Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

This episode starts with a question that’s been tapping me on the shoulder all year: What would it look like to choose ease without giving up momentum?

I’m reflecting on the past year in book writing and publishing, and sharing what I’m carrying forward into 2026. Less hustle-for-hustle’s-sake. More sustainable progress that feels livable.

I talk about why consistency in book sales matters more than viral spikes, and why realistic goals tend to outperform ambitious ones you can’t maintain. 

There’s an honest look at marketing, too. It takes time. It’s rarely linear. And there’s no shortcut that replaces steady effort and experimentation. 

Finally, I dig into the quieter side of growth: building community, focusing on connection over vanity metrics, and staying open to adapting your approach as the market (and your life) changes.

READY TO FINALLY BE IN THAT "CAN'T STOP WRITING" FLOW?

Grab the free nonfiction or memoir kickstart that's helped hundreds of authors get out of their heads and into the flow: 

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/chapterone

CURIOUS ABOUT AMAZON ADS AS AN INDIE AUTHOR?

Snag the small but mighty tweaks that help your book actually sell before you ever spend a dime on Amazon ads.

👉  PublishAProfitableBook.com/trial

Support the show

******

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

Episode 150 provides the reset many authors quietly crave as Jenn Hanson-dePaula returns to help us modify (if not outright rebuild) our expectations, systems, and perspectives when it comes to book sales.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• How to implement a "2 sales a day" strategy.
• Becoming "profitable, not popular." (Hint: Clicks matter. Likes and views don’t.)
• The simple link path that outperform complicated funnels every time.
• The easiest daily selling you're probably NOT doing. 

We also walk through how to measure what actually moves readers, not what flatters the algorithm. Jenn breaks down clean DM workflows, repeatable content, and approaches that spark joy so you can stop force-feeding content.

We also look at the quieter parts of growth: handling criticism, building systems before you’re “big,” and treating your author life like a business, even when it still feels small.

If you want calm, clarity, and a plan that won’t chew through your energy the way I'm currently going through the pantry pack of Peppermint Patties in my freezer, this episode lands exactly where you need it.

CONNECT WITH JENN

Website: jenndepaula.com

Instagram:

READY TO FINALLY BE IN THAT "CAN'T STOP WRITING" FLOW?

Grab the free nonfiction or memoir kickstart that's helped hundreds of authors get out of their heads and into the flow: 

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/chapterone

WANT TO SELL MORE BOOKS (WITHOUT THE SELF-PROMO CRINGE)?

The Author Visibility Bundle gives you 200+ done-for-you email templates, social media graphics, and other book promo tools designed to help authors build buzz and drive sales, without feeling pushy. 

👉  PublishAProfitableBook.com/bookvisibility

WONDERING EXACTLY HOW TO SELF-PUBLISH SO YOU CAN STOP GUESSING?

Grab the action plan and finally feel confident you’re doing this the right way.

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/actionplan

CURIOUS ABOUT AMAZON ADS AS AN INDIE AUTHOR?

Snag the small but mighty tweaks that help your book actually sell before you ever spend a dime on Amazon ads.

👉  PublishAProfitableBook.com/trial

Support the show

******

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

In this episode, I share 8 books that reshaped how I parent, relax, and think about storytelling in 2025.

Books:

Just Do Nothing (for Parents) by Joanna Hardis

The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram

What Happened to Lucy Vale by Lauren Oliver

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Small Victories by Anne Lamott

Moms Like Us by Jordan Roter

***

📚 Author Visibility Bundle (200+ customizable email and social media templates just for authors)

***

READY TO FINALLY BE IN THAT "CAN'T STOP WRITING" FLOW?

Grab the free nonfiction or memoir kickstart that's helped hundreds of authors get out of their heads and into the flow: 

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/chapterone

WANT TO SELL MORE BOOKS (WITHOUT THE SELF-PROMO CRINGE)?

The Author Visibility Bundle gives you 200+ done-for-you email templates, social media graphics, and other book promo tools designed to help authors build buzz and drive sales, without feeling pushy. 

👉  PublishAProfitableBook.com/bookvisibility

CURIOUS ABOUT AMAZON ADS AS AN INDIE AUTHOR?

Snag the small but mighty tweaks that help your book actually sell before you ever spend a dime on Amazon ads.

👉  PublishAProfitableBook.com/trial

Support the show

******

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

In this episode, we walk through 5 mistakes that quietly undermine first-time self-publishers and show how to fix each one with practical, doable steps.

We start by tightening your audience with a one-sentence framework that keeps every chapter aligned to a clear promise. 

From there, we map a real editing workflow: self-edit, gather targeted beta feedback on structure and flow, then bring in a professional editor who can strengthen the developmental and line work.

We also get honest about design. DIY your interior with reliable templates and checklists. But your cover? Invest in that. It needs to signal genre, earn clicks, and meet exact printer specs for spine width, trim, and image quality.

Then we dig into metadata, the quiet engine behind discoverability. Keywords, categories, and a clean description help the right readers find you on the world’s third-largest search engine. 

If you’re tired of guessing and want a simpler way to publish with confidence, this conversation gives you clarity and next steps you can trust.

MENTIONED RESOURCES:

Workshop with Jane Friedman: The Indie Author’s Guide to a Standout Amazon Listing

Date: January 16, 2026

Time: 10am PST / 11am MST / noon CST / 1pm EST

Sign up here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__NjEykZNSwSpeZ48tydhpw

Self-Publishing Starter Kit: https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/selfpublishing101

Self-Publishing Action Plan:

https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/actionplan

READY TO FINALLY BE IN THAT "CAN'T STOP WRITING" FLOW?

Grab the free nonfiction or memoir kickstart that's helped hundreds of authors get out of their heads and into the flow: 

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/chapterone

CURIOUS ABOUT AMAZON ADS AS AN INDIE AUTHOR?

Snag the small but mighty tweaks that help your book actually sell before you ever spend a dime on Amazon ads.

👉  PublishAProfitableBook.com/trial

Support the show

******

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

If you’re writing a nonfiction book or memoir and your draft feels messy, scattered, or “not quite ready,” this episode will help you clean it up fast. I’m sharing 5 editing rules that instantly improve any nonfiction manuscript — the same rules I use to help guide the authors whose manuscripts I edit. 

These are the patterns I’ve seen again and again after coaching hundreds of authors, editing countless drafts, and publishing six nonfiction books of my own. When you understand these rules, your writing gets clearer, tighter, and far more compelling. And most importantly, your reader stays with you.

Inside the episode, you’ll learn:
 – Why your intro is probably too long
 – How writing for ONE reader changes everything
 – How to make each chapter deliver a single promise
 – The difference between clarity and jargon
 – How to end chapters with momentum (and why that matters more than you think)

If you want help starting your book, you can grab my free “Can't Stop Writing” guide here:
https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/chapterone

And if you’re ready to self-publish a book that looks and feels professional — without getting lost, overwhelmed, or making amateur mistakes — the full Publish the Damn Book Already program is here:
https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/publish

READY TO FINALLY BE IN THAT "CAN'T STOP WRITING" FLOW?

Grab the free nonfiction or memoir kickstart that's helped hundreds of authors get out of their heads and into the flow: 

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/chapterone

CURIOUS ABOUT AMAZON ADS AS AN INDIE AUTHOR?

Snag the small but mighty tweaks that help your book actually sell before you ever spend a dime on Amazon ads.

👉  PublishAProfitableBook.com/trial

Support the show

******

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

Wanting life to be wonderful and wanting to be wonderful aren’t the same thing, and that gap is where today’s conversation lives.

Israeli journalist and author Lihi Lapid joins me to talk about motherhood’s messy truths, the pressure to be “more” than "good enough," and the writing choices that make a story feel honest. From bestselling novels to a children’s book that calms homes during chaotic times, Lihi's path as an author reframes what success and impact really mean.

We unpack her new book’s dual narrative: a “princess” self alongside the unfiltered woman doing dishes once the spotlight fades. It’s a sharp mirror of how we perform on the outside while wrestling with doubt inside. 

This episode serves as an important reminder that grace and grit can coexist, and that being real might be the easiest, hardest, and most wonderful act of all.

READY TO FINALLY BE IN THAT "CAN'T STOP WRITING" FLOW?

Grab the free nonfiction or memoir kickstart that's helped hundreds of authors get out of their heads and into the flow: 

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/chapterone

WANT TO SELL MORE BOOKS (WITHOUT THE SELF-PROMO CRINGE)?

The Author Visibility Bundle gives you 200+ done-for-you email templates, social media graphics, and other book promo tools designed to help authors build buzz and drive sales, without feeling pushy. 

👉  PublishAProfitableBook.com/bookvisibility

CURIOUS ABOUT AMAZON ADS AS AN INDIE AUTHOR?

Snag the small but mighty tweaks that help your book actually sell before you ever spend a dime on Amazon ads.

👉  PublishAProfitableBook.com/trial

Support the show

******

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

Today I'm sharing 5 quick wins that make self-publishing feel simple, not scary, and show how small moves can build sustainable momentum. By the end of these 5 steps, you will have:

• locked in a clear (and easy to pronounce over and over again) working title
• chosen a credible publishing company name
• and understanding of ISBNs and taken the first step toward purchasing yours
• selected a trim size that best fits your word count
• gathered cover inspiration that guides your final design
• drafted dedication and acknowledgments pages 

Want all this in writing, step by step? Just go to publishaprofitablebook.com/jumpstart to get the 5 quick wins delivered directly to your inbox, one day at a time

READY TO FINALLY BE IN THAT "CAN'T STOP WRITING" FLOW?

Grab the free nonfiction or memoir kickstart that's helped hundreds of authors get out of their heads and into the flow: 

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/chapterone

WANT TO SELL MORE BOOKS (WITHOUT THE SELF-PROMO CRINGE)?

The Author Visibility Bundle gives you 200+ done-for-you email templates, social media graphics, and other book promo tools designed to help authors build buzz and drive sales, without feeling pushy. 

👉  PublishAProfitableBook.com/bookvisibility

CURIOUS ABOUT AMAZON ADS AS AN INDIE AUTHOR?

Snag the small but mighty tweaks that help your book actually sell before you ever spend a dime on Amazon ads.

👉  PublishAProfitableBook.com/trial

Support the show

******

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

Ever felt like everyone else has the secret playbook for publishing while you’re just winging it? Same.

In this episode, I spill everything I'd tell you as the author of six books (and having published 50+ for others) if I wasn't afraid you'd unfollow or outright block me. 

I'll get real about the financial side of authorship—the thin margins, the myth of “making it” with one viral post, and the practical ways nonfiction authors can pair their books with courses, workshops, or speaking to create lasting impact.

And because no creative path is linear, I also dive into the human stuff: editors who disagree, 3 a.m. regrets, friends who vanish at launch. The fix for all of it? A simple but powerful rule: adopt a no-panic zone mindset.

***

READY TO FINALLY BE IN THAT "CAN'T STOP WRITING" FLOW?

Grab the free nonfiction or memoir kickstart that's helped hundreds of authors get out of their heads and into the flow: 

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/chapterone

WANT TO SELL MORE BOOKS (WITHOUT THE SELF-PROMO CRINGE)?

The Author Visibility Bundle gives you 200+ done-for-you email templates, social media graphics, and other book promo tools designed to help authors build buzz and drive sales, without feeling pushy. 

👉  PublishAProfitableBook.com/bookvisibility

CURIOUS ABOUT AMAZON ADS AS AN INDIE AUTHOR?

Snag the small but mighty tweaks that help your book actually sell before you ever spend a dime on Amazon ads.

👉  PublishAProfitableBook.com/trial

Support the show

******

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

A single question on a cold Hudson Valley walk: What if there’s a body in that hunter’s tent? sparked the debut thriller The Gallagher Place by Julie Doar. 

In this episode, we chat about how she wrote the first draft by instinct, then shifted gears into precision: charting dates, timelines, and cause-and-effect until every twist landed in a way that made sense. 

When the manuscript worked its way to 100K+ words, cutting became an act of getting clarity on what stays, what goes, and how much weight the opening chapter really has to carry.

As it turns out, her years working at Starbucks trained the same muscles that make a thriller work: anticipating and executing under pressure. We talk about turning that fast-twitch instinct into a writing rhythm, plus the art of finishing one idea before chasing the next.

We also chat about how querying parallels sales strategy: staggering submissions, treating rejections as market data, and refining pages until they convert. The mindset shift from “why not me?” to “what did I learn?” keeps momentum alive until the right agent says yes.

READY TO FINALLY BE IN THAT "CAN'T STOP WRITING" FLOW?

Grab the free nonfiction or memoir kickstart that's helped hundreds of authors get out of their heads and into the flow: 

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/chapterone

WANT TO SELL MORE BOOKS (WITHOUT THE SELF-PROMO CRINGE)?

The Author Visibility Bundle gives you 200+ done-for-you email templates, social media graphics, and other book promo tools designed to help authors build buzz and drive sales, without feeling pushy. 

👉  PublishAProfitableBook.com/bookvisibility

CURIOUS ABOUT AMAZON ADS AS AN INDIE AUTHOR?

Snag the small but mighty tweaks that help your book actually sell before you ever spend a dime on Amazon ads.

👉  PublishAProfitableBook.com/trial

Support the show

******

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

What happens when a traditionally published debut novel suddenly appears on Kindle Unlimited while still showing wide? That unexpected twist opens into a bigger conversation about publishing decisions (and what’s actually within an author’s control).

In this episode, Turner Gable Kahn, author of The Dirty Version (Harper Perennial), shares how she honored her grandmothers with a pen name, threaded #MeToo-era questions into a contemporary romance, and wrestled with multiple endings before landing on the one that aligned with her feminist lens.

We also dig into her writing process. And, the publishing side. A sharp agent and editor helped shape her manuscript, but much to many authors' chagrin, even with a major publishing house, you’re still the one creating assets, posting, and doing the lion's share of marketing.  

If you’re weighing traditional vs. indie, fighting the mid-book slump, or simply trying to finish without losing your mind, this conversation offers both clarity and solidarity.

READY TO FINALLY BE IN THAT "CAN'T STOP WRITING" FLOW?

Grab the free nonfiction or memoir kickstart that's helped hundreds of authors get out of their heads and into the flow: 

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/chapterone

WANT TO SELL MORE BOOKS (WITHOUT THE SELF-PROMO CRINGE)?

The Author Visibility Bundle gives you 200+ done-for-you email templates, social media graphics, and other book promo tools designed to help authors build buzz and drive sales, without feeling pushy. 

👉  PublishAProfitableBook.com/bookvisibility

WONDERING EXACTLY HOW TO SELF-PUBLISH SO YOU CAN STOP GUESSING?

Grab the action plan and finally feel confident you’re doing this the right way.

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/actionplan

CURIOUS ABOUT AMAZON ADS AS AN INDIE AUTHOR?

Snag the small but mighty tweaks that help your book actually sell before you ever spend a dime on Amazon ads.

👉  PublishAProfitableBook.com/trial

Support the show

******

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth