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The 30-Second Writer: On Reclaiming Time and Publishing on Your Terms

  1. The 30-Second Writer: On Reclaiming Time and Publishing on Your Terms Natasha Tynes 42:24

Thirty seconds sounds too small to matter until you notice how many you throw away each day. I sit down with Dr. Gerald Robison, a pastor and longtime Bible teacher turned prolific author, to talk about the mindset behind his book 30 Seconds That Can Change Your Life—and the moment that made him take time seriously. 

Facing tongue Cancer and the possibility that his time was short, he stopped chasing only big goals and began reclaiming the small gaps most writers waste.

We dig into the “unused moments”—waiting in the car, standing in line, the transitions where you'd normally reach for your phone—and how those windows can become real writing time. 

Gerald shares micro-habits that make a page-a-day feel doable, and we wrestle with the Burnout question every author faces: when does productivity serve the work, and when do you need rest, quiet, and reflection to actually write well?

Then we turn to the writing life and the business behind it. Gerald walks me through traditional, independent, and hybrid publishing—the marketing realities and the book-rights pitfalls authors often miss until it's too late.

If you care about protecting your writing time, building sustainable creative habits, and understanding how books really get made, you'll leave with ideas you can use today.

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A multicultural illustrated story that teaches kids about Healthy Eating in a fun, heartwarming way. Perfect for elementary school children, gift-giving, and classroom read-alouds.

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About Natasha Natasha Tynes is a Jordanian-American author, journalist, and book coach based in the DC area. Beyond children's books, she writes literary fiction (They Called Me Wyatt, Karma Unleashed) and helps aspiring authors pu…

I’m a Jordanian-American author and communications professional based in Washington, DC. I run my own digital media agency, Suburban Media Group, where I advise clients on the best digital media practices for their brand. I have over twenty years of experience working as a journalist, writer, and social media manager.

I’m a regular contributor to a number of publications inside and outside the United States. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, Nature Magazine, Elle Magazine, The Post, Esquire magazine, and Aljazeera, among others.

I have appeared on several TV programs, including Larry King Live, PBS’s Foreign Exchange, Paula Zahn show, CBS’s Morning Show, Scarborough Country, BBC’s Up all night, among others.

I host the podcast, Read and Write with Natasha, where I chat with authors, publishers, and book marketers around the world.

I’m the author of the speculative literary novel They Called Me Wyatt. My short stories have appeared in Geometry, The Timerbline Review, The Markez Review, and Fjords. Here is a link to some of my published work. For media inquiries, speaking engagements, and other questions, send an Email to: [email protected]