Born To Create

It’s scary to start a writing project. But you know what’s even scarier? Finishing it. Sometimes we think that being a writer means to be constantly gaining new ideas and exploring creative possibilities—which is true. But those ideas and possibilities must live somewhere. They need to be published. On today’s episode, Kent challenges you to be confident and finish what you started. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. 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.      Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders     Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders     LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders     Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders    

If you ever run a race, you’ll notice there are two kinds of runners: those who are competing against everyone else, and those who are competing against themselves. The ones who are competing against everyone else take running very seriously. They like to set records and get the glory of being known as a winner. The runners who are competing against themselves aren’t worried about anyone else’s time. They just want to run their own race and hopefully beat their previous record. On today’s episode, you’ll be reminded that the only person you need to compete against is yourself. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. 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.      Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders     Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders     LinkedIn: https://linkedin.

Most of us grow up believing that we can change the world.   Then, as we get older, some life experience and a bit of cynicism set in. Pretty soon we give up on the idea of changing much of anything… much less the world.  But imagine for a moment… what if you COULD actually change the world? How would you go about it?   On today’s episode, Kent reminds us that writers are uniquely positioned to change the world. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. 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.      Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders     Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders     LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders     Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders    

The office of the President of the United States gets a lot of attention for various reasons, but have you ever looked at our Presidents through the lens of the books they wrote? If you've never considered this, you're in for a treat today because my guest is Craig Fehrman, author of the excellent book Author in Chief: The Untold Story of Our Presidents and the Books They Wrote. The Wall Street Journal called it “one of the best books on the American presidency to appear in recent years.” Craig is a writer and historian who lives in Bloomington, Indiana, with his wife and kids. We had a blast in this conversation, and I got to ask Craig all my questions on this topic. He shares the background of the book, how he conducted research, the value of books in presidential campaigns, the two types of presidential books, the place of ghostwriters in presidential books, and his detailed process for getting endorsements for the book. If you love books, U.S. History, or learning about Presidents, you'll love this conver

There are a lot of questions you have probably asked about the results of your writing. Here are a few of them: Will it make my life better? Will it make me money? Will it grow the size of my audience? Here is another important one to consider: Will it make me happy? On this episode, Kent shares insight on how to find true happiness in your writing. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. 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.      Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders     Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders     LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders     Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders    

If you had to pin down one universal emotion that all humans experience, it’s pain. We are often afraid to share our pain because we’re afraid we will look weak. So, we lock up our feelings in a box, set it on a shelf in the back of a dark closet, and try to forget about it. This is not a healthy way to deal with grief or loss. One of the best ways of working through your pain is to write about it. On today’s episode, Kent shares three methods you can use to work through painful emotions. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. 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.      Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders     Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders     LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders     Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders    

There are lots of skills that are important for writers, but there is one skill that trumps them all. It also happens to be the oldest communication skill in the world: storytelling.  But, when it comes to fiction, what is the purpose of storytelling? What is the use of engaging in stories that aren’t even real?  On today’s episode, you’ll be reminded that storytelling allows you to connect directly with people’s hearts through timeless truths  *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. 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.      Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders     Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders     LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders     Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders    

The comedian Steve Martin famously said, “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” The simplicity of this statement is stunning. Those seven words contain the secret of getting noticed, building an audience, and all the other things writers and creatives want.  On today’s episode, you'll learn that people will take notice of you if you’re willing to put in the work and continue getting better.  *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. 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.      Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders     Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders     LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders     Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders    

John Steinbeck said, “Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.”  Writers are known for their creativity, but the truth is that the well sometimes runs dry. If you’ve ever found yourself fresh out of ideas, a way to instantly get more is by using a strategy called “Idea Mating.”  On today’s episode, you’ll discover an effective method for coming up with lots of ideas.  *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. 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.      Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders     Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders     LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders     Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders    

If you identify as a writer—and I assume you do since you’re listening to this podcast—you probably have some type of outlet for writing. Having a place to write, and having an audience who expects your work on a regular, consistent basis is a great way to develop a writing habit because it puts the pressure on you to deliver. On this episode, you’ll be inspired to hone in on the fundamental message you’re sharing with the world, so you can be consistent and passionate as you write. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. 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.      Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders     Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders     LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders     Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders    

