You probably didn’t know this, but I recently turned 50—on July 26, to be exact. And while I don’t feel 50 in my mind, in my body I’m definitely starting to feel it a bit!

50 is an interesting age: a watershed moment when many people re-evaluate their lives. Over the last few years, I’ve started paying more attention to how different people deal with this important transition in life.

I’ve noticed that people generally make one of two choices when it comes to middle age.

When you enter this period of life, you stand before two objects: a ladder and a recliner. You have the choice of whether you are going to sit down in the recliner and focus on being comfortable … or whether you’re going to accept the challenge to keep climbing up the ladder of personal success.

Most people choose the recliner. At this point in life, many people are tired, beaten down from life, and have no interest in new challenges. So they sit down in the recliner with no intention to grow and learn as a person.

On the other hand, a much smaller percentage of people realize that life isn’t about being comfortable. It’s about growing into your full potential and using the challenges of life to propel you to new heights. So instead of turning away from the challenges and checking out of life, they take a good, long look at the ladder … and they start climbing.

Which brings me to my guest on this episode, my friend Laura Venecia Rodriguez.

Laura is an author, researcher, and speaker dedicated to helping individuals over 50 regain or discover their mojo and “shine” with renewed purpose and passion after reaching an impasse or experiencing a major upheaval or change in their lives.

She shares information on ancient and contemporary tips, techniques, and wisdom that enhance the body, mind, and spirit. You can find her inspiration and wisdom in her weekly newsletter, “Shine After 50:  Regain Your Sparkle” as well as her “Shine After 50” Youtube channel.

Laura is also the author of Gentle Yoga After 50: Get Fit, Flexible, and Feel Fantastic!, where you’ll learn information and insights about yoga that Laura has learned since starting yoga at age 15. You can find out more about Laura and her writing at her website, https://shineafter50.com.

I’ve asked Laura to be a guest on today’s episode to especially help those of us 50 or older (or who are approaching that age) to understand what we can better to shine and succeed as writers.

You’ll learn about some of the key challenges we face in this period of life, how to navigate life transitions, lots of insights about how yoga can help you be more healthy and centered, and much more.

One of the most common questions people ask me about ghostwriting is, “Where do I get clients?” It’s a natural question, of course, because all writers who are doing client work would probably like to increase their income and have more consistent work.

My answer to these friends is sometimes a little disappointing because almost all of my clients have come to me via referrals from colleagues, friends, and previous clients.

A great network takes time to build, but it’s worth it because those relationships are the foundation for a client-based business over the long haul. However, there are other sources for client work as well. One of the most popular ones is Reedsy, a marketplace for writers, editors, marketers, and designers.

I've asked my friend, Alice Sullivan, to join me for a conversation about Reedsy since she's had a lot of success connecting with ghostwriting clients there over the last few years.

Alice Sullivan is a #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling ghostwriter, New York Times bestselling editor (11 times over), collaborator, and speaker. A natural-born storyteller, she has written 64 books and edited over 1,300 titles since 2001.

In addition to her NYT and WSJ bestsellers, other books have achieved Amazon bestseller status and won several awards, such as Readers’ Favorite, Living Now Book Award, and Nashville’s Best Local Children’s Book Award.

She has written for Forbes, Hay House, Thomas Nelson Publishers (Harper Collins), Abingdon Press, Made for Grace Publishing, World Net Daily, Changing Lives Press, Carpenters Son Publishing, Clovercroft, and KN Literary Arts.

Alice specializes in memoir, self-help, personal growth, and leadership because she loves personal stories and practical advice. Her favorite projects challenge her point of view, expand her knowledge, and add meaning to her life.

Alice is not just a consummate storyteller and writer. She's also one of the most kind and down-to-earth people I know.

In this conversation, I get to ask Alice all my burning questions about getting started on Reedsy. We talk about:

• Alice’s experience on Reedsy.
• How to connect with clients and be successful there.
• Alice's income from Reedsy projects.
• How to get started on Reedsy.
• How the platform is different than going to clients directly.

If you want to expand your client base as a ghostwriter, editor, or designer, you'll love Alice's advice! Make sure to connect with Alice at https://alicesullivan.com.

I’m a big fan of learning from other industries and professionals. It’s very easy as a writer to spend all your time around other people who only think about books and publishing. Yet it’s important to remember that at the end of the day, you’re a business owner.

That’s why I’m excited to bring you this conversation with my friend Anastasia Forrest, a rockstar real estate agent!

Anastasia Forrest is a lifelong learner, creative, and sobriety-enthusiast based out of St. Augustine, Florida. She has two amazing daughters and an awesome husband who builds beautiful houses.

Her main profession is helping people buy and sell homes as a Real Estate Broker Associate with EXP Realty. Her creative passions are songwriting, authoring books, and painting. Her favorite things to do with her family are to go out on boat adventures, explore new places together, and have pizza and movie nights.

