Dustin Dunbar On The 5 Things You Need To Be A Successful Author or Writer

Believe in yourself. So many people told me I didn’t have the platform or expertise to write on my subjects. This is what you will hear in the industry today, and it is because publishers want guaranteed sales.

Some writers and authors have a knack for using language that can really move people. Some writers and authors have been able to influence millions with their words alone. What does it take to become an effective and successful author or writer? In this interview series, called “5 Things You Need To Be A Successful Author or Writer” we are talking to successful authors and writers who can share lessons from their experiences.

As part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dustin Dunbar. Dustin Dunbar had a challenging family environment as a child. Still, he successfully broke the cycle of addiction and abuse through his commitment to spiritual psychology, ultimately earning a doctorate in the field. As a fervent advocate for women’s rights, he has released Her Holiness, a thriller that delves into the quest for equality from the perspective of the first female Pope. Excitingly, Dustin has thrown his hat into the ring for the 2028 Presidential race, aiming to be the first independent president since George Washington.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started?

It is such a pleasure to be here. I grew up poor in Midwest America with an abusive, alcohol-addicted father and grandfather, and I vowed never to be like them. Devouring psychology books and researching addiction in my twenties, I earned a doctorate in psychology and believed at that time that I had broken my family’s chains. In 2009, I was handpicked by Ryan Seacrest for LA Shrink and Endemol Productions Dallas Life Coach, where I was the “Shrink” and “Life Coach” on those pilots. After drinking moderately, responsibly, and socially for twenty years, I, too, became addicted to alcohol. I overcame my addiction at the age of forty-eight and have since been helping others overcome theirs. I am a coach at AlcoholFreeRevolution.org, which is my non-profit online community.

I am also deeply committed to championing equal rights for women, a passion rooted in my upbringing in a household filled with strong, loving women. Drawing inspiration from their resilience, I have been blessed to craft powerful narratives illuminating women’s journeys striving for equality in a world that often seeks to silence them. In my latest work, Her Holiness, a thriller about the first female Pope that comes out this summer, I explore the complexities of societal tradition and inequality, shedding light on the struggles, triumphs, and unwavering spirit of women who dare to raise their voices.

This narrative serves as a compelling reminder of the strength of solidarity and the urgent need for gender equality. With a firm belief in the importance of amplifying women’s voices, I encourage readers to reflect on their

own roles in the ongoing fight for equal rights, inspiring them to join the movement for meaningful change.

Can you share the most interesting story that occurred to you in the course of your career?

I was 24 years old and had just come out of a two-hour group meditation in a convent where I did not know any of the people, and they did not know me. A woman came up close to me, and without introducing herself, she said, “You need to write,” then walked away. It was a week-long retreat where we all got to know one another well, but I never saw her again. The experience for me was that she was the Universe, giving me the courage and confidence, I needed.

What was the biggest challenge you faced in your journey to becoming a writer? How did you overcome it? Can you share a story about that that other aspiring writers can learn from?

For me, it was all about confidence. I didn’t write, and when I did, I hid my writing for a long time. I began showing them to people that I felt were safe spaces. Then I asked for professional help, and knowing I had their support when needed was immense. Many people told me I was not an expert or had no platform to sell anything from, so I would not make it in the industry. My intuition kept telling me to do it anyway. I follow my intuition more than I follow anything or anyone these days. We all have a higher wisdom that can lead us to our true destinies if we allow it to come through and listen to it.

It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

My biggest mistake was believing that I had to do it alone. I do not like editing. I am a storyteller like Mark Twain. I was so afraid of looking stupid with bad editing that it kept me from telling my stories. Now, I just let them fly and have professional editors dotting the I’s and crossing the t’s. Creative writing is entirely different from editing, so if you have a fun story, get it out any way you can!

In your opinion, were you a “natural born writer” or did you develop that aptitude later on? Can you explain what you mean?

I am a natural-born storyteller, but I do not consider myself a natural-born writer because I have seen how my incredible editors put my stories together in a way I couldn’t see.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

When I was in Venice, Italy, in 2012, I picked up a newspaper, and the headline said that the Archbishop of Milan was on his deathbed and he was scolding the Catholic Church and pope for being 200 years out of date. I thought about what that meant for a second, and the first female pope came to my mind. That day I started scribbling out the story on a notebook and in 2016 I signed a contract with a top literary agent Folio Lit out of NYC. People in the industry couldn’t believe it and said that Folio Lit doesn’t take on novels unless they are sure to sell. I got super excited about being published, but it didn’t sell, and the feedback was that I needed to make it more commercial. I went back to work on it, and now Her Holiness just came out! I have never been so excited about anything except for the birth of my two girls. I also just put my hat in the ring for the 2028 presidential race and people can see everything about that at DustinDunbarUSA.com or on all of the social media channels at DustinDunbarUSA

Here is the main question of our interview. Based on your experience, what are the “5 Things You Need To Be A Successful Author or Writer”? Please share a story or example for each.

1 . Believe in yourself. So many people told me I didn’t have the platform or expertise to write on my subjects. This is what you will hear in the industry today, and it is because publishers want guaranteed sales. If everyone listened to this ridiculousness, there would never be new authors unless they were social media influencers, politicians, or entertainers. Let’s be real: How many great books have come from these people?

2 . Start scribbling your stories and get them down on paper or in a document. Do not think you have to be perfect in your writing in any way at all. The story matters, and the pros can help you assemble it later.

3 . Be vulnerable. Could you ask others for help? There will be many times when you get stuck, or the story does not flow. You can find a creative friend and ask them to help you. Another set of creative eyes has always set my stories free from writer’s block.

4 . Meditate. “I of myself can do nothing.” This is what Jesus said at least three times in the bible. He gave all of his power as coming through him from the Universe. A huge misconception about meditation is that we are not doing anything, and nothing is happening. The truth is that it is in silence that we receive the most. It is in silence that all creativity flows through us. Our tiny and very limited thinking minds are out of the way, and the infinite power and creativity of the Universe can flow. All we have to do is sit, be still, and listen.

5 . Gratitude and being of service. I wake up each day thanking the Universe for my health, my kid’s health, and the incredible abundance of simply being an American. I then try to list small things I am grateful for. The more thankful I am, the more abundance flows to me. I end my daily gratitude by thanking the Universe for allowing me to serve and spread its eternal love, peace, and joy wherever possible.

What is the one habit you believe contributed the most to you becoming a great writer? (i.e. perseverance, discipline, play, craft study). Can you share a story or example?

When other people tell me I cannot do something, I have a habit of showing them I can. ​

Someone saying I can’t is jet fuel to the already burning fire that I have inside. I genuinely believe there is nothing I cannot do or accomplish (i.e., becoming the president in 2028) and I feel that way about everyone else. If someone has a dream that gives them joy, their community joy, and the Universe joy, then it can and will happen if they stay focused on it. When I first started writing Her Holiness, I had multiple knowledgeable and well-meaning people tell me that since I did not have a platform, it was a waste of time. The Universe is the my platform and IT is the only true platform.

Which literature do you draw inspiration from? Why?

With a doctorate in spiritual psychology I love all of the teachings of Jesus, Buddha, Prophet Muhammad, and Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now” is one of the most extraordinary psychology and spirituality book I have read. I aim to reside in the eternal present moment as much as possible; his teachings show us how to do that. When we get the inside right, everything on the outside falls into place.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

Through Her Holiness, I am committed to empowering women to achieve equal spiritual rights across all religions around the globe. More importantly, I am preparing to lead the United States towards a future filled with love and unity, moving past divisiveness and fostering respectful boundaries.

It’s time for us to refocus our attention on what truly matters: strengthening our international relationships, particularly with China and Russia, rather than getting caught in the cycle of internal conflicts that only serve to weaken us as a nation. Let us come together as Americans, transcending the labels of Democrats and Republicans, and unite in our shared purpose.

I invite you to delve deeper into my vision and insights by visiting my website and following my social media channels. Together, we have the power to inspire meaningful change and create a brighter, more unified future for all!

How can our readers further follow your work online?

www.DustinDunbarUSA.com and all social media platforms at DustinDunbarUSA

Thank you so much for this. This was very inspiring!