The Daily Writer

We writers often talk about the reasons we write. But what are the reasons we don’t write? What keeps us from writing? Several things probably come to mind: procrastination, not enough time, and not feeling creative, among others. But at the end of the day, there is one main thing that keeps us from writing. The novelist Erica Jong hit the nail on the head when she said, “I went for years not fini...

If you have ever worked on a deadline, you understand the frustration of writing conditions that are not ideal. This can be a challenge if you think you can only write in certain conditions. The weather has to be just right. It has to be the perfect time of day. You need to have a certain drink or snack. You can only use a certain type of pen. The right kind of music has to be playing. You're...

Here is a question to consider: what activities actually produce writing? This is not a trick question, but a serious one. Why? Because it’s easy for us to fall under the spell of doing writing-related activities while secretly avoiding the hard work of writing. The list of things that help our writing is endless. But they don’t actually constitute writing. On today’s episode, Kent encourages us t...

We writers love to create stories. And why not? There is something fun about creating a fantasy world, living in it for a while, and inviting others to join us there. Sometimes these fantasies bleed over into the real world, where we don’t quite live in reality.  Here is one of the fantasies we love: We sit down to write, and all of a sudden, we feel magically inspired with an endless supply of mo...

For new writers, one of the most surprising elements of the craft is how much editing and revision it takes to produce good work. Until you get into writing as a serious hobby or a career, it may seem like writing should just come out clean and ready to publish. But experienced writers know this is not the case at all. As writers, we spend a lot of time thinking about how to revise and change our...

I've talked about this a few times here on the podcast before. But, just in case you haven't heard, I left my teaching job at St. Louis Christian College this past summer in order to focus full-time on ghostwriting and running my Daily Writer membership community. Now that SLCC has announced it will be merging with another school at the end of this school year, I have been reflecting a l...

I'm excited to be joined on this episode by my friend Mary Valloni, who is here to help us improve our mindset and develop a greater sense of abundance. That's such a critical element of our writing, because, without the proper mindset, we will always be limited by our own perception of what is possible. Mary is a fundraising coach and consultant who helps leaders with great causes raise...

Has this ever happened to you? You block out time on your calendar, you get your pen or pencil—or computer—ready, and you sit down at your desk, ready to write. You’ve been looking forward to this time and can’t wait to get your creative juices flowing. So, you sit there, patiently waiting for the Muse to arrive and deliver the creativity straight to your brain. You’re ready to go, ready to transc...

Let me ask you a simple, but profound question. Do you love to write? We’re not talking about whether you love having written . We’re talking about the actual work of writing. If the answer is “yes”—great! If the answer is “no” or “not so much,” consider the reason why. Is it because writing is hard or unpleasant? Is it because someone long ago said you weren’t a writer? Could it be that inner cri...

Van Halen was one of the greatest rock bands of the 1970s and 80s. Although they had a number of popular songs and albums, they are probably best remembered for their song “Jump,” which was featured on what was arguably their best album, 1984 . The word “jump” is not just a great title for a popular rock song. It’s also great advice as you consider your next step to success in your writing life. O...

We deal with a lot of obstacles as writers, but one of the biggest is rejection. Rejection can come in many forms, but whatever form it takes… it hurts. And let’s be honest, it can hurt pretty badly. Some writers never recover from it. So how can we deal with it? J. K. Rowling offers some great advice. She said, “Resilience and humility. These go hand-in-hand, because rejection and criticism are p...

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 half an hour. He was known for his soft-spoken style, his sig...

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 tr...

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 wit...

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 plan...

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 ot...

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'...

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...

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 diff...

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 t...

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 s...

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 writi...

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...

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 to...

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 e...