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Way-Word Writers hosts Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer welcome award-winning children’s nonfiction author Nancy Churnin, known for inspiring stories about real people who changed the world. Churnin shares how a Dallas Morning News article about deaf baseball player William Hoy led to her first children’s book after a 13-year journey, launching her focus on lesser-known changemakers. She explains how she discovers subjects through curiosity and articles, approaches research differently depending on available sources, and ensures accuracy and cultural sensitivity by working closely with families, communities, and scholars. Churnin discusses finding the “heart” of each story, choosing what to include in picture book narratives, creating student projects tied to each book, lessons in perseverance and humility, and advice to write about someone you love, seek support, and stay focused on meaning over facts. 00:00 Meet Way-Word Writers 00:31 Introducing Nancy Churnin 02:15 Why Biographies 04:01 William Hoy Origin 07:18 Finding Story Subjects 11:16 Research Methods 14:38 Accuracy And Sensitivity 18:48 Choosing What Stays 21:03 Staying Focused On Theme 24:54 Empowerment Themes 26:05 Projects With Every Book 29:11 Biggest Writing Lesson 29:52 Perseverance Through Rejection 32:53 Craft Advice For Nonfiction 36:28 Rapid Fire Questions 40:15 School Visit Joy 42:42 Encouragement And Farewell This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit waywordwriters.substack.com

Way-Word Writers hosts Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer introduce their mission and welcome guest Janine Ouellette, author of the lyric memoir The Part That Burns and creator of the Substack Writing in the Dark, who teaches writing through the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop and at the University of Minnesota, with a forthcoming craft book One Word at a Time. Ouellette explains that writing “saved” her life by helping her become herself and transform childhood trauma into something separate and beautiful, echoing André Aciman’s idea that writers create empowering “versions of the past.” She frames writing as a non-dogmatic spiritual practice tied to attention and becoming, describes “Writing in the Dark” as embracing uncertainty and Keats’s “negative capability,” and discusses breaking through the “wall” with tools and community. She contrasts drafting (“morning”) with revision (“afternoon”), defines “sleepy” versus “awake” language via defamiliarization and specificity, and argues for “slow language” and anti-capitalist, process-over-product practice that values playful exercises and creative risk. 00:00 Welcome to Way-Word 00:34 Meet Janine Ouellette 02:40 Writing Saved My Life 06:20 Versions of the Past 07:41 Writing as Becoming 09:51 Uncertainty and Negative Capability 13:16 Breaking Through the Wall 17:01 Waking Up Language 24:45 Story Thinking in Life 33:00 Writing as Transformation 40:22 Slow Language and Play 46:08 Closing and Connect The Part That Burns by Jeannine Ouellette This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit waywordwriters.substack.com

Way-Word Writers cohosts (Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer) welcome senior literary agent Sally Ekus of the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency’s Ekus Group to discuss the current cookbook market and how cookbooks remain viable alongside online recipes. Ekus explains how food culture has expanded opportunities for niche, concept- and technique-driven cookbooks, and why success still depends on exceptional, tested, clearly written recipes plus voice, concept, and platform. She addresses myths such as “everyone loves my family recipes” and “it will be easy,” emphasizes choosing the right medium, and suggests beginners study bookstore shelves, acknowledgments, and agents’ query preferences. Ekus outlines a portfolio approach to platform building and shares resources from her free Substack, including proposal guidelines and where-to-begin posts, plus advice on “coffee table cookbook” positioning. 00:00 Welcome to Way-Word 00:32 Why Cookbooks Now 01:08 Meet Agent Sally Ekus 03:07 Cookbook Market Snapshot 05:07 Online Recipes vs Books 06:22 Why We Buy Cookbooks 07:15 Only Three Recipes 09:28 What Makes Success 11:11 Cookbook Myths Busted 12:56 Should You Write One 14:16 Getting Started Research 15:29 Self Publishing Options 16:27 Platform and Pitch Strategy 19:11 Publishing Is A Long Game 19:28 Fiction Platforms And Publisher Risk 20:17 AI Disruption And Human Trust 21:32 Why She Built The Newsletter 23:02 Hyper Mentorship And Skill Sessions 26:12 Cookbook Structure As Story Craft 27:49 Proposal Guidelines And Where To Begin 29:38 Coffee Table Cookbook Myth 31:39 Books That Changed Her Cooking 34:12 Lightning Round And Farewell Find Sally at JVNLA HERE and on Substack at Not So Secret Agent! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit waywordwriters.substack.com

