Shows
Ink in Your VeinsTelling Your Story with TedX, with Catriona TurnerHow do you talk about your writer-self on TedX and make a difference to listeners? Catriona spills the tea everything, as well making the very good case to let potential readers make up their own minds about our books! Catriona Turner is a Scottish writer and editor. Before living abroad, she worked as an English teacher in Scottish schools. She has since spent fourteen years globally mobile with her family, living in France (three times), Uganda, Congo, and Denmark. Her first book, Nest: a memoir of home on the move, was published in June 2023, and she i...2025-04-1742 min
Ink in Your Veins424 | Getting Unstuck with Monna McDiarmid - Special Episode!Monna McDiarmid on what it's like to be stuck, and how to get yourself out (even if you're still stuck!)Rachael's Kickstarter, Unstuck: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rachaelherron/unstuck-an-audacious-hunt-for-home-and-happinessMonna McDiarmid is a writer, life coach and educator. She and her partner live in a tiny apartment in Yokohama, Japan and an old, wooden house in Nova Scotia, Canada. She believes in the healing power of poetry, the sea, and a roaring fire in a wood stove. Her work, in all her roles, is focused on helping humans learn how...2024-04-0920 min
Ink in Your Veins409 | What Kind of Editing is ACTUALLY Essential?Editor Damien Pitter blows Rachael’s MIND in this episode when he talks about the only way structure feels to a reader. She’s still reeling. Also on tap: what kind of editing is essential vs. skippable? And how the heck do you figure out when to hire an editor? After teaching students to understand and write stories for more than twenty years as an international educator and counselor, Damien Pitter now has a small business editing and coaching adult writers to help them find and tell their stories. Educated in Canada, Damien studied Film, Theater and E...2024-01-2534 min
Ink in Your Veins407 | The Dialogue Doctor Will See You NowWho said what, and WHY? Rachael talks with Jeff about how to write dialogue that readers will love. Also, she encourages you to join her in taking Monna McDiarmid’s course, Seven Rooms: Experiments in Delight-Taking and Peace-Making https://rachaelherron.com/sevenrooms. and if you’re a writer of color struggling to write your book, please reach out to Josee Smith on Instagram for free coaching! http://instagram.com/joseesmithbookcoachJeff Elkins is a writer, podcaster, and writing coach. He’s the author of eleven novels including Inside Outside and the Adventures of Watkins and Howe Detective...2024-01-1155 min
The Pop Cult EX-perienceFrom Far and Wide and The Space Between.Send us a textIt’s an all Canadian episode this week on the podcast as we get ready to celebrate Canada Day. Not only are we shining a spotlight on the day, but also on the month as we talk about some Canadian films focused on Queer and Trans stories that were recommended by Can Film Day. C.R.A.Z.Y. Can be streamed on Apple TVBreakfast with Scot can be streamed on CBC GemsDawn, Her Dad and the Tractor can be streamed on Crave. If sitti...2023-06-281h 16
Ink in Your VeinsEp. 366: Monna McDiarmid on Love Tricks for WritersMonna McDiarmid is a Canadian writer and international school counselor who has lived in Colombia, Mexico, Spain, Thailand and Japan. Currently, she and her partner live in a tiny apartment in Yokohama, Japan and an old, wooden house in Nova Scotia, Canada. She believes in the healing power of poetry, the sea, and a roaring fire in a wood stove. Her work, in all her roles, is focused on helping humans learn how to be kinder to themselves. The 38 Impossible Loves of Naoko Nishizawa is her first novel. How Do You Write Podcast: Explore the processes...2023-06-0856 min
Ease Lessons for Writers36. Caroline Donahue (Season 3, Episode 3/3)TODAY'S GUEST: CAROLINE DONAHUEAs a book-loving Writing and Book Coach, Caroline doesn't believe there is any force more powerful in this world than writing. With a Masters in Psychology and Expressive Arts, and a subsequent career in the book world that began with working in a bookshop, progressing through editing and producing a thrice annual auction catalogue, to proofreading for a prominent ad agency, she has apprenticed herself to writing for over ten years. In 2016, she launched The Secret Library Podcast and has since interviewed over 100 writers, editors, agents, and publishers to get to the...2022-09-281h 13Ease Lessons for Writers35. Caroline Donahue (Season 3, Episode 2/3)TODAY'S GUEST: CAROLINE DONAHUEAs