In the last decade or so, podcasts have exploded in worldwide popularity.
From celebrities like Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey from “The Office” to your 15-year-old nephew, everyone seems to have a podcast.
There’s a reason podcasts are so popular. Their versatility, accessibility and ability to transport, educate and empower is hard to beat.
For writers looking to bust writer’s block, hone their craft or spice up a boring commute, there’s no shortage of podcasts from amateurs and experts alike.
But writer beware: You might find yourself binge-listening for hours.
Subscribe to these writing podcasts
Here, we’ve compiled 34 writing-related podcasts worth subscribing to.
1. Self-Publishing School Podcast
Self-Publishing School’s Podcast aims to help people write and publish their first book, and how to use that book to grow their business, brand, or following. They’ve had many guests in the past episodes to talk about how to achieved success with this strategy: Robert Kiyosaki, Gary Vaynerchuk, Nick Stephenson, Hal Elrod, and Michael Hyatt (And many more upcoming names).
A great place to start: One of our favorite episodes is featuring Gillian Perkins. She tells us about using YouTube to sell more books and grow her business, how she monetize her channel; and how she’s been making $5k/month just from ads since 3 months after starting. “0 to 450k Subscribers In 3 Years – Using YouTube To Grow Your Business & Sell More Books with Gillian Perkins”
2. The Writer Files
Hosted by Kelton Reid, The Writer Files is a long-running podcast that delves deep into habits and habitats of famed writers. Reid interviews writers from a broad spectrum, giving each listener a chance to see into the mind of an accomplished wordsmith within their genre or interest.
3. A Way With Words
This National Public Radio (NPR) program discusses language examined through the lens of history, culture and family. The podcast is rich with detail and exciting storytelling and typically runs for about an hour. You’ll hear upbeat conversations about the language of current events, new words and slang, semantics and other topics that will make you go, “Hmm.”
A great place to start: A fascinating episode, “Hidden Treasures,” dives into old Civil War Letters for a vivid portrait of the everyday lives of enlisted men and how ordinary people spoke back then. Another great is “Goody Two-Shoes,” which walks you through how to write a fitting epitaph for someone you love.
4. Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses is hosted by a group of writers who provide quick tips for writing techniques. This fast-paced podcast runs about 15 minutes per episode, with the fun tagline “Fifteen minutes long, because you’re in a hurry, and we’re not that smart.” Previous seasons have covered genre, structure, and character amongst other topics.
5. I Should Be Writing
This award-winning podcast is hosted by the always honest Mur Lafferty. Length varies, but episodes typically feature an interview with an author who has a new book. The episodes often provide encouragement to “would-be” writers to believe in themselves and get writing.
A great place to start: One episode all writers should take a listen to is “What does “No” mean?” Lafferty talks about how a rejection in the publishing industry might not be a hard-stop. In “Tuckerization Dangers,” Mur talks about the complications of naming a character after someone who’s still alive.
6. Dead Robots’ Society
Dead Robots’ Society is a fun podcast by aspiring writers, for aspiring writers. Inspired by Mur Lafferty’s podcast, the hosts share writing insights typically related to writing novels.
A great place to start: The hosts talk about the process of writing a book from word choice to sequels and series in the episode “From Word To Series.” In another great episode titled “Gods and Monsters,” Terry and Paul get lost in the details of the difference between gods, monsters and villains.
7. Portfolio Life by Jeff Goins
Well-known author Jeff Goins hosts this podcast about life, collective work and artistry. Goins is known for his inspirational messages, and his podcast is no different. This podcast is all about finding what you were born to do, and getting started creating a portfolio of your dreams.
A great place to start: In an inspirational episode, Goins talks about “Getting Paid to Pursue Your Passion in 48 Hours or Less.” Goins discusses his own passion-focused experiment and how it worked out for him. In another top episode “The 3 Stages of an Artist’s Work: Transaction, Compromise, Gift,” Goins offers insight into the phases of the writer’s journey and how necessary each stage is to better understand your purpose as a writer.
