The Daily Writer

Courage is a theme that seems a lot of us have been talking about lately. For many people, the last couple of years have been a time when they've had to bolster their courage in the midst of many changes. I can't remember a single two years in my lifetime where so many things have felt uprooted and tenuous in the world as a whole.

But with change comes the need for courage. This is as true for writers as anyone else. We don't necessarily think of what we do as courageous. On the surface, it appears pretty safe and secure. But putting yourself out into the world through your words, or all the things required to do that like starting a business or striking out on your own by leaving a job, absolutely require courage.

One of the hardest parts of change, and one of the areas that requires the most courage, is the need to let go of things as we figure out who we are. You can't become more successful or become a better writer by staying the same. In fact, the very definition of change and progress means to become something different than what you already are.

The hard reality of success means that you have to let some things go.

On today's episode, I want to share three areas where we need to learn to let go in order to be more successful as writers.

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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:    

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There are a lot of critical skills we have to develop as writers, but none is more important than creativity. You can be productive, think like a business person, and have great networking skills. But without the ability to see the connections between ideas and be creative on demand, you are dead in the water as a writer and an artist.

That's why I'm excited to feature a conversation with my good friend Ginger Moran. She is a published and award-winning writer, teacher, and single mother of two boys. Her areas of expertise are in nonfiction and fiction writing, editing, and creative survival.

She has a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in English from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. in Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Houston. Her first novel, The Algebra of Snow, was nominated for a Pushcart Editor’s Choice Award and published in 2012. In the last year, she has released two more novels, American Queen and The Body of Summer.

In this conversation, Ginger and I chat about the importance of creativity and how to bring about more creativity in your everyday life. Every time I speak with Ginger, I get new insights on how to be a better artist and writer, and I'm sure you will too!

Click on one of the links below to connect with Ginger or purchase her novels:

GingerMoran.com

American Queen by Ginger Moran

The Body of Summer by Ginger Moran

Follow Ginger on Twitter

Connect with Ginger on Facebook

Follow Ginger on Goodreads

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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    

How do you respond to successful writers? The ones with bestselling books, large platforms, or lots of influence?

When it comes to dealing with them, we commonly have two different responses. Either we dismiss their success as dumb luck, or we ignore them because their success reinforces our own insecurity. If you have ever responded this way, don't feel bad. Every creative person on the planet has felt this way at times.

Our natural creative pride makes it hard to put ourselves in a learning position. But that is the only way we can grow.

On today’s episode, you’ll learn that it’s vital to be connected with and learn from other successful writers.

***

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    

The main theme of this podcast is writing every day. After all, it’s the very title of the show! But sometimes people ask, "Do you mean actually write every day?"

And yes, I mean write something every day. But what am I suggesting that you write? Here is my definition: write something that advances your goals as a writer. That can include material for your blog, book, podcast, or some other type of content that helps you reach your goals. But it can also be just writing in your journal.

On today’s episode, you’ll discover why it’s important, not just to want to write every day, but to actually do it.

***

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    

The #1 problem that stops most people from writing has nothing to do with talent or ability. It has nothing to do with a lack of time or opportunities. But it has EVERYTHING to do with them not believing they are a writer.

Success as a writer has very little to do with talent. Instead, it has everything to do with seeing yourself as a writer, then putting in the work on a regular basis. That's pretty much it. If you write… by definition, you're a writer.

On today’s episode, Kent reminds you why it’s important to allow your identity to fuel your actions.

***

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 have talked many times on this podcast about the need to learn from others. Whether it’s being part of a mastermind, reading books, attending a conference, or something else, it’s vital that we all put ourselves in a learning posture.

It is important that you learn from other writers who can share their knowledge. In the same way, you must help other writers be more successful. There are plenty of people in your orbit who would love to achieve your level of success, whatever that might be.

On today’s episode, you’ll be inspired to add value to others’ lives through what you’ve learned.

***

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    

Think about some of the most important achievements in human history. These would include such feats as Amelia Earhart flying solo from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbing Mount Everest, Neil Armstrong setting foot on the moon, Magellan setting sail around the world, and many thousands of others who faced their fears and took action anyway.

You and I are no different. We have challenges and scary things staring us right in the face every single day.

On today’s episode, you’ll learn why facing your fears is the key to moving forward.

***

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 have it pretty easy in the modern world, right? In many ways, this is the golden age of writing. We have more opportunities than ever before to publish our work and impact other people with our words.

Yet at the same time, it's also a challenging time for writers. Why? Because there are so many options for writing and publishing that it's easy to get overwhelmed and paralyzed by all the possibilities.

What if there was a list of guidelines that would help you clarify things? You're in luck because I have put together such a list. Of course, these 10 commandments for writers are not original to me. These principles have been practiced by writers, and all successful creatives, in one way or another for a long time.

They are:

Commandment #1: Embrace your identity as a writer.

Commandment #2: Don’t compare yourself to other writers.

Commandment #3: Take action on what you learn.

Commandment #4: Make time to read every day.

Commandment #5: Write every day.

Commandment #6: Edit what you write.

Commandment #7: Publish what you write.

Commandment #8: Do what scares you.

Commandment #9: Learn from other successful writers.

Commandment #10. Teach what you know.

I challenge you to choose two of these commandments and put them into practice over the next two weeks. Feel free to email me at [email protected]. I'd love to hear about your success!

***

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    

One of the common themes I hear from writers is that everyone wants to write a kid's book. And why not? We all remember the books that impacted us as kids. Or, if you're a parent or grandparent, you have probably spent time reading lots of those short picture books to the little ones.

My guest today is here to help us understand the value of writing a kid's book, as well as how to structure the story. Timmy Bauer is the Founder of Dinosaur House, a company that turns industry leaders into kids' book authors. He is also the author of several children's books, including Billy the Dragon and Lucas the Dinosaur Entrepreneur. In addition, Timmy is the host of the “Purpose-Driven Entrepreneur” podcast.

In this conversation, you'll learn how to stand out in your industry by writing a children's book, his process for developing a children's book story, and much more. This was a fascinating conversation, and it has definitely given me the desire to write a kid's book someday!

You can buy Timmy’s books and connect with him below:

Harper Hears "No" by Timmy Bauer

Billy the Dragon by Timmy Bauer

The Poisonous Woods (Billy the Dragon) by Timmy Bauer

Lucas the Dinosaur Entrepreneur by Timmy Bauer

Dinosaur House

The Purpose-Driven Entrepreneur Podcast

Connect with Timmy on LinkedIn

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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    

You can make a lot of mistakes as a writer and still be successful. But one of the mistakes that will kill both your enthusiasm AND your success is constantly comparing yourself to others.

Granted, it's almost impossible not to do this as a writer. After all, it's human nature to compare ourselves, and social media has made it impossible not to notice other people's success in writing.

But that negative energy doesn't really help you with your own goals, does it?

On today’s episode, Kent shares why you shouldn’t compare yourself to others; you need to compete against yourself.

***

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