The Creative Penn: Creative Clarity: Focus, Self-Care, And A Little Bit Of Tough Love

How can you create when there's an overwhelming list of things to do and too many competing priorities? How can you balance self-care with achieving your creative goals.



In this episode, I’ll share some tips from previous podcast guests to help you step back, reassess your priorities, and hopefully help you let go of at least some of the things on your list.



In the intro, Author branding [Self-Publishing Advice Podcast]; Example prompts if you want to explore your author brand; Google Gemini Advanced with Deep Research; How to Write Non-Fiction Second Edition; Tips for writing non-fiction, I'm on The Biz Book Broadcast with Liz Scully; Q&A on how to write non-fiction [Apex Author]; 7 Steps to Write Your Non-Fiction Book in 2025 — me on Reedsy Live, 15 Jan.






This episode is sponsored by Publisher Rocket, which will help you get your book in front of more Amazon readers so you can spend less time marketing and more time writing. I use Publisher Rocket for researching book titles, categories, and keywords — for new books and for updating my backlist. Check it out at www.PublisherRocket.com



This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn 



Show Notes




* (1) Tackle overwhelm by focusing on your ‘circle of influence' — with Mark McGuinness



* (2) Be kinder to yourself — with Ellen Bard



* (3) Sort out your sleep — with Dr Anne D. Bartolucci



* (4) Protect your private creative practice — with Austin Kleon



* (5) Overcome Resistance and adopt the attitude of a professional — with Steve Pressfield



* (6) Make the most of the limited time you have — with Todd Henry








Creative Clarity: Focus, Self-Care, and Letting Go



(1) If you’re struggling, focus on your circle of influence



Life can be overwhelming with work and family commitments and health concerns, even as the waves of change grow ever higher — with political shifts, technological change with generative AI, financial changes and of course, all the things we have to do as authors, if we want to get our books finished and out into the world, and reaching readers. 



It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with everything, especially in difficult times. 



In April 2020, back in pandemic times,