8. The Creative Penn Podcast
Author Joanna Penn covers many topics related to writing, including publishing, developing your craft and where to find inspiration. Penn also interviews many professionals in the field.
A great place to start: Steal pitch techniques from Penn’s interview with successful, best-selling author Kate Harrison in “How To Pitch Your Book To Agents, Publishers And Readers With Kate Harrison.” Another episode titled “Writing Tips: How Character Flaws Shape Story With Will Storr” is a great listen and explains the science of storytelling and offers practical tips on creating characters with unique flaws.
9. The Story Grid Podcast
This podcast is hosted by two writers, veteran author Shawn Coyne and self-proclaimed struggling writer Tim Grahl. Their goal? Help writers create great stories. The twist? These hosts put their own work up for critique. Coyne also offers many practical tools to help writers craft a story that works.
A great place to start: “The Must-Haves of Big Idea Nonfiction,” where the hosts teach how to apply the principles of storytelling to nonfiction. They also discuss the ways “Sesame Street” can help you be a better nonfiction writer. In “Scene 1, Book 2” Coyne critiques the first scene of Grahl’s latest work-in-progress.
10. Beautiful Writers Podcast
Beautiful Writers Podcast features conversations with some of the most well-recognized writers in the world. Host and writer Linda Sivertsen interviews best-selling authors like Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry McMillan, Dean Koontz, Glennon Doyle Melton, Cheryl Strayed, Brené Brown and many more. Episodes are typically in-depth and include personal anecdotes from creatives in the business.
A great place to start: The interview with Gretchen Rubin, where she chats about habits that spark creativity. In another interview well worth a listen which is titled “Joy Harjo: Poet Laureate of the United States,” Harjo talks about being the first Native American to hold this position, and she even reads an unfinished piece for her new memoir — you get to hear her editing it in real-time!
11. StoryCorps
In this NPR podcast, hosts gather stories from Americans across the country. Although not a traditional podcast for writers, this podcast offers inspiration for excellent storytelling.
A great place to start: Hear the difficult conversations that one family is having as they deal with the recurring threat of deportation in the episode “On The Brink Of Separation.” In “A Little Bit Of Kindness,” listeners hear stories about how a bit of kindness (like delivering groceries to elderly neighbors) can go a long way.
12. The Literary Salon
In host Damian Barr’s The Literary Salon, authors read excerpts from their books — all in front of a live audience in glamorous locations.
A great place to start: In a popular episode, Okechukwu Nzelu reads from his second book, The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney. In “EXCLUSIVE: new reading from You Will Be Safe Here,” Damian Barr gives an exclusive new reading from his powerful debut novel, You Will Be Safe.
13. Helping Writers Become Authors
Award-winning author K.M. Weiland hosts this podcast that offers mentorship and advice to aspiring writers hoping to publish their own novel someday. Weiland offers practical advice on many topics related to storytelling and story structure.
A great place to start: “4 Steps for How to Turn an Idea Into a Story That Rocks” is a practical podcast chock-full of helpful advice about setting up personal systems within your creative discipline. Weiland shares how to control and cut down on distractions to reclaim your full creative capacity in “Creativity vs. Distraction: 13 Tips for Writers in the Age of the Internet.”
14. Writing Class Radio
This podcast offers an invitation into a writing class, where you’ll hear and be inspired by insight and advice from experts. Hosts Allison and Andrea love telling stories, and through their writing class listeners get the chance to learn and grow in their own storytelling.
A great place to start: In “Get Out of Your Way and Write” Allison and Andrea talk about the power of truth-telling in finding your voice. In another wonderful episode titled, “An Insider Conversation with a Literary Agent,” the hosts plow literary agent Barbara Poelle with important questions: Is now a good time to query? How do I find an agent? Is there such a thing as a dream agent?
