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Artwork for QWERTY: A Podcast for Writers on How to Live the Writing Life

QWERTY: A Podcast for Writers on How to Live the Writing Life

Marion Roach Smith
Memoir Writing
Grief
Writing Process
Memoir
Motherhood
Family Dynamics
Writing
Holocaust
Narrative Structure
Khadijah Vanbrackle
Diversity In Literature
Mental Illness
Graphic Memoir
Language
Shanghailanders
Birding
Mental Health
Conservation
BIPOC Inclusivity In Birding
LGBTQIA Inclusivity In Birding

Welcome to Qwerty, the podcast for writers on how to live the writing life. Host Marion Roach Smith interviews the best writers in all genres to discover their process. Qwerty is by, about and for writers and explores the real challenges of writing and the steps anyone can take to become a better storyteller. Listen in for writing tips, publishing advice and encouragement on how to live the writin... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes169Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
How ToBooksEducationArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for QWERTY: A Podcast for Writers on How to Live the Writing Life

Latest Episodes

Hilary Plattner is a writer of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Her debut memoir, The Momma Puzzle, was shortlisted for the Santa Fe Writers Project Literary Awards, and named a finalist for the Wandering Aengus and Trail to Table Book Awards. She ho... more

Jed Alexander is the author of The Fairy Tale Color Collection, a series of children’s books that begins with the wordless 2018 book Red, the follow-up 2022 book, Gold, and the third book in that series, Olive. His clients have included SpongeBob Com... more

Davin Malasarn is a writer an author whose work has appeared in The Los Angeles Review, Rosebud, Opium Magazine, SmokeLong Quarterly and other journals in print and online. His debut novel, The Outer Country, is just out from One World/Random House. ... more

Writer and author Scott Eden is an investigative reporter whose work has focused on crime, corruption, injustice, business, science, technology, and the dark side of sports. His work has appeared in Wired, GQ, ESPN The Magazine, The Atavist Inc., and... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Jed Alexander
Author and illustrator of The Fairy Tale Color Collection and The Black Market
Union Square Kids, The Fairy Tale Color Collection series
Episode: Ep. 167 Jed Alexander
Davin Malasarn
Writer and author of The Outer Country
Author, The Outer Country; One World Random House
Episode: Ep. 166 Davin Malasarn
Scott Eden
Investigative reporter and author
Independent journalist / Author
Episode: Ep. 165 Scott Eden
Marion Winik
Author and memoirist; professor at the University of Baltimore; longtime NPR contributor
University of Baltimore
Episode: Ep. 164 Marion Winik
Huda Al-Marashi
Writer for children and adults; co-author of Grounded; author of First Comes Marriage; founder/participant in Muslim Storytellers programs
Penguin Young Readers (Hail Miriam), Grounded publisher Abrams
Episode: Ep. 163 Huda Al-Marashi
Matti Friedman
Award-winning journalist and author, former AP correspondent
Freelance, writing from Israel for The Free Press
Episode: Ep. 162 Matti Friedman
Shelley Noble
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author focused on historical fiction and women's history
Author
Episode: Ep. 161 Shelley Noble
Antonio Michael Downing
Memorist, novelist, children's author, and musician
Simon & Schuster (Black Cherokee)
Episode: Ep. 160 Antonio Michael Downing
Ruchin Kansal
A professor who advises companies on transformation.
Seton Hall and Brown
Episode: Ep. 159 The Kansals

Host

Marion Roach Smith
Host of the interview show; guides conversations with writers about craft and the writing life

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 170 ratings
  • The pick of the pods

    Practical?

    Yes.

    Inspiring?

    Absolutely. Fascinating?

    Of course it is.

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Laurielegit
    Australia9 months ago
  • Qwerty is awesome

    I love listening to the podcasts. I’m an emerging writer and often hear wonderful tips and advice to advance my writing journey. I even listen to the Gardening podcast now since I heard Marion’s sister on Qwerty.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Emerging writer
    Canada10 months ago
  • warm personality

    i love marion roach smith’s voice, questions and (graphic) memoirs, what a great theme for a podcast! i wish the Netherlands would catch up with other countries to give more spotlight to graphic memoir books - because we love them and are ready for them, as well as background from its makers. xox chanti colorintact

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ChantiBhanti
    Netherlands10 months ago
  • The best interviewer

    Marion Roach Smith is a no nonsense pro in every sense of the word. She does indepth homework on every single person she interviews, poses relevant and thoughtful questions, digs deep for answers and conversations that enlighten listeners, and has a delightful sense of humour. Every episode is a treat!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CarmenRK
    Canadaa year ago
  • New and loving it

    I just took my first class with Marion this week so I’m diving headlong into the podcast now. Every one I’ve listened to has given me strength, fresh ideas, and a feeling of camaraderie. Well done!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lunagirl75
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show is described as consistently high-quality, with engaging interviews that balance craft and life as a writer.
Fans highlight the motivational and educational value for writers at all levels.
Listeners praise the host's preparation and depth of questions, noting deep, actionable insights.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep. 165 Scott Eden
Q: What makes a lead effective and memorable in your view?
Leads should set up the journey, establish mood, and place the reader in a scene of peril or curiosity, with the lead potentially expanding beyond a single paragraph into chapters or longer sections.
Ep. 165 Scott Eden
Q: What do you read while you're writing to influence your style or mood?
He reads in the mode of the piece he wants to write, drawing inspiration from writers like Tom Wolfe and Richard Ben Kramer to shape tone and cadence while maintaining originality.
Ep. 165 Scott Eden
Q: How do you define narrative nonfiction and balance fact with storytelling?
He argues for a rigorous structure of fact married to storytelling techniques, noting the importance of not fudging or fabricating and of correct attributions and checks.
Ep. 165 Scott Eden
Q: What tips can you give to the writers listening about coming up with the kind of opener that invites readers to ride with you?
He emphasizes putting characters in peril with high stakes and using a journey-like lead that reveals the scope of the story over time.
Ep. 165 Scott Eden
Q: So let's just start with your journalism background and how you got started as a freelance writer.
Scott explains his path from Dow Jones to freelancing, highlighting the desire to do long-form pieces and how his early experiences shaped his approach to storytelling.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on writers and the craft of storytelling, featuring in-depth conversations with authors across fiction, memoir, journalism, and children's literature. Episodes emphasize writing process, publishing realities, and practical craft strategies—often revealing how guests build narratives, manage interviews, and navigate the publishing world. A notable strength is the host's preparation and thoughtful questioning, which consistently surface concrete tips, behind-the-scenes industry insights, and motivation for aspiring writers. The format tends to balance craft technique with personal storytelling, making it useful for both new writers and seasoned authors seeking career guidance and inspiration.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Writers on Writing
2. The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
3. The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers
4. Poetry Unbound
5. We Can Do Hard Things

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 7 years ago and published 169 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Jed Alexander
2. Davin Malasarn
3. Scott Eden
4. Marion Winik
5. Huda Al-Marashi
6. Matti Friedman
7. Shelley Noble
8. Antonio Michael Downing

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