From debut authors to Pulitzer Prize winners, Writers on Writing tackles a little of everything — novels, short stories, memoir, poetry, and more, as well as interviews with agents and publishers.

Unlike other shows dedicated to discussing books, we focus on the art, craft, and business of writing. Writers appreciate the opportunity to talk about the artistic elements of their job — the thousands of decisions that must be made to produce a manuscript. There’s no aspect of craft, creativity, and publishing we don’t explore.

Hosts Barbara DeMarco-Barrett and Marrie Stone have interviewed well over 1,500 authors on the show including Elizabeth Strout, S.A. Cosby, Ann Patchett, Amor Towles, and George Saunders. Expert advice from some of the industry’s top writers allows us to offer a show that’s been called “your own personal MFA program” (with no financial strain).

Music and sound editing are provided by Travis Barrett.

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

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EPISODES

(2001 - present)

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 11/27/12 Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 11/27/12

Poet Billy Collins on Writers on Writing with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

Poet and former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins was my guest on the show for the second half of the hour. This show is from a few years back, but wonderful nonetheless.

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(Broadcast date: 10.22.08)

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 11/26/12 Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 11/26/12

Melissa Bank & Leah Hager Cohen on Writers on Writing

Melissa Bank, author of the reissued Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing and Leah Hager Cohen, author of The Grief of Others.

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Broadcast date: October 12, 2011

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 11/25/12 Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 11/25/12

A.M. Homes, author of the novel May We Be Forgiven was with me for the entire hour. So much here on the writing process by a prolific, and edgy, writer with many books.

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(Broadcast date: November 21, 2012)

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 11/12/12 Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 11/12/12

Constance Hale and Tatjana Soli on Writers on Writing

Constance Hale, author of Vex, Hex, Smash, Smoosh and Tatjana Soli, author of The Forgetting Tree.

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(Broadcast date: Oct. 17, 2012

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 11/4/12 Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 11/4/12

Jo-Ann Mapson on Writers on Writing

Jo-Ann Mapson, author of Finding Casey talks with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett about her new novel and the writing process.

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(Broadcast date: October 24, 2012)

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 10/31/12 Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 10/31/12

Arthur Plotnik on Writers on Writing

Arthur Plotnik, author of The Elements of Expression, talks with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett about his new book and words. It's the Halloween show, so there's a Halloween story at the end.

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(Broadcast date: October 31, 2012)

Marrie 10/11/12 Marrie 10/11/12

Cheryl Strayed

Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, talks to Barbara DeMarco-Barrett about memoir, craft, and the writer's life.

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(Broadcast date: October 10, 2012)

Marrie 10/9/12 Marrie 10/9/12

Memoirist David McGlynn

Marrie Stone talks with David McGlynn, author of the memoir "A Door in the Ocean," about reopening old wounds, the power of writing memoir, and all things craft, memoir, and writing.

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(Broadcast date: August 15, 2012)

Marrie 10/5/12 Marrie 10/5/12

True-Crime Writer Caitlin Rother

Caitlin Rother, true-crime writer and author of "Lost Girls," talks with Marrie Stone about how she chooses her subject matters, the psychological impact of writing true crime, interviewing violent offenders, and what she took away from the tragic case of two San Diego teenagers needlessly lost to a mentally ill predator.

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(Broadcast date: September, 2012)

Marrie 10/2/12 Marrie 10/2/12

Amanda Coplin & Edie Meidav

Marrie Stone talks with Amanda Coplin, author of "The Orchardist," and Edie Meidav, author of "Lola, California".

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(Broadcast date: September 22, 2012)

Marrie 9/29/12 Marrie 9/29/12

Claire Vaye Watkins on Short Stories

Claire Vaye Watkins, author of the short story collection "Battleborn," talks with Marrie Stone about family history and how it shapes our stories, her father's time in the Manson family, the importance of physical and emotional distance from your work, how you know where a story should end, and other heavy topics.

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(Broadcast date: September 26, 2012)

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 9/1/12 Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 9/1/12

Chris Bohjalian & Randy Dotinga with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett on Writers on Writing

Chris Bohjalian, author of The Sandcastle Girls, and journalist and Christian Science Monitor book reviewer Randy Dotinga talk with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett on Writers on Writing, KUCI-FM 88.9 in Orange Co, CA and online at www.kuci.org and iTunes college radio. More at penonfire.blogspot.com.

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(Broadcast date: July 29, 2012

Marrie 8/12/12 Marrie 8/12/12

Ken Ballen & Tim Harford

Ken Ballen, author of Terrorists in Love: The Real Lives of Islamic Radicals talks to Marrie Stone about why and how some of the world's most dangerous terrorists opened up and shared their stories, America's misconceptions about terrorism, and what we should really fear. Tim Harford, author of Adapt: Why Success Always Starts with Failure, chats about how this book has helped with his own approach to writing and life.

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(Broadcast date: July 4, 2012)

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 8/2/12 Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 8/2/12

Steve Kemper & Bridget Hoida on Writers on Writing

Steve Kemper, author of A Labyrinth of Kingdoms and Bridget Hoida, author of So L.A. talk about their books and about writing.

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(Broadcast date: July 25, 2012)

Marrie 7/23/12 Marrie 7/23/12

Camille Noe Pagan and Janet Groth

Camille Noe Pagan talks to Marrie Stone about her novel, "The Art of Forgetting," how journalism feeds her fiction, the discipline of writing with children, and the mysteries of brain injuries. Janet Groth joins in the second half, talking about her years working at The New Yorker in her memoir, "The Receptionist: An Education at The New Yorker."

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(Broadcast date: July 11, 2012)

Marrie 7/16/12 Marrie 7/16/12

Eva Gabrielsson & Carin Gerhardsen

Stieg Larsson's partner of 31 years, Eva Gabrielsson, talks with Marrie Stone about her memoir, "There Are Things I Want You To Know (About Stieg Larsson and Me)." She shares her pain of his sudden loss, memories of their years together, and her intimate decision to share their story. Carin Gerhardsen, author of the Hammarby Series, talks about her writing process, carrying a storyline across several novels, and her methods of sustaining a mystery and characters. She is the author of "The Gingerbread House.

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(Broadcast date: June 27, 2012)

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 7/14/12 Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 7/14/12

Joan Schenkar talks with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett on Writers on Writing

Joan Schenkar, biographer, playwright and author of The Talented Miss Highsmith, talks about writing biography and Patricia Highsmith, and more, on the show with Barbara.

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(Broadcast date: June 20, 2012)

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 7/11/12 Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 7/11/12

Jess Walter, "Beautiful Ruins," on Writers on Writing

Jess Walter, author of the new novel, Beautiful Ruins, discusses his book and work for the entire hour with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett. He will be a guest at the Pen on Fire Writers Salon on July 17, 2012. More info here.

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(Broadcast date: June 13, 2012)

Marrie 6/9/12 Marrie 6/9/12

Hannah Barnaby and Susan Davis

Marrie Stone interviews Hannah Barnaby, author of Wonder Show, and Susan Davis, author of I Was Building Up to Something.

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(Broadcast date: June 6, 2012)

Marrie 6/9/12 Marrie 6/9/12

Jesse Katz and Pamela Redmond

Marrie Stone interviews Jesse Katz, author of The Opposite Field: A Memoir, and Pamela Redmond, author of The Possibility of You.

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(Broadcast date: May 30, 2012)