15. Happier by Gretchen Rubin
Bestselling author Gretchen Rubin hosts a podcast on ways to practice happiness and how to find a more fulfilling everyday life. Although this podcast isn’t specifically for writers, it features many well-known bestsellers who share helpful habits that have made them successful. It also includes co-host Elizabeth Craft, Gretchen’s sister, a TV writer living in Los Angeles.
A great place to start: A fun and light-hearted episode with bestseller Dan Harris talks about memories and meditation. In “A Little Happier: Can You Call Spirits from the Vasty Deep? Sure, No Problem,” Gretchen points out that getting your words into the world is one thing, while getting a response may not be as easy.
16. Ditch Diggers
In this Hugo Award Finalist, veteran podcaster Mur Lafferty and co-host Matt Wallace offer advice to writers with deadlines. The purpose of Ditch Diggers isn’t to offer information on honing the writer’s craft, but on pressing through tough deadlines and helping writers pay their bills through writing. This is an explicit show, you’ve been warned.
A great place to start: Spend an afternoon with “Kameron Hurley and Writing THAT Story.” In this hour-long podcast, the award-winning author and hosts discuss how to write a story that goes viral and polarizes people widely. Plus, learn some tips about what to do if publishers you’re affiliated with behave harmfully or problematically. In a fun episode titled, “What’s Publishing Doing?” Matt and Mur talk about the effectiveness of marketing genre books, publisher vs. author responsibility for marketing books and much more.
17. Mythcreants Podcast
A weekly podcast for writers to geek out over science fiction and fantasy writing. Podcast hosts are Oren Ashkenazi, Chris Winkle, and Wes Matlock.
A great place to start: In a podcast episode titled “Multiple POVs Revisited,” hosts discuss the merits of multiple points of view: What are they for? Should authors use them?. In “Making Conflict Matter,” hosts go through a handy checklist of reasons why you might be having trouble making conflict matter, then explain what you can do about it.
18. The Copywriter Club Podcast
In this vibrant community for copywriters and would-be copywriters, experts in the field offer inspiration, encouragement, and concrete advice on advancing in this ever-growing writing niche. Copywriters Kira Hug and Rob Marsh host the show and offer many resources on their site.
A great place to start: In the episode titled “Building a Healthy Copy Career with Darren Hanser” an expert copywriter offers insight into building a solid copywriting business. In an episode with Melissa Burkheimer, the conversion designer and sales page specialist talked about why copywriters and designers don’t always see eye-to-eye and how to remedy those situations..
19. The Drunken Odyssey with John King
A podcast about creative writing and literature, The Drunken Odyssey is hosted by writer and literary reviewer John King. The purpose of this podcast is to discuss the writing life and foster a sense of community amongst writers.
A great place to start: Take a listen to the episode “Deirdre Coyle,” to hear this fiction writer and essayist cut extraneous words from her manuscripts, and why she thinks fantasy can be more real than realism. Another of the best episodes is with “Jazon Z. Morris” and features an interview with a professor and author who shares how to structure a novel and learn the confidence to write one.
20. Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach
Hosted by writing coach Ann Kroeker, this podcast is designed to help writers hone their talent through practical tips and inspiring insight. Episodes are typically under fifteen minutes, and are meant to offer quick solutions to many different topics.
A great place to start: In “Next-Level Writer: Where Are You Now?” Ann poses 10 questions that will help you evaluate your writing world so you can identify your starting point. In a practical episode titled “How to Sort and Stack Your Ideas and Tasks to Transform as a Writer and Person,” teaches listeners how to save and implement ideas, solutions, tools, and tips so you don’t lose what you learn.
21. Minorities in Publishing
The brain child of publishing professional Jenn Baker, this interview-based podcast discusses the lack of diversity in the book publishing industry with other professionals working in-house as well as authors and those in the literary scene. Listeners are encouraged to be more attuned to the impact of not just what they read and write, but also, what they don’t.
A great place to start: In “Interview with Bria Kiara,” the Day Dreamers literary journal creator highlights the nitty-gritty details of starting your own print journal and “the balance to maintain it as a unique vision for those included and who it represents.” In an episode titled, “Interview with Renée Watson,” the host and her guest have a candid discussion about writer’s block and imposter syndrome, and how much Renee’s stories for Black girls continue to showcase range & beauty.
22. Between the Covers
A literary radio show and podcast hosted by David Naimon, Between the Covers features long-form in-depth conversations with writers from all kinds of genres and backgrounds. The podcast is usually an hour or more, and it delves into the creative process behind impactful books to provide listeners advice and inspiration.
A great place to start: In “Diane Williams: The Collected Stories of Diane Williams,” gain wisdom from an experienced editor and best-selling writer. Check out this episode with Rebecca Makkai to learn the important but underappreciated aspect of story craft, the flip side of point of view, and the point of storytelling.
23. You’re Wrong About
Fact-checking is a must when writing, well, anything, and this podcast will make sure you understand why it’s important to do so. Journalists Sarah Marshall and Michael Hobbes cover people or events that’ve been miscast in the public imagination. From pop culture stories to murder mysteries, fiction writers will enjoy these interesting tales and the reminder to triple-check your stats before considering something “done.”
A great place to start: The “Kitty Genovese and “Bystander Apathy”” episode is sure to capture your attention. In, “The Disappearance of Chandra Levy,” tackles the topic of a nationwide obsession and whether it’s “disingenuous to think you can turn the story of someone being murdered into anything else.”
24. The Writing University Podcast
The Writing University’s Eleventh Hour podcast highlights recordings of talks from distinguished writers, novelists, poets, essayists who present at the Eleventh Hour Lecture Series during the University of Iowa’s Iowa Summer Writing Festival.
A great place to start: The “Mixed Feelings” episode explores the idea that nothing conveys emotional truth more powerfully than mixed feelings. To learn how to write good dialogue book editors and agents won’t gloss over, listen to “Better Talky Talky – The Art and Craft of Strong Dialogue – Kelly Dwyer”
25. So You Want to Be A Writer?
With 250+ episodes, So You Want To Be A Writer is a free weekly podcast hosted by journalists and authors Valerie Khoo and Allison Tait. This versatile podcast will give you a bit of everything you need to navigate the publishing world — whether you love the creative inspiration of Elizabeth Gilbert, need writing opportunities and updates on publishing trends, or writing tips to help you grow, you’ll find it here.
A great place to start: In an episode with Kirsten Alexander, author of Riptides, the hosts and their guest share scientifically proven ways to beat writer’s block. Khoo and Tait have some excellent and insightful advice on writing funny books for kids in “Meet B.G. Hilton, author of ‘Champagne Charlie and the Amazing Gladys.’”
26. First Draft: A Dialogue On Writing
Mitzi Rapkin produces and hosts this literary podcast that’s been around since 2015. Each week the 30- to 50-minute podcast features an in-depth interview with a fiction, non-fiction, essay, or poetry writer who shares their journey with messy first drafts. Equal parts investigation into the craft of writing and conversation about the topics of an author’s work, this podcast regularly hosts notable authors like Celeste Ng and Ann Patchett.
A great place to start: In her interview, writer and editor Sahar Mustafah talks about how she explores her heritage in her fiction. Another episode you can’t miss is “First Draft – Ann Napolitano,” where she discusses her novel, Dear Edward.
27. StoryADay
The StoryADay challenge “exists to help you learn how much you’re capable of writing in a month.” Presented by Julie Duffy, the podcast version helps you figure out how to keep that commitment up for the rest of your life. In bite-sized, 10- to 15-minute episodes, listeners can get creativity challenges, writing prompts, and regularly published posts on the craft of writing.
A great place to start: Get your feet wet with “Stop Procrasti-learning and Start Writing” to find out if listening and reading hold you back from finishing stories. Also, Duffy talked about the importance of celebrating every win in your writing life in, “Triumph! Make a Habit of Celebrating Your Writing Wins.”
28. Write-minded
This podcast is all about providing weekly inspiration for writers. Hosted by Brooke Warner of She Writes and Grant Faulkner of NaNoWriMo, each theme-focused episode of this podcast features an interview with a writer, author, or publishing industry professional. There’s always a takeaway at the end of each episode, too, kind of like this: Everyone is a writer, and everyone’s story matters.
A great place to start: “Exploring the Real World Through Fiction, featuring Nic Stone” takes listeners through the ways writers mine the real world for inspiration and answers in fiction. To soak up the goodness of indie publishing, listen to “In Celebration of Indie Publishing, featuring Angela Bole.”
29. The Writing Life Podcast
If you write (anything), this podcast is for you. Every week, this podcast, presented by the National Centre of Writing, interviews writers about their writing journeys and techniques, from early-career debuts to self-publishers and narrative designers.
A great place to start: Writer Sara Collins talks about representation in literature in “Improving Representation in Fiction.” Plus, learn how to create and develop characters in a recent episode titled, “Creating Characters With Michael Donkor.”
30. Create If Writing
According to host Kirsten Oliphant, this podcast is the place for you if you’re a writer, blogger, or creative who wants to build an online platform without being “smarmy.”
A great place to start: Check out “Marketing for Authors Who Hate Marketing” to reframe your idea of marketing and learn simple ways to get it done. Also, Oliphant tackled “How to Avoid Bad Author Collaborations” to teach listeners what to consider to avoid the perils of a bad match.
31. The Segilola Salami Show
Segilola Salami is a mom, author, freelance writer, blogger, and the host of her podcast that focuses on books and publishing. Aimed to be entertaining and educational, this show welcomes guests from all walks of life to share how they’ve gotten from point A to B with their published novels.
A great place to start: In “Will Dean: How to Get Published,” an intriguing conversation takes place about getting published and living off-grid. Also worth checking out, is when Salami held a thorough interview with an author about cliffhangers in the episode, “Sofia Hällgren: How to Write a Cliffhanger.”
32. The Subtext
The American Theatre is the nation’s only general-circulation magazine devoted to theatre. Its podcast is home to playwrights who want to talk about the things usually left unsaid. “In a conversation that dives into life’s muck, we learn what irks, agitates, motivates, inspires and — ultimately — what makes writers tick.”
A great place to start: Dive into “The Subtext: Adam Szymkowicz on Redefining Success” to hear a reminder all writers need: There’s no tangible way for success and the concept itself means something different for each writer. After that, try out an episode titled, “The Subtext: Will Arbery’s Guilt Traps” to learn the difference between love and empathy.
33. The Career Author
Zach Bohannon and J. Thorn co-host this podcast that began with the belief that their conversations about self-publishing, writing, craft, and marketing could help other aspiring writers. Since 2018, the podcast has been listened to more than 100,000 times, so they must be saying something right.
A great place to start: You don’t want to miss “The Mentorship Model for Authors,” where you’ll discover different types of mentorship and why authors need them. In an episode titled, “Peer-to-Peer Feedback,” Bohannon and Thorn discuss why feedback is important as well as the etiquette involved. They even provide guidance on how to ask for feedback and how to give and receive it.
34. Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
Every writer looking to improve their knowledge of the English language should bookmark this podcast. With helpful and insightful tips on grammar and storytelling, Mignon Fogarty’s widely popular podcast is sure to help you improve your writing skills.
A great place to start: A popular episode from this podcast is “Top Ten Grammar Myths” Take a listen to an intriguing recent podcast titled “4 Tips for Staying Motivated on Long Writing Assignments.“
Your turn: What are your favorite podcasts for inspiration or writing tips?
The original version of this story was written by Brianna Bell and updated by Farrah Daniel. We updated the post so it’s more useful for our readers.
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