Write Now with Sarah Werner

Help support this podcast! >> As Joaquin Phoenix once said, "I'M STILL HERE." Mockumentary and hip-hop career to follow shortly. (Seriously, though, I've realized I turn out new episodes about every 10 days instead of strictly weekly. I hope that is okay with you.) Either way, welcome to Episode 009 of the "Write Now" podcast. Small note: If my voice sounds weird in this episode, it is because I have both a new microphone and a head cold. Life is fun like that. In order to say "yes" to writing, you have to say "no" to other stuff. When we were little, our teachers told us, "You can be anything!" But my ambitious little brain interpreted that to mean, "You can be everything!" Which is simply not true. Because despite our best efforts, there are only 24 hours in a day. And we can only fill those 24 hours with 24 hours worth of activity, from sleeping to going to work, cooking, driving the kids to clarinet lessons, reading, grocery shopping, tuning up your bicycle, rewatching all 144 episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, washing behind your ears, going to church meetings, and yes, writing. So if you're going to say "yes" to writing... well, sometimes that means saying "no" to other stuff. Fun stuff. Important stuff. Stuff society deems essential. And that can be hard. You are enough. When we start to examine our limits, we begin to feel... well. Kinda crappy. Kinda small. Kinda worthless. We realize we can't do everything we want to do. We realize we have limits, that we'll never be smart enough or fast enough or strong enough to do it all. But while you can't do everything, you can do anything. You have the power to choose how you spend your time. You have all the permission you need to call yourself a writer. You are a whole person, however broken you might feel, and I want to reassure you that whatever that "anything" is that you want to do? You are enough to do it. So the question becomes -- what are you willing to sacrifice for your art? What can you do within the limits you've been given? The book of the week. When I was instructed to read The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst for a women's group that I belong to, I'm kind of embarrassed to admit I rolled my eyes. I don't usually read a lot of self-help books, and the cover of this one was just so... Pinterest-y. But as I read through this book (which has a Christian bent to it, if that turns you on or off to it), I realized -- I needed help. I was overstressed, overbooked, overwhelmed, and racked by guilt. In short, things were LESS THAN OPTIMAL. I'm not going to say this book fixed me or changed my life, but it did help me to see more clearly all of the self-destructive things I do to myself when I say "yes" to too many things out of a people-pleasing mindset, and it reminded me that it's OK to prioritize my commitments and (kindly, graciously) say "no" to requests. Keep up-to-date with my reading exploits on Goodreads. Get email'd! I'll send you interesting emails when you least expect it. Don't worry, I too believe spam is evil. Sign up to get email updates from me. >> Submit a question. GUYS I have a question this week! It's from a smart, wonderful person who wished to remain anonymous. And, coincidentally, it's about work/life/reading/writing balance. Submit a question when you visit my contact page and type out your thoughts. You can also email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. I can't wait to hear from you. Listen to the full podcast. You can listen to the full podcast episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. I am also now on Stitcher! So if that's your thing, check out the "Write Now" podcast there. Or find it on iTunes! >> (And subscribe!) Wheee! Tell me your thoughts. What are you willing to sacrifice for your art?

Help support this podcast! >> If you're looking for episode eight of the "Write Now" podcast, you've come to the right place. OR SHOULD I SAY THE WRITE PLACE BAH HA HA HA HAAA haaaaaaaaa I'm such a dork. I probably should be writing, but I just don't feel like it. There are days when it's hard to even think about writing. I know -- I've been there. (In fact, I may or may not be there right now.) It's so easy to feel disheartened or stupid or restless or any of those other thousand things that can keep you from writing. But I've come up with a decision tree you can follow that will help you start writing and keep going on even the worst days (or to know when it's time to get the rest you need). 1. Enter your writing space. Shut the door and sit down. 2. Honestly assess how you feel. If you are actually exhausted, go to sleep. But if you are simply feeling lazy (i.e., if you feel a tinge of guilt or regret when you think about ditching your writing session), then you need to write. 3. Create a "journal" file on your computer, or grab a notebook you can use as a journal. In it, begin writing about why you don't feel like writing today. 4. Take action to combat whatever you've written down, or simply use your journaling momentum to continue writing for your writing project. Either way, the key here is finding a active/creating path, and not tripping merrily along a passive/consuming path. Listen to this episode to get the full details. I also reference episode WN 004, "Go On, Surprise Yourself", which you can listen to if you need to liven up your storytelling. Also, while I'm at it, here are a couple of the passive "Do Not"s: 1. Do not watch a movie. 2. Do not watch TV. 3. Do not play video games. 4. Do not take a nap. 5. Do not surf the internet. Despite your best intentions, you will get lost in a black hole of unproductivity. I hope this helps. Because you're a smart, capable writer with a great story to tell. And I want you to tell it. The book of the week. I just finished Rachel Hartman's Seraphina. It's a YA fantasy novel about a 16-year-old girl and dragons and political unrest and OMG YOU GUYS I LOVED IT. And despite your age/gender/whatever, you might love it, too. Seraphina is a great example of a strong female character -- not in the "Angelina Jolie can bend bullets" or "Viking woman is a better fighter than the Viking men" way, but in a way that's real. She's confident, passionate, and true to herself while dealing with various personal flaws and realistic relationships. There are a few plot holes here and there, but it was otherwise an incredibly satisfying read. I can't wait to start the sequel. Keep up-to-date with my reading exploits on Goodreads. I will email you. I'll send you super-fun emails when you least expect it! Don't worry, none of it will be spam. Promise. Sign up to get email updates from me. >> Submit a question. I like answering questions, and I didn't have one this week! So visit my contact page and type out your thoughts. You can also email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. Listen to the full podcast. You can listen to the full podcast episode using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or find it on iTunes! >> (And subscribe!) Tell me your thoughts. How do you make yourself write when you've had a long day and don't feel like writing? Let me know in the comments below, or send a quick email to hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. The Write Now podcast is on Facebook, apparently. Join the online community here. Ask questions, share your thoughts, let me know what you're writing, recommend books, and more. :) Like what you've heard? I'm on Patreon! It's a great platform that helps folks who appreciate the arts to support content creators like myself.

Help support this podcast! >> Welcome to episode seven of the "Write Now" podcast. This episode is kind of a two-for-one special, in which I talk not only about finding and writing to your audience, but how to deal with that irritating little perfectionist who lives in your brain and doesn't want you to finish anything. Ever. Should I be writing for myself? My audience? Help! You want people to read and like (and buy!) your novel/book/etc. A great way to do that is to write stuff that people want to read. But who are those people, and how do you engage them? Should you focus on engaging everyone on the planet, a mid-sized audience, or one single person? Or should you simply write for yourself and hope that others share your interests? So many questions. But I have answers! You'll find them by listening to this week's "Write Now" podcast. Spoiler alert: My advice is to write for yourself, and edit for an audience of one person you respect and who encourages you. For me, that person is Walt Wangerin, Jr., one of my favorite professors from Valparaiso University and winner of the 1978 National Book Award for The Book of the Dun Cow. This is he: Remember, at the end of the day, done is better than perfect. Squash that little perfectionist who lives in your brain. I'll help you. Book of the week! I enjoyed a lovely re-read of one of my favorite poetry anthologies this week, Staying Alive: Real Poems for Unreal Times, edited by Neil Astley. It's an amazing compilation, and I can't stress enough how much you should pick up a copy for yourself, and potentially all of your friends and family and the strangers you bump into on the street. I also talk about "Wild Geese", my favorite Mary Oliver poem which also appears in this anthology. I debated whether or not it would be legal for me to read it out loud to you on the air, and erred on the side of caution. BUT! You can hear Mary Oliver herself read this short, lovely, & inspiring piece herself, courtesy of Maria Popova from Brain Pickings. And please do. Get inspired and keep up-to-date with my reading exploits on Goodreads. Get fun, random emails from me! I'll send you emails when I feel like it. Don't worry, I promise not to send you spam or do anything evil with your email address. I respect your privacy and I like you as a person. Sign up to get email updates from me. >> Submit a question. I like answering questions, and I didn't have one this week! So visit my contact page and type out your thoughts. You can also email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. Listen to the full podcast. You can listen to the full podcast using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or find it on iTunes! >> (And subscribe!) Tell me your thoughts. Whom do you write for? Yourself? Someone special or important in your life? Let me know in the comments! Like what you've heard? I'm on Patreon! It's a great platform that helps folks who appreciate the arts to support content creators like myself. I'm trying to do this without sounding like a sales-y jerk. So if you find value or inspiration in the information I share, please consider becoming a contributor on Patreon. :) Your generosity will go a long way in helping me continue to produce fun, interesting, and useful content on a regular basis. Thank you! Help support this podcast! >> The post Who Is My Audience & How Do I Write For Them? – WN 007 appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner.

Help support this podcast! >> Dumpster diving. Mall walking. A 19th-century transcendentalist. These are only a FEW of the things that you have to look forward to in the sixth episode of the "Write Now" podcast. Walk it off. It was my dad's advice to me as a child, and it's my advice to you now as a writer. There's an interesting relationship between writing and moving -- between kinetic and creative energy. I hope you've had a chance to discover this for yourself. But if not, there's no time like the present to try it out. Going for walks helps me deal with writers' block and find new (or rediscover old) inspiration. It is a great way to refresh your perspective, get the blood/oxygen pumping into your brain, and simply reconnect with the world around you. And if walking isn't your thing, or if you face physical challenges or medical difficulties, that is completely fine! I've noticed that I get very similar benefits from riding in a car and gazing out the window, or otherwise having my physical body transported through time & space. Also! Here are the texts I reference in this episode, if you're interested in checking them out: 1. "Walking" by Henry David Thoreau, via The Atlantic 2. "A Poem is A Walk" by A.R. Ammons, via Claims for Poetry Energy begets energy. Remember that next time you get stuck. Book of the week! Ugh. I read the next book in the "Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter" series, and in doing so decided I was done with the "Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter" series. Burnt Offerings by Laurell K. Hamilton is the seventh book in the series and... for a number of reasons, I simply didn't enjoy this installation. It was relatively plot-light, which is sometimes OK with books and book series where the main focus is the main character's growth and relationships with other characters. But I really can't say those are especially well done here, either. Don't get me wrong -- I love horror. But everyone has subtle preferences where genres are concerned. I prefer creepy tales of psychological horror and madness and supernatural creatures and loud crashes in the basement. (See: House of Leaves, The Haunting of Hill House.) I don't enjoy the side of horror that revels in torture and cruelty and hurting people. And that is what's in the spotlight here. There are multiple violent rapes, intentional cruelty, and much else that I find personally distasteful. So! You might enjoy continuing with this series if you're OK with the more torture-y side of horror (and no judgment here if you are!) -- it simply wasn't something I enjoyed. It was fun while it lasted, Anita. Keep up-to-date with my reading adventures on Goodreads. Want to get sweet emails from me? I have the power to make that happen: Sign up to get email updates from me. >> Submit a question. Give me more cool stuff to talk about! Visit my contact page and type out your thoughts. You can also email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. Listen to the full podcast. You can listen to the full podcast using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or find it on iTunes! >> (And subscribe!) Tell me your thoughts. Does taking a walk ever help you write, or is it just me? How else do you escape writers' block? Let me know in the comments! Like what you've heard? I'm on Patreon! It's a great platform that helps folks who appreciate the arts to support content creators like myself. I'm trying to do this without sounding like a sales-y jerk. So if you find value or inspiration in the information I share, please consider becoming a contributor on Patreon. :) Your generosity will go a long way in helping me continue to produce fun, interesting, and useful content on a regular basis. Thank you! Help support this podcast! >> The post

Help support this podcast! >> It's the fifth episode of "Write Now"! Hooray! I hope that this podcast is helping you to find the time, energy, and courage you need to pursue your passion and write every day. Regain your lost confidence in 5 steps. Say it's been a long time since you've written. Say you've been rejected, you've been told (or told yourself) you're not good enough, you've lost a job, or you've simply been intimidated by the sheer number of books at the bookstore. Fear not! Seriously. I'm here to tell you that you're awesome, and that you can regain the confidence you need to start writing again. Here's how: 1. Free yourself of the pressure. 2. Remember that you are a writer, and nothing can change that. 3. Be proactive -- don't let despair win. 4. Form a habit of writing every day -- for while practice won't make you perfect, it will make you better. 5. Find a writing coach, mentor, or someone you trust to read your work. I mention a couple of previous podcasts in this episode, which you can find below if you haven't listened to them already: WN 001: What's keeping you from writing? WN oo3: Writing as self-care Remember, you have potential. So regain your confidence, get back on the horse (or bicycle or Vespa or dinosaur or whatever you prefer to ride), and live it out. I know you can do it. Book of the week! I am DEFINITELY NOT EMBARRASSED about what I read this week. Which is The Killing Dance by Laurell K. Hamilton, a.k.a. the sixth book in the infamous "Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter" series. It's kind of like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"-meets-paranormal romance-meets-'90s noir. If that sounds like something you'd enjoy, I'd recommend starting with the first book in the series, Guilty Pleasures. Or not. It's your life, and you're free to read whatever books you like in whatever order you wish. Keep up-to-date with all of my reading exploits on Goodreads! Submit a question. Give me more cool stuff to talk about! Visit my contact page and type out your thoughts. You can also email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. I'm not telling you what today's question is. Ha! Listen to the full podcast. You can listen to the full podcast using the controls at the beginning of this post. Or find it on iTunes! >> (And subscribe!) Tell me your thoughts. If you've ever lost confidence in your ability to write, how did you gain it back? Or if you haven't yet gained it back, what's keeping you from doing so? I WILL EMAIL YOU. Sign up to get email updates from me. >> Like what you've heard? I'm on Patreon! It's a great platform that helps folks who appreciate the arts to support content creators like myself. I'm trying to do this without sounding like a sales-y jerk. So if you find value or inspiration in the information I share, please consider becoming a contributor on Patreon. :) Your generosity will go a long way in helping me continue to produce fun, interesting, and useful content on a regular basis. Thank you! Help support this podcast! >> The post 5 Tips to Regain Lost Confidence – WN 005 appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner.

Help support this podcast! >> Welcome to the fourth episode of "Write Now", the podcast that helps aspiring writers to find the time, energy, and courage you need to pursue your passion and write every day. I'm so glad you're here. Go on -- surprise yourself. My own ability to surprise myself is my all-time favorite thing about writing. I've never been able to fully articulate how it works, or where the magic comes from. But I take a stab at it in today's podcast episode. I also talk about what it means to be "in the zone" when you're writing. Get very excited. AND SO! Today you'll get the answers to questions such as: 1. What is the value of surprise for both the writer and the reader? 2. How do I get to that place where I'm surprising myself in my own writing? 3. How do I get into the "writing zone"? 4. Is writing an inherently selfish or narcissistic act? 5. Am I insane? Since I'm not a particularly humble person, I'd like to tell you that I think this is my favorite episode I've recorded yet. But I'll let you be the judge of that. Book of the week! This week's book gave me the inspiration for today's podcast. I heartily recommend Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury if you haven't read it before. Keep up-to-date with all of my reading exploits on Goodreads! Submit a question. I'll do my best to answer it. Just visit my Contact page and type out what you're thinking. You can also just email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. Today's question is: "What can I do with an English major?" Listen to the full podcast. You can listen to the full podcast using the controls at the beginning of this post. OR! Download it from iTunes! And maybe also subscribe on iTunes! :D Tell me your thoughts. How do you get into the "writing zone"? Or is it something you haven't yet experienced? Let me know in the comments below! My words. Your inbox. Sign up to get email updates from me. >> Like what you've heard? I'm on Patreon! It's a great platform that helps folks who appreciate the arts to support content creators like myself. I'm trying to do this without sounding like a sales-y jerk. So if you find value or inspiration in the information I share, please consider becoming a contributor on Patreon. :) Your generosity will go a long way in helping me continue to produce fun, interesting, and useful content on a regular basis. Thank you! Help support this podcast! >> The post Go On – Surprise Yourself – WN 004 appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner.

Help support this podcast! >> You guys, I am super stoked about this week's podcast topic. BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT: Writing as self care. The idea of using writing as a way to attain and maintain both physical and mental health isn't new. From amateur journaling to more official psychoanalysis efforts, writing is often used for external processing, personal introspection, and the sheer (and necessary) act of creation. Today's podcast explores: 1. Writing as healing. 2. Writing as maintenance. 3. Writing as social healing. My question to you is: how do we make the act of writing -- and its inherent benefits -- part of our daily routine? Book of the week! This week's book is the sparse and starkly beautiful The Cold Dish, the first of the Walt Longmire mystery series by Craig Johnson. Ever wonder what would happen if Cormac McCarthy were to write a mystery novel set in rural Wyoming? Wonder no more. Keep up-to-date with all of my reading exploits on Goodreads! Submit a question. I'll do my best to answer it. Just visit my Contact page and type out what you're thinking. You can also just email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. Listen to the full podcast. You can listen to the full podcast using the controls at the beginning of this post. You can also download or subscribe to the Write Now podcast on iTunes! I tend to release new episodes on Mondays. Tell me your thoughts. Have you ever experienced healing via writing or reading? Let me know in the comments below! My words. Your inbox. Sign up to get email updates from me. >> Like what you've heard? I'm on Patreon! It's a great platform that helps folks who appreciate the arts to support content creators like myself. I'm trying to do this without sounding like a sales-y jerk. So if you find value or inspiration in the information I share, please consider becoming a contributor on Patreon. :) Your generosity will go a long way in helping me continue to produce fun, interesting, and useful content on a regular basis. Thank you! Help support this podcast! >> The post Writing as Self Care – WN 003 appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner.

Help support this podcast! >> Woo! I've officially made it to the second episode of "Write Now", the podcast that helps aspiring writers to find the time, energy, and courage you need to pursue your passion and write every day. I've also been told by several listeners that my voice is "soothing" and "mellow", which I'm counting as a win. 5 Steps for making your writing goals a reality. You probably already know that goals are extremely important to writers of all kinds. But how do we set goals -- and stick to them? This episode explores five steps for setting realistic goals and following through on them: 1. Begin to set your goal by defining something tangible you want to accomplish. 2. Establish your own realistic expectations. 3. Translate those realistic expectations into realistic goals. 4. Stick to those goals. 5. Move beyond your goals by internalizing them. I also take a look at some of the goals and habits of famous American writers, including Ernest Hemingway, Flannery O'Connor, and others. You can read more about these fascinating folks in this Flavorwire article. Book of the week! This week's book is the lovely (and starkly honest) On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. This is a must-read for any writer -- yes, even despite the fact that King is widely regarded as a hack. I don't care. This book offers fantastic, practical advice on world-building, vocabulary, truth-telling, plotting, getting an agent, and more. You should read it. Q&A I answer your burning questions! This week, it's, "Help! I'm constantly distracted by the internet! What should I do?" Submit a question. I'll do my best to answer it. Just visit my Contact page and type out what you're feeling. You can also just email me at hello [at] sarahwerner [dot] com. Listen to the full podcast. You can listen to the full podcast using the controls at the beginning of this post. IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON iTUNES, YO! Download and subscribe and all of those pretty things. Tell me your thoughts. How do you stick to your writing goals? Shout it out in the comments below! What's that? You wish there was some way you could receive awesome emails from me? WELL MY GOOD SIR/LADY, YOU ARE IN LUCK. Sign up for awesome email updates here. >> Like what you've heard? I'm on Patreon! It's a great platform that helps folks who appreciate the arts to support content creators like myself. I'm trying to do this without sounding like a sales-y jerk. So if you find value or inspiration in the information I share, please consider becoming a contributor on Patreon. :) Your generosity will go a long way in helping me continue to produce fun, interesting, and useful content on a regular basis. Thank you! Help support this podcast! >> The post 5 Steps to Making Your Writing Goals a Reality – WN 002 appeared first on The Write Now Podcast with Sarah Werner.