[The following is only a glimpse of the topic … not a transcription. Also, this episode is about 6 minutes long.] In the last episode, I encouraged anyone who is in a position read and respond to a writer’s work to affirm, affirm, affirm what’s working. I’m not talking about a formal reviewer online or at a newspaper who is reviewing a book. I’m thinking of someone in a … [Read more...]
The Writing Life Podcast – Affirm, Affirm, Affirm
[The following is only a glimpse of the topic … not a transcription] As a coach, editor, workshop leader, and writing instructor, I’ve given a lot of feedback to writers at all levels. For several years I taught composition and creative writing to high school students. Working with students reminded me to deal tenderly with developing writers. Encourage them. Gently … [Read more...]
The Writing Life Podcast – Non-Writing Writing Tasks
[The following is only a glimpse of the topic … not a transcription] A heads up: At over 13 minutes, this episode is significantly longer than my usual 3-6 minute podcast episodes. You sit down to write only to realize you've got a long list of tasks necessary to the work of writing, but after you check them off your list, you haven’t the word count to show for … [Read more...]
#14: Progress, Not Perfection
[Please listen for the full message. The following is only a glimpse of the topic ... not a transcription] It’s about progress, not perfection. A friend of mine said that to me and I thought, wow, what a great concept for the writing life. I found out it's a phrase used in 12 step programs, so I'm borrowing it today for us, for writers. I’ve discovered I've … [Read more...]
The Writing Life Podcast – Episode 13: Multi-Sensory Writing
In this short podcast, I encourage writers to introduce at least three senses into their writing, whether they are working on fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Don't rely completely on the way things look. There's also the way things sound, smell, taste and feel. Pick three. Bring your writing to life. One, two, three ... and you're done. [If you received this as an … [Read more...]
#12: Rest and Productivity
In this 5:40 podcast, I talk about the paradox of rest leading to increased productivity. If you're reading this in an email, click through to the website to hear the podcast. Here's a glimpse of what we'll cover: It seems like a contradiction. A paradox. It seems impossible that more rest would result in greater productivity, but so we’re being told by study after … [Read more...]
#10: Food for Thought
I used to host a linkup on my blog called Food on Fridays. I started it because I realized I was writing about food almost every week, so I might as well publish those posts on a designated day. I picked a day that would allow me to use alliteration, and thus, Food on Fridays was born. Then I discontinued Food on Fridays (sorry, foodies!). I’m not as creative in the … [Read more...]
#9: Start Where You Are
It's been a while since my last Writing Life podcast. Day after day I kept looking at that item on my to-do list and finally resolved, even in the midst of life's complications, to start up again. Because I've learned that no matter how far you fall behind, you can get back in the game. Simply start where you are. … [Read more...]
The Writing Life – Episode 8: Keep Calm and Carry On
In this week’s podcast (3:36) I explain the impact of my dad's health crisis on my writing life, and how I adjusted my work. It looked like I’d have to give up on my writing life. And I did have to step back from some responsibilities for a while until we figured out what this was going to look like. I stayed flexible and worked late and was able to continue with … [Read more...]
Ep 7: Search and Destroy
In this week’s podcast (3:25) I share insight from a speaker who encouraged me to eliminate filler words from formal talks I give as well as from everyday conversation. I'm encouraging writers to do the same with their written work: search and destroy the filler words that distract from the meat of the message. Examples of filler words that show up in our speaking: … [Read more...]
The Writing Life – Episode 6: What’s the Next Action
(If you’re a subscriber reading this in email, please click to the website to use the audio player.) In this week’s four-ish minute podcast, you'll learn how I use one tip from the GTD productivity approach to break big writing projects into manageable chunks, prioritizing and ordering them as I go. Resources mentioned in the podcast: Bird by … [Read more...]
The Writing Life – Episode 5: A Writing Space with a Door
(If you’re a subscriber reading this in email, please click to website to use the audio player.) In this week’s three-and-a-half minute podcast, you'll hear about the conditions and circumstances under which E. B. White wrote—and those under which Glynn Young and Ann Kroeker continue to write. I allude to a passage from Stephen King's memoir On Writing that I … [Read more...]
The Writing Life – Episode 4: Goals vs Systems
(If you’re a subscriber reading this in email, please click to website to use the audio player.) In this week’s three-minute podcast, I share a few thoughts in response to an article by Jeff Haden in Inc. about the difference between goals and systems. After you listen, I'd love to hear some of your own responses both to the podcast and to the questions below. Do … [Read more...]
The Writing Life – Episode 3: Collaboration with Charity Singleton Craig
(If you’re a subscriber reading this in email, please click to website to use the audio player.) In this week's three-minute podcast, I interview my coauthor and friend Charity Singleton Craig about our collaboration, asking about some of the challenges and joys associated with our work together writing On Being a Writer. Her responses make me wonder about the … [Read more...]
The Writing Life – Episode 2: Rescue Lost Time
Listen to The Writing Life with Ann Kroeker Episode 2: Rescue Lost Time When over the past week might you have rescued lost time to work toward a writing deadline? What tool or tools might you use to start rescuing lost time? Learn more about: Google docs Voice-to-text feature on phones (some people use dragon, but I just use the dictation feature on my … [Read more...]
