Time for a deep breath. Then come in close, my friend. 

The past few weeks on The Confident Fiction Author podcast, we've talked a lot about decluttering your life to make room for creativity, and flat-out quitting on projects because you may be approaching burnout.

But today, I'm tackling one of the most difficult conversations we can have as authors. It all starts with a question you may be asking right now:

"What should I do if I feel like quitting fiction writing altogether?"

This may be the hardest question you ever ask of your career. So we are going to ask it together so you can decide what's right for you.

If this is where you are at, if you are dealing with burnout and discouragement, I know you’re hoping for a solution or secret to love writing again. My goal is that you will find that solution by the end of this episode, like why and how to take a sabbatical from fiction writing before you make your final decision.

Know you are not alone. I’m sharing from my personal experiences, and many authors are hitting this point. It’s my hope this episode will guide you to the right answer to this difficult question.

***

Free resources for you:

The Confident Fiction Author Toolkit: fictioncourses.com/toolkit

Dictation + Scrivener Power Combo Mini Course: fictioncourses.com/dictation

Dictation for Authors: Tools and Tips of the Trade: fictioncourses.com/dictationguide

5 Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing about Native Americans: fictioncourses.com/stereotypes

Have you heard the saying, "Mama didn't raise no quitter?" 

I think we all grow up hearing, “Don’t be a quitter!” But what if there were times and circumstances when quitting was a good thing? 

The truth is, you most likely have too much on your plate. But "quitting” a project takes courage. 

I’m going to give you tools you can use to decide when it's time to quit and how to do it in the right way.

In this episode, I cover:

- How to change your mindset about quitting 

- How to handle the fear of letting others down

- How to eliminate a commitment in a positive way

Living your most confident writing life means knowing when to quit—and how to quit.

Listen to this week's episode as I take you into how to be a confident quitter while still honoring others. 

***

Free resources for you:

The Confident Fiction Author Toolkit: fictioncourses.com/toolkit

Dictation + Scrivener Power Combo Mini Course: fictioncourses.com/dictation

Dictation for Authors: Tools and Tips of the Trade: fictioncourses.com/dictationguide

5 Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing about Native Americans: fictioncourses.com/stereotypes

In a world of information overload and analysis paralysis, what if I told you there was a formula to help you decide which things were most worth your time? 

I’ve said it before: creative confidence starts with clarity. But how can you find clarity, especially when evaluating your time? 

Today I’m going to share a remarkable tool for evaluating anything - from time to energy to the money you invest in your author career. Unlocking this tool will change the way you understand your own efforts.

In this episode, I go into:

√ What is the 80/20 rule or “Pareto principal”? (Don't worry, this isn't a math lesson!)

√ How to apply the 80/20 rule to your writing life: habits, investments (time, energy, and money), choosing what to write next.

√ Applying the 80/20 rule in reverse. Use this trick to determine your top 20%.

Listen now to learn how to apply this formula to your author career!

***

Free resources for you:

The Confident Fiction Author Toolkit: fictioncourses.com/toolkit

Dictation + Scrivener Power Combo Mini Course: fictioncourses.com/dictation

Dictation for Authors: Tools and Tips of the Trade: fictioncourses.com/dictationguide

5 Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing about Native Americans: fictioncourses.com/stereotypes

This week's podcast episode is a deep dive into three Rs of the author life.

Because living a confident fiction author lifestyle is not just about confidence in your productivity…it's also about feeling confident in your downtime!

Many writers don’t feel confident in their downtime. You may feel guilty for taking time off, confused about how to spend your time when not working, and ultimately stressed instead of rested after trying to take time off. 

In this episode, I cover three easy-to-remember aspects of creative recovery for your most confident writing life: 

√ Rest

√ Rejuvenation

√ Reading

Listen to this week's episode to learn how to feel confident as a fiction author when you take time off, whether it’s a whole day or just a Saturday morning.

***

Free resources for you:

The Confident Fiction Author Toolkit: fictioncourses.com/toolkit

Dictation + Scrivener Power Combo Mini Course: fictioncourses.com/dictation

Dictation for Authors: Tools and Tips of the Trade: fictioncourses.com/dictationguide

5 Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing about Native Americans: fictioncourses.com/stereotypes

What if I told you the key to doing more is actually doing less? 

You may be struggling to find time to sit down and write… or you may feel scattered and distracted when you do sit down to write. Maybe you’ve carved out time through other methods like time blocking, but you find yourself simply too drained to be productive.

If so, it’s time to take practical action to help you reduce stress, fatigue, and overwhelm. I want you to live your best creative life with more time and energy for writing and things like hobbies, rest, friends and family, and of course, writing!

Let’s talk decluttering your time and your physical and digital spaces.

Decluttering is trendy—so trendy it can even seem like a fad. But in our modern world, where our attention is more divided than ever, conscious decluttering isn’t just a fad — it’s a necessity to protect our creative energy for our lifestyle. 

Today I'm introducing ways to:

Declutter your time by reducing social media, number of projects, and multitasking & busyness, all while making a plan to fill those spaces with what you actually want to do.

Declutter your spaces - computers, phones, writing zones, and your environment all play a role in how you show up to write.

***

Free resources for you:

The Confident Fiction Author Toolkit: fictioncourses.com/toolkit

Dictation + Scrivener Power Combo Mini Course: fictioncourses.com/dictation

Dictation for Authors: Tools and Tips of the Trade: fictioncourses.com/dictationguide

5 Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing about Native Americans: fictioncourses.com/stereotypes

You’re likely familiar with the concept of "minimalism." While I’m not a die-hard minimalist myself, I am working to pare down my possessions...and also get to just the essentials in my author life.

Today I'm covering 19 ways to practice "Essentialism" as an author -- the power of paring down your life to the most essential tasks and stop being overwhelmed by all the to-dos. 

You'll get actionable steps inside these 19 concepts that will allow you time to just "be" so you can live your best creative lifestyle.

Shoutout to Greg McKeown and his book "Essentialism" for these 19 concepts.

***

Free resources for you:

The Confident Fiction Author Toolkit: fictioncourses.com/toolkit

Dictation + Scrivener Power Combo Mini Course: fictioncourses.com/dictation

Dictation for Authors: Tools and Tips of the Trade: fictioncourses.com/dictationguide

5 Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing about Native Americans: fictioncourses.com/stereotypes

What if I told you there’s one method you can use to overcome any obstacle? 

Since you listen to this podcast, you’re probably at least a little bit of a perfectionist. You like goal-setting, self-improvement, and learning the best way to do things. But when the “best way” isn’t clear, do you ever just feel… stuck? 

If you've ever wondered...

-How do I pick the “best” idea? 
-When to stop researching and start writing your story.
-How to get past fear of judgment.
-How to overcome perfectionism in the idea, drafting, editing, and publishing phases of your manuscript.

...listen to this week's episode! You'll learn how you can get it together in your creative life by simply getting it going.

***

Free resources for you:

The Confident Fiction Author Toolkit: fictioncourses.com/toolkit

Dictation + Scrivener Power Combo Mini Course: fictioncourses.com/dictation

Dictation for Authors: Tools and Tips of the Trade: fictioncourses.com/dictationguide

5 Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing about Native Americans: fictioncourses.com/stereotypes

When it comes to technology, we always tend to feel a little behind. But with the advent of generative AI, discussions within the author community are bursting with passionate debates and the topic is even banned in some writing groups.

If you feel overwhelmed by the topic of AI and how it impacts you as an author, especially if you dictate (or have thought of dictating) your fiction, you don't want to miss this episode! 

As someone who has dictated 11 books, used AI in my personal and professional life, and have a cautionary attitude toward tech in general, I go into the confusing (and longer than you might think) history of AI, and also the origins of dictating stories (again, longer history than you might think).

I break down complex questions so you can have confidence in making your own decisions about AI and dictation. 

And yes, I answer that burning question: Is dictation considered AI-assisted writing?

***

Free resources for you:

The Confident Fiction Author Toolkit: fictioncourses.com/toolkit

Dictation + Scrivener Power Combo Mini Course: fictioncourses.com/dictation

Dictation for Authors: Tools and Tips of the Trade: fictioncourses.com/dictationguide

5 Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing about Native Americans: fictioncourses.com/stereotypes

The first few weeks of a new year can be tough, especially for authors. We're feeling the creative slump after the holidays, and we feel our goals and New Year's resolutions already bearing down on us.

What if there was an easier way to gain momentum for 2025 and truly strike at the root of our goals?

In this episode, I cover:

How to identify your Limiting Beliefs.
Why it's important to reframe with Liberating Truths.
How to reorient and take New Actions.

***

Free resources for you:

The Confident Fiction Author Toolkit: fictioncourses.com/toolkit

Dictation + Scrivener Power Combo Mini Course: fictioncourses.com/dictation

Dictation for Authors: Tools and Tips of the Trade: fictioncourses.com/dictationguide

5 Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing about Native Americans: fictioncourses.com/stereotypes

As an inconsistent writer, I've still managed to publish 19 books, but I've never been satisfied with my lack of daily fiction writing. My 5-Minute Fiction habit has changed that and brought the joy of fiction writing back into my life.

In this episode, I pull back the curtain on this daily exercise that I started in the summer of 2024 after a fiction writing sabbatical. I break down every little step I took to develop this habit and give you the roadmap to add it to your author life!

***

Free resources for you:

The Confident Fiction Author Toolkit: fictioncourses.com/toolkit

Dictation + Scrivener Power Combo Mini Course: fictioncourses.com/dictation

Dictation for Authors: Tools and Tips of the Trade: fictioncourses.com/dictationguide

5 Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing about Native Americans: fictioncourses.com/stereotypes