Welcome to the Writer Craft Podcast, a show about creativity and craft. Remember when you told your sister stories in the night, snuggled under the covers of your waterbed? Or read books from the public library that delighted you? And now you've written your own novel. But will it change someone's life? Is it a good enough book? Does it even work on the story level? On the Writer Craft Podcast, we help authors stay motivated and inspired, finish their books, and show them how to analyze and diagnose areas of challenge in their manuscripts once it's written.
Writer Craft Podcast
Claim This Podcastby Valerie Ihsan
5.0(4 reviews)
216 episodes
Updated Weekly
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68
Podcast Authority
BetaGoodBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality77
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YouTube68
Engagement81
Podcast Overview
Welcome to the Writer Craft Podcast, a show about creativity and craft. Remember when you told your sister stories in the night, snuggled under the covers of your waterbed? Or read books from the public library that delighted you? And now you've written your own novel. But will it change someone's life? Is it a good enough book? Does it even work on the story level? On the Writer Craft Podcast, we help authors stay motivated and inspired, finish their books, and show them how to analyze and diagnose areas of challenge in their manuscripts once it's written.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
2/28/2019
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Recent Episodes
June 15, 2026
Writing a Bridge Between the Physical and Spiritual Worlds with Rondalyn Whitney (Ep214)
<p><strong>Main Topic: Writing a Bridge Between the Physical and Spiritual Worlds with guest Rondalyn Whitney</strong></p> <p>Rondalyn Whitney is a writer and mental health occupational therapist whose work thrives at the intersection of storytelling and real-life healing. After losing her husband in an automobile accident and becoming a solo parent, Rondalyn has made it her mission to show that mourning is an occupation just as vital as any job or role. She brings that same realness to her writing, exploring how narrative and journal writing can help others process grief, especially widows struggling to find meaning and resilience.</p> <p> </p> <p>With her background in narrative medicine, mental health, and family-centered care, Rondalyn translates complex ideas into human language, guiding others to see how writing can transform pain into growth. She would bring not only expertise but genuine heart to your audience, sharing personal experience and practical ideas that resonate with writers facing life's hardest moments.</p> <p> </p> <ul> <li>PATREON:</li> </ul> <p>Thank you to my existing patrons for believing in my work offline and here in the podcast. If you are a patron, in either tier, you get all my content, always. You can support me and my dreams and my writing and my aligned author life for $11.11 USD, and I will be so so grateful. Truly. Heart to heart. Gratitude for your gifts. If you want coaching too (with TWO LIVE CALLS EACH MONTH, you can BACK me at $55.55/mo USD). You will NEVER find coaching sessions for less money than this. If you've ever wanted continued support for your writing and accountability for your projects, this is the way to do it.<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p> </p> <p>Become a patron of the arts and of me at <a href= "http://Patreon.com/valerieihsan">Patreon.com/valerieihsan</a>.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p> </p> <p>And you can support my friend and colleague and Visiting Co-Host author Erick Mertz at <a href= "https://patreon.com/strangeairstories">Patreon.com/strangeairstories</a> for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Announcements/Author Updates:</strong></p> <ul> <li>designing my next writing retreat in Costa Rica. My first international retreat (even though I live here) so there are a lot more moving pieces than I first imagined. Taking a four-month course to get me through all the legalities and best practices. If you are interested in the updates on the retreat, you can go to <a href= "http://valerieihsan.com/retreat">valerieihsan.com/retreat</a>.</li> <li>request to bring back a regular patron gathering for all members (paid and unpaid) Mini writing retreat (cozy, candle; oracle card pull to set intention; check-in: 1 struggle, 1 win, what you are working on tonight; guided meditation; writing words; share word count (optional)); PLEASE send me a DM or a comment where you heard this podcast, or in the Patreon community. Let me know if this is something you crave. It's not just shared writing space. It's a retreat from regular life (dishes, dogs, kids, day job) and a safe and sacred space to connect and to write.</li> <li>husband's birthday yesterday</li> <li><strong>saying goodbye to Radar Saturday</strong></li> <li><strong>email day isn't working for me -- need to go through it every day</strong></li> <li><strong>lots of input/education, trying to fit in homework around client work</strong></li> <li><strong>What are you reading?</strong></li> </ul> <ul> <li>Just finished: <span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></li> <li><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91279/9780593652886">Creative Act</a> (Rick Rubin)<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></li> <li><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91279/9781958924259">Mosswood Apothecary</a> (JP Rindfleisch IX)</li> <li><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91279/9781662969898">The Reliable Narrator</a> (Grace Sammon)</li> </ul> <ul> <li> </li> </ul> <p><strong>(Main Topic):<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong> Rondalyn Whitney is a writer and mental health occupational therapist whose work thrives at the intersection of storytelling and real-life healing. After losing her husband in an automobile accident and becoming a solo parent, Rondalyn has made it her mission to show that mourning is an occupation just as vital as any job or role. She brings that same realness to her writing, exploring how narrative and journal writing can help others process grief, especially widows struggling to find meaning and resilience.