Inside the Writer's Soul artwork

Inside the Writer's Soul

28 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★ - 1 rating

You may write alone, but you are not alone. Inside the Writer’s Soul focuses on how personal experiences can inform your writing, and help you speak from the soul to really connect with readers and other authors as well. In this community for authors from any genre, background, or publishing type, we’ll also help you tackle challenges in all things writing including mindset, marketing, mental health, the muse, and more. Your writer’s soul doesn’t need to take the writing and publishing journey alone…join me, your host M. Khan along with rest of our community, and let’s move forward together.

Books Arts Society & Culture Personal Journals author book marketing community ebooks novellas novels personal stories self publishing short stories storyteller
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed

Episodes

Holistic Goal Setting (Organize Your Overwhelm Part 5) | #24

September 28, 2020 04:00 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MB

In this episode, I’ll share my holistic goal setting method. This is part 5 of my series on goal setting, and how it can help you organize the overwhelm of your life and set you up for success at any time of the year. In this episode: Types of goals Why goals fail My holistic goal setting method   After you listen, head to the blog and join our community and let me know: What would be or is your one goal? What is one thing you would change or work towards that would help you the most?  ...

Is this the end of the podcast? | #26

September 28, 2020 04:00 - 12 minutes - 11.4 MB

In this episode I’m sharing whether or not this is the end of the podcast. I’ll share what’s been going on over the last several months, and share thoughts about the future.   After you listen, head to the blog and join our community and let me know: How has this year been going for you?  Head to the blog now: https://mehvishkhan.com/is-this-the-end-of-the-podcast/ Sign-up for my newsletter to get free resources to help you: https://mehvishkhan.com/newsletter/

How to Prioritize Projects (Organize Your Overwhelm Part 6) | #25

September 28, 2020 04:00 - 6 minutes - 5.66 MB

In this episode, I’ll share how to prioritize any project, big or small. This is part 6 of my series on goal setting, and how it can help you organize the overwhelm of your life and set you up for success at any time of the year   After you listen, head to the blog and join our community and let me know: Have you used the prioritization matrix before? How did it help you? Head to the blog now: https://mehvishkhan.com/how-to-prioritize-projects/ Sign-up for my newsletter to get free resou...

Defining What You Need for Success (Organize Your Overwhelm Part 4) | #23

March 09, 2020 04:00 - 14 minutes - 13 MB

In this episode: Different ways to define success The one question you need to ask yourself The Be Do Have Method   After you listen, head to the blog and join our community and let me know: How can you use the Be Do Have method to help you? Head to the blog now: https://mehvishkhan.com/defining-what-you-need-for-success/ Sign-up for my newsletter to get free resources to help you: https://mehvishkhan.com/newsletter/ Join our podcast community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gr...

How Long it Takes to Write & Publish a Book (Organize Your Overwhelm Part 3) | #22

March 02, 2020 05:00 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MB

In this episode, I’m continuing with part 3 of my goal setting series and I’ll share exactly how long it took me to write and publish 3 books from start to finish, plus I share just how many days I spent writing last year. After you listen, head to the blog and join our community and let me know: What have you learned from this episode/blog post? What struck out to you the most? Has this information changed your view on writing and how much you ‘need’ to do? Head to the blog now: https://m...

How Much is Your Time Really Worth (Organize Your Overwhelm Part 2) | #21

February 24, 2020 05:00 - 23 minutes - 21.4 MB

This episode is part 2 of my series on goal setting, and how it can help you organize the overwhelm of your life and set yourself up for success at any time of the year. ⁠⁠You’ll learn how much your time is worth, including: How the 80/20 Rule (aka Pareto Principle) applies to you How to value to tasks you do How to decide which tasks you should focus on, and which tasks to outsource or get help with After you listen, head to the blog and join our community and let me know: What do you t...

The Key to Achieving Your Goals (Organize Your Overwhelm Part 1) | #20

February 17, 2020 20:55 - 11 minutes - 10.1 MB

Today’s episode is part 1 of my series on goal setting, and how it can help you organize the overwhelm of your life and set yourself up for success at any time of the year. ⁠⁠You’ll learn: What ‘productivity’ really means The truth about time The perception of time How to recognize your true priorities After you listen, head to the blog and join our community and let me know: What from this episode resonated with you? Has it changed your perception about time? Head to the blog now: htt...

Best Online Courses For Writers & Creators | #19

February 10, 2020 00:06 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MB

In this episode: Are online courses right for you? The types of courses available Course platforms (and technology) How much I spent on courses last year Reviews of courses I’ve taken including B-School, writing courses, and even courses to create courses After you listen, head to the blog and join our community and let me know: What courses have you taken or will you take this year? What kind of course would you love to take but can’t find? Head to the blog now: https://mehvishkhan.c...

My Pantser Writing Process | #18

January 27, 2020 05:00 - 15 minutes - 13.8 MB

In this episode: What I do before I start writing Tips that help me write Quick draft techniques I use How I edit as a panster After you listen, head to the blog and join our community and let me know: Share what helps you write and any tips you have whether you’re a pantser, plotter, or somewhere in-between Head to the blog now: https://mehvishkhan.com/my-pantser-writing-process/ Sign-up for my newsletter to get free resources to help you: https://mehvishkhan.com/newsletter/ Join ou...

How to Manage Low Energy Days | #17

January 25, 2020 19:22 - 16 minutes - 15 MB

In this episode: The signs of low/no energy days How to get past feeling like a failure on those days & letting go of the guilt of doing nothing Why doing nothing is really doing something 3 tips to help you accomplish your tasks – big and small – on those days   After you listen, head to the blog and join our community and let me know: What do you do on days when you don’t have any energy?  Head to the blog now: https://mehvishkhan.com/managing-low-no-energy-days/ Sign-up for my new...

Should You Self-Publish, Traditionally Publish, or Hybrid Publish? | #16

January 13, 2020 05:00 - 18 minutes - 17 MB

In this episode: The differences in self-publishing, traditional publishing, and hybrid publishing Pros and cons of different publishing types 5 questions to ask yourself to help you decide which publishing type is best for you After you listen, head to the blog and join our community and let me know: Which publishing path are you interested in pursuing or are currently pursuing?  Head to the blog now: https://mehvishkhan.com/publishing-types/ Sign-up for my newsletter to get free reso...

2020 Plans | #15

January 06, 2020 05:00 - 6 minutes - 6.04 MB

In this episode: My writing and business plans for the year Get a peek at my upcoming Organize Your Overwhelm course and how you can win access for free, along with other tools for authors that are launching this year to help you All my ambitious writing plans How to avoid comparisonitis How to avoid failing at projects and goals you start After you listen, head to the blog and join our community and let me know: What are you planning to do this year and how are you defining success fo...

Decade in Review Part 2 | #14

December 30, 2019 05:00 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MB

In this episode: Part 2 of my decade in review (2015-2019) How I began to turn my writing into a career How I recognized my depression triggers Being proud of yourself vs being conceited 2010 me vs 2019 me The biggest takeaway from the past ten years After you listen, head to the blog and join our community and let me know: What have you learned about yourself over the last ten years? Head to the blog now: https://mehvishkhan.com/decade-in-review/ Sign-up for my newsletter to get fr...

Decade in Review Part 1 | #13

December 23, 2019 05:00 - 19 minutes - 18.3 MB

In this episode: Part 1 of my decade in review (2010-2014) The story of the stranger on the train who helped me without realizing it How I began to learn to believe in myself even when those around me didn’t The painful truth behind every decision I made After you listen, head to the blog and join our community and let me know what you thought about this episode. Head to the blog now: https://mehvishkhan.com/decade-in-review/ Sign-up for my newsletter to get free resources to help you...

It’s Okay to Write a Bad Book | #12

December 16, 2019 05:00 - 13 minutes - 12.1 MB

“It’s okay to write a bad book. It’s okay to publish a bad book. Give yourself permission to be a beginner. Give yourself permission to improve and congratulate yourself as you do get better. Don’t be so hard on yourself and don’t focus on all the negative things about your book or story. Focus on the positive – you finished a story or a book! That’s amazing. Be proud of yourself.” In this episode: What’s a ‘bad’ book? How negativity bias plays a role Valuing the decision to publish a ba...

How to Decide What to Write Next | #11

December 09, 2019 05:00 - 17 minutes - 16.3 MB

In this episode: When to push yourself to write My mindset trick to help you finish your first or next book 3 Tips to help you decide what to write next The story shared in this episode: Details of my writing process “If you have not planned what you’re writing for 2020 yet, that’s perfectly okay. You are not behind, you are going at your own pace and that is completely okay. But if you struggle to decide what to write next, of if you’d just like a few fresh ideas or a couple of differe...

Word of the Year | #10

December 02, 2019 05:00 - 13 minutes - 12.3 MB

“While a yearly theme is an overall concept that I want to keep working towards for the entire year, a word of the year is something that I will incorporate into my daily life and utilize every day.”   In this episode: What’s a word of the year? Do you need a word of the year? My words in 2018 and 2019, and my upcoming word for 2020 The story shared in this episode: how words of the year have helped me to grow personally and, in some respects, heal myself After you listen, head to the...

Yearly Themes | #9

November 25, 2019 05:00 - 15 minutes - 14.3 MB

“The yearly themes I’ve used have helped transform my life. They’ve helped me to focus, to grow and accept myself, and have even helped heal me physically, emotionally, mentally, and even creatively.” In this episode: What’s a yearly theme? Do you need a yearly theme? My themes in 2018 and 2019, and my upcoming theme for 2020 The story shared in this episode: how yearly themes have helped me focus, grow, accept myself, and push me in the right direction After you listen, head to the bl...

The One Journal That Changed My Author Mindset | #8

November 18, 2019 05:00 - 10 minutes - 9.49 MB

“It’s a really great and simple idea. It’s something I started doing this year and, even though I’m not finished with one full year of this journal, it’s the only journal I have ever been able to consistently and continually write in every single day, and it’s completely changed my mindset.” In this episode: Do you usually give up on journaling? Introduction to the 5-year journal, which is the only journal I’ve written in every day The benefits of looking back for reflection The story s...

Four ‘E’s of Audience Expectations | #7

November 11, 2019 05:00 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MB

“No matter what medium you are using to express yourself, so long as you keep these different audiences in mind and what the expectations for the various audiences are, it can help you with your work.” In this episode: The four ‘E’s of audience expectations – what audiences are expecting from your work, whether you’re an #author, #filmmaker, #photographer, #artist, #songwriter, or other type of #creator. The story shared in this episode: How each ‘E’ applies to different facets of my book...

Four ‘E’s of Audience Expectations| #7

November 11, 2019 05:00 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MB

“No matter what medium you are using to express yourself, so long as you keep these different audiences in mind and what the expectations for the various audiences are, it can help you with your work.” In this episode: The four ‘E’s of audience expectations – what audiences are expecting from your work, whether you’re an #author, #filmmaker, #photographer, #artist, #songwriter, or other type of #creator. The story shared in this episode: How each ‘E’ applies to different facets o...

Spending Your Creativity | #6

November 07, 2019 11:19 - 8 minutes - 7.75 MB

“Have you ever had a moment where you sit down to write, but all you feel is drained and as if there’s nothing waiting for you – no plots, no stories, no characters, nothing? That’s what it feels like to be creatively drained and to have spent all your creativity.” In this week’s episode, we’ll be talking about something we do all the time but may not realize it: spending our creativity. I’ll share my story about how writing every day actually harmed me creatively, and how I rebounded from ...

Should You Participate in NaNoWriMo?| #5

October 28, 2019 04:00 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MB

“For me, NaNoWriMo is just not realistic. I know myself, I know my schedule, I understand the time that I have in November between work and family commitments and I know I won’t finish writing a complete book. Being realistic is accepting that I can't finish the book in a month, and I am absolutely, completely 100% okay with that.”   In this episode: What is #NaNoWriMo? Reasons you may (or may not) want to participate in #NaNo, plus 5 tips if you do The story shared in this epi...

Should You Participate in NaNoWriMo? | #5

October 28, 2019 04:00 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MB

“For me, NaNoWriMo is just not realistic. I know myself, I know my schedule, I understand the time that I have in November between work and family commitments and I know I won’t finish writing a complete book. Being realistic is accepting that I can't finish the book in a month, and I am absolutely, completely 100% okay with that.”   In this episode: What is #NaNoWriMo? Reasons you may (or may not) want to participate in #NaNo, plus 5 tips if you do The story shared in this episode: How...

Loneliness in Writing | #4

October 21, 2019 04:00 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MB

“That’s one reason why I started this podcast, because I wanted to share stories like these. Because I don’t think I’m the only one from this background, or this culture, or from a similar or even dissimilar culture or background who might feel the same way I do. Who feel like they need to lock their emotions away, and who feel that they’re forced to pretend at happiness and can’t claim anything real.”   In this episode: The difference between being alone and feeling lonely The lonely re...

Should You Acknowledge Holidays? | #3

October 14, 2019 04:00 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MB

“So, as much as I loved being on that stage in that holiday play in the beginning, it quickly became something else. It became something I wouldn’t realize until much later was about race and exclusion and reminding people that I was different, not explaining to people that I already belonged.” In this episode: Pros, cons, and considerations of acknowledging holidays in your writing Pros, cons, and considerations of acknowledging holidays on your social media The story shared in this epi...

Why You Don’t Need to Write Every Day to Be An Author | #2

October 07, 2019 04:00 - 9 minutes - 8.87 MB

“One of my biggest beliefs is that there is no wrong way to write. However you write, is a great way to do it. But you shouldn’t sacrifice your personal health or your creative health in order to get the writing done. The important thing is to write consistently.” In this episode: Why you don’t need to write every day to be an author The difference between writing daily and writing consistently How I write more and better while only writing on weekends The story shared in this episode: ...

Fear of Writing | #1

September 29, 2019 21:19 - 13 minutes - 12.1 MB

“As I realized I had control over my writing, as I realized I had control over that FEAR of writing, it also made me realize I had control over other things in my life, too.” In this episode: Why I started this podcast to build a community of authors My love of cursing My fear of writing and how it turned out to be a strength, not a weakness The story shared in this episode: the start of my writing journey in 2013, and my fear of writing and how it turned out to be a strength, not a wea...