Hey, I’m Slade.
I believe being a writer is a calling.
Knowing your purpose is both a blessing and a curse — it's the compass that guides you to joy, satisfaction, and meaning, but it also never lets you quit, no matter how rough the journey gets.
I’m a slow writer.
I don’t write full time.
I haven’t published 20 books.
I haven't hit any major bestseller lists.
And I’m not a licensed psychotherapist.
But for 20 years I’ve supported myself writing online and helping other creatives develop their intuition, reframe limiting beliefs, and transform their identities and passions into fulfilling careers.
I’m also writing back from burnout at age 55.
(There’s no shortage of people warning you not to burnout, but not a lot of advice on how to recover once you do.)
My Backstory
In 2002, a stroke derailed my life and left me housebound and jobless at 33.
I needed to find a way to support myself working from home, so I took a leap of faith and decided to finally turn my lifelong dream of writing into a career.
I taught myself to code and build websites, and interned with an email marketer to learn how to run an online business.
I started installing blogs for clients and teaching them how to use them for content marketing.
In 2006, I launched my own project, Shift Your Spirits, an alternative spirituality and personal development blog, which grew to an email list of 30,000 subscribers and eventually became a podcast.
For 15 years, I produced hundreds of weekly articles and episodes, and worked 1:1 with thousands of clients.
Despite my success, after years of writing and talking about the same topics, I burned out.
I retreated into writing fiction, where the burnout began to manifest as creative blocks.
For 3 years, I talked to therapists, researched the overlooked causes of writer’s block, and revived a self-care practice called “the Reboot” to recover from burnout.
I want a writing career that aligns with my mental and physical health as well as my creative goals.
One that I can sustain for another 20 years.
I’m a slow writer.
I’m a #1 Strategic CliftonStrengths, and a Scanner.
I’ve developed my process for over 40 years.
I don’t produce a book a month.
The Amazon subscription royalty model pressures authors to create more content faster, living under deadlines so tight you can’t afford to take a legitimate sick day.
I reject the hamster wheel of stress and constant work.
I embrace quality over quantity.
I don’t write full time.
I don’t even want to.
Most people equate “full-time” writing with making a living from their craft without having a day job they hate.
But 8 to 10 hours a day writing is unsustainable for me.
I make a living writing 4 hours a day, 6 days a week.
I don’t need 20 books to make 50K.
I’ve developed multiple streams of income in diverse, evergreen formats.
With automated emails and personal content, my work continues to generate income long after its initial release.
Without spending money on ads.
I haven’t hit the bestseller lists or gotten the coveted orange banner.
My novels have seen some success, hitting #2 in a few categories and generating $5K — $18K each.
But making money writing isn’t just about book sales — 90% of my income comes from courses, listener support, and 1:1 consulting direct from my website.
You can build a thriving writing career without mainstream industry recognition or vanity metrics. And if you need a "day job," you can still maintain your independence by leveraging your writing skills in other capacities.
I wrote my most successful novel during burnout at 51.
It was a grueling experience.
And tackling the next one was even harder.
But navigating the vicious cycle of burnout and writer’s block while authoring five Slade James titles taught me some invaluable lessons about the underlying psychological issues and the targeted strategies required to overcome them.
I’m not a therapist, and I don’t really care for the term “coach.”
But I’ve developed a process for identifying and overcoming the subconscious source of creative blocks.
My sessions focus on present challenges, future goals, and actionable advice.
And as a writer myself, I offer empathy and experience unique to our purpose.
WANT TO WORK WITH ME?
I offer 1:1 personalized guided visualization sessions to identify and overcome what’s holding you back.
WANT TO READ MORE?
Subscribe to my free email series, and receive a guided meditation for clearing blocks.
Contact ME
I usually respond within 24 hours (Monday — Saturday). If you haven’t heard back, try to reach me on Facebook or X.