What If? For Authors

Episode Description: Many authors are doing everything right—publishing consistently, running promotions, chasing algorithms, investing in tools—and still can’t seem to get ahead financially. The books break even. The sales spike and disappear. The stress never really lets up. In this episode of What If? For Authors, Claire Taylor addresses a painful but essential question: What if struggling to get ahead isn’t a personal failure—but the predictable result of broken systems? Using the Enneagram as a framework for liberation (not self-blame), Claire explores why productivity hacks, discipline fixes, virality, and AI tools often function as promising distractions rather than real solutions. She unpacks how dominant cultural narratives—bootstrapping, meritocracy, savior myths, and algorithmic “neutrality”—keep authors exhausted, isolated, and blaming themselves instead of questioning the systems designed to extract their time, money, and attention. This episode is not about giving up. It’s about reclaiming agency, and choosing paths that reduce suffering, build solidarity, and support sustainable creative lives—on human terms. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why struggling financially as an author is not a moral or personal failure How the Enneagram helps distinguish inner work from systemic harm What “promising distractions” are—and how they keep authors trapped Why algorithms, ads, and platforms are not neutral or merit-based How savior-seeking keeps people exploitable and disempowered The hidden cost of tying hope to virality, productivity, or being “chosen” How internalized cultural narratives quietly sabotage creativity and wellbeing What genuine agency, community, and non-extractive alternatives can look like Why stepping back from writing (temporarily or permanently) is not shameful Key Takeaways: You are not broken—and you were never failing Many author systems are designed to extract, not sustain Optimization does not equal liberation Hope does not come from being saved—it comes from collective agency Building community is a radical act in an extractive industry Anger can be alchemized into clarity, solidarity, and action Resources & Links: Learn more about Claire’s coaching, courses, and books: liberatedwriter.com Write Iconic Characters: books2read.com/WIC Happy writing!

Episode Description In times of economic uncertainty, industry upheaval, and personal burnout, it can feel impossible to imagine a hopeful future—especially as an author whose dreams are often tied to outcomes beyond their control. In this episode of What If? For Authors, Claire tackles one of the hardest questions writers face: What if there’s no hope? Drawing on the Enneagram, existential psychology, and real-world author experience, Claire reframes hope not as an emotion or a promised outcome—but as a courageous choice we make, even (and especially) when things feel bleak. This episode is an invitation to loosen cynicism’s grip, detach hope from specific results, and rediscover the kind of hope that sustains creativity, value-based decisions, and long-term resilience—regardless of what the market, algorithms, or economy are doing. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why outcome-dependent hope inevitably collapses—and what to replace it with How losing hope shows up differently for each Enneagram type Why cynicism feels protective but quietly drains your creative life How privilege shapes our relationship to hope and “proof” What sustainable, outcome-independent hope actually looks like in practice Why you don’t need to feel hopeful to choose hope Small, concrete ways authors choose hope every day (often without realizing it) How writing itself can be an act of hope—for yourself and for others Key Takeaways: Hope is not a reward for good outcomes—it’s a prerequisite for meaningful action You can choose hope even when you’re tired, burned out, or unsure Small choices (rest, water, boundaries, honesty) are legitimate acts of hope Stories matter precisely because they imagine possibilities beyond present conditions Resources & Links: Learn more about Claire’s coaching, courses, and books: liberatedwriter.com Write Iconic Characters: books2read.com/WIC Happy writing!

