Inspired Writer Collective Podcast
Welcome to The Inspired Writer Collective, your memoir-focused writing podcast. If you've ever felt the pull to write your truth, to shape the chaos of real life into something meaningful, and to share your journey with the world, you're in the right place. We’re your hosts Elizabeth Wilson & Stephanie Oswald, Ph.D., writers, coaches & entrepreneurs who believe in you and know how important it is to find a writing community to guide you on your path to self-publishing. We believe your voice holds power. Telling your story isn't just a personal act of healing or reflection, it's a gift to...
Episode 122: BTS with and Indie Author, One week til Launch
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BTS with an Indie Author - Part 4, One week til launch
Welcome to this special summer series where I invite guest hosts who were pivotal to the writing or publishing of my upcoming memoir to come on the podcast and interview me about the behind the scenes of an indie author leading up to my debut launch.
This week is hosted by Julie Sedler, a fellow memoirist who has been a guest on the podcast before as well as a speaker at our Memoir Summit back in March. I...
Episode 121: BTS with an Indie Author - Fiance Edition
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BTS with an Indie Author - Part 3, Two weeks til launch
Welcome to this special summer series where I invite guest hosts who were pivotal to the writing or publishing of my upcoming memoir to come on the podcast and interview me about the behind the scenes of an indie author leading up to my debut launch.
This week is hosted by Jordan, my fiancé, and someone who is well-versed in what the behind the scenes of writing this book have looked like for me. He prepared questions as w...
Episode 120: BTS with an Indie Author - 3 weeks til Launch
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Welcome to this special summer series where I invite guest hosts who were pivotal to the writing or publishing of my upcoming memoir to come on the podcast and interview me about the behind the scenes of an indie author leading up to my debut launch.
This week is hosted by Hannah Gordon, my author coach and owner of Gordon Publishing. We chat about looking at the release of a book in terms of the broader author/indie press business and setting goals for sales. Too often we as writers focus...
Ep 119: BTS with an Indie Author—ARC readers, final edits, book extras
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This week, Elizabeth Wilson sits down with her developmental editor, Allison Lau, to reflect on her self-publishing journey. These are often the steps you don’t see every day from writers. Elizabeth decided she wanted more control over the publishing process so she could get her memoir in the hands of readers faster. You’ll hear about how Elizabeth decided on her ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) readers and getting over the hurdle of asking them to read her book.
Elizabeth shares about taking on the role of project manager for her memoi...
Episode 118: Go With The Flow for Summer
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Summer has a way of changing the rules. Your routines you’ve had since January or maybe only from Spring Break are about to get upended once again. The weather gets remarkably warmer, you want to be outside more, schedules become less predictable, and the longer days mean everybody’s up later if you have kids at home.
So, when do you find time to write?
This is a good question to ask yourself. By meeting yourself where you are right now, and preparing for what’s to come, you rel...
Ep 117: Writers, Your Emails Are The Letters Readers Want to Receive
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This episode is your friendly reminder of why email is important for writers. It's easy to get lost in the sea of apps calling for your attention, but at the end of the day, getting your email at the top of someone's inbox is where the connections happen. AI can't replace your voice and your words connecting with readers. When you lean into email, whatever your write there can easily be repurposed for other platforms, but you want to make sure you've set up your email. With email, you own the list and...
Ep 116: [Shahida Alvarado] Courage, Creative Control, and Publishing on Your Own Terms
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What does it really take to call yourself a writer?
At the beginning of this week’s episode, you’ll hear an original poem read by our guest Shahida Alvarado. It brings to the forefront the invisible gates women face when we dare to pursue a creative dream. From thinking about "why now?" to the behind-the-scenes realities of navigating the publishing world, Elizabeth and Shahida talk about what it truly means to bring a book into existence on your own terms. You’ll hear about creative control, what success actually looks like fo...
Episode 115: [Heather Bryant] Letting go after publishing your work
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Elizabeth Wilson chats with author, Heather Bryant, about her experience publishing & marketing her book My Transparent during the pandemic. It’ll help you remember all of the creative ways you can use to get your book in the hands of readers.
Welcome to the Inspired Writer Collective podcast. If you've ever felt the pull to write your truth, to shape the chaos of real life into something meaningful and to share your journey with the world, you're in the right place. We're your hosts, Elizabeth and Stephanie, writers, coaches, and entrepreneurs who b...
Ep 114: Get support showing up online to connect with readers
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Does the tech side of showing up online freak you out? There’s a way you can get support. This week’s episode digs into what that can look like for you. I hope you’ll listen because there are some exciting offers coming available to you!
Learn about how working in Canva can be simplified or maybe you're interested in having templates done for you? Learn about the apps recommended for scheduling your posts.
Welcome to the Inspired Writer Collective podcast. If you've ever felt the pull t...
Episode 113: Reframing Your Thoughts on Marketing with the Unbound Story System
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In this week’s episode, Elizabeth Wilson and Stephanie Oswald, Ph.D. talk about reframing your thoughts about marketing. It’s common that hearing the word ‘marketing’ can send you into a tailspin and make you want to hide. You feel it’s a cumbersome task that requires so much extra time and work, but what Stephanie shares in this episode about her upcoming Unbound Story System small group program could be the mindset shift you’re looking for. You’ll have to listen to see if Stephanie’s program is your vibe.
Also, be sur...
Episode 112:[Jared Glenn] Detaching from your story
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This week, in Episode 112 of the Inspired Writer Collective podcast, Elizabeth sits down with returning guest Jared Glenn for a candid conversation about one of the most overlooked parts of the writing journey: learning to detach from your story.
Elizabeth shares a revealing moment from her own beta reader process when one piece of feedback had her so concerned she went straight to her editor. You'll have to listen to find out what her editor told her, and it might surprise you.
If you're writing anything, you pour so...
Episode 111: The Not-So-Sexy Side of Your Writer Life
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On the podcast this week, we’re chatting about the CEO/Admin tasks that come with your writing life.
You’re a writer. If you haven’t claimed this identity for yourself, I’d love to hop on a call and dig into what’s standing in your way. I offer this invitation because it took me a long time to finally say “I’m a Writer” and I wish I’d gotten there sooner. I’ve been wanting to write my contemporary romance novels since 7th grade when I was hanging out at the ba...
Episode 110: [Anna Dao] Multigenerational storytelling shapes a writer's voice and process
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Elizabeth Wilson chats with memoir writer Anna Dao about the rich oral storytelling tradition that shaped not just how she writes, but why.
They talk about what it really takes to find your authentic voice on the page, what happens when fear and people-pleasing get in the way of your truth, and what marketing a memoir actually looks like when you're a first-time author doing it all on your own terms.
About our guest, Anna Dao:
Born in Paris, raised under many skies —
fro...
Episode 109: [Cynthia Merrill] Your Writing Process Isn't Broken
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Have you ever tried following someone's writing advice? You've read all the books with guidelines for getting your outline done or advice about setting up your writing schedule, yet you're still feeling like something's not quite right. Like maybe the problem isn't your commitment to the process, but the fact that the method itself was never designed for the way YOU actually think and create? On this week's episode of the Inspired Writer Collective, we welcome editor and writing coach Cynthia Merrill who completely reframed Elizabeth's thinking about the writing process. Cynthia has...
Episode 108: [SPECIAL] Day After Our Summit with Sharissa Bradley & Allison Lau
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Our Memoir Summit was absolutely incredible! You’ll hear more about the experience in this week’s episode. We’re joined by Allison Lau & Sharissa Bradley, who not only brought incredible value as panelists but hopped into the webinars as attendees, so we sat down to chat about what we all took away from the experience. If you missed the Summit, you can order the replays here. When you watch the replays you’ll experience the incredible community we’re cultivating at the Inspired Writer Collective. Writing and being a writer does not need to ha...
Episode 107: [BOOK CLUB] ADHD For Smart Ass Women by Tracy Otsuka
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I recently read a book that stopped me in my tracks: ADHD for Smart Ass Women by Tracy Otsuka. I picked it up out of curiosity. I did not expect to see so much of myself in its pages.
As a woman who just turned 50, I grew up in a time when ADHD in girls was rarely part of the conversation. If anything, we were given vague explanations about learning differences or processing challenges, but very little insight into what our brains were actually doing.
Reading this book reframed so much...
Episode 106: [Laura Thomas] The Village Behind the Byline
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You're going to want to listen to this episode, especially leading up to our Memoir Summit. Elizabeth chats with Laura Thomas, who edited Elizabeth’s memoir that’s set to be published in June 2026, about the big picture of self-publishing your memoir. It’s so much more than sitting down to write, and you certainly don’t want to do it alone. If there’s anything to take away from this episode, it’s that you need to find your village who will help you find your way.
It’s why we’re hosting t...
Episode 105: Do It Scared
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Episode 105: Do It Scared
You’ll thank yourself later.
It’s Stephanie here, and this message is one that I’ve needed to hear for sure!
I wrestle so often with my own fears of showing up and allowing myself to be vulnerable with my writing process, or even just being myself. At the end of the day, there’s nothing better than being yourself and finding the people who love all the parts of you. It’s what writing does and especially the community we’ve built here w...
Episode 104: [Hannah Gordon] How You Know You're Ready to Write Your Memoir
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In this week’s episode, Elizabeth chats with Hannah Gordon, a writer, editor, and publisher who will be one of the panelists at our Memoir Summit on March 14, 2026. The conversation digs into the power of writing for addressing challenging stories and how this informs whether you’re ready to write your memoir. It’s a very personal decision, but you may also need a coach to support you along the way. Both Elizabeth and Hannah offer coaching for memoir writers, so if this conversation resonates with you, you’re invited to reach out and conn...
Episode 103: Why You Need to Invest in Yourself as a Writer
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This week Elizabeth and Stephanie talk about the importance of investing in yourself as a writer. Find the rooms with people who are writing and moving their dream forward. When you put yourself in the right room you’ll be amazed at what happens. It’s only if you’re doing the work of writing you understand the challenges of what comes with the job. It’s not easy. Which is why you need to find your people and we offer spaces for you to show up and invest in your writing journey. If you’v...
Episode 102: [Allison Lau] Memoir Writers, Don't Fear the Developmental Edit
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Elizabeth chats with Allison Lau, a ghostwriter and developmental editor for memoir and mission-driven nonfiction, about the memoir writing process and Allison’s love for helping writers discover their voice and the story that’s meant to be on the page.
It’s a conversation that takes you deep into the memoir process and the value of inviting a developmental editor along with you. It’s a beneficial partnership for all writers to have a trustworthy set of eyes on your work. You can get so close and lost in your own work...
Episode 101: Get to Know Your Writing Coach for ADHD Brains
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Stephanie here. I’m solo for this week’s episode.
Do you feel like a lot of writing advice doesn’t work for you?
For example, have you tried to read & complete The Artist’s Way and you couldn’t finish. Or, the advice to do your morning pages everyday when you first wake up, before anything else, stresses you out. Then you spiral into thinking you’re not a “good enough” writer because you don’t do morning pages like everyone in your writing group keeps talking about.
If so, I can ab...
Episode 100: Ten Secrets to Finding Your Way as a Writer
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When you listen to this episode and learn about the 10 Secrets to Finding Your Way as a Writer we’ve gleaned from mining through our podcast episodes, you’ll quiet your inner critic and discover you’re exactly where you need to be.
We invite you to explore the following episodes that connect to each of the 10 Secrets we reveal in this episode:
#10: Episode 68, Episode 86
#9: Episode 97
#8: Episode 13, Episode 64, Episode 87
#7: Episode 10, Episode 77
#6: Episode 8, Episode 85
#5: Episode 78
#4: Episode 94
#3: Episode...
Episode 99: [BOOK CLUB] What Memoir Writers Can Learn from Reading "All the Way to the River"
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In this episode, Memoir Writing Coach, Elizabeth Wilson, discusses Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir, All the Way to the River:
Episode 98: Looking Back to Look Forward
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It’s something you’re encouraged to do at the end of each year.
Do you have to do it?
Well, it’s really up to you.
