Write the Damn Book Already

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Every novel writer has a different process, a fact I love because it reminds me that my own process is neither "right" nor "wrong." This gives me comfort for a whole eleven seconds before I again automatically wonder, "Am I doing this right?" Talking with Donna Hemans, author of The House of Plain Truth (Zi...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Ann Garvin writes books for "women to do too much in a world that asks too much." Enough said; take all my money already! She published her first book in her late forties, even though one of her professors/mentors used to say to her on a regular basis, “You’re the worst writer I’ve ever met.” (He wasn’t being funny.) During th...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! In Episode 63 of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, I had the opportunity to chat with Pamela Gwyn Kripke, a journalist and author whose writing has appeared in dozens of publications, including  The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Huffington Post, Slate, Salon, and Parenting. Pamela's novel, At the Seams (Open Books...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! When The Last Love Note by Emma Grey showed up on my doorstep, I knew we had a problem. A book with a cover that good had to have a story even better within its pages. And I wasn't wrong! I could've talked to Emma for hours (if not days), and in the latest episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, we discussed: ⭐️ T...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! A little over a decade ago, Bethany Clemenson, author of Ditching the Dream: How to Live Life on Your Terms (Finn-Phyllis Press, 2022), found herself in a place where, on the outside, it looked like she was killing it. But on the inside, it was killing her. She had climbed the corporate ladder and was an award-winning leader in the comp...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Alix Strauss recently reissued The Joy of Funerals, 20 years after its initial release (with St. Martin's Press). This fascinated me, as so often I hear authors wonder, "Can I still promote my book? It's been out for a year!" In this episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, we chatted about: what compelled...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! I love a good string of lessons learned. Given the popularity of my post detailing the 9 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Sooner on Instagram, I thought I'd expand upon a few of them (and add one more!). It's been a wild and wonderful 19+ years in this space, and while I wouldn't change a thing, knowing some of this earlier...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! I was thrilled to get the opportunity to speak with Kristen McGuiness, 2x author and founder of both Rise Books and Ascent Publishing, in the latest episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast. Kristen shares the incredibly relatable rollercoaster of emotions and experiences that come with navigating the book publishing realm as...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! When seeking a publisher, it can feel downright impossible to know who to trust and where to invest should you decide to pursue hybrid publishing. Of course you want to do everything possible to ensure that you're getting exactly what you sign up (and pay) for.  Reputable hybrid publishing houses are wonderful! They're providi...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! What happens after the book is published is often not what authors expect. We expect the inevitable "dip" in sales. We expect to spend time coming up with new strategies for getting the book in front of new readers. But we often don't expect a post-publication "funk."  In this episode of the Write the Damn Book...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Every time I tell Joanna Hardis how much her book, Just Do Nothing: A Paradoxical Guide to Getting Out of Your Way , has impacted me, her jaw drops. She truly can’t seem to believe how deeply her unique approach and perspective to getting out of one’s way is resonating with readers. Join us for this episode of the Write the Damn Book Al...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! In the latest episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, debut novelist Mary Belle and I talked about her going all in on her writing career (while raising a 3-year-old). Mary knew exactly what she needed from her first beta readers (and it wasn't just critique), and with her background in social media marketing and event...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! In this episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, we simplify the sometimes complicated landscape of book editing, clarifying the various editing stages.  From developmental editing that shapes the overarching structure to line editing that refines prose to copyediting that makes sure grammar and syntax are correct, you'l...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! The ISBN (International Standard Book Number)---it's one of the lesser-understood components of book publishing, but it's incredibly important to understand ( especially if you're an indie author).  In the latest episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, I simplify exactly why the ISBN is important, why you need...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! When Neely Tubati-Alexander started working on her first novel ( Love Buzz ; HarperPerennial, May 2023), she wished someone could give her a straightforward understanding of the steps she'd need to take, from writing her first draft to properly querying agents to getting that often-sought-after publishing deal.   In this episode of...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! These days, there's more than just one path to getting a book published.  From traditional publishing to hybrid publishing to self-publishing, every aspiring author has an opportunity to have her voice heard and to make an impact on readers.  For as many people who hail one approach, there are just as many who eschew it.  To be sur...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Jamie Varon is an author, designer, digital course creator, and creative consultant living in Calabasas, CA. Her first nonfiction book, Radically Content , was published April 12th, 2022 with Quarto Books.  Her debut novel, Main Character Energy , (which she wrote in an hour a day, because no, you don't have to devote your entire l...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Remember Kara Forney’s @BoyMomsBook reel that got 4 million+ views, brought in 13,000+ followers, and sold 70+ books in the first 6 days? We said we didn’t know how she did it. And we don’t 100% know. Not to the extent that we can now sell you on “the perfect formula to reach IG and life stardom in 27 seconds.” Yes, it seemed random, an...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! In this episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, I had the pleasure of talking with Lauren Eckhardt, author and founder of Burning Soul Collective and Burning Soul Press. We discussed the changing landscape of the publishing industry, the importance of marketing your book in a way that feels authentic, and the therapeutic asp...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Click here to sign up for the Social Media for Authors + Writers Workshop  (July 20, replay will be sent if you can't attend live!)  ******* When it comes to book writing, "I'm waiting for inspiration/motivation" is often code for "I have no idea where this is going and it scares the sh*t out of me so I'll...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! "Sometimes, the writing comes easy because we have been thinking about it for so long. It has taken years come to fruition, but it is already there. We are writing to explore both what we know and what we don’t know." -Rick Rubin Sometimes, content flows easily. Sometimes, it’s like pulling a rock out of solid concrete with yo...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Few people (in my age bracket, anyway) aren't familiar with the perennial bestseller, Tuesdays with Morrie . Published in 2002, the book highlights the lessons passed down from Morrie Schwartz (a college professor) to his student, Mitch Albom. Morrie passed away before the book was released (before a word of it was written, in fact...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Donna Norman-Carbone's debut novel, All That is Sacred , released on April 11, 2023 (Red Adept Publishing).  In this episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, we discussed her journey to writing and publishing the novel, which was inspired by true events.    INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS How Donna got started writing, and the stor...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Jill Krzyzanowicz writes under the pen name Margo Reilly, which I found fascinating since her first book, When the Apple Falls Far from the Tree , is memoir. Many people wonder whether they can (or should) write memoir under a pen name, and in all cases (up until speaking with Jill), I advised against it for a variety of reasons that Ji...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! When people talk about selling 867,386 books (in a week), it sounds good. It's also probably a lie; most authors intent on making an impact on their readers, whether through entertainment, education, insights, or all three, have no idea what the numbers really are. That's not their focus. What is their focus is the ONE person...