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Justina Shandler

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writing class radiowriting class radioSummer Echoes: How to Write about Life When Everyday Is a Reminder of Death?Originally published in November of 2023, we are talking about hot topic/cold prose and when and why to write in the present tense vs. past. The story we share is written in the present tense, which gives readers the feeling that they're going through the situation with the narrator, in real time. Today’s essay is by Dr. Colleen Arnold who is a physician and freelance writer in Lexington, Virginia. Dr. Arnold has written for Insider, Wall Street Journal, Chicken Soup for the Soul among others. She is a mom to three adult daughters and grandmother to a two-y...2025-07-1616 minwriting class radiowriting class radioSummer Echoes: The Most Unique Essay We've Ever AiredToday we continue the Summer Echoes Series with a story by Kimberly Elkins. Kimberly is the author of the novel, WHAT IS VISIBLE, which was a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice and named to several Best of 2014 lists. She’s written for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Iowa Review, The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Review of Books, Glamour, Slice, The Cincinnati Review, and Best New American Voices. She was a Finalist for the National Magazine Award, and has also won a New York Moth StorySlam. You can find her on X @GoodWordGirl. Kimberly’s...2025-07-0212 minwriting class radiowriting class radioSummer Echoes: A Psychiatric Hospital Nearly Ruined My LifeThis episode is about how to write a near perfect essay. The story was written by Banning Lyon who writes about a harrowing childhood experience in a psychiatric ward. His essay was previously published in The Washington Post. After we discuss Banning’s story, you’ll hear an interview with the author on what his process was like, the difficult emotions writing the memoir brought up, and the cold call he made to find his agent.Banning Lyon is the author of The Chair and The Valley, which will be available June 2024. His writing has been featured in Th...2025-06-1830 minwriting class radiowriting class radioDoes Anyone Care About Saving Fossil Creek? Learn How Your Writing Can Build TrustToday we bring you another story told live on stage at the Flagstaff Festival of Science in September 2024. This story is by Dr. Jane Marks. Her story is called Saving Fossil Creek. What's cool about this story is how expertly the narrator weaves the personal in with the science. THAT is how a narrator builds trust. It's how listeners understand how their actions impact the greater world. It's how we, as a society, will change our behaviors because the information becomes more than just statistics. The personal draws us in so we begin to trust one scientist at a...2025-06-0426 minwriting class radiowriting class radioHow Are Jumping Rope and Tornadoes Related? A Braided EssayToday on our show, we bring you a story by Andrea Askowitz called A Numbers Game. This story was previously published in Memoirland, a curated compilation of the week’s best personal essays on the internet. It was also read live on stage at the Flagstaff Festival of Science in 2024. A Numbers Game is a braided essay. So, In this episode, we will discuss the braided essay and how Andrea’s came to be. Just a hint: Nicole Walker had something to do with it!More about how we became associated with the Flagstaff Festival of Science…Three...2025-05-0721 minwriting class radiowriting class radioI Wish I Had Been Nicer to You Before You DiedOn this episode, we’re going to talk about using the letter form (epistolary) and specifically not telegraphing. If you don’t know what telegraphing is, don’t worry. You will after you hear our discussion at the end. The story in this episode is written by one of our favorite students, Danielle Huggins. This is the 4th time Danielle’s been featured on the podcast but the first time she’s joined us in the virtual studio. We are recording for the podcast as usual and you can also watch us on YouTube. Danielle’s essay is titled A Letter to...2025-04-0228 minwriting class radiowriting class radioI Lied About My Birth Experience. Writing Helped Me Work Out My Sh*t and Get to the Truth.Today on our show, we bring you a story by Rachel Perse, who had severe anxiety after giving birth to her first child, but pretended she was having the time of her life. She tells her important story and then talks to us about how she used writing to get to the truth. And to work out her shit around becoming a new mother.Rachel is here in the studio with us, so we are recording for the podcast as usual but now, you can also watch us on YouTube. Rachel Perse will be reading her story...2025-03-0532 minwriting class radiowriting class radioWhen Anxiety is a SuperpowerToday we bring you another story told live on stage at the Flagstaff Festival of Science in September 2024. This story is by Emma Lathrop and is about her anxiety. This quality she thought was hindering her turned out to be something she now values. Two years ago, we were hired by Dr. Jane Marks and Dr. Bruce Hungate, two famous ecologists from ECOSS at Northern Arizona University. They heard our podcast and then started taking our classes which led to the idea that their students would benefit from taking our classes. So we’ve been doing online wor...2025-02-0518 minwriting class radiowriting class radioWhat Can You Learn by Watching How Trees Recover from Fire?Today we bring you a story told live at the Flagstaff Festival of Science in September 2024. We’re talking about making a connection from your personal life to what we study. We’re also talking about being vulnerable. Because everyone will love you more. We promise. This is our second year collaborating with the Center for Ecosystem Science and Society (ECOSS) at Northern Arizona University. Two years ago, we were hired by Dr. Jane Marks and Dr. Bruce Hungate, two famous ecologists from ECOSS at Northern Arizona University. They heard our podcast and then started taking our class...2025-01-0820 minwriting class radiowriting class radioWhen is a Gift More than a Gift?Today on our show, we are re-running a story by Emily Henderson titled After Our Son Died, My Husband Gave Me The Most Meaningful Christmas Gift Of My Life. Emily workshopped this essay in our Final Draft class and then the Huffington Post published it on December 25, 2021. This story is an excellent example of using an object to convey emotion, details, and telling in addition to showing. Emily tells us how she’s feeling the entire story which intensifies vulnerability. To hear another of Emily’s stories, listen to Episode 103: Writing the Same Story Over and Over and Episode 160: Clic...2024-12-2520 minwriting class radiowriting class radioThe Passing of SorrowToday on our show, we bring you a story by Dana Shavin, who submitted her essay to the podcast. When it came in, we were blown away. The writing is so smart and well-crafted. In this episode, we talk about the difference between situation and story and we also discuss why callbacks are effective.Dana Shavin is an award-winning humor columnist for the Chattanooga Times Free Press, and the author of a memoir, The Body Tourist and the collection of essays, Finding the World: Thoughts on Life, Love, Home and Dogs.Dana’s essays and ar...2024-12-1120 minwriting class radiowriting class radioWhy Do We Love Stories That Remind Us of Ourselves?Today on our show, we bring you a story by Rachel Kramer Bussel. Her story was so relatable, that we realized sometimes we choose stories so we can just talk about ourselves. And that’s just what we do in this episode. We also talk about the narrator’s brilliance in drawing us in with just the right details. Rachel’s story is titled, The Craving That Killed My VeganismRachel Kramer Bussel (rachelkramerbussel.com) is an essayist and freelance writer specializing in books, culture, relationships, mental health, and feminism. She is the editor of Open Secrets Magazi...2024-11-2719 minwriting class radiowriting class radioShut the F*ck up, PleaseToday on our show, we bring you a story by Sarena Neyman. Sarena is in Allison’s 2nd Draft class, which contains writers who come together to share a draft of their essay and receive feedback from the group. Sarena was previously published on Writing Class Radio. Episode 187: The Bigger Table: How I Lost My Husband But Gained a Bigger Family. In that episode, we discussed Sarena’s brilliant landings. In this episode we will discuss landings again, because like last time, they are perfect. We will also talk about humor and details. This narrator is hilarious and s...2024-11-1316 minwriting class radiowriting class radioI Found Connection Through a Tattoo of a BeeToday on our show, we bring you a story by Jennifer Sizeland, who lives in Manchester, England. Her story, I found connection through a tattoo of a bee is a great example of situation and story.  It’s important to know the difference and we will discuss why.Jennifer Sizeland is a freelance writer and assistant producer with 14 years of experience in the media industry. She has written for many publications including the BBC, the Independent, Metro, Manchester Mill, Fodor’s Travel, Gastro Obscura, Reader’s Digest, and Stylist. For more Jennifer Sizeland, go to her website Jennife...2024-09-0414 minwriting class radiowriting class radioMaking Room for Hope after My Daughter DiedToday on our show, we bring you a story by Farida Taha. Farida writes about losing her daughter to cancer and how she’s moving forward. We talk a lot about loss on our podcast, because writing is how so many people process grief. We believe writing opens the heart, clears the mind, and helps us understand and process. In this essay, Farida throws out some incredibly poignant lines that reveal intense pain and so much hope for the future.Farida Taha is a writer and mother of three. She is originally from New York City and re...2024-08-2118 minwriting class radiowriting class radioHow I Lost My Husband But Gained a Bigger FamilyToday on our show, we bring you a story by Sarena Neyman. Sarena is in Allison’s 2nd Draft class, which is made up of writers who come together to share a draft of their essay and receive feedback from the group. Sarena’s stories are funny and brimming with voice and perfect landings.Sarena Neyman has been writing for numerous human rights groups for more than 20 years, working on causes from digital privacy to affordable housing to marriage equality. She writes for cabinlife.com and PeaceVoice.com. Sarena lives in Western Massachusetts.If you're look...2024-08-0719 minwriting class radiowriting class radioSomething Beautiful Happened When I Shared My Writing with My FamilyToday on our show, we bring you a story by Janet Funk. Janet writes about her experience sharing an essay she wrote with her family prior to submitting for publication to. The essay was about the horrible fourth of July when her brother Robbie drowned and was published in Business Insider on July 3, 2024.We’ll discuss the age-old-memoir questions: How do we write about and publish stories about the people in our lives? Janet’s essay was written from a prompt given in First Draft. The prompt was this: Write about Something Beautiful. Janet’s story i...2024-07-2417 minwriting class radiowriting class radioAm I Turning into My MotherToday on our show, we bring you a story by Bonnie Shor, who we call Blee. Blee has been a student of Writing Class Radio for two years. We love the shit out of her. Listen to what she told us: I took up knitting, Zumba and writing when I turned 60. Eight years later, there's a ball of yarn in my closet, and four unused Zumba classes on my lost dance card. My writing, though, can be found in several anthologies, most recently, Hellokoo Volume 1 Letter A, Loud Coffee Press Magazine, and now Writing Class Radio. For more Blee...2024-07-1021 minwriting class radiowriting class radioJust Tell Us How it Went DownToday on our show, we bring you a story by Alison Colwell. At age 8, Alison was responsible for making sure her mother’s epileptic seizure didn’t kill her. In this essay, Alison takes us to a moment in the hospital where if she’d looked away, her mom might have died. Alison’s essay is an excellent example of hot topic cold prose and is contained in a very short moment. We will go into detail about what we mean by hot topic cold prose and why the tool is so effective. Alison’s essay is called Look Away.2024-06-2614 minwriting class radiowriting class radioIf You Don’t Want to Know, Don’t Snoop on Your Daughter’s Instagram AccountThis episode focuses on how to tell a story out loud. In May 2024, our own Andrea Askowitz made her way to a Moth storytelling competition and for the 15th time (over nine years), dropped her name in the bag. The prompt was snooping. Before she left home, her wife told her to look at this evening, if chosen, as practice instead of assuming this would be her Moth. So, when her name was chosen, Andrea had not memorized a story but instead decided to have fun telling the audience about the time she snooped on her daughter’s Insta ac...2024-06-1223 minwriting class radiowriting class radioA Story is Like a Thesis. You Gotta Make Your Point.Today on our show, we bring you a story by Emma Lathrop, a PhD student at The Center for Ecosystem Science and Society (ECOSS) at Northern Arizona University (NAU). Emma’s story is about proving your value and fighting for your position as a woman in STEM. The best part is when we get a glimpse into how the field would look if Emma were the boss.This story was originally performed on stage at the Flagstaff Festival of Science in October 2023. Like episode 174, 175, 177, 179, and 180 this was a collaboration with ECOSS, The Center for Ecosystem Science and So...2024-05-2919 minwriting class radiowriting class radioWhat Do I Do if I Have Nothing Left to Write About?Today on our show, we bring you a story by our own Allison Langer. Her essay is called My Mom And I Fought For 55 Years. Now Battling My Son Is Making Me Rethink Everything, which was originally published in Huffington Post, May 16, 2023.In this episode, Allison shows us that you can write about the same thing over and over and you should. It’s the only way to really work out your shit. Listen to the hosts discuss why writing and rewriting is important for your heart and your story.A Transcription of the episode ca...2024-05-1521 minwriting class radiowriting class radioThe Forest Raised Me Better than My FatherToday on our show, we bring you a story by Darby Bergl, a PhD student at The Center for Ecosystem Science and Society (ECOSS) at Northern Arizona University (NAU). Her story is about resilience and survival in the face of a volatile father. Darby has a passion for ecology and the study of carbon dynamics in temperate forests, which she interjects into her story.Darby’s story was originally performed on stage at the Flagstaff Festival of Science in October 2023. This was a Collaboration with ECOSS, Northern Arizona University, and Story Collider, a podcast that airs true sc...2024-05-0118 minwriting class radiowriting class radioHow to Use Science to Create an Emotional Connection to Place.Today on our show, we bring you a story by Keven Griffen, a PhD student at The Center for Ecosystem Science and Society (ECOSS) at Northern Arizona University (NAU). Her story uses science to understand an emotional connection to place. She did it by having us fall in love with the place. She set the scene and raised the stakes. Keven’s story was originally performed on stage at the Flagstaff Festival of Science in October 2023. This was a Collaboration with ECOSS, Northern Arizona University, and Story Collider, a podcast that airs true science stories. Keven was dia...2024-04-1719 minwriting class radiowriting class radioIs it Rape if You Were Blackout Drunk?Today on our show we bring you a story by Morgan Sutton that embodies everything a story should embody. The story uses no extra words; the narrator looks inside herself; and the story matters to the broader world.The story is so important because it explains a very dangerous and ugly assumption that is often made about women who’ve been raped. Morgan does it by examining her own situation and her own assumptions. There’s no preaching. And there’s nothing dogmatic. This is what writing and storytelling is all about. Getting to the truth. Morga...2024-04-0318 minwriting class radiowriting class radioHow to See Beauty in Small ThingsToday on our show, we bring you a story by Jasmine Anenberg, a PhD student at The Center for Ecosystem Science and Society (ECOSS) at Northern Arizona University (NAU). Her story is about losing a friend but gaining something he taught her, which is seeing the beauty in small things. She takes this lesson into her fieldwork as she studies mosses in dirt.Her story was originally performed on stage at the Flagstaff Festival of Science in October 2023. This was a Collaboration with ECOSS, Northern Arizona University, and Story Collider, a podcast that airs true science stories...2024-03-2022 minwriting class radiowriting class radioFlying Home or Someplace BetterToday on our show, we bring you a story by Jennifer Byrne, who conjures the courage to leave her husband after she's faced with removing a bird that flew into her house. Her story is an excellent example of using a book-end structure. Jennifer has been published in the New York Times (Tiny Love Stories), The Cut, Psychology Today, Good Housekeeping, Atlas Obscura, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, The New Yorker Daily Shouts and The Guardian. She lives in New Jersey. Writing Class Radio is hosted by Allison Langer and Andrea Askowitz. Audio production by Matt Cundill, E...2024-03-1319 minwriting class radiowriting class radioFighting Fire with Aspen and BirchToday on our show, we bring you a story by Nick Link, a PhD student in the Mack Lab and part of the Center for Ecosystem Science and Society (ECOSS) at Northern Arizona University. His story was originally performed on stage at the Flagstaff Festival of Science in October 2023. This was a Collaboration with ECOSS, Northern Arizona University, and Story Collider, a podcast that airs true science stories.We worked with Dr. Bruce Hungate and Dr. Jane Marks, ecologists and professors at NAU. They have been taking classes with us for about three years. Last year, they...2024-02-2819 minwriting class radiowriting class radioFor the Love of ScienceHappy Valentine’s Day. Today on our show, we bring you a story that was originally performed on stage at the Flagstaff Festival of Science in October 2023. This was a Collaboration with The Center for Ecosystem Science and Society (ECOSS) at Northern Arizona University (NAU) and Story Collider, a podcast that airs true science stories.We worked with our narrator of today’s story Dr. Bruce Hungate and Dr. Jane Marks, a conservation ecologist and professor at NAU, who happens to be married to Bruce. They have been taking classes with us for about three years. Last year...2024-02-1424 minwriting class radiowriting class radioBirds Will Be BirdsToday on our show, we bring you a story by Christopher Blackwell. Chris is 42 and serving a 45-year prison sentence in Washington. Chris’s story came to us through writer and Chris’s mentor, Jamie Beth Cohen.This episode is about taking a small moment and bringing big meaning. Through details and emotion, Chris tells us so much about himself and his surroundings. When birds nest on the windowsill of the prison, all the men gather round. Their usual differences melt away. When the birds fly away, our narrator understands their lust for freedom.Christopher Blac...2024-02-0718 minwriting class radiowriting class radioHow to Start a New JobToday on our show, we bring you a story by Sumitra Mattai. Sumitra is a writer and textile designer based in New York City. She holds a BFA in Textile Design from the Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School. Her essays on family, food and culture have been published widely. For more information, www.sumitramattai.com, Instagram @sumitramattai, or subscribe to her newsletter, "Clothbound," highlighting textiles in art, design and everyday life.Her story is a really interesting example of how to change-up structure. It’s literally a li...2024-01-2417 minwriting class radiowriting class radioCan You Find Humor in Addiction?Today on our show, we bring you a story by Maxine Poupko, a semi-retired nurse, long-time student of Writing Class Radio, and hilarious person. Maxine is a master at writing humor and writing the truth. Of course someone can learn the craft of writing, but there might be some debate about whether you can learn to write the truth. Maxine shows us it's possible. She's been writing with Writing Class Radio for the last five years and we have seen her writing transform. At first her writing stayed on the surface. Today, she brings out the vulnerable, hard truth...2024-01-1019 minwriting class radiowriting class radioHere's Why I Resolve to Fail MoreToday on our show we’re talking about the writing process and how getting rejected is just part of the fun. After our own Andrea Askowitz takes a class on rejection taught by Elissa Bassist, she develops a new way of thinking about failure. If you are not getting rejected, you’re not in the game. You will hear the story Andrea wrote after her 643rd rejection. Andrea’s story is called, “I’ve Been Rejected 643 Times. Here’s Why I Resolve to Fail More."Writing Class Radio is hosted by Allison Langer and Andrea Askowitz. Audio production b...2023-12-2719 minwriting class radiowriting class radioMy Brother's in Prison. Could I Have Done More?Today on our show, we’re talking about structure and planting seeds. You’ll hear a story by Claire Tak called The Unopened Letter. Claire is a freelance writer and editor living in Denver. She has a column in PrisonJournalismProject.org called Outside/In, where she writes about her brother’s incarceration. Claire is currently writing a memoir. As a child of Korean-American parents, her book deals with the “immigrant guilt” she faced growing up. For more Claire, subscribe to her Substacks: Stories About My Brother, and Memoir Junkie Wannabe Author. A Transcription of the show is avai...2023-12-1325 minwriting class radiowriting class radioHow to Write about Life When Everyday Is a Reminder of Death?Today on our show, we are talking about hot topic/cold prose and when and why to write in the present tense vs. past. The story we share is written in the present tense, which gives readers the feeling that they're going through the situation with the narrator, in real time. Today’s essay is by Dr. Colleen Arnold who is a physician and freelance writer in Lexington, Virginia. Dr. Arnold has written for Insider, Wall Street Journal, Chicken Soup for the Soul among others. She is a mom to three adult daughters and grandmother to a two...2023-11-2916 minwriting class radiowriting class radioEven Though I'm Judging You, Don't Judge Me for Being a Chopper MomToday on our show, we’re talking about writing with