Writer Craft Podcast

Main Topic: Starting a Ghostwriting Business

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PATREON:

Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.

Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.

Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates):

• (Valerie) got my cover back!, started working with a business coach again, had a great time teaching at Wordcrafters in Eugene, client work

• (Erick) writing, client work, interviewing,

What are you reading?

• Valerie: In the Dream House (Carmen Maria Machado) Broken Open (Martha Gies)
• (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong
• Erick: The Woman in the Dunes (Kobo Abe) (anime horror)

• Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits):

• Tidbit #1:
• Tidbit #2:
• Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check):

Segment 4 (Main Topic):

Process as client vs starting own business

Finished manuscript according to client requirements with no credit.

Beginning is client approaches you, defines the project, educate client about your service, get the vibe from first contact/discovery call, talk money early on, decide on price, sign contract, pay on benchmarks: signed contract, outline, completed project. "Do you feel like you could talk to me about ...?" Provide referrals from other clients instead of work samples. Roughly $1/word.

Where does my own writing fit into this? (First question to ask self if considering starting a ghost writing biz.)

Have to say yes early on to establish yourself. Even jobs you don't want to do.

Mindset: How do you write something that you don't want to write? State your boundaries early on.

Voice: recorded conversations helps with knowing how to write. Listen to the person talk. Explain there is going to be a translation. Does it feel like you when you read it? Might not be your exact words.

Manuscript based on agreed upon outline, but you'll find 25% that you'll want to change.

Network, mentor, website, sub-contracting is a great way to start. Figure out what your ghost genre is. Probably not yours. Harder to treat as a product, because you HAVE to be efficient.

Learning the business as you go and juggle process.

Find resources/communities, join them with skepticism. A lot of people on forums bring a bunch of b.s. Learn to read between the lines.

Skills: flexible and confident (more of self than of writing)

And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind :

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Next episode:

Find Us:

Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.)

Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor

Patreons:

https://patreon.com/valerieihsan

https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries

Tools:

ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)

Main Topic: Autoficiton: Letting Go at Launch Time with guest H.H. Rune (main topic starts at 16:06)

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VALERIE20 at checkout

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PATREON:

Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.

Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.

Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates):

• (Valerie) Unlock the Heart of Your Memoir (Wordcrafters)

• (Erick)

What are you reading?

• Valerie: In the Dream House (Carmen Maria Machado) The Girl from the Grand Hotel (Camille Aubray)
• (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong
• The Voice of Knowledge (Don Miguel Ruiz), Spiritual Growth (Sanaya Roman); Psychic Witch (Mat Auryn)
• Erick:

• Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits):

• Tidbit #1:
• Tidbit #2:
• Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check):

Segment 4 (Main Topic): (starts at 16:06)

H.H. Rune's series blends fiction along with parts of her own life into a literary social experiment of a set of traveling books that are sent out to strangers with a mission of finding their way back to her. Her first two books in the Extraordinary Life Seeker series- Find Me, Book One- She believed in the Kindness of Strangers and Find Me, Book Two- She'd find out what she was made of- are available now. To further accentuate her request that her readers pass along the books as part of the story, her Limited Edition-Trackable versions have been spotted all over the U.S. as well as Canada, England, Ireland and Iceland. Find Me, Book Three will be out early 2025.

Notes from my conversation with H:

No names in book (use Mr. Fun).

Not a character assassination. Instead, my responses to lessons learned from my experiences.

20 limited editions of each novel. Send to friends and they dispersed them. Sent also to Booktalkers and did a Goodreads giveaway. QR code in front of book sends them to fill out google form, "tracking" the book's location in the world, and--ideally--getting them to post a picture. Software mapped out the Google form responses.

Considers her work Autofiction.

Upcoming events for H:

May: Reading at White Oak Books in Vancouver, WA.

July: Signing at Northwest Book Fair (19 Officer's Row Vancouver WA)

Just started using Skylight Social with handle: @hhrune.bsky.social

Website: hhrune.com

And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind :

https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout.

#magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance

Next episode:

Find Us:

Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.)

Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor

Patreons:

https://patreon.com/valerieihsan

https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries

Tools:

ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)

Bromance: How Dumb & Dumber and When Harry Met Sally are the Same Screenplay (21:42)

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PATREON:

Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.

Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.

Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates):

• Unlocking the Hearth of Your Memoir (Wordcrafters)
• Aligned Author: A Workshop in Intuitive Planning and Strategy (last weekend on Anderson Island)

• (Erick) Spring Break, busy, marketing, When can I slot in phone calls?, less writing

What are you reading?

• Valerie: In the Dream House (Carmen Maria Machado) The Girl from the Grand Hotel (Camille Aubray)
• (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong
• Erick: Stephen Brust's The Book of Jhereg (Vlad Taltos)

• Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits):

• Tidbit #1: simplyscripts.com to read screenplays (not the bound screenplays in bookstores); Drew's Script-o-Rama; Scott Myers' Go Into the Story (Read scripts you've watched before and ones you haven't.)
• Tidbit #2:
• Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check):

Segment 4 (Main Topic):

Romcom 90-100 pages

Same beats in every story (might take longer to reach the beat.)

Buddy comedies and romantic comedies reach beats at the same time.

1) Characters always odd couple. (Internal push/pull.) Emotional bonding early on.

D&Dumber (Harry and Lloyd)

WHMS (Harry and Sally)

2) Meet Cute (sparks the long term relationship/Will they survive as friends? Will they/Won't they tension at beginning of the movie--by page 5 (within 5-8 minutes) when the theme of the story is stated.

3) Page 12 is where story diverges and real problem starts. 12-25 emotional bonding is depicted. Quirky side characters introduced (opposite of main characters).

4) Page 25 is start of Act II. (25-30 central theme is tested. Page 30-55 Fun and Games, tested in fun ways (with minimal risk)

5) Midpoint (something happens and fun and games has more risk, stakes are different). Now antics are pointed towards each other. (Pages 55-70)

6) Page 75 (the dark night of the soul sequence starts here) characters hit rock bottom, how do the characters deal with it.

7) Ending (emotional payoff and repair what's broken).

And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind :

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Next episode: Guest H.H. Rune on Letting Your Story Go Out into the World.

Main Topic: 5 Rules of Screen-Writing (starts at 18:23)

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PATREON:

Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.

Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.

Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates):

• (Valerie) movement (getting back into it); client work; work/life balance nonexistent (talked with Ali)
• Aligned Author: A Workshop in Intuitive Planning and Strategy

"Using strategic principles, core values, and your desired feelings as a guide, you can create goals that feel good to pursue. Aligned Embodied Action is an intuitive and authentic way to approach goal-setting and strategic planning.

Join life coach and author Valerie Ihsan for this experiential, full-day workshop packed with hands-on exercises, practical tips, valuable resources, and live coaching opportunities.

By the end of the day, you'll walk away with a personalized action plan—clear, aligned, and ready to implement—so you can take your next steps with confidence."

Use this link to register for the workshop: https://link.clover.com/urlshortener/L9cSGN

• (Erick) finishing client work, tabled own work for the moment, revamped Patreon (join Erick's mailing list to vote on the new series name)

What are you reading?

• Valerie: In the Dream House (Carmen Maria Machado) You Will Find Your People: How to Make Meaningful Friendships as an Adult (Lane Moore)
• • (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong
• Erick: Mort Terry Pratchett; Tsuge graphic novel (The Man Without Talent; ... Flowers)

• Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits):

• Tidbit #1: Graphite pencil (type of mechanical pencil)
• Tidbit #2:
• Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check):

Segment 4 (Main Topic):

• Simple medium portraying sound and describing action.
• Slug line (interior, office, morning)
• Action (Erick sits at his computer, talking into a microphone, recording a podcast.)
• Character (ERICK: dialogue)
• Action (Erick removes his earbuds, the meeting ends)
• **
• 3 kinds of screenplays
• On Spec: rough draft/outline
• Producer changes it to Shooting screenplay (adds relevance and his "stamp" on it, adds over-shoulder camera angle, etc)
• Production draft (cuts, fades)

**

1- only write what you can see or is relevant to action. (No thoughts.)

2 - never direct on the page of a spec script. (The art is to plant the seed of what you want.)

3 - one page = one minute of screen time (approximate); no action or dialogue no longer than 3 lines

4 - arrive late and leave early; start a beat before the action and end on motion

5 - All rules can be broken. (Big sin directing on the the page.)

And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind :

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Next episode: Marco Gamboa "Using Stories

Find Us:

Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan

Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor

Patreons:

https://patreon.com/valerieihsan

https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries

Tools:

Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE184

ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)

Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates):

• (Valerie) decluttering, pitching conferences, starting new projects
• Aligned Author: A Workshop in Intuitive Planning and Strategy

"Using strategic principles, core values, and your desired feelings as a guide, you can create goals that feel good to pursue. Aligned Embodied Action is an intuitive and authentic way to approach goal-setting and strategic planning.

Join life coach and author Valerie Ihsan for this experiential, full-day workshop packed with hands-on exercises, practical tips, valuable resources, and live coaching opportunities.

By the end of the day, you'll walk away with a personalized action plan—clear, aligned, and ready to implement—so you can take your next steps with confidence."

Use this link to register for the workshop: https://link.clover.com/urlshortener/L9cSGN

• (Erick) client work, reorganizing my life around ghost-writing, new clients and project management coming up, process re-structuring.

What are you reading?

• Valerie: In the Dream House (Carmen Maria Machado) You Will Find Your People: How to Make Meaningful Friendships as an Adult (Lane Moore)
• • (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong
• Erick: Mort Terry Pratchett

• Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits):

• Tidbit #1: comfortable chair for your office
• Tidbit #2: Human Design chart; It'll validate so much about yourself!
• Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check):

Segment 4 (Main Topic):

Writing communities look different from one to another. There's: Writing friends, Critique group, Service Trade Friends, Organizations, Conferences, Writing groups, Colleagues you can chat with at meetings that understand the writing life (don't discount this!).

I'm a writer. We all have something in common.

Stay in contact

Do I want to make this MY community?

Like-mindedness.

Compatibility, flexibility, fits my value system.

And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind :

https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout.

#magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance

Next episode:

Find Us:

Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan

Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor

Patreons:

https://patreon.com/valerieihsan

https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries

Tools:

Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE184

ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)

Resources:

"How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog

Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group)

3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Komp's business page)

Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions)

Raven Publicity (publicity for authors)

The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror

Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website.

Contact Valerie for author coaching.

Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign

Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter.

Balance meditation app.

• Story Rubric version 1.1 and podcast episode.
• Three Story Method worksheet

Book Recs for writing/creativity/business:

• Fast-Draft Your Memoir (Rachael Herron)

Thinking in Pictures (John Sayles)

Poemcrazy (Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge)

The Art of Dramatic Writing (Lajos Egri)

On Writing (Stephen King)

A Swim in a Pond in the Rain (George Saunders)

Save the Cat! (Blake Snyder)

Writing in Restaurants (David Mamet)

Notable Mention: Story Engineering (Larry Brooks), Running Down a Dream: Your Road Map to Winning Creative Battles (Tim Grahl); Story Hypothesis (J.P. Rindfleisch IX); Three Story Method (J.Thorn and Zach Bohannon); The Anatomy of a Best Seller (Sacha Black)

Main Topic: Favorite Writing Craft Books (starts at 13:02)

Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code

VALERIE20 at checkout

You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20

#magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance

PATREON:

Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.

Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.

Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates):

• (Valerie) decluttering, pitching conferences, catching up with emails!
• (Erick) client work, reorganizing my life around ghost-writing

What are you reading?

• Valerie: Start Thinking Rich by Brad Klontz and Adrian Brambila; The Turn of the Key (Ruth Ware)
• • (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong
• Erick: The Boy from the Woods (Harlan Coben); looking for cozy fantasy next

• Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits):

• Tidbit #1: Moon Lists: Questions and Rituals for Self-Reflection, a Guided Journal by Leigh Patterson
• Tidbit #2:
• Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check):

Segment 4 (Main Topic): Starts at 13:02.

Fast-Draft Your Memoir (Rachael Herron)

Thinking in Pictures (John Sayles)

Poemcrazy (Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge)

The Art of Dramatic Writing (Lajos Egri)

On Writing (Stephen King)

A Swim in a Pond in the Rain (George Saunders)

Save the Cat! (Blake Snyder)

Writing in Restaurants (David Mamet)

Notable Mention: Story Engineering (Larry Brooks), Running Down a Dream: Your Road Map to Winning Creative Battles (Tim Grahl); Story Hypothesis (J.P. Rindfleisch IX); Three Story Method (J.Thorn and Zach Bohannon); The Anatomy of a Best Seller (Sacha Black)

And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind :

https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout.

#magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance

Next episode:

Find Us:

Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan

Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor

Patreons:

https://patreon.com/valerieihsan

https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries

Tools:

Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE184

ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)

Main Topic: How to Revive Old Project (What About That Trunk Novel?) (at 23:36)

Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code

VALERIE20 at checkout

You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20

#magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance

PATREON:

Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.

Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.

Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates):

• back from Costa Rica; setting a challenge to do something towards the Costa Rica move every day for 30 days. (Valerie)
• reengage Patreon, looking at old short stories and rewriting them (Erick)

What are you reading?

• Valerie: Start Thinking Rich by Brad Klontz and Adrian Brambila
• (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong
• Erick: Thirty-Three Cecils (Everett De Morier)

• Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits):

• Tidbit #1: Finding good music to write with/to.
• Tidbit #2:
• Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check):

Segment 4 (Main Topic):

Why did this go in the trunk in the first place?

Stay aware of what's in the trunk.

Pull out the story and re-read it. Remember what I liked about it. Start the rewrite process.

What I don't like about it.

Dog walk to think. Reinvigorate it. Don't open the trunk without intention of finishing it.

Not a failed manuscript; it's an unrealized idea.

And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind :

https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout.

#magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance

Next episode:

Find Us:

Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan

Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor

Patreons:

https://patreon.com/valerieihsan

https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries

Tools:

Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE184

ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)

Main Topic: Problem Solving in Your Novel (and your life!)

Get 45% off the Magic Mind bundle with with my link:

https://magicmind.com/VALERIEJAN

#magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance

PATREON:

Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.

Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.

Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates):

• started thinking about decluttering on a serious level - starting with my office (Valerie)
• writing, finishing things (multiple manuscripts), balancing work and work. ;-) (Erick)

What are you reading?

• Valerie: Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; Once There Were Wolves Charlotte McConaghy; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong
• The Desire Map (Danielle LaPorte) Start Thinking Rich by Brad Klontz and Adrian Brambila
• Erick: Hampton Heights by Dan Kois; The Eyre Affair Jasper Fforde; The Boy From the Woods Harlan Coben

• Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits):