</p> <p> </p> <p>With her background in narrative medicine, mental health, and family-centered care, Rondalyn translates complex ideas into human language, guiding others to see how writing can transform pain into growth. As a Narrative Medicine Practitioner, she takes pride in using her expertise on Stress Reduction through Journal Writing to bridge the gap between the physical and spiritual parts of people's lives, including her own. Her writings explore multi-faceted and complex topics such as grief, loss, motherhood, and the spiritual world with depth and humor.<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Notes:</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>handwriting connects a loop in the brain. Journal writing</strong> <a href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_W._Pennebaker"><strong>James Pennybaker's</strong></a> <strong>work said emotional laden words on the page, healing response, increasing immune system; creates wonderful outcome. (Manifesting, RAS.) Reduce sense of fear, anxiety, loss (stress) creates an opening to what is present.</strong></li> <li><strong>first create nothing (sitting with emptiness and finding comfort with that)</strong></li> <li><strong>afraid of emptiness</strong></li> <li><strong>dev with emptiness in a story. W/o understanding it. Or that you"know the answer" before you even talk to the patient/client/character</strong></li> <li><strong>Ask our character's what's up?</strong></li> <li><strong>What's going on today? (Author)</strong></li> <li><strong>intersubjectivity (artist, art, third piece of the puzzle) (author, character, story)</strong></li> <li><strong>What's happening in that triangle?</strong></li> <li><strong>Take a nap while you write the professional chapter.</strong></li> <li><strong>inner artist child-like playful, curious sees things differently. Make up own language. (Boyaful, deer dog), open to magical moments</strong></li> <li><strong>how would a child describe this? What does this taste/smell/sound/feel like? Is it heavy?<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong></li> <li><strong>actually is no gap between physical and spiritual world, but writing is physical: muscles, brain, holding a physical object, in a physical space on a physical object. So, what is coming to you?spirit (own or universal source; spirit is always talking to us)<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong></li> <li><strong>Writing is active listening.</strong></li> <li><strong>the more in tuned (attuned) you are</strong></li> <li><strong>Creating a clear environment, practice sitting in emptiness, "Look! This one is empty over here" creativity/spirit flows the least resistance.<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong></li> <li><strong>Artists listen to something different. <3</strong></li> <li><strong>creative/meaningful get better faster. OT - artistic endeavor to apply; "Huh, that counts." (Poetry)</strong></li> <li><a href= "https://bookshop.org/a/91279/9781990688676"><strong>Habits of Widows</strong></a> <strong>(journaling);</strong> <a href= "https://bookshop.org/a/91279/9781990688713"><strong>Lies in the Afterlife</strong></a> <strong>(creative nonfiction, funny book about death); Unpublished: Current Title:</strong> <strong>Nothing for the Devil</strong><strong>. (No man has a voice in the book) McCoys feud with Hatfield. Retelling of feud with female voices;</strong> <strong>Dating in the Afterlife</strong> <strong>(Fictionalize it into several women's stories). (Parts of self: Pig Tail Girl; Yesterday Me, Today Me, Tomorrow Me)</strong></li> <li><strong>Three ways to talk about death: short and simple, medium-length version, graphic detail (used only for the purpose of making someone else feel bad when they've been mean to you).<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong></li> <li><strong>Ways to be invisible by choice: hat, shields up, wonder women bracelet.</strong></li> <li><strong>TRIANGLE: bring self to page, page is waiting, source comes.</strong></li> <li><strong>if spirit is a flow, make space, we are the path of least resistance.</strong></li> <li><strong>how find the voice of a character</strong></li> <li><strong>practice the emptiness</strong></li> <li><strong>Nothing was something, it was an opening for something to come in.</strong></li> <li><strong>linkedin,</strong> <a href= "https://www.facebook.com/rondalyn.whitney.3/"><strong>FB,</strong></a> <a href= "https://www.rondalynwhitney.com/"><strong>website</strong></a><strong>,</strong> <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/rondalynwhitney/"><strong>IG</strong></a><strong>/TikTok</strong></li> <li><strong>And don't forget:</strong></li> </ul> <p><strong>Go to</strong> <a href= "http://valerieihsan.com"><strong>valerieihsan.com</strong></a> <strong>to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Find Us:</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Valerie's Linktree: <a href= "https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan">https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p>Erick's Linktree link: <a href= "https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor">https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor</a></p> <p><strong>Tools:</strong></p> <p>ProWriting Aid: <a href= "https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378">https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378</a> (affiliate link)</p>
June 3, 2026
Growing Your Writing Community (Ep213)
<ul> <li>PATREON:</li> </ul> <p>Thank you to my existing patrons for believing in my work offline and here in the podcast. If you are a patron, in either tier, you get all my content, always. You can support me and my dreams and my writing and my aligned author life for $11.11 USD, and I will be so so grateful. Truly. Heart to heart. Gratitude for your gifts. If you want coaching too (with TWO LIVE CALLS EACH MONTH, you can BACK me at $55.55/mo USD). You will NEVER find coaching sessions for less money than this. If you've ever wanted continued support for your writing and accountability for your projects, this is the way to do it.<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p> </p> <p>Become a patron of the arts and of me at <a href= "http://Patreon.com/valerieihsan">Patreon.com/valerieihsan</a>.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p> </p> <p>And you can support my friend and colleague and Visiting Co-Host author Erick Mertz at <a href= "https://patreon.com/strangeairstories">Patreon.com/strangeairstories</a> for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Announcements/Author Updates:</strong></p> <ul> <li>designing my next writing retreat in Costa Rica. My first international retreat (even though I live here) so there are a lot more moving pieces than I first imagined. Taking a four-month course to get me through all the legalities and best practices. If you are interested in the updates on the retreat, you can go to <a href= "http://valerieihsan.com/retreat">valerieihsan.com/retreat</a>.</li> <li>request to bring back a regular patron gathering for all members (paid and unpaid) Mini writing retreat (cozy, candle; oracle card pull to set intention; check-in: 1 struggle, 1 win, what you are working on tonight; guided meditation; writing words; share word count (optional)); PLEASE send me a DM or a comment where you heard this podcast, or in the Patreon community. Let me know if this is something you crave. It's not just shared writing space. It's a retreat from regular life (dishes, dogs, kids, day job) and a safe and sacred space to connect and to write.</li> <li>talking with the architect, nailing down our must-haves, and waiting to approve the latest layout design, then there will be an initial payment and we'll then get a 3D rendering of the house.</li> <li>half to drive north to sign a document (complications with names and lawyers)</li> <li> </li> <li><strong>What are you reading?</strong></li> </ul> <ul> <li>Just finished:<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span> <a href= "https://bookshop.org/a/91279/9781950665440">Soul Sourced Entrepreneur</a> (Christine Kane) and Rain Delay (Erick Mertz - beta read)</li> <li><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91279/9780593652886">Creative Act</a> (Rick Rubin)<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></li> <li><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91279/9781958924259">Mosswood Apothecary</a> (JP Rindfleisch IX)</li> <li><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91279/9781662969898">The Reliable Narrator</a> (Grace Sammon)</li> </ul> <ul> <li> </li> </ul> <p><strong>(Main Topic):<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span> Notes:</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Google Search and ChatGPT search for English-speaking writing groups, critique groups, organizations, retreats, workshops, and conferences.</strong></li> <li><strong>CR colleagues in the writing world, ask them how they stay connected and keep writing</strong></li> <li><strong>ask my personal community/neighbors if there are any writers</strong></li> <li><strong>check online to find a good fit (perhaps ones already peripherally a part of), and re-engage</strong></li> <li><strong>accountability buddy (check-in via text/email, meet in person, chat through video calls, write together via video call)</strong></li> <li><strong>paid accountability (Rachael Herron's Write With Me), (micro-writing retreats for my patrons), book coaching</strong></li> <li><strong>online conferences, online summits, online masterclasses and workshops</strong></li> <li><strong>writing organizations often have online components.</strong></li> <li><strong>in this globalized world we live in now, we are never alone.<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong></li> <li> </li> </ul> <p><strong>And don't forget:</strong></p> <p><strong>Go to</strong> <a href= "http://valerieihsan.com"><strong>valerieihsan.com</strong></a> <strong>to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Find Us:</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Valerie's Linktree: <a href= "https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan">https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p>Erick's Linktree link: <a href= "https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor">https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor</a></p>
May 28, 2026
Truth-Telling in Fiction and Memoir with Grace Sammon (Ep212)
