and meet deadlines 

ClickUp also provides content writing templates that simplify the creation of various types of content, from blog posts to technical documentation . 

These templates are an excellent resource for writers looking for a structured start to their projects, ensuring consistency and quality across their work.

Additionally, ClickUp includes content calendar templates , making it easier for writers to plan and track their publishing schedules. This organizational tool is crucial for maintaining a consistent output and meeting deadlines.

For writers keen on continuous learning and improvement and time management, integrating productivity podcasts and ClickUp can provide support and inspiration for a flourishing writing career. 

Whether you’re seeking advice, inspiration, or simply the comfort of knowing you’re not alone in your writing challenges, there’s a writing podcast out there for you! Podcasts for writers are not just about information—they’re catalysts for creativity, connecting writers worldwide in a shared journey.  

One way to make the most out of your creativity today is using ClickUp. It’s your go-to platform for boosting productivity and simplifying workflows so you can focus on your craft. 

It offers a unified space to craft, save, and manage creative projects and documents. As one of the best writing tools and creative partners out there, ClickUp shines whether you’re collaborating with a team, sharing feedback, providing content writing services , or working independently on a project.

ClickUp is free to try, so why wait? Sign up today and discover how it can transform your writing process, dial up productivity, and enhance collaboration.

1. What are the best podcasts for writers?

This question has no definitive answer, as different podcasts may appeal to different writers depending on their preferences, goals, and interests. Depending on factors such as topic and genre, format and style, and the hosts and the guests invited, you can search for podcasts that suit your needs and tastes.

2. How do you use podcasts to inspire your writing?

Podcasts can be a great source of inspiration for your writing, as they can expose you to new ideas, perspectives, and stories. 

Listen to podcasts featuring writers you admire and want to learn the art of writing. You can listen to their stories, challenges, and successes and apply their tips and techniques to your work.

3. What’s the best podcast for professional writers?

This question depends on your personal preferences and goals as a professional writer. Some of the podcasts that can be helpful for professional writers include High-Income Business Writing Podcast , The Writers’ Co-op , and The Copywriter Club .

Questions? Comments? Visit our Help Center for support.

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37 Of The Best Writing Podcasts Available: Listen Now!

If you want to improve your writing skills, spend a little time learning from the other writers who host podcasts.

I regularly spend an hour or two a week listening to top shows like the Creative Penn so I can learn what’s working in publishing and get craft advice. I also share my insights on the Become a Writer Today podcast.

So what should you listen to?

Take a look at some of the best podcasts on writing and learn more about how they can help your creative work! Of course, the podcasts aren’t in order of best to worst.

Because they’re too hard to rank! Let’s dive in.

• 1. Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
• 2. The Career Author 
• 3. A Way With Words
• 4. The Segilola Salami Show
• 5. I Should Be Writing

6. The Writing Life Podcast 

• 7. Portfolio Life by Jeff Goins
• 8. StoryADay
• 9. The Story Grid Podcast
• 10. So You Want to Be A Writer?
• 11. StoryCorps
• 12.You’re Wrong About 
• 13. The Literary Salon
• 14. Minorities in Publishing
• 15. Writing Class Radio
• 16. The Drunken Odyssey with John King
• 17. Ditch Diggers
• 18. Mythcreants Podcast
• 19. The Copywriter Club Podcast
• 20. Happier by Gretchen Rubin
• 21. Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach
• 22. Helping Writers Become Authors
• 23. Between the Covers
• 24. The Creative Penn Podcast
• 25. The Writing University Podcast
• 26. Beautiful Writers Podcast
• 27. First Draft: A Dialogue On Writing
• 28. Savage Lovecast
• 29. Write-minded
• 30. Dead Robots’ Society
• 31. Create If Writing
• 32. Writing Excuses
• 33. The Subtext 
• 34. The Writer Files

35. Mark Dawson’s Self-Publishing Formula

36. story studio podcast, 37. become a writer today, the final word on the best writing podcasts.

1.  Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

This podcast is designed to help writers who are looking to improve their knowledge of the English language. Episodes offer listeners advice on how to weave interesting details into their stories while also remaining grammatically correct.

Some of the most popular recent episodes target grammar myths and strategies for tackling writer’s block and becoming a better writer.

2.  The Career Author 

Hosted by Zach Bohannon and J. Thorn, this podcast seeks to host helpful conversations that will help aspiring writers. Episodes focus on creativity, writing, marketing, and the growth of self-publishing.

Specific episodes have focused on soliciting feedback from peers, finding a mentor, and exploring the pros and cons of a publishing deal.

3 .  A Way With Words

This is an NPR podcast that discusses language through different historical lenses. By taking a look at writing from different cultural perspectives, writers will have the opportunity to explore different methods of storytelling.

Episodes also focus on slang, new words, semantics, and eclectic topics in the world of writing.

4.   The Segilola Salami Show

Segilola Salami is a mother and author who tackles topics related to books and publishing. The podcast is equal parts entertaining and educational as it welcomes guests of all backgrounds in the writing industry.

Guests share their stories of how they got from the beginning to where they are now via publishing novels.

5.   I Should Be Writing

Hosted by Mur Lafferty, this is an award-winning podcast that frequently features authors who have a new book coming out. The goal of this podcast is to inspire new writers to believe in themselves and start writing.

Popular episodes talk about rejection in the publishing industry and the problems of naming a character after a living person.

This podcast caters to all writers. Hosted by the National Center of Writing, the podcast interviews writers of all backgrounds regarding their writing journeys, their techniques, and their styles.

Guests include everyone from early-career self-publishing writers to narrative designers.

7.   Portfolio Life by Jeff Goins

Author Jeff Goins hosts this podcast and explores topics regarding life, artistry, and collective work. The podcast features inspirational messages that encourage writers to follow their dreams and build a writing career.

The podcast also follows the journeys of different writers and shows there is no one way to make a living writing. When I got started blogging, Jeff Goin’s blog and his podcast served as inspiration for what’s possible

8.   StoryADay

This podcast challenges writers to discover how much they are capable of writing in a month. The podcast explores how writers can become more committed to their craft with short, 15-minute episodes.

Writers will get writing prompts , creativity challenges, and published posts focusing on the writing process.

9.   The Story Grid Podcast

This podcast is hosted by veteran author Shawn Coyne and writer Tim Grahl, who calls himself a struggling writer. This podcast explores ways to create a story and the craft of writing a book.

As a unique twist, the podcast critiques the works of the hosts, seeking to provide serious insight with a humorous twist that keeps the audience entertained.

10.   So You Want to Be A Writer?

This extensive podcast is hosted by authors Allison Tait and Valerie Khoo. With more than 250 episodes, this is a versatile podcast that explores all aspects of writing, including publishing.

Whether listeners want to learn more about the latest trends in publishing or would like tips on how to grow their writing business, this podcast will touch on it at some point.

11.   StoryCorps

For those who are looking for inspiration from interesting stories, this NPR podcast focuses on interviews with individuals from all backgrounds. The podcast doesn’t focus directly on writers but instead tells stories that could serve as a source of ideas.

Most of the conversations tackle difficult, compelling topics that can act as a platform for a new story.

12. You’re Wrong About 

In writing, fact-checking is a must, and this podcast will teach writers how to fact-check quickly and accurately.

That applies even if you’re self-publishing a book.

Hosted by journalists Michael Hobbes and Sarah Marshall, the team tackles events that have been misinterpreted through the imagination of the public.

The podcast is helpful for those who write fiction, mystery novels, and, of course, news articles.

13.   The Literary Salon

Damian Barr hosts this podcast where authors read excerpts from their books in glamorous locations. There is always a live audience and the podcast provides listeners with a chance to hear some of the best stories in the world told live.

Okechukwu Nzelu recently read a passage from his second book, titled The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney .

14.   Minorities in Publishing

This podcast focuses on issues related to a lack of diversity in writing. Listeners are encouraged to focus on the impact of not only what they write but also what they don’t.

The podcast explores ways to tackle tough issues in society through writing.

15.   Writing Class Radio

This podcast serves as an invitation to a writing class. Listeners can hear advice from experts who share helpful tips on storytelling. Episodes tackle everything from inspiration to developing an identity to finding an agent.

16.   The Drunken Odyssey with John King

This is a podcast hosted by John King, a literary reviewer, and discusses how writers can foster a sense of community and encouragement. The podcast also tackles challenging issues in the writing process, mostly geared toward story and novel writers.

17.  Ditch Diggers

Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace provide advice to writers with deadlines. The goal is to help writers press through upcoming deadlines while still paying the bills. While the podcast has some popular language, this is helpful for writers who are just getting started in the field.

18.   Mythcreants Podcast

This is a weekly podcast that provides an opportunity for writers to geek out on fantasy and sci-fi stories while trying to uncover ways to find fresh, new, creative ideas. Episodes tackle everything from writing about conflicts in stories to how to explain a point of view and character development.

19.   The Copywriter Club Podcast

This is a podcast for copywriters, subject matter experts, and technical writers. This is a growing niche in writing, and the podcast offers resources for writers who seek to make a living in this business.

The podcast also tackles common issues that copywriters and editors might encounter.

20.   Happier by Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin, a bestselling author, hosts this podcast. In her episodes, she focuses on the life of a writer and trying to find joy in the writing process. The podcast features interviews from numerous bestselling authors who share habits that have made them successful in the industry.

21.   Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach

Ann Kroeker is a writing coach and she hosts this podcast to help writers hone their talent. She provides practical tips, insights, and inspiration. Episodes tend to last about fifteen minutes and focus on fast solutions to common writing issues.

This might include proofreading, cutting down a manuscript, and character development.

22.   Helping Writers Become Authors

KM Weiland, an award-winning author, hosts this podcast and provides advice to aspiring writers. Tailored to those who want to write novels, the podcast provides practical advice on numerous topics related to story structure.

23.   Between the Covers

This is a literary radio show hosted by David Naimon. The podcast features in-depth conversations with writers from a variety of genres and backgrounds. Episodes usually last an hour and explore details of the creative writing process behind some of the top books in the world.

24.   The Creative Penn Podcast

The Creative Penn Podcast focuses on writing, publishing, book marketing , and making a living through writing. Led by Joanna Penn, who is an award-nominated New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author, podcast episodes are posted every Monday.

I’ve listened to this show for years and am a Patreon supporter. It’s one of the best writing podcasts. Joanna features interviews, inspiration, and information on writing, self-publishing, entrepreneurship, and book marketing.

25.   The Writing University Podcast

This podcast features recordings of famous talks from bestselling writers, poets, essayists, and other featured guests who provide lectures at the University of Iowa’s Summer Writing Festival. Some of the top talks on this podcast explore the power of emotions, mixed feelings, and controversial ideas in writing .

26.   Beautiful Writers Podcast

This podcast features conversations with some of the top writers in the world. Hosted by Linda Sivertsen, some of the authors to come on the show include Dean Koontz and Elizabeth Gilbert.

The episodes are detailed and feature anecdotes from some of the top creative minds in the industry.

27.   First Draft: A Dialogue On Writing

Hosted by Mitzi Rapkin, this is a literary podcast that has been on the air for five years. Episodes feature in-depth interviews with writers in a variety of genres who share some of the impressive messes that made up their first drafts.

The podcast is a conversation about the author’s topics while also providing a deep dive into the writing craft from beginning to end.

28.   Savage Lovecast

Hosted by Dan Savage, this podcast focuses on exploring the lives of human characters in stories. Episodes focus on how to develop and explore romantic relationships in writing.

The podcast encourages writers to use real-life experiences to inform their fiction because reality is often more interesting anyway.

29.   Write-minded

This podcast releases new episodes weekly and is hosted by Brooke Warner (from She Writes) and Grant Faulkner (from NaNoWriMo). Each episode has a theme that is built around an interview from someone in the writing industry.

Each episode has a takeaway, but the podcast wants listeners to learn that everyone can become a writer, and their stories always matter.

30.   Dead Robots’ Society

This is a fun podcast that shares insights that are usually tailored toward those who would like to write novels. The podcast explores the writing process from word choice to sequels, trilogies, and more.

They also explore interesting topics in fiction writing ranging from fantasy to science fiction, thrillers, and mystery novels.

31.   Create If Writing

This podcast is geared toward creatives, writers, and bloggers who seek to build an online platform without being labeled as snobby or smarmy. Hosted by Kirsten Oliphant, episodes focus on everything from coming up with fresh ideas to digital marketing and publishing deals.

32.   Writing Excuses

This podcast is hosted by writers who offer quick tips for tackling problems in writing. Podcasts are only 15 minutes long, but they are packed full of content.

With 13 seasons, past episodes have covered structural issues in writing, telling stories in different genres, and tips for outlining a new story.

33.   The Subtext 

This podcast focuses on playwrights who want to talk about some of the most controversial topics in playwriting. Hosted by The American Theatre, a general-circulation magazine that focuses on theater, the podcast talks about topics that irk, agitate, inspire, and motivate.

The podcast seeks to uncover what makes writers tick.

34.   The Writer Files

The Writer Files are hosted by Kelton Reid and focus on exploring the habits of some of the top writers in the world. Reid also interviews writers of all backgrounds, providing listeners with a chance to check out the minds of accomplished wordsmiths in various genres.

I’ve taken several of Mark’s courses over the years and he’s a knowledge guy about writing and book marketing. He’s also sold over a million books! 

On his writing podcast, which he co-hosts with James Blatch, Mark features case studies, interviews and best practices.

This popular podcast is hosted by Johnny B. Truant, Dave Wright and Sean Pratt. It’s an informal show that covers self-publishing, the craft and everything going on the the host’s creative lives.

The authors write everything from science fiction to books with practical writing advice. I also recently interviewed them .

Humble-brag alert!

If you are looking for a podcast that will help you learn about how to start and build a profitable career through writing, then check out my show

I feature interviews from best-selling authors who share some of their own writing tips, marketing strategies, and publishing advice. I also cover topics like how to write a book.

I was also featured in Feedspot’s top 20 creative writing podcasts .

These are a few of the best podcasts about writing. As you can see, there’s a lot to choose from. I usually listen to one or two shows while out for a run or in the gym using the Pocketcasts app.

Each podcast has a unique approach to writing, so check out a few of them and learn more about they can improve your approach to your work.

The 41 best writing podcasts every writer should subscribe to right now

Writing is rewarding, but often-lonely work. Podcasts are a great way to learn, get inspired, and find community. Whether you’re a copywriter, creative writer, blogger, author, UX writer, or content writer, honing your craft will help you land better jobs and find fulfillment in your work.

We’ve rounded up the 40 best podcasts for writers and organized them into categories to help you find your next listen. These podcasts will teach you how to make a living as a writer, how to become a better writer, how to become a published author, and all about the history language itself.

No matter what kind of writer you are or what aspirations you have, this list of writing podcasts has you covered.

How to make a living as a writer

1. freelance writing coach.

In their new podcast, Freelance Writing Coach , Kaleigh Moore and Emma Siemasko share how they’ve built fulfilling, six-figure freelance writing businesses. They cover the ins and outs of writing and what it really takes to be in business for yourself. Listening to it feels like you’re talking to a wise friend.

They talk openly and honestly about setting rates, client boundaries, creating digital products, loneliness, and much more. Each episode is 30 minutes long and they release an entire season of episodes at once—you’ll want to binge it!

Who should listen:

Freelance writers looking to build fulfilling and lucrative careers who are tired of advice that feel outdated or inaccessible.

Where you can listen:

2. High-Income Business Writing Podcast

Hosted by Ed Gandia, High-Income Business Writing helps ambitious freelancers reach six-figures by teaching you how to get better clients, earn more in less time, and bring more freedom and ease into your business. It’s a no-fluff, actionable podcast.

Episodes include case studies, interviews with experts in the field, and a range of quick tips and ideas for writers and copywriters. Ed shares a few 2-5 minute clips each week along with monthly 30-60 minute interviews.

You’re committed to building a six-figure business as a writer and are looking for advice from experts who have done the same.

3. Create If Writing

Create If Writing helps writers and bloggers build an authentic platform online. Host Kirsten Oliphant interviews experts on the ups and downs of list-building, social media marketing , advertising, and content strategy.

Kirsten is a self-published author with 11 years of blogging experience. She has a wealth of experience that she’s keen to share with others. Episodes are 30-60 minutes long and released weekly.

Writers and bloggers who are keen to build their own audience or platform online.

Where to listen:

4. 7-Figure Small with Brian Clark

Previously called Unemployable, 7-Figure Small is a podcast by serial digital entrepreneur Brian Clark. With 20 plus years of experience, Brain shares actionable tips and strategies for freelancers looking to build a personal enterprise. While this podcast isn’t strictly about writing, it’s invaluable for those looking to understand the changing landscape of content creation as well as what it takes to earn seven-figures.

Episodes include interviews with successful creators and entrepreneurs such as Seth Godin, Tim Ferriss, Jenny Blake, Kathleen Shannon, and Gary Vaynerchuk. Brian also shares solo and roundtable style episodes to discuss industry trends. Episodes are 30-90 minutes in length.

Anyone interested in transitioning from freelancing to entrepreneurship and is wondering what it takes to earn seven-figures in today’s digital landscape.

5. The Writing Coach Podcast with Rebecca L. Weber

Rebecca L. Weber, the host of The Writing Coach Podcast , coaches you on the skill development and mindset shifts needed to become a successful independent writer . She’s committed to teaching freelancers how to succeed by learning how to identify the wants and needs of your audience, your editors, and yourself.

Topics covered include how to deal with imposter syndrome, how to improve time management, how to stop procrastinating, how to pitch your work, how to get out of a cycle of under-earning, and how to find meaning in your work. Episodes are 5-30 minutes long and make a great break in your work day.

Freelance writers struggling with overwhelm, imposter syndrome, writer’s block, and marketing your work.

6. Creative Class

Creative Class is a podcast for freelancers. While not specifically for writers, it offers valuable and actionable advice on every aspect of building a business as a freelancer. You’ll learn about how to price your services, how and when to build products, how to attract better clients, and how to protect yourself legally.

Co-hosted by Kaleigh Moore, a writer and six-figure business owner, and Paul Jarvis, an author with 20+ years of freelance experience, this podcast is a must listen for anyone who is self employed. Episodes run from 15-30 minutes.

All freelance writers and content creators who struggle with the ins and outs of running a business including marketing themselves and pricing their products or services.

Copywriting and content strategy

1. the copywriter club podcast.

The Copywriter Club Podcast is the go-to podcast for in-depth interviews with expert copywriters. Co-hosted by Kira Hug and Rob March, each week they share a new in-depth interview with a successful copywriter or content creator. It’s the closest you’ll get to being able to hang out with these successful writers yourself.

Their guests share copywriting advice, best practices, what rates to charge, how to build sales funnels, and how to market yourself. Each episode is 60-90 minutes.

Freelancers wanting inspiration to help you think bigger and take your writing business to the next level.

2. Copy That Pops

Copy That Pops explores the intersection of writing, psychology, and business. Host Laura Petersen is a math and psychology teacher turned best-selling author and entrepreneur who teaches you how to ethically apply the principles of persuasion to your writing.

Topics include brainstorming book ideas, self-publishing, writing and launching an Amazon bestseller, and the psychology of copywriting. Laura shares bite-sized 5-10 minutes episodes along with longer 60 minute episodes.

Writers interested in how they can use psychology to help them write better and self-publish books that sell.

3. Good Copy, Bad Copy

From Radix Communications, Good Copy, Bad Copy is a B2B copywriting podcast for technology writers. Episodes are dense and dive deep on topics you won’t find elsewhere.

Topics covered include telling stories with data, managing stakeholders, content for the public sector, and applying Lean-Agile practices to B2B content creation. Episodes are 30-60 minutes in length and feature interviews with prominent writers in the tech industry.

B2B copywriters in technology marketing looking for in-depth advice and trend exploration.

4. Copy Chief Radio

Copy Chief Radio is focused on sharing timeless, effective copywriting and marketing tactics along with what’s trending in the ever-changing landscape of marketing. Host Kevin Rogers does a good job of balancing fundamentals with current trends.

Episodes feature inspiring and instructive interviews with freelance copywriters who are forging their own paths in their respective fields. Episodes are 20-60 minutes long and released every other week.

Freelance copywriters and marketers looking for actionable advice from those a little further ahead on the path.

5. Writers of Silicon Valley

Writers of Silicon Valley is a podcast on all things UX writing, content design, and content strategy. Hosted by Patrick Stafford, it uncovers the growing and lucrative world of writers who work closely with design teams to build remarkable software products.

Patrick interviews successful UX writers from Figma, Netflix, Adobe, Google, Spotify, Dropbox, and other tech giants. Episodes are 30-60 minutes long and a new one is released each month.

Anyone looking to break into the profitable tech writing niche of UX writing.

How to become a better writer

1. longform.

Longform has been around since 2012 and is one of the best known writing podcasts out there. It features interviews with writers, journalists, filmmakers, and podcasters to uncover how they do their work. It’s hosted by Aaron Lammer, Max Linsky, and Evan Ratliff.

They interview writers from around the world in a wide range of industries. Episodes feature interviews with journalists, editors, authors, and podcast hosts from recognizable publications like Radiolab, The Washington Post, Wired, and The Verge. Episodes are 30-70 minutes long.

Anyone curious about the process and career arc of other writers. You’ll find this podcast inspiring, engaging, and expansive.

2. Write Now with Sarah Werner

Sarah Werner is an award-winning podcaster and writer and the host of Write Now . Write Now is a podcast for aspiring and professional writers who are looking to pursue their passion and build a healthy work-life balance.

Sarah shares encouragement, advice, and inspiration that’ll encourage you to write every day and face the emotional and mental pitfalls that come along with establishing a regular writing practice. Episodes are released weekly and are roughly 30 minutes long.

Aspiring and professional writers looking for a regular dose of encouragement and support that feels like it’s coming from a friend.

3. I Should Be Writing

I Should Be Writing is an award-winning podcast for new writers. Hosted by Mur Lafferty, it’s been around since 2005 and now also streams live on Twitch. Mur uses the show to document the ups and downs of building a writing career by sharing stories from her own life and interviewing others.

Mur Lafferty is a talented, engaging host and it’s easy to get hooked on her show. She focuses mostly on the emotional roadblocks you’ll find as your writing career progresses. Episodes are 20-40 minutes long.

New writers who are unsure how to start and keep going in their writing careers.

4. 10-Minute Writer’s Workshop

The 10-Minute Writer’s Workshop was an interview series from NHPR that gave a behind the scenes look at how great writers develop their craft. While it’s no longer being produced, there are two years and 60 episodes worth of archives for you to listen to.

The podcast featured bestselling authors and Pulitzer Prize winning writers such as Jennifer Egan, Dan Brown, Krista Tippett, Roxane Gay, and Celeste Ng. At 10 minutes each, these quick listens are a great way to take a break and give yourself a boost in your work day.

Aspiring and professional writers who are curious about the careers and processes of their favourite authors.

5. Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

As the name suggests, Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing is an educational podcast sharing short, actionable tips to improve your writing . This five-time award winning podcast is hosted by Mignon Fogarty and boasts an archive of over 600 episodes for you to browse through. Consider it your friendly guide to the English language.

Each episode contains tips on grammar, punctuation, style, history, and even the business of writing. Episodes are 10-20 minutes long and released weekly.

Writers who have English as their first or second language who want short, easily digestible tips to improve their writing.

6. DIY MFA Radio

DIY MFA Radio host Gabriela Pereira shows you how to take your writing from average to awesome with this MFA speaker series style radio show. She interviews bestselling authors, writing teachers, and publishing industry insiders to uncover the tools needed to develop your craft.

Each episode digs deep on an element of the craft of writing, the business or writing, or both. Past guests include Delia Ephron, Tana French, and Guy Kawasaki. Episodes are 45-60 minutes long.

Aspiring or published authors who want to fine tune their craft and better understand the publishing world.

7. 88 Cups of Tea

88 Cups of Tea is a podcast and online community that shares a wealth of writing inspiration, resources, and author and agent interviews. It’s run by a group of creative writers who are upbeat, uplifting, and truly invested in bringing more joy to the process of writing.

They discuss overcoming rejection, lifestyle habits to support your heart and soul, and what it means to build a life as a creative. Episodes are 40-75 minutes long. Their website has essays, articles, and an archive of over 200 past episodes for you to explore.

Personal and professional writers who want inspiration and encouragement to pursue their creative path.

8. Writers Who Don’t Write

Co-hosts Jeff Umbro and Kyle Craner started the Writers Who Don’t Write podcast to overcome their own fears of writing. It slowly grew into a multi-year project that helped other writers tell their own stories of overcoming difficulties in their careers. Each interview is vulnerable and inspiring.

They’ve interviewed Tim Urban, Mark Manson, Stephanie Danler, Claire Messud, and many other successful writers. Episodes run 30-75 minutes.

Anyone who’s currently feeling challenged in their writing career and wants a reminder that they’re not alone.

9. The Portfolio Life with Jeff Goins

The Portfolio Life is a podcast hosted by author, blogger, and entrepreneur Jeff Goins. He shares ideas and advice to help creatives discover their voice and pursue work that matters. While not solely focused on writing, this podcast is wonderful inspiration for writers who are eager to turn their craft into a business.

The podcast features both solo episodes and interviews with other creatives. Topics covered include building your first product, identifying the kind of creator you are, gaining traction as a creative, and the secret to innovative work. Episodes are 15-75 minutes long.

Writers who want to build a business doing work that matters to them and makes a difference to others.

10. Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach

Anna Kreoker’s self-titled podcast Anna Kroeker, Writing Coach helps writers at all stages find motivation. She teaches you how to identify and reach your writing goals while having fun and staying creative. Anna shares ideas and inspiration that you can immediately apply to your work.

Anna shares solo episodes and interviews with other publishing professionals. Episodes are anywhere from 10-60 minutes and feel like an encouraging boost from a personal coach.

Aspiring and professional writers who are looking to improve their process, be more productive, and stay inspired. Anna will help you build practices that support your work.

11. First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing

First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing is a literary podcast featuring in-depth interviews with fiction, non-fiction, and poetry writers. Host Mitzi Rapkin talks with her guests about their work, how they approach their craft, and the literary arts in general. It’s a celebration of creative writing in its many forms.

Guests of the show include Elizabeth Gilbert, Dani Shapiro, Saeed Jones, James Salter, and many more well-known and emerging writers. Each episode is between 30-60 minutes and new interviews are released weekly.

Creative writing lovers and aspiring authors who are curious about the art of bringing their words to print.

12. StoryADay

StoryADay offers short episodes to help you learn how much you're capable of writing in a month. Host Julie Duffy encourages you to write every day and teaches you how to keep that commitment up for the rest of your life.

Each episode is 10-20 minutes long and focuses on one topic and one writing assignment. Topics covered include how to focus, building persistence, getting feedback, leaving a legacy, and how to get unstuck.

Professional writers who want to build a daily, lifelong writing practice.

13. Writing Excuses

Learn better writing techniques quickly in these fast-paced, short episodes from Writing Excuses . The show is hosted by Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler and it’s a long-time favourite for many writers.

They cover a range of informative and interesting topics such as poetic language, publishing pitfalls, audiobook narration, writing endings, and dealing with discomfort. Episodes are roughly 15 minutes long and released weekly.

Any writer eager to improve their writing technique and prefers short-form podcasts.

14. Story Grid Podcast

The Story Grid Podcast teaches you how to become a better storyteller. Co-hosts Shawn Coyne, the author of Story Grid, and Tim Grahl, a self-proclaimed struggling writer, discuss the ins and outs of what makes great writing.

The podcast features interviews with authors, instructional episodes where they take you through an aspect of storytelling, such as the Hero’s Journey, and literary analysis where they breakdown well known books chapter by chapter. Episodes are 10-60 minutes long.

Writers interested in improving the developmental arc of the stories they tell.

15. The Mythcreant Podcast

As the name alludes, Mythcreants is a podcast for storytellers of fantasy and science fiction. The hosts geek out on all aspects of writing fantasy and science fiction and have a great time doing it. The show is entertaining, informative, and always leaves you with something to think about.

Topics covered include bias-free language, flat characters, fan fiction, crafting satisfying resolutions in your stories, and more. Episodes are 30 minutes long.

Writers of fantasy and science fiction who want to impact the genre.

16. The Writing Life

Produced by the National Centre for Writing, The Writing Life is a podcast for writers of all descriptions. It’s focused on the writing journeys and techniques of well known authors. They talk about early careers, self-publishing, and narrative design.

They’ve interviewed literary giants like Margaret Atwood, Sara Collins, Antti Tuomainen, Elif Shafak, and others. Episodes are 30-75 minutes long and released weekly.

Writers who want to learn about the early careers and journeys of the authors they love.

Linguistics and the history of language

1. lingthusiasm.

Described as “joyously nerdy” by Buzzfeed, Lingthusiasm is a linguistics podcast hosted by Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne. They explore the roots and impact of language in a delightful, deep, and engaging way.

Topics include the value of small talk, how translators approach text, the versatility of language, and why spelling is hard. New episodes are released monthly and average 40 minutes in length.

