EPISODE 10: LESSONS FROM THE TRENCHES: WHAT I WISH I'D KNOWN BEFORE I STARTED WRITING

EPISODE 10: LESSONS FROM THE TRENCHES: WHAT I WISH I'D KNOWN BEFORE I STARTED WRITING

In the final episode of Stop Waiting, Start Writing, Pamela steps back from craft advice to share the hard-won lessons from her own publishing journey — from working with editors and handling rejection to protecting your day job and using AI without losing your voice.

Every great book starts with one decision. Not tomorrow. Not someday. Today.

If you've been sitting on the perfect moment to tell your story, consider this your call to action.

Welcome to Episode 10.

Before we wrap up this audio series, I wanted to share something a little different. Not craft tips for getting from a blank page to a finished novel, but a few random lessons I learned the hard way during my journey from aspiring writer to published author.

Understand that book publishing is a business.

Yes, writing is a creative venture, but the publishing company that buys your book is a business. And the goal of a business is to make money. So if a publisher offers you a book deal, you can bet they expect to make money from your book.

Just like a can of Coke, your book is a product. Your publisher will look at it with different goals in mind than you might have. Some things pertaining to the sale of your book will be largely out of your hands, such as the cover design, the publication date, the price point, and sometimes even the title. I have many writer friends who weren't happy with the cover of their book, and I've had a cover or two that I wasn't thrilled about myself. Once you sign a book contract, the final decision on most of these things belongs to the publisher, not you.

That doesn't mean your voice disappears entirely. Most publishers will ask for your input, even if they don't use it. Ask your agent, before you sign your book contract, what kind of say you'll actually have. But once the ink is dry, the final call belongs to the publisher. 

Your No-Excuses Challenge for Episode 10. 

Grab a pen and write down three fears or excuses you're ready to let go of concerning your writing journey. Date it and place the paper into an envelope and seal it. A year from now, pull it back out and see exactly how far you've come. That's not busywork, that's proof. 

Closing Summary. 

We've come a long way together. We've covered tips for finding time to write, finding your writing space, studying your genre, building your community, outlining your story, writing and revising your manuscript until it shines, and gathering feedback to make it better. 

Now you have no more excuses. 

It's time to stop waiting and start writing. I wish you the best.