It was most likely outlined, drafted, revised, and edited, probably several times, before it took its final shape. This is the way almost all good writing, as well as all good art, is created.

Take the Beatles, for example. In the years since the Beatles made their original recordings in the 1960s, there have been lots of behind-the-scenes albums released that show how their songs progressed in stages.

The 2018 re-release of The White Album included the legendary Esher Demos, which were recorded at George Harrison’s house in Esher, about a half hour’s drive southwest of London.

During these sessions, the Beatles recorded an early version of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” It’s quite a bit faster and much more stripped down than the final version that was included on the album. But through the process of rewriting, arranging, and perfecting the song over time, it eventually became something truly majestic.

This is a pattern all great creatives seem to follow. The great William Faulkner spoke the truth when he said, “Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it’s the only way you can do anything really good.”

We’d be hard-pressed to say any of the Beatles’ early demos were bad, but they were definitely improved by the continual process of revision. The same process holds true for all artists, including writers. The first version is not the final version. You’ve got to just get down a first draft and then keep working on it from there.

It has been said that 10% of good writing is inspiration, while 90% is perspiration. That sounds about right. Just get the words down and keep working at it. You’ll get better and faster over time.

If you want to be good, you have to first be willing to be bad.

The post Be Bad in Order to Be Good appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

But when she is swept away to Oz on a grand adventure, Dorothy finds that all she really wants is to go back home.

As writers, we are constantly dreaming about what’s next. The next book. The next conference. The next interview. The next connection. The next source of income. The next five years.

Dreaming about the future is important. Living in the here and now is also important. Appreciate who you are and where you’ve come from. Say “thank you” to the people who are supporting you. Remember where you came from.

All you have is today, this moment, right here and now. Don’t keep your head so far in the clouds that you forget to keep your feet planted on the ground.

The post Appreciate This Moment appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

Click here to register for our free training

In this FREE training, we will cover:

• Why a book is the ultimate tool to grow your platform and influence.
• How to repurpose the podcast content you’ve already created into a book (no matter what your show format).
• A simple process for writing your book quickly (even if you’ve never written a book before).

This webinar is a must if you’re interested in leveraging your podcast and guests to promote your book, or if you want to use your book to promote and grow your podcast.

Even if you don’t yet have a podcast, and you haven’t yet written a book, join us to discover how these two powerful tools can work together to build your impact, influence, and income!

I hope you’ll join us on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 4:00pm EST for Podcast to Published!

* * *

In September of 1976, the American rock band Boston released their single called “More Than a Feeling.” The song tells the story of a young man who is listening to the radio, and a song comes on that reminds him of a former love.

What he experiences is “more than a feeling.”

But in a way, this song could also describe writers who are doing the work, day by day. How many times have you heard writers who talk about the need to feel “inspired,” or how they are waiting for the Muse to show up and give them the magic words?

The writers who consistently make a difference are the ones who know that the creative process is more than a feeling. They are also the ones who have more consistent success because they aren’t waiting for inspiration to strike.

Seth Godin talks about the need for consistent work in his book The Practice, which focuses on helping creative people ship their work.

He says, “Your work is too important to be left to how you feel today. On the other hand, committing to an action can change how we feel. If we act as though we trust the process and do the work, then the feelings will follow. Waiting for a feeling is a luxury we don’t have time for.”

So you woke up feeling grumpy this morning. Or maybe you’re feeling discouraged, or you’re irritated at some situation with your family or a co-worker. Maybe you flat-out just don’t feel like writing today!

Never mind all that. Those are feelings that ebb and flow like all emotions do. It’s time to put on your “big boy” or “big girl” writing pants, sit down in the chair, and get to work.

Your future self will thank you.

The post Creativity is More Than a Feeling appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

Here’s today’s excerpt from the chapter, “O is for Old Things.”

When it comes to art, do “old things” intimidate you? Do the classic works of painting, writing, sculpture, music, or even movies scare you a bit?

If so, you’re not alone. Most people are intimidated by towering creative giants such as Shakespeare, Michelangelo, and Beethoven.

