The Working Writer Podcast

Freelance writer and editor Bethany Miller shares her experience over the years, touching on the nitty-gritty realities of freelance life. We discuss pricing and finding gigs, dealing with difficult clients, and geek-out in general about our lives as writers.

How do you know your writing is good? How can you fix what's broken in your work? 

Writing coach Jamie Morris chats with podcast host (and client) Tia Lindstrom on how working with a coach can make you a better writer.

The Companion Guide Series includes the title for this episode is called Get Feedback On Your Writing. The ebook expands the feedback topic to include alpha and beta readers, editors, and that pesky of all writers' problems: what to do about unsolicited feedback?

Team Little Quotes is in the house to share how a virtual team made a real book! 

In this interview with the editors behind Little Quotes by Little Folks, we share how a virtual team made a real book, and explore how collaboration can increase your success as a published author.   

This topic is covered further in the Companion Guide. Write as a Team is available on Amazon, and is a short read with big content, full of insight on team writing and tips to make it work.   Check out the Little Quotes by Little Folks book at https://littlequotesbook.com

In this episode of The Working Writer Podcast, Tia Lindstrom interviews best-selling romance author, Sara Celi. Topics covered include writing sprints, genre study, and how to manage a writing career in the midst of real life. 

Sensitivity alert: the trauma of premature birth and infant loss are both discussed in this episode.   

The Working Writer Podcast is available on audio anywhere you listen to podcasts. Every episode includes a giveaway; engage with us on Instagram to enter. The Companion Guide eBooks that pair with each episode are available on Amazon. 

Corporate copywriting can pay your bills. This episode includes an interview with The Copy Cats, a team of corporate copywriters who share how copywriting shaped their careers, how to find copywriting jobs, and what it's like to work on a team of writers. 

Also, this episode explores creative blocks, perfectionism, and trauma. Writers fret over being blocked to the point where they spend more time talking about writing than writing. Creative blocks restrict the flow of ideas and progress; they prevent us from taking risks and chances. Simply put, a blocked writer can't grow.

As a working professional writer, I get this question all the time: "How can I make writing my job?" 

I also hang out with more non-writers than writers. While my writing friends and I talk shop and understand craft and get the inside-jokes... it's my non-writing friends who save me from the Cliffs of Insanity on the regular. 

One of those friends is Melody Blythe. She's a pilot, property appraiser, special-needs Mom. As I say in the podcast, Melody embodies Sprite. She's sunny and upbeat, determined, and madly talented. She and I go way back; we grew up in a Baptist megachurch together, in a youth group of 400. I shared photographic evidence (cringe-warning) in the show notes. 

Melody and I cover a lot of topics in this episode that effectively takes my podcast virginity. (Purity culture peeps will appreciate the metaphor. I talk a lot about purity, deconstruction and religious trauma on Instagram. You can follow me and the podcast over there.) 

Also, the marrow of this episode of how to make writing your job is in the Companion Guide eBook. That's where you'll find the practical steps to get to work doing what you love. 

I feel like I owe a little caveat here: one thing I've learned is that podcast pilots are a lot like early novel drafts. There are some bumps and bumbles that will certainly work themselves out in future episodes. I'll undoubtedly get quicker and more agile with both the content and the supporting tech. Until then, thank you for your kind listening and forgiving ears. All artists need a little grace :-). 

One thing I know for sure: a writer is always working. The only variance is income! And while it's easy to romanticize what it means to "be a writer," the truth is that writing is hard work. Working writers distinguish themselves from hobbyists through their attitude, skill, and dedication to craft. 

It's an honor to be able to pay bills with words, and this podcast will explore the many ways that can be done. I promise to make it as fun and valuable as possible! Each episode will pair with a downloadable ebook available on our website and on Amazon, because I believe the best inspiration leads to action. 

Please subscribe and share with your friends. I love to talk writing and I can't wait to talk shop with you.