
Discover the transformative power of resilience, self-compassion, and journaling on your nonfiction author journey with special guest Liz Long.
In this episode of Author Nation Interviews, we explore the transformative writing journey of Liz Long, an advocate for mental health and author of “Navigating Shit Storms: How to Find Your True Path When Life Gets Rough.” Liz shares her insights on resilience, resourcefulness, and overcoming adversity as a nonfiction author. Let’s talk about journalling to nonfiction success!
Insights for Nonfiction Authors: What to Expect from This Episode
- The importance of resilience and resourcefulness in the nonfiction writing journey.
- How to overcome adversity and find empowerment as an author.
- Insights into navigating the writer's path with self-love and compassion.
- Practical strategies for journaling to nonfiction success.
Meet Our Guest: Liz Long
Liz Long is a mental health advocate and author who experienced a tragic loss at a young age, leading to years of struggle with depression. Through her journey, she discovered the power of resilience and self-compassion, ultimately finding her true path as an author and advocate for mental health awareness.

Resources to Write Your Way to Success
Highlights from Journaling to Nonfiction Success
- Liz shares her personal journey from Victim Town to Freedomville, highlighting the pivotal moments that led to her transformation.
- She discusses the significance of self-love and self-compassion in overcoming challenges and embracing one's true path as an author.
- Liz offers practical advice on journaling as a tool for nonfiction success, emphasizing its role in self-reflection, clarity, and growth.
- The conversation explores the power of storytelling to inspire others and create meaningful change in the world.
Empowering Your Author Journey: Quick Action Steps from Liz Long's Insights
Implementing the ideas from the transcript will help you by providing valuable insights and practical strategies for overcoming challenges, cultivating resilience, and finding your true path as an author.
Here are three quick actions you can do in only a few minutes each:
Practice Self-Compassion Journaling
Take a few minutes each day to journal about moments of self-compassion. Reflect on times when you showed kindness to yourself or acknowledged your strengths and achievements. This practice can help build resilience and self-love, essential qualities for navigating the author journey.
Identify Your Inner Voices
Spend a few minutes reflecting on the internal dialogue in your mind. Notice any negative or self-critical thoughts that may be holding you back. Then, consciously challenge these thoughts with words of self-compassion and encouragement. By recognizing and addressing these inner voices, you can shift towards a more empowered mindset.
Set an Intention for Writing
Before starting a writing session, take a few moments to set a clear intention for your work. Whether it’s to express your truth, inspire others, or simply enjoy the process, clarifying your purpose can help focus your energy and motivation. Write down your intention or mantra and keep it nearby as a reminder throughout your writing session.
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