The Daily Writer

Here is a question to consider: what activities actually produce writing?   This is not a trick question, but a serious one. Why? Because it’s easy for us to fall under the spell of doing writing-related activities while secretly avoiding hard work of writing.   There’s that course to take. That writing group to be involved in. That new writing craft book to read. That movie to watch so you can an...

First drafts are hard. Let’s just get that out of the way right here and now.   The deeper question is, why? Why does it take so much effort to produce a first draft, even if we know we will have many opportunities to make improvements before the final version is done?   On this episode, you'll learn why perfectionism is so dangerous, and how to avoid it.   *** Are you looking for a community...

In the world of writers, there are two kinds of people: the mere mortals, and the towering giants.   We stand in awe of their creative output and their success. And we wonder, how do they get it done? How do they write so many books and stay consistent for years or even decades on end?   On this episode, Kent shares advice from Stephen King on writing routines.   *** Are you looking for a communit...

One of the most common themes of successful writers is that they are consistent. They establish a habit or routine for getting the work done and they stick with it.   Let’s get even more granular, down to the level of words. After all, the fundamental building block of any book is words. Those words are put into sentences, then paragraphs, then chapters, then a complete book.    On this episode, K...

If you have spent much time around other writers, you have probably observed that as a whole, writers are a pretty congenial bunch.   We don’t normally see fist fights or shouting matches at writing conventions. (Although I admit that would be fun to see.) Writers are the kind of people you want to go hang out with at a coffee shop.   But if we’re not careful, this congeniality, this nice guy or n...

One of the most successful writers of all time also happens to have written one of the most helpful writing craft books of all time. His name is Stephen King, and the book I'm talking about is of course On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft . We recently discussed this book in our Daily Writer Community. Each month, we focus on a book that helps us with marketing, writing, or creativity. We had a...

I'm excited to bring you this encore presentation of my interview with Jeni Voss, who is the lead singer of That 80’s Band, a fantastic group based here in St. Louis. Jeni has quite a story to share, and I have to say this was one of my favorite podcast interviews. As you hear her story, you’ll be inspired by her pursuit of an authentic life through a variety of creative and community experie...

If you’re a Star Wars fan, you’ll recall Admiral Ackbar from Return of the Jedi . At the Battle of Endor, he is fighting alongside the rebels against the evil Empire.  As they are making a run toward the second Death Star, Lando Calrissian suddenly realizes that the force field around it is still active. They’ve been set up. He tells his comrades to pull up, and then Admiral Ackbar says those thre...

How many people in your life in your everyday life are serious writers? Probably just a few, unless you spend all your time around writers. In other words, most of the people that you interact with on a regular basis probably don’t understand your need for quiet, silence, or space to write On this episode, Kent shares an example from the life of E. B. White on how to get your writing done despite...

If you have ever worked on a deadline, you understand the frustration of writing conditions that are not ideal. This can be a challenge if you can only be productive in perfect conditions. The weather has to be right. It has to be the perfect time of day. You need to have a certain drink or snack … or whatever it feels like you must have. Professional writers know this isn’t the way life always. T...

How do you typically cope with getting stuck in your writing? Do you sit there staring at the screen? Do you avoid the hard work and switch over to a Netflix show? Do you put your face in your hands and start sobbing uncontrollably? If you do any of these things, or something like it, there’s a better way. On this episode, Kent shares some advice about getting unstuck in your writing. *** Are you...

You have probably noticed that there are lots of people giving advice about writing. There are almost as many people writing books about writing as they are people writing books about other topics. In fact, there is an entire industry devoted to teaching people how to write. Which is all good, except that it can be very confusing at times. If you read, watch, or listen to enough writing teachers,...

Today is February 21, which means we are almost two months into the new year. How are things going? I'm not sure what your expectations for 2021 were when the clock struck midnight on December 31, but for many people, this time of year is when things can get a little wonky. It's not Spring yet, and the excitement of the new year has worn off a long time ago. Many give up on their goals t...

On this episode, I'm sharing a conversation with my friend Eric Elder from 2019. He is an author, speaker, and pianist with a passion for sharing Christ with others. Eric is a pioneer in online ministry, and he has also produced a wealth of books and music for The Ranch, an online spiritual retreat. He also recently released a filmed version of "One Life: A Christmas Story Ballet,"...

When you look at the millions of books, blogs, podcasts, and magazine articles that have been created, what could you possibly say that is unique? The answer is simple. What makes your writing unique is not that you’re writing about something new. It’s the fact that it’s you who is writing it. You are the unique factor in the equation. On this episode, Kent reminds you that you are unique as a wri...

Countless people have been inspired by Zig Ziglar’s famous quote, “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.” We can easily see how this applies to people in sales, marketing, or other business-related positions. But how does this apply to writers? Here’s a simple principle to remember: Writing is not about the words. It’s about the people who...

We writers often talk about the reasons we write. But what are the reasons we don’t write? What keeps us from writing? The novelist Erica Jong hit the nail on the head when she said, “I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged.” On this episode, you'll learn why you don't need to fear judgment. *** Are you looking for a commun...

People write for many reasons. Some do it for money. Others do it for fame. Still others do it to teach or inspire. No matter why you write, there is a common element that ties all writers together. We are all on a journey of discovery. We don’t just write to express what we think. We write in order to discover what we think. On this episode, you'll learn why it's important to reflect on...

Here is one of the biggest ironies of the modern world. We have more facts and data than ever before, literally right at our fingertips. However, the truth seems more elusive than ever. Jesus said, “The truth will set you free.” That’s not only true in a spiritual sense, but in a creative sense as well. No matter what type of writing we do, whether fiction or non-fiction, our objective as writers...

On today's episode, we talk about the benefits of having a neat, clean work environment as well as 5 steps to decluttering your workspace: Deal with one area at a time. Get rid of things you don’t really need. Free up the real estate on your desk. Get rid of as much paper as possible. Don’t confuse “clean” with “perfect.” *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers t...

When you hear the term "creative writing," what comes to mind? If you're like most people, you probably think of fiction-based writing like novels, screenplays, and short stories. But did you know that the concept of creative writing also applies to a wide array of nonfiction formats as well? I'm very excited to have a guest on this episode who is here to help us improve our cr...

There are certain qualities we prize in the writing world. One of them is knowledge. It seems like we should know what we are getting ourselves into, right? Who respects a writer who seems to be aloof and doesn’t know what’s going on? Another quality we prize is humility. Surely we don’t want to become one of those writers who has a pretty high opinion of themselves, right? There is some truth in...

Writing is by definition a lonely task. Yes, we have editors, beta readers, graphic designers and others who help polish and perfect our work. But unless you are working with a co-writer, your writing starts with you and your ideas. A great way to stay motivated is to remember that you are always writing for someone. Now, hopefully more than one person will read your work—hopefully hundreds or eve...

We live in a culture that celebrates brilliance. Everywhere you look, people worship the best and the brightest among us. The internet, magazines, movies, social media ... they are obsessed with people who seem to have it all. It’s hard to feel motivated when you compare your own first draft to the latest million-selling book by a celebrity author. It seems like such a deep chasm between you and t...

The history of writing is replete with stories about authors who were rejected, but kept trying until they found success. Here’s just one example. A number of years ago, an aspiring author decided he wanted to write a book about the key personal decisions that determine personal success. Except he didn’t want to write it in traditional non-fiction format. Instead, he wanted to teach the concepts i...