Let me put your fears to rest. You can understand and enjoy the great works of art and history. When you encounter them for yourself, you’ll be inspired to do your own best work.

In his introduction to the spiritual classic On the Incarnation by Athanasius, C. S. Lewis speaks about the importance of experiencing the “old books” for yourself:

There is a strange idea abroad that in every subject the ancient books should be read only by the professionals, and that the amateur should content himself with the modern books. Thus I have found as a tutor in English Literature that if the average student wants to find out something about Platonism, the very last thing he thinks of doing is to take a translation of Plato off the library shelf and read the Symposium. . . . The error is rather an amiable one, for it springs from humility. The student is half afraid to meet one of the great philosophers face to face. He feels himself inadequate and thinks he will not understand him. But if he only knew, the great man, just because of his greatness, is much more intelligible than his modern commentator. . . . It has always therefore been one of my main endeavors as a teacher to persuade the young that firsthand knowledge is not only more worth acquiring than secondhand knowledge, but is usually much easier and more delightful to acquire.

Lewis’ words apply not only to books, but to all types of creative art. When we think of a work as one of the “greats,” we tend to build it up in our minds as a towering accomplishment that only geniuses can understand. But most of the time, those works are great not because they’re complicated, but because they’re simple.

It’s not enough to read about great art second-hand. You should experience it for yourself as much as possible.

But where do you start? It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of great art available. So just pick one thing and dive in.

If you like painting, visit a museum in your area.

If you like music, listen to a recording of Beethoven, Mozart, or modern greats like Miles Davis or the Beatles. Be sure to listen to the whole thing in one sitting to get the full experience.

If you like architecture, visit a local cathedral or historic site.

If you like to read, pick up one of Shakespeare’s plays or Homer’s Iliad or Odyssey.

If you like movies, watch one of the classics such as Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights or David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia.

If you want to grow in your creative life, you have to stay curious. You must always be seeking out new things to learn and new artists to explore.

One of the best biographies I’ve read is Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs. The book mentions several times that Jobs was a huge fan of Bob Dylan. I didn’t know much of Dylan’s music, so I decided to educate myself.

I listened to several of his albums on Spotify, including Blood on the Tracks, Bob Dylan, and Modern Times. I was amazed at the power and simplicity of his music and wondered why I hadn’t been listening to this my whole life!

When you read, watch, or listen to something new, it can often lead you to something else you’ll enjoy. Every piece of art is like a map that leads to more treasures.

So take a little time to visit an art museum, pull a classic work of literature off the shelf, or sample a bit of older music. You’ll find that ironically, the things of old will inspire you in ways that are fresh and new.

——

I hope you enjoyed that short excerpt from The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. You can grab the book by visiting https://kentsanders.net/suitcase.

The post O is for Old Things – Excerpt from The Artist’s Suitcase appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

Here’s today’s excerpt from the chapter, “H is for Humility.”

In July 2011, Adam Bevell experienced something he’ll never forget.

He had traveled from his home in Arizona to see U2 in Nashville during their 360 tour. Many U2 fans travel a long way to see their favorite band, but Bevell is no ordinary fan. He is a blind guitarist, and he had come to Nashville in hopes of getting on stage to play with his hero Bono.

Bevell came prepared with a sign that read, “BLIND GUITAR PLAYER. BRING ME UP.” He held it up all through the concert as he stood in the crowded pit near the stage.

The last song U2 played on the 360 tour was “Moment of Surrender.” As they finished the song and began to walk offstage, Bono noticed the sign and asked Bevell what he wanted to play. He responded, “All I Want Is You” (he and his wife’s favorite U2 song) and Bono had him escorted onstage. A stagehand gave him Bono’s guitar and Bevell began strumming.

Bono began to sing and the rest of band joined in for the spontaneous performance. When the song was done, Bono hugged Bevell and even gave him his guitar!

At the end of a long and exhausting music set, in front of 45,000 adoring fans, one of the world’s most famous musicians shared the spotlight with a blind guitar player.

