Parents Who Write

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 how journaling helped her heal through grief.But the question remains: How do you take those raw, personal entries and turn them into a compelling memoir?In this episode, Sarah shares her secrets! You'll hear:Tips for overcoming overwhelm and getting your ideas...

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 pricing considerations, narration options, and distribution channels. But wait, there's more! We'll also address some key questions to help you decide if audiobooks are a good fit for you at this stage in your writing journey. Tune in and discover i...

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 episode, Edward shares not only his writing journey but also the answers to questions that used to plague him too. Like, when you have so many ideas screaming for attention all at once, how do you keep track of all those random scenes that pop into your head? You’ll also l...

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 readers because we love writing—most days. But in order for our words to find those ideal readers, you have to learn the marketing side of this business too, regardless of whether you self-published or signed a contract with a traditional publishing house.In to...

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 back of your head that says you’re doing this wrong. Something isn’t right, but you can’t pinpoint what that is. Or worse—you scrap the whole project and give up. In today’s episode, Erin shares how finding the right editor can help you avoid or blow through al...

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 shares how she planned to leave her full-time job in marketing, how she discovered the worth of her work, and how she trudged through painful writing gigs that still taught her valuable lessons. You’ll also learn how experimenting with your creativity can lead...

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 Erin P.T. Canning reflects on the challenges she faced in previous years with balancing parenthood, editing, and writing. Despite releasing her first fantasy romance novel in 2023, she felt overwhelmed trying to balance her priorities.Find out how Erin found focus for ...

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 writing goals that we can realistically achieve. So if you haven’t already sat down to plan out your writing goals for the new year, use this template that is tried, tested, and true. Help set yourself up for success and ensure that whatever story is...

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 the Ukraine. They have been helping self-publishing authors and publishers create book covers that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also an effective marketing tool.Thanks to Katia’s expertise, you’ll learn about the science behind effective cover desig...

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 and track story threads, regardless of whether you’re working with professional editors or beta readers. You’ll walk away knowing how to better communicate with your editor about their offerings, including whether they’ll create a style sheet for you. Erin ...

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, you’ll hear from seven women writers, each with their own compelling tales, as they offer insights into their passion for writing, the challenges they've overcome, and the messages they're eager to share with you.From holiday contemporary romance to high school fiction, ...

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 inspiring journeys and explore what ignited their writing passions, the lengths of their literary careers, and whether they always envisioned themselves as authors. We'll also uncover what makes their chosen genres special to them.Whether you're a fellow parent-writer lo...

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 of three, her background in studio art and martial arts, and how she transformed her writing dreams into a reality. But here's a delightful twist: Michelle and your host Erin share a long history, going back to their high school days, making this episode a nos...

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 this episode, you’ll hear how Megan Clancy did that—not only for herself but also the writers she coaches. Megan is a writer of upmarket women's fiction and queer contemporary romance, a book coach, a former high school English teacher, and a mother of two young c...

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 writing but also lead to her publishing her first nonfiction book and becoming an author. Bonus: She also shares the positive impact journaling has had on her family, as well as two tips from her award-winning parenting book, Navigating the Newborn Months and B...