A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT

Why do you write?

It sounds like a simple question, but your answer may be the thing that keeps you going when the words aren’t coming, the sales aren’t happening, and nobody seems to notice the work you’re putting in.

In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, I talk about an unexpected encounter with a reader that reminded me of something every writer needs to remember: there’s a real human being on the other side of the book. Someone is reading your words, entering the worlds you create, learning from you, laughing with you, or seeing something differently because you decided to sit down and write.

Your income can be part of your why. Your ambition can be part of it. Your need to tell stories can absolutely be part of it. But when the work gets difficult, it helps to remember who you’re doing it for.

Figure out your why. Remember your reader. Then keep writing.

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TIMECODES:

00:00 An unexpected encounter with one of my readers
01:13 Being recognized as a writer
02:01 Remember the person on the other side of the book
02:58 Stephen King and the idea of the ideal reader
04:47 You may already be reaching readers without realizing it
05:36 Writing is about more than fame or money
06:15 Who are you really writing for?
07:20 Recognition isn’t what makes your writing worthwhile
08:11 Why every writer needs a strong “why”
10:04 The human being on the other side of your work
10:32 What’s your why?

If you’re a writer trying to build a career, publish better books, grow your audience, and navigate the writing and publishing world without all the noise, subscribe to the Wordslinger channel. This is where writers come for practical, experience-driven guidance on writing, publishing, marketing, and building a creative career.

And leave a comment: Why do YOU write? What keeps you going when the work gets hard?

FIND KEVIN:

Find Kevin and his books:
https://kevintumlinson.com

Join Kevin on Substack:
https://kevintumlinson.substack.com

Wordslinger Podcast home page:
https://wordslingerpodcast.com

SERVICES FOR AUTHORS:

Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid:
https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5

Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital:
https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger

Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor:
https://authoranchor.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT

What do successful writers have in common? They surround themselves with writing.

In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, I talk about one of the most useful habits I’ve developed over the years: reading books by writers about the writing life, learning from other authors, attending conferences, listening to interviews and podcasts, and immersing yourself in the experiences of people who understand what it means to do this work.

I’ve recently been reading Larry McMurtry’s Walter Benjamin at the Dairy Queen, and I’m moving on to Ray Bradbury’s Zen in the Art of Writing. Books like these aren’t necessarily about teaching you how to construct a plot or write better dialogue. They give you something different: perspective.

And perspective matters.

Every writer struggles. Every writer wonders whether they’re doing it wrong. Every writer hits periods when motivation disappears and the work gets harder. Hearing how other writers think, work, struggle, and keep going can remind you that there are a million different ways to build a writing career—and help you discover your own.

We’ll also talk about why you should read outside your genre, why writers’ conferences can be transformative, why you shouldn’t compare your career to someone else’s, and why you should take every writer’s success story with at least a small grain of salt.

Because writers are storytellers.

And storytellers sometimes polish the story.

If you’re building a life around writing, publishing, creativity, and storytelling, subscribe to the Wordslinger channel. This is the place for practical, experience-driven guidance to help you become a better writer, navigate publishing, build your career, and keep going when the work gets difficult.

Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at http://knoveltonbooks.com

GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS

TIMECODES:

00:00 Why I’m reading books by writers about writing
00:52 Larry McMurtry and Walter Benjamin at the Dairy Queen
01:33 Writers should read far and wide
02:14 What different genres can teach you
03:38 Why successful writers are worth studying
04:23 Don’t compare yourself to other writers
04:53 Why writers need other writers
06:00 How writers’ conferences can reignite your creativity
07:02 You’re probably not doing writing wrong
08:11 Surround yourself with writers and writing
08:51 Writers are liars
09:51 Learn from the lesson, not just the success story
11:16 Build an environment that keeps you inspired

FIND KEVIN:

Find Kevin and his books:
https://kevintumlinson.com

Join Kevin on Substack:
https://kevintumlinson.substack.com

Wordslinger Podcast home page:
https://wordslingerpodcast.com

SERVICES FOR AUTHORS:

Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWriting Aid:
https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5

Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital:
https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger

Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor:
https://authoranchor.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT

Hate marketing your books? You’re probably thinking about marketing the wrong way.

A lot of writers hear “book marketing” and immediately think about running ads, posting constantly on social media, chasing TikTok trends, finding reviewers, testing campaigns, and spending money they may never earn back. No wonder authors get exhausted.

But marketing doesn’t have to mean any of that.

In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, I talk about a simpler way to think about marketing: reaching the right reader at the moment they’re most ready to discover your work. That can mean email. It can mean social media. It can mean a local book signing, a farmers market, your library, or simply asking your existing readers to tell someone else about your books.

If you wrote something you believe matters, then part of the job is helping people find it.

00:00 Can I just write my books?
00:37 Why authors feel buried by marketing
01:11 What writers usually mean by “marketing”
02:02 What marketing actually is
03:16 Why your email list matters so much
04:04 Start local and find readers nearby
04:51 Creative ways to sell books in your community
05:52 Libraries, farmers markets, and local events
06:34 Ask your readers to help spread the word
07:26 Marketing is really a conversation
08:34 Why writers have an obligation to share their work
09:26 What are your biggest marketing pain points?

Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at http://knoveltonbooks.com

GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS

If you’re a writer looking for practical, experience-tested guidance on writing, publishing, marketing, and building a sustainable creative career, subscribe to the Wordslinger channel. This is where we talk honestly about the work, the business, and the long game of becoming the writer you want to be.

FIND KEVIN:

Find Kevin and his books:
https://kevintumlinson.com

Join Kevin on Substack:
https://kevintumlinson.substack.com

Wordslinger Podcast home page:
https://wordslingerpodcast.com

SERVICES FOR AUTHORS:

Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid:
https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5

Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital:
https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger

Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books and more at AuthorAnchor:
https://authoranchor.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.