Simply Write w/ Polly Campbell

Writing and publishing are connected, but they aren't the same job. Writing asks for curiosity, creativity, and practice. Publishing requires networking, marketing, and a thick skin.

In this episode of Simply Write, we're talking about why every writer needs to understand both roles, how shifting between them can make you more effective, and why it's important to keep writing something that's just for you, even while producing work for readers, clients, or publishers.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Corey Seemiller, author of The Soulmate Strategy shares how intuitive writing shapes her process, from drafting in flow to stepping away when the work stalls. She discusses managing multiple projects, using a weekly Shut Up and Write session to stay focused, trusting instinct over force, and the importance of showing over telling in memoir.

For more on the writing craft and crafting a writer's life, join us at SimplyWrite.substack.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You don’t become a writer by thinking about writing or preparing to write. You become one by writing consistently, even in small ways. We talk about how short sessions build evidence you can trust, why inconsistency makes writing feel harder, and how to shift the cycle. You’ll get simple ways to focus on action, set realistic goals, and track progress without getting stuck on quality.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Poet Maria Giesbrecht joins Simply Write to talk about releasing her first collection, A Little Feral, and the mix of excitement and vulnerability that comes with it. She shares how her work explores identity, family history, and her Mexican and Mennonite roots, and how poetry helps her make sense of those layers. We discuss the discipline of writing, what her daily creative life looks like, and the importance of community through her organization, Gather. This conversation offers insight into starting out, staying with the work, and letting your writing go into the world.

For more on the writing craft and crafting a writer's life, please join our community at SimplyWrite on Substack.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode explores how to create scenes that propel the story forward. But before we talk about crafting a scene, this episode covers what scenes are, how they work in fiction and nonfiction, and what they need to include to be effective. We also break down the difference between scene and exposition or summary, and when to use each.

For more on the writer's craft and crafting a writer's life, join us at simplywrite.substack.com or @pollysimplywrite on YouTube

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Simply Write, Polly sits down with Rachel Weaver to explore the art and challenge of writing memoir.

Rachel shares how her book Dizzy grew out of 18 years living with chronic illness, and how writing became both a relief and an inquiry.

They discuss creative workarounds, truth-telling on the page, and the balance between emotional accuracy and factual detail.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Polly steps outside her creative comfort zone by exploring a different kind of creative practice and notices what begins to shift. She shares why it can feel both uncomfortable and energizing to try something new—and why that tension matters. Research shows that stretching beyond the familiar can boost motivation, deepen engagement, and open new creative pathways. Polly reflects on how creative risks, even outside your primary craft, can build confidence, spark fresh ideas, and ultimately strengthen your writing.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Simply Write, Polly talks with middle-grade author Michelle Lee about her novel The Magic of Someday Soon and her journey from college professor to full-time writer.

She elaborates on what's at the heart of writing for young readers, why middle grade offers a hopeful “sweet spot,” and how stories can hold both weight and wonder.

Michelle also explains what she's doing to launch and promote her books and the challenges of marketing.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Simply Write, Polly explores how spring’s creative energy can reignite your writing practice, drawing on research showing how increased daylight boosts mood and cognitive flexibility. She then dives into storytelling as the foundation of effective writing—beyond technique. Polly breaks down essential elements like the hook, inciting incidents, and narrative arcs, emphasizing how strong structure keeps readers engaged from beginning to end. With practical insights and examples, she encourages writers to think big picture: not just how to write, but how to carry a reader through a meaningful experience.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Simply Write, Polly talks with Julie Revelant, a B2B healthcare copywriter, about the real rhythms of freelance writing. Julie shares her path from journalism and TV to a niche, B2B career, and breaks down the difference between content (to inform) and copy (to persuade), and how freelancers can position themselves as a strategic partner. This is a practical, candid look at building a sustainable writing life.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices