Pros Talking Prose

In this special bonus episode of Pros Talking Prose, Troy Lambert and Stacey Smekofske sit down with powerhouse author coaches Becca Syme and Roland Denzel for an honest, funny, and surprisingly deep conversation about author burnout, publishing disruption, mental health, creativity, resilience, and what it actually means to build a sustainable writing life. From the realities of traditional publi...

Most authors are told to obsess over launches, bestseller rankings, and “making it” with their debut novel, but what if that mindset is exactly what’s destroying long-term author careers? In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Stacey Smekofske and Troy Lambert break down the dangerous publishing myths that are exhausting writers, sabotaging marketing efforts, and creating unrealistic expectations...

Most authors believe a simple idea: “If my book is good, it will sell.” That belief is costing authors thousands of dollars. In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, we break down the real reason most books don’t sell—and why your editor may not be telling you the full truth about book sales, publishing expectations, and author profitability.  What we cover: • Why don’t good books sell? • Can editor...

Just reading more isn’t making you a better writer, is it? Well, there is a reason. It’s because that is crappy advice.  In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, we break down one of the most common pieces of writing advice out there… and why it’s incomplete at best and misleading at worst. Yes, reading matters. Yes, consuming story matters. But if you’re doing it passively? You’re not improving. So...

In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, we’re tackling a growing problem in the writing world: authors who want to write books, but don’t want to study the craft, read, or do the research. Yes… we said it. From viral debates about writers who don’t read to the overreliance on AI as a “research tool,” we break down what’s actually happening behind the scenes, and why it’s showing up in your manuscri...

Let’s just say the quiet part out loud… Most writers say they want honest feedback until they actually get it. In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, we’re diving headfirst into one of the most uncomfortable (and necessary) parts of being an author: criticism. We aren’t talking about the fluffy kind of feedback; we aren’t giving you the “you’re doing amazing, sweetie” kind. We are addressing the r...

Everyone’s arguing about AI in publishing, but they’re missing the point. AI isn’t going anywhere. Authors are using it for everything from brainstorming to drafting entire manuscripts, but here’s the reality no one wants to say out loud: You STILL have to do the work. I created a tool to help! It's FREE and you can download it HERE:  https://learning.printtopro.com/cleaning-ai-from-your-prose/ In...

The internet is losing its mind over the “Shy Girl” controversy, but most authors are reacting instead of thinking. In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, we break down what’s actually happening beneath the surface of the debate. There are a lot of AI accusations, publishing decisions, reader reactions, and a bigger issue no one seems to be talking about. This really matters to authors because it...

Are authors destroying their own brands without realizing it? In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, we’re breaking down one of the biggest shifts happening in publishing right now:  Books are becoming commodities  Readers are harder to reach  And authors are being pushed to produce more… faster… cheaper But what if that’s the wrong strategy? We dig into: • Why the “mass audience” mindset is faili...

In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, we sit down with Angela Hoy, publisher of WritersWeekly and CEO of BookLocker, to expose the growing scam industry preying on writers. From fake publishing companies to bogus movie deals and AI-generated outreach emails, the scams targeting authors are becoming more sophisticated—and more expensive. Angela has spent decades investigating fraud in the publishi...

At some point in modern publishing, something shifted. Writers stopped asking “What story do I need to tell?” and started asking “Will this sell?” In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Stacey Smekofske and Troy Lambert tackle a growing problem in the writing world: what happens when authors put the business hat on too early and lose the art of storytelling. In an era of rapid publishing, AI writi...

AI can draft your book. But can you legally own it? In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Stacey Smekofske and Troy Lambert sit down with intellectual property attorney Bradlee Frazer to unpack the legal realities behind AI-generated content, copyright ownership, and Amazon’s KDP Terms of Service. If you’re an author using AI — even just for drafting — this conversation could change how you think...

In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Troy and Stacey tackle one of the hardest questions authors face: Are you writing to sell… or writing to last? After reflecting on the legacy of Robert Duvall and the staying power of cultural classics like The Princess Bride, The Big Lebowski, and The Stand, we dive deep into: The half-life of a bestseller Why “writing to market” often fades The algorithm vs...

Are you really independent as an author… or are you just isolated? In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Troy Lambert and Stacey Smekofske break down a hard truth about the writing life: Writing may be solitary. Building an author career is not. Too many indie authors try to run their author business alone, making every decision solo, second-guessing every move, and slowly burning out in silence....

Tool overwhelm is real, and it’s quietly wrecking a LOT of author progress. If you’ve ever downloaded one more “must-have” app, paid for a shiny new subscription, or convinced yourself you can’t move forward until you have the “perfect system”… this episode is for you. In this week’s Pros Talking Prose, Troy and Stacey break down The 3-Tool Rule—a ridiculously practical way to cut through the nois...

...Even If you Get That Idea in the Shower Inspiration doesn’t strike when it’s convenient—and most writers lose their best ideas before they ever hit the page. In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Stacey Smekofske and Troy Lambert break down how writers actually capture inspiration, why ideas tend to show up in the shower, the car, or the coffee shop, and how to stop letting those sparks disapp...

You don’t have a writing problem—you have a story problem. In this craft-focused episode of Pros Talking Prose, Stacey Smekofske and Troy Lambert dig into one of the biggest issues holding writers back: ideas that sound interesting but don’t actually sustain a story. We break down how to pressure-test an idea before you waste months writing it, including: • The difference between a cool event and...

A little insight and maybe introspection. You hit publish on your book—so why does it feel like something’s missing? In this short episode, publishing coach and editor Stacey Smekofske breaks down the publish hangover—the emotional crash and loss of momentum many authors experience after finishing a book. From false expectations about instant success to the dangerous pause that causes authors to d...

Stacey is at Disney. Troy went rogue. And instead of hustle culture, he brought a message most authors desperately need to hear: Take. A. Nap. In this solo episode of Pros Talking Prose, Troy Lambert digs into the often-ignored reality of the author life: burnout isn’t a badge of honor, exhaustion isn’t productivity, and grinding yourself into rust won’t build a sustainable career. He talks about...

Are you setting ambitious author goals… or accidentally gaslighting yourself into burnout? In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Stacey Smekofske and Troy Lambert kick off the new year with a no-BS conversation about realistic author goals, metrics that actually matter, and why chasing the wrong numbers is the fastest way to hate your writing life. We dig into the KPIs authors should be tracking...

2026 is closer than you think—and authors who prepare now will have a serious edge. Join Pros Talking Prose for a (broadcast 12/27/25) LIVE 2026 publishing outlook and Author Q&A, featuring special guest Vincent Zandri—bestselling author and industry veteran who’s seen publishing evolve through every major shift. This is an honest, no-fluff conversation about what’s actually coming and how aut...

Publishing didn’t explode in 2025. It didn’t collapse either. It… buffered. In this gloriously chaotic year-in-review episode, Stacey and Troy talk through what a lot of authors are quietly feeling but rarely saying out loud: the industry hit a reset button, AI showed up like a spicy autocomplete with opinions, reader culture got meaner, expectations got louder, and everyone somehow ended the year...

The publishing industry is chaotic, glitchy, and occasionally held together with duct tape—but your story? That part is solid. In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Stacey and Troy dig into the hidden work behind every book you hold—the invisible labor, emotional investment, and sheer number of moving pieces that go into getting a story from a writer’s brain to a reader’s hands. From editors and...

In this episode, Troy and Stacey dive into building a real reader community—because relying solely on Amazon is basically letting your author career grow up in an algorithmic inbred village. Sure, Amazon can boost sales… but it’s not a community. And if you’re serious about longevity, superfans, and NOT letting one tech giant decide your future, you’ve got to build something bigger, smarter, and m...

Are authors doomed? Is AI coming for your career? Is Skynet secretly drafting romance novels? Spoiler: Nope. Not even close. In this heart-forward episode of Pros Talking Prose, Stacey and Troy break down the REAL state of publishing in the age of AI—and why writers absolutely can keep calm and stay human. We talk about the industry shifts, the fear-driven doom loops, and the truth readers keep sh...