StoryADay presents: I, WRITER - A Writing Podcast about Building a Successful Writing Practice
Julie Duffy
Welcome to StoryADay Presents: I, WRITER – A Writing Podcast about building a fulfilling writing life.
Hosted by author and StoryADay founder Julie Duffy, this show helps writers of all kinds—novelists, short-story authors, poets, or anyone building a creative habit—turn writing into a sustainable, joyful practice.
Each episode blends practical writing tips with mindset reframes drawn from the I, WRITER Framework (Imagine, Write, Refine, Improve, Triumph, Engage, Repeat), to help you avoid overwhelm and make more progress, faster.
Whether you're drafting your first novel, exploring short fiction, or fighting writer's block, you'll find strategies here to strengthen your writing routine, spark creativity, and keep going.
With insights from the popular StoryADay Challenge and years of guiding writers worldwide, Julie shows you how to create momentum, finish projects, and share your work with confidence.
Music credit: Alan McPike (http://standardstrax.com)
Hosted by author and StoryADay founder Julie Duffy, this show helps writers of all kinds—novelists, short-story authors, poets, or anyone building a creative habit—turn writing into a sustainable, joyful practice.
Each episode blends practical writing tips with mindset reframes drawn from the I, WRITER Framework (Imagine, Write, Refine, Improve, Triumph, Engage, Repeat), to help you avoid overwhelm and make more progress, faster.
Whether you're drafting your first novel, exploring short fiction, or fighting writer's block, you'll find strategies here to strengthen your writing routine, spark creativity, and keep going.
With insights from the popular StoryADay Challenge and years of guiding writers worldwide, Julie shows you how to create momentum, finish projects, and share your work with confidence.
Music credit: Alan McPike (http://standardstrax.com)
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 8, 2023 • 22min
On Writing, with Rachel Swearingen
In this conversation with award-winning writer Rachel Swearingen we talk about how to build a writing practice that grows with you, the art of writing short and long fiction the importance of play, her residency in Berlin and about some of her short stories and how they came to be written. Next time we'll talk about her favorite stories of her own and the writers she admires, working in short fiction now. We also talk about the importance of community for writers, and then Rachel turns the tables on me! Rachel Swearingen is the author of "How to Walk on Water and other short stories" which received the New American Press Fiction Prize. LINKS This episode: storyaday.org/episode282 Rachel's site: rachelswearing.com Sign up for StoryADay May: storyaday.org/signup Support the podcast: glow.fm/storyaday
Mar 25, 2023 • 16min
Being A Writer Even When You Don't Feel Like A Writer
What to do when life won't get out of your way. We all go through seasons where other concerns pull at us (family, friends, world events). It doesn't mean you're failing as a writer if you are less productive at some times than others. And I have some thoughts on how you can stay connected to your writer self even if the words aren't flowing.
Mar 18, 2023 • 25min
Getting UnStuck with KB Carle
with author KB Carle we talk about what attracted her to Flash Fiction; the challenges of moving from short to novel-length fiction; how to get unstuck ; and how being a writer includes building your community. Find all the resources storyday.org/episode280
Mar 11, 2023 • 26min
A Conversation with KB Carle Interview Part 1
In this interview with KB Carle we talk about writing flash fiction and micro fiction, the importance of community, getting through the middle, and more LINKS: More about KB Carle: kbcarle.com
Feb 18, 2023 • 18min
Forget the Hero's Journey - a conversation with Gwen E. Kirby Pt II
In the second part of my conversation with Gwen E. Kirby we talk about developing characters that feel real to people, about writing at this moment in time, writing about women, and the question that Gwen Kirby doesn't get asked often enough, Gwen E Kirby is the author of the fabulous debut collection of short stories Shit Cassandra Saw. has a MFA from Johns Hopkins university. PhD from the University of Cincinnati and is the Associate Director of Programs and finance for the Sewanee Writers. Conference at the University of the South where she's also teaching students about creative writing. Her writing has appeared in One Story Tin House Guernica. Smoke Long Quarterly, and many other places. LINKS Gwen's book: https://stada.me/cassandra This interview: https://storyaday.org/episode278
Feb 11, 2023 • 21min
Sh*t Cassandra Saw, an interview with author Gwen E. Kirby
Gwen E Kirby is the author of the fabulous debut collection of short stories Shit Cassandra Saw. has a MFA from Johns Hopkins university. PhD from the University of Cincinnati and is the Associate Director of Programs and finance for the Sewanee Writers. Conference at the University of the South where she's also teaching students about creative writing. Her writing has appeared in One Story Tin House Guernica. Smoke Long Quarterly, and many other places. In this conversation, we talk about the stories in her new collection, the benefit of a fantastic title, how to take an idea and develop it into a story. And then in the second part of this interview we will talk more about developing characters that feel real to people, about writing at this moment in time, writing about women, and the question that Gwen Kirby doesn't get asked often enough,
Jan 14, 2023 • 13min
Back To Writing
Today I'm talking about the struggle to get back into a writing routine after the winter holidays. I know I'm not alone in expecting that fresh start feeling to kick in, in January, but it hasn't happened for me yet. The chaos of the holidays can make it hard to get back into a routine. But, I have learned over the years as a writer, that if you want to improve, you have to take action and actually write. I have some tips that can help, and an invitation to join me in a tiny challenge later this month... Thanks for listening. LINKS: January Challenge: https://storyaday.org/jan-challenge
Dec 24, 2022 • 17min
StADa175 Creative Rebelllion
It's an end-of-year episode with a twist (hint: don't want to set New Year's Resolutions? Join the rebellious crowd!) LINKS: Podcast interview archive: https://stada.me/interview Reading Room reviews: https://stada.me/read StoryAWeek Newsletter: https://storyaday.org/storyaweek
Dec 10, 2022 • 17min
Where's My Butler? or Building a Writing Life, with guest Mary Robinette Kowal
In which we talk about ways to build a writing practice even when dealing with challenges like depression and ADHD (checkboxes, spreadsheets, and stickers...oh my!); and Mary Robinette shares a great method for ramping up writing productivity after a break. LINKS Part 1 of this interview Mary Robinette's Patreon
Dec 3, 2022 • 27min
Mary Robinette Kowal discusses The Spare Man - her new sci-fi murder mystery (Pt. 1)
Award-winning writer, podcaster, voice actor and puppeteer Mary Robinette Kowal stopped by the StoryADay podcast to talk about the novel, writing, and why you should consider putting a pet in your stories. 10:13 Research for Writers 11:49 Writing The Other 12:34 Can a stable relationship be interesting? 14:20 On the benefits of pets in stories 25:52 Part 1 Wrap Up and Links LINKS MaryRobinette.com Mary Robinette Kowal's Patreon My Favorite Bit (10 best Fantine curses) Buy the book, support an indie bookstore: https://stada.me/thespareman
