On Creative Writing is a monthly podcast show exploring all things creative writing, including fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, scripts, and essays. Host Sheelagh Caygill will interview knowledgeable and experienced guests about the craft of writing, all genres of writing,the impact of AI on creative writing and publishing, book marketing, publicists, all types of publishing, agents, websites and online platforms, and much more. Sheelagh is completing an MA in Contemporary Creative Writing at Northeastern University London. Discover more at Oncreativewriting.com.
On Creative Writing
Claim This Podcastby Sheelagh Caygill
35 episodes
Updated Daily
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Podcast Overview
On Creative Writing is a monthly podcast show exploring all things creative writing, including fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, scripts, and essays. Host Sheelagh Caygill will interview knowledgeable and experienced guests about the craft of writing, all genres of writing,the impact of AI on creative writing and publishing, book marketing, publicists, all types of publishing, agents, websites and online platforms, and much more. Sheelagh is completing an MA in Contemporary Creative Writing at Northeastern University London. Discover more at Oncreativewriting.com.
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Publishing Since
5/27/2025
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Recent Episodes
June 12, 2026
How Kim Mannix uses poetry to confirm humanity amidst chaos
<p>In this episode of On Creative Writing, host Sheelagh Caygill sits down with Canadian poet <a href="https://makesmesodigress.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Kim Mannix</a> to discuss Kim's debut poetry collection, Confirm Humanity, published in October 2025 by <a href="https://wildskiespress.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Wild Skies Press</a>. Kim shares insights into her journey as a writer, beginning with her background in journalism and how it has influenced her approach to poetry. </p><p>Kim talks about the ways in which her experience as a journalist—her attention to detail, curiosity, and ability to distill complex stories—translates into her poetic voice, allowing her to capture both the personal and the universal in her work.</p><p>They explore the themes that run through Confirm Humanity, including grief, motherhood, and the impact of global violence. Kim describes how poetry has become a vital tool for processing difficult emotions and making sense of the world’s chaos. She discusses the therapeutic aspects of writing, and how putting feelings into words can offer both solace and clarity.</p><p>Kim reads four poems from Confirm Humanity, including "Disturbing the Peace" and "Watercolour." Kim introduces each poem, offering context about their origins and the emotions behind them. She explains how prompts—whether from writing groups, workshops, or her own curiosity—often spark her creative process, pushing her to explore new ideas and perspectives. Kim shares anecdotes about how certain poems emerged from unexpected moments or observations, highlighting the serendipitous nature of inspiration.</p><p>The episode also touches on Kim’s fascination with true crime and unsolved cases, a theme she hints will be central to a future chapbook project. She discuss the ethical considerations of writing about real-life tragedies, and how poetry can offer a space to honor victims’ stories while grappling with the complexities of justice and memory. Kim reflects on the responsibility writers have when engaging with sensitive material, and how she strives to approach these subjects with empathy and respect.</p><p>Kim also talks about her role as board president of the the <a href="https://edmontonpoetryfestival.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Edmonton Poetry Festival</a>, reflecting on the importance of community and collaboration in the literary world. She emphasizes how being part of a vibrant poetry scene has shaped her own writing and provided opportunities to connect with other poets and readers. </p><p>Kim has lived in many places in Canada and now lives in Sherwood Park, Alberta. She offers advice for aspiring poets, encouraging them to embrace vulnerability, seek out supportive communities, and remain open to experimentation. She underscores the value of reading widely and engaging with diverse voices, noting how exposure to different styles and perspectives has enriched her own work. The episode concludes with Kim sharing her hopes for the impact of Confirm Humanity, expressing a desire for readers to find connection, comfort, and a sense of shared humanity in her poems.</p><p>Find Kim's book in all independent bookstores and online, and find Kim at <a href="https://makesmesodigress.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Makesmesodigress.com</a>.</p>
May 26, 2026
How can poetry capture the long shadows of disaster and memory?
<p>In this episode of On Creative Writing, guest host and poet Marco Melfi sits down with talented poet Stephanie Bolster to discuss her latest collection, Long Exposure (Palimpsest Press, 2025). The conversation examines the book’s remarkable 15-year creation process, revealing how time, patience, and evolving perspectives shaped the final work.</p><p>Stephanie, who is a creative writing professor at Concordia University, Montreal, shares insights into Long Exposure's fragmented long-poem structure, explaining how this form allowed her to capture the complexity and multiplicity of disasters—both natural and man-made.</p><p>Marco, author of the poetry collection Routine Maintenance (Gaspereau Press, 2025), asks Stephanie about the central events that inspired Long Exposure, including Hurricane Katrina, the Chernobyl disaster, and the COVID-19 pandemic. She talks about her approach to writing about these catastrophes, emphasizing the importance of bearing witness without appropriating others’ suffering, and the ethical challenges of representing trauma and disaster. Stepanie says she strives to balance the chaos inherent in such events with moments of humanity and empathy in her poetry.</p><p>Some poets are inspired by, or focus on, the sounds of their poems, while others are inspired by images. The images may be a fleeting image created by a few words and vivid in the mind's eye for a few moments. Or they may be seen in a book, galleries, museums, etcetera, or what a poet observes as they move through their day. For Stephanie, the photographs of Canadian photographer Robert Polidori have impacted and inspired her. She explains how the act of taking and viewing photographs parallels the experience of writing about disaster: both involve framing, selection, and sometimes, a necessary distance. She describes how photographs can both reveal and obscure truth, and how this duality influenced her poetic choices.</p><p>Stephanie reads several evocative excerpts from Long Exposure, each illuminating the systemic failures that often underlie large-scale disasters and the profound human cost that follows. Her readings highlight the tension between the personal and the collective, the seen and the unseen, and the immediate and the historical. Marco and Stephanie discuss how poetry can serve as a form of testimony, offering space for reflection, mourning, and, ultimately, understanding, and Marco also draws attention to Stephanie’s use of sparse punctuation and unconventional visual formatting, noting how these stylistic decisions mirror the book’s themes of displacement, fragmentation, and loss.</p><p>Throughout the episode, Marco skillfully guides the conversation, drawing connections between Stephanie’s poetic techniques and the broader questions her work raises about memory, responsibility, and the role of the artist in times of crisis. Stephanie answers with insightful and revealing reflections on her writing, including the challenges of sustaining a long-term project and the ways in which her own thinking about disaster and representation evolved over the years.</p><p>Poets and readers of poetry curious about the intersections of art and social responsibility will find that this podcast episode offers thoughtful conversation and many insights.</p><p>On Creative Writing is grateful to Marco for taking the host's seat, and to Stephanie for her wonderful responses to Marco's questions.</p><p><strong>Links:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.stephaniebolster.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Stephanie Bolster</a>.</p><p><a href="https://palimpsestpress.ca/books/long-exposure-stephanie-bolster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Long Exposure by Stephanie Bolster</a>.</p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/hellotarko/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Marco Melfi</a>.</p><p><a href="https://gaspereaupress.com/books/routine-maintenance/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Routine Maintenance, by Marco Melfi</a>.</p><p><a href="https://www.robertpolidori.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Photographer Robert Polidori</a>.</p>
May 19, 2026
Sadiqa de Meijer on poetry, essay writing, attention, and mixed identity
<p><a href="https://www.oncreativewriting.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">On Creative Writing</a> host Sheelagh Caygill welcomes essayist and poet <a href="https://www.sadiqademeijer.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Sadiqa de Meijer</a>, based in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. </p><p>Sadiqa provides a thoughtful meditation on what it means to belong, to create, and to live attentively in a fast-paced world, and also reads the poem 'Living Rooms of Qaf' from her new collection, <a href="https://vehiculepress.com/shop/qafs-people-by-sadiqa-de-meijer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Qaf's People</a>.</p><p>To prepare for this interview, Sheelagh read Sadiqa's writing and listened to quite a few podcasts interviews with Sadiqa, and thinks of this episode as, unofficially, part three of conversations Sadiqa had with Liisa Kovlova, host of Women Writing - <a href="https://liisakovalawomenwriting.substack.com/p/s2-ep-35-coffee-break-with-sadiqa" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">listen here</a>, and with Hollay Ghadery, host of New Books Network - <a href="https://newbooksnetwork.com/in-the-field" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">listen here</a>. </p><p>Sadiqa was born in The Netherlands and moved to Canada with her parents when she began high school. In this interview, she reflects on her mixed Dutch-Kenyan heritage and how this duality profoundly shapes her perspective as a writer. Sheelagh and Sadiqa discuss the complexities of cultural identity and the nuances of the immigrant experience, exploring how these themes surface in Sadiqa’s essays and poetry.</p><p>Sadiqa shares how her upbringing and family background have influenced her sense of belonging and the way she navigates questions of home and language. She describes the challenges and rewards of writing from a place of hybridity, where multiple cultural influences intersect and inform her voice. The discussion touches on the importance of honouring one’s roots while also embracing the fluidity of identity, especially in a multicultural society like Canada.</p><p>A significant part of the episode is devoted to Sadiqa’s creative process. She emphasizes the vital role of feeling and intuition in her writing, explaining how she tunes into her emotional landscape to access deeper truths. Sadiqa offers practical advice for writers at various stages of their writing careers. She advocates for the practice of attentiveness—being fully present and observant in everyday life—as a wellspring for creative inspiration. She also highlights the value for writers of keeping a notebook and journaling, not just as a records of events, but as a tools for exploring thoughts, emotions, and sensory experiences in greater depth.</p><p>In addition to writing, Sadiqa says that drawing and other visual arts can enhance a writer’s powers of observation. She encourages writers to experiment with sketching as a way to slow down, notice details, and engage with the world in a more mindful way. This holistic approach to creativity, she suggests, can lead to richer, more authentic work.</p><p>Sadiqa explores the intersection of art, identity, and mindful living. She discusses how writing can be a form of self-discovery and a means of forging connections across cultural boundaries. Her insights will give listeners a deeper appreciation for what's involved in essay writing, and particularly essays infused with poetry, as well as strategies for cultivating creativity and self-awareness. </p><p>Discover Sadiqa de Meijer’s unique perspective on writing, identity, and the power of mindful observation. </p><p><strong>Links:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.oncreativewriting.com/post/sadiqa-de-meijer-on-language-place-and-the-prism-of-consciousness" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Sadiqa's Q&A with Oncreativewriting.com.</a></p><p>The long poem Sadiqa references: <a href="https://sufipathoflove.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/the-conference-of-the-birds.pdf" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">The Conference of the Brids</a>.</p><p>One of the essays Sadiqa reads from is, 'After Etty', is about <a href="https://www.the-low-countries.com/article/etty-hillesum-a-life-interrupted-a-spirit-unperturbed/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Etty Hillesum</a>, the Jewish-Dutch diarist who was imprissoned in <a href="https://kampwesterbork.nl/en/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Kamp Westerbork</a> and then murdered at <a href="https://www.auschwitz.org/en/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Auschwiz concentration camp</a> on November 30, 1943.</p><p>The essays titled 'Dwaallichtjes': Dwaallichtjes is the Dutch term for the eerie-looking lights hovering over bogs and swamps that are usually the result of swamp gas (e.g. methane) oxidizing in the dark. In Dutch folklore tales, dwaaslichtjes are described as the souls of unbaptized children, mischievous elves, or spirits of the dead attempting to lead unwary travelers into danger. <a href="https://ilightu.nl/en/lightart-2026/dwaallicht/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Read more</a>, or listen <a href="https://soundcloud.com/i-light-u/dwaallicht-2026-ilu-eng-19" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">here</a>. (English term: Will-o'the-wisp).</p><p>The film Sadiqa mentions which influenced the poem 'Living Rooms of Qaf' from her new collection Qaf's People is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Language_(2024_film)" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Universal Language</a>.</p>
35 total episodes available
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