When talking to authors about their goals for 2026, a theme emerged. So many of them said some version of: “I want to feel more confident.”

For some, they wanted to believe they were good at writing (despite having books published by major publishers!) For others, it was confidence in their ability to sell their next book and build a career as a novelist.

Since those conversations, I’ve been thinking a lot about confidence, and I’ve found three distinct types of confidence – each with different benefits and methods for improving them. Today, I’m sharing that framework with you.

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There are a limited number of private coaching spots available for the first half of 2026.

Applications are open now and close on February 20th. Learn more about coaching OR access the application directly here.

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Looking for even more author advice and notifications about upcoming workshops? Sign up for my twice-monthly newsletter, Real Talk for Writers, by clicking here.

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Every novel has its challenges–and it’s normal to feel intimidated at the start of a new project–but sometimes we find ourselves with a novel idea that feels impossible. Though you’re captivated by the idea, you have this feeling in your gut that you’re not “good enough” yet to write it.

But are you really not good enough? Or are you just scared of the work required to nail it?

This week on podcast, I offer guidance on how to tease apart whether your novel idea is the kind of challenge you can take on today…

Or if you genuinely need to level up as a storyteller before you commit to the idea.

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Applications are open for limited 1:1 coaching spots for the first half of 2026. Learn more and apply here.

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You deserve to love your author career. I can help with that. Learn more about private coaching opportunities here: http://www.isabelsterling.com/academy

Looking for even more author advice and notifications about upcoming workshops? Sign up for my weekly Real Talk for Writers newsletter by clicking here.

DM me on Instagram & let me know what you thought of this episode!

If writing has felt Not Great for you lately, the solution isn’t necessarily to push yourself to feel amazing. There’s a middle step in the process – going from bad to neutral – that is often overlooked but incredibly powerful. Today, I’m breaking down why neutral thoughts can be so helpful and how you can implement them into your writing life.

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To celebrate hitting 200+ episodes, I have some exciting things in store for you!

Revise a Book with Me: I’m offering an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look into how I navigate the emotional highs and lows of revising a book under deadline. Experience the unedited, unvarnished truth of working as a full-time author – the good, the bad, and the weird. Learn more and join the experience here.

Free Coaching Giveaway: Simply leave a review of this podcast wherever you listen to it, email a screenshot to [email protected], and you’ll be entered to win a free 30-minute coaching call with me! I’m choosing one winner per 10 entries, so your odds are great! Deadline for entries is January 25, 2026.

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You deserve to love your author career. I can help with that. Learn more about private coaching opportunities here: http://www.isabelsterling.com/academy

Looking for even more author advice and notifications about upcoming workshops? Sign up for my weekly Real Talk for Writers newsletter by clicking here.

DM me on Instagram & let me know what you thought of this episode!

If you find yourself always waiting for the other shoe to drop in publishing, or you follow up every “I really want to sell this next book” with some version of “but it probably won’t,” today’s episode is for you!

Letting yourself expect good news in your publishing career isn’t about being foolish, naive, or delusional. It can be an intentional choice that helps you have a happier, healthier writing life.

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To celebrate hitting 200+ episodes, I have some exciting things in store for you!

Revise a Book with Me: I’m offering an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look into how I navigate the emotional highs and lows of revising a book under deadline. Experience the unedited, unvarnished truth of working as a full-time author – the good, the bad, and the weird. Learn more and join the experience here.

Free Coaching Giveaway: Simply leave a review of this podcast wherever you listen to it, email a screenshot to [email protected], and you’ll be entered to win a free 30-minute coaching call with me! I’m choosing one winner per 10 entries, so your odds are great! Deadline for entries is January 25, 2026.

***

You deserve to love your author career. I can help with that. Learn more about private coaching opportunities here: http://www.isabelsterling.com/academy

Looking for even more author advice and notifications about upcoming workshops? Sign up for my weekly Real Talk for Writers newsletter by clicking here.

DM me on Instagram & let me know what you thought of this episode!

I’ve started revising my next book and… the first draft is in Not Great Shape. So this week I’m sharing a few of my initial takeaways as I manage my brain so it doesn’t freak out about the work ahead of me.

