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EP 473 - Creativity and Devotionals for Caregivers Who Don't Need Another Inspirational Slogan with Donn King

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Release Date: 05/08/2026

EP 486 - Seeing The World Metaphorically with Melissa Heathers show art EP 486 - Seeing The World Metaphorically with Melissa Heathers

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this solo episode Mark reads Chapter 5 (The Beautiful Mess: On Failure, Mistakes, and the Gift of Getting It Wrong) from his book STARK REALITIES: Stacked-up Lessons Every Writer Needs to Know About the Business of Writing and Publishing. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In their conversation, Mark and Melissa talk about: Melissa's first book (Dear Ego, Dear Heart), which was published Dec 24, 2024...

info_outline EP 485 - On Failure, Mistakes, and the Gift of Getting It Wrong show art EP 485 - On Failure, Mistakes, and the Gift of Getting It Wrong

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this solo episode Mark reads Chapter 5 (The Beautiful Mess: On Failure, Mistakes, and the Gift of Getting It Wrong) from his book STARK REALITIES: Stacked-up Lessons Every Writer Needs to Know About the Business of Writing and Publishing. Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patrons, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. Links of Interest: (Use code STARKDIRECT at checkout to save $4.00. Patrons, check the post on Patreon.com/starkreflections...

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Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this episode Mark talks to Matty Dalrymple about her recent experience serializing a never-before-published new novel on Substack. Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patrons, shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Matty talk about: How long Matty has been a writer, a podcaster, and a consultant to indie authors The 52 days Matty has been experimenting with serialization...

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Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Mark interviews Jessica Sorentino, an author brand strategist with more than a decade of experience helping writers and thought leaders connect with their audiences in meaningful, lasting ways. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Jessica talk about: What an author's brand is and how to determine what that brand is A technique of visualizing a...

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Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this episode Mark interviews Paul Austin Ardoin about his new book OUTLINING FOR NOVELISTS WHO DON'T OUTLINE. Prior to the interview Mark shares a person update and a word from this episode's sponsors. This episode is sponsored by Author Nation, being held in Las Vegas Nov 13 through 14, 2026 Learn more about Author Nation and register at . In the interview Mark and Paul talk about:  Paul's previous non-fiction book for writers FROM ZERO TO FOUR FIGURES Mark's offer of gifting 3 copies of FROM ZERO TO FOUR FIGURES by buying them from Paul and/or a local bookshop for listeners based...

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Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this episode Mark interviews Laura Holley, a Utah-based voice actor and speculative fiction writer whose passion for storytelling began with her first stage performance at seven years old. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Laura talk about: Laura getting into theatre in the second grade and the first role that she played The power of playing a...

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Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this episode Mark shares a solo reflection recording pm his return from a couple of nights spent camping on the shores of Lake Huron at Point Farms Provincial Park. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update (which includes a segment from Joanna Penn's latest episode of The Creative Penn Podcast) and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Author Nation, being held in Las Vegas Nov 13 through 14, 2026 Learn more about Author Nation and register at . In his reflection Mark considers the idea of the value of nature/simplicity when recharging. He asks...

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Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this episode Mark interviews Premee Mohamed, a Nebula, World Fantasy, Ignyte, Locus, and Aurora award-winning Indo-Caribbean scientist and speculative fiction author based in Edmonton, Alberta. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the with Suzy Vadori. In this weekly show, Suzy brings you writing techniques, best practices, motivation, inspirational stories from real live authors out there making it in the world, and actionable advice that can help you turn that book...

info_outline EP 478 - Stark Realities Excerpt: The Pinocchio Problem show art EP 478 - Stark Realities Excerpt: The Pinocchio Problem

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

This episode features an excerpt from Chapter 1 of Mark's book STARK REALITIES: Stacked-up Lessons Every Writer Needs To Know About The Business of Writing and Publishing. The chapter is called "The Pinocchio Problem." Prior to the main content Mark shares a brief personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the book STARK REALITIES: Stacked-up Lessons Every Writer Needs To Know About The Business of Writing and Publishing. The Truth About Building a Writing Career With No Sugarcoating, Just Real Talk. The Honest, practical guide that every writer...

info_outline EP 477 - Rambling Reflections From The Road to StokerCon show art EP 477 - Rambling Reflections From The Road to StokerCon

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this solo episode recorded while driving between Waterloo, Ontario and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on his way to attending StokerCon, a horror writer conference, Mark shares some reflections on his dual life as an author-supporting industry representative and a horror author. This episode is sponsored by Author Nation, being held in Las Vegas Nov 13 through 14, 2026 Learn more about Author Nation and register at .   Links of Interest: (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link)   The introductory, end,...

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Mark interviews Donn King about his new book ANCHORED FOR THE STORM, about caregiving, and about creativity.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episode, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Author Nation, being held in Las Vegas Nov 13 through 14, 2026

Author Nation Home Page 2026

Learn more about Author Nation and register at AuthorNation.live.

In the interview, Mark and Donn talk about:

  • The difference between goals and missions
  • How Donn has always been a writer of some sort and how that will always be the thing that stays even when he cuts other things back
  • Writer's Block versus when the well runs dry
  • Understanding how not being true to yourself can be something that leads to depression
  • Thinking of yourself not as a speaker or a writer, but an expert in a particular field and which you can share those things through speaking and writing
  • The recent passing away of Donn's severely disabled daughter Hanna and the 24-hour required care she had needed
  • Donn's preferred 2 to 3 hours of uninterrupted time for writing . . . and how being unable to do that suggested to him that he could NOT write. And how that all changed when he found ways to get writing done in much smaller chunks, like 5 minute slots
  • How there are currently roughly 50 million unpaid caregivers in the US today and yet how they can feel so alone
  • Re-examining what it means to creative even for those who are writers or artists
  • Being able to serve your person by taking care of yourself
  • How when you are a caregiver you are in constant crisis without any indication that it will ever end
  • How Donn has been grieving as a parent for over numerous decades
  • Donn's book of devotionals for caregivers who don't need another inspirational slogan, ANCHORED FOR THE STORM
  • The question of "why do bad things happen to good people" and how it relates to the concept of a dog watching a human rushing about in their daily life without being able to comprehend what the human is doing and why the human is doing it
  • The generic and stereotypical things people can say when addressing someone else's loss
  • The value of not feeling alone and how that can help people drawing strength from one another
  • The Andy Weir novel PROJECT HAIL MARY and the recent movie adaptation
  • The Warren Buffett story about the idea of giving up things you really want to do in order to achieve the most important things that you want to do
  • Being aware of how Donn lost his "best-earning years"
  • Mark's recent "Publishing Wide But Shallow" talk
  • Donn knowing how to do a proper book launch, but not having the capability of getting those things done
  • Advice Donn would offer to others who are in a care-giving situation
  • What to say when you're not sure what to say
  • And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on the value in connecting (even when that interview either wasn't recorded or wasn't "used" for anything other than a personal connection with someone else, on the incredible power writers have to ensure someone else out there doesn't feel alone, and the importance of being honest when you're not sure what to say to someone in a delicate situation.

Links of Interest:

 

Donn King is an author and speaker who has spent years helping writers and speakers connect with audiences in authentic ways. Donn’s books and podcast, The Alignment Show, explore how to live in courageous alignment with your values. He blends a warm, slightly playful style while still grounding his work in credibility. His goal is to prove that words, when used with honesty, heart, and craft, can shift lives.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0