Born To Create

What if you took a poll of a hundred people who started writing a book but didn't finish it? How many of them would say that a lack of time was a major factor in them not finishing? My guess is that at least ninety of them would say that's the case. It seems almost everyone we talk to these days is busy all the time. You probably feel the same way also. We all have a limited amount of time, and it's vital we make the most of it. On this episode, we will explore seven tactics to help you be more productive and use your time wisely so you can get more writing done. 1. Track your time. 2. Plan your weeks and your days.   3. Use “spare” moments to read, write, and create. 4. Use music to help you focus. 5. Become an email ninja. 6. Use your drive time for creating and learning. 7. Create a sense of urgency. *** 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,

One of the themes that I hear consistently from authors is that they don't like to market themselves.  Of course, this isn't true for every writer, but it seems to describe an impulse that most creative types have: we love to create, but we have a hard time telling others about our work. I'm thrilled to have a guest today who can help us with this eternal dilemma of writers. Her name is Jill Lublin, and she is a master strategist on how to position your business for more profitability and more visibility in the marketplace.   Jill is the CEO of a strategic consulting firm and has over 25 years experience working with over 100,000 people plus national and international media.  She teaches a virtual Publicity Crash Course, and consults and speaks all over the world. She also helps authors to create book deals with major publishers and agents, as well as helping them obtain foreign rights deals.  In this conversation, we cover several topics related to publicity, such as why we need publicity, the most effective

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, you'll learn the difference between excellence and perfection. *** 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 Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative

If you were to make a list of the most creative people from the last hundred years, Steve Jobs would be close to the top of the list.  As the co-founder of Apple, he was in large part responsible for many of the devices and apps we use today, such as the Mac, iTunes, the iPhone, the iPad, and lots of others.  Especially in his later years, he was adored and admired for his visionary approach and his absolute refusal to go along with the status quo. But he wasn’t always the cultural icon that he is today. On today's episode, you'll learn the value of getting just a little bit crazy. *** 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 Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social medi

Citizen Kane is universally recognized as one of the greatest films of all time. Orson Welles and his collaborators created a masterpiece that was well ahead of its time in storytelling, cinematography, and special effects.  Yet for all its achievements, it's one of the saddest movies ever made. On this episode, you'll learn a powerful lesson from this amazing movie. *** 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 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 Twitt

If you’re of “a certain age,” you probably remember watching Bob Ross on his TV show “The Joy of Painting,” which he hosted on PBS from 1983-1994.  If you’re a little younger, you’ve probably discovered him on the internet, where he has developed an even bigger following. Each week on his show, Bob painted a mesmerizing landscape in just a half an hour. He was known for his soft-spoken style, his signature permed hair, and his uncanny ability to make you believe that just like him, you could paint a masterpiece. On today's episode, you'll learn why imperfection is one of the most perfect things you can do. *** 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 Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journali

1994’s The Lion King is one of the most beloved animated movies of all time. In case you haven’t seen it in a while, the story focused on Simba, a young cub in the pridelands of Africa. He is first in line to inherit the throne from his father Mufasa, a good and generous ruler. But there is one thing that stands in the way: Mufasa’s evil brother, Scar, who crafts a plan to have both Mufasa and Simba killed in a giant wildabeest stampede.  Young Simba manages to survive, but Scar orders the traumatized cub to leave and never return. On this episode, Kent shares a reminder to remember your true identity as a writer. *** 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 Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing,

Being a writer takes courage. And lots of it. Why does it take courage? Because when you write, you put your words out there for people to judge and evaluate. You release your ideas into the world.  Sometimes those ideas will not be received too kindly by people. Sometimes they won't be received at all. Being a writer is basically an exercise in courage. I'm excited to feature a conversation on today's episode that will help inspire your courage. My guest is Ben Weaver, the Founder & CEO of Bigger Story Consulting. Ben helps businesses get clear on their brand message so they get the revenue results that grow their businesses. Ben is also a certified coach with Business Made Simple and Storybrand, both companies created by Donald Miller. If you've heard my story, you know that my background is church ministry. That also happens to be Ben's background as well. In this conversation, he shares his journey of moving out of that sphere into the business sphere, which involved a lot of soul-searching and courag

On this special bonus episode, Jeffrey Shaw shares his thoughts on “hug marketing” and why it’s such an effective strategy. Jeffrey Shaw is a leading voice for self-employed business owners, and his top-rated podcast, The Self-Employed Life, is heard in 200 countries by 30,000 or so listeners a month. Jeffrey is the author of the bestselling book, LINGO and the much anticipated book, The Self-Employed Life: Business and Personal Development Strategies That Create Sustainable Success, as well as being a TEDx speaker. I encourage you to pre-order Jeffrey's book, The Self-Employed Life, as well as grab his free download on how to be an awesome podcast guest. You connect with Jeffrey at his website, where you'll find all his social media links as well. *** 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, brai

