Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker explore getting lost in the writing process, finding their way through rich storytelling, and the importance of creative community. <br/><br/><a href="https://writingisjoy.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">writingisjoy.substack.com</a>
Writing in the Dark
Claim This Podcastby Julia F. Green & Ralph Walker
5.0(13 reviews)
32 episodes
Updated Bi-weekly
Accepts GuestsHas Sponsors
32
Podcast Authority
BetaPoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality36
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement71
Podcast Overview
Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker explore getting lost in the writing process, finding their way through rich storytelling, and the importance of creative community. <br/><br/><a href="https://writingisjoy.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">writingisjoy.substack.com</a>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
4/19/2023
Unlock The Full Podcast Authority Score Report
See how your podcast performs across key metrics
32
Podcast Authority
BetaPoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality36
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement71
6
Excellent Areas
2
Good Performance
11
Growth Opportunities
excellent
Episode Length
43 minutes
Performing excellently!
good
Show Experience
27 episodes over 2.3 years
Recommendations available
Unlock the full report to see detailed tips
poor
Publishing Consistency
Every 31 days
Recommendations available
Unlock the full report to see detailed tips
+16 More Metrics
Unlock comprehensive insights including:
- • YouTube presence analysis
- • Social media reach metrics
- • RSS compliance scoring
- • Podcast 2.0 features
- • Technical standards
What's Included in Your Full Report
Detailed Analytics
- Complete breakdown of all 19 authority metrics
- Personalized recommendations for each metric
- Industry benchmarks and comparisons
- Technical RSS feed analysis and compliance scoring
Growth Strategies
- Step-by-step action plans for improvement
- Quick wins to boost your score immediately
- Pro tips from successful podcasters
Get your free podcast insights report
See how your show performs across every key metric
Instant delivery
No spam
Attract Better Guests
High authority scores make your podcast more attractive to industry leaders and influencers who want to appear on credible shows.
Secure Sponsorships
Sponsors look for podcasts with proven authority and engagement. Your score demonstrates your podcast's value to potential partners.
Grow Your Audience
Understanding your strengths and weaknesses helps you make data-driven decisions to expand your listener base effectively.
1 verified contact email on file for Writing in the Dark
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
April 24, 2026
Season 4, Episode 2: In Search of a Hero
<p>In this episode, Julia and Ralph are joined by award-winning novelist and Army veteran Nancy Stroer to dissect a short story by Benjamin Inks in which Jack Fleming, a fictional character invented as a joke, becomes a larger than life hero who inspires both American soldiers and Afghan citizens.</p><p><strong>Reading: </strong><a target="_blank" href="https://www.wrath-bearingtree.com/2022/06/06/new-fiction-from-benjamin-inks-jack-fleming-lives/">“Jack Fleming Lives!” by Benjamin Inks</a></p><p>They explore how the story’s choices about pacing, world building, and humor create an engrossing narrative with an almost unbelievable and yet totally convincing ending. Their discussion also touches on Tim O’Brien (author of The Things They Carried) and how sometimes fiction is the only way to tell the truth.</p><p>Nancy’s first novel, <a target="_blank" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/playing-army-nancy-stroer/65ec67666081d674?ean=9798888243701&next=t">Playing Army</a>, shares some of these themes; in it Lieutenant Minerva Mills struggles with the constraints of military life as she tries to avoid deployment to Bosnia, hoping instead to reconnect with her father who disappeared in Vietnam. </p><p><strong>Guest Bio</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://nancystroer.com/contact/">Nancy Stroer</a> holds degrees from Cornell and Boston University and served as an Army maintenance officer in the beer-soaked trenches of post-Cold War Germany. Her work has appeared in Stars and Stripes, Soldiers magazine, Hallaren Lit Mag, the Wrath-Bearing Tree, Consequence Forum and Things We Carry Still, an anthology of military writing from Middle West Press.</p><p>In addition to writing, Nancy is a teacher and trainer, and an adjunct faculty member of the Ellyn Satter Institute, a 503(c) not-for-profit organization that helps individuals and families develop a more joyful relationship to food and their bodies. Her debut novel, <a target="_blank" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/playing-army-nancy-stroer/65ec67666081d674?ean=9798888243701&next=t">Playing Army</a>, was a 2025 Military Writers Society of America bronze medalist for literary fiction.</p><p>You can find <a target="_blank" href="http://writingisjoy.substack.com/podcast">Writing in the Dark</a> on <a target="_blank" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/writing-in-the-dark/id1722684889">Apple Podcasts</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3psr6qkpWrD9MXiR7F57oN">Spotify</a> and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://writingisjoy.substack.com/podcast">Listen to previous episodes</a>.</p><p>Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (<a target="_blank" href="http://writingisjoy.substack.com">Substack</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.writingisjoy.com">website</a>) and Ralph Walker (<a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/RW_Igloo">Twitter</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ralphwalkerauthor.com">website</a>) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch.</p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Writing is Joy at <a href="https://writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe</a>
March 16, 2026
Season 4, Episode 1: A Fairy Tale Flipped
<p>Writing in the Dark is back! </p><p>To kick off Season 4, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker welcome Betsy Ellor to discuss The Daughter Cells, a short story by Daniel M. Lavery from the collection <a target="_blank" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-merry-spinster-tales-of-everyday-horror-daniel-m-lavery/d3841e1e3ba2e7bc?ean=9781250113429&next=t">Merry Spinster</a>.</p><p><strong>Reading: </strong><a target="_blank" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1deY8Z1a2sNHonyZ1hUp0kCObff1o_Gew/view?usp=sharing">The Daughter Cells</a></p><p>They explore how the author turns Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale of self-sacrifice into one of agency, complete with body horror, funny and biting critique of human culture, and a reimagined plot with a triumphant, if dark finale.</p><p>They also discuss Betsy’s new book, <a target="_blank" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/hera-kingdom-of-lies-betsy-ellor/abbc0ab50ce6e267?ean=9798274299466&next=t">Hera, Kingdom of Lies</a>, and how she created a story that centers Hera’s experience, drawing parallels between the immortal goddess’s experience and today’s overwhelmed working moms, both of whom struggle to maintain order amid chaos and patriarchy.</p><p>This conversation highlights the staying power of our oldest stories, why we come back to them again and again, and inspiring new interpretations that make these stories more relevant than ever. </p><p><strong>Guest Bio</strong></p><p>Betsy Ellor lives near the beach in a house filled with color and chaos. When not at her desk, she’s usually hiking, hunting for shells, or annoying her teenage son. She’s the editor for the anthology Heroic Care: 35 Writers & Artists Show What It Means to Care, and author of Sara Crew and My Dog is NOT A Scientist. </p><p>Her latest novel, <a target="_blank" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/hera-kingdom-of-lies-betsy-ellor/abbc0ab50ce6e267?ean=9798274299466&next=t">Hera: Kingdom of Lies</a>, is a Circe meets Scandal reimagining in a way every working woman will relate to. Her writing has been published in Spine Magazine, 5 Minute Lit, and The Creative Collective.</p><p>Find her on <a target="_blank" href="http://instagram.com/betsyellor">Instagram</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://betsyellor.substack.com/">Substack</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.threads.com/@betsyellor">Threads</a>.</p><p>You can find <a target="_blank" href="http://writingisjoy.substack.com/podcast">Writing in the Dark</a> on <a target="_blank" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/writing-in-the-dark/id1722684889">Apple Podcasts</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3psr6qkpWrD9MXiR7F57oN">Spotify</a> and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://writingisjoy.substack.com/podcast">Listen to previous episodes</a>.</p><p>Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (<a target="_blank" href="http://writingisjoy.substack.com">Substack</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.writingisjoy.com">website</a>) and Ralph Walker (<a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/RW_Igloo">Twitter</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ralphwalkerauthor.com">website</a>) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch.</p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Writing is Joy at <a href="https://writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe</a>
December 30, 2025
Season 3, Episode 10: Time is F——
<p>Time is fake? Time is a fungus? Time is f——?</p><p>As the year draws to a close, Ralph and Julia debate the truth of time and its role in the creative process. They discuss how they evaluate progress beyond word count and reflect on what they learned from this season’s guests. They also explore what’s in store for next year and how to keep pursuing creative goals joyfully. </p><p>Thanks to all our guests and listeners for making this year’s trip around the sun an instructive and entertaining journey. </p><p>Until next time, keep writing in the dark—we’ll see you there.</p><p>You can find <a target="_blank" href="http://writingisjoy.substack.com/podcast">Writing in the Dark</a> on <a target="_blank" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/writing-in-the-dark/id1722684889">Apple Podcasts</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3psr6qkpWrD9MXiR7F57oN">Spotify</a> and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://writingisjoy.substack.com/podcast">Listen to previous episodes</a>.</p><p>Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (<a target="_blank" href="http://writingisjoy.substack.com">Substack</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.writingisjoy.com">website</a>) and Ralph Walker (<a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/RW_Igloo">Twitter</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ralphwalkerauthor.com">website</a>) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch.</p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Writing is Joy at <a href="https://writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe</a>
32 total episodes available
Deep-dive analytics for Writing in the Dark
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Writing in the Dark?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates bi-weekly.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 7 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.