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Artwork for Writers With Wrinkles

Writers With Wrinkles

Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid
Publishing Industry
Scams Targeting Writers
Middle Grade
Literary Agents
Traditional Publishing
Self-Publishing
Stakes (fiction Writing)
Indie Authors
Book Marketing
First Draft
Discovery Writing
Nonfiction Publishing
Book Proposals
The Rights Factory
Flow (psychology Of Reading/writing)
New York
Marketing
Chronicle Books
Setting
Voice

Whether you're an aspiring author, indie publisher, or career writer, Writers with Wrinkles is your essential guide to writing craft, book marketing, and the publishing industry. Hosted by authors Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid, we iron out the wrinkles of the business — from mastering novel writing and story structure to navigating literary agents, query letters, and KDP self-publishing.

Each wee... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes172Founded4 years ago
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Artwork for Writers With Wrinkles

Latest Episodes

We just turned 150+ episodes of hard-won publishing wisdom into one book — and it's finally here. Write, Revise, Publish: Essential Lessons from the Writers With Wrinkles Podcast is up for pre-order now, and today Beth and Lisa are pulling back the c... more

Harry Potter didn't just create a fantasy phenomenon — according to one Big Five editor, it quietly helped break middle grade publishing. Every book that tried to chase that success got longer, older, and harder for actual kids to read, and now impri... more

Most rejected picture book and middle grade manuscripts aren't turned down because they're bad — they're turned down because an editor has already seen five just like them. Susan Marston, the new editorial director of Albatros Books' US expansion (an... more

AI companies are shredding rare books to train their models—and now authors are the ones being told to prove they didn't use AI to write their own. Beth and Lisa unpack the double standard rocking publishing right now.

From a debut novelist's multi ... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Alia Hanna Habib
Literary agent and author of Take It From Me
Literary Agent / Take It From Me
Episode: How to Publish Nonfiction: Agent Alia Hanna Habib's Guide (summer encore series!)
Joel Brigham
Developmental Editor
Episode: How to Revise Your Novel: Developmental Editor Joel Brigham's Checklist (encore episode!)
Nikki Carrero
Agent with The Rights Factory
The Rights Factory
Episode: Stop Querying Wrong: Agent Nikki Carrero Breaks It Down
Vicki Weber
Literary agent, best-selling children's book author, founder of At-Home Author
At-Home Author
Episode: Publishing Is Changing Fast! Literary Agent Vicki Weber on What's Working Now
Colby Sharp
Fifth-grade teacher and author, known for his work discussing books
Author and educator
Episode: What The Heck Is Going On With Publishing?
Amy Trueblood
Award-winning author of YA historical fiction and adult romance
Author (Amy Trueblood)
Episode: Life After the Breakup: Navigating the Publishing World After Parting Ways with Your Agent, with Amy Trueblood
Fleur Bradley
Author of middle grade and YA mysteries; literacy advocate
HarperCollins (Double Vision trilogy); Get a Clue
Episode: The Nuts and Bolts of Writing MG & YA Mysteries, with Fleur Bradley

Hosts

Beth McMullen
Host of Writers With Wrinkles
Lisa Schmid
Co-host of Writers With Wrinkles

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 76 ratings
  • Informative and joyful

    I greatly enjoy this podcast as a reader and aspiring children’s author. Thank you, Beth and Lisa, for your candid, helpful, and entertaining discussions about craft and the industry, with each other, agents, editors, and fellow authors.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PB Writer Robin
    United States2 months ago
  • Helpful, inspiring & fun

    As a fellow “writer with wrinkles,”I find Beth and Lisa’s conversations about the ups and downs of this crazy industry, immensely helpful, inspiring, and fun. Great guests, too. Keep it up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Erik Slangerup
    United States5 months ago
  • A Must-Listen

    I never miss an episode of this podcast. It’s packed with helpful and encouraging advice. I always leave feeling informed and motivated.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Beth_S.
    United States9 months ago
  • Favorite Writing/Publishing Pod

    I’m so delighted to have discovered Writers With Wrinkles and have been an avid listener for the past year. Beth and Lisa do a wonderful job. Their guests have been writers, literary agents, and editors and I learn something new every time I listen- both about craft and the business of publishing. One episode was so inspiring that, after listening, I got in touch with the guest and scored myself a publishing internship. I am now full steam ahead on working towards becoming an agent and I have Be... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KatieFerrie
    United Statesa year ago
  • Best Guidance for Aspiring Writers!

