Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

Sometimes, you're sure you'll love someone well before meeting them. That's the way I felt when I learned of Laura Belgray's forthcoming book, "Tough Titties." 

At once a collection of essays, a memoir, and a hilariously honest look at navigating various stages of life and business ownership, this book made me feel like I'd known Laura for many lifetimes by the end of page 5 (because she's so wholly relatable).  

In this episode of Write the Damn Book Already, we chatted about why she wrote the book, why she wrote it this way, and her experience (thus far) navigating the publishing world.

It's safe to say I had to back away from the mic a few times during this interview because I was laughing so hard I would have blown out the speakers (and your eardrums).

I know you're going to enjoy it as much as I did! 

 

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

- How Laura wrote the exact opposite of a “should book”

- The belief she had about her ability to tell stories that held her back a bit.

- What made her book “hard” to sell, and what she ultimately found in an agent that made all the difference (this is the kind of agent we ALL would want, were we to go that route)

- Laura's (very honest) goal when it came to working with a traditional publishing house

- How she found her agent (aka, An Exercise in Ethical Stalking)

 - How she navigated moments when she was struggling to organize her book’s content and fe

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...even if you don't have a cabin in the wilderness, 4 uninterrupted hours a day to write, or confidence that you're a "real" writer. No overwhelm, no confusion. Just simple, actionable steps.

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook/writethebook

AWESOME EMAIL TEMPLATES FOR AUTHORS 

From communicating with your launch team to building incredible relationships with readers, my customizable templates take all the guesswork out of writing emails that turn email subscribers into loyal fans. 

🎉 CLICK HERE to access to the templates

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!

I’ve always said that if I ever went viral, it would be for something stupid. I’d be filmed saying something grammatically incorrect. Or trip and fall face-first into the concrete in front of Ryan Eggold (after saying something grammatically incorrect).

Apparently, manifestation is truly a thing.

 The PUNCHLINE 

I made an Instagram reel.

Within 24 hours, it had 1.2 million views. 10,000+ likes. and 6,944 shares. 

Here's what happened next. 

 THE BACKSTORY

It started like any old Monday. Slowly and with (decaf) coffee that I firmly believe wakes me up.

Late afternoon, my best friend send me a reel she thought I’d find funny because we have an inside joke about the pronunciation of the word “croissant.”

I laughed hysterically and clicked on the account of the stand-up comedian who made it.

He only had 554 followers, which I thought was a crime because he's so funny. I screenshot his account and shared it to my stories, hoping that a member of my community of 8 would also be thrilled to discover him.

He replied to my story via DM and said thank you. His account had been hacked 2 week prior and he was starting all over. 

I thought, "How can I better share him with my community (of 8)?"

I could repost to my feed (but to repost a reel I figured I'd have to download some new app I didn't know how to work) or I could try one of those duet things. 

The duet option made more sense. It was quick and didn't require that I download a new app.

So I made a ridiculous duet of me "reacting" to Dylan's hilarious reel. 

I never thought anyone beyond my community of 8 would see it (or care). If I'd known this would happen, I would've used better lighting and put on mascara (and put my new book,

🎉 NOW OPEN - AMAZON ADS FOR INDIE AUTHORS!

Access the first 6 modules of my newest course FOR FREE and see if the full course is right for you right here: 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/freetrial

Get the first draft of your nonfiction or memoir written in 33 days!

...even if you don't have a cabin in the wilderness, 4 uninterrupted hours a day to write, or confidence that you're a "real" writer. No overwhelm, no confusion. Just simple, actionable steps.

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook/writethebook

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!

"I can get your book onto the NYT bestseller list."

"I can get your podcast ranked in the top 10 on Apple."

"I can get you 8692.7 verified reviews on Amazon...in 2 days."

The offers are everywhere. And of course they're appealing. Who WOULDN'T want to be on the New York Times bestseller list? Or have a top-rated podcast? Or have Hunger-Games-level reviews on Amazon?

But the question often is, at what cost? (Literally.)

And then, after nearly passing out upon hearing the answer, the next question is, "Do I HAVE to do that? Is there another way?"

No, you don't. And yes, there is.

Magic bullets sound exciting. But they're rarely sustainable.

Bona fide shortcuts, on the other hand, ARE exciting. And yes, they require more work and time. But more often than not, work + time = joyful momentum, while magic bullet = quick (expensive) dopamine hit followed by months of sadness and confusion.

The good news is that there ARE ways to leverage the system without outright gaming it (and, bonus, you don't end up incredibly disappointed when, within a week, the flash in the pan is fully extinguished and you're unsure how you'll cover next month's expenses).

If getting one of these accolades is a bucket-list item for you and/or you have the cash to invest in the process, terrific.

But if not, there are plenty of other creative ways to get the word out and nurture organic (sustainable!) growth when it comes to book sales and visibility. 

 Resources Mentioned

HARO (Help A Reporter Out)

Kate Rock Book Tours

***

Are you ready to make some bold moves as an author (or aspiring author)?

This FREE challenge will help you stop overthinking and over-planning so you can get out of your own way and show yourself exactly what kind of magic your story or message is capable of creating.

Join the 25 Days of Bold Moves challenge!

 

🎉 NOW OPEN - AMAZON ADS FOR INDIE AUTHORS!

Access the first 6 modules of my newest course FOR FREE and see if the full course is right for you right here: 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/freetrial

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!

As you may or may not know, I don't believe in writers block. 

At least, not in the way many people do---that it's a concept every writer must experience, a rite of passage of sorts, that can keep a writer from writing for days, weeks, or---God forbid---even longer. 

To me, "writers block" is simply the name we give to a feeling we have when we feel "stuck."

And the reason we feel stuck is usually far more simple than we like to make it. We aren't entirely sure what we want to say, or we aren't sure that we "should" say whatever it is that we want to say. 

Over the years, I've identified six (I said it was going to be five, but a sixth came to me while I was recording the podcast!) tips for getting you OUT of "writers block" and into "I have so much to say about this!" These work especially well for those writing nonfiction.  

In this episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, we'll explore each tip so you can get yourself back into writing (and wondering how you ever thought you had nothing to say on a particular topic!).

 RESOURCES MENTIONED

Publish A Profitable Book course 

Book Writing Made Simple program

 

 

🎉 NOW OPEN - AMAZON ADS FOR INDIE AUTHORS!

Access the first 6 modules of my newest course FOR FREE and see if the full course is right for you right here: 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/freetrial

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!

Linda Sivertsen, “Book Mama,” is in LOVE with books—reading, writing, and selling them. Her titles have won awards and hit all the lists as an author, co-author, and former magazine editor and ghostwriter. But her driving force has been to publish sustainably.

Naïve and optimistic enough to believe in magic, she’s on a mission to save forests via her role as a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Ambassador. When she’s not fostering literary love matches on her Beautiful Writers Podcast (a favorite stop for writers on tour), writing, and promoting Beautiful Writers, or midwifing books at her Carmel or virtual writing retreats, Linda can be found on the back of a horse or running with her dogs. 

In this episode of Write the Damn Book Already, we had an amazing conversation about the ins and outs of writing, publishing (both traditionally and independently), and the thoughts we ALL have as writers (the ones we think no one else has!)

 

🎉 NOW OPEN - AMAZON ADS FOR INDIE AUTHORS!

Access the first 6 modules of my newest course FOR FREE and see if the full course is right for you right here: 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/freetrial

Get the first draft of your nonfiction or memoir written in 33 days!

...even if you don't have a cabin in the wilderness, 4 uninterrupted hours a day to write, or confidence that you're a "real" writer. No overwhelm, no confusion. Just simple, actionable steps.

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook/writethebook

AWESOME EMAIL TEMPLATES FOR AUTHORS 

From communicating with your launch team to building incredible relationships with readers, my customizable templates take all the guesswork out of writing emails that turn email subscribers into loyal fans. 

🎉 CLICK HERE to access to the templates

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!

Even though she ended up getting a degree in chemical engineering, Renata Trebing started reading cookbooks (for fun) when she was 8 years old. So it’s not terribly surprising that she ended up writing one!

She loved the idea of writing about food passionately, as Nigella Lawson has done. Not long after her first book was published, she had an idea for a second book (with a completely different style and intention).

In the most recent episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, Renata and I chatted about her author journey (and about the many benefits of breath work, which was incredibly informative!)

 Interview Highlights

[8:00] Why Renata couldn’t get started on or hone in on the main message for the second book (even though she knew how to write and publish one already) and how an unexpected illness cemented the purpose of the book

[12:00] The macro level of writing versus the micro level (the micro level is where it’s supposed to become fun, but it often becomes overwhelming and people quit)

[13:20] On what her illness made her feel about herself as a nutrition coach (it’s the OPPOSITE of “a fraud” or in any way not able to position herself as a credible authority]

[14:21] Why she was petrified of having anyone read it and what she was worried they’d judge (even though she was so certain of what she had written) and the actual messages she got from readers

[18:10] The book writing schedule that helped her get the damn thing written!

[30:36] How Renata determined WHO she was writing to and how high-level or low-level she’d keep her delivery for this book as someone who has SO much info from the simple to the complex end of the nutrition/healing spectrum

 

🎉 NOW OPEN - AMAZON ADS FOR INDIE AUTHORS!

Access the first 6 modules of my newest course FOR FREE and see if the full course is right for you right here: 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/freetrial

Get the first draft of your nonfiction or memoir written in 33 days!

...even if you don't have a cabin in the wilderness, 4 uninterrupted hours a day to write, or confidence that you're a "real" writer. No overwhelm, no confusion. Just simple, actionable steps.

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook/writethebook

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!

When it comes to book publishing, there are 3 main models available: traditional, independent, and self. None is the best across the board. One is the best for each author and each book! 

I find it curious that still (and we've somehow made it to 2023), self-publishing (or hybrid publishing, or author-financed publishing, as it's sometimes referred to) is seen as "lesser than" by authors. 

In this episode of Write the Damn Book Already, I offer a perspective that might shift yours as well. Not because I'm trying to steer you in any specific direction or convince you of your best next step, but because the way we think of "self-financed" when it comes to publishing is so much different from the way we think about it in any other business!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. You can tag me on IG (@elizabethlyonsauthor), DM me, or email me ([email protected]).

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES MENTIONED

Write the Damn Book Already: Tell Your Story, Share Your Message, Make Your Impact

Publish A Profitable Book course

🎉 NOW OPEN - AMAZON ADS FOR INDIE AUTHORS!

Access the first 6 modules of my newest course FOR FREE and see if the full course is right for you right here: 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/freetrial

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!

I don't know it it's an end-of-year thing or an all-year-round thing, but I'm hearing a lot of people saying, quietly, that they feel like they're a bit "behind. 

Honestly, I get it. I'm about to turn 50, and I certainly have days where I think, "I can't possibly be 50, because I haven't yet [fill in the blank]."

It's easy to begin to wonder if everyone else knows something we don't, is smarter, happier, or more deserving. 

But the good news (and the truth of it all) is, being on the "slow boat" (taking a bit longer than you perhaps wanted to) toward any goal isn't a bad thing! 

This episode is here to remind you that you're exactly where you're supposed to be while offering you a few different perspective shifts that may even make you grateful you didn't get where you want to be sooner! 

 

🎉 NOW OPEN - AMAZON ADS FOR INDIE AUTHORS!

Access the first 6 modules of my newest course FOR FREE and see if the full course is right for you right here: 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/freetrial

Get the first draft of your nonfiction or memoir written in 33 days!

...even if you don't have a cabin in the wilderness, 4 uninterrupted hours a day to write, or confidence that you're a "real" writer. No overwhelm, no confusion. Just simple, actionable steps.

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook/writethebook

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!

Jamie Gagnon’s first book, Imagine My Love (an illustrated children’s book), was released in September 2022. With a degree in early childhood education and preschool teacher certification, it makes sense that she'd write a children's book.

But it was ultimately the love for her two children (combined with an "interesting" experience that showed her the power of words to young children) that compelled her to write this wonderful book. 

In this episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, we talked about the process of writing a children's book as well as the importance of recognizing the season of your life that you're in and not forcing yourself into others’ definition of success or opinions on how you “should” market your book.

 

Episode Highlights:

[3:55] The root of her reason to write this book (what her 2nd grade and 6th grade teachers taught her about the power of words)

[5:17] How she found that “motherhood made an incredible mess of her” and compelled her to find a way to lead her own kids with her love

[10:40] Industry standards for children’s books (and how Jamie avoided getting hung up not knowing exactly how to adhere to them)

[11:30] How Jamie found a children’s book writing mentor (and who that person is!)

[14:57] How she found and partnered with her amazing illustrator, Sandra Jessop

 

[18:11] Her biggest concern when embarking on the partnership with her il

🎉 NOW OPEN - AMAZON ADS FOR INDIE AUTHORS!

Access the first 6 modules of my newest course FOR FREE and see if the full course is right for you right here: 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/freetrial

Get the first draft of your nonfiction or memoir written in 33 days!

...even if you don't have a cabin in the wilderness, 4 uninterrupted hours a day to write, or confidence that you're a "real" writer. No overwhelm, no confusion. Just simple, actionable steps.

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook/writethebook

AWESOME EMAIL TEMPLATES FOR AUTHORS 

From communicating with your launch team to building incredible relationships with readers, my customizable templates take all the guesswork out of writing emails that turn email subscribers into loyal fans. 

🎉 CLICK HERE to access to the templates

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!

One of Jessica's most remarkable accomplishments is as a mom of three amazing kids. When her beautiful daughter Dalia passed away in March 2022 from an ultra-rare mitochondrial disease called MERRF syndrome, she was compelled to transition from how-to format and personal essay to long-form memoir.

Her newest book, Breath Taking, will be released in 2024 (which cannot come soon enough). 

In this episode, we talked about her journey through the writing and acquisition of this newest book. 

 Highlights include: 

• Discovering in what unexpected ways her story was extraordinary WHILE writing. (This marks the difference between “Here’s what happened” and “Here's why it mattered.”)
• How the book kept blossoming into a bigger and bigger story (and how she got her arms around all while not getting overwhelmed by the massive amount of content)
• Going from "This is a tough read" to writing so people will be uplifted and inspired, because that’s what the overall theme/message is
• How she included others’ role in the story (even when they were main characters) in order to protect others’ experiences and ownership of their own story
• The BEST words when it comes to how to write your first draft 
• Why Jessica still hesitates to claim the label of “writer” (even though she's already published and was a columnist for a major national publication and a contributor to another) 

CONNECT WITH JESSICA

🎉 NOW OPEN - AMAZON ADS FOR INDIE AUTHORS!

Access the first 6 modules of my newest course FOR FREE and see if the full course is right for you right here: 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/freetrial

Get the first draft of your nonfiction or memoir written in 33 days!

...even if you don't have a cabin in the wilderness, 4 uninterrupted hours a day to write, or confidence that you're a "real" writer. No overwhelm, no confusion. Just simple, actionable steps.

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook/writethebook

AWESOME EMAIL TEMPLATES FOR AUTHORS 

From communicating with your launch team to building incredible relationships with readers, my customizable templates take all the guesswork out of writing emails that turn email subscribers into loyal fans. 

🎉 CLICK HERE to access to the templates

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