The Merry Writer Podcast

Hosted by Ari & Rachel

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Episodes

327

Latest episode

Jun 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

June 10, 2026Episode 32413 min

Who Are Writing Exercises? | Ep. 324 | The Merry Writer Podcast

EPISODE SHOW NOTES We all know what writing prompts are, but what about writing exercises? If you want to improve your craft, writing exercises are a great way to do so. This week, we discuss what writing exercises are and the differences between them and prompts. In this episode, we cover: Writing exercises vs. writing prompts Examples of writing exercises Why they're important 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

June 3, 2026Episode 32353 min

Who Is Adina Chiles? | Ep. 323 | The Merry Writer Podcast

EPISODE SHOW NOTES Please help us welcome another author to the show, Adina Chiles! Adina is a YA Fantasy author who’s a creator and collector of fictional worlds. Her book, Secrets of a Rose, is the first title in the Royal Blood series, and is available now. In this episode, we cover: Adina's work in the YA fantasy genre How she got her literary agent Her writing routine 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! ABOUT ADINA CHILES ADINA CHILES has an obsession with all things; coffee, fantasy, and contemporary. She is both a creator and collector of fictional worlds and enjoys the company of a good book over peopling. She was born and raised in Northern California, and outside of the book world, she enjoys creating new recipes for her baking business, traveling, and binge-watching shows. Adina is currently published by Forever Young and Never & Ever, and she hopes in the near future to expand and publish a few contemporary pieces. Website | Instagram 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

May 27, 2026Episode 32227 min

How Do You Set Up A Virtual Book Blog Tour? | Ep. 322 | The Merry Writer Podcast

EPISODE SHOW NOTES It's 2026, which means everything is online. It's important to promote your book on and offline, but one great way to get many eyes on your book is to run a virtual book blog tour. How does one do that? Well, that's what we're discussing this week. In this episode, we cover: What a book blog tour is What set up entails (and how long) Finding participants and working with them 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

May 20, 2026Episode 32127 min

How Important Is Networking For Writers? | Ep. 321 | The Merry Writer Podcast

EPISODE SHOW NOTES Writing can be a lonely business and there's a lot to learn when you want to become a published author. Having connections to people who understand what it's like and building communities can be really useful. So today we are talking about networking and how to do it (according to us!) :) In this episode, we cover: What is networking (according to us) Why networking can be important How to network 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 a moment to review our FAQs Page. If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are currently accepting submissions. 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

May 13, 2026Episode 32030 min

How Can You Create A Book Launch Roadmap? | Ep. 320 | The Merry Writer Podcast

EPISODE SHOW NOTES A few episodes ago, we touched upon book launch roadmaps. It was then we realized that we had never discussed a roadmap on the show before, so here we are. Just what is a book launch roadmap and what does it entail? This week, we discuss how to use a roadmap to streamline your self-publishing journey. In this episode, we cover: What a book launch roadmap is Why it's important How to create and use one 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

May 6, 2026Episode 31951 min

Who is Jill Haymaker? | Ep. 319 | The Merry Writer Podcast

EPISODE SHOW NOTES This week, we’re getting to know author Jill Haymaker. Jill is a contemporary western romance author with several short stories published. She writes the Montana Pines series, which currently has eight books available now. In this episode, we cover: Jill's writing inspiration Marketing tactics Her self-publishing journey 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! ABOUT JILL HAYMAKER ill has always had a passion for writing. She resides on the front range of Colorado and enjoys getting up into the mountains and riding horses. If you love western small town romance, you will love the strong heroines and handsome cowboys in her books. She has three contemporary romance series set high in the Colorado Rockies—the Peakview Series, the Aspen Ridge Series, and the Peaktop Dude Ranch Series. Currently she is writing a Montana Pines Series. She also has several short stories published by Chicken Soup for the Soul. She practiced family law for over 20 years before closing her law office to become a full-time author. She has three grown children, and six granddaughters and one grandson. When not writing, Jill enjoys the Colorado mountains, horseback riding, gardening, long walks with her Toy Australian Shepherd, Merlin, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Website | Instagram | Goodreads | TikTok 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

April 29, 2026Episode 31818 min

How Do You Evaluate Your Author Proof? | Ep. 318 | The Merry Writer Podcast

EPISODE SHOW NOTES A crucial part of prepping your book for publication to ensuring it prints correctly and looks great without any errors. To check that, you need to order an author proof. This week, we discuss how to give your author proof a thorough look over to make sure it's 110% ready for publication. In this episode, we cover: What an author proof is Draft2Digital vs IngramSpark vs Amazon KDP Checking in interior and exterior 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

April 22, 2026Episode 31724 min

How Should New Writers Approach Editing? | Ep. 317 | The Merry Writer Podcast

EPISODE SHOW NOTES EDIT: Apologies for the technical issues. During the recording our connection became unstable and both myself and Rachel ended up out of Zoom for brief periods Yes, we are back with another editing episode. For those new to writing, the editing process can be quite overwhelming, so we discuss some things that can help you get started and what to consider when editing your first manuscript. In this episode, we cover: Know the types of edits Make a list of things to consider Take a break Use a style sheet First pass read Get outside help 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 a moment to review our FAQs Page. If you feel you’d be a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please check the status of the Google Form on that page to see if we are currently accepting submissions. 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

April 15, 2026Episode 31626 min

How Can You Take Great Book Photos For Social Media? | Ep. 316 | The Merry Writer Podcast

EPISODE SHOW NOTES Unfortunately, we need to promote our books when we write them. In a digital world, social media is the way to go. But how can you take enticing book photos for your social channels? That's what we discuss this week. In this episode, we cover: Equipment and lighting to use Props you can use Editing your photos 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

April 8, 2026Episode 31520 min

How Can You Develop Your Characters? | Ep. 315 | The Merry Writer Podcast

EPISODE SHOW NOTES We are discussing characters and how to develop them a little deeper. In this episode, we cover: Go beyond the basic archetype Beginning, middle and end Use conflict Don't forget side characters 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 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