The Author Burnout Cure
Episodes
116. Professional Jealousy: Author Edition
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The more successful you get as an author, the harder it is to find an emotionally supportive community. People assume that confidence comes from succe...
115. What Do You Already Know?
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s easy to feel stuck when you’re trying to improve your author career or write your next book. There aren’t a ton of certainties or absolutes...
114. Are You On Track?
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We’re a quarter of the way through 2024 … how are your author goals going? Now is the perfect time to dust off your goals, celebrate the progress ...
113. Nerding Out on “The Gap & The Gain”
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I rarely do this, but I have a non-fic book recommendation for y’all this week. I’ve been reading The Gap & The Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. B...
112. Overcoming Burnout-Induced Apathy
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve found yourself wondering, “Is this whole writing thing even worth it anymore?” this episode is for you. When you’ve worked really ha...
111. How to Navigate Publishing “Discourse”
13 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Social media often swings between a highlight reel of amazing book deals and doom-and-gloom declarations that the publishing industry is slowly dying....
110. Public Speaking Tips with Madeline Schwarz
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you don’t love public speaking, this episode is for you. Communication coach, Madeline Schwarz, is on the podcast today talking all things public...
109. The Empowered Author Principles
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For the final backstage pass this month, we’re taking a look at the agenda you’ll find inside The Empowered Author Principles - the 4th and final ...
108. The Authentic Marketing Method
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Like it or not, when you become an author, marketing becomes part of your job description. It doesn’t have to take over your entire life though. In ...
107. The Creative Flow Formula
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s nearly impossible to access creative flow when you’re avoiding your book and feeling all sorts of dread and anxiety about the publishing proc...
106. The Joyful Writing Protocol
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ready for a backstage pass? This week, we’re diving into the first pillar of the curriculum I teach inside The Confident Author Academy. The Joyful ...
105. Hustle is a Mindset
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you know if you’re hustling and in danger of burning out? You can’t tell simply by looking at WHAT you’re doing or how much you’re writ...
104. 35 Lessons on my 35th Birthday
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s my birthday! (Tomorrow!) In honor of turning 35, I’m sharing 35 lessons about writing, publishing, and life. Some are silly. Some are profoun...
103. The Motivation Bank
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In order to weather all of the hard parts about publishing, you need to have a fully funded Motivation Bank. What is a motivation bank and how do you ...
102. When Your Book Gets Canceled
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the summer of 2023, my publisher decided to cancel the final book under contract with them. After two years of work, Gay Ghost Book was no more. To...
101. Writing Through Life's Plot Twists
03 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Surprise! We had a baby! Which means those plans I made for 2024? Yup, those need adjusting. Today, I’m bringing you inside my thought process as I ...
100. Listener Q&A
27 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s finally here: the highly anticipated 100th episode, with answers to all of YOUR questions! In this episode, I tackle questions about trad vs in...
99. Planning for 2024
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Last week we evaluated 2023, so now it’s time to look ahead into the future and decide what kind of author year you want to create. This process giv...
98. Evaluating 2023
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the time of year where everyone starts talking about goal setting. Before you look ahead to 2024, it’s important to evaluate the year you jus...
97. What to Do When Your Book “Flops”
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It can feel awful when your book doesn’t perform as expected. On top of the disappointment and grief, you’re also struggling to write the next boo...
96. Simplifying Social Media
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Social media is a source of stress and overwhelm for many authors. Does it actually sell books? Do you have to be on TikTok to succeed in publishing? ...
95. Navigating "Best Books of the Year" Lists
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s that time of year again: “Best Books of the Year” lists are popping up all over the internet. While these lists are great for TBR piles and...
94. Better than Baseline with Roz Ray
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What can change with just six months of coaching? Everything. But don’t take my word for it. I interviewed my client, Roz Ray, about her experience ...
93. The Sophomore "Slump"
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you call it the Sophomore Slump or the Book 2 Blues, no one wants to hear that their second novel didn’t live up to their first. Especially ...
92. Celebrating Your Book Release
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
No one throws you a parade when your book comes out. If you want to celebrate your release and make the day feel special (and I definitely recommend t...
91. Foundational Beliefs
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What you believe about yourself, your writing abilities, and your place in publishing affects the way you experience your career. Today, I’m sharing...
90. Compare & Despair: Author Edition
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Compare and despair–that flash of jealousy and disappointment when you see someone else’s good news–is a common phenomenon. Thankfully, your opt...
89. Juggling Multiple Deadlines
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Once you sell your first book, it’s just a matter of time before you’re juggling deadlines for multiple books. There is no perfect schedule out th...
88. Redefining Success with Susan Dennard
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning, NYT bestselling author, Susan Dennard, joins the podcast this week to discuss the ever-shifting landscape of traditional publishing, wh...
87. Setting Contingency Goals
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you set writing goals when one or more projects have timelines that are outside of your control? Enter Contingency Goals, where you decide the ...
86. How to Write When *Life* Happens
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Life rarely unfolds according to plan. When your schedule gets tossed into the air – or there’s some kind of emergency – how do you keep writing...
85. Saying Goodbye to Your Book
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you've released a book into the world or tucked it away in a drawer, saying goodbye to your book is a powerful way to create closure and open ...
84. Embracing the First Draft with Caitlin Fisher
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
No matter where you are in your author career--a brand new writer drafting your very first novel or ten-books into your publishing career--working wit...
83. Nervous System 101 with Dr. Andrea Moore
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Your nervous system has a profound impact on your life - including your ability to access creativity and enjoy writing. I spoke with Dr. Andrea Moore,...
82. Who Do You Think You Are?
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who you think you are … is who you become. Like I promised last week, we’re talking self-concept: where it comes from, how it impacts your author ...
81. The Author/Agent Relationship
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For traditionally published authors, having an agent is standard practice. Unfortunately, most authors approach that relationship in a way that actual...
80. There is No “Right” Decision
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Your author career is full of decisions: should you shelve that project or try another rewrite? Which offer should you accept for your debut? How will...
79. Publishing’s WTF Moments
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when the publishing industry throws you a not-so-pleasant curve ball? What do you do when your agent leaves the industry, your publishe...
78. The Stories You Tell Yourself
25 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Authors are masterful story tellers … but sometimes that works against us. When we take the facts of our career and twist them to tell shitty storie...
77. The 4 Cs of Consistent Writing
18 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Writing more consistently isn’t about better willpower or stricter schedules. My 4 Cs process allows you to write more while also having more fun. S...
76. You Can’t Lose the Magic
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Writing can feel magical at times … but what happens when that magic seems to dry up? It’s a common fear, but an irrational one, too. You can’t ...
75. The Space Between Deadlines
04 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Congrats! You’ve finished the latest draft of your book. Now, you’re in that weird interstitial place of being between deadlines. Should you rest ...
74. Prioritize Your Writing Joy
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A sure-fire way to kill the joy of writing is to convince yourself that it'll be better ... later. After you sell another book. After you finish this ...
73. Time Off Doesn't Solve Burnout
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A common mistake authors make when trying to solve burnout is simply stepping away from their work and hoping that break will fix things for them. Exc...
72. How to Keep Going When You Want to Quit
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you're on the verge of quitting, drop everything and listen to this episode. While there is no shame in moving on from a dream that no longer serve...
71. The 5 Categories of Your Writing Life
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Working with authors, I've found 5 major categories of writing and authoring that contribute most to author burnout. Today, I'm giving you a backstage...
70. How to Balance Writing & Marketing
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As an author, you have two primary roles: writing new books and marketing the ones you already have. Balancing those very different jobs causes a lot ...
69. The Destination is Fleeting. Protect the Journey
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Chasing after publishing milestones - while neglecting how you feel as you get there - is a fast path to burnout. Career highlights, like selling your...
68. Not Writing? Goal Specificity Can Help
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When you're genuinely excited to write, but you're still skipping writing sessions .... vague goals may be to blame. To help you get to the page, I'm ...
67. You Can’t Hustle Your Way to Happy
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the great lies of hustle culture is that we’ll be happier once we achieve a certain external milestone. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to h...
66. Money Mindset Magic with Serena Hicks
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s easy in publishing to feel like we should just say yes to whatever book deals come our way. But that “be quiet and be grateful” feeling is ...
65. Imposter Syndrome 2.0
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Imposter Syndrome often comes hand-in-hand with burnout. Owning your accomplishments, owning the role you played in getting where you are today, is es...
64. When You Know You Shouldn't Read Reviews ... But You Do It Anyway
18 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You've probably heard it before: "Don't read reviews!" And while that's good advice, most authors don't follow it . . . for at least one of their book...
63. Accommodating the Plot with Kiri Callaghan
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Writers with ADHD (and other neurospicy brains) gather 'round. Today we're talking to Kiri Callaghan, author of Alys and Changeling. Kiri has a unique...
62. “I Have to” is a Lie
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You’re a grown ass adult. You don’t “have to” do anything. But … sometimes it really feels like we do, especially when it comes to deadlines...
61. The Lure of Productivity Hacks
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re not writing as much as you want, it’s normal to google productivity hacks to try to get your word count up. But if burnout is th reason ...
60. When to Delete Your Book & Start Over
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When you get a hefty edit letter–or realize your book isn’t working–sometimes the best choice is toss out the current draft and start over. It’...
59. The Power of Writing Retreats
08 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Writing is typically a solitary pursuit, which makes the collaborative nature of writing retreats especially powerful. Today I’m teaching you how to...
58. Tracking Your Writing Data
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to take control of your author career, and create without burnout, you need to know your writing data. But! You want to make sure you focu...
57. Know Your Empowered “No”
22 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to take control of your author career, you need to know how to say no. And not just the right words to say. An empowered no comes from und...
56. The Sustainable Author Schedule
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a sustainable writing schedule? If you’re experiencing burnout, the answer is probably no. But don’t despair! Today, I’m teach...
55. Different Types of Goals
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I’m on deadline this month, so I’m bringing you a few lessons from my Love Writing Again self-paced course. Today, we’re talking about the diffe...
54. Why You Should Celebrate Your Wins
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I’m on deadline this month, so I’m bringing you a few lessons from my Love Writing Again self-paced course. Today, we’re talking about celebrati...
53. Publishing while Parenting with Dahlia Adler & Jennifer Dugan
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There's no one right way to carve a path in publishing, and today's guest--authors Jennifer Dugan and Dahlia Adler--are fabulous examples of that. Plu...
52. How to Create Emotions on Purpose
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I’m on deadline this month, so I’m bringing you a few lessons from my Love Writing Again self-paced course. Today, we’re talking about how to cr...
51. How to Process Emotions
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I’m on deadline this month, so I’m bringing you a few lessons from my Love Writing Again self-paced course. Today, we’re talking about how to pr...
50. Your Beliefs about Writing (and Publishing)
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I’m on deadline this month, so I’m bringing you a few lessons from my Love Writing Again self-paced course. Today, we’re talking about how your ...
49. Own Your Superpower
27 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Every author has a superpower. Yours may be revision, dialogue, or your marketing savvy. It can be tricky to spot, though. So in today's episode, I sh...
48. Don't Shit Talk Your Readers
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You would never talk shit about your readers intentionally...but there's a subtle way a lot of authors diminish and downplay the readers they have. On...
47. A Love Letter to Debut Authors
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dear 2023 Debuts: You're about to make the shift from writer to published author. This is incredible...but it can be stressful af if your&nb...
46. Who Do You Want to BE in 2023?
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's that time of year again - time for reviewing the year that's past and look ahead to what we "should" accomplish in the next year. I'd like t...
45. How to Set Boundaries
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Let's talk boundaries. We can't control other humans and what they do and/or say (about your books sales and whether you should get a "real job"), but...
44. Answering Book Questions During Family Gatherings
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How's your book doing? How many copies have you sold? Are you a millionaire yet? - When you're a writer, the questions you get at family gatherin...
43. Staying in Love with Your Story
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Having trouble staying committed to your novel long enough to reach the end? Get distracted by shiny new ideas? This episode offers strategies for kno...
42. My NaNoWriMo Origin Story
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Happy National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo)! 10 years ago TODAY, I started writing a novel for the very first time. A decade later, I share som...
41. Deadlines Don't Cause Burnout
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Deadlines don't cause burnout...our THOUGHTS about deadlines do. The good news? You can manage your thoughts and meet a tight deadline without losing ...
40. How to BE a Writer
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Last week I presented my How to BE a Writer workshop, and today I'm sharing it with all of you, too! Learn how to let go of the advice ...
39. The Magic of Creativity
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Writing is a little bit (okay, perhaps a LOT bit) magical. Even if you're more of a realist, this episode makes the case for why thinking about storyt...
38. You Are Not Wrong
04 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you're looking to increase your word count (or the number of books you read in a year), telling yourself that you're wrong for not doing it the way...
37. Three Steps to Writing When You Say You Will
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How often do you show up for the writing sessions than you plan for yourself? If it's less than 90% (or if you don't get as much done during thos...
36. Momentum Creates Motivation
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of us mistakenly wait to feel motivated before we write, but it's pretty damn hard to feel motivated without a little momentum. The good ne...
35. Don't Argue with Reality
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ya girl has COVID so this week I'm bringing you a quick episode that's unscripted and unedited (though I did cut out the coughing - y'all don't need t...
34. The Long Con with Karen Strong
06 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Friends, you are in for a TREAT! Karen Strong, author of Just South of Home and Eden's Everdark (which is out today!), join...
33. Writing Shouldn't Make You Miserable
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We tell stories because we love it ... or, at least, that's how it started. Yet many writers find themselves miserable and burnt out on the road to ac...
32. When Your Story Sucks
23 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One of the biggest fears I hear from new writers is that their writing sucks. Here's the thing, friends. It probably does. But that's not actually a p...
31. Reclaiming Your Power in an Uncertain Industry
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Traditional publishing is full of all sorts of inequities and strange business practices that leave authors scratching their heads thinking, "WTF is h...
30. Belief vs Detailed Fantasy
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Do you believe in your writing goals? Or are they just a pretty fantasy you escape to from time to time? Knowing the difference is vital if you actual...
29. Setting Your Revision Mindset
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There are two main camps of writers: those who love revision and those who hate it. I fall firmly in the former, and it's part of my mission to help o...
28. Choose Your Hard
26 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Writing a novel is hard. But so is feeling disappointed year after year that you don't achieve your dream of writing one. In today's episode, I talk a...
27. Publishing Burnout w/ Lit Agent & Life Coach Jessica Killingley
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Burnout doesn't just affect writers - it's infiltrated all levels of traditional publishing. This week, I chatted with literary agent and certified li...
26. If Writing Is So Hard...Why Do We Do It?
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Writing a novel is a genuinely challenging thing to do. It brings up all of our self-doubts, plus, it's a process that takes months to YEARS to c...
25. A Million Micro Decisions
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Writing a novel requires you to make a nearly infinite amount of decisions. From big picture decisions like your protagonist's driving desire to ...
24. Scheduling Self-Care with Shelly Page
28 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
To wrap up our Pride Month series, today I'm sharing an interview with Shelly Page, an agented YA writer who is in a not-often-talked-about stage of h...
23. Publishing in a Pandemic with Aiden Thomas
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today I'm joined by NYT best selling author, Aiden Thomas, who launched his debut YA novel, Cemetery Boys, during the first year of the pandemic....
22. Writing with Pride with Mara Fitzgerald & Christine Lynn Herman
14 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mara Fitzgerald and Christine Lynn Herman are back for part 2 of our conversation. In this episode, we talk about how we fit writing into our lives an...
21. The Post-Debut Blues w/ Christine Lynn Herman and Mara Fitzgerald
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I'm joined today by two fabulous authors Christine Lynn Herman and Mara Fitzgerald to talk all things author burnout - especially post debut...
20. "I'm not a real writer."
31 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One of the fastest way to kill your creative drive is to tell yourself, "I'm not a real writer." Today I examine where those thoughts come from, why t...
19. Shame is a Shitty Motivator
24 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Shame is one of the most common--yet least effective--ways we try to convince ourselves to get to work. In today's episode, I explain why shame is suc...
18. Stop Crowdsourcing Approval
17 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We all do it. We have something we want, but we're afraid to just go for it and take the plunge. So instead, we ask everyone we know (and sometimes st...
17. Whose Responsibility Is It?
10 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Burnout in publishing is A Thing, but whose responsibility is it to reduce burnout and create a more sustainable publishing ecosystem? The publishing ...