Thriving Authors Podcast

In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m sharing what I do at the beginning of each month as I reflect on my writing routine to see if there is anything I want to adjust or work on moving forward.

There’s nothing like the clean slate of a brand-new month to check in on YOUR writing goals! This is not a time to judge yourself, criticize yourself, or feel guilty for what you haven’t done. Instead, this is meant to be an inspiring & encouraging time!

Listen to the episode as I describe why this practice of intentional reflection works and how it has helped me to adjust my writing routine. Then grab your journal, brew a hot cup of tea, and light a cozy candle.

Here are 7 questions to reflect on:

1. What emotions or adjectives would I use to describe my current writing routine?

2. How do I WANT my writing to feel? What emotions or adjectives come up?

3. When is my ideal creative time? When do I feel most alive and inspired?

4. What project lights me up the most right now? What do I want to devote my time to this month?

5. What is a big writing goal I am working on? What would be an amazing smaller goal to accomplish by the end of the month that would really move me forward toward that big goal?

6. What affirmation resonates with me right now in my writing life?

7. Bonus: block off time on the calendar to write! Even if it’s just 10-15 minutes!

I hope this exercise was helpful for you to acknowledge where you are, take stock of your goals and dreams, and make a plan to get there!

And if you are an entrepreneur who wants to write and publish the book inside your heart, I’d love for you to join me in my Facebook group called Women Entrepreneurs Becoming Best Selling Authors. This free community is the perfect place to share what came up for you with this exercise and any goals you have so we can cheer you on – and also to provide a little extra accountability for you, too!

In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, it was such a treat to talk with Nina Schuyler, author of the new book Afterword – a stunning novel with powerful echoes of our current state with Artificial Intelligence. 

I loved the book and was especially impressed by these characters she created who were profoundly intelligent in the world of science and AI and math. It was so interesting to talk to her about how this story germinated inside of her, how she researched technology and really followed her curiosity while creating these characters and this love story.

I think you'll enjoy our conversation where Nina shared:

I just loved Nina's energy and I can't wait to hear what gems you take away from our conversation!

About Nina:

Nina Schuyler’s short story collection, In this Ravishing World, won the W.S. Porter Prize for Short Story Collections and The Prism Prize for Climate Literature, will be published by Regal House Publishing in 2024. Her novel, The Translator, won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for General Fiction and was a finalist for the William Saroyan International Writing Prize. Her novel, The Painting, was a finalist for the Northern California Book Award. Her book, How to Write Stunning Sentences, was a Small Press Distribution bestseller, and her new craft book, Stunning Sentences: The Creative Writing Journal with 80 New Prompts from Beloved Authors to Improve Your Style, was published by Fiction Advocate in November 2022.

She teaches creative writing at the University of San Francisco, Stanford Continuing Studies, and for the independent bookstore, Book Passage, and The Writing Room. She writes a column about prose style for Fiction Advocate and reviews books for The Millions. She lives in Northern California with her husband and two sons, where she hikes, bodysurfs, and writes in a small room, looking out at a tall palm tree. Find her at ninaschuyler.com

In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I address the common misconception that writing a book will take a lot of time – time away from your business and other money making actions that seem more urgent.

Spoiler alert: I think that the opposite is true! I believe that writing your book is one of the biggest gifts to your business and one of the best things you can do to increase efficiency and productivity and save time in your business.

You’ll hear me share reasons and examples why I think this, including:

After listening I think you’ll agree that writing a book is the most efficient time-saving gift for your business!

And if you’re not already there, I’d love for you to join me in my free Facebook group called Women Entrepreneurs Becoming Best Selling Authors. If you are an entrepreneur who wants to write and publish the book inside your heart, this is the place to be! We discuss the podcast episodes, I regularly go live with free challenges, and you may even meet your new writing partner to swap pages with.

In this episode, I had an incredible conversation with LaCresia Arnold about how she came to to adopt the important mission of empowering other women to own their journey, honor their voice and be more verbal about their lived experiences. 

It was beautiful to hear LaCresia share her transformational journey of learning to give to others by first giving to herself. 

LaCresia also dove into:

She shared so many gems and was such a source of light, I think you’ll really enjoy listening – and even relistening – to her mantras and self-reflection prompts.

About LaCresia:

LaCresia is a native Illinoisan and passionate about helping women own their stories. Through her upstart community OneEighty she creates safe spaces for women to share their life experiences. She passionately believes that when we share our stories of triumph, pain, and victory countless lives are changed and transformed. Connect with her on IG at one_eighty__

In this solo episode, I’m reflecting on a magical night I had last week at my author event at Banter Bookshop. I've published three books in the last three years, but this was my first in-person book event because of the pandemic and pregnancy, and it was amazing to be in conversation and celebrating my books out in the world.

I share:

I cannot wait for you to have a night like I had on Tuesday. A night where you are celebrating your book, signing your book, connecting with your readers. So for those of you who have that little voice in your head, that little inkling in your heart, to write your book… I encourage you to commit to it and to get started now! 

