Discover Building a Life Out of Words

I live in Amish country: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

When you visit you’ll find:

  • Horse and buggy combos are commonplace, even at Wal-Mart.
  • Hard workers and neatly kept lawns.
  • Tourist attractions.
  • Shawn Smucker.

I’ve yet to meet Smucker in person, but after reading his new book Building a Life Out of Words, we’ve shared coffee, swapped writing ideas and engaged in a refreshing heart to heart.


The mark of a masterful writer, actor or any creative is the transcendent ability to transfer feeling–to elicit a response from the receiver of the message. Amid his struggles building a business for ten years overseas to painting windows and porches, Smucker’s stories wade through the worries and anxieties which often plague writers and other creatives. Putting the spotlight on fear, it scurries back into the darkness from whence it came.

A benchmark of what Building a Life Out of Words carries is peace. After reading this succinct yet full e-book, you’ll enjoy an impartation and acknowledgement that, although it’s not easy, if you make space for your work, it will flourish. It will grow.

Refreshingly honest, Smucker also goes where few choose to trod: money. An example:

Building a Life Out of Words, by Shawn Smucker

Other accomplished contributors include Andi Cumbo, Bryan Allain, Ed Cyzewski, Jason Boyett, Jeff Goins, Jennifer Luitwieler, Ken Mueller, Kristin Tennant, and Stacy Barton.

Though written specifically for writers, Building a Life Out of Words applies to the artists, the day-jobbers and creatives who must push though fear of failure, loss and continual rejection to reach satisfaction, accomplishment and joy.

***

Connect with Shawn Smucker on his website or Twitter.

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Author: Andrew Zahn

I'm a son, husband, dad, business owner, actor and good sleeper/eater. On this blog, I pave a highway for creative growth by providing food, water, and shelter for those wishing to live, work, and play with creative zest.

16 thoughts on “Discover Building a Life Out of Words”

  1. I’m not far from Lancaster County – maybe we need a Killer Tribes Conference Eastern PA version. What do you think?

    Thanks for the review. It’s on my list!

    1. Yes yes yes! I agree 100%. Even if it’s just a mini-conference.

      Where do you live Jon?

  2. Dude, I’m about to go get this. Looks really awesome. I can’t wait until that one day where I become a full time writer. Even if it is when I retire from another job (looking a lot like your header above with a hat and beard), the REAL job is coming. Every day is one day closer to when I can become a full time troublemaker…errr…writer. 🙂

        1. Christine IS RIGHT. Just got this book the other day and I’ve been flying through it. LOVING every moment of it. Now I just feel like I missed out b/c the author was at the Killer Tribes conference and I didn’t get to meet him!

  3. “The mark of a masterful writer, actor or any creative is the transcendent ability to transfer feeling.” So well put, Andrew. So much truth! Just what I needed today.

    1. For real. So much goodness out there that we don’t even need to watch TV.

      But I’m gonna go watch TV now.

    1. I hear ya on the Pressfield comparison. I liked that Shawn’s had more heart and personality.

      There’s a place for both styles for sure.

  8. Good point. i have not met Shawn either, but he has great wisdom on this one, for sure! thanks for posting.

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