Parents Who Write
Erin P.T. Canning
Repeat after me: "I cannot do the dishes until I sit down and write for at least 10 minutes."
Welcome to Parents Who Write, the podcast that helps you pursue your writing dreams.
Join host, Erin P.T. Canning—an indie author, editor, writing coach, and mom of two young boys—as she helps you to regularly make time for your writing, strengthen your voice, and gain confidence and direction, so you can own your identity as a writer and thrive as an author.
You’ll hear from other writers and authors as they share (1) how and why they make time to write, (2) what keeps them inspired, and (3) what they’ve learned throughout their journey, including publishing and marketing tips. Their experiences will inspire you and help you find solutions to the struggles that many writers face.
We’ll also talk about the craft of creative writing, including my personal favorite genres of fantasy and romance, and discuss techniques you can apply to your own manuscripts.
Enjoy the laughs, the writing tips, the occasional parenting stories, and the relief in knowing you’re not alone. Episodes release every other Tuesday.
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Top 10 Parents Who Write Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Parents Who Write episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Parents Who Write for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Parents Who Write episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
32. From postpartum depression to author w/ Samantha Bryant
Parents Who Write
01/31/23 • 37 min
When postpartum depression strikes, escaping those feelings can seem impossible. But finding a way to overcome the impossible and turn what we view as a weakness into our strength is part of what draws us to superheroes.
Joining today’s conversation is Samantha Bryant, an author of horror and superheroes. This mom of two returned to creative writing as a means to help herself through postpartum depression.
Learn how Samantha established healthy boundaries with her children to safeguard her writing time. You’ll also hear about the evolution of her children adjusting to her writing needs and becoming her biggest supporters.
So, if you want to hear how Samantha turned a forgotten hobby into a writing career that includes superheroes, tune in today’s episode.
Topics discussed:
- Writing to process the world
- The slow decline of writing post-childbirth
- PPD and getting back into writing
- Weekend family team meetings
- Pursing writing beyond being a hobby
- Implementing a daily writing habit
- The kids’ reactions to mom writing
- How healthy boundaries change as kids grow up
- Writing has no age limit
- Looking back at our earlier writings
- For the love of superheroes
- No right way to go about a writing life
- Favorite books
- Don’t wait to start writing again
About Samantha:
Samantha writes half-hero and half-horror, depending on whether she wants to save the world or watch it burn. Her superhero series comprises four novels, two novellas, and a collection of shorts and will conclude with the fifth novel in 2024. Her short-form horror work appears in several anthologies.
She parents an adult daughter and a teenage non-binary kid with her patient husband. La Casa Bryant is in a small town in North Carolina.
Get her books:
- Menopausal Superhero series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074CHNLQ2
- Anthologies with her horror stories: https://bit.ly/SamanthaBryant
Connect w/ Samantha:
- Website: http://samanthabryant.com
- FB: https://www.facebook.com/samanthadunawaybryant
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/samanthabwriter
- IG: https://www.instagram.com/samanthabwriter
Books discussed during the show:
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
- Comic books: Spider-Man, Underdog, Archie, Red Sonya, X-Men, and Uncanny X-Men
- The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Blck
- Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne
- Pajama Time and Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton
- Junie B. Jones by Barbra Park
- Franny K. Stein by Jim Benton
- Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
- The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Feeling stuck in your author journey? As an experienced editor, I specialize in helping writers like you, especially parents juggling family and creativity, finish and publish their books.
Take action on your writing dreams! Book a FREE 30-minute discovery call to discuss how I can help you implement these strategies and finally achieve your author goals.
https://calendly.com/parentswhowrite/30min-meeting
Bonus! Book your call and mention this episode for a free publishing check list.
33. Setting up your writer’s profile on Facebook
Parents Who Write
02/07/23 • 14 min
Have you contemplated creating a writer’s profile, but you aren’t sure if that’s necessary, what the benefits might be, or when would even be the right time?
In this episode, you’ll not only learn the answers to these questions but also walk away with tips like what to beware of so that your second profile doesn’t get shut down AND how to set up your writer’s profile so that you maximize its potential.
Think this doesn’t apply to you (yet)? You may be surprised.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Keeping personal and public information separate
- Networking and collecting fans
- How you present yourself
- What about pen names
- Using a writer’s profile with a writer’s page
- When you should set up a writer’s profile
- Creating a new email
- Using an alternative phone number
- Choosing your writer’s profile name
- The repercussions of sending too many friend requests
- How to maximize your profile
- What to include on your cover photo
- Tips for your profile picture
- Uses for an author logo
- Streamlining your info on your profile
- Reviewing Erin’s writer’s profile as an example
About Erin:
For 15 years, Erin has worked as a magazine and book editor, encouraging each writer’s individual voice and strengthening their writing goals. When she became a parent, she set aside her own writing aspirations to focus on her family. As the years passed, she grew increasingly anxious, depressed, and angry until she realized that she had forgotten who she was beyond being a parent.
Despite fearing her skills had atrophied, Erin started writing again. She first created her blog, Life Beyond Parenting, and then created the Parents Who Write podcast. Erin’s current role as a podcaster and writing coach enables her to help parents pursue their writing dreams.
She earned her MA in Writing from Johns Hopkins University, and she has finished the first draft of a fantasy-romance novel. She lives with her husband and their two young boys in Maryland.
Connect with Erin:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinptcanning
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/erinptcanning
- Facebook group: https://facebook.com/groups/parentswhowrite
- Book a free 30-minute consultation call: https://calendly.com/parentswhowrite/30min-meeting
Resources discussed during the show:
- Canva
Feeling stuck in your author journey? As an experienced editor, I specialize in helping writers like you, especially parents juggling family and creativity, finish and publish their books.
Take action on your writing dreams! Book a FREE 30-minute discovery call to discuss how I can help you implement these strategies and finally achieve your author goals.
https://calendly.com/parentswhowrite/30min-meeting
Bonus! Book your call and mention this episode for a free publishing check list.
54. Giving yourself permission to write now w/ Megan Clancy
Parents Who Write
10/10/23 • 41 min
For many parents, moms in particular, society perpetuates the idea that we should sacrifice everything for our children. So how do we push that aside and give ourselves permission to write now and pursue our creative dreams?
In this episode, you’ll hear how Megan Clancy did that—not only for herself but also the writers she coaches. Megan is a writer of upmarket women's fiction and queer contemporary romance, a book coach, a former high school English teacher, and a mother of two young children.
Needless to say, she has a lot to say on this topic.
So stay tuned to learn how she’s overcome these obstacles. And bonus: Find out how to own your identity as a writer today.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Losing yourself and writing in parenthood
- Fighting against societal norms
- Changing your mindset
- Setting boundaries with the family
- Owning your identity as a writer now
- Addressing the impossibility of writing dreams as mothers
- Getting past mom guilt
- Finding your confidence
- Sapphic women’s fiction
- Favorite books
About Megan:
Megan Clancy is a writer of upmarket women's fiction and queer contemporary romance. She has a BA in English/Creative Writing from Colorado College, an MFA from the University of Melbourne, and worked as a high school English teacher before becoming a full-time writer and book coach. She loves to travel, which frequently inspires her writing, and has lived and worked in Australia, Nepal, and the United States. She currently lives in California with her husband and two young children.
Get her book:
- The Burden of a Daughter: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1937818993/
Connect with Megan
- Website: http://www.meganaclancy.com/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mclancyauthor
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mclancyauthor/
Books discussed during the show:
- The No-Show, by Beth O’Leary
- Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus
- Delilah Green Doesn’t Care, by Ashley Herring Blake
- The Magic Treehouse, by Mary Pope Osborne
- Dragon Masters, by Tracey West
- I Built a House, by Chris Van Dunsen
- Maybe, by Kobi Yamada
- The Remember Balloons, by Jessie Oliveros
- Robin and Her Misfits, by Kelly Ann Jacobson
- Tinkerbell and Wendy, by Kelly Ann Jacobson
Feeling stuck in your author journey? As an experienced editor, I specialize in helping writers like you, especially parents juggling family and creativity, finish and publish their books.
Take action on your writing dreams! Book a FREE 30-minute discovery call to discuss how I can help you implement these strategies and finally achieve your author goals.
https://calendly.com/parentswhowrite/30min-meeting
Bonus! Book your call and mention this episode for a free publishing check list.
24. Finishing the first draft: Staying motivated
Parents Who Write
12/06/22 • 14 min
Many writers dream of publication, but you can’t fine tune your piece of writing, let alone pitch it to the right publisher, until you have a finished writing that draft.
If only 5% of writers finish their first draft, how can you set yourself up for success to ensure you’re part of that group?
In today’s episode, Erin is sharing how she finished her first draft in 2022! Her biggest piece of advice is to understand how you personally can motivate yourself, because we all have those moments when we lose steam, even when writing a story we’re excited about.
Erin also covers the topics of positive reinforcement and creating a rewards system, tracking progress, and sharing your wins. Tune in for all this and more to finish that first draft!
About Erin:
For 15 years, Erin has worked as a magazine and book editor, encouraging each writer’s individual voice and strengthening their writing goals. When she became a parent, she set aside her own writing aspirations to focus on her family. As the years passed, she grew increasingly anxious, depressed, and angry until she realized that she had forgotten who she was beyond being a parent.
Despite fearing her skills had atrophied, Erin started writing again. She first created her blog, Life Beyond Parenting, and then created the Parents Who Write podcast. Erin’s current role as a podcaster and writing coach enables her to help parents pursue their writing dreams.
She earned her MA in Writing from Johns Hopkins University, and she has finished the first draft of a fantasy-romance novel. She lives with her husband and their two young boys in Maryland.
Connect with Erin:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinptcanning
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/erinptcanning
- Facebook group: https://facebook.com/groups/parentswhowrite
- Book a free 30-minute discovery call: https://calendly.com/parentswhowrite/30min-meeting
Feeling stuck in your author journey? As an experienced editor, I specialize in helping writers like you, especially parents juggling family and creativity, finish and publish their books.
Take action on your writing dreams! Book a FREE 30-minute discovery call to discuss how I can help you implement these strategies and finally achieve your author goals.
https://calendly.com/parentswhowrite/30min-meeting
Bonus! Book your call and mention this episode for a free publishing check list.
05. Writing about difficult, familial subjects w/ Camisha Broussard
Parents Who Write
07/01/22 • 30 min
She turned tragedy into an opportunity to openly discuss mental health with her own child.
Camisha Broussard, a mom of four, English college professor, and author of Daddy Issues, A Memoir, is on the show today.
In this episode, she shares how she met her current husband, the love of her life, late in life. She discusses what pulls her to write, what gets her to keep coming back, and how writing has enabled her and her son to have an open discussion about his depression and thoughts on suicide. ⚠️ Warning: This episode discusses depression and suicide. ⚠️
Camisha also offers inspiration on how to keep writing despite fear of judgment from others or yourself.
Get her book:
- Daddy Issues, A Memoir:
https://www.camleypublishing.com/product/Daddy-Issues-A-Memoir-Camisha-Broussard/1 - 25% off coupon code: PWW25ERIN (expires 31 DEC 2022)
Connect with Camisha:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MishasThyme/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mishasthyme/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MishasThyme
- Website: https://www.camishabroussard.com/
Books mentioned during the show:
- The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold
- Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens
- How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight, by Jane Yolen
- Half of a Yellow Sun, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Feeling stuck in your author journey? As an experienced editor, I specialize in helping writers like you, especially parents juggling family and creativity, finish and publish their books.
Take action on your writing dreams! Book a FREE 30-minute discovery call to discuss how I can help you implement these strategies and finally achieve your author goals.
https://calendly.com/parentswhowrite/30min-meeting
Bonus! Book your call and mention this episode for a free publishing check list.
01. Becoming a parent who writes
Parents Who Write
07/01/22 • 19 min
Becoming a parent changes us in ways we could never imagine. We experience an inexplicably unique kind of love through our children. However, the 24/7 nature of parenthood can also challenge us physically, mentally, and emotionally, leaving us with little time to remember who we are beyond being a parent.
This is exactly what happened to the host of the Parents Who Write podcast, Erin P.T. Canning. After she set aside her creativity, she found herself slowly struggling more and more with feeling anxious, angry, overwhelmed, and unworthy, especially in her parenting.
No one should feel alone in their struggles. That’s why Erin created the Parents Who Write community, so she could share her own story and support others in owning and changing theirs too.
For writers like Erin, whose self-expression through writing is at the core of who they are, losing the time and confidence to write is equivalent to losing a part of themselves. In starting this podcast, Erin hopes to inspire others to start dreaming again and putting pen to paper.
Tune in to hear Erin’s emotional journey, from a 6-year period of anxiety and depression to rediscovering herself and her passion for writing!
Connect with Erin:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinptcanning
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/erinptcanning
Feeling stuck in your author journey? As an experienced editor, I specialize in helping writers like you, especially parents juggling family and creativity, finish and publish their books.
Take action on your writing dreams! Book a FREE 30-minute discovery call to discuss how I can help you implement these strategies and finally achieve your author goals.
https://calendly.com/parentswhowrite/30min-meeting
Bonus! Book your call and mention this episode for a free publishing check list.
01/02/24 • 17 min
It’s that time of year again when we ponder what we want to achieve in the new year. For parents who write, our lives are exceptionally busy, so planning our writing goals is crucial to our success. However, we also need to intentionally set writing goals that we can realistically achieve.
So if you haven’t already sat down to plan out your writing goals for the new year, use this template that is tried, tested, and true. Help set yourself up for success and ensure that whatever story is living inside of you does, in fact, come to life.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Digging deep into why you write
- Setting realistic goals
- Tracking your progress
- Planning ahead
- Identifying potential obstacles and solutions
- Finding the right accountability community
- Conquering self-doubt
- Telling your inner judge to wait their turn
- Identifying your audience
- Connecting with one person
- Redefining what it means to be a writer
Editing w/ Parents Who Write:
Ready to stop circling around your manuscript? As an experienced professional editor, I can help you finish your book with confidence and direction. Learn more by visiting ParentsWhoWrite.com/editing, and book a free 30-minute call with me to discuss what’s right for you.
Connect with Parents Who Write:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parentswhowrite
- Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentswhowrite
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/parentswhowrite
- Book a free 30-minute consultation call to learn about my editing services: https://calendly.com/parentswhowrite/30min-meeting
Feeling stuck in your author journey? As an experienced editor, I specialize in helping writers like you, especially parents juggling family and creativity, finish and publish their books.
Take action on your writing dreams! Book a FREE 30-minute discovery call to discuss how I can help you implement these strategies and finally achieve your author goals.
https://calendly.com/parentswhowrite/30min-meeting
Bonus! Book your call and mention this episode for a free publishing check list.
11/07/23 • 25 min
Ever wonder what fuels the creative fire of women authors?
In today’s episode, you’re going to hear from seven incredible women authors who attended The Write Women Book Fest 2023 in Bowie, Maryland.
We'll dive into their inspiring journeys and explore what ignited their writing passions, the lengths of their literary careers, and whether they always envisioned themselves as authors. We'll also uncover what makes their chosen genres special to them.
Whether you're a fellow parent-writer looking for inspiration and camaraderie or simply someone who appreciates the art of storytelling, these interviews are bound to offer insight and wisdom.
So, let's dive into the worlds of these talented women and discover how they've harnessed the power of imagination to pen incredible tales.
Authors included in this episode:
- Cheryl Woodruff Brooks, https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07P45YFQS
- ER Griffin, https://ergriffin.site/
- Eden Appiah-Kubi, https://edenawrites.com/
- Heather M., https://www.amazon.com/stores/Heather-M/author/B0813YGJ6V
- Jeaniene Frost, https://www.jeanienefrost.com/
- KL Richardson, https://www.amazon.com/stores/K.L.-Richardson/author/B0CGP19D62
- Laurisa Brant, https://laurisabrandt.com/
Connect with Parents Who Write:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parentswhowrite
- Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentswhowrite
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/parentswhowrite
- Website: https://parentswhowrite.com
- Book a free 30-minute consultation call:
https://calendly.com/parentswhowrite/30min-meeting
Feeling stuck in your author journey? As an experienced editor, I specialize in helping writers like you, especially parents juggling family and creativity, finish and publish their books.
Take action on your writing dreams! Book a FREE 30-minute discovery call to discuss how I can help you implement these strategies and finally achieve your author goals.
https://calendly.com/parentswhowrite/30min-meeting
Bonus! Book your call and mention this episode for a free publishing check list.
64. Cracking the Code: How to Attract Readers on Social Media
Parents Who Write
02/27/24 • 17 min
Do you want to spend months, maybe even years, toiling away at the keyboard, birthing characters, perfecting your story, and publishing your writing—only for no one to read it?
No, of course not. We want our words to find our ideal readers because we love writing—most days.
But in order for our words to find those ideal readers, you have to learn the marketing side of this business too, regardless of whether you self-published or signed a contract with a traditional publishing house.
In today’s episode, you’ll learn how to leverage your social media platforms.
More specifically, you’ll discover how to find your ideal readers online, how to stop them from scrolling past your posts, how to encourage readers to engage with your content—maybe even share your posts too.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Every author’s marketing responsibility
- Don’t try to be on every social media platform
- Choosing your platform
- Befriending your readers, not other writers
- Posting content that reflects your author brand
- Five primary types of content to engage your idea readers
- Promoting your books effectively
- Planning and scheduling your weekly content
Connect with Parents Who Write:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parentswhowrite
- Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentswhowrite
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/parentswhowrite
- Book a free 30-minute strategy call to learn about my editing services: https://calendly.com/parentswhowrite/30min-meeting
Resources mentioned:
- Cara Dion: https://www.instagram.com/caradion.author/
- Ginny Moore: https://www.facebook.com/GinnyMooreAuthor
Feeling stuck in your author journey? As an experienced editor, I specialize in helping writers like you, especially parents juggling family and creativity, finish and publish their books.
Take action on your writing dreams! Book a FREE 30-minute discovery call to discuss how I can help you implement these strategies and finally achieve your author goals.
https://calendly.com/parentswhowrite/30min-meeting
Bonus! Book your call and mention this episode for a free publishing check list.
23. Finishing the first draft: Character development
Parents Who Write
11/29/22 • 15 min
Have you ever written something you love, that you’re feeling so excited about, but you find yourself unable to get past a certain scene or finish a full draft?
Spending the time to really carve out your character’s personality and identity will give you great insight into their motivations and desires, making it easier to craft a story around them. This knowledge develops a deeper understanding of any hero, villain, or supporting character. Instead of wondering where the story is going next, you’ll have a clearer direction to work with.
Three-dimensional characters that ring authentic to readers usually have a depth that readers connect to, resulting in them becoming more invested in the characters’ fates. In short, readers will care more, and writers will be more motivated to tell their characters’ story.
To learn how character development can help you get past doubt and feeling stuck to finally finish the first draft, tune in to this episode!
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Surface-level character development
- 3 things to help you dive deeper into your characters
- Benefits of knowing your characters through and through
- Reverse engineering your plot
- Why it helps to know your character for marketing purposes
- Don’t forget about the villains!
About Erin:
For 15 years, Erin P.T. Canning has worked as a magazine and book editor, encouraging each writer’s individual voice and strengthening their writing goals. When she became a parent, she set aside her own writing aspirations to focus on her family. As the years passed, she grew increasingly anxious, depressed, and angry until she realized that she had forgotten who she was beyond being a parent.
Despite fearing her skills had atrophied, Erin started writing again. She first created her blog, Life Beyond Parenting, and then created the Parents Who Write podcast. Erin’s current role as a podcaster and writing coach enables her to help parents pursue their writing dreams.
She earned her MA in Writing from Johns Hopkins University, and she has finished the first draft of a fantasy-romance novel. She lives with her husband and their two young boys in Maryland.
Connect with Erin:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinptcanning
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/erinptcanning
- Facebook group: https://facebook.com/groups/parentswhowrite
- Book a free 30-minute discovery call: https://calendly.com/parentswhowrite/30min-meeting
Feeling stuck in your author journey? As an experienced editor, I specialize in helping writers like you, especially parents juggling family and creativity, finish and publish their books.
Take action on your writing dreams! Book a FREE 30-minute discovery call to discuss how I can help you implement these strategies and finally achieve your author goals.
https://calendly.com/parentswhowrite/30min-meeting
Bonus! Book your call and mention this episode for a free publishing check list.
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FAQ
How many episodes does Parents Who Write have?
Parents Who Write currently has 74 episodes available.
What topics does Parents Who Write cover?
The podcast is about Podcasts and Arts.
What is the most popular episode on Parents Who Write?
The episode title '65. Scenes, Characters, Series, Oh My! Taming the Chaos of Multi-Project Writing w/ Edward Green' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Parents Who Write?
The average episode length on Parents Who Write is 29 minutes.
How often are episodes of Parents Who Write released?
Episodes of Parents Who Write are typically released every 7 days, 7 hours.
When was the first episode of Parents Who Write?
The first episode of Parents Who Write was released on Jul 1, 2022.
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