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, Google, or your favorite podcast app.
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EPISODES
(2001 - present)
Zora O'Neill and Chris McCormick on with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
Travel writer and memoirist Zora O'Neill, author of All Strangers are Kin, and fiction writer Chris McCormick, author of the story collection Desert Boys talk with Barbara about--what else?--writing.
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(Broadcast date: July 6, 2016)
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(Broadcast date: July 6, 2016)
Rebecca Schiff and Molly Prentiss with Nicole Nelson
Rebecca Schiff, author of The Bed Moved, talks to co-host Nicole Nelson about finding her voice, revision being the place where much of her characteristic sparseness and humor get sharpened, and her advice to write from a place of being excited rather than to be attached to what you have written.
In the second half, Molly Prentiss, author of Tuesday Nights in 1980, talks about the feelings of doubt that artists face, the conflicts in her story and how they evolved over time, and the value of coincidence in drama.
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(Broadcast date: June 22, 2016)
In the second half, Molly Prentiss, author of Tuesday Nights in 1980, talks about the feelings of doubt that artists face, the conflicts in her story and how they evolved over time, and the value of coincidence in drama.
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(Broadcast date: June 22, 2016)
Asali Solomon and Tracy Barone with Nicole Nelson
Asali Solomon, author of Disgruntled, talks to co-host Nicole Nelson about writing a young protagonist, developing characters from plot, taking an episodic approach to novel writing, and more.
In the second half, debut novelist Tracy Barone, author of Happy Family, talks about pacing the novel, drawing from her experience as a screenwriter and playwright, and writing toward an end that she envisioned early on.
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(Broadcast date: June 8, 2016)
In the second half, debut novelist Tracy Barone, author of Happy Family, talks about pacing the novel, drawing from her experience as a screenwriter and playwright, and writing toward an end that she envisioned early on.
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(Broadcast date: June 8, 2016)
Karan Bajaj and Christopher LeGras
Karan Bajaj joins Marrie Stone to talk about his latest novel, The Yoga of Max's Discontent. Karan discusses the importance of showing character through action instead of reflection, how yoga and meditation have improved his writing, the value of living a bold life, and more.
In the second half, Chris LeGras shares his debut novel in stories, Weather to Fly. Chris talks about writing the book you want to write, instead of the book you think the world wants. He argues that living a rich life of varied experiences produces rich books of interest. Story, he says, is more important than fancy words. Click below to hear many more words of writerly wisdom.
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(Broadcast date: June 15, 2016)
In the second half, Chris LeGras shares his debut novel in stories, Weather to Fly. Chris talks about writing the book you want to write, instead of the book you think the world wants. He argues that living a rich life of varied experiences produces rich books of interest. Story, he says, is more important than fancy words. Click below to hear many more words of writerly wisdom.
Download audio.
(Broadcast date: June 15, 2016)
Charles Bock
Charles Bock joins Marrie Stone to talk about his latest novel, Alice and Oliver. Charles shares his insights on fictionalizing real life events, his process of finding character, capturing New York in the 1990s, and his own emotional account of living with -- and in the aftermath of -- cancer.
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(Broadcast date: May 11, 2016)
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(Broadcast date: May 11, 2016)
Novelists Dana Spiotta & Jung Yun
Dana Spiotta, author of Innocents and Others, and Jung Yun, author of Shelter talk with Barbara about outlines or the lack thereof, POV, tense, film, home invasions, where stories come from, and much more.
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(Broadcast date: May 25, 2016)
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(Broadcast date: May 25, 2016)
Arna Bontemps Hemenway and Patricia Engel with Nicole Nelson
Arna Bontemps Hemenway, author of the short story collection Elegy on Kinderklavier, joins co-host Nicole Nelson to discuss writing about loss, inhabiting his characters emotionally, overcoming a challenging period in his own writing life post-MFA, and how the most important thing you can make a story isn't clever or topical, or anything else besides making it meaningful to you.
In the second half, Patricia Engel, author of The Veins of the Ocean, talks about the origins of this novel as a short story, her strategy for handling plot, doing research as needed, using dialogue sparingly, letting her life by the ocean influence the story, and more.
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[Note: Audio begins immediately with the interview with Arna, without a show introduction, due to technical difficulties.]
(Broadcast date: May 18, 2016)
In the second half, Patricia Engel, author of The Veins of the Ocean, talks about the origins of this novel as a short story, her strategy for handling plot, doing research as needed, using dialogue sparingly, letting her life by the ocean influence the story, and more.
