62. The art of earnings: Mastering full-time writing with Sarah Werner

Have you ever dreamed of writing all day long—and getting paid to do so? But then reality sets in, and you start wondering how that’s feasible? How you’d even get started?

In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Sarah Werner, who shares how she planned to leave her full-time job in marketing, how she discovered the worth of her work, and how she trudged through painful writing gigs that still taught her valuable lessons.

You’ll also learn how experimenting with your creativity can lead to surprise opportunities and how to connect with your ideal audience.

Topics discussed in this episode
  • Sarah’s journey
  • Starting a fictional podcast
  • Making money as a full-time writer
  • Learning about structure, voices, and characters through ghostwriting
  • Using Patreon
  • Acknowledging the worth of your work
  • The power of next steps
  • Marketing your author self
  • Using social media effectively
  • Why you shouldn’t fear sharing your struggles
Connect with Sarah
About Sarah

Sarah is a writer, speaker, podcast creator, and executive producer whose mission is to help creators find confidence, success, and ultimately delight in their work. In addition to writing and podcasting, she is also a national public speaker who has been invited to talk about creativity, podcasting, marketing, and leadership for TEDx, Austin Film Festival, Podcast Movement, PodFest, PodCon, and more, from her community YWCA to YouTube headquarters.

Books discussed during the show
  • If You Want To Write by Brenda Ueland

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ABOUT ME

Erin P.T. Canning has worked for 20 years as an editor, encouraging each writer’s individual voice and strengthening their writing goals.

She always planned to write a book, but life had a tendency to distract her. After dedicating six years of her life to motherhood and discovering her ADHD, she started writing again, even though she feared her writing skills had atrophied.

After letting go of her perfectionism, Erin finally finished her own shitty first draft and released her fantasy romance novel, Ruins and Redemption, in 2023. Her current role as a podcaster and book coach enables her to help writers pursue their author dreams.