The Write It Scared Podcast

Self-publishing isn’t a shortcut nor a consolation prize. It’s a publishing model that works well for some writers and not at all for others.
Today, I’m joined by Libby Waterford, a prolific romance author and self-publishing educator with more than twenty books published across pen names.
We break down what self-publishing actually involves: the costs writers don’t always anticipate, the level of control and responsibility it requires, and how marketing, timelines, and long-term goals factor into whether it’s a good fit for you.
This episode is about education and understanding your options, asking questions, and making intentional decisions about your writing career based on your long-term goals
Timestamps
01:43 Meet Libby Waterford
05:28 Why Libby chose self-publishing after being with a traditional publisher
08:47 Pros and cons of self-publishing
16:38 The advantages of being your own publisher
23:09 Budgeting and essential costs
27:09 Marketing, ROI, and sustainability
38:53 Advice for new authors
41:07 What Libby’s working on next and education resources
Guest Bio:
Libby Waterford is the author of Sawyer's Cove, the Reboot, and The Never A Bride Contemporary Romance Series, and under her other pen name, Elle Waters, writes steamy Small Town Gay Romance. A former president of the Connecticut Chapter of Romance Writers of America, Libby is also a self-publishing coach and instructor at the Westport Writers Workshop in Westport, Connecticut, where she teaches classes on genre fiction and self-publishing.
Links
https://libbywaterford.com/, 
https://www.instagram.com/libbywritesromance/, 
https://ellewatersbooks.substack.com/
https://westportwriters.org/

 
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To get in touch with Stacy:
Email: [email protected]

https://www.writeitscared.co/wis
https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/


Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared:
Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide
Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

“What does my character want?” Sounds like a simple question—until it isn’t. 
If you’ve ever struggled to figure out the difference between your character's wants and needs, been confused by the language of conscious goals and unconscious goals or desires, this episode is for you! 
Today, we simplify things so you never get confused again!  
We look at how goals create momentum on the page to inform the plot, while desires drive the character's internal change.  
You’ll also get practical ways to diagnose what’s missing when a character feels stuck—and how to fix it.
Timestamps:
 01:32 Why “what does my character want?” is a loaded question
 03:14 Goals vs. desires: what’s the difference?
 04:53 Examples of clear external goals
 06:11 The messier truth of character desire
 11:08 Using goals and desires to drive transformation
 13:37 Practical tools for revision
 15:29 Closing thoughts + book coaching note
 16:37 Wrap-up
Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you.
Support the show
To become a supporter of the show, click here!

To get in touch with Stacy:
Email: [email protected]

https://www.writeitscared.co/wis
https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/


Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared:
Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide
Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

There’s a persistent myth that if writing feels hard, you’re doing it wrong. 
This conversation with debut novelist Charlene Wang gently dismantles that idea. We talk honestly about messy drafts, perfectionism, long revision timelines, and the quiet persistence it takes to keep going when doubt creeps in.
Charlene shares her path to publishing I'll Follow You, including years of revision, mindset shifts, and learning to trust the process even when progress felt slow. If you’ve ever wondered whether struggle means failure, this episode offers reassurance that struggle is often part of becoming the writer you’re meant to be.
Timestamps:

 01:27 Welcome + meet Charlene Wang
 02:47 Charlene’s path to becoming a writer
 05:11 Talking about I’ll Follow You
 08:22 The realities of drafting and revision
 14:43 Research and character development
 20:29 Plotting, pantsing, and everything in between
 21:38 Navigating self-doubt
 24:33 Tools for sticking with the work
 26:12 Productivity, perspective, and patience
 29:18 Becoming a writer over time
 36:26 Advice for writers in the thick of it
 38:03 What Charlene is working on now
Links mentioned
Leigh Bardugo’s Ted Talk: The Art of Discomfort
Ira Glass The Gap
Charlene’s debut novel, I’ll Follow You, is out now.
You can learn more and connect with her at charlenewangauthor.com or on Instagram @charleneshiyi
Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you.
Support the show
To become a supporter of the show, click here!

To get in touch with Stacy:
Email: [email protected]

https://www.writeitscared.co/wis
https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/


Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared:
Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide
Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

What happens when you stop trying to make your story palatable—and start making it true?
Today, I'm joined by author Ivette Diaz for a powerful conversation about writing hopeful dystopian stories, the importance of representation on the page, and choosing integrity over marketability. We talk about writing through hard seasons, navigating self-doubt, and why community—not competition—is what sustains a writing life.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your story belongs, felt pressure to soften your voice, or needed a reminder that you are doing enough, this episode is for you.
Guest Bio: Ivette N Diaz is an author of dystopian sci-fi/fantasy novels, an entrepreneur, and a daydreamer who, through the gift of storytelling, strives to provide an element of hope in each story and help each person realize the unique purpose for their life. She has published Rise of Power, Choices of Power, and Struggles of Power, all part of the I Am Chronicles series. Her short story, Taino: An Untold Story, is featured in the Flame Tree Publishing Anthology Beyond & Within: Latin American Shared Stories, edited by V. Castro.

To connect with Ivette and read her work:
Website: ivettendiaz.com
Instagram & Threads: @ivettendiazauthor

Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you.
Support the show
To become a supporter of the show, click here!

To get in touch with Stacy:
Email: [email protected]

https://www.writeitscared.co/wis
https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/


Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared:
Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide
Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

Draft It Scared Group Coaching
Real Talk: Writer to Writer
Are you afraid of being judged for what you write? 
You’re not alone. Me too. And in this episode, I get personal by sharing my writing updates, how publishing a short story felt exposing, and how I’m learning to navigate the fear of being seen for what I write.
We also talk about changes to the podcast and setting writing intentions for 2026 that align with your life, not work against it. 
Timestamps:
 00:00 Personal reflection
 01:23 Easing into the new year
 02:02 The fear of being seen
 03:53 Writing update
 07:55 Writing intentions for 2026
 10:48 Reflection + next steps
 11:33 Closing
Links Mentioned:
Draft It Scared Group Coaching
The Leave Still Fallow: An Anthology of Queer Love
Big Thinking Publishing 
Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you.
Support the show
To become a supporter of the show, click here!

To get in touch with Stacy:
Email: [email protected]

https://www.writeitscared.co/wis
https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/


Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared:
Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide
Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears