The Daily Writer

One of the most common questions people ask me about ghostwriting is, “Where do I get clients?” It’s a natural question, of course, because all writers who are doing client work would probably like to increase their income and have more consistent work. My answer to these friends is sometimes a little disappointing because almost all of my clients have come to me via referrals from colleagues, fri...

No matter what your product or service, and no matter what type of books you write and publish, you need to grow your audience. Why? Because ultimately, your business depends on people and their willingness to buy from you. That’s why I’m excited today to feature this incredible interview with Bryan Harris, CEO of Growth Tools, a monthly coaching and done-for-you partner matching service that make...

Many writers who want to grow their business spend their time focusing on the craft of writing. They go to conferences, read books, listen to podcasts, and take courses on how to be a better writer. Which is all well and good … except that there’s a lot more to building a business than doing the work. The other 50% of having a successful writing-based business is the business side. That’s why I re...

The way I look at it, there are two forces at work to growing a sustainable writing business, or any business for that matter.   There are external elements that people see: the websites, the blog, the books, the client conversations, the work you produce, and so forth. But then there is also the internal element—the mental and emotional journey you are taking. When you start taking your business...

So you’ve finished writing that book that’s been on your heart and mind for a long time. You’ve put a lot of time, planning, and energy into crafting the best book possible. You’ve considered your business goals and how the book will help you achieve them. You’ve thought about your reader’s journey and how the book can help them. Now that you’ve written the book, that’s only part of the journey of...

As you’re well aware, there are basically two sides to being a writer. There’s the creative side, which allows us to tell stories and communicate in a way that connects. Then there is the business side, which allows us to create sustainable income in lots of different ways. Most of us gravitate toward the creative side of writing and struggle with the business side. It doesn’t come as naturally to...

I’m honored today to bring you a conversation with Honorée Corder, who is my Yoda, Gandalf, and Dumbledore all rolled into one. She’s my mentor and business coach, and it would be an understatement to say she’s had a big impact on my life and business these last few years. Honorée Corder is the #1 expert on self-publishing. You can scour the internet, and I promise you will not find anyone who has...

On many of our Profitable Writer episodes, I bring on a guest who has expertise on a certain topic. They come on the show to help us figure out how to solve a specific problem or give guidance or help us improve in some way. Other times, I bring on a guest because they have an interesting story and I believe we can learn some things, and be deeply inspired by, their journey as a writer. Today’s ep...

Even though Amazon has been all the rage for book-buyers for much of the last twenty years, did you know there are many other outlets where readers can find your books? Well … of course you did! You’re not just a writer, but a reader as well. If your life resembles mine, you probably buy books from Amazon all the time because of the price, speed, and convenience. But Amazon is only one of the many...

I’m a big fan of learning from other industries and professionals. It’s very easy as a writer to spend all your time around other people who only think about books and publishing. Yet it’s important to remember that at the end of the day, you’re a business owner. That’s why I’m excited to bring you this conversation with my friend Anastasia Forrest, a rockstar real estate agent! Anastasia Forrest...

Since you’re listening to this podcast, you’re presumably interested in becoming more profitable. Sometimes as writers we play too small, thinking that if we can muster 10% growth this year, that’s a huge win. I want to encourage you think bigger—much bigger! Today’s episode is different kind of conversation, where we’ll focus more on the philosophy of achievement and how to set really big goals f...

You’ve probably heard the phrase before, “Are you working IN or ON your business?” This question refers to the difference between being an employee who does the work of your business, and being the owner who is maximizing productivity, profits, and success. When you’re a solo business owner, you wear both hats. It can be hard to see the difference between those two roles, especially if you don’t c...

If you and I were having coffee together, and I asked if you believed in the Tooth Fairy or Santa Claus, you’d probably reply, “No, those are nice ideas but they’re not real because they’re myths.” It’s pretty easy for us to distinguish reality from fiction when it comes to figures like Santa Claus. However, it’s not so easy for writers to distinguish fact from fiction when it comes to publishing....

  On today's episode, we dive into three key ways you can demonstrate your credibility to prospective clients. *** Thanks to today's sponsor!  Vellum  is the go-to book formatting software for indie authors who care about creating beautiful ebooks and print books. Use the link to download Vellum for FREE.  

Most of what we discuss here on the Profitable Writer podcast is centered around nonfiction. That’s what I write, both for myself and for clients, and most of our guests are focused on nonfiction. However, today I’m honored to feature a guest who is here to share tips and advice on writing and marketing historical fiction. Melissa LaShure is the host of the LiteraryScape Podcast , where she discus...

  As a ghostwriter (or someone who wants to be), it's easy to worry about whether you have the right credentials to be perceived as a pro. However, there's a far more important question you must ask first. *** Thanks to today's sponsor!  Vellum  is the go-to book formatting software for indie authors who care about creating beautiful ebooks and print books. Use the link to download...

We talk a lot about income streams here on the show because there are countless ways to take your book or message and make money from it. A book is only the starting point. Many authors write a book, publish it, and then ask, “Now what?” My guest today is going to help us think about various ways to take your book or message and turn it into dollars. Thomas Umstattd, Jr. is the CEO of Author Media...

The #1 topic people ask me about is ghostwriting. On this episode, we'll dive into ten reasons ghostwriting is a great business for writers. 1. You can work on your own time. 2. Books are pretty straightforward to write.   3. You only need a few projects per year to make a good income. 4. “Ghostwriter” is a compelling term that makes people curious.   5. Ghostwriting is easy to explain to peo...

Much of what we do as writers is focused on the here and now. There’s that blog post to write, that client chapter, those emails to answer, that marketing plan to think about, that cover design to approve. All good things, to be sure! It’s easy to lose sight of the forest because we’re so focused on the tree, isn’t it? On today’s episode, I had the honor of sitting down (on Zoom, of course) with t...

As a writer, your primary job is to communicate. Most of us feel very comfortable communicating our ideas, stories, and other content in a variety of forms. If you write for clients, you probably feel right at home when you write in their style or voice. For some reason, though, many writers struggle when it comes to communicating about themselves! It’s critical that we feel confident and assertiv...

Today’s episode is bittersweet because I’m re-running a conversation I had with Dan Miller back in August of 2021. Dan was the founder of 48 Days , a company dedicated to helping you find or create work you love. He was also the author of the highly influential book, 48 Days to the Work You Love . Dan discovered he had pancreatic cancer in December of last year, and in just a few short weeks, he w...

You can have all the talent in the world as a writer, but if you don’t have good systems to operate and grow your business, it will be tough to be successful over the long haul. That’s why I’m excited to bring you this conversation with Mike Abramowitz. He is a speaker, author, and transformational coach who helps turn your greatest insecurities into your superpowers. Mike Abramowitz has twenty ye...

As the host of this podcast, I have the privilege of talking to lots of extraordinary writers, business leaders, and creative minds. Today I’m honored to bring you this conversation with a truly legendary writer, for one of best episodes ever! Let me tell you a bit about him. Dave Pelzer is a man who represents overcoming adversity, and he has dedicated his life to helping others so they can help...

If you’re a podcaster who has dreamed of having your own book, you’ll love today’s episode! Last Fall, my good friend Jody Maberry and I co-led a webinar called “Podcast to Published.” The goal of the webinar was to test-drive some material we may later use to help podcasters use their podcast material as the basis for a book. I’ve been podcasting since 2013, and I’m a huge fan of repurposing your...

We live in an incredible time! As an author, you have a variety of options for publishing and funding your books. If you’re doing self-publishing, one of the most interesting ways to fund the book is by crowdsourcing it through Kickstarter. If you’ve ever wondered how to use Kickstarter to fund your book launch, today’s your lucky day! Lestie May Zachary is a Southwest USA native who loves to writ...