The Career Author Podcast: Episode 105 – Reflections on 2019

Reflections on 2019

It’s hard to believe that 2020 is almost upon us. In this reflective episode, Zach and J. look back at 2019 and discuss some of their personal successes and struggles while also talking about what went right—and wrong—with Molten Universe Media.

The Career Author Podcast is a podcast where co-authors J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon share their struggles and successes as full-time authors, advice for improving your writing craft, and honest discussions of what it takes to build a successful career as an author.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

  • How J. and Zach’s partnership continues to evolve
  • Why they are not in a hurry to produce Molten Universe Media books
  • Why you don’t have to fear change as long as you’re in honest communication with others
  • Why J. is putting more of an emphasis on education and non-fiction in 2020
  • Why you should either say “Hell, yes!” or “no” to everything
  • How J. and Zach are avoiding day jobs
  • Why Zach has realized he can’t juggle multiple projects
  • How both guys have made travel an important and exciting part of their jobs

Also, learn the incredible power of getting 1% better every day.

Send us your ways and hacks – https://thecareerauthor.com/waysandhacks/ 

Leave us a comment: What was the best part of your 2019?

Thanks to all of our Patrons.

Podcast sponsored by Kobo Writing Life – https://writinglife.kobobooks.com 

Get exclusive bonus content by supporting The Career Author Podcast on Patreon at www.patreon.com/thecareerauthor

Want to work with us? Get the details at https://thecareerauthor.com/services/

Links:

1% better daily, 37x better in one year – https://heleo.com/get-1-better-every-day/19161/ 

The December Giveaway is up now! – http://www.thecareerauthor.com

The Career Author YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/thecareerauthor

Three Story Method – http://threestorymethod.com

Molten Universe Media – http://www.moltenuniversemedia.com

Events – https://thecareerauthor.com/events/ 


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8 responses to “The Career Author Podcast: Episode 105 – Reflections on 2019”

  1. Christopher Avatar

    Morning guys. Like your way today J. 1% better every day means by compounding my sales from 2019, I could sell 37 books in 2020…🙂
    Great idea to pursue alternative projects; like in a marriage, each of you can bring more to the relationship by having personal interests.
    Answer to your question – good things in 2019. 3 books published. Could have been more but happy with 3. I’ve neglected ads, email lists etc. but I’m concentrating on output. Finished my Mind Map book and I’ve engaged a local self published author and her company to help me with formatting etc. Gone down this road because she has some great looking NF books out and the quality of the product is important to me.
    Other good things; listened to some great podcasts like yours and learnt a lot. One thing I like about you guys is you concentrate on realism and the here and now and ignore the woowoo stuff. Long may it continue.
    2020 (no resolutions and definitely not SMART) More books. Nashville. Email list. Some ads.
    Hope you both have a great new year and a successful 2020. 🙂.
    Great show guys.

    1. J. Thorn Avatar
      J. Thorn

      Congrats! 3 books this year is excellent. So glad you continue to get value from us after years of hearing us flap our gums 😉

  2. Kim Avatar

    I don’t like resolutions or goals either, so a few years ago I started setting what I consider my ‘mindset’ for the year. It’s usually one word or a simple phrase. In 2018 it was “letting go,” and in 2019 it was “produce.” I don’t force the word to fit what I want to do that year, but rather I allow the word/mindset to come to me. I’ve actually found it a really great way to focus the year while not penning myself in with specific goals. During the second half of 2019, my word turned into “learn.” I think that’s the word/mindset I will carry into 2020. I LOVE learning. I’ve already learned so much about storytelling and story structure and learning more can only help me. Plus…it’s just fun.

    The best thing that happened to me in 2019 was I published my first book. It’s a small, non-fiction collection of essays and other writings about my aikido practice. I’d put off publishing it for a couple of years because I thought it was pointless, that I didn’t have enough years of training, that no one would want to read it, blah, blah, blah. I’ve actually had several aikido people tell me how much they enjoyed it or tell me which essay resonated most with them or even thank me for being honest and vulnerable with my experiences. So now I’m really glad I published it. 🙂

    1. J. Thorn Avatar
      J. Thorn

      Couldn’t agree more. I don’t hesitate to spend money on education. It pays off exponentially.

  3. Rainbow Warrior Avatar
    Rainbow Warrior

    My 2019 was an unmitigated disaster. I started looking forward to building a new home with my two (consenting) girlfriends, and ended it single and homeless, living in my car, in a job that winds up costing money after working 20 hour shifts, not making money.

    The only upside is that, in the last week, I landed a day job at my local children’s hospital system (not as a medical professional), so maybe I will make some forward progress this year. (As an aside, I never knew an organization employing over 8,000 people can move so fast: Apply Friday, received call Monday, interview Tuesday morning, received an acceptable offer with start date Tuesday afternoon. Wow.)

    So maybe I can get some treatment for my progressing diabetes and stop living in my car and start writing again in 2020.

    1. J. Thorn Avatar
      J. Thorn

      Here’s to 2020 being the year you turn it around. Keep us in the loop on your situation. We’re rooting for you!

  4. Jay Key Avatar

    2019 writing highlights:

    1- finally got around to getting my first trilogy out on audiobook…and having it outperform expectations in a big way (all credit goes to my wonderful narrator).

    2 – Sci-Fi Seattle!!!!!!!! Such an amazing experience! Extremely excited to see the anthology in 2020!

    2020 writing targets:

    1 – finish book IV of my sci-fi comedy series by March (should be a layup)

    2 – complete non-fiction project (disclaimer: it has nothing to do with writing or the business of writing)

    3 (stretch target) – get rolling on my first fiction project that isn’t sci-fi comedy

    1. J. Thorn Avatar
      J. Thorn

      Nice! Congrats on that audio trilogy.