Pros Talking Prose

By Stacey Smekofske

Listen to a podcast, please open Podcast Republic app. Available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.


Category: Books

Open in Apple Podcasts


Open RSS feed


Open Website


Rate for this podcast

Subscribers: 0
Reviews: 0
Episodes: 88

Description

Writing a book is hard. Publishing it is even harder. Succeeding as an author? That’s practically wizardry. Good thing you don’t have to figure it all out alone. Pros Talking Prose is your backstage pass to the writing and publishing world, hosted by seasoned pros Stacey Smekofske and Troy Lambert. We’ll help you skip the mistakes, laugh through the chaos, and build the writing career you actually want without the smoke and mirrors. New episodes every week. Therapy not included — but highly encouraged.

Episode Date
The Author Success Formula Is a Lie
Aug 08, 2026
Authors Don't Trust AI... So Why Are They Using It?
Aug 01, 2026
Christopher Nolan Reminded Us of One Truth About Storytelling
Jul 25, 2026
Would Your Book Survive an Acquisitions Editor?
Jul 18, 2026
Why Readers Walk Away After Reading Your Blurb
Jul 11, 2026
The AI Witch Hunt Is Hurting Authors
Jul 04, 2026
Everyone Wants Fewer Gatekeepers… Until They Read the Books
Jun 27, 2026
The Cost of Playing it Safe
Jun 20, 2026
You're Probably Setting the Wrong Writing Deadlines
Jun 13, 2026
You're Measuring Author Success All Wrong
Jun 06, 2026
Your Book Is NOT for Everyone (That's Why It Sells)
May 30, 2026
Your Book Title is Probably Hurting Sales
May 23, 2026
Some Authors Forgot How to Enjoy Writing
May 15, 2026
The Healthiest Authors Think Differently About Success
May 11, 2026
The Author Career Myth That’s Burning Writers Out
May 09, 2026
Your Editor Is Protecting Your Feelings (Not Your Sales)
May 02, 2026
Why "Just Read More" is Terrible Writing Advice
Apr 25, 2026
Authors Are Skipping Research… And It Shows
Apr 18, 2026
You Don't Want an Editor, You Want Validation
Apr 11, 2026
AI Isn't the Problem. How You Use It Is.
Apr 04, 2026
Authors Are Panicking Over “Shy Girl” But They’re Missing The Point
Mar 28, 2026
Why Most Authors Are Destroying Their Own Brand
Mar 21, 2026
The Publishing Scam Industry is Bigger than Anyone Admits
Mar 14, 2026
When Writing Became a Product Instead of an Art
Mar 07, 2026
The Truth Behind AI, Your Words, and Amazon
Feb 28, 2026
Why Some Books Disappear (And Others Never Die)
Feb 21, 2026
You're Not Independent, You're Isolated: And It's Hurting Your Author Career
Feb 14, 2026
The Three-Tool Rule that Saves Authors Time and Money
Feb 07, 2026
How to Capture Story Ideas Before They Vanish
Jan 31, 2026
Why Your "Great Idea" Isn't a Story (And How to Fix It)
Jan 24, 2026
Publish Hangover: The Emotional Whiplash Authors Don't Expect
Jan 17, 2026
Troy Went Rogue (And Told Authors to Take a Nap): Rest, Rust, and the Long Game of Being an Author
Jan 10, 2026
How Not to Gaslight Yourself With Author Goals: Metrics That Matter: Writing, Readers, Revenue
Jan 03, 2026
Your Author Business in 2026 LIVE - What to prepare for now (broadcast 12/27/25)
Dec 30, 2025
The Industry is Rebooting & Authors Are Feeling It
Dec 19, 2025
The Industry is a Mess, Your Story Isn't
Dec 13, 2025
Building a Reader Community: Because Amazon Alone is an Inbred Village
Nov 29, 2025
The Human Advantage: Why AI Can’t Kill Publishing
Nov 22, 2025
When Readers Attack (And Other A-Hole Adventures): Stacey Said WHAT?
