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What If? For Authors: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Claire Taylor
What If? For Authors
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- 2 days ago44 min
What if I hate social media - 2026 edition
Episode Description In this episode of What If? For Authors, Claire revisits the question from the podcast’s inaugural episode in 2024 through the lens of 2026: “What if I hate social media?” Nearly a year after leaving social media, Claire shares what actually changed in her business, creative life, and relationships. She explores why many authors stay on platforms they dislike and how to evaluate whether social media is genuinely serving your goals. Rather than encouraging a dramatic exit, Claire offers a thoughtful framework for deciding whether it's time to stay, leave, or build something better. In This Episode, You’ll Learn How to evaluate whether or not a social media platform is actually helping your author career Why enjoying a platform matters more than just maintaining a presence Why automating endless content isn't necessarily selling books The importance of building community and social connection outside of the internet How leaving social media can create more space for creativity, friendship, and attention Resources Mentioned Write Iconic Characters books2read.com/WIC Liberated Writer (Coaching & Courses) liberatedwriter.com Liberated Writer Substack liberatedwriter.substack.com Support the Show If this episode gave you something to reflect on, here are a few ways to support the podcast: Leave a review on your favorite platform - it helps other authors find the show. Share this episode with an author who’s navigating similar challenges. Subscribe to Claire’s Substack for deeper insights on writing, the industry, and the author life. Happy writing!
- Jun 22, 202629 min
What if I don't know how to rest?
Episode Description In this episode of What If? For Authors, Claire explores the question, “What if I don’t know how to rest?” Many writers live with a constant sense of being behind. Claire unpacks why this feeling persists even when we work harder, and how fear-based productivity patterns can make genuine rest feel unsafe. Using the Enneagram, Claire examines the beliefs that keep each type pushing past their limits, and offers practical ways to identify what kind of rest you actually need. If you’ve been struggling with chronic exhaustion, this episode provides a framework for building a healthier relationship with rest. In This Episode, You’ll Learn Why feeling perpetually behind is often a mindset problem, not a productivity problem How unrealistic expectations create chronic stress and burnout The fear-based beliefs that keep each Enneagram type overworking How to identify whether your head, heart, body, or soul is exhausted How five-minute breaks can become the foundation for deeper, more sustainable rest Resources Mentioned Write Iconic Characters books2read.com/WIC Liberated Writer (Coaching & Courses) liberatedwriter.com Support the Show If this episode gave you something to reflect on, here are a few ways to support the podcast: Leave a review on your favorite platform - it helps other authors find the show. Share this episode with an author who’s navigating similar challenges. Subscribe to Claire’s Substack for deeper insights on writing, the industry, and the author life. Happy writing!
- May 25, 202635 min
What if I keep taking on too much?
Episode Description In this episode of What If? For Authors, Claire explains the deeper patterns behind chronic overcommitment, and the internal wounds that drive us to take on more than we realistically can. Claire breaks down the distinction between having too much to do (often due to systemic pressures) and taking on too much (a pattern driven by fear and unconscious beliefs). Using the Enneagram, she explores how each type overextends themselves, and why letting go can feel unsafe. In This Episode, You’ll Learn The difference between systemic overload vs. self-driven overcommitment How overworking can be a form of emotional overcompensation The concept of antisocial vs. pro-social effort in your author life How guilt can show up when you start breaking old patterns Why disappointing others can be necessary for growth Resources Mentioned Write Iconic Characters books2read.com/WIC Liberated Writer (Coaching & Courses) liberatedwriter.com Support the Show If this episode gave you something to reflect on, here are a few ways to support the podcast: Leave a review on your favorite platform - it helps other authors find the show. Share this episode with an author who’s navigating similar challenges. Subscribe to Claire’s Substack for deeper insights on writing, the industry, and the author life. Happy writing!
- May 5, 20262 min
Special announcement - Liberati registration
Claire announces open registration for her author community, the Liberati. Members gain access to monthly special topic calls, Q&As, socials, a private Slack group, and discounted one-on-one coaching. Read more and register by May 22nd at www.liberatedwriter.com/liberati. Happy Writing!
- Apr 20, 202622 min
What if I struggle with community?
Episode Description In this episode of What If? For Authors, Claire explores why building and maintaining community can feel so uncomfortable—and why it’s quickly becoming a non-negotiable skill for authors who want a sustainable career. From the push-pull tension between individual needs and group dynamics to the deeply ingrained patterns that make connection difficult, Claire breaks down what’s really happening beneath the surface when we “struggle with community.” Using the Enneagram, she highlights the unconscious behaviors that can quietly sabotage relationships—and how to begin shifting them. If you’ve ever felt like an outsider, avoided author groups, or only reached out when you needed something… this episode offers a compassionate but honest look at what it takes to build real, mutually supportive connections. In This Episode, You’ll Learn Why community is becoming an essential skill for authors (not just a “nice to have”) The hidden cost of trying to “go it alone” in your writing career Why community must be built before you urgently need it The difference between connection and extraction in author relationships How the tension between self vs. others shows up in every community Why avoiding conflict actually weakens connection How ego (your protective armor) interferes with meaningful relationships Why accountability is an act of care—not punishment Practical Reflection Questions Do I tend to prioritize my needs or others’ needs in community? Where do I avoid conflict instead of engaging with it? Do I only seek connection when I need something? What patterns might I be bringing into relationships unconsciously? Resources Mentioned Write Iconic Characters Claire’s guide to using the Enneagram for character development → books2read.com/WIC Liberated Writer (Website) Coaching, courses, and resources for authors → liberatedwriter.com Support the Show If this episode gave you something to reflect on, here are a few ways to support the podcast: Leave a review on your favorite platform—it helps other authors find the show Share this episode with a writer who’s navigating community challenges Subscribe to Claire’s Substack for deeper insights on writing, the industry, and the author life Your support helps keep these conversations going—and supports a more connected, sustainable writing community. Happy writing!
- Mar 19, 20264 min
A special announcement: The Liberati
Claire announces her upcoming author community, the Liberati. Members gain access to monthly special topic calls, Q&As, socials, a private Slack group, and discounted one-on-one coaching. Read more and join the waitlist at www.liberatedwriter.com/liberati.
- Mar 16, 202620 min
What if I'm stuck on the ending?
Episode Description In this craft-focused episode of What If For Authors, Claire breaks down one of the most common storytelling anxieties writers face: getting stuck on the ending. A satisfying resolution isn’t just nice to have; it’s the moment where readers discover whether all the promises your story made actually pay off. Claire shares a practical troubleshooting framework she uses with authors to diagnose why an ending isn’t landing and how to fix it. Using the Enneagram as a tool for understanding character motivation and conflict, she walks through four key questions that can help you reconnect your plot, theme, and character arcs, so your ending lands with the impact your story deserves. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How the Enneagram can clarify character motivations and story dynamics Why understanding both the protagonist and antagonist is crucial to resolving your plot How identifying your story’s central theme can guide the resolution The three layers of conflict every powerful ending resolves: Philosophical (beliefs and worldview) Emotional (feelings and internal struggle) Physical (actions and external obstacles) Why the most satisfying endings resolve all three layers at once The importance of letting your protagonist make an active choice in the final moment Resources Mentioned Iconic Five-Star Endings Course Learn Claire’s full framework for crafting powerful endings. Visit: liberatedwriter.com/courses Write Iconic Relationships (Upcoming Book) Explore Enneagram relationship dynamics between every pairing of types. Search “Write Iconic Relationships” on Kickstarter and click Notify Me on Launch. Write Iconic Characters Claire’s guide to building unforgettable characters using the Enneagram. Available at major retailers or: books2read.com/WIC Story Alignment Sessions One-on-one troubleshooting for your manuscript. Book a session at liberatedwriter.com Liberated Writer on Substack Weekly essays on storytelling, the writing life, and the publishing industry. Support the Show If this episode helped you solve a storytelling problem or gave you new ideas for your manuscript, here are a few ways you can support the podcast: Leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Reviews help other authors discover the show. Share the episode with a friend who might be wrestling with their ending. Subscribe to Claire’s Substack (free or paid) at Liberated Writer to receive deeper essays on craft, the author life, and the industry. Happy writing!
- Feb 16, 202626 min
What if my book isn't important?
Episode Description In this episode of What If? For Authors, Claire explores the question many writers whisper (or shout) during overwhelm: What if my book isn’t important? She breaks down why this feeling often has less to do with your talent or discipline and more to do with nervous system overload, attention hijacking, and the way “importance” becomes relative when everything feels urgent. Claire explains how to tell the difference between a book that truly isn’t important to you anymore… and a book that is important, but has been drowned out by noise, fear, and impossible expectations. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why overwhelm can make your creative brain “close up shop” How hyperarousal (anxiety, rage, panic) and hypoarousal (freeze, fog, dissociation) sabotage focus Why “my story doesn’t matter” is often a nervous-system message, not a truth Three paths forward when your book feels unimportant: Reduce threatening noise Create a writing warm-up ritual to re-enter the story Consider whether the book truly isn’t important right now (and what freedom that offers) How to make a story feel more important by increasing relevance and emotional resonance The difference between “important,” “special,” “useful,” “successful,” and “safe” How each Enneagram type can misread “this isn’t important” as a coping mechanism Resources & Links Claire’s offerings: liberatedwriter.com Write Iconic Characters: books2read.com/WIC Claire on Substack: liberatedwriter.substack.com Support the Show If this episode helped you reconnect with meaning (or at least stop beating yourself up), please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with an author friend who’s feeling overwhelmed. Happy writing!
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