Podcast
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If you have a topic, theme, or question you'd like to see explored on a future episode of the podcast, OR are interested in being a guest on a future episode, please email me: andthenwrite@gmail.com
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12/1/21 – Episode 39 – Calming Your Inner Self Critic
My inner self critic is alive and well. It’s a voice I’ve come to accept as a long-term companion in my life, like it or not. The key is how I deal with it. Sometimes we have to take a break from a project – and recognize it’s not procrastination or avoidance. Sometimes, there are roadblocks to work through, be they personal, developmental, or technical. Sometimes there’s a worldwide pandemic to contend with. How do we work through those trying times when we feel like we “should” be working on our manuscripts, showing progress of some kind? How do we get through without letting the inner self critic win?
Today I am joined by Marin Laukka and we are going to try and figure this out.
GUEST BIO: Marin Laukka is a coach, speaker, and author with a Master's Degree in positive developmental psychology, and certifications in life coaching and yoga. As the business owner of Yes&, she passionately supports women to free themselves from doubt and fear so they can make their positive impact and experience true fulfillment. You can find Marin online at yesandbymarin.com/
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9/10/21 - Episode 38 - Finding Our Way to Writer
Why are we so hesitant to call ourselves writers? While our paths and stories may differ, we all fall into practice one way or another, and for many of us, writing may serve a different need. Guest Shelly Sharon joins the podcast and we explore the ways we identify with, find company in, and develop a relationship with writing.
GUEST BIO: Shelly Sharon is a Life Alignment coach, a writer, and a seasoned meditation teacher. For the past 15 years she’s helped people around the world who wanted to feel more at home with themselves, face challenging feelings, and heal wounds to deepen their self-trust and expression.
Her life has meandered through careers as a professional dancer, coffeeshop owner, and a sought-after social change research consultant. She has 20 years of intense meditation practice and 10 years of teaching, including as a mindfulness teacher trainer. After living as a nomad in the East for two years, followed by two years in a remote mountain village in Italy, Shelly has settled in Zurich, Switzerland, with her soul partner and their two white cats. Currently Shelly’s working on her book Healing the Mother Wound and offers Life Alignment coaching, meditation courses, and creative self-expression workshops. You can find Shelly online at shellysharon.com
EPISODE RESOURCES:
Thou Shalt Not Be Aware: Society’s Betrayal of the Child, by Alice Miller.
Friendly fire: A Duet, by A. B. Yehoshua.
Nine Gates: Entering the Mind of Poetry, by Jane Hirshfield.
The Writing Life, by Annie Dillard.
Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom, by John O’Donohue.
Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha, by Tara Brach.
7/1/21 - Episode 37 - Rules for Writing
Rules. They usually tend to suck the fun out of something. But what about rules for writing? Are there any? Should there be? Perhaps the bigger question is, are rules helpful? To help us sort it all out, I’m joined today by writer JP Behrens.
GUEST BIO: JP Behrens is a graduate of Rowan University’s Writing Arts Program. His short stories have appeared in Fairly Wicked Tales, The Purple Wall, and the Paper Butterfly. His novel, PORTRAIT OF A NUCLEAR FAMILY is due out mid to late 2022 from D & T Publishing. During rare moments not taken up by reading and writing, JP spends time with his family and practices Kung Fu. You can find JP on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and his website.
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5/3/21 - Episode 36 - Writing for Middle Grade Readers
Having kids – for me – has been the perfect excuse to dip back into and read books aimed at younger readers again. But what is it like to write for younger readers? Today’s guest, Gina Loveless, is going to tell us all about it.
GUEST BIO: Gina Loveless writes for nine year olds to fourty-nine year olds. For kids, she’s the author of the middle grade series Diary of a 5th Grade Outlaw (Epic! Originals/ Andrews McMeel, 2019/2020), Animal Rescue Friends (Epic! Originals, 2020), and the humorous health and wellness book Puberty Is Gross, but Also Really Awesome (Rodale Kids, Feb 2021).
For adults, she writes profiles and pieces on mental health for Men’s Health, and she has been a freelance researcher and fact-checker for MH and Women’s Health magazine since 2016. She earned her BA in English from Duquesne University and then her MFA in Creative Writing from California Institute of the Arts.
Gina is also an aspiring screenwriter. Her mission as an author and writer is to help all the “weird” people of the world feel less alone and to destigmatize the conversation around mental health and mental illness. You can find Gina online at lovlesswriting.com.
RECOMMENDED READING:
The work of Erin Entrada Kelly.
Pie in the Sky, by Remy Lai.
King and the Dragonflies, by Kacen Callender.
