Pros Talking Prose
Pros Talking Prose
Podcast Description
Writing a book is hard. Publishing it is even harder. Succeeding as an author? That’s practically wizardry.
Good thing you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Pros Talking Prose is your backstage pass to the writing and publishing world, hosted by seasoned pros Stacey Smekofske and Troy Lambert.
We’ll help you skip the mistakes, laugh through the chaos, and build the writing career you actually want without the smoke and mirrors.
New episodes every week. Therapy not included — but highly encouraged.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores various themes pertinent to authors including mental health awareness in writing, navigating market shifts, understanding publishing dynamics, and effective marketing strategies. Episodes tackle specific topics, such as protecting mental health while writing, the unspoken rules of publishing, and the importance of email engagement for authors, offering concrete examples and actionable insights.
Writing a book is hard. Publishing it is even harder. Succeeding as an author? That’s practically wizardry.
Good thing you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Pros Talking Prose is your backstage pass to the writing and publishing world, hosted by seasoned pros Stacey Smekofske and Troy Lambert.
We’ll help you skip the mistakes, laugh through the chaos, and build the writing career you actually want without the smoke and mirrors.
New episodes every week. Therapy not included — but highly encouraged.
Could thinking about book sales before you finish your manuscript actually keep you from finishing it?
You want to write a great book. You also want someone to buy the thing. But when should target readers, genre expectations, and book marketing enter the conversation?
This week on Pros Talking Prose, Stacey Smekofske and Troy Lambert get a little feisty about where writing craft meets author business. Stacey makes the case for helping authors understand their book’s market potential early. Troy asks whether that same information can interrupt the creative process, create pressure, or send a perfectly good story in the wrong direction.
Naturally, we debate it like reasonable adults. With a house of cards, a few musical detours, and the occasional “just write the damn story.”
From manuscript reviews and developmental editing to author platforms, writing anxiety, and protecting your writing time, we explore a question that matters to new writers and experienced indie authors alike: How do you build a publishing business without getting in the way of the book you’re trying to write?
Tell us what you think: Would knowing your book’s target audience and market potential help you revise—or make you overthink every sentence?
Follow Pros Talking Prose for candid conversations about writing, editing, self-publishing, book marketing, and building a sustainable author career.
CHAPTERS
00:00 A friendly publishing debate gets feisty
03:14 When should authors think about book marketability?
10:37 Can market expectations derail your story?
20:07 Author goals, manuscript revisions, and reader expectations
27:16 When should you build your author platform?
33:30 How publishing pressure can keep you from writing
40:32 Protecting creativity from the pressure to sell
46:36 How to protect your writing time and find your flow
52:04 When is an author ready for publishing advice?
1:00:07 Why writing advice depends on the author
1:03:50 Wayfinder Summit, Preptober, and upcoming author classes
LINKS & RESOURCES
• Print to Pro: Editing, manuscript reviews, publishing guidance, and author business resources
https://printtopro.com/
• Print to Pro Power Sessions: Class schedule and registration, including the distribution session discussed in this episode
https://printtopro.com/powersessions-2026/
• Troy Lambert / The Plot Dude: Writing courses, manuscript evaluations, and story resources
https://theplotabides.com/
• The Plot Dude’s Craft Lab: Monthly writing webinars, including October’s Preptober session
https://theplotabides.com/webinars/
• Wayfinder Summit: A virtual working retreat for authors—less distraction, more direction
https://wayfindersummit.com/
Be kind. Keep writing. Stay weird.
#WritingCommunity #SelfPublishing #AuthorBusiness
Disclaimer
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