This week marks nine years of the Jon Cronshaw’s Author Diary podcast!
Nine years. More than 470 episodes. And somehow, I’ve never missed a week.
When I started recording the podcast back in October 2017, I was still working on my debut Wasteland series. I thought it might be interesting to document my journey as a new author, sharing the ups and downs of writing, publishing, and trying to make a living from telling stories.
I had no idea I’d still be doing it nine years later.
In fact, this anniversary has got me thinking about how much has changed over the past decade.
Where It All Began: Wizard of the Wasteland
Ten years ago, I was planning a little book called Wizard of the Wasteland. It was going to be my NaNoWriMo project for 2016, and it eventually came out the following June.
It was my third attempt at writing a novel, and the first one I actually finished and published.
Looking back, I can see plenty of flaws. There are things I’d approach completely differently today. But I’m still proud of that book. It was the beginning of everything that’s followed.
And what a strange journey it’s been.
Since then, I’ve written more books than I ever imagined I would, created entire worlds, built up several series, and somehow managed to make a career out of something I love.
And all the while, every single week, I’ve sat down to record another Author Diary.
There’s something quite satisfying about that.
Turning Up Every Week
I think writing and podcasting have taught me the same lesson. You just keep turning up and doing the work.
One book becomes two. Two becomes ten. One podcast episode becomes fifty. Then a hundred. And before you know it, you’ve got a back catalogue of more than 470 episodes.
Suddenly, people start calling you prolific.
But from where I’m sitting, it’s mostly just been a case of turning up each week and getting on with it.
There’s a quote often attributed to Bill Gates about how we overestimate what we can achieve in one year and underestimate what we can achieve in ten.
As I’m now approaching a decade since I started taking fiction writing seriously, I couldn’t agree more.
If you’d told me back in 2016 where I’d be today, I don’t think I’d have believed you.
And I’m particularly pleased that I’ve kept the Author Diary going throughout it all. It’s become a record of my writing life, from those early days of figuring out how to write and publish a novel to everything I’m working on now.
The successes, the mistakes, the abandoned ideas, the unexpected detours. It’s all there.
Listen to the Author Diary
If you’ve never listened to the Author Diary, you’re very welcome to join me!
I record a new episode every week, chatting about what I’m writing, what I’m reading, and whatever else is going on in my life as an indie author.
You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you normally listen to podcasts. Just search for Jon Cronshaw’s Author Diary.
I also upload the video version to my Patreon every Friday as a public post, so you don’t need to be a paid member to watch.
Whether you’ve been following along since those early Wasteland days or you’ve only recently discovered my books, thank you.
Your support has allowed me to keep doing this, and I never take that for granted.
Here’s to another nine years, many more books, and hundreds more Author Diaries!