The Obsessed Writer

Join Sharon Woodhouse as she takes on The Obsessed Writer Questionnaire, inspired by James Lipton's iconic questions from Inside the Actor's Studio.

Dive into Sharon's creative mind as she answers thought-provoking questions that reveal her writing passions, quirks and inspirations.

This episode offers a unique glimpse into the life of a truly obsessed writer. Don’t miss it!

Here's where you can find Sharon:
Conspire Creative
Sharon's Substack

The publishing industry isn't what it was a year ago. Or 6 years ago. Or when Sharon Woodhouse started in publishing over 30 years ago.

It's better.
Because now? Those industry "gatekeepers" are sweating. Big publishers are scrambling to figure out their business models. And authors who think like entrepreneurs are making more money than ever.

In this episode, Sharon breaks down what she's learned from 30+ years of watching authors succeed (and fail) at building sustainable businesses around their books. 

You'll hear:
• The daily habit that actually sells books (most authors hate it - but it works) 
• Why the "messy middle" of publishing is your biggest opportunity 
• A dead-simple framework for knowing if your marketing is actually worth your time 
• The "defensive entrepreneurship" strategy that turns your book into reliable revenue

Plus, Sharon shares why she's giving herself exactly one year to prove her own methodology works - or she's leaving publishing forever. (Yeah, she went there.)

Sharon's new book "The Profitable Author: 1001 Ways to Build a Business You Love Around Your Books" is available now at profitableauthorbook.com

Here's where you can find Sharon:

Conspire Creative
Sharon's Substack

Join Prerna Malik as she takes on The Obsessed Writer Questionnaire, inspired by James Lipton's iconic questions from Inside the Actor's Studio.

Dive into Prerna's creative mind as she answers thought-provoking questions that reveal her writing passions, quirks and inspirations.

This episode offers a unique glimpse into the life of a truly obsessed writer. Don’t miss it!

You can find Prerna in all the places:
• Her website Content Bistro
• On IG
• On LinkedIn

New year, new you? Not so fast. Before you fall for the same old "write more, hustle harder" advice, check out the first interview of 2025.

Our guest is Prerna Malik - a writer who's figured out sustainable, high-output productivity. We're talking 100,000 words per week. Consistently. And she does it while running a thriving business (Content Bistro) and nurturing her family life.

How is this possible?

In this episode, Prerna shares the mindset shifts, productivity systems, and strategic decisions that allow her to maintain sky-high writing output... without sacrificing her wellbeing in the new year.

This is sooo NOT your typical productivity content. Prerna reveals the rest-based rhythms, strategic planning, and tools that helped her (and her clients) become intentionally profitable.

Whether you're looking to turn your writing into a full-time gig in 2025 or want to level up your output without burning out, you're going to want to take notes. Prerna redefines what's possible in creative entrepreneurship.

Get ready to rethink everything you thought you knew about writing goals and productivity. This episode is a must-listen to kick off your most prolific year yet.

You can find Prerna in all the places:
• Her website Content Bistro
• On IG
• On LinkedIn

If you've ever found yourself dreading the annual ritual of goal-setting and vision planning, this episode of The Obsessed Writer podcast is for you. 
Host Jessica Noel is getting refreshingly candid about her own struggles with getting excited for the new year - even though she's typically a self-proclaimed 'goal-setting person.'

In a surprising twist, Jessica shares how she found herself feeling downright apathetic about the process in 2024. Rather than forcing it, she decided to take a step back and get real about the problems she wanted to solve and the skills she wanted to build on in 2025.

What emerged was a unique 3-step approach that reignited Jessica's passion and allowed her to approach the new year with intention - without the usual goal-setting angst. 

My end of 2024 reflections (w/lessons learned). 

Join Kim Suhr as she takes on The Obsessed Writer Questionnaire, inspired by James Lipton's iconic questions from Inside the Actor's Studio. 

In this episode, author Kim Suhr takes the Obsessed Writer Questionnaire, revealing the unique perspectives, quirks, and creative motivations that shape her writing journey. From her revision process to unexpected sources of inspiration, listeners will gain fascinating insights into Kim's writing habits and the literary wisdom she hopes to pass on. This intimate conversation offers a glimpse into the mind of a dedicated storyteller.

What if the secret to a thriving writing career isn't talent or connections - but simply saying "yes"? In this episode, Jessica Noel sits down with author and writing coach Kim Suhr to explore how an openness to unexpected opportunities has shaped her remarkable writing career. From her early days as a high school English teacher to her current role as the founder of Red Oak Writing, Kim shares a story of seizing chance moments and saying "yes" to new paths.

Kim recounts how teaching writing workshops for kids led to coaching adult writers, which then inspired her to pursue an MFA. She discusses the challenges of balancing her own creative work with running a business, and the invaluable support she's found in writing communities. Listeners will be inspired by Kim's willingness to embrace the unknown, from publishing her first short story collection to expanding Red Oak Writing's offerings.

Through Kim's experiences, this episode offers insights on the power of flexibility, the importance of community, and the rewards that can come from saying yes to the unexpected. Whether you're an aspiring author or a multi-passionate creative, Kim's story demonstrates how an entrepreneurial mindset and openness to change can unlock new possibilities in your writing life.

Kim's Sites:

Check out Red Oak Writing here: https://redoakwriting.com/

And Kim Suhr's work here: https://kimsuhr.com/

Other resources you'll want to check out:

- Write On, Door County! Residencies for Writers: https://writeondoorcounty.org/residency/

- Shake Rag Alley Writing Retreat (2025 info TBA): https://shakeragalley.org/retreat-index/writing-retreat/

- Ragdale Residencies for Artists (including writers): https://www.ragdale.org/residencies

- Minnesota Northwoods Writers' Conference (2025 info TBA): https://www.northwoodswriters.org/

- Wisconsin Writers Association: https://wiwrite.org

As the new year approaches, many businesses and professionals are gearing up for a mad dash to restart their efforts and get ahead of the competition. But what if you could outsmart this January rush and position yourself for success before the calendar flips?

In this episode, Jessica Noel reveals a little-known "separation season" strategy that can help you gain a serious advantage over your peers. Discover why December is the perfect time to ramp up your productivity, secure new clients and projects, and build momentum - rather than winding down like everyone else.

Jessica shares her own experiences capitalizing on this "separation season," including how she landed lucrative last-minute work from clients looking to hit their end-of-year goals. She'll also dive into practical tips for maintaining focus and energy through the holiday chaos, from utilizing unconventional writing times to leveraging the powerful Pomodoro technique.

Don't let the January rush leave you behind. Tune in to learn how to strategically use this "separation season" to outpace the competition and kickstart 2025 with serious momentum. The key to your best year yet could be hiding in plain sight this December.

Join Ry Schwartz as he takes on The Obsessed Writer Questionnaire, inspired by James Lipton's iconic questions from Inside the Actor's Studio. 

Ry opens up about his unique writing process, from his most productive hours of the day to the parts of writing that challenge him the most. He shares his go-to writing soundtrack, his rebellious writing mantras, and the literary influences that have shaped his craft. Ry also reveals the unexpected sources of inspiration that fuel his powerful storytelling, and much more in this intimate look at the mind of a prolific writer.