personality and being vulnerable. And when we say vulnerable, we mean including the hard things, good and bad, about ourselves. You’ll hear a story by Dr. Jane Marks, who is a conservation ecologist and professor of Aquatic Ecology at Northern Arizona University (NAU). Jane has been taking classes with Writing Class Radio (WCR) for three years including hiring team WCR to help craft and produce a night of live storytelling at NAU. The show was on September 28, 2023. Those stories, told live and filled with science and vulnerability, will be a...2023-11-1519 minwriting class radiowriting class radioThe Most Unique Essay We've Ever AiredToday on our show, we bring you a story by Kimberly Elkins. Kimberly is the author of the novel, WHAT IS VISIBLE, which was a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice and named to several Best of 2014 lists. She’s written for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Iowa Review, The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Review of Books, Glamour, Slice, The Cincinnati Review, and Best New American Voices. She was a Finalist for the National Magazine Award, and has also won a New York Moth StorySlam. You can find her on X @GoodWordGirl. Kimberly’s stor...2023-11-0112 minwriting class radiowriting class radioA Psychiatric Hospital Nearly Ruined My LifeThis episode is about how to write a near perfect essay. The story was written by Banning Lyon who writes about a harrowing childhood experience in a psychiatric ward. His essay was previously published in The Washington Post. After we discuss Banning’s story, you’ll hear an interview with the author on what his process was like, the difficult emotions writing the memoir brought up, and the cold call he made to find his agent.Banning Lyon is the author of The Chair and The Valley, which will be available June 2024. His writing has been featured in T...2023-10-1829 minMagic Monsters & MomsMagic Monsters & MomsA Horse With No NameThe Moms quickly change course and return to Georgina and Orin's house. They have some custom garments made and meet a few sassy horses.Magic Monsters & Moms, or MM&M, is a Dungeons & Dragons comedy podcast created to highlight women's stories and representation in RPG / tabletop games.Content Warning: Descriptions of violence, languagewww.magicmonstersandmoms.comBevin Victoria as Nizama FilamBob Morrison as Viola MoraLauren Scher as Adira ChinmanOlivia Noelle as Silis AyersNicole Rayner as DMProduced...2023-10-091h 08writing class radiowriting class radioCan We Live on Through Our Writing?Today on our show, we bring you a story by Amy Paturel, which is a great example of how to write about someone else while still including the narrator in a big way. Paturel incorporates her husband’s late wife’s writing into a story that is both emotional, tender, and beautifully composed. She answers the question: Can we live on through writing? She shows us that we can live on through the notes in the margins even if those notes are never published. This story was originally published in Lit Hub on June 28, 2023.Amy Paturel’s essays...2023-10-0420 minwriting class radiowriting class radioLetters to My Son in Prison – Why Writing Matters.On this episode, we bring you a story by Ken Guidroz. Ken’s story shows us the importance of writing and sharing stories, especially with people we either don’t understand or who don’t understand us. Ken says writing to his son in prison ignited an honest exchange he never would have had without writing. This exchange changed their relationship forever.Ken Guidroz served in the ministry, leading the Santa Clarita Church of Christ and designs specialty retirement plans for companies. He is the author of Beyond the 401(k): How Financial Advisors Can Grow Their Businesses with C...2023-09-2022 minMagic Monsters & MomsMagic Monsters & MomsWe Are But Weary TravelersThe gang sets out to find Viola’s mom and encounters some fiery surprises along the way.Magic Monsters & Moms, or MM&M, is a Dungeons & Dragons comedy podcast created to highlight women's stories and representation in RPG / tabletop games.Content Warning: Descriptions of violence, profanitywww.magicmonstersandmoms.comBevin Victoria as Nizama FilamBob Morrison as Viola MoraLauren Scher as Adira ChinmanOlivia Noelle as Silis AyersNicole Rayner as DMProduced and Edited by Nicole RaynerTh...2023-09-191h 25writing class radiowriting class radioDo As I Say Not As I DoOn this episode, you’ll hear a story by our own Allison Langer. You may have read her story in HuffPost, where she was published on Jan 16, 2023. The story ran with this title: People Say I'm A Grief Expert, But When My Friend's Husband Died, I Did Something I Deeply Regret.If you are wondering how to help a friend who is grieving or have ever felt like you don't know what to say or do when someone dies, this episode will help.After you hear the story, we’ll discuss one of our biggest writ...2023-09-0618 minMagic Monsters & MomsMagic Monsters & MomsQ & AWe interrupt your regularly scheduled episode to bring you a fun little Question & Answer session with Nicole, Olivia, and Bob. We discuss our favorite spells, the inspiration behind our characters and the podcast, and 80’s attitudes towards Dungeons & Dragons.Magic Monsters & Moms, or MM&M, is a Dungeons & Dragons comedy podcast created to highlight women's stories and representation in RPG / tabletop games.Content Warning: Strong Languagewww.magicmonstersandmoms.comBevin Victoria as Nizama FilamBob Morrison as Viola MoraLauren Scher as Adira Chinman...2023-08-2942 minwriting class radiowriting class radioYou Look Great BECAUSE You’ve AgedOn this episode, we bring you a story by our own Andrea Askowitz. A version of this essay was published April 2023 on CNN and titled What Justine Bateman Gets Exactly Right About Beauty. You’ll hear tips on how to bring in outside evidence for a more effective opinion piece and how to use the news stories, popular in the media, to create a personal essay.Andrea Askowitz has been published in The New York Times, Salon, The Rumpus, Huffington Post, Glamour, AEON, The Writer, Manifest-Station, Mutha, Washington Post, CNN, NPR, PBS, and the anthologies, Looking Queer, Al...2023-08-2319 minwriting class radiowriting class radioCliches Saved My LifeToday on our show, we bring you a story by student Emily Henderson. The story is called Cliches Saved My Life. The whole story is 354 words. It’s a lesson in going huge by going small. It’s also inspires a discussion about when and when not to use cliches in your writing.Emily Henderson has been featured before on Writing Class Radio: Ep 144: When Is a Gift More than a Gift? That story is about living through Xmas after the death of a child. It’s a beautiful and sad story and one of our best stories...2023-08-0912 minMagic Monsters & MomsMagic Monsters & MomsThe Seer Saw Some StuffThe group ventures into La Croix Town, where they eat spicy soup, shop for new clothes, and finally meet Silis’ mom. The path ahead becomes more clear.Magic Monsters & Moms, or MM&M, is a Dungeons & Dragons comedy podcast created to highlight women's stories and representation in RPG / tabletop games.Content Warning: Languagewww.magicmonstersandmoms.comBevin Victoria as Nizama FilamBob Morrison as Viola MoraLauren Scher as Adira ChinmanOlivia Noelle as Silis AyersNicole Rayner as DMProduced an...2023-08-081h 09Magic Monsters & MomsMagic Monsters & MomsThese Rolls Were RoughThe moms go face-to-face against a band of fire newts. It does not go as planned, and they lose possession of their recently-discovered book. Content Warning: Descriptions of violenceBevin Victoria as Nizama FilamBob Morrison as Viola MoraLauren Scher as Adira ChinmanOlivia Noelle as Silis AyersNicole Rayner as DMProduced and Edited by Nicole RaynerTheme Music "My Favorite Woman" by Justina ShandlerTheme Music produced by Alex BradfieldC...2023-07-181h 20The Music ExecutiveThe Music Executive7. The Art of the Cold Email w/Justina ShandlerSend us a textA songwriter for media/sync, and teacher at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music and School for Music Vocations, Justina Shandler loves leftovers, otters, spontaneous dance parties, and the enneagram. In this episode, we talk about how to write an email to a person that you don’t know, that quite frankly, you need something from. Whether that something be a connection or a foot in the door, cold email is HARD. Justina talks about some of her email hacks that have landed her some deals.2023-07-1010 minwriting class radiowriting class radioA New Year's NightmareOn today’s episode, we’re bringing you an old episode that’s still relevant and awesome, in case you missed it back in season one.You’ll meet a bunch of students from season 1: Frenchie, Tobi Ash, Cynthia Castillo, Bo, and Nicki Post. You’ll also hear a brief interview with each and the epic talent of Patricia Carlin, aka Frenchie, singing, playing piano, and whistling the tune of Auld Lang Syne. For the in-class prompt, Andrea played Auld Lang Syne. Listen to this episode to see what our students came up with and how importa...2022-12-2839 minwriting class radiowriting class radioWhen Is a Gift More than a Gift?Today on our show, we bring you a story by Emily Henderson titled After Our Son Died, My Husband Gave Me The Most Meaningful Christmas Gift Of My Life. Emily workshopped this essay in our Final Draft class and then the Huffington Post published it on December 25, 2021. This story is an excellent example of using an object to convey emotion, details, and telling in addition to showing. Emily tells us how she’s feeling the entire story which intensifies her vulnerability. To hear another of Emily’s stories, listen to Episode 103: Writing the Same Story Over and Over. Emi...2022-12-1420 minwriting class radiowriting class radioCutting Needless WordsToday on our show, we’re sharing another story by Corey Devon Arthur. Corey’s stories have been aired on Episode 120: My Pen Uncovers the Real Me and Episode 128: My New Manifesto.Corey Devon Arthur has served 25 years on a life sentence for robbery and murder and is currently housed at Otisville Correctional Institution in New York. Corey is an artist and writer who has been published on Writing Class Radio and The Marshall Project. The story Corey wrote for this episode was in response to our callout for men’s abortion stories and it came in...2022-11-3025 minwriting class radiowriting class radioBeginnings and EndingsToday on our show, we’re talking about beginnings and endings. What is an effective way to begin a story and a satisfying way to end? The story we bring you on this episode is an amazing example of how to start with appropriate grounding and how to land/end the essay like a gymnast. The narrator isn’t just a beginning and ending genius, she also uses lingo associated with her theme. This style is effective, because the reader feels more drawn in. Another example of that same type of inclusive linguistic style was discussed on Episode 110: How to W...2022-11-1620 minMagic Monsters & MomsMagic Monsters & MomsWe're Not in Kansas AnymoreFour moms perusing a bookstore are propelled into the adventure of a lifetime. In an alternate realm, the group comes across a familiar friend in a not-so-familiar form. Some rogue greenery calls for impromptu pruning, and they realize they're in for much more than they could have imagined.Bevin Victoria as Nazama FilamBob Morrison as Viola MoraLauren Scher as Adira ChinmanOlivia Noelle as Silis AyersNicole Rayner as DMProduced and Edited by Nicole RaynerTheme Music "My Favorite...2022-11-051h 21writing class radiowriting class radioWhere Does Your Mind Go When You're Given a Writing Prompt?Today on our show, we bring you a story by one of Allison’s 7th grade students. She spent two months teaching English to 7th and 8th graders at a private school in Miami, and because she’s her, she assigned personal essay after personal essay. She learned about their parents, what they eat for dinner, their nannies, grandparents, and favorite sport. They resisted getting personal, the same way Allison did when she started writing.Most people seem to struggle with writing about themselves, getting vulnerable, telling a story that might get them made fun of. But, not...2022-11-0222 minwriting class radiowriting class radioOne Man's Abortion StoryToday on our show, we bring you the story we’ve been searching for since June 24, 2022 when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade. We put a call out for men’s abortion stories and waited months. In Episode 138: There’s Always More to the Story, we talked about why only three men submitted stories, none of which fit our guidelines. We called men cowards. Matt Cundill, our audio producer, was in the greenroom listening. If you missed Episode 138, check it out. You can hear the lashing we gave all the men out there who have a story they refuse...2022-10-1924 minwriting class radiowriting class radioThis Is What Mania Looks LikeToday’s episode showcases a story by student Danielle Huggins. Danielle’s story shows what happened when she got off her medication for bipolar disorder. This story is the best example of show and tell EVER! We ask you, why do you read and listen to stories: to be taken into another world or to find yourself in the story?Danielle told a story on Episode 105: Teach Us Something We Don’t Know. That episode was about her experience with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). If you haven’t listened to that episode, definitely check it out.Danielle...2022-10-0525 minwriting class radiowriting class radioThere Is Always More to the StoryToday’s episode revisits the subject of abortion but is about much more. We put a call-out for men’s abortion stories and received several abortion stories by women and very few (only three) by men. We are grateful to the men who submitted, but none was quite right for Writing Class Radio. We will continue to bring you abortion stories as they come in. So men, please weigh in. We want to hear from you. Submission guidelines are on our website.We selected this essay by past student Melanie Merriman because it is brilliantly written and deep...2022-09-2137 minwriting class radiowriting class radioHow to Fight with Your Co-Host and Win a Writing ContestToday on our show we share a story by our own Allison Langer. Her essay is called Writing Class Helped Me Break Down My Facade. You will hear about the fight hosts Allison and Andrea had that prompted this episode. We’ll talk about trying to make money as a writer, revisiting the same theme, and how to win a writing contest. If you think you are the only one writing about the same thing over and over, this episode is for you. See how themes can change over time and how you can win a contest whe...2022-09-0725 minwriting class radiowriting class radioWhat Makes You Weird in the World?Today on our show, author and overall cool woman, Allison Landa reads an excerpt from her new memoir coming out October 4, 2022 called Bearded Lady (Woodhall Press). Pre-order today from our favorite Indie, Books & Books, or wherever you get books. Andrea read an advance copy and this story–this book–is one of Andrea’s all time favorites.This essay, the whole memoir, is a lesson in guts out vulnerability. Andrea believes Allison Landa is the next Joan Didion.The part we bring you is a perfect example of the use of a container and it’s also a...2022-08-2438 minwriting class radiowriting class radioIn Praise of ComplainingToday on our show we share a story by Cheryl E. Klein, author of the soon to be released memoir Crybaby. Cheryl takes an unusual subject, complaining, and makes a case for it. She even goes so far as to say complaining is noble. Her wit and humor make this episode another must listen!!We discuss her voice and commitment to what some people, most people, probably think is an obnoxious quality. Cheryl also uses dialogue really well.You can find Cheryl on Twitter @CherylEKleinLA and Instagram @CherylEKleinStories. Her story, In Praise of Complaining, was p...2022-08-1018 minCrazy Women CountryCrazy Women CountryElaine Ryan Interview with CWCIn Today's episode, we will get to know the incredible Elaine Ryan. Join us as we discuss her newest projects, women who inspire her, and get to know her better with our 20 crazy questions! Founder of My Date to Create: MY DATE TO CREATE is a weekly, scheduled meeting over Zoom where you ensure that you work on your writing, songwriting or creative project for one hour. Co-Founder: of Sync Music For A Change: We're a couple of musician activists (Justina Shandler & Elaine Ryan) who met in a course on songwriting for music licensing and...2022-03-1528 minFormula Indie AmericaFormula Indie AmericaFORMULA INDIE AMERICA 07.02.2022MCMGM – Straight SixThe Kyd – Good MorningDeath by Tapioca – Take it thereEema Naomi – HistoryHuron Lines – Lost in SarniaSproosy – All GutsKevin Coons – Rattlesnake CanyonJustina Shandler – StaminaFaye – AlexandriaCatfish Seminar – The FortBC Roadz – K St.River Huxley – Synthetic ViolenceHoodlife Muzik – Major FlavorWZRDBLVK – CleanDRFTRS – About youKristian Phillip Valentino – It’s FallenAndré Molina – Miami – Zach Golden (Remix)Miramar Drive – TryAudri – Dea...2022-02-072h 03writing class radiowriting class radioSometimes It's Better Said in a SongToday on our show, we’re talking about structure, voice, commitment, and especially happy endings. The story you’ll hear was written, read, and sung by Amber Petty. What makes this story so much fun? You know it when you hear it.Amber Petty used to be an actor but now she writes and helps other writers get into freelance writing. In her acting days, she performed at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater and did over 500 shows of the Off-Broadway 50 Shades! The Musical. She's written for The New York Times, Thrillist, Greatist, Bustle, MTV, IFC, and Snooki's blog...2021-10-2022 minwriting class radiowriting class radioI Was the Real Life's Queen's GambitToday on our show, we’re talking about how to frame a story. Not all publications are looking for the same thing. Actually, all pubs are different. On Writing Class Radio, we look for a change in the narrator or a discovery by the narrator. We want the narrator to reveal something big and vulnerable and important. We want something dramatic to happen. And then we want the narrator to make meaning of what happened. The story we bring you today doesn’t exactly fit into what we call a story, but it is so compelling and beaut...2021-10-0621 minwriting class radiowriting class radioVoice Isn't Everything, Is It?Today on our show, we’re talking about voice in a new way. We always say, write like you speak. That’s one of the most important writing tenets, because if you write like you speak, you’re writing in the most truthful way. If you curse, curse. If you don’t speak in fancy prose, don’t write fancy prose.To hear more about voice, listen to Episode 43: Voices in Your Head, and Episode 44: Voices Carry.  On today's episode, we ask the question, What if your physical voice says something about you you don’t want it to s...2021-09-2218 minwriting class radiowriting class radioIt’s a Matter of TimeToday on our show, we are featuring an essay by former student Sharon Rothberg. Sharon uses a philosophical concept to work out her feelings about the death of her daughter-in-law.  Sharon's use of time and all lingo related to time is masterful. The story structure is also exceptional as is the balanced use of humor and vulnerability.This story really shows how writing helps people figure out things we can’t really understand. Sharon Rothberg lives in Miami, Florida with her husband of 57 years. She was an English major at Tulane University and taught seventh grade...2021-09-0821 minwriting class radiowriting class radioHow Do You Know if Your Story Sucks?On episode 106, host Allison Langer tells a story about her post cancer hair. Allison’s story was rejected by The Washington Post. Should Allison give up and write something new? Or should she continue to send her story to other publications? Most often, even expertly-written stories get rejected because they’re just not a perfect fit for a particular publication at a particular time. But, how do you know if your story just sucks?Had Allison listened to Andrea’s edits, would she have gotten published? Or is it the topic of cancer that did her in?Y...2021-07-2825 minwriting class radiowriting class radioTeach Us Something We Don't KnowThis episode is about teaching the reader/listener something they don’t know anything about. Teaching can be done in two ways. One, by taking the reader into a world foreign to most people and two, by relaying information that’s rarely discussed and possibly unknown to the average person. In the story we bring you today, listener and student Danielle Huggins does both. Danielle has Bipolar Disorder and takes us inside her mind while she’s depressed. She also teaches us about Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT). She gives us history and explains the medical process and implications. This is not...2021-07-1420 minwriting class radiowriting class radioSleep Left Me for a Younger WomanThis episode is about commitment. Not commitment to love, exactly, but commitment to a concept. Listener Lucie Frost writes a satirical essay where sleep is her lover. She never slips from the concept. Humor writing requires committing to an idea and pushing that idea as far as you can go.Lucie Frost is a humor and satire writer in San Antonio, Texas. She recently retired from a lifetime as a human resources/employment lawyer. This story was originally published in Slackjaw. Her work has also been published in Next Tribe, Little Old Lady Comedy, The Haven, Lady...2021-06-3016 minwriting class radiowriting class radioIs it Ok to Write the Same Story Over and Over?On this episode, we bring you a story that the narrator has returned to and will probably return to all her life. Everyone has their themes and it’s okay to return to them at different points in our lives. Trigger warning…The story you will hear on this episode documents the loss of a child. If this is a sensitive issue for you, please listen to another episode.Our student and listener Emily Henderson writes a beautiful story about the loss of her son to brain cancer. In this essay, she uses her husband to t...2021-06-1624 minwriting class radiowriting class radioA Boyhood Brush With Breast CancerOn this episode, we bring you a story that is not one you hear too often but addresses a very serious situation: breast cancer in men. Kevin Wood shares his essay, A Boyhood Brush with Breast Cancer. This essay was previously published on The Good Men Project.We sat on this story for a few years not because it wasn’t expertly written, but because it lacked an important detail we felt was left out. You'll hear us discuss what happens when a key element seems to be left out of a story. Kevin Wood (kevi...2021-06-0226 minwriting class radiowriting class radioI Own Seven Vibrators and I Still Worry About What to Say at a Cocktail PartyThis episode is about writing like you speak, which is the best way to tell a true, authentic story. Andrea and Allison