Smart Business Writing with Kent Sanders

I can say in all honesty that today is a momentous occasion here on the podcast! Why do I say that? Because today is the culmination of a nearly 20-year journey to hold a very special book in my hands. It's titled, Carson the Magnificent, and it's the long-awaited biography of one of my entertainment heroes, the late Johnny Carson. For those who aren't very familiar with Johnny Carson, he was the host of NBC's Tonight Show for 30 years, from 1962-1992. They called him “The King of Late Night” because he ruled the late-night airwaves for decades. When Johnny Carson retired from the Tonight Show in 1992, at the top of his game, he famously went into his retirement cave and rarely came back out except for a few public appearances in the years afterwards. That's why it was such a big deal when the writer and journalist Bill Zehme was able to score an interview in Esquire magazine in 2002, ten years after Carson retired. It was the only formal interview that Carson had granted since his retirement. A few years later, Carson agreed to let Zehme write his full biography. The book was announced, and he went to work on it. Then the years crept by and the book never came out. Zehme got cancer, which obviously stalled progress on the book. Then he passed away last year with most of the book written, but still incomplete. Over the years it had become known as one of the great unfinished biographies, almost achieving legendary status, but not for reason that Zehme or the publisher wanted. But then earlier this year, nearly 20 years after Zehme started work on the Carson biography, Simon & Schuster announced that Chicago writer Mike Thomas would be taking up the reigns of the book and completing Zehme's work. This was the perfect match because Thomas was a well-established entertainment writer, as well as a friend and former research assistant of Bill Zehme. You have to understand how excited I was to see this announcement earlier this year. This is no exaggeration: for the last 20 years, every 6-8 months I would try to find some little scrap of news about the book. That's how excited I was. So when I saw that Simon & Schuster was still going to release the book, I was over the moon. Which brings us today. I knew the book was coming out on November 5, so a few weeks ago I got in touch with Mike Thomas to see if he'd be interested in talking about the book here on the podcast. He graciously agreed, and with the help of Anne Pearce, the Associate Director of PR at Simon & Schuster, we arranged this conversation. So that's how this conversation came about. It's more backstory than usual, but I thought it might be interesting for listeners. Let me tell you a bit about my guest! Mike Thomas is the author of two critically acclaimed books, The Second City Unscripted: Revolution and Revelation at the World-Famous Comedy Theater and You Might Remember Me: The Life and Times of Phil Hartman. He spent more than fourteen years as an arts and entertainment features writer at the Chicago Sun-Times and is a regular contributor to Chicago magazine. He lives in Chicago with his family. In this conversation, we dive into all sorts of topics related to Mike, his writing career, and of course the book that brought us together, Carson the Magnificent. Our conversation topics include: How he knew he wanted to be a writer. How he became acquainted with Bill Zehme in the 1990s. Why Bill struggled to finish the Carson book. Mike's process of taking Bill's work and seeing it to completion, and what it was like to pick up the writing mantle from someone else. Mike's advice for people who want to begin or expand their career as a writer. Many thanks to Mike Thomas for an engaging and inspiring conversation! If you love Johnny Carson or entertainment biographies, you'll love Carson the Magnificent. And if you're a ghostwriter, editor, or biographer, you'll love the book even more because it's a perfect example of telling someone's story without getting in the way. In this case, Thomas had the double task of telling two stories: Caron's life story, and the story of Zehme's journey to complete the book. My hat is off to a job well done!

You probably didn't know this, but I recently turned 50—on July 26, to be exact. And while I don't feel 50 in my mind, in my body I'm definitely starting to feel it a bit! 50 is an interesting age: a watershed moment when many people re-evaluate their lives. Over the last few years, I've started paying more attention to how different people deal with this important transition in life. I've noticed that people generally make one of two choices when it comes to middle age. When you enter this period of life, you stand before two objects: a ladder and a recliner. You have the choice of whether you are going to sit down in the recliner and focus on being comfortable … or whether you're going to accept the challenge to keep climbing up the ladder of personal success. Most people choose the recliner. At this point in life, many people are tired, beaten down from life, and have no interest in new challenges. So they sit down in the recliner with no intention to grow and learn as a person. On the other hand, a much smaller percentage of people realize that life isn't about being comfortable. It's about growing into your full potential and using the challenges of life to propel you to new heights. So instead of turning away from the challenges and checking out of life, they take a good, long look at the ladder … and they start climbing. Which brings me to my guest on this episode, my friend Laura Venecia Rodriguez. Laura is an author, researcher, and speaker dedicated to helping individuals over 50 regain or discover their mojo and “shine” with renewed purpose and passion after reaching an impasse or experiencing a major upheaval or change in their lives. She shares information on ancient and contemporary tips, techniques, and wisdom that enhance the body, mind, and spirit. You can find her inspiration and wisdom in her weekly newsletter, “Shine After 50: Regain Your Sparkle” as well as her “Shine After 50” Youtube channel. Laura is also the author of Gentle Yoga After 50: Get Fit, Flexible, and Feel Fantastic!, where you'll learn information and insights about yoga that Laura has learned since starting yoga at age 15. You can find out more about Laura and her writing at her website, https://shineafter50.com. I've asked Laura to be a guest on today's episode to especially help those of us 50 or older (or who are approaching that age) to understand what we can better to shine and succeed as writers. You'll learn about some of the key challenges we face in this period of life, how to navigate life transitions, lots of insights about how yoga can help you be more healthy and centered, and much more.

One of the most common questions people ask me about ghostwriting is, “Where do I get clients?” It's a natural question, of course, because all writers who are doing client work would probably like to increase their income and have more consistent work. My answer to these friends is sometimes a little disappointing because almost all of my clients have come to me via referrals from colleagues, friends, and previous clients. A great network takes time to build, but it's worth it because those relationships are the foundation for a client-based business over the long haul. However, there are other sources for client work as well. One of the most popular ones is Reedsy, a marketplace for writers, editors, marketers, and designers. I've asked my friend, Alice Sullivan, to join me for a conversation about Reedsy since she's had a lot of success connecting with ghostwriting clients there over the last few years. Alice Sullivan is a #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling ghostwriter, New York Times bestselling editor (11 times over), collaborator, and speaker. A natural-born storyteller, she has written 64 books and edited over 1,300 titles since 2001. In addition to her NYT and WSJ bestsellers, other books have achieved Amazon bestseller status and won several awards, such as Readers' Favorite, Living Now Book Award, and Nashville's Best Local Children's Book Award. She has written for Forbes, Hay House, Thomas Nelson Publishers (Harper Collins), Abingdon Press, Made for Grace Publishing, World Net Daily, Changing Lives Press, Carpenters Son Publishing, Clovercroft, and KN Literary Arts. Alice specializes in memoir, self-help, personal growth, and leadership because she loves personal stories and practical advice. Her favorite projects challenge her point of view, expand her knowledge, and add meaning to her life. Alice is not just a consummate storyteller and writer. She's also one of the most kind and down-to-earth people I know. In this conversation, I get to ask Alice all my burning questions about getting started on Reedsy. We talk about: Alice's experience on Reedsy. How to connect with clients and be successful there. Alice's income from Reedsy projects. How to get started on Reedsy. How the platform is different than going to clients directly. If you want to expand your client base as a ghostwriter, editor, or designer, you'll love Alice's advice! Make sure to connect with Alice at https://alicesullivan.com.

No matter what your product or service, and no matter what type of books you write and publish, you need to grow your audience. Why? Because ultimately, your business depends on people and their willingness to buy from you. That's why I'm excited today to feature this incredible interview with Bryan Harris, CEO of Growth Tools, a monthly coaching and done-for-you partner matching service that makes it nearly impossible to fail at getting more customers. They combine proven growth playbooks, 1:1 coaching, peer support, and matching you with your best fit partners who will promote your offer, so you're never overwhelmed, stuck, or left wondering what to do next. On this episode, I had a chance to talk to Bryan about an innovative and very successful method of growing your audience, which is borrowing other people's audiences. He's had great success with this method, and he shares which audiences to borrow, how to borrow them, and what to do afterward. Bryan and I also talk quite a bit about ghostwriting. He gives some fantastic advice for connecting with clients and dealing with some of the problems that can come up with client work. I was blown away not just by Bryan's strategies, but also by his humility and honesty. He shares some of his own mistakes and disappointments in business—which we can all relate to. Bryan and his team have also been kind enough to put together a very cool page of resources he mentioned during the conversation. This is not a static page on their website—it's an actual list he made while we were talking, so it's completely customized for Profitable Writer listeners. You can grab it at https://growthtools.com/kent. You can also learn more about Growth Tools by visiting https://growthtools.com.

Many writers who want to grow their business spend their time focusing on the craft of writing. They go to conferences, read books, listen to podcasts, and take courses on how to be a better writer. Which is all well and good … except that there's a lot more to building a business than doing the work. The other 50% of having a successful writing-based business is the business side. That's why I regularly have guests on the show who have all kinds of businesses. There is much we can learn from other industries about what it takes to be successful as a business owner. Today I'm very excited to bring you an incredible conversation with one of the most successful business leaders I personally know. Ali Hemyari is the founder and owner of Nashville K-9, which is Nashville's premier dog training facility. He's a serial entrepreneur who's started various businesses, from advertising, to becoming a pet industry expert, and much more. Ali is a multi-event triathlete, a helicopter and airplane pilot, real estate guru, certified SWAT Operator, Sniper/Firearms Instructor, and a general try-hard, servant-hearted, overachiever who wants to make a difference in today's world. He's a husband and father, a God Seeker, and an inspiring leader who hopes that his story can effect a significant change in someone who wants to be better, do more, accomplish, and help. You can visit his websites, https://nashvillek9.com and https://hemyaricompanies.com to learn more and see a complete list of his companies. I've asked Ali to join me for a conversation about his fantastic new book, Discipline: What It Really Takes to Build a Seven-Figure Business. This is a short book you can read in less than an hour, but it's absolutely packed with wisdom about how you can actually build a successful business, no matter your industry. In this conversation, we explore some of the principles in his book and how they apply to writers building their business. We talk about: Ali's story of how he built his very successful dog training business. How writers doing client work can better market themselves. Sales principles and working with clients. The importance of giving back to your community. And much more! Many thanks to my good friend, Honorée Corder, a shout-out for introducing me to Ali. * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

The way I look at it, there are two forces at work to growing a sustainable writing business, or any business for that matter. There are external elements that people see: the websites, the blog, the books, the client conversations, the work you produce, and so forth. But then there is also the internal element—the mental and emotional journey you are taking. When you start taking your business seriously, it feels like the external elements are going to be what make or break you. You think it's all about learning to connect with certain types of people or understanding the craft of writing. But as you get your feet wet and establish yourself a bit, you come to understand that it's really more about the mental and emotional journey you're taking. People typically don't self-destruct because they don't know how to write a book outline or they get something wrong when putting their book on Amazon. They self-destruct because they haven't gotten a handle on their emotional and mental life as a creative and a business owner. That's why I'm honored and excited to have my friend, Chris Morris, as a guest today on the show. He's going to help us navigate some of these issues from the perspective of building our resilience and mental health as writers and business owners. Chris is the author of the excellent new book, Resilient and Redeemed: Lessons About Suicidality and Depression from the Psych Ward. He's written several other books on topics such mental health, faith, and chronic illness. Chris is also the host of the “Resilience and Other Things” podcast. I got to know Chris a number of years ago through my good friend, Jim Woods. I soon discovered that Chris, who is accountant by trade, was not only a thoughtful and kind person, but one of the most gifted writers I know. Let me share a bit about Chris in his own words. This is from the bio section of his website, https://chrismorriswrites.com. He says, “I spend my time writing about how to balance faith and difficult times. I have both mental illnesses and chronic illnesses, but I'm learning to thrive anyway. I've never been good friends with normal, but I'm well-acquainted with disappointment and pain. I guess that's why Redefining Normal is part of the code here, because it's been part of my journey.” Chris and I talk about several topics in this conversation, including: Why writers and creatives often uniquely struggle with mental health. The role that writing has played in his recovery. How he finds resilience in dark times. Practices and routines for staying mentally healthy. His thoughts on publishing pathways for authors. And more! You can check out Chris's books and podcast at https://chrismorriswrites.com. * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

So you've finished writing that book that's been on your heart and mind for a long time. You've put a lot of time, planning, and energy into crafting the best book possible. You've considered your business goals and how the book will help you achieve them. You've thought about your reader's journey and how the book can help them. Now that you've written the book, that's only part of the journey of bringing this book to life! One of the areas many writers don't think about much is the design of their book. As writers, we like to focus on the words and storytelling. However, the design of your book has a huge impact on the reader's experience, not to mention how you will market it—and how it will be perceived—by your ideal reader. That's why I'm excited to bring you this conversation with my friend, Kaycee Parker. She is a graphic designer and writer who has been freelance designing for various clients nationwide for over ten years. Kaycee published her first devotional book in 2023, titled Devotions on Diabetes: A 30-Day Journey to Anchor Your Soul. (You can grab your copy by visiting https://devotionsondiabetes.com/book.) She enjoys cover design and interior formatting, but more than anything, she loves to help bring a book to life for an author. In this conversation, we dive into 5 ways to improve the design of your book. This is based on her excellent free guide, which walks you through each of these steps. You can download it by visiting https://kpcommunications.net/bookdesign. Let me say this as plainly as I can—I see a LOT of self-published authors publish books with mediocre or even terrible covers, or formatting that doesn't look good. Don't compromise the quality of your book by letting poor design detract from the reading experience. * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

As you're well aware, there are basically two sides to being a writer. There's the creative side, which allows us to tell stories and communicate in a way that connects. Then there is the business side, which allows us to create sustainable income in lots of different ways. Most of us gravitate toward the creative side of writing and struggle with the business side. It doesn't come as naturally to us. That's why I'm excited to feature this interview with Liz Wilcox. I originally ran this interview last year, but shortly after the interview came out, Liz applied to be a contestant on the CBS show Survivor … and made it! I'm re-running this episode not only because you can watch Liz compete on Survivor right now, but also because I've gotten a lot of great feedback on this conversation. Liz is the mastermind behind the wildly successful Email Marketing Membership, a simple $9 per month subscription that helps you improve your email marketing through templates. In our conversation, we dive into the story of how she created a business with 3,500 members and moved away from doing client work so she could focus on serving her students and growing her membership. Liz is going to inspire and motivate you to start putting more time into creating your own content and moving toward building a business that fits your lifestyle and personality! She also happens to have the most fun website I've seen in a long time. You can check out Liz's Email Marketing Membership at https://lizwilcox.com and grab her free email swipe files, which include templates for an email welcome sequence and more! * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

I'm honored today to bring you a conversation with Honorée Corder, who is my Yoda, Gandalf, and Dumbledore all rolled into one. She's my mentor and business coach, and it would be an understatement to say she's had a big impact on my life and business these last few years. Honorée Corder is the #1 expert on self-publishing. You can scour the internet, and I promise you will not find anyone who has more experience, credibility, or success when it comes to publishing and marketing their own books and creating a multi-layered, successful business from their ideas. She is also the author of dozens of books, including: You Must Write a Book, The Prosperous Writer book series, Vision to Reality, The Bestselling Book Formula, Write Your First Nonfiction Book, She's sold millions of books, so she definitely knows a thing or two about selling and success. Honoree also runs the Empire Builders Mastermind, which has been an awesome experience these last couple of years. One of the ways we work together is that Honorée offers bespoke book creation to clients, and I'm the ghostwriter for those projects. Basically, this means it's ghostwriting, publishing, and marketing at a very high level. It's been an honor and a pleasure working on her team because she not only knows about marketing … she's also written dozens of books and has sold books in every conceivable way. Today's episode is a recording from Honorée's recent appearance as a guest expert in our Profitable Writer Community. We do a call each week, and once a month we feature an expert. Honorée shared some thoughts about money mindset and book monetization from her brand-new book, You Must Monetize Your Book. On this call, we hit on several key topics: The meaning of the phrase, “Scared money don't make money.” Using the filter ELFF (easy, lucrative, fast, fun) to decide which income streams to develop. Why you need to start thinking a lot bigger. Various income streams you can develop. I encourage you to grab a copy of her new book because she shares a lot more detail than what you'll hear on this call. But I hope it whets your appetite for more! You can connect with Honorée and learn more about her books, courses, and more, by visiting https://honoreecorder.com. * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

On many of our Profitable Writer episodes, I bring on a guest who has expertise on a certain topic. They come on the show to help us figure out how to solve a specific problem or give guidance or help us improve in some way. Other times, I bring on a guest because they have an interesting story and I believe we can learn some things, and be deeply inspired by, their journey as a writer. Today's episode definitely falls into that category because I know you'll be just as encouraged and inspired as I was by our guest. Let me tell you a bit about her. Barbara Richter is an accomplished author, public speaker, French-to-English translator, podcast host of Writing for Immortality, and founder of DIYBook and In Ink Ghostwriting. Barbara has had a multifaceted career, including roles as the Managing Editor for Literary Features Syndicate, columnist for Fine Books and Collections Magazine, and contributor to The Wall Street Journal, The New York Daily News, and other outlets. She launched DIYBook in 2023, a comprehensive solution designed to make book writing and publishing accessible and affordable for authors at all levels, from novices to seasoned professionals. On her podcast, Writing for Immortality, Barbara shares insider advice and strategies for writers at every stage of the writing process featuring discussions with a wide array of guests from the industry. Barbara is also the founder of In Ink Ghostwriting, one of the premier ghostwriting firms in the NYC area with clients from around the world, which delivers an assortment of writing services. From business books to memoirs and novels, the firm caters to a diverse clientele, such as best-selling authors, NFL players, Fortune 500 CEOs, artists, musicians, doctors, entrepreneurs, and attorneys. She lives in Westchester, New York, with her family and beloved basset hounds. You can connect with Barbara via her website, https://www.ininkghostwriting.com or https://www.diybook.us. Please note that you can get a free 7-day trial of the DIYBook program, no code needed, when you sign up. In today's conversation, Barbara and I talk about her journey as a professional writer: how she got started, different roles she's had, her experience in ghostwriting and podcast, starting DIYBook, and more. * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

Even though Amazon has been all the rage for book-buyers for much of the last twenty years, did you know there are many other outlets where readers can find your books? Well … of course you did! You're not just a writer, but a reader as well. If your life resembles mine, you probably buy books from Amazon all the time because of the price, speed, and convenience. But Amazon is only one of the many, many places where readers can find your books! My guest today, Susan Neal, is here to help us learn how to get our books into bookstores and libraries—two absolutely vital places our books need to be. Susan Neal, RN has a Masters in health science and an MBA. She lives her life with a passion to help others improve their health. After suffering a health crisis, she became an author and health coach to provide others with the tools they needed to heal their bodies and reclaim their ideal weight. Her award-winning #1 Amazon best-seller is 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates. The third book in her Healthy Living Series, The Healthy Living Journal, won the Golden Scrolls award “Best Inspirational Gift Book.” Her newest release is 12 Ways to Age Gracefully: How to Look and Feel Younger, which releases near the end of May. Susan has been featured in many media outlets including CTN's Bridges TV show, WATC-TV Atlanta Live and Friends & Neighbors, TCT's Julie and Friends, Charisma magazine, and numerous podcasts and radio shows. You can learn more about Susan at https://susanuneal.com. Susan is also the Director of the Christian Indie Publishing Association, an incredible resource for faith-based authors to grow your author platform, book sales, and much more. I'm a member myself and recommend it highly! Learn more about https://christianpublishers.net. In this conversation, Susan and I talk about several key topics related to getting your book into bookstores and libraries: Why get your book into those places when you can just Amazon? The importance of having your own imprint. Why you need to have the retail price printed on the back cover. Why your book should be available through a major distributor, not just IngramSpark. The value of speaking to a manager at local Barnes & Noble stores, or indie bookstores. Susan's thoughts on getting in libraries. * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

I'm a big fan of learning from other industries and professionals. It's very easy as a writer to spend all your time around other people who only think about books and publishing. Yet it's important to remember that at the end of the day, you're a business owner. That's why I'm excited to bring you this conversation with my friend Anastasia Forrest, a rockstar real estate agent! Anastasia Forrest is a lifelong learner, creative, and sobriety-enthusiast based out of St. Augustine, Florida. She has two amazing daughters and an awesome husband who builds beautiful houses. Her main profession is helping people buy and sell homes as a Real Estate Broker Associate with EXP Realty. Her creative passions are songwriting, authoring books, and painting. Her favorite things to do with her family are to go out on boat adventures, explore new places together, and have pizza and movie nights. Anastasia is also the author of The Creative Real Estate Agent: How to Build a Rocking Real Estate Business and Be More Creatively Productive Than Ever in addition to her previous book, The 30-Day Sobriety Experiment: A Guided Journey of Self-Discovery. I was fascinated by Anastasia's ability to write a compelling book for real estate agents, but do it through the lens of creativity, which is a passion of hers. On today's episode, she shares some lessons from her experience as an author and real estate agent that you can use to boost your creativity and grow your business. Topics in our conversation include: Why real estate is indeed a creative field How she developed a unique take on a familiar topic Various ways to cultivate a creative mindset to work and wealth How to build great relationships … especially if you're an introvert How she has found success on social media by just being herself Be sure to check out Anastasia's book, music, and real estate business at https://www.anastasiaforrest.com. * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