The work of Max Brallier.
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4/1/21 - Episode 35 - Sitting with Struggle
It can be tough to ride out a stretch when you have zero energy for your own creative pursuits. So what’s a writer to do? This month I lament on how I’ve been attempting to sit with struggle, knowing it will pass – and that I will return to the work I miss.
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3/1/21 - Episode 34 - Knowing Yourself is Knowing Your Work
Writing is about so much more than writing. There are many other kinds of non-writing work that sometimes have to happen before we ever arrive to the page. Guest Jeremiah Timmons has a lot to share when it comes to mindset, trauma, the joy we can actually extract from our work, and the freedom of mediocrity.
GUEST BIO: Jeremiah Timmons is a screenwriter and productivity coach based out of Los Angeles. After getting his start writing for comedians in Atlanta, Jeremiah moved on to work at Tyler Perry Studios and HBO. In addition to writing for television, Jeremiah coaches writers in all fields on how to increase their output using wellness tools. You can find out more about him and his craft at thethrivingscribe.com
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2/1/21 - Episode 33 - Writers & Platforms
It’s the oft-dreaded question: How big is your platform? Like it or not, to obtain an agent or publishing contract these days, writers need a platform. Ideally, we’d be spending any free time we have on our craft, our most precious commodity: Our words. Growing a platform can be the equivalent of a part-time job, at least. Guest Amber Brandt joins the podcast to discuss how she’s been navigating this tricky terrain.
GUEST BIO: Amber Brandt is a StoryBrand certified copywriter, speaker, and The Coziness Consultant, an IAPO certified interior decorator. Amber is passionate about helping clients and families create spaces that not only reflect their values, but help them live smarter, cozier, and more beautifully intentional lives. She believes authenticity, connection, and true hospitality can change the world.
Amber lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her husband Kyle and daughter Winslow and recently signed with a literary agent to write her first book. Amber muses about design, faith, family and all-things-cozy on Instagram and Facebook at @thecozinessconsultant. You can also find her at thecozinessconsultant.com
EPISODE RESOURCES
Agent Chris Ferebee: How to Prepare a Non-Fiction Book Proposal
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1/2/21 - Episode 32 - Ask For What You Need
Sometimes, the most challenging times have a lot to teach us – if we’re willing to listen. 2020 was less than kind to my writing life, but that doesn’t mean it was a total loss: I learned a few critical lessons along the way that I am bringing into 2021 – and beyond.
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12/1/20 - Episode 31 - Writing to Boost Your Business
Have you ever thought about writing a book that could help drive your business? One that will be an important part of the ecosystem that establishes your credibility and ultimately gets you more clients? Guest host Anna Lundberg walks through some probing questions that will help you explore WHY you want to write a book, and what role it will play for your business.
GUEST HOST BIO: Anna Lundberg is the founder of One Step Outside, where she helps experienced professionals around the world design a career, a business and a lifestyle that brings them more freedom, flexibility and fulfilment - outside of the conventional 9 to 5.
Ex-Oxford, ex-P&G, today she combines her 10+ years of experience in global branding and digital marketing roles with her training in coaching and positive psychology techniques to help people reimagine the next phase of their career. Anna offers a blend of life coaching and business mentoring on a one-on-one basis and in a group setting.
She is the host of the Reimagining Success podcast and author of Leaving the Corporate 9 to 5: Stories from people who’ve done it (and how you can too!). For expert comment on the topics of career change, personal branding or starting a business, or to book Anna as a speaker at your event or as a guest on your podcast, email media@onestepoutside.com.
EPISODE RESOURCES
Book:
On Writing, by Stephen King
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11/1/20 - Episode 30 - Writing for the Page and Stage
Fiction writing and playwriting. Even though both often involve worldbuilding – characters, setting, plot, dialogue – there are distinct differences. How do those differences inform the process? The way the material is experienced by the reader and viewer? Today, guest hosts Denise Stephenson and Bob Mayberry explore the differences between fiction writing and playwriting.
GUEST HOST BIO: Denise Stephenson is the Faculty Director of the Writing Center at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, CA. She is a book artist, a scholar, and a committed collaborator. Over her career she’s had dozens of academic articles published and several plays staged. Isolation is her first novel. Her current creative writing involves postmodern, overlapping extensions to Isolation.
Contact info: denise.stephenson@gmail.com
GUEST HOST BIO: For 40 years, Bob Mayberry wrote plays, short stories and poems. Then he decided to write a novel. He’s still working on that—an academic detective novel that takes place on the GVSU campus, where Bob taught for 7 years. He’s also working on a series of short stories about a baseball General Manager who has been committed to a mental hospital. During his 15 years at Cal State Channel Islands, he taught playwriting, Shakespeare, composition, modern lit, and a variety of drama classes. He also directed productions of his own plays, including a cycle of history plays about the Donner Party, a one-act about Gertrude Stein and her lover Alice B. Toklas, a dark comedy about lesbians on a raft escaping Cuba, and a farce entitled The Thief, the Madman, Quixote and the Magic Doors. The latter play was inspired by the lost play of Shakespeare, Cardenio, based on one of the tales in Cervantes’ novel Don Quixote. He currently lives with Denise Stephenson three blocks from the Pacific Ocean, where he swims daily.
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10/1/2020 - Episode 29 - Inspiration is Easy to Come By
Sometimes as writers, we make "inspiration" out to be a lot more mysterious than it really is. By adopting simple practices, we can put ourselves in the way of inspiration, and pave the way for great ideas to come in – consistently. Guest host Jennifer Locke takes us through four easy-to-adopt practices.
GUEST HOST BIO: Jennifer has been writing fiction since 2011, and she brings this fiction writer’s approach to her work with her nonfiction ghostwriting and author coaching clients. Jennifer has ghostwritten business books that have been published by both business presses and Big Five publishers; her ghostwritten articles have appeared in top-brand publications like Forbes and Harvard Business Review; bylined work has appeared in Forge, The Write Life, Literary Traveler, and Live Write Thrive, among others. Whether writing fiction or non-fiction, Jennifer lives for stories. Bringing stories to life--whether her own or her clients'--is Jennifer's favorite work. You can find Jennifer online at jenniferlockewrites.com and https://bookinsix.jenniferlockewrites.com/
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9/1/2020 - Episode 28 - The Business of Writing
Not every writer aspires to be the next literary great. Some writers simply want to do what they love - WRITE - and make a living doing it, on their terms. For many, this is elusive territory, but it needn’t be. Today Anthony Moore joins the podcast to demystify the business of writing.
GUEST BIO: Anthony Moore is a top 100 writer on Medium, coach, and author of What Extraordinary People Know. You can find him at anthonymoore.co
Writing prompt:
There's a great quote by Ray Bradbury that comes to mind: "Write a short story every week. It’s not possible to write 52 bad short stories in a row." I'd encourage listeners to write something 52 times in a row (or even just 30 times, each day for a month). It's impossible to write 52 bad things in a row!
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8/1/2020 - Episode 27 - Better Done Than Perfect
As writers, some stories just get under our skin. We try to write them out of our system, but sometimes we don’t quite get it on the first try... or maybe even the second. But eventually the story comes out – and at a point we have to stop tinkering and let it go. Today Michael Waddington joins the podcast to share the story behind his military legal thriller, Battlemind.
GUEST BIO: Michael Waddington is a criminal defense lawyer and best-selling author who defends cases in military courts worldwide. He’s provided consultation services to CNN Investigative Reports, 60 Minutes, Katie Couric, ABC’s “Nightline,” the BBC, German Public Television, CNN, CBS, the 2010-2012 Golden Globe-winning TV series “The Good Wife,” and various other international media outlets.
Michael & his law partner, Alexandra, wrote two textbooks on cross-examination, published by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). Both of these books are used by criminal defense lawyers across the United States. Michael’s book, Kick-Ass Closings: A Guide to Giving the Best Closing of Your Life, has been an Amazon bestseller since it was published in 2018. He is also the author of the bestselling book, The Art of Trial Warfare, and published Trial Warrior’s Book of Wisdom: A Compilation of Quotes for Success in Law and Life, in 2016.
Michael teaches trial advocacy across the United States. He is a Life Member of the NACDL and a Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers (ABCL). In July 2018, he was appointed to co-chair the Military Law Committee of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL).
His latest book is a military legal thriller, Battlemind.
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7/1/2020 - Episode 26 - The Journey of Writing Memoir
Writing a memoir is its own kind of special journey. Not only does it require that you generate material relating to your life, it asks you to come to terms with it, to make sense of it in a way that will be compelling to readers.
The best memoirs show us all the layers, and it’s that vulnerability, that willingness to be perceived as a flawed, complex human being trying to figure it all out that results in a deep connection with the author. But how do we, as writers, do that? Today I welcome guest Mag Dimond, and we’ll talk about her journey writing her memoir.
GUEST BIO: Mag Dimond is the award-winning author of Bowing to Elephants, Tales of a Travel Junkie, (which hit #1 in 5 countries on the day it launched, and won Best Indie Biographies & Memoirs of 2019 from Kirkus). Her book has been compared to Eat, Pray, Love in professional reviews and has received accolades from many thought leaders in the mindfulness space, including Jack Kornfield. It’s full of stories of her travels around the world, self-discovery, healing, food, and so much more. Mag has been a world traveler since age 11 — living with her mother in Italy for 3 years — and has traveled the globe. Once a 10 year hospice volunteer, Mag is a practicing Buddhist and dedicated member of Spirit Rock Meditation Center north of San Francisco. Mag’s essays are an editor’s pick on Elephant Journal, the online journal read by almost 2 million people. You can find Mag online on FB, Twitter, and at: magdimond.com - where she also offers a free meditation.
Writing prompt:
This month Mag offers the following writing prompt - one she says is, “great for working with the stuff of memory":
Write for 10-15 min without stopping about: "what I remember"
Then follow that with another 10-15, writing about : "what I don't remember"
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6/1/2020 - Episode 25 - Aha! Moments
Are you willing to receive what you most need to hear? A-ha! moments are key for the writing process. And they often contain the writing advice we’ve already heard ten times before – but we actually hear it this time, when we need it most.
Also, today marks two years of doing the & then write podcast! A big THANK YOU to every listener and guest along the way - I appreciate you all so much.
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5/1/2020 - Episode 24 - All About Mindset: Arriving at Voice & Story
Showing up to the page to write is no small feat. Neither is infusing your work with an engaging voice and a captivating story. But so often, writers doubt their ability to show up on the page as they are in real life. Jennifer Locke joins the podcast today, where we’ll discuss strategies for uncovering your voice and focusing in on your story.
GUEST BIO: Jennifer Locke has been writing fiction since 2011, and she brings this fiction writer’s approach to her work with her nonfiction ghostwriting and author coaching clients. Jennifer has ghostwritten business books that have been published by both business presses and Big Five publishers; her ghostwritten articles have appeared in top-brand publications like Forbes and Harvard Business Review; bylined work has appeared in Forge, The Write Life, Literary Traveler, and Live Write Thrive, among others. Whether writing fiction or non-fiction, Jennifer lives for stories. Bringing stories to life--whether her own or her clients'--is Jennifer's favorite work. You can find Jennifer online at jenniferlockewrites.com
Episode resources:
Books on Creativity and Writing
The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron
Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert
First You Write a Sentence, by Joe Moran
Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott
Podcast
The C.R.E.A.T.E. podcast with Kristin Hanggi and Natalie Roy (Community Reclaiming Every Artist's True Expression)
Articles (Mindset and Craft)
To Do a Great Big Thing, Break It Into Tiny Daily Things, by Jennifer Locke
Crafting Opening Novel Scenes That Pack a Punch by Jennifer Locke
Writing Prompt
During the episode, Jennifer offered a prompt. A two-part question she asks of 1-on-1 clients:
- What's the most important message you have to share with the world? If you could grab everyone by the shoulders and tell them this ONE thing, what would it be?
- Why is it so important for people to get this message right now?
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4/1/2020 - Episode 23 - Writing Through Uncertainty - Or Not
Yup, it's time to get real. The world is giving us the business right now. What does that mean for our creative pursuits? Our ability to show up to the page? What do we do when we just don’t have it in us? Here’s how I’m getting through the shit-show that is COVID-19.
But wait. There's more.
WRITING THROUGH UNCERTAINTY - an online offering.
I'm trying something very NEW for the month of April. It’s not a writing challenge, because we don’t need any more challenges at the moment. It's not about productivity. It’s an invitation to make space for creating. Of finding our way back to our passions.
If you’re like me, maybe you’ve been fumbling a bit, struggling to focus, wondering how creativity is supposed to fit into this ever-changing situation we’ve found ourselves in. Maybe you need some grounding.
Join me on Teachable, where I'm offering a 30-day journey of support, free of charge. I’m developing it as I go, so it'll be an adventure for us all. It'll be messy. It'll be far from perfect. But it will be real.
If you feel like you want to get back to that creative space in your life, however you can show up given your current circumstances, please join me. There are no expectations of time or effort. Show up as much or as little as you’d like.
I’m craving connection, in whatever form that can take right now. So I’m trying to get creative with it and see what emerges. Because the truth is, beautiful things ARE going to emerge from this time. So let’s try to stay awake to that possibility, and to the creativity that is still coursing through us, however muted it might feel these days.
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3/1/2020 - Episode 22 - Balancing Busyness with Stillness
This month, I welcome Rachel Redmond back to the podcast. Today we examine our culture’s obsession with productivity, and talk about the deeper reasons behind why we do what we do. We both believe slowing down ultimately makes us more productive - if we can allow ourselves the space and grace to do it.
