In March, I am sharing the things I am absorbing right now that are fueling my writing fire.
Like I said last week, I am a strange bird.
As a strange bird, I am often looking for different things than the rest of the flock.
Which means my choices in podcasts are not going to be like the other birds.
I love podcasts. I even launched my own. What I like about podcasts is the convenience of them. For me, it is another delivery method for story – like movies, ebooks, or sitting around listening to people tell stories. I can listen while I am cleaning my kitchen, driving around town, or walking between the classes I teach. Which is good because I am less likely to be caught by a student grooving out to my Mary J. Blige mix if I’m listening to a podcast. Like I did last week.
And often the stories in a podcast will get me thinking about ideas that I can convert into stories of my own, my own twist or approach to something. Which means I am often drawn to short stories, investigative journalism, or some fellow weirdo with a microphone.
Because I need podcasts that are inspiring writing ideas, not podcasts that will act as a distraction.
Here are the podcasts that are inspiring my writing ideas for me:
Dateline – Yes, they have a podcast. At the risk of sounding cliche, Dateline is the best. I also enjoy 48 Hours and 20/20, but neither of those programs translate as well to the podcast form as Dateline does. They are storytellers, and the hosts are integral to providing context, further questioning, and transitions to keep the listener engaged.
I Am Not Nicholas – Dateline actually led me to this podcast about a man living in Great Britain who is being accused of actually being a man from the United States who has supposedly faked his death to avoid an FBI probe. I am often intrigued by stories of potential frauds, imposters, and when people take things beyond reasonable believability.
Where Shall We Begin – The early episodes of the series had a simple premise: the listener gets to eavesdrop on a one time couples therapy session. Because of both my love of drama and my love of being a fly on the wall, this podcast has many levels that appeal to me. Each episode is like learning how other people live, talk, trust, and deal with what life has handed them. The latest episodes are not the same.
Criminal – I like listening to stories about crimes, and what I like about Criminal is it is both historial, intimate, and has a wider scope than most crime of the week podcasts. They’ve covered scams and people who exploit loopholes. They’ve covered identity theft and shady adoptions. They’ve discussed counterfeiters and people who thwart misdemeanors.
The Perfectionism Project Podcast by Sam Laura Brown – I have actively put some of Brown's planning strategies into play and it has made a huge difference in what I am getting done. Also, I recognize a lot of this behavior in my students, so it is helping my teaching
Be on the lookout for my podcast, Cowgirl Bookworms, launching on March 14.
Read Books. Wear Boots.
XOXO,
B.