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.
07. Writing for the sake of mental health w/ Esme Iris
Parents Who Write
07/12/22 • 44 min
After years of silence, she finally resumed writing for the sake of mental health. Esme Iris, a homeschooling mom of five, spiritual life coach, and soon to be author, is on the show today.
In this episode, we discuss how much ADHD is undiagnosed among women and what that feels like. She also shares when her writing didn’t feel safe anymore, how she managed to start writing again after a long hiatus, and what that process looked like over time.
And she talks about how a potential writing idea starts itching, how she makes time to write regularly, and how writing has made her a better parent. Esme also reveals what she enjoys most about magical realism.
We also get the inside scoop on her forthcoming Spellbound Smoothies recipe book and Divinely Domestic, which provides housekeeping tips and tricks through the lens of spirituality.
Connect with Esme:
- Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/esmeiriswellness
- Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/595791738114482/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamesmeiris/
Books mentioned during the show:
- Garden Spells, by Sarah Addison Allen
- The Sugar Queen, by Sarah Addison Allen
- The Peach Keeper, by Sarah Addison Allen
- The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Practical Magic series by Alice Hoffman
- Miss Peregrine’s School for Peculiar Children series, by Random Riggs
- The Salamander Room, by Anne Mazer
- Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon, by Jules Bass
- If I Built a House, by Chris Van Dusen
- The Giver, by Lois Lowry
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.
25. Navigating your Google and Word docs easily
Parents Who Write
12/13/22 • 20 min
Did you know that you don’t have to sit down and write a story from beginning to end? You can start with an idea for a specific storyline or scene, skip the exposition, and get right to the good stuff.
Writing like this will fuel your creativity. But how do you avoid a jumbled mess?
In today’s episode, you’ll learn the advantages of using Google Docs to craft your story whenever you get inspired to write.
With specific examples, Erin highlights the built-in features in Google Docs and Word that will help you organize your ideas and make it easy to jump from chapter to chapter or scene to scene.
You’ll also get easy instructions for formatting Word documents, which will make prepping for submission a painless process. Tune in to get started!
Watch the full video tutorial via YouTube: https://youtu.be/qjbMeZBrrOA
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Discovering the benefits of writing with Google Docs
- Naming your documents for easy filing and version control
- Styling your text to create an automatic outline
- Navigating to specific chapters and scenes
- Using key words to identify the focus of your chapters at glance
- Incorporating unwritten scenes as placeholders
- Changing the default fonts for styles
- Formatting documents in Word
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.
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.
65. Scenes, Characters, Series, Oh My! Taming the Chaos of Multi-Project Writing w/ Edward Green
Parents Who Write
03/12/24 • 28 min
What happens when have twenty million ideas all jumbled up in your head, and you struggle with multiple projects—or worse, multiple, multivolume series?
Joining us today is Edward Green, who is a prolific writer.
During this episode, Edward shares not only his writing journey but also the answers to questions that used to plague him too. Like, when you have so many ideas screaming for attention all at once, how do you keep track of all those random scenes that pop into your head?
You’ll also learn how to keep track of hundreds of characters and know if you’re on the right track with your story when it could go in so many directions?
Oh, and by the way, if you were ever curious to know why authors enjoy writing erotica or erotic romance, then you’re in for a bonus treat. Edward’s answer might just surprise you.
Topics discussed in this episode:
•Edward’s writing journey
•Biggest difference in his writing career
•Character richness
•Balancing feedback
•Craft game changers
•How to head hop effectively
•The inspiration and joys of writing erotica
•Roadblocks overcome
•Keeping track of tons of characters
•Pros and cons of scheduling your pre-orders
•BONUS: Top tip & learning the craft
About Edward:
Edward Green writes erotica, fantasy, and science fiction with an understanding of the chaos that life, insecurity, and personal goals impose on characters and the sweetness, humor, and tragedy that can result. He writes due to the accident of having begun and then found it is a part of his identity. His imagination creates characters, and he takes tremendous joy in bringing their stories to life and sharing them. As well as writing, Edward is the designer for the Him and Her Erotic Steel range of adult toys.
Get his books:
•Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Edward-Green/author/B001KCK1J2
•Meeting Him: https://a.co/d/0DCaGz3
•Meredith’s Journey Begins: https://a.co/d/9mKji7M
Connect with Edward:
•FB page: https://www.facebook.com/EdwardGreenEroticAuthor
•Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erotic_author
•Website: https://www.edwardgreenauthor.com/
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.
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.
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.
41. Book talk: Discovering layers w/ Maria Secoy
Parents Who Write
04/11/23 • 34 min
Can you recall a book that inspired you to become a writer? What about a book that fundamentally changed your view of the world or yourself?
Never underestimate the power of reading books you love—and books you hate.
Joining today’s conversation is Maria Secoy, a romance fiction author, former English teacher, and book coach for those who self-publish literary romance novels.
In this episode, you’ll enjoy a combination of banter and insight into writing techniques as two good friends discuss the books that taught them how to recognize that people (and stories) have layers, what it means to show and not tell, and how people can read the same book but have completely different experiences.
Tune in to enjoy these two good friends bantering while they challenge each other to consider a different point of view.
Whenever Maria and Erin are together, you’re guaranteed to learn something while laughing. A lot.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Books that change the trajectory of our lives
- The book at showed Maria we’re all human
- The book that taught Erin show vs tell
- The trauma of being forced to read the “right” book
- The book that showed Erin the worst in people
- Rosenblatt’s theory of reader response
- The perfect example of satire
About Maria:
Maria Secoy has a BA in English and an MEd in Secondary English. She spent more than a decade in the classroom helping students grow as authentic writers.
She wrote and published her first romance novel in February 2022, which has since reached #4 on the Amazon Best Sellers List.
After hearing stories of editors gone wrong, flopped cover designs, marketing struggles, and anxiety over the entire self-publication process, she launched All Write Well, which has grown to include a team of supportive experts who meet all the self-publishing needs of writers.
Get her books:
- Alongside Lucy: https://www.amazon.com/Alongside-Lucy-Trail-Adventure-Adventures-ebook/dp/B09WKYLVVZ
- Gloria’s Gumption: https://www.amazon.com/Glorias-Gumption-Maria-Secoy/dp/B0BRH2F7WZ/
- Standing by Stephanie: https://www.amazon.com/Standing-Stephanie-Trail-Love-Adventures-ebook/dp/B0BY3SWRW7/
Connect with Maria:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msecoywriter
- Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/awwromance
- All Write Well (self-publishing support services): https://allwritewell.com/
Books discussed during the show:
- Fat Kid Rules the World, by K.L. Going
- Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen
- The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sherlock Holmes
- Lord of the Flies
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.
30. Showing emotions by asking yourself 8 questions
Parents Who Write
01/17/23 • 11 min
How do we show what we or our characters are feeling so our readers can experience those emotions for themselves as the scene unfolds?
In this episode, you’ll learn eight questions you can ask yourself so you can better visualize what those emotions look and feel like and thus how to show your readers.
Tune in so you can also gain tips on how to identify when you’re telling, instead of showing, and when that’s okay. This episode will not only help you to finish your first draft but also learn another revision technique.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Erin’s perfectionism while painting stairs
- Capturing a snapshot of emotions during the first draft
- Filling in details during revision
- Identifying when you’re telling emotions
- Questions to prompt showing emotions
- An example of a scene revised based on those question
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.
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.
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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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