Shows
The Profitable WriterMilestone #7: Practice Key Habits for Wellness, Productivity & SuccessNow we’ve come to the final milestone in The Writer’s Path, which is simply this: Practice key habits for wellness, productivity, and success. Why it’s important: Without key habits, you will burn out or have some sort of a train wreck. I have seen it too many times in my life. I have even seen it the last few years with some writers and entrepreneurs I know who got very successful, then they crashed and burned in their personal lives. On this episode, Kent shares why it’s vital to create habits that inc...2022-07-0803 minThe Profitable WriterMilestone #6: Create Streams of Income Based on Your Writing & ServicesSo far, we have talked about getting clear on your message and audience, choosing your platforms, writing consistently, publishing books, and expanding your network. Once you have those in place, then you are ready to take advantage of Milestone #6: Create streams of income based on your writing and services. Why it’s important: All of the successful writers I know personally have multiple streams of income. This mitigates risk and lets you grow several streams that can support you. They are also intertwined, and if you think like a business owner, you can always create new streams. ...2022-07-0704 minThe Profitable WriterMilestone #6: Create Streams of Income Based on Your Writing & ServicesSo far, we have talked about getting clear on your message and audience, choosing your platforms, writing consistently, publishing books, and expanding your network. Once you have those in place, then you are ready to take advantage of Milestone #6: Create streams of income based on your writing and services.
Why it’s important: All of the successful writers I know personally have multiple streams of income. This mitigates risk and lets you grow several streams that can support you. They are also intertwined, and if you think like a business owner, you can always create new streams.
...2022-07-0704 minThe Profitable WriterMilestone #4: Publish & Market Books That Solve Problems for Your ReadersSo far in this series, we have looked at the importance of getting clear on your audience and message, building the platforms where you will share your content, and writing consistently. That brings us to Milestone #4: Publishing and marketing books that solve problems for your reader. Why it’s important: Books give you credibility and authority that you cannot get any other way. Books are also a super convenient way for you to share your wisdom with people. On this episode, Kent shares what you should focus on as you write to solve pr...2022-07-0504 minThe Profitable WriterMilestone #1: Clarify a Powerful Message for a Specific AudienceSo far, I’ve given you a quick introduction to The Writer’s Path, why it’s important, and I’ve shared a bit of my story of traveling the path myself. Over the next couple of weeks, you’ll learn more detail about each of these seven milestones. I’ll explain what it is and also share the biggest challenge you will face as you try to achieve it. I’ll also give you some examples of people who have built a writing business using this pathway. Let’s dig into Milestone #1: Clarify a powerful message for a specific a...2022-07-0105 minThe Profitable WriterMy Story of Traveling the Writer's PathNow that you have a basic idea of what The Writer’s Path is all about, I’d like to share my story of traveling this pathway myself. I began blogging around 2007 or 2008. I had several blogs and was just writing for fun. I wanted to build a business but didn’t know how. I was a college professor and wanted to create more income to support my family. On this episode, you’ll be inspired by Kent’s story of how he has taken the Writer’s Path to increase his income, maximize his strengths, a...2022-06-3006 minThe Profitable WriterNew Series—The Writer's Path: 7 Steps to Building a Writing BusinessYou might know (or maybe you don’t) that about a year ago, I left my full-time job as a college professor to do ghostwriting full-time. That’s my main gig, but I also run The Daily Writer Club, which is our membership community, as well as produce this daily podcast. I also write my own books. Most writers have a desire to make money and build either a part-time or full-time career with their writing, so we’re going to lean into this topic for a while. As I’ve thought about my own journey and examined...2022-06-2703 minThe Profitable WriterBe a FinisherIt’s scary to start a writing project. But you know what’s even scarier? Finishing it. Sometimes we think that being a writer means to be constantly gaining new ideas and exploring creative possibilities—which is true. But those ideas and possibilities must live somewhere. They need to be published. On today’s episode, Kent challenges you to be confident and finish what you started. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. Are you looking for a community of enthusia...2022-06-2101 minThe Profitable WriterIf You Want to Change the WorldMost of us grow up believing that we can change the world. Then, as we get older, some life experience and a bit of cynicism set in. Pretty soon we give up on the idea of changing much of anything… much less the world. But imagine for a moment… what if you COULD actually change the world? How would you go about it? On today’s episode, Kent reminds us that writers are uniquely positioned to change the world. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wis...2022-06-1902 minThe Profitable WriterBut Does it Make You Happy?There are a lot of questions you have probably asked about the results of your writing. Here are a few of them: Will it make my life better? Will it make me money? Will it grow the size of my audience? Here is another important one to consider: Will it make me happy? On this episode, Kent shares insight on how to find true happiness in your writing. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Mat...2022-06-1702 minThe Profitable Writer3 Ways to Write About Your PainIf you had to pin down one universal emotion that all humans experience, it’s pain. We are often afraid to share our pain because we’re afraid we will look weak. So, we lock up our feelings in a box, set it on a shelf in the back of a dark closet, and try to forget about it. This is not a healthy way to deal with grief or loss. One of the best ways of working through your pain is to write about it. On today’s episode, Kent shares three method...2022-06-1602 minThe Profitable WriterWho Are Your Six?Have you ever heard someone refer to your “six”? It refers to the six people who will carry your casket at your funeral. I want you to think about the six people in your life who would indeed carry your casket. How often do you speak to them? How close would you say these friends are to you? On this episode, Kent reminds us to invest in our friends, because they’re the ones who always stay with us at the end of the day. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live...2022-06-0602 minThe Profitable WriterPour Out the Healing WatersWater can be a metaphor for life or death. Ask anyone who has gotten sick from contaminated water or tried to avoid falling out of a canoe while going down the Amazon River teeming with deadly piranhas. They will tell you that water can be deadly. But what about a person dying of thirst in the desert or someone who goes into the hospital because they’re dehydrated? Water can bring life. On this episode, Kent inspires us that our words can bring life or death to those around us. *** ...2022-06-0301 minThe Profitable WriterThe Happiest Place on EarthDisney parks all over the world are known as the happiest places on earth. And judging by the number of people who flock there each year, it is correct. It’s known as a place full of fun, magic, and wonder. But even Walt Disney himself knew that it was dangerous to contain happiness to a particular location. On this episode, Kent shares wisdom from Walt Disney about creating happiness wherever you are. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. Are...2022-05-3101 minThe Profitable WriterWrite an Unexpected EndingOn May 21, 1990, audiences tuned in to the series finale of the CBS show Newhart. They probably expected a standard final episode that wrapped up the 8-season run telling the story of Dick Louden, a Vermont innkeeper played by Bob Newhart, and the oddball cast of characters who populated the show. This was not Bob Newhart’s first foray into the world of sitcoms. He had previously starred in another successful series, The Bob Newhart Show, which rans for 6 seasons in the 1970s. In the second-to-last scene of the Newhart finale, Bob stands in the doorway of...2022-05-2602 minThe Profitable WriterThink 100 Years Into the FutureOn a day-to-day basis, we are consumed with the here and now—what we have to write and publish today or this week. Expand your horizons and think not just about this week, this month, or this year. Go beyond even the next five or ten years. Think a hundred years into the future. On this episode, Kent shares a personal story, which will inspire you to consider how your work will impact future generations. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most...2022-05-2302 minThe Profitable WriterA Lesson from Gothic CathedralsWhen I became a college professor in 2004, one of the courses I was assigned was Introduction to the Arts. It was a basic survey course covering visual art, architecture, music, theatre, and film from a Christian philosophical viewpoint.
The area I knew the least about was architecture. I had always been fascinated by it, but never studied it in-depth. Over the years, as I have learned more about architecture, it has become one of my favorite subjects.
On this episode, Kent shares insight from Gothic cathedrals and how these incredible pieces of architecture reveal lessons...2022-05-2003 minThe Profitable WriterA Lesson from Gothic CathedralsWhen I became a college professor in 2004, one of the courses I was assigned was Introduction to the Arts. It was a basic survey course covering visual art, architecture, music, theatre, and film from a Christian philosophical viewpoint. The area I knew the least about was architecture. I had always been fascinated by it, but never studied it in-depth. Over the years, as I have learned more about architecture, it has become one of my favorite subjects. On this episode, Kent shares insight from Gothic cathedrals and how these incredible pieces of architecture reveal lessons...2022-05-2003 min
EntrePastors#39: From Pastor to Ghostwriter with Kent SandersIn this episode Jon and Les have a conversation with Kent Sanders. A few years ago Kent made a transition out of pastoral ministry and into a full-time career as a ghostwriter. Here are some of the topics Kent shared with us in this interview:Many pastors are unaware of how possible and profitable a side hustle as a ghostwriter could be.It’s important to have the right mindset around “quitting ministry.”It’s also important to have a healthy mindset around the subject of money.Kent has found much more opportunity for ministry in the marketplace than he di...2022-05-2048 minThe Profitable WriterFocus on a Specific AudienceIt’s tempting as a writer to think that “everyone” is your audience. But the reality is that your message is not for everyone. It’s a paradox that the more you focus on a very specific type of person, the more people will be able to relate to it. On this episode, Kent shares three ways writing for a specific audience helps you. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you...2022-05-1702 minThe Profitable WriterLost in Your Own FantasyOne of the most fascinating characters of Hollywood’s classic film era is Norma Desmond, the lead character of the 1950’s Sunset Boulevard. She is a silent film-era actress who lives in a fantasy world where she makes a triumphant return to her glory days. In the final scene, she has completely lost touch with reality as the police and reporters with cameras fill her house. She can’t see the reality that they are there to take her away because she has shot and killed someone. In her mind, she is the star of another Hollywood pictur...2022-05-1502 minThe Profitable WriterWhat Comes Easy to You?Are you wondering what to write about? Look no further than your own skills and talents. Another way of saying this is, “What comes easy to you?” What seems obvious? What could you do in your sleep and still be better than 99% of people? On this episode, Kent shares an easy way to determine what you ought to be writing about. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build b...2022-05-1202 minThe Profitable WriterPlaying It Safe is Not SafeWe writers are a safe bunch. Business tycoons love the art of the deal. Sports figures love the rush of physical conflict. Skydivers love the sight of the ground rushing toward them, sentencing them toward certain doom unless their parachute opens. You may like all of those areas of excitement. But there’s a good chance that when it comes to your writing, you’re playing it safe. On this episode, Kent emboldens you to not play it safe in your writing. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live...2022-05-1002 minThe Profitable WriterThe Introverted Writer’s DilemmaThere are many advantages to being an introverted writer. You enjoy being alone, which is a big benefit when trying to get your writing done. You’d mostly rather spend your time with books than people, which can help you dive deeply into literature and learning. You’d rather observe than participate, which can help you approach life like a journalist or researcher. However, the very strengths that help you become a great writer can make it hard for you to build an audience—which is something every writer must do. On this episode, Kent shares...2022-05-0202 minThe Profitable WriterFundamentally TrustworthyMuch has been written about the voice that lives in every writer’s head. We normally think and talk about this voice as a bad thing. So, it’s not a surprise that we think of that voice as untrustworthy. But if you listen as closely as you can, there is another voice. On today’s episode, Kent reminds us why we can trust our intuition when we make creative decisions. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. Are you looking for a com...2022-04-2902 minThe Profitable WriterBe a Person of ValueEvery writer talks about wanting success, but what does success actually mean? How do you measure it? Is it even a worthy goal in the first place? Those are valid questions, but they aren’t what we should be asking first. Instead, we should be asking how we can add value to others’ lives. On today’s episode, Kent shares three simple ways you can encourage and make connections with the people around you. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most. Are...2022-04-2702 minThe Profitable WriterThe Art of Letting GoLet’s talk about one of the hardest truths to swallow. Here it is: the circle of relationships that brought you to where you are is not the circle of relationships that will take you to where you want to be. Most of us don’t like conflict. We don’t want to feel like we’re leaving others behind. This fact alone prevents a lot of people from growing because they are not willing to make tough changes to their personal and professional relationships. On this episode, Kent shares how your relationships impact the ways you...2022-04-2208 minThe Profitable WriterHow Can You Help?Jealousy causes us to be inwardly focused. The more we fixate on what others have, the more angry, resentful, and bitter we become. You can’t be at your best as a writer when you’re angry, resentful, and bitter. Those emotions are like an empty well that is dry and lifeless. They will suck the life right out of you. On this episode, Kent shares a simple but powerful way you can replenish yourself and help others at the same time. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Fathe...2022-04-1903 minThe Profitable WriterTheir Success Doesn't Mean Your FailureIf you’re alive and breathing, you have struggled with jealousy. It’s part of the human condition. But for most writers, jealousy is more than an occasional struggle. It’s a daily battle that threatens our very souls. It’s nearly impossible for us to separate ourselves from our creative work. It’s part of who we are. On this episode, Kent begins a series on jealousy and kicks it off with why we shouldn’t be jealous of others’ success. *** Check out my NEW book: 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom...2022-04-1403 minThe Profitable WriterCreate Your Own PodcastIn yesterday’s episode, we talked about the power of being a guest on other people’s podcasts. Today, we will turn the tables and talk about the importance of starting your own podcast. Podcasting is a powerful and inexpensive way to build an audience and share your ideas. When you are “in someone’s head” for that much time, they develop an intimate relationship with you as a listener. On today’s episode, Kent shares why you should create your own podcast and offers advice on how you can start your own. *** Check...2022-04-1304 minThe Profitable Writer5 Ways to Support Other WritersOne of the most critical truths of living in the modern world is that we are all connected. As the poet John Donne wrote, “No man is an island.” (And neither is any woman, of course.) And because you are the type of writer who wants to be generous, the kind of writer who gives more than you take, you will want to discover ways to support the important work of other writers. On this episode, Kent shares 5 easy ways you can support other writers and grow your influence. *** Are you looking for a co...2022-04-0703 minThe Profitable WriterHow Writing Actually Gets DoneOne of the reasons that writing feels so hard to many people is because their expectation doesn’t match the reality of how a clean draft actually gets written. Many people have an ideal of sitting down at a computer and just letting the words flow out perfectly. The heavens open up, birds sing outside, and a ray of light descends from above as they post their work, email it, or send it off to the editor. That, however, is not how good writing actually gets done. On this episode, Kent encourages us to...2022-04-0502 minThe Profitable WriterYour Book Cover Keeps the Vision ClearOne of my very best friends is a guy named Eric Elder. He is a musician, author, and creative genius who runs TheRanch.org. A few years ago, we were on a call and he showed me how he stays motivated to finish the books he starts writing. You can find out more about Eric Elder and his books, music, and more by visiting TheRanch.org. On this episode, Kent shares one of his friends’ tips for how you can stay motivated to finish your book. *** Are you looking for a co...2022-04-0102 minThe Profitable WriterThe Pebble in Your ShoeThere’s something that has been bothering you. It’s like a pebble in your shoe that irritates you just enough that you think about it all the time. It intimidates you, taunts you, and won’t let you stop thinking about it. On this episode, Kent encourages us to face what is bothering us head-on, so we can move forward and make progress. *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community. Check out our Da...2022-03-2902 minThe Profitable WriterIt Only Takes One Match to Burn a Bridge DownThis is the sixth entry in our mini-series on dealing with rejection. When your writing has been rejected—or at least when you perceive that it has—you respond emotionally. And that’s totally natural. We all respond emotionally when we’re hurt. And what do we do when we’re hurt? We lash out. We want retribution. We find a way to strike back. On this episode, Kent reminds us that when dealing with rejection, we shouldn’t publicly vent and say something we will regret later. *** Are you looking...2022-03-2703 minThe Profitable WriterStop and Check in With YourselfThis is the fifth entry in our mini-series on dealing with rejection. If you saw the 2009 movie Star Trek, which was, of course, a reboot of the classic TV show, you might remember the scene where Spock gets into a fight with Kirk, then steps down from his command. The reason was that he was “emotionally compromised.” Spock knew that if he couldn’t control his emotions, it would prevent him from making good decisions as a commander. On this episode, Kent uses a scene from Star Trek to remind you to take a step back a...2022-03-2502 minThe Profitable WriterThe Seed of TruthToday’s episode is the first in a seven-part series on dealing with rejection. As writers, we deal with rejection in many forms. You can be rejected by a reader, a publisher, a literary agent, a podcaster, a beta reader, a book reviewer, a peer, and so much more. This rejection can be formal or informal, big or small. It can be direct and aggressive, or indirect and passive. Whatever form rejection takes, one thing is for certain: IT HURTS. On this episode, Kent provides a way for us to turn the pain of...2022-03-2102 minThe Profitable WriterKeep a Lid on ItHave you ever noticed that writers like to talk about the things they’re working on? It’s a strange habit, isn’t it? Maybe it’s because we like to get feedback on our current work in progress, which is totally fine. Most of the time, it seems like we talk about our current writing a lot because we lack confidence and want assurance from other people that we are going in the right direction and that we actually do have talent after all. On this episode, Kent challenges us to go against the impulse...2022-03-2002 minThe Profitable WriterBelieve It All OverOne of the curses of being a writer is that we are too rational. We pride ourselves on reporting the facts of a situation accurately. We love the idea of having an objective point of view, then giving our commentary or perspective. We don’t like the idea of getting carried away with our emotions. We don’t want to be irrational or have a skewed point of view. Is being “rational” really the best way to approach life, though? On this episode, Kent reminds us that in order to be a successful writer...2022-03-1503 minThe Profitable WriterBest Of: Are You Master of Your Domain?One of the most famous episodes of Seinfeld is “The Contest.” In this episode, Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer compete to see who can demonstrate self-control the longest. The one who wins will be known as “master of their domain.” The concept of self-mastery is an important one for writers. If we don’t master ourselves, nothing else matters. On today's episode, Kent highlights why it’s important to master yourself, instead of trying to control everything else. *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow...2022-03-0902 minThe Profitable WriterBest Of: You're So Close to SuccessOne of the most inspiring stories from the music world during the last few decades comes from the rock band the Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl was the drummer for the mega-successful band Nirvana. He was already an established musician in his own right. But when the lead singer of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain, committed suicide in 1994, nobody expected Dave Grohl to form his own band and take on the role of a songwriter and lead singer. On this episode, Kent shares an important lesson about not giving up. *** Are you look...2022-03-0802 minThe Profitable WriterBe a Creator, Not Just a ConsumerOne of the most important decisions you make as a writer is how to balance your input and output. Or to say it another way, how much time you devote to watching and consuming versus how much time you spend writing and creating. You probably have friends who watch a lot of TV, movies, or YouTube. They keep up with all the latest shows and anxiously want to discuss all the plot developments. It is obvious they devote lots of time to being a consumer. Nothing wrong with that, of course… UNLESS you also want to...2022-03-0503 minThe Profitable WriterSay It Out LoudIf you are familiar with the organization Alcoholics Anonymous, you have probably seen or heard about the way people sometimes introduce themselves at these meetings. “Hi, my name is Kent, and I’m an alcoholic.” Now, I’m not actually an alcoholic and I’ve never been to an AA meeting. But the phrase has been portrayed enough on TV and the movies that almost everyone is familiar with it. Why do they do this? Why would you state it out loud that you’re an alcoholic, especially in the midst of a room full of people wh...2022-03-0303 minThe Profitable WriterThe One You're Writing ForSo many aspiring authors never write their books because they are always worried about what people will think. Will their book be “good enough” (whatever that means)? What will their family or friends think? Will their friends from high school ten, twenty, or thirty years ago think they are still cool? I say, “Who cares about all that?” Those people don’t matter in your journey as a writer. Here’s who does matter: the reader out there who is waiting for you to finish your book so they can read it. On today’s episode, Kent...2022-02-2502 minThe Profitable WriterGratitude Changes EverythingOn this podcast, we focus heavily on writing habits because they help immensely in getting our writing done. Good writing habits don’t just involve things like productivity or trying to hit your count. One of the most important writing habits you can ever develop is to make a gratitude list every day. Over the last couple of years, I have been making more of an effort to integrate this habit of “giving thanks” into my daily life, and it’s had a profound impact on my perspective. On today’s episode, Kent shares his practice o...2022-02-2304 minThe Profitable WriterShow Up and Produce the WordsThere is a lot of pressure in the writing and publishing worlds to create the “right” words—words that are moving, effective, emotional, and whatever other superlatives we want to put on them. Is it important to impact the reader and make a big difference? Sure. But you don’t get the gold unless you dig for it. On today’s episode, Kent shares how adopting a miner’s mindset and work ethic is the only way we can extract the gold from our writing. *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic...2022-02-1804 minThe Profitable WriterDo You Have a Daily Word Count?As a ghostwriter, I live and die by word counts. Page numbers mean very little because pages come in all sizes, and fonts and spacing can be increased or decreased. Word count is the best way to measure your progress and productivity. If you don’t have a daily word count for your current work in progress, may I suggest 250 words? That is very doable for almost anyone. It amounts to about a page per day. On today’s episode, Kent shares how writing just 250 words a day can radically change the amount of content you...2022-02-1601 minThe Profitable Writer10 Habits That Make Writing EasierYesterday, we looked at ten habits that make writing harder. The list was pretty depressing because most people have most of those habits in their life. It’s not all bad news, though. You can implement better habits into your life that make writing a lot easier. Writing doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It exists alongside other systems and dynamics in your life. Just as with the human body, everything affects everything else. On today’s episode, Kent shares 10 habits that make writing easier and more enjoyable. *** Are you looking for a comm...2022-02-1101 minThe Profitable Writer10 Habits That Make Writing HarderWriting is hard enough already. We are constantly fighting against deadlines, self-confidence issues, the need to market versus being productive, distractions, and so much more. But sometimes we make it even harder by sabotaging our own success. On today’s episode, Kent shares 10 habits we writers often have that make writing harder. *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community. Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creati...2022-02-1002 minThe Profitable WriterGo to the Plate and Swing the BatYesterday, we talked about the value of hitting singles. The main idea was this: if you focus on getting small wins every day, you will eventually win the game. Let’s look at this from another perspective. Recently, I was doing a little 90’s musical reminiscing and listening to the Backstreet Boys (Don’t judge me). It dawned on me that I only knew a couple of their songs. That got me thinking… they’ve only had a few big hits over the years, even though they’ve been making music since the mid-90’s. With nine studi...2022-02-0904 minThe Profitable WriterCreate a “Stop Doing” ListMost people, including myself, create a task list each day. We also call this a “to do” list. These are things we must do. And in a world that increasingly demands our attention every second—in a world filled with ever-increasing opportunities and connections—this list seems to get longer all the time. The antidote to all this is to create a “stop doing” list. These are things you are NOT going to do. On today’s episode, Kent shares why it’s important to create a list of the negative things to eliminate from your life, so yo...2022-02-0701 minThe Profitable WriterGo Backward to Go ForwardOne of the reasons why we sometimes get stuck in our writing is that we see how much there is left to do. Let’s say you’re writing a 750-word blog post. You would typically write this in sections—an introduction, two or three main points, and a conclusion or call to action. So really, this is a collection of pieces that are somewhere between 100-200 words each. You can have trouble getting motivated when you see how much there is left to do. On today’s episode, Kent shares a powerful trick yo...2022-02-0203 minThe Profitable WriterYou Can’t Edit a Blank PageA common problem we writers have is how to get started. We have a rough vision of what we want to create, but we’re afraid to take that first step. What if we go in the wrong direction? What if we discover we aren’t really talented? What if someone thinks it’s no good? What if this whole thing was a giant mistake? On today’s episode, Kent shares the best way to conquer a blank page. *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you buil...2022-01-2702 minThe Profitable WriterA Good Writing DayOne of the difficulties of creative work, which includes writing, is that we sometimes have vague ideas about our goals. We haven’t determined ahead of time what it means to win or lose. Therefore, no matter what we do, we never quite know if we have hit the mark. This is a surefire way to get discouraged and confused because we don’t have a clear idea of success. When you lay your head on the pillow at night, how do you know if that day was a success in terms of writing? How do y...2022-01-2502 minThe Profitable WriterWhy Are You So Busy?The most common complaint about writing is that it takes time. There is nothing that keeps people from writing more than the idea that they simply don’t have the time to write. That’s why so many writing resources—including this podcast—focus on helping people be more productive with their writing. On today’s episode, Kent encourages us to take some time to evaluate what is keeping us so busy that we neglect taking the time to write. *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build bett...2022-01-2102 minThe Profitable WriterUse Music to Help You FocusFor most writers, writing feels like work because it requires a lot of brainpower. So why not use tools that help make the work easier? One of the most effective tools is music to help you focus. On today’s episode, Kent shares the three different music platforms he uses to help him focus, be more productive, and boost his creativity. *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community. Check out our Dail...2022-01-1803 minThe Profitable WriterThe Price of Saying "Yes"A few weeks ago, I said “no” to an amazing opportunity to help writers. This was an opportunity to partner with an entrepreneur I greatly respect, a person who has been very influential in my life. He was one of the first people to help me see that I could make a living with writing, and I’ve read his books and listened to his podcasts for years. This opportunity would have let me help more people, expand my influence, and spend more time with people I highly respect. So why did I say no? On tod...2022-01-1303 minThe Profitable WriterYou're Never Too Old for GamesWriting is a serious business, but that doesn’t mean you always have to be serious. A great way to write more, and have more fun doing it, is to make a game of it. This is all part of a bigger picture of not taking yourself too seriously to begin with. Life is hard enough already without all the pressure we put on ourselves. So don’t be afraid to try new things and make a game out of your writing. On today’s episode, Kent shares how he makes a game out of writin...2022-01-1102 minThe Profitable WriterUse the Pomodoro Technique for Faster WritingIn the 1980s, a university student named Francesco Cirillo was having trouble staying focused, so he decided he would try focusing for just ten minutes. As part of his experiment, he used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer. “Pomodoro” is the Italian word for “tomato.” Therefore, a simple yet effective new productivity technique was born. If you’re having trouble getting focused and using your time well, I highly recommend using the Pomodoro Technique. This is a simple focus strategy used by people all over the world, and it works super well for writing. On today’s episode, Ken...2022-01-0903 minThe Profitable WriterTaming the Little DistractionsIn our quest to make more time to write, we tend to focus on the big distractions. It’s easy to feel like the world is against you as you deal with events, meetings, chores, and never-ending tasks. Those items can make it difficult to squeeze in writing time, for sure. However, there is a more insidious form of distraction, and those are the little things. On this episode, Kent advises us to be aware of, and eliminate, the seemingly harmless distractions that eat away our time, energy, and focus when we are trying to wr...2022-01-0701 minThe Profitable WriterWhen Are You Going to Write?We human beings have an amazing capacity for deception. We will go to almost any length to avoid facing the truth or giving a concrete answer to a question that makes us uncomfortable. And let’s face it: we writers are pretty good with words and language! But this gift comes at a steep price. The price is that it’s easy to dodge the question of when we are actually going to write. It’s fairly easy to deceive others. We can tell them we will write later. As long as they aren’t physical...2022-01-0306 minThe Profitable WriterBest Of: Creating Your Future VisionWe all know time travel isn’t really possible. Or is it? As appealing as it might seem to hop in a DeLorean and travel thirty years into the future, that’s probably not going to happen anytime soon. However, you can travel into the future in your mind. On this episode, Kent reminds us of the importance of being intentional as you move into the future. *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Wr...2021-12-3001 minThe Profitable WriterBest Of: Somebody Had to Write It DownChristmas means many things to many people. Some people look forward to parties and social events. Some people enjoy the lights and holiday displays in stores and homes. Some people love all the holiday entertainment you can enjoy, such as Hallmark movies and music specials. And of course, everybody loves gifts, especially kids. But for people of faith, Christmas is the time of year when we remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Even though we may enjoy all the festivities, gifts, and celebration, nothing is more meaningful than remembering the hope we have...2021-12-2303 minThe Profitable WriterBest Of: Don't Throw Any of Yourself AwayIf you spend any time among a group of novelists, you will pretty quickly hear two terms: pantsers and plotters. Pantsers are the ones who prefer to write by the “seat of their pants.” They love to develop a great opening, then discover the story as they write. Pantsers get bored if they know where the whole story is going ahead of time. Plotters are the ones who have to carefully outline the whole plot of a novel before they begin writing. They need to know where the story is going or they can’t start...2021-12-1402 minThe Profitable WriterBest Of: I Don't Know and I Don't CareThere are certain qualities we prize in the writing world. One of them is knowledge. It seems like we should know what we are getting ourselves into, right? Who respects a writer who seems to be aloof and doesn’t know what’s going on? Another quality we prize is humility. Surely we don’t want to become one of those writers who has a pretty high opinion of themselves, right? There is some truth in that. But there is also something to be said for going ahead and doing the work even though...2021-12-0901 minThe Profitable WriterBest Of: Dr. Don Sanders: Analog Tools for WritersOn this episode, we're going old-school and talking about analog tools for writing. It may seem out of touch to be talking about pens, pencils, and notebooks when we have so many great digital tools... but that's the point. Perhaps those digital tools are sometimes more of a distraction than a help. I've asked Dr. Don Sanders to share his passion and knowledge for analog writing tools. He is the Director of the Merold Institute of Ministry at Harvester Christian Church in St. Charles, Missouri. He is also a college adjunct professor, an avid U2 fan, and...2021-11-271h 00The Profitable WriterThe Daily Writer Will Return on January 3rdOn this brief episode, Kent shares an important update about the next few weeks’ worth of episodes. We will return with new episodes on Monday, January 3rd! *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community. Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social med...2021-11-2206 minThe Profitable WriterThe Beauty of Having No OpinionHave you ever noticed that some people have an opinion about literally everything? It’s not hard to find these people. They are all over social media, and probably within your workplace, social circle, or even your family. While it’s easy to point out how others are opinionated, it’s important to look at ourselves as well. How about you? Do you have an opinion about everything? On this episode, Kent teaches us that having an open perspective and being willing to learn help you become a better writer. *** Are you lo...2021-11-2002 minThe Profitable WriterHow to Recognize a Good IdeaOne of the perennial questions writers ask is, “Where do you get good ideas?” It’s a fair question because all of us have struggled with finding good ones for our writing. The overriding feeling we have is that we need to do something more, or add some technique, in order to find great ideas. It’s not a matter of doing something more, it’s actually a matter of doing something less. On this episode, Kent shares how to orient your life so you can be in the mindset to have good ideas. ***...2021-11-1802 minThe Profitable WriterWhen was the Last Time You Were Astonished?We live in a world where miraculous things happen every day. Of course, most of these things don’t seem miraculous to us. They seem ordinary. But it all depends on your perspective. On this episode, Kent reminds us that it’s vital to allow yourself to be astonished by the everyday miracles and help others see them too. *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community. Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which wil...2021-11-1102 minThe Profitable WriterIt’s Hard to Be GodWhatever you think about the origins of the universe, one thing seems certain: the universe started as a kind of blank slate that is now filled with stars, planets, comets, gas, dark matter, and all manner of other debris and material. Think about the effort and creativity that must have gone into the creation of the universe. It’s so mind-boggling that it’s almost impossible for us to wrap our minds around it. Yet here is one tiny way we get to experience what it must have been like. Every time you sit down to w...2021-11-0802 minThe Profitable WriterIt's Business, Not PersonalOne of the most important concepts that every writer today must embrace is the idea of a “personal brand business.” But what does it mean to have a personal brand? It comes down to the fact that your brand equals you. What you do and say in your business is a reflection of who you are personally. This is a challenging concept because the lines get blurry at times. If you have a personal brand, as I do and you probably do as well, you care about your clients or customers on a personal level. 2021-11-0708 minThe Profitable WriterThe Imagineering MindsetIn their fantastic little book The Imagineering Way, the Disney Imagineers said, “Every new project at Imagineering starts with the assumption that it will be fun and exciting. We never say we don’t really want to do it this way—we do it the best way we know how. We are our end users because we like the product.” Think about your current writing project. When you sit down to work on it, what do you assume? Do you assume it will be difficult? Unbearable? Something you just need to get through? Or do you assu...2021-11-0501 minThe Profitable WriterThe One Year to Live TestWe all know that perfectionism can be debilitating. It can rob you of the joy of writing and cause you to waste endless amounts of time fidgeting with your material. Just like a rainbow, perfection is an illusion. You can chase a rainbow but you will never find the end of it. In the same way, you can chase perfection but you’ll never reach it. On this episode, Kent shares a powerful solution to combat perfectionism. *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build be...2021-11-0101 minThe Profitable WriterHarvesting: Producing the WordsHarvesting as a concept couldn’t be any simpler. You simply go to the field, get the crop, and bring it to the barn for processing. In writing terms, it means you must sit down and produce the words. If there is one universal truth in writing, it is this: the words won’t write themselves. This means you need to set aside time each day to write. It’s that simple, and also that difficult. On this episode, Kent shares the simple truth about what it takes to be a writer who gets things done a...2021-10-2502 minThe Profitable WriterPruning: Eliminate A Few ActivitiesAs you continue to grow in your writing skills, your connections, and your influence, you will have more and more opportunities. This is both a good and bad thing. Obviously, opportunities are wonderful! You can write for more outlets or reach more readers with your own writing. With this