For years, I knew I needed to move more. Even before I went into business for myself, I spent too many hours behind a keyboard and a screen. Sitting truly is the new smoking. Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/walking-and-running-to-improve-your-writing/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Do you struggle to write exciting, engaging scenes or articles? Discover how to transform your writing skills and be able to measure your improvement in less than a week.   Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/improve-your-writing-in-5-days/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You are not broken. You don’t need to be fixed. Everything you need to be happy and fulfilled is inside of you. It always has been.   Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/you-are-not-broken/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

While I can’t control what happens to me while I’m dreaming or during deep sleep, I do have control over what I do daily while I’m awake. The way I use my time is directly correlated to the person I want to be.   Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/reframing-time-to-uncover-your-identity/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

To create real and compelling characters, consider tapping into your memories of young adulthood and indulging in those nostalgic experiences.   Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/using-nostalgia-to-create-memorable-characters/ For information regarding your data privacy, visit Acast.com/privacy

So, exactly how are we going to make these changes? I’m not a behavioral scientist, but I’ve researched and read enough to realize a few simple truths to make sustainable change. Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/the-30-day-change-my-frame-challenge/

If you don’t create your frames, someone else will do so for you—like your boss, your community, your culture. That is not to say these are negative forces, but by not being the one in charge of your focus, you can end up drifting on a sea of expectations imposed by others, even if or when they don’t align with yours.   Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/the-frame:-where-to-place-your-focus/ Become a Patron

It’s the end of the year and it’s time for me to look ahead to next year. I will continue writing and publishing on The Author Life—both the website and the topic. Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/conclusion-and-a-new-beginning/

I radically changed my diet, my exercise, my sleep, and my mindfulness activities. And without the medication, my uric acid levels are normal, although the days of eating donuts for breakfast are gone. Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/everything-works-until-it-doesn’t/

Sometimes it comes out of the blue, completely unexpected, almost as if you’re being blindsided by a truck. Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/when-things-don’t-go-your-way/

I continue to experience Resistance. I had to slay a short bout of it when I opened this very Word document and was staring at a blank page. Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/beating-resistance/

You’re going to get stung. Hands down, without a doubt. And sometimes, the pain will be so bad that you’ll barely be able to breathe, let alone laugh.   Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/getting-stung/

It is not impossible to start a novel without a system in place, but I believe it’s nearly impossible to consistently finish novels without a plan. And the best way to come up with a plan is to not have to think about it. Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/the-author-mastermind-group-builds-systems-and-habits/

Discipline is the ability to do what you know needs to be done, even when you don’t feel like doing it. It requires developing habits that you don’t have to think about, actions that are done as part of a system. Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/discipline-developed-by-an-author-mastermind-group/

In this new, three-part series, I’m going to explore the secret powers of the mastermind learning model. Although I’m approaching it as a professional writer, mastermind groups have been proven to work across disciplines and in many different vocations. Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/an-introduction-to-the-author-mastermind

The most difficult thing about being in a slump is realizing you’re in a slump and feeling powerless to do anything about. Motivation won’t come from setting goals. You’ll create motivation with good habits. Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/if-you-show-up,-the-words-will-come/

Introverts assume that being around other people will always drain them of energy. As a hardcore INTJ, I can tell you that I don’t believe that assumption any longer. The right kind of people can recharge the most intro of verts. Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/you-might-not-always-be-an-introvert/

Seattle inspires culture, everything from sci-fi writer’s retreats to great coffee. My recent event reinforced how important collaboration can be for storytellers.   Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/collaborating-in-the-shadow-of-the-space-needle/

My friend Yvonne Carder shared this with me after we spent some time together at an author event. She gave me permission to share it with you. Enjoy. How do you explain to someone about the instant connection you find in a group of people coming together to share a passion? How do you explain to someone who's never felt the joy of creation the sense of soul-filling completion when you’re part of a group working together, using all their different strengths and backgrounds to breathe life into...

When you start a lot of things, you inevitably have to stop a lot of things. I’ve always ascribed to the notion that at least 9 out of 10 things you try will fail. The percentage is probably higher for me, but we all fail. A lot. Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/failure-is-an-option/

That’s what every creative is after these days, whether independent or not. The game we’re all trying to win is discoverability. Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/is-the-paid-ads-bubble-about-to-burst?/

Other people unwind by having a drink. My idea of fun is a form of punishment for unruly students—go to a library, do research, and take notes. Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/i-still-like-books/

Whether you’re a musician or an actor, studying the masters can only make you better. Deconstruct a masterpiece and use what you learn to craft your own. Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/cresting-the-learning-plateau/

There is value in having roots but there is also an excitement in experiencing other cultures. Empathy grows when perspectives widen. Read the transcript - https://theauthorlife.com/spark-your-imagination-with-travel/