Confessions of a Working Writer

Full disclosure - I am in the middle of an existential crisis and I need some time to figure things out. So we're putting a pause on the previous story and diving into the notebooks, file boxes, and Internet archives to bring you some of my greatest hits on writing, life, and figuring stuff out...let's get started with how much I dislike writers who don't read.Support the showJoin us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)You can find more from Matt at Medium (https://medium.com/@matthewrhampton)Twitter (https://twitter.com/mhamptonwriter)

I've been a writer for the better part of my 43 years on this planet. Writing has been my dream for as long as I can remember and I have chased it down almost every avenue imaginable.But lately, I haven't felt terrific about my writing life. Something seems…well…off, and that has me wondering if I've just moved onto a phase of my life where I simply don't want to be a writer anymore. Every time I look at my work on the page or screen, every time I look in the mirror, I feel like I've become a worse writer.How did that happen? What went wrong? And is there any way to come back from this? Or is it really time to pack it all away for good?First, we need to frame the question...how did I become a worse writer?Support the showJoin us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)You can find more from Matt at Medium (https://medium.com/@matthewrhampton)Twitter (https://twitter.com/mhamptonwriter)

Announcing the newest Season of Confessions of a Working Writer...This time we're telling the story of how Matt became a worse writer and asking the question...is there any coming back? Or is it finally time to quit.Support the showJoin us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)You can find more from Matt at Medium (https://medium.com/@matthewrhampton)Twitter (https://twitter.com/mhamptonwriter)

How do you get your voice out there as a writer? Not so long ago this question had a single simple answer. You needed to be published. Sounds easy, right? But it wasn't. Submission guidelines, contest deadlines, and an endless mountain of rejection letters, if you were lucky enough to receive them, awaited you on your writing journey.Now it's simpler. Online writing platforms abound. Each one offers writers another way to get their work out into the world and in front of readers. Each one promises a new wonderland for dreamers to get out there and earn the money they deserve. With so many platforms available, it makes you wonder…why aren't we happy?This week on Confessions of a Working Writer we're diving deep into the promises and realities of online writing platforms.Support the showJoin us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)You can find more from Matt at Medium (https://medium.com/@matthewrhampton)Twitter (https://twitter.com/mhamptonwriter)

Hey, everyone! I hope you're doing well in these crazy days.There are a couple of announcements to go over so, rather than sneak them into a regular episode, we did a standalone to just go ahead and knock them out. Enjoy!Support the showJoin us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)You can find more from Matt at Medium (https://medium.com/@matthewrhampton)Twitter (https://twitter.com/mhamptonwriter)

What do you do after you finish a big project? Maybe you celebrate for a moment. Or maybe you check it off on one giant to-do list. The standing advice is to jump right into your next project. Get going on the next thing so you can keep producing your best work consistently. Sounds simple. Write a script or a novel or whatever, rinse, and repeat as often as necessary for fame and fortune.Nice and easy…so why is it so hard to jump into that next project?This week on Confessions of a Working Writer we're exploring the causes and searching for the cure to the common creative hangover.Support the showJoin us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)You can find more from Matt at Medium (https://medium.com/@matthewrhampton)Twitter (https://twitter.com/mhamptonwriter)

Everyone loves their writing community!At least that's what they say online…endlesssly. Hop onto social media for even a moment and you will be bombarded with praise for writing communities. Twitter is a seemingly endless barrage of writers lifts and questions to the community at large. Platforms like Medium are at the same time praised for being beautiful connected communities of wordsmiths and also lambasted for being little more than content mills and havens of toxic reciprocity.But who's right? Are writing communities thriving in this online era…or is it all just a load of fuzzy crap?I'm Matt Hampton, and this week on Confessions of a Working Writer we're exploring our writing beliefs behind supporting writers, lifting each other up, and asking the question…do we really have writing communities anymore?Support the showJoin us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)You can find more from Matt at Medium (https://medium.com/@matthewrhampton)Twitter (https://twitter.com/mhamptonwriter)

Just what does it take to be a writer? Is it something you're born with? An incredible talent passed down through the genes or gifted from the divine? Or is it something you can learn? And if you can learn it, then are there better places to learn and better qualifications you can attain to become an even better writer?This week on Confessions of a Working Writer we're looking at the beliefs around natural talent, qualifications, and asking ourselves the question…can anyone really be a writer?Support the showJoin us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)You can find more from Matt at Medium (https://medium.com/@matthewrhampton)Twitter (https://twitter.com/mhamptonwriter)

When was the last time you sat down and thought about your writing beliefs? Do you believe writer's block is real or an excuse? Is there such a thing as natural talent? Can anyone be a writer? Is the content economy the path to fame and fortune? Does the audience really come first?I've been thinking a lot about my writing beliefs lately, and I've discovered some of them need to be challenged. So I'm grabbing my pen, firing up the mic, and digging in for an exploration of writing beliefs - the good, the bad, the benign, and the destructive. All this in a new series of Confessions of a Working Writer!Listen and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform today!Support the showJoin us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)You can find more from Matt at Medium (https://medium.com/@matthewrhampton)Twitter (https://twitter.com/mhamptonwriter)

This week Matt talks about AI's impact on writers. Can AI really be a transformational technology for writers? Is it really the boogeyman coming to take our jobs? Is it just another fad? And just what is the danger to your imagination of leaning on AI as a creative crutch?Support the showJoin us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)You can find more from Matt at Medium (https://medium.com/@matthewrhampton)Twitter (https://twitter.com/mhamptonwriter)

Struggle is real...and it's a daily affair for so many of us. The endless stream of empty positivity pumped out to us daily doesn't help. So what do we do? How do we move on in times of struggle and find the ability to move forward? This week Matt talks about his recent struggles with mental health, life, and professional issues. He also talks about how we move forward when times are hard.Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the showJoin us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)You can find more from Matt at Medium (https://medium.com/@matthewrhampton)Twitter (https://twitter.com/mhamptonwriter)

Social media, obsessing about productivity, extraneous business planning, personal branding, and so many other wrong things are what seem to fill this writing life. We dream of writing a book, or maybe something else, but instead, we fill our day with Tweets. This week, Matt talks about why we obsess over the wrong things and how we can do better.Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

Matt's about to turn 43 and he had a special episode planned...which then went on to implode. But, from the ashes of about a dozen takes, Matt discovers a confession that really helps alter his perspective for this new year. All with a little help from a friend...Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterSpecial thanks to Michelle Scorziello. Check out her amazing writing on Medium (https://medium.com/@michellescorziello)Intro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

We love grit! We worship toughness and resilience! Resilient people are successful people we admire and want to emulate. We love grit...and we hate quitters. Quitters never win and winners look down on quitters with an appropriate amount of scorn.But is that logic right? Does it really make sense to face every hardship by trying to bash through it?This week, Matt looks at the great debate of grit vs. quit and even takes a moment to wonder why John McClane didn't just go find some shoes.Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

Where does creativity happen? Does it happen sitting at our desks to push through the work? Does it happen as we walk down the street with perfectly open spirits to receive the magic of the universe? Is it something that controls us? Or something we control? Maybe we're overthinking it.This week, Matt explores the question of creative inspiration and tries to figure out how we can be more open to it.Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

This week Matt talks about living a couple of years driven by fear. Explorations include the damage that an "abundance" mindset can cause, the duality of an infinite universe filled with finite things, and why he's chosen to embrace scarcity this year as a writer in order to defeat fear.Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

Matt talks about starting this new year of finding his way as a writer, starting a new book, and learning how to set boundaries. Because let's be honest, we can all do a better job setting those.Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

From the newly frosty lands of Charleston, SC, Matt gives his last confession of 2022 and an update on what's happening with the show in 2023.  Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

It's time for the Confessions of a Working Writer Holiday Special! And what do we have for you this year? Well, it's Matt reading his very own holiday story...A Retail Carol!Dale is an unremarkable guy. Just another face working another overnight job during Christmas for some overtime. But this holiday season is different. When Dale is visited by three...kind of familiar holiday spirits he has to wonder if he's losing his mind or just operating on too little sleep.Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

Well, here we are. Over the past couple of months, we've done a crash course on writing a piece and now we're looking at a finished product. So, what do we do with it? First, we need to confront some more fear. And Matt's here to talk about those fears, finishing our work, and just what the hell we do with it then. Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

You've done it!You've written the first draft and conquered the blank page! You've taken time away to get some distance and resisted just tinkering with the newborn story until you kill it. And now...it's time to actually edit it. Yes, every writer's least favorite part of the process. But Matt's here to help you by talking about his challenges and process for editing. Who knows? Might help.Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

We're Back!!!After a weeklong mountain getaway, Matt returns to talk about the most important thing to do before diving into editing that story...getting some distance.Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

A special Thanksgiving message from Matt!Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

It's time! We've formed an idea. We've crafted characters, picked a setting, and set up a road map for our story. Now it's time to sit down for the single most terrifying part of creating a story...the first draft. But don't worry, Matt's here with some insights and a handful of ninjas to help.Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