If now is indeed the time, I’d love for you to join me this summer in my brand-new 8-week program Your Book Roadmap that will help you unlock your AUTHORity & step into your full creative powers. This is a super-affordable way to work with me in a magical high-touch supportive container. You'll finish with a full outline, your first chapter done, and a solid writing routine that fits into your busy life & schedule. Register at https://www.dallaswoodburn.com/

In this episode, it was such a joy to talk with Mimi Herman about her debut novel, The Kudzu Queen. It was a book I just could not put down and found myself thinking of the characters in between reading sessions.

She shared so much wisdom and practical advice including:

I think you’ll really enjoy hearing about her writing process and what she does with any writing she takes out of a book or poem. She also shared some great insights about how to make a scene or a character or a setting really come to life.

Once you’ve listened, you may feel inspired to make progress on your own book! If that’s the case, sign up for my brand-new program Your Book Roadmap. We start on June 5th, and by the end of the summer, you'll have a clear book outline and your first chapter DONE. Plus, you'll have created a habit of writing consistently that feels easy and joyful, rather than stressful or overwhelming. Register at https://www.dallaswoodburn.com/news-blog/your-book-roadmap

About Mimi:

Mimi Herman is a Kennedy Center Teaching Artist, director of the United Arts Council Arts Integration Institute and co-director of Writeaways writing workshops in France, Italy and New Mexico. She has taught in the Masters of Education programs at Lesley University, served as the 2017 North Carolina Piedmont Laureate and has been an associate editor for Teaching Artists Journal since 1990. She has engaged over 25,000 students and teachers with her warm and intuitive teaching style. Mimi holds a BA from the University of North Carolina and an MFA in Creative Writing from Warren Wilson. She's the author of the beautiful novel The Kudzu Queen, as well as A Field Guide to Human Emotions, Logophilia and The Art of Learning. Her writing has appeared in many journals, and she has also performed her fiction and poetry at numerous venues, including Why There Are Words in Sausalito, Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh and Symphony Space in New York City. Find her at www.mimiherman.com.

In this solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain around what I do as a book coach and sharing three reasons why having a book coach is a game-changer in getting your book written.

You’ll hear about:

I hope this episode gives you a sense of what a book coach is, what I do with my clients and how a book coach can really help you move forward in your journey.

And remember, your book is a whole new beginning in many ways. It's the first step of a really exciting new chapter for yourself, for your business, for your authority and your expertise. It creates so many ripples and you have no idea how far those ripples will go!

Ready to see what ripples your book creates? Join my new program, Your Book Roadmap, and by the end of our eight weeks together you’ll truly see yourself as an author. You’ll have the first chapter of your book DONE and all the momentum you need to continue! It’s a small group with limited spots so grab yours today at https://www.dallaswoodburn.com.

In this episode, it was such a pleasure to talk with Kristin Akerele about how our natural inner femininity nurtures our creativity and how it is SO important in giving birth to our ideas in a way that feels aligned and sustainable.

In our conversion, Kristin shared:

I think you’ll gain so much insight from this episode on how you can unleash your feminine magic and how you can approach your writing time and creativity in a way that changes from pressure to pleasure –  so that you don’t burn yourself out.

About Kristin:

Kristin is a Feminine Embodiment Coach, Energy Healer and Divine Channel who mentors high-achieving women to embody their feminine power and intuitive magic as leading yoga teachers, coaches, aspiring-coaches and healers. She also channels light code activations, speaks light language, and clears energetic blocks to access a deeper connection to your higher self and the Divine. She offers individual energy healing and coaching sessions as well as group certification programs in pranayama/yogic breath and feminine embodiment coaching. Connect with her at https://linktr.ee/kristinakerele.

In this solo episode, I’m sharing a little love note from my heart to yours. I’m also reflecting on my daughter's namesake, my Grandma Auden, and how so many of us have no idea how far our legacies extend, the ripples that we create, the ways that we touch other people's lives.

I touch on: 

And if you’re looking to write a book as part of your legacy, I hope you’re as excited as I am to hear me explain my new program called Your Book Roadmap happening this summer over the course of 8 weeks. It will just be a small group with limited spots.

So if you need a plan and someone (me!) to guide you so that you can really see yourself as an author – and have the first chapter of your book DONE – then grab your spot! Register before May 5th so you get $100 off. Find all the details HERE or send me an email at [email protected].

In this episode, I had a delightful conversation with speaker and author Lelia Gowland about what planted the seed to her publishing a book and how her writing and ideas evolved along the journey. 

She shared some really insightful advice about authenticity, especially in regards to being a writer and also:

If you could use some inspiration and guidance on being true to yourself while also connecting with your audience, then I think you’ll really enjoy this episode.

About Lelia:

Lelia is a sought after speaker and writer on authenticity, compassion and connection. Fortune 500 companies and professional associations from across North America regularly hire Lelia to support their teams. Described as the confidence fairy godmother we all need, Lelia has delighted audiences ranging from auto care and health care workers to cocktail connoisseurs to women in roofing. In addition to her much loved weekly newsletter, Lelia has written over 150 articles in national publications, including Huffington Post, Forbes and Harper's Bazaar. Her book, You Got This: The Ultimate Negotiation Guide for Professional Women, provides a fresh and instantly applicable toolkit for anyone ready to develop their own authentic voice in negotiation.