Rephonic
Artwork for Turning to Story

Turning to Story

Turning to Story
Publishing Industry
Writing Craft
Character Development
The Hunger Games
Four Corner Opposition
Feedback
Marketing
Twilight
Storytelling
Big Idea
Worldbuilding
Pixar
Craft Of Writing
Internal Conflict
Critique Partners
Beta Readers
Editing
Deliberate Practice
Mental Health
Pitching

Writing is tough, and the publishing industry is tougher. Authors Lyssa Mia Smith and Anna Mercier have come together to present their most effective defense against the woes of the industry: craft. Join us for weekly in-depth looks at specific craft topics explored through a lens of searching for joy.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes91Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Turning to Story

Latest Episodes

What's the one thing that sticks with readers long after they close the book? The one part of the story where your character proves their mettle? That's the climax! This week, authors Anna Mercier and Lyssa Mia Smith discuss how to make the most of y... more

Does social media actually help you as an author? How do you get your emotional truth as a writer? How the heck do you make time for writing when you're a parent with a full time job? All these questions and more are answered on this week's episode! more

This week, authors Anna Mercier and Lyssa Mia Smith discuss how to revise your manuscript and how your greatest strength is in learning how to revise like a reader. What makes your heart swoon? What makes you long for more? What rips you out of the s... more

This week, we invite Janice Davis, the Thirst Consultant, onto the podcast to talk about all things romance and thirst. How exactly do you get your reader to crave that first kiss? How do you get them to dangle on every single touch? Don't worry, Jan... more

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

Recent Guests

Janice Davis
Thirst Consultant
Episode: 86: The Three Pillars of Thirst with Janice Davis
Claire Asanko
Contributor discussed in relation to revisions and Substack post
Independent author
Episode: 85: How to Write a Novel in 5 Weeks
Mary Roach
Author discussed in episode, cross-genre writer
Episode: 84: Writing Across Genres with Mary Roach
Megan Davidhizar
Author of Silent Sister and Gaslit; mystery/suspense writer
Author (Silent Sister, Gaslit)
Episode: 80: Plot Twists And Suspense w/ Mystery Author Megan Davidhizar
Jill Tew
Author of The Dividing Sky and Ocean Apart, acclaimed craft-focused writer
Author
Episode: 76: Your Story is Missing a Spine w/ Jill Tew
Emily Charlotte
Author of Heart Check and Catching Feelings
Self-published/Author
Episode: 73: Creating Romance Universes with Emily Charlotte
Clare Osongco
Author of Midnight's With You, craft-focused guest
Midnight's With You
Episode: 62: Character Development w/ Clare Osongco

Hosts

Lyssa Mia Smith
Host of Craft-focused writing podcast; author with publications on writing and storytelling.
Anna Mercier
Co-host with craft-centric insights; author and journalist involved in publishing circles.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 97 ratings
  • Good content but…

    I really like this podcast! The content is really good and interesting. There is only one thing that sometimes keeps me from listening to a full episode or choosing this podcast first and it’s not necessarily anything that should change it’s just my personal preference. I find the hosts laugh and get off track of the topic too much. Which is fine because they’re having fun and that’s awesome! But as a listener it makes consuming the content difficult and sometimes I’m screaming get to the point ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Nbkfann
    Canada8 months ago
  • The best craft advice

    I’m so glad I found this podcast! The hosts share such great practical advice to help us all improve our writing, get drafts done, revise well, and survive the emotional turmoil that comes with doing this, all while also making us laugh. I’m a better and more productive writer thanks to Lyssa and Anna!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lori SIngaraju
    United Statesa year ago
  • The writing friends I never had

    This podcast is a true source of joy in my writing life! Informative, honest, cheesy, and kind, Anna and Lyssa genuinely feel like the writing friends I never had. I have learned so much from listening to them and their fantastic guests, not just about writing but about embracing all the challenges that come with trying to become a better writer.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WriteMeALullaby
    United Statesa year ago
  • Actually enjoyable

    I’ll be honest. This podcast was a big reason I was able to complete my very first rough draft. The excitement, humor, and craft talk scratched all the itches to keep my motivation and spirits high.

    I’m a 35 year old dude and never felt like more of “one of the girls” 💅 than when listening to this podcast, which is a testament to how funny and inviting the hosts are.

    Keep it up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EdmonWroteThis
    United Statesa year ago
  • My Go-To Pod

    I am always trying to improve my craft, but especially now that I am working on something story-shaped, this podcast is my go-to! I have several episodes saved and have listened to those eps dozens of times (misbeliefs, seven-layer plot dip, and but-so salsa are always in top rotation, but I honestly love them all). This heals the part of me that feels like I’m falling short, helps me understand why some parts of my writing might not be working, and always gets my brain thinking about my writing... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jcgower
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans praise the warm, friendly host dynamic and approachable format.
Engaging craft content with practical tips.
Guests add valuable expertise and real-world publishing context.
Listeners note the show is action-oriented, not just theory.
Hosts balance humor with deep craft insights.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#192
Russia/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

82: Q&A- Starting New Projects, Quitting, Dual POV
Q: How should writers handle AI in their process?
Refer writers to authoritative resources like authorsguild.org for guidance on ethics, copyright, and best practices, and stay aware of the potential copyright implications of using AI-generated text.
82: Q&A- Starting New Projects, Quitting, Dual POV
Q: What's the value of dual POV in romance?
Dual POV works when both characters have clear arcs and there's substantial conflict; it heightens tension, but the reader should gain insights from both perspectives rather than a single narrator.
82: Q&A- Starting New Projects, Quitting, Dual POV
Q: When is quitting writing the best choice?
Quit when writing feels boring and no longer brings joy, not merely when it's hard; persistence through difficulty is not the same as continuing a passion that's no longer fulfilling.
82: Q&A- Starting New Projects, Quitting, Dual POV
Q: What helps you switch to a new project?
Give yourself a reset period, then immerse in the new project with a mood-setter (music, road-trips, daydreaming) and verbally practice scenes to generate dialogue before outlining.

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 Turning to Story

What is Turning to Story about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on practical craft for writers, pairing two authors who dissect storytelling techniques with humor and warmth. Episodes cover topics from structure, character interiority, and subtext to market realities and collaboration with editors and agents. Guests range from established authors to genre experts, adding real-world perspectives on writing across genres and building sustainable writing careers. A standout strength is translating craft theory into actionable steps, with a welcoming vibe that makes deep-dive craft approachable for listeners at all levels. A recurring hook is linking craft decisions to publishing outcomes, while maintaining light, conversational energy that keeps complex topics engaging.

Where can I find podcast stats for Turning to Story?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Turning to Story. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Turning to Story and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Turning to Story get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Turning to Story, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Turning to Story?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Turning to Story, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Turning to Story have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Turning to Story has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of Turning to Story are there?

Turning to Story launched 3 years ago and published 91 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Turning to Story?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Turning to Story?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Turning to Story from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Turning to Story?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Turning to Story. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Turning to Story?

Recent guests on Turning to Story include:

1. Janice Davis
2. Claire Asanko
3. Mary Roach
4. Megan Davidhizar
5. Jill Tew
6. Emily Charlotte
7. Clare Osongco

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days