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 the hard work of writing.

The list of things that help our writing is endless. But they don’t actually constitute writing.

On today’s episode, Kent encourages us to focus on putting in the work of actually writing.

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Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.     

Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!    

Connect with Kent:    

https://DailyWriterLife.com    

Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders    

Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders    

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders    

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders    

We writers love to create stories. And why not? There is something fun about creating a fantasy world, living in it for a while, and inviting others to join us there.

Sometimes these fantasies bleed over into the real world, where we don’t quite live in reality. 

Here is one of the fantasies we love: We sit down to write, and all of a sudden, we feel magically inspired with an endless supply of motivation and great ideas.

But it doesn’t always work that way. Most of the time, we sit down to write and don't feel the creative juices flow immediately. 

On today’s episode, you’ll be reminded that you can’t always rely on inspiration to write—you need to put in the work and let inspiration come.

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Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.     

Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!    

Connect with Kent:    

https://DailyWriterLife.com    

Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders    

Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders    

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders    

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders    

For new writers, one of the most surprising elements of the craft is how much editing and revision it takes to produce good work.

Until you get into writing as a serious hobby or a career, it may seem like writing should just come out clean and ready to publish. But experienced writers know this is not the case at all.

As writers, we spend a lot of time thinking about how to revise and change our writing. Yet, we rarely reflect on how our writing changes us.

On today’s episode, you’ll be inspired to stay open to revising yourself as you revise your work.

***

Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.     

Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!    

Connect with Kent:    

https://DailyWriterLife.com    

Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders    

Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders    

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders    

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders    

I've talked about this a few times here on the podcast before. But, just in case you haven't heard, I left my teaching job at St. Louis Christian College this past summer in order to focus full-time on ghostwriting and running my Daily Writer membership community.

Now that SLCC has announced it will be merging with another school at the end of this school year, I have been reflecting a lot on what I learned as a professor during the previous 17 years.

One of the most important things I learned as a teacher is the value of assessment. "Assessment" is a broad term for a set of practices designed to help you see if you're reaching your goals.

Most people in higher ed honestly hate assessment because it feels like a huge pain. It's time-consuming and often feels like busy work. However, being in this world taught me the value of taking a detailed, honest look at how you can improve.

On today’s episode, Kent shares three critical things he learned as a college professor that can help us with our writing.

***

Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.     

Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!    

Connect with Kent:    

https://DailyWriterLife.com    

Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders    

Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders    

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders    

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders 

I'm excited to be joined on this episode by my friend Mary Valloni, who is here to help us improve our mindset and develop a greater sense of abundance. That's such a critical element of our writing, because, without the proper mindset, we will always be limited by our own perception of what is possible.

Mary is a fundraising coach and consultant who helps leaders with great causes raise more money with less pain. She has raised millions of dollars through her work as the development director of the American Cancer Society, the ALS Association, and the Special Olympics. Now, she teaches and trains individuals and organizations, big and small, how to fundraise with more freedom and less burnout.

In this conversation, we dive into the reasons behind a scarcity mindset and how we can begin developing a more abundant mindset. I have to tell you, this is an absolutely critical topic because if we are going to have more and accomplish more, we must first have to be more.

Before we dive into the conversation, I want to remind you to check out two excellent resources from Mary. The first is her book, Fundraising Freedom. Now, I don't want you to dismiss this book just because you may not work for a ministry organization or a non-profit. This is a stellar book on business and mindset. It's really an essential resource for any business person, in my opinion.

The second resource is the Fully Funded Podcast, which Mary hosts with the amazing Mike Kim. Mike is a marketer and author, and these two work together on this podcast to help missionaries, ministry leaders, campus ministers, and church planters grow their donor base and raise more financial support.

This interview is special to me because Mary is from St. Louis, where I live as well. It's not often that I get to interview someone who's actually from my area!

