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.

We’ve hosted 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).

Host: Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
Host: Marrie Stone

Music and sound editing by Travis Barrett

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

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EPISODES

(2001 - present)

Nicole Nelson Nicole Nelson

Molly Antopol and Cindy Chupack


Nicole Nelson speaks with Molly Antopol, named one of 5 under 35 by the National Book Foundation, about her new collection of stories The Unamericans, and about using autobiography as an inspiration for fiction. During the second half, Golden Globe award-winning television writer Cindy Chupack, who wrote for HBO's Sex and the City for five years, discusses the art of essay writing and her new comic memoir, The Longest Date: Life as a Wife.

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Download audio for Chupack

(Broadcast date: February 12, 2014)
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Marrie Marrie

Erika Hayasaki and James Scott

Guest host Marrie Stone talks with Erika Hayasaki about narrative nonfiction, reluctant interview subjects and death, inspired by her latest work, The Death Class: A True Story About Life.  Debut novelist James Scott talks about his book The Kept.

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(Broadcast date: February 26, 2014)
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Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

New York Times Modern Love editor Daniel Jones

New York Times Modern Love editor Daniel Jones, author of the new book, Love Illuminated, talks with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett about his book and about the column he's been editor of since its inception.

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(Broadcast date: March 5, 2014)
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Nicole Nelson Nicole Nelson

Ruth Ozeki and Gina Frangello on Writers on Writing



In the first half of the show, guest host Nicole Nelson interviews Ruth Ozeki, author of A Tale for the Time Being.

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and Gina Frangello talks to guest host Marrie Stone about her new novel, A Life in Men.

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(Broadcast date: January 29, 2014)

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Marrie Marrie

Susan Steinberg and Dennis Palumbo

Guest host Marrie Stone talks with Susan Steinberg about experimental short fiction, creative punctuation, and her latest short story collection SpectacleDennis Palumbo joins in the second half to talk about Daniel Rinaldi mystery, Night Terrors

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(Broadcast date: February 5, 2014)
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Nicole Nelson Nicole Nelson

Lara Vapnyar and Kirstin Chen on Writers on Writing


Guest host Nicole Nelson interviews novelists Lara Vapnyar, The Scent of Pine, and Kirstin Chen, Soy Sauce for Beginners.

(Note: The beginning of the Vapnyar interview has some minor bumps due to a technical issue, but the rest is fine.)

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(Broadcast date: January 15, 2014)
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Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

Ed Valentine and Graeme Simsion on Writers on Writing

Ed Valentine, who recently won a Daytime Emmy for Children’s TV Writing for Sesame Street, and Graeme Simsion, with his debut novel The Rosie Project optioned to Sony Pictures, talk with guest host Nicole Nelson on this episode of Writers on Writing.

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(Broadcast date: Dec. 18, 2013)
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Marrie Marrie

Jane Isay & Laurie Halse Anderson

Marrie Stone talks with author and editor Jane Isay about her latest work, Secrets and Lies: Surviving the Truths That Change Our Lives and young adult writer Laurie Halse Anderson, author of The Impossible Knife of Memory.

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(Broadcast date: January 22, 2014)
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Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

Scott Turow and Rose George, on Writers on Writing, hosted by Barbara DeMarc0-Barrett

Scott Turow, author of Identical, and Rose George, author of Ninety Percent of Everything, were guests on the show and spoke with me about their new books.

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(Broadcast date: Nov. 30, 2013)
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Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

Jodi Picoult and Dani Shapiro guest on Writers on Writing

Novelist Jodi Picoult, author of The Storyteller, talks with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett about her new book, and Dani Shapiro, author of Still Writing, talks with Marrie Stone about her new memoir/writing book.

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(Broadcast date: November 20, 2013.)
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Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

Alex Forbes, Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack guest on Writers on Writing

In the first half hour, songwriter Alex Forbes, author of Write Songs Write Now talks with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett,  and in the second half, novelists Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack, co-authors of Freud's Mistress, talk with Nicole Nelson.

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(Broadcast date: November 13, 2013)
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Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

Robert Olen Butler & Russell Banks, on Writers on Writing

Fiction writers Robert Olen Butler and Russell Banks talk with guest host Marrie Stone about writing fiction, what becomes short stories and what becomes novels, and where it all comes from.

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(Broadcast date: Nov 6, 2013)
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Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

Aimee Bender and Jacob M. Appel on Writers on Writing

Short story writer Aimee Bender and novelist Jacob M. Appel talk with guest host Nicole Nelson about the art and business of writing short stories and novels.

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 (Broadcast date: Oct. 30, 2013)
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Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

Rebecca Lee and Andre Dubus III on Writers on Writing

Rebecca Lee, author of the short story collection, Bobcat, and Andre Dubus III, author of Dirty Love, came on the show to talk with guest host Marrie Stone about their writing.

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 (Broadcast date: Oct. 9, 2013)
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Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

An Evening with Memoirists Claire Bidwell Smith, Dinah Lenney and James Brown at the Pen on Fire Speaker Series.

This podcast was recorded in May 2012 at the Pen on Fire Speaker Series in Corona del Mar, CA. The panel is comprised of Claire Bidwell Smith, Dinah Lenney, and James Brown, moderated by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett. If you'd like news about upcoming speaker series event, visit penonfire.com/speakerseries.

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 (Broadcast date: May 12, 2012)
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Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

Novelist Dara Horn and poet Gary Soto on Writers on Writing

Novelist Dara Horn and poet Gary Soto talk with guest host Nicole Nelson on the show.

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(Broadcast date: Sept. 25, 2013)
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Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

Memoirist Beverly Donofrio visits Writers on Writing

Memoirist Beverly Donofrio, author of Astonished, Riding in Cars with Boys, and Looking for Mary came on the show to primarily discuss her latest, Astonished. One highlight: When an editor bought Riding in Cars with Boys, she visited him in his office. He started talking to her about her memoir, but she said no, no, she had written a novel.  "I can't sell a novel," he said.  "I can sell a memoir." Donofrio hemmed and hawed a lil bit, then said, Well, okay, I didn't make anything up. 

Donofrio is a memoirist through and through.  Very entertaining, especially difficult to do when telling a story about being raped after 50 and the journey it led her on.

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 (Broadcast date: Sept. 18, 2013)
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Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

Suspense novelist Gregg Hurwitz on Writers on Writing

Gregg Hurwitz, author of Tell No Lies, is Barbara's guest for the entire show. He talks about writing suspense fiction, and his latest novel, Tell No Lies.

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(Broadcast date: Sept. 4, 2013)
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Marrie Marrie

Said Sayrafiezadeh and C.E. Poverman on Writers on Writing

Marrie Stone talks with short story writer Said Sayrafiezadeh about his latest collection, Brief Encounters with the Enemy.   In the second half hour, C.E. Poverman discusses his novel, Love by Drowning.  (There is a brief delay in the second half, as the interview starts a little late.  Stay tuned.) 


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(Broadcast date: August 28, 2013)
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