Writers in the Wilderness Podcast

Kathrin Classen welcomes you to a community of writers, both published and unpublished, to discuss how they traverse the writing wilderness.

Whether you are a published or unpublished author, writing can sometimes feel like you are wandering through the wilderness without a map. In this podcast, Kathrin Classen will interview writers in all stages of their creative careers to offer wisdom, a sense of community, and an encouraging word to keep putting one foot in front of the other. kathrinclassen.substack.com

Episodes

  1. Wisdom From Dead Dahlias with Writer and Website Designer Sue Evergreen

    2d ago

    Wisdom From Dead Dahlias with Writer and Website Designer Sue Evergreen

    What does it mean to drop a rock? If you imagine every project, every responsibility, every role as a rock, we usually carry around a pretty big sack of them. That’s not a bad thing! But it is all about finding balance in your life. In this episode, writer and website designer Sue Evergreen and I talk about finding sparks of inspiration, not just in the incredible, but in the mundane. We discuss practicing the act of letting go, learning to identify the difference between your “diamonds” and what external pressures deem as “diamonds,” and taking little steps to create change. Writing doesn’t always have to be about making money. It can be healing. It can be meditative. It can help you see the extraordinary in the ordinary. And it can help you drop some rocks! You can find Sue Evergreen and Dropping Rocks here: https://droppingrocks.com/ https://www.facebook.com/DroppingRocks https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092433550733 https://www.instagram.com/droppingrocksblog/ Thank you for listening today! Feel free to email me at writersinthewildernesspodcast@gmail.com Don’t miss an episode! Follow me on Instagram (@kathrin.classen.writerreader), TikTok (@kathrin.classen.author), Substack (@kathrinclassen), and Facebook (Author Kathrin Classen)! Song: Step Artist: Owl Nest Music by: CreatorMix.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kathrinclassen.substack.com

    1h 8m
  2. A Writing Career Worth More Than The Paper It’s Printed On with Author Melinda Di Lorenzo

    Jun 10

    A Writing Career Worth More Than The Paper It’s Printed On with Author Melinda Di Lorenzo

    With over 40 books to her name, Melinda Di Lorenzo is a wealth of information about the publishing industry. In this episode, we talk about what it means to set achievable daily/weekly goals and why it is important to view your craft as your career. Melinda and I also discuss how writing is only 10% of publishing and selling a book. The other 90%? Marketing, collaborating, and networking. A successful career is not only about being a talented writer. It’s about “timing and luck.” One of my favorite quotes from our chat is “overnight success takes ten years.” What a great reminder that this industry takes time! Write down those great ideas. Expand them into story. And whatever you do, don’t give up. Whatever success looks like for you, keep going. From pre-edits to acknowledging your craft as your career to that endless agent/publisher loop, this is not an episode you’ll want to miss. You can find Melinda here: www.facebook.com/MelindaDiLorenzo @melindawrites on X @melindadilorenzo on Insta @melindawrites on TikTok You can find her books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Melinda-Di-Lorenzo/author/B073ZQM76N?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1774128781&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=b161bdf3-5c67-4a6e-9699-5197e103db04 If you enjoy these episodes, let me know! Drop a comment or an email at writersinthewildernesspodcast@gmail.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kathrinclassen.substack.com

