Will 10,000 followers get you a book deal? (podcast)

I have heard versions of this from many writers over the years: “An agent told me that if I had 10,000 followers, they would sign me.” Is that true? I don’t think so. Largely, I think this number is entirely made up. What agents and publishers may instead be seeking is a writer’s ability to illustrate that they can reach readers. And sometimes “followers” is simply a convenient metric to represent that. Today, I explore this topic in-depth.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking ‘play’ below, or in the following places:

You can watch the episode here:

Why take the risk of sharing? (podcast)

If you are a writer, why bother sharing? Why spend your time and energy sharing on social media, starting a newsletter, or vying for attention at all? Sharing is a risk. Yet, I find that sharing what we create and why opens up the possibility for so many good things. I believe that sharing deeply matters. Not just for marketing what you create, but for filling your life with moments and experiences with inspiring people, and for ensuring your work has a meaningful impact in the lives of others.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking ‘play’ below, or in the following places:

You can watch the episode here:

A 6-Step Guide to Publishing a Bestselling Book (podcast)

Today I want to share a step-by-step guide to publishing a bestselling book. There are just 6 steps, and I will be clear about each one. As a model for this guide, I am going to use one of all-time favorite stories of creative success. Please bear with me here… I want to use the story of Meat Loaf’s 1977 album “Bat Out of Hell” as a guide. Why? Because this story is one of my all-time favorite stories of a creator who persisted through rejection to find massive success on their own terms.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking ‘play’ below, or in the following places:

You can watch the episode here:

How Writers, Artists, and Creators Can Thrive in an AI World (podcast)

The more I see of it, the more I am understanding how AI (artificial intelligence) will change the fields of writing, art, and all creative fields in a profound way. Today I’ll share examples of what I’ve been seeing, but my first goal today is to make this episode useful to you. If you are a writer or creator who already felt that it was difficult to thrive with your creative work, I want to share specific ways that I feel you can find success and connection with your audience, even as AI reshapes your field. Let’s dig into 8 steps to do so.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking ‘play’ below, or in the following places:

You can watch the episode here:

How you share is a craft (podcast)

If you are reading this, chances are you are a writer, illustrator, artist, or creator of some sort. You have embraced your creative craft, and work to develop it year after year. I’ve always considered how we share to be a craft as well. How we show up. How we listen. How we connect. How we engage. How we celebrate others. How we communicate what drives us. How these things blend together to form aspects of our identity.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking ‘play’ below, or in the following places:

You can watch the episode here: