A little insight and maybe introspection.

You hit publish on your book—so why does it feel like something’s missing? In this short episode, publishing coach and editor Stacey Smekofske breaks down the publish hangover—the emotional crash and loss of momentum many authors experience after finishing a book. From false expectations about instant success to the dangerous pause that causes authors to disappear after launch, this is the part of the writing journey no one talks about.

If you’ve ever asked: “Why do I feel empty after publishing my book?” “What should I do after I hit publish?” “How do successful authors keep momentum going?” This episode is for you.

You’ll learn: Why finishing a book doesn’t automatically lead to visibility or sales

How authors lose momentum right after publishing

How to redirect that post-publish energy into your next smart move

Why your author mindset matters more than algorithms

Publishing isn’t the finish line—it’s the beginning of your author career. Learn more about building a sustainable author business at PrintToPro.com

Subscribe for weekly insights on writing craft, publishing, and the author business.

#WritingTips #PublishingAdvice #WriterLife #CreativeProcess #WritingTruths

Stacey is at Disney. Troy went rogue. And instead of hustle culture, he brought a message most authors desperately need to hear: Take. A. Nap.

In this solo episode of Pros Talking Prose, Troy Lambert digs into the often-ignored reality of the author life: burnout isn’t a badge of honor, exhaustion isn’t productivity, and grinding yourself into rust won’t build a sustainable career.

He talks about Why rest is not quitting—it’s a strategy The difference between creative rest, business rest, and physical rest How constant marketing noise (ads, algorithms, AI, trends) is frying author brains Why writing the next book still matters more than chasing every shiny tactic How to stop bouncing between “must-do” strategies and start playing the long game

If you’re overwhelmed, tired, stuck, or feeling like you’re falling behind while everyone else “keeps up,” this episode is your permission slip to breathe and refocus on what actually moves the needle.

No hype. No hustle shaming. Just honest talk about staying human while building a writing career that lasts.

Listen in, unsubscribe from some noise, and remember: You’re not a machine. You’re an author. #ProsTalkingProse #AuthorLife #WritingBurnout #AuthorMindset #IndieAuthor #WritingCommunity #AuthorBusiness #CreativeRest #BurnoutRecovery #WriteTheNextBook

Are you setting ambitious author goals… or accidentally gaslighting yourself into burnout? In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Stacey Smekofske and Troy Lambert kick off the new year with a no-BS conversation about realistic author goals, metrics that actually matter, and why chasing the wrong numbers is the fastest way to hate your writing life.

We dig into the KPIs authors should be tracking (and the ones you probably should stop obsessing over), including: Writing output that fits your real life Building readers you actually own (not borrowed from an algorithm) Understanding revenue without magical thinking Email lists, discoverability, and why social media isn’t the asset you think it is Why “write faster” is terrible advice for most authors And yes… why FUN might be the most overlooked metric of all

If you’ve ever felt behind, discouraged, or confused by conflicting publishing advice—this episode is your permission slip to stop chasing fantasy goals and start building a sustainable author business. Because your career isn’t broken. Your expectations might be.

Subscribe, hit play, and let’s reset how you measure success—before February wrecks your motivation.

#AuthorLife #WritingGoals #AuthorBusiness #PublishingPodcast #IndieAuthors #AuthorMindset #WritingCommunity #BookMarketing #ProsTalkingProse #AuthorCEO #BurnoutRecovery #WritingAdvice