To celebrate the 200th episode of this podcast, I have some exciting things in store for you!

Free Coaching Giveaway: Simply leave a review of this podcast wherever you listen to it, email a screenshot to [email protected], and you’ll be entered to win a free 30-minute coaching call with me! I’m choosing one winner per 10 entries, so your odds are great! Deadline for entries is January 25, 2026.

Revise a Book with Me: I’m offering an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look into how I navigate the emotional highs and lows of revising a book under deadline. Experience the unedited, unvarnished truth of working as a full-time author – the good, the bad, and the weird. Learn more and join the experience here.

***

You deserve to love your author career. I can help with that. Learn more about private coaching opportunities here: http://www.isabelsterling.com/academy

Looking for even more author advice and notifications about upcoming workshops? Sign up for my weekly Real Talk for Writers newsletter by clicking here.

DM me on Instagram & let me know what you thought of this episode!

For this final episode of 2025, I decided to lean into my witchier side and do a group tarot reading!

If you’re curious what advice the cards had for the new year, listen in to this short episode (and check out my Instagram to see the beautiful art on these cards!).

Spoiler alert: overall, there are good things ahead!

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You deserve to love your author career. I can help with that. Learn more about private coaching opportunities here: http://www.isabelsterling.com/academy

Looking for even more author advice and notifications about upcoming workshops? Sign up for my weekly Real Talk for Writers newsletter by clicking here.

DM me on Instagram & let me know what you thought of this episode!

With the final few days of the year upon us, now is a great time to pause and reflect on how things went in 2025. You deserve to celebrate all the wins you had–big and small–before you set your sights on a new year of goals.

This week, I’m sharing some of the highlights of my year along with a framework for looking at 2025 in a judgement-free way so you can extract the wisdom you gained this year without being mean to yourself if you fell behind the goals you set last January.

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You deserve to love your author career. I can help with that. Learn more about private coaching opportunities here: http://www.isabelsterling.com/academy

Looking for even more author advice and notifications about upcoming workshops? Sign up for my weekly Real Talk for Writers newsletter by clicking here.

DM me on Instagram & let me know what you thought of this episode!

The first time you draft a book under contract can be an exceptionally challenging experience. There are craft-level challenges (“how do I make the stakes even bigger for this sequel?”), timeline challenges (“I need to write a book in how many months?”), and emotional challenges (“what if I’m actually a fraud and my last book was my only good idea?”). You are not alone in these struggles, and today, I’m breaking down my advice for the major worries most authors face after having written three Book 2s so far in my career.

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You deserve to love your author career. I can help with that. Learn more about private coaching opportunities here: http://www.isabelsterling.com/academy

Looking for even more author advice and notifications about upcoming workshops? Sign up for my weekly Real Talk for Writers newsletter by clicking here.

DM me on Instagram & let me know what you thought of this episode!

With the holidays upon us, you may find your calendar full with extra family stuff. Shopping. Cooking. Cleaning. Travel to visit family or hosting at your place. On top of all of that… you still have writing goals you want to accomplish. And some much-needed rest you want to fit in, too.

In this episode, I walk you through a simple addition to your goal setting process that will make setting goals you can actually achieve this holiday season so much easier.

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You deserve to love your author career. I can help with that. Learn more about private coaching opportunities here: http://www.isabelsterling.com/academy

Looking for even more author advice and notifications about upcoming workshops? Sign up for my weekly Real Talk for Writers newsletter by clicking here.

DM me on Instagram & let me know what you thought of this episode!

If you have a book coming out in 2026 and you find yourself spending a lot of time worried your book will “fail,” this episode is for you.

I’m breaking down all my thoughts about success and failure in publishing and why feeling disappointment is not a sign that you’ve failed.

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You deserve to love your author career. I can help with that. Learn more about private coaching opportunities here: http://www.isabelsterling.com/academy

Looking for even more author advice and notifications about upcoming workshops? Sign up for my weekly Real Talk for Writers newsletter by clicking here.

DM me on Instagram & let me know what you thought of this episode!