There are many different types of writing—journalism, novels, short stories, nonfiction, blog posts, graphic novels, and a hundred others. But one thing that ties all writing together is storytelling. Stories are the way we process information and make sense of our lives. Therefore, it is critical that we learn how to construct and weave stories the best way can. It’s a craft I am still very much learning, and I’m thrilled that our guest today is here to help us learn to be better storytellers. John David Mann is coauthor of more than thirty books, including four New York Times bestsellers and five national bestsellers, including The Go-Giver (coauthored with Bob Burg). The Go-Giver has sold over 1 million copies and won the 2017 Living Now Book Awards Evergreen Medal for its “contributions to positive global change.” John is married to Ana Gabriel Mann and considers himself the luckiest mann in the world.  You might remember that I had both John and Ana here on the podcast as guests a couple of months ago to

On this podcast, we talk a lot about giving. I want you to be a generous writer. But what does that mean, exactly? I look at it this way. Being a generous writer means that you give more in value than you receive from others. It means that you are always looking for ways to serve your audience through good content and great stories. It means you are connecting with others and connecting them with each other. It means you are filling your own creative well so that it overflows, and you can give to others. On this episode, you’ll learn that generosity has two aspects: giving to others and receiving from others. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. 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.      Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders     Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsander

This episode is for all the writers who struggle to be outgoing. I get it—most of us writers are introverts. We get our energy by spending time alone rather than spending it with people. But the reality is that people need to be a huge part of our lives as writers. On this episode, you’ll recognize, even if you’re an introvert, engaging with others is a choice you must make. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. 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.      Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders     Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders     LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders     Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders    

We writers have the well-earned reputation for not being the best at people skills, which is unfortunate because it’s certainly not always true. Writing is a people-centered business even though we spend a good amount of time sitting in front of a screen typing. Nevertheless, there is always room for improvement. Even if you’re an outgoing people person, you can always use a reminder of the basics. On this episode, you’ll discover four ways to develop better connections and increase your success. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. 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.      Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders     Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders     LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders     Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders    

It’s a blessing and a curse to live in the internet age. It’s a blessing, of course, because we have access to unlimited knowledge and connections. There are a million options for where you want to take your writing business or creativity. This also represents a curse because, well, too many options is overwhelming. It’s easy to get paralyzed by all the different models of a writing career. On this episode, you’ll learn the best way to grow is simple: choose your model. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. 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.      Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders     Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders     LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders     Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders    

Have you ever heard someone refer to your “six”? It refers to the six people who will carry your casket at your funeral. I want you to think about the six people in your life who would indeed carry your casket. How often do you speak to them? How close would you say these friends are to you? On this episode, Kent reminds us to invest in our friends, because they’re the ones who always stay with us at the end of the day. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. 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.      Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders     Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders     LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders     Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders    

Like me, you probably get sucked into lists of books, movies, or music that others have put together. These might consist of the top 10 movies of all time, the best 50 guitarists, the top 15 novels, the top 10 books on writing, a ranking of Star Wars movies, and so on. Human beings have made those curated lists. Someone, somewhere, decided they were going to be a tastemaker and put their opinion out there for the world. You can do the exact same thing, and there is great power in doing so. On this episode, you’ll be emboldened to help others find the best content in your field and shape how material is consumed. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. 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.      Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders     Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsan

As writers, we love to tell stories. Whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction, stories are a critical part of how we share information and help others engage in the human experience. Maybe you've thought about doing the ultimate deep-dive into storytelling, which is writing your OWN story by creating a memoir. My guest today is here to give us guidance on writing a compelling memoir. Her name is Alice Sullivan, and she is a ghostwriter, collaborator, and 11-time New York Times bestselling editor. A natural-born storyteller, she’s written 54 books and edited over 1,300 titles. She specializes in nonfiction, specifically memoir, self-help, and personal growth. Alice helps clients identify their goals and messages while creating engaging content to connect with their target markets. Her favorite projects are those that challenge her point of view and expand her knowledge. A couple of months ago, I mentioned here on the podcast that I was working on my father's Vietnam memoir. This was my opportunity to ask A

Water can be a metaphor for life or death. Ask anyone who has gotten sick from contaminated water or tried to avoid falling out of a canoe while going down the Amazon River teeming with deadly piranhas. They will tell you that water can be deadly. But what about a person dying of thirst in the desert or someone who goes into the hospital because they’re dehydrated? Water can bring life. On this episode, Kent inspires us that our words can bring life or death to those around us. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. 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.      Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders     Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders     LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders     Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders    

When you’re passionate about what you do, it’s hard to stop. Ask any writer who loves writing and they can attest that it can be hard to let your foot off the gas pedal and take a break. It’s especially hard when you value and practice a writing habit. And like all habits, if practiced to the extreme, it can start to be harmful. On this episode, you’ll be reminded to take a break from your writing, so that you can boost your creativity, improve your life, and strengthen your mental energy. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. 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.      Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders     Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders     LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders     Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders