Craft lessons and interviews for writers
Writing coach Kevin T. Johns talks with the instructors, editors, coaches and authors who help writers create their art, build an audience and sell their work.
More than 240 episodes, free on every podcast app.
Latest episodes
New conversations and craft lessons, most recent first.
Newest episode, Oct 11, 2026A Writing Coach and Her Client: Ellen Baker and Terence Sullivan on Alice of Oz, Summerland Cove, and Two Paths to PublishingListen or readOct 6, 2026Writing is Rewriting: Steven Puri Returns to Talk Flow States and Hollywood ScreenwritingSep 29, 2026Pre-Made vs. Custom Book Covers, Explained | Usama Munir, Design DuskSep 13, 2026Writing Transgressive Fiction: Ron Black on Bleu and the Character No One Has to LikeSep 9, 2026Marketing Your Book Without Losing the Time to Write It: Marvin Wey of AuthorScale on AI, TikTok, and Selling More BooksSep 2, 2026The Spiritual Side of Beating Writer’s Burnout: Charlotte Donlon on Rituals, Rest, and Writing
New here? Start with these
Six episodes that show what the show is about.
CraftPathetic Fallacy ExplainedWhen weather or setting mirrors a character’s mood, and how to do it well.Listen or readCraft15 Literary Masterpieces Under 60K WordsProof that some of the greatest novels are short.Listen or readPublishing6 Types of EditorsWhat each kind of editor does, and which one you need.Listen or readWellbeingThe Spiritual Side of Beating Writer’s Burnout: Charlotte Donlon on Rituals, Rest, and WritingSpiritual director Charlotte Donlon on the rituals, permission, and belonging that keep writers out of burnout.Listen or readRetreatFive Days, Mullins Beach, and 40 Years of Friendship: The Barbados Writing Retreat with Nathan LangNathan Lang, Barbados hospitality expert, on what writers can expect from five days at the November 2026 Barbados Writing Retreat.Listen or readAuthor lifeKevin Tumlinson on Burnout and the Long GameBuilding a sustainable, human-centered author career without doing it all.Listen or read
Interviews with my clients
Conversations with writers I’ve coached about their books.
Twenty Drafts, Three Books, One Character: Sherilyn Decter on Writing The Promise TrilogySherilyn Decter on turning a minor character into The Promise Trilogy: twenty-plus drafts, writing three books at once, and why heavy revision isn’t failure.Listen or read
Writing Transgressive Fiction: Ron Black on Bleu and the Character No One Has to LikeRon Black on his transgressive debut novel Bleu: addiction, the art world, and why an unlikable character just needs to be understandable.Listen or read
For Once in My Life: Rob Cole on the Biography of Arlinda WillisRob Cole on the authorized biography of Arlinda Willis: Jim Crow Alabama, Cleveland’s Black entertainment scene, and medical racism.Listen or read
Murder, Wormholes, and A.I.s in Your Head: Talking Sci‑Fi with J.E. SheasbyJ.E. Sheasby joins The Writing Coach to talk AI, sentience, futuristic crime, worldbuilding, and a decade-long sci-fi series.Listen or read
From Editor to Novelist: Candace Johnson on Copyediting, Revisions, and the Author–Editor RelationshipEditor and first-time novelist Candace Johnson on copyediting, what editors look for, and why revision is as creative as drafting.Listen or read
Susan Leon on Crime Fiction, Forgiveness, and the Ripple Effects of LossAuthor Susan Leon on her debut novel If They’d Only Known, a Northern Ontario crime story about grief, trauma, and forgiveness.Listen or readShow all 21 client interviews
Where the Night Winds Wail: Sandy Day on Obsession, Grief, and Indie AuthorshipSandy Day on her Ontario noir novel Where the Night Winds Wail, inspired by The Long Black Veil and driven by obsession and grief.Listen or read
How Linda Garnett Turned Her Debut Gothic Vampire Novel into an Amazon BestsellerLinda Garnett on her debut Gothic vampire novel Red Falls: hitting the Amazon charts, outlining, revision, and messy first drafts.Listen or read
From Journals to Memoir: How Margot Stornelli Wrote The Big Red SuitcaseKevin chats with his client Margot Stornelli, a retired librarian who turned a personal journaling project into a full travel memoir, The Big Red…Listen or read
6 Books in 2 Years: Anne Kane on Plotting, Productivity, and Motorcycle RomanceAnne Kane returns to share how plotting helped her write faster, publish more books, and build a career without losing the joy.Listen or read
From Zen Kid to Wiccan Priest: Ivan Richmond on Ritual, Ethics, and the Spiritual Practice of OnenessDiscover how rituals, flow states, and spiritual practice can transform your writing. Writing coach Kevin T. Johns interviews author Ivan Richmond.Listen or read
Stephen Weinstock on Music, Theater, and WritingKevin T. Johns speaks with musician, educator, and author Steve Weinstock about music, theater, and writing.Listen or read
Michael Leonard on Religion & Science-FictionKevin talks with client Michael Leonard about his debut sci-fi novel Pilgrims and his move from tech and business to speculative fiction.Listen or read
Sandy Day on Re-Releasing BooksKevin talks with client Sandy Day about re-releasing her novel Head on Backwards, Chest Full of Sand.Listen or read
Sandy Day on Community and AccountabilityKevin talks with author Sandy Day about community and accountability and her latest book, Odd Mom Out.Listen or read
Author Anne Kane on Writing Sci-Fi, Romance, Erotica, and more!Kevin talks with client and award-winning romance author Anne Kane about the launch of her new book.Listen or read
Helen Pilz on Writing a Christmas RomanceAuthor Helen Pilz speaks with writing coach Kevin T. Johns about the launch of her new holiday-themed story, NEW YORK SNOW AND TURQUOISE.Listen or read
Phillip L. Wray on Writing Historical MysteriesKevin speaks with author Phillip L. Wray about the launch of his debut novel The Pontcourt Murders, a musketeer murder mystery.Listen or read
Val Ries on How to Become a Chief Inspiration OfficerKevin speaks with executive coach and author Val Ries about her new book Chief Executive Officer.Listen or read
Michelle Cornish on Genre-Hopping, Preorders, and AudiobooksKevin T. Johns speaks with author Michelle Cornish about genre-hopping, preorders, and audiobooks.Listen or read
Michael E. Ginsberg on Harvard, the National Debt, and Working with a Book CoachKevin T. Johns speaks with author Michael E. Ginsberg about Harvard, the national debt, and working with a book coach.Listen or read
Hosted by Kevin T. Johns
On The Writing Coach Podcast, author and writing coach Kevin T. Johns interviews a wide range of industry experts, including instructors, editors, publishers, agents, and book marketing strategists, to help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work.
