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.
10/04/22 • 38 min
Parents have an unparalleled understanding of imposter syndrome. While many find writing to be a cathartic experience, facing the fear of rejection and failure stops many from pursuing their passion. Is 30 years old too late to become brave? Can you be an intern and a mom at the same time? Can you resurrect passions that used to feel impossible?
Joining today’s conversation on balancing writing and parenting is Danielle Hayden, freelance writer and mother to a young daughter. She gives valuable advice on freelancing, her new focus on creative writing, and making time for herself and her writing goals.
In working on their biggest obstacles in writing, such as procrastination and self-doubt, our host and Danielle have been able to help their own children combat negative self-talk. Even when mom guilt comes creeping in, they are able to remind themselves of the importance of meeting their own needs.
Danielle started her freelancing career with an internship at age 30 and has since had more than 80 pieces published — with more to come. Now, after focusing on nonfiction and journalistic writing, she’s pushing past her fears and turning to her childhood passion of fiction writing. She’s able to relish these moments while living a busy life as a parent.
Danielle is proving it’s never too late to chase after your dreams!
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Danielle’s background and self-published children’s book
- Why she loves to write and her favorite type of writing
- How to succeed as a freelance writer
- Tips for pitching ideas
- Danielle’s journey with fiction writing
- Danielle details her WIP essay collection and historical fiction book
- Putting pen to paper
- One pivotal lesson Danielle learned about writing
- Learning to “kill your darlings”
- Roadblocks Danielle has overcome in writing
- Conquering procrastination
- Writers and sleep deprivation
- Mom guilt
- 3pistolary, Danielle’s letter writing project
- Favorite books
About Danielle:
Danielle Hayden writes mostly creative nonfiction and journalistic pieces but also dabbles in fiction. She is currently working on an essay collection and a novel. She published her first children's book, A is for Aria, which she wrote as a gift to her daughter.
In 2021, Danielle launched the website 3pistolary to help build connection and community via the practice of letter writing. She lives in Seattle with her techie husband and kindergartener daughter.
Get her book:
- A is for Aria:
https://www.lulu.com/shop/danielle-hayden-and-nithini-wathsala/a-is-for-aria/hardcover/product-gm4gve.html?q=&page=1&pageSize=4
Connect with Danielle:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daniellehaydenwriter
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_daniellehayden_/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/wordsaremything
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-hayden-writer/
- Website: https://www.3pistolary.com/
- Website: https://www.daniellehayden.com/
Books discussed during the show:
- Pigeon Presents series by Mo Willems
- White Olea
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.
66. From Page to Ear: Unveiling Audiobook Opportunities for Authors
Parents Who Write
03/26/24 • 22 min
Have you ever wondered about audiobook opportunities for authors?
In this episode, we explore the booming audiobook market and its potential benefits for authors. You’ll learn about the pros and cons of creating audiobooks, including pricing considerations, narration options, and distribution channels.
But wait, there's more!
We'll also address some key questions to help you decide if audiobooks are a good fit for you at this stage in your writing journey.
Tune in and discover if there's an audiobook waiting to be brought to life from your written work!
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Market trends
- When to consider audiobooks
- Pricing your audiobooks
- Narration options
- Tools for self-narration
- Distribution
- Audiobook cover art
- Is this right for you?
- Narration tips
- Example narration speed
- Cleaning up narration
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.
Resources discussed during the show:
- Dynamic microphone: https://a.co/d/aYOnbZy
- Descript: https://www.descript.com/
- BookFunnel: https://bookfunnel.com/
Books discussed during the show:
- Promises and Possibilities: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/j5f6y5ub4u
Connect with Parents Who Write:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.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.
01/30/24 • 42 min
Have you ever dreamed of writing all day long—and getting paid to do so? But then reality sets in, and you start wondering how that’s feasible? How you’d even get started?
In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Sarah Werner, who shares how she planned to leave her full-time job in marketing, how she discovered the worth of her work, and how she trudged through painful writing gigs that still taught her valuable lessons.
You’ll also learn how experimenting with your creativity can lead to surprise opportunities and how to connect with your ideal audience.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Sarah’s journey
- Starting a fictional podcast
- Making money as a full-time writer
- Learning about structure, voices, and characters through ghostwriting
- Using Patreon
- Acknowledging the worth of your work
- The power of next steps
- Marketing your author self
- Using social media effectively
- Why you shouldn’t fear sharing your struggles
Connect with Sarah:
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahRheaWerner
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahRheaWerner
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahrheawerner/
- Substack: https://sarahrheawerner.substack.com/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXs-eisO1DWhkgAY4kzQ9yw
- Website: https://www.sarahwerner.com/
About Sarah:
Sarah is a writer, speaker, podcast creator, and executive producer whose mission is to help creators find confidence, success, and ultimately delight in their work. In addition to writing and podcasting, she is also a national public speaker who has been invited to talk about creativity, podcasting, marketing, and leadership for TEDx, Austin Film Festival, Podcast Movement, PodFest, PodCon, and more, from her community YWCA to YouTube headquarters.
Books discussed during the show:
- If You Want To Write by Brenda Ueland
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.
12/19/23 • 46 min
Have you contemplated designing your own book cover, or wondered what to expect if you hire a professional?
Joining today’s conversation is Katia Balab, who has joined the MiblArt family, a book cover design company that's based in the Ukraine. They have been helping self-publishing authors and publishers create book covers that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also an effective marketing tool.
Thanks to Katia’s expertise, you’ll learn about the science behind effective cover design practices, how to foster a good working relationship with your designer, and a plethora of online resources to help you tackle as much as you want.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Why book cover design matters
- Pros & cons of designing your own cover
- Establishing expectations with your cover designer
- Creating your creative brief
- Communicating effectively with your designer
- Understanding bleed size and trim
- Science behind a good cover
- Typography, don’t underestimate it
- The good and bad of AI images
- Getting feedback
- Online tools and resources
- Special offer for PWW listeners
Connect with Katia:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katiabalab/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katia.bookcoverdesign/
- Website: https://miblart.com/?ref=nmy2owv
Resources discussed during the show:
- Learning resources: Udemy, Skillshare, Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, YouTube tutorials like Bring Your Own Laptop
- Software: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Book Brush, and Affinity Publisher, Canva
- Stock images: Adobe Stock, Deposit Photos, Pexels, Unsplash, Pixabay
- Fonts: 1001 Free Fonts, Font Squirrel, DaFont, Google Fonts, Font Gig
- Discount code for MiblArt: PWW10
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.
35. What is a chapter?
Parents Who Write
02/21/23 • 7 min
Do you keep toying with an idea for a novel, but you’re not even sure what constitutes a chapter?
In today’s episode, you’ll learn not only why we use chapters but also what to include in them, their average length, and different ways to end chapters.
So tune in to find out how to identify the purpose or goal of your chapter and thus what to write next.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Defining chapter
- Including internal and external conflict
- The average length
- Different ways to end chapters
- Identifying your chapter’s purpose or goal
- A challenge for your chapters
- Know at least this when starting a new chapter
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
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.
17. Shaping a life around writing w/ Nancy McCabe
Parents Who Write
10/18/22 • 36 min
The process of writing can be joyful, freeing, and nourishing to the soul. But when you become a parent, everything changes. The love for writing does not waiver, but the time to dedicate to your writing does.
Joining today’s conversation is Nancy McCabe, a single mom and accomplished professor who has published several books. She grew up loving stories but didn't think she could make a career out of writing.
With an intrinsic desire to write, Nancy had to intentionally carve out time to write her numerous books. She found fun ways to integrate her love of writing into motherhood, thus enabling Nancy to find a balance that worked and inspired her writing.
Erin speaks to Nancy about her writing projects, the writing process, and important female authors. They also discuss how many films and television shows miss the mark on capturing the spirit of a novel’s story, and they touch on the lack of diversity in classic children’s books.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Learning to love teaching
- Shaping a life around writing
- Deciding to be a single parent through adoption
- Folding our kids into our writing lives
- Rereading children’s books from an adult perspective
- Nancy’s book, Little Houses to Little Women: Revisiting a Literary Childhood
- Female authors and characters who love to write
- Joe’s new ending in the Little Women film
- Embracing the messy first draft as part of the writing process
- Erin details her current WIP fantasy book
- Advice on revision techniques and feedback
- Missing the mark from book to screen
About Nancy:
Nancy McCabe, an author and a Pushcart winner, directs the creative and professional writing program at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and teaches in the Naslund-Mann Graduate School of Writing at Spalding University.
She became a single parent by choice when she adopted her daughter from China in 1999, writing two memoirs about China adoption and homeland travel while her daughter was growing up and dragging her along on research trips and book tours.
Get her books:
- Can This Marriage Be Saved? A Memoir
- Following Disasters: A Novel
- From Little Houses to Little Women: Revisiting a Literary Childhood
- Crossing the Blue Willow Bridge: A Journey to My Daughter’s Birthplace in China
- Meeting Sophie: A Memoir of Adoption
- After the Flashlight Man: A Memoir of Awakening
- Vaulting through Time (forthcoming)
- AMAZON PAGE: https://www.amazon.com/Nancy-McCabe/e/B001K8OBBA
Connect with Nancy:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nancy.mccabe.92
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancygmccabe
- Website: https://www.nancymccabe.net/
Books discussed during the show:
- Betsy Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace
- Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery
- Rilla of Ingleside by Lucy Maud Montgomery
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
- Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
- The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
- W
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.
18. Simplifying “show, don’t tell”
Parents Who Write
10/25/22 • 11 min
We’ve always been told to “show, don’t tell.” As such, we’ve become predisposed to want to show more, which is understandable because too much telling can feel dull and one-dimensional. But this predisposition is where writers can get lost.
While showing feels like an intimate experience with the reader, sometimes it can also cause a scene to feel long and drawn out when it has little to do with the overall story. On the other hand, telling can feel too abrupt and possibly be a missed opportunity to expand on the plot or character development.
I know how confusing this can be.
That’s why I—your host, Erin P.T. Canning, a writer, editor, and mom of two—want to show you how to maximize these methods to elevate your writing.
In this episode, you will learn exactly what showing and telling are, when to use them, and how to transition between the two. You will hear concrete yet simple examples of best-use cases, a detailed list of different ways to use telling, and a list of different types of showing.
Making the distinction between showing and telling is the foundation to guiding your reader’s imagination into your world and eliciting the emotions needed for your reader to sink into the story.
So tune in to this quick yet informative episode to learn about these methods and how to use them.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- The difference between showing and telling
- Should you show more than you tell?
- Examples of transitions between telling and showing
- When to use time in telling and showing
- When to show vs. tell in various scenarios with examples
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.
Bonus: 7 ways to encourage our kids’ imaginations and storytelling
Parents Who Write
08/16/22 • 10 min
Where story ideas come from is something I talk a lot about here on Conversations with Parents who Write.
And that’s because I firmly believe in the importance of cultivating our imagination. The same goes for our kids. Having a strong imagination not only helps keep our kids entertained without electronic devices, but also improves our ability later in life to seek creative solutions to problems and further develop our communication skills.
In this flash episode of CPW, I’m going to share 7 easy ways you can encourage your kids’ imaginations and storytelling. Plus, I’ll share examples of how I implemented these methods with my own kids, their reactions, and the results I never anticipated.
If you want a visual list of these 7 methods, read the detailed blog post here:
https://lifebeyondparenting.com/kids-imaginations
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.
46. Six editing lenses that help with revisions
Parents Who Write
06/20/23 • 14 min
Have you started revising your story only to feel like you're going in circles? Does the revision process feel overwhelming and you don't know what to tackle next?
In today's episode, you are going to learn how you can use different lenses to review your work and how this method can help make the revision process less chaotic.
Tune in to learn 6 different editing lenses for the revision process that you can start using today.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Changing your focus
- Simplifying overwhelm
- 1. Time and location
- 2. Showing emotions
- 3. Character arcs
- 4. Chapter purpose
- 5. Plot
- 6. Mood
- The four stages of the writing process
About Erin:
Erin P.T. Canning has worked for more than 15 years as a magazine and book editor, encouraging each writer’s individual voice and strengthening their writing goals.
She always planned to write a book. Then she had kids. While she focused on them, she stopped writing—for six years. Something deep inside was missing. Depression, anxiety, and anger forced her to search for herself, both for her sake and her family’s.
Despite fearing her skills had atrophied, Erin started writing again. One journal entry led to one blog post that led to her creating her podcast, Parents Who Write. Erin’s current role as a podcaster and writing coach enables her to help others pursue their writing dreams.
Finally, she finished writing her own shitty first draft and will release her first novel in 2023. She earned her MA in Writing from Johns Hopkins University, and she lives with her husband and their two 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
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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