Pros Talking Prose

Publishing is changing fast. AI is changing faster. Authors are being told to write more, publish more, build bigger platforms, learn new technology, follow every trend—and somehow keep producing better books while doing it all.

No wonder so many writers feel like they’re losing ground.

In this episode, Stacey and Troy talk about the pressure authors are putting on themselves, why imposter syndrome becomes so dangerous when it mixes with comparison and fear, and why the constant race to keep up may be hurting both your writing and your author career.

We also dig into the growing anxiety surrounding AI, including concerns about AI-generated writing, transparency, Claude and AI watermarking, and the fear some authors have of being “found out” for using these tools.

But this conversation isn't really about whether AI is good or bad, instead we think it's about knowing where your line is, being honest about the way you work, and refusing to let someone else's choices (or the latest publishing panic) determine whether you believe you're a legitimate writer. Because there is no race.

Writing faster doesn't automatically make you more successful. Publishing more books doesn't automatically make you a better author. And chasing every new tool, strategy, controversy, or algorithm change can pull your attention away from the one thing that still matters: Writing a damn good story.

We talk about slowing down, developing your craft, using tools intentionally, finding a writing community that supports you, and why patience and focus may become two of the most valuable skills an author can develop in the next few years.

Wayfinder Summit: Our virtual working retreat for authors focused on clarity, community, productivity, and actually making progress on your work.
https://WayfinderSummit.com

We'd love to hear from you:

Do you ever feel like you're falling behind as an author? What exactly makes you feel that way? Tell us in the comments.

And if you know another writer who needs to hear this today, send this episode their way.

#WritingCommunity #AuthorLife #WritingAdvice #ImposterSyndrome #WritingMotivation #AIForAuthors #SelfPublishing #WritingCraft #IndieAuthors #authors 

 

What happens when your entire travel plan falls apart and you suddenly realize you're living through the exact kind of story structure you teach authors to write?

In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, we do something a little different.

After a travel day filled with changing gates, missing pilots, canceled flights, expensive mistakes, unexpected allies, and one very important business conversation, we realized our disastrous trip had accidentally become a near-perfect example of story structure, escalating conflict, try/fail cycles, character change, and the difference between plot and story.

So we broke it down.

Because one of the most common problems we see in manuscripts is that authors are too nice to their characters. Conflict isn't something you sprinkle into a story to make it exciting. Conflict creates stakes. Failure forces characters to react, change, make decisions, and eventually become capable of doing something they couldn't have done at the beginning of the story, and what your character wants from the journey isn't what they actually need to get from it.

We talk about:

Why try/fail cycles make stories stronger
How escalating conflict keeps readers invested
Why the dark moment needs to actually hurt
Reactive characters versus proactive characters
How minor characters can change the direction of a story
Why every scene needs to move the character toward the climax
How failure reveals character
Why your protagonist should be capable of something at the end that they couldn't do at the beginning
The surprisingly important difference between “and then” storytelling and “if/then” storytelling

Sometimes the difference between a plot and a story really is only two words, and sometimes failure makes the better story.

If you enjoy conversations about writing craft, publishing, author business, and all the strange things that happen along the way, subscribe to Pros Talking Prose and join us each week.

And tell us in the comments: Are you making things hard enough for your protagonist, or are you still protecting them?

LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED

🧭 Wayfinder Summit
WayfinderSummit.com

The first 250 registered attendees will receive a Wayfinder Welcome Kit. Learn more about the virtual working retreat for authors and reserve your spot above.

Craft Lab: Poisons with Troy Lambert
https://theplotabides.com/free-plot-dude-webinars-2026

Power Sessions
https://printtopro.com/powersessions-2026

Print to Pro
PrintToPro.com

We'll be at Killer Nashville this August, so if you're attending, come find us and say hello.

#WritingCraft #StoryStructure #WritingTips #NovelWriting #ConflictInFiction #CharacterDevelopment #WritersCommunity #WritingAdvice #Authors #ProsTalkingProse

Every author wants the formula.

