Beyond The Rough Draft
By Iman Llompart
Through casual Zoom or Google Meet conversations, we explore the heart of the creative process.
This series is for anyone who’s ever felt stuck, isolated, or unsure of their voice. By sharing real stories, struggles, wins, and everything in between, we aim to show that creative doubt is universal, and writing is never a solitary journey.
Folklore, Family and Finishing the Draft
If you are listening only on audio there is a short silent gap with captions from minute 2:29 to 2:55.
ABOUT THIS EPISODE
In this third episode, host Iman Llompart sits down with sisters Samantha Moody and Nikki Watson, the creative duo behind the folklore storytelling podcast Wyrd Folk, for an honest conversation about creativity, persistence, and building a writing life on your own terms.
Together, they explore growing up in a family that encouraged imagination, how folklore and ghost stories shaped their creative identities, and the different paths that led them to storytelling. From haunted landscapes and ancient myths to publishing realities and creative self-doubt, Sam and Nikki share what it means to keep showing up for the work even when confidence wavers.
The sisters open up about imposter syndrome, perfectionism, grief, and the challenge of finishing projects when life gets in the way. Samantha also shares the unconventional journey that led to her debut novel, Sleuths —a comedic crime romp exploring toxic fan culture and celebrity scandal—landing a two-book publishing deal without the traditional querying route. Alongside their individual writing careers, they discuss how creating Wyrd Folk gave them the freedom to experiment, grow their craft, and connect with audiences through a shared love of folklore and storytelling.
If you've ever struggled to finish a manuscript, questioned whether your work is good enough, or wondered if there's more than one path to becoming a published author, this conversation is a reminder that persistence, curiosity, and community can carry you further than certainty ever will.
ABOUT BEYOND THE ROUGH DRAFT
Beyond the Rough Draft is a new interview series hosted by Iman Llompart on Writer’s Fun Zone, the creative hub founded by Beth Barany.
This series explores the messy, meaningful, and often magical process of writing — the doubts, detours, and deep truths that shape every story.
Each episode features candid conversations with fiction and creative nonfiction writers who share what it really takes to stay creative, grounded, and resilient.
Because writing isn’t just about word count; it’s about the journey through self-discovery, vulnerability, and persistence.
FEATURED GUEST: Samantha Moody
Samantha Moody is a BAFTA Rocliffe-winning British-American genre writer obsessed with complicated women who do bad things for good reasons. Her debut novel, Sleuths, released in May 2026 and is a comedic crime romp exploring toxic fan culture and celebrity scandal.
📖 Learn more about Sleuths here: https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/sleuths-samantha-moody?variant=55785714254203
✍️ Looking for a signed copy? Visit The Cleeve Bookshop: https://thecleevebookshop.co.uk/products/9780008778163?_pos=1&_sid=557d98846&_ss=r
Samantha's work spans crime, horror, thriller, folklore, fantasy, science fiction, and romantasy. She is one half of the storytelling podcast Wyrd Folk and has written for NoSleep and HappenedHere.
When she's not writing, she's often exploring Iron Age ruins in the Cotswold hills or searching London's occult bookshops for inspiration.
🌐 Connect with Samantha:
Website: https://www.samanthamoody.co.uk
Instagram: @sammysan
FEATURED GUEST: Nikki Watson
Nikki Watson is a writer with a love of folklore, neolithic tombs, black cats, and all things slightly haunted. She writes YA, Middle Grade, and Historical Fiction and is currently finishing a Gothic YA novel set in late Victorian Gloucestershire.
Alongside her fiction, Nikki co-creates, writes, edits, and produces episodes of Wyrd Folk, a storytelling podcast inspired by folklore, history, and the strange corners of the world around us.
Her relationship with her characters is deeply personal, often feeling as though she's channeling them onto the page as they reveal themselves through the story.
🌐 Connect with Nikki & Wyrd Folk:
Website: www.wyrdfolkpod.com
Instagram: @wyrd.folkpod
Why This Mother-Daughter Writing Team Gets Unstuck When Creativity Dies
In this heartfelt second episode, host Iman Llompart sits down with mother–daughter writing duo Rachel McLaughlin and Michele Burns for an intimate, meaningful conversation about creativity, fear, and the power of growing as writers side by side.
Rachel and Michele dive into how storytelling has shaped their family across generations, how they each found their way into writing during very different life seasons, and how creativity becomes both anchor and expression through motherhood, identity shifts, and self-rediscovery.
They open up about their deepest writing fears—being misunderstood, not being read, or exposing too much of themselves—and share the rituals and mindset shifts that help them keep writing even when the inner critic gets loud. Through laughter, honesty, and a rare look into a shared creative relationship, they show how writing can be a lifeline, a mirror, and a bridge between generations.
If you’ve ever questioned whether your writing is “enough,” this conversation is a reminder that every draft, every wobble, and every return to the page matters.
ABOUT BEYOND THE ROUGH DRAFT PODCAST
Beyond the Rough Draft is a new interview series hosted by Iman Llompart on Writer’s Fun Zone, founded by award-winning author and creativity coach Beth Barany. The show dives into the messy, meaningful, and magical parts of the writing process — the fears, breakthroughs, and creative rituals that shape every story. This podcast is for you if you’ve ever asked: How do I move through creative blocks ? What does it take to stay motivated as a writer? How do other authors manage self-doubt and discipline? Because writing isn’t just about getting to “The End” — it’s about growing through every rough draft along the way.
Why Writing Feels So Lonely Sometimes
In this premiere episode of Beyond the Rough Draft, host Iman Llompart talks with Amandeep Ahuja, author of The Frustrated Women’s Club, about embracing imperfection, writing through self-doubt, and finding humor in the chaos of creativity. Together, they explore how storytelling can be both therapy and rebellion — and why laughter might just be a writer’s best survival skill. If you’ve ever stared at a blank page wondering why you write, this conversation will remind you exactly why you can’t stop.
ABOUT BEYOND THE ROUGH DRAFT PODCAST
Beyond the Rough Draft is a new interview series hosted by Iman Llompart on Writer’s Fun Zone, founded by award-winning author and creativity coach Beth Barany. The show dives into the messy, meaningful, and magical parts of the writing process — the fears, breakthroughs, and creative rituals that shape every story. This podcast is for you if you’ve ever asked: How do I move through creative blocks ? What does it take to stay motivated as a writer? How do other authors manage self-doubt and discipline? Because writing isn’t just about getting to “The End” — it’s about growing through every rough draft along the way.