• Tidbit #1: Otter.io FABULOUS. Transcription software. $60/year.
• Tidbit #2: Wheel of Life. Rank your categories. Friends and Family, Significant Other, Personal Growth, Fun and Leisure, Home Environment, Career, Money, Health. Understand what areas need improvement, what areas are being neglected, and start to create balance. What can be worked on next? What needs to happen for the number to increase?
• Tidbit #3: Mental Wealth vs Mental Health. (SAD, anxiety, etc) Almost every book I read now talks about sleep as being the #1 thing for overall health. Wake up every day at same time. (Josh's ADHD/insomnia story). I'm trying it. But changing my time to later. You know I've been taking that Magic Mind performance shot (still am). I was reading a little bit more about their company--they ship internationally so I'll be able to get it in CR.--and they've got these pillars of mental wealth: Sleep. Diet. Exercise. Stress Management. Exogenous Compounds (something created outside of the body): antibiotics, herbal supplements, cigarette smoke, diet, wildfire smoke, etc.I'm doing a lot of work already in most of the pillars .... But sleep. The last thing I work on is listed first.
• Magic Mind has a new mental wealth challenge going on their website, and they've packaged up their mental performance shots (which I'm still drinking in the morning with my coffee and happy lite), along with (for the first time) Sleep Shots. And I've got a link for 45% off in the show notes, of course. So yeah. Sleep. That's one of my 2025 resolutions. And my tidbit. Also, I may be weird, but I don't like naps. So I've really got to get my sleep in order.
• Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check):

Segment 4 (Main Topic): Problem Solving in Your Novel (and your life!)

GROW: Goals, Resources, Obstacles, Way Forward (Use Tarot for this too!)

(author and for character)

1. Something is not right here. Skill to develop. "In service of the story."

2. GROW method.

3. Take the character out of the problem spots in the novel. It's me (the author). "Why are we here? Why did I bring us to this scene?" Transitions and staging. (What is happening between the scenes that I want the reader to know that I'm not writing?)

4. Character Motivation. Mini motivations in service to the bigger motivation.

5. Master class in long term story: Breaking Bad.

And don't forget: Get 45% off the Magic Mind bundle with with my link:

https://magicmind.com/VALERIEJAN

#magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance

Find Us:

Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan

Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor

ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)

Main Topic: End of Year Review

Mental Performance Shot: MagicMind.com/Valerie20 for 20% off one purchase, or up to 48% off monthly subscription. Use code VALERIE20 at checkout.

PATREON:

Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.

Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.

Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates):

• Bookstore work, Ali's oral surgery, helping son. (Valerie)
• working/writing (Erick)

What are you reading?

• Valerie: Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ;
• The Desire Map (Danielle LaPorte) Start Thinking Rich by Brad Klontz and Adrian Brambila
• Erick: Hampton Heights by Dan Kois

• Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits):

• Tidbit #1: hidden organizations; Wordcrafters; Astoria Writers Guild; Read the newsletters! See what others are doing.
• Tidbit #2: Still loving the Magic Mind. Buying a subscription today. So, if you want to try it out, I have a discount code for you. It's for 20% off a one-time purchase, or they have a subscription service, and the code is good for 48% off that. You can go to MagicMind.com/Valerie20 and use the code VALERIE20 to check it out. I'll put the link in the show notes.

Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check):

Segment 4 (Main Topic):

Next episode:

Find Us:

Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan

Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor

Patreons:

https://patreon.com/valerieihsan

https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries

Tools:

Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE184

ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)

Main Topic: Self-Doubt

Mental Performance Shot: MagicMind.com/Valerie20 for 20% off one purchase, or up to 48% off monthly subscription. Use code VALERIE20 at checkout.

PATREON:

Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.

Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.

Embracing mistakes and self-doubt. Accept they are real, most accomplished people have it and figure out how to work through it.

Where does it show up? When the world is moving too fast (v) Doing routine things (e) (fear of unexpected unexpectedly happening)

What works: Training? Reframing?

Elizabeth Gilbert (Big Magic) talks about allowing fear in the car with you, but not allowing it to drive.

Tips:

Getting over it is an illusion. Get over it in the moment instead. (On the way to a client, think about seeing a friend. And maybe they are feeling self-doubt. You aren't alone.)

"Please help me to say the thing they need to hear."

Is the job description creating the self-doubt?

Talk to self-doubt out loud.

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