5 More Podcasts to Inspire You to Write
Well, we’ve made it almost a full year of life under the conditions of a pandemic. Not to mention the political and social forces that have whipped and whirled in every which direction. Sometimes, it helps to take a step back and breathe.
So, while we’ve shared three previous lists of literary podcasts — you can go here for the first list, here for the second, and here for the third — there are still others out there worthy of attention.
Here are 5 more podcasts to inspire you to write.
Well-Versed with FSG
A byproduct of the pandemic produced in tandem by LitHub, this podcast is a series of recordings, conversations, and interviews by writers under the Ferrar, Straus and Giroux umbrella that feature the likes of Carl Phillips, Laura Van Den Berg, and Marilynne Robinson. And it was created under the belief that one great poem has the ability to move us, transport us. In times like these, that’s exactly what we could use more of.
Debutiful
Debutiful, hosted by Adam Vitcavage, features in-depth conversations with debut authors about their first books, how they became writers, and what drives them. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, additional episodes with authors who had book tours canceled were recorded as part of the #DigitalBookTour.
If you’re looking to learn more about how debut writers landed their publication or the story behind it, this is a great podcast to turn to.
WMFA
WMFA aims to counter the loneliness of writing with conversations that focus on creativity and craft. Hosted by Courtney Balestier, some of today’s best writers discuss and examine the issues faced when we do creative work.
If you enjoy what WMFA is about, then you can join the Patreon to gain exclusive bonus content for just $2 a month. While money might be tight for us all these days, some of these bonus minisodes function as a short masterclass and are well worth the investment.
fiction/non/fiction
Hosted by Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan, fiction/non/fiction takes a look at current events “through the lens of literature.” The writers vary from novelists to poets to journalists, so there’s a flavor for everyone.
It’s a podcast that offers a bit more to think about than merely craft, and often intersects with how the idea of an author’s work came to fruition through means of events, both past and current, and how those events might’ve shaped their work.
Book Fight
Now, this is a fun one.
Book Fight is a podcast of writers talking about writing. It may seem rather general, but that’s what it is. The editors of Barrelhouse Magazine sit down each week to talk about writing what they love, what they hate, writing that inspires them or infuriates them. The idea of each conversation is things writers would say to each other at a bar. They’re both honest and filled with tangents, misdirection, and good laughs.
The best part: You don’t need to be a writer to enjoy the show.
Now, I know that most of you reading this are aspiring writers. But if you’re looking for a writerly podcast to put on while in a car with other people, this is one everyone is able to enjoy. Of course, if they’re people who enjoy good writing then it will land better. And there’s no need to read the books, stories, and essays discussed each week, though you may want to afterwards out of curiosity.
In 2015, Book Fight won an award for Best Streaming Media Project at the Philly Geek Awards.
If you can only choose one podcast from this list of 5 podcasts to inspire you to write, I’d recommended Book Fight be that podcast.
Supplemental Listening
The three podcasts listed below might not directly relate to writing, but they do offer engaging and insightful content worthy of a listen. They might be just the remedy to help you finally finish that story or poem you’ve been working on, or maybe they’ll inspire you to write something new altogether.
