166. A Hard Truth about Publishing

There are no guarantees in publishing.

It seems an obvious statement, and yet so many authors get caught in a cycle of stressing about how they can “keep their publisher happy” in an effort to guarantee another book deal.

But there are no guarantees.

Even if you earn out your advance, meet every single deadline, and are a “pleasure to work with,” your publisher may not buy your next book.

This truth doesn’t have to feel scary. In fact, it can feel liberating when you let yourself show up for your career for YOU rather than your publisher. Listen in to learn how.

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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 join the June 2025 cohort go to http://www.isabelsterling.com/academy-cohort

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