Here’s today’s excerpt from the chapter, “X is for Xerox.”

“Xerox” is a term we don’t hear much anymore. It originally referred to the company that pioneered the photocopier, but over time it came to refer to almost any kind of copying process. Once in a while, you will still hear someone use the phrase “make a Xerox” or “Xerox that document.”

That’s okay for making copies, but not so good for making artists.

As a kid growing up in the 1980s, I idolized Michael Jackson. I loved the red zippered jacket he wore in the “Thriller” video and was jealous of the kids at school who had one. Sometimes I would try to channel the magic by putting a white marching band glove on my right hand and doing the Moonwalk. (I promise not to subject you to the horror of watching me dance.)

The problem was that I wasn’t Michael Jackson. I didn’t have his talent. I could try as hard as I wanted, but I could never be him.

The world doesn’t need another Michael Jackson. Or Leonardo da Vinci or Miles Davis. Or Picasso, Steven Spielberg, Harper Lee, Steve Jobs, or anyone else who has made great art.

What the world needs is the one and only you.

One of my favorite podcasts is The Accidental Creative by Todd Henry. I love the phrase he uses at the end of each episode: Cover bands don’t change the world.

So how do you keep from becoming an artist who’s like a cover band that plays everyone else’s hits, but has none of their own? How do you stay true to yourself and your gifts, yet still learn from others? How do you stay authentic in a world that values conformity?

There are many possible answers to those questions, but I’ll highlight four proven practices. Look into the lives of all the great artists, and you’ll see these common threads.

1. Follow your passion.

When you’re doing work that excites you, that’s when you’re the most authentic. Do you look forward to your work, or do you feel it’s sucking the life out of you?

Two helpful ways to begin following your passion are learning about your personality and discovering your strengths. There are plenty of tests available, but here are free versions of two popular ones: the DiSC personality profile, and a strengths assessment.

2. Be true to yourself.

Don’t be a people-pleaser. Staying true to yourself means that you’ll disappoint people sometimes. That’s okay. Your job is not to make everyone else happy, but rather to follow your God-given creative calling. It may take some time to get there, but you must stay on the path that makes the best use of your passion and gifts.

3. Take the road less traveled.

It’s hard to take a risk when you see others falling in line and conforming to others’ expectations at the expense of their calling. But don’t be afraid to be your own person. Whatever you do in life, you will make mistakes. So you might as well be doing something you love.

4. Hang around with dreamers.

The more you associate with successful people who believe in making dreams a reality, the more you will think like them. That’s why it’s so important to get involved with people who are positive and forward-thinking.

So let me ask you: Who is influencing your thinking these days?

When I was a kid my Dad would sometimes tell this goofy joke: “How do you catch a unique rabbit? Easy. Unique up on him.”

You, my friend, are unique. There’s no one quite like you. Never has been, never will be. If you don’t do the creative work that only you can do, you’re robbing the world of your unique gift. And that would be a tragedy.

Oscar Wilde said, “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” Don’t let your life become a Xerox of someone else’s dreams.

——

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.

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Here’s today’s excerpt from the chapter, “U is for Unfinished.” (Note: This book was written when I worked at a college.)

All around the world, in homes, offices, and studios, there are unfinished works of art that will never see the light of day. Does one of them belong to you?

When I’m sitting in my college office, I see lots of great art. On the wall to my right are movie posters for two of my favorite films, Citizen Kane and The Searchers. On the wall to the left there is a print of Rembrandt’s masterpiece The Return of the Prodigal Son.

On the bookshelf beside me are models for some of my favorite vehicles, including the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars, the DeLorean from Back to the Future, and the Mach 5 from Speed Racer.

The bookshelves behind me hold hundreds of books and DVDs. The iPhone on my desk contains hundreds of songs, dozens of podcast episodes, and a few dozen apps.

And the MacBook I’m using to write this book on is a work of art in itself too.

All these items were created by people who finished their work. These products and works of art began as ideas in someone’s mind, but they didn’t stay that way. Their creators worked on the concepts (usually collaborating with others) and the ideas began to take shape. But most important, they finished their work.

This is where it’s easy to get sidetracked. You have a great idea, you start to work on it, and you build momentum. You might even share it with a few people. But then as you work on it, you start to lose steam. Life gets busy, you lose focus, and you don’t finish your work.

Sometimes our work ends up like the movie Superman Lives. You say you’ve never heard of this movie? That’s because it was never made.

In the 1990s, Warner Bros. decided to resurrect the Superman franchise. They cycled through a few directors before landing on Tim Burton, who had given the studio great success with his Batman movies.

Screenwriters worked on several drafts of a script. Production staff worked on sets and special effects. Nicholas Cage was cast as Superman and filmed screen tests with the redesigned costume.

But after years of development and endless problems, the studio shut down production. A great deal of time and energy, not to mention millions of dollars, went down the drain and Superman Lives was never finished. What could have been one of the most interesting movies from the 1990s ended up as just another “might have been.”

Everyone has a “might have been” story. It may not be a big Hollywood movie, but I’ll bet you’ve started something you’d love to finish. It might be a book, a piece of music, a painting, or something you’re building or making with your hands. You want to finish it, but you just can’t seem to find the time.

In the bottom of someone’s desk drawer, there is an Oscar-winning screenplay. It just needs to be finished.

On someone’s hard drive, there is a life-changing novel. It just needs to be finished.

In someone’s closet, there is a painting worthy of display in a gallery. It just needs to be finished.

On someone’s college transcript, there is a degree listed with most of the required classes already taken. The degree could open doors and unlock someone’s potential. It just needs to be finished.

In someone’s journal, tucked away on a bookshelf, are sketches that could be the basis for a comic strip or an animated movie. They just need to be finished.

On someone’s sketchpad are drawings for a remodeled kitchen, basement, or treehouse. They just need to be finished.

On someone’s CDs or hard drive are rough demos of Grammy-winning songs. They just need to be finished.

Is that someone you?

If so, what can you do to turn your “might have beens” into reality?

What creative art do you still have unfinished?

——

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.

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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.

As a ghostwriter and author coach, I talk to a lot of writers. Whether someone has already written a book, or they’re considering writing their first one, I hear something like these phrases quite often:

• I’m stuck.
• I don’t know what to write about.
• I don’t know how to get started.

When you get stuck in the “writer’s vortex,” it can feel debilitating with no clear way of escape.

Thankfully, my guest today has a fantastic, brand-new resource to help both aspiring and seasoned authors alike. Her name is Honorée Corder, and this past Monday, she released her newest book, There is No Such Thing as Writer’s Block: You Can Unleash Your Inner Prolific Writer.

You’ve probably heard Honorée on the podcast before, and she’s made multiple appearances here for a good reason: she’s not only a good friend, but also my business coach, and leader of the Empire Builders Mastermind, which has been an awesome resource for me the last couple of years.

Honorée Corder is the author of dozens of books, including: You Must Write a Book, You Must Market Your Book, The Prosperous Writers book series, The Bestselling Book Formula, The Successful Single Mom book series, and many more.

In this episode, we do a deep dive into several topics related to writer’s block. We talk about what it means to be a professional writer, how to remove the blocks holding you back, writing to the container of the book, surrounding yourself with other writers, and much more.

You can get There is No Such Thing as Writer’s Block on Amazon, and I also recommend signing up for Honorée’s extremely helpful email list at https://honoreecorder.com.

We also have 5 copies of the book available as a giveaway. The first 5 to leave a review of the Daily Writer Podcast on Apple Podcasts will receive a print copy in the mail. Just leave a review, take a screenshot, email it to me at kent@dailywriterlife.com along with your address, and I’ll drop it in the mail!

The post Honorée Corder on Why There is No Such Thing as Writer’s Block appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

His calling and passion to write, incubating for decades, manifested itself through personal and professional blogging, as well as lots of published articles for various magazines.

David resides on a small farm in Hartford, Arkansas, where he enjoys long walks to the creek with his lovely wife and short walks through the field with his sheep. His other passions include writing, music, reading, cooking for their large family, and sipping on a cup of dark roast coffee as often as possible.

In this conversation, David and I talk about the main idea of his book and what it means for authors—namely, that we need to make time for space, solitude, and nature in our creative lives. David also shares his writing process for the book as well as his marketing strategies.

Most of all, I hope that if you’re thinking about writing your first book, you’ll be encouraged by David’s journey and know that you can do it too! You can connect with David at almosthomebooks.com.

The post David Steen on Writing & Marketing His First Book, “Almost Home” appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

If you’re a little younger, you’ve probably discovered him on the internet, where he has developed an even bigger following.

Each week on his show, Bob painted a mesmerizing landscape in just a half an hour. He was known for his soft-spoken style, his signature permed hair, and his uncanny ability to make you believe that just like him, you could paint a masterpiece.

Most of Bob’s viewers didn’t know that he meticulously planned out his paintings in advance. He would create the original, memorize every brushstroke, then paint the scene a second time during the taping of the show.

Every once in a while, Bob would make a tiny mistake and then repeat his signature phrase, “We don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.” Then, he would either paint over the mistake or find a way to blend it into the scene.

There is a good lesson here not only for painters, but for writers, as well. We like to beat ourselves up for mistakes. We are disappointed when we mess up or don’t perform perfectly.

But remember, you’re human. You’re imperfect. You won’t get it right every time.

There are times when you will flat-out bomb. That book, that blog post, that article, that lesson or speech won’t go as planned. In those moments, the last thing you want to do is celebrate your mistakes.

But, what if you did this instead: rather than painting over those flaws and imperfections, you accepted them as a part of the picture? And not only accepted them… but celebrated them?

It doesn’t mean you should compromise your standards. You can still reach for excellence while also accepting your humanity.

Those happy little accidents, if you learn from them, can be the pathway to a life that is more beautiful and scenic than all the perfect paintings in the world.

Today’s Challenge: What is the last mistake you made? What if instead of trying to cover it over, you accepted it as part of your picture and used it as a learning experience?

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“Death of a Salesman” tells the story of the last 24 hours in the life of Willy Loman, a salesman who never quite achieves the success he always dreamed of. He has a faithful yet disappointed wife and two sons who are equally as lost as he is.

By the end of the play, you come to understand Willy’s main downfall: he is unable to truly be himself. He has spent his whole career trying to manufacture a winning personality and measuring his success by how much money he makes.

It’s tempting to criticize Willy Loman for being misguided and superficial. But this character isn’t just confined to the stage. The ghost of Willy Loman is alive and well in each one of us.

Every day, you are tempted to play by other people’s rules and conform to their definitions of success. That’s why you need the courage to carve out your own identity as a writer.

And isn’t that one of the defining qualities of a writer, anyway? You have a voice that is unique, and you must have the courage to share it.

The actress Lily Tomlin once said, “I always wanted to be somebody. Now I realize I should’ve been more specific.”

Of course you want to be somebody. We all do. But you’re not just somebody or anybody. There is only one person who can be uniquely you… and that’s YOU.

Don’t settle for the death of a salesman. That’s a sad, depressing story. Instead, embrace the life of a writer, sharing your own story so you can in turn give life to others.

Today’s Challenge: Get a copy of “The Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller. You can find copies of the stage play online or in used bookstores. If you’ve never read it, you might be surprised at how much of yourself you see in Willy Loman… and you’ll be motivated to strive for something different in your life.

The post The Courage to Share Your Voice 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.

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.

One of the biggest joys of my professional life is seeing first-time authors launch their books. It’s even more fun when they are friends whom I’ve known for a long time!

That’s certainly the case with today’s guest. I’m excited to share this conversation with Kelly Brinkmann, author of Art for the Soul: Growing Your Faith Through Creativity, which was published earlier this year.

Kelly is a faith-based working artist and writer. She studied studio art in painting and earned her B.A., equipping her to use creative thinking and problem-solving in various nonprofit and corporate leadership positions.

She serves as a writer, public speaker, and creative instructor in her community at her studio, Art & Souls Creative Studio, in Washington, Missouri. She also serves, learns, teaches, and mentors alongside women in her home church while starting her first term on the local school board in 2022.

You can learn more about Kelly on her writing and speaking website, KellyBrinkmann.com, and see her in her studio at ArtAndSouls.com. These sites offer her Scripture study tools, downloads of hand-drawn bookmarks, and a portfolio of handmade artwork as tangible tools and reminders of God’s never-ending grace and love.

Kelly and I first met when I was a professor at St. Louis Christian College, and I had the honor of handing over to her a course I taught called “Introduction to the Arts.” I knew students would be in good hands, and it has been a real honor to see Kelly write and publish her book since that time.

In this conversation, Kelly shares her process for writing Art for the Soul, as well as the items she baked into the book to make it more fun and reader-friendly. Kelly also shares a lot of fascinating details about her branding and book marketing.

You’ll want to take a lot of notes because Kelly has done an incredible job in putting together a first-class book, as well as her creative thinking and engaging marketing.

The post Artist Kelly Brinkmann on Writing & Marketing Her First Book appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.