Buildwriting

3 Creative Poetry Prompts to Sharpen Your Writing | Ep 95

It's National Poetry Month — and I didn't want to just talk about poetry. I wanted to give you something to actually write. So I took three classic prompts from Ted Kooser, Mary Oliver, and William Carlos Williams and put a creative spin on each one. These aren't assignments. They're warm-ups. Pick one, try it, see what comes out. Here's what I cover:— Ted Kooser's "small thing" prompt, but with higher stakes— Mary Oliver's "pay attention" prompt, but from a different perspective— William Carlos Williams' "this is just to say" prompt, but you write the reply You don't need to be a poet to try these. You just need to be willing to write something small and see what happens. Happy writing. Subscribe to the Build Writing newsletter for more prompts, ideas, and honest writing conversations — https://buildwriting.com/newsletter [https://buildwriting.com/newsletter]

How to Build a Daily Writing Habit Using Short Stories —Julie Duffy | Ep 94

Writing consistently sounds simple — but for most writers, it's the hardest part. In this episode, I sit down with Julie Duffy, founder of Story a Day, a global writing community best known for its short story challenges that help writers build consistency without pressure. Julie has been helping writers show up and rediscover joy in the craft for over a decade, and this conversation is full of practical, human, and deeply writer-centered wisdom. We talk about how to stop overthinking and start writing, why finishing a short story teaches you what no amount of drafting ever will, and how a simple Writer's Manifesto can help you stop chasing trends and finally write the stories only you can tell. Whether you're stuck in perfectionism, struggling to write consistently, or just need someone to remind you that creativity takes time — this episode is for you. Chapters 00:00 — Introduction: What it really takes to build a daily writing habit00:45 — Julie's origin story: From childhood writer to founding Story a Day03:54 — The moment she realized it wasn't just about her anymore05:39 — How 100 people showed up before she was even ready07:30 — The power of constraints: Why writing prompts work even when you hate them08:45 — Why our brains resist writing (and how to push through anyway)11:27 — Why short stories are a great entry point for writers13:00 — The Writer's Manifesto: A tool to discover what you truly want to write16:05 — How your core values shape your writing (even when you don't realize it)20:46 — Julie's own writing manifesto: prolific, open-hearted, optimistic22:26 — What surprises writers most when they take the Story a Day challenge25:42 — How to define a "successful writing day" (it's not what you think)29:35 — What finishing a story teaches you that endless drafting never does31:14 — Why short fiction is a destination, not just a stepping stone33:23 — Skills you build writing short stories that transfer to everything else36:47 — "My writing isn't good enough yet — should I still write every day?"39:26 — Show up for your inner writer: The long game of creative life40:56 — Story a Day May 2025: What's coming and how to join Connect with Julie Duffy:🌐 Website & Community: https://storyaday.org [https://storyaday.org]📄 Free Writer's Manifesto Workbook (made for Build Writing listeners): https://storyaday.org/buildwriting [https://storyaday.org/buildwriting] Enjoyed this episode?Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, leave a quick review or rating, and share it with a writer friend who needs to hear this. It really helps others find the show. 📬 Subscribe to the Build Writing newsletter for writing prompts, behind-the-scenes experiments, and more. https://buildwriting.com/newsletter/

Poetry as Survival: Writing Through Trauma, Loneliness, and Healing with Patricia Harris | Ep 93

What happens when writing isn’t just a creative outlet—but a lifeline? In this deeply honest conversation, poet, publisher, and author Patricia Harris opens up about what it means to live with poetry—not as a hobby, but as a way of surviving the world. From writing her first poems as a child to running her own publishing company, Patricia shares how poetry became her language for processing trauma, insomnia, migraines, loneliness, and life itself. If you’ve ever written to cope, read poetry to feel seen, or wondered whether your words matter—this conversation will stay with you.In This Episode, We Explore: * How poetry became Patricia’s lifelong coping mechanism * The role of poetry marathons in building creative endurance * Why discipline and inspiration aren’t opposites * The importance of learning poetic forms before breaking them * How reading poetry helps writers feel less alone * Publishing poetry, running a small press, and supporting other writers * Redefining success as showing up and telling the truth * Writing through trauma without losing love for the craft Connect with Patricia Harris Explore Patricia’s poetry, books, and publishing work on her personal blog: https://pattymouseblog.com Learn more about her publishing company and the authors she supports: https://faecorpspublishing.com You can also find her books across major retailers through Books2Read links available on the Faecorps Publishing site. About the Guest Patricia Harris is a poet, children’s author, and publisher. She writes poetry, nonfiction, and children’s books under her own name, and dark fantasy and horror under the pen name Serena Musgraves. She is the founder of Faecorpse Publishing, where she helps indie authors bring their work into the world. Patricia has been writing poetry since childhood and publishing since 2010. Join the BuildWriting Newsletter If today’s conversation inspired you, join my BuildWriting Newsletter — where I send writing prompts, creative reflections, and weekly reminders to return to the page. 👉 Join here: https://buildwriting.com/newsletter/ A creative life grows when we grow it together. Chapters 00:00 Poetry as a Lifeline 01:03 What Patricia Writes and Why 02:10 Publishing Poetry and Building a Press 03:52 What a Poetry Marathon Really Demands 06:10 Prompts Pressure and Creative Freedom 07:25 Knowing the Rules Before Breaking Them 09:40 Writing Without Forcing the Work 11:04 Creativity Cooking and Chaos 14:59 Confidence Rejection and Finding Your Reader 17:35 How Poetry Changed Patricia’s Life 20:28 Why Reading Poetry Matters 23:15 The Poems That Stay Close 26:54 What Patricia Hopes Readers Feel 29:06 Defining Success as a Writer 31:49 Writing in Themes 35:11 Cover Design and Creative Control 41:08 Rapid Fire Poetry Rebels and Icons 43:06 If Her Poems Could Speak 43:54 Where to Find Patricia’s Work 45:02 Closing Thoughts Keep Writing

Why We Write: Fear, Courage, and the Human Story —Cindy Watson | Ep 92

In this episode of the BuildWriting Podcast, I sit down with the incredible Cindy Watson—social justice lawyer, award-winning author, founder of Women On Purpose, and someone whose writing journey blends activism, vulnerability, courage, and deep human insight. What starts as a conversation about writing turns into one of the most reflective, honest, and transformative discussions I’ve ever had on this show. We talk about fiction vs. nonfiction, fear, creativity, parenting, mortality, advocacy, poetry, authenticity, and the real reason we write. This episode changed me. I think it might change you too. Chapters 00:00 Introduction & who Cindy is 02:00 Why fiction scares her more than nonfiction 05:00 Vulnerability, validation, and the fear of being judged 09:00 Making time to write vs. waiting for the “right time” 14:00 Her daughter’s surgery & how it changed her life and writing 18:00 What publishing really feels like 23:00 Writing for love vs. writing for validation 30:00 Poetry, emotion, and finding your inner voice 36:00 The surprising origin of The Art of Feminine Negotiation 51:00 My metaphysical questions on writing, success, and poetry 56:00 Where to find Cindy + our closing reflections Connect With Cindy Watson Learn more about Cindy’s work and mission: 🔗 Women On Purpose — https://womenonpurpose.ca 🎙️ Check out her podcast: The Art of Feminine Negotiation Podcast She’d love to connect with listeners who care about writing, advocacy, and living with intention. Join the BuildWriting Newsletter If today’s conversation inspired you, join my BuildWriting Newsletter — where I send writing prompts, creative reflections, and weekly reminders to return to the page. 👉 Join here: https://buildwriting.com/newsletter/ A creative life grows when we grow it together.

How an Actor Turned Daily Writing Prompts into an Audio Fiction Podcast—James Beaumont | Ep 91

In this episode of the BuildWriting Podcast, I sit down for a deeply inspiring conversation with British actor and voice artist James Beaumont. What started as a simple January writing challenge—1,000 words a day using prompts from my website—became 31 Stories, a full audio fiction podcast where James writes, performs, edits, and produces his own short stories. We talk about how prompts can unlock creativity, why performing your own writing brings a story to life in ways the written page alone cannot, and how actors blend creativity with interpretation to create something truly unique. We also discuss the joy (and challenge) of short-form audio fiction, the possibilities of radio plays, and the importance of trying new creative territory—even when you don’t think you’re “a writer.” If you’re a storyteller, poet, fiction lover, or creator exploring new artistic paths, this episode will leave you excited to experiment, write, perform, and build something entirely your own. Connect with James Website : https://linktr.ee/jamesbeaumont Join the Buildwriting Newsletter https://buildwriting.com/newsletter/ Chapters 00:00 Opening & Guest Intro 00:41 Who James Is 02:38 How the Writing Began 03:44 Turning Stories Into a Podcast 05:24 New Prompts & New Process 06:54 Why Audio Fiction Matters 09:37 Radio Plays & Sound Design 11:08 Becoming a One-Man Producer 12:19 Writing for the Ear 14:58 Writing for Yourself First 16:04 AI vs Human Performance 18:40 Poetry + Music + Drama Ideas 22:05 Interpretation as Creativity 24:21 Why the Messenger Matters 27:26 Acting Range & Character Work 32:04 Trying New Creative Territory 37:02 Practice Over Perfection 45:34 Considering Radio Plays 48:03 Audience & Growth 51:36 Cross-Platform Creativity 51:59 Where to Find James 53:46 Closing Thoughts