    58 min
  3. Just Start! with Author and Entrepreneur Natasha Parvey

    May 14

    Just Start! with Author and Entrepreneur Natasha Parvey

    If you’ve ever thought, ‘it is too late to make my dreams come true’, this episode is for YOU! Natasha Parvey, aka Natalia Lee, got serious about writing her debut children’s book, The Man on the Bike with the Blue Bird, at age 50. She reminds us that it is never too late to start something new. Yes, the unknown can be scary. Yes, it will take time to learn. But what is the worst that can happen? Natasha reminds us that the best thing we can do for ourselves and our dreams is to “just start!” In this episode, Natasha and I talk about ever-changing social media trends, the importance of speaking to your target audience, understanding that you will never make 100% of people happy and that’s OK, and her personal philosophy when she is considering a new project. Some of my favorite quotes/phrases in this episode: * Color code your life * Work hard, play hard * Authors aren’t competitive–we just want to see more people read * Find the best time of day to eat your elephants * Community will challenge you and cheer you on * “You gotta try things, you might not be good at them, but you gotta try them to see if you like them.” I learned so much from Natasha. Speaking to her lit a fire in my belly. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to get out there and just start! Find Natasha here: Facebook & Instagram @NataliasBooksforKids Find Natalie Lee’s books here: https://www.amazon.com/Man-Bike-Blue-Bird/dp/B0F1DMWX3N/ref=sr_1_1?crid=I4TEGDBC1ZIR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2v2Hh8zt5CyDgjhAxmZ1Q28-Ztmb06G3RjdRYSoDEvtZ9z7cMI7VLdNWw3RfbGtWa6XiSvWbQXzQ9BN2khHW8yY7hirWoPe0pkUfrWLrA3MR92Yl1_6dwdbbgcGn0CYDgb-R889IAdOUFxg-K1Xcpf7pTptG4BgP3T-k3cpOtRc8sbB_Y4OYB2Z8l8zCUJInwW4I_VkHTheucEx3EhQCG3c4axLsteHfnznFUI-O_9k.cinrt-xx_sej-RyOzTrXj3K85D_mTs1jSzxnQX2cv24&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+man+on+the+bike+with+the+blue+bird&qid=1742520252&sprefix=%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-1 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-man-on-the-bike-with-the-blue-bird-natalia-lee/1148157080?ean=9798992623918 https://www.booksamillion.com/search2?query=The+Man+on+the+Bike+with+the+Blue+Bird If you have an encouraging word to share, I’d love to hear your story. Just email me at writersinthewildernesspodcast@gmail.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kathrinclassen.substack.com

    49 min
  4. Your Permission Slip to Create with Author Accelerator-certified Fiction Book Coach and Podcast Host Stacy Frazer

    Apr 29

    Your Permission Slip to Create with Author Accelerator-certified Fiction Book Coach and Podcast Host Stacy Frazer

    Author Accelerator-certified fiction book coach Stacy Frazer is no stranger to the doubt that plagues all writers. She shares her story and the stories of other writers on her podcast, The Write It Scared Podcast, and reminds us that stories, our stories, “have the power to change and shape lives.” (Direct quote from Stacy) In this episode, we talk about giving ourselves permission to be creative, why it is so important to have our outsides match our insides, why doubt and creativity go hand-in-hand, and why “writing a novel is an inside job we do not do alone.” (Quoted from the intro of The Write it Scared Podcast) From blogging to novel writing to helping other writers find their voices, Stacy’s story is deep and meaningful and changed my life. I’m cashing in that permission slip! And I hope this story gives you the courage to do the same. Here’s where you can connect with Stacy: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/ Website: https://www.writeitscared.co/ Podcast: https://www.writeitscared.co/podcast You can also email her at Stacy@writeitscared.co If you have an encouraging word to share, I’d love to hear your story. Just email me at writersinthewildernesspodcast@gmail.com Thanks for listening! Song: Step Artist: Owl Nest Music by: CreatorMix.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kathrinclassen.substack.com

    37 min
  5. Defining Your Feedback Goal with Author and Story Coach Sharon Hughson

    Apr 15

    Defining Your Feedback Goal with Author and Story Coach Sharon Hughson

    Author and story coach Sharon Hughson is a Feedback Master. (I have personal experience with her work, and thanks to her attention to detail and encouragement, I think differently about how I approach my writing.) In today’s episode, we’ll talk about the importance of reviewing your work, how to process both positive and negative feedback, and what it means to divorce yourself from your writing and why having that emotional distance is so important. Equally important is defining your feedback goal. Are you writing a memoir for friends and family? Are you writing short stories just for fun? Or, are you looking to have your work published? Knowing your writing goals will help you define the kind of feedback that will be the most helpful for you. Some resources from Sharon for you amazing writers: PLOT & STRUCTURE by James Scott Bell K. M. Weiland’s blog and character workbook You can find Sharon here: Substack Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sharonlhughson Youtube https://bit.ly/WriteYTChan You can find Sharon’s books here: Amazon: https://bit.ly/SHonAmz Growth doesn’t happen overnight. Every step takes time, research, and trust in yourself and your community. The cool thing is, you are not alone in the writing wilderness. Feel free to reach out anytime, or if you want to be on the show, just email me at writersinthewildernesspodcast@gmail.com Song: Step Artist: Owl Nest Music by: CreatorMix.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kathrinclassen.substack.com

    35 min

About

Whether you are a published or unpublished author, writing can sometimes feel like you are wandering through the wilderness without a map. In this podcast, Kathrin Classen will interview writers in all stages of their creative careers to offer wisdom, a sense of community, and an encouraging word to keep putting one foot in front of the other. kathrinclassen.substack.com