The perfect story structure. The guaranteed marketing strategy. The business system that promises more readers, more sales, and a six-figure author career.

But the author success formula is a lie.

That does not mean business advice, writing frameworks, or marketing strategies are useless. It means someone else’s formula was built around their skills, resources, audience, timing, failures, and opportunities. You can learn from the principles inside it, but copying the steps will not guarantee the same result.

In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Troy and Stacey discuss the dangerous appeal of author success formulas, the reality behind impressive revenue claims, and why sustainable growth requires more than following somebody else’s blueprint.

They also share an honest behind-the-scenes story about a manuscript that went through more than a year of revisions, book doctoring, formatting changes, last-minute edits, expedited printing—and one typo that still made it into 200 printed books. Once the presses were running, there was nothing left to do but embrace the happy accident.

In this conversation:

• Why gross revenue is not the same as author income
• The truth behind “six-figure author” claims
• Why there is no magic solution for selling books
• What authors can learn from business experts without blindly copying them
• Why story structures should be tools, not rigid formulas
• The hidden failures behind successful businesses
• Why scaling requires trust, delegation, and relinquishing control
• How perfectionism can steal the joy from writing
• Why your definition of author success should belong to you
• How one missing letter became a lesson in accepting imperfection

Your author career will have mistakes, disappointing launches, failed ideas, unexpected expenses, and plans that do not work the way you hoped.

Those moments do not mean you are failing. They are part of the work. They are part of your growth. They are part of your story.
Stop waiting for the perfect formula, the perfect manuscript, the perfect launch, or the perfect time. Learn what you can. Protect the joy of storytelling. Keep doing the work.

And embrace the happy accidents.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – The rabbit hole that started the conversation
02:16 – Why Pros Talking Prose is not chasing monetization
05:23 – Scaling a creative business without sacrificing quality
08:17 – How authors can realistically grow their income
11:04 – The truth behind author earnings and six-figure claims
17:33 – Why business success formulas are incomplete
24:15 – Story structure should be a tool, not a rule
29:15 – Authors are searching for a magic solution
34:21 – Stacey’s $10,000 lesson about business formulas
40:21 – Some businesses cannot scale forever
43:15 – What happens when success does not create happiness
46:09 – Protecting the joy that made you want to write
51:30 – Why an author’s story matters beyond book sales
54:13 – The grind, the work, and the value of finishing
01:00:54 – Finding joy in failure
01:04:11 – The manuscript that nearly broke everyone
01:08:58 – Eighty-seven last-minute changes
01:11:28 – The typo discovered after the presses started
01:13:41 – How “Meazu” became a shirt and a philosophy
01:17:25 – Progress over perfection
01:21:19 – Wayfinder Summit and upcoming author events

RESOURCES AND REFERENCES MENTIONED

Watch our episode about the power-law distribution of author income
https://youtu.be/crAhcufcMmg?si=4sAdbZ25G9LRJTca

Watch Stacey’s Red Ink episode about Harper Lee and extraordinary debut-novel success
[Insert episode link]

Get the “Meazu” shirt and embrace the typo
https://print-to-pro-shop.fourthwall.com/products/measue-tee-find-peace-in-the-journey

Join the Wayfinder Summit
Less Distraction. More Direction.
www.WayfinderSummmit.com

Learn more about Print to Pro
www.PrintToPro.com

Subscribe to Pros Talking Prose for honest conversations about writing, publishing, book marketing, and building a sustainable author career—without the hype, shortcuts, or magic formulas.

#AuthorSuccess #AuthorBusiness #IndiePublishing #SelfPublishing #WritingAdvice #BookMarketing #Authorpreneur #WritingCommunity #WritingCareer #ProsTalkingProse

For the past year, it has felt like everyone has an opinion about AI. But what do authors actually think?

We surveyed over 200 authors to better understand how writers really feel about artificial intelligence, not just how they use it, but how they view its impact on creativity, publishing, copyright, trust, and the future of storytelling.

The results surprised us.

In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, we break down the survey results, discuss what the numbers actually mean, challenge some common assumptions, and share why we believe the future of publishing depends less on technology, and more on authors working together as professionals.

Whether you embrace AI, avoid it completely, or are still trying to decide where you stand, this conversation is designed to help you think critically rather than emotionally.

Download the complete Author AI Survey Report:
https://printtopro.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AI_Survey_Findings_Report_Nuetral.pdf

Referenced in this episode:
Copyright & AI episode with Copyright Attorney:
https://youtu.be/7jdWJCFDmqE

Register for the Wayfinder Summit:
https://wayfindersummit.com/

Join the free Print to Pro Author Business Harbor Community:
https://www.skool.com/p2p-author-business-harbor/about

If you enjoyed this discussion, we'd love to hear from you.
What surprised you most about these survey results?
Leave a comment below and join the conversation. We read every one.

#AIForAuthors #WritingCommunity #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthor #AuthorLife #Publishing #BookMarketing #ArtificialIntelligence #WritingTips #ProsTalkingProse

Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey reminded us of one of the most important truths about storytelling: once your story is released into the world, it no longer belongs only to you.
Every reader brings their own experiences, beliefs, emotions, and perspective to your work. That's not a flaw in storytelling; it's the very thing that makes stories endure.
In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Troy Lambert and Stacey Smekofske discuss what they learned after watching The Odyssey (without spoilers) and how it applies to every author trying to create meaningful fiction. They explore why perfection is impossible, why criticism doesn't define your talent, why editors should challenge you instead of praising you, and how great stories invite readers to complete them with their own imagination.
Whether you're struggling with negative reviews, afraid to publish, or wondering if your manuscript is "good enough," this conversation will help you let go of perfection and focus on writing stories that truly connect.
In this episode, you'll learn:
• Why every reader experiences your story differently
• How to stop chasing the "perfect" book
• Why developmental editing makes stories stronger
• The relationship between author intent and reader interpretation
• Why criticism isn't the enemy of great storytelling
• How timeless stories continue to resonate for generations

Resource
Free Author Resources
https://printtopro.com
Character Archetype Worksheet
https://printtopro.com/tools-and-resources/
Wayfinder Summit
https://wayfindersummit.com

If you're serious about becoming a stronger storyteller, subscribe for weekly conversations about writing craft, publishing, editing, and building a sustainable author career.
Like the video if it helped.
We'd love to hear from you in the comments:
Has a book or movie ever meant something completely different to you after revisiting it years later?

#writing #storytelling #authors #amwriting #writingcommunity #creativewriting #bookediting #developmentalediting #writingtips #fictionwriting #christophernolan #theodyssey #indieauthor #publishing #printtopro

Chapters
00:00 Why Perfection Is the Enemy of Creativity
01:42 Our (Spoiler-Free) Thoughts on The Odyssey
07:26 Where Stories Really End
13:20 Why Your Book Isn't for Everyone
19:05 The Danger of Revising Forever
24:40 What Great Editors Actually Do
31:27 Knowing When to Let Your Story Go
36:02 Why Art Is Always Subjective
43:59 The Secret Behind Stories People Can't Put Down
49:02 Why Every Story Deserves to Be Told
53:05 Your Story Belongs to the Reader
57:17 Resources for Authors & Upcoming Events

Every author wants to believe their book is ready.
But would it survive the first ten minutes on an acquisitions editor's desk?

In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Troy Lambert and Stacey Smekofske pull back the curtain on what professional editors and publishers actually look for when evaluating a manuscript. From unforgettable opening chapters and compelling characters to author voice, pacing, structure, and commercial viability, you'll learn how to stop reading your book like its creator—and start evaluating it like the professionals do.

Whether you're pursuing traditional publishing or publishing independently, these principles can help you identify weaknesses before your readers do.

Because every page has one job: Earn the next page.