Episode Description: Being an author means navigating an endless maze of decisions — creative decisions, business decisions, financial decisions, social decisions — and at some point, all of us hit a wall where everything feels murky. The next step isn’t clear. The “right” answer seems to flicker between yes and no. And the longer we sit in that limbo, the more everything stalls. In this episode, Claire explores the anatomy of doubt: why we freeze, why uncertainty feels so emotionally loaded, and why some types (hello, Loyalists) live close to doubt every day while others completely unravel the moment they encounter it. If you’re stuck in doubt about your writing, career, or next steps — this episode gives you tools to reclaim clarity and reconnect with your inner authority. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why doubt is a human condition, not a character flaw The difference between not having enough information and being afraid to act How impatience, overthinking, or rushing toward certainty can backfire What “polarity” conflicts are and why they make some decisions feel impossible How losing trust in your inner authority derails decision-making Why burnout makes even simple choices feel overwhelming How to check in with your head, heart, and body to get clear on your next step Key questions that help you break out of the doubt spiral and move forward Key Takeaway: Doubt isn’t always a stop sign — sometimes it’s a signal to slow down, sometimes a nudge to reevaluate your values, and sometimes a warning that your nervous system is overwhelmed. But no matter the cause, you can learn to disentangle the noise, reconnect with your inner authority, and make decisions that honor who you are now. Support the Show: If today’s episode helped you breathe a little easier in the face of uncertainty, share it with another writer who might need it too. You can explore Claire’s courses, coaching, and books at liberatedwriter.com, including her newest release, Write Iconic Characters, available now through major retailers. Access the transcript here. Happy writing!

Episode Description: In this episode of What If? For Authors, Claire unpacks the hidden dynamics behind creative inertia. She explores why we freeze at the starting line, how to tell if it’s a sign of fear, exhaustion, or wisdom, and what to do when you can’t seem to move forward—no matter how hard you try. You’ll learn how to distinguish between procrastination and protection, why shame and “tough love” don’t actually help, and how to use curiosity and compassion to get yourself unstuck. With insight from the Enneagram, Claire also explores how each type experiences this resistance differently—and how you can build gentle, practical structures to help yourself begin again. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why struggling to start isn’t laziness—it’s information How to tell if your resistance is a pattern or a novelty, and why that matters What “body doubling” is, and how it can help Enneagram Nines build momentum How each Enneagram type tends to resist getting started (and what to do about it) Why friction can be a good sign for naturally fast starters How to check whether your resistance is fear, intuition, or simply exhaustion A powerful exercise to check in with your head, heart, and body centers before beginning What it really means to act courageously—even when the fear doesn’t go away Takeaway Challenge:Next time you can’t seem to get started, pause the shame spiral and turn to curiosity. Ask: Is this fear? Fatigue? A sign to pause? Then, listen to what your head, heart, and body have to say. If it’s still something worth doing, plan for courage—don’t wait for the fear to disappear first. Support the Show: If this episode helped you see your resistance in a new light, please share it with another author who might need to hear it too. You can also support What If For Authors by leaving a review wherever you listen—it helps more writers find the show. Want to explore these ideas more deeply? Visit liberatedwriter.com for Claire’s courses, coaching, and books on building a sustainable author career in uncertain times. Access the transcript here. Happy writing!

Episode Description: In this episode of What If? For Authors, Claire explores the nuanced relationship between ambition, fear, and contentment. What if your ambition isn’t really gone… but simply changing shape? With insight, humor, and plenty of hard truths, Claire unpacks how ambition often gets tangled up with fear—fear of worthlessness, fear of missing out, fear of falling behind—and how that mislabeling can make us think we’re “losing” something essential. She offers a reframing that helps authors understand the difference between fear-fueled ambition and hope-fueled ambition, and how to build a healthier, more sustainable drive in your creative career. If you’ve ever thought, “I used to be so motivated—what happened to me?” this episode is for you. In this episode, you’ll learn: The surprising truth about how ambition and contentment actually support each other Why ambition doesn’t have to feel like a fire under your ass How fear disguises itself as ambition (especially for Enneagram Threes and Sevens) Why tying ambition to outcomes you can’t control leads to burnout How to distinguish between “fear-driven” and “hope-driven” ambition A practical way to reframe self-talk so ambition feels energizing, not punishing Why practicing contentment won’t kill your ambition—it may save it Takeaway Challenge:Ask yourself: What would I find deeply gratifying to create—even if no one praised me for it? Sit with that answer. Notice how different it feels from fear-driven goals. Then, practice shifting one piece of your ambition toward hope, curiosity, or joy, instead of fear. Support the Show: If this episode helped you reimagine ambition in a healthier way, share it with another author who might need it too. You can also support the show by leaving a review wherever you listen—it makes a big difference in helping other writers find this resource. Want more support? Visit liberatedwriter.com to explore Claire’s coaching, courses, workshops, and books for building a sustainable, liberated writing career. Access the transcript here. Happy writing!