To start the New Year, we break down the habits, craft techniques, and mindset shifts Polly uses to elevate her writing and also create a more satisfying writing process.

We explore how to read like a writer, build consistent routines, strengthen clarity and style, develop voice, and the importance of revision. And why it's important to find calm in discomfort.

Want to have a better, more producitve writing year? Start by behaving like a writer. Today we'll talk about what that means.

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Here are Simply Write show notes under 100 words, tightened for clarity and flow, with your required link included.

Simply Write | Episode 345 — Be a Better Writer in 2026

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In this episode, Polly talks with memoir coach and author Wendy Dale, whose books include Avoiding Prison and Other Noble Vacation Goals and The Memoir Engineering System. Wendy shares how a deep dive into reading memoir manuscripts shaped her approach to writing and led her to develop seven core principles that help writers avoid common mistakes while still leaving room for creativity.

In this chat, Wendy breaks down her system of scenes and transitions and explains how understanding how they work can help us craft a stronger draft.

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New writers often ask for tips about how to write and finish their books. Sure, there are plenty of lessons on craft—but the real key is mindset. Writing a book takes persistence. Do what you can to make it easier to keep going: prime your brain to create, find a supportive community, and celebrate your progress along the way. The words will come if you keep showing up. In this episode, Polly covers some ways to make that easier.

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Polly talks with author and Indie Author Podcast host Matty Dalrymple about today’s changing publishing world and how indie and traditional routes are increasingly overlapping. Matty shares why indie publishing offers creative control, faster timelines, and long-term earning potential, while also noting how traditional publishers are adapting indie strategies.

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How do you know when a piece is truly finished? In this episode of Simply Write, we talk through the signs that indicate that drafting and revising are done.

Fatigue, intuition, and deadlines all play a part, and often, "good enough" is a good tell.

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Award-winning novelist Alma Katsu joins Polly to talk about writing across genres, the intersection of real life and fiction, and how her years in intelligence work have shaped her thrillers. Alma shares insights on building tension, creating layered characters, and why writing horror doesn’t always mean blood and gore.

They also discuss what it takes to sustain a long writing career, how to stay curious, and why consistency—not perfection—is what keeps writers improving and publishing.

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What if success wasn’t about external recognition and reward but alignment? Research shows our sense of success is shaped by our environment, but satisfaction comes when it matches our core values.

In today's episode, Polly explores what it means to be a successful writer and how we can define success in a way that helps us improve, persist, and feel good about our work.

When we our mindful of our values, sphere of influence, writing possibilities can open up.

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Author Kathleen Barber joins Polly Campbell to talk about her transition from corporate law to full-time writing and the release of her new book, Both Things Are True. Kathleen shares how her structured writing routine helps her balance family, book coaching, and writing.

She and Polly dive into the pros and cons of shifting from one business into the writing business, the solitude of storytelling, and the challenges of marketing books.

Kathleen also reflects on her shift from suspense to romance, explaining why both genres require “earned” endings to satisfy readers.

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Polly is working on a nonfiction proposal, and beginning this week, she'll explain her process and the role the Overview plays in the proposal.

Then tune in every two weeks as Polly shares another key element of the proposal she's working on and how you can create your own to sell a nonfiction book.

In the craft half of the podcast, we talk about scene building. What scenes are, what they must do, and how to build them.

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Former nuclear engineer turned novelist Alan Orloff joins Polly Campbell to talk about his path from short stories to published books. Alan shares how discipline and persistence shaped his writing process, why following your passions matters, and how inspiration often comes from unexpected places. He also opens up about the realities of publishing—the rejections, the surprises, and the highly subjective nature of reviews and decisions.

From crime fiction to horror and YA, Alan has explored many genres, always guided by curiosity and enthusiasm. He and Polly discuss the importance of finishing drafts, staying authentic, and finding joy in the work, whether it’s a novel or short story.

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