expanded influence and connection also comes the need the limit your activities to the few things that produce the most results. It’s hard to run a YouTube channel, host a podcast, write books, maintain a blog or newsletter, speak at conferences, and do all the ot...2021-10-2202 minThe Profitable WriterPreparing: Till the Soil of Your MindEveryone who has ever planted anything knows that you can’t just throw seeds on the ground. You must prepare the soil. Otherwise, the soil won’t be ready to receive the seeds. The seeds will die and all the effort and future potential will have been wasted. Your creative mind works the same way. It can’t just receive ideas and then cause those ideas to sprout. Your mind must be prepared. On this episode, Kent shares ideas for how you can prepare your mind so you can increase your creativity and seize your ideas...2021-10-1902 minThe Profitable Writer5 Steps to Building an Amazing Non-Fiction Book OutlineToday I want to explore a topic that a lot of people ask me about. It's also a topic that, when you give it the attention it deserves, will transform your book-writing experience. When I mention the topic "how to build an amazing non-fiction book outline," it may not sound like the most exciting topic. However, if you're writing a non-fiction book, this is a critical topic because your outline is the backbone of your book. A great outline makes everything easier. In this episode, Kent answers a few questions about book outlines, and walks...2021-10-1718 minThe Profitable WriterGetting Your Priorities Un-Mixed UpWe can all agree that being a writer is more complicated than it used to be. Back in the days before the internet was a thing, being a working writer essentially meant that you submitted your articles to magazines and wrote books for publishers. Now, things are more complicated. There is marketing, social media, self-publishing options, speaking engagements, courses, and many other ways you can spend your time as a writer. So what should you focus on? On this episode, Kent reveals the two key things we must focus on as...2021-10-1402 minThe Profitable WriterBreathe, Just BreatheIf we could give our modern age a name, it might be called, “The Age of Hurry.” Commerce and communication can happen instantaneously around the world. And when you look at your task list, you have messages to answer, deadlines to meet, material to write. It all feels like it needs to be done right now. Like everyone else, you have a busy schedule. But trying to go faster won’t help. Instead, you need perspective. You need calm. You need to breathe. On this episode, Kent encourages you to take a moment, gather...2021-10-1101 minThe Profitable WriterWhich Voice Are You Listening To?One of the most interesting characters in literature is the unreliable narrator. This character might be delusional, a liar, or is simply prone to exaggeration. Or, they might not have a firm grasp on reality because of their personality or mental state. Each of us has an unreliable narrator in our heads. This is the voice telling you you’re not good enough, you’re not gifted, or nobody will like your writing. It is telling you lies and trying to give you false information. On today’s episode, Kent challenges us to ignore the unreli...2021-10-0502 minThe Profitable WriterBring Your ‘B’ GameDo you struggle with being a perfectionist? Perfectionism is the tendency to get paralyzed by the idea that your work is never good enough. Perfectionists imagine there is a standard out there and they can never reach it. They have convinced themselves that they will be an utter failure unless they reach that unreachable standard. Therefore, they never take action and instead live in a perpetual state of frustration. On today's episode, Kent shares a strategy that can help you overcome perfectionism. *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to...2021-09-3002 minThe Profitable WriterListen and LearnHave you ever sat in a coffee shop and listened to the conversations happening around you? It’s fascinating. 99% of the time, people are only talking about themselves. Almost everyone in every social situation makes a conversation about them. It is rare to hear someone who is listening empathetically to the other person who is speaking. In fact, communication experts have told us for decades that there’s far more communication happening in the facial gestures and body language of people than there is in their words. To go even a step further, our words are...2021-09-2702 minThe Profitable WriterMost People Will Love ItWe writers often talk about the reasons we write. But what are the reasons we don’t write? What keeps us from writing? Several things probably come to mind: procrastination, not enough time, and not feeling creative, among others. But at the end of the day, there is one main thing that keeps us from writing. The novelist Erica Jong hit the nail on the head when she said, “I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged.” On this episode, Kent reminds us not to...2021-09-2402 minThe Profitable WriterIs It Helping You Get the Writing Done?Here is a question to consider: what activities actually produce writing? This is not a trick question, but a serious one. Why? Because it’s easy for us to fall under the spell of doing writing-related activities while secretly avoiding the hard work of writing. The list of things that help our writing is endless. But they don’t actually constitute writing. On today’s episode, Kent encourages us to focus on putting in the work of actually writing. *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to hel...2021-09-2202 minThe Profitable Writer3 Quick Lessons on Evaluating Your WritingI've talked about this a few times here on the podcast before. But, just in case you haven't heard, I left my teaching job at St. Louis Christian College this past summer in order to focus full-time on ghostwriting and running my Daily Writer membership community. Now that SLCC has announced it will be merging with another school at the end of this school year, I have been reflecting a lot on what I learned as a professor during the previous 17 years. One of the most important things I learned as a teacher is the...2021-09-1916 minThe Profitable WriterDo You Love to Write?Let me ask you a simple, but profound question. Do you love to write? We’re not talking about whether you love having written. We’re talking about the actual work of writing. If the answer is “yes”—great! If the answer is “no” or “not so much,” consider the reason why. Is it because writing is hard or unpleasant? Is it because someone long ago said you weren’t a writer? Could it be that inner critic trying to convince you that you’re not worthy? On today’s episode, Kent shares the story of Citizen Kan...2021-09-1603 minThe Profitable WriterBeen Rejected Lately? Join the Club.We deal with a lot of obstacles as writers, but one of the biggest is rejection. Rejection can come in many forms, but whatever form it takes… it hurts. And let’s be honest, it can hurt pretty badly. Some writers never recover from it. So how can we deal with it? J. K. Rowling offers some great advice. She said, “Resilience