PODCAST · arts
The Writerly Bites Podcast
by writerlybites
The podcast that gives you quick tips to make your writing and your writing life better.
Episodes
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139: Mark Your Entrances and Exits
This week, notice how your story enters and exits its scenes. Book recommendation: WHAT WE CAN KNOW, by Ian McEwan.
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138: Find Your Writing Flow
This week, find the flow, even in small ways. Book recommendation: THE CORRESPONDENT, Virginia Evans.
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137: What Do Your Characters Want? Really?
This week, consider the power of wanting. Reading recommendation: THE BOOK OF RECORDS, Madeleine Thien.
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136: Back to School, Back to Cool
This week, be a student again and challenge yourself to build a new skill in your writing. Reading recommendation: THE HALF LIFE, Rachel Beanland.
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135: Don't Wait for Good Luck
Writerly Bites is back with advice on how to set the stage for luck.
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134: What Makes You Reject a First Page?
This week, think about what makes you accept or reject the invitation of the first page. Reading rec: BAD ASIANS, by Lillian Li.
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133: 5 Nice Little Things You Can Do for Your Novel
This week, it's time for your novel to get some self-care. Reading recommendation: THE KEEPER by Tana French.
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132: Let an unlikely hero have their day
This week, we're flipping the script on who gets to be the hero of your story. Reading recommendation: TOKYO EXPRESS by Seicho Matsumoto.
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131: Make it Personal
This week, make your story's problems personal for your characters. Reading recommendation: THE COLONY by Annika Norlin.
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130: Only Write it if You Love It
This week, remembering what you love and why you write. Reading recommendation: THE TRANSIT OF VENUS, by Shirley Hazzard.
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129: Reconsider what Power Means
This week, flip the script on power in your scene. Reading recommendation: THE RED GROVE, by Tessa Fontaine.
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128: Cut the first half of what you write
This week, a bold prescription for a common problem. Reading recommendation: STONE YARD DEVOTIONAL, by Charlotte Wood.
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127: Be a Detective for a Day
This week, put on your deerstalker hat and be a detective for your story. Reading rec: THE TEN-YEAR AFFAIR, by Erin Somers.
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126: Trust Your Story Instincts
This week, we're going with our gut. Book recommendation: A GUARDIAN AND A THIEF, by Megha Majumdar.
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125: Print Your Story Out Differently, and Something Magic Happens
This week, try printing out your story in a different way, and you'll be amazed by what magic can happen. Reading rec: A Guardian and a Thief, Megha Majumdar
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124: Put Your Butt in the Chair
This week, talking about the power of staying in place and riding out the creative challenge. Book recommendation: HAMNET, by Maggie O'Farrell.
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123: Most Writers Write Past Their True Ending
We're talking about endings this week — and how most writers tend to charge past where their story's natural ending truly lies. Reading rec: BOG QUEEN, by Anna North.
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122: Life will Disappoint You
This week, we're discussing whether Lorrie Moore was right when she said "life will disappoint you" is the theme of all great literature. Reading rec: ALL THINGS UNDER THE MOON, by Ann Y.K. Choi.
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121: Everyone's Story is Complex
This week, we're thinking about how everyone's story is more complex than we think, and every character deserves nuance in your story. Reading rec: FOX, by Joyce Carol Oates.
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121: Make everyone's story more complex
This week, discover how complex everyone's story is — and how even peripheral characters in your story have their own lives to live. Reading recommendation: FOX, by Joyce Carol Oates.
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120: Imagine Yourself in the Room
This week, imagine yourself in the room that really matters in your story. Reading recommendation: Your Steps on the Stairs, Antonio Munoz Molina.
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119: My Favorite Reads of 2025
My favorite reads of 2025. Were any of these your favorites?
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118: Cut "I thought"
This week, we're talking about narrative filtering, and how much of it you can lose to make your story better. Book recommendation: FLASHLIGHT, by Susan Choi.
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117: Turn the Eye Outward
This week, turn your narrator's eye outward and see the world around them. Reading recommendation: THE ROSE FIELD, by Philip Pullman.
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116: Cut One Weak Sentence from Every Paragraph
This week, cut out the weakest part of every paragraph, and your story or novel will sing. Book recommendation: HEARTWOOD, by Amity Gaige. Like us on Apple Podcasts and help us grow!
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115: Revive an Old Project
This week, revive an old project and remember what made it shine for you. Book recommendation: THE SAFEKEEP, Yael Van der Wouden.
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114: Write from a Place of Compassion
This week, remember how compassion can deepen your understanding of your characters. Book recommendation: SWEET FURY, by Sash Bischoff.
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113: Make the Bad Guys Come Back
Just when you thought it was safe — make the bad guys come back in your story this week. Book recommendation: LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS, Laura Ingalls Wilder.
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112: Re-connect with Your Writing
We're back, listeners! And we're talking about how to re-connect with your writing when time and life challenges have separated you from your work.
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111: Write about What Was Going on in School
This week, stuff was going on at your school that you didn't know about at the time. Write your way back into the memories and the discoveries. Reading recommendation: ORBITAL, by Samantha Harvey.
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110: What Wakes You in the Night?
This week, you've got to write about what wakes you in the night, even if it's difficult. Reading recommendation: BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES 2024.
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109: Make an Index Card Wall
This week, a way to re-discover your novel, and plan for the future of completing it. Reading recommendation: THE HEAVEN AND EARTH GROCERY STORE, by James McBride.
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108: Send a Friend Your Story
This week, don't delay any longer. Send your friend a draft and get some feedback. Reading recommendation: ELEVEN HUSKIES by Philip Schott.
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107: Go on a Retreat
This week, make a plan for some special writing time. Tips and thoughts about building your own writing retreat. Reading recommendation: THE COMEDIANS, by Graham Greene.
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106: Have Your Character Tell a Story
This week, get your character to tell a story about themselves, and discover what's truly on their mind. Reading recommendation: REAL AMERICANS by Rachel Khong.
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105: Find the Person Who Will Hold You Accountable
This week, find the person who is going to keep you to your writing and help you accomplish your goals. They're out there! Reading recommendation: WANDERING STARS by Tommy Orange.
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104: My Favorite Reads of 2024
This week, I catch up on my reading and pick my favorite reads of 2024. Please like and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts; it really helps the podcast grow.
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103: Don't Forget to Write
This week, don't let the holiday season interfere with your most fundamental creative task. Reading recommendation: THE HUNTER, by Tana French.
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102: Spark Joy with Your Writing
Get back to the joy this week with your writing. Book recommendation: BEAR, by Julia Phillips
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101: Trace the Threads of Your Story
This week, find the threads of your story, pick them all up and weave them together. Book recommendation: NORTH WOODS, by Daniel Mason.
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100: Begin Again
I'm back, writers! The Writerly Bites Podcast is resuming its weekly tips for making your writing life better, and I'm starting with the power of beginning again. Reading recommendation: THE GOD OF THE WOODS, Liz Moore.
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99: Have One Character Tell the Truth and One Character Tell Lies
Use an old riddle to ratchet up the conflict in your story this week. Book Recommendation: THE GUEST, Emma Cline.
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98: Try Second Person
This week, I'm talking about the wonderful, weird, magical re-boot that second person perspective can offer a story.
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97: Watch Out for Third Person
This week, the perils of third person. Every tool that gives you power and control is suspect. Please leave a review on Apple podcasts; it really helps the podcast grow.
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96: Try Third Person
This week, the power, beauty, and control of writing in the third person. Book recommendation: Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain.
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95: Watch Out for First Person
Part of a mini-series about the joys and pitfalls of point of view. I'm talking about the dangers of first person perspective today. Please rate and review on Apple podcasts.
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94: Re-think Point of View
In this week's episode, I'm beginning a short series on choosing the right point of view for your story. Please leave a review on Apple podcasts; it really helps the podcast grow.
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93: Interview with Rachel Cantor
Writerly Bites is back and I'm thrilled to post this interview with novelist Rachel Cantor! Rachel Cantor is the author of the novels Half-Life of a Stolen Sister (Soho Press 2023), Good on Paper(Melville House 2016), and A Highly Unlikely Scenario (Melville House 2014). Two dozen of her stories...
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92: My novel, MINOR PROPHETS, is now available
I read the first page from the novel, and leave you with a writing tip for the week. Tune in for the regular return of the podcast in weeks to come.
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91: My Favorite Reads of 2022
For the last podcast episode of 2022, my favorite reads of the year. Happy holidays and see you in the new year, listeners!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Writerly Bites Podcast have?
The Writerly Bites Podcast currently has 134 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Writerly Bites Podcast about?
The podcast that gives you quick tips to make your writing and your writing life better.
How often does The Writerly Bites Podcast release new episodes?
The Writerly Bites Podcast publishes regularly with 134 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Writerly Bites Podcast?
You can listen to The Writerly Bites Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Writerly Bites Podcast?
The Writerly Bites Podcast is created and hosted by writerlybites.
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