Resources Mentioned

Acquisitions Editor Manuscript Checklist:
https://learning.printtopro.com/acquisitions-checklist/

RECOMMENDED BOOKS: 
Story Genius by Lisa Cron
The Story Equation by Susan May Warren

Previous Episodes: 
You Don't Want an Editor, You Want Validation  
Why Readers Walk Away After Reading Your Blurb

The Creative Penn Podcast with Joanna Penn
Author Voice Mastery with J. Daniel Sawyer 
https://youtu.be/aQO0E_52sRY?si=3sdtkDRWKgg_VlhQ

If this episode helped you see your manuscript from a new perspective, we'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment and tell us:
What's one thing you're going to evaluate differently in your own book?

And if you found this helpful, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share this episode with another writer. It helps us reach more authors who are serious about improving their craft.

#WritingCommunity #WritingTips #AmWriting #BookEditing #IndieAuthor #TraditionalPublishing #StoryStructure #AuthorLife #WritingCraft #SelfPublishing

You spent months (or years) writing your book...

...and then gave yourself fifteen minutes to write the blurb.

We see it all the time. Authors pour everything into their manuscript, only to rush through the one piece of sales copy that convinces readers to pick it up, or put it back on the shelf.

In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, we're breaking down what actually makes a great book blurb, why AI-generated blurbs usually land somewhere between "fine" and "forgettable," and how to edit them into something that truly sells your story.

A book blurb is not a summary.
It's not your query letter.
And it's definitely not the place to explain every twist in your plot.

It's a promise to your reader.

Join us as we walk through the five essential elements of a compelling blurb, the biggest mistakes authors make, and practical ways to test whether your blurb is encouraging readers to click Buy Now... or quietly walk away.

Resources Mentioned

Build a Brilliant Blurb Worksheet (Free)
https://learning.printtopro.com/build-a-brilliant-blurb/

Bryan Cohen – Amazon Ads & Book Blurb Resources 
(no we don't have any affiliate links with Bryan. We just think he is a swell individual)
https://selling-for-authors.teachable.com/p/author-ad-school-unlimited

Join our author community on Skool - The P2P Author Business Harbor
https://www.skool.com/p2p-author-business-harbor/about

If you're serious about publishing professionally, building a sustainable author business, and creating books readers can't wait to recommend, you're in the right place.

Like, subscribe, and join us every week as we talk writing, publishing, and everything in between.

#BookBlurb #BookMarketing #SelfPublishing #WritingTips #IndieAuthor #AuthorMarketing #BookDescription #AIWriting #PublishingAdvice #ProsTalkingProse

 

 

The AI conversation has reached a point where authors are accusing authors, readers are accusing writers, and trust is beginning to erode throughout the publishing industry.
In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, we step away from the usual "AI is good" versus "AI is bad" debate and tackle something much bigger: What happens when suspicion replaces evidence?
Whether you're excited about AI, completely opposed to it, or still trying to figure out where you stand, this conversation isn't about telling you what to believe. It's about preserving professionalism, encouraging transparency, and asking whether our community is fighting the wrong battle.
We discuss:
• Why the current AI "witch hunt" is dividing authors
• Confirmation bias and why everyone suddenly seems guilty
• Where AI belongs (and where it doesn't)
• Why transparency matters more than outrage
• The difference between using tools and outsourcing creativity
• The real challenges facing authors that deserve our attention
Publishing has always been built on trust. If we lose that, we've lost something much bigger than an argument over technology.
We'd genuinely love to hear your perspective in the comments—but please remember what we ask throughout the episode: disagree respectfully. Productive conversations move the industry forward. Personal attacks do not.
Resources Mentioned
Join our FREE Author Business Harbor Community:
https://www.skool.com/p2p-author-business-harbor/about
Learn more about Print to Pro:
https://PrintToPro.com

#WritingCommunity #WritingLife #Authors #IndieAuthors #SelfPublishing #BookTube #Publishing #WritingAdvice #AuthorBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #CreativeWriting #PrintToPro