    Nothing has given me better and more consistent guidance as a writer than this podcast! Every episode is packed full of great information and it’s entertaining too! A must-listen for all writers!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ErinLyons
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Engaging, practical craft and business guidance with great guests
Hosts balance warmth and expertise; interviews feel accessible and actionable
Consistently helpful for aspiring writers and authors pursuing publishing

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#227
Germany/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How to Revise Your Novel: Developmental Editor Joel Brigham's Checklist (encore episode!)
Q: What should writers look for in terms of structure and scene transitions?
He highlights the importance of the tentpole beats (inciting incident, midpoint, all hope is lost) and uses the but/therefore vs. and then pattern to ensure scenes carry clear forward momentum and consequences, rather than a flat series of events.
How to Revise Your Novel: Developmental Editor Joel Brigham's Checklist (encore episode!)
Q: How do you recommend writers approach their first round of editing?
Joel emphasizes a phased approach: start by identifying major story beats and whether they're in the right places, then examine character motivations and arcs, ensure protagonist agency, and finally check pacing and structural rhythm before refining language and prose in later passes.
Publishing Is Changing Fast! Literary Agent Vicki Weber on What's Working Now
Q: What should authors focus on when querying and submitting?
Focus on quality over quantity, tailor each submission to the agent's stated interests, and build a strong portfolio with multiple manuscripts; also understand the broader market context to show you're a good long-term fit for their list.
Publishing Is Changing Fast! Literary Agent Vicki Weber on What's Working Now
Q: Can you summarize what's happening in publishing right now?
It's a complex mix of strategic, risk-averse decisions at the top with editors and agents trying to find the safest path to commercial success, while the market shifts alongside reader trends; this creates a lot of experimentation and a push toward more commercially viable fiction.
Life After the Breakup: Navigating the Publishing World After Parting Ways with Your Agent, with Amy Trueblood
Q: So Lisa, do you want to jump into those questions?
The host introduces the topic and frames the discussion around re-entering the querying trenches after parting with an agent, highlighting that the process is different the second time and emphasizing thoughtful preparation.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Writers With Wrinkles

What is Writers With Wrinkles about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show packs practical craft guidance with insider knowledge about the publishing industry, featuring interviews with editors, agents, and bestselling authors. Across recent episodes, listeners get actionable tips on book proposals, revision processes, marketing strategies, querying, and navigating industry shifts. A notable throughline is empowering writers to build a sustainable path—through sample plans, real-world anecdotes, and a focus on community, reader engagement, and long-term career strategy. The duo behind the show brings warmth, humor, and candid industry observations, making complex publishing topics approachable for aspiring and established writers alike. Unique strengths include a consistent emphasis on craft alongside bu... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Writers With Wrinkles?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Writers With Wrinkles:

1. The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
2. Helping Writers Become Authors
3. Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo | How to Write a Novel & Writing Advice
4. You May Contribute A Verse
5. Middle Grade Matters

How many episodes of Writers With Wrinkles are there?

Writers With Wrinkles launched 4 years ago and published 172 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 Writers With Wrinkles?

Recent guests on Writers With Wrinkles include:

1. Alia Hanna Habib
2. Joel Brigham
3. Nikki Carrero
4. Vicki Weber
5. Colby Sharp
6. Amy Trueblood
7. Fleur Bradley

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.

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