Today is the last day to apply for the January class of The Confident Author Academy. Submit your application here.
When you care about the books you write, it’s easy to slip into a negative headspace when those stories aren’t received the way you hoped. You worry that you’re an unoriginal hack who has tricked everyone into thinking you write decent books. You fear that the books you’ve released were just a fluke and you’ll never publish anything else ever again. While these fears are normal, I promise they are not true. So if you’re in need of a pep talk, this episode is for you. *** The January 2026 cohort of The Confident Author Academy is enrolling now! Submit your application here: http://www.isabelsterling.com/academy-cohort Applications close on November 22nd. Prefer one-one one support? Limited private coaching spots are available now: 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 January class of The Confident Author Academy is enrolling now through November 22nd. APPLY HERE. This 6-month group coaching program will help you build a fiction career you love. One where writing brings you as much joy as it did before it was your job. Where deadlines don't stress you out. And where you feel confident about your future in this industry. Whether you're an agented writer working toward your first sale, a debut novelist, or a mid-career author, this group is for you. Listen in for all the details and that submit your application: http://www.isabelsterling.com/academy-cohort
If you’ve ever felt frustrated about your writing speed, this episode is for you. Writing faster isn’t about fancy hacks or overhauling your entire process. Instead, it’s about pinpointing the parts of your process that slow you down, frustrate you, and leave you avoiding your book. Once you find those creative roadblocks, you can come up with targeted solutions that work with your unique creative brain and get you unstuck as quickly as possible. *** The January 2026 cohort of The Confident Author Academy is enrolling now! Submit your application here: http://www.isabelsterling.com/academy-cohort Applications are open November 11th - 22nd. Prefer one-one one support? Limited private coaching spots are available now: 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 January class of The Confident Author Academy is enrolling now through November 22nd. APPLY HERE. This 6-month group coaching program will help you build a fiction career you love. One where writing brings you as much joy as it did before it was your job. Where deadlines don't stress you out. And where you feel confident about your future in this industry. Whether you're an agented writer working toward your first sale, a debut novelist, or a mid-career author, this group is for you. Listen in for all the details and that submit your application: http://www.isabelsterling.com/academy-cohort
This past year, my personal life has been rough. Lots of grief. Lots of once-in-a-lifetime stressful events. Yet despite all the hardships, I’ve still made a ton of progress in my author career. I revised my 2026 novel. Wrote and revised a YA proposal. And am about 30k into the first draft of my 2027 book. And through it all, I’ve had fun in my writing life. I’ve thought a lot about how I’ve been able to do this and settled on the top five lessons I learned this year from going through some Really Hard Shit. Today, I’m sharing all five lessons with advice on how you can apply them to your author career. *** The waitlist is now open for the January 2026 cohort of The Confident Author Academy. Join here: http://www.isabelsterling.com/academy-cohort Applications are open November 11th - 22nd. Prefer one-one one support? Limited private coaching spots are available now: 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!
Curious about the best time to start coaching? This week, Kim DeRose shares how coaching supported her through the entire journey of writing and publishing her newest release, Hear Her Howl. We talk about the challenges of releasing her debut vs her sophomore novel, setting internal metrics of success, and the differences between private and group coaching. Follow Kim on Instagram, get a free short story by joining her newsletter, and check out her latest release, Hear Her Howl, available Nov 4th. *** The waitlist is now open for the January 2026 cohort of The Confident Author Academy. Join here: http://www.isabelsterling.com/academy-cohort Prefer private coaching? Limited spots are available now: 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!
This week, I interviewed Molly Donlan about her transition from skeptic to Reiki Master teacher, co-host of a popular witchy podcast (Demystify Magic), and author of the forthcoming non-fiction title, Mundane Magic. Molly shares a variety of low-effort magical practices – grounded in the science behind them (we talk loads about the nervous system) – that you can use to add a dash of woo, magic, and practical manifestation to your writing process. Whether you’re already very witchy or lean more skeptical, this is a fabulous episode for bringing more fun into your writing life. Check out the different resources Molly offers on her website (I highly recommend her Reiki training!), pre-order a copy of Mundane Magic (out in February!), check out the Demystify Magic podcast (this episode covers how to make your own sigils - which we talked about in the interview), and follow Molly on Instagram. *** 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!
