Hungry Authors

Is it really author vs. editor when you get to the editing stage? Sometimes it can feel that way, especially if your editor has a lot of requests for changes… but it doesn’t have to be that way! It’s actually author desires vs. what the reader needs, and ideally an editor helps you navigate those competing priorities. In this episode, Liz and Ariel dive into the nuanced and often challenging dynamics between authors and editors. Liz shares her recent experience with feedback on a manuscript and the inherent tension that can arise even for seasoned writers and collaborators. The conversation covers the importance of editing, the emotional reactions it can provoke, and the intricate balance between staying true to an author’s vision and ensuring reader clarity. Key points of discussion include different editorial styles, the role of copy editors, and strategies for effective communication and feedback in the writing process. Whether you’re a writer, an editor, or somewhere in between, this episode offers valuable insights into the collaborative effort behind producing a successful book. 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:47 Liz’s Recent Editing Experience 02:15 Navigating Feedback and Reactions 06:15 Ariel’s Editing Approach 09:57 Balancing Author and Reader Needs 21:03 Collaborator Challenges and Insights 27:32 Understanding the Editor’s Perspective 28:13 The Relationship Between Author and Manuscript 31:07 Navigating Feedback and Edits 33:34 The Role of Editors in the Writing Process 36:24 The Art of Giving and Receiving Feedback 38:46 The Hidden Code of Conduct Among Editors 43:03 The Importance of Copy Editors 45:40 Final Thoughts on Editing and Feedback Join us to Map Your Book! Want us to help you vet your idea and plan your book’s content from start to finish? Join us in October for Map Your Book!

In the very first Hungry Authors’ Idea Lab, Liz and Ariel discuss their updated scorecard for evaluating book ideas. We focus on three key aspects: timeless topics, timely topics, and unique angles. We provide detailed criteria for each category, explaining what constitutes a strong book idea versus a weaker one. The episode also includes the evaluation of submitted book ideas from the community, offering constructive feedback to refine and improve them. Finally, we introduce their upcoming Book Mapping cohort, aimed at helping authors structure their books from the initial idea to final chapters. To see the updated scorecard, check out our Substack post: “Watch the Hungry Authors Idea Lab.“ 00:00 Introduction to Hungry Authors Idea Lab 01:39 Meet the Hosts: Liz and Ariel 02:53 Overview of Hungry Authors and Today’s Agenda 03:08 Timeless Topics: Evaluating Your Book Idea 09:26 Timeliness: Making Your Book Relevant Now 23:22 Unique Angles: Crafting a Compelling Argument 39:20 Case Studies: Applying the Rubric to Bestsellers 45:20 Evaluating McConaughey’s Book 45:44 Timelessness vs. Timeliness in Devotionals 48:20 Voice and Celebrity Influence 50:03 Community Book Idea Critiques 50:26 Memoir of Escaping a Cult and Finding Meaning 59:57 Creative Spiritual Practices 01:06:46 Parenting in Multicultural Families 01:16:00 Lessons from an Equine Veterinarian’s Wife 01:22:30 The Importance of a Big Idea in Book Writing Don’t miss the Map Your Book Cohort! Map Your Book is starting next week, October 7, and we’d love to see you there! We’ll help you refine your big idea, create a table of contents, and plan your book’s chapters from start to finish. This is important creative work; do it with friends and get feedback from two experts who have done this countless times for traditionally published books. Learn more + register today on Maven.

In today’s solo episode of the Hungry Authors Podcast, Liz and Ariel share each of their five most frequently given pieces of advice for writers (10 total!). From understanding the importance of knowing your unique angle and studying your comps, to the necessity of clear transitions, explicit writing, and knowing the book’s transformation, they dive into practical tips. They also stress the importance of building a platform, writing authentically, and seeking early feedback. 00:00 Welcome to the Hungry Authors Podcast 00:39 Top 5 Pieces of Advice for Writers 02:48 The Importance of Knowing Your Unique Angle 05:25 Finding Your Unique Angle Through Comps 10:45 Understanding the Transformation in Your Writing 13:28 Focusing on Transitions and Being Explicit 18:14 Stop Asking If It’s a Good Idea 23:06 Write Like You Talk 26:21 Stop Complaining About Platform 29:51 Ask for Help Sooner 36:12 Map Your Book Cohort Join us to Map Your Book! Want us to help you vet your idea and plan your book’s content from start to finish? Join us in October for Map Your Book!

