Born To Create

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 wh

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. *** 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

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. *** If you enjoyed this episode, we would be grateful if you leave a review

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. *** 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

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? *** 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 sho

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 consid

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. *** If you enjoyed this episode, we would be grateful if you leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people discover the sh

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. *** 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: Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders 

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 th

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. *** 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:   Facebook: https://fac

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

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. *** 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: Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders   

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! *** 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: Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders 

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 Acade

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. *** If you enjoyed this episode, we would be grateful if you l

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 epis

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

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

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

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! *** 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: Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders