Born To Create

Courage is a theme that seems a lot of us have been talking about lately. For many people, the last couple of years have been a time when they've had to bolster their courage in the midst of many changes. I can't remember a single two years in my lifetime where so many things have felt uprooted and tenuous in the world as a whole. But with change comes the need for courage. This is as true for writers as anyone else. We don't necessarily think of what we do as courageous. On the surface, it appears pretty safe and secure. But putting yourself out into the world through your words, or all the things required to do that like starting a business or striking out on your own by leaving a job, absolutely require courage. One of the hardest parts of change, and one of the areas that requires the most courage, is the need to let go of things as we figure out who we are. You can't become more successful or become a better writer by staying the same. In fact, the very definition of change and progress means to become s

There are a lot of critical skills we have to develop as writers, but none is more important than creativity. You can be productive, think like a business person, and have great networking skills. But without the ability to see the connections between ideas and be creative on demand, you are dead in the water as a writer and an artist. That's why I'm excited to feature a conversation with my good friend Ginger Moran. She is a published and award-winning writer, teacher, and single mother of two boys. Her areas of expertise are in nonfiction and fiction writing, editing, and creative survival. She has a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in English from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. in Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Houston. Her first novel, The Algebra of Snow, was nominated for a Pushcart Editor’s Choice Award and published in 2012. In the last year, she has released two more novels, American Queen and The Body of Summer. In this conversation, Ginger and I chat about the import

How do you respond to successful writers? The ones with bestselling books, large platforms, or lots of influence? When it comes to dealing with them, we commonly have two different responses. Either we dismiss their success as dumb luck, or we ignore them because their success reinforces our own insecurity. If you have ever responded this way, don't feel bad. Every creative person on the planet has felt this way at times. Our natural creative pride makes it hard to put ourselves in a learning position. But that is the only way we can grow. On today’s episode, you’ll learn that it’s vital to be connected with and learn from other successful writers. *** 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.      Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool

The main theme of this podcast is writing every day. After all, it’s the very title of the show! But sometimes people ask, "Do you mean actually write every day?" And yes, I mean write something every day. But what am I suggesting that you write? Here is my definition: write something that advances your goals as a writer. That can include material for your blog, book, podcast, or some other type of content that helps you reach your goals. But it can also be just writing in your journal. On today’s episode, you’ll discover why it’s important, not just to want to write every day, but to actually 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.      Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, soci

The #1 problem that stops most people from writing has nothing to do with talent or ability. It has nothing to do with a lack of time or opportunities. But it has EVERYTHING to do with them not believing they are a writer. Success as a writer has very little to do with talent. Instead, it has everything to do with seeing yourself as a writer, then putting in the work on a regular basis. That's pretty much it. If you write… by definition, you're a writer. On today’s episode, Kent reminds you why it’s important to allow your identity to fuel your actions. *** 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.      Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!     Connec

We have talked many times on this podcast about the need to learn from others. Whether it’s being part of a mastermind, reading books, attending a conference, or something else, it’s vital that we all put ourselves in a learning posture. It is important that you learn from other writers who can share their knowledge. In the same way, you must help other writers be more successful. There are plenty of people in your orbit who would love to achieve your level of success, whatever that might be. On today’s episode, you’ll be inspired to add value to others’ lives through what you’ve learned. *** 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.      Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media pos

Think about some of the most important achievements in human history. These would include such feats as Amelia Earhart flying solo from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbing Mount Everest, Neil Armstrong setting foot on the moon, Magellan setting sail around the world, and many thousands of others who faced their fears and took action anyway. You and I are no different. We have challenges and scary things staring us right in the face every single day. On today’s episode, you’ll learn why facing your fears is the key to moving forward. *** 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.      Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and m

We have it pretty easy in the modern world, right? In many ways, this is the golden age of writing. We have more opportunities than ever before to publish our work and impact other people with our words. Yet at the same time, it's also a challenging time for writers. Why? Because there are so many options for writing and publishing that it's easy to get overwhelmed and paralyzed by all the possibilities. What if there was a list of guidelines that would help you clarify things? You're in luck because I have put together such a list. Of course, these 10 commandments for writers are not original to me. These principles have been practiced by writers, and all successful creatives, in one way or another for a long time. They are: Commandment #1: Embrace your identity as a writer. Commandment #2: Don’t compare yourself to other writers. Commandment #3: Take action on what you learn. Commandment #4: Make time to read every day. Commandment #5: Write every day. Commandment #6: Edit what you write. Commandment #7: Pu

One of the common themes I hear from writers is that everyone wants to write a kid's book. And why not? We all remember the books that impacted us as kids. Or, if you're a parent or grandparent, you have probably spent time reading lots of those short picture books to the little ones. My guest today is here to help us understand the value of writing a kid's book, as well as how to structure the story. Timmy Bauer is the Founder of Dinosaur House, a company that turns industry leaders into kids' book authors. He is also the author of several children's books, including Billy the Dragon and Lucas the Dinosaur Entrepreneur. In addition, Timmy is the host of the “Purpose-Driven Entrepreneur” podcast. In this conversation, you'll learn how to stand out in your industry by writing a children's book, his process for developing a children's book story, and much more. This was a fascinating conversation, and it has definitely given me the desire to write a kid's book someday! You can buy Timmy’s books and connect with

You can make a lot of mistakes as a writer and still be successful. But one of the mistakes that will kill both your enthusiasm AND your success is constantly comparing yourself to others. Granted, it's almost impossible not to do this as a writer. After all, it's human nature to compare ourselves, and social media has made it impossible not to notice other people's success in writing. But that negative energy doesn't really help you with your own goals, does it? On today’s episode, Kent shares why you shouldn’t compare yourself to others; you need to compete against yourself. *** 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.      Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasti

What is the difference between an expensive steakhouse and a fast-food burger place? They both use the same ingredients for their main product: beef. Yet the experience can be vastly different. When you have dinner at a great steakhouse, it’s not just about the food. Although it may be wonderful, it’s also the experience that counts. On the other hand, the experience is totally different when you go through a cheap fast-food burger place. It’s not just about ingredients. It’s about taking the raw ingredients, preparing them the right way, then serving them to people with care and attention so they have a great experience. The same thing is true for our words. On today’s episode, you’ll learn why it’s important to polish your work, so that you can give your readers the best experience possible. *** 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.      Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which

Here at the Daily Writer, we talk a lot about the habit of writing regularly. That’s nothing new. Every good writing teacher talks about the importance of a good writing habit. Another habit that is equally important, yet for some reason emphasized much less, is the publishing habit. If you want to impact other people with your words, you must not only write them… you must also publish them. On today’s episode, you’ll be reminded why it’s vital not to just write, but to share your writing with the world. *** 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.      Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!     Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     F

As a writer, you know you should be reading every day. You know that it’s a vital part of filling your creative well. But with so many great books out there, how do you decide which ones to read? What sort of system should you use to read more? On today’s episode, you’ll learn about how to read more, increase your productivity, and maximize your creativity. *** 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.      Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!     Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders     Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders     LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders     Twi

So… you’ve done it again. You promised yourself you wouldn’t do it, yet here you are, feeling guilty because you’ve given in to the temptation once again. Are we talking about some forbidden sin? No, we’re talking about downloading yet another free PDF that will languish on your hard drive. It’s one more resource you won’t read, but you will still feel guilty because you know it will probably help your writing or business. In today’s Information Age, it’s almost impossible not to be overwhelmed with email lists, free PDFs, podcasts, books, courses, and much more. So how do you deal with this flood of information? On today’s episode, Kent shares advice on how to declutter and get focused when you feel like you’re overwhelmed. *** 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.      Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, an

Mike Kim is a business coach and marketing strategist who specializes in personal branding, product launch strategies, and copywriting. His core philosophy of marketing is this: “Marketing isn’t about closing a sale, it’s about opening a relationship.” Mike is one of my favorite communicators. As a writer, speaker, podcaster, and copywriting expert, he has the uncanny ability to cut through the noise and say things in a straightforward and memorable way. I asked Mike to come on the show and talk about personal branding because it’s a vital topic for every writer. You’ll learn what a personal brand is and why you need it, Mike’s journey from a worship pastor to branding expert, some of Mike’s predictions for personal branding this year, and much more. I encourage you to follow Mike on Facebook and Instagram because he not only adds a ton of value there, he’s also hilarious! Also, make sure to check out Mike’s website, the excellent “Brand You" podcast, and his new book You Are The Brand: The 8-Step Blueprint

David Hancock is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author, and the founder of Morgan James Publishing. As the founder of Morgan James Publishing, David was selected for Fast Company Magazine’s Fast 50 for his leadership, creative thinking, significant accomplishments, and incredible impact on the industry over the last ten years. I wanted to have David as a guest not only because of his obvious connection with books, but also to talk about the importance of being an author in the first place. David saw firsthand how powerful it can be to have books of your own, which is why he started Morgan James in the first place. Here is something I don't often get to say about podcast guests: we also wrote a book together! Along with our co-author Bobby Kipper, David and I collaborated on a book that will be published through Morgan James next May. It's titled Performance Driven Giving, and it's a follow-up to David and Bobb's first book in this series, Performance Driven Thinking. I'll share more on that

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 onscreen 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, you’ll be reminded that your perspective radically changes your life. *** 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.      Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!     Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders     Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders    

Every writer has felt like this at one time or another. You’re chugging along with your content and things are going smoothly. The ideas are flowing. You’re feeling great. Then, it happens. You hit the wall. The creative juices have dried up and you sit there wondering where to go from here. On today’s episode, Kent shares three strategies you can use to get your creative juices flowing again. *** 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.      Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!     Connect with Kent:     https://DailyWriterLife.com     Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders     Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders     LinkedIn: https:/

Have you ever written something and expected people to immediately love it? Maybe you wrote an article, book, or social media post and felt disappointed that it wasn't a hit. But if you look to other industries such as music and baseball, you will have a hit less than three out of ten times. Every time you step up to the plate, or go into that recording studio, or sit down to write, you’re putting in the work. You’re developing your craft. You’re getting better all the time. On today’s episode, Kent shares insights from the music industry and baseball to highlight that the secret to your success is showing up each day to work. *** 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.      Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing,

One of the tropes that seems to follow creative types around is the myth of the “tortured artist.” The myth goes something like this: creative work is very, very difficult, and it requires the artist to give their blood, sweat, and tears to their creative work. But where does this myth come from? We don’t have time for a long history lesson here, but here is one explanation for why creative types, including writers, like to perpetuate this myth. The reason is because we want to believe the work is hard. We like the idea that the creative work we are doing is extraordinarily difficult. But what if we took the opposite approach? On today’s episode, you’ll discover why enjoying your creative work actually improves your productivity. *** 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.      Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new idea