One of the biggest problems writers deal with when taking an idea from their head and putting it on the page is writing themselves into a corner. You know the feeling. You're working on a story, the characters are interesting, the setting is on point, and every word seems to just be working. Then...BAM! It all comes undone and the work stops.Matt used to be the same way...then he decided to give the outline thing a shot again...And that has made all the difference.Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

Matt's back! After a week of battling the flu, we continue our series on how to take an idea and work it into a piece of writing. This week Matt explores developing your setting as a character instead of just a couple of data points. What is the history of the place your story is happening in? Is it beautiful? Ugly? Can you trust it? And just how does answering questions like that and treating a place like a person create greater depth in a story?Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

Matt's been sick with the flu so we didn't know if this was going to happen. But somehow he managed to rise from the grave long enough to record a fun treat for Halloween - a reading of his most recent short story for the season! Enjoy!Intro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

How do you develop a character? Do you create a "trading card" bio for them including all of those physical details, their favorite foods, and turn ons? Do you define them by important events in their lives? Is it about what they want and need? Or do we define them by the space around them?This week, Matt dives in to answer these questions and a few more.Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

Now that you have an idea you want to write about what do you do with it? Do you sit down and bang out that first draft? Or spend some time setting up an outline? Nope. You should probably sit down and do a brain dump first. Don't know what that is...here let's talk about it.Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

"Everyone has one story in them"But where do you start writing it? How do you take an idea and turn it into a fully formed piece of writing? It's not actually as hard as it seems. That's why Matt's taking the next few episodes to help you write that thing you've been thinking about.So, let's start with the first steps.Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

What do we say to writers when they express doubts or fear? Sometimes we say really helpful profound bits of advice from our lives. Occasionally we ask them to tell us more in the hopes that talking about it might help them a bit. More often than not some writer says one of those empty platitudes that leave writers in a place where they don't know what to do. We really need to stop that crap.Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

Why is it so hard to set our priorities? Why do we spend so much more time trying to study algorithms and metrics than actually putting words on the page? Why does being a writer, or just living life, feel like a shadow of what it's supposed to be?The answer is simple...fear.But what can we do about that fear? And what does that have to do with priorities in our lives as people or writers?Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

Challenges are typically seen as an obstacle. Something we need to bash through and conquer. But what if there is something else we can learn from challenges like writer's block? What if they're really a little inspiring? Join us for another Confession of a Working WriterIntro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

This week Matt talks about his recent breakdown, where it came from, how it happened, and what he learned in the process. Why? Because it's important for writers and people, in general, to know they are not alone.Join us for another Confession of a Working Writer.Intro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

Money is a common topic for writers. We dream of making it. We often obsess over getting it. And we stress about not making enough of it. Why? Well, part of it is to pay the bills. But the other part may surprise you. This week, Matt talks about shifting our mindset about money as writers and offers a little historical perspective.Join us for another Confession of a Working Writer. Intro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

Just when you think you've answered all the writing questions...they pull you back in.Recently, someone posed the question "how do writers keep score?" This week, Matt tries to answer that question. Is there really a good metric for success as a writer? If so, what is it? If not, what do we do? How do we know we're doing well? Join us for another Confession of a Working Writer. Intro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

We all struggle sometimes. Writers are no different, but sometimes we don't talk about it as much as we should. Let's change that. This week Matt talks about his recent loss of faith in writing, how to handle change in the world around you, and why it's important to hold onto what's important. Join us for another Confession of a Working Writer. Intro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

This week Matt begins wraps up a two-part episode answering questions from listeners and social media. For this episode, we focus on the business side of writing including types of writing jobs, how to find businesses to write for, and the big barrier writers have to marketing. Well, at least we have Matt's opinion on those things.Join us for another Confession of a Working Writer. Intro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

This week Matt begins the first of a two-part episode answering questions from listeners and social media. For this episode, we focus on creativity and process questions related to inspiration, editing, and just what to do when a piece isn't working. (Bonus Note - Next week we're talking about the business side of writing!)Join us for another Confession of a Working Writer. Intro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

One of the biggest myths writers tell themselves is that writing is some sort of solo sport. The writer acts alone with no one helping them in any way, or so some say. But Matt disagrees. Of course, he does. This week Matt takes on the idea of writing as a solo sport and talks about how important family and community are to creatives.Join us for another Confession of a Working Writer. Intro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

How much money can you make as a writer? Is writing the best way to become a billionaire? If so, just how the Hell do you do it? These are all the little bits of the Big Hairy Money Question all writers wrestle with. This week, Matt wrestles with it too. Topics include making money as a creative writer, the realities of copywriting and content creation, as well as the deep philosophical take on money and writing.Join us for another Confession of a Working Writer.Intro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

This week Matt's taking a look at inspiration, our false beliefs around it, and just how demystifying inspiration can help us enjoy this writing life a whole lot more. For those struggling with inspiration and anyone else who just wants to know more or challenge what they think they already know.Join us for another Confession of a Working Writer.Intro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

We're back after a month of absence and much behind-the-scenes stuff. But that time has also put a lot on our minds about this writing life. This week Matt dives into the darker side of writing and what we can do to move past it. Join us for another Confession of a Working Writer.Intro and Outro music courtesy of Georgia Moon (https://www.thegeorgiamoon.com/)Logo courtesy of Bear Paw Creative (https://bearpawcreative.com/)You can find more from Matt at https://medium.com/@matthewrhamptonSupport the show

What is the right path for a writer? Do you go to school, get the degrees, and win? Do you spend your weekends writing in a closet? Do you decide where you will go early in life? Or do you become a writer later? Maybe you run off to war? Or you could be a journalist? Just what is your writing path? That's a great question and this week we're talking with Georgia Hertz about her writing journey, process, and the things it's important to remember on your journey.Join us for another Confession of a Working Writer.Support the show

What is writing? We talk a lot about writing every day, building a writing process, or being a writer, but we don't ever really define what we mean by "writing." Oh, you can find definitions online that will tell you, but most of them are cookie-cutter ideas that won't work for most people. So, this week on Confessions of a Working Writer I want to jump in and define "writing."Support the show

Evelyn Berry is a trans author, editor, and museum educator living in South Carolina. She's the author of the novel "Heathens & Liars of Lickskillet County" (PRA, 2016) and the poetry chapbook "Buggery," winner of the 2020 BOOM Chapbook Prize from Bateau Press. Evelyn is also the recipient of the KAKALAK Poetry Award, Emrys Poetry Prize, and Broad River Prize for Prose, among other honors. Her recent work has appeared in Anti-Heroin Chic, beestung, petrichor, Jasper Writes, and Litro Magazine. She edits poetry books at Free Verse Press and writes book reviews for Free State Review. She creates educational creative writing videos on TikTok and Youtube, which can be found at Evelyn Berry WriterYou can read & watch her work, as well as access her free educational resources, at EvelynBerryWriter.comTopics discussed include using projects and structure to guide your writing, defining writing success, putting your work out there, and even a Confession.Join us for another episode of Confessions of a Working Writer.Support the show

Over the past year, I've seen a lot of bad information out there about writing. Bad information about SEO, topic selection, and the assorted magic beans promised by success gurus and productivity mavens. It's enough to make many writers throw their hands up and decide this isn't as much fun as they once thought. And that's just not true,So we're pivoting the podcast, inviting some writers on to talk about their thoughts, trials, wins, and processes. We're going to talk about an array of topics and we're going to try to make the signal much louder than the noise. If you're a writer of any level, writer adjacent, or just a person interested in seeing how the stories are made...let's talk about all things writing,Join us for another Confession of a Working Writer.Support the show

It's been a really rough few weeks for me. In fact, the podcast almost became a casualty of those tough times. Why? Because I didn't really know where to take it or what I wanted to do with it anymore. But don't worry. Taking time to think often makes way for a new vision and that's just what's about to happen here. Join me for another Confession of a Working Writer.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/matthampton)

This week has been one of the worst in recent memories. A series of circumstances conspired to set every plan I had on fire and blow the ashes into a windstorm while I watched. It was terrible, and it felt terrible. But then I got a message from a young writer struggling with failing by following the steps in an online course from some random writing guru...and I got mad.Mad because there's a multibillion-dollar industry feeding on our fear. Mad because people lose faith in themselves and their dreams as a result. Mad because we can do better.We can resist!Join me for another Confession of a Working Writer!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/matthampton)

Let me ask you a question...what kind of difference could 30 seconds make in your life? Do you think you could learn a life lesson, discover a part of your soul, or save a life in 30 seconds? Well, this week on Confessions of a Working Writer I'm talking about how 30 seconds taught me a life lesson and helped me move forward with some changes I need to make.So, what could 30 seconds do for you?Join me for another episode of Confessions of a Working Writer.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/matthampton)

This week was a mess of personal and professional struggles, internal questions, and a lot of sitting there waiting for something to happen. Maybe the most surprising thing about it all was the revelation that I had given away some of my agency. Instead of believing in myself and taking action, I was listening to others tell me what I needed, continuing uncomfortable situations, and getting drawn into extraneous stuff.Guess what?I'm not alone.Join me for another Confession of a Working Writer.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/matthampton)