Published: November 18, 2025
Episode #003 Summary
Tom gets real about the challenges of maintaining creative consistency and shares why most people quit right when things start getting difficult. This episode focuses on the transformational power of starting small and building sustainable habits—not through motivation, but through deliberate, manageable daily practices.
Key Topics Covered
The Reality of Creative Consistency
Why maintaining a high-volume pace over years (not weeks) is the real challenge
The inevitable arrival of imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and feeling like you're repeating yourself
Accepting that your early work won't be perfect—and pushing through anyway
Tom's own acknowledgment that he'll likely cringe at these early episodes in the future
The Atomic Habits Philosophy
Meaningful transformation happens slowly, deliberately, with consistent effort
Building micro-habits: small things you do consistently that compound over time
Starting with 10-15 minutes (or even 250 words) rather than overwhelming yourself
How small wins create motivation to continue
Practical Starting Points for Writers
Daily writing habit: Start with just 250 words per day
Reading practice: Begin with 10-20 minutes maximum to build the skill
Gym analogy: 10-15 minute sessions when starting, not 90-minute marathons
The importance of making habits manageable enough to maintain
The Comparison Trap
Why comparing yourself to established creators is toxic
The exercise Tom recommends: Go to your favorite podcaster or YouTuber, sort by date, and watch their first episodes—they're terrible
Compare yourself to where successful creators started, not where they are now
Managing expectations about progress while celebrating any forward movement
Quote to Remember
"Any meaningful transformation that you will go through in your life will happen slowly, deliberately, with consistent effort."
Coming Attractions
Tom is lining up phenomenal guests for upcoming episodes:
Authors who have released or are finalizing books
Deep dives into their creative and writing processes
Unexpected voices in the author space
Next Episode: Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at 9:00 AM (ish)
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The Author and Audience Podcast helps writers think deeper, write better, and build creative processes that produce their best work consistently—not for weeks, but for years.
Recommended Reading: Atomic Habits by James Clear
