Writing When You're Not Okay - WN 167

If you're sailing on stormy seas (literally, writerly, mentally, or otherwise), you're going to want Jarod K. Anderson as your guide. Author, poet, and creator of The Cryptonaturalist podcast, Jarod shares his insights with us this week on his writing process, the impact of mental health on creativity, and his unconventional path to publishing success. Thank you for listening! For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/creepy-cozy-wonderfully-weird-an-interview-with-jarod-k-anderson-wn-171/ Watch this episode as a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVE_VRuMDCM Find Jarod online: https://www.jarodkanderson.com/ Pre-order Strange Animals: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/798888/strange-animals-by-jarod-k-anderson/ You can support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast on: * Patreon: https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner * Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/sarahwerner * PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/sarahwerner Or just share this episode with someone who might find it useful. :) Thank you! Thanks again for listening, and happy writing!
— Sarah

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in an endless loop of edits, rewrites, and revisions, this episode is for you. We’ll explore how fear can sneak into our writing process via perfectionism, the difference between necessary and compulsive rewrites, and how to build gentle systems to finish your work and move forward with confidence. Thank you for listening! For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/the-rewriting-cycle-wn-170/ You can support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast on: * Patreon: https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner * Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/sarahwerner * PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/sarahwerner Or just share this episode with someone who might find it useful. :) Happy writing!
— Sarah

What is a writer's most important asset? A good teacher? A quiet room? An infinite book budget? An expensive pen? While all of these are nice, today I'm focusing on the one asset that everyone can access, freely and easily: their sense of curiosity. Even if you believe your curiosity has been stomped out long ago, we'll talk about how to rekindle and cultivate this amazing ability. Thank you for listening! For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/the-ultimate-asset-for-writers-wn-169/  You can support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast on: Patreon: https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/sarahwerner  PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/sarahwerner  Or just share this episode with someone who might find it useful. :) Happy writing!
 — Sarah

Sometimes, when things get tough, when the haters hate and the doubters doubt, it can be difficult to summon the motivation, courage, energy, or inspiration you need to write. And sometimes, when that happens, the only thing we have left to turn to is SPITE. Find out why — and why it's not necessarily a bad thing!  For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/  You can support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast on: * Patreon: https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner  * Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/sarahwerner  * PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/sarahwerner  Or just share this episode with someone who might find it useful. :) Happy writing!
 — Sarah

How do we cope as writers when life hits us with illness, injury, grief, or overwhelm? This week, we’re exploring what helps, what hurts, and what’s at stake when we find ourselves "not-okay," and how we can navigate those challenges with care and creativity. Thank you for listening! For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/writing-when-youre-not-okay  You can support the show here: * Patreon: https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner  * Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/sarahwerner  * PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/sarahwerner  Happy writing!
 — Sarah

I tend to get weird looks when I say I'm in a Mastermind group, but my writing career wouldn't be where it is today without them. In this week’s episode, we'll talk about what these are, what they do for you as a writer, and how to start and structure your own Mastermind group. For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/ Thank you for listening! You can support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast on: Patreon: https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/sarahwerner PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/sarahwerner  Happy writing! — Sarah

Whether you're a seasoned novelist or a newcomer to the craft, we all come to the page and need to BEGIN. It's easy to say "Just start," but it's often not that simple. This week, I have some fresh encouragement and practical tips to help you start writing with confidence. Links mentioned: Write Now Episode 102: Journaling & You Write Now Episode 142: No Rules, Just Write Write Now Episode 014: Creating A Space For Writing Write Now Episode 001: What's Keeping You From Writing? For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/how-to-start-writing-wn-165 Thank you for listening! To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, you can become a patron on Patreon at  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner, or send me a tip on Ko-Fi at https://ko-fi.com/sarahwerner. Happy writing! — Sarah

How do you decide when to publish your creative work? Is there a point at which you say it's "good enough"? Or do you have a tendency to polish and play around with those "last final tweaks" indefinitely? This week, we're talking about what it means to do your best in a world where "best" is subjective and perfect doesn't exist. Get ready! For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/is-good-enough-good-enough/  Thank you for listening! To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, you can become a patron on Patreon at  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner, or send me a tip on Ko-Fi at https://ko-fi.com/sarahwerner. Happy writing! — Sarah

Have you ever felt hopeless, helpless, or disillusioned about goal-setting, or found yourself asking, "Why bother?" This week, we're looking at what happens to make us feel that way, and how to set our writing lives on the path to success going forward. For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/cynicism-about-goals-wn-163/  Thank you for listening! To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, you can become a patron on Patreon at  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner, or send me a tip on Ko-Fi at https://ko-fi.com/sarahwerner. Happy writing! — Sarah ©2025 by Write Now, LLC. All rights reserved.

Have you ever wondered if you should self-publish your book, or go through a traditional publisher? This week, we're weighing the pros and cons of each to figure out which method is best for you. Links mentioned:  Talking Scared Podcast, Episode #003: Spotify | Apple Podcasts Sarah's indie (self-published) audio drama, Girl In Space The Write Now Podcast Discord Community Thank you for listening! For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/should-i-self-publish-wn-162/  To support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast, become a patron on Patreon at  https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner, or send me a tip on Ko-Fi at https://ko-fi.com/sarahwerner. Happy writing! — Sarah