Embracing the Fiction Author Journey
Welcome to Embracing the Fiction Author Journey (formerly Parents Who Write), the podcast that helps writers pursue their author dreams.
Join host, Erin P.T. Canning—an indie author, editor, book coach, and mom of two young boys—as she helps you make time for your writing, strengthen your voice, and gain confidence and direction, so you can own your identity as a writer and thrive as an author.
You’ll hear from other writers and authors who've been where you are and know what's coming next.
Learn what keeps them inspired, how they overcome imposter syndrome, and what they wish they'd known earlier. Gain writing, revision, publishing and marketing tips.
We’ll also talk about the craft of creative writing, including my personal favorite genres of fantasy, romance, and romantasy, and discuss techniques you can apply to your own manuscripts.
Enjoy the laughs, the writing tips, and the relief in knowing you’re not alone. Episodes release on Tuesdays.
Episodes
78 episodes
76. Navigate the Editing Process with Allyson Wilkins
Ready to transform your manuscript from a rough draft into a polished gem? Discover the secrets to navigating the entire editing process, whether you're working with a professional editor or sharpening your skills to self-edit your book!...
75. Book Talk: The Quicksilver Conundrum – Editor’s Eye, Reader’s Heart
Ever wonder what makes a massive novel like Callie Hart's Quicksilver tick … or maybe a struggle? Join Erin P.T. Canning for a fascinating dual review, breaking down this popular book from both a writer/editor's analytical perspecti...
74. Capture Story Ideas with Discovery Drafts
Do you start writing fervently but get lost in the murky middle? Or have you ever had an idea for a story but you're not sure where to start? And sitting down to write a massive number of words feels intimidating?In today’s episode, lear...
73. Exciting changes coming to my podcast
Big changes are in store for Parents Who Write.In this episode, I'm excited to announce a new chapter for my podcast! I'll share the inspiration behind the name change and how it better reflects the show's current focus.Get ready ...
72. BOOK TALK: The Witch Collector
Have you ever read a book and the world falls away? Pay attention to those moments. Because as writers, we can learn a lot from the books that inspire us. We should study what works and why. We can also explore what di...
71. Navigating postpartum, romantasy, and time travel w/ Jessica Dall
Juggling motherhood, writing, and career aspirations?Join Erin as she chats with author and editor Jessica Dall about her journey from fan fiction to publishing historical romance and romantasy. Discover the challenges and ...
70. Discovering your genre’s DNA
Ever wondered what makes a bestselling book tick? In this episode, we dive deep into the world of genre analysis and why having this knowledge is vital to your author career. Learn how to identify and leverage the key ...
69. Breaking down imposter syndrome, building confidence w/ Charlotte Chipperfield
Every feel like a fraud? Imposter syndrome can plague even the most successful writers. In this episode, host Erin P.T. Canning chats with developmental editor and life coach Charlotte Chipperfield about strategies for overcoming i...
68. Prioritizing your passion: Writing while parenting
Do you ever feel like you're drowning under the pressure to be a perfect parent, spouse, and—on top of that—a creative writer? In today’s episode, host Erin P.T. Canning and fellow Fantasy Author Michelle Summers share their experi...
67. Memoir writing tips: Transforming journal entries into a book w/ Sarah Birnbach
Curious about transforming journaling entries into a published memoir?Joining us today is Sarah Birnbach, author of the memoir "A Daughter's Kaddish." Sarah shares her surprising journey from journal facilitator to published author and ...
66. From Page to Ear: Unveiling Audiobook Opportunities for Authors
Have you ever wondered about audiobook opportunities for authors?In this episode, we explore the booming audiobook market and its potential benefits for authors. You’ll learn about the pros and cons of creating audiobooks, including pri...
65. Scenes, Characters, Series, Oh My! Taming the Chaos of Multi-Project Writing w/ Edward Green
What happens when have twenty million ideas all jumbled up in your head, and you struggle with multiple projects—or worse, multiple, multivolume series?Joining us today is Edward Green, who is a prolific writer. During this epis...
64. Cracking the Code: How to Attract Readers on Social Media
Do you want to spend months, maybe even years, toiling away at the keyboard, birthing characters, perfecting your story, and publishing your writing—only for no one to read it?No, of course not. We want our words to find our ideal reade...
63. Unraveling the 3 Main Types of Editors: How They Support Writers
Have you ever started writing a story, and the words rush onto the page. But then you start worrying that your writing or your ideas aren’t good enough.You start rewriting chapters over and over again. You can’t shake that voice in the ...
62. The art of earnings: Mastering full-time writing with Sarah Werner
Have you ever dreamed of writing all day long—and getting paid to do so? But then reality sets in, and you start wondering how that’s feasible? How you’d even get started? In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Sarah Werner, who shar...
61. Finding focus as an author: Navigating the writing journey in 2024
Are you struggling to figure out where to focus next in your writing journey? From navigating various publishing paths to juggling writing workshops, marketing courses, and more, the confusion is real.In this episode, host ...
60. Crafting your writer's resolution: 6 steps to writing success in the new year
It’s that time of year again when we ponder what we want to achieve in the new year. For parents who write, our lives are exceptionally busy, so planning our writing goals is crucial to our success. However, we also need to intentionally set wr...
59. Unlocking the art of book cover design: Expert insights w/ Katia Balab
Have you contemplated designing your own book cover, or wondered what to expect if you hire a professional? Joining today’s conversation is Katia Balab, who has joined the MiblArt family, a book cover design company that's based in...
58. Crafting continuity: A writer’s guide to style sheets
As your story expands, do you find keeping track of the evolving ideas and details overwhelming? What about if you’re writing not just one book but a whole series? In today’s episode, you’ll learn how you can maintain consistency a...
57. Write Women Book Fest 2023: Inspiring journeys and genre magic (part 2)
Ever wonder how some authors are able to cover come the hurdles that most, if not all, writer’s face? Welcome back to part 2 of our journey through the 2023 Write Women Book Fest in Bowie, Maryland. In this episode, yo...
56. Write Women Book Fest 2023: Inspiring journeys and genre magic (part 1)
Ever wonder what fuels the creative fire of women authors?In today’s episode, you’re going to hear from seven incredible women authors who attended The Write Women Book Fest 2023 in Bowie, Maryland. We'll dive into their in...
55. From struggling writer to urban fantasy author w/ Michelle Summers
In this episode of Parents Who Write, Michelle Summers shares her inspiring journey as an urban fantasy author who brought mythological characters to life through the power of human beliefs. Listen to her discuss her experience as a mom...
54. Giving yourself permission to write now w/ Megan Clancy
For many parents, moms in particular, society perpetuates the idea that we should sacrifice everything for our children. So how do we push that aside and give ourselves permission to write now and pursue our creative dreams? In thi...
53. Becoming an author through journaling w/ Erin Leigh
Ever wondered if journaling can lead to more than dear diary entries? Joining today’s conversation is Erin Leigh, a writer, author, and mother of four. In this episode, Erin shares how a lifetime of journaling not only strengthened her ...
52. Turning a blog post into a book w/ Hilary Kinney
Have you ever wondered if a seed of an idea could become a whole book? What would that process look like? How would you even go about verifying if you have enough content?In today’s episode, you’ll find out how Hilary Kinney figured out...