<p><strong>Main Topic: Truth-Telling in Fiction and Memoir with</strong> <a href="http://gracesammon.net"></a><a href= "https://www.gracesammon.net"><strong>Grace Sammon</strong></a></p> <p>But our conversation spans The Difference Between Telling Your Truth and Owning Your Truth; The Ghostwriter as a Literary Device; and Why Fiction Holds What Memoir Sometimes Can't; Who Owns the Truth and what Silence costs us; invisibility, and relevance. (Really interesting conversation.)</p> <ul> <li>PATREON:</li> </ul> <p>Thank you to my existing patrons for believing in my work offline and here in the podcast. If you are a patron, in either tier, you get all my content, always. You can support me and my dreams and my writing and my aligned author life for $11.11 USD, and I will be so so grateful. Truly. Heart to heart. Gratitude for your gifts. If you want coaching too (with TWO LIVE CALLS EACH MONTH, you can BACK me at $55.55/mo USD). You will NEVER find coaching sessions for less money than this. If you've ever wanted continued support for your writing and accountability for your projects, this is the way to do it.<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p> </p> <p>Become a patron of the arts and of me at <a href= "http://Patreon.com/valerieihsan">Patreon.com/valerieihsan</a>.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p> </p> <p>And you can support my friend and colleague and Visiting Co-Host author Erick Mertz at <a href= "https://patreon.com/strangeairstories">Patreon.com/strangeairstories</a> for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Announcements/Author Updates:</strong></p> <ul> <li>designing my next writing retreat in Costa Rica. My first international retreat (even though I live here) so there are a lot more moving pieces than I first imagined. Taking a four-month course to get me through all the legalities and best practices. If you are interested in the updates on the retreat, you can go to <a href= "http://valerieihsan.com/retreat">valerieihsan.com/retreat</a>.</li> <li>request to bring back a regular patron gathering for all members (paid and unpaid) Mini writing retreat (cozy, candle; oracle card pull to set intention; check-in: 1 struggle, 1 win, what you are working on tonight; guided meditation; writing words; share word count (optional)); PLEASE send me a DM or a comment where you heard this podcast, or in the Patreon community. Let me know if this is something you crave. It's not just shared writing space. It's a retreat from regular life (dishes, dogs, kids, day job) and a safe and sacred space to connect and to write.</li> <li>talking with the architect, nailing down our must-haves</li> <li>half to drive north to sign a document (complications with names and lawyers)</li> <li> </li> <li><strong>What are you reading?</strong></li> </ul> <ul> <li>Just finished: <span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></li> <li><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91279/9781950665440">Soul Sourced Entrepreneur</a> (Christine Kane)</li> <li><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91279/9781958924259">Mosswood Apothecary</a> (JP Rindfleisch IX)</li> <li><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91279/9781662969898">The Reliable Narrator</a> (Grace Sammon)</li> </ul> <p>Back-burner Books: (Still on the stack but haven't finished reading them yet...)</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91279/9780593652886">Creative Act</a> (Rick Rubin)<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></li> <li><a href="https://amzn.to/3WneI6B">Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals</a> by Oliver Burkeman;<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></li> </ul> <p><strong>(Main Topic):<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span> Notes:</strong></p> <p><strong>1. As a novelist, a memoirist, and an author looking into offering ghostwriting services, I was super intrigued by many of your talking points in your media kit. I hope we get to talk about all my favorites. Let's start with Why Fiction Holds What Memoir Sometimes Can't. That's a juicy statement!</strong></p> <p>A place for both; memoir is huge right now; tell our story to ourselves first, and then to others next. Hear a story better as fiction sometimes. Why you are writing the book?</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>2. I'm a sucker for books about authors, and the last novel that had that hook was also about a ghostwriter, what can you say about using the ghostwriter as a literary device?</strong> Fascinated by the job and wanted to dive into that; For instance, what is it like to see your book hit the NYT Bestseller List without your name on it? We see her through the stories she's writing.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>3. Difference Between Telling the Truth and Owning Your Truth.</strong></p> <p><strong>Experienced childhood abuse, can you hide behind your own story, what are these effects on me,</strong></p> <p><strong>Invisibility starts when you lose your roles and don't have anything to talk about it. Relevance, meaning, purpose.</strong></p> <p><strong>4. Who Owns the Truth? And What does silence cost us as women and as authors?</strong></p> <p><strong>(</strong><a href= "http://GoShiftKey.com"><strong>GoShiftKey.com</strong></a><strong>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong> <a href="https://goshiftkey.com/story/"><strong>Joelle)<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong></a></p> <ul> <li><strong><span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong></li> </ul> <p><strong>And don't forget:</strong></p> <p><strong>Go to</strong> <a href= "http://valerieihsan.com"><strong>valerieihsan.com</strong></a> <strong>to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Find Us:</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Valerie's Linktree: <a href= "https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan">https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p>Erick's Linktree link: <a href= "https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor">https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor</a></p> <p><strong>Tools:</strong></p> <p>ProWriting Aid: <a href= "https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378">https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378</a> (affiliate link)</p>
216 total episodes available
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