In today’s day and age, there’s one medium that has increased in popularity: podcasts! You can listen to them while you do all sorts of other things, like during your commute, while you cook or do the dishes, or even when you’re brushing your teeth.
And there are so many different types of podcasts! Funny and entertaining ones, but also ones that are very informative and help you learn.
Naturally, there are also podcasts specifically for writers and creators. So here, you can find a list of podcasts for writers I love to listen to, whether it be to spark some creativity, get better at writing, hear inspiring stories, or get business advice.
Podcasts to get better at writing
1. Story Grid Podcast: If you’ve read more of my blog posts, you might have seen the Story Grid name come by a few times. That’s just because Story Grid is awesome and has helped me so much in growing as a writer. And that’s what I want for you too! The flagship podcast features Shawn Coyne (the inventor of the story grid method) as he helps Tim Grahl on his journey to becoming a better writer. Needless to say, there’s a ton of advice and tips that he gives Tim that you can use as well! Side note: Also, check out their Roundtable Podcast, where story grid certified editors discuss your favorite movies to find out what works and what doesn’t.
2. Writing Excuses: A podcast for writers that’s been going on for quite some time (already on season 15!), writing excuses has bite-sized episodes of around 15 minutes where they discuss an aspect of writing. For instance, the very first episode talks about brainstorming, another about magic systems, and viewpoint. They changed from season 10 onward, in that they added cool exercises, to give it more of a ‘masterclass’ feel, to hone down the lessons you’ve learned, and each month they focus on a specific thing. For instance, season 10 starts centered on ideas. Other themes coming by are characters, point of view, genre, and much more! Definitely recommend it!
3. Mythcreants: This one is more specific to fantasy & sci-fi writers. But if you are writing in that genre, like myself, then this is a great podcast. There’s talk about world-building, your favorite fantasy/sci-fi books, and movies, on characters, plot, and the social commentary that’s often present in fantasy and sci-fi stories. They do also have episodes about roleplaying games, which might be less relevant for your writing, but are still fun to listen to.
4. Story A Day: This is a podcast with short episodes, focused on a new topic each episode, filled with writing tips and advice. Julie Duffy challenges you to write every day so that you can become a better writer. She also leaves you with a writing assignment to complete after each episode, in case you don’t know what to write about
Podcasts to spark creativity
5. Character test: A show where each week, Joe Bunting chooses a character from a novel or film and puts it to the test. Is it a good character? Why, or why not? He talks with guests such as Jason Redman, Shawn Coyne, Derek Murphy, and Joanna Penn. Great for sparking some creativity and put the characters of your own story to the test.
6. The Story Effect: What effect do stories have on our lives? How can they help us in the debate about race? Or help us understand mental illnesses? What does the fantastical bring into our lives? Find out these questions and more, while Abigail talks to different authors, editors, and more, on how stories impacted their lives. Are you ready for your story to have an effect?
Podcasts on the author life
7. The Creative Penn: You might know Joanna Penn from one of her tons of books on writing and marketing, but she also has a podcast. While there are episodes that revolve around becoming a better writer, most of the episodes will provide you with insight and tips on book marketing and how to make a living as an author.
8. Ann Kroeker: This podcast is also more of a mix between writing tips and life as a writer, but I think the focus is heavier on the latter. Especially many episodes on how to motivate yourself to write, stay organized, create a plan, and create the best writing habits. Worth a listen to whenever you feel down on your writing, or just simply not motivated. It will help you get into the right mindset again.
9. Minorities in Publishing: If you want to know more about the publishing industry, and specifically how it affects minorities, this is a great podcast. There are many episodes with interviews with people from minority groups working in publishing, but also with authors and booksellers. Very educational, especially in a time where race and gender are more at the forefront than ever before.
10. Create if writing: This podcast is a must for everyone building a business (especially an online business). It doesn’t matter if you’re a blogger, writer, or both, this podcast is filled with tips and information. Learn about book sales, Facebook ads, to advise on writing productivity and how to discover your writing process.
11. The Career Author: Well, the name says it all. Being an author is not just about writing (no matter how much we want it to be). It means you’re also a business. And that’s what this podcast is great for. It teaches you how to go about your Amazon book page, creating a revenue stream, and how to do accounting, along with interviews with important businesses such as Kobo and Google Play Books.
How about you?
That was my list of podcasts for writers. Do you listen to podcasts? Any good ones that are not in this list? Are they podcasts specifically for writers, or creatives in general?
2 thoughts on “11 Greatest Podcasts for Writers”
Thanks for introducing these podcasts to your readers, Iris! I’m so honored to be included on your list.
Hi Ann, thanks for taking the time to comment! It’s my pleasure 🙂 Looking forward to the next episode!