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[Note: Audio begins immediately with the interview with Arna, without a show introduction, due to technical difficulties.]
(Broadcast date: May 18, 2016)
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni and Boris Fishman
Bestselling novelist Chitra Divakaruni joins Marrie Stone to talk about her latest novel in stories, Before We Visit the Goddess. She talks about the importance of writers' groups, the revision process, the distance necessary to write about place, the immigrant experience, how her characters have grown with her, and what subjects retain her focus and interest.
In the second half, Boris Fishman joins to talk about his novel, Don't Let My Baby Do Rodeo. He shares his rules for writing authentic sex scenes, writing from a woman's point of view, the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone as a writer, how Montana has captured his heart, and more.
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(Broadcast date: April 27, 2016)
In the second half, Boris Fishman joins to talk about his novel, Don't Let My Baby Do Rodeo. He shares his rules for writing authentic sex scenes, writing from a woman's point of view, the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone as a writer, how Montana has captured his heart, and more.
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(Broadcast date: April 27, 2016)
Memoirists Wendy Lawless and Rob Roberge
Wendy Lawless, author of Heart of Glass, and Rob Roberge, author of Liar, join Barbara DeMarco-Barrett to discuss the art and craft of writing memoir. Both will be featured authors at the Pen on Fire Speaker Series on May 17, 2016. More here.
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(Broadcast date: May 4, 2016)
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(Broadcast date: May 4, 2016)
Ayelet Tsabari and Markus Zusak
Israeli author Ayelet Tsabari joins Marrie Stone to talk about her short story collection, The Best Place on Earth. She talks about writing in her second language, creating a compelling setting, the unique Israeli perspective on the world and how it impacts her writing, and much more.
In the second half, international bestselling author Markus Zusak talks about the re-release of his highly acclaimed novel, The Book Thief. He shares many insights into his writing process, his writing notebooks, how he arrived at the novel's unique point of view, his favorite characters, and more.
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(Broadcast date: April 13, 2016)
In the second half, international bestselling author Markus Zusak talks about the re-release of his highly acclaimed novel, The Book Thief. He shares many insights into his writing process, his writing notebooks, how he arrived at the novel's unique point of view, his favorite characters, and more.
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(Broadcast date: April 13, 2016)
Jarett Kobek and John D'Agata with Nicole Nelson
Jarett Kobek, author of I Hate the Internet, joins Nicole Nelson to talk about developing a POV that was influenced by Kurt Vonnegut's Breakfast of Champions, his attempt to try to mirror the jagged way information comes at you on the internet, and his advice to writers: learn to enjoy suffering.
Then John D'Agata, editor of The Making of the American Essay talks about his twenty years working on this three-volume series of anthologies on essays that concludes with this work. He also shares thoughts on what makes an essay a challenging form to write, but one that when done right has the potential to capture and share a piece of humanity.
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(Broadcast date: April 20, 2016)
Then John D'Agata, editor of The Making of the American Essay talks about his twenty years working on this three-volume series of anthologies on essays that concludes with this work. He also shares thoughts on what makes an essay a challenging form to write, but one that when done right has the potential to capture and share a piece of humanity.
Download audio.
(Broadcast date: April 20, 2016)
Novelists Dawn Tripp and Christopher Sorrentino
Dawn Tripp, author of Georgia, a novel about Georgia O'Keeffe, and Christopher Sorrentino, author of The Fugitives join Barbara DeMarco-Barrett to talk about their new novels, author photos, writing about real people and real situations, the publishing industry, and more.
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(Broadcast date: April 6, 2016)
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(Broadcast date: April 6, 2016)
Elizabeth Strout and Dawn Anahid MacKeen
Pulitzer Prize winning novelist and short story writer Elizabeth Strout joins Marrie Stone to talk about her latest novel, My Name is Lucy Barton. She discusses recurring themes in her work, her intense interest in character over plot, how she constructs novels through scenes, and more.
In the second half, Dawn MacKeen joins to share her grandfather's story of surviving the Armenian genocide. The Hundred-Year Walk: An Armenian Odyssey is part memoir, part reportage, and part historical research. Dawn discusses why this book is more relevant today than ever, what it took to uncover the story, and the power of perseverance.
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(Broadcast date: March 30, 2016)
In the second half, Dawn MacKeen joins to share her grandfather's story of surviving the Armenian genocide. The Hundred-Year Walk: An Armenian Odyssey is part memoir, part reportage, and part historical research. Dawn discusses why this book is more relevant today than ever, what it took to uncover the story, and the power of perseverance.
Download audio.
(Broadcast date: March 30, 2016)
Maya Lang and Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney with co-host Nicole Nelson
Maya Lang, author of The Sixteenth of June, talks with co-host Nicole Nelson about the challenges of writing a story that takes place all in one day, her experience searching for an agent, and basing her novel on Ulysses.
In the second half, Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, author of The Nest, talks about how the story came to her beginning with a scene that captured her imagination, how voice for the book came naturally (but structure presented a challenge), and how time pressures can work to one's advantage.
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(Broadcast date: March 23, 2016)
In the second half, Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, author of The Nest, talks about how the story came to her beginning with a scene that captured her imagination, how voice for the book came naturally (but structure presented a challenge), and how time pressures can work to one's advantage.
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(Broadcast date: March 23, 2016)
Amy Gottlieb and Anna Winger with Nicole Nelson
Debut novelist Amy Gottlieb, author of The Beautiful Possible, talks with co-host Nicole Nelson about finding inspiration from a childhood of listening to her mother's friends, using poetry to sustain her when she felt bogged down by the novel, and working with characters who wouldn't let go.
In the second half, Anna Winger, author of the novel This Must be the Place and co-creator and writer of the Sundance drama series Deutschland 83, talks about pushing the limits of credibility in the name of creating suspense, combining the visual with narrative in telling a story for television, and how writers can find common experiences with various types of characters, even those with lives very different from their own.
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(Broadcast date: March 16, 2016)
In the second half, Anna Winger, author of the novel This Must be the Place and co-creator and writer of the Sundance drama series Deutschland 83, talks about pushing the limits of credibility in the name of creating suspense, combining the visual with narrative in telling a story for television, and how writers can find common experiences with various types of characters, even those with lives very different from their own.
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(Broadcast date: March 16, 2016)
Kristina McMorris and Ruty Sepetys
Marrie Stone chats with historical fiction novelist Kristina McMorris about her latest novel, The Edge of Lost. Kristina shares her research process, her fascination with history, her secrets to effective dialogue, her relationship with minor characters, and more.
In the second half, Ruta Sepetys returns to the show to talk about her latest YA novel, Salt to the Sea. Ruta discusses how fiction can convey a greater range of truths than non-fiction, why the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff remains a relatively unknown event, how she creates compelling characters, and more.
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(Broadcast date: March 9, 2016)
In the second half, Ruta Sepetys returns to the show to talk about her latest YA novel, Salt to the Sea. Ruta discusses how fiction can convey a greater range of truths than non-fiction, why the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff remains a relatively unknown event, how she creates compelling characters, and more.
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(Broadcast date: March 9, 2016)
Elizabeth Marro and T. Jefferson Parker with B.D. Barrett on Writers on Writing
Elizabeth Marro, author of Casualties, and T. Jefferson Parker, author of Crazy Blood talk with B. DeMarco-Barrett about point of view, beginnings, promotion, and more. Both authors will be featured at the Pen on Fire Speaker Series & Salon on March 8, 2016. More info here.
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(Broadcast date: March 2, 2016)
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(Broadcast date: March 2, 2016)
Mary Rakow and Suzanne Redfearn
Theologist and novelist Mary Rakow joins Marrie Stone on "Writers on Writing," KUCI-FM 88.9 to discuss her latest novel, This Is Why I Came. She shares her personal history with religion, the importance of the Bible for secular readers, what sustained her on her decade-long path with the novel, the importance of language, and more.
In the second half, Suzanne Redfearn shares her latest book, No Ordinary Life. She shares her experiences with the publishing industry, branding, compelling narratives, the difference between writing and storytelling, and more.
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(Broadcast date: February 24, 2016)
In the second half, Suzanne Redfearn shares her latest book, No Ordinary Life. She shares her experiences with the publishing industry, branding, compelling narratives, the difference between writing and storytelling, and more.
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(Broadcast date: February 24, 2016)
Christopher Castellani & Noy Holland with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
Christopher Castellani, author of The Art of Perspective: Who Tells the Story, and Noy Holland, author of the novel Bird join Barbara DeMarco-Barrett to discuss their books and the art and business of writing.
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(Broadcast date: Feb. 17, 2016
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(Broadcast date: Feb. 17, 2016