Since you're listening to this podcast, you're presumably interested in becoming more profitable. Sometimes as writers we play too small, thinking that if we can muster 10% growth this year, that's a huge win. I want to encourage you think bigger—much bigger! Today's episode is different kind of conversation, where we'll focus more on the philosophy of achievement and how to set really big goals for yourself. My guest is Brianna Hendley. I met her a couple of years ago through Honorée Corder's Empire Builders Mastermind, and I soon discovered that Brianna is razor sharp, with an incredible business instinct. I'm excited to introduce her to you today. Brianna owns Achievant Coaching, which focuses on business, executive, and career coaching services. She describes herself as a problem-solving, goal-focused, process-driven morning person. Brianna is also a mother, wife, entrepreneur, and much more. In this conversation, Brianna and I talk about the mindset it takes to double your revenue and triple your time off. Sound impossible? It won't after you've heard Brianna's brilliant thinking and strategy for going after the life you truly want. You can connect with Brianna at https://achievantcoaching.com, where you can learn more about her coaching services and programs. * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

You've probably heard the phrase before, “Are you working IN or ON your business?” This question refers to the difference between being an employee who does the work of your business, and being the owner who is maximizing productivity, profits, and success. When you're a solo business owner, you wear both hats. It can be hard to see the difference between those two roles, especially if you don't come from a business background and you feel swamped by all the things you have to get done. I'm excited about this conversation my guest, Johnna Lacey, who is a long-time writer and advocate of better systems in our business. Johnna Lacey is the CEO and head writer and editor of J.M. Lacey Communications, which focuses on writing and brand storytelling, training, and coaching. Built on empathy and the desire to eliminate frustration for business owners, leaders, and nonprofits, Johnna seeks ways to simplify what has been unnecessarily complicated using proven systems to achieve results. She has been writing professionally for more than twenty years, but writing creatively for forty. She is also a poet, and is working on a novel and essays. Johnna also enjoys macro photography, gardening, cooking, exploring museums, and all things related to the arts. You can connect with Johnna through her website, https://jmlacey.com. In today's conversation, we talk through a variety of questions: What are solopreneurs, particularly writers, consultants, and coaches, doing to prevent business growth? What does our mindset have to do with operating our business? Why should we, as creators, separate ourselves from the business? What does it mean to think about how we do things vs. what we do? Why is it important to have standards, company policies, benchmarks, SOPs, and objectives in a business of one? Why should you never tackle projects over which you cannot control? This is a great conversation filled with practical advice for every writer! * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

If you and I were having coffee together, and I asked if you believed in the Tooth Fairy or Santa Claus, you'd probably reply, “No, those are nice ideas but they're not real because they're myths.” It's pretty easy for us to distinguish reality from fiction when it comes to figures like Santa Claus. However, it's not so easy for writers to distinguish fact from fiction when it comes to publishing. That's why I'm glad my friend Terry Whalin is here to help us dispel publishing myths that can lead you astray. Let me tell you a bit about him. Terry Whalin understands both sides of the editorial desk. A former literary agent, Terry is an Acquisitions Editor at Morgan James Publishing. He has written more than 60 books for traditional publishers and several books have sold over 100,000 copies. Terry has also written for more than 50 magazines. As a frustrated editor in 2004, Terry wrote Book Proposals That Sell: 21 Secrets to Speed Your Success, which has nearly 200 5-star reviews and has helped many authors. Terry is an active member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors and lives in Southern California. Today we're here to talk about another one of his fantastic book, which is 10 Publishing Myths: Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed. These are some of the myths we discuss (you'll love these!): My publisher will sell and promote my book. Writing a book will make me famous. I can't call myself a writer unless I publish a book. The editor will fix all my mistakes. Good writers are born, not made. My book will be a NYT bestseller. The life of a writer is glamourous. You can connect with Terry at his website, https://terrywhalin.com, as well as visit https://publishingoffer.com, where you can download the 11th publishing myth. * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

On today's episode, we dive into three key ways you can demonstrate your credibility to prospective clients. *** Thanks to today's sponsor! Vellum is the go-to book formatting software for indie authors who care about creating beautiful ebooks and print books. Use the link to download Vellum for FREE.

Most of what we discuss here on the Profitable Writer podcast is centered around nonfiction. That's what I write, both for myself and for clients, and most of our guests are focused on nonfiction. However, today I'm honored to feature a guest who is here to share tips and advice on writing and marketing historical fiction. Melissa LaShure is the host of the LiteraryScape Podcast, where she discusses and recommends books in the historical Christian romance genre to readers around the world, as well as offering writing tips, tricks, and tools for aspiring authors. She is also the creator of HCRW (Historical Christian Romance Writers), a membership group where authors of historical Christian romance can learn and grow together. You can connect with Melissa at her website: https://literaryscape.com. Our conversation focuses on a variety of topics, including: Her journey as a writer. How to find and target your reader. What makes a historical Christian romance novel memorable. What she's doing this year to market her fiction. Tips for authors who are just getting started. Although Melissa's genre is historical Christian romance, the vast majority of her advice will apply to authors writing in a variety of genres. * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

As a ghostwriter (or someone who wants to be), it's easy to worry about whether you have the right credentials to be perceived as a pro. However, there's a far more important question you must ask first. *** Thanks to today's sponsor! Vellum is the go-to book formatting software for indie authors who care about creating beautiful ebooks and print books. Use the link to download Vellum for FREE.

We talk a lot about income streams here on the show because there are countless ways to take your book or message and make money from it. A book is only the starting point. Many authors write a book, publish it, and then ask, “Now what?” My guest today is going to help us think about various ways to take your book or message and turn it into dollars. Thomas Umstattd, Jr. is the CEO of Author Media, a professional speaker and nonfiction author, and host of the Novel Marketing Podcast and the Christian Publishing Show. He is a wealth of knowledge on all things related to book marketing, media for authors, author branding, and much more. He lives in Austin, Texas with his wife and children. You can connect with Thomas at https://authormedia.com and his personal website. https://www.thomasumstattd.com. In this conversation, Thomas and I discuss: Non-book related ways to monetize your author platform. How to diversify your income stream. The role of Patreon in his business. And more! * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

The #1 topic people ask me about is ghostwriting. On this episode, we'll dive into ten reasons ghostwriting is a great business for writers. 1. You can work on your own time. 2. Books are pretty straightforward to write. 3. You only need a few projects per year to make a good income. 4. “Ghostwriter” is a compelling term that makes people curious. 5. Ghostwriting is easy to explain to people. 6. Everybody wants a book! 7. You can set your own income. 8. Ghostwriting is not a commodity-based business. 9. You become a trusted confidante to your clients. 10. As a ghostwriter, you can explore your curiosity. *** Thanks to today's sponsor! Vellum is the go-to book formatting software for indie authors who care about creating beautiful ebooks and print books. Use the link to download Vellum for FREE.

