The 15 Best Podcasts for Creative Writers

S.R. Beaston

Crafty with words, wit, and wisdom, just add caffeine to make it more interesting.

When it comes to advice, information, or just good ol’ motivation, podcasts are a great way to fill the inkwell. For as much information is out there, there’s an equal amount of misinformation, bad advice, or demotivational complaining.
With the digging around and listening I have done, and with fellow authors I have spoken to, I have accumulated what I hope are some of the best writing podcasts to listen to for advice, education, and writing improvement.
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Most of these podcasts can be listened to wherever podcasts are hosted, as well as their own websites.
Educational Writing PodcastsThese podcasts pride themselves on being helpful and to-the-point, getting to the heart of how to write and publish your story.
Writing ExcusesThis podcast is educational in nature, with 30~ minute episodes. With so many seasons under their belt, they’ve at least touched on things you would likely want to know more about.
Writing Excuses is hosted by a rotating panel made up of Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowel, Brandon Sanderson (though he’s not on in later seasons), DongWon Song and Erin Roberts. With so many renowned names at the same table, you are bound to learn anything and everything there is to know about writing.
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Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better WritingThis podcast is about all things grammar, making editing and learning the more technical side of writing easy and fun. Just as the full name implies, it’s quick and chaotic, providing information on style, grammar, punctuation, and marketing for your content.
Grammar Girl is hosted by Mignon Coughlin Fogarty.
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The Creative PennThe Creative Penn is a big name in the writing podcast world, focusing on the business side of being an author. Writing, publishing, and book marketing are common topics on the podcast.
The podcast also explores trends both new and old in the industry, personal development for writers, and creative approaches to building an author brand.
Marketing is a dread for many authors, but with hundreds of episodes of information and helpful advice, it can be a little less daunting.
The Creative Penn is hosted by Joanna Penn.
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Motivational Writing PodcastsSometimes we just need to hear we’re not the only ones struggling. These are podcasts to make you feel less alone and give you a little boost of inspiration.
I Should Be WritingWriter's block, imposter syndrome, and lack of discipline are all things writers struggle with. It’s a lonely ambition with no one to hold you accountable. 
I Should Be Writing is hosted by Mur Lafferty. This podcast explores all of those feelings and help you to keep it pushing. It does not shy away from the challenges and realities of being a writer.
The I Should Be Writing podcast supports and encourages writers by offering actionable tips and sharing experiences that resonate.
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Write NowWrite Now, hosted by Sarah Werner, is an honest, inspirational writing podcast with some off-the-wall topics that help keep writers motivated to write. One reviewer said "the host might as well be a writing therapist," because of the comforting tone and relatability.
The Dead Robots' SocietyRated Parsec finalist in the Best Writing-Related Podcast category, The Dead Robots’ Society focuses on writers helping writers. Inspired by podcasts like I Should Be Writing, the show was created to support fellow writers and give advice through the hosts’ own experience as well a plethora of guests and interviews.
Through sharing their journeys, stories, and important topics, this podcast ensures your struggles are not just your own.
Artistry Writing PodcastsThese podcasts focus on the culture and art of writing, delving into how writers work and how no one-way is the wrong way to create.
Writers RoutineThe Writer's Routine podcast explores the habits and routines of authors to help understand the craft and writing process. The show features interviews with an array of authors, from bestsellers to emerging talent.
Episodes delve into the guests' writing processes, workspaces, schedules, and rituals unique to each writer. With these valuable insights, listeners will see the true art of writing from every angle, and can then apply what may be helpful to them.
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The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and NeuroscienceLike the Writer’s Routine podcast, The Writer Files delves into the same vein of craft and process. They invite guest authors from all walks of life and stages of their career to glean insight on what it's like to be an author. They do not shy away from talking about the difficulties some writers face, providing actionable advice for writers suffering from those issues.
The podcast also explores how authors might approach storytelling, which is different from the practice of writing. Knowing how to do both is a great way to jumpstart your passion.
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UnpublishedAnother great podcast that focuses on experiences, challenges, and aspirations of authors, Unpublished goes a little further, highlighting those who are, well, unpublished. They also focus on authors whose work hasn’t been widely recognized.
Unpublished aims to amplify the voices of those working toward publication, highlighting the process and journey. Amie McNee and James Winestock are the hosts of Unpublished.
Writing Improvement PodcastsThese podcasts tend to dive deeper into the crevices of the writing world that we, as writers, like to forget about. From the query trenches, to story development, to marketing, these podcasts may be the place to learn.
The Shit No One Tells YouDelving into the often overlooked aspects of writing, this podcast provides candid and practical advice and insights. Hosts discuss the raw realities and challenges that writers face, much like our Artistry group, but seep into the complexities of the creative process, manuscript revisions, and navigating the publishing world. 
The podcast provides interviews with authors, agents, and industry experts, offering valuable tips and perspectives on how to succeed as a writer while managing the ups and downs of their literary journey.
The Writer’s DigestThis podcast shares a lot of the same ambitions as The Shit No One Tells You, covering a wide range of deeper topics involving writing techniques, storytelling, editing, and the publishing process. 
The Writer’s Digest aims to provide practical tips, inspiration, and guidance to help writers improve their craft, learn about publishing, and achieve whatever their writing goals may be.
Trope TalksThough this is not a podcast in the conventional sense, Trope Talks is a YouTube show from the channel Overly Sarcastic Productions. This podcast-adjacent show dives deep into narrative tropes and storytelling conventions. 
Each episode focuses on a specific trope like "the chosen one," "the mentor," or "the love triangle". They analyze the origins and impact on the stories.
The hosts discuss how these tropes are used in literature, film and other media, often providing examples and dissecting their effectiveness or overuse.
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Analytical Writing PodcastsContent is the most important part of any story. With characters, plot, devices, tools, and why they work (or don’t), these are the podcasts that delve into the meat of the matter.
The Creative Writer’s ToolbeltI love a good deep dive into stories and why they work. The Creative Writer’s Toolbelt is designed to help writers improve their craft through dissecting and analyzing plot, character, and anything in between. 
This podcast goes into specific writing techniques with plot development, character creation, dialogue, pacing, and structure. They also dabble in book reviews and recommendations.
Another more unique aspect is their writing prompts and exercises, helping writers practice and develop skills while encouraging them to write outside of their comfort zone.
The Story GridLike the title suggests, The Story Grid explores the principles of the Story Grid methodology (created by the host, Shawn Coyne) to help writers with their story structure while identifying elements that can be improved upon. 
He and a feature host Tim Grahl do in-depth analysis on said elements of storytelling, including the usual plot and character structure, but also points of view, genre conventions, and how a scene is constructed.
One unique aspect of The Story Grid is the case study analysis, which deep dives into examples of books, screenplays, and other storytelling formats to demonstrate how the host's story grid tool can be applied.
Unresolved Textual TensionThis last podcast is a curveball to our list, as it’s not so much a writing podcast as it is a - reading podcast? Unresolved Textual Tension picks a popular or highly requested book to read before getting together to talk about what they like, didn’t like, and ways it could have improved.
This is where the writing aspect comes into play. All three hosts are friends who love to write. They use their knowledge to critique books they’ve read, inviting the audience to join them. In their discussions, explore themes, literary analysis, and critical perspectives.
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These are only a handful of the countless highly recommended writing podcasts out there. Be it new or old, continuing or ended, these are the ones I’ve seen to be extremely fun, helpful, and enjoyable to listen to. Check out the $ 15 best YouTube channels for writers$  next!