The Merry Writer Podcast

Hosted by Ari & Rachel

Business Entrepreneurship Arts Books Education

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Episodes

345

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

Two chatty authors asking all the ’write’ questions. Hosted by Ari Meghlen and Rachel Poli, The Merry Writer Podcast is a fun, friendly show about all things writing and bookish.

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60 recent

October 14, 2026Episode 34230 min

How Do You Find Keywords For Your Novel? | Ep. 342 | The Merry Writer Podcast

EPISODE SHOW NOTES There's only so much we can do when it comes to promotion and marketing our books. Word of mouth is great, but it's also good if people find your book organically. How do they do this? By you tagging your book with the right keywords. This week, we discuss what book keywords are and how you can match good ones to your novel. In this episode, we cover: Types of keywords Keywords as phrases How to search for keywords and more! Recommended Tool: Publisher Rocket As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? We’re open to Author Interviews and Industry Interviews. This means, if you’re an author or work in the writing field (cover designer, audiobook narrator, editor, etc.) we want to hear from you! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

October 7, 2026Episode 3411 hr 2 min

Who Is Claris Lam? | Ep. 341 | The Merry Writer Podcast

EPISODE SHOW NOTES This week, we’re getting to know Claris Lam, author and poet, who writes in a multitude of genres. In this episode, we cover: Why she chose to write in multiple genres Insights into her poetry Where she draws inspiration from and much more! As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! ABOUT CLARIS LAM Claris Lam (she/her) is a Chinese Canadian author & poet writing to inspire readers with hope, perseverance, creativity, and happy endings. Claris’ short fiction and poetry has been published in several collections and projects. The first two books in her murder mystery series, the Harlow Mystery series, were nominated for several categories in the 2023 Indie Ink Awards and 2024 Queer Indie Awards. Her debut poetry chapbook, Refilling The Well, was published in February 2025 and her debut young adult (YA) short story collection, Stay Magical, was published in September 2025. Website | Instagram | Blue Sky | Tumblr | Facebook | YouTube WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? We’re open to Author Interviews and Industry Interviews. This means, if you’re an author or work in the writing field (cover designer, audiobook narrator, editor, etc.) we want to hear from you! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

September 30, 2026Episode 34022 min

How Can Podcasting Help Authors? | Ep. 340 | The Merry Writer Podcast

EPISODE SHOW NOTES Today is National Podcast Day! Since we've hosted a podcast for so long and we're authors ourselves, we thought it'd be fun to discuss the benefits of podcasting for authors. In this episode, we cover: Benefits of being a guest Benefits of hosting your own show Building relationships & networking Ari's old interview We couldn't find Rachel's old interview, unfortunately. But here's a link to Annette's website for good measure. As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? We’re open to Author Interviews and Industry Interviews. This means, if you’re an author or work in the writing field (cover designer, audiobook narrator, editor, etc.) we want to hear from you! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

September 23, 2026Episode 33942 min

How Can You Be A Good ARC Reader? | Ep. 339 | The Merry Writer Podcast

EPISODE SHOW NOTES ARCs, also known as Advanced Reader Copies, are super important for any author, but especially indie authors. We've discussed sending ARCs as an author before, but what about being an ARC reader? This week, we discuss how you can help support indie authors by being an ARC reader for them, and how to be a good one. In this episode, we cover: ARCs vs. Beta reading Author requirements Knowing your limits and more! Related episodes: Ep. 257 - Risks of Sending ARCs Ep. 269 - AI in the Writing Industry As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? We’re open to Author Interviews and Industry Interviews. This means, if you’re an author or work in the writing field (cover designer, audiobook narrator, editor, etc.) we want to hear from you! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

September 16, 2026Episode 33834 min

What Are The Business Models For Indie Authors? | Ep. 338 | The Merry Writer Podcast

EPISODE SHOW NOTES We've talked a lot on the show about how being an author is the equivalent of running a business. Depending on your publishing goals, you're running a business as an author. This week, we discuss various business models you can aim for to make a living with your writing. In this episode, we cover: Rights and licensing models Publisher model Creator model and more! Further Reading As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? We’re open to Author Interviews and Industry Interviews. This means, if you’re an author or work in the writing field (cover designer, audiobook narrator, editor, etc.) we want to hear from you! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

September 9, 2026Episode 33721 min

How Do You Cope With The Ups & Downs of Being An Author? | Ep.337 | The Merry Writer Podcast

EPISODE SHOW NOTES Being an author isn't all puppies and rainbows or kittens and cakes! There are some great parts, and some hard parts and we have to ride the rollercoaster through it all! So, today we talk about a few things you can do to prepare or cope with the ups and downs of author life. As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? We’re open to Author Interviews and Industry Interviews. This means, if you’re an author or work in the writing field (cover designer, audiobook narrator, editor, etc.) we want to hear from you! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

September 2, 2026Episode 3361 hr 13 min

Who Is Krista Walsh? | Ep. 336 | The Merry Writer Podcast

EPISODE SHOW NOTES This week, we’re getting to know Krista Walsh. Krista is a fantasy author who explores writing relatable characters in romantasy, urban fantasy, and epic fantasy quests. In this episode, we cover: Krista's writing routine Tips for selling books at events Tips for selling books direct and much more! As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! ABOUT KRISTA WALSH Krista is a Canadian indie fantasy author who spends her days creating relatable characters and epic found families wrapped in magic. She lives with her husband (who makes monsters), her daughter (who loves monsters), and her blue heeler (who is a monster). Website | Instagram | Facebook WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? We’re open to Author Interviews and Industry Interviews. This means, if you’re an author or work in the writing field (cover designer, audiobook narrator, editor, etc.) we want to hear from you! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

August 26, 2026Episode 33526 min

How Long Should You Research Before Starting To Write A Book? | Ep. 335 | The Merry Writer Podcast

EPISODE SHOW NOTES We started this episode in good faith, talking about research... kinda... then we fell down a rabbit hole. Kudos to everyone who actually managed to get to the end! We hope you enjoyed... something :) As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? We’re open to Author Interviews and Industry Interviews. This means, if you’re an author or work in the writing field (cover designer, audiobook narrator, editor, etc.) we want to hear from you! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

August 19, 2026Episode 33417 min

What Content Can You Send To Your Email List? | Ep. 334 | The Merry Writer Podcast

EPISODE SHOW NOTES A long, long time ago, on episode 78 of the show, we discussed content you can share with your email subscribers. It's been a while, and things have changed. So, this week we're updating our thoughts with content ideas you can share with your email list. In this episode, we cover: How to involve your subscribers Sharing aesthetics of your WIP Quick interactive ideas and more! As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content. WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? We’re open to Author Interviews and Industry Interviews. This means, if you’re an author or work in the writing field (cover designer, audiobook narrator, editor, etc.) we want to hear from you! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

August 12, 2026Episode 33323 min

Can You Be a Good Writer Without Suffering First? | Ep. 333 | The Merry Writer Podcast

EPISODE SHOW NOTES Today's episode is a little silly, as we discuss how important it is for writers to suffer in order to write well - however, please note we do touch on topics of death and loss. As always, thanks for listening. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, give the podcast a follow, and share our content! WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? We’re open to Author Interviews and Industry Interviews. This means, if you’re an author or work in the writing field (cover designer, audiobook narrator, editor, etc.) we want to hear from you! If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page . If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check for the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are accepting at that time. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Ko-fi You can join The Merry Writer community over on our Ko-fi page! It helps keep the show going and you get extra goodies through one-time or monthly tips. (Don’t worry; there’s plenty of free content, too!) We appreciate your support. Special Thanks Our Merry Writers via Ko-fi: Jeremy, Kris, & Jackie Share If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments. CREDITS Hosts Ari Meghlen & Rachel Poli Music Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of https://incompetech.com/ | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0