Hosts Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer welcome nationally recognized grammar expert Patty McGee, author of “Feedback That Moves Writers Forward” and “Not Your Granny’s Grammar,” to discuss grammar as a tool for clarity, intention, and voice rather than rigid rules. McGee explains why grammar feels scary due to shame-based schooling and “grammar police” culture, and emphasizes learning key sentence structures (simple, compound, complex, compound-complex) to shape rhythm and meaning. She advises that grammar focus during drafting depends on a writer’s fluency, highlights comma splices as a common issue, downplays strict comma-before-conjunction rules, and encourages intentional rule-breaking—especially in dialogue—based on audience and purpose. The group discusses distractions like repetitive punctuation errors, AI’s conflicting guidance, knowing oneself before critique, and trusting candid readers and copy editors, then closes with a lightning round on Oxford commas, fragments, adverbs, and starting sentences with conjunctions. 00:00 Welcome to Way-Word 00:32 Meet Patty McGee 01:38 Why Grammar Feels Scary 03:58 Rules vs Voice 06:22 Four Sentence Types08:30 Drafting or Revising 09:48 Comma Splices and Commas 15:00 Grammar as Paintbrush 16:38 Authors vs Copy Editors 18:41 Grammar Distractions in Queries 21:50 Where Rules Came From 23:52 AI Grammar Anxiety 25:00 Know the Basics 26:00 Writing Voice Choices 26:57 Audience and Genre Rules 29:01 When to Let Go 31:04 Lightning Round Grammar 36:08 Professional vs Personal 36:55 Where to Find Patty 37:22 Final Thanks and Outro ​Go to Patty McGee’s website here! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit waywordwriters.substack.com

In this episode of Wayward Writers, hosts Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer welcome author Jennifer Gennari to discuss the intricacies of line editing and its importance in the writing process. Jennifer talks about her journey as a writer and editor, shares her approach to character-driven dialogue, and offers practical advice for strengthening sentences. The conversation also delves into common issues faced by writers and teaching strategies to improve one’s manuscript. Guest recommendations for craft books and personal anecdotes round out this educational and inspirational episode. If you’d like to read Heather’s deep dive article on this episode, you can find it here: EPISODE 104 DEEP DIVE: The Art of Line Editing, A Guide to Polishing Your Prose 00:00 Introduction to Wayward Writers 00:32 Meet Jennifer Gennari 01:33 Jennifer’s Writing Journey 02:48 Books Jennifer Recommends 04:23 The Importance of Line Editing 06:27 Line Editing Techniques 08:18 Character Development Through Line Editing 12:35 Character-Driven Analogies 17:17 Avoiding Over-Polishing in Writing 18:06 The Power of Reading Aloud 19:31 Using Beta Readers Effectively 21:20 Common Issues in Student Manuscripts 23:04 Recognizing Generic Sentences 25:11 Polishing Dialogue for Emotional Resonance 27:23 Advice for Middle Grade Authors 28:54 Recommended Craft Books 30:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Find Out MORE: Jennifer Gennari’s Website and Links to Muffled and Stifled. ​​​​The Art of Description: World Into Word​ by Mark Doty ​The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat Kekla Magoon, Author Refuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts by Matt Bell Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne & Dave King This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit waywordwriters.substack.com

Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer introduce Way-Word Writers’ new Substack offerings to support writers across genres and career stages with actionable resources. They describe two paid tiers: the $50/year Trailblazer Tier featuring craft, marketing, and business worksheets, and the $150/year Summit Club providing deep-dive, on-demand workshops that can be paused and revisited, building an ongoing library. They highlight current workshops including a promotional planning overview focused on building a street team and launch timeline, Heather’s “From First Draft to Final Synopsis” revision and synopsis method using highlighting and outlines, and upcoming sessions such as Nicki’s time management and goal-setting class and Stephanie’s character-building workshop using the Enneagram. They encourage community interaction via comments, email requests, and continued connection through their website and social platforms. 00:00 Welcome to Way-Word 00:36 Why We Chose Substack 01:26 Trailblazer Tier Worksheets 02:20 Summit Club Deep Dives 03:25 Learn Anytime Benefits 05:40 Class Street Team Promo 07:29 Class Revision Synopsis 10:07 Monthly Workshop Schedule 11:27 Class Time Management 14:34 Class Enneagram Characters 17:55 Actionable Workshop Promise 18:42 Request Topics Connect 19:50 Final Sign Off This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit waywordwriters.substack.com

Feel like you don’t have enough hours in the day? Writing goals not being met like you hoped? Nicki Jacobsmeyer, author and business professional, explores different time management strategies and goal setting that work for your life and make you more intentional. Determine where you’re currently spending time, what pesky distractions get in your way, and how to tackle the ticking clock by prioritizing writing and what’s most important to you. Summit Club Workshop includes: * Time Audit template * Time Examiner template * Goals-Chunks-Segments Planning Strategies template This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit waywordwriters.substack.com

On this episode of Way-Word Writers, hosts Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer talk with longtime collaborators Christina Boufis (fiction/nonfiction author and author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Nonfiction) and Victoria Olson (author of biography, fiction, and nonfiction; former university writing instructor) about how their co-writing partnership works and what it was like to use Kickstarter in their publishing journey. They outline major hurdles and what they would do differently, share outcomes, and note Kickstarter is better suited to genre, niche, and quirky projects than many memoirs or standard domestic thrillers. The episode closes with where to find them (somdarkforest.com, christinaboufis.com, Penny Dreadful Media on TikTok) and what’s next: completing the sequel by spring and planning additional collaborative books (including titles Dark Circles and Dark Science) alongside their solo projects. 00:00 Welcome to Way-Word Writers (Meet the Hosts & Mission) 00:36 Today’s Guests: Long-Term Co-Authors + Kickstarter Publishing 02:03 How Their Writing Partnership Began (Dickens Camp to First Project) 03:27 Drafting Together in One Google Doc (Discovery Writing + NaNoWriMo Sprint) 05:20 Editing, Roles, and the ‘Jazz Improv’ Collaboration Style 06:50 Pros, Cons, and Keeping a Unified Voice as Co-Authors 10:30 Staying Motivated Through Life & Rejection (Why Partnership Helps) 12:01 Why They Chose Kickstarter (After a Small-Press Offer) 15:16 Kickstarter Reality Check: Visual Assets, Video, Swag, and New Skills 18:17 Running the Campaign: Backer Swaps, Reward Tiers, Stretch Goals & Fulfillment 19:21 Backer Demands & Going Physical: Paperback, Hardcover, Collector Mindset 21:14 When It Stops Feeling Overwhelming: Mastermind Support & Campaign Vetting 22:44 Kickstarter’s Built-In Community Engine: Updates, Requests & Reader Connection 24:12 Results & Aftermath: Low Goal Strategy, 400% Funded, Early Reviewers 25:23 Social Media Spillover: Promoting Beyond Kickstarter + Why TikTok 27:09 Kickstarter First Steps: Finish the Book, Find Community, Study Other Campaigns 29:49 Design, Video & Reward Strategy: Outsourcing, Swag, Special Editions, Signed eBooks 32:16 Would They Do It Again? Time, Energy, and the Real Learning Curve 33:42 Is Kickstarter a Fit? Genre vs Memoir, Niche/Quirky Books & Physicality 36:15 What’s Next + Where to Find Them: Sequels, Solo Projects, Websites & Farewell ​Find more about Christina Boufis at christinaboufis.com! ​Find more about Victoria Olsen at victoriaolsen.com! ​Some Dark Force, a Victorian thriller, by Christina Boufis and Victoria Olsen. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit waywordwriters.substack.com

