The Daily Writer

In which we explore the thorny issue of how faith intersects with your business as a writer. You might be surprised at my take on this.

Looking for some creative inspiration? You’ll definitely find it on this episode as I talk about my seven favorite novels.  You can grab a copy of my book on creativity here: The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey

In this episode, we’ll explore three ways to develop your unique voice as a writer and stand out from the crowd.

There’s a saying attributed to Plato: “Be kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle.” I’m pretty confident that no matter who you are, you’re going through something . But you’ve got this. Here are three reasons I believe in you.

Dante famously wrote in his Inferno , “Mid-way in life’s journey I found myself in a dark wood, having lost the way.” If you’re feeling a little lost, let’s talk about two ways writing helps you find your way.

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. Register for the following events I reference in this episode: Tuesday, September 8: I’m sponsoring and speaking at the monthly NTx Network Lunch at The Commons coworking space in St. Ch...

If you’ve never used a calendar to organize and plan your writing, this episode will help you be far more productive and effective.

We’ve all had lots of help getting to whatever level of success we enjoy. It’s important to thank those who helped us along the way.

In which we explore a famous line from “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” and how it can help you be bolder as a writer.

The vast majority of people who offer writing and editing services completely neglect this little secret. When you put it into practice, it’s much easier to find clients.

Emotional weather patterns come and go. But a true blue-collar writer is like a rock: stable, steady, unmoved. Let’s explore how to show up like this every day.

It’s an all-too-common problem among writers: we know what to do, but how do we get ourselves to do it? The secret lies in a simple exercise that will help you identify the internal and external forces driving your actions.

Let’s explore a simple way to write a 30,000-word full-length book in under three months.

When life is full and it feels like you’re living in chaos, how do you get your writing done? Let’s explore three simple tips to help you get there.

Authorship is a philosophy, a life orientation if you will, that is focused on helping you become the author of your own life . Here are ten non-writing ways to practice authorship:

Let’s dive into seven ways to build your writing business by focusing on specific strategies and a long-term mindset. 

Many writers today decry the state of things today and believe it’s harder than ever to be successful. I disagree. Let’s explore why the “jungle” may be a dangerous place … but it’s full of life and opportunity.

I was a college professor for many years before going into business as a ghostwriter. I started off part-time and then built my business from there. Let’s dive into seven tips for getting started as a part-time ghostwriter.

Here’s a strange tactic I use all the time when writing book chapters or longer pieces: I write material out of order . Let’s explore why this works so well in helping you be more productive.

Many writers don’t think much about the business side of things. But if you sell products or services (or don’t yet, but want to), you have a business . And if you want to make more money, improving your business skills should be a top priority. These seven books will definitely help you get there.

Many moons ago, when I was in my early twenties, I started a practice that I continue to this day: I keep an encouragement file. Let’s explore why this is such an important practice and how it can impact you as a writer.

I answer a question from email subscriber Frank Ball: “ Why do we want writing to be easy when valuable things always come at great cost?”  

Tony Robbins wrote in his excellent book, Awaken the Giant Within , “It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.” Let’s explore how to keep going and be more consistent.

As I look back over the projects I’ve enjoyed writing the most, they have always involved great collaborators. We’ll explore four qualities of great collaborators on this episode. You can grab a copy of my book here: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most

On today’s episode, I answer a reader question about whether it’s appropriate to leave reviews for books written by friends.