Inkwell Insights

Blake Reichenbach
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The Inkwell Podcast with host Blake Reichenbach dives deep into the world of creativity, storytelling, and the joy of the written word. Through a blend of personal insights and lively discussions with authors and other creative minds, Blake unpacks the lessons from the books he reads, weaving them into conversations about how creativity enriches all aspects of life. Designed like a dynamic book club, the podcast explores how to navigate a creative life amidst the demands of a career, family, and personal goals. From writing and problem-solving to integrating creativity into everyday tasks, The Inkwell Podcast inspires listeners to reignite their creative spark and embrace the transformative power of storytelling. Whether you're an aspiring writer, an avid reader, or simply curious about creative living, this podcast offers valuable insights and an engaging community to fuel your passion.

  1. 08/07/2025

    Podcasts, Books, and the Modern Market

    In this episode of INL Insights, host Blake discusses the recent hiatus from podcasting and the challenges faced in balancing work, life, and creative pursuits. He delves into the complexities of the book buying, selling, creating, and distributing processes, specifically highlighting the logistical hurdles with book distribution partners like Ingram. Blake shares personal stories about maintaining an online bookstore, unexpected inventory issues, and the substantial effort required to manage and curate book selections. He also extends an invitation for potential co-hosts and updates listeners on changes to his Howdy Curiosity bookstore model. The episode covers broader industry insights, critiques inefficiencies, and calls for modernization in the publishing industry.00:00 Welcome to INL Insights00:57 Housekeeping and Updates02:24 The Challenges of Podcasting05:32 The Ideal Podcast Vision06:39 Changes to Howdy Curiosity17:41 The Book Distribution Dilemma28:12 Ingram: The Giant in Book Distribution31:22 The Frustrations of Using Ingram46:01 The Need for Modernization in Publishing53:31 Conclusion and Call to Action00:57 Housekeeping and Apologies02:06 Podcasting Challenges and Aspirations06:39 Bookstore Inventory Issues17:41 The Struggles of Book Fulfillment28:12 Ingram's Complicated Processes46:01 The Future of Publishing53:31 Conclusion and Call to Action

    49 min

  2. 07/03/2025

    When Silicon Meets Stories: AI's Publishing Paradox and Le Guin's Legacy of Hope

    Blake explores two stories that reveal where literature stands in 2025: industry leaders at the U.S. Book Show choosing "human neighborhoods" over algorithmic efficiency, and the announcement of the Ursula K. Le Guin Prize shortlist celebrating books that imagine genuine alternatives to how we live now. While AI makes content creation cheaper, it also makes that content worthless—but human creativity becomes more precious than ever. This episode examines why authentic community building trumps viral reach, what publishers are learning about reader preferences, and how literature's capacity to imagine new possibilities remains irreplaceable. For further reading, checkout: - https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/trade-shows-events/article/97945-u-s-book-show-2025-ai-looms-large-across-publishing-sectors.html- https://lithub.com/heres-the-shortlist-for-the-2025-ursula-k-le-guin-prize-for-fiction/- https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/index.html

    47 min

  3. 06/26/2025

    Why Machines Can't Write Novels (And Why That Matters)

    Blake dives into the explosive revelation that tech giants like Meta have been training AI models on millions of pirated books from shadow libraries like LibGen—all without author consent or compensation. From Ta-Nehisi Coates to Sarah Silverman, major authors are fighting back with lawsuits. But this isn't just about copyright law; it's about the fundamental nature of human creativity and what we lose when machines try to replicate the irreplaceable human process of storytelling.

    28 min

  4. 06/05/2025

    Writing for the Internet... Ew.

    In this episode of Inkwell Insights, host Blake Reichenbach explores how internet writing practices have evolved and impacted the craft of writing itself.Key Takeaways for Writers:Recognizing Manipulation in Digital Marketing: The episode begins by exposing the "test email" clickbait strategy, serving as a reminder for writers to maintain authenticity rather than resorting to manipulative tactics for audience engagement.Understanding the Evolution of Digital Writing: Tracing the journey from early hypertext to modern content creation provides context for why writing standards have shifted, helping writers understand the forces that shape current expectations.The Impact of Monetization: The discussion of ad networks reveals how economic incentives fundamentally altered writing priorities—from quality to quantity, depth to clickability—a crucial insight for writers navigating today's publishing landscape.Resisting Harmful "Rules" for Web Writing: Blake challenges prevailing wisdom about writing for the internet (6th-grade reading level, excessive simplification, constant skimmability), encouraging writers to reject these constraints when they diminish quality.Recognizing How Reading Habits Have Changed: Understanding how shortened attention spans affect both readers and writers helps content creators develop more effective strategies while remaining true to their craft.A Call for Intentional Literary Cultivation: The episode concludes with an invitation for writers to deliberately nurture deeper thinking and reading practices, positioning thoughtful writing as resistance against the "dumbing down" of literary culture.This episode offers writers valuable perspective on how economic and technological forces have shaped writing practices, while providing encouragement to maintain artistic integrity in an environment that often prioritizes metrics over meaning.

    42 min

  5. 05/22/2025

    Literary Agents 101 with CeCe Lyra

    Cecilia (“CeCe”) Lyra is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency representing adult fiction and non-fiction. She is drawn to books with strong hooks and smooth writing, told with originality, nuance, and authenticity. A long-term strategic thinker, CeCe prioritizes the creative reach and sustainable longevity of her authors’ careers, and she is especially looking for clients with whom she can build fruitful, lasting relationships.Both a storyteller and a storyseller, CeCe believes that stories are empathy-generating machines capable of healing, connecting, and enacting true change. As a mixed race Latinx immigrant, CeCe understands the power of seeing oneself reflected in books, hence her passion for championing under or misrepresented voices and narratives that contribute to a larger cultural conversation. CeCe is a member of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA). The popular podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, for which CeCe is a co-host, has over three million downloads. CeCe is also a recovering lawyer, but asks that you do not hold that against her.

    46 min

  6. 04/24/2025

    Upcoming Podcast Guests, Post-Flu Writing, and Postmodernist Literature

    In this episode, Blake discusses some exciting upcoming podcast guests, a foray into a postmodern (in)famous classic, as well as his current fiction project and its most recent updates.  Visit: www.charlottewood.com.au To learn more, visit: https://www.blakereichenbach.com/ Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/blake-reichenbach/

    37 min

  7. 03/27/2025

    The Quiet Power of Reflection: A Conversation with Charlotte Wood

    In this episode, Charlotte Wood delves into the inspirations behind her novel "Stone Yard Devotional," exploring themes of faith, nature, and personal upheaval. She discusses the challenges and revelations of writing a deeply personal story set in her Australian hometown during a time of global and personal crisis. Charlotte shares insights into her creative process, the influence of external events like wildfires and the pandemic, and the delicate balance between autobiography and fiction. Charlotte Wood is the author of seven novels and three books of non-fiction. Her new book Stone Yard Devotional was described by the UK Guardian as ‘a quiet novel of immense power’ and has been praised by authors Anne Enright, Tim Winton, Karen Joy Fowler, Hannah Kent and Paula Hawkins among others. It was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize, among other awards.  Visit: www.charlottewood.com.au

    51 min

  8. 03/20/2025

    Rachel Kitch, Appalachian & Thai Folklore, and... the Omegaverse

    Rachel Kitch is a mixed-race Thai American speculative horror author with a love of writing unsettling, creepy books that still have a spark of light.Rachel has her Masters in Design from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelors from West Virginia University. As a generation 1.5 immigrant, Rachel loves to blend her heritage and incorporate Thai and Appalachian folklore into her projects. When not writing, she can be found cuddling with her bulldog-chihuahua mix, Danny, or reading books on her Kindle that would kill a Victorian child.She is represented by Rose Ferrao of PS. Literary Agency. In thisepisode, we sit down with Rachel Kitsch, a speculative horror author who uniquely blends Thai and Appalachian folklore into her work. We explore the olfactory world of the Omegaverse and discuss the influences of folklore on Rachel's writing. Rachel shares insights into her writing process, the importance of community in writing, and offers advice for aspiring authors. We also touch on her journey of connecting with her heritage and the challenges of representing diverse cultures in literature. Follow Rachel on Twitter and Blue Sky at @RachelKitsch (https://x.com/rachelkitch), and on Instagram and TikTok at @RachelKitschWrites. Stay tuned for exciting updates about her upcoming book, "The Forest Bleeds." https://rachelkitch.com/

    41 min
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About

The Inkwell Podcast with host Blake Reichenbach dives deep into the world of creativity, storytelling, and the joy of the written word. Through a blend of personal insights and lively discussions with authors and other creative minds, Blake unpacks the lessons from the books he reads, weaving them into conversations about how creativity enriches all aspects of life. Designed like a dynamic book club, the podcast explores how to navigate a creative life amidst the demands of a career, family, and personal goals. From writing and problem-solving to integrating creativity into everyday tasks, The Inkwell Podcast inspires listeners to reignite their creative spark and embrace the transformative power of storytelling. Whether you're an aspiring writer, an avid reader, or simply curious about creative living, this podcast offers valuable insights and an engaging community to fuel your passion.

Information

  • Creator
    Blake Reichenbach
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Inkwell Insights