Simply Write w/ Polly Campbell

Your book ideas can fuel essays, articles, and Substack posts, and those shorter pieces can help build your audience long before your book is published. Polly shares how to mine your experience, research, and book-in-progress for fresh ideas, connect with readers, and build momentum for a sustainable writing career. For more on the writer's craft and living a writer's life, join our Simply Write c...

In this episode of Simply Write, Polly talks with author and filmmaker Kimberly Warner about the unexpected path from private memoir to published book. Kimberly shares how she wrote her memoir, Unfixed, in just three and a half months, then tucked it away for two years before family encouragement led her to share it on Substack, where it found readers around the world. They discuss writing through...

What makes a personal essay work, and why can they be so satisfying to write? Polly Campbell breaks down five essentials, from finding the universal in your unique experience to creating focus, momentum, strong scenes, voice, and meaning. For more on the writing craft and crafting a writer's life, go to Simply Write at https://simplywrite.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph...

Create a writing space that works with you, not against you. Feng shui expert Lisa Morton shares simple ways to improve focus, creativity, and productivity through lighting, color, desk placement, and organization. For more on the writing craft and crafting a writer's life, go to Simply Write: https://simplywrite.substack.com Note: We apologize for the technical difficulties toward the end of the...

Been away from a writing project? Learn how to reconnect with your work, reassess your plan, start small, and rebuild momentum without pressure. Plus, a simple trick for making it easier to return to the page next time. For more on the writing craft and crafting a writer's life, join the Simply Write community at simplywrite.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic...

Debut author Kevin C. Morris talks about the real-life inspiration behind Untamed Coast, blending research with fiction, pacing, publishing, and launching a first book. Morris also explains why he didn't worry about genre while he was writing, but what he wanted to offer the readers. For more on the writing craft and crafting a writer’s life join us at simplywrite.substack.com Learn more about you...

Emotional intelligence can help writers keep going, handle setbacks, stay motivated, and create characters and stories that connect with readers. Today, we explore four key skills: self-awareness, intrinsic motivation, emotional resilience, and empathy. For more on writing craft and crafting a writer’s life, join Simply Write: simplywrite.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph...

Award-winning mystery writer Gabriela Stiteler joins Polly Campbell to discuss how writing short fiction can strengthen your storytelling, sharpen your voice, and improve your novels. They explore the value of writing communities, trusting readers, developing memorable characters, and building a sustainable writing practice, with practical advice for writers at every stage. For more on writing cra...

Summer is the perfect time to reset your writing life before fall deadlines arrive. In this episode, learn how to assess your current projects, set realistic writing and professional goals, build a simple organizational system, and create a clear roadmap for the months ahead. A little planning now can make your fall writing season more productive and less stressful. For more on writing craft and c...

Emmy Award-winning television producer, author, media trainer, and coach Paula Rizzo joins Polly to share practical advice for authors who want to build visibility and connect with readers. Learn why media matters long before publication, how to prepare for interviews, find opportunities, develop confidence on camera, and turn everyday appearances into meaningful connections that support your writ...

Writing and publishing are connected, but they aren't the same job. Writing asks for curiosity, creativity, and practice. Publishing requires networking, marketing, and a thick skin. In this episode of Simply Write, we're talking about why every writer needs to understand both roles, how shifting between them can make you more effective, and why it's important to keep writing something that's just...

Dr. Corey Seemiller, author of The Soulmate Strategy shares how intuitive writing shapes her process, from drafting in flow to stepping away when the work stalls. She discusses managing multiple projects, using a weekly Shut Up and Write session to stay focused, trusting instinct over force, and the importance of showing over telling in memoir. For more on the writing craft and crafting a writer's...

You don’t become a writer by thinking about writing or preparing to write. You become one by writing consistently, even in small ways. We talk about how short sessions build evidence you can trust, why inconsistency makes writing feel harder, and how to shift the cycle. You’ll get simple ways to focus on action, set realistic goals, and track progress without getting stuck on quality. For more on...

Poet Maria Giesbrecht joins Simply Write to talk about releasing her first collection, A Little Feral, and the mix of excitement and vulnerability that comes with it. She shares how her work explores identity, family history, and her Mexican and Mennonite roots, and how poetry helps her make sense of those layers. We discuss the discipline of writing, what her daily creative life looks like, and t...

This episode explores how to create scenes that propel the story forward. But before we talk about crafting a scene, this episode covers what scenes are, how they work in fiction and nonfiction, and what they need to include to be effective. We also break down the difference between scene and exposition or summary, and when to use each. For more on the writer's craft and crafting a writer's life,...

In this episode of Simply Write, Polly sits down with Rachel Weaver to explore the art and challenge of writing memoir. Rachel shares how her book Dizzy grew out of 18 years living with chronic illness, and how writing became both a relief and an inquiry. They discuss creative workarounds, truth-telling on the page, and the balance between emotional accuracy and factual detail. For more on writing...

Polly steps outside her creative comfort zone by exploring a different kind of creative practice and notices what begins to shift. She shares why it can feel both uncomfortable and energizing to try something new—and why that tension matters. Research shows that stretching beyond the familiar can boost motivation, deepen engagement, and open new creative pathways. Polly reflects on how creative ri...

In this episode of Simply Write, Polly talks with middle-grade author Michelle Lee about her novel The Magic of Someday Soon and her journey from college professor to full-time writer. She elaborates on what's at the heart of writing for young readers, why middle grade offers a hopeful “sweet spot,” and how stories can hold both weight and wonder. Michelle also explains what she's doing to launch...

In this episode of Simply Write, Polly explores how spring’s creative energy can reignite your writing practice, drawing on research showing how increased daylight boosts mood and cognitive flexibility. She then dives into storytelling as the foundation of effective writing—beyond technique. Polly breaks down essential elements like the hook, inciting incidents, and narrative arcs, emphasizing how...

In this episode of Simply Write, Polly talks with Julie Revelant, a B2B healthcare copywriter, about the real rhythms of freelance writing. Julie shares her path from journalism and TV to a niche, B2B career, and breaks down the difference between content (to inform) and copy (to persuade), and how freelancers can position themselves as a strategic partner. This is a practical, candid look at buil...

If you’re in the business of writing, you’re also in the business of communication. Pitch letters, emails, proposals, cover letters are part of the administration work writers must do. And if you want to write copy and content for a living, you'll need to master the art of the letter. In this episode, we share essential tips for writing clear, authentic, and persuasive copy that connects and commu...

Dreams, and that soft state when we are between sleep and waking up, can be fertile ground for ideas. In this episode, Polly talks with Bonnie Buckner about how paying attention to dreams, keeping a dream journal, and lingering in that drifting morning mindset can spark insights for writers. Bonnie, the author of The Secret Mind, shares her writing process and explains how dreams are a creative sp...

Freelancing has changed a lot since the early days of magazines, brochures, and press releases, but one thing hasn’t changed: writers who want to make a living need more than strong sentences. In this episode, Polly talks about what it really takes to build a freelance writing life today. From defining your services and creating a simple website to pitching editors and connecting with clients, fre...

Author Mark Wilson joins Simply Write with Polly to talk about his debut novel, Full of Beans, a time-traveling detective story, and the steady work it took to bring the book to life. Mark shares how he built the story with detailed outlines on graph paper and wrote during evenings and weekends while holding a demanding day job as a researcher working toward a cure for Rett syndrome. We talk about...

Chapter summaries are the architectural backbone of a strong nonfiction proposal, and in this episode, we talk about their role in your nonfiction book proposal and what a good chapter summary should include. Then we dive into the importance of shipping your work. Writing is powerful when shared, and a regular practice of writing to publish or share with others will uplevel your work. For more on...