discuss why bringing your voice into a written essay makes the story so much better. You will hear an essay by Anthea Rowan, a writer and listener from Tanzania, Africa. Anthea’s story is about social anxiety. She uses her brilliant British vernacular and charms the listener. Allison and Andrea discuss the writing after the story, why writing class has fucked them up for cocktail talk, and their own experiences with social anxiety.Ant...2021-05-1934 minwriting class radiowriting class radioHappy F*ing Mother's DayThis episode features an extreme mother story by Diana Kupershmit who is honest and vulnerable. Diana tells the truth about a very tough decision she and her husband made when their daughter Emma was born with a severe disability. Diana reads her story and then Andrea and Allison discuss the brilliant writing and why is it important to be gut wrenchingly honest.Diana’s essay was previously published in Still Standing Magazine, June 9, 2020.On this episode, we mention Krista Tippett’s On Being podcast episode with Bryan Doerries. Specifically his public health project, Theater of War...2021-05-0542 minwriting class radiowriting class radioAn Insider Conversation with a Literary AgentToday on our show, we share a New York Times Modern Love essay we love by Jessica Strawser, editor-at-large at Writer’s Digest. Her essay caught the attention of literary agent Barbara Poelle, an agent with the Irene Goodman Literary Agency and the author of Funny You Should Ask: Mostly Serious Answers to Mostly Serious Questions About the Publishing Industry. Her book is based on her Writer's Digest column of the same name. On today’s show, we share our conversation with Barbara about how to get an agent.We asked Barbara all kinds of questions: Is now...2020-05-0637 minwriting class radiowriting class radioHow to Go From Idea to Published Essay to Book DealToday on our show, we’re talking to Lilly Dancyger, an editor at Catapult, among many things. She’s also a freelance editor at Narratively and Barrelhouse Books, a memoir writing teacher, writer, curator of Memoir Monday, and the editor of the just-released anthology called Burn It Down. We talked to her about what she’s looking for in an essay, and how to successfully pitch to Narratively and Catapult. Read this before you submit to Lilly or anywhere. Ariel Henley reads her essay called There’s a Mathematical Equation that Proves I’m Ugly--Or So I Learned in...2019-11-0640 minwriting class radiowriting class radioHow to Write Your Story While You're Still Living ItToday on our show, we’re talking about how to end a story when the situation is ongoing. You’ll hear an essay by the Brazilian born Miami writer, Camile Flosi Araujo. Camile brings us into her world, which changed dramatically for her when she got into a car accident that left her paralyzed from the waist down. She made a startling discovery, not that she’s pissed about the accident, although she is, but that she’s pissed at herself for how she lived before the accident. Listen to hear how she expertly ends the story that she’s still li...2019-07-0323 minwriting class radiowriting class radioWhat's a Meta Phor?Today on our show, we’re talking about metaphors and how they work in a story. We share a story by Elizabeth Newdom whose story is shaped around a metaphor. Elizabeth’s essay first appeared in Motherwell, an online magazine that tells all sides of the parenting story.  We called the editors of Motherwell, Randi Olin and Lauren Apfel, a badass editing duo and talked to them about their tag team approach to editing, what grabbed them about Elizabeth’s story, and the use of metaphors.We’ll take you behind the scenes, so you can learn...2019-06-1925 minwriting class radiowriting class radioReady, Set, Go Get Into CollegeToday on our show we’re talking about perseverance, a quality important if you want to be a writer, a runner, or someone successful at crafting the dreaded college essay. What makes your essay stand out to publishers and to college admissions directors is the situation and the story. They want to see the loss or the win, because that’s what allows others to connect with your story. They also want to know what you learned from the experience and how that experience informed your character. Allison Langer has been working with high scho...2019-06-0511 minwriting class radiowriting class radioHow to Brag and Pull it Off.Today on our show we’re talking about bragging, specifically on the dreaded college essay. How do you brag yourself up without sounding like a total $#&%$#? (We’re PG for the high schoolers...as if). The answer is, you have to be willing to get vulnerable and reveal your ugly side, then you can brag all you want.Allison has been working with high school students all over the country on their college admissions essays. This is the first episode in a two-part series where we bring you common app essays.Palmer Trinity high school seni...2019-05-2211 minwriting class radiowriting class radioSlow Down. You Don’t Want to Miss this Moment.Do you know how sometimes when you’re reading a story you feel like the story slows down in a critical moment? Maybe the narrator describes the people in a room or the birds on a tree nearby. Maybe there’s a flashback to a memory. In that moment, the reader becomes hyper aware and hopefully totally drawn in.Today on our show we’re talking about slowing down and expanding a moment. A moment in a story that says to the reader, “Hey, pay attention. I’m about to give you some details that are i...2019-05-0823 minwriting class radiowriting class radioInspiration Sometimes Comes in the Form of a DressIn class, sometimes we ask people to close their eyes and smell sunblock, or freshly baked bread. Sometimes we play a Beatles song or have students squeeze Play-Doh. Sometimes we throw out a word like pussy. Then, we ask students to write about the first thing that comes to mind. All of these prompts inspire stories.Today on our show we’re talking about how inspiration for stories can come in a word, a song, a scent, or an object like a dress.You will hear a story by Nancy Brier, a listener from Palm De...2019-04-2414 minwriting class radiowriting class radioFrom Pitch to PublicationsToday on our show we’re talking about pitching to publications, what to include in a query letter and all the homework you need to do before you pitch to an editor. Writer Baylea Jones shares her pitch and her story.We speak with Ravishly editor Erin Khar about what it was like to receive Baylea’s pitch, as well as why she chose Baylea’s story. Erin will also discuss the basic how-to’s for submitting stories for Ravishly and elsewhere.Writing Class Radio is a podcast where you’ll hear true personal stories and learn...2019-04-1026 minwriting class radiowriting class radioThe Devil's in the DetailsDetails matter. Details bring the reader/listener into a world they may know nothing about. They help us trust the narrator. The more specific the details; the more universal the story. In this episode we bring you a story by Inessa Freylekhman. She’s a Feng Shui expert, speaker, spiritual counselor and author. Inessa uses details well throughout her story, but there is one specific detail that exemplifies the type of detail we’re always looking for. Listen for it. To help you get specific in your own stories, ask yourself: Like what?Writing Class Radio is a po...2019-03-2720 minwriting class radiowriting class radioHow to Stop Procrastinating and Write Your StoryOn this episode, we talk about procrastination. We also talk about speaking directly to the reader from a place of experience. And giving advice, which is really hard in a story and in life. If you're willing to be vulnerable, you can do it. We’re starting with a story