Much of what we do as writers is focused on the here and now. There's that blog post to write, that client chapter, those emails to answer, that marketing plan to think about, that cover design to approve. All good things, to be sure! It's easy to lose sight of the forest because we're so focused on the tree, isn't it? On today's episode, I had the honor of sitting down (on Zoom, of course) with two good friends, Ariel Curry and Liz Morrow, to reflect on the long-term journey of building our careers as authors. Ariel Curry is a writer, editor, & book coach at Ariel Curry Editorial with over 10 years of experience in traditional publishing. She lives in Chattanooga, TN, with her husband, foster children, two rescue dogs, a kitten, and a beehive. You can connect with her at https://www.arielcurry.com. Liz Morrow is a traditionally-published ghostwriter for entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and business experts. She specializes in personal and professional development and memoir. When she's not writing, you can find Liz listening to long-form podcasts, rewatching “The Office” and drinking margaritas with friends. She lives in Greenville, SC with her husband, two children, and goldendoodle. You can connect with her at https://www.wellwrittenco.com. Ariel and Liz have teamed up to create the Hungry Authors brand, which includes an excellent podcast by the same name as well as their upcoming book, Hungry Authors: The Indispensable Guide to Planning, Writing, and Publishing a Nonfiction Book. You can find out more visiting https://hungryauthors.com, and I encourage you to pre-order the Hungry Authors book via the link above, which goes to Bookshop.org. By doing so, you'll help support indie bookstores. Ariel, Liz, and I wanted to explore the long-term journey of building an author career in this conversation. Some of the topics include: What kinds of things each of us is working on now. Our long-term career goals. How we got started as writers. Some of our challenges right now. How we balance client work vs. our own author brands. How to balance a writing career with parenthood. We actually used this episode on both of our podcasts, so if you're a listener of Hungry Authors, this conversation might sound familiar! * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

Hey friends! I've been wrestling with a crazy case of bronchitis the last few weeks and am now on the mend. The podcast will return next Tuesday, Feb. 20 with new episodes. We have some awesome guests and material coming up!

As a writer, your primary job is to communicate. Most of us feel very comfortable communicating our ideas, stories, and other content in a variety of forms. If you write for clients, you probably feel right at home when you write in their style or voice. For some reason, though, many writers struggle when it comes to communicating about themselves! It's critical that we feel confident and assertive when it comes to talking about our work, our services, our value, and how we can help and serve others with our writing. That's why I'm excited to bring you this conversation with Lindsey Hughes. Known as the Pitchmaster, Lindsey loves helping people discover their superpower, create compelling content, and feel excited about pitching and networking. She teaches how to pitch like a boss, network like a VIP, and write like an Oscar winner. In her wide-ranging career as a Hollywood development executive, Lindsey has worked in everything from feature films, television movies, and TV series, to animation and live action. She began her career reading scripts for Robert Zemeckis and Kathryn Bigelow, worked under Michael Eisner at Walt Disney Feature Animation, and developed projects for John H. Williams, producer of the billion-dollar Shrek franchise. You can connect with Lindsey at her site, https://thepitchmaster.com, where you can also subscribe to her weekly newsletter for actionable creativity and career tips. In this conversation, Lindsey and I talk about ways we can improve our author bio, our branding, and various other means we use to communicate to people how we can serve them. This episode is going to be super valuable to every writer who wants to create more value for their ideas and services—that includes you as well! Lindsey is full of energy and insights, and you'll come away with lots of great ideas to boost your business profile. * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

Today's episode is bittersweet because I'm re-running a conversation I had with Dan Miller back in August of 2021. Dan was the founder of 48 Days, a company dedicated to helping you find or create work you love. He was also the author of the highly influential book, 48 Days to the Work You Love. Dan discovered he had pancreatic cancer in December of last year, and in just a few short weeks, he was gone. It was a shock to the many thousands of people who knew, loved, and respected Dan. In the early years of my journey in building a writing business, no one was more influential and helpful to my thinking than Dan Miller. I remember going to his “Write to the Bank” conference in 2012, feeling so intimidated by being around highly successful authors and business leaders that I barely spoke to anyone the whole time. Yet I immediately found that Dan and his wife, Joanne, along with other conference attendees, were incredibly gracious and kind. It's no exaggeration to say that I would absolutely not have a writing business today if it weren't for Dan. He impacted countless people, and some of those in turn had a big impact on me as well. I will forever be grateful for what Dan did for my life through his writing, podcast, events, and simply caring about me as an individual. Here's a quick story that was so typical of Dan. A few weeks before he discovered he had pancreatic cancer, he sent me an email totally out of the blue. Back in 2018, I had sent in a question to him to answer on his podcast. At the time, I was a college professor and was looking to transition away from teaching. I asked him if it would be possible to do it within five years, and how I would go about that. Wouldn't you know it … five years later, Dan emailed me to see how things were going. Of course, we had interacted in the years between then, but I was absolutely amazed that he remembered to check on how I was doing five years after I'd sent that message. Of course, he knew that I'd gone on to build a business, but he was curious about my thoughts on my transition. That was pretty typical of Dan—always an encourager who helped you become something better than you'd be on your own. On this episode, you'll hear some amazing stories from Dan's adventures as an author, including how he developed the first edition of the 48 Days book, why a book is like a business card, what it means to have SWISS dollars (you'll see what he means by that), and how his podcast helped grow his business. Although Dan is gone, you can still access his books, podcast, and all things 48 Days-related at https://48days.com. * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

You can have all the talent in the world as a writer, but if you don't have good systems to operate and grow your business, it will be tough to be successful over the long haul. That's why I'm excited to bring you this conversation with Mike Abramowitz. He is a speaker, author, and transformational coach who helps turn your greatest insecurities into your superpowers. Mike Abramowitz has twenty years of direct sales experience training 5000+ sales reps for $17M sold, has nine books in the self-help space (including G.R.A.B. TOMORROW: Your Best Year Ever), and founded PB&J for Tampa Bay (which has provided over 80,000 meals to the homeless). He has scaled his several six-figure businesses and nonprofits to be run without him so he can experience time freedom that he desires. Mike is a busy father and husband who helps other busy entrepreneurs implement systems in their businesses by leveraging automation and delegation to help business operators become business owners and truly experience the financial and time freedom that drew them to entrepreneurship in the first place. He is also the co-host of the Better Than Rich podcast, and he leads a community called Automate, Delegate, Systemize. You can check out his site at https://mikeabramowitz.com. In this conversation, Mike helps us sort out issues we all face as writers who are also business owners and entrepreneurs. We talk about: The benefit of using systems and automation, and how to use them well for social media, podcasting, and other business elements What kinds of things you should delegate Knowing what your time is worth Thoughts on using AI to stay competitive How to hire a VA You can visit https://va.betterthanrich.com and click “schedule free consultation.” When you do, you'll receive a free 25-page workbook. * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

As the host of this podcast, I have the privilege of talking to lots of extraordinary writers, business leaders, and creative minds. Today I'm honored to bring you this conversation with a truly legendary writer, for one of best episodes ever! Let me tell you a bit about him. Dave Pelzer is a man who represents overcoming adversity, and he has dedicated his life to helping others so they can help themselves. As a former Air Force Combat Air Crew Member, Dave's job entailed midair refueling of the once highly secretive SR-71 Blackbird and the F-117 Stealth Fighter. While on active duty, Dave was selected as California Volunteer of the Year. Dave has received personal commendations from four U. S. Presidents. He was honored as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans, and later, was the only American to be honored as The Outstanding Young Person of the World. Dave is also the recipient of the National Jefferson Award which is considered the Pulitzer Prize for public service. Other recipients include Sandra Day O'Connor and Colin Powell. Dave is the author of nine inspirational books. His books have been on bestseller lists for well over thirteen years combined. His most famous book, A Child Called “It”: One Child's Courage to Survive has been on the New York Times bestseller list for well over six years. In fact, Dave is the first author to have four #1 International bestsellers and to have four books simultaneously on the New York Times Bestseller List. For nearly the last ten years, Dave has served as a California Fire Captain in two separate districts. During that time, he's been deployed to the state's most horrendous fires. You can find out more about Dave at https://davepelzer.com. In this conversation, Dave shares how he came to write A Child Called “It” and how that led to an extraordinary writing career. We discuss: How he first got into writing. What it's like being on the NYT bestseller list for so long. His marketing strategies. His thoughts on building a long-term successful writing career. His new book, Return to the River: Reflections on Life Choices During a Pandemic. The most important things an author can do to build their business. I've never interviewed anyone quite like Dave! I know you'll enjoy this conversation just as much as I did. * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

If you're a podcaster who has dreamed of having your own book, you'll love today's episode! Last Fall, my good friend Jody Maberry and I co-led a webinar called “Podcast to Published.” The goal of the webinar was to test-drive some material we may later use to help podcasters use their podcast material as the basis for a book. I've been podcasting since 2013, and I'm a huge fan of repurposing your podcast content into books. Let me tell you a bit about Jody. He's a former Park Ranger who is now a sought-after podcast producer, speaker, and consultant. He's been featured in Inc., Entrepreneur, The Business Journals, at Podcast Movement, and many other places. Jody works closely with business leaders such as David Hancock, Lee Cockerell, Dan Cockerell, and others to bring their podcasts to life. In addition, he hosts three of his own podcasts: The Jody Maberry Show, The Park Leaders Show (for Park Rangers), and In the Front Row, a show he created for his son. Jody is not only one of the most brilliant minds in podcasting, but a kind and generous human being as well. I encourage you to check out Jody's site at https://jodymaberry.com to find out more. In this webinar, you'll learn all about the benefits of turning your podcast into a book, including what kind of book you should write based on your podcast, how to outline a great nonfiction book, and the steps to move from podcast to published book. * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

We live in an incredible time! As an author, you have a variety of options for publishing and funding your books. If you're doing self-publishing, one of the most interesting ways to fund the book is by crowdsourcing it through Kickstarter. If you've ever wondered how to use Kickstarter to fund your book launch, today's your lucky day! Lestie May Zachary is a Southwest USA native who loves to write about her family roots. She is a veteran homeschool teacher of sixteen years. When Lestie isn't writing or doting on family, she and her husband enjoy the cabin life on Crown Lake in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas. I wanted to have Lestie as a guest today to talk about her new When Old School Meets New School, which is an exciting new guidebook from LMZ Publishing, perfect for children ages 11-14. When Old School Meets New School is full of fun and engaging activities that mix old-fashioned games and activities with modern technology, giving children the opportunity to learn and have fun in equal measure. With puzzles, activities and stories, this book helps children bridge the gap between the traditional and the contemporary. She funded the book through an impressive Kickstarter campaign last Fall, and I was thrilled to be one of her backers. I was even more impressed that this was Lestie's first time using Kickstarter. The campaign was a lot of fun, and the book itself is even more impressive. You can really tell she put her heart and soul into it! In this interview, we discuss: Her book production process Various assets she created for the book launch Why she used Kickstarter, and the process for using it Details about the number of backers, her expenses, and other numbers The biggest challenges and benefits of using Kickstarter Her recommendations for authors considering using Kickstarter If you've never considered this unique way to fund a book, this conversation will give you insights you've probably not heard before. You can connect with Lestie through her website, https://www.lestiemayzachary.com. * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Karen Hunsanger, an incredible editor known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

As a writer, you long to make a difference in the world. You want to use your creative gifts. You might even want to build a part-time or full-time business with your writing. We know that a writing habit is the bridge to everything we want as writers. Of course, marketing, relationships, handling your money wisely … all those things are vital, but none of it matters if you're not producing the work. As creatives, we naturally resist routines and habits. But writing is a blue-collar job, like carpentry, plumbing, or anything else requiring regular, sustained labor. Without a writing habit, you will never get that blog built, you will never finish that book you've been thinking about all these years, and you will certainly never build a successful writing business. A great writing habit is the pathway to everything you have dreamed about as a writer. On this episode, we dive into the four "wheels" that keep it moving. *** Thanks to today's sponsor! Vellum is the go-to book formatting software for indie authors who care about creating beautiful ebooks and print books. Use the link to download Vellum for FREE.

If there's one thing we all want to do in 2024, it's to write and publish more books. I'm excited to have a guest today who can help us learn the secrets of writers who get the work done and watch their success keep rising. Brock Swinson hosts the Creative Principles podcast, where he speaks with writers, actors, directors, musicians, and more. He has interviewed figures such as Aaron Sorkin, Ethan Hawke, Jim Gaffigan, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylor Sheridan, Judd Apatow, and hundreds more for his show. Recently, Brock has packed all of this knowledge into the book Ink by the Barrel: Secrets From Prolific Writers, which you can get completely for free by visiting https://www.brockswinson.com/ink. The book is divided into three parts: Time, Voice, and Process. It contains advice on every single page to help novice writers become prolific. Brock has also been a copywriter for the last decade, working with entrepreneurs like Russell Brunson, Grant Cardone, and Tony Robbins. In this conversation, Brock and I discuss how he got into screenwriting, using your time well, why you need to take action now, how podcasting has helped his career, and much more. *** A big thank you to our sponsors: There is No Such Thing as Writer's Block is the brand-new book from Honorée Corder. You'll learn what's really blocking you, the value of building your writer tribe, how to become the writer you've always dreamed of, and much more. Grab your copy today! Vellum is the go-to book formatting software for indie authors who care about creating beautiful ebooks and print books. Use the link to download Vellum for FREE. Need a great book cover? Kristi Griffith from Thumbprint Creative has created the cover design and interior layout for many of my own books, and books of my ghostwriting clients and friends. She works closely with you to create a design that perfectly captures the theme, message, and genre of your book.

One of the most important habits you can ever develop is reflection. The pace of life today is pretty fast and it's easy to just keep going, going, going all the time. (Turns out Ferris Bueller was right!) When you stop and think about where you've been, it's much easier to figure out where you're going. In the spirit of reflection, I'm excited to share 10 lessons I've learned about life, writing, and business I've learned over the last twelve months. *** Today's podcast is sponsored by editor Karen Hunsanger, also known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit. Today's podcast is also sponsored by Plottr, the #1 visual book planning software for writers that helps you plan books in the same way you think. Plottr helps fiction and nonfiction authors, podcasters, speakers, and anyone creating content to organize their material and story points. Visit the link above to start your free 14-day trial.

As a writer, you live in two worlds: the world of business and the world of creative thinking. Creative types tend to focus on making the product and spend less time on marketing and selling it. My guest today is here to help us develop our business chops as writers. Paul Leon is a training leader and sales manager with nearly twenty years of experience providing sales management in many industries. He has extensive experience developing and delivering sales training materials, including developing curriculum aligned with product training, facilitating new hire training, providing in-person and online classes, meeting and exceeding sales training goals, and leading cross-function teams. Paul also hosts the Persistence Mastery podcast, a great show about helping professionals grow their communication skills. In this conversation, Paul and I discuss creating your value proposition as a writer. What value do you bring to your clients, customers, and readers? How do you improve their lives? We also dive into the difference between cost and investment, and why this difference is so crucial. If you do client work as a writer, you'll love this episode and the actionable steps you can put to work in your business immediately. *** A big thank you to our sponsors: There is No Such Thing as Writer's Block is the brand-new book from Honorée Corder. You'll learn what's really blocking you, the value of building your writer tribe, how to become the writer you've always dreamed of, and much more. Grab your copy today! Vellum is the go-to book formatting software for indie authors who care about creating beautiful ebooks and print books. Use the link to download Vellum for FREE. Need a great book cover? Kristi Griffith from Thumbprint Creative has created the cover design and interior layout for many of my own books, and books of my ghostwriting clients and friends. She works closely with you to create a design that perfectly captures the theme, message, and genre of your book.

