Many authors are doing everything right—publishing consistently, running promotions, chasing algorithms, investing in tools—and still can’t seem to get ahead financially. The books break even. The sales spike and disappear. The stress never really lets up.

In this episode of What If? For Authors, Claire Taylor addresses a painful but essential question: What if struggling to get ahead isn’t a personal failure—but the predictable result of broken systems?

Using the Enneagram as a framework for liberation (not self-blame), Claire explores why productivity hacks, discipline fixes, virality, and AI tools often function as promising distractions rather than real solutions. She unpacks how dominant cultural narratives—bootstrapping, meritocracy, savior myths, and algorithmic “neutrality”—keep authors exhausted, isolated, and blaming themselves instead of questioning the systems designed to extract their time, money, and attention.

This episode is not about giving up. It’s about reclaiming agency, and choosing paths that reduce suffering, build solidarity, and support sustainable creative lives—on human terms.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why struggling financially as an author is not a moral or personal failure

How the Enneagram helps distinguish inner work from systemic harm

What “promising distractions” are—and how they keep authors trapped

Why algorithms, ads, and platforms are not neutral or merit-based

How savior-seeking keeps people exploitable and disempowered

The hidden cost of tying hope to virality, productivity, or being “chosen”

How internalized cultural narratives quietly sabotage creativity and wellbeing

What genuine agency, community, and non-extractive alternatives can look like

Why stepping back from writing (temporarily or permanently) is not shameful

Key Takeaways:

You are not broken—and you were never failing

Many author systems are designed to extract, not sustain

Optimization does not equal liberation

Hope does not come from being saved—it comes from collective agency

Building community is a radical act in an extractive industry

Anger can be alchemized into clarity, solidarity, and action

Resources & Links:

Learn more about Claire’s coaching, courses, and books: liberatedwriter.com

Write Iconic Characters: books2read.com/WIC

Happy writing!

In times of economic uncertainty, industry upheaval, and personal burnout, it can feel impossible to imagine a hopeful future—especially as an author whose dreams are often tied to outcomes beyond their control.

In this episode of What If? For Authors, Claire tackles one of the hardest questions writers face: What if there’s no hope? Drawing on the Enneagram, existential psychology, and real-world author experience, Claire reframes hope not as an emotion or a promised outcome—but as a courageous choice we make, even (and especially) when things feel bleak.

This episode is an invitation to loosen cynicism’s grip, detach hope from specific results, and rediscover the kind of hope that sustains creativity, value-based decisions, and long-term resilience—regardless of what the market, algorithms, or economy are doing.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Why outcome-dependent hope inevitably collapses—and what to replace it with

How losing hope shows up differently for each Enneagram type

Why cynicism feels protective but quietly drains your creative life

How privilege shapes our relationship to hope and “proof”

What sustainable, outcome-independent hope actually looks like in practice

Why you don’t need to feel hopeful to choose hope

Small, concrete ways authors choose hope every day (often without realizing it)

How writing itself can be an act of hope—for yourself and for others

Key Takeaways:

Hope is not a reward for good outcomes—it’s a prerequisite for meaningful action

You can choose hope even when you’re tired, burned out, or unsure

Small choices (rest, water, boundaries, honesty) are legitimate acts of hope

Stories matter precisely because they imagine possibilities beyond present conditions

Resources & Links:

Learn more about Claire’s coaching, courses, and books: liberatedwriter.com

Write Iconic Characters: books2read.com/WIC

Happy writing!

Being an author means navigating an endless maze of decisions — creative decisions, business decisions, financial decisions, social decisions — and at some point, all of us hit a wall where everything feels murky. The next step isn’t clear. The “right” answer seems to flicker between yes and no. And the longer we sit in that limbo, the more everything stalls.

In this episode, Claire explores the anatomy of doubt: why we freeze, why uncertainty feels so emotionally loaded, and why some types (hello, Loyalists) live close to doubt every day while others completely unravel the moment they encounter it.

If you’re stuck in doubt about your writing, career, or next steps — this episode gives you tools to reclaim clarity and reconnect with your inner authority.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why doubt is a human condition, not a character flaw

The difference between not having enough information and being afraid to act

How impatience, overthinking, or rushing toward certainty can backfire

What “polarity” conflicts are and why they make some decisions feel impossible

How losing trust in your inner authority derails decision-making

Why burnout makes even simple choices feel overwhelming

How to check in with your head, heart, and body to get clear on your next step

Key questions that help you break out of the doubt spiral and move forward

Key Takeaway:

Doubt isn’t always a stop sign — sometimes it’s a signal to slow down, sometimes a nudge to reevaluate your values, and sometimes a warning that your nervous system is overwhelmed. But no matter the cause, you can learn to disentangle the noise, reconnect with your inner authority, and make decisions that honor who you are now.

Support the Show:

If today’s episode helped you breathe a little easier in the face of uncertainty, share it with another writer who might need it too.

You can explore Claire’s courses, coaching, and books at liberatedwriter.com, including her newest release, Write Iconic Characters, available now through major retailers.

Access the transcript here.

Happy writing!

In this episode of What If? For Authors, Claire unpacks the hidden dynamics behind creative inertia. She explores why we freeze at the starting line, how to tell if it’s a sign of fear, exhaustion, or wisdom, and what to do when you can’t seem to move forward—no matter how hard you try.

You’ll learn how to distinguish between procrastination and protection, why shame and “tough love” don’t actually help, and how to use curiosity and compassion to get yourself unstuck. With insight from the Enneagram, Claire also explores how each type experiences this resistance differently—and how you can build gentle, practical structures to help yourself begin again.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why struggling to start isn’t laziness—it’s information

How to tell if your resistance is a pattern or a novelty, and why that matters

What “body doubling” is, and how it can help Enneagram Nines build momentum

How each Enneagram type tends to resist getting started (and what to do about it)

Why friction can be a good sign for naturally fast starters

How to check whether your resistance is fear, intuition, or simply exhaustion

A powerful exercise to check in with your head, heart, and body centers before beginning

What it really means to act courageously—even when the fear doesn’t go away

Takeaway Challenge:

Support the Show:

If this episode helped you see your resistance in a new light, please share it with another author who might need to hear it too. You can also support What If For Authors by leaving a review wherever you listen—it helps more writers find the show.

Want to explore these ideas more deeply? Visit liberatedwriter.com for Claire’s courses, coaching, and books on building a sustainable author career in uncertain times.

Access the transcript here.

Happy writing!

In this episode of What If? For Authors, Claire explores the nuanced relationship between ambition, fear, and contentment. What if your ambition isn’t really gone… but simply changing shape?

With insight, humor, and plenty of hard truths, Claire unpacks how ambition often gets tangled up with fear—fear of worthlessness, fear of missing out, fear of falling behind—and how that mislabeling can make us think we’re “losing” something essential. She offers a reframing that helps authors understand the difference between fear-fueled ambition and hope-fueled ambition, and how to build a healthier, more sustainable drive in your creative career.

If you’ve ever thought, “I used to be so motivated—what happened to me?” this episode is for you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The surprising truth about how ambition and contentment actually support each other

Why ambition doesn’t have to feel like a fire under your ass

How fear disguises itself as ambition (especially for Enneagram Threes and Sevens)

Why tying ambition to outcomes you can’t control leads to burnout

How to distinguish between “fear-driven” and “hope-driven” ambition

A practical way to reframe self-talk so ambition feels energizing, not punishing

Why practicing contentment won’t kill your ambition—it may save it

Takeaway Challenge:

Support the Show:

If this episode helped you reimagine ambition in a healthier way, share it with another author who might need it too. You can also support the show by leaving a review wherever you listen—it makes a big difference in helping other writers find this resource.

Want more support? Visit liberatedwriter.com to explore Claire’s coaching, courses, workshops, and books for building a sustainable, liberated writing career.

Access the transcript here.

Happy writing!

In this episode of What If For Authors, Claire asks the question: What if I’m a perfectionist? She breaks down the myth of “perfect,” explores how each Enneagram type approaches perfectionism differently, and offers practical ways to challenge the illusion of control that perfectionism creates.

If you’ve ever stalled out because your draft “wasn’t good enough,” obsessed over tiny details at the expense of joy, or secretly feared that one mistake could ruin everything—you’ll find both relief and encouragement in this conversation.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why the concept of “perfection” is made up—and how that realization can set you free

How idealism (a beautiful quality) can twist into painful perfectionism

The hidden childhood lessons that might have taught you mistakes weren’t safe

Why perfectionism doesn’t produce perfect books—it produces stuck authors

How each Enneagram type disguises perfectionism in its own way

Why publishing a book will always feel vulnerable (and why that’s good news)

A simple practice to start loosening perfectionism’s grip today

Takeaway Challenge:

Support the Show:

If this episode gave you permission to breathe a little deeper, please share it with another author who could use the same relief. You can also support the show by leaving a review wherever you listen—it helps more perfectionist authors find their way here.

Want to go deeper? Visit liberatedwriter.com to explore Claire’s coaching, courses, and books designed to help authors thrive without perfectionism weighing them down.

Access the transcript here.

Happy writing!

In this episode, Claire dives headfirst into a topic that feels especially timely in a chaotic world and unpredictable industry: the craving for certainty. What if you need to know how something will turn out before you take the risk? What if uncertainty keeps you frozen, anxious, or constantly second-guessing your choices?

