Everyday Ayurveda with Kate

49. Should It Be a Book, Podcast, or Substack? A Practical Guide to Publishing


Listen Later

In this solo teaching, Kate gets real about finishing creative work—and whether your idea truly needs to become a book. She walks through practical next steps for authors and educators (hello, market comps and outlines), and widens the lens: podcasts, audio, YouTube, and Substack might serve your message—and your audience—better right now. If publishing is your path, you’ll hear where to start, how to think like a marketer (not just a writer), and why building audience before pitching changes everything.

What You’ll Learn
  • Should it be a book? A simple litmus test to decide if your idea requires long form—or if audio, video, or Substack serve you better.
  • Your first move (it’s not writing): Use publisher proposal prompts to clarify audience, comps, and the actual problem your book solves.
  • Market comps that matter: How to read the field, then let it go so you can write your book.
  • Outlines that flex: Why your outline is “meant to be broken” and how to rearrange chapters as your thinking matures.
  • Audience before agent: The honest reason publishers ask about reach (newsletter, socials, podcast downloads).
  • Self-publish vs. traditional: On-demand printing, hybrid routes, and why self-publishing now doesn’t preclude a future deal.
  • Teacher advantage: Turning lectures, sessions, and talks into manuscripts using transcripts + connective tissue.
  • Ayurvedic sensibility for creators: Right-sizing the project, steady rhythm over grind, and sustainable focus.

  • Key Takeaways
    • Format follows function. If your core message must be said in 20–40K words, book it. If not, consider audio, video, or Substack to share sooner and iterate.
    • Start with comps and audience. Proposals make you think like a publisher: Who is this for? What’s different? Why now?
    • Build your platform. Visibility isn’t vanity—it’s how your work is found, read, and sustained.

    • Resources Mentioned (as referenced in the conversation)
      • Publisher proposal pages (e.g., Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Shambhala Publications)
      • Substack for writing + audience building
      • YouTube & podcasts for sharing ideas in audio/video
      • Using AI tools to research keywords and audience questions (e.g., “what are people searching for right now?”)
      • Transcripts from lectures/teachings as manuscript seeds
      • 👉 Want Kate to cover another behind-the-scenes topic? Email me at [email protected]

        Health Disclaimer

        The information shared on Everyday Ayurveda with Kate is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, or wellness routine.

        Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org

        Women's Health Collection: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/collections/womens-healthhttps://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/products/courses/copy-of-fall-community-cleanse-2024

        Gift Guide: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/products/digital_downloads/gift-guide

        Ayurvedic Living Institute Membership: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/membership
        ...more
        View all episodesView all episodes
        Download on the App Store

        Everyday Ayurveda with KateBy Kate O’Donnell

        • 5
        • 5
        • 5
        • 5
        • 5

        5

        47 ratings


        More shows like Everyday Ayurveda with Kate

        View all
        Untangle by Untangle

        Untangle

        807 Listeners

        J. Brown Yoga Talks by J. Brown Yoga

        J. Brown Yoga Talks

        570 Listeners

        Feel Good Podcast with Kimberly Snyder by PodcastOne

        Feel Good Podcast with Kimberly Snyder

        970 Listeners

        Yogaland Podcast by Andrea Ferretti

        Yogaland Podcast

        1,247 Listeners

        10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

        10% Happier with Dan Harris

        12,698 Listeners

        The mindbodygreen Podcast by mindbodygreen

        The mindbodygreen Podcast

        2,052 Listeners

        Elements of Ayurveda Podcast by Colette Kent

        Elements of Ayurveda Podcast

        202 Listeners

        The Dr. Hyman Show by Dr. Mark Hyman

        The Dr. Hyman Show

        9,216 Listeners

        The Simple Ayurveda Podcast by Angela Perger

        The Simple Ayurveda Podcast

        309 Listeners

        EXPANDED Podcast by To Be Magnetic™ by To Be Magnetic™

        EXPANDED Podcast by To Be Magnetic™

        3,311 Listeners

        PLANTSTRONG Podcast by Rip Esselstyn

        PLANTSTRONG Podcast

        2,322 Listeners

        Let's Talk Yoga by Arundhati Baitmangalkar

        Let's Talk Yoga

        459 Listeners

        The Art of Being Well by Dear Media, Will Cole

        The Art of Being Well

        1,462 Listeners

        Pulling The Thread with Elise Loehnen by Elise Loehnen

        Pulling The Thread with Elise Loehnen

        1,086 Listeners

        Rooted in Wellness with Mona Sharma by Mona Sharma

        Rooted in Wellness with Mona Sharma

        76 Listeners