Anyone ready to nerd out on the history and possibilities of words, language, and how we communicate.

2. Because Language

Because Language (previously called Talk the Talk) is a social sciences podcast about linguistics and the science of language. It’s hosted by Daniel Midgley, Ben Ainslie, and Hedvig Skirgård. They interview writers, educators, linguists, and social scientists to explore how words shape the world we live in.

This podcast is an accessible and fun way to learn about linguistics. You’ll learn plenty of facts that will impress your friends, improve your writing, and make you more aware of the world around you. Episodes are between 60-120 minutes long.

Writers wanting to keep up to date with the world of linguistics and how it shapes our culture.

3. The History of English Podcast

The History of English is a chronological history of the English language examined through the historical events that have shaped the development and spread of the language. Each episode is incredibly detailed and well researched. Written, hosted, and produced by Kevin Stroud, this podcast is a hidden gem for history and language lovers alike.

Kevin began the podcast in 2012 by exploring the roots of English among the herding culture of the Indo-Europeans and their migration throughout Europe and Asia, and is now covering the emergence of Modern English in the wake of the printing press. Episodes are roughly 60 minutes long and new ones are released every month.

History lovers who enjoy learning about language through storytelling.

4. Lexicon Valley

Lexicon Valley is a Slate podcast hosted by linguist, professor, and author John McWhorter. It explores questions about why we speak, read, and write the way we do. Episodes are entertaining, instructive, and strangely delightful.

Topics covered include syntax, etymology, neurolinguistics, language pet peeves, and how languages die. Each episode is roughly 60 minutes long and new ones are released every week or two.

Anyone fascinated by why and how we communicate as well as how language shapes culture.

5. A Way With Words

A Way with Words is a light-hearted radio show about language and linguistics. Co-hosts Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett talk with callers from all over the world to examine language through the lens of family, history, and culture. They talk about slang, riddles, old sayings, new words, common expressions, regional dialects, folklore, and all types of literature.

A Way with Words has been published since 1998 so there’s a huge wealth of archives to explore. Episodes average 60 minutes in length.

Language and linguistics lovers who want to know everything about words and how we use them.

How to become a published author

1. minorities in publishing.

Minorities in Publishing is a podcast hosted by publishing professionals Bev Rivero and Jenn Baker to explore diversity (or lack thereof) in the publishing industry. They interview writers, editors, agents, marketers, illustrators, and publishers who work both independently and in-house.

They talk about both the larger systemic issues of marginalized representation in the media and guests’ personal experience navigating their respective fields. Episodes are between 30-60 minutes long and new interviews are released monthly.

Emerging, marginalized writers who are looking to better understand and navigate the world of publishing.

2. The Bestseller Experiment

Co-hosts Mark Stay, an author and screenwriter, and Mark Desvaux, an entrepreneur and recording artist, share what it takes to write and market a best selling book. The Bestseller Experiment interviews publishers, editors, writers, and social media specialists who have had chart-topping success to learn how they did it.

Topics covered include everything from writing to publishing to marketing. Interviews are roughly 60 minutes long. They also share short 3-10 minute “Deep Dive” episodes to give you quick hits of actionable inspiration.

Aspiring authors interested in writing, self-publishing, and marketing a bestselling book in just one year.

3. AskAlli: Self-Publishing Advice Podcast

The Alliance of Independent Authors’ Self-Publishing Advice Podcast covers every aspect of self-publishing for beginners through to advanced writers. Director and co-host Orna Ross interviews successful self-published authors to share the most up-to-date information on this rapidly changing industry.

Episodes are posted twice weekly and range from 10-40 minutes in length. They feature inspiring interviews, actionable advice, and analysis of industry trends.

Aspiring authors wanting to self-publish their own fiction, non-fiction, or poetry books.

4. So You Want to be a Writer

So You Want to be a Writer is a podcast from the Australian Writers’ Centre. It’s hosted by two successful journalists and authors, Valerie Khoo and Allison Tait. They share trends, opportunities, and the occasional piece of gossip in the publishing industry.

In their “Writer In Residence” series they interview published authors to uncover exactly how they got their big break. You’ll learn practical writing tips and get an insiders look at the industry. Episodes are 30-75 minutes long.

Writers who want to know what it takes to break into the publishing industry.

5. Dead Robots’ Society

Dead Robots’ Society is a group of aspiring writers who interview other aspiring writers on their journey to becoming published authors. It’s hosted by Justin Macumber, Paul Elard Cooley, and Terry Mixon.

Longtime fans of the show enjoy the hosts for their honesty, camaraderie, and wit. It offers listeners solidarity and encouragement to continue writing. With a wealth of experience between them, there’s also a ton of valuable advice throughout.

Writers and aspiring authors who are feeling isolated and want some company on their journey to being published.

6. Helping Writers Become Authors

Helping Writers Become Authors does what it promises, helps you write and edit a book that agents and readers will buy. Host K.M. Weiland talks about finding inspiration, crafting engaging characters, outlining and structuring novels, and editing.

The show pays particular attention to helping you write a novel that you’re not only proud of but also sells. She goes deep into character arcs, honing your storytelling skills, and how to develop your cognitive functions to become a better thinker and writer. Episodes are 10-20 minutes long and released weekly.

Aspiring novelists who want to improve the quality of the stories they tell and create something an agent will buy.

7. Write or Die Podcast

The Write or Die Podcast shares the gritty truth of what it takes to become an author. Hosted by authors Claribel A. Ortega and Kat Cho, this podcast features the stories of writers who have gone through it all in order to now live out their dreams. It offers solidarity and inspiration to aspiring authors.

This podcast is sharp, funny, and doesn’t shy away from the more taboo aspects of writing and publishing. Episodes are released weekly and average 60 minutes in length.

Aspiring authors looking for support and the unvarnished truth on their writing and publishing journey.

8. Book Marketing Mentors

The Book Marketing Mentors podcast teaches you how to build and execute your book marketing plan. Hosted by bestselling author Susan Friedmann, it focuses on simple, proven techniques that you can implement yourself to streamline your marketing efforts.

Susan interviews other bestselling authors to discuss finding your niche, getting over the fear of selling, marketing as an introvert, and leveraging technology in an overwhelming world. Episodes are 30 minutes long and released weekly.

Authors wanting to take the business of publishing and marketing their book to the next level.

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9. The Creative Penn Podcast for Writers

The Creative Penn Podcast will help you navigate self-publishing and book marketing and teach you how to make a living with your writing. Host Joanna Penn will show you it’s possible to reach your dreams and become an author.

Joanna is a joyful host who interviews other authors to discuss the craft of writing, the business of being a writer, and how you can make a living through your books. Episodes are 30-60 minutes long and released weekly.

Aspiring authors who want to understand their options for self-publishing, book marketing, and creative entrepreneurship.

Writers never stop learning and growing. Podcasts are a wonderful, free way to help you develop your craft, build your business, and remind yourself you’re not alone. Give one or all of these podcasts a listen to find your new favorite.

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Novel writing ,

22 of the best writing podcasts.

By Casie Bazay

If you’re a writer looking for some sound advice and a little inspiration, or perhaps you’re in the gloomy depths of your work-in-progress with no hint of light in sight, then I have some fantastic news for you. A plethora of incredible FREE podcasts await you!

In this article, I’ll share some of the absolute BEST podcasts for writers. Whether you’re working on your first novel, have a few books under your belt, or if you’ve already been published, I have a novel writing podcast perfect for you. 

Why Subscribe To Podcasts For Writers?

As a writer who had her very first foray into the world of podcasts just a few short years ago (I’m usually late to the party), I’ve already learned a great deal from them. Not only do author podcasts provide much-needed insight and inspiration, episodes exist on nearly every topic imaginable. 

Writing is often a solitary and difficult endeavour but hearing from other writers and industry experts reminds us we’re not alone. Good writing podcasts give us the tools and techniques we need to get the job done. And the best part is you can listen and learn while doing other things – driving, cooking, and walking the dog will never be boring again.

Don’t know which writing podcasts are worth listening to? We gotcha covered. Read on…

22 Inspiring Writing Podcasts

The creative writer’s tool belt.

Hosted by author and creative writing mentor, Andrew Chamberlain, The Creative Writers Toolbelt publishes new episodes bi-monthly, giving writers practical, accessible advice and encouragement. Each episode explores an aspect of creative writing technique, sharing plenty of examples, and allowing writers to immediately apply what they learn to their writing. 

This fiction writing podcast also shares the occasional interview with writers or artists, exploring their wisdom on subjects like story, style, character, and writing process.

Listen on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , and Podomatic .

Minorities In Publishing

Minorities in Publishing is the brainchild of publishing professional, Jenn Baker. As its name implies, this podcast focuses on diversity (or the lack thereof) in the book publishing industry. In each episode, Baker talks with other publishing professionals, as well as authors and other people involved in the literary scene. 

Listen on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , and Podbay . 

Beautiful Writers Podcast

Beautiful Writers Podcast is hosted by bestselling author, writing coach, ex-ghostwriter, and magazine editor, Linda Sivertsen. This podcast features up-close conversations with the world’s most beloved, bestselling authors about writing, publishing, deal-making, spirituality, activism, and the art of romancing creativity. 

Episodes are heart-centered and encouraging with street-smart advice and insider success (and failure), featuring stories for every writer and creative type. 

Listen on all American Airlines, in-flight entertainment systems, as well as iTunes , Spotify ,  iHeartradio , Stitcher , Google Podcasts , PlayerFM , Castbox , PodTail ,  PodbayFM , and ListenNotes . 

My Dad Wrote A Porno

The title of this podcast says it all! Imagine if your dad wrote an erotic book. Most people would try to ignore it—but that’s not what Jamie Morton did. Instead, he decided to read it to the world in this groundbreaking comedic podcast. With the help of his best mates, Jamie reads a chapter a week and discovers more about his father than he ever bargained for. 

