The Writer Shed

The Writer Shed podcast has had a good run. More than 50 episodes, thousands of downloads, thousands of listeners, great discussions on writing, music, creativity, and the creative life. During the two years of its existence it has steadily grown listenership and we thank you for all your support. Like any good thing, and all things, The Writer Shed podcast must also come to end, Join host David W. Berner for the final goodbye. All episodes will remain available for as long as you wish to listen. 

The novella, THE ISLANDER is now out in the world.  Writer Shed Podcast host and author David W. Berner reads from his new novel. A project linked to Outpost19 Books' The Shortish Project, an initiative championing the tradition of the short novel.  David wants to know: Would you like the audiobook to be available? 

This is the fourth and final installment of THE SCHOOL OF JOYFUL WRITING, a podcast writing workshop series from THE WRITER SHED podcast that focuses on the joyful process of telling stories, how to find what it is your heart is telling you to write. The four-part series is conducted by Writer Shed host, David W. Berner who has taught writing and conducted workshops for more than 20 years. You can find more at www.davidwberner.com.In this installment: Committing to a practice and a process for writing. 

This is the third installment of THE SCHOOL OF JOYFUL WRITING, a podcast writing workshop series that focuses on the joyful process of telling stories, how to find what it is your heart is telling you to write. The four-part series is conducted by Writer Shed host, David W. Berner who has taught writing and conducted workshops for more than 20 years. You can find more at www.davidwberner.com.In this installment: Finding out what you want to write. 

This is the second installment of THE SCHOOL OF JOYFUL WRITING, a podcast writing workshop series that focuses on the joyful process of telling stories, how to find the way to a creative life, and how to meet your writing goals. The four-part series is conducted by Writer Shed host, David W. Berner who has taught writing and conducted workshops for more than 20 years. You can find more at www.davidwberner.com.In this installment: Discovering a writing practice. 

This is the first installment of THE SCHOOL OF JOYFUL WRITING, a podcast writing workshop series that focuses on the joyful process of telling stories, how to find your way to a creative life, and how to meet your writing goals. The four-part series is conducted by Writer Shed host, David W. Berner who has taught writing and conducted workshops for more than 20 years. You can find more at www.davidwberner.com.

Writers and editors Rick Kaempfer, and Caroline Malloy, and writer and librarian Brian Johnston join Writer Shed Podcast host, David W. Berner to talk about writerly goals for 2023. Resolutions that all writers and creatives will find inspiring. 

Writers Megan Wheless and Rick Reiss sit down with Writer Shed Podcast host David W. Berner to talk about the books they loved this past year and want to share with you. 

After listeners asked about discussing his own works, Writer Shed Podcast host David W. Berner tells a little bit about each of his books and what might make for a great holiday gift this year.

Writer Barbara Monier has been writing since she picked up crayons as a kid. Her latest novel, The Reading is now available, a beautifully written story of the intertwining of an artistic life with a real life. Writer Shed Podcast host David W. Berner speaks with Barbara about her new book, her process, and her self-described "bad poetry."  

Writer Shed Podcast host David W. Berner has written several memoirs, one named a Book of the Year by the Chicago Writers Association. Others have won numerous other awards. He also taught writing at the university level and currently teaches memoir classes at Gotham Writers of New York. In this podcast, by popular demand, listeners have asked David to give a short, simple introductory lesson on the ways of a memoir. Are you thinking about writing one? This is the podcast to listen to. 

The Beat Museum in San Francisco has been on the road for several months carrying with it the spirit of The Beats into towns all over America on this 100th anniversary year of Jack Kerouac's birth. Jerry joins Writer Shed Podcast host David W. Berner from Kerouac's hometown. 

Women write. And women read. And this should be celebrated. But do we have to compartmentalize art? Doesn't saying this is a "woman's book" limit our artistic scope? Author and member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association, Maggie Smith joins Writer Shed Podcast host David w. Berner to discuss women's writing and the act of categorizing art. 

Chicago has a Literary Hall of Fame. Why? What's its purpose? Why is this important? The founder of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, Donald Evans has the answers to these questions and they are far deeper than simply honoring great writers. He joins Writer Shed Podcast host David W. Berner to talk about it.

What do writers do to accomplish their work? In essence, what is their process? Write on a typewriter or longhand? Write at night? Early morning? Outline? Seat of pants? Three writers—Anne Terpstra, Floyd Sullivan, and Christine DeSmet—join Writer Shed Podcast host David w. Berner to discuss their process and offer suggestions to authors of all skills about how writers get their work done. 

