Write Things Podcast

What happens when five writers respond to the same prompt? Five completely different stories.

In this episode of The Write Things Podcast, members of The Write Things Community share original pieces inspired by the theme A Turnaround. From unexpected changes in direction to moments of realization, resilience, and choosing a different path, each story reflects the writer’s own voice, experiences, and perspective.

It’s a reminder that there’s no single right way to tell a story—and that the words only you can write are worth sharing.

00:00 - Intro

1:42 - Aileen House - "Helen & Devin"

7:01 - Leonie Lazarus - An excerpt from a larger piece about her journey on the Pacific Crest Trail

13:03 - Denis Fortier - Steel Gang vs. Mother Nature (An Excerpt from a larger piece) - www.denisfortier.com

18:29 - November Writers Camp Promo

19:47 - Catherine Smallwood - "Turning"

25:51 - Marcie Harrison - Story about putting her mindfulness practices to good use in the real world - www.instagram.com/harrison_marcie

31:07 - Outro

I'm giving away two full scholarships to my November Writers Camps—a $249 value.

Writers Camp is a four-week experience for personal and fiction writers who want to strengthen their writing, discover new possibilities for their stories, and get thoughtful feedback in a supportive group of writers.   Click Here to Complete the Application Form

Write Things Newsletter
👉 https://www.ihelpyouwritethings.com/newsletters/write-things-newsletter

A quick correction from Trevor: In the episode introduction, I accidentally announced this month's theme as Change. Apparently, I made the wrong choice. 😄 The actual theme is Choices—and every story you'll hear was written in response to that prompt. Thanks for rolling with me, and enjoy the episode!

Every story begins with a choice.

Some choices are obvious. Others happen quietly, almost without us noticing. We choose whether to stay or leave. Whether to speak or remain silent. Whether to forgive, to begin again, or to keep moving forward despite uncertainty. Sometimes it's the choices we don't make that shape our lives just as powerfully.

In this episode of the Write Things Podcast, writers explore the many ways choices influence who we become. Through memoir, fiction, and creative nonfiction, these original pieces examine grief, love, identity, courage, uncertainty, and the moments that quietly redirect the course of our lives.

As always, every piece is read by the writer who created it. These aren't polished performances by professional actors—they're authentic stories shared in the voices of the people who lived, imagined, and wrote them.

Whether you're here to be inspired, challenged, or simply reminded that every life contains turning points, we hope these stories stay with you long after the episode ends.

00:00:00 - Introduction

1:45:08 - Marcie Harrison - Memoir Excerpt

04:59:12 - Michelle Ramseth - "Next Up"

10:32:18 - Carl Hyde - "The Six Stones" (Novel working title)

14:49:02 - Leonie Lazarus - "Beginning the Final Chapter"

19:31:06 - Dr. Christine Churchill - Memoir Excerpt

24:59:08 - Charlotte Ehlers - "Choices"

29:39:02 - Catherine Smallwood - "Leptospirosis"

35:28:06 - Aileen House - "GO BEO"

40:16:20 - Outro

Want to write more consistently but can't seem to make it stick?

Trevor Martens, founder of I Help You Write Things, is running a four-week online Writers Camp this August for writers who want structure, encouragement, and a reason to finally finish what they start.

Each session combines practical craft lessons, guided writing exercises, and supportive, specific feedback in a welcoming environment—no harsh critique and no pressure to be perfect.

Mondays | 6:00–8:00 PM CT
Starts: Monday, August 3, 2026
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: $199 CAD (or two payments of $105)

Whether you're just beginning your writing journey or returning after time away, Writers Camp is designed to help you build confidence, momentum, and a sustainable writing practice.

Register Here: https://www.ihelpyouwritethings.com/writinggroups

Write Things Newsletter
👉 https://www.ihelpyouwritethings.com/newsletters/write-things-newsletter

In this special seasonal episode, writers from the Winter 2026 Write Things Community share original short pieces created during our weekly quick-writes.

There’s no analysis and no commentary — just voices, courage, and story.

These pieces are unpolished and unedited, shared exactly as they were written. Together, they mark the culmination of a season spent showing up, writing into uncertainty, and trusting what emerged on the page.

00:00 – Introduction

02:34 – Brenda Hunt

06:26 – Karis Penner

10:38 – Carl Hyde

14:41 – Karla Weir

21:47 – Michelle Ramseth – https://instagram.com/michelleramseth/ 

26:22 – Catherine Smallwood

31:48– Leonie Lazarus

36.33 – Denis Fortier – https://ddoc17.substack.com 

42:04 – Esabella Jakubec

45:26 – Alicia Taylor

50:14 – Aileen House

55:25 – Priscilla Patti

1:00:34 – Christine Churchill

1:07:41 – Kristin Dawson

1:15:56 – Marcie Harrison

1:19:30 – Katrina Zmavc

01:23:44 – Outro

The writers you just heard are part of the Write Things Community — but if you're looking for something smaller and more intimate, the 6-Week Writing Workshop might be exactly what you need. Six writers, once a week, six weeks of inspiration, motivation, and supportive feedback.

Join the waitlist now for early access to registration on April 17th. Every waitlist member who registers receives a free 30-minute Next Step Session with Trevor ($149 value) — a private 1:1 about your writing and where it's headed. The first 5 to register by April 19th get that upgraded to a 1-Hour Story Development Session ($349 value), where Trevor brings an editor's eye to up to 2,500 words of your work.

Join the waitlist now:
👉 https://www.ihelpyouwritethings.com/writing-workshop-waitlist

Write Things Monthly Newsletter
👉 https://www.ihelpyouwritethings.com/newsletters/write-things-newsletter 

Instagram – @ihelpyouwritethings_tm
TikTok – @ihelpyouwritethings
YouTube – https://youtube.com/@ihelpyouwritethings

In this special seasonal episode, writers from the Fall 2025 Write Things Community share original short pieces created during our weekly quick-writes.

There’s no analysis and no commentary — just voices, courage, and story.

These pieces are unpolished and unedited, shared exactly as they were written. Together, they mark the culmination of a season spent showing up, writing into uncertainty, and trusting what emerged on the page.

00:00 – Introduction

02:10 – Jill Richot – https://jillritchot87.substack.com 

06:53 – Kristin Dawson

11:21 – Brenda Hunter

17:55 – Emlee Mitchell – https://emleemitchellauthor.com 

Order Tinsel, Toys, and Love  by Emlee Mitchell: https://www.amazon.com/Tinsel-Toys-Love-Emlee-Mitchell-ebook/dp/B0DLZHTBX4

22:24 – Marcie Harrison

29:12 – Julia Rempel

33:39 – Michelle Ramseth – https://instagram.com/michelleramseth/ 

39:26 – Catherine Smallwood

43:53 – Alice Taylor – https://www.facebook.com/people/Alice-Taylor-Author/61554771497708/

48:09 – Denis Fortier – https://ddoc17.substack.com 

54:41 – Shawna Tavsky – https://www.smtavsky.com/ 

01:00:09 – Christine Churchill

01:04:10 – Aileen house

01:10:02 – Outro

If listening to these pieces sparks something in you — curiosity, courage, or the quiet feeling of maybe I could do this too — you’re exactly who the Write Things Community is for.

Learn more and join an upcoming season here:
👉 https://www.ihelpyouwritethings.com/write-things-community 

Write Things Newsletter
👉 https://www.ihelpyouwritethings.com/blog 

Instagram – @ihelpyouwritethings_tm
TikTok – @ihelpyouwritethings
YouTube – https://youtube.com/@ihelpyouwritethings

This episode features four original short pieces — each sparked by the same simple prompt: An Apology.

Some emerged from fresh 4-minute quick-writes; others are polished pieces that happened to align beautifully with this theme. Together, they offer a deeply human blend of honesty, humour, vulnerability, and transformation.

00:00 – Introduction: How one prompt led to four very different stories
00:38 – “An Apology in Action” by Dr. Christine Churchill
05:10 – “I Am Water” by Marcy Harrison
10:46 – “Fill Her Up” by Catherine Smallwood
15:57 – “Plastic Pelvis” by Karis Penner
19:21 – Reflections on trusting your creative impulses

🎓 Start Here: I’ll Make You a Writer
If you’ve ever wondered how to finally become the writer you want to be, this is where to start.
This free webinar is the culmination of everything I’ve taught across four different workshops — my full philosophy and roadmap for writing sustainably, quieting the inner critic, and creating with confidence and consistency. You can download it for free here:
👉 https://www.ihelpyouwritethings.com/make-you-a-writer 

📖 Explore the Quick Writes Behind This Episode
Curious what 4-minute, raw, unscripted, explorative writing looks like?
You can read the community quick writes inspired by the same prompt in the November 20, 2025 edition of the Write Things Newsletter.
It’s a powerful way to discover how new scenes and stories begin.
👉 https://www.ihelpyouwritethings.com/blog/november-20-2025 

✍️ Keep Going: The Write Things Newsletter
For weekly prompts, mindset shifts, and craft tips to keep you writing:
👉 https://www.ihelpyouwritethings.com/blog 

Instagram – @ihelpyouwritethings_tm
TikTok – @ihelpyouwritethings
YouTube – youtube.com/@ihelpyouwritethings

Episode 3 – Stories from the WTC

In this episode, fifteen writers from the Write Things Community share original short pieces born from our weekly quick-writes.
No analysis this time — just voices, courage, and story.

Chapters
00:00 – Introduction – Trevor Martens
01:39 – Jill Ritchot – https://jillritchot87.substack.com 
06:01 – Karla Weir
11:18 – Michelle Ramseth – https://instagram.com/michelleramseth/
16:48 – Denis Fortier – https://ddoc17.substack.com 
21:33 – Kristin Dawson
25:28 – Alicia Taylor
29:07 – Karis Penner
32:51 – Katrina Zmavc
37:14 – Christine Churchill
41:00 – Josie Marques
45:36 – Emlee Mitchell – https://emleemitchellauthor.com 
50:01 – Brenda Hunter
54:31 – Catherine Smallwood
60:02 – Marcie Harrison
64:25 – Shawna Tavsky – https://smtavsky.com 
68:53 – Outro

🎓 Start Here: I’ll Make You a Writer
If you’ve ever wondered how to finally become the writer you want to be, this is where to start.
This free webinar is the culmination of everything I’ve taught across four different workshops — it’s my full philosophy and roadmap for writing sustainably, quieting the inner critic, and creating with confidence and consistency.
👉 https://www.ihelpyouwritethings.com/make-you-a-writer 

✍️ Keep Going: The Write Things Newsletter
Each week I share new quick-write prompts, mindset shifts, and technique tips to help you keep showing up and growing as a writer.
👉 https://www.ihelpyouwritethings.com/blog 

Instagram – @ihelpyouwritethings_tm
TikTok – @ihelpyouwritethings
YouTube – youtube.com/@ihelpyouwritethings

Episode 2 – Prompt: Waking Up

This episode features three original short pieces — all sparked by the same prompt: Waking Up.

Each writer began with a 4-minute quick-write, then had three days to shape it into a 600-word story. What emerged are powerful, deeply human stories of courage, resilience, and awakening.

Featuring:

Marcie Harrison — retired journalist and memoirist

Alicia Taylor — poet and storyteller from Winnipeg

Josie Marques — newly retired writer exploring personal storytelling

Chapters
00:00 – Introduction: How quick writes grow into stories
02:00 – “Waking Up” by Marcie Harrison
08:15 – “Awaken Spirit, Awaken” by Alicia Taylor
14:20 – “Waking Up” by Josie Marques
21:00 – Reflections on sharing personal stories

✍️ Writing feels different when you’re supported.

You can read the quick writes that inspired these stories in the Write Things Newsletter – Sept 11, 2025 edition:
👉 https://www.ihelpyouwritethings.com/blog/september-11-2025 

Want more? You’ll also get access to all past issues of the newsletter — each packed with fresh prompts and tools to keep you writing:
👉 https://www.ihelpyouwritethings.com/blog

Welcome to the very first episode of the Write Things Podcast, where stories begin with a spark — and writers grow through the telling.

Today’s episode features three powerful pieces born from a simple prompt: Upside Down. What starts as a 4-minute quick-write unfolds into surprising, human, and deeply resonant stories.

Whether you're here to hear what's possible from a short prompt or you're seeking inspiration for your own writing practice, you're in the right place. This podcast blends honest storytelling with real talk on mindset, creativity, and what it means to keep showing up for your words.

Featuring:
– Dr. Christine Churchill
– Michelle Ramseth – @michelleramseth | michelleramseth.com
– Denis Fortier– ddoc17.substack.com

The podcast gives you stories. The newsletter gives you the tools—free prompts, writing tips, and behind-the-scenes on every piece: 👉 www.ihelpyouwritethings.com/blog