How writers actually write! You might need to be a writer, but you don't need to struggle so hard. With internationally bestselling author Rachael Herron, learn how to embrace ease, reject perfectionism, and finally create your perfect writing process. (Formerly known as How Do You Write) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Howtowriteabook Podcasts
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Authors Who Lead - Learn to write a book from bestselling authors and leaders
Azul Terronez - Author, TEDx Speaker, Coach
If you want to know how bestselling authors find the time to write their books, the methods they use to be productive and how they find their ideas you will love this podcast. Writing coach Azul Terronez shares interviews with clients such as Pat Flynn, of the Smart Passive Income, Jon Vroman, of the Front Row Factor, and Dana Malstaff of Boss-Mom, Jadah Sellner of Simple Green Smoothies. Learn from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling authors. Want to get behin ...
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Helping storytellers ditch the starving artist cliché and thrive. Whether you want to write a book, harness the transformational power of journaling, or use storytelling to make more money, we've got the tools to help you go from part-time dreamer to full-time writer. Find all the resources you need to make money as a writer at BusinessSchoolForWriters.com.
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Want to write a book? How to be an Author is your secret weapon. Let professional writing coach Karena Akhavein inspire and motivate you as she teaches you the principles of good storytelling, using examples from her writing coaching practice and from the careers of bestselling authors. If you've been dreaming of finally writing, finishing, or publishing that book or screenplay for a long time now, you'll be inspired to write better, beat writer's block, and finally become an author with wee ...
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Sacha and Rachael get real in their annual Lessons Learned show! Don’t miss it! Write in the Junkyard! https://rachaelherron.com/online-writing-retreat-2026/ 🏠 Ink Village! Check it out here: http://rachaelherron.com/inkvillage (New perks, like editing!) 📕 OUT NOW! The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland: http://rachaelherron.com ❤️ Write in Italy Ma…
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How to Keep Writing While Caring For a Loved One, with Donn King
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42:44
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42:44Finally, someone’s written the book for creative people who need to use their time to care for loved ones. How do you set aside perfectionism and guilt? Fan favorite Donn tells us how! Donn King is an author, podcaster, and communication coach who helps writers and speakers say what they really mean without losing the personality that makes them wo…
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Why Writing Your Book Feels Like a Battle with Julia Packwood
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47:04Send us a text Julia Packwood has the idea. She feels the call. She even has deadlines and bylines. Yet when she sits down to write, it feels like a battle. In this episode, Azul reframes that struggle: the hard feeling is not a problem to be fixed, but rather a rite of passage. Then the conversation turns practical, moving the writing practice out…
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A Process That Might Unlock Your Writing, with V. F. Mejia
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44:14V. F. Mejia has a process for writing that might change the way you show up for your writing! And she’s just funded her first Kickstarter, and Rachael can’t be more excited about this one! V. F. Mejia is a sapphic fantasy author dedicated to writing for all the Latine sapphics out in the world. With a focus on Peruvian folklore, history, and mythol…
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How to Build TEDx Talks That Actually Move People, with Alexia Vernon and Kaia Vernon-Oliveira
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34:42Send us a text What does it really take to deliver a TEDx talk that resonates? In this episode of Authors Who Lead, communication expert Alexia Vernon and TEDx speaker Kaia Vernon-Oliveira share what authors need to know about developing a powerful big idea, connecting with an audience, and building speaking confidence that opens doors. Timestamp: …
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Lisa Dailey had a sideways entry into writing fiction, and she’s been having a ball ever since. Don’t miss this super fun interview! Lisa Daily is one of the top nonfiction and self-help book coaches in the US, coaching everyone from first-time writers to 7-figure authors. She's a USA Today bestselling author of more than 15 romance and non-fiction…
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Imagine More Deeply with Cai Emmons, via Paul Calandrino
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49:45This is one of Rachael’s favorite episodes, ever — join Paul as he tells us about Cai Emmons’s new book The Bells. Paul Calandrino is a playwright, educator, and actor based in Eugene, Oregon, where Cai and he lived until she died. Since she passed, he has been curating her literary legacy with the release of this book, and he is currently collecti…
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Loving Life & Living Your Genius Zone with Dr. Gay Hendricks
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36:32Send us a text After eight years of hosting Authors Who Lead, Azul finally sits down again with the man who inspired the show from the very beginning: Dr. Gay Hendricks, author of The Big Leap, Conscious Loving, and his new memoir, Loving Life. In this intimate, spiritually rich conversation, Gay shares the stories behind his memoir, the pivotal mo…
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In which we catch up on two months! Sacha’s new goals, her amazing Shopify success, and Rachael’s new book idea (plus a challenge from Sacha). 🏠 Ink Village! Check it out here: http://rachaelherron.com/inkvillage (New perks, like editing!) 📕 OUT NOW! The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland: http://rachaelherron.com ❤️ Write in Italy May 2026: http://…
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Give Yourself the Dignity of Writing it Your Way, with Louisa Owen Sonstroem
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42:35I ADORE this episode, in which I talk to Louisa about making things by hand, including books! Louisa Owen Sonstroem considers garment-making skills to be deeply empowering. Louisa writes and teaches about patternmaking and hand stitching clothing. For most of a decade, she worked in technical design and patternmaking, most recently for Macy's and E…
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Why Your Book Isn’t a Side Project — And Why You’re Still Stuck | Azul Terronez
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8:48Send us a text You’re a coach, entrepreneur, or leader with a powerful message. You know a book would expand your influence, elevate your authority, and open doors. So why does it still feel impossible to start? In this solo episode, Azul breaks down why brilliant, experienced leaders get stuck — and why your book is not a side project. You’ll lear…
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Hollywood Legacy Meets Real Writer’s Work | Carla Malden
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35:28Send us a text Novelist Carla Malden joins Azul to discuss her latest book, Playback—a nostalgic, time-traveling story about reconciling past ideals with present reality. They explore the character of Mari Caldwell, Carla’s cinematic writing style, and the emotional process of co-authoring a memoir with her father, Oscar-winning actor Karl Malden. …
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How to Start Again When it Feels Impossible, with Samantha Browning Shea
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46:46Samantha Browning Shea is an agent who knows about selling books, and we talk about how it felt when her first book didn’t sell on submission, and how she started again. Also: on the struggle of the middle, on touring, and on how to keep readers reading (hint: it’s about those open loops). Samantha Browning Shea is an author and the vice president …
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Why Books Still Matter in a World Full of Noise | Rob Walling
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53:38Send us a text In a world where everything online disappears in 24 hours, why are books still the thing we remember? I recently sat down with Rob Walling — a serial entrepreneur who has started six companies, bootstrapped five of them, and written multiple bestselling books, including Start Small, Stay Small and The SaaS Playbook. What struck me mo…
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Your Fear Is Not Relevant, with Becca Syme
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1:03:45Becca Syme is at it again, telling us how to quit what we should quit (and how to keep going when it’s the right thing to do). Don’t miss this amazing episode! Becca Syme (MATL) is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and has individually coached more than 6000 authors at all levels. She is the author of the Quitbooks for Writers series and the popul…
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How to Work with an Editor (and Why It’s a Creative Partnership) | Azul Terronez
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13:06Send us a text Writing a book isn’t just about putting words on a page — it’s about letting others help you shape your message into its most powerful form. Azul Terronez explains the stages of editing, how to find the right editor, and how collaboration turns a manuscript into a masterpiece. Timestamp: 00:00 Introduction and editing insights 04:02 …
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How to Be Brave When First Publishing, with Elle Hartford
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45:49Rachael's got a new diagnosis! And a new office. (And they both start with the sound Awwww.) Listen as she takes you on that journey, and then enjoy Elle Hartford's delightful story! Elle Hartford has written in several genres but is currently working on a cozy mystery series with an alchemical twist. As a historian and museum educator, she firmly …
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How to Ditch Perfectionism, with Kaila Yu
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30:16In which we talk about perfectionism and how to get out from under it, as well as loving yourself as who you are. Kaila Yu is an author based in Los Angeles. Her debut memoir, ‘Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty,’ was just published with Penguin Random House's Crown Publishing. She's also a luxury travel and culture wri…
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How Neuropsychology Can Accelerate Your Results | Dr. Shannon Irvine
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34:22Send us a text In this episode of the Authors Who Lead podcast, I welcome Dr. Shannon Irvine, an accomplished neuropsychologist, entrepreneur, and founder of the SINC Neurocoach Models. This riveting conversation peels back the curtain on Dr. Shannon’s journey from idea gestation to book launch, giving us an inside look at the neuroscience-driven m…
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How to Use Images to Prompt Your Writing, with Lorena Hughes
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42:10Rachael’s so excited to have Lorena on the show today! Lorena Hughes is the award-winning author of The Night We Became Strangers, The Queen of the Valley, The Spanish Daughter, and The Sisters of Alameda Street. Born and raised in Ecuador, she moved to the United States when she was eighteen to study fine arts and mass communication & journalism. …
