In the very first episode of Just Write Julie, host Julie Navickas sits down with TV and film casting associate Shelby Holt for a candid, encouraging conversation about what it really takes to move a story from a messy first draft to a polished manuscript.

Together, they unpack the power of persistence, the importance of finding the right critique partner, and how the publishing industry—and a writer’s mindset within it—has evolved over time.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• How creative partnerships are built

  Julie and Shelby share how they first connected and how their relationship evolved into a daily critique partnership—and why consistent, trusted feedback can be transformative for writers.
  

• Shelby’s path into TV & film casting

  From film school to finding her footing in casting, Shelby explains how working behind the scenes in Hollywood sharpened her understanding of story, character, and voice.
  

• What casting teaches writers about the page

  Shelby discusses how evaluating scripts and performances informs her writing—especially when it comes to character clarity, authenticity, and market awareness.
  

• Inside The Bones of December

  Shelby offers a snapshot of her latest project, where it’s currently sitting in the querying process, and how the manuscript evolved through revision.
  

• Revising the messy middle

  A practical, honest discussion about what it takes to reshape a first draft: patience, distance, iteration, and the willingness to keep showing up even when the process feels slow.

• A mindset shift about publishing

Reflecting on the past five years, Shelby shares how her understanding of publishing—and of herself as a writer—has changed through lived experience.

Key Takeaways for Writers

• Persistence matters more than perfection.
  

• Revision is not failure—it’s where the story becomes what it’s meant to be.
  

• A strong critique partner can accelerate growth and keep you accountable.
  

• You can’t fully understand the industry—or your voice—until you’re actively in the work.

Guest Spotlight: Shelby Holt

Shelby Holt is a TV and film casting associate with a lifelong passion for storytelling. Her professional experience evaluating scripts and performances gives her a unique lens on writing craft, character development, and revision. She is currently querying her novel The Bones of December.

Connect with Shelby: Follow her on Instagram at @shelbay9

About the Show

Just Write Julie is the writing podcast where craft meets strategy, and creativity meets clarity. Each episode helps writers strengthen the work on the page—and learn how to position it, communicate about it, and advocate for it with confidence.Listen & Subscribe

Follow and subscribe to Just Write Julie on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.If this episode helped you, leave a review or share it with a writer friend who’s deep in the messy middle.

For tools, templates, and behind-the-scenes lessons, visit authorjulienavickas.com and connect with Julie on social.

Until next time: just write—and don’t be afraid to be strategic about it.