With equal parts humor and wisdom (and a little sleep deprivation), Claire explores how our brains seek certainty for safety, how this impulse shows up differently for each Enneagram type, and how clinging to certainty can actually keep us stuck. She offers a powerful mindset shift that helps authors stop grasping for guarantees and start building confidence in their own resilience.

If you've ever thought, “If this doesn’t work, I don’t know what I’ll do,” this episode gives you practical tools to turn that fear into forward momentum.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why certainty is so alluring—and how it tricks us into playing small

How each Enneagram type tends to seek certainty in their creative work

The danger of mistaking plans or perfectionism for actual security

What a “toolbox” of internal resources is, and how to build yours

How to shift your mindset from “I need this to work” to “I’ll figure it out either way”

Why failure hurts—but doesn’t have to stop you

How your rebounding process can become a source of self-respect

Takeaway Challenge:

Support the Show:

If this episode helped you see uncertainty in a new light, please consider leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform and sharing it with your author friends. Want more guidance? Visit liberatedwriter.com to explore Claire’s coaching, courses, and books for authors navigating the wild world of publishing with purpose.

Access the transcript here.

Happy writing—and yes, you can handle the bad parts.

In this special bonus episode, Claire shares practical, story-focused advice for one of the most common (and frustrating) issues writers face: not knowing their protagonist. Whether your main character feels flat, unmotivated, or like a stranger you just can’t crack, this episode offers a clear path forward—with help from the Enneagram, of course.

Claire explains how understanding your protagonist’s core fear and desire can unlock their behavior, clarify their voice, and get your story moving again. She also walks you through the process of choosing the right Enneagram type for your character, using concrete examples to show how motivation drives everything from plot to emotional depth.

Plus, she shares an exciting update about her new book, Write Iconic Characters, and its currently-running Kickstarter campaign!

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why some protagonists “refuse” to follow the plot—and how to fix it

How to use Enneagram types to shape character motivation

What to do when you’ve blended multiple Enneagram types by accident

The simplest way to start creating a protagonist who feels authentic

Why writing your own Enneagram type can actually be a storytelling superpower

How to reverse-engineer your protagonist based on your story world or theme

What to do if your usual character-building methods aren’t working

Back the Write Iconic Characters Kickstarter (ends Aug 8): https://liberatedwriter.com/kickstarter

Support the Show:

If you found this episode thought-provoking and helpful, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with fellow authors. Every review helps more writers discover this resource.

Access the transcript here.

Happy Writing!

In this episode, Claire explores why so many authors hate networking (hint: it’s not because you’re antisocial), how the Enneagram can reveal the hidden gifts you bring to any professional community, and why deep, meaningful connections—not surface-level ones—are the real magic behind sustainable author careers.

Whether you’re a conference avoider, an online lurker, or someone who thinks they’re just bad at making friends, this episode is packed with practical advice, gentle encouragement, and some hard-won insights about what it takes to build a network that actually feeds you.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why many authors resist networking—and how to gently shift that mindset

How your Enneagram type may influence your relationship with connection

The difference between transactional vs. transformational networks

Tips for building relationships that don’t feel forced or fake

What to do if you're socially anxious, neurodivergent, or easily overwhelmed

Simple strategies to start (or deepen) meaningful author connections

Takeaway Challenge:

Support the Show:

If you found this episode thought-provoking and helpful, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with fellow authors. Every review helps more writers discover this resource.

Access the transcript here.

Happy Writing!

In this episode, Claire dives into a pattern she knows all too well — the belief that she has to solve everything on her own. Sound familiar? If you’ve ever curled up in bed overwhelmed by the weight of being a one-person problem-solving machine, this episode is for you.

Claire explores the roots of this pattern, tracing it back to childhood perceptions and our culture’s celebration of rugged individualism. She talks through the moment she realized that not only could she ask for help, but she might actually want to — even if it feels wildly uncomfortable at first.

Using her signature blend of coaching insight, author empathy, and a bit of humor, Claire breaks down:

What gets in the way of asking for help

How fear narrows our options

Why it’s so hard for authors (and humans) to even imagine what help might look like

The different types of help we might need — physical, emotional, intellectual

The critical difference between interdependence and codependence

Whether you're burning out from doing it all yourself, feeling emotionally isolated, or simply wondering if there’s an easier way, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and a gentle nudge toward a more sustainable, connected writing life.

Naming your self-reliance pattern is the first step toward choosing something different.

Help can be practical or emotional — both are valid, needed, and deeply human.

Interdependence is healthy and necessary; it’s not a weakness, it’s a strength.

You don’t have to wait until you can’t to say I won’t.

Support the Show:

If you found this episode thought-provoking and helpful, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with fellow authors. Every review helps more writers discover this resource.

What’s Next?:

If this episode hit home, take a few minutes to sit with the question: “What kind of help would I want, even if I don’t technically need it?” Then, try something wild… ask for it.

Access the transcript here.

Happy Writing!