QWERTY Writing Life Podcast

Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith discuss the difference between sitting and steeping, creatively speaking. Creatives can commonly fall into a time of procrastination or of percolation. Often, the line between the two can be a bit blurry, and we may not always recognize which one we are doing. In episode 11 of season 4 of QWERTY Writing Life, Joy and Mea provide examples of each and leave you...

Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith continued discussion about new creative projects coming from past ones makes the perfect starting point for any creative considering a new work-in-progress. They share the top five needs a Creative should meet in order to begin a new project. Check out these links mentioned in the show: Finders Keepers: A Practical Approach to Find and Keep Your Writing Criti...

Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith chat about how past projects can fuel new creative works as they consider both internal and external sources for ideas. Packed full of examples, this episode includes the QWERTYs’ tips and suggestions with a two-part Challenge to get creatives started. Check out the links mentioned in the show: Finders Keepers: A Practical Approach to Find and Keep Your Writi...

Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith relay a piece of repeated advice from a new perspective. Creatives’ introspection benefits their work, their lives and so much more. Find out how in Season 4, Episode 8 and then go introspect yourself! Check out these links mentioned in the show: Finders Keepers: A Practical Approach to Find and Keep Your Writing Critique Partner: https://www.logosandmythospr...

Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith examine the idea of the artist as a work in progress. While Creatives’ products grow and evolve over time, so do the Creators. Joy and Mea discuss some surprising benefits to this reality as well as the source of their epiphany in this episode. Check out these links mentioned in the show: Finders Keepers: A Practical Approach to Find and Keep Your Writing Cri...

Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith asked themselves a tough question for this episode, “Are we willing to drop this project, even after years of blood, sweat and tears.” Their candid answer inspired reflection and epiphanies they had to share with fellow creatives. For more about NaNoWriMo and the hosts’ book, head to these links: National Novel Writing Month, AKA NaNoWriMo: https://nanowrimo....

Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith decide to break it down and hug their elephant project … one small part at a time! What projects are overwhelming you with their size today? Perhaps you can take the practical tips in this episode to hug your own gentle giant! For more about the books mentioned in the show, here are the links: Mea’s book, Grief Like a River: https://storyswell.net/books Finde...

Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith continue work on their joint project, despite upheaval in their personal lives. Tune in to find out the next steps they’ve taken and decisions they’ve made; plus, you’ll hear a few tips for continuing a project when the wheels fall off!   If you’d like more information on previous episodes and other fun shareables mentioned in the show, here are the links: Me...

Author Mea Smith takes a solo journey in episode three as she dives into whether defining creative potential is helpful or harmful. The answer might surprise you! Links mentioned in this episode: Go & Tell Gals, How Do I Live Up To My Potential?  https://open.spotify.com/episode/40yjvz0Gj5pFnZtlUFo6TW?si=L5NG8HZNSiaiJw7yAkcIOw   QWERTY Writing Life, Created to Create https://qwertywritinglife.podb...

Join authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith as they share a candid conversation on the next step in their chosen project, their creative journeys, and their personal lives. The following episodes pair well with this one: Choosing Your Next Project: Season 4, episode 1: https://qwertywritinglife.podbean.com/e/choosing-your-next-project/ Blockades to Creating, Part 1: Season 1, Episode 1: https://yo...

Season 4 of QWERTY Writing Life kicks off with a productive bang, as authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith share their approach to choosing the next QWERTY project. Listen in as they recap their challenges, epiphanies, lessons learned and best tips for working together on choosing their next collaborative project. If you’d like more information on episodes or products mentioned in the show, here...

Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith reflect on their third season of QWERTY Writing Life and share your favorite episodes and theirs. They also share what the winds of change are blowing in for QWERTY Writing Life. Tune in for a peek at what’s coming! If you’d like to listen to the episodes we mentioned in the show for the first … or fifteenth! … time, here are the links: QWERTY Workshop: Start...

Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith answer the question, What’s Saving Our Creative Lives? Their answers come coated in candor and practicality. Send them a message with your answers as well, and they might just read them on a future episode! To learn more about the episode’s inspiration and the tools mentioned, visit the following links: The Next Right Thing Podcast: Emily P. Freeman: https://...

Creatives tend to spend much of their valuable time “Waiting on the Muse.” Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith debunk some misconceptions and encourage fellow Creatives to journey with the Muse in mind. Listen to Season 3, Episode 20, Creative Trust: https://qwertywritinglife.podbean.com/e/creative-trust-trusting-yourself-in-creative-endeavors/ Continue the conversation and stay in the know for...

Creatives often discuss fear, but Fear of Success isn’t always up for discussion. The Fear of Success can cripple a Creative. It can render us incapable of producing creative works. It can trick us into not even trying. It can stifle our voice and convince us of every misbelief in the book that keeps us from reaching our full potential as creative entrepreneurs.  Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea S...

Do you struggle with trusting yourself when it comes to your creative pursuits? Do you doubt your abilities or count your work’s worth short? Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith have been there, too. Tune in to this episode for a candid chat on the dangers of lacking creative trust and some of the misbeliefs that lead to such a mindset. Joy and Mea also share a few tips for how they overcome th...

How can creatives be prepared at all times for interactions with influencers or consumers of their art? Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith suggest Creative Kits. Investing time and resources into preparing these items—either hard copy or digital or both—allows creatives the freedom to make the most of any opportunity that comes their way. In this episode, learn more about what these kits are,...

Business owners consider Focus one of the top tools of their trade, regardless of the type of work they do. Creative Business Owners are no different; in fact, as authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith share in this episode, Focus is an ever-changing constant for them. With each new season, they must reevaluate their Focus and determine how to achieve the goals that are most vital to their creativ...

Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith explore the importance of Fundamental Standards for Creatives. These core values or beliefs can be used as a tool to guide reactions to readers, publishers and reviewers or to influence business decisions. Listen in for definitions of Fundamental Standards and Touchstone Affirmations, examples from the authors’ own businesses and four action steps to turn thi...

You want to collaborate with a partner to produce something big—maybe a book? In this episode, authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith bring you some tips that have helped them launch a nonfiction book, a podcast and a brand together. In keeping with their candid style, Joy and Mea keep this topic real and raw and fun. Learn more about their book on writing critique partners, Finders Keepers: A Pra...

Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith view a new year through a different lens. Join them for A Creative Approach to Beginnings. The key to approaching something new with lessons in tow might rest in spending a few extra moments with past failures or suffering. Learn more about Abigail Dodds and her book, (A)Typical Woman: Free, Whole and Called in Christ, at her website: https://hopeandstay.com...

Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith take inspiration from the Writing with Maggie Stiefvater seminar and put their QWERTY twist on an exercise for a special workshop—Starting a Story Together. Tune in for some tips on how to collaborate with a creative friend on a new type of project. How could a creative team-up boost your personal projects or pave the way for new opportunities in the future?...

In this episode of QWERTY Writing Life, authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith consider the topic “Filling the Creative Well” from a different perspective. They examine how consuming entertainment, for the creative, is a deeper pastime. Creative stimulation continues with the reflection afterward. With this combination of consuming entertainment with a creative spirit and a reflection on what it h...

Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith give thanks for the “little things.” Listen in to their candid chat about how the holidays often cause us to put on blinders to the good things around us. Those blinders keep our focus locked on to whatever big emotions we are feeling and how those feels are affecting us. When we recognize the blinders for what they are and cast them aside, we can finally not...

Bingeing craft techniques allows Creatives to immerse themselves in learning or inspiration, but it’s not always possible in traditional ways. Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith color outside the lines with a few unusual ways to accomplish this feat. They split bingeing into three categories and give examples of each from their own lives. Creatives can binge their craft through creative instru...