3 Things Writers Should Stop Worrying About

Writers waste a lot of energy worrying about the wrong things.   In this episode of the Wordslinger 10-Shot, Kevin talks about finishing a story that started nearly 30 years ago, why your unfinished drafts may still have life in them, and why the “perfect” writing tool probably is not what’s standing between you and the work.   We also get into the ongoing AI debate for writers: where the line is, how AI can be useful, and why using tools to improve your writing is not the same thing as letting something else do the writing for you.   If you’ve ever abandoned a story, obsessed over which software or device to use, or wondered whether AI has a place in your writing process, this one is for you.   Subscribe to the channel for practical, honest guidance on writing, publishing, creativity, and building a sustainable author career. This is where writers come to get unstuck, get encouraged, and keep moving forward.   ⏱️ Timecodes 00:00 — Recording from the virtual studio 00:39 — Finishing a draft that took 30 years to complete 01:26 — Why short fiction can be a smart creative strategy 02:37 — Building readers of your voice, not just your genre 04:37 — When a short story becomes a novella 05:10 — Revisiting an old idea that finally clicked 07:56 — How to know when an unfinished story is worth returning to 08:44 — Why writers should keep their old drafts 09:25 — How old story fragments helped launch the Dan Kotler series 10:31 — Returning to abandoned books years later 12:35 — The “perfect camera” lesson for writers 15:10 — Choosing the right writing software or device 16:12 — Handwriting, dictation, typewriters, Freewrite, AlphaSmart, Scrivener, and more 20:16 — The best writing tool is the one you already have 23:29 — The AI debate among writers 24:18 — Using AI as a writing aid versus using it to write for you 26:34 — Why every writer needs help improving 28:11 — Why passion still matters in the writing life 30:10 — The danger of AI witch hunts 32:43 — The line Kevin won’t cross with AI writing 33:29 — The Silence Between Signals is coming soon 34:11 — Share your thoughts: old drafts, writing tools, and AI   Links mentioned and recommended:   Wordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.com   ProWritingAid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5   Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger   Author Anchor: https://authoranchor.com   Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com   Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com   What are you worrying about most right now as a writer: unfinished stories, finding the right tools, or navigating AI? Drop a comment and let’s talk about it.   Like, subscribe, and share this with a writer who needs to stop waiting and start writing.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.