Wordslinger Podcast, Episode 285Discover more at WordslingerPodcast.com

🎯 Check out our sponsor: Author AnchorYou just want to write. Author Anchor connects you with a skilled author assistant for just $7.50/hour—let them handle marketing, admin tasks, advertising, editing, social media, and more. Book a free, zero-obligation discovery call at https://authoranchor.com.

In this episode, Kevin Tumlinson dives deep into one of the hardest parts of the creative journey: keeping yourself motivated when it feels like your work isn’t having an impact. He shares hard-earned lessons from his own career, talks about reframing discouragement, and explores the difference between being “productive” and being “fruitful.” Plus, Kevin Tumlinson reflects on building real connections, benefiting from the unseen ripple effects of creative effort, and finding meaning in your work even when the rewards seem slow in coming.

If you’re a writer, creator, or anyone struggling to push through the silence between feedback, this episode is for you.

Show links::

* Author Anchor (https://authoranchor.com) – VA service matching authors with reliable virtual assistants

* Joanna Penn’s Creative Penn Podcast (https://www.thecreativepenn.com/podcasts/) – Inspiration and advice for writers

* Kevin’s Substack (https://kevintumlinson.substack.com) – Articles, updates, and personal insights

Watch on YouTube (and subscribe!)

Key Topics & Timestamps:

[00:00:06] - “Keep Going”—Why impact matters, and why it’s hard

[00:01:33] - Shifting podcast landscape and long-term value

[00:02:07] - How connection and community pay off

[00:03:31] - Battling discouragement and the reality of creative work

[00:05:09] - Why feedback and financial returns can be slow

[00:08:12] - Changing your attitude: purpose beyond quick success

[00:09:59] - The power of consistency and fighting for long-term success

[00:12:10] - “Fruitful vs. Productive”: A better way to frame your efforts

[00:16:18] - Avoiding burnout and rebuilding with better foundations

[00:18:38] - Growth, regret, and seeing how your work evolves

[00:20:03] - Outlining vs. pantsing—finding what works for you

[00:22:04] - Christmas message and gratitude

Looking for more inspiration for your writer’s journey? Subscribe, leave a review, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode! 🔔

Get full access to The Writer_ at kevintumlinson.substack.com/subscribe

14th & G: Stocking the Biden Cabinet: Who’s In, Who’s Out, and Who’s On the Way