The Daily Writer

What does it mean to be great? It’s such a simple question on the surface. But when you dig a little deeper, it gets to the heart of an inner conflict we feel as writers. On the one hand, we want to help people. We care about others and their welfare. We know that our writing, our creative work, is a way to do that. On the other hand, we also feel a powerful impulse to be admired by other people....

One of the most popular TV sitcoms in recent years was The Big Bang Theory . Chances are pretty high that you have either seen it or know about it. But just in case you haven’t, The Big Bang Theory focuses on a group of friends, several of whom are physicists and engineers.  Many of the show’s storylines, and much of its humor, came from Sheldon Cooper, who spent a lot of time and energy trying to...

As creatives, we seem hardwired to remember every single time we failed in our younger days. Remember the time you forgot your lines in the school play? Or the time you drew a picture for the teacher and she hated it? Or that time you hit the wrong note in your music solo and everyone laughed? We carry this same hyper-sensitivity to failure into adulthood, especially with our writing. If we don’t...

What is a professional? It seems like such a simple question. A professional baseball player is one who plays on a pro sports team. A professional attorney is one who has a legal practice. A professional plumber is one who has been licensed by the proper authorities. Judging by those examples, a professional writer is one who gets paid to write, correct? It would seem pretty cut and dried, but we...

On this month's Listener Q&A, we tackle a number of great questions (time stamp and the name of the person asking the question are included): 1:57 - How do you stay productive during the pandemic, and when you have a lot of different ideas? (By Shawn Washburn & Mike Singleton) 6:20 - How do you deal with being a perfectionist? (By Ted Biermann) 11:50 - How do you get past emotions to...

I'm thrilled to bring you this conversation with my good friend Terry Stafford. Terry is an award-winning author who has written four novels, the most recent of which completed a trilogy. Terry is also an editor, and in fact, he recently edited a book I ghostwrote for a client. He did an amazing job. Terry has a background in the US Navy, and also with NASA as a project manager. Based on his...

One of humanity’s most enduring myths is the Fountain of Youth. For well over two thousand years, people have fantasized, and at times even searched for, a magical spring that would restore the youth of anyone who drank or bathed in it. The earliest appearance of this legend is from the Greek historian Herodotus, writing in the 5th century B.C. Numerous other writers mentioned it over the centurie...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit down with one of the world’s most successful authors and ask them the secret to great writing? Fortunately, you don’t have to. Many of the world’s great authors have shared their wisdom in books, articles, and interviews. One such piece of advice comes from Stephen King, who said, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all othe...

Picture yourself as a third grader. It’s May and you have two weeks of school left. It’s warm outside and all you can think about is a fun-filled summer full of sprinklers, fireworks, and ice cream. Yet here you sit at this uncomfortable desk, listening to the teacher droning on and on about some lesson in math or history or science. You’d rather be anywhere but here. We never quite escape this im...

The scariest monster in ancient Greek mythology was not a cyclops, sea monster, or dragon. It was a woman named Medusa. Legend has it that she was assaulted by Poseidon in Athena's temple. In her anger, Athena transformed Medusa's hair into venomous snakes and disfigured her face so badly that anyone who gazed at her would be turned to stone. Medusa was finally defeated by the hero Perse...

1994’s The Lion King is one of the most beloved animated movies of all time. In case you haven’t seen it in a while, the story focused on Simba, a young cub in the pride lands of Africa. He is first in line to inherit the throne from his father Mufasa, a good and generous ruler. But there is one thing that stands in the way: Mufasa’s evil brother, Scar, who crafts a plan to have both Mufasa and Si...

I'm thrilled to bring you the first episode of my new podcast, The Daily Writer! If you consider yourself a creative entrepreneur who wants to build a business with your writing, or writing is a key part of your business, this show is for you. If you write books, articles, blog posts, newsletters, curriculum, sermons, novels, short stories, screenplays, video scripts, or anything else . . . t...

It's hard to let go of what's familiar and comfortable. But that's what is probably holding you back. Is it time to let go and move on? *** Need a ghostwriter for your next project? Learn more here:  https://inkwellghostwriting.com .  Subscribe and grab your free gift: https://kentsanders.net/subscribe   If you enjoyed this episode, we would be grateful if you leave a review on Appl...

We all choose what "glasses" we use to see the world. What do you see? *** Need a ghostwriter for your next project? Learn more here:  https://inkwellghostwriting.com .  Subscribe and grab your free gift: https://kentsanders.net/subscribe   If you enjoyed this episode, we would be grateful if you leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people discover the show, and the more peopl...

Johnny Carson was the greatest late-night host of all time. Here's why I miss him. *** Need a ghostwriter for your next project? Learn more here:  https://inkwellghostwriting.com .  Subscribe and grab your free gift: https://kentsanders.net/subscribe   If you enjoyed this episode, we would be grateful if you leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people discover the show, and the mor...

I just finished the first draft of a client book. I was able to work from an outline and write 45,000 words in less than a month. Here's how it was done. *** Need a ghostwriter for your next project? Learn more here:  https://inkwellghostwriting.com .  Subscribe and grab your free gift: https://kentsanders.net/subscribe   If you enjoyed this episode, we would be grateful if you leave a review...

I stumbled across this short interview I did with my son Ben in 2013. He was 9 years old at the time. It was so much fun hearing his comments about life and creativity. He is wise beyond his years. Enjoy! *** Need a ghostwriter for your next project? Learn more here:  https://inkwellghostwriting.com .  Subscribe and grab your free gift: https://kentsanders.net/subscribe   If you enjoyed this episo...

In your business, do you present yourself as fast food or gourmet? *** Need a ghostwriter for your next project? Learn more here:  https://inkwellghostwriting.com .  Subscribe and grab your free gift: https://kentsanders.net/subscribe   If you enjoyed this episode, we would be grateful if you leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people discover the show, and the more people listen, the...

When you’re a writer, it’s easy to get caught up in the content treadmill. We sometimes forget that we write to change lives. That’s why a call to action is such a vital part of any content. On this episode, you’ll learn why a CTA (call to action) is so important, and some ideas for creating a great CTA. *** Need a ghostwriter for your next project? Learn more here:  https://inkwellghostwriting.co...

What we learn from an obscure fact about painting in medieval times? A lot, it turns out. *** Need a ghostwriter for your next project? Learn more here:  https://inkwellghostwriting.com .  Subscribe and grab your free gift: https://kentsanders.net/subscribe   If you enjoyed this episode, we would be grateful if you leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people discover the show, and the m...

We naturally process pain as a bad thing. But can it be raw material for your creative work? Can it help you become who you need to be? *** Need a ghostwriter for your next project? Learn more here:  https://inkwellghostwriting.com .  Subscribe and grab your free gift: https://kentsanders.net/subscribe   If you enjoyed this episode, we would be grateful if you leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It...

I share a little about three books I'm reading and loving: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Gift*ology by John Ruhlin Marketing Made Simple by Donald Miller & J.J. Peterson *** Need a ghostwriter for your next project? Learn more here:  https://inkwellghostwriting.com .  Subscribe and grab your free gift: https://kentsanders.net/subscribe   If you enjoyed this episode, we would be grateful...

Yes, I know we all tend to take criticism personally ... but it's not healthy. Here's how to make better use of it. *** Need a ghostwriter for your next project? Learn more here:  https://inkwellghostwriting.com .  Subscribe and grab your free gift: https://kentsanders.net/subscribe   If you enjoyed this episode, we would be grateful if you leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more...

I’m excited to bring you this conversation with Dr. Tracey Jones, who is the President of Tremendous Leadership. She’s an author, speaker, veteran, international leadership expert, publisher, and host of the Tremendous Leadership podcast.  Tracey is a passionate lifelong learner and her career spans top positions in four major industries, from the military to high tech, to defense contracting, and...

On this episode, I dig into a little 80's music history to show how your art can impact people over the long haul. *** Need a ghostwriter for your next project? Learn more here:  https://inkwellghostwriting.com .  Subscribe and grab your free gift: https://kentsanders.net/subscribe   If you enjoyed this episode, we would be grateful if you leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more peopl...