A publishing podcast for every writer, illuminating the publishing industry with episodes focused on craft, marketing, business, and mental health for writers of all experience levels. <br/><br/><a href="https://waywordwriters.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">waywordwriters.substack.com</a>
Way-Word Writers Podcast
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4.8(19 reviews)
117 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
58
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality86
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement77
Podcast Overview
A publishing podcast for every writer, illuminating the publishing industry with episodes focused on craft, marketing, business, and mental health for writers of all experience levels. <br/><br/><a href="https://waywordwriters.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">waywordwriters.substack.com</a>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
11/9/2023
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Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
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Recent Episodes
June 16, 2026
EPISODE 112: Writing Heart-Led Children’s Biographies with Nancy Churnin
<p></p><p>Way-Word Writers hosts Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer welcome award-winning children’s nonfiction author Nancy Churnin, known for inspiring stories about real people who changed the world. Churnin shares how a Dallas Morning News article about deaf baseball player William Hoy led to her first children’s book after a 13-year journey, launching her focus on lesser-known changemakers. She explains how she discovers subjects through curiosity and articles, approaches research differently depending on available sources, and ensures accuracy and cultural sensitivity by working closely with families, communities, and scholars. Churnin discusses finding the “heart” of each story, choosing what to include in picture book narratives, creating student projects tied to each book, lessons in perseverance and humility, and advice to write about someone you love, seek support, and stay focused on meaning over facts.</p><p>00:00 Meet Way-Word Writers</p><p>00:31 Introducing Nancy Churnin</p><p>02:15 Why Biographies</p><p>04:01 William Hoy Origin</p><p>07:18 Finding Story Subjects</p><p>11:16 Research Methods</p><p>14:38 Accuracy And Sensitivity</p><p>18:48 Choosing What Stays</p><p>21:03 Staying Focused On Theme</p><p>24:54 Empowerment Themes</p><p>26:05 Projects With Every Book</p><p>29:11 Biggest Writing Lesson</p><p>29:52 Perseverance Through Rejection</p><p>32:53 Craft Advice For Nonfiction</p><p>36:28 Rapid Fire Questions</p><p>40:15 School Visit Joy</p><p>42:42 Encouragement And Farewell</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://waywordwriters.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1">waywordwriters.substack.com</a>
June 2, 2026
EPISODE 111: Writing in the Dark: Jeannine Ouellette on Uncertainty, Slow Language, and Writing as a Path of Becoming
<p>Way-Word Writers hosts Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer introduce their mission and welcome guest Janine Ouellette, author of the lyric memoir The Part That Burns and creator of the <a target="_blank" href="https://writinginthedark.substack.com/"><strong>Substack Writing in the Dark</strong></a>, who teaches writing through the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop and at the University of Minnesota, with a forthcoming craft book One Word at a Time. Ouellette explains that writing “saved” her life by helping her become herself and transform childhood trauma into something separate and beautiful, echoing André Aciman’s idea that writers create empowering “versions of the past.” She frames writing as a non-dogmatic spiritual practice tied to attention and becoming, describes “Writing in the Dark” as embracing uncertainty and Keats’s “negative capability,” and discusses breaking through the “wall” with tools and community. She contrasts drafting (“morning”) with revision (“afternoon”), defines “sleepy” versus “awake” language via defamiliarization and specificity, and argues for “slow language” and anti-capitalist, process-over-product practice that values playful exercises and creative risk.</p><p>00:00 Welcome to Way-Word</p><p>00:34 Meet Janine Ouellette</p><p>02:40 Writing Saved My Life</p><p>06:20 Versions of the Past</p><p>07:41 Writing as Becoming</p><p>09:51 Uncertainty and Negative Capability</p><p>13:16 Breaking Through the Wall</p><p>17:01 Waking Up Language</p><p>24:45 Story Thinking in Life</p><p>33:00 Writing as Transformation</p><p>40:22 Slow Language and Play</p><p>46:08 Closing and Connect</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Part-That-Burns-Jeannine-Ouellette/dp/1952897068"><strong>The Part That Burns </strong></a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Part-That-Burns-Jeannine-Ouellette/dp/1952897068"><strong>by Jeannine Ouellette</strong></a></p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://waywordwriters.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1">waywordwriters.substack.com</a>
April 28, 2026
EPISODE 110: Inside Today’s Cookbook Market with Agent Sally Ekus
<p></p><p>Way-Word Writers cohosts (Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer) welcome senior literary agent Sally Ekus of the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency’s Ekus Group to discuss the current cookbook market and how cookbooks remain viable alongside online recipes. Ekus explains how food culture has expanded opportunities for niche, concept- and technique-driven cookbooks, and why success still depends on exceptional, tested, clearly written recipes plus voice, concept, and platform. She addresses myths such as “everyone loves my family recipes” and “it will be easy,” emphasizes choosing the right medium, and suggests beginners study bookstore shelves, acknowledgments, and agents’ query preferences. Ekus outlines a portfolio approach to platform building and shares resources from her free Substack, including proposal guidelines and where-to-begin posts, plus advice on “coffee table cookbook” positioning.</p><p>00:00 Welcome to Way-Word</p><p>00:32 Why Cookbooks Now</p><p>01:08 Meet Agent Sally Ekus</p><p>03:07 Cookbook Market Snapshot</p><p>05:07 Online Recipes vs Books</p><p>06:22 Why We Buy Cookbooks</p><p>07:15 Only Three Recipes</p><p>09:28 What Makes Success</p><p>11:11 Cookbook Myths Busted</p><p>12:56 Should You Write One</p><p>14:16 Getting Started Research</p><p>15:29 Self Publishing Options</p><p>16:27 Platform and Pitch Strategy</p><p>19:11 Publishing Is A Long Game</p><p>19:28 Fiction Platforms And Publisher Risk</p><p>20:17 AI Disruption And Human Trust</p><p>21:32 Why She Built The Newsletter</p><p>23:02 Hyper Mentorship And Skill Sessions</p><p>26:12 Cookbook Structure As Story Craft</p><p>27:49 Proposal Guidelines And Where To Begin</p><p>29:38 Coffee Table Cookbook Myth</p><p>31:39 Books That Changed Her Cooking</p><p>34:12 Lightning Round And Farewell</p><p>Find Sally at JVNLA <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jvnla.com/sallyekus">HERE</a> and on Substack at <a target="_blank" href="https://notsosecretagent.substack.com/">Not So Secret Agent</a>!</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://waywordwriters.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1">waywordwriters.substack.com</a>
117 total episodes available
Recent guests on Way-Word Writers Podcast
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Wendy Dale
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Gretchen Schafer
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Nicole Meyer
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Victoria Strauss
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Leslie J Wyatt
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Jamie Dalton
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