The Daily Writer

If you identify as a writer—and I assume you do since you’re listening to this podcast—you probably have some type of outlet for writing. Having a place to write, and having an audience who expects your work on a regular, consistent basis is a great way to develop a writing habit because it puts the pressure on you to deliver. On this episode, you’ll be inspired to hone in on the fundamental messa...

There are many different types of writing—journalism, novels, short stories, nonfiction, blog posts, graphic novels, and a hundred others. But one thing that ties all writing together is storytelling. Stories are the way we process information and make sense of our lives. Therefore, it is critical that we learn how to construct and weave stories the best way can. It’s a craft I am still very much...

On this podcast, we talk a lot about giving. I want you to be a generous writer. But what does that mean, exactly? I look at it this way. Being a generous writer means that you give more in value than you receive from others. It means that you are always looking for ways to serve your audience through good content and great stories. It means you are connecting with others and connecting them with...

This episode is for all the writers who struggle to be outgoing. I get it—most of us writers are introverts. We get our energy by spending time alone rather than spending it with people. But the reality is that people need to be a huge part of our lives as writers. On this episode, you’ll recognize, even if you’re an introvert, engaging with others is a choice you must make. *** Check out my NEW b...

We writers have the well-earned reputation for not being the best at people skills, which is unfortunate because it’s certainly not always true. Writing is a people-centered business even though we spend a good amount of time sitting in front of a screen typing. Nevertheless, there is always room for improvement. Even if you’re an outgoing people person, you can always use a reminder of the basics...

It’s a blessing and a curse to live in the internet age. It’s a blessing, of course, because we have access to unlimited knowledge and connections. There are a million options for where you want to take your writing business or creativity. This also represents a curse because, well, too many options is overwhelming. It’s easy to get paralyzed by all the different models of a writing career. On thi...

Have you ever heard someone refer to your “six”? It refers to the six people who will carry your casket at your funeral. I want you to think about the six people in your life who would indeed carry your casket. How often do you speak to them? How close would you say these friends are to you? On this episode, Kent reminds us to invest in our friends, because they’re the ones who always stay with us...

Like me, you probably get sucked into lists of books, movies, or music that others have put together. These might consist of the top 10 movies of all time, the best 50 guitarists, the top 15 novels, the top 10 books on writing, a ranking of Star Wars movies, and so on. Human beings have made those curated lists. Someone, somewhere, decided they were going to be a tastemaker and put their opinion o...

As writers, we love to tell stories. Whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction, stories are a critical part of how we share information and help others engage in the human experience. Maybe you've thought about doing the ultimate deep-dive into storytelling, which is writing your OWN story by creating a memoir. My guest today is here to give us guidance on writing a compelling memoir....

Water can be a metaphor for life or death. Ask anyone who has gotten sick from contaminated water or tried to avoid falling out of a canoe while going down the Amazon River teeming with deadly piranhas. They will tell you that water can be deadly. But what about a person dying of thirst in the desert or someone who goes into the hospital because they’re dehydrated? Water can bring life. On this ep...

When you’re passionate about what you do, it’s hard to stop. Ask any writer who loves writing and they can attest that it can be hard to let your foot off the gas pedal and take a break. It’s especially hard when you value and practice a writing habit. And like all habits, if practiced to the extreme, it can start to be harmful. On this episode, you’ll be reminded to take a break from your writing...

Each year on Christmas Eve, millions of people gather around their TV sets—or today, their computer screens—to watch the classic movie It’s a Wonderful Life . The main character, George Bailey, has a chance to see what the small town of Bedford Falls would have been like if he had never been born. In one scene, just after George’s mother slams the door in his face because she doesn’t know him, the...

Disney parks all over the world are known as the happiest places on earth. And judging by the number of people who flock there each year, it is correct. It’s known as a place full of fun, magic, and wonder. But even Walt Disney himself knew that it was dangerous to contain happiness to a particular location. On this episode, Kent shares wisdom from Walt Disney about creating happiness wherever you...

Do you know that feeling when you’re at a social gathering and people have divided into small groups? Every group is talking about a different topic and no matter what group you gravitate to, it seems like you don’t have much to add to the conversation. So, you hang back. You pretend to go get something to drink or use the restroom. But really, what you’re doing is hiding—all because you don’t thi...

I’m thrilled to feature this conversation with my good friend M. J. James. M. J. is a member of our Daily Writer Community, and she has built an amazing podcast and website called Burned Out Business Mom. You probably heard M. J. featured on an episode of the Daily Writer Podcast a few weeks ago when I interviewed her. Now we’re flipping things around and she interviews me about my new book 18 Wor...

In your life as a writer, there are many things you get to choose: how and when you write, what kind of material you create, the type of platform you want to build, and so much more. But there is one thing none of us gets to decide: the times in which we live. On this episode, you’ll be reminded that even though you can’t control your circumstances, you can control what you do and how you can add...

On May 21, 1990, audiences tuned in to the series finale of the CBS show Newhart . They probably expected a standard final episode that wrapped up the 8-season run telling the story of Dick Louden, a Vermont innkeeper played by Bob Newhart, and the oddball cast of characters who populated the show. This was not Bob Newhart’s first foray into the world of sitcoms. He had previously starred in anoth...

Each day is a thread you are weaving into an epic tapestry. One day, the threads will run out and your life will be over. When your friends and loved ones reflect on your final tapestry, what will they see? Will they see shadows and a hint of greatness that was never fulfilled? Or will they stand in awe at the bold shapes and bright colors that helped them see they could create a beautiful tapestr...

In his classic book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , Stephen Covey famously wrote, “Begin with the end in mind.” Come with me on a journey to the end—the end of your life. What will future generations know about your story, your hopes and dreams, your ideas, and what your life meant? What legacy will you leave behind? On this episode, you’ll recognize why it’s vital to know what legacy yo...

On a day-to-day basis, we are consumed with the here and now—what we have to write and publish today or this week. Expand your horizons and think not just about this week, this month, or this year. Go beyond even the next five or ten years. Think a hundred years into the future. On this episode, Kent shares a personal story, which will inspire you to consider how your work will impact future gener...

The writer Matthew Kelly said, “It is important to understand that you are not writing a story or a book, or a sentence or a paragraph. You are writing a body of work. Whatever you are writing today is just one small part of that body of work.” This helps take the pressure off because we can easily get stressed out by feeling like we have to create a perfect article, social media post, email, or b...

A big challenge that we face in our creative work is simply the fact that we work alone much of the time. Even if you work with a team on projects that include editors, graphic designers, beta readers, maybe co-authors or collaborators, or marketing people, you are still spending a large percentage of your time creating alone. If you work from home, you can easily isolate yourself from other peopl...

When I became a college professor in 2004, one of the courses I was assigned was Introduction to the Arts. It was a basic survey course covering visual art, architecture, music, theatre, and film from a Christian philosophical viewpoint. The area I knew the least about was architecture. I had always been fascinated by it, but never studied it in-depth. Over the years, as I have learned more about...

When I became a college professor in 2004, one of the courses I was assigned was Introduction to the Arts. It was a basic survey course covering visual art, architecture, music, theatre, and film from a Christian philosophical viewpoint. The area I knew the least about was architecture. I had always been fascinated by it, but never studied it in-depth. Over the years, as I have learned more about...

We all wish for success… but sometimes we forget that it comes at a price. Take Harper Lee, for example. She published the classic American novel To Kill a Mockingbird in 1960 when she was just 34 years old. Considering that many successful authors don’t get started until their 40s, she was practically a baby by most standards of literary success. On this episode, you’ll learn an important lesson...