GUEST BIO: For the past 15 years, Rachel has been studying and living an Ayurveda-inspired lifestyle. After healing herself from chronic digestive issues and anxiety with the wisdom of Ayurveda, Rachel has been passionate about sharing this knowledge with others. In 2010, she became a Certified Ayurveda Practitioner and has been practicing and teaching Ayurveda ever since. In 2015, she earned her degree as a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, licensed acupuncturist and herbalist. Rachel currently works in East Lansing, where she practices Ayurveda, acupuncture and herbal medicine. You can find her online at racheleredmond.com.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
BOOKS:
The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron
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2/1/2020 - Episode 21 - Writers & Editing
As writers, whether we decide to self-edit or hire out part of the editorial process, it’s important that we understand the purpose of editing AND the different types of editing. Guest Andrew Wille joins the podcast to share his expertise in this area.
GUEST BIO: Andrew Wille is a book doctor and writing teacher based in London. Formerly at Little, Brown and later as a freelance editor working for a wide variety of presses, he has published and edited many bestselling and critically acclaimed works of fiction and nonfiction. Currently, he works mostly with writers as they are developing new projects.
He works in many genres, including: literary fiction, memoir, historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction, horror, crime, nature writing, history, travel writing, self-help and mind-body-spirit.
Andrew studied and taught at Naropa University’s Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics in Boulder, Colorado, birthplace of the modern mindfulness movement, and draws on contemplative and holistic approaches to creativity in his teaching. This year he is teaching, among other things, a series of writing workshops in London based on the Four Elements, as well as a workshop on food in writing at the Victoria & Albert Museum. He writes fiction and nonfiction too, and also blogs and offers resources on writing and publishing at www.wille.org.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
BOOKS:
The Artful Edit, by Susan Bell
Sin and Syntax, by Constance Hale
The Copyeditor's Handbook, by Amy Einsohn
Pitch Power, by Kate Harrison
RESOURCES ON EDITING:
Blog posts by Andrew:
When does a writer need an editor (which includes further links to a series of posts defining developmental and structural editing, copyediting and line editing, and proofreading).
Suggestions for self-editing.
Revising: a craft checklist.
Working with feedback on your writing.
The Retype Draft.
Emma Darwin's blog:
Writing exercise:
Three Gifts & a Question
Give a piece of your writing (say, ten pages?) to someone else to read: someone in your writing group or workshop, or a trusted reader or writing partner. If you don’t have a regular writing partner – this is your chance to find one. Or you can simply solicit feedback from someone who will take your writing seriously.
Also give them four Post-its.
Now ask your reader to read your work and to identify three gifts in it: three things the writing has given then – a character perhaps, or an aspect of a character, or a setting, or a particular image or juicy line or a mood. A gift could even be a memorable word or sentence. Ask them to put each gift on a Post-it.
Also ask your reader to ask you a question that will help you take this writing further, either in revising this piece of work, or in continuing it. Ask them to put this question on the fourth Post-it.
Ask them to return the writing and the Post-its to you without the expectation of getting further detail or into discussion at this stage. You just want to know three things the writing has given them.
This is a very simple method of getting feedback, but it can be a useful way of understanding the impression made by a piece of your writing. You can also extend this use of the idea of looking for gifts throughout a whole manuscript.
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1/1/2020 - Episode 20 - Imposter Syndrome: Who Am I to Write This?
Who am I to write this? Most writers, at one point or another, feel like a fake on some level. How can we kick these feelings of inadequacy to the curb? Today I cover some strategies for minimizing the effects of imposter syndrome.
Writing Prompt:
At the start of this new year I want to hear from you:
What does imposter syndrome look like for you? How does it show up? What does it say? How do you overcome it? Do you have a favorite anecdote you like to share around this topic?
I want to hear your stories around this.
To be considered for publication, submit your finished piece to & then write on Medium.com.
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12/1/2019 - Episode 19 - Using Words to Make a Difference
As writers, how do we use our words to work towards a greater good? How do we get our work off the page and into the world? Guest Diana McLean joins the podcast to discuss the intersection of writing, social justice, and spirituality.
GUEST BIO: Reverend Diana McLean is a Unitarian Universalist minister. She earned her Master of Divinity degree from Iliff School of Theology in June 2016, and was ordained the next month. Prior to ministry, Diana earned a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Naropa University in December 2009. She has been a poet since elementary school, and spent years pre-ministry as a freelance writer, editor, and creative writing teacher for adults and children. Diana currently serves as minister of the Peterborough, (New Hampshire) Unitarian Universalist Church. Her partner, Reverend Shay MacKay, is also a Unitarian Universalist minister, serving in southern Maine, so they maintain two households with Diana's seventeen-year-old son, two cats, and a lot of books. Find Diana online, where she blogs occasionally at poeticjustice.typepad.com.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Books:
Writing to Change the World: An Inspiring Guide for Transforming the World with Words, by Mary Pipher
The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century, by Grace Lee Boggs
Other recommended books on writing & spirituality:
Writing to Wake the Soul: Opening the Sacred Conversation Within, by Karen Hering
Writing the Sacred: A Psalm-inspired Path to Appreciating and Writing Sacred Poetry, by Ray McGinnis
Finding the Voice Inside: Writing as a Spiritual Quest for Women, by Gail Collins-Ranadive
Writing the Sacred Journey: The Art and Pratice of Spiritual Memoir, by Elizabeth Andrew
Writing Prompt:
Write a prayer or meditation. You might consider starting from one of what Anne Lamott calls the three essential prayers: Help, Thanks, or Wow.
For example, for the “thanks” version, begin each line / stanza / paragraph with “thank you for...” (where you = whatever “higher power” or energy you feel connected to in moments of gratitude).
To be considered for publication, submit your finished piece to & then write on Medium.com.
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11/1/2019 - Episode 18 - Writing & Community
For many of us, community is key when it comes to our writing process. It gets you engaged, uncomfortable, and moving forward before you’re ready. When you have support, it also means you are more likely to keep going. How to best establish community? Give a listen to find out.
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10/1/2019 - Episode 17 - Embracing the Unexpected
Part of what separates a good writer from a great writer is their ability to not only draw inspiration from a wide variety of sources - some truly unexpected places - but also their ability to pivot creatively when life decides to throw some serious curveballs. Guest Angela Santillo personifies the phrase “embracing the unexpected,” and joins me today on the podcast.
GUEST BIO: Angela Santillo is a writer based in New York City. Often using science and history as her inspiration, her work has a poetic lean and is heavy in spectacle. Her plays have been produced and developed in New York, San Francisco, and Chicago. Notable credits include the world premiere of Faulted with foolsFURY, finalist in the Samuel French’s OOB Short Play Festival, and finalist for the Jerome Fellowship. Her first nonfiction stories have been published by Exposition Review and Burningwood Literary Journal. Her first published piece, "Everything I Could Dump Into a Prologue," has been nominated for a 2020 Pushcart Prize.
A storyteller beyond the written word, she is producer/host of the podcast And Then Suddenly and recently launched a Corporate Storytelling consultancy. She has a BA in English and Theater from Saint Mary's College of California and an MFA in Theater from Sarah Lawrence College. You can find Angela online at: www.angelasantillo.com
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Publication-
Writing Prompt:
Watch “Haboob dust storm attacks Arizona wedding.”
Pick one of the three people in the video and watch it till the end.
Write the inner monologue of the person you tracked, starting at their last moment on screen.
Submit your finished piece to & then write on Medium.com.
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9/1/2019 - Episode 16 - Starve Your Distractions
All of us encounter distractions on a daily basis. It can be difficult to achieve, let alone sustain, any kind of creative focus. So how do we minimize distractions and overwhelm? How do we create an environment where focus can be achieved in a minimal amount of time? Today I share some strategies that have helped me stay on track.
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8/1/2019 - Episode 15 - The Shapeshifting Writer
As writers, we work to establish habits, routines that serve us well. But just when you think you have this writing thing down… you discover that what served you well for one project is an absolute disaster for the next. No two writing projects are the same. How do we as writers adapt? How do we shapeshift to be the exact writer we need to be in that moment? And what do we do when we have creative loves outside of writing? How do we find balance? I welcome long-time friend, mentor, and fellow creative Denise Stephenson to the podcast today to discuss these topics.
GUEST BIO: Denise Stephenson is the Faculty Director of the Writing Center at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, CA. She is a book artist, a scholar, and a committed collaborator. Over her career she’s had dozens of academic articles published and several plays staged. Isolation is her first novel. Her current creative writing involves postmodern, overlapping extensions to Isolation.
Contact info: denise.stephenson@gmail.com
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7/1/2019 - Episode 14 - Finding Your Why
How do we as writers find our WHY? And is this even a necessary practice when it comes to our writing?
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Talk:
How Great Leaders Inspire Action - Tedx: Simon Sinek
Books:
Start With Why, by Simon Sinek
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6/1/2019 - Episode 13 - Whose Voice Is It Anyway?
How do we as writers develop a voice that is uniquely our own? What are some of the stumbling blocks we encounter in this process? Today I welcome fellow writer and friend, Nick Beardslee, and we tackle questions about voice, screenwriting, and collaboration.
GUEST BIO: Nick Beardslee is a video producer at the Stamps School of Art & Design at the University of Michigan, as well as a freelance filmmaker. He creates corporate content, music videos, and short films. In his short time since graduating from Grand Valley State University, Nick has been un-learning or re-learning everything he's been taught.
By opening himself up to the things that captured his imagination as a child, as well as his own life experiences, Nick has restructured his creative practice, while finding ways to integrate more personal truth into his work.
Nick's work can be found at nickbeardslee.com, and he continues to express himself through photography on Instagram at @nicholasbeardslee.
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5/1/2019 - Episode 12 - Shadow Artists
Do you turn away from your true calling? Are you an artist at heart, but find yourself throwing your energy behind other artists, relegating yourself to the background, i.e. support staff? Today we’ll talk about how you can take charge of your true self, and begin to dismantle the limiting beliefs holding you back.
This episode is absolutely inspired by The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron, a book I am currently working through. If you've ever stuffed down that quiet voice that's trying to tell you what you should be doing with your life... then this one's for you.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Books:
The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron
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4/1/2019 - Episode 011 - Writer's on Process: Emotional Loading
This is the first in what will be a series of episodes about writers and the processes they utilize in their craft. I’m pretty much endlessly fascinated when it comes to how other’s approach their work… and have always loved getting that behind-the-scenes peek.
Today’s guest, Kyle Williams, will shed some light on one way we can bring adequate emotional energy to our writing, and also how we can funnel our creativity and inspiration into a sprawling work.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Books
City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments Book 1), by Cassandra Clare
A Song of Ice and Fire (Seven Volumes), by George R.R. Martin
Harry Potter Complete Series, by J.K. Rowling
GUEST BIO: Kyle Williams was born and raised in California. He recently published his first book “The Steel Sentinel,” part of his nine book flagship series “Spiritborn.” Kyle currently works at a healthcare center in Redlands. Although he began his career in nanotechnology, he has since transitioned to nursing. He was craving more connection with others, and feels his efforts to help are more tangible in this field.
Much of Kyle’s writing inspiration comes from nature. He grew up in the city, and it wasn’t until he lived in rural Maryland for a stretch that he began to realize how beautiful the natural world is. Long walks observing nature and wildlife led to an outpouring of ideas, which ultimately resulted in his book series. Listeners can find Kyle on Twitter and Instagram, and on deviantart, where he occasionally posts short stories that take place in the universe of his books, and other short pieces - or on his website.
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3/1/2019 - Episode 010 - This Was Not Part of the Plan
What happens when we stop clinging so hard to our ideas of how things should be, and loosen the grip of control? What happens when we can open to the magic of disruption? In short: It can transform us.
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2/1/2019 - Episode 009 - Writing to Heal
Writing isn’t a one-size-fits all endeavor. It can be a creative outlet, a form of employment, a professional pursuit – or a mix of these. However, for many, writing itself can be a healing balm, a place for self-reflection and emotional digestion. Rachel Redmond joins today’s episode to discuss the healing properties of writing.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Book
The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron
GUEST BIO: For the past 15 years, Rachel has been studying and living an Ayurveda-inspired lifestyle. After healing herself from chronic digestive issues and anxiety with the wisdom of Ayurveda, Rachel has been passionate about sharing this knowledge with others. In 2010, she became a Certified Ayurveda Practitioner and has been practicing and teaching Ayurveda ever since. In 2015, she earned her degree as a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, licensed acupuncturist and herbalist. Rachel currently works in East Lansing at the Center for Optimal Health where she practices Ayurveda, acupuncture and herbal medicine. You can find her online at racheleredmond.com.
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1/1/2019 - Episode 008 - Not the "R" Word
It’s that time of year… the time of year when we’re encouraged to “make resolutions,” “set intentions,” “pick a word for the year.” These rituals can be helpful, but for many of us it feels like we’re setting ourselves up for failure. What’s a writer to do?
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Podcast Equipment
Audio Recording Software - Adobe Audition
Microphone – Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone
Pop Filter - Dragonpad USA 6" Microphone Studio Pop Filter
Headphones – Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphones
Podcast Host – Libsyn
Personal Development
Money Mind Academy - FREE Masterclass with Sean Croxton on January 8th, 2019 8pm EST / 5pm PST
Podcast Movement 28-Day Challenge
Marie Forleo’s B-School
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12/1/2018 - Episode 007 - Moving Away from the Side Hustle
For many, writing is a side hustle. But maybe you’re feeling the pull to make writing your full-time gig. When do you know it’s the right time to make the leap? What are some of the considerations you need to think through?
