The Word Weaver Podcast

Happy 2019! I’m so excited to kick off the New Year with the latest chapter of The Word Weaver Podcast featuring my interview with Paige McPhee. We met, nearly a year ago, at a writing event in Toronto where Paige was the keynote speaker. We got to talking after the event, she signed her own book for me, as she’s the author of the self-published non-fiction book entitled “ I’m In Like with You ” –...

Jessica Blank is a multi-hyphenate author, actor, director, playwright, speaker, and coach on a mission to impact our world through the transformative power of storytelling. As an actor, Jessica has appeared regularly in film and television such as CBS' Made in Jersey, HBO’s High Maintenance, Blue Bloods, The Mentalist, Law and Order: CI, and many more. With her husband Erik Jensen, she is author...

There are few things I love more than a fresh notebook. If you're anything like me, then this is the podcast chapter for you! I used to fill my notebooks with whatever came to mind as soon as I bought a new one and by the end, I could never find any of the original ideas or helpful quotes or To Do list items that I truly needed. A few years ago, I started using different notebooks for different to...

I had the pleasure of chatting with Rae DelBianco , fondly referred to as ‘that redneck kid author’ of Rough Animals and bookstagram darling - she has almost 20,000 followers on Instagram . Rae has been compared to Cormac McCarthy and Denis Johnson while her debut novel has been called “Breaking Bad meets No Country for Old Men.” VOGUE called it “existentially gripping” and one of the “25 top thri...

Happy October! This chapter of the Word Weaver Podcast is a Preptober and NaNoWriMo 101 crash course. What is Preptober? What is NaNoWriMo? How do they work? I also share my top preptober tips with 8 ways to get ready for NaNoWriMo, which stands for National Novel Writing Month, this November (they really like alliteration!) NaNoWriMo (while a mouthful to say) is a global phenomenon that begins on...

Harley Rustad is an editor and writer at The Walrus Magazine and the author of Big Lonely Doug: The Story of One of Canada's Last Great Trees. Big Lonely Doug was recently named by CBC and The Toronto Star as one of the top 25 non-fiction books to look for this fall.

On today’s chapter of The Word Weaver Podcast I talk about the five habits that have allowed me to prioritize writing and fiercely protect that precious time. It’s easy to let writing drop to the bottom of your To Do list when there are a million other things pulling at your attention and demanding your time. To accomplish any big goal, whether it’s writing a book or running a marathon, you have t...

On this chapter of The Word Weaver Podcast, we chat with historical fiction writer Bryn Turnbull. After receiving her BA in English Literature and History from McGill University in Montreal and her Master's in Professional Communications in Ryerson University in Toronto, Bryn was accepted into the historic and prestigious prose program at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland where she complet...

Today's chapter of The Word Weaver Podcast is all about the querying process: how to write a query letter and a book proposal (for non-fiction writers). A query letter (which really should be called a query e-mail since everything is electronic these days) has one very important purpose: to hook a literary agent into requesting your full manuscript (and eventually an offer of representation). Lite...

On today's chapter of The Word Weaver Podcast I had the honour of interviewing Bestselling Author, Writing Coach, YouTuber, and Creative Entrepreneur Kristen Martin on how she built her successful literary empire. Kristen Martin is the International Amazon Bestselling Author of six books including The Alpha Drive trilogy (YA Sci-Fi/Dystopian), The Shadow Crown series (YA Dark Fantasy), and Be Your...

Once you've outlined and given yourself permission to write a really crappy first draft from beginning to end, then the editing process begins! Whether you're self-publishing or seeking a traditional publisher, the competition is fierce so your manuscript has to be edited to the highest level before you pursue either avenue. In this chapter of The Word Weaver Podcast, I'll walk you through my self...

Fresh from winning an IPPY award for her debut novel, See What Flowers, at the 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards in New York City, Shannon Mullen spoke with me for this week's chapter of The Word Weaver Podcast. Shannon Mullen's work has been published in The Globe and Mail, Thought Catalog, and her debut contemporary novel about love and mental illness is available online at Amazon. In today...

In this chapter of the Word Weaver Podcast, I share my top five tips for how to write a strong opening chapter. The first sentence, paragraph, and pages set the tone for the rest of your book. The opening chapter is the first thing that literary agents, publishers, and readers will see once they pick up your book. You have to hook them early and leave them wanting more so they can't put it down. A...

Eryl McCaffrey is a certified yoga + meditation instructor, mental health advocate, public speaker, and writer. A former TV news anchor with a background in journalism and broadcasting, Eryl took a left-turn in her career to focus on her true calling: helping others navigate the muddy waters of mental health and providing strategies for self-care. "Holistic health is about taking care of your ment...

There are many ways to write a book which means that there are many ways to outline one. It took me a lot of practice to find the right method that worked for me! In this chapter of the Word Weaver Podcast, first start by understanding your unique writing style. Are you a plotter, a pantser, or a combination of both? I will walk you through the various methods that authors and writers have used to...

Alex McGill is a senior publicist at Penguin Random House Canada and the co-founder of gf, a PR collective that focuses on a highly personal, collaborative approach to public relations. A graduate of Concordia University's creative writing program, Alex writes poetry and short stories. Her current favourite genres to read are autofiction, personal essay, and experimental prose. In this chapter of...

This chapter of the Word Weaver Podcast discusses the pros and cons of traditional publishing and self-publishing. There is also a fast-growing industry of independent publishers and hybrid publishers entering the space. If you want to publish a book, there are multiple paths to success. It's all about choosing the avenue that is the best fit for you as an author. I'm a firm believer that if you'r...

On our two year anniversary, my boyfriend Geoff allowed me to interview him on the differences and difficulties that come with dating someone in a non-traditional job, specifically, a writer. Geoff has also lived a unconventional life and has some unique insights to share about the importance of taking risks, asking yourself "What's the worst that could happen?", and why he now appreciates his cor...

This chapter of The Word Weaver Podcast discusses the psychological phenomenon known as impostor syndrome as it relates to writers and other high achievers. In the wake of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade’s tragic deaths, impostor syndrome wouldn’t leave my mind as I read about these two incredible storytellers with successful careers who looked like they had it all on the outside, yet suffered wit...

Julia Cronin is the founder and designer of Svea Swim, a new Canadian swimwear brand based in Toronto, manufactured in Montreal. Julia and I chat about her desire to create a brand that makes women of all shapes and sizes feel confident and empowered in their own skin. We also discuss her background as a costumer in the film and TV industry (most recently The Handmaid's Tale), what inspired her to...

In the first ever Word Weaver Podcast episode (or "chapter" as I like to call them) you'll get an introduction to what kind of content to expect and you'll learn more about why I left a lucrative marketing career in Switzerland and New York to pursue writing full-time. You'll also get a brief overview of what a day in the life of a writer is like, which includes my four most important takeaways ab...