

Authors Who Lead - Learn to write a book from bestselling authors and leaders
Azul Terronez - Author, TEDx Speaker, Coach
If you want to know how bestselling authors find the time to write their books, the methods they use to be productive and how they find their ideas you will love this podcast. Writing coach Azul Terronez shares interviews with clients such as Pat Flynn, of the Smart Passive Income, Jon Vroman, of the Front Row Factor, and Dana Malstaff of Boss-Mom, Jadah Sellner of Simple Green Smoothies. Learn from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling authors. Want to get behind-the-scenes insights about how first-time authors overcame their fears and found the courage to write? Are you curious about how successful bestselling authors write or learn how to publish and market a book? Have you thought, "I'd like to write a book," but I don't know where to start? I explore authors' journeys, how they craft their stories, become published, and share their art of writing books with the world. You are meant to write the book now and be inspired by those who have done it.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 16, 2024 • 14min
5-Day Writing Challenge | Azul Terronez
Send us a textAre you an aspiring author with a brilliant book idea but unsure of where to start? Do you often find yourself struggling with writer’s block or feeling overwhelmed by the thought of writing a book?In this episode of Authors Who Lead, I explore the common challenges faced by aspiring authors and share insights and strategies to help overcome writer’s block and begin the writing process. I also discuss the upcoming 5-day challenge (challenge.authorswholead.com) designed to help writers clarify their book ideas and develop effective writing habits. The key is to simplify ideas and focus on being a guide rather than an expert to connect with readers.Timestamp:00:00 Brainstorm, visualize, and organize ideas on paper.04:35 Simplify your book idea for reader engagement.09:03 Expertise needs translation - be a guide.11:12 Online community for sharing, inspiring, and connecting.13:31 Listen to Authors Who Lead for updates.Full show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your bookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Feb 9, 2024 • 47min
How Embracing Uniqueness Leads to Changing the World | Alex Charfen
Send us a textIn this episode of Authors Who Lead, I welcome entrepreneur and author Alex Charfen to discuss his book "The Entrepreneurial Personality Type: Your guide to the most important and misunderstood people among us." Despite not meeting in person due to illness, our conversation delves into his journey as an entrepreneur, overcoming challenges, and the importance of understanding and harnessing the unique qualities of entrepreneurial personality types.Timestamp:00:00 Excited to welcome author Alex Charfen. Accomplished and influential.04:37 Personal development books led to frustration and turned into successful people's stories.06:45 Embracing uniqueness leads to changing the world.12:10 Emotional struggle, entrepreneurial personality, and sensitivities.15:17 High sensitivity and awareness lead to behavior changes.18:44 Reducing pressure and noise for self-care.21:02 Help companies grow while prioritizing self-care.24:35 A balanced approach is key to success.28:31 Real estate collapse leads to bankruptcy and struggle.30:15 Learn from losses and achieve success after bankruptcy.35:33 Wrote book as a calling, shared in 2016.36:52 Book brings people to us, it's validation.42:41 Stay open and trust in your instincts.43:18 Writing a book will transform and fortify.Full show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your bookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Feb 1, 2024 • 52min
Slightly Above Average | Sandi Marx
Send us a textIn this episode of Authors Who Lead, I engage in a candid conversation with Sandi Marx, a retired talent agent turned New York-based storyteller. The episode delves deep into the power of embracing mediocrity, the impact of honest storytelling, and the lessons learned from the creation of Sandi’s book, Slightly Above Average: Memoirs of a Successful Village Idiot.Timestamp:00:00 Retired town agent turned acclaimed storyteller and comedian.04:01 Enthusiastic about comedy and storytelling embraces authenticity.07:00 Captivating storytelling ability led to a partnership proposal.10:44 Realizing potential despite feeling mediocre or deceiving.14:47 1st book - childhood, heroes, soulful, life journey.16:42 Reflecting on old stories, rewriting for truth.21:12 Missed video opportunity, Jewish cheerleader for Pele.24:17 Impressed by your determination despite inconvenience.27:49 Embrace empathy and understanding for better lives.30:09 Skilled storyteller captivates audience, gains storytelling gig.34:22 Endorsements, auditions, recording, James Earl Jones, directing.37:41 Hired for a job for mail merge skills.41:00 Underestimating average people doing dumb things.43:34 She helped with the dress and felt out of place.47:58 Switch dialogue, feel important, make connections, and be engaging.49:40 Weekly writing prompts lead to unexpected inspiration.Full show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your bookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Jan 25, 2024 • 17min
Overcoming Procrastination, Perfectionism, and Self-Doubt | Azul Terronez
Send us a textIn this episode of Authors Who Lead, I share valuable insights on how to overcome common challenges such as procrastination, perfectionism, and self-doubt when writing and publishing a book. I emphasize the importance of addressing the underlying factors that contribute to these obstacles and offer practical advice for aspiring authors.Timestamp:00:00 Self-doubt, perfectionism, and procrastination in writing.03:15 Defensive perfectionism shielded by fear of vulnerability.09:03 Seek community support to overcome self-doubt.09:57 Be honest, seek support, and set realistic goals.15:55 Join our small dedicated community author program.16:45 Doubtful? Your voice matters. Subscribe, share, enjoy!Full show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your bookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Jan 18, 2024 • 37min
How to Start Writing a Book | Maryam Munir
Send us a textIn this episode of Authors Who Lead, Maryam Munir engages in a heartfelt and inspiring discussion about the transformative power of writing and trauma-informed parenting. She shares personal experiences, challenges, and triumphs with us, offering a glimpse into the journey of writing and the profound impact of transparent and courageous parenting.Timestamp:00:00 Authors and leaders share writing process insights.03:28 TED talk inspires development program with the story.07:16 Book aims to help parents break the cycle.09:31 Unique, honest book on parenting and relationships.12:48 Pakistani American wants to support communities worldwide.16:38 You helped me break down the book.19:15 Vulnerability makes books engaging, trustworthy, and transformative.23:13 Early feedback on writing brought overwhelming validation.27:33 Encourage action, and value group collaboration in writing.29:27 Valuing group learning for diverse insights and support.33:40 Becoming an author opens up new perspectives.36:18 Subscribe for new episodes, and visit authors who lead.Full show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your bookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Jan 12, 2024 • 34min
How to Avoid Burnout | Marie-Helene Pelletier
Send us a textIn this episode of Authors Who Lead, Marie-Helene shares her profound wisdom from her book The Resilience Plan, designed to empower leaders and professionals to cultivate resilience and thrive personally and professionally. Discover how Marie-Helene challenges the conventional view of resilience as a fixed trait and advocates for it as a strategic investment.Timestamp:00:00 Write for a specific audience, not everyone.04:46 Resilience and personality traits are distinct concepts.07:19 Burnout builds over time, not sudden occurrence.09:58 Self-protection, compassion fatigue, demand, and supply.13:23 Epiphany about book's impact and BEARS framework.18:56 Entrepreneurs thrive on optimism to succeed.21:05 Praise for the book and writing process.25:48 Creating new ideas and birthing something bigger.27:32 Learning from others helps in professional life.30:35 Nurturing a book creates new opportunities.33:26 Expresses gratitude and invites to connect online.Full show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your bookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Jan 5, 2024 • 34min
How to Secure a Literary Agent | Lucinda Halpern
Send us a textIn this episode of Authors Who Lead, I introduce seasoned literary agent and author Lucinda Halpern. With almost two decades of experience in the publishing industry, Lucinda has facilitated numerous book deals and recently penned her book, Get Signed, following an unconventional writing process emerging from her coaching experiences during the pandemic.Timestamp:00:00 Breaking barriers, empowering writers, achieving book deals.05:04 Agent's value in shifting career landscape essential.09:29 4 types of writers, not applicable to everyone.13:13 Emphasis on video content and strategic opportunities.14:28 Psychologists use social media to spread ideas.19:06 Book success hinges on clear, simple focus.22:21 Developing exercises for simplifying big ideas.24:28 The Creative process can start as a lump.28:49 Benefits and challenges of self-publishing authorship industry.31:55 Free training and webinar available on websites.Full show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your bookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Dec 28, 2023 • 16min
Breaking Through Writer's Block | Azul Terronez
Send us a textIn the world of writing and publishing, many aspiring authors find themselves grappling with a familiar obstacle: writer's block. While the urge to bring their ideas to life is strong, navigating the process of starting, completing, and releasing a book can be overwhelming. In this Authors Who Lead podcast episode, I provided invaluable insights and strategies to help writers overcome these hurdles. I share strategies and explore practical tips to help you overcome writer's block and actualize your writing goals.Timestamp:0:00 Podcast inspires writers and offers tips for starting.05:28 Seek accountability to stay motivated and finish.07:48 Get someone to hold you accountable and set a goal to complete tasks.10:59 It's important to write your book idea.13:32 Great books are often hesitantly shared with the world.Full show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your bookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Dec 22, 2023 • 45min
Stuck to Success | Chris McAlister
Send us a textChris McAlister was once told by a literary agent that he would never be able to write anything successful until he was over forty years old. He didn’t listen to that agent and went on to write several books—and even created coaching programs around them.In this episode of “Authors Who Lead,” I talk to Chris about his books, his journey getting them out into the world, and the impact they have on his readers.Timestamp:00:00 Book creates shifts; power in brevity.03:38 Created a coaching program and wrote a successful book. Raised funds.08:00 Unconscious living seeking validation leads to insecurity.11:49 Use mindset from the book to confront fears.13:11 Writing must serve a purpose, not insecurity-driven validation.18:03 Man shares clever book concept with colleague.22:41 Expressing myself through writing, impacting the world.23:18 James Clear's upcoming book is highly anticipated.29:26 Embrace time, team, flow, and delegation.30:54 Dramatic process in balancing art and business.33:36 Creating fiction with purpose, not for profit.37:42 Listen to kids and change education, it's awesome.39:51 Prefers speaking for impact, not for profit.42:48 The Author focuses on selling confidence, not writing techniques.Full show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your bookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Dec 15, 2023 • 36min
Craft Your Unique Story | Stefan T.Wong
Send us a textStefan T.Wong didn’t originally come to me to work on his book, Talking to Crows. He actually came to get another project edited, but what happened was a reluctant writing project that became a profound and introspective creation.In this episode of “Authors Who Lead,” I talk to Stefan about his unexpected journey in writing this book, Talking to Crows, and the creativity and spiritual nature of writing.Timestamp:00:00 Harvard strategist, artist, history maker, honored professional.06:05 Publisher trashed work, a transformative moment remembered. The deep, intimate conversation led to the decision.06:59 Good ideas hinder great work, avoid them.12:23 Comparing the transformative book to The Alchemist.14:36 Book inspires and connects with personal stories.16:39 Childhood memories of walking to school independently.21:15 Encourage writing from a deeper place, capturing messages.24:25 Home, comfort, intensity, presence, freedom, unfamiliarity, understanding28:49 Evaluating, describing sacred space, deep conversations, lost time.32:18 Spiritual reawakening, presence in a divisive world.33:58 Book inspires creativity and curiosity in writing.Full show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your bookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage


