Carrot & Stick: Fighting Back Against Writer’s Block (with Lizzy and Hazel)

OmmWriter! Scrivener! Hemingway! Evernote! Notion! Lizzy and Hazel do a deep dive into the internet’s favorite writing apps. Plus: an adorable show on Japanese Netflix and an unusual way to tackle your TBR pile.

Does a cleaner workstation lead to better focus and more productivity? Lizzy (Team Messy) and Hazel (Team Tidy) cut through their clutter and dig up the research to find the answer. Also this episode: The Five Weirdest Things on Lizzy’s Desk.

Set out write roughr drafts, aka Lizzy and Hazel test a daunting new writing method that gets words on the page, but sets up for more work down the line. Also, is podcast block real? Is freelance more conducive to writing? Our hosts reflect on the last few months.

Lizzy and Hazel set aside their word processors for a week and research the merits of good ‘ole pen and paper. Plus, it’s time to gush (in the case of Hazel’s fountain pen, literally) about dazzling writing utensils, the movie-pitching card game Pitchstorm, and the bizarre first challenge of 2019.

Limited to a mere 100-300 words, Lizzy and Hazel see if writing microfiction leads to macro rewards. Also this episode: a controversial weekly favorite continues to “haunt” our hosts, while a brand new blank notebook leads into next week’s exciting challenge.

After installing apps RescueTime and Moment, Lizzy and Hazel take a hard look at the data and their digital habits. Plus, some rare nonfiction weekly favorites and an introduction to drabbles and “soft goals.”

Ten minutes of reading, writing, ideating, talking, exercising, and regrouping goes a long way as Lizzy and Hazel check each box of Shaunta Grimes’ W.R.I.T.E.R. Framework. Plus, inspiring museum exhibits, re-launch parties, and the intro to an Orwellian challenge for next week.

In their triumphant return, Lizzy & Hazel look back at what stuck and what stunk from Season 1 after a year of writing for video games, applying to MFA programs, and searching for a writing tribe. Plus, 8-month-ly-favorites, and the intro to the first challenge of Season 2: the W.R.I.T.E.R. Framework. Intro & Outro Music: "You Belong" by Slime Girls. Additional Music: Robert Mai.

After several weeks of grueling writing challenges, Lizzy and Hazel kick back and discuss which pieces of advice were most effective and why. Congratulations and thank you to the listeners who joined us on this inaugural writing journey, you are all creative rockstars.  Music: "You Belong" by Slime Girls

With drinks in hand, Lizzy and Hazel discuss this intoxicating challenge and whether alcohol leads to writing distraction or word wizardry. Plus: a whole host of fanfiction and female-driven favorites for the long, dark nights ahead. Music: "You Belong" by Slime Girls

Are cute stickers their own reward? Lizzy and Hazel explore the positives and pitfalls of this fun motivational technique and outline some basic rules for their potentially hilarious upcoming challenge: writing drunk.

Lizzy and Hazel give a big thumbs down to this week’s challenge, and delve into why this is such a common piece of writing advice. Then it’s time to prepare for the next incentive-based challenge while facing query rejection and Halloweekend prep.

Following Julia Cameron’s technique, Lizzy and Hazel write three pages of stream of consciousness writing every morning, and attempt to “clarify, comfort, and cajole,“ their way into writing success! Plus: a questionable pet-related writing exercise, and some weekly fave gems!

Do opposites attract… creative inspiration? This week, Lizzy and Hazel try branching out by writing material outside of their normal genre, age range, tone, and format, and discuss next week’s soothing challenge: Morning Pages.

Lizzy and Hazel set their tomato timers for 25 minutes of writing followed by 5-minute breaks and declare pomodoros “Certified Fresh.” Plus: Hazel invents the Cherry Tomato Method, and we both dive into defining how to write an “opposite genre” piece.

Often praised, yet potentially disastrous for productivity, Lizzy and Hazel get real about buddy writing, and revisit Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 Hour rule. Meanwhile, the clock is already ticking down to next week's challenge, the Pomodoro Technique.

Despite a chaotic week, we’ve polished our playlists and are ready to dance--erm, write! Following a piece of advice from author M. Kirin, Lizzy and Hazel listen to one energizing song a day, and then write in complete and total silence. Next week: buddy writing!

This week, Lizzy and Hazel delete all of their social media apps. That means no more Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Goodreads, or Instagram--and the results are divisive. Plus: Weekly faves, reading cryptic iPhone notes, and preparing to listen to pump up jams next week.

Do positive affirmations actually work? After one week of staring into the mirror and repeating, “I am a writer,” Lizzy and Hazel discuss the benefits and pitfalls of this easy, low-stakes habit. Plus: What’s inspiring us this week, and an intro to next week’s dreaded challenge… deleting all of our social media apps.

An introduction to Carrot & Stick, a writing podcast where Lizzy & Hazel try out weird writing advice from the internet and see if it actually works! We set out to begin the first week’s challenge: Positive Affirmations.