If you’re in the business of writing, you’re also in the business of communication. Pitch letters, emails, proposals, cover letters are part of the administration work writers must do. And if you want to write copy and content for a living, you'll need to master the art of the letter.

In this episode, we share essential tips for writing clear, authentic, and persuasive copy that connects and communicates your message efficiently and effectively. In business writing, clarity matters more than cleverness. When your reader understands you quickly, they’re far more likely to respond, engage, and say yes.

These practical strategies will help you be understood, build trust, and polish your professional writing across platforms and projects.

For more on writing craft and crafting a writer's life, join the Simply Write community at simplywrite.substack.com.

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Dreams, and that soft state when we are between sleep and waking up, can be fertile ground for ideas. In this episode, Polly talks with Bonnie Buckner about how paying attention to dreams, keeping a dream journal, and lingering in that drifting morning mindset can spark insights for writers.

Bonnie, the author of The Secret Mind, shares her writing process and explains how dreams are a creative space that can help us access insight and unexpected creative breakthroughs.

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Freelancing has changed a lot since the early days of magazines, brochures, and press releases, but one thing hasn’t changed: writers who want to make a living need more than strong sentences. In this episode, Polly talks about what it really takes to build a freelance writing life today.

From defining your services and creating a simple website to pitching editors and connecting with clients, freelancing requires organization, persistence, and an entrepreneurial mindset. Polly also shares practical advice about writing samples, handling rejection, tracking business details, and developing the habit of making things even when there’s no assignment or deadline.

Freelance writing can involve articles, blogs, newsletters, podcast scripts, and more. The opportunities are wide, but success comes to writers who show initiative, follow through, and keep writing.

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Author Mark Wilson joins Simply Write with Polly to talk about his debut novel, Full of Beans, a time-traveling detective story, and the steady work it took to bring the book to life. Mark shares how he built the story with detailed outlines on graph paper and wrote during evenings and weekends while holding a demanding day job as a researcher working toward a cure for Rett syndrome.

We talk about persistence, building a writing routine, and continuing to write even when you’re unsure where the story is going. Mark also discusses the role of beta readers and professional critiques, and what he learned about point of view and character development through revision.

He explains why he chose to publish with a concierge publisher that allowed him to keep creative control while getting professional support for design and marketing.

Mark is now at work on the sequel, with plans for a trilogy.

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Chapter summaries are the architectural backbone of a strong nonfiction proposal, and in this episode, we talk about their role in your nonfiction book proposal and what a good chapter summary should include.

Then we dive into the importance of shipping your work. Writing is powerful when shared, and a regular practice of writing to publish or share with others will uplevel your work.

For more on writing craft and crafting a writer's life, join us over on Substack at simplywrite.substack.com

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Polly talks with award-winning fantasy author Z.S. Diamanti about writing craft, productivity, and the systems that support a long-term creative life. They discuss managing multiple projects, using accountability partners, and protecting focused writing time.

Zac shares insights from launching the third book in his Fables of Finlestia series and discusses his Stone & Sky series, along with his approach to outlining, pacing, and balancing intuition with structure in fantasy writing.

They also explore the entrepreneurial side of authorship, from direct sales to building sustainable platforms.

Learn more at https://zsdiamanti.com

For more on writing craft and crafting a writer's life, join the Simply Write community at simplywrite.substack.com.

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In this episode, we explore how to build character on the page without overexplaining. Objects serve as emotional anchors. Character quirks and behavior under pressure expose character motivation, and character can be revealed through actions, habits, and choices. We talk about it all in this episode.

For more about the writing craft and crafting a writer's life, join our Simply Write community at simplywrite.substack.com.

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This episode of Simply Write features Theresa, a seasoned tarot reader and author with more than 30 years of experience, in a grounded conversation about metaphysical writing and creative practice. Theresa shares how she uses tarot and astrology as tools for personal insight and creative development, including how these practices inform her writing process. We talk about making complex metaphysical ideas accessible to readers, using tarot for character development, and understanding market dynamics within the metaphysical space. Whether you write within this genre or are simply curious about alternative creative tools, this episode offers a thoughtful perspective and practical ideas.

In the What's in the Desk segment, Theresa also mentions her Bots by artist Gary Hirsch.

For more on writing craft and crafting a writer’s life, join the Simply Write community at simplywrite.substack.com.

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In this episode of Simply Write w/Polly we continue our coverage of the elements of a nonfiction book proposal and discuss manuscript specifications and the role of the table of contents.

Then the focus shifts to troubleshooting. Polly breaks down how to diagnose what’s really going on when the process feels like a slog and the work dull and slow. Here, we look at mindset, planning, and focus as a way to ease blocks and improve pacing.

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Polly talks with Carol Strickland, art historian, professor, and author, about her shift from nonfiction to historical fiction and what drew her to write about remarkable women. Carol shared the inspiration behind her novel

They discussed the writing process, revision, character development, and the challenge of balancing fact with narrative drive.

For more on writing craft and crafting a writer’s life, join the Simply Write community at simplywrite.substack.com.

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