Real Talk for Writers

"What do I do if my first draft is genuinely a heaping pile of garbage?"

We've all had a moment like this. You've finished the first draft, maybe even let it sit and cool off for a few days or weeks, and then you dive in to figure out what you need to revise before the book goes off to your editor....

With the end of the year fast approaching, many authors (myself included) are looking ahead to the goals we have for 2026.

And if you have a book coming out next year, you may have had some version of this thought:

"I really hope this book doesn't fail."

While I get where this worry comes from, I...

Copyedits! CEs! The least favorite part of the editing process for may authors, this is the stage where a Grammar Nerd descends upon your book with a digital red pen and point out all your mistakes. 

It's also the part where many authors decide they hate their book actually, and can they set the wh...

Before I dive into this week's Real Talk, which is all about dealing with potentially awkward publishing questions from friends and family, a quick update!

The Confident Author Academy's January 2026 cohort opens for applications next week!

Applications will open to everyone on Tuesday, November...