So glad to have author and writing coach Jeff Elkins on Publishing Disrupted!

What do you do when the education or job you worked so hard for no longer fits the life you’re living?

In this episode of Publishing Disrupted, Mick Silva and David Morris are joined by novelist, writing coach, and Dialogue Doctor founder Jeff Elkins for an honest conversation about vocation, disruption, and creative reinvention.

Jeff’s story spans theological training, fifteen years as a successful pastor, an exit from church systems, and a gradual rebuilding of professional identity through writing, teaching, and community-building. Today, Jeff works in organizational training, runs a learning community for writers, and continues to publish fiction on his own terms.

Together, we talk about:
– Leaving professions that once gave meaning and identity
– Writing as a practice of presence, not just production
– How independent fiction publishing actually works in today’s marketplace
– Why community may matter more than algorithms

This episode isn’t just about publishing. It’s about passion, profession, and learning to build a creative life amid disruption.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts or over at publishingdisrupted.substack.com.

Find Jeff Elkins at https://jeffelkinswriter.com/ and https://dialoguedoctor.com/

Publishing Disrupted is at PublishingDisrupted.substack.com

Mick Silva is at MickSilvaEditing.substack.com

David Morris is at dvdmorris.substack.com, LakeDriveBooks.com, and Hyponymous.com.

What are we doing, where are we going, and will they have snacks there? David and I talked some about our aims for this podcast, and how we (still) don't want to try to boil things down to five takeaways, or share advice much. Mainly, we love exploring fresh takes, and sharing about humans we're excited about.

Toward that end, we discussed whether there's room for "books that don't do anything," and an idea about how writers might be better served by embracing a writing life rather than worrying too much about SEO and book sales.

We shared some ideas and wants for season two, and finished with a couple of our favorite books. Look forward to sharing more disruptiveness in the New Year!

Publishing Disrupted is at PublishingDisrupted.substack.com

Mick Silva is at MickSilvaEditing.substack.com

David Morris is at dvdmorris.substack.com, LakeDriveBooks.com, and Hyponymous.com.

Warning! One unnamed host (who knows who he is) used some choice phrasing that may strip the grease stains out of your earbuds. Our genteel, refined listeners and sensitive types are advised to find a different episode.

That said, this one got real. Très piquant! So, you know, don't listen with your kids in the car. And probably don't recommend it to Aunt Darla, who already thinks you're a heathen for watching R-rated movies. In fact, don't listen to it at all. There's nothing here you can't live without. Not a single takeaway of note. Really, we'd recommend something more, you know, edifying.

But if you're not put off by such debased verbiage, or if you're just curious what "getting out of the box" means, or what even is the box and who's telling us what boxes we should be in now, and what's going on? Then you're probably going to have to listen. Just don't come whining to us later.

For bolder, blunt writers and publishing types who feel beaten down, or who long for some honest truth, and/or a different kind of supportive, generous community, please enjoy freely. And please direct all hate mail to Aunt Darla.

Publishing Disrupted is at PublishingDisrupted.substack.com

Mick Silva is at MickSilvaEditing.substack.com

David Morris is at dvdmorris.substack.com, LakeDriveBooks.com, and Hyponymous.com.