Sara Zarr

This Creative Life

Arts EN ↓ 77 episodes

Listen between the lines of the writing life with author Sara Zarr in interview and solo episodes, with a focus on the practical and psychological aspects of writing and publishing, the creative process, and that tricky intersection where art meets commerce. Past guests include filmmaker Scott Teems, National Book Award Winner Malinda Lo, and podcaster and author Dave Holmes.

Author

Sara Zarr

Category

Arts

Podcast website

www.sarazarr.com

Latest episode

Jun 3, 2026

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Episodes

A Couple of Brief Updates 03.06.2026

The Writers Circle: https://writerscircle.circle.so Still Writing: Still Writing has its very own feed! Please add it to your favorite podcast app, and let me know if you can't find it on yours. Apple Podcasts  Spotify Amazon Music Podcast home at Buzzsprout  

Still Writing Ep 2 Clip 23.03.2026

Still Writing has its very own feed! For the full episode, please add it to your favorite podcast app, and let me know if you can't find it on yours. Apple Podcasts  Spotify Amazon Music Podcast home at Buzzsprout

Still Writing: Pilot 09.03.2026

Still Writing has its very own feed! Please add it to your favorite podcast app, and let me know if you can't find it on yours. Apple Podcasts  Spotify Amazon Music Podcast home at Buzzsprout

Still Writing Teaser 03.03.2026

In which Still Writing and its mystery cohost are revealed! Stay tuned for Still Writing ep 1  Still Writing Apple Podcast link (also works for listening in your favoritie app like Overcast) Still Writing at Spotify Still Writing on Amazon Music ___ Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!    

S3 E16: Author Alyssa Sheinmel 20.01.2026

Alyssa Sheinmel's psychological thriller and adult debut, Such Sheltered Lives, it out now. In this episode, I spoke with Alyssa about what it's been like to publish in the adult category alongside her ongoing work in her teen lit roots, how she gets it done, and hey, what's going on in YA right now anyway?  Such Sheltered Lives - Out from Atria 1/20/26 Alyssa's website Alyssa @ IG Learn more abou...

S3 E15: Annual Wrap-Up & Writers Circle Updates 22.12.2025

The Writers Circle Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music! Subscribe to the newsletter Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at: www.sarazarr.com    

S3 E14: Seasonal Shifts + Joni Sensel and Wildly Inspired 07.11.2025

In which we don't write a novel in a month, and look to the seasons to inspire our writing focus. Special thanks to Joni Sensel. Get Wildly Inspired ! The Writers Circle Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music! Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at: www.sarazarr.com    

S3 E13: Jasminne Paulino's Notes to the Universe 24.10.2025

Many thanks to my guest Jasminne Paulino for sharing the story of how her debut novel, The Extraordinary Orbit of Alex Ramirez, came to be, how the pandemic led her to decide to pursue her MFA, and how a late-life diagnosis informs her writing.  Find Jasminne on Instagram @jasminne.notes, and at her website Find her book and all my guests' books at our Bookshop Shop The Writers Circle Thanks to Da...

S3 E12: The Autumn of My dis-Content 12.10.2025

Sorry about the unplanned hiatus! In this episode I talk about my break from online as my default environment, what that has to do with Our Times, and I guess I'm still learning how to pronounce "authoritarianism."  The Writers Circle Celery Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music! Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at: www.sarazarr.com

S3 E11: Hannah V. Sawyerr & Truth Is 19.09.2025

From childhood journals to Pitch Wars to the Morris Award Honor to the National Book Award Longlist, Hannah V. Sawyerr has been on a journey ! I so enjoyed this conversation and I know you will, too. Truth Is comes out September 23rd everywhere books are sold. Truth Is at Bookshop Hannah's website & social links Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music! Learn more about me, my books, and my other...

S3 E10: Reality-Based Goals 05.09.2025

Expanding on the first episode of this season, we ask what does "reality-based" mean when it comes to goals? The Writers Circle Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music! Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at: www.sarazarr.com    

S3 E9: Filmmaker Thomas Torrey 29.08.2025

Finally, another interview episode! This conversation with Thomas Torrey is exactly what I've been craving, and maybe you have, too. We talk about artistic despair and the freeing realization that we're not special. Also the ways in which his film, Long December, could be thought of as This Creative Life: the Movie. Bad Theology Pictures Long December The Writers Circle Thanks to Dave Connis for t...

S3 E8: Introducing the Writers Circle! 22.08.2025

The Writers Circle is a community for support, connection, and education for writers at all levels, across genres and categories. Check it out: The Writers Circle Coupons! EARLYBIRD10 for 10% off any membership (expires 9/2) FOREVER21 for 21% off a Forever membership (expires 9/2) Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music! Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at: www.sarazarr.com  ...

S3 E7: Dealing with Middles 15.08.2025

Podcast home page Take a peek at the Writers Circle The Inbox Variations Quarterly Newsletter Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music! Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at: www.sarazarr.com    

S3 E6: What Counts as Writing 01.08.2025

When your word count is down but you've got lots of dishes to do. Writers Circle waitlist Angel Down by Daniel Kraus E Lockhart on TCL back in 2015 Incubation and the creative process And preparing for incubation! (point 6)   Thanks to  Dave Connis for the theme music! Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at: www.sarazarr.com  

S3 E5: Five Craft Tips I Give the Most 25.07.2025

This week I go over five of the most common pieces of feedback I give on student and client manuscripts.  Got a writing question for a future episode?  Email me ! Podcast home page The Writers Circle Thanks to  Dave Connis for the theme music! Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at: www.sarazarr.com    

S3 E4: When to Invite Feedback 18.07.2025

Podcast home page Help for writers and Writers Circle waitlist Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music! Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at: www.sarazarr.com  

S3 E3: "This Is Stupid" with Author Andrew DeYoung 11.07.2025

In the first interview episode of TCL 3.0, we bring back an old friend with a new book. Andrew DeYoung's new domestic thriller, Stay Away From Him , is out this week. We talk about Andrew's path from YA to speculative to thrillers, the pleasures of writing genre fiction, and how he gets it done. Also, why is everything in publishing so slow? Get Stay Away from Him Help for writers and Writers Circ...

S3 E2: Why You're Not Writing 04.07.2025

In this episode, I go over five common reasons we're not writing even though we want to, and offer some ways to change our thinking. Share it with a friend who needs to hear it! Podcast home page The Writers Circle On Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande (and other writing books I like) Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music! Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at: www.sarazarr...

S3 E1: The Reality-Based Writing Life 27.06.2025

Subscribe to this podcast wherever you like to listen, including Apple, Overcast, Spotify, Podbean, and more. Help for Writers and Community Waitlist  Podcast Home Page Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music! www.sarazarr.com  

87. Ashley C. Ford and the Ultimate Pivot - TCL Finale (?) 08.11.2023

I know you've been waiting a long time on a wish and a promise for this final episode in the Pivots, Comebacks, and Reinventions series. I appreciate your patience while I went and figured out myself and my own potential pivots and reinventions! The wait is over and I present to you my conversation with Ashley C. Ford, bestselling author of Somebody's Daughter and lots more . I'm so grateful to As...

TCL Mini: The Writing Life Audit 22.03.2023

This is the audio version of the most recent newsletter PLUS some thoughts about what's next for the pod. Get the newsletter version of this post Get the book Get The Inbox Variations www.sarazarr.com  

86. Melissa Walker Takes Action 08.03.2023

In late 2016, Melissa Walker was working on her 10th novel when she went to a holiday party and heard then Senator Daniel Squadron talk about the importance of state-level politics—even for the national landscape. She was inspired to take action. That action eventually grew into a pivot from full-time writing to full-time work with The States Project. This conversation is everything I wanted from...

TCL Mini: No Sure Things 05.01.2023

The audio version of this week's newsletter on living with the uncertainty of writing. Get the newsletter version of this post Get the book ! www.sarazarr.com

85. The Publishing Year in Review with Agent Michael Bourret 21.12.2022

From the supply chain issues that started the year, to the conversation about AI that's ending it, I talk through the year in publishing with Michael Bourret of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret . Also, we answer listener questions! This will be the last episode for the year, and the last one before a break during which I'll go off to Boston to teach and maybe even revise my novel. I'll be back (most lik...

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