June has always been a reflective time of year for me. As a former teacher, the end of the school year is the second New Year’s. It’s also my birthday month and now a double anniversary - I started my business in June 2022 and took it full time in June 2024.

So, as I reflect, I’m sharing eight lessons I’ve learned since turning my love of fiction into a career.

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Thanks for listening, keep writing, and keep getting better one word at a time!

For a full transcript of the episode, please visit https://oliviahelpswriters.com/bwp/29.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:33 #1: Turn Up the Dial on Your Conflicts

02:51 #2: More Intense Doesn't Just Mean More

04:57 #3: Your First Draft Won't Have Your Best Ideas

09:12 #4: Beginning Authors Underestimate the Work

11:34 #5: Debut Authors Can Get Book Deals

13:33 #6: Indie Publishing Is More Than a Fallback

15:38 #7: Characterization Isn't Random Characteristics

17:08 #8: Your Story Matters