a book-loving Writing and Book Coach, Caroline doesn't believe there is any force more powerful in this world than writing. With a Masters in Psychology and Expressive Arts, and a subsequent career in the book world that began with working in a bookshop, progressing through editing and producing a thrice annual auction catalogue, to proofreading for a prominent ad agency, she has apprenticed herself to writing for over ten years. In 2016, she launched The Secret Library Podcast and has since interviewed over 100 writers, editors, agents, and publishers to get to the...2022-09-201h 01Ease Lessons for Writers34. Caroline Donahue (Season 3, Episode 1/3)TODAY'S GUEST: CAROLINE DONAHUEAs a book-loving Writing and Book Coach, Caroline doesn't believe there is any force more powerful in this world than writing. With a Masters in Psychology and Expressive Arts, and a subsequent career in the book world that began with working in a bookshop, progressing through editing and producing a thrice annual auction catalogue, to proofreading for a prominent ad agency, she has apprenticed herself to writing for over ten years. In 2016, she launched The Secret Library Podcast and has since interviewed over 100 writers, editors, agents, and publishers to get to the...2022-09-1456 minEase Lessons for Writers33. Michelle (Season 3, Episode 3/3)TODAY'S GUEST: MICHELLEToday's episode is my third and final conversation with Michelle, a mom of two and an attorney who prefers storytelling to legalese, as well as an open heart over the analytical mind. She believes that when her heart and mind work as one, that's where the magic happens, and she has been on a lifelong journey to connect them both. She received her first tarot card deck at age thirteen and Reiki certifications at age sixteen. After that she earned certification after certification in Astrology, Spiritual Bathing, Life Coaching and Mindfulness Education amongst...2022-09-0642 minEase Lessons for Writers32. Michelle (Season 3, Episode 2/3)TODAY'S GUEST: MICHELLEToday's episode is my second conversation with Michelle, a mom of two and an attorney who prefers storytelling to legalese, as well as an open heart over the analytical mind. She believes that when her heart and mind work as one, that's where the magic happens, and she has been on a lifelong journey to connect them both. She received her first tarot card deck at age thirteen and Reiki certifications at age sixteen. After that she earned certification after certification in Astrology, Spiritual Bathing, Life Coaching and Mindfulness Education amongst many others...2022-08-3056 minEase Lessons for Writers31. Michelle (Season 3, Episode 1/3)TODAY'S GUEST: MICHELLEToday's episode is my first conversation with Michelle, a mom of two and an attorney who prefers storytelling to legalese, as well as an open heart over the analytical mind. She believes that when her heart and mind work as one, that's where the magic happens, and she has been on a lifelong journey to connect them both. She received her first tarot card deck at age thirteen and Reiki certifications at age sixteen. After that she earned certification after certification in Astrology, Spiritual Bathing, Life Coaching and Mindfulness Education amongst many others...2022-08-2334 minEase Lessons for Writers30. Lala Hulse (Season 3, Episode 3/3)TODAY'S GUEST: LALA HULSEToday's episode is my third conversation with Lala Hulse, an artist and musician who is trying to get her creative life back together after moving halfway around the world during a pandemic. She believes everyone can draw and everyone can sing.Thanks for this conversation, Lala.HOMEWORK INVITATIONS FROM OUR SECOND CONVERSATION1. Setting the stagea) Think more about the logistics of your office space.b) Think more deeply about this question of setting the stage including the idea of "starting your day...2022-08-1642 minEase Lessons for Writers29. Lala Hulse (Season 3, Episode 2/3)TODAY'S GUEST: LALA HULSEToday's episode is my second conversation with Lala Hulse, an artist and musician who is trying to get her creative life back together after moving halfway around the world during a pandemic. She believes everyone can draw and everyone can sing.Thanks for this conversation, Lala.HOMEWORK INVITATIONS FROM TODAY'S CONVERSATION1. Setting the stagea) Think more about the logistics of your office space.b) Think more deeply about this question of setting the stage including the idea of "starting your day again"...2022-08-0946 minEase Lessons for Writers28. Lala Hulse (Season 3, Episode 1/3)TODAY'S GUEST: LALA HULSEToday's