My Dad Wrote a Porno is quite simply sex scene-writing gold (lessons in both what and what not to do).

Listen on Acast and Apple Podcast . 

Create If Writing Podcast

Create If Writing Podcast , hosted by author and writing coach, Kirsten Oliphant, is for any writer, blogger, or creative who wants to build an online platform without being smarmy. The episodes provide a balanced mix of inspiration and technical advice to help writers get their name out there. 

Listen on Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Google Play, and Spotify .

Between The Covers

Feeling stuck? We’ve all been there. Between the Covers , hosted by David Naimon, might be just what you need. This literary radio show and podcast features in-depth conversations with both fiction and non-fiction writers, as well as poets. It’s been proclaimed by the Guardian , Book Riot , the Financial Times , and BuzzFeed as one of the most notable book podcasts for writers and readers around.

Listen on iTunes, Stitcher , and Apple Podcasts . 

Dead Robots’ Society

Dead Robots’ Society was created by Justin Macumber in an effort to offer advice and support to other aspiring writers. This podcast is currently helmed by Macumber, Terry Mixon, and Paul E. Cooley, all of whom have writing experience of some kind. The hosts produce weekly episodes, sharing stories of their individual journeys and discussing topics important to the world of writing. 

Listen on PodHoster and Apple Podcasts . 

Where Should We Begin

While not your typical writing podcast, Where Should We Begin , hosted by therapist Esther Perel, provides behind-the-scenes counselling sessions of real couples. Listening to episodes can help writers better understand the resentments and hopes we all harbour and transfer these emotions over to their fictional writing. 

Listen on Spotify . 

Otherppl With Brad Listi

Are you just starting your writing career? If so, then Otherppl with Brad Listi is the podcast to begin with. Weekly episodes feature interviews with today’s leading writers, poets, and screenwriters. The podcast has been described by NPR as “fun, quirky, and in-depth.” 

Listen on Apple Podcasts , Podbay , or get the official free app .

Please, Finish Your Book

This is another great podcast for beginner writers. Brought to you by John P. Smith, Jr., Please, Finish Your Book is a case study as well as a celebration of how busy people were able to write and publish inspiring, educational, and/or entertaining books despite the distractions from other major priorities. 

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Podchaser .

Unpublished From Amie McNee

Unpublished from Amie McNee is all about building a sustainable, creative life. This podcast delves into the many trials, tribulations, as well as the magic of being a writer seeking publication. It’s a place to take your art seriously and where you can go to reflect on your own personal journey and build a thriving, creative practice. 

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . 

Grammar Girl Quick And Dirty Tips For Better Writing

Do you struggle with the grammatical side of writing? If so, Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing is the place to go. This podcast provides short, friendly tips to help you improve your writing and feed your love of the English language. Whether English is your first or second language, these grammar, punctuation, style, and business tips will help to make you a better and more successful writer. 

Listen on Apple Podcasts .

Guardian Books Podcast

Looking to learn more about books, in general? Guardian Books Podcast , presented by Claire Armitstead, Richard Lea, and Sian Cain, shares in-depth interviews with authors from all over the world. The discussions and investigations make Guardian Books the perfect companion for readers and writers alike. 

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify .

Writing Excuses

Writing Excuses was one of the first writing podcasts I ever listened to, and it’s chock full of high quality, easily applicable advice. Hosted by Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Margaret Dunlap, Mahtab Narsimhan, Howard Tyler, and Dan Wells, this fast-paced, educational podcast airs short-ish episodes every Sunday evening. The hosts’ goal is to help listeners become better writers whether they write for fun or for profit. 

Listen on Apple Podcasts . 

Literary Speaking

Literary Speaking is one of the top podcasts for aspiring writers. Hosted by Crystal-Lee Quibell, this podcast features conversations with best-selling authors, literary agents, publishers, and publicity firms. Answering questions such as: How do I establish a writing practice? Find an agent? Get published? Build a platform? Literary Speaking will help you discover all the tips and tricks. 

Reading Women

If you look back at the history of literary awards, few women have received the recognition they deserve. Reading Women reclaims the bookshelf by interviewing authors and reviewing books by or about women from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. This highly-acclaimed podcast releases new episodes every Wednesday.

Listen on iTunes ,  Stitcher ,  Google Play , and Spotify .

First Draft

First Draft is another one of my personal faves. Every Thursday, host Sarah Enni talks to writers and storytellers about their lives, their craft, and how the two overlap. First Draft has over a million downloads and was named one of Apple Podcasts Top 25 Podcasts for Book Lovers. 

If you’re a new or aspiring writer, you can learn about the traditional publishing industry by listening to the Track Changes miniseries on First Draft.

The Writing Community Chat Show

Hosted by author Christopher Aggett, The Writing Community Chat Show was born out of Aggett’s appreciation for the Twitter writing community. Episodes feature stories of indie authors, traditionally-published authors, and other professionals in the writing world. The podcast is unique in that their shows are live-streamed on YouTube before they are converted into a podcast. New episodes are produced twice weekly.

Listen on Spotify , Podchaser , YouTube , and Apple Podcasts .

The Honest Authors Podcast

On The Honest Authors Podcast , bestselling authors Gillian McAllister and Holly Seddon answer all-important questions such as How do you get a book deal? Why does it take so long for a book to come out? and How many abandoned manuscripts does it take to finally hit a home run? 

Once authors get published, they often have more questions than before! This podcast releases bi-monthly episodes with lively discussions, interviews with new and upcoming authors, as well as honest answers to all our burning questions. 

Listen on Spreaker , Stitcher , and Apple Podcasts . 

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing , hosted by author Bianca Marais, has a title no one will forget in a hurry. This podcast is for emerging writers looking to improve their work with an aim of publication, or anyone wanting a behind-the-scenes look at the publishing industry. 

Marias interviews authors, editors, agents, publicists, copy editors, and many other types of professionals within the world of writing and publishing. She is also joined by agents Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra from P.S. Literary Agency who read and critique query letters and opening pages in their regular Books with Hooks segment. Listeners can expect good advice, honest insights, and a few laughs along the way. 

No Write Way

Hosted by bestselling author, Victoria Schwab, No Write Way shares chats with writers about their creative processes, origin stories, hurdles, work-life balance, and how they write books. Episodes are replays of live video casts, but you can catch the interviews live on Instagram @veschwab. 

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify . 

Write-Off With Francesca Steele

If there’s one thing every writer must face, it’s rejection. Lucky for us, award-winning journalist and writer, Francesca Steele, talks to authors about their own experiences with rejection and how they manage to get past it on her podcast Write-Off . A must-listen for every writer!

Best Writing Podcasts- It’s A Wrap

I’ve listed 22 of the best fiction writing podcasts available, but, of course, there are many more great ones out there, full of helpful writing quotes and tips. If you’re new to the world of writing podcasts, I hope this list will inspire you to get listening and find a few literary faves of your own.   

About the author

Casie Bazay is a former teacher turned young adult author and freelance writer/editor. Her debut novel, Not Our Summer , was released in May 2021. When not writing, Casie enjoys exploring the great outdoors, spending time at the barn with her horses and goats, reading, and watching movies (especially young adult novel adaptations). She lives on a hay farm in Oklahoma with her husband and two children but loves travelling to new and exciting destinations whenever she can. See Casie's website , Twitter , or Amazon author page for more.

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Peak Freelance

The Community for Freelance Writers

The 14 Best Writing Podcasts to Listen to in 2022

posted on 1 March 2022

Podcasts have become more popular than ever.

The number of people listening to one has increased year on year, from 8.9 million listeners in 2017 to 16.7 listeners in 2021.

It’s hardly surprising. Podcasts are easy to digest, flexible, and jam-packed with insights for writers.

But with so many to choose from, how do you find which writing podcast is right for you? 

This guide shares 10+ of the best writing podcasts to listen to this year. Whether you’re a copywriter, screenwriter, or aspiring freelance writer , you’ll learn something new by adding episodes from the following podcasts to your listening queue.

1. Peak Freelance

Best for: Freelance writers who want to grow their business. 

Peak Freelance is a community for freelance writers who want to scale. An All Access membership lets you listen to the members-only podcast—one of the best podcasts for solopreneurs growing their own writing business.

Pro writers Elise Dopson and Michael Keenan, co-founders of Peak Freelance, host bi-weekly episodes, covering tips and tricks for running a freelance business. Elise and Michael write content for some of the world’s best-known B2B and SaaS websites, such as Shopify, HubSpot, CoSchedule, and more. 

The Peak Freelance members’ podcast covers unGoogleable advice for scaling a writing business, including:

• How to onboarding new clients
• Hiring subcontractors—and mistakes to avoid when doing so
• Setting a long-term vision for your freelance business

The length of each episode averages around 15 minutes depending on the topic. 

If the writing podcast wasn’t enough, All Access members also get:

• An invite to our Slack community for freelance writers
• Access to pro resources to streamline and scale, like our Advanced Writing Course
• The community resource library with up-to-date statistics and research

2. The Creative Penn

Best for: Self-published book writers.

Joanna Penn is an award-nominated and New York Times bestselling author. She’s also a podcaster, international speaker, and creative entrepreneur that specializes in self-publishing. 

The Creative Penn podcast is worth listening to if you’re in the book writing niche. Each episode covers topics such as new book marketing tips, self-publishing advice, and guidance on how to become a nonfiction writer. Episodes feature authors such as John Kremer, Alan Baxter, and Rishi Dastidar.

The length of each podcast averages between 45 minutes and an hour, depending on the episode. And drops every Monday. Listen via:

• Apple Podcasts  

3. Freelance Writing Coach

Best for: New freelance writers.

Hosted by Kaleigh Moore and Emma Siemasko, Freelance Writing Coach is a good podcast to add to your queue if you’re building a freelance writing business. Both are successful writers in their own right who have been in the freelance business for over six years individually. 