Nov 15, 2025
Our Author Nation Highlights: Update from the Largest Conference in the USA
Nov 08, 2025
Swifties, Secrets, and Shenanigans: Plotting Our Vegas Takeover
Nov 01, 2025
Your Publisher is Out of Business - Now What?: Part 2
Oct 25, 2025
Your Publisher is Out of Business: Now What?
Oct 25, 2025
Every Book is Marketable: If you Know How to Package it.
Oct 18, 2025
Tide Pods, Alien Probes, & Author Marketing: A Totally Normal Conversation
Oct 11, 2025
Stop Googling Your Career: Strategy vs. Tactics That Actually Work
Oct 04, 2025
The Publishing Team That Could Make or Break You: How to Choose Wisely
Sep 27, 2025
The Author's Responsibility in a Divided World
Sep 20, 2025
Anthropic Settlement Shocker: Why Most Authors Won’t See a Dime (Unless You Did THIS)
Sep 13, 2025
From Spark to Wildfire: Crafting Irresistible First Chapters
Sep 05, 2025
Books to Blockbusters in a Day?! Michael Evans on the AI Storytelling Revolution
Aug 30, 2025
Slow the $%^# Down: Quality Over Speed: Building an Author Life That Lasts
Aug 23, 2025
Stop Describing the Door and Just Leave Already!: How Show Don't Tell Really Works.
Aug 16, 2025
Authors Beware: Audible’s New Plan Could Cost You Big
Aug 09, 2025
CSI: Crap Scene Investigation - Write Crime Right
Aug 02, 2025
Stop Chasing Algorithms: Write Like an Artisan
Jul 26, 2025
AI Didn’t Kill the Author. You Did.
Jul 19, 2025
Scambaiting for Authors: Avoiding Those Inbox Traps
Jul 12, 2025
Bad Reviews and Brutal Trolls - Surviving Negative Reviews Like a Pro
Jul 05, 2025
Stop Shouting "I Have a Gay Friend!" and Other Cringey Author Mistakes
Jul 05, 2025
Your Story Came to You in a Dream? SAME!: The Mystical Side of Writing You Can’t Explain
Jun 21, 2025
Your Characters Aren't Traumatized, They're Going Through Some Stuff
Jun 14, 2025
Chasing Bookstore Sales - The Truth About Book Sales and How Authors Make Money
Jun 07, 2025
Publishing Math: The True Cost of Becoming an Author
May 31, 2025
Book Marketing Shenanigans: Can Kickstarter Actually Work?
May 24, 2025
Nobody Knows What They’re Doing (And That’s Okay); The Chaos of Building an Author Business
May 17, 2025
How to Keep Time From Wrecking Your Novel: The Magic and Mayhem of Timelines Revealed
May 10, 2025
Your Brain Called - It Wants a Day Off: How Authors Can Protect their Mental Health
May 03, 2025
Pivot or Perish: Survival Skills for Every Author: Navigate Market Shifts, Trends, & Personal Pivots
May 01, 2025
What No One Tells You Until It’s Too Late: The Unspoken Rules of Publishing
May 01, 2025
Why Your Email List Is Ghosting You—And How to Get Them Back
May 01, 2025
From Lost to Found: Using Genre & Metadata to Skyrocket Book Sales
May 01, 2025
Taxes for Authors: Don't Let the IRS Be Your Plot Twist
May 01, 2025
Bad Advice for Authors: What Not To Do
May 01, 2025
ISBN Debate: Buy or Not to Buy, That is the Question
May 01, 2025
Lit Fallout
May 01, 2025
An Authors Purpose
May 01, 2025
Tools that Help Writers and Editors
May 01, 2025
Publishing Strategies for a Shifting Industry
May 01, 2025
The Author Mindset
May 01, 2025
Good vs Bad Advice for Authors
May 01, 2025
Yes, You Can Write Humor
May 01, 2025
Shake Off Writers Block
May 01, 2025
How Pros Define Quality Writing
May 01, 2025
How to Avoid Bad Publishing Deals
May 01, 2025
9 Tips for Success As an Author
May 01, 2025
AI Friend or Foe
Apr 28, 2025
Pros Talking Pros Trailer
Apr 28, 2025