The Best Podcasts About Writing

If you’re looking for new resources to learn about creative writing—specifically those that you can listen to—you may have yet to come across some of the best podcasts about writing.

With time more limited than ever, people seek out ways to learn on the go or multitask, and listening and learning simultaneously has become one of the most productive ways to use our time.

best Podcasts for writers
The best podcasts about writing

When it comes to podcasts on writing, we can learn about new theories and approaches or find inspiration or ideas that we can try out when we get a chance to sit before the page.

And for some of us, we learn in different ways. Some by imitation, some by reading and others prefer to listen. To have an audio guide.

So below, we’ll take a look at the best podcasts for writers. We’ll take a look at what they are, the benefits of audio learning and a list of some of the best shows available, such as the Writing Excuses and Writing Routine podcasts.

Choose A Chapter

  1. What Are Writing Podcasts?
  2. Why Should You Listen To Writing Podcasts?
  3. How To Find The Best Podcasts About Writing
  4. The Best Podcasts About Writing
  5. The Best Podcasts On Writing Fantasy
  6. List Of Podcasts For Writers
  7. Should You Start Your Own Creative Writing Podcast?
  8. Other Resources On The Best Podcasts About Writing

What Are Writing Podcasts?

The answer to this question is a straightforward one. They’re podcasts dedicated to learning how to write and how to tell stories people love.

As we’ll see below, there is a range of podcasts about writing, some with episodes an hour long or more, and some providing short, sharp bites of information, 15 minutes or so long.

And there are writing podcasts devoted to specific genres, like fantasy, sci fi, and romance. Plus more general podcasts on writing. You really are spoilt for choice.

But let’s not rush ahead blind into how to find the best podcasts for writers and which ones you could check out. First, let’s look at why you should listen to podcasts on writing.

Why Should You Listen To Writing Podcasts?

Time is one of our most precious gifts. It’s only as we grow older that we come to appreciate how valuable it is. It’s important we come to learn how to use what time we have as effectively as possible. It can be snatched away in an instant.

But many of us struggle to find those windows of free time in which to write a few words, let alone time to study. It’s natural therefore to prioritise. And learning often slips down the pecking order. Why? Probably because it’s not that enjoyable.

But there’s a solution to all of these problems. And the simple podcast is it. First, podcasts (and audiobooks for that matter) allow us to turn unproductive time into time well spent.

For example, I used to drive to work every day. With traffic, it took me 40 mins there and back. 80 mins a day sat doing nothing save growing frustrated with people’s selfishness.

Likewise, chores like washing up, hoovering, cooking and cleaning can all be flipped on their heads. That could be time spent listening to podcasts for writers. Learning new things!

As for the second conundrum, we all learn in different ways. And it’s important we come to understand how we learn as individuals. What methods suit you best? Because the ways we were taught in school weren’t very good. It by no means works for everybody.

For me, I love having someone to guide me. To walk me through things, show me examples, and explain things simply and clearly. And I also learn a lot by studying other people and listening to how they do things.

Podcasts can help you with that. As we’ll see below, many writing podcasts are by writers for writers. They share relatable experiences. They’ve endured highs and lows and gleaned insights that you can benefit from. And they can talk you through how to write in new and exciting ways, discuss and teach you things to help you.

So those are my reasons behind why I think you should listen to different podcasts for writers, now let’s look at how to find them.

How To Find The Best Podcasts About Writing

There are myriad ways for you to discover the best podcasts about writing. I’ve put together some of my top tips to help you find your next favourite show.

Finding The Best Writing Podcasts On Reddit

A way in which I’ve found many a great podcast is by looking on Reddit.

There are lots of useful subreddits or threads dedicated to writing podcasts, and by reflecting on comments, you can gauge which one might suit you best. Here are some of them…

Using Social Media

Twitter and Instagram are full of pages dedicated to podcasts on writing. A simple search with terms like #podcasts #writingpodcasts #podcastsforwriters will bring up relevant results.

But for me, Facebook groups have reaped the best rewards. There are dozens of groups dedicated to podcasts of all genres. And there are plenty of podcasts for writers amongst them.

To find them, simply search for ‘podcasts’ in the search bar and narrow down the results by focusing on groups.

Finding The Best Podcasts About Writing On Spotify

Spotify has quickly dominated the audio streaming scene. And after spending tens of millions on the rights to the Joe Rogan podcast, they mean business.

Just like with other platforms, you can search for podcasts about writing using Spotify’s search bar. And one of the clever things is, that if you find a podcast you like and follow it, Spotify will recommend similar ones.

Keep scrolling for my list of the best podcasts about writing.

The Best Podcasts About Writing

Here are some of the best podcasts about writing by popularity.

  • The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed – featuring tips from bestselling authors like Adrian Tchaikovsky and Mary E Pearson. We’ve also partnered up with the award-winning Angry Robot Books to bring exclusive interviews with the best and brightest fantasy authors around.
  • Writing Excuses Podcast
  • Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips For Better Writing
  • Beautiful Writers Podcast
  • I Should Be Writing

For more, why not check out this great list of the best podcasts on writing by Book Riot? You can also check out this list published by The Guardian. 

The Writing Excuses Podcast

One of my favorite shows to listen to is the Writing Excuses podcast. 

It has an incredible line-up of writers, including Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal and Dan Wells. These three top authors have incredible insights to share and they do so freely on the show. They also have a lot of knowledge on the subject of fantasy writing.

Episodes are once per week and come in 15-20 minute bitesize chunks.

With over a thousand positive ratings, you’ll come to learn why it’s one of the best podcasts for writers.

Writer’s Routine Podcast

The Writer’s Routine Podcast is an award-winning show hosted by Dan Simpson and Scott Kershaw. 

Together they explore the daily life of a writer, examining their successes and the challenges that they face. 

They interview lots of amazing writers and people from the industry along the way. 

Episodes are once per week and usually last between 30 and 50 minutes. 

The show is regarded as one of the best podcasts for writers, and with over 211 positive ratings on iTunes, you can understand why. 

The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed Podcast

best podcasts about writing

I created this podcast to help writers better understand the process of writing fantasy stories. I also wanted to bring specialist knowledge to the table by interviewing the likes of psychologists, sociologists, historians, folklorists and top authors in the field, including award-winning author, Adrian Tchaikovsky. 

There have been over 50 episodes to date, ranging in length from 20 minutes up to an hour. It’s also received over 80 positive ratings on Spotify, making it one of the highest-rated podcasts in the genre. Little did I know it would become one of the best podcasts for writers. You can learn more about the podcast in the next section. 

The Best Podcasts On Writing Fantasy

After releasing A Fantasy Writers’ Handbook, a few readers suggested starting a podcast. So never one to say no, I launched The Fantasy Writer’s Toolshed with my good friend, JM Williams. It has since grown into, I’m told by listeners, one of the best podcasts on writing fantasy.

JM is one of those writers I met through my blog and being like-minded people, we find ourselves collaborating on a lot of things.

So we began our podcast for writers. And our one and only aim is to help you. Between us, we have nearly two decades of writing experience. And we talk about what we’ve learned in that time. From creating characters and fantasy cliches to worldbuilding and book marketing.

In recent episodes, I’ve interviewed historians, psychologists, sociologists and best-selling authors such as Adrian Tchaikovsky. It’s all designed to arm you with advanced knowledge when it comes to writing amazing fantasy stories. 

And like I said, lots of readers have commented and reviewed the show and stated that it’s one of the best writing podcasts for beginners on Spotify, iTunes and all other platforms. So give it a go and see what you think. 

A List of Podcasts For Writers

I promised a list of some of the best podcasts about writing and I’m a man of my word. 

Below, you can find scores of podcasts for writers. I update this list often, so if you know of any others, please drop me an email or comment below.

Should You Start Your Own Creative Writing Podcast?

While reading this article or perhaps listening to podcasts on writing, the idea may have entered your mind to start your own podcast.

Now, you may just dismiss it outright. But I implore you not to.

Why? Because podcasting is another medium to reach new people, new readers (or listeners). Like I said above, people learn in all different ways. So why not enhance the experience you give to your followers by going audio?

And the great thing is, it’s really quite easy to do. All you need is a mic (a laptop mic will do but they’re of the lowest quality generally), Zoom or Skype to record, and Audacity to edit (plus a bit of patience).

And the hosting and distribution of podcasting is easy too. While many sites promote premium services, the reality is you don’t need to pay a penny, especially when you’re starting out.

Hosting sites like Acast (highly recommend) allow you to upload your episodes for free. Acast also lets you create a website for your podcast too. From there it will give you an RSS feed and with that, simply head over to podcast distributors like Spotify, iTunes and TuneIn and submit your details. Each time you upload an episode to your host, it will automatically go out to every connected distributor. Magic.

Podcasts About Writing – FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions when it comes to making a podcast.

How do writers write a podcast?

The process of how writers write a podcast can be straightforward. Most writers pick one or two topics per episode, research and write about them.

How do I become a good podcast writer?

Practice! And listen to as many podcasts as you can. This way you’ll learn what people are enjoying at the moment, and you can tweak your own podcast writing to fit.

What equipment is needed for a podcast?

You need very little equipment for a podcast. A microphone is perhaps the biggest requirement, and you can get them pretty cheap (depending on the quality). Good microphones can cost over $100. You can use your laptop microphone if you’re on a budget. Other than that, you need a computer to record on and software like Audacity to edit.

How do you introduce yourself in a podcast?

The best method seems to be to keep it simple and straightforward. Who you are, who’s joining you and what the show is about is all you need!

Other Resources On The Best Podcasts About Writing

You’ve reached the final section on this guide to the best podcasts for writers. Thanks so much for reading! I hope you’ve learned something new.

Below, you can find some related guides you may find useful.

Click to view a list of 200+ fantasy magazines

Or head here to see a list of 60+ fantasy novel publishers

Click here to learn more about blogging

And if you’d like to learn how to grow your following, here’s a handy guide.

Thanks again for reading this guide on the best podcasts about writing.

richiebilling
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