Like most writers, you probably have mixed emotions as we near the end of 2024. My guess is that you've had some great wins this year, but you've also had some challenges. One thing we all have in common, no matter what our specific business, is that we want the next year to be better than this one. As I've examined the past year in my business and talked to lots of writers about their experiences, I've concluded what's holding most of us back from the success we want: You're trying to do too much. If you want to grow exponentially in 2023, stop trying to do everything. Instead, focus on what truly matters in your business. The answer is not trying to do more. It's focusing on doing less. On this episode, we look at four ways to do that. 1. Determine the #1 thing you want to grow next year. 2. Be brutally honest about where you are most likely to win. 3. Maintain, eliminate, or defer everything else. 4. Have the courage to say “no.” *** Today's podcast is sponsored by editor Karen Hunsanger, also known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit. Today's podcast is also sponsored by Plottr, the #1 visual book planning software for writers that helps you plan books in the same way you think. Plottr helps fiction and nonfiction authors, podcasters, speakers, and anyone creating content to organize their material and story points. Visit the link above to start your free 14-day trial.

One of the recurring themes of this podcast is leadership. Writing and creativity are, of course, a huge part of what we do. But if we want to operate a successful business, we have to be able to manage all the moving pieces in order for things to run smoothly and grow over time. I'm excited to have a guest today who can help us do that. Valerie Cockerell was born and raised in France, where she graduated with a degree in Business Hospitality. She eventually joined Disneyland Paris in 1991 as a retail manager. After succeeding in a number of roles, she eventually oversaw the planning for all Resort merchandise locations in the park. Upon moving to Florida in 1997, Valerie worked as the Assortment Planning Manager at Downtown Disney and Epcot Center, eventually moving to Merchandise Brand Management for both Epcot and the Disney Cruise Line. Valerie left the company and started consulting for outside organizations in the retail world. She returned to Disney in 2013 to become a contract facilitator for Disney Institute, where she facilitated professional development classes and custom programs in both French and English. She drew from her international management experience in retail and operations to teach Disney's approach to Leadership Excellence and Customer Service. Since May 2019, Valerie has been a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator with her husband, Dan Cockerell. In her speaking, she shares her expertise and methodology in leading teams and delivering outstanding customer service. Valerie joins me today for a conversation about her new book, Manage like a Mother: Leadership Lessons Drawn from the Wisdom of Mom, which offers a simple-to-understand and easy-to-implement take on leadership inspired by a mother's playbook. We talk about her career working for the Disney organization, how everyone can learn to become a better leader and manager by borrowing concepts from mothers (even men!), how writers can implement these principles, and more. You can connect with Valerie at https://cockerellconsulting.com. * * * A big thank you to our sponsors, who keep this podcast free for listeners: Vellum is the go-to book formatting software for indie authors who care about creating beautiful ebooks and print books. I've used it for years and love it! Use the link to download Vellum for FREE. Feeling blocked as a writer? Grab a copy of There is No Such Thing as Writer's Block by Honorée Corder. You'll learn what's really blocking you, the value of building your writer tribe, how to become the writer you've always dreamed of, and much more. Looking for a great book cover designer and formatter? I use and recommend Kristi Griffith, owner of Thumbprint Creative. She works closely with you to create a design that perfectly captures the theme, message, and genre of your book.

On today's episode, Kent talks about the 4 fundamentals of a REAL Writing business: 1. Relationships with people 2. Excellence in your craft 3. Attitude toward business and money 4. Leadership in your business and industry

As an author, one of your biggest goals is to get your books into the hands of readers. It's going to involve various levels of marketing, and in some cases, a PR (public relations) team. Imagine if you could sit down with a bona-fide expert who knows the industry and has gotten her book clients on every conceivable platform. You'd come away with some golden nuggets of PR wisdom to apply to your current or future books, no matter what your genre or publishing path. I've got you covered. My guest today is Morgan Canclini-Mitchell, who is the Principal and Founder of two|pr. Two|pr is a boutique publicity firm representing talent and brands in a variety of verticals, including television stars, nonprofits, best-selling authors, professional athletes, film projects, and more. The firm has a unique niche in representing a variety of crossover entertainment personalities/brands/organizations, positioning them securely in both the faith-based and mainstream media landscape. In her role, Morgan spearheads publicity and influencer marketing campaigns for her clients. She has been featured in Fast Company magazine, Bustle, Her Story of Success podcast, Inspire Magazine, Christianity Today, Nashville Lifestyles magazine, and other outlets. She's also been a speaker at WriterFest, Baylor University, Vanderbilt University, Belmont University, and more. Morgan's past and current clients include: New York Times best-selling authors, an Academy Award-winning documentary, award-winning radio show hosts, ASCAP's Songwriters of the Century, Bravo and TLC reality show stars, cable news correspondents, NBA championship players, feature films, and Grammy award-winning recording artists. Morgan and I talk about paid vs. unpaid marketing, features you can bake into your books that help with PR, the best and worst time to launch books, how a PR agency works, avoiding common mistakes authors make with PR, and much more. You can find out more about Morgan and two|pr by visiting https://twopr.com. * * * A big thank you to our sponsors, who keep this email free for readers: Vellum is the go-to book formatting software for indie authors who care about creating beautiful ebooks and print books. I've used it for years and love it! Use the link to download Vellum for FREE. Feeling blocked as a writer? Grab a copy of There is No Such Thing as Writer's Block by Honorée Corder. You'll learn what's really blocking you, the value of building your writer tribe, how to become the writer you've always dreamed of, and much more. Looking for a great book cover designer and formatter? I use and recommend Kristi Griffith, owner of Thumbprint Creative. She works closely with you to create a design that perfectly captures the theme, message, and genre of your book.

