The Daily Writer

The Writer’s Notebook is a monthly digest where we dive into books, questions, and resources to help you  become the author of your own life . I hope these pique your interest and give you something to think about.

Anytime you work on a big project, there comes a point when you’ve lost some enthusiasm, and you start to wonder if you should continue. That’s when you show up as a professional and keep pushing through.

When you are clear on what you don’t want in your business, you can lean into what you do want. 

Last week, I had dinner with a writer friend, and he asked what motivates me. Let’s explore what I shared with him and what asking yourself this question can help you, too.

Seems like a lot of people are facing big challenges right now. If you’re crawling through a river of you-know-what, keep crawling. A few inches at a time if needed. You’re gonna make it.

In which we learn from the world of sports that clear metrics are important. As a writer, you get to decide what matters to you.

Email subscriber Jane Anderson sent in a two-part question about which book-formatting tools are best and whether you can use these tools to serve writers. My answers might surprise you.

If you want to be more productive, it starts by knowing what you want your week to look like. Here’s how I set up my week for maximum success.

For years, we’re heard about “alpha males,” but let’s apply this concept to writers, but in a new and healthier way. The core trait of an alpha writer is leadership . Let’s explore thirteen traits of an alpha writer.

I want you to have as much success in your life, writing, and business as possible. That’s why I recommend setting aside your anxiety and worry about things you don’t control. 

If you’re always waiting and hoping other people will give you the green light to chase your dreams, you might be waiting a long time. It’s time to choose yourself. If you’re in the St. Louis area, a great way to “choose yourself” is to join me for a free workshop on Tuesday, September 29: Think Like an Author: Four Practices for Your Life and Writing . In this 90-minute workshop, I’m introducing...

I will always be grateful for the work I’ve had the opportunity to do as a ghostwriter over the last decade. It has provided for my family, given me a great outlet for serving others, and connected me with some truly amazing people. However, there’s a dark side to ghostwriting—in fact, a dark side of having any client-based business. It’s very easy to hide behind clients and ignore your own work....

In which I lay out my ridiculously simple system for organizing content for my daily emails.

A heartfelt message to my fellow Gen X’ers stuck in the nostalgia of the 80s.

I’m just as much of an introvert as the next writer. But I think we can all agree that there’s something special about connecting with people in person. Let’s talk about three simple ways to make it happen. If you’re in the St. Louis area, a great way to connect with some fellow writers is to join me for a free workshop on Tuesday, September 29: Think Like an Author: Four Practices for Your Life a...

While you’re waiting for your next win, you can still move the ball forward in your life. I suggest three actions you can take while you’re waiting for that answer, result, or resolution. Let’s explore.

As the old saying goes, “He who chases two rabbits catches neither.” I’m a firm believer that you can do almost anything you want in life. However, you can’t do everything . Because the further you want to go, the more focused you’ll have to be. You can’t do everything, but you can far more than you ever thought possible when you focus on just one thing.

Whenever I hire someone, my goal is to  be their favorite client . Let’s talk about a few ways to treat people well and honor the work they’re doing on your behalf.

Much of the “writing life” isn’t really about writing. It’s about relationships. After all, it’s pretty hard to have a successful business or career without people. To that end, I offer five simple (but not always easy!) ways to add value to people. They don’t have anything to do with writing, but they have everything to do with people.

Almost everybody wants to write a book, but many people don’t have the time, skill, patience, confidence, or discipline to see it through. However, many people are genuinely motivated to write their own book, but they don’t know where to start. Those are the ones I try to encourage and help in whatever ways make sense. Here are a few ways I do that.

Whether or not you’re a fan of country music, you’ve probably come across Ella Langley’s monster song, Choosin’ Texas . It’s a genius-level song that contains three important lessons for writers of all kinds. Let’s explore.

If you’re wrestling with figuring out the pathway between where you are and where you want to be, today’s episode will help you get clarity.

I’ll bet there’s at least one big project you’ve been wanting to get to for a while. But it feels so big, so daunting and imposing, that you’re paralyzed by indecision on how to even get started. If you’re stuck, use the “snowball method” to build some momentum.

Let’s talk about the #1 quality that will help lead you to more success in your writing … and life. To read more about the book I reference in this episode, grab it here: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most

Yes, you do. If you’ve felt this way before—wondering what you should write about—let’s dive into a quick list of twelve ways to pull material out of your mind.