Simply Write w/ Polly Campbell

Writing Despite Criticism Fantasy author Joshua K. Rutherford keeps a notebook nearby while working his day job and finds pockets of time to write at night after the kids are in bed. Often, he says, the writing process is restorative. But criticism weighed heavily on him until he decided to independently publish his fantasy novel and felt empowered. Now, readers are clamoring for his books like So...

Use Retrieval Practice for Better Writing Writers must take in and process a lot of information. But it's not enough to store it in our memories. We've got to index the information in a way we can remember it in our brains, and then apply it to the craft and the pieces we are working on. Learning is not just about memorization, it's about our ability to apply that knowledge when needed. In this ep...

Estelle Erasmus Says "Write the Piece Only You Can Write" Award-winning journalist, teacher, and editor Estelle Erasmus has spent three decades in magazine journalism serving as editor-in-chief to some of the biggest magazines in the U.S. Now she shares her wisdom on Simply Write w/Polly and in her new book Writing that Gets Noticed. To write articles and essays that get published Erasmus says wri...

Every time Polly hits "send" on a new piece, it's nerve-wracking, but especially when I'm going out cold, to the readers without editors or publishers to hone my work. Still, this regular practice of publishing on blogs or newsletters, even social media forums can elevate your writing, help you find your voice, and become better at taking a concept from your mind to the page for readers. Journalin...

One of Our Favorites and News About Season 2 We are in the dog days of summer and, though we feel like lazing on the couch in the warm afternoons, we are not. We are writing and interviewing and are hard at work on Season Two. We are excited to bring you more tips and insider info, more guests, more authors and freelancers, and people who are crafting writing careers and have ideas and insights th...

One of Our Favorites and News About Season 2 We are in the dog days of summer and, though we feel like lazing on the couch in the warm afternoons, we are not. We are writing and interviewing and are hard at work on Season Two. We are excited to bring you more tips and insider info, more guests, more authors and freelancers, and people who are crafting writing careers and have ideas and insights th...

Study the Site to Become a Go-To Writer Livestrong.com Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Director Sarah Klein talks about the importance of collaboration between writers and editors. Writers who find success and publish repeatedly tend to be those who understand the site or publication they are pitching to and the needs of the readers. Klein suggests that writers study the publication they want to wri...

Everyone talks about the Rules of Writing. The thing is many of them change depending on who you are talking to and the piece you are writing. Yet, this is a craft and we can become better writers by applying some basic techniques even while we learn about genre and figure out our process. No matter what you are writing, i think there are five things (and of course many more) that can instantly ma...

Quirky, interesting characters, a comfortable and familiar world, with plenty of clues and plot twists are the main things that keep readers coming back to a cozy mystery series, says Angela M. Sanders. She writes nonfiction pieces and is the author of multiple cozy mystery series, including the Witch Way Librarian Cozy Mysteries, beginning with Witch Upon a Star It's the continuity readers like a...

The writing process is personal, there is no one right way to do it, but no matter how you set your schedule up, you've got to find your way to get the writing done, to do the work whether you are publishing or not. For award-winning thriller author and essayist E.A. Aymar, his writing process starts at 4 a.m. before he gets his son ready for school and starts his day job. Aymar began writing dail...

Plan Ahead to Establish a Constant Revenue Stream It can take months to get paid for the essays, articles, or marketing pieces you're writing now. Sure, those delays can cause real stress. But with a savings account and a development calendar, a well-organized writer will not only have pieces ready to ship but also assignments on deck for the weeks and months ahead. Creating a developmental calend...

Time To Get Up and Go Remember from your school days the fun of a field trip? It was always exciting to get out of the classroom for a day-long trip to the zoo or a museum or a Shakespeare play. It didn't matter what we did, it was good to have a break in the routine. Writers need to change up their routines too to rejuvenate and ignite inspiration. It's good for you and great for the work. Julia...

In this episode, Polly Campbell talks about why she loves revising and the seven-step process she uses to stay on track. Write the Quick Draft Go toward the obvious. Cut out echoes. Make sure the focus is clear and the action tight. Cut vague language, add powerful verbs. Go deep. Stay with it, working over every element. Print it out. Let it cool down. Then, read it aloud. Seriously, do this! And...

What is Your Book About? Can you tell me in one compelling sentence what your book is about? Author and media strategist Paula Rizzo says it's even hard for her to do, but that's why she develops and practices her pitch long before she ever starts promoting it and she gives some great tips for other writers to use when promoting their work. The nonfiction author of Listful Living: A List-Making Jo...

In 1978 two psychologists came up with a term that describes an experience many of us have had and it is called Imposter Syndrome. If you are a striving writer who is also wracked by self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy and have a hard time saying that you are a writer, then congratulations you, like Neil Gaiman, Maya Angelou, Brene Brown, and so many other bestselling writers have felt it too. I...

Diverse Skills Mean More Opportunity and a More Interesting Career for Freelance Writer and Editor Jen Singer Author, ghostwriter, blogger, editor, and writing coach Jen Singer has crafted a successful writing career by honing a diverse set of skills and drawing from personal experience to help others. Jen writes books, speeches, articles, and other pieces for a range of clients and editors. She a...

Thriller author Alice Henderson happens to also be a wildlife biologist who spends a great deal of time in nature, tracking some of our most elusive animals. Whether it's a dry desert or a snowy mountain the characters she creates often face challenges from nature and antagonists. She pulls on her expertise and interests in biology and writing to create captivating tales about the things she cares...

When Polly started her freelance career, she didn't sell a whole lot. At least not at the beginning. But then she took the advice of an established magazine writer and teacher and spent time at the front end studying potential markets for her ideas. Polly scrutinized the magazine pages and masthead, evaluated the list of editors, and contributors against the bylines she saw in the mags, and even l...

Jen A. Miller has been freelancing for decades and continues to make a six-figure income. How? Marketing savvy, hard work, and good writing. In this episode, Miller talks with Polly about how she started her freelance career and the approach she takes to keep her writing business thriving. Hint, you don't have to work longer days to make more money, but Miller does market her work and skills, mana...

Blogs look different than they did more than a decade ago when Polly Campbell started blogging but they still provide a great opportunity to improve your writing, connect with readers and editors, and write about things that matter to you. Corporations, associations, and nonprofits also look to bloggers to help them build brand recognition, raise funds, connect with clients, and develop community...

Polly Campbell talks with writer and agent Kate McKean, vice-president of Howard Morhaim Literary Agency talks about how agents choose books to represent, the intangibles that result in a sale--or not, and how she works with writers. Instead of playing to trends Kate says to write the book you want to write and give her the book "I don't know I need." "I want to help create a book that exemplifies...

Too much and you'll lose the reader. Too little, well, that doesn't work either. We need the Goldilocks approach to descriptive writing. When done right descriptive language can build emotional resonance, develop character, create memorable settings, and elevate your writing in a way that has editors, readers, and publishers, clamoring for more. But if you come in heavy-handed or use cliche your w...

Polly Campbell talks with the award-winning nonfiction author of Simply Mindful and other books, Donald Altman, about how his writing process changed when he began writing his first novel The Travelers. Donald has written screenplays, short films, kids' television, and more than 20 nonfiction books after leaving behind a career as an electrician decades ago. In 2023 Donald launched his first novel...

Polly talks with award-winning novelist and flash fiction writer Tara Laskowski about the importance of prioritizing the writing in your schedule and how she relies on spooky settings to build her novels. Join Polly and the Simply Write community at https://SimplyWrite.substack.com Find Tara Laskowski and her work, including her newest novel set for release in December here: https://taralaskowski....

Polly Campbell talks about the intangible power of voice and the importance of technique and faith when it comes to developing yours, and some ways we can find our voice in every piece we write. Voice is that unique quality that elevates your work and draws readers in. In this episode, Polly explains how it works. Also, be sure to join our Simply Write community at https://simplywrite.substack.com...