Born To Create

Each year on Christmas Eve, millions of people gather around their TV sets—or today, their computer screens—to watch the classic movie It’s a Wonderful Life. The main character, George Bailey, has a chance to see what the small town of Bedford Falls would have been like if he had never been born. In one scene, just after George’s mother slams the door in his face because she doesn’t know him, the angel Clarence can see he is distressed. He tells George, “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. And when he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” On this episode, you’ll be encouraged that your life has impacted and bettered so many other people. *** 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://fac

Disney parks all over the world are known as the happiest places on earth. And judging by the number of people who flock there each year, it is correct. It’s known as a place full of fun, magic, and wonder. But even Walt Disney himself knew that it was dangerous to contain happiness to a particular location. On this episode, Kent shares wisdom from Walt Disney about creating happiness wherever you are. *** 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    

Do you know that feeling when you’re at a social gathering and people have divided into small groups? Every group is talking about a different topic and no matter what group you gravitate to, it seems like you don’t have much to add to the conversation. So, you hang back. You pretend to go get something to drink or use the restroom. But really, what you’re doing is hiding—all because you don’t think you have anything worthwhile to say. On this episode, you’ll be encouraged to overcome your fear and share what you have to say with 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: http

I’m thrilled to feature this conversation with my good friend M. J. James. M. J. is a member of our Daily Writer Community, and she has built an amazing podcast and website called Burned Out Business Mom. You probably heard M. J. featured on an episode of the Daily Writer Podcast a few weeks ago when I interviewed her. Now we’re flipping things around and she interviews me about my new book 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. I wrote this book as a gift to my son for his 18th birthday last month. 18 Words is a short, fast read covering 18 values to guide your life. I have to tell you: this is my favorite thing I’ve ever written. I really tried to pour my heart and soul into this, and I share some very personal stories that I hope will be inspiring to anybody looking for a short, simple, book that is a handbook for life. In this conversation, we talk about the story behind the book, the process of writing it, and the themes of many of the chapters. I hope you enjoy this conversation! Y

In your life as a writer, there are many things you get to choose: how and when you write, what kind of material you create, the type of platform you want to build, and so much more. But there is one thing none of us gets to decide: the times in which we live. On this episode, you’ll be reminded that even though you can’t control your circumstances, you can control what you do and how you can add value to 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    

On May 21, 1990, audiences tuned in to the series finale of the CBS show Newhart. They probably expected a standard final episode that wrapped up the 8-season run telling the story of Dick Louden, a Vermont innkeeper played by Bob Newhart, and the oddball cast of characters who populated the show. This was not Bob Newhart’s first foray into the world of sitcoms. He had previously starred in another successful series, The Bob Newhart Show, which rans for 6 seasons in the 1970s. In the second-to-last scene of the Newhart finale, Bob stands in the doorway of his inn and gets hit with a golf ball, knocking him unconscious. Then in the final scene, much to the surprise and delight of the audience, he wakes up in bed next to his wife from The Bob Newhart Show and explains that he had a strange dream about being an innkeeper. On this episode, Kent encourages us that we can create an unexpected ending—not just in our writing—but in our own lives, as well. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wis

Each day is a thread you are weaving into an epic tapestry. One day, the threads will run out and your life will be over. When your friends and loved ones reflect on your final tapestry, what will they see? Will they see shadows and a hint of greatness that was never fulfilled? Or will they stand in awe at the bold shapes and bright colors that helped them see they could create a beautiful tapestry, too? On this episode, you’ll be inspired to use your words every day to craft a beautiful creation. *** 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    

In his classic book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey famously wrote, “Begin with the end in mind.” Come with me on a journey to the end—the end of your life. What will future generations know about your story, your hopes and dreams, your ideas, and what your life meant? What legacy will you leave behind? On this episode, you’ll recognize why it’s vital to know what legacy you’re leaving behind through 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    

On a day-to-day basis, we are consumed with the here and now—what we have to write and publish today or this week. Expand your horizons and think not just about this week, this month, or this year. Go beyond even the next five or ten years. Think a hundred years into the future. On this episode, Kent shares a personal story, which will inspire you to consider how your work will impact future generations. *** 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 writer Matthew Kelly said, “It is important to understand that you are not writing a story or a book, or a sentence or a paragraph. You are writing a body of work. Whatever you are writing today is just one small part of that body of work.” This helps take the pressure off because we can easily get stressed out by feeling like we have to create a perfect article, social media post, email, or book chapter every time we sit down to write. But no single thing we write is the defining element of our body of work. It’s part of a much larger whole. On this episode, you’ll discover a new perspective that will help you enjoy the writing process and grow as a writer. *** 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.s

A big challenge that we face in our creative work is simply the fact that we work alone much of the time. Even if you work with a team on projects that include editors, graphic designers, beta readers, maybe co-authors or collaborators, or marketing people, you are still spending a large percentage of your time creating alone. If you work from home, you can easily isolate yourself from other people who can give you emotional and creative nourishment. If the past two years have taught us anything, it’s that we need each other. You can have all the success in the world, but what is the point if you don't have friends who will share the journey? My guest today is the perfect person to help us think about how to make and grow our friendships as writers. His name is Jared Odle, and he is a missionary, copywriter, and business leader. He is working on a book and podcast related to loneliness and has done a lot of research and thinking about this topic. Jared and I have also been friends for nearly 30 years. We went

When I became a college professor in 2004, one of the courses I was assigned was Introduction to the Arts. It was a basic survey course covering visual art, architecture, music, theatre, and film from a Christian philosophical viewpoint. The area I knew the least about was architecture. I had always been fascinated by it, but never studied it in-depth. Over the years, as I have learned more about architecture, it has become one of my favorite subjects. On this episode, Kent shares insight from Gothic cathedrals and how these incredible pieces of architecture reveal lessons for how we ought to create. *** 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     Lin

We all wish for success… but sometimes we forget that it comes at a price. Take Harper Lee, for example. She published the classic American novel To Kill a Mockingbird in 1960 when she was just 34 years old. Considering that many successful authors don’t get started until their 40s, she was practically a baby by most standards of literary success. On this episode, you’ll learn an important lesson from the life of American author Harper Lee. *** 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    

Most people don’t like the idea of being put in a box. We want to keep our options open and avoid labels. But if you want to be successful in your writing, you have to put yourself in the box of being a writer. If you want writing to be your main thing, you have to be known primarily as a writer. It’s the best way to build your business, your professional identity, and your momentum. On this episode, you’ll recognize why you should label yourself as a writer. *** 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 tempting as a writer to think that “everyone” is your audience. But the reality is that your message is not for everyone. It’s a paradox that the more you focus on a very specific type of person, the more people will be able to relate to it. On this episode, Kent shares three ways writing for a specific audience helps you. *** 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    

Every writer understands this basic truth: it’s easy to let one day run into the next one. Then weeks, months and eventually years pass by and you wonder where the time went. The writing life can have a certain monotony to it that makes it hard to feel like each is unique or special. On this episode, you’ll be reminded that every day is special. *** 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    

One of the most fascinating characters of Hollywood’s classic film era is Norma Desmond, the lead character of the 1950’s Sunset Boulevard. She is a silent film-era actress who lives in a fantasy world where she makes a triumphant return to her glory days. In the final scene, she has completely lost touch with reality as the police and reporters with cameras fill her house. She can’t see the reality that they are there to take her away because she has shot and killed someone. In her mind, she is the star of another Hollywood picture. On this episode, Kent shares the story of Sunset Boulevard to convey why it’s important to keep proper boundaries in your writing life. *** 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/k

For literally thousands of years, readers have enjoyed stories in the form of printed books. Like me, you probably have lots of novels, poetry books, or collections of short stories lying around your house or office. One of the most interesting developments in fiction is taking place in the world of audio—specifically, podcasting. Of course, audio drama has been around since the invention of the radio, so it’s nothing new. But with the popularity of podcasting since the mid-2000s, listeners can now access a huge library of audio fiction. My guest today is Sarah Rhea Werner. She is a writer, professional speaker, and executive producer of Girl In Space, a multiple award-winning sci-fi mystery podcast, the host of the excellent Write Now podcast, and the executive producer of the fantasy audio drama Omen. Sarah’s Girl in Space podcast in particular has blown up, with nearly 2,000 ratings on Apple Podcasts. In our conversation, Sarah shares her story behind creating the podcast, how sci-fi reflects cultures, and

It has been said that the middle of every project feels like a disaster. You’re far enough away from the starting point that you’ve lost some of the enthusiasm you had at the beginning. But you’re too far away from the end to see the finish line. How do you break through the messy middle and keep going? On this episode, you’ll discover answers that will help you push through and finish your book, even when it’s hard. *** 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    

Are you wondering what to write about? Look no further than your own skills and talents. Another way of saying this is, “What comes easy to you?” What seems obvious? What could you do in your sleep and still be better than 99% of people? On this episode, Kent shares an easy way to determine what you ought to be writing about. *** 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