And it doesn’t have to look the same as what everyone else is doing.
In this week’s episode, we share some of our strategies for reflecting on where we’ve been and where we’re going.
You’ll hear about Elizabeth Wilson's annual journal review.
Stephanie Oswald shares about the importance of celebrating, eve...
Episode 97: [Hannah Davis] Start Marketing Before Your Book is Done
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Stephanie Oswald chats with guest, Hannah Davis, about marketing your book. It's marketing advice that you can fit into your author life. There are many great insights and actions items for authors. The discussion covers everything from how to show up on social media to the importance of your email list.
Hannah Davis is a marketing strategist and website designer for authors who want to sell more books without sacrificing writing time for posting burnout.
With her 5+ years of marketing knowledge, she wants to help authors make their storytelling...
Episode 96: [Julie Sedler] The Recurring Emotionality of Writing Memoir
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Elizabeth Wilson chats with Julie Sedler about whether or not it's normal to have so many emotions when you're writing and editing your memoir. Julie Sedler was our guest, about a year ago, for Episode 59, when she talked about the importance of knowing why you're writing your memoir.
Elizabeth Wilson has been editing her memoir and experiencing big emotions. Julie Sedler confirms it's normal and walks through her journey to publishing her own memoir emphasizing that you've written your memoir because it is meant to be impactful.
Welcome to the Insp...
Episode 95: [Lindsay Rice] Writing a Braided Narrative from Idea to Publication
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Stephanie Oswald chats with author, Lindsay Rice, about her book Birdenwheel:
"BIRDENWHEEL features an ensemble cast of Deadheads in the 1990s who follow the iconic rock band, The Grateful Dead on their summer tour."
You can find the full book description on Lindsay Rice's website here.
It was such a fun conversation.
Stephanie first met Lindsay at her book release party in Salida, CO because the Grateful Dead cover band, Roundhouse Assembly, was playing and since following the Grateful Dead is the foundation of the book it...
Episode 94: Celebrating with Grace and Gratitude
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There's so much to be grateful for at this time of the year! It's our annual reflection of what we've accomplished that's beyond what we could've ever imagined. We're reminded of how much we grow and embrace our authenticity with each episode.
Elizabeth Wilson celebrates the success of another round of the Memoir Master Plan Cohort with a group of amazing women. They found clarity with their core message and scene development for their memoirs.
Stephanie Oswald shares about her new writing coaching for neurodivergent women. Offering support in the in...
Audio of Episode 93: [Jacci Prior] Why Your Audiobook Narrator Choice is Important For Marketing Your Book
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Join our Embodied Writing Experience for a writer's retreat in your inbox each week: https://inspired-writer-collective.kit.com/e2cab66781
In this episode, Elizabeth Wilson chats with Jacci Prior about being an audiobook narrator. Jacci encourages authors to leverage their audiobook for marketing purposes.
At the end, get a sneak peek of Elizabeth Wilson's memoir being read by our guest, Jacci Prior, an audiobook narrator.
Jacci Prior, when talking about being an audiobook narrator says: " it truly is an acting job. If you don't live and breathe t...
Episode 92: [Karolina Wudniak] Nonfiction Authors, Meet Your Book Designer for Self-Publishing
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Are you ready to find a book designer?
Or, save the name of our guest, Karolina Wudniak, for later.
Karolina works with self-published authors, mostly nonfiction, on the design of their book covers and the interior design of their books.
She absolutely loves working visually which led her to becoming a graphic designer for authors.
Karolina appreciates simple design and brings inspiration from nature to her designs.
She can work on your cover design and the interior of your book.
You'll...
Episode 91: Understanding Memoir Structure to Tell Your Story
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Elizabeth Wilson & Stephanie Oswald discuss the challenges that come with condensing your lived experience into a narrative form. It’s most common to find if you’re starting to write your first memoir that you’ll begin by choosing a chronological approach to your story. There’s nothing wrong with making this decision, especially if it helps you get your words on the page, but just know you have other options
In this episode, Elizabeth leads our conversation about memoir structure with insight into four of the eight possibilities from Jennifer Selig’s...
Episode 90: [Kim Mosiman] What You Don't Know You Need to Know About Publishing Your Book
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This week, Elizabeth chats with our guest, Kim Mosiman, about her book Reflections of Joy and how what she didn't know she needed to know led her to a new career path.
You'll find these topics and more in this week's episode:
Kim's inspiration for her bookFinding beta readersGetting reviewsMarketing now, even if your book isn't publishedGet to know Kim Mosiman:
Kim Mosiman is an author, certified nutritionist, and Christian life coach who helps women rediscover joy and purpose in their second act. After c...
Episode 89: Fiction Writers, What's Your Core Message?
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Stephanie Oswald and Elizabeth Wilson talk about the benefit of learning from other genres and what Stephanie Oswald has discovered for her writing while participating in the Memoir Master Plan Cohort.
You’ll have to tune in to find out about Stephanie Oswald’s recent celebrity author encounter!
What’s the common thread in your writing?
As Stephanie Oswald has been working on manifesting the future version of herself as a writer on stages and tour, she kept wondering what she’d talk about in those moments. Sure, she...
Episode 88: [Amanda Nelson & Lisa-Marie Potter] How Two Authors Write One Love Story
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In this episode, Stephanie Oswald chats with Amanda Nelson & Lisa-Marie Potter about their co-writing, pantser style approach to writing romance.
You won’t want to miss listening to how they collaborate to bring their stories and characters to life.They’re fun.You’ll definitely find yourself connecting with what they have to share.There’s laughter. An example of another way to approach the writing process.Figuring out what works for you.Finding your way and what will bring your story to life.It’s so easy to get caught up in all o...
Episode 87: Caretaking and Your Creative Bucket
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Elizabeth Wilson and Stephanie Oswald get real about what can happen with your writing process when caretaking roles take over. The solution is remembering to find community. Inspired Writer Collective offers quarterly virtual writing retreats on Zoom. October 11 and 12, 2025 is the next retreat. You can find the form here to let us know you're coming.
Welcome to the Inspired Writer Collective podcast. If you've ever felt the pull to write your truth, to shape the chaos of real life into something meaningful and to share your journey with the world, you're in...
Episode 86: [Jared Glenn] Writers, Here's Why It's Important to Get Curious About Your Process
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This week we welcome author Jared Glenn. Jared’s second novel, Lost in the Sun, just released and he’s currently working on his third novel.
It was so much fun doing the production work on this episode that was recorded in June. Discussions around writing are timeless. You’ll find so much packed into this episode. There’s not a specific timeline for when you need to learn something or apply it to your own writing. There are opportunities all the time to find nuggets of wisdom you can apply to your...
Episode 85: Writers, Here's Your Permission to Write A Messy First Draft
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Write the messy first draft. Write, write, and write some more. Let your ideas flow and don't look back until you get to the end. The first draft is about getting your ideas on paper and then you'll have something to work with. It's not the time to edit or censor yourself.
Write the messy first draft. It's normal to have self-doubt creep in and try to distract you from your writing. Keep writing.
This episode is your permission to write the messy first draft. It's for your eyes on...
Episode 84: [Ananya Mody] Finding a Sense of Belonging Through Writing
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Elizabeth chats with Ananya Mody, a screenwriter for Netflix, about how she came to be a screenwriter and her insight for writers about holding onto their voice in the process.
Finding her way to herself and where she feels she belongs after experiences in the writing rooms of the screenwriting industry. It wasn’t very glamorous, but she learned a lot about herself and it led her to build her own business to help creatives find their sense of belonging.
Through her own experiences traveling and creating a sense of p...
Episode 83: How to Tap Into A Deeper Writing Practice with our Embodied Writing Experience
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The answer to your worries about showing up to a blank page and not knowing what to write. Elizabeth Wilson and Stephanie Oswald talk about their newsletter offering of the Embodied Writing Experience. A writing retreat in your inbox every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. It’s your opportunity to tap into a deeper writing practice with prompts, exercises and ideas for how you can connect at a deeper level with yourself. When you’re writing a memoir, you’re tapping into experiences and emotions that can rock you at the core. When you have t...
