Writers waste a lot of energy worrying about the wrong things.

In this episode of the Wordslinger 10-Shot, Kevin talks about finishing a story that started nearly 30 years ago, why your unfinished drafts may still have life in them, and why the “perfect” writing tool probably is not what’s standing between you and the work.

We also get into the ongoing AI debate for writers: where the line is, how AI can be useful, and why using tools to improve your writing is not the same thing as letting something else do the writing for you.

If you’ve ever abandoned a story, obsessed over which software or device to use, or wondered whether AI has a place in your writing process, this one is for you.

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⏱️ Timecodes

00:00 — Recording from the virtual studio

00:39 — Finishing a draft that took 30 years to complete

01:26 — Why short fiction can be a smart creative strategy

02:37 — Building readers of your voice, not just your genre

04:37 — When a short story becomes a novella

05:10 — Revisiting an old idea that finally clicked

07:56 — How to know when an unfinished story is worth returning to

08:44 — Why writers should keep their old drafts

09:25 — How old story fragments helped launch the Dan Kotler series

10:31 — Returning to abandoned books years later

12:35 — The “perfect camera” lesson for writers

15:10 — Choosing the right writing software or device

16:12 — Handwriting, dictation, typewriters, Freewrite, AlphaSmart, Scrivener, and more

20:16 — The best writing tool is the one you already have

23:29 — The AI debate among writers

24:18 — Using AI as a writing aid versus using it to write for you

26:34 — Why every writer needs help improving

28:11 — Why passion still matters in the writing life

30:10 — The danger of AI witch hunts

32:43 — The line Kevin won’t cross with AI writing

33:29 — The Silence Between Signals is coming soon

34:11 — Share your thoughts: old drafts, writing tools, and AI

Links mentioned and recommended:

Wordslinger Podcast home page:

https://wordslingerpodcast.com

ProWritingAid:

https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5

Draft2Digital:

https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger

Author Anchor:

https://authoranchor.com

Find Kevin and his books:

https://kevintumlinson.com

Join Kevin on Substack:

https://kevintumlinson.substack.com

What are you worrying about most right now as a writer: unfinished stories, finding the right tools, or navigating AI? Drop a comment and let’s talk about it.

Like, subscribe, and share this with a writer who needs to stop waiting and start writing.

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