Whether you have 45,000 fans or just four or five, it’s a challenge to share the spotlight and stay humble. Here are several truths to help keep you grounded:

1. Your talent is on loan from God.

You are a steward of the talent God has given you. It’s not really yours in the first place. You can’t claim any credit for the good things that happen as a result of your talent. All the glory goes to God.

2. Your true friends love you for you who are, not what you do.

Those who matter most in your life don’t love you because of your talent or gifts. They love you unconditionally as a friend or family member.

3. Your self-worth shouldn’t come from your success.

It’s easy to be so emotionally tied to your art that you feel like a winner when things are going well, and a failure when things aren’t. Don’t base your self-worth on temporary success or failure.

These three truths can help you keep a healthy perspective on your creative gifts. They will also put you in the right frame of mind to relate to others.

Saint Augustine pointed out the true path to greatness when he said, “Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.”

——

I hope you enjoyed that short excerpt from The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. You can grab the book by visiting https://kentsanders.net/suitcase.

The post H is for Humility – Excerpt from The Artist’s Suitcase appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

Before I do that, though, I want to give you a quick update on some changes you’ll see here on the podcast beginning December 1.

The Daily Writer podcast launched three years ago, in November 2020. Since that time, we’ve produced well over 1,000 daily episodes and featured about 150 guest interviews.

After talking so much about daily writing and the importance of writing habits, I want to shift the conversation to the biggest point of frustration I hear about from writers, which is how to actually build a business around your writing.

I’m excited to announce that on December 1, we will officially launch The Profitable Writer podcast!

The purpose of the show, as well as a book and membership community you’ll hear about very soon, is to give you the inspiration, motivation, and a clear roadmap to building a writing business that gives you a part-time or full-time income.

The format of the podcast will be different. We will still do a weekly interview, in addition to one or two other episodes per week. But it won’t be a daily podcast. (If you really love the daily format, I encourage you to go back into the archives to listen to any of the 1,000+ episodes we have there.)

You’ll hear much more in the coming weeks about The Profitable Writer podcast. You don’t need to do anything different because it will stay in this same podcast feed. However, you’ll notice a name change, along with new podcast artwork.

As always, thank you for listening, and let’s get into today’s episode.

Here’s today’s excerpt from the chapter, “B is for Blank Page.”

The blank page represents the space where you create your art. It can be a computer, studio, canvas, or a literal blank page. When you look behind the page, you’ll see two creatures: the Monster and the Muse.

First, there is the Monster. The Monster feeds on fear and likes to taunt you with these kinds of thoughts.

• This won’t be any good.
• Nobody likes what you’re doing.
• You’ll never be a real artist.
• When are you going to give up these silly dreams?

Every time you think about quitting, you feed the Monster. Every time you tell yourself your art doesn’t matter, you feed the Monster. Every time you listen to the naysayers and doubters, you feed the Monster. Every time you let your dreams slip out the back door of your life, you feed the Monster.

Steven Pressfield calls this force “Resistance.” In his landmark book, The War of Art, he writes, “Resistance has no strength of its own. Every ounce of juice it possesses comes from us. We feed it with power by our fear of it.”

The Monster feeds on fear. You must starve it to death.

But there is also the Muse. The Muse is a magical creature that brings out the best in you. The Muse speaks words of life, hope, and beauty:

• You were born for this.
• You’re making a difference in people’s lives.
• There are people who love what you’re doing.
• You have amazing potential.

The Muse feeds on faith and it is the wellspring of creativity within you. (As a person of faith, I believe God has an awful lot to do with this.) The Muse gives you the power to inspire, teach, and bless others.

Every time you pick up your pen or paintbrush, you feed the Muse. Every time you put your head down and do the work, you feed the Muse. Every time you improve your skills, you feed the Muse. Every time you serve someone with your art, you feed the Muse.

Look behind every blank page and you’ll find the Monster and the Muse. One feeds on fear. The other feeds on faith.

Which one will you feed?

——

I hope you enjoyed that short excerpt from The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. You can grab the book by visiting https://kentsanders.net/suitcase.

