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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
Memoir
Writing Process
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 monthlyEpisodes176Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsEducationHow To

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

Latest Episodes

Virginia Eubanks is an investigative journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Harper’s Magazine, The Guardian, Nature, and Scientific American. She is the author of the award-winning book Automating Inequality: How High-Tech... more

Cara Benson's writing has been published in The New York Times, Boston Review, Orion Magazine, Sierra Magazine, The Brooklyn Rail, Terrain, and selected for Best American Poetry. She has received a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship and the ... more

Jessica Walker is a multidisciplinary artist, illustrator, filmmaker, and educator, she is an assistant professor of fine arts at Parsons and has exhibited films, books, and 2D media in solo and group shows in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Bo... more

Hester Kaplan is the author of two story collections, The Edge of Marriage (University of Georgia Press, and Norton), which received The Flannery O’Connor Prize for Short Fiction; and Unravished (Ig Publishing); the novels The Tell (HarperCollins) an... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Virginia Eubanks
Investigative journalist and author of Automating Inequality and A Guide to Open Water Lifesaving
Episode: Ep. 175 Virginia Eubanks
Cara Benson
Author of Arms Full of Birds, memoirist
Health Communications Inc
Episode: Ep. 174 Cara Benson
Jessica Walker
Multidisciplinary artist, illustrator, filmmaker, and educator
Parsons School of Design; author of The Secret Astronomers
Episode: Ep. 173 Jessica Walker
Hester Kaplan
Author of Twice Born, Finding My Father in the Margins of Biography
Author, Catapult
Episode: Ep. 172 Hester Kaplan
Marian Yee
Writer, scholar, and award-winning teacher at Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Episode: Ep. 171 Marian Yee
Rachel Weaver
Writer, author, essayist, memoirist and teacher
West Virginia Press (publisher of Dizzy)
Episode: Ep. 170 Rachel Weaver
Nicole Walker
Author of Processed Meats; editor and professor
University of Georgia Press, Journal Diagram, Northern Arizona University
Episode: Ep. 169 Nicole Walker
Hilary Plattner
Author of The Momma Puzzle; writer of fiction, non-fiction and poetry
Apprentice House Press (publisher)
Episode: Ep. 168 Hillary Plattner
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

Host

Marion Roach Smith
Host of QWERTY, interviewing writers across genres to explore the writing life. Known for deep preparation, thoughtful questioning, and a focus on craft, structure, and reader engagement.

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
    Australiaa year 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
    Canadaa year 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
    Netherlandsa year 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 States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience members often recommend episodes for its actionable insights into drafting and editing.
The show is consistently described as an inspiring, practical resource for writers.
Listeners praise the quality of guests and the depth of conversation.
Listeners appreciate the host's preparation, depth, and sense of humor.
Candid, thoughtful questions that pull out craft details and process.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#179
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#232
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#214
New Zealand/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep. 175 Virginia Eubanks
Q: So what arrangement did you make with Jay in terms of telling his story? What access did he have to the manuscript? And what input did you allow?
Eubanks followed a “no permission, no surprises” approach. Jay chose not to read the manuscript, so a trusted friend read it and discussed it with him. Jay decided to be anonymous, and Eubanks respected that choice.
Ep. 175 Virginia Eubanks
Q: So when did you begin to think there was a story here?
Eubanks began keeping notes in late 2019, after years of cascading system failures and a failed attempt to get her partner inpatient behavioral health support. She used her research and writing skills to understand what was happening and began researching trauma and caregiving.
Ep. 174 Cara Benson
Q: How did you approach the balance between past trauma and present healing in your memoir?
I aimed to avoid gratuitous trauma by ensuring every element serves a purpose in the story's larger concerns—commitment, healing, and the relationship with the natural world—while giving readers moments of respite through nature and companionship.
Ep. 174 Cara Benson
Q: What guided the decision to move around in time rather than tell a linear life story?
The memory of grief and the way life feels circular made me realize that moving through time helps reflect how recurrence and recovery shape a life, while still giving readers a coherent through line.
Ep. 170 Rachel Weaver
Q: How do you think about and teach the idea of putting people in pressure for their writing?
Weaver explains that writers should push characters into situations that create tension but always consider how the reader will interpret the pressure, using driving questions to keep the narrative moving and to ensure every scene adds forward momentum.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

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

A thoughtful interview series that centers on the craft of writing, memoir, and narrative nonfiction across genres. Conversations often explore structure, memory, ethics in writing about loved ones, and the practical steps of developing a writer's life—from revision techniques and momentum to publishing journeys. Notable, the host shapes deep, craft-first discussions with a wide range of guests including memoirists, journalists, and fiction writers, offering actionable tips and philosophical reflections on storytelling. The show stands out for its disciplined, preparation-heavy approach, empathetic interviewing, and a clear focus on helping writers improve their craft and navigate the publishing world.

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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 Creative Penn Podcast For Writers
3. The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
4. 10% Happier with Dan Harris
5. Writer's Routine

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 7 years ago and published 176 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. Virginia Eubanks
2. Cara Benson
3. Jessica Walker
4. Hester Kaplan
5. Marian Yee
6. Rachel Weaver
7. Nicole Walker
8. Hilary Plattner

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