# EP 54 – "Owning Your Voice as a Writer " | Ashley Cowger | Award-Winning Author

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/let-s-talk-passion-purpose-with-nicole-thomas-7066006/ep-54-owning-your-voice-as-a-writer-ashley-cowger-award-winning-author
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/let-s-talk-passion-purpose-with-nicole-thomas-7066006/ep-54-owning-your-voice-as-a-writer-ashley-cowger-award-winning-author.md
Podcast: [Let's Talk: Passion & Purpose with Nicole Thomas](https://stenobird.com/podcast/let-s-talk-passion-purpose-with-nicole-thomas-7066006)
Published: 2026-06-11T06:17:43+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-54-owning-your-voice-as-a-writer-ashley-cowger-award-winning-author--72472716
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72472716/ep_54_ashley_cowger_final_file.mp3
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Duration seconds: 3194

## Resource

Guest: Ashley Cowger is an award-winning author whose short story collections include On the Plus Side (Galileo Press) and Peter Never Came , winner of the Autumn House Press Fiction Prize. What makes someone a writer? In this episode, Nicole Thomas sits down with Ashley Cowger to discuss writer identity, creativity, rejection, revision, and the habits that help writers stay connected to their craft. Ashley shares how she embraced the title of writer from an early age and why publication isn't what determines whether someone is a "real" writer. Together, they explore the inspiration behind her books, Peter Never Came and On the Plus Side, the realities of social media and mental health, ADHD and creativity, morning pages, reading like a writer, and how thoughtful feedback helped shape her path to publication. Ashley also shares practical insights on revision, overcoming perfectionism, and building a sustainable creative practice rooted in curiosity, consistency, and persistence. This episode is for: • Writers who struggle to call themselves writers • Aspiring and published authors navigating rejection and self-doubt • Creatives looking to build a sustainable writing practice • Anyone interested in creativity, storytelling, and personal growth • Writers seeking practical insights on revision, routine, and the creative process • People who want to create with more confidence and less perfectionism Memorable Quote "You're a writer if you write. You don't have to publish what you write."

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