Can writing be an act of mindfulness? If you consider it as a process of mediative practice, it certainly can. But how do you do it? Where do you begin? Writer and educator Lauren Krauze is the author of an article in Tricycle about writing and mindfulness, and speaks with The Writer Shed host David W. Berner on how to use writing as a way to find your way. 

We all know people who say, "I don't read." Are the numbers of readers dwindling? To better to know than the proprietor of an indy bookstore. The Writer Shed host David W. Berner checks in with Arlan Hess, the former educator and now owner of City Books in Pittsburgh, PA. She should have the answers, right?  

Lisa Cordileone and Brian Plocharczyk are successful and talented voiceover artists who know more than a thing or two about producing and performing audiobooks. They join Writer Shed Podcast host David W. Berner to talk about how authors and small publishers can produce their work in audio. 

When do you say, "That's not for me?" Writing coach and Medium writer Akshay Gajria thinks more would-be writers should know what they're really getting into when they take on the work of writing a manuscript. The writing process takes time, perseverance, and commitment beyond what most are willing to accept. And then, too, there's all that collateral damage. Akshay joins Writer Shed Podcast host David W. Berner on this edition.

Leland Cheuk has quite a story to tell. He has not only authored the collection LETTERS FROM DINOSAURS, and the novels THE MISADVENTURES OF SULLIVER PONG  and NO GOOD VERY BAD ASIAN , he also runs the small indie press  7.13 BOOKS , a publishing entity that gets its name from one of the most difficult times in Leland's  life. He has a lot to say about independent publishing, the literary world in America, and what makes for a good story. Leland joins Writer Shed Podcast host David W. Berner for a conversation about it all. 

A fun and unique celebration of the famed Irish writer and author of Ulysses, James Joyce. June 16th, the novel the day takes place, is commemorated around the world and especially in Dublin as Bloomsday, named after the novel's protagonist, Leopold Bloom. And in Chicago, one of the world's most literary cities, a Bloomsday celebration  can take on very special meaning. Writer Shed Podcast host David W. Berner speaks with  J.B. Pariah and Jeff Helgeson — two of the men behind the 2022 Bloomsday in Chicago. 

Christine Sneed knows how to write. She's accomplished, smart, and talented. But sometimes writing is hard, a struggle, and it doesn't pay much. Still, she couldn't imagine doing anything else. In fact, she's done again what she's done before—published another book, a unique and interesting story told through office memos. Please Be Advised is her fifth book and its brilliant, funny, and full of characters many of us will quickly recognize from all those many office emails flooding our inbox.. Christine Sneed joins WRITER SHED PODCAST host David W. Berner in episode 32. 

Author and Substack publisher Jeremy Anderberg has a lot to say about today's reader, the books that matter, and finding online resources for readers and writers. Jeremy is the brains behind "Read More Books," a Substack site, newsletter, and the large group book club called The Big Read. He joins Writer Shed Podcast host David W. Berner to talk about what his newsletter and publication can do for you, and the book culture's move online.

Author and philosophy professor Richard Polt believes in the typewriter, its beauty, its mechanical genius, and its romantic image of a creative life. His book The Typewriter Revolution is an ode to a movement that returns us to the machine on which so many great words of literature and song have been formed. He speaks with Writer Shed Podcast host David W. Berner about why the typewriter remains a symbol of creativity and a tool of the imagination.  

The indie bookstore had a big revival a few years ago. Then the pandemic. But there are signs the indie world is rebalancing, reshaping, and resurgent. Why? What is the state of the great American bookstore? Arlan Hess of City Books in Pittsburgh joins Writer Shed Podcast host, David W. Berner to talk about how the indie bookstore continues to stand tall and why the future still looks bright. 

Narrative nonfiction is an enormously viable place for storytelling. And writer Arnie Bernstein knows this genre well.  He has written acclaimed books on history's forgotten stories. Arnie joins Writer Shed Podcast host David W. Berner to talk about the keys to great nonfiction writing, his love of research, and his affinity for the typewriter. 

Author and psychotherapist Martin Wells believes all of us can benefit from "letting go" of the ego. He writes about this in his three books, and especially so in the book No One Is Playing, The Essence of Mindfulness in Golf and in Life.  Writer Shed Podcast host David W. Berner speaks with Martin about the game of golf, and how the practice of mindfulness fits into sport, life, and the creative process, especially writing. 

New York-based recording artist Mike Errico knows a lot about songwriting. In fact, he teaches the process, and now he's written a book: Music, Lyrics, and Life: A Field Guide for the Advancing Songwriter. It's been called a "deep dive" into this mysterious creative outlet. In this episode of The Writer Shed Podcast, Mike speaks with host David W. Berner about how songs take shape, how to mine your own emotions for ideas, and tries to answer the question: What's the best song ever written?   

Writer Melanie Holmes is tired. She has put out three books in three years. She's working promotion for them all. And at the same time trying to create more work. The treadmill just keeps on rolling. But she's realized she has to give it all a rest. Why? And more importantly how?  Melanie joins WRITER SHED PODCAST host, David W. Berner to talk about writer burnout and how to douse the flames that put us in harms way. 

Serialized fiction online. Installment fiction is not a new idea, but it is available on new platforms, and Writer Shed Podcast host David W. Berner is jumping into the experiment with his new novel RAINBOW MAN.  After plenty of research and a recent discussion on the podcast with novelist Elle Griffin (Dec. 1, 2021 edition), David is currently offering the novel in installments, a chapter each week on Substack, where many writers —Patti Smith, Salman Rushdie, and others—are finding readers. In this edition of the WSP, the audio versions of chapter 1 and 2 of RAINBOW MAN.

What did you read this past year that you will never forget? What book shook you to the core? What book was the most impactful, memorable? In this episode of The Writer Shed Podcast, three board members from the Chicago Writers Association offer their choices for "reads of the year," books they believe should be shared among all who love a good story. Randy Richardson, Samantha Hoffman and Sandra Colbert join host David W. Berner to discuss the 2021 reads that will linger long after 2022 arrives. 

The fantasy genre is enormous, wildly popular, and growing. Fantasy or speculative fiction is not only being devoured by readers, it is a genre now filled with creative and imaginative writers. One of them is bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg. She joins WRITER SHED PODCAST host, David W. Berner to talk about her new book Star Mother, her creative process, and the future of fantasy.

Serializing a novel is not new. It's actually old. Charles Dickens did it. So did many others. What's different today is the platform we're using and the way readers discover and select the work. The one platform that's getting the most attention is SUBSTACK. Writers like Salman Rushdie and Chuck Palahniuk are on SUBSTACK with serialized fiction,  and more are coming.  Join Writer Shed Podcast host David W. Berner for a discuss with novelist Elle Griffin about her journey with serializing her American Gothic novel.

The memoir has taken many forms. Once seen as the genre of celebrities and statesman, written and shaped by ghostwriters, is now a vehicle for the stories of us all. What is the state of the modern memoir? Writer Shed Podcast host, David W. Berner speaks with three memoirists who have embraced the genre—somewhat reluctantly—but in unique and maybe unexpected ways. Links to their works are below. Listen in to what they have to say about the modern personal storyteller. Like a Dog by Vincent FranconeAll the Answers by Michael KuppermanCome Home, Indio by Jim Terry

One of the biggest book-buying seasons is upon us. And this year, unlike last,  most bookstores will have the doors open to customers Good news! But who is buying and what? What is the reader looking for and why? Arlan Hess, the proprietor of City Books in Pittsburgh knows the reader like few others. She joins Writer Shed Podcast host David W. Berner with another of our occasional  check-ins on the reader and the the health of the indie bookstore. City Book Pittsburgh on Instagram

Cafe society, legendary artist hangouts—these are the places for imagination, writing,  contemplation, and conversation. They have inspired for centuries all over the world.. But what is it that makes a great literary café? Is it in the DNA? WRITER SHED PODCAST host, David W. Berner, speaks with the owners of two respected and legendary creative cafes — Chicago's Lula Cafe and New York City's Caffe Reggio—about the beauty of the artist's cafe where, as they say in Vienna, "time and space are consumed, but only coffee is on the bill."  

Writer Shed Stories, Vol. 3: Second Thoughts  will be published October 15, 2021. In this edition of The Writer Shed Podcast, some of the contributing writers read portions of their prose and poetry. Listen to hear the words come alive! This is part of our ongoing series to promote the creative process and to offer other platforms for writing. Think of it as an appetizer for the big meal coming when Writer Shed Stories Vol. 3 is released.

Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist is one of the biggest selling books in literary history. But reading his great fable of inner enlightenment is only part of the journey. Author Colm Holland delves into the real meaning of Coelho's story in the pages of his own bestselling book, The Secret of The Alchemist  and joins Writer Shed Podcast host David W. Berner in conversation about his connection to Coelho, alchemy, and how you can learn from it all. 

