

The Adventurous Author | How to Write a Book, Character Development, Write with Consistency, Creative Writing,Story Structure
Bonnie Jean Schaefer | Author & Coach, Founder of the League of Adventurous Authors
Hey, Time-Strapped Author!
Wanna write great fiction?
BUT writing is hard because you…
- Have NO TIME because you work a full-time job or go to school full-time
- Doubt your writing ability
- Are unsure how to write the kind of captivating stories you love to read.
Then welcome to The Adventurous Author, the podcast for underdog authors on a mission to achieve legendary feats in the publishing world but have to overcome impossible obstacles, limited time, and paralyzing inner skepticism along the way.
Through these episodes, you will…
- Gain confidence in your author identity.
- Master the process and structure needed to write captivating stories EVEN WITH limited writing time.
- Learn to use AI effectively and ethically to constantly improve your writing skills and story quality.
I’m your host Bonnie Jean Schaefer.
Under my pen name of fantasy author D.K. Drake, I write action-packed, wholesome adventures without the snooze-worthy fluff.
But as your personal writing coach, I’m here to unlock YOUR narrative prowess, guide you in crafting spellbinding tales, and navigate the wild world of writing with AI.
Adventure awaits, so ignite your imagination, latch on to that dragon swooping overhead, and let the storytelling quest begin. It’s time to play in our own fabulous fantasy worlds.
Wanna write great fiction?
BUT writing is hard because you…
- Have NO TIME because you work a full-time job or go to school full-time
- Doubt your writing ability
- Are unsure how to write the kind of captivating stories you love to read.
Then welcome to The Adventurous Author, the podcast for underdog authors on a mission to achieve legendary feats in the publishing world but have to overcome impossible obstacles, limited time, and paralyzing inner skepticism along the way.
Through these episodes, you will…
- Gain confidence in your author identity.
- Master the process and structure needed to write captivating stories EVEN WITH limited writing time.
- Learn to use AI effectively and ethically to constantly improve your writing skills and story quality.
I’m your host Bonnie Jean Schaefer.
Under my pen name of fantasy author D.K. Drake, I write action-packed, wholesome adventures without the snooze-worthy fluff.
But as your personal writing coach, I’m here to unlock YOUR narrative prowess, guide you in crafting spellbinding tales, and navigate the wild world of writing with AI.
Adventure awaits, so ignite your imagination, latch on to that dragon swooping overhead, and let the storytelling quest begin. It’s time to play in our own fabulous fantasy worlds.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 17, 2025 • 8min
101-Day Challenge Finale: Why Daily Writing Is an Author’s True Professional Credential | 201
The 101-Day Challenge is complete—but the transformation has only begun.
In today’s powerful final episode of The Adventurous Author, we unpack the truth that daily writing isn’t a hobby or a productivity hack—it’s a public declaration of identity. And if you’ve shown up for 101 days in a row, you’ve built something no contract or algorithm could ever give you:
💥 Unshakable self-trust.
Inside this finale, you'll discover:
✔️ Why you’re more credible now than most published authors
✔️ How daily discipline dismantles imposter syndrome
✔️ The spiritual truth behind finishing what you start (Luke 16:10)
✔️ A final writing challenge to solidify your author identity forever
🎧 Listen now.
Keep the words rolling and the adventures unfolding,
Bonnie Jean
Next Steps:
🔥 Adventurous Enough for a 101-Day Mega Challenge?
START TODAY at LeagueOfAdventurousAuthors.com. No cost. Except relentless commitment.
Because the difference between ‘wanting to write’ and ‘being a writer’ is simple… you write.
Escape into the Land of Zandador (the books I write under my pen name of Author D.K. Drake): Purchase one or all of the Dragon Stalker Bloodline Saga books on Amazon.
📢 Subscribe & Review:
If this episode gave you a wake-up call, share it with a fellow writer and drop a review! Your feedback keeps this show alive and thriving.

Jun 16, 2025 • 6min
Daily Writing Proves You're Pre-Famous (Not Invisible) | 200
Ever feel invisible as a writer?
You're not. You're pre-famous—and the work you’re doing today is building the strength to carry the spotlight before it finds you.
In today’s powerful episode, we uncover:
✔️ Why showing up daily is a public declaration in private
✔️ How obscurity is not a punishment—it’s preparation
✔️ The biblical blueprint for building strength before visibility
✔️ A bold writing challenge that makes your words roar with truth
🎧 Listen now.
Keep the words rolling and the adventures unfolding,
Bonnie Jean
Next Steps:
🔥 Adventurous Enough for a 101-Day Mega Challenge?
START TODAY at LeagueOfAdventurousAuthors.com. No cost. Except relentless commitment.
Because the difference between ‘wanting to write’ and ‘being a writer’ is simple… you write.
Escape into the Land of Zandador (the books I write under my pen name of Author D.K. Drake): Purchase one or all of the Dragon Stalker Bloodline Saga books on Amazon.
📢 Subscribe & Review:
If this episode gave you a wake-up call, share it with a fellow writer and drop a review! Your feedback keeps this show alive and thriving.

Jun 15, 2025 • 6min
The Broken Clock That Taught Me How to Finish a Book | 199
You don’t need to speed up to hit your goal of finishing your book.
In today’s episode, I reveal how a broken digital clock taught me the most powerful writing lesson of the year: you can’t fast-forward your way to mastery.
Inside, you’ll discover:
✔️ Why rushing the journey sabotages your integrity as a writer
✔️ How daily writing literally rewires your brain to trust the process
✔️ A simple writing challenge to build momentum and beat burnout
✔️ What to write today even if you don’t have a book project yet (I give you the first sentence)
🎧 Listen now.
Keep the words rolling and the adventures unfolding,
Bonnie Jean
Next Steps:
🔥 Adventurous Enough for a 101-Day Mega Challenge?
START TODAY at LeagueOfAdventurousAuthors.com. No cost. Except relentless commitment.
Because the difference between ‘wanting to write’ and ‘being a writer’ is simple… you write.
Escape into the Land of Zandador (the books I write under my pen name of Author D.K. Drake): Purchase one or all of the Dragon Stalker Bloodline Saga books on Amazon.
📢 Subscribe & Review:
If this episode gave you a wake-up call, share it with a fellow writer and drop a review! Your feedback keeps this show alive and thriving.

Jun 14, 2025 • 7min
The Confidence Killer Every Writer Faces (And How Daily Writing Fixes It) | 198
You say you're a writer… but does your schedule agree?
For years, I told myself I was a writer—called, gifted, meant to steward stories for Kingdom impact.
But I wasn't showing up daily. And that misalignment started killing my confidence. Quietly. Slowly. One excuse at a time.
In today’s episode, I unpack the painful truth that misalignment between your actions and your assignment erodes your integrity.
And I share the one decision that restored my creative confidence: writing every day. I also discuss:
✔️ Why misalignment silently kills your confidence
✔️ How daily writing restores personal integrity
✔️ The real reason you feel like a fraud sometimes (and how to fix it)
✔️ A powerful challenge to close the gap between what you say and what you do
🎧 Listen now.
Keep the words rolling and the adventures unfolding,
Bonnie Jean
Next Steps:
🔥 Adventurous Enough for a 101-Day Mega Challenge?
START TODAY at LeagueOfAdventurousAuthors.com. No cost. Except relentless commitment.
Because the difference between ‘wanting to write’ and ‘being a writer’ is simple… you write.
Escape into the Land of Zandador (the books I write under my pen name of Author D.K. Drake): Purchase one or all of the Dragon Stalker Bloodline Saga books on Amazon.
📢 Subscribe & Review:
If this episode gave you a wake-up call, share it with a fellow writer and drop a review! Your feedback keeps this show alive and thriving.

Jun 13, 2025 • 6min
How Daily Writing Creates Professional Authors | 197
Still waiting for that magical moment where you finally feel like a “real” writer?
That moment isn’t coming.
In today’s episode, I share what I’m learning about mastery during my 101-Day Triple Crown Challenge—and why the only way to become who you’re called to be is to start before you feel ready.
Inside this episode:
✔️ Why the “ready room” is a lie
✔️ What daily writing actually trains (hint: it’s not just your skills)
✔️ How to grow through action instead of waiting for permission
✔️ An immersive writing challenge to prove mastery in motion
🎧 Listen now.
Keep the words rolling and the adventures unfolding,
Bonnie Jean
Next Steps:
🔥 Adventurous Enough for a 101-Day Mega Challenge?
START TODAY at LeagueOfAdventurousAuthors.com. No cost. Except relentless commitment.
Because the difference between ‘wanting to write’ and ‘being a writer’ is simple… you write.
Escape into the Land of Zandador (the books I write under my pen name of Author D.K. Drake): Purchase one or all of the Dragon Stalker Bloodline Saga books on Amazon.
📢 Subscribe & Review:
If this episode gave you a wake-up call, share it with a fellow writer and drop a review! Your feedback keeps this show alive and thriving.

Jun 12, 2025 • 6min
The Success You're Secretly Afraid Of (And Why Daily Writing Is Your Bridge to It) | 196
You think you’re afraid of failing—but what if success is what scares you most?
In today’s episode, I share:
✔️ Why the fear of finishing is scarier than starting
✔️ How daily writing is a death sentence to your “aspiring author” identity
✔️ The real reason you’ve been circling the same story mountain
🎧 Listen now.
Keep the words rolling and the adventures unfolding,
Bonnie Jean
Next Steps:
🔥 Adventurous Enough for a 101-Day Mega Challenge?
START TODAY at LeagueOfAdventurousAuthors.com. No cost. Except relentless commitment.
Because the difference between ‘wanting to write’ and ‘being a writer’ is simple… you write.
Escape into the Land of Zandador (the books I write under my pen name of Author D.K. Drake): Purchase one or all of the Dragon Stalker Bloodline Saga books on Amazon.
📢 Subscribe & Review:
If this episode gave you a wake-up call, share it with a fellow writer and drop a review! Your feedback keeps this show alive and thriving.

Jun 11, 2025 • 6min
Why Writers Freeze—Even When They're Ready | 195
There’s a cost to waiting. And no one talks about it until it’s too late.
In this episode, I share a completely made up story about a hiker who had all the tools he needed—but froze because he waited too long to use them. But that story has everything to do with writing.
If you’ve ever delayed the story God gave you because you’re waiting for a better time, this episode is the wake-up call.
Here’s what we get into:
✔️ Why delay isn’t neutral—it feeds resistance
✔️ How spiritual-sounding excuses can quietly sabotage your obedience
✔️ What James 4:17 says about inaction
✔️ A writing challenge that forces your character—and you—to move
🎧 Listen now.
Keep the words rolling and the adventures unfolding,
Bonnie Jean
Next Steps:
🔥 Adventurous Enough for a 101-Day Mega Challenge?
START TODAY at LeagueOfAdventurousAuthors.com. No cost. Except relentless commitment.
Because the difference between ‘wanting to write’ and ‘being a writer’ is simple… you write.
Escape into the Land of Zandador (the books I write under my pen name of Author D.K. Drake): Purchase one or all of the Dragon Stalker Bloodline Saga books on Amazon.
📢 Subscribe & Review:
If this episode gave you a wake-up call, share it with a fellow writer and drop a review! Your feedback keeps this show alive and thriving.

Jun 10, 2025 • 6min
Want to Build Trust in Your Calling as a Fiction Author? | 194
Do you have a story you want to write but have been avoiding?
In this episode, I share how one story haunted my hard drive for six years—and how 94 days of daily writing changed everything. What started as hesitation turned into confidence. Not because I felt ready. But because I kept moving.
Here’s what we get into:
✔️ The surprising way trust is actually built
✔️ Why creative obedience is more powerful than creative clarity
✔️ What it really means to “acknowledge God” in your writing process
✔️ A bold writing challenge where your character must leap without a bridge
🎧 Listen now.
Keep the words rolling and the adventures unfolding,
Bonnie Jean
Next Steps:
🔥 Adventurous Enough for a 101-Day Mega Challenge?
START TODAY at LeagueOfAdventurousAuthors.com. No cost. Except relentless commitment.
Because the difference between ‘wanting to write’ and ‘being a writer’ is simple… you write.
Escape into the Land of Zandador (the books I write under my pen name of Author D.K. Drake): Purchase one or all of the Dragon Stalker Bloodline Saga books on Amazon.
📢 Subscribe & Review:
If this episode gave you a wake-up call, share it with a fellow writer and drop a review! Your feedback keeps this show alive and thriving.

8 snips
Jun 9, 2025 • 5min
Your Confidence as a Writer Isn’t Missing—It’s Buried Under Inconsistency | 193
Many writers struggle with self-doubt and distractions, but daily writing can help restore creative confidence. The podcast highlights how Hebrews 5:14 offers guidance on trusting your instincts. It underscores the negative impact of comparison and noise when you don't write regularly. A unique 15-minute story challenge is proposed to jumpstart creativity and build assurance. Listeners are encouraged to commit to their craft through actionable steps and a 101-day challenge that combines writing with personal growth.

6 snips
Jun 8, 2025 • 6min
You Said You Were Called to Write—Now Prove It | 192
What happens when your writing calling clashes with your actions? Dive into the journey of embracing daily writing as a divine assignment. Learn why daily practice is essential for building trust and aligning with your creative identity. Discover the impact of internal conflicts when schedules don’t match aspirations. Plus, find out about a 101-day writing challenge designed to foster discipline and community among writers. It's time to stop ghosting your gift and fully commit to the craft!