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a career writing IP, this interview with Tess Sharpe is a must-listen! (And if you have no idea what IP is, I also recommend checking out this episode!) Tess is a NYT bestselling author and has written all sorts of IP projects, including in the Jurassic World, Marvel, and DC universes. She shares her wealth of wisdom about breaking into the world of writing IP, balancing writing original books with IP work, and what skills are essential to become the kind of reliable writer IP editors hire again and again. You can follow Tess on Instagram or subscribe to her newsletter here. Check out Tess’s latest IP release – White Widow: Secret Sisters and her most recent original novel No Body No Crime. *** 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!
For the second episode in our two-part series about being a hybrid author, the wonderful and fabulous Rebecca Thorne joined me on the podcast to share the wisdom and business savvy she’s gained throughout her hybrid publishing career. We talked about: Diversifying income streams Paying attention to trends & listening to your readers Settling in for the long-game and growing your writing craft The negotiating power of being able to walk away from a bad deal And more! You can learn more about Rebecca and her books (she has two new titles out in 2025!) on her website and on Instagram. *** 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!
For the first episode of a two-part series about being a hybrid author, I have the wonderful and talented Stephanie Burgis on the podcast to talk about her journey of starting with traditional publishing and adding indie titles to the mix. We talked about: Diversifying your author income streams How to decide whether a project should be trad or indie The creative and logistical benefits of writing novellas Building a Patreon community that doesn’t add a ton of work to your plate And more! You can learn more about Stephanie (and her fabulous books!) on her website, Instagram, and Patreon. *** 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!
Today marks the beginning of a 5-part interview series with all sorts of incredible authors and industry pros! I am so thrilled to kick things off with this fabulous interview with my literary agent, and the founder of Mad Woman Literary Agency, Danielle Burby! Danielle and I focused our conversation on post-debut and mid-career authors. So instead of the typical questions about how to query, we dive deep into strategic career planning, what to do when a book as a “challenging sales history,” how to make a big pivot to a new age category or genre, and so much more! You can learn more about Danielle (and what she’s currently looking for in her query inbox) on the Mad Woman Literary Agency website. And don’t forget to follow the agency on Instagram! *** 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!
Have you set writing goals only to fall short of meeting them? Do you feel terrible when you don't achieve the writing milestones you set? If so, this week's episode is for you. I walk through the goals that I didn't meet from the summer, explore various reasons why I didn't meet those goals, and learn from that experience to set more useful goals going forward. *** 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!
If you’re feeling stuck in your author career, one of the best things you can do is learn to ask yourself better questions. Most of us get stuck when our brains latch onto stories that lead to dead ends. “Nothing is working” or “I’ve tried everything” or “why the heck can’t I sell another book????” all end with you feeling defeated, frustrated, and maybe even a bit hopeless. In today’s episode, you’ll learn how to ask better questions so you can get unstuck and start moving forward in your career. *** 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!
Like writing, confidence is a skillset that you can build over time. It’s an emotional muscle, a mindset, that can speed up your writing progress, reduce stress, and make the day-to-day of your author career more enjoyable. Dive in to this week’s episode to learn how confidence (or a lack thereof) affects your writing, what you can do to increase the confidence you have in your writing process and your overall author career. At the end of the episode, you’ll get instructions for a 30-day challenge that will improve your writing confidence in less than 5 minutes per day. 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 don’t want to let anyone down.” If you find yourself worried about disappointing people on your publishing team or falling short of their expectations, this podcast is for you. I’m breaking down why meeting expectations can feel so fraught in publishing, including what to do when those expectations are implied rather than explicitly laid out for you. 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!
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!