Anastasia is also the author of The Creative Real Estate Agent: How to Build a Rocking Real Estate Business and Be More Creatively Productive Than Ever in addition to her previous book, The 30-Day Sobriety Experiment: A Guided Journey of Self-Discovery.

I was fascinated by Anastasia’s ability to write a compelling book for real estate agents, but do it through the lens of creativity, which is a passion of hers. On today’s episode, she shares some lessons from her experience as an author and real estate agent that you can use to boost your creativity and grow your business.

Topics in our conversation include:

• Why real estate is indeed a creative field
• How she developed a unique take on a familiar topic
• Various ways to cultivate a creative mindset to work and wealth
• How to build great relationships … especially if you’re an introvert
• How she has found success on social media by just being herself

Be sure to check out Anastasia’s book, music, and real estate business at https://www.anastasiaforrest.com.

* * *

Today’s episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I’ve worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

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It has been quite an eventful week at the Daily Writer. This past week, I did an official public launch of the Daily Writer Community. I know that I have mentioned it several times already here on the podcast, and I even did a full episode a couple of weeks ago sharing about it.

But this past week was the first time I really put it out there on social media and shared it more widely than I ever have.  On this episode, I wanted to dive into the behind the scenes of creating this group and what I have learned from it. 

We take a look at these five lessons:

1) Do your market research before you launch something.

2) When you launch, you will be surprised by the people who will ignore you and support you.

3) You must put in the work to build something meaningful.

4) You will never feel ready to launch, but do it anyway.

5) Don't take anything personally.

***

Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.

Follow Kent Sanders:

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I'm thrilled to bring you this bonus interview with Joe Ricci. We dive into all my geeky questions about story structure and the specifics of writing for the Hallmark channel.

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I'm excited to bring you this conversation with one of the coolest and most interesting people I have met in a while. His name is Joe Ricci, and he is an actor, playwright, screenwriter, and director.

Joe has been an actor in stage productions such as the off-Broadway hit “I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change,” the national tour of “Carousel,” the first national tour of “Saturday Night Fever,” and the Broadway revival of “A View from the Bridge” with Scarlett Johansson and Liev Schreiber. 

As a director, Joe’s two current projects are the rock musical Whiskeyland!, as well as a play called Squirrel Screams and Other Dating Sounds (major points for a great title). He just recently adapted Whiskeyland! into a screenplay and they are in the very early stages of developing Squirrel Screams into a TV pilot.

Joe has also written for the Hallmark channel, most notably the movie In the Key of Love, which we will talk about more in the bonus episode airing tomorrow. His other current writing projects include a rom-com musical called Third Party Ruling, as well as some new pitches for the Hallmark channel.

If you have been listening to this podcast a while, you may remember that I interviewed Tricia Brouk last year on the show. Joe is Tricia’s husband, and it has been an absolute pleasure getting to know them both and featuring them here on the show.

In this conversation, Joe shares quite a bit about his theater background and how that turned into writing and directing. He also shares talks about the process of turning a play into a screenplay, as well as some other projects he's working on. I also had the chance to ask him about his rituals and habits for staying focused and productive.

No matter what kind of writing you do, I know you will be inspired by Joe's creativity and his approach to writing. I know I was!

You can connect with Joe at his website, JoeRicci.net. And if you have the Hallmark Channel, make sure and catch In the Key of Love the next time it airs. Even if you don't regularly watch the Hallmark channel or consider yourself a rom-com kind of person, I think you'll really enjoy it.

***

If you enjoyed this episode, we would be grateful if you leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people discover the show, and the more people listen, the more we can invest into it and improve the show.

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If you’re not mechanically inclined, maybe you can relate to this scenario. You’re driving down the road one day, and all of a sudden you realize that your car has been running kind of rough lately. The engine is a little bit noisier than it used to be and wonder what might be wrong.

Then it dawns on that you can’t remember the last time to had the oil changed. You wonder if maybe you’ve done some damage to the engine, and you’re also thankful you haven’t let it go on for much longer because you might damage the engine.

A lot of writers and creative types operate this way. They keep working, keep driving, keep pushing and never do the basic maintenance required to keep their emotional, physical, and mental engine running smoothly.

On this episode, Kent challenges the notion that in order to make great art, you must destroy yourself in the process.

***

Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.

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Michelangelo was one of the greatest artists who ever lived. As a sculptor, painter, designer, architect, and so much more, he transformed history and was a major force of the Italian Renaissance.    But have you ever considered exactly what it was that made Michelangelo so great? Was it his creative genius? His relationship with powerful and influential people such as the Pope? His ability to organize massive projects such as the painting of the Sistine Chapel?    All those factors surely played a part in his greatness. But above all, Michelangelo was a guy who got things done. He finished projects and saw them through to completion.   On this episode, Kent explains how this artist's great example can help us finish our writing.   *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.   Follow Kent Sanders:   Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders 

There is something quite magical about a book. Of course, you already know that since you’re a writer. You’re already committed to the art and craft of writing books.

