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Write the Damn Book Already
Want to write, publish, and market your book, but feel overwhelmed by where to start?
Write the Damn Book Already breaks down the writing process, self-publishing, and traditional publishing so you can move from idea to finished book with clarity and confidence.
Hosted by Elizabeth Lyons—author, book writing coach, book editor, and self-publishing expert—this show untangles the often-confusing world of writing and publishing. From first draft to finished manuscript, indie publishing to traditional publishing, Amazon strategy to long-term book visibility, you’ll get practical guidance and honest conversations about what it really takes to get a book into the world.
Through solo episodes and interviews with both traditionally published and indie authors—across fiction and nonfiction—Elizabeth brings a well-rounded, no-hype perspective to the publishing industry. Whether you’re working on memoir, nonfiction, or a novel, you’ll walk away with clearer next steps and fewer mental roadblocks.
Write the Damn Book Already
Ep 166: Writing the Book That Scares You a Little (with Rachel Beanland)
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Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!
Rachel Beanland has written three novels (her newest, The Half Life, releases on July 14, 2026 from Simon & Schuster), and she's still surprised by how much each book teaches her.
In this episode, we talk about what it actually looks like to challenge yourself as a writer—specifically, her decision to write her latest novel, The Half-Life, in first person for the first time.
(As I've recently learned while working on my own novel, it's harder than it sounds, and Rachel has the perfect explanation as to why.)
We also get into how personal history shapes fiction (her first novel grew out of a family tragedy from nearly a century ago), why a strong sense of place isn't optional, and what happens when you trust your instincts even when the process feels messy as hell.
🧭 BACK COVER BLUEPRINT
Get back cover templates for nonfiction, memoir, and fiction; real-world examples; a polishing checklist; and a guide for turning it into an optimized online description that attracts the right readers.
🔗 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/blueprint
🔑 BOOK FORMATTING SOFTWARE FOR SELF-PUBLISHED AUTHORS
This episode is sponsored by Atticus, the all-in-one writing and book formatting software for self-publishing authors. From drafting to professional ebook and print layout, Atticus makes it easy to format your manuscript for KDP, IngramSpark, and beyond. Learn more at Atticus.io.
✍️ 33-DAY BOOK WRITING BOOTCAMP
You've Been Thinking About This Book Forever. So let's get it written (for real this time).
👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook/writethebook
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Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.
Available wherever podcasts are available:
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Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com
The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.
To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth
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