Click on the links below to connect with Mary, subscribe to her podcast, or purchase her book:

MaryValloni.com

Fundraising Freedom by Mary Valloni

Fully Funded Podcast

Connect with Mary on Facebook

Connect with Mary on LinkedIn

Follow Mary on Instagram

***

Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.     

Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!    

Connect with Kent:    

https://DailyWriterLife.com    

Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders    

Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders    

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders    

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders    

Has this ever happened to you? You block out time on your calendar, you get your pen or pencil—or computer—ready, and you sit down at your desk, ready to write. You’ve been looking forward to this time and can’t wait to get your creative juices flowing.

So, you sit there, patiently waiting for the Muse to arrive and deliver the creativity straight to your brain. You’re ready to go, ready to transcribe.

And… nothing.

If you’ve had this experience, you’re not alone. Writers all over the world, from the beginning of time, have felt the creative well run dry.

But wait a second. If that’s the case, how do we explain the world’s most prolific writers? What do we make of those authors who produce book after book for decades?

On today’s episode, you’ll discover that the secret to producing content, even when you don’t feel creative.

***

Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.     

Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!    

Connect with Kent:    

https://DailyWriterLife.com    

Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders    

Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders    

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders    

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders 

Let me ask you a simple, but profound question. Do you love to write?

We’re not talking about whether you love having written. We’re talking about the actual work of writing.

If the answer is “yes”—great! If the answer is “no” or “not so much,” consider the reason why. Is it because writing is hard or unpleasant? Is it because someone long ago said you weren’t a writer? Could it be that inner critic trying to convince you that you’re not worthy?

On today’s episode, Kent shares the story of Citizen Kane to illustrate why it’s vital to remember the love you have for writing and how it benefits the world.

***

Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.     

Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!    

Connect with Kent:    

https://DailyWriterLife.com    

Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders    

Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders    

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders    

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders    

Van Halen was one of the greatest rock bands of the 1970s and 80s. Although they had a number of popular songs and albums, they are probably best remembered for their song “Jump,” which was featured on what was arguably their best album, 1984.

The word “jump” is not just a great title for a popular rock song. It’s also great advice as you consider your next step to success in your writing life.

One of the defining qualities of successful people—no matter their industry—is that they take action now and figure it out as they go along.

Go ahead and jump!

On today’s episode, you’ll learn that the best thing you can do right now is take action.

***

Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.     

Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!    

Connect with Kent:    

https://DailyWriterLife.com    

Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders    

Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders    

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders    

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders    

We deal with a lot of obstacles as writers, but one of the biggest is rejection.

Rejection can come in many forms, but whatever form it takes… it hurts. And let’s be honest, it can hurt pretty badly. Some writers never recover from it. So how can we deal with it?

J. K. Rowling offers some great advice. She said, “Resilience and humility. These go hand-in-hand, because rejection and criticism are part of a writer’s life. Informed feedback is useful and necessary, but some of the greatest writers were rejected multiple times.”

On today’s episode, Kent reminds us that all professionals get rejected at some point, but what makes them successful is that they never give up.

***

Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.     

Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!    

Connect with Kent:    

https://DailyWriterLife.com    

Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders    

Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders    

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders    

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders    

If you’re of “a certain age,” you probably remember watching Bob Ross on his TV show “The Joy of Painting,” which he hosted on PBS from 1983-1994. If you’re a little younger, you’ve probably discovered him on the internet, where he has developed an even bigger following.

Each week on his show, Bob painted a mesmerizing landscape in just half an hour. He was known for his soft-spoken style, his signature permed hair, and his uncanny ability to make you believe that just like him, you could paint a masterpiece.

Every once in a while, Bob would make a tiny mistake and then repeat his signature phrase, “We don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.” Then he would either paint over the mistake or find a way to blend it into the scene.

On today’s episode, you’ll be inspired that your mistakes, if learn from them, can provide a way for you create an even more beautiful life.

***

Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.     

Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more!    

Connect with Kent:    

https://DailyWriterLife.com    

Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders    

Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders    

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders    

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders