Hungry Authors

*Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions of suicide, miscarriage, and other sudden losses and changes. Please care for yourself and […]

We're closing down 2024 with our fourth and final installment of our book proposal series! Today, we're talking about arguably […]

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, and thank you for tuning in to the third episode in our book proposals […]

This is the second episode in our four-part series all about book proposals! This week, we're talking about how to […]

We're starting a new series all about book proposals! We've talked around book proposals quite a bit on this show, […]

In our fourth and final episode of our self-efficacy series, we're talking about the fourth way that Albert Bandura found […]

It's easier to believe you can when someone you trust believes for you. We're in the middle of our series […]

Continuing in our short series on self-efficacy, today we're talking about learning from the success of people who are – […]

Here at Hungry Authors, we ask you to have a lot of “gumption.” It takes a lot of persistence, daring, […]

Our writing is a gift – both to ourselves and others. That's what Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew teaches, and we loved […]

Nonfiction and fiction seem to exist in different worlds – but in this episode, we chat with fiction author and […]

If you've read Hungry Authors, then you know that we use James Clear's Atomic Habits as a consistent example throughout […]

Jennifer Louden is a national bestselling author and writing coach who specializes in helping aspiring women writers claim their big […]

This episode is an absolute must-listen for those who want to write a must-read! Today, Liz & Ariel sit down […]

What exactly is “creative nonfiction”? Today we discuss this question with a writer who's built his writing career on this […]

A large part of what we do at Hungry Authors is help to set authors' expectations around what it's actually […]

Welcome to Season 4 of the Hungry Authors podcast! We're kicking off this fall season with a deep soul exploration […]

This week, we're chatting with our friend Merideth Hite Estevez, founder and author of Artists for Joy, about the resistance […]

Last Tuesday – August 6, 2024 – was the official publication day for Hungry Authors! Our friend Merideth Hite Estevez […]

In honor of the publication of Hungry Authors: The Indispensable Guide to Planning, Writing, and Publishing a Nonfiction Book, we […]

What is it like to publish your book with a traditional publisher? In this episode, we take you behind the […]

Today we have a very special guest – our very own literary agent, Don Pape! In this episode, we talk […]

Today we have a very special guest - our very own literary agent, Don Pape! In this episode, we talk to Don about his career in various roles in publishing, the job of an agent, and what he's learned about supporting Hungry Authors over the years.Take a look at recently published and forthcoming books represented by Don: AVAILABLE NOW! Grieving Room by Leanne Friesen JUNE 25: The Artist's Joy by Meredith Hite Estevez JULY 16: This is Gonna Hurt by Bekah McNeel JULY 30: Rebecoming by Dr. Merry Lin AUGUST 6: Hungry Authors by Liz Morrow & Ariel CurryPape Commons founder Don Pape brings more than thirty years of publishing experience from such houses as Doubleday, Tyndale House, and NavPress. Throughout his career, he has long championed the essence of the Commons: celebrating the individual and stewarding their resources in and through community. From warehouse packer to agent and publisher, Don has worked alongside countless sales and marketing experts, literary agents, and authors. He's had the privilege of guiding fiction and non-fiction titles to bestselling status, serving such notable authors as Madeleine L'Engle, Louis Giglio, Eugene Peterson, and Liz Curtis Higgs. “My greatest pleasure is in seeing great content become reality on the page—in a physical or digital book,” he says.

If you're going to write a book for anyone – even just your family – to read, then you need […]

If you're going to write a book for anyone - even just your family - to read, then you need to get to know the two forces that will be guiding your efforts: Creativity and Marketability. This episode is a "deleted scene" from our book, Hungry Authors: The Indispensable Guide to Planning, Writing, and Publishing a Nonfiction Book (coming August 6!). In it, we teach you about how to balance these two forces while you're writing.But there's one more force at work as well - your nemesis in your creative work: Resistance. Listen in to learn about this master deceiver and how to avoid getting caught in its snares while you're writing.Preorder Hungry Authors before August 6 to get access to the preorder bonuses.Many thanks to our sponsor, Goldshlag Design! Learn more about working with Michelle on her website at https://www.goldshlagdesign.com/.

In this episode, Ariel & Liz chat with Emily P. Freeman, author of the New York Times bestselling How to […]

In this episode, Ariel & Liz chat with Emily P. Freeman, author of the New York Times bestselling How to Walk Into Room: The Art of Knowing When to Stay and When to Walk Away (Harper One, 2024). Emily's entire book is framed around a metaphor - in this case, a unique way to frame a powerful idea and catch people's attention. We chat about the metaphor, how that impacted the title, and what it's like bringing your vulnerable stories into the world.Emily P. Freeman is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of five books, including The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions. As a spiritual director, workshop leader, and host of The Next Right Thing podcast (more than 25 million downloads), her most important work is to help create soul space and offer spiritual companionship and discernment for anyone struggling with decision fatigue. Emily holds a master's degree in spiritual formation and leadership from Friends University. She lives in North Carolina with her family.Learn more about Emily and order How to Walk Into a Room at https://emilypfreeman.com/.Thanks to our sponsor, Goldshlag Design! Learn more and work with Michelle Goldshlag at https://www.goldshlagdesign.com/.Finally, be sure to preorder Hungry Authors: The Indispensable Guide to Planning, Writing, and Publishing a Nonfiction Book and fill out the form to get our preorder bonuses.

A good conclusion will change your reader's life – whether you're writing prescriptive nonfiction or memoir or narrative. In this […]

A good conclusion will change your reader's life - whether you're writing prescriptive nonfiction or memoir or narrative. In this episode, we take you through the mindset and goals of a great conclusion, as well as norms for both prescriptive and creative endings. You'll learn how to send readers off with a powerful choice, or offer an epilogue that reassures them of the transformation in store for the hero.

Introductions are one of the hardest parts of a book to write! In this solo session, Liz and Ariel take […]

Introductions are one of the hardest parts of a book to write! In this solo session, Liz and Ariel take you behind the scenes to share what makes a good introduction, the differences between introductions for prescriptive nonfiction and memoir/narrative nonfiction, and a template you can use to write your own. Preorder our book now!

You don't see too many books authored by two people anymore. In the age of personal brands, coauthoring has fallen […]

You don't see too many books authored by two people anymore. In the age of personal brands, coauthoring has fallen out of style, but we wanted to share with you everything we've learned about coauthoring, why more first-time authors should consider it, and how to make it successful. We get real about the finances, negotiating content, and managing conflict when you're working with someone on a project you both care about deeply! Preorder our book now!

Welcome to the Summer Sessions! As we approach the launch date for our book, Hungry Authors: The Indispensable Guide to […]

Welcome to the Summer Sessions! As we approach the launch date for our book, Hungry Authors: The Indispensable Guide to Planning, Writing, and Publishing a Nonfiction Book, we wanted to give you ALL of our best advice for ideating, writing, planning, and publishing your book. Some of this you'll find in our new book, and some things are just for you here on the pod. Hope you enjoy!Preorder our book now!Thanks to our sponsor, Goldshlag Design! Learn more about working with Michelle for all of your design needs at goldshlagdesign.com.

You've probably seen the ads for writing programs that promise a book in an insanely short amount of time: six […]

You've probably seen the ads for writing programs that promise a book in an insanely short amount of time: six weeks, one month, two weeks, one weekend - even 24 hours!! Is it really possible to write a "book" in that amount of time? As ghostwriters, we have strong feelings on this and we're getting into how writers get the work done. Everyone has a different way - and what matters most is how much thinking and preparation you've done when you sit down to do the work.We'll be taking next week off for Memorial Day and to give ourselves a small break, but we'll be back in June for the Summer Season 3.5!Learn more about our Map Your Book cohort at MapYourBook.com.

Is it the idea itself? The story being told? The author's voice? Yes – and no. In this episode, Ariel […]

Is it the idea itself? The story being told? The author's voice? Yes - and no. In this episode, Ariel and Liz chat with bestselling author and ghostwriter Jeff Goins about how to write more interesting books by challenging readers' assumptions. We talk about how memoirists can craft compelling arguments, how to tell the truth (but tell it slant), and the best writing advice Jeff has ever received. Read Jeff's newsletter, The Ghost, on Substack: https://jeffgoins.substack.com/.Learn more about Fresh Complaint.

Let's get clear about clarity! Clarity in writing is one of those ideas we take for granted – of course, […]

Let's get clear about clarity! Clarity in writing is one of those ideas we take for granted - of course, good writing is "clear." But what does that mean? In this week's episode, Liz and Ariel chat with Mara Eller, writing teacher and editor, about how to achieve clarity in your writing. Mara teaches that clarity is about how you communicate your ideas with the reader - and so you have to start by clarifying those ideas.Connect with Mara on Instagram @mara.eller.Learn more about Mara's work and register for her new class, "The Soul and Science of Great Writing" here: https://www.maraeller.com/classes.Register for our May Map Your Book cohort now!

It's human nature to want to share our stories and seek connection after we've been through hard times. That's plenty […]

It's human nature to want to share our stories and seek connection after we've been through hard times. That's plenty reason to write your memoir!But sometimes memoir can stretch beyond even the bounds of our personal experiences to become a force for good in the world.That's what we see in Mark Daley's debut memoir, Safe, which is about his and his husband's journey through foster care. In this episode, we talk about the decisions Mark made to keep his family and his foster kids (and their families) safe, and how he's hoping this memoir will make a difference for all kids in foster care. Learn more about Mark on his website here and order Safe: A Memoir of Fatherhood, Foster Care, and the Risks We Take for Family today!If you're interested in becoming a foster parent, you can learn more through Mark's organization, The Foster Parent.And if you're interested in joining the Hungry Authors Map Your Book cohort in May, learn more here.

