The Best Writing Podcasts
I first discovered podcasting around a year after I started writing. In the years since, I have listened to many different writing podcasts and those below are my favourites. It is not to say that these are the only great ones but are those that I find myself consistently revisiting. If you are not an avid podcast listener, try one of them out because podcasts are a great way to learn while commuting or doing chores.
1. Writing Excuses - Craft
Writing Excuses is the first podcast I discovered. I was astounded that I didn't know about them before. I had never previously listened to anything like it and was amazed that it had taken me a year of writing to find it. At the time of writing, it is in its sixteenth season. Each episode is between fifteen and twenty-five minutes long, focusing on a huge range of topics. All of them relate to the craft of fiction writing. There are four main hosts that are generally present on every episode but other guests are brought on to share their own advice regarding the weekly topics.
I find them really useful because of the shorter episode length; the information is concise and useful. This, along with the conversational style, offers different viewpoints on each of the topics. I would recommend checking this podcast out for there are many archived seasons to work your way through.
Hosts:
Brandon Sanderson - Best-Selling Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Part-Time Lecturer and Youtuber.
Dan Wells - Horror and Science Fiction Author
Mary Robinette Kowal - Puppetry Expert, Science Fiction and Romance Author
Howard Taylor - Web Cartoonist and Author
2. Writers, Ink - Interviews
Every Monday I look forward to a new episode of the Writer's Ink podcast for a new interview. The guests are not always amazing authors but other creatives too such as screenwriters and other industry professionals. The hosts provide a very entertaining behind-the-scenes look at the publishing industry and this is where I have learnt a lot about the publishing landscape. With interviews with authors such as James Patterson and Hugh Howey, I would not hesitate to recommend this to any aspiring author.
Hosts:
J.D. Barker - Best-Selling Thriller and Horror Writer
J. Thorn - Fiction and Non-fiction Author of the Three Story Method Books
Zach Bohannon - Best-Selling Post-Apocalyptic Author
3. The Creative Penn - Interviews and Publishing News
https://www.thecreativepenn.com
Joanna Penn, the host of The Creative Penn podcast, provides a very interesting insight into the very latest developments and news in the publishing landscape. With her weekly episodes, this podcast has been around for a long time and is a wealth of up-to-date knowledge on where the industry is going. With episodes on how NFTs will allow authors to benefit from second-hand digital sales and other future technologies that will change the market forever. In the second part of her podcasts, she interviews various creatives about everything writing and book marketing. If you want to keep up with the changes in the industry, this podcast is a must.
Host:
Joanna Penn - Author of Fiction and Non-Fiction including many books on the craft and marketing sides of publishing.
4. Six Figure Authors - Book Marketing
Do you feel that the market is constantly changing and impossible to keep up with? The Six Figure Authors podcast is the best place to go for everything book marketing, industry tips and amazing advice for authors of every kind. Although this podcast isn't releasing any new episodes, I still find it to be one of the most practical resources for authors. With a large backlist of episodes to dig into, the conversational tone and varied opinions make for a very engaging listen.
Hosts:
Lindsay Buroker - Fantasy and Science Fiction Author
Joseph R. Lallo - Science Fiction and Fantasy Author
Andrea Pearson - 60 Titles Over Three Pen Names in Various Genres
I listen to all of the podcasts mentioned above regularly and have found them to be amazing resources for everything author related. Many of the hosts also have other non-fiction books on the business and craft of writing so look for those too. As I said above, it isn't a comprehensive list but if you haven't tried them out, then go ahead and do so.