The final days of summer deserve the ultimate American road trip: Three road journeys to the best indie bookstores and literary sites in California, Texas, and New England. Award-winning travel writer Bill Fink talks about his recent travelogue in Drive magazine on a trio of literary road trips, the best quirky bookstores, and a book lover's treasures he discovered along the way. Join Bill and Writer Shed Podcast host David W. Berner  for a fun discussion about taking to the open road to discover literary gems.

The reader is morphing all the time, shifting from genre to genre, sometimes directly in step with the mood of society. And sometimes to escape it. With a tumultuous 2020 election season, a global pandemic, and cultural  strife, where has the reader been and where is he going? Arlan Hess, the proprietor of City Books in Pittsburgh knows the reader like few others. She joins Writer Shed Podcast host David W. Berner to talk about what people are reading now, why they are reading it, and the future of the bookstore and the book lover. City Book Pittsburgh on Instagram

Writing episodic television and telefilms? It must be . . . like Hollywood! Writer Shed Podcast host, David W. Berner speaks with Gary Goldstein, writer and author of the new novel The Last Birthday Party about writing movies and plays and how a television script writer takes those experiences to his desk to write a novel. Gary will be taking part in a free virtual book event at Chicago's The Book Cellar on August 18, 2021. 

Is a book really only as good as its cover? Some might say so. A cover can pull a reader closer or turn them away. What makes a good cover? What goes into the process? Joining Writer Shed Podcast host, David W. Berner is Ian Koviak, one of the partners behind The Book Designers based in Oregon and California. Ian discusses the differences between working with indie authors and the big house publishers, he reveals the secrets of a good design, and waxes nostalgic about rock star book designers of the past. 

Hail, hail the indie bookstore! We love them. We support them. And then Covid. What now? Can we save them? Writer Shed host David W. Berner speaks with Suzy Takacs, the owner of one the country's most-loved indie bookstores, The Book Cellar.  From her perspective, what is the current health of the iconic American bookshop?  

It's an age old question: What is good art? A question that leads to more questions: What is bad art? Is it art if it disgusts you? Upset you? Repulses you? Many say art should always provoke. Writer, podcaster, and author of the book Any Day You Can Die: The Medellin Story, Thommy Waite joins Writer Shed host David W. Berner to discuss the definition of art and how "place" in a story can define a work's personality, especially an edgy one. You can find more about Thommy Waite at www.thommywaite.com 

In the ongoing series, writers who have been published in WRITER SHED STORIES read portions of their work, as we bring their words off the page and into your ears. WRITER SHED STORIES is a publication from Writer Shed Press. It is an annual journal of fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry. We welcome your submissions. Volume 3 will be published in the fall 2021. Submissions are open through July 15th at www.writershedpress.com.

What does it mean to live an artistic life? What draws us to paint, sculpt, write, play music, dance? THE WRITER SHED host David W. Berner speaks with singer/songwriter, poet, and photographer Jenny Bienemann, an artist in every aspect of the word. She offers insight into why being an artist at any level is about the art of becoming. 

What could be better than to have time to yourself to write and create? That's what a writing residency or retreat is all about. THE WRITER SHED host David W. Berner speaks with Janna Benge of The Jack Kerouac Project on how residencies work and what they can do for you as a writer. 

Writers Nick Young, Bill Mathis, and Veryan Williams-Wynn share their writing in audio, writings from Writer Shed Stories. This podcast is the first of a duo of podcasts highlighting the stories of writers who have given their work a new and fresh platform.  THE WRITER SHED host David W. Berner shares the beauty of a good story, told through the speaking voice of the writer. You can find more stories at Writer Shed Stories. 

Susanne Lakin is a novelist and writing coach who works with writers of all genres who want to get their stories out to the world. What's the one thing keeping them from reaching that goals? You may be surprised. THE WRITER SHED host David W. Berner speaks with Susanne about how to get your manuscript in the best shape it can be. 

Courtney Symons is a writer and a poet. Her day job is write for Shopify, but she's discovered haiku and found a new way to express and to find the poetry in her words. THE WRITER SHED host David W. Berner explores how a simple poem can bring a new beauty to your prose. 

Devin Arrigo is an athlete and a personal growth expert. Becoming a writer came unexpectedly.  It happened when he decided to open up and tell the messy personal stories, the hardest ones to write.  In this episode, THE WRITER SHED host David W. Berner explores how those of us in other disciplines can find our true voice in writing.