I came this close to walking away from writing forever.

After a traditional publishing deal went sideways, I paid back the advance, lost the rights for a stretch, and seriously believed my career was over before it started. What saved me wasn’t “just write every day.” It was building a deliberate system around the chaos of multiple projects, side hustles, and creative energy.

In this Wordslinger 10-Shot I break down the exact approach I still use today so I can keep finishing books while running a podcast, YouTube channel, coaching, and other ventures without burning out or falling into shiny-object syndrome.

You’ll learn:

How I use directed intensity instead of forcing myself to grind on one thing

Why strategic “side quests” actually help me finish more fiction

The simple scheduling trick that keeps everything moving

How secondary skills and businesses can feed (not steal from) your main writing career

Whether you’re a novelist, indie author, content creator, or multi-passionate entrepreneur, this system is designed for people who refuse to choose just one lane.

Timestamps

00:00 – The deal that almost ended my writing career

01:12 – Why “just write more” wasn’t the answer

02:45 – Directed intensity: my core rule for juggling projects

04:20 – Side quests vs. shiny object syndrome

06:10 – How I schedule production days and recovery

07:55 – Secondary “encodings” that actually support your writing

09:15 – Final thoughts + invitation

Resources & Links

Wordslinger Podcast → https://wordslingerpodcast.com

ProWritingAid (my go-to editing tool) → https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5

Draft2Digital → https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger

AuthorAnchor → https://authoranchor.com

Find all my books & more → https://kevintumlinson.com

Join me on Substack → https://kevintumlinson.substack.com

If you’re a writer or creative entrepreneur looking for practical, no-fluff guidance on building a sustainable writing and publishing career, this is the channel for you. Hit subscribe, turn on notifications, and let’s keep growing together.

Drop a comment and tell me: What’s the biggest “chaos” you’re trying to organize in your creative life right now?#Wordslinger #IndieAuthor #WritingLife #CreativeEntrepreneur #AuthorTips

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