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Why It’s Good that Words Will Always Fail Us, with Livia Sara
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54:51
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54:51You don’t want to miss this one, in which we talk about how art is connection (to ourselves first) and why words will always let us down (and why that’s okay). Livia Sara is a neurodiversity advocate and eating disorder survivor who now helps others overcome their own mental barriers through her books, courses, and coaching programs. She is the cre…
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Send us a text Writing a book is a dream for many, but not every idea deserves 200 pages. In this solo episode of Authors Who Lead, I unpack one of the most common questions I hear from aspiring authors: How do I know if my idea is big enough for a book—or if it’s better off as a blog post, podcast, or talk? This question matters more than people r…
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On Surviving and Thriving in Publishing, with Dr. Zoe Shaw
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43:36This has to be one of Rachael's favorite episodes in a long time - Dr. Zoe will blow you away with the story of her path to publication! Dr. Zoe Shaw is a licensed psychotherapist, author, speaker, podcast host, relationship coach, and proud mom of five. After fifteen years in traditional psychotherapy, Dr. Zoe left the therapy couch to create a mo…
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Rachael shares the big news she JUST got right before Sacha jumped on the call, and Sacha shares her new reading and outlining discoveries! 📕 OUT NOW! The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland: http://rachaelherron.com ❤️ Write in Italy May 2026: http://rachaelherron.com/italy2026 🏠 Ink Village! Check it out here: http://rachaelherron.com/inkvillage 🎉 …
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Are You a Writer? Try Therapy! with Annie Mare
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46:35Annie Mare (she/they) writes queer contemporary young adult romance and cowrites queer romance and mysteries with her wife, Ruthie Knox. Mare lives with her wife, two teenagers, two dogs, multiple fish, one cat, four hermit crabs, and a bazillion plants in a very old house with a garden. COSMIC LOVE AT THE MULTIVERSE HAIR SALON is her most recent r…
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Breaking the Status Quo | Amy Cerny Vasterling
37:47
37:47
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37:47Send us a text What does it really mean to be yourself in a world that rewards conformity and disconnection? In this episode of Authors Who Lead, I sit down with Amy Cerny Vasterling—a public speaker, author, and intuitive—to discuss her powerful new book and what it means to live beyond the model society presents to us. With two decades of researc…
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Start Before You’re Ready | Azul Terronez
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13:59Send us a text If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a book but find yourself stuck in “prep mode,” you’re not alone. In this solo episode of Authors Who Lead, I delve into the real mindset blocks that prevent aspiring authors from taking that crucial first step. After years of coaching writers—and navigating my own resistance—I’ve identified three com…
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On Raiding the Scraps Pile, with Alexandria Bellefleur
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30:13In which we talk about a book dying on submission (and the pain of that!) as well as being STUBBORN enough to keep going. Alexandria Bellefleur is a bestselling and award-winning author of swoony contemporary romance often featuring loveable grumps and the sunshine characters who bring them to their knees. Her debut novel, Written in the Stars, was…
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How Signature Frameworks Turn Book Ideas Into Impactful Businesses | Charlotte Crowther
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37:18
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37:18Send us a text For so many authors, writing a book feels like the pinnacle of their work—the culmination of years of learning, creativity, and leadership. But when the final chapter is written, there’s often a gap. Those powerful ideas don’t always leap from the page into programs, products, or lasting impact. On this episode of Authors Who Lead, I…
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How a Secret Blog Created a Writer, with Dana K. White
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47:28Dana K. White had always wanted to be a writer, but she never could have predicted how she’d get there or how she would reach so much success. Dana K. White is a blogger, podcaster, speaker, and (much to her own surprise) a decluttering expert. She taught both English and theatre arts before leaving her job to make her family her life's work. In an…
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Send us a text In today’s world, where knowledge is abundant and AI can churn out answers in seconds, readers crave something deeper—authenticity. On this episode of Authors Who Lead, I share lessons I’ve learned working with authors who want to lead with their story, not just their expertise. I reflect on my work with bestselling author and negoti…
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How to Define True Success, with Evelyn Skye
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46:45On vampires, and deep work, and what it means to actually be (and feel) successful. Evelyn Skye is the New York Times bestselling author of several novels, including The Hundred Loves of Juliet and The Incredible Kindness of Paper. A graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School, her books have been published worldwide and translated into …
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