The post B is for Blank Page – Excerpt from The Artist’s Suitcase appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

Your core message is the main theme, the golden thread, that dominates most of your content. Some examples:

Adventure author Jon Krakauer writes about human drama in life-or-death outdoor situations, such as hiking or mountain climbing.

Novelist J. K. Rowling writes about what it means to be a hero in the context of a fantasy world.

Novelist Stephen King writes about the dark side of humanity in the context of horror stories.

Personal development guru John Maxwell writes about leadership.

Historian David McCullough wrote about the humanity behind American historical figures.

For most authors, it’s many books, one core message. You might say, “What about the books that aren’t tied to an author’s core message?” Most of the time, those books are tied into their core message in one way or another.

What about you? What’s your core message?

If you can’t articulate it yet, that’s okay. It takes time and writing a lot of words before you figure it out. Your core message gets more clear and authentic the more you write.

Today’s Challenge: As best as you can articulate it, write down your core message as an author. Then, ask three people who know you well to see if they agree.

The post What is Your Core Message? appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

Pantsers prefer to write by the “seat of their pants.” They develop a great opening and then discover the story as they write. Pantsers get bored if they know where the whole story is going ahead of time.

By contrast, plotters like to carefully outline the story before they begin writing. They need to know where the story is going or they can’t start.

Both approaches can work for fiction. But plotting doesn’t work so well when it comes to your real-life journey as a writer.

The writing life is unpredictable. You don’t know where it is going. Every piece of writing you produce is a new opportunity to reach people. Not only that, but your skill grows every time you publish.

When you combine all that with the constant changes in technology today, there is no way to predict where anything is going.

You can’t plot out your life. There’s no need to figure everything out ahead of time. Just do the work every day and enjoy the journey. If you knew the ending ahead of time, it wouldn’t be any fun, now would it?

Today’s Challenge: If someone could magically tell you how your own story ends, would you listen? Or would you rather it be a surprise?

The post You Can’t Plot Out Your Life appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

In the simplest terms, your voice is how you talk. It is how you express yourself. It’s your style.

On the smallest scale, it even comes down to how you construct sentences and paragraphs and book chapters. On a larger scale, your voice concerns the themes and topics you write about.

Just like your physical voice, your writing voice takes time to develop. It can also change over time. Think of how different your voice as an adult sounds compared to what you sounded like as a three-year-old or even as a thirteen-year-old.

If you don’t feel like you’ve found your voice yet, keep working at it. As the author Henry Miller said, “You have to write many words before you find your voice as a writer.”

The most important thing is not what your voice is, but that you use it. Don’t compare yourself to others. Be bold. Be brave.

There’s only one you. We need to hear your voice.

Today’s Challenge: Find one simple way to share your authentic voice with the world today, through a blog, social media, or even through a text or phone call. Don’t be afraid to be yourself.

The post We Need to Hear Your Voice appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

What does it mean to listen to your life? It means paying attention to the signposts telling you where you should go.

It is amazing how often we don’t see the signs right in front of us. These signs can take different shapes, such as what your gut is telling you, what you’re passionate about, and where you are experiencing success.

Those can all be indicators of what you should be doing with your life.

One of the most important signs comes from other people. Are there people in your life who have encouraged you in your writing? Perhaps teachers, parents, or friends?

If so, this is a sure sign that you need to lean into writing.

If you haven’t had people encourage you as a writer, no worries. It may be that you simply have not written and shared it with enough other people for them to affirm your gift.

Maybe you’ve had people be critical or dismissive about your writing. If so, remember that anybody who criticizes you without a loving spirit has the wrong attitude. Most of the time, other people’s criticism is driven by jealousy and a lack of affirmation in their own life.

As the saying goes, hurting people hurt people.

Pay attention to the signposts, especially from the people around you. Listen to the ones who encourage and affirm your writing. They are the ones pointing you in the right direction.

Today’s Challenge: Think about a person who has encouraged you as a writer. Take a moment today to write them a note or send a text thanking them for how they have added value to your life.

The post Look for the Signposts appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.