The Wordslinger Podcast I Stopped Typing My Novels — Here’s What Happened
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Jan 9, 2026 Explore the fascinating journey of writing by hand as a means to combat burnout and boost creativity. Discover how switching from digital to analog transformed one author's connection to his stories. Learn about innovative workflows that blend handwriting with AI tools for transcription and editing. Delve into practical insights on building creative habits and rediscovering the joy of writing without deadlines. Hear about the changing landscape of publishing and the unique flavor that handwriting brings to storytelling.
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Speed Writing Experiments Changed His Process
- Kevin tested writing a 50,000-word novel in 30 days and kept pushing to shorter timeframes, even writing a draft in 18 hours once.
- Those speed experiments taught him he could produce full novels rapidly but sometimes at the cost of burnout and quality.
Burnout Prompted A Career Rethink
- Kevin experienced severe burnout around 2023 from rapid-release schedules and heavy duties like a daily podcast and live streams.
- Recovery took nearly two to three years and prompted him to re-evaluate his writing approach.
A Coffee Shop Sparked A New Process
- On a whim, Kevin bought a 97-cent yellow legal pad and wrote two chapters in a coffee shop, producing literary-feeling material.
- That spontaneous session rekindled his joy and proved the handwrite-scan workflow workable.
