Debut Writers

What’s the best way to publish your book in today’s market? 📚 In this episode of Debut Writers , we sit down with David Hancock , founder of Morgan James Publishing and often called the father of hybrid publishing , to break down the three main publishing paths every writer should understand: traditional publishing, self-publishing, and hybrid publishing . We discuss the pros and cons of each rou...

What does it really take to land a traditional publishing deal—and is it worth it? In this episode of Debut Writers , Anne sits down with publishing expert Ami McConnell to break down the traditional publishing path from start to finish. From securing a literary agent to understanding advances, royalties, and contracts, this conversation uncovers the realities most authors don’t see until they’re...

Debut Writers Episode #2, Series 6: The Query That Gets a “Yes”–How to Catch a Literary Agent’s Attention with Amy NielsenIf you’ve ever sent a query letter into the void and wondered why it’s getting ignored—or only earning form rejections—this episode is for you. Anne sits down with literary agent Amy Nielsen to break down the query letter line by line, revealing exactly what agents look for, th...

Debut Writers – Season 6, Episode 1 Finding the Perfect Fit: Building Your Writing Support Team with Annalisa Summea What does it really take to go from a finished manuscript to a publishable book—and who do you actually need in your corner to make it happen? In this season premiere of Debut Writers , we’re diving into one of the most important (and often overlooked) parts of a writing career: bui...

In this episode, Anne Brooks interviews Amy Hendrickson, an award-winning writer and editor, about the intricacies of book coaching and ghostwriting. They discuss Amy's journey into the industry, the importance of capturing an author's voice, and the emotional aspects of writing, especially when dealing with trauma. The conversation also covers the differences between hiring a ghostwriter...

🎙️ Would a Publisher Say YES to Your Manuscript? | Ami McConnell on Editing, Publishing & WriterFestIn this powerful finale to our Editing Season, we sit down with Ami McConnell, a veteran editor with 20+ years in traditional publishing. From her roles as Senior Acquisitions Editor at HarperCollins to Editor-in-Chief & VP at Simon & Schuster’s Howard Books, Ami has shaped New York Time...

In this episode, Amy dives into the crucial role of editing those first pages to gain a literary agent's attention. She explains why a polished manuscript isn’t just a bonus—it’s essential—and what level of editorial guidance writers can expect from an agent. You’ll also hear her practical advice for self-editing, assembling a strong submission packet, and getting your work truly ready for agent c...

In this episode of Debut Writers , we're joined by Deborah Froese , Executive Editor at Indigo River Publishing and award-winning author, to demystify the editing process for authors . With over 20 years of experience, Deb shares what writers need to know when hiring or working with an editor —from setting realistic expectations and timelines, to navigating editorial feedback and understanding...

Learn how to find beta readers and editors as a first-time author. Tips for debut writers on getting quality feedback, choosing the right editor, and improving your book before publishing.

You’ve typed “The End” — now what? In this episode of Debut Writers , we dive into the crucial next step: editing. From self-edits to working with critique partners and professional editors, we break down what the post-draft process really looks like and how to approach it without getting overwhelmed. If you're wondering how to turn your messy first draft into a manuscript worth publishing, this i...

Welcome back to Debut Writers! In this series, we’ve been talking about how to structure your book from beginning to end. Today we are joined by DL Jennings, author of the Highglade series, an epic fantasy trilogy of gods and magic. He’s joins us to discuss his process for writing a successful 3 book series. Find DL Jennings on his website and follow him on Instagram ! Watch now on our ⁠YouTube Ch...

Welcome back to Debut Writers! In this series, we’ve been talking about how to structure your book from beginning to end. We have focused on the 3 Act structure, as outlined in "Save the Cat Writes a Novel" (my personal favorite), but we also want to touch on other story structures out there. This episode, we go through a few of these and discuss which one is best for your genre. Watch now on our...

In this series, we've been discussing structuring and writing your book, start to finish. This is more than just a plot; it’s a structure in which events need to happen in your story. In the previous episodes we introduced the Beat Sheet and Three Act Structure from the popular "Save the Cat Write’s a Novel." Using this beat sheet is like following a road map. In last episode, we discussed Act 2,...

Hey writers! In this series, we're discussing structuring and writing your book start to finish. This is so much more than just a plot; it’s a structure in which events need to happen in your story. In the episode about Act I, we introduced the Beat Sheet from the popular SAVE THE CAT WRITES A NOVEL. We talked about Act 1, in which you will need that opening scene and most importantly your theme s...

Welcome Back, Debut Writers! In this series, we will focus more on actually writing a book, start to finish. In the last series, we discussed finding your writing process, starting with your book pitch, developing your characters, and how to keep up that pace. Now, we're going to really dive into the details of writing your book. Whether you're writing a Fantasy, Romance, Horror, or any genre, you...

This is episode five in our second series, Creating a Vision for your book. In this episode, we talk with bestselling author Ginny Myers Sain, who joins us to talk about her writing journey and becoming a traditionally published author. Make sure to check out our Substack Newsletter to learn more about Ginny Myers Sain. Follow Ginny Myers Sain on Instagram and check out her website

This is episode four in our series, Creating a Vision for your book. Today we’re pulling it all together by talking about your vision as an author. We've talked about all the things you need to consider in order to create a vision for your book and why it’s important to keep your purpose, goal, and target audience in mind when writing your first novel. Now, let's talk about how this lays a foundat...

Figuring out your target audience is crucial for tailoring your book's content, style, and marketing strategies to the people most likely to read and enjoy it. Today’s episode is all about identifying your target audience. There are steps and considerations to help you do this: such as defining the purpose of your book (which we discussed in a previous episode). Don't forget to subscribe to our Su...

This is episode two in our series, "Creating a Vision" for your book, and today we’re talking about knowing your goal. An author’s goal will dictate the type of publishing they need to pursue, and knowing your ultimate goal for wanting to publish a book can be vital to understand prior to or during the writing process. As much as you write that first book for yourself, you need to keep your goal i...

Welcome back to Debut Writers! We’re starting series two today, all about creating a vision for your book. There are several compelling reasons why someone might decide to write a book. Today we are going to talk about how you can identify your purpose for writing, why you should, and how this will help you in creating your vision.

In this special episode of Debut Writers, we have author, editor, and story coach Deborah Froese with us! We're discussing "Finding Your Story." Deborah Froese is on a mission: to spark change through the power of story. An award-winning fiction author with a broad portfolio of published nonfiction to her credit, Deborah has been working for more than twenty years with other writers who share her...

Join Debut Writers Podcast as we talk about all the things you need to know when writing your book. In this first series, we dive into all the things you need to consider before you ever even start writing. Like, what makes a book idea good? How do you know? In this episode, we discuss some key elements of a great story idea!

Debut Writers, let's discuss goal-setting and some recommendation for setting attainable goals to get your manuscript through the finish line.

Attention Debut Writers! Before you start writing your book, you need to know your personal "why." Identifying this is so important and will help you stay focused and committed on this journey. Make sure to follow us so you don't miss out on our daily episodes. And check out the full series all live on YouTube at Debut Writers.

Welcome to Debut Writers! Our first series is all about what you need to know BEFORE you start writing your book. This episode focuses on what does it mean to be "realistic" as a writer, what to expect, frequently asked questions, and a little bit about our personal journeys.