Slow Writing: Create at Your Own Pace
Episodes
63. Refining Our Raw Material with Allison Mei-Li
01 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Every piece of writing starts the same way—as raw material. Fragmented lines in a notebook, messy, typed pages, and printed drafts that need the swi...
62. How to Plan a Writing Retreat (Rerun)
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In honor of spring break, we're revisiting a popular episode from 2024. If you’re ready to give yourself the gift of space, time, and rest, this epi...
61. Reading for Pleasure
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the words of Anna Quindlen, “books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.” I can...
60. Fun & Flexibility with Heidi Fiedler
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mary Oliver wrote that “joy is not made to be a crumb,” yet it’s often the first thing to go when we’re prioritizing survival as parents, empl...
59. What is Slow Writing?
01 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The dictionary defines slow as a passive, sloth-like existence, but slow isn’t a symptom of falling behind—it’s actually the mechanism by which ...
58. Same Show, New Name
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Wild Words podcast is now… Slow Writing! After a long hiatus, the show returns with new episodes and fresh cover art, but the same support and e...
Slow Writing Trailer
21 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🎙️🐌 Big news, listeners! Wild Words is now… Slow Writing. After a year and a half hiatus, we're back with a new name, new cover art, a...
57. Searching for White Space (Rerun)
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Closing out this batch of episodes and heading into summer, I'm re-releasing one of my most popular shows from last year: Searching for White Space.Be...
56. The Best Questions I've Been Asked on Book Tour
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Seven years ago this spring, I was in Brooklyn on book tour for my literary cookbook, Eat This Poem. I was there for a live radio spot and a bookstore...
55. Are We Ever Really Finished?
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today I’m answering a listener question: How do you know when you’re done? It seems straightforward on the surface—you’re done when the essay ...
54. A Cyclical Approach to Social Media
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Because of social media’s shape-shifting nature (hello, algorithms) it’s useful to check in a few times a year to see if it’s still serving you,...
53. Let's Plan a Writing Retreat!
06 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re ready to give yourself the gift of space, time, and rest, this episode is for you. I’m sharing the highs and lows of a recent writing re...
52. Micro-Shifts to Prioritize Writing
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Writing in the margins isn’t just the actual time captured, it’s also the belief that these micro-moments add up to something. In Part 1 of our li...
51. How to Take a Vacation from Writing
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After spending three weeks away from home this winter (more on why in the episode), it got me thinking about how we spend time off from our writing ro...
50. “Make Space, Not Time” and Other Insights from the Sacred Pause
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In a world driven by doing, pausing can feel lazy, inaccessible, and scary. Most of us know that rest is important, but often find ourselves caught be...
49. Seasonal Reflection Ritual: Spring 2024
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to a new season of Wild Words! I’ve recently completed my seasonal reflection ritual, and am sharing my process to support your writing prac...
48. 6 Ways to Soothe Your Nervous System
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Learning what makes your brain and body feel supported and safe is an act of self-love. With a spirit of experimentation, this episode offers a variet...
47. Starting Over as a Writer on the Internet
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Surprise! After a year of consideration, I’ve officially moved my newsletter to Substack and this episode is the audio version of my first official ...
46. Experiments with NaNoWriMo
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Every November, writers from around the world commit to writing daily for 30 days, with the goal of generating 50,000 words of a new novel. National...
45. Preparing Your Nervous System for Publication with Tiffany Clarke Harrison
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
My guest today is Tiffany Clarke Harrison and we’re talking about the shadow side of publication—something many writers experience but rarely disc...
44. Should Writers Be on Substack?
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ever since Substack came on the scene, writers have flocked to the platform which claims to be a social media alternative that supports writers gettin...
43. Why Writers Need Rest with Ximena Vengoechea
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In her new book, Rest Easy, Ximena Vengoechea describes rest as “a state of being in which nothing is required of us. It’s a time where we can jus...
42. Rituals for Transitioning from Summer to Fall
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With a new season upon us, the time is ripe for considering new routines. On this episode we’re talking about the transition from summer to fall, in...
41. The Discomfort of White Space
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As much as we long for time to rest and afternoons to daydream, the reality can sometimes be… uncomfortable. After taking the summer to pause, I’m...
40. Searching for White Space
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nature expands and contracts, and so do we. It’s normal to experience periods of needing more rest, longing for time off after completing a big proj...
39. The Poetry of Shame & Self-Forgiveness with Cheryl Wilder
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cheryl Wilder and I met four years ago at a writing conference, and I'm so excited to share our conversation to celebrate National Poetry Month! C...
38. The Highly Sensitive Writer
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
High sensitivity is a term coined by Elaine Aron who wrote The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You, and refers to how...
37. Somatic Journaling with Jennifer Arnspiger
07 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anger. Disgust. Shame. Envy. These are the kinds of shadow emotions that today’s guest, Jennifer Arnspiger, loves to explore through the embodied pr...
36. The Roots of Decision Fatigue
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s estimated that we make approximately 226 decisions every day on food alone, and the average adult makes 35,000 decisions daily. So what’s a w...
35. What Worked in 2022
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you use December 31 as a deadline for planning your hopes and dreams in the new year? Me too. But I didn't get to it over the holidays, so instead ...
34. The Necessity of Winter with Rebecca Magee
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“It’s helpful to remember that I can look to the natural world at any moment, on any day, and see that nature doesn’t skip any phase, any season...
33. Welcome to Season 4, Plus a Gift for Writers
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Season 4! We’re starting the new year with conversations that embrace rest, winter, and taking it slow. Episode Highlights How I’...
32. Floating in the Messy Middle
08 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In our very last episode of Season 3, I’m actually combining two seasons: The Season of Beginnings and The Season of Finishing. The reason I mashed ...
31. Virtual Book Tours, Zoom Energy & Pacing Yourself
01 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There’s a real difference energetically between what’s required to do the work of writing and what’s required to share and expand that work. Tod...
30. A Post-Pandemic Relationship With Social Media
25 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We’re continuing our exploration of the creative seasons viewed through the lens of the pandemic. The Season of Retreating has been an interesting s...
29. How the Nervous System Impacts Your Writing Life
18 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
At the beginning of the pandemic, many of us bought home gym equipment and doubled down on exercise as a way to minimize stress. The Season of Listeni...
28. Thrown Down the Well & Making Space for Grief
11 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s conversation explores The Season of Liminal Space. It’s a vast topic, and in the context of the pandemic, I’m sharing four elements of t...
27. How to Write a Book During a Pandemic
04 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you’d told me I’d be writing a memoir during a global pandemic, I wouldn’t have believed you. But that’s what happened. I had big plans at ...
26. Cultivating Trust in the Writer's Life
27 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Every writer is intimately acquainted with The Season of Self-Doubt, and one of its biggest triggers is comparison. We’re so good at comparing our w...
25. Surviving Creative Burnout
20 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Our exploration of seasonal creative living through the lens of the pandemic begins, so it feels appropriate to start with The Season of Discontent. W...
24. Low Hanging Fruit
12 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Wild Words Podcast is back! After a two-year pause, today’s episode serves as an introduction to Season 3’s theme: seasonal creative living th...
Season 3 Trailer
19 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to the Wild Words podcast! In Season 3, we're exploring the seasons of a writer's life through the lens of the global pandemic. It’...
23. Navigating Creativity and Coronavirus
10 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to record this episode, but I snuck in some time to share my thoughts about how to navigate creativity during coron...
22: Closing a Business and Opening to Writing with Sonia Ruyts
03 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you achieve a dream, then want to change your life? Writer Sonia Ruyts answered this question—and waded through liminal space—wh...
21: Growing a Garden (and a Writing Life) with Kate Spring
27 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know what you wanted to do after college? Neither did writer Kate Spring. My guest today took a winding path to becoming a farmer in Vermont, ...
20: The Magic, Mystery, and Business of Children's Publishing with Heidi Fiedler
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wanted to write a children’s book? Heidi Fiedler has worked on more than 300 titles, and she’s an approachable and insightful resour...
19: 3 Mistakes Writers Make When Starting a Newsletter
13 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How do we build a community around our work? For writers seeking long-term support for their craft, this is an essential question and one I believe ca...
18: Essentialism for Writers
06 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We’re conditioned to do more—more blogging, more guest posting, more podcasting, more newsletter writing, more publishing, more speaking—but wha...
17: 3 Things Your Writing Life Needs to Thrive with DIY MFA's Gabriela Pereira
28 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Do you really need an MFA? No, but you do need a framework for making progress. DIY MFA is a book and community created by author, speaker, and entrep...
16: FOMO, Choosing Small, and Navigating Self-Doubt
21 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Big dreams are popular these days. Write the bestseller! Speak in front of thousands! Get 1 million downloads! How about we take a hard pass and focus...
15: Liminal Space in the Golden State with Alisha Sommer
14 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alisha Sommer and her family recently moved to California from the Midwest, and it was a dream six years in the making. We talk about the challenges (...
14: Point of Entry
07 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Every book, story, or poem has a point of entry. What are yours? Inspired by Jane Hirshfield’s poem “The Envoy,”—“there are openings in our ...
13: 2 Writing Rituals for the End of the Year
29 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Every December there are two things I like to do to support my creativity in the year ahead: conduct a writing annual review, and choose a word for th...
12: Return Yourself to Yourself with Lily Diamond
22 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Media bombards us every second of every day. With so much noise stimulating our brains, nervous systems, and hearts, how might we return to ourselves?...
11: The Writing Tool I Can't Live Without
15 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A favorite notebook, a delicious tea blend, a piece of software, a trusty pen. These are all standard tools a writer needs in her toolbox. But for the...
10: Self-Publishing and the Grounding Practice of Writing with Andi Cumbo-Floyd
08 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest is Andi Cumbo-Floyd, a writer and editor from Virginia’s Blue Ridge mountains. She’s written 11 books—10 are self-published—so...
09: 5 Writing Fears (and How to Overcome Them)
01 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
My work isn’t good enough. No one but me cares about what I have to say. People will think the story is true. I’ll be judged. I’m not original. ...
08: An Introvert's Guide to Book Promotion
25 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re an introvert with a book to promote (hello, Season of Visibility!), how can you share your message without burning out? That’s the quest...
07: How to Stay Calm on National Television with Sonja Overhiser
18 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Writers like to stay behind the screen, but part of our work requires getting out there and embodying The Season of Visibility. If you’re feeling un...
06: Your Work Is Not a Good Fit at This Time
11 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If sending your work into the world makes you feel simultaneously elated and anxious, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, rejection is par for the cour...
05: The Physical Toll of Book Writing with Elissa Altman
04 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
After finishing her manuscript for Motherland, author Elissa Altman posted a hard truth about the writer’s life on Instagram: doing this work can ta...
04: Creating Healthy Social Media Boundaries
27 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Navigating a love/hate relationship with social media? You’re not alone. This episode explores how you can use social media intentionally to enhance...
03: Facebook vs. Instagram: How to Intentionally Use Social Media feat. Christianne Squires
20 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ready to reevaluate your relationship with social media? Today I’m talking with Christianne Squires, who recently decided to deactivate her Facebook...
02: Trusting the Timing of Your Creativity
13 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever had a creative project idea that starts out feeling exciting but quickly turns frustrating or anxiety-producing? It’s not you, it’s ...
01: A Writer's Life is Lived in Seasons
06 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It’s easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing, compare our journey to others who are two steps ahead of us, and forget to listen to the ...