Some books come out easily. They seem to flow from our brains to the page without much fuss. And some books… Well, some books are finicky and require all sorts of pivots, enduring false starts, and otherwise feeling less story stability while you work.

When you have one of those trickier books, your ability to continue showing up to the page despite a less-than-ideal process (rather than getting frustrated and avoiding the book altogether) makes a big difference in both how quickly the book comes together and how much you enjoy the process.

Today on the podcast, I’m breaking down how I manage to bring a sense of fun and play to stubborn projects and explore some of the less-obvious costs we pay when we avoid our books.

PS - I’m pressing pause on monthly workshops this quarter. You can access past workshop replays at http://www.isabelsterling.com/resources

***

The publishing industry is hard. That's why I created The Confident Author Academy. My 6-month coaching program (+ online course) helps you build the mindset & emotional resilience you need to thrive as an author. To learn more and get on the waitlist for when spots open again, go to 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!

You did it. You achieved the dream of being a full-time author. No more Day Job. No more micromanaging boss. No more putting on real clothes to go to an office outside the house.

Despite achieving this major milestone, many full-time authors find they still struggle with procrastination, skipped writing sessions, and end up burnt out after deadlines.

Today on the podcast, I’m breaking down three important steps to help full-time authors build a sustainable writing schedule… one that doesn’t require you to log 8 hours of writing each day.

Link to the NPR piece about the 40-hour work week mentioned in today’s episode.

PS - I’m pressing pause on monthly workshops this quarter. You can access past workshop replays at http://www.isabelsterling.com/resources

***

The publishing industry is hard. That's why I created The Confident Author Academy. My 6-month coaching program (+ online course) helps you build the mindset & emotional resilience you need to thrive as an author. To learn more and get on the waitlist for when spots open again, go to 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!

Building a sustainable author career when you’re also working a full-time Day Job can be really challenging. For many people, trying to juggle two careers leads to exhaustion, frustration, and even burnout. You start to resent your Day Job, Publishing, or both. You wonder whether you’re cut out for this whole "author thing" or if you should call it quits.

Today on the podcast, I’m breaking down the 3 biggest problems authors face when juggling writing with another job and how to unwind each one to build a truly sustainable author career.

PS - I’m pressing pause on monthly workshops this quarter. You can access past workshop replays at http://www.isabelsterling.com/resources

***

The publishing industry is hard. That's why I created The Confident Author Academy. My 6-month coaching program (+ online course) helps you build the mindset & emotional resilience you need to thrive as an author. To learn more and get on the waitlist for when spots open again, go to 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!

Rejection is an inescapable part of life when you’re an author, and with it, often comes a painful question: “Am I fooling myself?”

“Are my goals unrealistic?”

“Who am I kidding, thinking I can achieve that?”

While those thoughts are normal, they’re also painful and can lead to burnout, avoidance, and even quitting the industry entirely. Today, I’m sharing two different methods to wiggle out of that negative spiral and find your way back to having fun writing fiction.

PS - I’m pressing pause on monthly workshops this quarter. You can access past workshop replays at http://www.isabelsterling.com/resources

***

The publishing industry is hard. That's why I created The Confident Author Academy. My 6-month coaching program (+ online course) helps you build the mindset & emotional resilience you need to thrive as an author. To learn more and get on the waitlist for when spots open again, go to 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!

When you have a big project or deadline—such as drafting a new novel under contract—setting tiered writing goals can make the difference between enjoying that process and stumbling into burnout. As a bonus, those tiers also make it more likely you’ll actually achieve your goal! 

This week on the podcast, I share my personal strategy for tackling a new book—even while my emotional world is turbulent. 

PS - I’m pressing pause on monthly workshops this quarter. You can access past workshop replays at http://www.isabelsterling.com/resources 

*** 

The publishing industry is hard. That's why I created The Confident Author Academy. My 6-month coaching program (+ online course) helps you build the mindset & emotional resilience you need to thrive as an author. To learn more and get on the waitlist for when spots open again, go to 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’m afraid to ask for an extension. I don’t want my editor to hate me.”

I hear some version of this at least once a week in author communities, and it makes sense that it’s a common fear! We care so much about our books (and the future of our careers) that we can become hyper-vigilant to anything that might get in the way of potential success. But! Your editor does not hate you. I promise.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing 3 useful reframes that will help you let go of that fear the next time it pops up.

***

The publishing industry is hard. That's why I created The Confident Author Academy. My 6-month coaching program (+ online course) helps you build the mindset & emotional resilience you need to thrive as an author. To learn more and schedule your free enrollment call, go to 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!

Doubt is a common part of the creative process… but it doesn’t need to derail forward momentum or feel miserable. Whether doubt shows up for you in the brainstorming, outlining, drafting, or revision process (or all of them!), today’s episode will help you extract useful information from that doubt and get back into the flow of your novel.

***

The publishing industry is hard. That's why I created The Confident Author Academy. My 6-month coaching program (+ online course) helps you build the mindset & emotional resilience you need to thrive as an author. To learn more and schedule your free enrollment call, go to 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!

You care about the quality of your books, but where's the line between a commitment to excellence and the kind of perfectionism that holds you back? And how do you keep perfectionism from stealing your creative joy?

On today’s episode, I dive into the nuances of perfectionism – including the sneaky ways it can show up in your writing process.

***

The publishing industry is hard. That's why I created The Confident Author Academy. My 6-month coaching program (+ online course) helps you build the mindset & emotional resilience you need to thrive as an author. To learn more and schedule your free enrollment call, go to 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!

As authors, we spend a lot of time waiting in publishing. Waiting on submission to see if our book will sell. Waiting to hear back from our agent on whether our book is ready for sub. Waiting for your next edit letter, for cover design options, for responses from the authors who might blurb your book.

All. The. Waiting.

Today, I’m sharing a simple 5-step tool to help you make waiting suck just a little bit less.

PS - There’s still time to catch the final three days of the Consistent Writing Challenge! Sign up here: http://www.isabelsterling.com/challenge

***

The publishing industry is hard. That's why I created The Confident Author Academy. My 6-month coaching program (+ online course) helps you build the mindset & emotional resilience you need to thrive as an author. To learn more and schedule your free enrollment call, go to http://www.isabelsterling.com/academy

Looking for even more author advice? Sign up for my weekly Real Talk for Writers newsletter. You’ll also get updates about free monthly trainings and coaching availability. Sign up by clicking here.

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

Writing a novel is hard work. There’s no getting around that. But! The way you fuel your writing sessions has a major impact on whether that work feels sustainable or burns you out.

Listen in to learn how to intentionally choose how you’re fueling your writing sessions to ensure the longevity of your author career.

PS - The Consistent Writing Challenge is happening now! Sign up here: http://www.isabelsterling.com/challenge

***

The publishing industry is hard. That's why I created The Confident Author Academy. My 6-month coaching program (+ online course) helps you build the mindset & emotional resilience you need to thrive as an author. To learn more and schedule your free enrollment call, go to http://www.isabelsterling.com/academy

Looking for even more author advice? Sign up for my weekly Real Talk for Writers newsletter. You’ll also get updates about free monthly trainings and coaching availability. Sign up by clicking here.

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