Episode 168: Self-Care Tips for Writers

In this encore presentation of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I share what I do to really soak up the final hours of one year and look ahead to the next one. I don't know about you, but New Year's Eve just might be my favorite day of the whole year! But I know that a lot of people have different feelings coming up and lots of ‘shoulds’ in their brain - I should have done more of this. I should have done more of that. In some ways, those can be helpful signals!! Listen in as I chat about: How to decide what things to delegate or take off your to-do list. What we can do to keep our big ambitions from causing us to burn out. The one thing you can do to become a better writer in the new year. What I’m proud of myself for and celebrating! You’ll also hear the four questions that I ask myself every New Year's Eve to really help me celebrate, focus, regroup, and set my intentions for the year ahead. Download the free PDF with these exact questions listed out and see what comes up for YOU! Have a happy New Year celebrating! Here's to an amazing, creative and beautiful 2025 – the perfect year to write your book! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dallas-woodburn/support

In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I share a little love note from my heart to yours. I also reflect on my daughter's namesake, my Grandma Auden, and how so many of us have no idea how far our legacies extend, the ripples that we create, the ways that we touch other people's lives. I touch on:  Why being a book coach is so important to me. How I’m trying to show my children the power of building a life around my creative energy.  The huge shift that happens when we start to put ourselves, put our joy, put our creativity first in our lives. What feedback I received from people in my Facebook community and on my newsletter list that helped me create a new program. And if you’re looking to write a book as part of your legacy, let’s make 2025 the year it happens! You can grab YOUR BOOK MATTERS: 52 love notes from my creative heart to yours, to help you write the book inside your heart. Part reflective journal, part motivational cheerleader, part accountability guide, YOUR BOOK MATTERS (available on Amazon) will give you a little burst of inspiration every week of the year, so that you can feel supported as you go through the natural ups and downs of the creative process.  🎁 Send me a DM and let me know you ordered a copy of my book for yourself (or for a friend if you already have a copy) and I’ll send you a digital download of a beautiful printable 2025 calendar featuring affirmations from the book to keep track of your writing progress! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dallas-woodburn/support

In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I address the common misconception that writing a book will take a lot of time – time away from your business and other money making actions that seem more urgent. Spoiler alert: I think that the opposite is true! I believe that writing your book is one of the biggest gifts to your business and one of the best things you can do to increase efficiency and productivity and save time in your business. You’ll hear me share reasons and examples why I think this, including: How to avoid spending all our time putting out fires of day-to-day business and client tasks. The simple way writing a book allows you to schedule your CEO time on a consistent basis and actually stay committed to it. The mindset shifts that I and my clients have experienced that have helped us to grow into the next level in life and business. The importance of creating an enduring content bank and the strategy I use for organizing content so it’s easy to find and keep track of. After listening I think you’ll agree that writing a book is the most efficient time-saving gift for your business! And if you want to end the year by nourishing your creativity, sign up for 🎁 12 Days of Writing Gifts for a joyous, creative holiday season! From December 12-23 you’ll receive a daily surprise in your inbox from my heart to yours. Each gift is a small treat that won't take much time out of your busy day. Play with words, rejuvenate your creative spirit and nourish your wellspring of ideas. It makes the perfect gift for creative friends, too! Just because it's a busy season doesn't mean you need to put your writing on hold! Sign up at https://dallaswoodburn.thrivecart.com/12-days-of-writing-gifts/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dallas-woodburn/support

In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I share three stories from my own writing life of ways that gratitude has helped me. Gratitude has been the number one thing that has helped me sustain my writing career! Leaning into gratitude in all different seasons has brought feelings of purpose, contentment, excitement and joy. From my journey I’m sharing:  How a gratitude practice I began back in high school was the seed that began my podcast The ways gratitude allowed me to shift my mindset and perspective  What allowed me to manifest my childhood dream The importance of figuring out the essential gratitude you have for your writing project Tune into this week’s episode to hear ways you can incorporate gratitude into your writing and life, wherever you are along the journey. And if you want to end the year by nourishing your creativity, sign up for 🎁 12 Days of Writing Gifts for a joyous, creative holiday season! From December 12-23 you’ll receive a daily surprise in your inbox from my heart to yours. Each gift is a small treat that won't take much time out of your busy day. Play with words, rejuvenate your creative spirit and nourish your wellspring of ideas.It makes the perfect gift for creative friends, too! Just because it's a busy season doesn't mean you need to put your writing on hold! Click here to sign up. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dallas-woodburn/support

In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m sharing a sneak peek of the curriculum from week 7 of Thriving Authors Academy about how to boost your writing power. Beyond my mentorship and the community in Thriving Authors Academy, you also receive video lessons and a printed workbook where I distill down the most essential lessons about writing, editing, publishing and marketing your book! So today you’ll get to hear a bit of my teaching style! I’m diving into: What is scene vs. what is summary. Finding your strengths and developing your natural gifts as a writer. How you can really hook your reader and grab their attention. The counterintuitive way to make your story more relatable to all readers. How to write a book that sticks with your reader long after they’ve turned the final page. What would it mean for YOUR writing life to have a weekly video lesson just like this delivered straight to your inbox every week? Along with a printed workbook that you can follow along with and actually write out all of these exercises to help you not only write your book, but write the best book possible? Then I would love to invite you to join me in Thriving Authors Academy. I’ll help you feel inspired and empowered throughout the creative process, from first seed of an idea to finished manuscript… and then polished manuscript… and then beautiful published book with your name on the cover. This round goes from October 8 to March 29, 2025. Find out more at www.ThrivingAuthorsAcademy.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dallas-woodburn/support

In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m talking about ways to create a writing routine that actually fits into your life – even if this is a busy season for you and things are hectic. If writing is something that you keep telling yourself you're going to carve out time to do, but it just seems to always slip away with other more urgent tasks that take up your time, then this episode is for you! I share: The benefits to blocking even 10 -15 minute increments of writing in your calendar. What aspects of your life to consider when creating a writing routine. The first step to take to create your new writing habit. Ideas and examples that clients – and myself – have found success with to make writing time something to look forward to rather than it feeling like just another task. I’m excited for you to experience the joy and ease that a writing routine can bring and the incredible progress that you can make to really move forward on your book! >> If you’re ready to commit to writing your book, join me in the next round of Thriving Authors Academy that starts October 8th! Find more details at ThrivingAuthorsAcademy.com or send me a message. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dallas-woodburn/support

In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m excited to share my conversation with an amazing author and dear friend of mine, Jessica Booth, whose second novel A PICTURE PERFECT SUMMER just came out. She shares: How being a huge reader inspires her to write. The modifications she made to the timeline for her second book based on lessons she learned the first time around. How she's built a community of book lovers and the benefits of authentic engagement. What she did to gain momentum before launch day. Insight into what interconnected standalone novels are and plans for her next novel. I think you’ll love Jessica’s advice and perspective – as a busy mom of four who has a day job and runs a Bookstagram account – especially if you’ve ever wondered how you’ll find the time to write. >> If you’re ready to commit to writing your book, join me in the next round of Thriving Authors Academy that starts October 8th! Find more details at ThrivingAuthorsAcademy.com or send me a message.  About Jessica: Jessica is a lifelong reader and writer. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and professional writing before making a career in journalism and editing. Jessica has always dreamt of writing a book, and her love for novels spurred her into becoming an avid bookstagrammer. She loves books that make people happy. Although she grew up in North Louisiana, Jessica now resides in Southwestern Ohio with her husband, pack of rowdy children, and a couple of hounds. They love to spend their time together visiting indie bookstores, or outside digging up worms and transforming piles of sticks into castles. Follow her at @readbelievelove and https://jessicaboothauthor.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dallas-woodburn/support

In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m sharing about some new routines in my life due to some big (fun!) transitions in my family, and how I’m able to continue making progress with my writing. If you crave more structure around your writing routine – or are finding yourself resisting your writing time – I think you’ll find this episode helpful.  Beyond creating a nurturing and sustainable writing routine, in this episode I also dig into a topic that’s been coming up with clients and in other conversations recently. If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I ready to write my book?” then tune in as I talk about how the limiting beliefs holding us back around our books can give us big insights about our lives and businesses. You’ll also hear the shifts and reframes that my clients and I find helpful and empowering as we pour ourselves into our work. As you go through the process of writing your book, you’ll get clarity around your business and your life's work. The stories, teachings and concepts you share through your book will change your readers’ lives. And, if you’re a business owner too, your book is just the beginning of how readers will want to work with you!  >> If you’re ready to commit to writing your book, join me in the next round of Thriving Authors Academy that starts October 8th! Find more details at ThrivingAuthorsAcademy.com or send me a message.  Resources mentioned: Writing Routine Checklist Episode 153: The 2 Biggest Objections I Hear --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dallas-woodburn/support

In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m sharing my own personal experience of coming out of a season of book launching–a topic that comes up a lot with my clients in Thriving Authors Academy. Do you ever wonder how you can: Create a sustainable creative practice Build a career as a writer Actually get to the finish line of your book … without burning out? My answer: build plenty of self-care into your writing routine. In this episode, I delve into my TOP EIGHT self-care tips for writers. Listen, bookmark, and enjoy! This might be an episode you want to save and come back to when you need to hear it again. I always like to pause and reflect on my self-care practices after a book launch, after I finish a big project, when I hit a milestone in my life like a birthday or anniversary, or even with the change of seasons. You can also download a FREE PDF with all eight of these tips! ‍>> Is your heart calling to write your book, and you are yearning to be part of my Thriving Authors Academy, but the financial investment is a barrier for you? I am joyfully offering one scholarship for Thriving Authors Academy, and the application is NOW OPEN! Get all the details and apply here: https://bit.ly/TAAScholarship << --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dallas-woodburn/support

In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m excited to share my conversation with my client and dear friend Olive Mazerolle, whose memoir Dancing With the Clouds was just published. And Olive’s book is actually our pick for August’s Thriving Authors Book Club! I hope you’ll join us later this month to meet Olive and chat about her book.I’m so proud of Olive for writing this brave and beautiful book, which she worked on throughout her time in my Thriving Authors Academy! It's been just such an honor to journey with her and support her through the book-birthing experience – and in this podcast episode, she shares a bit about what her experience going through the program was like.Olive also shares: When she knew there was a book inside of her that she was meant to write. How the process of writing can be a gift to others. Why she decided to sign up for Thriving Authors Academy and her biggest takeaways from being part of it. The most intimidating part of birthing her memoir and what gave her the confidence to go forward. >> If you found this conversation insightful, make sure you grab Olive’s book here and sign up for the Thriving Authors Book Club at http://bit.ly/thrivingauthorsbookclub! Then mark your calendar for Wednesday, August 28th at 10a.m. Pacific Time! We always have so much fun during these gatherings when we chat about the book and to hear from the author about their writing & publishing experience. About Olive: Olive Mazerolle grew up in a small fishing village called Baie Sainte-Anne on the most easterly point of New Brunswick. As a civilian employee, Olive gave thirty-five years of her life to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. At the end of her career, after experiencing both personal and professional traumas, she found herself diagnosed with moderate-to-severe PTSD. Through years of seeking the psychological help she needed, she finally understood that her traumas had led her to Post Traumatic Growth (PTG). For Olive, PTG was transformative and brought the realization that she had actually grown after adversity. She turned towards altruism, opened up to new experiences, became spiritually mature and embraced gratitude for the life she now lives, saying, “Without these challenges, I may not be the person I am proud to be today.” Her only hope for this, her first book, is that it can help others. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dallas-woodburn/support