Most authors don't have a writing problem—they have a deadline problem.

In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Stacey joins us from the California coast while Troy holds down the fort in Idaho to talk about one of the biggest sources of stress, burnout, and frustration in an author's career: unrealistic deadlines.

From drafting and editing to cover design, formatting, publishing, and launch planning, we break down what realistic publishing timelines actually look like and why so many authors accidentally create "writer emergencies" that never needed to exist in the first place.

When you're preparing your first book or managing a growing backlist, understanding how deadlines affect every member of your publishing team can save you time, money, and a whole lot of unnecessary stress.

In this episode:

If you've ever felt behind, overwhelmed, or pressured to publish faster, this conversation is for you.

RESOURCES & LINKS

Print to Pro Power Sessions

Craft Lab with the Plot Dude

Join the Author Business Harbor Community

CHAPTERS

#WritingCommunity #Authors #SelfPublishing #WritingLife #AuthorBusiness #PublishingTips #AmWriting #BookPublishing #IndieAuthor #AuthorLife

Are you measuring author success by the wrong standard?

In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Troy Lambert and Stacey Smekofske tackle the uncomfortable truth about author success, the publishing industry's "power law," and why so many writers burn themselves out chasing goals they can't control.

We discuss why building a sustainable author career matters more than chasing fame, how to stop comparing yourself to the biggest names in publishing, and what successful authors actually spend their time doing. If you've ever felt behind, frustrated, overwhelmed, or like everyone else is succeeding faster than you, this conversation is for you.

Success doesn't have to mean becoming Stephen King.

Sometimes success means building a loyal readership, creating books you're proud of, and designing an author career that actually fits your life.

In this episode:

Resources Mentioned:

If you enjoy honest conversations about writing, publishing, author business, and building a long-term career, make sure to subscribe and join us each week.

#WritingCommunity #AuthorLife #IndieAuthor #SelfPublishing #WritingTips #PublishingIndustry #AuthorBusiness #WritingCareer #BookMarketing #AmWriting #AuthorsHelpingAuthors #CreativeEntrepreneur #WritingPodcast #BookTube #AuthorSuccess

Is your book really for everyone?

One of the biggest mistakes authors make is trying to write, market, and sell their books to everyone. In reality, the most successful authors understand that books succeed when they connect deeply with the right readers, not all readers.

In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Stacey Smekofske and Troy Lambert discuss why trying to appeal to everyone can actually hurt your book marketing, weaken your author brand, and make it harder to build a loyal readership.

We explore audience targeting for authors, reader expectations, genre positioning, reader trust, author platforms, and why building a micro community of dedicated fans is more powerful than chasing a massive audience.

Whether you're self-published, traditionally published, or somewhere in between, understanding who your book is truly for can dramatically improve your marketing strategy and long-term author career.

In This Episode:

AI Sentiment Survey: https://printtopro.com/author-a-i-sentiment-survey/

Resources Mentioned:

#WritingCommunity #BookMarketing #AuthorPlatform #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthor #WritingTips #PublishingIndustry #AuthorBusiness #BookPromotion #ReaderEngagement #WritingLife #Authors #BookMarketingStrategy #AuthorBrand #ProsTalkingProse

Most authors think book titles are just creative decisions. They’re not.

Your title is metadata. Your title is marketing. Your title is the FIRST signal readers get about your book, and if it’s confusing, generic, impossible to pronounce, or sounds like every other title in your genre… readers are already moving on.

In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Troy Lambert and Stacey Smekofske break down why so many authors struggle with titling their books, how trends like “shadow/thorn/ash” naming conventions are flooding the market, and what actually makes a title memorable, searchable, clickable, and marketable.

We also talk about:

Also, we discuss updates surrounding the Anthropic AI lawsuit, Amazon reporting/review delays, and our upcoming AI sentiment survey for authors and readers.

If you’re struggling to title your novel, nonfiction book, memoir, thriller, fantasy, romance, or cozy mystery… this episode is for you.

👇 RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED

Join the FREE P2P Author Business Harbor community on Skool

Print to Pro: www.printtopro.com

The Plot Abides: www.theplotabides.com

AI Publishing Sentiment Survey

If this episode helped you, make sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE it with another author. Every share genuinely helps us reach more writers trying to navigate publishing professionally.

#WritingCommunity #BookMarketing #SelfPublishing #AmWriting #AuthorTube #WritingAdvice #IndieAuthor #BookTitles #PublishingTips #Authors #WritersLife #CreativeWriting #BookMarketingTips #ThrillerBooks #AuthorBusiness #Anthropicnews #AIwriting 

Some authors became so focused on “being professional” that they forgot how to actually enjoy writing.

In this special bonus episode of Pros Talking Prose, Troy Lambert and Stacey Smekofske sit down with powerhouse author coaches Becca Syme and Roland Denzel for an honest, funny, and surprisingly deep conversation about author burnout, publishing disruption, mental health, creativity, resilience, and what it actually means to build a sustainable writing life.

From the realities of traditional publishing and indie pressure to social media overwhelm, writing retreats, productivity myths, and the importance of protecting your creative energy, this episode explores why the healthiest authors often approach success very differently than the industry expects.

Whether you're a full-time author, part-time creative, or somewhere in between, this conversation is a reminder that there is no single “right” way to build a writing career.

In This Episode:

Why publishing feels unstable for so many writers right now

The hidden mental health costs of modern author culture

The truth about traditional publishing vs indie publishing

Why resilience matters more than certainty

How different author brains process creativity

Why some writers should absolutely edit as they go

The danger of comparing your process to other authors

Social media burnout and protecting your creative focus

Writing as a business vs writing as a lifelong creative practice

Why writing retreats can reignite creativity and momentum

If you’re tired of hustle culture, burnout advice, and feeling like you’re “doing publishing wrong,” this conversation might be exactly what you need.

#ProsTalkingProse #AuthorLife #WritingCommunity #IndieAuthors #PublishingIndustry #WritingRetreat #AuthorBurnout #BeccaSyme #RolandDenzel #WritingPodcast #AuthorBusiness #CreativeProcess #BookMarketing #WritingLife #SelfPublishing

Most authors are told to obsess over launches, bestseller rankings, and “making it” with their debut novel, but what if that mindset is exactly what’s destroying long-term author careers?

Most authors believe a simple idea: “If my book is good, it will sell.”

Just reading more isn’t making you a better writer, is it? Well, there is a reason. It’s because that is crappy advice. 

Pros Talking Prose

#WritingAdvice #StoryStructure #WritingTips #HowToWriteBetter #StoryAnalysis #WritingMyths #BadWritingAdvice #AuthorLife #CreativeWriting #WritersOfYouTube #PlotDevelopment #CharacterDevelopment #ProsTalkingProse #IndieAuthorTips #WritingCraft

In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, we’re tackling a growing problem in the writing world: authors who want to write books, but don’t want to study the craft, read, or do the research.

If you want to write books that sell, connect, and hold up under scrutiny, then this is a conversation you can’t skip. Cutting corners in research will not only show up in your manuscript, but it will also show up later… in your reviews.

Pros Talking Prose — Brutally Honest. Weirdly Helpful. Always Entertaining.

#WritingTips #AuthorLife #BookWriting #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #SelfPublishing #WritingAdvice #AIWriting #Storytelling #Authors #learntowrite #readbookseveryday #bookpublishing