Episodes
Monday Mar 20, 2023
Creatively Redeeming a Time Gap
Monday Mar 20, 2023
Monday Mar 20, 2023
Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith found themselves with an unexpected time gap in their current creative project and found a way to creatively redeem that gift. Tune in for a few tips and tricks for making the most of the gift of time in this episode of QWERTY Writing Life.
Check out these links mentioned in the show:
Finders Keepers: A Practical Approach to Find and Keep Your Writing Critique Partner: https://www.logosandmythospress.com/finders-keepers
QWERTY Writing Life, Season 4, Episode 1, “Choosing Your Next Project”: https://qwertywritinglife.podbean.com/e/choosing-your-next-project/
Joy’s New Reader Magnet: https://joyerancatore.com/my-writings/our-good-thing/
Subscribe to the QWERTY’s monthly newsletter (be sure to click the box next to “opt in to receive news and updates” and check your spam for the confirmation email): https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z9f1z5
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qwertywritinglife
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qwertywritinglife/
Intro music created and performed by Brent Smith.
Continue this week’s chat via email at qwertywritinglife [at] gmail [dot] com. For more information about the QWERTYs, the show and their writing craft book series, head over to https://qwertywritinglife.com. Subscribe in your favorite podcast portal. Or, if you’d rather see their grinning faces, ring the bell on their YouTube channel. Please share our podcast with your friends, too! For more about Mea and her writing, visit storyswell.net. Joy and her details can be found at joyerancatore.com.
Monday Mar 06, 2023
When Your Pivot Needs to Pivot
Monday Mar 06, 2023
Monday Mar 06, 2023
Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith share some words of wisdom for fellow creatives who find themselves in need of a double pivot. Creative processes require flexibility and introspection. When creatives try something new, it may work great; other times, though, that new approach may need some alterations.
Check out these links mentioned in the show:
Finders Keepers: A Practical Approach to Find and Keep Your Writing Critique Partner: https://www.logosandmythospress.com/finders-keepers
Maggie Stiefvater, The Scorpio Races: https://maggiestiefvater.com/novels/the-scorpio-races/
Writing with Maggie Stiefvater Seminar: https://www.etsy.com/listing/806360184/writing-with-maggie-stiefvater-8-hour
QWERTY Writing Life, “Benefits of Short Fiction, Part 1”: https://qwertywritinglife.podbean.com/e/benefits-of-short-fiction-part-1/
Subscribe to the QWERTY’s monthly newsletter (be sure to click the box next to “opt in to receive news and updates” and check your spam for the confirmation email): https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z9f1z5
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qwertywritinglife
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qwertywritinglife/
Intro music created and performed by Brent Smith.
Continue this week’s chat via email at qwertywritinglife [at] gmail [dot] com. For more information about the QWERTYs, the show and their writing craft book series, head over to https://qwertywritinglife.com. Subscribe in your favorite podcast portal. Or, if you’d rather see their grinning faces, ring the bell on their YouTube channel. Please share our podcast with your friends, too! For more about Mea and her writing, visit storyswell.net. Joy and her details can be found at joyerancatore.com.
Monday Feb 20, 2023
Creativity: Are You Sitting or Steeping? Part 2
Monday Feb 20, 2023
Monday Feb 20, 2023
Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith follow up their previous episode with a look at how creative habits can keep us from falling into the procrastination trap and avoid stagnant sitting. From there, they offer practical tips to enhance the steeping stage and get all we can from times of percolation.
Check out these links mentioned in the show:
Finders Keepers: A Practical Approach to Find and Keep Your Writing Critique Partner: https://www.logosandmythospress.com/finders-keepers
GOOD, Jocko Willink: https://youtu.be/IdTMDpizis8
Subscribe to the QWERTY’s monthly newsletter (be sure to click the box next to “opt in to receive news and updates” and check your spam for the confirmation email): https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z9f1z5
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qwertywritinglife
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qwertywritinglife/
Intro music created and performed by Brent Smith.
Continue this week’s chat via email at qwertywritinglife [at] gmail [dot] com. For more information about the QWERTYs, the show and their writing craft book series, head over to https://qwertywritinglife.com. Subscribe in your favorite podcast portal. Or, if you’d rather see their grinning faces, ring the bell on their YouTube channel. Please share our podcast with your friends, too! For more about Mea and her writing, visit storyswell.net. Joy and her details can be found at joyerancatore.com.
Monday Feb 06, 2023
Creativity: Are You Sitting or Steeping? Part 1
Monday Feb 06, 2023
Monday Feb 06, 2023
Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith discuss the difference between sitting and steeping, creatively speaking. Creatives can commonly fall into a time of procrastination or of percolation. Often, the line between the two can be a bit blurry, and we may not always recognize which one we are doing.
In episode 11 of season 4 of QWERTY Writing Life, Joy and Mea provide examples of each and leave you with two surefire ways to know which you’re doing.
Check out these links mentioned in the show:
Finders Keepers: A Practical Approach to Find and Keep Your Writing Critique Partner: https://www.logosandmythospress.com/finders-keepers
Maggie Stiefvater, The Scorpio Races: https://maggiestiefvater.com/novels/the-scorpio-races/
Subscribe to the QWERTY’s monthly newsletter (be sure to click the box next to “opt in to receive news and updates” and check your spam for the confirmation email): https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z9f1z5
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qwertywritinglife
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qwertywritinglife/
Intro music created and performed by Brent Smith.
Continue this week’s chat via email at qwertywritinglife [at] gmail [dot] com. For more information about the QWERTYs, the show and their writing craft book series, head over to https://qwertywritinglife.com. Subscribe in your favorite podcast portal. Or, if you’d rather see their grinning faces, ring the bell on their YouTube channel. Please share our podcast with your friends, too! For more about Mea and her writing, visit storyswell.net. Joy and her details can be found at joyerancatore.com.
Monday Jan 16, 2023
What You Need to Build on a Completed Project
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith continued discussion about new creative projects coming from past ones makes the perfect starting point for any creative considering a new work-in-progress.
They share the top five needs a Creative should meet in order to begin a new project.
Check out these links mentioned in the show:
Finders Keepers: A Practical Approach to Find and Keep Your Writing Critique Partner: https://www.logosandmythospress.com/finders-keepers
Any Good Thing and Carolina’s Legacy Collection: https://www.logosandmythospress.com/carolinas-legacy-collection
Grief Like A River behind-the-scenes video series: https://youtu.be/wd4YETMssRg
QWERTY Writing Life, Season 4, Episode 6, “How to Drop a Project”: https://qwertywritinglife.podbean.com/e/how-to-drop-a-project/
QWERTY Writing Life, Season 1, Episode 5: “Mea’s Theory of Fear”: https://qwertywritinglife.podbean.com/e/blockades-to-creating-part-5/
QWERTY Writing Life, Season 3, Episode 17, “Fundamental Standards for Creatives”: https://qwertywritinglife.podbean.com/e/fundamental-standards-for-creatives/
Subscribe to the QWERTY’s monthly newsletter (be sure to click the box next to “opt in to receive news and updates” and check your spam for the confirmation email): https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z9f1z5
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qwertywritinglife
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qwertywritinglife/
Intro music created and performed by Brent Smith.
Continue this week’s chat via email at qwertywritinglife [at] gmail [dot] com. For more information about the QWERTYs, the show and their writing craft book series, head over to https://qwertywritinglife.com. Subscribe in your favorite podcast portal. Or, if you’d rather see their grinning faces, ring the bell on their YouTube channel. Please share our podcast with your friends, too! For more about Mea and her writing, visit storyswell.net. Joy and her details can be found at joyerancatore.com.
Monday Jan 02, 2023
How Past Projects Fuel New Creative Works
Monday Jan 02, 2023
Monday Jan 02, 2023
Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith chat about how past projects can fuel new creative works as they consider both internal and external sources for ideas. Packed full of examples, this episode includes the QWERTYs’ tips and suggestions with a two-part Challenge to get creatives started.
Check out the links mentioned in the show:
Finders Keepers: A Practical Approach to Find and Keep Your Writing Critique Partner: https://www.logosandmythospress.com/finders-keepers
Any Good Thing and Carolina’s Legacy Collection: https://www.logosandmythospress.com/carolinas-legacy-collection
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi: https://taherehmafi.com/book/shatter-me/
Grief Like A River behind-the-scenes video series: https://youtu.be/wd4YETMssRg
Subscribe to the QWERTY’s monthly newsletter (be sure to click the box next to “opt in to receive news and updates” and check your spam for the confirmation email): https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z9f1z5
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qwertywritinglife
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qwertywritinglife/
Intro music created and performed by Brent Smith.
Continue this week’s chat via email at qwertywritinglife [at] gmail [dot] com. For more information about the QWERTYs, the show and their writing craft book series, head over to https://qwertywritinglife.com. Subscribe in your favorite podcast portal. Or, if you’d rather see their grinning faces, ring the bell on their YouTube channel. Please share our podcast with your friends, too! For more about Mea and her writing, visit storyswell.net. Joy and her details can be found at joyerancatore.com.
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Go Introspect Yourself!
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith relay a piece of repeated advice from a new perspective. Creatives’ introspection benefits their work, their lives and so much more. Find out how in Season 4, Episode 8 and then go introspect yourself!