Each 20-minute episode is packed with writing tips, stories, and valuable advice from two successful freelancers. Listen in on what they’ve learned and what they’re still learning—all while being frankly honest; they tell it as it is.

Other topics include preventing scope creep, choosing a freelance niche , understanding where meetings fit into your day as a freelance writer, and a whole lot more.

Listen to the Freelance Writing Coach podcast via:

• Apple Podcasts

4. Grammar Girl

Best for: Academic writers.

The Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips podcast has won Best Education Podcast several times in the Podcast Awards. Hosted by Mignon Fogarty, founder of the Quick and Dirty Tips, topics include grammar myths, how kids learn to speak like adults, and using the right abbreviations in context.

The Grammar Girl is suited to anyone who writes content. You’ll find friendly tips to improve your writing, grammar, writing style, and more. Each episode is 15-30 minutes long, with new ones released every week.

Listen to Grammar Girl via:

5. The Paid Copywriter

Best for: New freelance copywriters.

Find insights on creating a website, raising rates, setting boundaries with clients , and dealing with bad feedback. Experts interviewed include pro freelance copywriters like Mindi Rosser, Sarah Greesonbach, and Scott Stransky.

Listen to The Grammar Girl podcasts via:

6. The Copywriter Club

Best for: Established freelance copywriters.

The Copywriter Club is another writing podcast to add to your queue if you’re looking for new voices in the space. Each episode is designed for folks starting out in their writing careers, making it an inspirational place for copywriters to learn more about the skills they need to become in-demand writers. 

Hosted by Rob Marsh and Kira Hug, each episode is an interview-style conversation with other professional and talented content creators, copywriters, and editors—including Erin Perrins, Kristin Macintyre, Esai Arasi, and more.

You’ll find information on defining your creative process, growing your business, copywriting myths, solving marketing problems, and more. 

Each podcast averages around 50 minutes with new episodes released weekly. Listen via:

7. Write-minded

Best for: Writers who struggle with creative blocks. 

The Write-minded podcast provides “Weekly Inspiration for Writers”. Full of advice to help writers navigate the ups and downs, each episode is hosted by Grant Faulkner of National Novel Writing Month and Brooke Warner of She Writes. 

You’ll find a range of creative writing-related topics, from addressing writer’s block to the effects of taking risks and dealing with fear. Each episode also features professional guests from the writing industry, such as Jean Chen Ho, Alka Joshi, Erica Jong, and more.

Podcasts stream every Tuesday and are usually around 30 to 45 minutes long. Listen via:

8. The Writer Files

Best for: Creative writers.

The Writer Files podcast discusses topics related to writing, productivity, creativity, and neuroscience. Each episode dives into the psyche of a writers’ mind, with honest stories about everything productive and creative—like how authors got their big break and the writing processes shared by successful writers in the publishing industry.

This long-running podcast is hosted by Kelton Reid. It’s a great resource for all writers, bloggers, and authors that want inspiration and motivation from writers with more experience.

Podcasts length vary from around 30 to 45 minutes each, streamed weekly. Listen via:

9. Beautiful Writers Podcast

Best for: Interviews with bestselling authors. 

The Beautiful Writers podcast is honest, fun, and amazingly frank. World-renowned writers share their wisdom, designed to motivate and inspire you. 

Hosted by author Linda Sivertsen with special guest speakers like Patricia Cornell, Tosca Lee, and Chris Jackson. Each episode is geared towards writers looking for practical advice about enhancing their craft. Topics range from writing the perfect thriller to marketing yourself as a writer. 

New episodes are published monthly and typically average an hour in length. Listen via:

10. Growth Machine

Best for: Writers looking to level up their marketing skills. 

Hosted by Amanda Natividad and Nat Eliason, the Growth Machine podcast is worth tuning into if you’re looking to build complementary skills for your writing business. Experts cover other content marketing-related topics, like SEO and journalism—both of which can help you earn more money as a freelancer . 

Hear interviews with pro marketers like John Bonini, Kameron Jenkins, and Stewart Hillhouse in 30 to 45 minute episodes.

Listen to the Growth Machine podcasts via:

11. Writing Excuses

Best for: Building a writing career. 

Hosted by Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler, the Writing Excuses educational podcast is another to add to your list. These 15-20 minute episodes are aired each Sunday.

They’re full of topics such as managing your career as a writer, how your brand gets defined, self publishing, how to build good first pages for your own work, and more.

Each episode features special guests including Peter Ahlstrom, Saladin Ahmed, Lou Anders, and Kevin J. Anderson.

Podcasts stream via:

12. Helping Writers Become Authors

Best for: Publishing your first book. 

If you want to learn how to write your best story and write novels, this is the podcast for you. The Helping Writers Become Authors podcasts are hosted by K.M. Weiland, an award-winning and internationally published author of writing guides.

Podcast episodes will inspire writers to polish their writing craft. Themes include structuring your story, strategies for recognising and avoiding repetitiveness, and many more. Episodes are streamed weekly, around 15 to mins each.

13. The Writing Life

Best for: New book writers. 

Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna, The Writing Life podcasts are for all folks who write-from early on in their career to self-publishers. Episodes include topics such as the editing process, struggles with writer’s block, developing characters, and much more. 

Episodes are broadcasted weekly and average around one hour in length.

The Writing Life podcasts invite special guests to discuss their experiences as a writer. Special guests include Andy Hamilton, Ella Micheler, Jenn Ashworth, and many more who share their expertise and wisdom. 

14. DIY MFA

Best for: Q&A-style interviews with other writers.

Tune in to Gabriela Pereria and special guests on the DIY MFA podcast to appreciate all things literary. Guests include some of best selling authors and publishers such as Steve Berry, Sarah Dessen, Joseph Finder, Robin Cook, and many more. 

The DIY MFA podcast episodes have a range of topics that dive into one specific area of writing, looking either at the craft, the business side, or both.

Each episode is about 45 minutes to an hour long and is streamed weekly.’

Stream podcasts via:

What’s your favorite writing podcast?

There are many writing podcasts out there. This list only scratches the surface. 

Use this list as a starting point to learn the craft of writing and become a better writer . Whether you’re an author or freelance writer entering the game for the first time, these writing podcasts will help you explore new areas of interest whilst sharpening your attention and focus skills. 

We might be biased, but the Peak Freelance members podcast is our favorite. Listen in on unGoogleable writing advice on scaling a freelance business, plus get access to:

• The expert interview vault, dubbed the “Netflix for freelancers”
• A private, supportive Slack community to find friends and new gigs
• Access to pro digital products, including templates and courses to streamline and scale 

Want in? Grab your All Access membership today.

About Tracy Rawlinson

Tracy Rawlinson is a freelance writer at Rawlinson Writes . Follow her on Twitter .

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The Best Writing Podcasts

Even if you love writing it can be discouraging if you're creating in a vacuum, but podcasts for writers offer helpful perspectives on the craft. We've put together a list of the top writing podcasts streaming new episodes. From basic writing tips to more complex discussions about improving productivity, these are the best writing podcasts on now.

Some writing podcasts focus on specific aspects of writing and publishing a book. Other writing podcasts, such as The Drunken Odyssey and Please, Finish Your Book! talk to other writers about the process of creating and publishing and the path they took to where they are today. There are also writing shows that focus on specific types of writing, such as comedy, children's books, and content copywriting.

Vote up the current writing podcasts you haven't skipped an episode of! And add any other great podcasts for writers to the list!

The Creative Penn Podcast

By Joanna Penn

Get Published Podcast

By Paul G. Brodie

Reading And Writing Podcast

By Jeff Rutherford

Writing for Children

By Katie Davis

On Comedy Writing

By Alan Johnson

The NCW Podcast

By National Centre for Writing

The 10 Best Writing Podcasts for Storytellers and Aspiring Authors

The best writing podcasts: a list of podcasts full of interviews, advice, and inside knowledge for storytellers and writers.

Alison Doherty

Alison Doherty is a writing teacher and part time assistant professor living in Brooklyn, New York. She has an MFA from The New School in writing for children and teenagers. She loves writing about books on the Internet, listening to audiobooks on the subway, and reading anything with a twisty plot or a happily ever after.

View All posts by Alison Doherty

Ready for a list of the ten best writing podcasts? Writing is often such a solitary endeavor. It’s you and the blank page or the white screen and…nobody else. This feels especially true when you’re unpublished (me raising my own hand and waving it around wildly). Writing podcasts offer so many helpful tips, bits of important information, and insight into both writing and publishing as professions.

They can also make you feel less alone on your writing journey.

After I graduated from my MFA program, I turned to podcasts to stay connected to the writing community. I’ve learned so many things from listening to these hosts and their many, many guests. From what a revise and resubmit means to advice about how to get unstuck when writer’s block hits. And really, the most important thing I’ve learned is that there is no one way to be a writer. Literally everyone’s pathway through the writing life has looked different. Through queries, rejections from editors, and countless new drafts, I’ve returned to podcasts when I feel alone or unmotivated. They’ve also inspired me when my writing is going well.

From interview shows to read-alongs to publishing advice, there is a best writing podcast that fits every stage of the writing process. Get creative! Feel inspired! And start listening to the writing podcast of your choice!

First Draft with Sarah Enni

This began in 2014, when host Sarah Enni took a cross country road trip to interview her favorite YA writers. Since then, it’s expanded to interviews with writers in lots of mediums, genres, and categories. Sarah’s interviews go back to writers’ childhoods and cover every part of her guests’ creative and publishing journeys. As a writer herself, Sarah brings a lot of insight into how different everyone’s writing path can be. Her break off miniseries, Track Changes , is a must listen for writers looking to publish. It goes through all the nitty gritty details of the traditional publication process. She’s got it all covered, from agents to contracts and advances to marketing and publicity.

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Grammar Girl: Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

If you love getting into the small details of writing or are looking to brush up on your grammar rules, this is the writing podcast for you. Episodes are usually short in the 10–20 minute zone and cover subjects ranging from semicolons to eliminating adverbs to the grammar of pirate lingo. Some episodes also feature short interviews with authors. And with over 700 episodes, this backlist will keep your ears busy for a long time.

Writer’s Routine

Get inspired by learning about the daily routines of working writers! Dan Simpson hosts this interview show, where he asks published authors to describe how they structure their daily routines to maximize their creativity. One thing that comes across is how different authors can be in terms of how often they write, what times, and many other factors. This writing podcast truly shows there is no one recipe for success. Instead, it’s about finding out what process works best for you as a writer.

Hosts Jessica Lahey, KJ Dell’Antonia and Sarina Bowen all have amazing writing advice for writers and journalists. This podcast is a mix of interviews and advice episodes, with topics ranging from craft tips to publishing advice to discussions of how to build a writing community. They also explore a wide variety of writing categories instead of staying in just one lane. From memoir to fiction to food journalism to so many other types of writing. There is so much to learn from this writing podcast.

Deadline City

Authors Dhonielle Clayton and Zoraida Córdova talk about writing, editing, publishing, and many different aspects of the writing life. They often bring on their friends and colleagues to discuss everything from the future of publishing to burnout to professional jealousy. Between them they have 40 books published or under contract, so these are two experienced authors that all writers should listen to!

DIY MFA Radio

Gabriela Pereira wants to make the MFA experience more accessible through her weekly writing interview podcast. Her interviews with authors, agents, editors, and other publishing industry professionals are crafted to mirror an MFA speaking series. This podcast mixes discussions about writing as a craft with talk about publishing as a business, with some really impressive guests like Emma Straub , Sarah Dessen, and Jojo Moyes.

The Self Publishing Show

Mark Dawson is a best-selling self published author. He’s created successful marketing, publicity, and sales strategies for his books that have let him quit his 9 to 5 job. Mark hosts this podcast with James Blatch, a newer author who represents the debut writing experience. With over six years, and 300 episodes, of tips and advice, this is one of the best writing podcasts to listen to for writers interested in self publishing.

Fated Mates

Romance writers should definitely check out the Fated Mates podcast. It is hosted by romance author Sarah MacLean and romance critic Jen Prokop. Their first season they did a read-along of Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series . Since then they’ve covered pretty much everything in the romance world, from read-alongs on their favorite romance novels, book trope recommendations, and discussions of trends in romance publishing. As an added plus, Sarah and Jen are hilarious, fiercely feminist, and so much fun to listen to every week!

88 Cups of Tea

This is one of my favorite writing podcasts. Host Yin Chang interviews creative storytellers in each episode. While the show began with a high concentration of YA authors as guests, the focus expanded to include authors from many categories along with screenwriters, filmmakers, poets, copy writers, literary agents, and more. Yin Chang is such an authentic host that it leads to really deep and nuanced conversations. The podcast is currently on a hiatus, while Yin Chang combats food insecurity among Asian American elders in NYC through Heart of Dinner. However, there are over 100 episodes in the podcast’s backlog to listen to while waiting for 88 Cups of Tea to return.

Book Riot: The Podcast

Stay up to date with publishing trends and news with this weekly talkshow hosted by the editors of Book Riot. From pandemic reading habits to publishing house merges to changing sales numbers, this is a really good podcast for writers who want to stay in the know. For more information on weekly new book releases check out All the Books . Or if want to keep yourself up to date on specific genres, listen to Hey YA for young adult info, Read or Dead for mysteries and thrillers, When in Romance for romance writers, and finally SFF Yeah! for information about science fiction and fantasy.

I predict you will find a new favorite among this list of the best podcasts for writers. But if you are looking for more, I suggest perusing this list of bookish podcasts for more literary listening fun!

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70 Best Writing Podcasts for Authors in 2024

Podcasts for Authors And Writers

Here are 70 Best Podcasts for Authors And Writers worth listening to in 2024

1. Grammar Girl Quick & Dirty Tips for Better Writing

2. The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

3. Write-minded Podcast

4. So You want to be a Writer

5. Fiction Writing Made Easy

6. First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing

7. The Dead Robots' Society

8. Your Best Writing Life

9. Writing Excuses

10. Beautiful Writers Podcast

11. The Murverse Mothership

12. Unstacked

13. Kobo Writing Life Podcast

14. High-Income Business Writing Podcast

15. Start Writing

16. The Writers' Co-op

17. Write Now with Sarah Werner

18. The Writer Files

19. The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

20. Drunken Pen Writing Podcast

21. Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach

22. The Failing Writers Podcast

23. Don't Write That Book

24. Just Keep Writing

25. Reading And Writing Podcast

26. The Writing Life

27. Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers

28. #AmWriting

29. Inside Scoop Live

30. USTinig

Podcasters for Authors And Writers

• Grammar Girl Quick & Dirty Tips for Better Writing
• The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers
• Write-minded Podcast
• So You want to be a Writer
• Fiction Writing Made Easy
• First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing
• The Dead Robots' Society
• Your Best Writing Life
• Writing Excuses
• Beautiful Writers Podcast
• The Murverse Mothership
• Kobo Writing Life Podcast
• High-Income Business Writing Podcast
• Start Writing
• The Writers' Co-op
• Write Now with Sarah Werner
• The Writer Files
• The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
• Drunken Pen Writing Podcast
• Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach
• The Failing Writers Podcast
• Don't Write That Book
• Just Keep Writing
• Reading And Writing Podcast
• The Writing Life
• Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers
• Inside Scoop Live
• Podcasts for Authors And Writers Podcasters
• Screenwriting Podcasts
• Copywriting Podcasts
• Fiction Writing Podcasts
• Thesis Writing Podcasts
• Technical Writing Podcasts
• Songwriting Podcasts
• Horror Writing Podcasts

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Podcasts Worth a Listen

Creative writing podcasts.

1 Helping Writers Become Authors

K.m. weiland, 1 i should be writing, mur lafferty, 1 the history of literature, jacke wilson / the podglomerate, 1 the write it scared podcast, stacy frazer, 1 ink in your veins, rachael herron, 1 write now with scrivener, literature & latte, 1 ann kroeker, writing coach, ann kroeker, 1 writer unleashed, nanci panuccio, 1 first draft: a dialogue on writing, mitzi rapkin, 1 so you want to be a writer, australian writers' centre, 1 the fantasy writers' toolshed, the fantasy writers' toolshed, 1 emerging form, christie aschwanden, 1 american masters: creative spark, american masters | pbs, 1 shows from the murverse, slate podcasts, 1 writer's routine, dan simpson, 1 sydney writers' festival, sydney writers' festival, 1 just keep writing, justkeepwriting, 1 poetry - the creative process & one planet podcast, writing: creative process original series, 1 write out loud, matt cassem & christina trevaskis, 1 the novel writing podcast, colleen mitchell, 1 books writers - the creative process & one planet podcast, novelists, screenwriters, playwrights, poets, non-fiction writers & journalists talk writing · creative process original series, 1 the happy writer with marissa meyer, marissa meyer, 1 releasing your inner dragon, marie mullany & maxwell alexander drake, 1 the stacks, traci thomas, 1 think fast, talk smart: communication techniques, stanford gsb, 1 sending signals, 1 the writer files: writing, productivity, creativity, and neuroscience, kelton reid, 1 the creative penn podcast for writers, joanna penn, 1 write for a reason, 1 the wheeler centre, the wheeler centre, 1 way-word writers podcast, way-word writers, 1 everything imaginable, gary cocciolillo, 1 big strong yes, chipperish media, 1 how to write the future, beth barany, travis jonker and colby sharp, 1 drama on one, rté radio 1, 1 creative writing club, porscha aubrey, 1 the q&a with jeff goldsmith, jeff goldsmith, 1 creative peacemeal, tammy takaishi, 1 re-creative: a podcast about inspiration and creativity, donovan street press inc. in association with monkeyjoy press, 1 london writers' salon, parul bavishi, matthew trinetti, 1 field of streams, janeen mccrae, 1 writing rural with alley, 1 talkhouse podcast, 1 poetry off the shelf, poetry foundation, 1 high-income business writing podcast, 1 battling burnout: strategies for creative minds 23:11, 1 honoring your creative rhythm and writing dual timelines with author cynthia platt 32:46, 1 how #1 ny times bestselling author jennifer lynn barnes writes: part two 42:06, 1 if you are a chaotic creative… 3:14, 1 a touch of the madness: creativity in writing and filmmaking with larry kasanoff 1:02:26, 1 episode 155: coming up with story titles 4:30, 1 episode 41: natasha bell, thriller author and creative writing teacher 28:42, 1 chad boudreux, author, lawyer discusses his pivot from the doj, to writing gripping thrillers 43:44, 1 avoid creative burnout with lydia michaels - write 10k in a day : avoid burnout: unleash your prolific potential 1:00:25, 1 pareto’s principle (80/20 rule for writing) 5:00, 1 #200: show vs. tell, and how to write both 17:50, 1 the garden against time: a conversation with olivia laing 53:23, 1 writer 620: kate forsyth on 5 essential lessons to make you a better writer 55:41, 1 [isbw] tanya depass, writing, and gaming, live from worldcon, glasgow, 1 [isbw] celebrating isbw's 19th bday live at worldcon with writer and gamer, tanya depass 1:01:53, 1 how can journalism make people care about crises & create solutions - highlights - nicholas kristof, 1 episode 34: time management for writers with way-word writers co-hosts nicki jacobsmeyer, stephanie bearce, and heather cashman 41:58, 1 trilogies, tropes, and love triangles with adalyn grace - wisteria (belladonna series) 44:36, 1 chasing hope: a reporter's life w/ pulitzer prize-winning journalist nicholas kristof, 1 first draft - carl phillips 1:05:15, 1 s16:e29: the first half of the second act (secrets of story structure, pt. 6 of 12) 14:59, 1 115. how to bring magical elements into your contemporary story (q&a) 6:39, 1 author mindset tips and publishing in germany with ad wilk 1:02:45, 1 jeff pilson, bassist for foreigner, dokken, dio, and more discusses creativity, hardships, and his own projects 31:13, 1 story smithing: top 5 historical uses for wool 9:23, 1 629 unlocking the creative unconscious (with kate feiffer) 1:02:10, 1 a piece of monologue by samuel beckett 55:00, 1 how a big band leader and composer wrangles all the moving parts 54:02, 1 [isbw] exploring the post-apocalyptic world with waubgeshig rice 35:50, 1 episode 151 - writing is political 53:09, 1 unabridged: what makes a book cover pop with luvvie ajayi jones 15:20, 1 alan rhode, author of 'the eagle and the cockerel' - journalist, lawyer and author discusses political thrillers, writing in a second language and why concentration is subjective 49:28, 1 write a book based only on a title with elyssa friedland 44:13, 1 the journey of a hero - crafting a compelling story plot 1:09:20, 1 writer 619: picture book author deborah frenkel on her creative process and creating a successful career. 30:33, 1 episode 119: trying a new form with holiday mathis 27:44, 1 singular humanity: approved modifications to accommodate a better life 21:37, 1 david pajo (slint) and cassie berman (silver jews) with tim furnish (crain) 41:14, 1 jake adelstein: tokyo noir 58:37, 1 annie baker shifts from stage to screen 33:02, 1 working overtime: transitioning from one project to the next 25:22, 1 ep. 333 writing a covid novel with regina porter 43:58, 1 ira nayman 47:58, 1 156. creative communication: how our design choices illustrate our values 24:41, 1 natural magic: emily dickinson, charles darwin, and the dawn of modern science with renée bergland, 1 mike mills (r.e.m.) 27:34, quick reference guide.

