In this episode I talk to my old writing coach Penelope Trunk about why I’m not finishing my novel - and why you might not be either. If you’ve ever wanted to eavesdrop on an editor/writer conversation, this is it.

We unpack my 50.000 ”non-words”, the trouble with editing yourself and why building a writing desk doesn’t count as writing (even if it’s gorgeous). Penelope, in her famously blunt and brilliant style, calls me out on procrastination disguised as productivity, explains why writing groups often fail, and reminds me that writing is not planning — it’s writing.

If you’re overthinking your plot, waiting for the perfect moment, or secretly hoping your book will write itself… this one is for you.

Mentioned: Anna Karenina (a lot), The Midnight Library, Big Mouth, sailing, Scrivener (don’t) and Maxwell Perkins.

Find Penelope’s work at https://penelopetrunk.com

Subscribe to her newsletter: https://penelopetrunk.substack.com

And as always you can email me at podcast@exitplanwriter.com

In this episode, Silke Krieger Genckel and I explore what it really takes to claim time for creativity—especially as mothers, writers, and women conditioned to put others first. We talk about guilt, identity, the myth of hard work, and the quiet courage it takes to take yourself seriously as a writer. Silke is embodying the Practical Magic life and I hope she inspires you as much as she inspired me.

👉 Follow the show for more honest conversations about creativity, writing, and life—and share this episode with a fellow writer who needs to hear it.

✍️ You can find more of Silke’s beautiful work on her Substack here: https://silkekriegergenckel.substack.com

Follow me on instagram @exitplanwriter

Connect on Substack : https://Exitplanwriter.substack.com

Or email my direct at podcast@exitplanwriter.com

What if your day job is riskier than you think? In this solo episode I share more about the plan to build a sustainable writing life and explain the value of intellectual property. The first experiment is all about getting rid of the day job excuse and putting the day dream of a writing life to the test. Listen in to hear me debunk the myths around making money through writing and how I’m doing so far. Transition to full-time writing with me.

This is a business of writing experiment episode.

You can follow my daily progress at exitplanwriter.com

As always , email me at podcast@exitplanwriter.com

Or follow me on Instagram @exitplanwriter

FREE: Dan Koe’s book: https://thedankoe.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Purpose-Profit-2.pdf

Which I strongly urge you to get in print as well, it has a special place in my bookshelf.

I’ve wanted to become an author for 20 years, but life, perfectionism, and people-pleasing keeps winning. In this opening conversation I sit down with therapeutic coach Lara Rickard to name what really stops us and to declare—out loud—that I’m building my writing life in real time, mess and all.

What actually happens in this episode

• ​We unpack what’s missing from the conversation about successful author careers and why women with jobs, kids, pets, and partners often put everyone else first—and how that stalls creative goals.
• ​Lara explains embodied compassion and how it helps untangle perfectionism, procrastination, and the urge to “fix yourself before you start.”
• ​I share my pattern of struggling to commit to drafts until their done.
• ​Together we discuss the Core Quadrant model to show how our biggest character flaws actually stem from our core strength.

If you’re juggling real-life responsibilities and still aching to write, follow along as I figure it out—one honest episode at a time.

You can find Lara on instagram @lararickard_

follow mean instagram @exitplanwriter

Or email me at podcast@exitplanwriter.com and I can put your character through the Core Quadrants model

Exit Plan: Writer is a writing podcast hosted by me; Dajana Holst, an author starting from scratch and building a writing life in public. Through clever experiments in creativity, income, and mindset, you get the juicy how-to—I get the trial and error trauma. Let’s pivot together into a more intentional, independent writing life.

Thank you in advance for subscribing—it supports my unhinged life choices and gets me one step closer to never hearing the phrase “circle back” again.