Writing Is Hard Work

Follow Writing Is Hard Work
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

This is a podcast for the hard working independent writer. Join Roger Colby as he shares his years of experience writing and publishing independent science fiction novels, interviews local independent authors, and answers listener questions on air about writing and publishing topics. Become a supp…

Roger Colby


    • Apr 5, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 20m AVG DURATION
    • 20 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Writing Is Hard Work with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Writing Is Hard Work

    12 Things I've Learned In 12 Years of Indie Writing

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2021 33:04


    Are you new to the independent author game? Are you an old salt? On this 12th anniversary of my first self-published novel, I thought I'd take the time to list twelve things I've learned throughout this process. I hope they are some things that will save you a lot of time and money. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writing-is-hard-work/support

    A Turning Point

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2021 10:05


    Have you ever been writing a work in progress and hear the call to write something else right away? What about writing outside your genre? Currently I've had an epiphany and I'd like to share it with you on this very short episode. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writing-is-hard-work/support

    Author Ian Primeaux

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2021 28:43


    I was honored to interview author Ian Primeaux about his new book Emi and discuss with him about his writing process, how he goes about editing his work and who inspires him. You can find his book HERE! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writing-is-hard-work/support

    Author Erik Buchanan

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2021 39:33


    I had the privilege to interview the amazing and very knowledgeable Erik Buchanan this week. He was delightful and very helpful. This is one of those podcast episodes you shouldn't skip, as his advice is very informative and necessary in this game of being your own publisher. We talk writing process, marketing, and various other indie publisher topics. You shouldn't stop there, though, because he's written a few books. His latest, The Trials of Abyowith is a page turner for sure, and you can get it FOR FREE by going to his website and signing up on the mailing list. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writing-is-hard-work/support

    Jason Meuschke - Author of "Nine Mile Bridge" and "A Novel Idea"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2021 62:51


    On this episode I had the pleasure of interviewing Jason Meuschke (pronounced "my-ski") about his new book "A Novel Idea" and just about the writing process. Jason and I go way back, as he was, and still is, a fan of my old podcast "Fanboys on Fiction" so many years ago. Jason has been on a long journey with writing, and we discuss everything from coming up with a great story to creating characters and book marketing. CLICK HERE to go to Jason's website where you can find out all about him, his books, and his love of sports fishing. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writing-is-hard-work/support

    What Makes a Great Story with Trey Cabler

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2021 33:58


    I was able to sit down and interview my former student teacher about story. What you have in this podcast is two English teachers who have studied fiction for most of our lives providing observations about what makes a great story. Trey Cabler also has a wonderful podcast called "Teacher's Pet" where he interviews average teachers about their thoughts on the state of education in the United States. You should check it out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writing-is-hard-work/support

    Creating Quirky Characters

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2021 17:04


    What are the ingredients for compelling and interesting characters? How do you create characters that are not cliche or which follow overused tropes? Tune in to this episode where I give you some tips about creating characters with interesting quirks which cause readers to hang on to them. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writing-is-hard-work/support

    5 Ways to Break Writer's Block

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2021 11:54


    In this episode I discuss how I break writer's block, one of the worst problems a writer can face. I also touch on a 6th method not discussed on my latest blog post. You can check out a host of blog posts about writing on my blog "Writing Is Hard Work", found at my website: http://www.rogerdcolby.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writing-is-hard-work/support

    I'm Back! Planning with Mind Node

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2021 5:16


    I am back after a long hiatus. I know. It's been a year. Hopefully I will be recording weekly podcasts from here on out. I talk specifically about a planning and mind-mapping software I use called "Mind Node". It helps me plan out novels like the one I'm working on right now. You can find it in the App store or the Google Play store. Find my article on this subject here: https://rogerdcolby.medium.com/why-i-use-mind-node-for-planning-writing-projects-85912fe369ae --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writing-is-hard-work/support

    Final Draft Unboxing

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2018 9:05


    I broke down and bought "Final Draft 11". This will be the first in a series of podcasts chronicling my journey as a first-time screenwriter using the program. I purchased it using educator pricing (thank God) and am working on a screenplay to enter in a contest in April of 2019. In this episode I break down the basics of the program and discuss the reasons you should use Final Draft if you are going to get noticed as a screenwriter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writing-is-hard-work/support

    Writers and Social Media

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2018 16:48


    After a long hiatus, I've returned to talk about social media, specifically Facebook and why I no longer use it. I discuss many other forms of social media and how the writer can use them to their advantage. I discuss botometer (https://botometer.iuni.iu.edu/#!/) and how you can use this simple tool to remove bots from your Twitter followers. I also talk about my friend Jerry Bennett and how he's used social media to build a following that has worked to his advantage. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writing-is-hard-work/support

    Story Structure

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2018 7:15


    On this episode I talk about submitting to Pitch Wars and also about what screenwriting can teach us about story structure when writing a novel. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writing-is-hard-work/support

    Writer Stephen McMurtrey!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2018 24:21


    I interviewed Stephen McMurtrey over the phone and boy did we have a great conversation! We talked about writing comic book scripts for Okie Comics Magazine, writing spec scripts vs shooting scripts (screenplays) and how we are both entering our submissions on 8/29 for Pitch Wars. Good luck to us both! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writing-is-hard-work/support

    An Idea About Screenwriting

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2018 5:44


    This episode is really just a primer for the upcoming blog post about a direction my writing will be taking soon. The blog post hits my website on Tuesday 8/14. I hope some of you out there are thinking the same thing. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writing-is-hard-work/support

    The Epistolary Novel

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2018 11:23


    I'm working on an epistolary novel, and I dish all the good tips I've discovered about writing in this format. How do you compile all of the "real-world" documents into a readable text that a reader can follow easily and not get bogged down. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writing-is-hard-work/support

    What Makes a Great Writer?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2018 7:17


    Like I'm an expert, but as a student of great literature and a teacher of great literature I can tell you what makes our writing that much more amazing. Tune in for my four tips to helping you go beyond good to great. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writing-is-hard-work/support

    Lessons from Fahrenheit 451

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2018 12:17


    I can't think of a better book to discuss at this time in our history than the prophetic "Fahrenheit 451". I spend some time discussing it, but mainly I discuss the fount of writing advice found in the pages of the afterward Bradbury wrote some 30 years after it was first published. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writing-is-hard-work/support

    Writer Guest: Myloe Yeager

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2018 19:53


    Sometimes I will interview up-and-coming artists on this show and today is a real treat. I had the privilege of interviewing Myloe Yeager. She's a writer in my writing group, Rose Rock Writers. She's been writing for some time and is working on a thrilling crime novel currently. Listen as she shares her writing advice, experiences and how she is currently trying to market herself. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writing-is-hard-work/support

    Screenwriting With Michael Dean

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2018 30:01


    I was able to sit down with screenwriter and fellow member of the Rose Rock Writers Group to talk screenwriting. Michael Dean is a teacher like me (he teaches science) but like me he is also working on a writing career. Mike had some great advice! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writing-is-hard-work/support

    Tolkien's 10 Tips for Writers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2018 13:44


    In this first episode Roger discusses the 10 writing tips he gleaned from J.R.R. Tolkien's letters. He originally researched and wrote the tips back in April of 2012, but he wanted to talk further about each one and explain the context of each in detail. Tune in for more podcasts where Roger will offer writing tips, interview local authors and generally provide help for writers who have not yet quit their day-job. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writing-is-hard-work/support

    Claim Writing Is Hard Work

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel