The Career Novelist™ Podcast With Camille Pagán

Camille coaches Kelly Farmer, a traditionally published novelist who’s trying to tell the difference between her intuition and old stories she has about indie publishing. They cover:  Why gathering more information often sets the stage for intuition  The secret to successful visualization  How to mine your past in order to recognize a true aha moment  The Leslie Jones quote that changed everything...

Camille coaches R.J. Fox, an author and screenwriter who needs to cut his current draft in half. They cover:  How to prove whether an idea is working (hint: it’s not about getting feedback from other people) The power of making advanced decisions about how you’ll work  Using a simple 3-act structure to streamline your story  Why watching TV and movies can make you a better writer For more on R.J.’...

Camille coaches Julie Chavez, a memoirist who’s making the leap to writing fiction. They cover: Why our love of books can get in the way of actually writing them A simple exercise to tell if your story’s compelling How to spread success from one area of your life to your fiction career Why fiction is a mood—and how to create it For more about Julie’s writing and forthcoming memoir, Everyone But My...

Camille interviews Kyunghee Kim, an author who just published her first children’s book. They cover:  Why staying flexible can be the secret to getting published faster  How to tell if your new idea is a distraction … or your next project The trials—and rewards—of being multi-passionate The importance of letting other people celebrate your success Learn more about Kyunghee and her book, See Us Blo...

Whether you’re working on your first novel or your fiftieth, showing up a professional will help you reach your goals faster—and make your success last. On this episode, Camille shares: The one question every writer should ask herself How to plan to succeed (hint: it doesn’t involve a traditional business plan) Using setbacks to supercharge your motivation  Why belief is more important than talent...

Camille talks to Suzy England, an author who wants to feel more prepared when speaking to book clubs and other groups. They cover:  Four simple topics authors can talk about at any event Why book club questions can be as helpful for you as they are for readers How to transfer confidence from another area of life to your author career Focusing on connection instead of validation to feel at ease in...

Camille talks to Kelly, an author who is reassessing the way she writes after receiving helpful feedback from her literary agent. We cover: Using comparisonitis—a.k.a. imposter syndrome—to your advantage (yes, it’s possible!) Why it’s so important to write for yourself first How to turn an aha moment into a sustainable habit The perks of scheduling a weekly coaching session with yourself—and the o...

Camille coaches Lesa, a novelist who’s considering publishing with a hybrid publisher (that is, a company that combines aspects of traditional publishing and self-publishing, and charges the author to publish their book). They cover: What to consider when choosing a publisher Why being intentional can help you avoid overwhelm and simplify your publishing process How to pitch your book to book club...

On the eve of the publication of her tenth book, Good for You , Camille shares ten things she's learned about making a living as an author. She shares: The one question that transformed her writing and career The difference between optimism and toxic positivity—and how to harness the former without repressing negative emotions The reason “thicker skin” is overrated (plus better ways to protect you...

Camille coaches Jessica, a writer who’s trying to stop editing as she drafts so she can finish her novel faster. We cover: The importance of identifying with the habit you’re trying to create The real reason we self-sabotage—and how to stop Creating flow by separating editing and writing time Using your “why” to follow through when you feel stuck

Camille coaches Maggie, a journalist who’s considering writing a book about a topic she recently explored in a set of essays that went viral. They cover: A simple reframe that allows you to speak with expertise when you don’t identify as an expert Why writing a non-fiction book proposal is crucial (even if you plan to self-publish) Simple ideas for building the kind of platform that makes publishe...

Camille chats with her friend and former coaching client Annie Cathryn ( anniecathryn.com ), whose debut novel, The Friendship Breakup , is out today. They cover: How to know when you’ve found “the one” (that is, your ideal literary agent) Effective strategies for preparing for your first book launch How to invest in your career—without blowing your budget Authentic ways to connect with readers an...

Camille talks to Wendy, a novelist who wants to capitalize on her recent viral success. We cover: The simple way to take the stress out of social media and other marketing initiatives Why “reasonable” goals actually lower your odds of success How to choose yourself (and why that’s especially easy in fiction) The importance of getting specific about what you want

Camille chats with certified book coach Nicole Meier about how working with a book coach can help you write a better book. ( Quick note: On February 16th, Camille and Nicole are offering a free webinar on overcoming common fiction roadblocks so you can write faster. To register, visit evenbetter.co/events ) We cover: The best time to start working with a book coach The difference between mind...

Camille coaches Leslie, a novelist who isn’t sure what to write next. We cover: A simple trick for easing the pressure of feeling like you have to write Why the dreaded “sophomore slump” can hit at any time (and how to move past it) The importance of filling your creative well with non-writing activities The beauty of writing your first book—and how that process can help you craft a better story a...

Camille coaches C., a novelist who’s debating whether to self-publish her third book. We cover: Why our expectation often becomes our experience Routes to having your book turned into a film project When it’s best to drop a deadline (without giving up your project or goal) The number one thing that makes you a career author

Camille coaches Marta, a writer who wants to sell her novel and ultimately become a career author, but worries about how much she’ll have to spend on marketing. We cover: Why it’s entirely possible to spend little to no money at the beginning of your career—and still be successful Ways to connect with potential readers when you haven’t published a book yet How to stop explaining yourself (and why...

Camille coaches Erica, an author who’s deciding whether to accept an offer from her current publisher or keep querying agents and find a different publisher. We cover: How having good options sometimes makes it harder to pick one. Identifying through lines in your work to make your author brand more appealing to potential agents. Why your agent—not your publisher—can be the best partner for creati...

Camille coaches Lauren, an author who’s just launched a new series under a new name. We cover: When to use a pen name (and whether to be open about having a new author identity) How to create an early review team Why emulating Oreos and Starbucks can keep your readers happy The power of collaborating with other writers (and how to do it even if you’re an introvert)

Camille coaches Barbara, an author who’s working on her second novel and feeling stuck. We cover: How to stop relying on “flow” and show up consistently for your draft The importance of taking a day off (and why your brain will take a break if it doesn’t think it’s going to get one) Using your calendar to supercharge your career Why fiction is basically is a mood—and how to create that mood for re...

Camille coaches Elizabeth, a writer who feels self-doubt creeping up as she queries her novel with agents. We cover: Why being weird is a writer’s superpower The secret reason our brains tell us we’re inadequate How to deal with a "vulnerability hangover" Learning to tell a better story—about yourself A note about this episode: there were some audio quality issues during recording. We apologize an...

Camille coaches Katie, a writer who’s struggling to revise her first novel. We cover: The real reason affirmations don’t work Why “I don’t know” is a dream-killer—and how to figure out what you do know Testing and trying new things in order to bring enjoyment back to the writing process Editing more efficiently by ignoring one-off critiques and identifying patterns in feedback

Camille coaches Kelli, a writer who worries that publishing her story will disappoint her friends and family. We cover: The surprising benefits of going to your worst-case scenario Breaking through writer’s block by identifying the one person you’re writing for The power of not trying to change other people’s feelings about your story How to decide how much of your “true self” to reveal in your wo...

Camille coaches Sarah, who’s writing a novel loosely based on part of her life. We cover: When to steal from your own life—and the distinction that separates fact and fiction Deepening a character’s wound to create a stronger story How to stop mistaking your first draft for your final draft Why keeping your story simple keeps writing fun—and makes your draft more readable

Camille coaches Claire, a novelist who’d like to shift from writing romance to women’s fiction. We cover: The paradigm-shifting power of a single sentence The importance of being open to multiple revenue streams (and making sure you’re not missing income that’s already available to you) The sneaky way your brain mistakes thoughts for facts How taking a “testing” approach can help you make better d...