How to improve your writing skills by listening to writing podcasts

Do you want to improve your writing skills but don’t have enough time to read blogs or books on writing? I certainly know how you feel. Sometimes, it’s hard to find enough time to write, much less stay up to date on the ever-changing publishing industry, marketing techniques, and writing tips.

Here’s the solution: Listen to some of the increasing number of writing podcasts. You can listen to writing advice or industry news on your way to work, while you exercise, do laundry, or clean your house. Podcasts are an excellent way to turn wasted time into a learning experience, so I put together a list of writing podcasts that you might want to check out.

10 writing podcasts you might find helpful

• The Author Hangout: Weekly interviews with marketing experts. Each interview is recorded live, and the audience gets to ask questions. You can watch the video or listen to the podcast version.
• The Creative Penn Podcast: Author and entrepreneur Joanna Penn offers bi-weekly interviews and information on writing, publishing and self-publishing, marketing, and creative entrepreneurship. You might want to also check out her helpful website and blog.
• Grammar Girl: Mignon Fogarty a.k.a. Grammar Girl presents short episodes on grammar issues, for example lay vs. lie.
• Helping Writers Become Authors Podcast: K.M. Weiland offers advice on characterization, plotting, and the most common writing mistakes among many other things. She offers also a written version of each podcast. Make sure you also check out her helpful blog.
• I Should Be Writing: Writer Mur Lafferty shares some craft information but mostly focuses on the ups and downs of an aspiring writer, how to deal with self-doubts, become more productive, etc.
• Kobo Writing Life Podcast: Interviews and discussions about writing with well-known fiction and nonfiction authors such as Kathy Reichs and Hugh Howey.
• Novel Marketing: Bestselling writer James L. Rubart and Author Media CEO Thomas Umstattd talk about how to build an author platform and market your book. Each episode is usually 15-20 minutes long.
• Odyssey Podcasts: These podcasts are excerpts from lectures given at the Odyssey Writing Workshop, mostly geared toward writers of science fiction and fantasy, but helpful to all other fiction writers as well.
• Self-Publishing Roundtable: The hosts vary, but they’re always indie authors interviewing fellow indie authors, talking about marketing techniques and writing in specific genres. If you prefer the video version, check out the YouTube channel.
• Writing Excuses: Authors Brandon Sanderson, Daniel Wells, Howard Tayler, and Mary Robinette Kowal talk about fiction-writing techniques. Each episode is about 15 minutes long because, as they say, “you’re in a hurry, and we’re not that smart.”

Want more writing podcasts?

C.S. Lakin over at The Selfpublisher has a very helpful list of Top 23 Writing Podcasts.

Did I miss a podcast that could be of interest to writers? Which are your favorite writing podcasts? Please leave a comment!