and humility. These go hand-in-hand, because rejection and criticism are part of a writer’s life. Informed feedback is useful and necessary, but some of the greatest writers were rejected multiple times.” On today...2021-09-1402 minThe Profitable WriterIf You Write, You're a WriterThe #1 problem that stops most people from writing has nothing to do with talent or ability. It has nothing to do with a lack of time or opportunities. But it has EVERYTHING to do with them not believing they are a writer. Success as a writer has very little to do with talent. Instead, it has everything to do with seeing yourself as a writer, then putting in the work on a regular basis. That's pretty much it. If you write… by definition, you're a writer. On today’s episode, Kent reminds you why it’s impo...2021-09-0801 minThe Profitable WriterTen Commandments for WritersWe have it pretty easy in the modern world, right? In many ways, this is the golden age of writing. We have more opportunities than ever before to publish our work and impact other people with our words. Yet at the same time, it's also a challenging time for writers. Why? Because there are so many options for writing and publishing that it's easy to get overwhelmed and paralyzed by all the possibilities. What if there was a list of guidelines that would help you clarify things? You're in luck because I have put together...2021-09-0537 minThe Profitable WriterComparison KillsYou can make a lot of mistakes as a writer and still be successful. But one of the mistakes that will kill both your enthusiasm AND your success is constantly comparing yourself to others. Granted, it's almost impossible not to do this as a writer. After all, it's human nature to compare ourselves, and social media has made it impossible not to notice other people's success in writing. But that negative energy doesn't really help you with your own goals, does it? On today’s episode, Kent shares why you shouldn’t compare your...2021-09-0302 minThe Profitable WriterTake Action ImmediatelySo… you’ve done it again. You promised yourself you wouldn’t do it, yet here you are, feeling guilty because you’ve given in to the temptation once again. Are we talking about some forbidden sin? No, we’re talking about downloading yet another free PDF that will languish on your hard drive. It’s one more resource you won’t read, but you will still feel guilty because you know it will probably help your writing or business. In today’s Information Age, it’s almost impossible not to be overwhelmed with email lists...2021-08-3002 minThe Profitable Writer3 Ways to Get UnblockedEvery writer has felt like this at one time or another. You’re chugging along with your content and things are going smoothly. The ideas are flowing. You’re feeling great. Then, it happens. You hit the wall. The creative juices have dried up and you sit there wondering where to go from here. On today’s episode, Kent shares three strategies you can use to get your creative juices flowing again. *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writin...2021-08-2602 minThe Profitable WriterKeep Putting in the WorkHave you ever written something and expected people to immediately love it? Maybe you wrote an article, book, or social media post and felt disappointed that it wasn't a hit. But if you look to other industries such as music and baseball, you will have a hit less than three out of ten times. Every time you step up to the plate, or go into that recording studio, or sit down to write, you’re putting in the work. You’re developing your craft. You’re getting better all the time. On today’s episode, Kent sha...2021-08-2503 minThe Profitable WriterNo One is Ever a MasterWe never quite escape this impulse of wanting to be done with our education. We move on to middle school, high school, most likely college, and perhaps grad school. At every level, there is a sense in which we just want to be done so we can move on with life. If you want to grow as a writer or artist, you have to change your mindset about learning. Learning is the match that lights the fire of passion and purpose, not the bucket of water that drowns it out. On today’s episode, Kent re...2021-08-1703 minThe Profitable WriterReading is Critical to Your CreativityThere is something quite magical about a book. Of course, you already know that since you’re a writer. You’re already committed to the art and craft of writing books. But it’s interesting that so many writers don’t make a lot of time to read. We love books and are committed to creating them… but we struggle with fitting reading into our schedules. On today’s episode, Kent shares a simple, yet effective way to read more every day. *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to h...2021-08-1602 minThe Profitable WriterDon't Apologize for What You LoveAs writers, there is a constant pressure to conform to what we think others want from us. In the midst of trying to find your own voice, it is easy to get so enamored with other people we admire that we forget what made them successful in the first place: they found their unique voice and the topics they cared most about, and then they kept working at it until they carved out their own niche. You don’t need to mimic anyone else or try to copy their style. You have your own unique pe...2021-08-1202 minThe Profitable WriterDo It AnywayEdward Gibbon was one of the most famous historians of all time. As the author of the six-volume set, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, he showed the world that history could be informative and entertaining, all while making the ancient world accessible to the contemporary reader. When he started work on the books, he did not necessarily have this end goal in mind. In fact, he once said, “Unprovided with original learning, unformed in the habits of thinking, unskilled in the arts of composition, I resolved to write a book.” On...2021-08-0402 minThe Profitable WriterA Declaration Worth MakingOn July 4th, 1776, the Second Continental Congress pronounced that it was officially independent of British rule. Known as the Declaration of Independence, this document made it clear that the thirteen colonies had their own sovereign identity. July 4th is a uniquely American holiday, but there is another kind of declaration that every writer should make, no matter what their nationality is. On today’s episode, Kent shares why it’s vital to be unashamed and declare your identity as a writer. *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help...2021-07-1401 minThe Profitable WriterDr. Don Sanders: Analog Tools for Writers On this episode, we're going old-school and talking about analog tools for writing. It may seem out of touch to be talking about pens, pencils, and notebooks when we have so many great digital tools... but that's the point. Perhaps those digital tools are sometimes more of a distraction than a help. I've asked Dr. Don Sanders to share his passion and knowledge for analog writing tools. He is the Director of the Merold Institute of Ministry at Harvester Christian Church in St. Charles, Missouri. He is also a college adjunct professor, an avid U2 fan, and ha...2021-06-131h 00