The Writing Podcast

The 6 Writing Discipline Models

A few of you rise before dawn, run 10 miles, and write 1,500 words - all before 7 AM. Bully for you. The rest of us, however, structure our lives a bit differently. In this episode, we identify the six models of writing discipline. The first is the aforementioned Early Riser model, and the second is the "Edge of the Toilet Seat" model. The goal is to find a writing discipline model that works for you. We hope you find encouragement in this episode as you seek to fit writing into the white spaces and seams of your life.

How to Start Writing a Book

There are a thousand clichés about how to take the first step of a long journey. But they all have one thing in common: you have to start. In this episode, we offer up a series of tips for taking that first step, including the importance of fighting through and overcoming the so-called imposter syndrome. At some point, no matter how insecure we feel, the only way to overcome our emotion is the physical act of writing something down. We hope you come away encouraged and the inspiration to sit down and write that first sentence.

What Magazines Teach Us about Writing Well

The golden era of magazines is a distant memory. Part of their demise was the Internet, which flooded the world with free content. Even today, however, magazines feature some of the best writing for a variety of reasons. In this episode, we identify five lessons from magazines that can help you improve your book writing. One of those is the hook or angle of every article in a magazine. Each article begins with a hook that grabs you by the collar and refuses to let go until you read the article.

 

 

5 Hacks When You're Lost Writing a Chapter

You're not a writer if you've never been absolutely lost while working on a piece, whether a blog, an article, or, especially, the chapter of a book. Writing is thinking in motion. You may have not thought about your idea in this way before, until you laid down that sentence. In this episode, we offer up what amounts to five writing hacks to help you find your way once you've become lost. One hack is to go back to your thesis for the article or chapter: What is your topic? And what do you want to say about that topic? And, ultimately, how does the thesis of this chapter support the overall book idea? When you're lost, it's time to strip it all back a bit.

Prenup Book Author Emily Bouchard on How She Lands Media Interviews

Emily Bouchard's approach to landing media interviews for her book was quite simple. She reached out to a journalist and asked for one. She didn't know how to create a press release, so she googled it. And then created one. Seems like we all can do that! Emily is a Family Dynamics Coach to ultra high net worth families, and author of "Estate Planning for the Blended Family" and "Beginner's Guide to Purposeful Prenups." Emily didn't let what she didn't know stop her. Her persistence and tenacity give hope to writers who are starting from scratch.

 

An Introduction to Writing a Memoir

The reasons for writing a memoir are many. Some write to understand their past; others share truths from their past to help others. Still others write memoirs as a way of preserving their family history. In this episode, we introduce the topic of writing a memoir and identify five basic elements to keep in mind when starting out to write one. Every person has a story to tell. It's how you tell the story that makes it a memoir.

A.C.T.S. - the 4 Essential Elements of Writing a Great Story

Story. Story. Story. No one argues with the idea that stories are one of the primary ways we communicate as humans. It's one thing to enjoy a great story. And quite another to write a great one. In this interview with Steve Mathewson, author of "Art of Preaching Old Testament Narratives," he lays out the four essential elements of writing a great story. He also discusses the importance of "strategic delay" - creating tension in your story. He says that when the tension is gone, your story is over, whether your done telling it or not.

Tech Founder Dave Parker on the Whacky Economics of Book Publishing and Promotion

It can never be about the money. No realistic financial model for book publishing exists, unless of course, you hit the lottery with your first. In this episode, tech founder and book writer Dave Parker applies start-up thinking to writing, publishing, and promoting his book, Trajectory Startup: Ideation to Product/Market Fit. Our interview with Dave is realistic yet practical. The time is now to get back to your laptop. And buckle up and write.

5 Ways to Overcome Your Writing Self Doubt

Self-doubt is the constant road companion of the writer, and especially of the aspiring writer. Self-doubt can be paralyzing. Contribute to procrastination. Even derail the writing journey altogether. In this episode, we discuss at length the shadow of self doubt and how aspiring writers can step into the light and overcome their self-doubt. The only way through the self-doubt is the act of writing. Doing the work itself goes a long ways towards dispelling the shadows.

Book Publicity Expert Andrea Martin on Arresting the Attention of Media for Your Book

When your book is launched, you've got about three months. And then your book becomes old news. Your publisher moves on. So does the media. And then the long slog to promote your book begins. In this episode, we interview Tyndale Publishers author relations director Andrea Martin on how to stay focused when the promotions don't go as planned. You'll come away encouraged to keep pressing on and to come up with creative ways to tell the story of your book.