Podcasts

Guest Post by Randi Beck

In honor of “bite”-sized sound bites, we’ll keep this intro equally small! First, here are two bite-sized sound-bites (followed by one that is a bit more than a bite-sized chew):

Writing Excuses Podcast (“15 minutes long because you’re in a hurry”)

This show is primarily an advice & discussion session with some notable sci/fi/fantasy/romance writers. This podcast is geared toward genre writers, but there are plenty of useful things here for writers of all tropes so for all you high-brow literary types, try it before you snub it. (Then erase it quickly from your list of podcasts so no one knows you’re listening to it.) Topics range from simple craft questions on POV and the like, to more sensitive issues such as cultural appropriation, gender dynamics, and colonialism. They also discuss issues on the business end of writing (how to hand-sell your book, for instance) and on the psychological end (how not to feel like an imposter). A great choice for the commute home if you write in the evenings or to enjoy with your coffee if you’re a morning writer.

Grammar Girl Quick & Dirty Tips For Better Writing, with Mignon Fogarty

A nice and tidy little podcast that tells you all you need to know about it right in the title. It helped me solve my embarrassing who vs. whom incompetence once and for all. Imagine what it can do for you. (And if you like the podcast, the website is equally nice, tidy, quick and dirty.)

Don’t Keep Your Day Job, with Cathy Heller (The not so bite-sized podcast that is still easy to digest):

This is one for creatives of all sorts. Its purpose is to inspire you to follow your passion by sharing stories of how other artists have made a living doing what they love. It’s positive and uplifting…and the host’s sincere enthusiasm go-get’em attitude might eventually get on some people’s nerves. But there are some great stories here and good advice for thinking and living outside the box. A couple to start with: “Turning Misery into Motivation” (with photographer Elisabeth Caren) and “What Can You Do Today?” (with the host, Cathy Heller). Episodes are 45-60 minutes.

And that’s all…until next week!

Guest post by Randi Beck

My current day job involves equal parts mind-numbing monotony (think walking very slowly through a grocery store while using a calculator) and twenty or so Billboard pop songs played on loop (think Maroon 5—all day, every day.) So rather than sink further into a Sisyphisian state of depression, I said screw the no-headphones rule and started downloading podcasts.

It turns out you can find a podcast on pretty much anything, including writing. I have found some to be surprisingly motivating and/or educational. I have also found some to be terrible. So I have weeded through dozens of podcasts to bring you this weekly list of recommended listening, which will heretoafter be known as “Sunday Sound Bites.”

Some of these will focus on craft and productivity, others feature author interviews, and some are just good writerly fun. A few may not be about writing, specifically, but should prove useful in developing your writing habit or motivating you when the going gets tough. I hope you’ll find at least a few that you enjoy. Continue reading →