Adjusting Your Schedule When Life Changes (Homestead + Author Update) | Podcast Ep. 164Dan Kenner shares episode 164 (recorded Friday, February 20, 2026) about staying productive as an author when life changes force schedule adjustments. He explains a recent break in posting, his desire to keep the podcast going, and his ongoing interest in interviews. He gives homestead updates, including an unusually warm, muddy winter in Idaho affecting animal care; the kids enjoying spring-like weather but missing sledding; and animals doing well overall. He describes taking over afternoon hand-milking of their cow Lucy to help streamline evenings and get to bed earlier, including the learning curve and physical strain, along with updates on muddy pigs, water issues in the pig pen, and replacing the battery in the chickens’ automatic coop door after months of manual opening/closing. He notes recent archery competitions and a shift toward a busier homestead season. On the author side, he’s continuing to write (about 1,000 words on weekdays), working to get ahead on short stories for his Ream subscription, and planning to return to finishing book six of the Hidden Heritage Series. He mentions improved website purchasing options (dankenner.com or dankennerbooks.com), growing local word-of-mouth readership, and positive feedback comparing his Libber Chronicles to Ranger’s Apprentice. He also uninstalled Instagram and TikTok due to distraction and stress. The main topic focuses on flexibility: adjusting sleep and work routines, breaking tasks into smaller time blocks as work stress increases, accepting slower progress, and maintaining a consistent connection to writing rather than stopping entirely. He encourages listeners to trust their instincts, shift writing times as needed, avoid turning creativity into only checkboxes, reevaluate regularly, and share their own strategies and feedback.00:00 Welcome Back Episode 16400:50 Podcast Hiatus Update02:18 Homestead Winter Weirdness04:09 Learning To Milk Lucy07:20 Mud Pigs And Butcher Plans09:04 Chicken Door Fix10:50 Archery And Seasonal Pace11:13 Author Progress And Ream12:08 Website Wins And Reader Praise14:19 Quitting Social Media Apps15:34 Flex Your Schedule19:31 Two Choices When Life Changes21:00 Find The Writing Magic22:51 Trust Your Gut And Reevaluate24:39 Wrap Up And Listener Call

Optimizing Non-Writing Time for Maximum Writing Productivity

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In this episode of the Casual Author, Dan Kenner discusses the importance of using time outside of writing sessions to improve productivity during writing sessions. Despite a busy lifestyle with homesteading activities and authoring tasks, Dan emphasizes the need to give the brain space for creativity and imagination through activities like chores, exercising, and periods of quiet reflection. He also shares updates on his writing projects, including new releases and his experiences with setting up a direct sales platform. Additionally, Dan talks about the practical challenges of managing livestock and the impact of fluctuating weather on their care. This episode offers insights on maintaining creativity and productivity as a busy author.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

01:01 Weather and Animal Management

02:18 Feeding Strategies for Livestock

07:04 Pig Watering Challenges

10:55 Author Updates and New Releases

16:32 Maximizing Writing Productivity

33:29 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

Summary

In this episode, Dan Kenner engages with KimBoo, a seasoned author and productivity expert, to discuss her insights on time management and the writing process. KimBoo shares her unique approach to setting guideposts for her writing projects, emphasizing the importance of saying no to distractions and focusing on what truly matters. She reflects on her journey from fan fiction to original works, highlighting the evolution of her writing career and the impact of technology on storytelling. The conversation also touches on the challenges of balancing personal life with writing ambitions, as well as the significance of maintaining a holistic view of productivity that integrates both work and life responsibilities.

Throughout the discussion, KimBoo provides practical advice for aspiring writers, including the value of serialization in storytelling and the necessity of having a structured system for managing projects. She encourages listeners to reflect on their goals and the decisions that shape their writing journeys, ultimately advocating for a mindset that embraces both creativity and discipline. This episode is a treasure trove of insights for anyone looking to enhance their writing practice and navigate the complexities of the authorial life.

Buy my books at www.dankennerbooks.com

Get exclusive short stories and early chapters at https://reamstories.com/dankenner

Find out more about KimBoo and her books at https://houseofyork.info/

Check out my previous episode with KimBoo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oElAkawGPk

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction and Background and Homestead Update

00:09:08 Author and Book Update

00:13:55 Interview with KimBoo

time management, writing process, productivity