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)
Literary agent Felicia Eth on Writers on Writing with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
Bay Area literary agent Felicia Eth joins author and host Barbara DeMarco-Barrett for an hour of conversation about the publishing industry and how to get an agent.
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(Broadcast date: July 29, 2015)
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(Broadcast date: July 29, 2015)
Tatjana Soli and Erin Harris on Writers on Writing
Tatjana Soli, author of The Last Good Paradise, talks to Nicole Nelson about the importance of setting in developing a novel, the art of revision, and the writing benefits of a good hike. Then Erin Harris, NYC agent with Folio Lit talks about what kind of work she represents, what catches her eye in a query, and what agents want to see in those all-important first pages.
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[Note: In the Harris interview, there are a couple of very brief phone line blips that resolve quickly.]
(Broadcast date: February 11, 2015)
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[Note: In the Harris interview, there are a couple of very brief phone line blips that resolve quickly.]
(Broadcast date: February 11, 2015)
Literary Agent Jane Dystel on Writers on Writing
Literary Agent Jane Dystel, founder and president of Dystel & Goderich Literary Management, joins Marrie Stone to talk about what makes an effective agent, what to look for in an agent, how to query an agent, what's selling and what's not, how the industry has changed, the importance of platform, how ebooks are saving fiction, and more.
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(Broadcast date: January 7, 2015)
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(Broadcast date: January 7, 2015)
Lit agent Laurie Fox on with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
Literary agent Laurie Fox spent the entire hour on the show talking about what she looks for in potential clients, query letters, and more.
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(Broadcast date: Nov. 5, 2014)
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(Broadcast date: Nov. 5, 2014)
Bay Area Literary agent Andy Ross
I love that Andy Ross is the former owner of Cody's Books in Berkeley, and that I went there when I first moved to San Francisco after college. When The Satanic Verses came out, someone threw a pipe bomb through the window (it didn't explode), and the staff voted unanimously to continue to sell the controversial novel (was there ever a more controversial novel??).
"That was my proudest moment in bookselling," Andy says on his website, andyrossagency.com.
He's was on the show, for the entire hour, Andy talks about what his agency takes on, publishing, Amazon, and more. He was great fun to talk to, and I hope to do it again.
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(Broadcast date: August 6, 2014)
"That was my proudest moment in bookselling," Andy says on his website, andyrossagency.com.
He's was on the show, for the entire hour, Andy talks about what his agency takes on, publishing, Amazon, and more. He was great fun to talk to, and I hope to do it again.
Download audio.
(Broadcast date: August 6, 2014)
John McNally and Ted Weinstein
Marrie Stone interviews John McNally, author of The Creative Writer's Survival Guide: Advice from an Unrepentant Novelist and literary agent Ted Weinstein.
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(Broadcast date: September 1, 2010)
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(Broadcast date: September 1, 2010)
2nd Annual Agents Night - Pen on Fire Writers Salon
Barbara DeMarco-Barrett hosts literary agents Jill Marr, Jamie Weiss Chilton, and Sally van Haitsma at the Pen on Fire Writers Salon.
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(Event date: July 13, 2010)
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(Event date: July 13, 2010)
Betsy Lerner and Susan Straight
Barbara DeMarco-Barrett interviews literary agent and writer Betsy Lerner, author of The Forest for the Trees (Revised and Updated): An Editor's Advice to Writers and Susan Straight, author of Take One Candle Light a Room.
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(Broadcast date: October 27, 2010)
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(Broadcast date: October 27, 2010)
Betsy Lerner
Barbara DeMarco-Barrett and Marrie Stone take listeners' questions for author, former editor and literary agent Betsy Lerner, author of The Forest for the Trees (Revised and Updated): An Editor's Advice to Writers.
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(Broadcast Date: December 1, 2010)
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(Broadcast Date: December 1, 2010)
Kim Dower and Kate Gale
Barbara DeMarco-Barrett interviews Kim Dower, literary agent and author of Air Kissing on Mars and Kate Gale, managing editor of Red Hen Press, poet, and a recent two-term president of PEN USA.
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(Broadcast date: November 3, 2010)
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(Broadcast date: November 3, 2010)
Elizabeth Gilbert and Kelly Sonnack
Barbara DeMarco-Barrett interviews Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace With Marriage and literary agent Kelly Sonnack of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
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(Broadcast date: January 27, 2010)
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(Broadcast date: January 27, 2010)
Betsy Lerner and Rachel Resnick
Barbara DeMarco-Barrett interviews literary agent Betsy Lerner and Rachel Resnick, author of Love Junkie.
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(Broadcast date: September 09, 2009)
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(Broadcast date: September 09, 2009)