But it’s interesting that so many writers don’t make a lot of time to read. We love books and are committed to creating them … but we struggle with fitting reading into our schedules.

Reading is a critical part of the creative process. Of course we need to have other inputs as well, such as listening to great talks, watching videos and movies, seeing plays, and other ways to experience great art. But above all, we must read.

On this episode, Kent shares a very simple tactic for getting more reading done.

***

Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.

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It is common in the entrepreneurial world to view a day job as the enemy of a writing career. You have a boss, you have office hours, and you have job responsibilities that feel a million miles away from the writing you want to do.

If you want to build a full-time writing career or gain more financial freedom, then building your own business is certainly a great goal. But while you are in your day job, it is important not to view it as the enemy.

On this episode, Kent shares ten tips for using your day job to develop great skills as a writer and communicator.

***

Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.

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There is a strange dynamic within the world of writers.

On the one hand, there is a huge amount of collaboration and community. We support each other, we buy each other’s books, we write books together, we share resources, and we generally try to spread the love.

On the other hand, it is also easy to be jealous of other writers who we perceive to be more successful. We wonder why we don’t sell the same amount of books or get as much attention. We may even start to wonder if we have the talent to succeed.

On this episode, Kent reminds us why comparison is a losing game.

***

Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.

Follow Kent Sanders:

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Here in the first couple weeks of the year, everyone loves to talk about goals. But once a week or two passes, the reality of life kicks in and the idea of a nice goal is not enough to carry you through the messiness of life.

Having a goal is not enough to make that goal a reality. That is where habits come in, which is the subject of today's episode.

One of the most influential books of the second half of the 20th century was Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The premise of the book was that you must take personal responsibility for your success. I'm borrowing the concept of the "7 Habits" to share some key actions that every writer should implement into their lives.

1. Read books that help you achieve your goals.
2. Write every day.
3. Publish your work.
4. Market your work.
5. Help other writers.
6. Thank those who helped you.
7. Persist through the hard times.

***

Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.

Follow Kent Sanders:

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On this bonus interview, Pastor John Stange shares his thoughts on the structure, writing, and marketing of his upcoming book, Dwell on These Things.

I encourage you to listen to yesterday's interview with John if you haven't already. It will give you lots of context for the information in this episode.

If you are working on a book, or considering writing a book, then you will find a lot of gold here. You will especially enjoy John's words of wisdom for aspiring authors.

Make sure to pre-order your copy of Dwell on These Things. You can find links to John's podcasts and his other books at DesireJesus.com, and you can connect with John on  Facebook.

***

Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.

Follow Kent Sanders:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders

Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders 

Today’s episode is sponsored by editor Karen Hunsanger, also known as “The Word Wizard.” I’ve worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

📚 Download your FREE Daily Writer Starter Kit at https://dailywriterlife.com/free

✉️ Want writing tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Writer email at https://dailywriterlife.com/dailyemail

🚀 Want to grow your writing business and accelerate your success? Check out our Daily Writer Club.

📱 Follow us: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter

On today's episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing my good friend John Stange about the release of his upcoming book, Dwell on These Things.

Last month, John asked me to interview him for a special episode on his podcast. John and I talked about how the book can help people, especially right now in a time where man people are under a lot of stress financially and emotionally.

A bit about John: he is the Lead Pastor of Core Creek Community Church in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. He hosts three podcasts: The Chapter-A-Day Audio Bible, Daily Devotions with Pastor John, and Dwell on These Things.

John has written over twenty books, all of which are focused on spiritual growth, leadership, marriage, and practical aspects of following Jesus. John also recently started The Healthy Discipleship Community, which has been a great success.

Dwell on These Things is a 31-day challenge to help you replace unhealthy messages you preach to yourself with Gospel-centered truth. Everyone deals with negative self-talk, and John's book is a big help in replacing those negative voices with something much more positive.

From a writing perspective, there is a lot to learn here about the way John structured the book and how we should be thinking about our readers when doing the same for our books.

I encourage you to pre-order your copy of Dwell on These Things. You can find links to John's podcasts and his other books at DesireJesus.com, and you can connect with John on  Facebook.

***

Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.

Follow Kent Sanders:

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Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders

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As you begin to make progress toward your writing goals this year, you will run into some roadblocks. Life will get messy, you will feel tired, and even here in the first couple weeks of the year, you will probably feel like giving up.   But why do you feel like giving up? It all comes down to unrealistic expectations. We get discouraged when the picture we have in our head doesn’t match the reality in front of us.   We see the messiness in front of us and assume that the great books we love, or any great work of art for that matter, is perfect.   On today's episode, Kent shares how The Godfather can inspire us to embrace the flaws that come with being a human artist.   *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.   Follow Kent Sanders:   Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders 

You were having a perfectly good streak. Things were going well with your writing, and you were making great progress with your book, blog, client work, or something else you were working on.

But then it happened. Maybe it was family drama. Maybe it was a work situation. Maybe an appliance or a car broke down. Or maybe there was political or social chaos that made it hard to focus. Whatever it was, it was an outside force that made it harder for you to get your writing done.

What should you do? How should you respond? Here is a great example from the history books. The 2nd century Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius had plenty of distractions and crises coming at him every day, particularly in the years he spent away from home engaged in battle. Yet he did not allow external events to determine the destiny of his thoughts.

On today's episode, Kent shares a powerful quote about focusing on what you can control.

***

Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.

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Here at the Daily Writer, we are a huge advocate for not just writing books, but for reading them. They are a critical facet of your growth as a writer. You will be hard-pressed to come across a great leader in modern history who has not also been a great reader.

However, there is a danger in focusing too much on consuming ideas, and not enough on action. Reading doesn’t guarantee that your life, writing, or business has improved.

In fact, within creative and entrepreneurial circles, there is a “culture of consumption” where each leader and influencer tries to outdo the next by bragging about all the books they have read.

On today's episode, Kent reminds us about the dangers of reading too much and taking too little action.

***

Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.

Follow Kent Sanders:

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During this first week of the year, you will hear a lot of people talk about their goals. You will see social media posts, articles, emails, and news stories about all the big plans people are making for 2021.

Perhaps you have set some goals for yourself. If so, congratulations! That is an important step toward being successful as a writer. Maybe you even shared them with a few friends or posted them online.

Goals are important, but there is also a danger in talking about them too much. The more we talk about them, especially on social media, it can easily feel like we are making progress without actually having done the work.

On today's episode, Kent reminds us of the simple way to get started on working toward your goals.

***

Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.

Follow Kent Sanders:

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It’s the beginning of a brand-new year. You have dreams. You have goals. You have big things you want to accomplish in the next twelve months. And your mind is consumed by one overriding question: “Can I do this?”   It’s not a question of whether anyone needs to give you permission. Rather, it’s a question of whether you can muster the resources, energy, creativity, discipline, and focus in order to do things you have never done before.   On this episode, Kent reminds you that even if you have a huge goal this year, you CAN do it.   *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.   Follow Kent Sanders:   Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders 

On this episode, I share details about the brand-new Daily Writer Community, which is now open for application!

You'll learn why I'm launching this group, what's included, and how it's different than other writing groups.

If you're looking for a small, intimate, supportive, generous, action-taking group of writers who are working to achieve their goals, then DW might be for you!

To apply for membership, visit https://dailywriterlife.com/apply. 

For more info on the community, visit https://dailywriterlife.com/community.

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

1. Private FB Group
2. Courses
3. Monthly Mastermind Calls
4. Monthly Expert Calls
5. Weekly Writing Sprints
6. Access to an Exclusive Group of Mentors
7. Book & Storytelling Discussions
8. Exclusive Resources
9. Daily Writing Prompts
10. Content Archive
11. Live & Virtual Events

PRICING: Right now, while we are building the group, the Founding member price is $25/month for the first 25 members. If you pay for a year up front, it's $250, so you get two months for free.

We are rewarding the action-takers and the founding members by giving a very special rate of $25/month -- less than a dollar a day for all of the amazing features of the daily writer community.

To apply for membership, visit https://dailywriterlife.com/apply. Once we receive your application and everything looks good, we will send a link to set up a Zoom call.

***

If you enjoyed this episode, we would be grateful if you leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people discover the show, and the more people listen, the more we can invest into it and improve the show.

Follow Kent Sanders:

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders 

When it comes right down to it, everything about writing success comes down to productivity. We may have great ideas, we may feel inspired, and we may have great connections. We may even have a publishing contract.

But if we don't actually produce the work, nothing else matters.

I'm excited that my good friend Jennifer Harshman is here to give us some tips to become more productive in our writing and business. Jennifer is a successful editor, book development coach, ghostwriter, and business owner. She is the owner of HarshmanServices.com and the editor of the book Find a Real Editor: Avoiding the Posers and Scammers, which is a helpful guide to evaluating editors for your writing.

In this conversation, Jennifer walks us through four obstacles to productivity, which are procrastination, perfectionism, pessimism, and paranoia. She also walks us through several P's that we need to put into practice, which include purpose, planning, persistence, and others.

I encourage you to also sign up for Jennifer's email list at her website listed above. You’re going to get a lot of great writing, productivity, and editing tips in your inbox. You can also connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn and Facebook.

***

If you enjoyed this episode, we would be grateful if you leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people discover the show, and the more people listen, the more we can invest into it and improve the show.

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On today's special edition, I review the successes and challenges in my writing and business over the past year. I also share eight major goals I'll be working on in 2021.

2020 Successes:

1. Ghostwrote two client books.
2. Became a Literary Scout for Morgan James Publishing.
3. Re-launched my podcast as The Daily Writer and changed to a daily format.
4. Launched beta version of The Daily Writer Community.
5. Wrote a first draft of my next book, Let It Flow.
6. Focused my client services to book development coaching & ghostwriting.