In this episode of Way-Word Writers, hosts Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer interview Chloe Ito Ward, a Japanese American children’s author with a background in education. They discuss Chloe’s new and upcoming books, the thematic elements in her writing, and the inspiration and process behind her stories. Chloe shares how her personal and professional experiences influence her work and provides insights into the challenges of writing for a young audience. The conversation also touches on the importance of diversity, cultural representation, and authenticity in children’s literature. 00:00 Welcome to Way-Word Writers 00:31 Introducing Chloe Ito Ward 00:45 Chloe’s Teaching Background and Inspiration 02:06 All the Ways We Learn 08:49 Made For More: The Story Behind the Book 11:39 Writing for Young Readers 16:40 Author’s Note and Reader Engagement 19:52 Reflecting on Parental Influence 20:07 Introducing Chopsticks Are.... 20:37 Cultural Touchpoints in Chopsticks Are.... 21:05 Expanding the Scope of Chopsticks Are.... 23:51 Research and Writing Process 25:11 Conversations Around Chopsticks 28:04 Balancing Authenticity and Accessibility 29:33 Creative Writing Process 31:09 Themes and Identity in Writing 34:10 Avoiding Didacticism in Picture Books 36:45 Lightning Round Q&A 37:55 Conclusion and Farewell Find out more about Chloe Ito Ward on her website here! On Tuesday February 17, see our companion deep dive article about adding hooks and layers to your book to increase depth, universal resonance, and commercial viability: EPISODE 105 DEEP DIVE: Layering Hooks and Themes Into Your Manuscript This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit waywordwriters.substack.com

​In this episode of the Way-Word Writers Podcast, hosts Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer share updates on their current writing projects and discuss the exciting changes in their creative journeys as they step into 2026. They open up about their writing seasons, upcoming goals, and how they are planning to sustain their creative passion while balancing various aspects of their lives. The episode also introduces changes in the podcast's release schedule and the addition of new, in-depth content on their Substack to better support their writing community. ​PLEASE NOTE: Our schedule will change to a podcast every other Tuesday and a DEEP DIVE companion article on the Tuesdays in between. ​Workshops for our Substack Summit Club level will be released periodically, at least every other month. 00:00 Welcome to Way-Word Writers 00:31 Introduction to the Podcast 01:34 Hosts Share Their Current Writing Projects 02:53 Stephanie's Exciting New Ventures 04:45 Nicki's Writing Journey and Goals 12:42 Heather's Writing and Life in Costa Rica 17:48 Balancing Writing and Promotion 19:43 Changes to the Podcast Schedule 25:45 Workshops and Community Engagement 28:11 Final Thoughts and Farewell This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit waywordwriters.substack.com

In this episode of Way-Word Writers, hosts Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer welcome author Julie Berman to discuss her journey of writing later-in-life romances. They delve into Julie's transition from speech-language pathology to author, her latest book 'Elsie's New Season,' and the importance of portraying love and life experiences of older adults authentically. Julie shares insights into the challenges and joys of writing for this demographic, the stereotypes she aims to debunk, and how her personal experiences have influenced her work. The hosts also explore broader themes of resilience, grief, and love, offering valuable advice for both writers and readers. Check out our EPISODE 104 DEEP DIVE: Writing Beyond Midlife: Crafting Compelling Stories with Older Protagonists 00:00 Introduction to Way-Word Writers 00:32 Meet Julie Berman 02:31 Julie’s Writing Journey 03:43 Elsie’s New Season: A Later in Life Romance 05:30 Themes in Julie’s Writing 08:07 Balancing Realism and Romance 13:09 Genre Blending and Audience 15:46 Character Backgrounds and Relationships 17:54 Personal Touches in Grief 19:10 Challenging Age Stereotypes 20:37 Embracing Character Quirks 22:38 The Evolution of Romance Genres 24:01 Advice for Aspiring Writers 25:09 The Importance of Beta Readers 27:20 Navigating Indie Publishing 29:35 Marketing and Promotion Strategies 32:08 Heartwarming Lessons from Writing 33:42 Conclusion and Future Projects ​Elsie’s New Season: A Later In Life Romance by Julie Berman This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit waywordwriters.substack.com

In this episode of Way-Word Writers, hosts Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer discuss the unique challenges of balancing writing with caregiving responsibilities. Each shares personal experiences as caregivers and writers, offering valuable insights and practical advice on managing stress, setting boundaries, and finding creative solutions to maintain their passion for writing. They emphasize the importance of self-care, realistic goal-setting, and the value of community support during difficult times. This week our EPISODE 103 DEEP DIVE: Writing While Caregiving (Or Being Super Busy!) has some great tips and ways to keep your relationship with writing and creating healthy.00:00 Introduction to Way-Word Writers 00:43 The Challenges of Writing as a Caregiver 01:16 Different Types of Caregiving 01:52 Personal Caregiving Experiences 06:04 Balancing Writing and Caregiving 06:49 Strategies for Managing Time 09:35 The Importance of Community Support 11:12 Setting Boundaries and Self-Care 18:34 Creative Solutions for Writing Time 21:01 Dealing with Creative Burnout 23:05 The Writing Process: Observations and Experiences 23:33 Creative Solutions for Writing on the Go 24:14 The Importance of Reading and Consuming Stories 25:47 Incorporating Life Experiences into Writing 27:26 Balancing Family, Resilience, and Writing 31:46 Finding Creativity Amidst Caregiving 35:13 Managing Guilt and Asking for Help 42:17 Defining Success During Caregiving 44:38 Final Thoughts and Advice for Caregivers and Writers This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit waywordwriters.substack.com

In this episode of ​Way​-​W​ord Writers, Kaitlyn Sanchez, an agent at Bradford Literary, joins to discuss her journey with writing contests, community building, her roles as an editorial agent, and the impact of her contests on writers’ careers. And if you’d like a bit more of Heather’s thoughts on this topic… EPISODE 102 DEEP DIVE: The Hidden Architecture of a Thriving Writing Community00:00 Introduction to ​Way​-​W​ord Writers 00:02 Meet Kaitlyn Sanchez: Agent and Contest Creator01:24 The Birth of Writing Contests03:54 Community and Collaboration in Contests10:08 Behind the Scenes of Contest Management16:58 The Impact of Contests on Writers20:09 Advice for Contest Participants26:30 Future of Writing Contests29:27 Conclusion and Farewell F​ind out more about Kaitlyn Sanchez, her contests, writing, agenting, and more on her website! Thank you for listening! To get access to our worksheets and deep dive articles, add your email below! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit waywordwriters.substack.com

In this episode of Way-Word Writers, hosts Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer sit down with Harold Underdown, a seasoned editor and consultant, to discuss effective submission strategies for writers. Harold shares insights on common submission missteps, how to test editor and agent fit, and crafting the perfect query letter. He also delves into the impact of digital workflows and AI on the publishing industry, and offers useful revision tools for authors. The episode wraps up with a discussion on the balance between trade and educational markets for nonfiction works, and practical tips for finding comparable titles. EPISODE 101 DEEP DIVE: Where Heather Talks About Publishing Trends and Assessing Manuscripts For Submission00:00 Introduction to Way-Word Writers00:34 Guest Introduction: Harold Underdown02:11 Common Submission Missteps05:22 Testing Editor and Agent Fit07:43 Submission Checklist Essentials11:03 Handling Soft Passes and Rejections15:28 Using Industry Intel Smartly18:33 Big Changes in Publishing23:32 The Impact of AI on Publishing Staff25:09 Editorial Assistants and Efficiency26:14 Challenges for Authors with Orphaned Books28:00 Revision Tools for Authors31:45 Positioning Nonfiction for Multiple Markets34:40 The Role of Comparable Titles in Queries39:17 Submission Strategies Across Genres41:22 Lightning Round: Trends, Myths, and Resources45:57 Conclusion and Farewell The Purple Crayon Children’s Book Agents and Artist’s Representatives: a Guide This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit waywordwriters.substack.com

In this episode of Wayward Writers Podcast, Stephanie Bearce and co-hosts Nicki and Heather reflect on the milestones and personal victories of 2025. They discuss their memorable 100th episode, successful retreats, heartwarming interactions with podcast guests, and individual creative achievements. They also offer insights into their plans for 2026, including exciting new projects, personal growth in writing, and upcoming events for the Wayward Writers community. The hosts express gratitude for their journey and the supportive community that surrounds them, encouraging listeners to reflect on their own year and look forward to new opportunities.00:00 Welcome to the Grand Finale of 202500:33 Celebrating Milestones and Retreats04:01 Personal Victories and Achievements07:38 Reflecting on the Year and Looking Ahead12:48 Finding Joy and Passion in Writing15:14 Current Projects and Future Plans15:37 Exploring the Joy of Writing Essays16:37 Deep Dives and Craft-Based Advice17:22 Exciting Plans for 202617:45 Nicki's Debut Thriller Novel19:30 Navigating the Publishing Jungle21:37 Agent Ascente and Opportunities23:46 Upcoming Retreats and Community Building26:06 Gratitude and Reflections28:30 Looking Forward to 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit waywordwriters.substack.com