episode is my first conversation with Lala Hulse, an artist and musician who is trying to get her creative life back together after moving halfway around the world during a pandemic. She believes everyone can draw and everyone can sing.Thanks for this conversation, Lala.HOMEWORK INVITATIONS FROM TODAY'S CONVERSATION1. You are tireda) Create a symbolic grieving ritual that captures your exhaustion and indicates to the Universe that you’d like a little help with this. Your ritual might involv...2022-08-0250 minEase Lessons for Writers27. Elizabeth (Season 3, Episode 3/3)TODAY'S GUEST: ELIZABETHToday's episode is my second with Elizabeth who is in the process of becoming. She currently does laundry, dishes, drives carpools, and fills remaining “confetti time" with reading, writing, playing piano, thinking, and staring at a screensaver of a vine-covered tree. Along with her husband, she cares for two human children and an elderly pug in Richmond, Virginia, USA. Prior to this all-consuming undertaking, she worked as a writer and professional naming consultant for 20+ years on more than 150 product and corporate naming projects. In 2010, she published Finding Thalhimers (Dementi Milestone Publishing) about her fa...2022-07-2657 minEase Lessons for Writers26. Elizabeth (Season 3, Episode 2/3)TODAY'S GUEST: ELIZABETHToday's episode is my second with Elizabeth who is in the process of becoming. She currently does laundry, dishes, drives carpools, and fills remaining “confetti time" with reading, writing, playing piano, thinking, and staring at a screensaver of a vine-covered tree. Along with her husband, she cares for two human children and an elderly pug in Richmond, Virginia, USA. Prior to this all-consuming undertaking, she worked as a writer and professional naming consultant for 20+ years on more than 150 product and corporate naming projects. In 2010, she published Finding Thalhimers (Dementi Milestone Publishing) about her fa...2022-07-1958 minEase Lessons for Writers25. Elizabeth (Season 3, Episode 1/3)ABOUT TODAY'S GUEST: ELIZABETHToday's episode is my first with Elizabeth who is in the process of becoming. She currently does laundry, dishes, drives carpools, and fills remaining “confetti time" with reading, writing, playing piano, thinking, and staring at a screensaver of a vine-covered tree. Along with her husband, she cares for two human children and an elderly pug in Richmond, Virginia, USA. Prior to this all-consuming undertaking, she worked as a writer and professional naming consultant for 20+ years on more than 150 product and corporate naming projects. In 2010, she published Finding Thalhimers (Dementi Milestone Publishing) about he...2022-07-1350 minEase Lessons for WritersJun Sekiya (Episode 3/3)ABOUT TODAY'S GUEST: JUN SEKIYAThis is my second conversation with Jun Sekiya, a writer of scripts, novels, and raps from Yokohama, Japan. He currently lives in Brooklyn, New York, where he works as the creative assistant of Soman Chainani, author of the YA fantasy series “The School for Good & Evil”, soon to be a film from Netflix. Jun is working on a novel about an expat kid split between two cultures and friend-groups at his Tokyo international school. His logline is a work-in-progress. When not on his grind, Jun can be found in the local park...2022-05-141h 02Ease Lessons for WritersHeather J. Patel (Episode 3/3)About today's conversation:This is my third conversation with Heather J. Patel, a writer currently editing her debut memoir - an intimate portrayal of the toll family secrets and shame have on early identity. She lives in the Bay Area with her husband, son, and sweet rescue dog. She received her Bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley.Thank you, Heather, for this conversation. Follow Heather:Instagram: hjpatelwritesWebsite: HJPatelWrites.comHeather's homework invitations from Episode 2:1. You had asked about placing more space between your...2022-05-0758 minEase Lessons for WritersMegan Sunstrum (Episode 3/3)About today's conversation:This is my third conversation with Megan Sunstrum who is writing a memoir about depression, anxiety, being a badass and moving across the country during a pandemic to start a new life. She has a wild imagination, a knack for story-telling, and a deep love of talking to strangers, green things and also furry things. She lives in rural Nova Scotia with her husband and beautiful menace of a cat.Thank you, Megan, for this conversation.A note to the listener that this episode contains multiple references to anxiety...2022-05-011h 01Ease Lessons for WritersMaile Topliff (Episode 3/3)About today's conversation:This is my second conversation with Maile Topliff, a lifelong lover of words – her elementary school nickname was Webster. She believes that the stories we tell can change our lives. She is currently writing her first non-fiction book – an invitation for the reader to listen to the call to be the author of their own story. Call it a heliograph or for the current day. It’s about the beauty of a quiet quest and the life’s work of curiosity, empathy, fear, courage, being and the magic of moments. She currently lives in the Twin...2022-04-231h 00Ease Lessons for WritersJun Sekiya (Episode 2/3)ABOUT TODAY'S GUEST: JUN SEKIYAThis is my second conversation with Jun Sekiya, a writer of scripts, novels, and raps from Yokohama, Japan. He currently lives in Brooklyn, New York, where he works as the creative assistant of Soman Chainani, author of the YA fantasy series “The School for Good & Evil”, soon to be a film from Netflix. Jun is working on a novel about an expat kid split between two cultures and friend-groups at his Tokyo international school. His logline is a work-in-progress. When not on his grind, Jun can be found in the local park...2022-04-161h 01Ease Lessons for WritersHeather J. Patel (Episode 2/3)About today's conversation:This is my second conversation with Heather J. Patel. Heather is a writer, currently editing her debut memoir - an intimate portrayal of the toll family secrets and shame have on early identity. She lives in the Bay Area with her husband, son, and sweet rescue dog. She received her Bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley.You can find her on Instagram at hjpatelwrites.Thanks for this conversation, Heather.References from today's conversation:Book: The Heroine's Journey: For Writers, Readers, and Fans of Pop...2022-04-0959 minEase Lessons for WritersMegan Sunstrum (Episode 2/3)About today's conversation:Megan Sunstrum is writing a memoir about depression, anxiety, being a badass and moving across the country during a pandemic to start a new life. She has a wild imagination, a knack for story-telling, and a deep love of talking to strangers, green things and furry things. She lives in rural Nova Scotia with her husband and beautiful menace of a cat.Thanks for this conversation, Megan.A note to the listener: This episode contains references to anxiety and depression as these issues are central to Megan’s memoir. I...2022-04-0251 minEase Lessons for WritersMaile Topliff (Episode 2/3)About today's conversation:This is my second conversation with Maile Topliff, a lifelong lover of words – her elementary school nickname was Webster. She believes that the stories we tell can change our lives. She is currently writing her first non-fiction book – an invitation for the reader to listen to the call to be the author of their own story. Call it a heliograph or for the current day. It’s about the beauty of a quiet quest and the life’s work of curiosity, empathy, fear, courage, being and the magic of moments. She currently lives in the Twin...2022-03-2656 minEase Lessons for WritersJun Sekiya (Episode 1/3)About today's conversation:This is my first conversation with Jun Sekiya, a writer of scripts, novels, and raps from Yokohama, Japan. He currently lives in Brooklyn, New York, where he works as the creative assistant of Soman Chainani, author of the YA fantasy series “The School for Good & Evil”, soon to be a film from Netflix. Jun is working on a novel about an expat kid split between two cultures and friend-groups at his Tokyo international school. His logline is a work-in-progress. When not on his grind, Jun can be found in the local park doing socc...2022-03-1954 minEase Lessons for WritersHeather J. Patel (Episode 1/3)About today's conversation: This is my first conversation with Heather J. Patel. Heather is a writer, currently editing her debut memoir - an intimate portrayal of the toll family secrets and shame have on early identity. She lives in the Bay Area with her husband, son, and sweet rescue dog. She received her Bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. You can find her on Instagram at hjpatelwrites.Thanks for this conversation, Heather.*****About Ease Lessons:Music: “Meekness” by Kai Engel, used under Creative Commons Attribution license...2022-03-1259 minEase Lessons for WritersMegan Sunstrum (Epiosde 1/3)About today's conversation:Megan Sunstrum is writing a memoir about depression, anxiety, being a badass and moving across the country during a pandemic to start a new life. She has a wild imagination, a knack for story-telling, and a deep love of talking to strangers, green things and furry things. She lives in rural Nova Scotia with her husband and beautiful menace of a cat.Thanks for this conversation, Megan.A note to the listener: This episode contains multiple references to anxiety and depression as these issues are central to...2022-03-0556 minEase Lessons for WritersMaile Topliff (Episode 1/3)About today's conversation:Maile Topliff is a lifelong lover of words – her elementary school nickname was Webster. She believes that the stories we tell can change our lives. She is currently writing her first non-fiction book – an invitation for the reader to listen to the call to be the author of their own story. Call it a heliograph or Vade Mecum for the current day. It’s about the beauty of a quiet quest and the life’s work of curiosity, empathy, fear, courage, being and the magic of moments. She currently lives in the Twin Cities i...2022-02-261h 00Ease Lessons for WritersJason Craig Poole (Episode 3/3)About today's conversation:Today's episode is the final conversation with Jason Craig Poole, a self-proclaimed word nerd who loves language. He believes books have the power to save lives--and credits the magic of books for shaping and saving his own life. He's also a process fanatic who can't seem to get enough when it comes to learning how artists (especially word artists) work and play and create. He refuses to pick a genre and insists on playing in all the sandboxes with at least a dozen projects "in the works" at any moment. His dream is t...2022-02-191h 07Ease Lessons for WritersBrunella (Episode 3/3)About today's conversation:Today's episode is the final of three conversations with Brunella, a student at Smith College in Massachusetts. She grew up in Lima, Peru, and has lived and studied in Japan. She likes thinking and writing about the internet, culture, and labor. She also writes Qué Verguenza, a newsletter "about books, and everything else." In today’s episode, Brunella shares her writing resolutions for the new year:1. Trust my gut (Follow the story)2. Play more with voice3. Keep it lightWe discuss the gap between the writers we a...2022-02-1244 minEase Lessons for WritersKarissa Swanson (Episode 3/3)Today's conversation is the third and final episode with Karissa Swanson who is driven by the desire to help others and to create. As program manager for a nonprofit, she works for equity in music education, coaching music teachers in under-resourced public schools. Karissa’s creative pursuits change with the seasons of life. She’s currently in the final drafts of her first book, a memoir that explores sacrifice, sexuality, and love against the backdrop of her then-Moroccan home. Karissa is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist and has recently begun writing and recording original music. She adores travel and adventure, and...2022-02-051h 05Ease Lessons for WritersRachael Herron (Episode 3/3)Today's episode is the third of three episodes with Rachael Herron, the internationally bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including thriller (under R.H. Herron), mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction about writing. She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, Oakland, she teaches courses through her own writing school and is a proud member of the NaNoWriMo Writer’s Board. She’s a New Zealand citizen as well as an American, and she currently lives in Wellington.Upcoming Course: Fifteen-Day Writing FrolicRachael, Jason and Monna are teac...2022-01-2956 minEase Lessons for WritersJason Craig Poole (Episode 2/3)About today's conversation:Today's episode is the second of three episodes with Jason Craig Poole, a self-proclaimed word nerd who loves language. He believes books have the power to save lives--and credits the magic of books for shaping and saving his own life. He's also a process fanatic who can't seem to get enough when it comes to learning how artists (especially word artists) work and play and create. He refuses to pick a genre and insists on playing in all the sandboxes with at least a dozen projects "in the works" at any moment. His d...2022-01-221h 06Ease Lessons for WritersBrunella (Episode 2/3)About today's conversation:Today's episode is the second of three episodes with Brunella, a student at Smith College in Massachusetts. She grew up in Lima, Peru, and has lived and studied in Japan. She likes thinking and writing about the internet, culture, and labor. She also writes Qué Verguenza, a newsletter "about books, and everything else." In today’s