Meg Geisewite's book, Intoxicating Lies, is one of our favorite examples of a “teaching memoir“: a book that blends memoir […]

Meg Geisewite's book, Intoxicating Lies, is one of our favorite examples of a "teaching memoir": a book that blends memoir with prescriptive nonfiction. It's a tricky balance to achieve, as we discuss in today's podcast - but Meg pulls it off beautifully! Moreover, when Meg started writing, she had little experience as a professional writer - she just had a story to tell. Pretty soon, however, she found that her story was an inspiration to others and it has led to a social media community, speaking at conferences, coaching others, and starting a new writing community for other women in similar circumstances. For Meg, a book was just the beginning!Read Intoxicating Lies: One Woman's Journey to Freedom From Gray-Area Drinking.Follow Meg on Instagram @intoxicatingliesbook.Join the Write Back to You Community.Also, register for the May Map Your Book cohort right here!

Writing a book is not for the faint of heart! Gala Jackson, career coach and author of Courage, Clarity, & […]

Writing a book is not for the faint of heart! Gala Jackson, career coach and author of Courage, Clarity, & Confidence (Wiley, 2024), knows that first-hand. She faced numerous challenges while writing her book, but she never let them deter her or blur her vision. She's modeling the message of her book - showing up for herself, her family, and her writing with courage, clarity, and confidence. Gala Jackson is passionate about helping women stand in the power of their femininity. As an accomplished, executive career and leadership development coach, she works with domestic and international women to redefine and take ownership of their success. She empowers women to discover and live in alignment with the strongest, boldest, most courageous version of themselves. She is the author of the book, Courage, Clarity, and Confidence: Redefine Success and the Way You Work which released in January 2024. Her expertise has appeared in the TED global series The Way We Work with more than 1.5 million views, a local TEDx series, and in globally recognized publications such as the New York Times, Marie Claire, Essence, Huffington Post, and Millie magazine. Gala holds a master's degree in educational leadership, and a bachelor of fine arts degree in communication. She is a certified executive and leadership development coach, a certified career management coach, and a certified life coach. Join Gala's NEW online career community for women: https://courage-clarity-confidence-community.mn.co Connect with Gala weekly on her blog: https://courageclarityconfidence.substack.com/ Visit Gala online: www.galajackson.com www.courageclarityconfidence.com.Sign up for the Hungry Authors Map Your Book cohort at mapyourbook.com.

What's it like to get a book deal with a Big 5 publisher? Lori Melton is a spiritual director and […]

What's it like to get a book deal with a Big 5 publisher? Lori Melton is a spiritual director and soon-to-be author with the largest publisher in the U.S. In this episode, we talk with Lori about her journey - but most importantly about the incredible idea that she pitched and which found a home in just the right place. Listen and you just might find yourself inspired to take a closer walk with one of your spiritual giants!Lori G Melton is a Spiritual Director and Retreat Leader with a life-long passion for walking with God and fostering opportunities for others to grow in their relationship with Him. She and her husband, Bryan, are the founders and directors of The Sanctuary at Bear Creek Retreat Center in Allegan, Michigan, the Sanctuary Stirrings Podcast, the proud parents of 5 sons and one daughter, and Nana and Papa to two adorable grands. Lori was born and raised in Niagara Falls, New York (yes, one of the seven wonders of the world), played competitive badminton in high school (don't laugh it is a sport), and is the other half of a twin sister combination. After dreaming about writing for 30 years while she raised her family, the door finally opened during the COVID crisis in 2020. In January of 2021, she began her first book, Journey with a Giant, Find Your Guide, Fulfill Your Purpose: A One-Year Adventure, and has been offered a contract with one of the top five publishers with a book release date of Fall 2025! Thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com.

This week we are sharing an episode that was originally recorded for The Profitable Writer podcast with our friend Kent […]

This week we are sharing an episode that was originally recorded for The Profitable Writer podcast with our friend Kent Sanders. In it, we take you behind the scenes into our lives as freelance ghostwriters and book professionals. This is an honest look at how we make money, how we decide what projects to take on, and what our future goals are. If you want to make a living as a writer, this episode will give you a realistic idea of what that might be like! Kent Sanders is the founder of Inkwell Ghostwriting, which helps leaders grow their business through books and other content. He is also the author and co-author of numerous books, including 18 Words to Live By: A Father's Wisdom on What Matters Most and co-author of The Faith of Elvis: A Story Only a Brother Can Tell with Billy Stanley, Elvis Presley's stepbrother. In addition to writing books for himself and his clients, Kent loves to help other writers. He is the host of the Profitable Writer podcast and the founder of the Profitable Writer community, a membership group that helps writers grow their businesses.Ariel's newsletter: Notes from the EditorListen to the Profitable Writer and join the community here!