Check out these links mentioned in the show:
Finders Keepers: A Practical Approach to Find and Keep Your Writing Critique Partner: https://www.logosandmythospress.com/finders-keepers
Subscribe to the QWERTY’s monthly newsletter (be sure to click the box next to “opt in to receive news and updates” and check your spam for the confirmation email): https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z9f1z5
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qwertywritinglife
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qwertywritinglife/
Intro music created and performed by Brent Smith.
Continue this week’s chat via email at qwertywritinglife [at] gmail [dot] com. For more information about the QWERTYs, the show and their writing craft book series, head over to https://qwertywritinglife.com. Subscribe in your favorite podcast portal. Or, if you’d rather see their grinning faces, ring the bell on their YouTube channel. Please share our podcast with your friends, too! For more about Mea and her writing, visit storyswell.net. Joy and her details can be found at joyerancatore.com.
Monday Dec 05, 2022
Artist as a Work in Progress
Monday Dec 05, 2022
Monday Dec 05, 2022
Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith examine the idea of the artist as a work in progress. While Creatives’ products grow and evolve over time, so do the Creators. Joy and Mea discuss some surprising benefits to this reality as well as the source of their epiphany in this episode.
Check out these links mentioned in the show:
Finders Keepers: A Practical Approach to Find and Keep Your Writing Critique Partner: https://www.logosandmythospress.com/finders-keepers
J.F. Penn’s Arkane series: https://jfpenn.com/book-tag/arkane/
Marie Forleo’s Instagram and quote: https://www.instagram.com/reel/ClKGswAjRCB/
Subscribe to the QWERTY’s monthly newsletter (be sure to click the box next to “opt in to receive news and updates” and check your spam for the confirmation email): https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z9f1z5
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qwertywritinglife
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qwertywritinglife/
Intro music created and performed by Brent Smith.
Continue this week’s chat via email at qwertywritinglife [at] gmail [dot] com. For more information about the QWERTYs, the show and their writing craft book series, head over to https://qwertywritinglife.com. Subscribe in your favorite podcast portal. Or, if you’d rather see their grinning faces, ring the bell on their YouTube channel. Please share our podcast with your friends, too! For more about Mea and her writing, visit storyswell.net. Joy and her details can be found at joyerancatore.com.
Monday Nov 14, 2022
How to Drop a Project
Monday Nov 14, 2022
Monday Nov 14, 2022
Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith asked themselves a tough question for this episode, “Are we willing to drop this project, even after years of blood, sweat and tears.” Their candid answer inspired reflection and epiphanies they had to share with fellow creatives.
For more about NaNoWriMo and the hosts’ book, head to these links:
National Novel Writing Month, AKA NaNoWriMo: https://nanowrimo.org/
Finders Keepers: A Practical Approach to Find and Keep Your Writing Critique Partner: https://www.logosandmythospress.com/finders-keepers
Subscribe to the QWERTY’s monthly newsletter (be sure to click the box next to “opt in to receive news and updates” and check your spam for the confirmation email): https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z9f1z5
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qwertywritinglife
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qwertywritinglife/
Intro music created and performed by Brent Smith.
Continue this week’s chat via email at qwertywritinglife [at] gmail [dot] com. For more information about the QWERTYs, the show and their writing craft book series, head over to https://qwertywritinglife.com. Subscribe in your favorite podcast portal. Or, if you’d rather see their grinning faces, ring the bell on their YouTube channel. Please share our podcast with your friends, too! For more about Mea and her writing, visit storyswell.net. Joy and her details can be found at joyerancatore.com.
Monday Oct 31, 2022
How to Hug an Elephant … Creatively Speaking
Monday Oct 31, 2022
Monday Oct 31, 2022
Authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith decide to break it down and hug their elephant project … one small part at a time!
What projects are overwhelming you with their size today? Perhaps you can take the practical tips in this episode to hug your own gentle giant!
For more about the books mentioned in the show, here are the links:
Mea’s book, Grief Like a River: https://storyswell.net/books
Finders Keepers: A Practical Approach to Find and Keep Your Writing Critique Partner: https://www.logosandmythospress.com/finders-keepers
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter (be sure to click the box next to “opt in to receive news and updates” and check your spam for the confirmation email): https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z9f1z5
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qwertywritinglife
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qwertywritinglife/
Intro music created and performed by Brent Smith.
Continue this week’s chat via email at qwertywritinglife [at] gmail [dot] com. For more information about us, the show and our writing craft book series, head over to https://qwertywritinglife.com. Subscribe in your favorite podcast portal. Or, if you’d rather see our grinning faces, ring the bell on our YouTube channel. Please share our podcast with your friends, too! For more about Mea and her writing, visit storyswell.net. Joy and her details can be found at joyerancatore.com.