2020 Challenges:

1. Balancing my day job and side business.
2. Perhaps building too many things at once?
3. Learning to write faster and more efficiently.
4. Managing my energy and getting healthier.
5. Working ON my business instead of IN it.

8 Major Projects for 2021:

1. Get healthier, lose 50 lbs., and run a 5k/10k/Half Marathon.
2. Release Let It Flow and another book I've co-written. (And two other possible books.)
3. Grow the Daily Writer Community to 100 members.
4. Ghostwrite 4 client books.
5. Grow 4 marketing channels: Daily Writer podcast, podcast guesting (100 interviews), writing for large publications, build email list.
6. Be more efficient in my writing and business.
7. Grow affiliate marketing.
8. Continue building relationships daily.

***

If you enjoyed this episode, we would be grateful if you leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people discover the show, and the more people listen, the more we can invest into it and improve the show.

Follow Kent Sanders:

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I’m taking a very short 1-week hiatus from the podcast to work on my next book and do some extra planning for 2021. We have nearly 300 episodes of the daily writer podcast published, so I encourage you to take some time to look back through the archive here and catch up on some episodes you might have missed.

I especially want to encourage you to check out a few episodes from the last few months that have really struck a nerve with people, and I think you will enjoy also:

Interviews:

• Bee Evans: Tear Out the Tags (Nov. 28)
• Bethany Lee: The Journey of Writing a Novel (Nov. 14)
• David Hancock: Morgan James, the Publisher for Entrepreneurs (Sep. 10)

Solo episodes

• 15 Ways to Make Money as a Writer (Nov. 15)
• 20 Podcasting Lessons from 200 Episodes (Sep. 24)
• The Introvert's Guide to Networking (Sep. 8)

I’ll be back on Jan. 1 with the next episode: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Writers.

***

If you enjoyed this episode, we would be grateful if you leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people discover the show, and the more people listen, the more we can invest into it and improve the show.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Plottr, the #1 visual book planning software for writers that helps you plan books in the same way you think. Plottr helps fiction and nonfiction authors, podcasters, speakers, and anyone creating content to organize their material and story points. Visit the link above to start your free 14-day trial.

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Christmas means many things to many people.

Some people look forward to parties and social events. Some people enjoy the lights and holiday displays in stores and homes. Some people love all the holiday entertainment you can enjoy, such as Hallmark movies and music specials. And of course, everybody loves gifts, especially kids.

But for people of faith, Christmas is the time of year when we remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Even though we may enjoy all the festivities, gifts, and celebration, nothing is more meaningful than remembering the hope we have in Jesus.

It’s fascinating to read the accounts of Jesus’ birth from the Gospels. Those passages have been immortalized not only in church but in pop culture as well. We all remember how Linus quoted from Luke chapter 2 in the popular TV special “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

But have you ever stopped to consider exactly how these passages were written? We think of the Bible as a sacred text, which it is, but it was also written by regular people who chose to be obedient to the Spirit’s leading in researching and writing down these accounts of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection.

On today's episode, Kent wonders: if God can use the writing talents of an ordinary tax collector like Matthew, then maybe, just maybe, He can use you and me to make a little dent in history.

***

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If there is one word that describes our modern, hectic lifestyles, it’s “obligation.” 

We are connected 24/7 to our devices, and literally anyone in the world with a smartphone can reach out to us. Our inboxes are filled with an email from marketers, influencers, clients, people who want something from us … and hopefully sometimes, from friends who are checking in. Our social media feeds are crammed full of posts and advertisements that demand our attention right now, this very second. And we feel obligated to respond to all of it.

But how much of this stuff is really necessary to our overall goals? How much of it can help us become better writers or achieve the things that are important to us?

On today's episode, Kent encourages us to question whether all the things that take our time throughout the day are really necessary.

***

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In the year 532, the emperor Justinian stood gazing at the smoking ruins of Constantinople’s patriarchal church that had just been burned to the ground by riots. As the leader of the Byzantine empire, he wanted to build a cathedral that would surpass the glory of its predecessor, but also be a stunning place of worship and a testament to the beauty and creativity of the Byzantine tradition.

 

The natural choice to take on such a monumental task would have been a team of architects who had experience with this kind of project. But instead, Justinian chose two mathematicians named Isidore and Anthemius.

 

They had not been formally trained in architecture, but their skills in math and science would be the key that helped them organize the logistics to finish a construction project the likes of which the Eastern empire had never seen.

 

On today's episode, Kent reflects on what we can learn from the architects who built the Hagia Sophia.

***

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If your writing was a cake, what would the ingredients be?

You would certainly include structure. You’d think about the audience. If you were writing research, you would include some data or case studies. If writing fiction, you would make sure to include plot and characters. And if you want to work to be read, you must also think about publishing and marketing.

All those are important, but there is one ingredient of great writing that rarely gets talked about: love.

Love? Seriously? 

What about marketing? What about building a platform? What about monetization, big-time publishers, sales numbers, or downloads?

Those can all be important factors, and we all would like to have a big audience or platform. However, you can’t have any of those things unless you first bake a great cake.

On today's episode, Kent challenges us to put a little love into everything we do.

***

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In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, the military historian Robert Cowley coordinated a fascinating series of books called What If? The books featured essays by prominent historians, each one looking at a particular “what if” question in history. For example:

• What if the Mayflower had never set sail?
• What if JFK had not been assassinated?
• What if Teddy Roosevelt had won re-election in 1912?
• What if Lincoln had not issued the Emancipation Proclamation?
• What if Martin Luther had burned at the stake?

Those are fascinating questions, and these books gave historians the opportunity to let their imaginations run wild and speculate on what might have happened if history had turned out a little different.

On today's episode, Kent asks: Isn’t it time you started asking “what if” and finally took your shot?

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One of the topics we often discuss on this podcast is doing client work. If you haven't yet considered it as a way to supplement your income, I encourage you to think about it.

When you're starting with freelance writing, how do you get that first client? This is a critical question because getting that first client is very important. Once that happens, you have more confidence and momentum.

I'm excited to have two guests on this roundtable episode who share some expert tips on getting that first client. The first is Lynn Smargis, who is a freelance writer in the area of health and fitness, gluten-free lifestyle, education, science, travel, and educational technology. She is also the host of the Gluten-Free Travel Podcast.

The second Leo York, who is a Leo is a copywriter who specializes in commercial screenplays. He is the copywriter who popularized using evolutionary behavior as a baseline for content. Leo is also the co-host of The 13th Floor Podcast.

In this conversation, we tackle why you should consider freelance writing, how to choose an area of specialization, how to find your first client, how to sell yourself, and much more.

Even if you are already doing client work, you'll benefit from this episode. Plus, these guys are a lot of fun. Here's my conversation with Lynn Smargis and Leo York.

You can connect with Lynn Smargis at WriteForYou.Me and LinkedIn. You can connect with Leo at LeoCopywriting.com or on LinkedIn.

***

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I'm honored to have my good friend, Jim Woods, on the show today to help us develop our storytelling chops. Jim is a novelist, story coach, and editor. He has worked with many authors over the years, including some whose books have been on the New York Times bestseller list.

Jim is the host of the Finish Your Book Podcast. He is also the founder of Storycrafting, a coaching service that helps you craft your story.

Storytelling is one of my favorite topics, so we had a lot of fun in this interview geeking out over stories. Jim walks us through several questions such as these:

• What's the simplest way to create a story?
• What separates a great story from a pretty good story? 
• How can you fix your story? 
• How can you build a solid writing habit?

You can find Jim at his Storycrafting site, his personal website, or on Facebook. Make sure to also check out his Write Your Book Podcast.

***

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What do powerful words look like? 

When you think of powerful words, you probably imagine Abraham Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address, or JFK giving a speech about America’s mission to go to the moon. Or maybe imagine an author like Maya Angelou talking about how she overcame a difficult childhood.

But powerful words aren’t just reserved for classic speeches or world-renowned books. You have powerful words, too. In fact, there is one single two-letter word that has more power than anything else in your vocabulary.

On today's episode, Kent encourages you to focus on doing the work that matters, rather than trying to make everybody else happy.

***

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One of the most popular episodes of the original Twilight Zone series is “Time Enough at Last.” Burgess Meredith plays Henry Bemis, a bank teller with thick glasses who is obsessed with reading.

One day during his lunch break, he goes to the bank vault to read.  Suddenly there is a violent explosion, which knocks him out. He later wakes up to find that an atomic bomb has destroyed the world. He was protected from the blast by the bank vault, and now he is the only person left on earth.

Henry wanders the ruined city in despair and comes to the town library, where he finds all the books still intact. He suddenly realizes that he has all the time in the world to read and no one to bother him. In one of the greatest plot twists in television history, he reaches down for a book and drops his glasses, shattering the lenses. 

Henry Bemis had all the time in the world but lost the one tool he needed to make use of it.

On today's episode, Kent encourages you to try a piece of productivity advice from the creator of the Twilight Zone, Rod Serling.

***

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Every period in history seems like the worst for people going through it. 2020 has certainly been a challenging year on many levels. We’ve still in the middle of a global pandemic, we had a bitter election in the United States, the economy has been in upheaval, many people have lost jobs, and the list goes on and on …

One look at your social media feed or any news channel will tell you that people are upset and hurting. There is a sense of frustration and anger that we have never seen in our lifetimes. 

In this kind of situation, it’s natural to feel angry or frustrated. And why not? That’s what everyone else is doing. It’s also easy to let yourself slip into a cynical attitude about life. 

On today's episode, Kent reminds us that hope wins, every time.

***

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Write Your First Nonfiction Book: A Primer for Aspiring Authors by my friend and business coach, Honorée Corder. You’ll learn strategies for arranging your chapters, how to get started and stay organized, and easy step-by-step instructions that will eliminate the fear that’s been holding you back.

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Anyone who grew up in the second half of the 20th century was familiar with two icons of pop culture: The Wizard of Oz and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

On the surface, these two couldn’t be more different. The Wizard of Oz was a 1939 movie about a young girl, Dorothy, who is swept away by a tornado and battles the Wicked Witch of the West in the land of Oz. Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, on the other hand, was a PBS show that taught kids how to cope with life and use their imaginations. 

These two worlds converged one day in 1975 when Margaret Hamilton made a guest appearance on Mister Rogers. As the Wicked Witch, she had scared generations of kids. But she was also a fan of Mister Rogers and enjoyed watching it with her grandchildren.

She appeared on an episode where Fred Rogers was teaching children not to be afraid of things that seem scary. They had Margaret Hamilton dress up a costume similar to the Wicked Witch to show kids that it was all make-believe. 

On today's episode, Kent challenges you to remember that when you're feeling afraid, it's just your mind playing tricks on you.

***

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In the world of computers, WYSIWYG stands for “what you see is what you get.” It refers to an editing system or interface where the content you see on screen shows exactly how it will look when it’s printed or displayed elsewhere.

But WYSIWYG can also refer to the writing life as a whole. What you see is truly what you get.

On today's episode, Kent encourages you to put in the work and take advantage of the amazing opportunities we have today.

***

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On this month's Listener Q&A, we tackle a number of great questions:

• How do you transition from writing as a hobby, to writing as a profession?
• Do you have to travel in order to be an author?
• How do I start making money as a freelance writer?
• How do I choose which book to work on next?
• Do you have any tips for marketing or how to build a platform?
• How do I start to market my writing and build an author platform?

Thanks to all of our listeners who submitted questions!

***

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When we consider the impact of our writing, there are many elements we pay attention to. We spend a lot of time thinking about our audience, our content, our strategy for reaching readers, our habits, our tools and technology, and so forth.

But one important element of our writing that often gets overlooked is our "voice." According to my guest today, your voice is a vital element in your communication. In fact, she defines it as "the fingerprint of your communication style."

Her name is Tricia Brouk and she is an award-winning director who has worked in theater, film, and television for three decades. Her work includes the writing of two musicals, both produced in New York City, a one-woman show, and four documentaries, two eligible for Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominations.

Tricia had an extensive career as a dancer performing all over the world. In addition to her work in the entertainment industry, she applies her expertise to the art of public speaking. Tricia founded The Big Talk Academy, where she certifies speakers in the art of public speaking. She has shepherded more than fifty speakers onto more than fifteen TEDx stages in under three years.

Tricia is also the host of the award-winning podcast The Big Talk, which is where I first got to know her. I was part of her podcast production team for several years, and I was always impressed by Tricia's discipline and professionalism.

When it comes to the art of public speaking, using your voice, or showing up in the world as your authentic self, there is no one I trust more than Tricia Brouk.

In our conversation, we focus on some themes from Tricia's new book, The Influential Voice: Saying What You Mean for Lasting Legacy. We talk about the importance of using your unique voice, how to deal with fear, her unique process for writing this book, and much more.

Be sure to visit https://www.theinfluentialvoicebook.com/ to pre-order the book by Dec. 18 to get some amazing bonuses. You can also check out Tricia's website or connect with her on Instagram to learn more about her and her work.

***

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If you spend any time among a group of novelists, you will pretty quickly hear two terms: pantsers and plotters.

Pantsers are the ones who prefer to write by the “seat of their pants.” They love to develop a great opening, then discover the story as they write. Pantsers get bored if they know where the whole story is going ahead of time.

Plotters are the ones who have to carefully outline the whole plot of a novel before they begin writing. They need to know where the story is going or they can’t start.

Lots of writers have taken either approach and created great novels, short stories, and other works of art. Plotting can work just as well as pantsing when it comes to writing a fiction story. But it doesn’t work so well when it comes to your real-life story—the story of your writing career and your journey as a writer.

On today's episode, Kent reminds us not to worry about trying to figure out the whole journey ahead ... but to embrace the myster.

***

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Most young people only have a vague idea of who Johnny Carson is if they have even heard of him at all. But for anyone 40 and older, you probably remember him as the host of The Tonight Show.

From 1962-1992, Johnny Carson ruled the airwaves as the King of Late Night. If you were a stand-up comedian in the late 70’s through the early 90’s, you got invited over to the couch to talk to Johnny after your 5-minute set, you were now Hollywood royalty. 

Every comedian on the planet wanted to be like Johnny Carson. In 1992, when Johnny Carson retired, everyone thought that David Letterman would be a shoe-in as the new host. And why not? Letterman’s own late-night show had been following Johnny Carson for the last ten years, and it was no secret that he idolized Carson. And in turn, Johnny personally liked David Letterman more than Jay Leno. 

The TV world was scandalized when the tonight show hosting spot went to Leno instead. As a result, Letterman moved to CBS to start his own show opposite Jay Leno.

On today's episode, Kent shares the importance of giving the world the most valuable gift you can possibly offer: yourself.

***

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If you talk to most writers, there is one thing they almost all universally hate: marketing. Most writers dislike the thought of promoting themselves or going through all the technical hoops they think they need in order to market well.

Do you share this viewpoint as well? Do you hate marketing? If so, it’s no wonder because almost all of our firsthand experience with marketing tells us it’s distasteful.

For example, you’ve seen the author who has an obnoxious book launch. They post multiple times a day on social media about their book. For weeks on end, they try to get other people to buy and promote their book. The whole endeavor seems completely one-sided. The author is only interested in what you can do for them.

But what if this approach was all wrong? What if we turned the concept of marketing completely on its head and made it all about other people?

On today's episode, Kent reminds us that everything you do should be focused on making great work for people and then sharing it in a way that brings joy to you and them. 

***

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If you recall your middle school history class, there were three distinct periods in ancient history, each one defined by the material they used to make weapons.

The Stone Age came first. These weapons of stone were of course limited because stones are very heavy. They are also hard to shape if the only other tools you have are made of stone.

Then came the Bronze age, when people began mining tin and copper and then mixing them to create bronze. Bronze weapons were lighter and stronger than the ones made of stone, but they were no match for what came next.

That, of course, was the Iron Age. Any civilization that mastered iron production could dominate those who didn’t because their weapons were superior. 

There is an interesting verse from the book of Proverbs, which was written in the Middle East during the Iron Age. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” But what does this mean? Iron is a substance that can be made stronger when it is mixed with another material, such as carbon. Then it becomes steel. Put these two next to each other at just the right angle, and you will have a sharpening effect.

On today's episode, Kent challenges you to become a new kind of superhero.

***

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In September 1976, the American rock band Boston released their single called “More Than a Feeling.” The song tells the story of a young man who is listening to the radio, and a song comes on that reminds him of a former love.

What he experiences is “more than a feeling.”

But in a way, this song could also describe writers who are doing the work day by day. How many times have you heard writers who talk about the need to feel “inspired,” or how they are waiting for the Muse to show up and give them the magic words?

Seth Godin talks about the need for consistent work in his book The Practice, which focuses on helping creative people ship their work. He says, "Your work is too important to be left to how you feel today. On the other hand, committing to an action can change how we feel. If we act as though we trust the process and do the work, then the feelings will follow. Waiting for a feeling is a luxury we don't have time for."

On today's episode, Kent challenges you to put on your writing pants, sit down in the chair, and get to work.

***

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If you've been listening to my podcast or reading my blog for any length of time, you know that I encourage you to do things that are scary. I've been getting into short story writing recently, and I recently dug this one out of the archives and dusted it off.

This is the first time I have shared a short story publicly. I hope you enjoy it!

***

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When you think of ways to connect with your audience and add value to them, what comes to mind?

What usually focus on the more flashy forms of marketing such as social media, Amazon algorithms or Facebook ads. But there's a way to connect with your readers that relies on a decades-old technology we use every day. It's not flashy, it's not the new, hip thing, but it absolutely works.

Yes, I'm talking about email newsletters.

I'm excited to have a guest today who knows all about email newsletters, and he is going to help us decipher the code to using them successfully. His name is Jared Odle, and he is a missionary, entrepreneur, and freelance copywriter and marketer. 

Most of the time, he lives in Ghana, West Africa close to the city of Tamale with his wife and kids. Jared is also working on a book and podcast related to men's loneliness.

Jared and I go way, way back. We were both students at St. Louis Christian College in Florissant, Missouri back in the mid-90's. We had many, many classes together, and we also traveled together on the weekend in a music group for a couple of years.

We have seen the best and worst of each other through the years, and I am absolutely honored to call Jared one of my best friends on the planet!

Jared also has an incredibly sharp marketing mind, which is why I've invited him on the show today to talk about newsletters--an area where he particularly excels.

In this conversation, we talk about several topics related to newsletters, including why you need one, what you should include in your indoctrination series (he'll explain what that is), what to use for a lead magnet, and much more.

You can connect with Jared at his website, JaredOdle.com as well as Linkedin, or on Facebook.

***

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In a world of equality and opportunity, we usually talk about power as if it’s a bad thing. But power is like time, money, or any other resource. It can be used for good or for bad.

Writers don’t think about what we do in terms of power. We use words like creativity, craft, platform, audience, and entrepreneurship. But power? It’s a concept that seems a little old-fashioned, if not outright outdated these days.

Power is just influence. When you have power as a writer, you can change people’s mind. You can tell a story that has impact. You can write books, sermons, articles, or other content and know that it can influence other people.

On today's episode, Kent helps us understand what power is, and we can use it for good with our writing.

***

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