Best Writing Podcasts for Authors

When was the last time you woke up, bolted out of bed, and ran straight to the computer, fueled by the overwhelming desire to simply write?

In an ideal world, author inspiration would flow so quickly and easily that each day would look like this. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

Any author knows that finding inspiration is often a hard-won battle. With all those pesky little distractions of everyday life getting in the way, it can be hard to consistently muster the desire to write.

Luckily, there are people in the world who recognize this. These people have built up podcasts dedicated to the very art of fueling author’s inspiration. Listening to podcasts that benefit your writing is an additional healthy habit that can recharge your creative battery.

We’ve selected four top writing podcasts that can benefit your author journey, whether you’re just getting started or are a seasoned pro. Check out our must-listens below, followed by the important takeaways of each one:

• The Creative Penn Podcast
• Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
• I Should Be Writing
• Writing Excuses
• The Sell More Books Show

1. Top Writing Podcast for Industry Knowledge: “The Creative Penn Podcast”

In the name of saving marketing dollars, some authors serve as their own editors. Heck, some authors are their own editors, publishers, cover designers… and so on. You know how it goes in the world of indie publishing.

The Creative Penn Podcast was founded with this in mind. Joanna Penn – author, marketer, and entrepreneur extraordinaire – brought her talents to the world of podcasting back in 2009 with her first podcast episode. Since then, she’s released 500+ episodes that range from how to edit your book to audiobook narration tips.

Newbies and seasoned authors alike will delight in Penn’s years of publishing knowledge and actionable tips. Not only does she have her expertise to pull into episodes, but she frequently features well-known authors and literary figures on the podcast. Our favorite aspect of The Creative Penn Podcast is that it not only fuels inspiration, but it can help build a foundational knowledge that many new indie authors need to succeed.

Podcast episodes go out each Monday on Penn’s website, and can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and more platforms.

Bottom line: This podcast will inspire you by providing a holistic picture of the publishing world, building your industry knowledge from the ground up.

2. The Writing Tips Podcast: “Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing”

Grammar’s hard. We’ll be the first to admit it. From “I before E, except after C” to the ever-controversial Oxford comma, it can be a real challenge to keep all the grammatical ducks in a row. Good thing that Mignon Fogarty, founder of the Quick and Dirty Tips network, created the Grammar Girl podcast.

This podcast is one we would recommend bringing into your weekly, or even daily, rotation. Fogarty’s episodes are brief (typically under 15 minutes) and range from explaining how to punctuate questions to the how to’s of good storytelling. We particularly enjoy Fogarty’s ability to bring historical details into her podcast to show how the English language has developed.

You can find Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Her latest episodes also appear on the Quick and Dirty Tips website.

Bottom line: Turn to this podcast to develop a greater appreciation of the English language. Bring your inner grammar nerd out!

3. The Podcast for Aspiring Writers: “I Should Be Writing”

Inspiration is the name of the game with the I Should Be Writing podcast. Author Mur Lafferty has been producing episodes since 2005, telling her fiction-writing listeners about the highs and lows of a writing career while also interviewing professional writers. Lafferty has a second podcast called Ditch Diggers that discusses the nitty-gritty of the writing business. Think of Ditch Diggers as being less art-focused, more business-centered.

One of our favorite episodes of I Should Be Writing is called “ Fire Up the Idea Machine! ” Lafferty talks about her personal struggles with avoiding electronic devices, and how going so far as physically locking her tablet up has led to better writing.

In other episodes, she talks about building habits as an author. As you know, we’ve mentioned that developing writing habits is just one step towards author success.

Listen to I Should Be Writing on Google Podcasts, TuneIn, the “ISBW” website, and more.

Bottom line: If there’s a podcast capable of lighting a fire under you, it’s this one. As a fellow author, Lafferty knows what new writers need to hear.

4. Best Podcast for Quick Tips: “Writing Excuses”

“Fifteen minutes long, because you’re in a hurry, and we’re not that smart.”

Yep, that’s the motto behind the Writing Excuses podcast. If you couldn’t tell, the podcasts hosts have a great sense of humor, don’t take themselves too seriously, and believe in providing bitesize episodes that pack a punch. The entire goal of Writing Excuses is to help writers – any writer – get better at their craft. Select seasons of this podcast are broken down into themes. Season 13 is all about character, for example.

If you come to Writing Excuses for the impressive hosts (ranging from award-winning authors to creative writing professors), you’ll want to stay for the easy-to-navigate website that provides high-level overviews of what each episode is about. Scroll through and quickly decide if episode 15.15 about dialogue or 15.20 about mental wellness is right for you.

Bottom line: Our recommendation? Begin your day with these fun, brief episodes while you brush your teeth or have breakfast to start creating daily habits.

5. The Best Podcast for Book Marketing: “The Sell More Books Show”

Hosted by Bryan Cohen and H. Claire Taylor, the Sell More Books Show focuses on exactly what you would expect: helping authors sell more books.

Episodes are generally around an hour long, and the hosts cover a number of different topics and headlines each episode. From best practices when launching a new release, to the latest news with Amazon, Cohen and Taylor keep listeners up to date with the latest book marketing trends and best practices.

One reason we like the Sell More Books show is the hosts’ experience and wisdom when it comes to book marketing. They keep an upbeat and positive attitude around book marketing (not always an easy task), and they are quick to offer words of calm when they think a new trend won’t last.

Bottom line: Our recommendation? This podcast is a great addition for any author who does their own marketing. The episodes are easy to listen to and still packed with information.

While there are numerous writing podcasts for author inspiration in the world, these five are some of our favorites because they rely on tried-and-true experience. From Joanna Penn’s industry knowledge to Mur Lafferty’s firsthand accounts as a writer, you can expect to listen and learn from people who have stood where you do today.

If there’s a writing podcast you love, let us know in the comments!

Get more articles like these!

15 comments on “ best writing podcasts for authors ”.

Nice list! I have tweeted….We would love you to have a listen to WriteClubThePodcast.com sometime! Or find us on itunes, stitcher or radiopublic. Thanks!

We’ll check it out, thanks Nicola!

J Thorn and Zach Bohanon recently launched “The Career Author Podcast.” It’s very good and informative, and in my weekly rotation of podcasts to listen to.

I would love for you to check out Book Publishing Made Simple! We’re still pretty new (16 episodes in at this point) and available on itunes, Stitcher and Spotify!

Self Publishing Journeys, hosted by Paul Teague is full of tips and advice for indie authors, and has excellent interviews with other writers.

Don’t miss K.M. Weiland’s “Helping Writers Become Authors.” It’s an excellent podcast for fiction writers.

Great list – I knew most of these but not all, so thanks for the heads-up! If you’re on the look-out for nonfiction podcasts, and specifically business books, for a future list, do consider The Extraordinary Business Book Club: http://extraordinarybusinessbooks.com/podcast-episodes/ . I chat to authors of business books (and the occasional publisher, marketeer, futurist or someone with something interesting to say about how books work today!) and get them to lift the lid on how they wrote and how the book works with their business.

It looks like Authority Self Publishing has pod faded. Nothing new posted in well over a year.

Hey Gail, thanks for the heads up!

Hello, WWM! Thanks for this great list. FYI, the Grammar Girl link takes us to a different podcast, one that hasn’t been updated for a few years. Thanks again!

Thanks Jenn, we’ve got that updated.

Suggest you check out Susan Friedmann’s Book Marketing Mentors. Helping authors get noticed — and smashing! Named one of the best podcasts of 2019 by Smartblogger.

No mention of dissecting dragons? For shame.

I really like the Author Revolution Podcast. It comes out every Wednesday and Carissa Andrews highlights rapid releasing, for the most part. She gives some great actionable insights into how to make that work, along with some other fantastic author insights. Definitely a great listen.

Hi all. I would love to one day make this list with my Live Streaming YouTube Podcast! It is called The Writing Community Chat Show and really focuses on the community around it and the story of the author. The show looks into the author’s life and what they are working on. There are fun panel shows and community discussion shows too! You can find it on Twitter, Podcast & YouTube.

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