Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach

”I don’t have time to write”- Ah, where does the time go? Release Date: July 2, 2026(episode 293) It comes up in nearly every conversation with a writer, whether in a group or one-to-one: “I don’t have time to write.” Their deep longing to compose thoughtful, focused prose runs up against scrunched schedules that squeeze out creative effort. It seems they have nothing more than cracks or crevices...

”Oh no! My book was written by someone else!”Release Date: May 17, 2026(episode 292) Discovering "comps" (comparable books) for your book proposal is discouraging. But this episode gives you the good news: your comps validate reader interest and show your topic is in demand. Learn how to leverage these existing titles to position your book as "similar, but different." Don't let competition discour...

Dear [favorite author]Release Date: April 20, 2026 Use this prompt to write a letter to your favorite author, alive or dead. Listen and you'll hear the letter I wrote (and who I wrote it to). This simple act reveals your creative values as you tell the author what it is you admire about their work. Listen or head to to read it and access additional related reading: https://annkroeker.com/2026/04/2...

Are Abandoned Projects a Sign of Creative Weakness? Release Date: March 25, 2026 Writers I work with—and if I’m honest, I myself—launch multiple projects, enthusiastic about every idea. We open a document, give it a working title, tap out a few paragraphs with loads of energy. Like the squirrel, we scamper around the Internet or library doing research, gathering quotes and anecdotes to incorporate...

Don’t want to say it yourself? Put a frame around it! Release Date: March 22, 2026 In novels, memoir, nonfiction, and poetry, a narrator can set up the main story so that we have a frame effect. This is, in fact, called the “frame narrative.” The main story, then, becomes “the story within the story.” Learn all about it and study examples in this episode. The frame narrative sets up the “main” nar...

Do you really want to write “quietly”? (It’s an AI favorite)Release Date: February 27, 2026 We all have “pet” words or phrases that slide into our prose like a favorite shoe that’s shaped to our foot and supports our gait—literary techniques that feel like our voice on the page. Some writers come across more casual, using sentence fragments or words like “ain’t” and “c’mon!” Others turn to ellipse...

Whose Voice Is on Your Pages? Human vs. AI WritingRelease Date: February 11, 2026 I opened someone's newsletter a few weeks ago touting the “glorious” age of AI and the advantages it provides.   Hm, I thought. AI is fascinating, I guess. Speedy. Clever, in its way. But…glorious?   It’s been studying us. Wouldn’t that suggest anything “glorious” about AI can be attributed in part to what it’s drawn...

Self-Publishing vs. Traditional: Janyre Tromp's Real-World Experience with Both (and Clear Favorite)Release Date: December 17, 2025 Award-winning author and editor Janyre Tromp joins us for an in-depth exploration of her deep publishing experience. She’s seen it from all angles, as an editor in traditional publishing houses, and as an author who has seen the pros and cons of both traditional and s...

What's your role in your reader's lifeRelease Date: December 2, 2025 In this episode, Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach, explores how clarifying your role in a reader’s life transforms your tone, structure, and connection on the page. Using real-world analogies and examples from Anne Bogel, Annie F. Downs, and Lisa TerKeurst, Ann shows how to choose and calibrate a voice readers trust—whether you’re a kn...

Why Writers Get Lost in Research (And How to Find Your Way Back)Release Date: October 8, 2025 In this episode, Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach tackles the common "research rabbit hole" problem that plagues nonfiction writers. Learn how to balance thorough research with productive writing, using Isaac Newton's famous quote about "standing on ye sholders of giants" as inspiration for leveraging others' k...

Start with Your Ideal Audience: Insights from Janyre Tromp Episode 283 | Release Date: September 24, 2025 Quick Summary In this episode, Ann Kroeker is joined by award-winning author and editor Janyre Tromp for a deep dive into identifying your ideal audience as a writer. Janyre draws on 20+ years of publishing, editing, and marketing experience to explain why targeting the right readers—and under...

Don't Wait to Share Your Message Episode 282 | Release Date: September 10, 2025 Quick Summary In this episode, Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach, explores how we can share our ideas and messages immediately through digital platforms rather than waiting for traditional publishing timelines. Learn why starting small today can make a bigger impact than waiting for the "perfect" long-form project to be compl...

I tend to sprawl—both in my writing and, if you ask my family, on the couch. I start with a plan, but as I write, new ideas branch out in every direction. Before I know it, I’ve lost my way. And yet…while I encourage the power of outlines , I confess that I often prefer finding my way through the sprawl, writing until I experience an epiphany—a moment of convergence that shows me what the piece is...

If you second-guess yourself each time you send your words into the world, you’re not alone. You’re feeling what writers throughout the ages have felt, because it is a risk each time you click \"publish.\" Even if you’re viewed as an expert or thought leader handing down wisdom, your readers need to know they’re not alone. They need to see that you\'ve struggled and still found a way forward. Whet...

An idea pops into your head, so you grab whatever paper product lies nearby and scribble down the thought. Or you come across a quote, story, or stat and realize it connects to your project. Convinced it’s all great material, you jot it down, then stuff the paper into your pocket or purse. Now you’re ready to write, but you're discovering random Post-Its, index cards, and the backs of envelopes—no...

Find your publishing home without losing your voice: Literary agent Deidra Riggs reveals insider secrets on breaking into publishing while staying true to yourself—especially for women of color and writers with unconventional perspectives. In this interview (episode 278), you'll discover... Insider secrets: Deidra reveals what draws her to a manuscript Authors' authentic voices: Deidra supports cl...

On a chilly December afternoon in 2014, I closed the door to my bedroom, swallowed back nerves—even trembled a little as I held a tiny earpiece as a microphone. Then I cleared my throat and recorded my first podcast episode that lasted all of two minutes. At that point a seasoned author, I forgot what it felt like to send something into the world for the first time. I’d done it for decades with my...

A few years ago, a client came to me with an idea for a nonfiction book. She was ready to write a draft and send it to a publishing house. What she didn’t realize was that she was working a few steps ahead. Thankfully, we met early enough in the process that I was able to fill her in on the steps she’d need to take to pursue traditional publishing—allowing her to sidestep a lot of mistakes that wo...

Somewhere along the way, you stopped writing.  Life got in the way.  You lost your confidence. You ran out of time. You ran out of ideas. You hit a huge block you can’t get past. Maybe you thought writing belonged to younger-you, when the stakes were lower and you took more risks. For one reason or another, the words stopped flowing. You set aside your pen. You stopped calling yourself a writer. Y...

Is Substack the best platform for writers? Is it right for you? In this interview, publishing expert Jane Friedman explores Substack’s social media-like features, blogging-like functionality, podcast-host possibilities…and its implications for writers. From using Substack “Notes” to community cross-promotion, it’s an ecosystem worth understanding. Substack is more than just newsletters—it’s a blog...

“A writer — and, I believe, generally all persons — must think that whatever happens to him or her is a resource,” writer Jorge Luis Borges said in an interview, when asked about his blindness. “All things have been given to us for a purpose,” he continued, “and an artist must feel this more intensely. All that happens to us, including our humiliations, our misfortunes, our embarrassments, all is...

“The best advice I can give you to help you grow as a writer is to experience life.” We came to hear about queries and proposals. We wanted to learn how this speaker organized submissions and kept track of contact information. But at this breakout session at this writers’ conference, she insisted: “I know you think your writing career is all about composing articles and books, but you have to be a...

When I was a child just beginning to speak, my parents drove late into the evening to the rural property they bought. As they drove up the gravel driveway, the sky spread out above us with stars glittering like a million diamonds spread out on a jeweler’s vast black velvet display. Across the fields, a million lightning bugs hovered in the tall grass, their gleaming bodies flickering on and off. I...

I made a last-minute decision heading to the most recent writer’s conference I attended. I’d planned to take my classy, professional, sleek gray backpack that I’d purchased to replace the original purple one I mentioned in an earlier episode .  As I loaded it, I realized that to stay fortified, I needed to carry snacks and lunch each day—maybe even dinner—and it wouldn’t all squeeze into the profe...

Are you getting ready to attend a writers’ conference? Guess what? So am I! And I want to make the most of my time there, so let’s think through what will help with that. You’re likely going for at least two reasons: to learn and to connect. You might also be going to pitch your project. Let’s prep, plan, and pack to get the most out of this upcoming event, so you’re even better prepared to learn,...