Selling 5,000+ copies of a debut novel in 18 months (without a massive social media following) might seem out of reach to most aspiring authors. But, in fact, it’s not. And our incredible podcast guest, Jennifer Lauer, is here to show you how it's done.

When we last spoke, Jennifer was on the brink of launching her debut sci-fi novel, The Girl in the Zoo. Fast-forward to today, and she's sold over 5,000 copies, launched a successful fiction podcast, and released a new paranormal mystery novella series.

In the episode, you’ll hear us talk about things like:

• [05:01] Jennifer's honest breakdown of book launch setbacks, including how she handled unexpected Amazon delays and a COVID diagnosis
• [07:49] How Jennifer leveraged NetGalley to rack up over 200 Amazon reviews and 250 Goodreads reviews—and why she says it was worth braving the potential for harsh feedback
• [10:57] Jennifer's persistence in securing BookBub features for international and US markets that drove her novel to #1 on multiple Amazon lists
• [21:48] How Jennifer sold just over 5,000 copies in 18 months with minimal social media presence (plus, the importance of releasing your work, even if it's imperfect, and how this mindset contributed to her success)
• [28:03] How Jennifer's fiction podcast, The Strange Chronicles, helped her overcome writer's block and draft her latest novella in one summer
• [38:24] The marketing plans for Jennifer's new series launch, including which strategies she's keeping, which she's ditching, and why influencer boxes might not be worth the hype

Whether you're gearing up to launch your first novel or looking to breathe new life into your backlist, this episode is packed with actionable strategies you can use today.

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"I love the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this show! Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're also super fun for me to read. Just click here, scroll all the way to the bottom, tap five stars to rate the show, and then select "Write a Review." Be sure to let me know your favorite episodes, too!

Also, if you haven't done so already, make sure you're following the podcast! I'll be adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed, and if you're not following the show, there's a good chance you'll miss them. Click here to follow now!

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Ep. 85 - Student Spotlight: How She Overcame Her Fear of the Blank Page (and Indie Published Her Novel) with Jennifer Lauer
• Jennifer Lauer's Website & Instagram
• Start Somewhere by Jennifer Lauer

Interested in becoming a book coach? Check out Author Accelerator's Book Coach Certification program before prices increase in 2025!

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👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

It’s no secret that one of the biggest roadblocks to getting traditionally published is the dreaded literary agent rejection.

But to find the right literary agent for you and your story, you have to go through the process of querying a handful of agents—which means you should expect to get a handful of rejections before finding your perfect match.

In this episode, I’m sharing the three most common literary agent rejection scenarios and, more importantly, what you can do in each scenario to take the next steps and keep moving forward with your querying journey.

Tune into this episode to hear things like:

• [02:04] What it means to get a form rejection letter from a literary agent (and why this does NOT mean you should give up on your publishing goals)
• [05:21] The next steps to take if an agent requests your full manuscript (or some sample pages) but then still doesn’t offer you representation
• [05:46] What literary agents are looking for in your opening pages—and how to determine if you might be missing any of the elements they’re looking for
• [10:42] What it means to get a “Revise & Resubmit” request from a literary agent (and more importantly, what NOT to do if you get one)
• [12:38] 5 signs you should stop querying—including my answer to the commonly asked question, “How long should I query agents before giving up?”

If you’ve ever wondered how to interpret the rejection letters you’re receiving (or how to take action on the rejection letters you’re receiving), you’re going to love this episode!

⭐ Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this show! Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're also super fun for me to read. Just click here, scroll all the way to the bottom, tap five stars to rate the show, and then select "Write a Review." Be sure to let me know your favorite episodes, too!

Also, if you haven't done so already, make sure you're following the podcast! I'll be adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed, and if you're not following the show, there's a good chance you'll miss them. Click here to follow now!

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Ep. 58 - 10 Querying Mistakes (& How To Avoid Them)
• Ep. 142 - How To Write A Query Letter That Works
• First 5 Pages Workshop: How To Hook Readers In Your First 5 Pages

Interested in becoming a book coach? Check out Author Accelerator's Book Coach Certification program before prices increase in 2025!

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👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

Ever wonder what happens when you ditch your agent and decide to self-publish instead? This episode is a must-listen if you're curious about the ins and outs of self-publishing and how it can possibly safeguard your creative control.

In this episode, Stefanie Medrek is back on the podcast—and boy, has her story changed! The last time we chatted, she had just landed an agent and was about to go out on submission. But now she's releasing her debut romantic suspense novel as a self-published author. So what happened?

Tune in to hear why Stefanie parted ways with her agent, how she navigated the world of self-publishing, and what it's like to prepare for a self-published book launch (happening this week).

In the episode, you’ll hear things like:

• [07:39] A recap of Stefanie's journey since our last chat: from landing an agent to trusting her gut instinct and choosing self-publishing over traditional publishing for creative control.
• [16:00] The nitty-gritty production details involved in preparing a book for self-publishing (including the cover design mistake that led to a complete do-over)
• [24:02] The unexpected challenges (and absolute joys) of self-publishing, how she's learning to roll with the punches, and manage delays.
• [26:43] How Stefanie tackled book marketing, including working with a fantastic PR firm and creating special edition ARCs (advanced reader copies), and her super-savvy strategies to reach readers and build buzz for her book launch.
• [33:00] The importance of building an author email list and a smart reader magnet to connect with your audience (and why this matters for your book launch).
• [37:35] The heartwarming story of Stefanie's dad, a successful self-published author, his influence on her publishing journey, and how they celebrate each other's milestones.

If you've ever felt unsure about which publishing path to take, or if you're just curious about what goes on behind a self-published book launch, you'll LOVE this episode!

⭐ Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this show! Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're also super fun for me to read. Just click here, scroll all the way to the bottom, tap five stars to rate the show, and then select "Write a Review." Be sure to let me know your favorite episodes, too!

Also, if you haven't done so already, make sure you're following the podcast! I'll be adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed, and if you're not following the show, there's a good chance you'll miss them. Click here to follow now!

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Into the Fire by Stefanie Medrek
• Stefanie’s Website
• Stefanie on Instagram
• Ep. 71 - Student Spotlight: How She Wrote a Novel in 6 Months (and Landed an Agent 10 Months Later) with Stefanie Medrek

Interested in becoming a book coach? Check out Author Accelerator's Book Coach Certification program before prices increase in 2025!

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👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

You finished your book and now you’re looking for a cover designer, but where do you start? Where can you find a good book cover designer? And how much should you expect to pay them for a quality book cover?

These are all questions my guest, Zoe Norvell, will answer in this week’s brand-new podcast episode! Zoe is the mastermind behind INeedABookCover.com and INeedABookInterior.com—and she’s been designing book covers professionally since 2011 (both for big publishers and self-published authors alike).

Tune into this episode to hear us talk about things like:

• [06:33] The very first step soon-to-be-published authors need to take when it comes to finding and working with a book cover designer
• [08:14] Why searching on Amazon for book cover inspiration isn’t a good idea—and what Zoe recommends doing instead (spoiler alert: you’ll love it!)
• [13:19] The difference between book cover designers and graphic designers, and Zoe’s thoughts on hiring designers from sites like Fiverr
• [25:30] Tips for what to consider when hiring a book cover designer, including things like how much to budget for your book cover
• [31:13] A fill-in-the-blank template to use when you reach out to your dream book cover designer (plus Zoe’s insights on what not to say in your email)

If you’ve ever wanted a clear answer to some of the most important book cover design questions, you’re going to love this episdoe with Zoe Norvell.

⭐ Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this show! Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're also super fun for me to read. Just click here, scroll all the way to the bottom, tap five stars to rate the show, and then select "Write a Review." Be sure to let me know your favorite episodes, too!

Also, if you haven't done so already, make sure you're following the podcast! I'll be adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed, and if you're not following the show, there's a good chance you'll miss them. Click here to follow now!

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Grab the free email template here
• INeedABookCover.com
• INeedABookInterior.com
• Zoe Norvell on Instagram

Interested in becoming a book coach? Check out Author Accelerator's Book Coach Certification program before prices increase in 2025!

Support the show

👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

One of the questions I get asked by a lot of aspiring authors is, “What books should I read to learn how to start writing a novel?” I get asked this question so often that I decided to turn my answer into a podcast episode!

Tune in to this episode to hear my take on the 5 best writing books that have had the biggest impact on me and the authors I work with. I’ll share what the books are, why I like them, and what kind of writer they’d be best for.

In other words, you’ll hear me talk about:

• [02:03] My favorite book for character creation—one that helps you dig deep into your character’s backstory to understand who they are and how they’ll show up on the page
• [05:28] The first book that really made things click for me, including things like how to write a well-structured scene and the importance of genre
• [08:23] One of the best books on plotting a novel that includes beat-by-beat breakdowns of ten different stories—yep, I’m talking about Save the Cat!
• [10:53] The only book I know of that breaks down an entire story on a scene-by-scene basis and shows you how every single part of the story works
• [15:09] A book that really changed the way I think about a story’s midpoint—not only what a midpoint is, but why it’s so important to the overall narrative

If you’re looking for another craft book to add to your TBR pile (that can also make you a better writer), you’re going to love this episode!

⭐ Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this show! Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're also super fun for me to read. Just click here, scroll all the way to the bottom, tap five stars to rate the show, and then select "Write a Review." Be sure to let me know your favorite episodes, too!

Also, if you haven't done so already, make sure you're following the podcast! I'll be adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed, and if you're not following the show, there's a good chance you'll miss them. Click here to follow now!

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Savannah Gilbo on Instagram
• Story Genius by Lisa Cron
• The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne
• Save the Cat! Writes A Novel by Jessica Brody
• Write Your Novel From The Middle by James Scott Bell
• The Story Grid Masterwork Guide to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by Savannah Gilbo

Support the show

👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

Have you ever Googled things like “how many words should be in a novel?” Or “how many scenes should a novel have?” If so, you’ve probably gotten answers like “80,000 words.” Or “somewherre between 40 and 60 scenes.”

Easy enough, in theory…But if you’re like most of the writers I’ve worked with, you’ve probably also had trouble sticking to these guidelines because there’s just so much stuff that needs to go into a novel, right?

Well, in this episode, I’m going to help clear up some of the confusion and overwhelm that many writers face when it comes to outlining, writing, and revising. And to do that, I’m going to share everything I know about scene beats.

Tune into this episode to hear things like:

• [03:18] The difference between scenes and beats, including some of the common functions beats can serve within each one of your scenes
• [07:21] An example of beats within a scene from Throne Of Glass by Sarah J. Maas—including a look at how she strategically placed chapter breaks to hook and hold the reader’s attention.
• [12:53] My advice on when to worry about the beats with each of your scenes (spoiler alert: it’s not until you’re in the revision phase—if at all!)
• [13:42] 3 things to look out for when deciding if something should be a beat or a scene, and why it’s super important to adopt a flexible mindset during revisions
• [16:09] Episode recap and final thoughts

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed creating your outline or trying to fit an entire story into a certain number of words or scenes, you’re going to love this episode!

⭐ Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this show! Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're also super fun for me to read. Just click here, scroll all the way to the bottom, tap five stars to rate the show, and then select "Write a Review." Be sure to let me know your favorite episodes, too!

Also, if you haven't done so already, make sure you're following the podcast! I'll be adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed, and if you're not following the show, there's a good chance you'll miss them. Click here to follow now!

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Ep. 153 - Scene Analysis: Chapter 5 "Diagon Alley" From Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
• Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
• Click here to grab a copy of my book, The Story Grid Masterwork Analysis Guide to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
• Ep. 40 - How to Write a Well-Structured Scene

Interested in becoming a book coach? Check out Author Accelerator's Book Coach Certification program before prices increase in 2025!

Support the show

👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

How do you know if you’re actually getting better at writing?

In this episode, my guest, Tim Grahl, the CEO of Story Grid and the author of multiple books, both fiction and non-fiction, shares his answer to this question. Tim believes that his new book, The Shithead, is the best book he’s ever written—and I happen to agree with him! So, how did he get here? What did he do to become a better writer? And more importantly, what can YOU learn from Tim’s story to become a better writer yourself?

Tune into this episode to hear things like:

• [04:26] Where the idea for Tim’s new novel, The Shithead, came from, and how he blended real life with fiction to create a compelling story
• [13:18] How Tim went from brainstorming to finished draft in about six months—and why spending time upfront to plan the foundational elements of the story saved him a ton of time (and stress) in the long run
• [15:15] Tim shares what he believes to be the secret to writing the best book he’s ever written (spoiler alert: it’s learning how to write a really good scene!)
• [32:46] Tim’s plans for launching and marketing this book—you won’t want to miss this part. Tim is the book launch guy, and his insights are golden!

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to become a better writer—and what you can do to practice your craft in a meaningful way—then you’re going to love this episode!

⭐ Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this show! Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're also super fun for me to read. Just click here, scroll all the way to the bottom, tap five stars to rate the show, and then select "Write a Review." Be sure to let me know your favorite episodes, too!

Also, if you haven't done so already, make sure you're following the podcast! I'll be adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed, and if you're not following the show, there's a good chance you'll miss them. Click here to follow now!

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Free Download: 3-Point Scene Writing Checklist
• Story Grid’s YouTube Channel
• Story Grid’s Website
• Tim’s Book The Shithead

Interested in becoming a book coach? Check out Author Accelerator's Book Coach Certification program before prices increase in 2025!

Support the show

👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

Want a peek behind the scenes into my work week? 👀

In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes and sharing what I do as a developmental editor and book coach.

I’ll talk through the projects I’m working on, what I’m excited (or not excited) about, what’s coming up in the next few weeks, what I learn from the writers I work with, and basically anything else that happens during the week!

Tune into the episode to hear me talk about things like:

• [01:55] How I use a paper planner to map out my work week—and why I’m extra diligent about matching up my digital calendar to my planner
• [04:55] Why grouping common activities into one day (like public speaking or podcasting) helps me conserve energy and recharge my introvert batteries
• [08:30] An update on two writers I’m working with—both of which are about to finish their developmental edits and move into the line editing phase
• [14:50] How I deal with not getting everything on my to-do list done, and why it’s so important to give yourself grace when energy levels are low
• [16:40] What I learned from critiquing the opening pages of five different science fiction novels—and what you can do to avoid making the same mistake

Thanks for coming on this journey with me, and I hope you enjoy this peek behind the scenes! See you next week!

⭐ Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this show! Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're also super fun for me to read. Just click here, scroll all the way to the bottom, tap five stars to rate the show, and then select "Write a Review." Be sure to let me know your favorite episodes, too!

Also, if you haven't done so already, make sure you're following the podcast! I'll be adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed, and if you're not following the show, there's a good chance you'll miss them. Click here to follow now!

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Ep. 94 - How to Reveal Your Character's Inner Life on the Page
• Ep. 102 - 3 Common Interiority Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
• Planner Pad on Amazon

Interested in becoming a book coach? Check out Author Accelerator's Book Coach Certification program before prices increase in 2025!

Support the show

👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.