As an author, one of your biggest goals is to get your books into the hands of readers. It's going to involve various levels of marketing, and in some cases, a PR (public relations) team. Imagine if you could sit down with a bona-fide expert who knows the industry and has gotten her book clients on every conceivable platform. You'd come away with some golden nuggets of PR wisdom to apply to your current or future books, no matter what your genre or publishing path. I've got you covered. My guest today is Morgan Canclini-Mitchell, who is the Principal and Founder of two|pr. Two|pr is a boutique publicity firm representing talent and brands in a variety of verticals, including television stars, nonprofits, best-selling authors, professional athletes, film projects, and more. The firm has a unique niche in representing a variety of crossover entertainment personalities/brands/organizations, positioning them securely in both the faith-based and mainstream media landscape. In her role, Morgan spearheads publicity and influencer marketing campaigns for her clients. She has been featured in Fast Company magazine, Bustle, Her Story of Success podcast, Inspire Magazine, Christianity Today, Nashville Lifestyles magazine, and other outlets. She's also been a speaker at WriterFest, Baylor University, Vanderbilt University, Belmont University, and more. Morgan's past and current clients include: New York Times best-selling authors, an Academy Award-winning documentary, award-winning radio show hosts, ASCAP's Songwriters of the Century, Bravo and TLC reality show stars, cable news correspondents, NBA championship players, feature films, and Grammy award-winning recording artists. Morgan and I talk about paid vs. unpaid marketing, features you can bake into your books that help with PR, the best and worst time to launch books, how a PR agency works, avoiding common mistakes authors make with PR, and much more. You can find out more about Morgan and two|pr by visiting https://twopr.com. * * * A big thank you to our sponsors, who keep this email free for readers: Vellum is the go-to book formatting software for indie authors who care about creating beautiful ebooks and print books. I've used it for years and love it! Use the link to download Vellum for FREE. Feeling blocked as a writer? Grab a copy of There is No Such Thing as Writer's Block by Honorée Corder. You'll learn what's really blocking you, the value of building your writer tribe, how to become the writer you've always dreamed of, and much more. Looking for a great book cover designer and formatter? I use and recommend Kristi Griffith, owner of Thumbprint Creative. She works closely with you to create a design that perfectly captures the theme, message, and genre of your book.  

Welcome to the first episode of The Profitable Writer podcast! Thanks for being here. On this episode, you'll learn: What problem we're solving with Profitable Writer The 9 steps of the Profitable Writer Pathway Who Profitable Writer is for What to expect from this podcast

Welcome to the first episode of The Profitable Writer podcast! Thanks for being here. On this episode, you'll learn: What problem we're solving with Profitable Writer The 9 steps of the Profitable Writer Pathway Who Profitable Writer is for What to expect from this podcast

One year ago today, I was going to quit my business. But I made a decision that helped me overcome the frustration and discouragement. On this episode, I tell the story and help you see why you should keep going also. This is the last official episode for The Daily Writer podcast! Thank you for listening and supporting the show. The Profitable Writer will launch in a few days and I hope to see you there!

One year ago today, I was going to quit my business. But I made a decision that helped me overcome the frustration and discouragement. On this episode, I tell the story and help you see why you should keep going also. This is the last official episode for The Daily Writer podcast! Thank you for listening and supporting the show. The Profitable Writer will launch in a few days and I hope to see you there!

We live in an amazing time when authors have lots of options for publishing. The main three options are these: First, you can self-publish your books, which means you assume all the risks, responsibilities, and rewards. Second, you can work with a hybrid publisher, which usually means you pay for their help with specific services, and they provide some of the functions of a traditional publisher. The third option, and the one most familiar to everyone, is traditional publishing. In this scenario, you sell your book to a publisher in exchange for an advance. They own the book but also take all the risk of producing and distributing the book, in addition to some marketing. Even though self-publishing has come a long way in the last ten or fifteen years, many authors still dream of getting a traditional publishing deal, especially with one of the big five New York publishers. If that's your goal, you will need help in pitching your book to publishers to secure the best deal. That's where a literary agent comes in. On today's episode, I'm honored to talk with Mark Gottlieb, a New York literary agent who is here to give us the inside scoop on how to find and work with an agent. Mark is the vice president and literary agent at book publishing's leading literary agency, Trident Media Group in New York City. He attended Emerson College and was President of its Publishing Club, and established Wilde Press. After graduating with a degree in writing, literature and publishing, he began his career with Penguin's VP. His first position at Trident Media Group was in foreign rights. He was the EA to Trident Media Group's Chairman and ran the Audio Department. He is currently working with his own client list, helping to manage and grow author careers with the unique resources available to Trident Media Group. He is ranked highly among literary agents in overall deals and other categories. Some of the topics I talk about with Mark are: how he became a literary agent, what an agent actually does in the publishing ecosystem, the benefits of traditional publishing, what kinds of projects he looks for and how to stand out as an author, what the most successful authors do when pitching and working with an agent, and some common mistakes to avoid when trying to secure an agent. You can connect with Mark at https://literaryagentmarkgottlieb.com and find out more about the Trident Media Group at https://tridentmediagroup.com. * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Vellum, the go-to book formatting software for indie authors who care about creating beautiful ebooks and print books. Use the link to download Vellum for FREE.

We live in an amazing time when authors have lots of options for publishing. The main three options are these: First, you can self-publish your books, which means you assume all the risks, responsibilities, and rewards. Second, you can work with a hybrid publisher, which usually means you pay for their help with specific services, and they provide some of the functions of a traditional publisher. The third option, and the one most familiar to everyone, is traditional publishing. In this scenario, you sell your book to a publisher in exchange for an advance. They own the book but also take all the risk of producing and distributing the book, in addition to some marketing. Even though self-publishing has come a long way in the last ten or fifteen years, many authors still dream of getting a traditional publishing deal, especially with one of the big five New York publishers. If that's your goal, you will need help in pitching your book to publishers to secure the best deal. That's where a literary agent comes in. On today's episode, I'm honored to talk with Mark Gottlieb, a New York literary agent who is here to give us the inside scoop on how to find and work with an agent. Mark is the vice president and literary agent at book publishing's leading literary agency, Trident Media Group in New York City. He attended Emerson College and was President of its Publishing Club, and established Wilde Press. After graduating with a degree in writing, literature and publishing, he began his career with Penguin's VP. His first position at Trident Media Group was in foreign rights. He was the EA to Trident Media Group's Chairman and ran the Audio Department. He is currently working with his own client list, helping to manage and grow author careers with the unique resources available to Trident Media Group. He is ranked highly among literary agents in overall deals and other categories. Some of the topics I talk about with Mark are: how he became a literary agent, what an agent actually does in the publishing ecosystem, the benefits of traditional publishing, what kinds of projects he looks for and how to stand out as an author, what the most successful authors do when pitching and working with an agent, and some common mistakes to avoid when trying to secure an agent. You can connect with Mark at https://literaryagentmarkgottlieb.com and find out more about the Trident Media Group at https://tridentmediagroup.com. * * * Today's episode is sponsored by Vellum, the go-to book formatting software for indie authors who care about creating beautiful ebooks and print books. Use the link to download Vellum for FREE.

Today's episode is sponsored by editor Karen Hunsanger, also known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

Today's episode is sponsored by editor Karen Hunsanger, also known as “The Word Wizard.” I've worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

Today's email is sponsored by Plottr, the #1 visual book planning software for writers that helps you plan books in the same way you think. Plottr helps fiction and nonfiction authors, podcasters, speakers, and anyone creating content to organize their material and story points. Visit the link above to start your free 14-day trial.

Today's email is sponsored by Plottr, the #1 visual book planning software for writers that helps you plan books in the same way you think. Plottr helps fiction and nonfiction authors, podcasters, speakers, and anyone creating content to organize their material and story points. Visit the link above to start your free 14-day trial.

Today's episode is sponsored by Write Your First Nonfiction Book: A Primer for Aspiring Authors by my friend and business coach, Honorée Corder. You'll learn strategies for arranging your chapters, how to get started and stay organized, and easy step-by-step instructions that will eliminate the fear that's been holding you back.

Today's episode is sponsored by Write Your First Nonfiction Book: A Primer for Aspiring Authors by my friend and business coach, Honorée Corder. You'll learn strategies for arranging your chapters, how to get started and stay organized, and easy step-by-step instructions that will eliminate the fear that's been holding you back.