by Jenni Berrett called You Aren’t Lazy--You’re Just Terrified: On Paralysis and Perfectionism. Jenni is a columnist at Ravishly, an online magazine that celebrates the mess of being human. Her story is relevant to all of us messy humans, especially the messy writers among us. W...2019-03-1316 minwriting class radiowriting class radioIf You Want to Write About Death and Get Published, Write the TruthIn this episode we’re talking about writing about death. We have a story by Leslie Gray Streeter, a columnist for the Palm Beach Post who also contributes to Modern Loss,    the online magazine dedicated to normalizing the way we talk about loss. Leslie’s story is called, What I did with My Husband’s Life Insurance Money. Leslie uses humor and a conversational style when writing about the death of her husband, the same humor and voice she’d use to write about anything. We also speak with Gabrielle Birkner, the editor and co-founder of Modern Loss and ed...2019-02-2723 minwriting class radiowriting class radioA Time I Had an Unpopular OpinionIn this episode we air the winner of our fall writing contest--Jen Antill. The prompt: A Time I Had an Unpopular Opinion reaped a story about a woman who is pregnant at 24, but doesn’t want to be. It turns out, she never wanted to be a mother. Starting with a prompt like a time you had an unpopular opinion can lead to a story with tension, conflict, and high stakes, all of which make for a great story. Writing Class Radio is a podcast where you’ll hear true personal stories from the students in our class...2019-01-3011 minwriting class radiowriting class radioEveryone Needs an Editor/FriendThis is the final episode of the Andrea Show. For the last seven weeks, we brought you a story written and read by Writing Class Radio co-host, Andrea Askowitz, with commentary by her editor, co-host, Allison Langer. Andrea took a weekly essay challenge on her 50th birthday in May 2018, which was inspired by a quote by the author of Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury. He said, “Write a short story every week. It’s not possible to write 52 bad stories in a row.” This week Andrea’s story conflates editors and friends, because in her mind, they both keep you from embarras...2019-01-2318 minwriting class radiowriting class radioWhat's Your Achilles Heel?For the next two weeks, we will bring you a story written and read by Writing Class Radio co-host, Andrea Askowitz, with commentary by her editor, co-host, Allison Langer. Andrea took a weekly essay challenge, which was inspired by a quote by the author of Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury. He said, “Write a short story every week. It’s not possible to write 52 bad stories in a row.” This week Andrea takes us on a 12-mile run through Miami, where she snaps something in her leg. She uses the experience to discover her real Achilles heel, which is her fear of get...2019-01-1613 minwriting class radiowriting class radioWrite About Me!For the next three weeks, we will bring you a story written and read by Writing Class Radio co-host, Andrea Askowitz, with commentary by her editor, co-host, Allison Langer. Andrea took a weekly essay challenge, which was inspired by a quote by the author of Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury. He said, “Write a short story every week. It’s not possible to write 52 bad stories in a row.” On this episode, Allison and Andrea talk about a subject that comes up in every writing class: What do you do about writing about other people? Andrea tells a funny story about how ev...2019-01-0912 minwriting class radiowriting class radioThe Mean Letter You Always Wanted to WriteThis week, Andrea uses the epistolary form--story written as a letter--to get her point across. The letter form is very intimate because the narrator is speaking directing to you. We hope this process will help writers get published or at least get inspire to write. For the next four weeks, we will bring you a story written and read by Writing Class Radio co-host, Andrea Askowitz, with commentary by her editor, co-host, Allison Langer. Andrea took a weekly essay challenge, which was inspired by a quote by the author of Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury. He said, “Write a short story ev...2019-01-0110 minwriting class radiowriting class radioFrom Writing Prompt to Published StoryFor the next five weeks, we'll bring you a story written and read by Writing Class Radio co-host, Andrea Askowitz, with commentary by her editor, co-host, Allison Langer. Andrea took a weekly essay challenge, which was inspired by a quote by the author of Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury. He said, “Write a short story every week. It’s not possible to write 52 bad stories in a row.” This week, something cool happened. Andrea didn’t know what to write about, so she called Allison and they both set timers for 15 minutes and wrote to the prompt: Christmas. On thi...2018-12-2623 minwriting class radiowriting class radioShould I Edit Out the Dick Pics?This is week three of an eight-week experiment. We’re bringing you a story a week by Writing Class Radio co-host, Andrea Askowitz, with commentary by her editor, co-host, Allison Langer. Andrea took a weekly essay challenge, which was inspired by a quote by the author of Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury. He said, “Write a short story every week. It’s not possible to write 52 bad stories in a row.” On this episode, Andrea tells a story about what girls have to endure in our modern world. She was inspired by Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony and wrote about an incident t...2018-12-1915 minwriting class radiowriting class radioFunny Story...My Brother Has CancerFor the next seven weeks, we will bring you a story written and read by Writing Class Radio co-host, Andrea Askowitz, with commentary by her editor, co-host, Allison Langer. Andrea took a weekly essay challenge, which was inspired by a quote by the author of Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury. He said, “Write a short story every week. It’s not possible to write 52 bad stories in a row.” This week, Andrea tells a funny story about a not funny at all topic--her brother’s cancer diagnosis. After the story is read, Allison and Andrea discuss how Andrea uses humor to deal wit...2018-12-1214 minwriting class radiowriting class radioIt's Not Possible to Write 52 Bad Stories in a RowWelcome to Season 6. For the next eight weeks, we will bring you a story a week written and read by co-host, Andrea Askowitz, with commentary by her editor, co-host, Allison Langer. This week, Andrea tells us why she took a weekly essay challenge, which was inspired by a quote by the author of Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury. He said, “Write a short story every week. It’s not possible to write 52 bad stories in a row.” After the story is read, Allison and Andrea discuss the piece, what it took to get to the why in the story and what edits...2018-12-0514 minWomen of Substance Music Podcast Volume 1Women of Substance Music Podcast Volume 1#105 Music by Lilly Van Sickle, Savannah Philyaw, The Golden Hippie, Justina Shandler, Lauren Wolf, Kaela Sinclair, Jackie MorrisTo get live links to the music we play and resources we offer, visit  This show includes the following songs: Lilly Van Sickle - Hush Savannah Philyaw - Uh-Uh The Golden Hippie - Smoke Signals Justina Shandler - The Mailman Lauren Wolf - Run Daddy Run Kaela Sinclair - Original Sin Jackie Morris - You Can't Fix Crazy For Music Biz Resources Visit  Visit our Sponsor: Get music by Caroline Keller at Visit our Sponsor: Get music by Lisa Coppola at Visit our Sponsor: Get music by Nitanee Paris at2015-04-1532 min