This week, we welcome author Kara Kavensky and literary agent Katharine Sands to discuss the journey of writing and publishing memoirs. Kara, a corporate communication strategist and author, shares her experience writing a memoir about a World War II veteran’s quest for lost love, which deeply intertwined with her own life transformation. Katherine, as Kara’s literary agent, offers insights into the world of memoir publishing, emphasizing the importance of community, platform, and unique storytelling. The episode explores the challenges and strategies for aspiring memoir writers and the therapeutic power of writing. 00:00 Introduction to the Hungry Authors Podcast 00:37 Meet Kara Kavensky and Katharine Sands 00:50 Kara’s Memoir Journey Begins 02:11 The Life-Changing Interview with Bob 06:27 Kara’s Personal Transformation 11:57 The Role of an Agent in Memoir Publishing 14:12 The Importance of Platform in Memoir Writing 19:03 Kara’s Writing Experience and Advice 24:30 Discussing the Editing Process 25:05 Navigating Feedback and Criticism 27:25 Manuscript Iterations and Finalizing the Story 29:39 Challenges of Writing a Memoir 33:01 Advice for Aspiring Memoir Writers 36:15 The Importance of a Unique Perspective 40:50 Balancing Personal Stories with Marketability 44:05 Final Thoughts and Encouragement About Kara A born storyteller, Kara loves sharing inspiring stories. She has written thousands of personal interest stories, op-eds, and features on fascinating people to local and national magazines and news outlets. In addition to storytelling and public relations, her remain relevant consulting business applies storytelling concepts to humanize businesses, which facilitates amazing results. Kara’s debut memoir, TELL ME ABOUT JOY, is a result of one of her interviews (Fall 2026). Listen to podcast episodes of Finding Joy with Kara and her newest podcast series, Record Scratch with Kara! About Katharine Katharine Sands is a literary agent with the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency. She has worked with a varied list of authors who publish a diverse array of books. She is the agent provocateur of Making the Perfect Pitch: How to Catch a Literary Agent’s Eye, a collection of pitching wisdom from leading literary agents. Actively building her client list, she likes books that have a clear benefit for readers’ lives in categories of food, travel, lifestyle, home arts, beauty, wisdom, relationships, parenting, and fresh looks, which might be at issues, life challenges or popular culture. When reading fiction she wants to be compelled and propelled by urgent storytelling, and hooked by characters. For memoir and femoir, she likes to be transported to a world rarely or newly observed. Learn more about Katharine and send her a pitch on ManuscriptWishlist.com!

In this episode of the Hungry Authors Podcast, Chad Allen, an editor, coach, and writer, returns to explore the rapidly evolving role of AI in writing and publishing. The conversation delves into the basics of AI and large language models like ChatGPT, the benefits for writers, and ethical concerns surrounding AI’s use. Chad and the hosts share personal experiences and insights on how AI can enhance creativity, streamline processes, and address emotional challenges. Despite the potential for misuse, they emphasize the importance of balancing appreciation and caution in leveraging AI as a helpful tool for professional writers. Chad leaves listeners with the advice to adopt an “appreciative critic” mindset. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back 01:05 Chad Allen’s Background and Current Work 01:32 Diving into AI in Writing and Publishing 05:03 Personal Experiences with AI 08:57 AI’s Role in Writing and Editing 20:00 Ethical Considerations and Practical Uses of AI 22:42 Navigating AI in Publishing 23:26 Ethical Dilemmas with AI-Generated Content 25:04 The Value of Authenticity in Writing 30:50 Future of AI in Writing and Publishing 35:44 Personal Experiences with AI Tools 41:45 Advice for Writers on Using AI Chad R. Allen is a writer, speaker, editor, and writing coach. A 25-year publishing professional, he has worked with such bestselling authors as Michael Hyatt, Caroline Leaf, Mark Batterson, and Phyllis Tickle. He is the creator of BookCamp, a training center and community for writers, as well as Book Proposal Academy, an online course. His passion is helping writers craft must-read books that reach large audiences, and he blogs at http://www.chadrallen.com/. Author of Do Your Art, Chad has been published in such online places as LifeHacker, The Accidental Creative, and The Good Men Project. Chad holds a B.A. in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and an M.A. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. He and his wife, Alyssa, live with their two children in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Hear more from Chad on his blog, or by following him on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky. Interested in joining Chad’s writing group, BookCamp? Learn more here!

This week, worlds collide as we welcome one of Ariel’s Sourcebooks authors, Jeffrey Mason, the creator of the Hear Your Story series. Jeffrey shares his journey from self-publishing his first book in 2018 to selling millions of copies and becoming a bestseller on Amazon (and USA Today!). He talks about how his initial inspiration came from his father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and his desire to know more about his father’s life. Jeffrey explains the evolving success of his journals, which are now available in major retailers and translated into multiple languages. He also discusses the significant impact TikTok has had on his sales and marketing strategies. His story highlights the legitimacy and potential of self-publishing, emphasizing the importance of creativity, persistence, and leveraging social media for success. Plus, Jeffrey leveraged a successful self-publishing enterprise into a partnership with Sourcebooks that is making waves across the industry. 00:00 Introduction and Special Guest Jeffrey Mason 01:42 Jeffrey’s Journey with Hear Your Story 03:01 The Impact of Personal Stories 09:38 From Passion Project to Real Business 12:58 The Legitimacy of Self-Publishing 17:21 Navigating the Publishing Landscape 23:02 TikTok Success and Future Plans 25:06 The Viral TikTok Success Story 26:16 Handling Viral Demand 27:00 TikTok’s Impact on Book Sales 28:40 Expanding to New Markets 29:58 Creative Content Creation on TikTok 36:19 The Power of Print Books 39:53 Future Vision for Hear Your Story 42:17 Partnership with Sourcebooks Jeffrey Mason has spent twenty plus years helping individuals, couples, businesses, and organizations achieve goals, build their relationships, and create positive impacts. He is committed to the idea that optimism, effort, and resilience can conquer every challenge, forgiveness is the ultimate gift we can give others and ourselves, and hearing each other will lead to a more positive world. His current focus is family, writing, and helping others tell their stories through Hear Your Story Books. You can contact him at jmason@hearyourstory.com.  He would love to hear from you.

New episodes have started rolling out, but we didn’t want to leave you hanging on what’s been up with us! After taking a six-month break, we’re back sharing some personal updates, including how Liz is coping with the loss of her dad, and how Ariel’s adjusting to life with three kids. We reflect on managing our professional responsibilities amidst personal challenges, including keeping up with freelance writing and the one-year anniversary of our book, Hungry Authors! Plus, we’ve got new cohorts, workshops, and speaking engagements coming up that you don’t want to miss. Links: Chit: “Do it, lady!” Sign up for our next Map Your Book cohort! 00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back 01:20 Reflecting on Personal Loss and Professional Commitments 03:41 Balancing Work and Family Life 06:26 The Importance of Taking a Break 11:56 Reflections on the Past Year 15:41 Celebrating the Anniversary of Hungry Authors 21:44 Upcoming Projects and Events 24:42 Closing Remarks and Thank You

This week, we welcome back Brendan O’Meara, a seasoned journalist, author, and podcaster to celebrate the release of his new book, The Front Runner. Brendan discusses his extensive experience in the world of narrative non-fiction, highlighting his works on Six Weeks in Saratoga and The Front Runner: The Life of Prefontaine. He delves into the process of writing unauthorized biographies, including dealing with uncooperative subjects, the importance of thorough research, and the emotional investment in crafting a detailed and respectful portrayal of his subjects. Brendan shares his unique journey of writing about Steve Prefontaine, the challenges he faced, and the editorial rigor involved in bringing a biography to life. Plus, he spills the tea on his book advance and the schedule/timeline for his payments. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to write narrative nonfiction, you’ll want to hear this! 00:00 Welcome to the Hungry Authors Podcast 00:50 Meet Brendan: Journalist, Author, and Podcaster 01:28 Brendan’s Books and Boston Presentation 03:55 The Unauthorized Biography Explained 07:25 Challenges in Writing an Unauthorized Biography 13:46 The Research Process and Proposal Challenges 19:19 Crafting a Narrative Nonfiction 33:17 Reflecting on Biographical Writing 34:28 The Emotional Journey of Research 39:13 Pitching and Selling the Book 40:00 The Writing and Editing Process 47:16 Managing Book Advances 54:19 Balancing Freelance Work and Stability 54:56 Acknowledging Support Systems 59:12 Concluding Thoughts and Gratitude Brendan O’Meara is the founder and host of the Creative Nonfiction podcast. As a sportswriter, he’s covered a wide swath of events including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes, as well as several local and professional sports for Trail Runner Magazine, Bleacher Report and the Associated Press. His essays and craft pieces have appeared in Writer’s Digest, Brevity, Creative Nonfiction Magazine, and Longreads. He lives in Oregon.

Kern Carter on the Craft and Commitment of Being an Author Hungry Authors is back! In this episode, Ariel & Liz interview Kern Carter, an author and ghostwriter, about his journey in writing. They discuss the value of platforms like Substack for writers and delve into Kern’s dedication to becoming a full-time author. Kern shares his strategic approach to writing, which includes developing his skills and taking calculated risks, such as self-publishing his first two books. He highlights the importance of receiving and acting on feedback, sharing a pivotal moment when a literary agent’s tough critique pushed him to enroll in an intensive novel-writing program. They also discuss the lucrative yet underappreciated world of ghostwriting and the emotional and practical benefits it offers writers. Kern shares insights from authors who have influenced him, including Toni Morrison and Marlon James, and emphasizes the ongoing need for learning and improvement in the craft. The conversation is both an inspiring and pragmatic guide for aspiring writers looking to turn their passion into a career. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:40 Discovering Substack and Writing Life Insights 03:12 Kern Carter’s Journey to Becoming an Author 03:27 Self-Publishing Strategies and Success 08:12 The Role of Ghostwriting in a Writing Career 20:33 Improving Craft Through Feedback and Education 26:16 The Myth of the Exception: Why Good Writing Matters 26:52 The Gift of Honest Feedback 29:06 The Reality of Skill Development in Writing 33:32 Confidence and the Hungry Author’s Mentality 38:48 Inspiration from Literary Giants 44:03 The Power of Execution in Writing 49:54 Final Thoughts and Farewell Kern Carter Kern Carter is a novelist who is celebrated for his captivating storytelling. With books such as And Then There Was Us and Boys and Girls Screaming, his stories explore themes of family, friendship, and the drama that can fracture those relationships. Kern has built a devoted readership not just for his novels, but for his writing on the intersection between literature and popular culture, both historically and through a contemporary lens. Kern also teaches professional writing at the college level, hosts workshops on craft and storytelling, and is in-demand as a public speaker for his expertise on creative culture. He is based in Toronto. Learn more about Kern at https://www.kerncarter.com/.

*Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions of suicide, miscarriage, and other sudden losses and changes. Please care for yourself and listen with discretion.* In case you haven’t noticed, we’re on a break! Liz and Ariel both have some huge and complex changes going on in their lives. Here’s the TLDR (if you don’t want to listen!): Liz lost her dad right after Thanksgiving, and Ariel is in the process of adopting three children from foster care. As a result, we haven’t had a lot of capacity for anything outside of taking care of our immediate families and showing up to do our full-time jobs. Hungry Authors is a passion project for us, but not something we have space for in this current season. We will reconvene in April and plan to return to launch our new book proposal cohort (which is already fully created and ready to go!) and pick up the podcast. Of course, we’ll keep you updated and appreciate your understanding and patience with us while we navigate these changes in our lives. To listen to the episode Ariel mentions, check out episode 3 of Hungry Authors: “Writing When Life Sucks,” the title and timing of which she misremembers.

We’re closing down 2024 with our fourth and final installment of our book proposal series! Today, we’re talking about arguably the most important part of your proposal: the part where you prove you’ve got what it takes to write your book. We’ll talk about why you should include an at-a-glance TOC, how to write a compelling annotated table of contents, and what sample chapters will show off your ideas best. Don’t miss your chance to be part of our next cohort: The Book Deal Blueprint, starting January 21! Learn more here.

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, and thank you for tuning in to the third episode in our book proposals series. This week, we’re tackling the subject most authors dread most: their platform! We share what to include in your platform section, how to think about platform, and why this section really isn’t as scary as it sounds. Then we cover how you’re going to use your platform in the promotion section of your proposal. Don’t miss your chance to be part of our next cohort: The Book Deal Blueprint, starting January 21! Learn more here.

This is the second episode in our four-part series all about book proposals! This week, we’re talking about how to position your book in the market – that is, how to effectively set expectations for how your book will perform by comparing and contrasting it to other books like it. We talk about how to use comp titles, writing unique selling points, and whether to include your past publications, especially if they’re self-published. Don’t miss your chance to be part of our next cohort: The Book Deal Blueprint, starting January 21! Learn more here.

We’re starting a new series all about book proposals! We’ve talked around book proposals quite a bit on this show, but for the first time we’re going to dive deep. In this episode, Ariel interviews Liz, book proposal writer extraordinaire about why writers need book proposals, what a book proposal is, and how to get started on all of the essential pieces. Don’t miss your chance to be part of our next cohort: The Book Deal Blueprint, starting January 14! Learn more here.

In our fourth and final episode of our self-efficacy series, we’re talking about the fourth way that Albert Bandura found to build our self-efficacy: by reducing the stress we feel around the goal we’re trying to accomplish. Writing a book can be stressful! Between imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and fear, it’s easy to get worked up around what you’re trying to do. In this episode, we talk about how to de-stress your writing so that you feel motivated and excited to return to your task and meet your goal.

It’s easier to believe you can when someone you trust believes for you. We’re in the middle of our series on building our self-efficacy to write a book, with input from the research of Albert Bandura. This week, we’re talking about the third way to build our self-efficacy (our belief in our own ability to accomplish a goal): verbal persuasion – that is, people actually telling us we can do it. But not just anyone can say that any time. We’ll only believe them if it comes from someone we trust. Not only that, but it has to be personalized, realistic, and verifiable by our own experience. Tune in to hear us break down this third component as we build our confidence to write a book.

Continuing in our short series on self-efficacy, today we’re talking about learning from the success of people who are – or who were once – just like you. Liz calls these our “mentors from afar”: the people we admire whom we choose as our writing mentors. We can follow in their footsteps and carve a pathway through the wilderness of writing to end up a little closer to where they are now. Albert Bandura called these “vicarious experiences,” and they are the second way (after our own mastery experiences) that we build our self-efficacy. Link mentioned in this episode: Episode 5: Trusting Yourself as a Writer with Kate Moore Thank you to our sponsor, Goldshlag Design! Work with Michelle to get beautiful graphics for entrepreneurial women with busy lives.

Here at Hungry Authors, we ask you to have a lot of “gumption.” It takes a lot of persistence, daring, and “confidence” to put your writing out into the world. But how do you get all of that gumption? Today, Liz and Ariel are starting a little series on building self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is a term championed by the late great Albert Bandura, who researched how people build up their belief in their own ability to achieve certain goals. He discovered that there are four primary ways we build what he called our “self-efficacy.” The first way is through mastery experiences, and that’s what we’re talking about today. Links mentioned: Albert Bandura, Self-Efficacy Katty Kay & Claire Shipman, The Confidence Code Experiment to Find Your Book Idea with Kent Sanders Make Your Boldest Statement with Stephanie Duncan Smith How to Map Your Nonfiction Book

Our writing is a gift – both to ourselves and others. That’s what Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew teaches, and we loved getting to explore these ideas in this week’s episode! In this wide-ranging conversation about spiritual memoir, we cover: Balancing marketability with honoring the complexity and authenticity of our experience The author’s “horseshoe” relationship with the reader in memoir Staying faithful to the gifts that you receive—and that you give—in your writing Does not finishing really mean failing at our book? Loving your writing for its own sake, not for what it “does” Links mentioned: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie TED Talk: “The Danger of a Single Story” Dolly Alderton’s memoir, Everything I Know About Love  Amy Poehler’s memoir, Yes, Please! Lewis Hyde’s book, The Gift https://www.elizabethjarrettandrew.com/  The Eye of the Heart Center Writing Community – “The Gifts of Writing” Course Get Elizabeth’s book, The Release Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew is the author of Swinging on the Garden Gate: A Memoir of Bisexuality & Spirit, now in its second edition; the novel Hannah, Delivered; a collection of personal essays, On the Threshold:  Home, Hardwood, and Holiness; the chapbook, A Map to Mercy, due out in 2025; and three books on writing: Writing the Sacred Journey:  The Art and Practice of Spiritual Memoir; Living Revision: A Writer’s Craft as Spiritual Practice, winner of the silver Nautilus Award; and The Release: Finding Creativity and Freedom After the Writing is Done.  She is a founding member of The Eye of the Heart Center for Creative Contemplation, where she teaches writing as a transformational practice and hosts an online writing community.  She is a recipient of two Minnesota State Arts Board artists’ fellowships, the Loft Career Initiative Grant, and is a Minnesota Book Awards finalist.  She lives in Minneapolis with her wife, daughter, and two rambunctious cats.  You can learn more about Elizabeth at www.elizabethjarrettandrew.com and www.spiritualmemoir.com.

Nonfiction and fiction seem to exist in different worlds – but in this episode, we chat with fiction author and book coach Lauren Kay about all of the things they have in common! Like us, Lauren is a plotter, not a pantser, and she has built an incredible author community around her resources for fiction authors. She shares about: how and why she built an agency for helping aspiring fiction authors get published, how both nonfiction and fiction authors can think about platform for commercial success, how to develop characters for fiction, and the similarities between memoir and fiction. There’s lots to dig into this week! Links mentioned in this episode: Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel by Lisa Cron Lauren’s Save the Cat Beat Sheet Get all of Lauren’s free resources on her website: www.laurenkaywrites.com Follow Lauren on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Lauren Kay is a Young Adult author, educator, and creator. Her debut Young Adult novel WE SHIP IT was published with HarperCollins in June 2023. Now, Lauren is dedicated to ending gatekeeping in publishing and helping aspiring writers achieve their publishing dreams. She provides writers with transparent and empathetic advice and support through weekly videos, free resources, curated communities, and 1-on-1 editing and coaching services.