One of the themes of this podcast is "courage." I want you to consistently do things that scare you.  Why? Because when you do things that feel intimidating, you accomplish greater things and you increase your capacity to impact others.  That's why I'm excited to feature this interview with my friend Jeffrey Shaw. He is a leading voice for self-employed business owners, and his top-rated podcast, The Self-Employed Life, is heard in 200 countries by 30,000 or so listeners a month. Jeffrey is the author of the bestselling book, LINGO and the much anticipated book, The Self-Employed Life: Business and Personal Development Strategies That Create Sustainable Success, as well as being a TEDx speaker. You might think, "What does all this have to do with writing?" It's directly related because we talk a lot on this podcast about the business side of writing. If you want to think more like a business owner, you're going to love this conversation. Jeffrey shares his Self-Employed Ecosystem of personal development, busi

What does it take to achieve a dream? This is the question everybody asks whenever they see someone who accomplished something great.  On this episode, you'll learn why dreams come alive when you nourish them with the sweat of hard 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.  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 have ever been hiking on a trail in the woods, you have seen the markers that show your distance and keep you headed in the right direction.  The purpose of those signs is to keep you from getting lost and give you guidance along the way. There are similar signs in the writer’s life. These markers indicate our direction, but they’re not always so obvious as trail markers. On this episode, Kent shares why fear can be your best friend. *** 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 

How far away is your best work? Ask most writers, and they’ll say it is way off in the distance, perhaps even years or decades. We always perceive that the work we’re doing now is not very good and that our best work is hiding somewhere over the horizon. But what if your best work was much closer than you realize? On this episode, you'll learn why walking is a great tool for unleashing 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.  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 have ever seen a potter at work, you know that a beautiful vase begins as an ugly lump of clay. The potter dumps the clay onto the wheel and slowly begins to shape it the form it is destined to become. This is the way almost all art begins: as a messy, ugly lump of nothingness sitting there until the artist shapes it into something beautiful. On today's episode, you'll learn why it's OK to get started with a bad first draft. *** 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 

For some unexplained reason, the majority of curse words in the English language are four letters long. This is why we sometimes refer to them as four-letter words. Obviously we’re not going to repeat them here. But if we did, there is another four-letter word that can feel like a curse word, especially to writers. It is spelled Y-E-A-R. On today's episode, Kent shares why you must get started today. *** 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 talk a lot about writing habits at the Daily Writer. Why? Because a writing habit ensures that you get the writing done. Without a habit, you will only write when you happen to have time available or the mood strikes you. That's not the way professionals approach their work. You may agree with the importance of a writing habit, but how do you put it into practice? What is the method for actually getting your writing done?  In this episode, we will explore four foolproof methods. If you follow any of these techniques, you will be more successful in writing more. Method #1: Writing Sprint Method #2: Pomodoro Technique Method #3: Morning Pages Method #4: Writing Prompts *** 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.  If you want to be inspired in your writing every day, check out our Daily Writing Prompts. Connect with Kent: https://DailyWriterLife.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/ken

Most of us become interested in writing because we want to impact people's lives with our words. Which is possible! But there are other ways writing can also benefit your life. One of those ways is by making income with your writing. And not just selling books, but by developing multiple streams of income related to your writing.  I've asked my good friend John Stange to come on the show and teach us how he has done exactly this. John 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. He also has a book coming out in May called Dwell on These Things. The book is a 31-day challenge to help you replace unhealthy messages you preach to yourself with Gospel-centered truth. I encourage you to check it out at https://desirejes

The modern world is both a blessing and a curse for writers.  On the one hand, we have amazing opportunities to write, publish, connect, share, and create. The possibilities are almost limitless. But on the other hand, those limitless possibilities represent so many options that we can get paralyzed. Instead of taking action, we waste months or even years trying to decide what to do. We make zero progress because we don’t want to make a mistake. On this episode, you'll learn what to do when you feel 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.  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 watch the behind-the-scenes features for Hollywood movies, you’ve seen it a million times: the actors are in place, the camera crew is ready to go, and all manner of other assistants and technical people are standing at attention. Then the director yells, “Action!” and the scene comes to life. On this episode, you'll learn why you must use this key principle in your 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.  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 inspiring stories from the music world during the last few decades comes from the rock band the Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl was the drummer for the mega-successful band Nirvana. He was already an established musician in his own right.  But when the lead singer of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain, committed suicide in 1994, nobody expected Dave Grohl to form his own band and take on the role of a songwriter and lead singer. On this episode, Kent shares an important lesson about not giving up. *** 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