The Write Channel

(Ep. 7) How Do I Write a Horror Story? A Dialogue With Novelist Whitten Rutledge

Send us Fan Mail What if the things that scare us most are the stories we’re meant to tell? In this expansive and dynamic episode, I sit down with novelist Whitten Rutledge to talk about horror, channeling, and the process of bringing a first novel to life. We explore where stories come from, how lived experiences become creative material, and why horror can give us a powerful way to confront the things we fear. Whitten also shares what he’s learned about writing, community, and staying open to inspiration instead of forcing the work. At its heart, this conversation is about what it means to write the stories that help us feel seen, understood, and a little less alone. The Write Channel is sponsored by Next Page Editing & Design. Connect with Janaye at itsthenextpage.com for writing coaching, editing, or self-publishing support. For inquires: contact@itsthenextpage.com

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(Ep. 6) How Do I Channel Grief? A Solocast by Host Janaye Jordan

Send us Fan Mail In this solo episode, I share a personal writing practice that is helping me navigate a season of grief. After the recent loss of a loved one, I've found myself turning to solitude, movement, and free writing as ways to process what feels too heavy to "think through." We'll talk about creating a sense of safety in the body, allowing emotion to move without judgment, and using writing as a channel for expression rather than explanation. I also share two journal prompts that have opened unexpected insights for me during this time. This conversation is gentle, personal, and rooted in the belief that grief has something to teach us if we're willing to sit with it. The Write Channel is sponsored by Next Page Editing & Design. Connect with Janaye at itsthenextpage.com for writing coaching, editing, or self-publishing support. For inquires: contact@itsthenextpage.com

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(Ep. 5) How Does Writing Shape the Way We Speak? A Dialogue With Coach & Speaker Dr. Sheetal Ajmani

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Sheetal Ajmani for a conversation about the connection between writing, speaking, coaching, and sharing. Dr. Sheetal is the founder of Radiant Living Institute, where she helps executive leaders communicate with greater clarity, confidence, and alignment across their personal and professional lives. We talk about journaling as a tool for self-awareness, the role writing can play in helping us process difficult experiences, and how reconnecting with our inner voice can influence the way we coach, speak, teach, and show up in the world. This conversation explores the crossover between storytelling and leadership, the role self-awareness plays in communication, and why finding your voice is often less about performance and more about connection. If you’re curious how personal experience can evolve into meaningful work and service… If you’re building work centered around communication, coaching, or creativity... Or if you’re learning how to trust your voice in public spaces… I think this conversation will stay with you. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Dr. Sheetal: Website: https://www.radiantlivinginstitute.com/ Connect with Janaye (host of The Write Channel): contact@itsthenextpage.com itsthenextpage.com

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(Ep. 4) How Does Our Attachment Style Shape the Way We Write? A Dialogue With Licensed Therapist & Poet Duni Porter

Send us Fan Mail Today, I sit down with Duni Porter—a poet, therapist, and former client of mine—to talk about the connection between writing, healing, and attachment. Duni shares how poetry found her through music, what it was like to publish her first collection, and how she’s learned to trust her creative process over time. We explore how attachment styles show up in writing—from fear of sharing to struggling to begin—and how to move through those blocks with more awareness and self-trust. This conversation is a grounded reminder that writing isn’t just about craft—it’s about safety, connection, and learning to trust your voice. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Duni: IG: @duni.amelia & @wholeyouwithduni Buy Everything In Between: https://a.co/d/0hdjZB31 Connect with Janaye (host of The Write Channel): contact@itsthenextpage.com itsthenextpage.com

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(Ep. 3) What Does It Mean to Write With Reverence? A Dialogue With Journalist & Creator Julia Craven

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Julia Craven to talk about a word she shared when I asked what inspires her writing: reverence. Julia is an award-winning journalist, the founder of Healthy Futures on Substack, and creator of The Library of Black Wellness. Her work sits at the intersection of storytelling, ancestry, and community care. We talk about where writing begins, the role our communities play in shaping our voices, and how honoring the past can influence the stories we choose to tell now. This conversation is thoughtful, grounding, and a reminder that the work we do rarely starts with us. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Julia: IG: @rocketjuju Healthy Futures Substack The Library of Black Wellness Connect with Janaye (host of The Write Channel): contact@itsthenextpage.com itsthenextpage.com

(Ep. 2) Who Speaks When We Write? A Dialogue With My Mother, Apryl Turnbull

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with my mother, Apryl Turnbull, for a conversation that feels very close to my heart. We talk about her lifelong relationship with writing — from journaling as a child, to studying journalism, to a career in corporate communications, and now returning to creative writing in retirement. Apryl shares how her practice has shifted over time and what it looks like now: slower, more intentional, and often rooted in nature alongside her beloved tree, Mystic. We explore how audience shapes voice, how reconnecting with our younger selves can open creativity, and how writing can become an act of listening instead of something to control. In a moment that still feels tender to me, Apryl also shares a message she channeled from Mystic for listeners of the show. I hope this conversation meets you gently. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ What advice do you have for writers who may be stuck/blocked? Soar with Purpose. Attune to your why, your sacred song that lives within. Let your voice emote all the secret treasure that lies within you. As trees, we grow roots deep and deeper, to allow the nourishment from the Earth to sustain us as we grow. We don’t yield to fear, as our roots are buried in the courage that Mother Earth gives us. Relinquish your ego, let your mind rest and settle into the whispers of your soul for your soul needs to lead the way. Let your mind become a partner and take instruction from your soul and allow your creativity to dance, play, be joyful and free. Embrace your inner child who remembers how to imagine without judgement, without self-consciousness. Play with your inner child daily to help release your mind traps. This taps into the creative flow that is within your soul. Allow yourself to be the vessel for Divine Source to flow through you, all of your innate gifts, insights, wisdom, your uniqueness, your story, your song. Write it freely, sing it, dance it, whatever Muse resonates most. Let yourself be known, be seen. Ease and flow is the way to grow strong in your creative attunement with Source. Trust that inspiration is never going to dry as water flows to parched places, let your wisdom be a balm to your soul and to others. Remember why you came. You are the student and the teacher. Be the creator/creatrix, the manifestor of your story. We honor you all! ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Apryl: at@mysticvibesllc.com Instagram:myst_icvibesllc Connect with Janaye (host of The Write Channel): contact@itsthenextpage.com itsthenextpage.com

(Ep. 1) Where Do Words Come From? A Solocast by Host Janaye Jordan

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to The Write Channel with Janaye Jordan. If you’re a writer of any kind, this space is for you. In this first episode, I share how the podcast began, with a quiet moment in nature that shifted the way I think about writing and creativity. It opened up a deeper curiosity in me about where words come from and how stories move through us. I talk about the questions that guide this show: how writers find flow, move through blocks, and stay open to inspiration. This episode sets the tone for the conversations ahead — exploring writing not just as a craft, but as something we listen for and grow into over time. My hope is that you find inspiration, resonance, and the courage to tune in to where words begin. Connect with me at itsthenextpage.com for writing coaching, editing, or self-publishing support. For inquires: contact@itsthenextpage.com