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Books
Leaving the Corporate 9 to 5: Stories From People Who've Done It (And How You Can, Too!), by Anna S.E. Lundberg
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey
Man's Search for Meaning, by Viktor E. Frankl
More info about Anna's services at One Step Outside.
GUEST BIO: Anna Lundberg is a success coach and business strategist who helps people create businesses and build a lifestyle that allows them an unimagined sense of freedom, flexibility and fulfillment across different areas of their lives. Anna built her professional career in marketing, working on well-known global brands and gradually specializing in digital. She continues to advise businesses, and train teams on how to create powerful brands, develop effective marketing strategies, and build digital capabilities in their organization.
Anna is also a confident speaker and workshop facilitator, as well as a published writer, with articles appearing in Business Insider, Inc. Magazine, and Thrive Global. She also co-authored the book How to Succeed in Your First Job. As a coach, she works individually with clients to help them reimagine “success” in their personal and professional lives. She also runs a group program where she supports professionals who want to take their One Step Outside the 9 to 5. Find out more about how Anna can support you on her website: onestepoutside.com
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11/1/2018 - Episode 006 - Manifest That Shit
What is manifesting, and how can it help your writing life – and life in general? This is a simple tool that can make a huge impact in all areas of your life. Join me with an open mind, and you’ll see.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Article
7 Steps to Manifest Anything You Want - Including Money, by Nathalie Guerin
Book
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, by Elizabeth Gilbert
Personal Development / Finances
Sean Croxton - Make Money, Make a Difference
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10/1/2018 - Episode 005 - A Writing State of Mind
How do we cultivate a “writing state of mind?” As life becomes increasingly full, it becomes exponentially more difficult to simply sit down and write. What’s a writer to do? Today I welcome Jeremy Hammond to the podcast, and together we shed some light on this topic.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Book
Getting Things Done, by David Allen.
Apps
OneNote / EveryTask / Nirvana / Easy Tempus / OmniFocus
More info about Jeremy's Coaching Program
GUEST BIO: Jeremy R. Hammond is an independent journalist and political analyst, the publisher and editor of Foreign Policy Journal (www.foreignpolicyjournal.com), an author described by Barron’s as “a writer of rare skill”, and a writing coach. His books include Obstacle to Peace: The US Role in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, which famed public intellectual Noam Chomsky has described as “a very impressive piece of work” that is “carefully documented and highly informative”. His writing coaching program is designed to help independent journalists and bloggers communicate their ideas more effectively and make their voices heard. Find him on the web at JeremyRHammond.com.
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9/1/2018 - Episode 004 - Origin Stories
When it comes to super heroes, we eat up their origin stories. But I want to know, where do writers come from? I realized I didn’t really know the origin stories of most writers I know—where did we begin, when did we know we were writers, who inspired us—and set out to learn more. I wondered if I would find any parallels between their journeys, and my own.
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8/1/2018 - Episode 003 - Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda
Let's discuss the ways in which we talk around our writing practice, and the language we use in communication with ourselves.
What kind of language have you internalized?
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7/1/2018 - Episode 002 - The Tangled Web of Writing Truth
How much distance is needed between you and your topic & character when either / both are based on real-life events? When it is healing & when is it too painful to write about personal events?
Guest Irene Yadao and I discuss the challenges of writing about difficult events and people in our lives. As writers, we often mine our own life for material. This tends to be true regardless of what form you prefer to write in. How do you navigate this? Do you include the good, the bad, and the ugly? Do you revise history to avoid ruffling feathers? What are you willing to sacrifice, in terms of relationships, when it comes to sharing your history in such a public way?
GUEST BIO: Irene Yadao hails from California but has lived on the coast of Maine for the past ten years. She started her writing career as a journalist, serving as an editor, fact-checker and freelance writer for publications like The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Village Voice, Maine magazine and Down East Magazine. Her journalistic writing is mostly about music and food, but when it comes to her personal writing, the topic turns to family dynamics. She’s written short stories, experimental prose and, most recently, episodic screenplays.
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6/1/2018 - Episode 001 - The Fear of Being Seen
Welcome to the 1st Episode of the & then write podcast. The intention behind & then write is to engage with writers and creatives - to create a space where you feel supported, motivated, and inspired.
Today's episode deals with the Fear of Being Seen, and how we procrastinate and self-sabotage when it comes to this fear.
What happens when we push past that fear? What would you create if you could set aside your Fear of Being Seen?
I can't wait to hear all about it...