episode, Brunella and I discuss various meanings of the word little, bringing a sense of playfulness to our work, and her devotion to the writing of Alejandro Sambra. Where to find Brunella:Newsl...2022-01-1546 minEase Lessons for WritersKarissa Swanson (Episode 2/3)About today's conversation:Today's episode is the second of three episodes with Karissa Swanson who is driven by the desire to help others and to create. As program manager for a nonprofit, she works for equity in music education, coaching music teachers in under-resourced public schools. Karissa’s creative pursuits change with the seasons of life. She’s currently in the final drafts of her first book, a memoir that explores sacrifice, sexuality, and love against the backdrop of her then-Moroccan home. Karissa is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist and has recently begun writing and recording original musi...2022-01-0755 minEase Lessons for WritersRachael Herron (Episode 2/3)Today's episode is the second of three episodes with Rachael Herron, the internationally bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including thriller (under R.H. Herron), mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction about writing. She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, Oakland, she teaches courses through her own writing school and is a proud member of the NaNoWriMo Writer’s Board. She’s a New Zealand citizen as well as an American, and she currently lives in Wellington.Where to find Rachael:Website: https://rachaelherron.comPodcast: How do you write?Twitt...2022-01-0146 min
Ink in Your VeinsEp. 277: Welcome the New Year with Ease Lessons by Monna McDiarmidRachael's honored to introduce you to Monna McDiarmid and her new podcast, Ease Lessons. Here's a snippet from the new show, and Rachael gets really vulnerable about her own writing in it. Enjoy! Find Ease Lessons here! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2021-12-3110 minEase Lessons for WritersJason Craig Poole (Episode 1/3)Today's episode is the first of three episodes with Jason Craig Poole, a self-proclaimed word nerd who loves language. He believes books have the power to save lives--and credits the magic of books for shaping and saving his own life. He's also a process fanatic who can't seem to get enough when it comes to learning how artists (especially word artists) work and play and create. He refuses to pick a genre and insists on playing in all the sandboxes with at least a dozen projects "in the works" at any moment. His dream is to write words that...2021-12-2451 minEase Lessons for WritersBrunella (Episode 1/3)Today's episode is the first of three episodes with Brunella, a student at Smith College in Massachusetts. She grew up in Lima, Peru, and has lived and studied in Japan. She likes thinking and writing about the internet, culture, and labor. She also writes Qué Verguenza, a newsletter "about books, and everything else." Where to find Brunella:Newsletter - Qué Verguenza: https://brunella.substack.com/Twitter: @brunellaismThe music in this podcast is “Meekness” by Kai Engel, used under Creative Commons Attribution license.Host: You can find Monna at MonnaMc...2021-12-2443 minEase Lessons for WritersKarissa Swanson (Episode 1/3)Today's episode is the first of three episodes with Karissa Swanson who is driven by the desire to help others and to create. As program manager for a nonprofit, she works for equity in music education, coaching music teachers in under-resourced public schools. Karissa’s creative pursuits change with the seasons of life. She’s currently in the final drafts of her first book, a memoir that explores sacrifice, sexuality, and love against the backdrop of her then-Moroccan home. Karissa is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist and has recently begun writing and recording original music. She adores travel and adventure, and...2021-12-2446 minEase Lessons for WritersRachael Herron (Episode 1/3)Today's episode is the first of three episodes with Rachael Herron, the internationally bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including thriller (under R.H. Herron), mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction about writing. She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, Oakland, she teaches courses through her own writing school and is a proud member of the NaNoWriMo Writer’s Board. She’s a New Zealand citizen as well as an American, and she currently lives in Wellington.Where to find Rachael:Website: https://rachaelherron.comTwitter: @rachaelherronInsta...2021-12-1749 min