The Author Burnout Cure

If you feel less-than-amazing after releasing your book into the world, you’re not alone.

Many authors find themselves feeling exhausted, disappointed, and even deeply unmotivated to write following the release of a new novel.

You’re not doomed to feel this way forever–or with each new novel you put out. Listen in to today’s episode to learn why this happens and how to get back to your normal baseline after your book launch.

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Want custom support to lower publishing stress, increase creative joy, and build a more sustainable fiction career? Come work with me!

Schedule a free consultation to learn how private coaching can transform your writing life.

Prefer to do this work in community with other authors? Learn more about the next group coaching cohort that begins in July. (Applications open June 1)

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If your book’s impending release has you feeling more stressed than excited, you’re not alone.

It’s incredibly normal to have lots of conflicting feelings as you get closer to release day. There’s worry your book will flop. Fear that you’ll disappoint your publisher and never sell to them again. Anxiety that you just spent years working on this book and it might all be for “nothing.”

Publishing a book is a big deal, and you deserve to enjoy that process.

Today on the podcast, I’m sharing both big picture reframes and tangible tools to help you soothe that “my book is coming out soon!!” anxiety.

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Want custom support to lower publishing stress, increase creative joy, and build a more sustainable fiction career? Come work with me!

Schedule a free consultation to learn how private coaching can transform your writing life.

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

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

You’re probably familiar with picking comp titles for your books, but have you ever identified a comp career?

Instead of falling into the trap of “compare and despair” (that moment when you look at someone else’s success and feel bad about your own career), you can identify “comp authors” or “comp careers” to help guide your next steps.

Listen in to learn how to identify your career comps, plus what to do if you can’t find anyone with the career you want.

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Ready to let go of burnout, build confidence, and put fun back into your fiction career? I have availability for new private clients - come work with me!

Schedule a free call to discuss your goals and decide if coaching is right for you.

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

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

As an author, your backlist is one of your most valuable assets.

Unfortunately, many novelists find themselves feeling embarrassed by their earlier work. They cringe when they think about promoting older novels and attend events hoping that readers won’t bring up those books.

If this is you, it’s time for a reset. Today’s podcast provides a variety of techniques for making peace with your previous work and staying connected with the readers who love those stories.

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Ready to let go of burnout, build confidence, and put fun back into your fiction career? I have availability for new private clients - come work with me!

Schedule a free call to discuss your goals and decide if coaching is right for you.

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Follow me behind-the-scenes as I revise my novel under deadline. Learn more here.

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

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

If you find yourself frequently afraid of “doing it wrong” in your publishing career, this episode is for you!

There are so many places where you get to decide how you’ll work–and how you’ll collaborate with your publishing team!–instead of falling into the trap of trying to get an A+ from your editor.

When you set rules that support your unique process, you can create more confidence in your work and more freedom for your creativity to flourish.

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Ready to let go of burnout, build confidence, and put fun back into your fiction career? I have availability for new private clients - come work with me!

Schedule a free call to discuss your goals and decide if coaching is right for you.

***

Follow me behind-the-scenes as I revise my novel under deadline. Learn more here.

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

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

I’m joined on the podcast today by Jessi Cole Jackson, author of the newly released Ruinous Creatures, a spicy, feminist romantasy set in a world where people wear the bones of mythical creatures in order to wield their magic.

Jessi shares her journey toward publication, including persisting through four different projects failing on submission before ultimately selling her debut.

You can learn more about Jessi on her website, follow her on Instagram, and purchase your copy of Ruinous Creatures here.

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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.

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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!

I've been noodling on a bunch of different topics lately, none of which quite make sense to be a whole episode by themselves, so I decided to give you a bonus episode with a few of them together!

I talk about why writing a novel doesn't get "easier," the importance of taking care of your brain, and how the tools that help you write more also have positive impacts on the rest of your life.

If you're ready to create a joyful writing life and confident author career, it's time to schedule a free call to discuss how coaching can support your goals. Click here to choose a time on my calendar that works for you.

After you’ve sold your debut novel, you unlock a new process in publishing: selling a novel on proposal.

This most commonly happens as part of the option clause on your contract, and it’s a time in your career that can come with a host of questions, fears, and anxieties. So today on the podcast, I’m breaking down what goes into a fiction proposal and how to navigate the different layers of uncertainty as you try to sell a book you haven’t fully written.

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Ready to let go of burnout, build confidence, and put fun back into your fiction career? I have availability for new private clients - come work with me!

Schedule a free call to discuss your goals and decide if coaching is right for you.

***

Follow me behind-the-scenes as I revise my novel under deadline. Learn more here.

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.

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

Lasting, authentic confidence is not possible when your inner dialogue is full of threats, name calling, and a constantly downplaying of your accomplishments. Even if the way you talk to yourself isn't overtly mean, if you’re not giving yourself credit for the amazing work you do–and, spoiler, it genuinely amazing to be able to write entire books–you’re blocking yourself from the confidence you deserve.

In the final episode in our confidence series, I’m breaking down how to shift the way you talk to yourself to build lasting confidence.

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Ready to let go of burnout, build confidence, and put fun back into your fiction career? Come work with me.

Schedule a free call to discuss your goals and decide if coaching is right for you.

***

Follow me behind-the-scenes as I revise my novel under deadline. Learn more here.

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.

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

Confidence as an author is less about WHAT you do and more about WHY you do it.

Which means to have a truly confident career, you need a process for making intentional decisions–about your writing schedule, what deals to take, when to pivot, and more.

Even more important, you need a way to ensure you have reasons for your decisions that feel empowering (rather than resentful or defeatist). Listen in to learn how.

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

Schedule a free call to discuss your goals and decide if coaching is right for you.

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Follow me behind-the-scenes as I revise my novel under deadline. Learn more here.

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.

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