Authors need to touch grass. Or a cactus.

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The publishing industry doesn't know what it wants from authors. And authors are losing their minds, apparently.
This author lost her two book deal: apnews.com/article/cait-corrain-fake-accounts-novel-canceled-05183c79a91279f38076dfe77ed299eb
And here's the "publishing is fast fashion" article that's been going around. www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-11-08/fourth-wing-and-iron-flame-author-rebecca-yarros-needs-a-reality-check
Follow my Author on the Road Shorts series for more traveling and writing on the road! ru-vid.com/group/PL613wpmkDoLcY8HGPfGZBcpoUns7hzAcT
Subscribe to my newsletter for more writing tips, sneak peeks at what I'm writing, Rosa pics, and more! michelleschusterman.substack.com
Check out my writing courses!
How to pitch to trends: writingblueprints.com/p/how-to-get-published-by-pitching-to-trends?coupon_code=MSFRIENDS
Intro to Fiction: writingworkshops.com/products/1584107
Planning a novel without plotting: skl.sh/3G60GNM
Character transformation: skl.sh/33iwgFH
Writing a killer book description: skl.sh/356PtLg
More about my books, courses, coaching stuff, etc: www.michelleschusterman.com/
Like the music in this vid? Try Epidemic Sound! www.epidemicsound.com/referral/yin3jx/
Stuff I use as a full time writer/author (that you may have spotted in this video!) (affiliate links are afoot):
WRITING/WORK STUFF
Macbook Air. Doesn’t really need my recommendation. amzn.to/3soroc2
iPAPA laptop case: amzn.to/3slflwf
Mind-Reader adjustable/portable laptop desk. I LOVE this thing. Typing with my arms at an angle has drastically reduced elbow/wrist pain. amzn.to/2OYh0tX
Bluelight blocker glasses: amzn.to/2VAG51u
Best writing pens, hands down. I use them every time I revise a book. amzn.to/311nRoP
Acer monitor. I kind of hate the word gamechanger but this really was that kind of purchase. amzn.to/3vH71Kh
Brother laser printer. I won’t lie, this thing is a behemoth. But I’ve had it since 2017 and I think I’ve had maybe one paper jam? It works great, it’s super consistent, A++ for printing manuscripts. amzn.to/3tzIvZE
Alphasmart Neo2. Highly highly recommend. amzn.to/3cStKui
I'm a Skillshare Ambassador! I've been binging their courses on filmmaking and video editing, as well as writing, but there's all kinds of stuff for creative types! Try it out FREE for two week! skillshare.eqcm.net/RyG57R
COFFEE STUFF
Ninja coffee maker. amzn.to/31533Nu
Cold brew pitcher. amzn.to/3cSKVM9
Zulay milk frother. amzn.to/3r7DDJu
VIDEO MAKING STUFF
Canon G7X Mark iii camera. I love the flip up screen (ie, you can see yourself as you film) and the fact that there’s a mic port. amzn.to/3r9BfCb
Savage studio lights. I mostly use these for ‘talking head’ videos. amzn.to/3r7G6Un
Ubeesize 10” ring light. That’s the little guy sitting on my desk. I mostly use it for vlogging. amzn.to/31hqpzD
JJC mini tripod. amzn.to/3feXxjJ
Rode clip mic. amzn.to/2OSaLb2
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I've got lots of other freebies for you to download and use on your writing journey: www.michelleschusterman.com/freebies
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**full disclosure: the above link is a referral! If you sign up and get a project, you and I each get $100!**
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MY BOOKS
www.goodreads.com/author/list/6522087.Michelle_Schusterman
www.goodreads.com/author/show/17086515.M_Shelley_Coats?from_search=true
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22 янв 2024

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Комментарии : 70

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

About those query critiques! It's $100 flat fee for unlimited reads. I critique, you revise, I critique, you revise, repeat repeat repeat until you've got a super shiny query letter! Email me at mischubooks at gmail with QUERY CRITIQUE in the title if you're interested!

@byronlopezellington8839 5 месяцев назад

Hopefully I'll remember to email you when this new book is done! (My first query-ready book has already been exhausted of possible agents)

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Please do!! I love reading queries :) @@byronlopezellington8839

@joannaholden943 5 месяцев назад

As a self published author, I have struggled for the past few years with the fact that I cannot be a rapid release author, not and have a life that has any meaning outside of constant work. But I'm learning to lean into the slower flow state that works for me and trusting that over time the readership that wants my books at the pace I can release them will find them. ❤ I refuse to sacrifice my peace and joy and love of writing for hustle.

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

LOVE this! So glad you're doing it your way!

@shebreathesingold8043 5 месяцев назад

Hi, Michelle. So happy to have you back. Just wanted to let you know that my favorite videos of you aren't the script videos that require research about some hot topic in the writing world. My favorite are just the updates on your projects and how you're doing, with some sporadic life / community updates, just like this one! So I hope you don't sabatoge a healthy return to youtube by thinking you need to do these super-scripted research-heavy videos to be successful, because I guarantee most of your nearly 12k followers are here for you and your writing first and firemost.

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Thank you so much - that's really good to hear. I genuinely like making those 'bigger' videos but I'm glad you find value in the rambly ones like this. :)

@cassie_hart 5 месяцев назад

Publishing is so whack at the moment, and I don't envy anyone who is waiting for publishers/editors etc to make up their minds about what their next steps are. I'm sorry you're in that boat. I think SOME authors definitely churn books out like fast fashion (which doesn't mean that all quick writers are writing bad books, because we all write at different speeds), and there is certainly a lot of pressure to do this, that, be here, post these types of things etc. I choose not to buy into that all. I've seen the author grind and more often than not it ends up in burnout. I've also seen people who write super long books and publish one a year in each series who do exceptionally well - there is no hard and fast rule, we all just have to figure out what works for US, and do the best we can. My word of the year is Nourish - it's time for me to look after myself, to write things I love, and focus more on me and my writing than other people's for a change.

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Absolutely true. Look at Brandon Sanderson - the dude puts out a staggering number of fantasy tomes every year, and I don't hear anyone complaining about the quality. That's a fantastic word for the year!!

@JCmurray312 5 месяцев назад

I love "the year of peace." I'm "pre-successful," and I'm struggling with self-imposed guilt because this spring I'll pass 5 years since I started writing more seriously. I planned/hoped to be published by now. But... ...peace. 😌

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Peace! I know this is trite, but publishing journeys come in all sorts of lengths. You'll get there!

@Laura_DiNunno 5 месяцев назад

As someone who is not a rapid release author, thank you. We need to hear more of this.

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Anytime, and thank you for watching!

@gwynnathawinna 5 месяцев назад

Rosa and Layla were so cute! We're definitely moving into a worldwide 'binge' culture, from TV to books to hobbies. It makes me wonder if tradpub, even in though they're a slow turning boat, will look further into rapid publishing. Maybe having an author finish a series in advance of the first/second book release so they can publish all the books in a series as close as every 4-6 months? I know a lot of rapid self-pubbin' authors are hiring ghostwriters right now to keep up with demand. Either the rapid pub industry breaks, or trad pub will bend. Either way, I certainly agree: Peace needs to be the word of 2024. Hustle culture is burnin' me out. Having switched to a 4 day work week in 2023, I Cannot Recommend It Enough. The time I do spend working is SO much better quality, and has really helped me avoid chronic exhaustion and decision fatigue. Your opinion on these hot topics are always welcome! I really appreciate you putting a voice to our collective anxiety.

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

It was SO hard to say goodbye to Layla! They had a blast together. Yeah, when you put it that way, it's kind of hilarious that an industry so notoriously slow in every possible way is eyeing the self-pub rapid release style and thinking "hey, we should try that." >.> Ooh I'm happy to hear you're doing a 4 day work week! I'm excited to give it a shot!

@sistersauthorsfriendsincanada 5 месяцев назад

I love your videos, no matter how frequently (or infrequently) you post them. So, I'm not going anywhere! 🧡

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Aw, thank you!! I appreciate that :)

@KylaGrace 5 месяцев назад

One of my goals was to also "slow down". Peace is lovely!

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

That's awesome, Kyla! :)

@Sue-pn7mq 5 месяцев назад

My writing goal is the same as always, enjoying myself. So far that has worked well for me. I hope 2024 will bring you that peace as it sounds like an amazing goal. I don’t mind fast when it comes to publishing, but I do mind the decrease in quality because some of those books are not finished. I’d rather wait for something amazing than dnf a book because it isn’t ready while it had so much potential.

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

That's a great goal - love that it's been working for you! I'm with you; it's quality over quantity for me as a reader.

@miaramck6746 5 месяцев назад

Dogs becoming insta-friends is one of the cutest things ever.

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

I couldn't agree more!!

@SeanCull3541 5 месяцев назад

Any day a new video drops from you is a great day, Michelle! I love the travel updates. The arrays from Contact look very cool. I want to take my camera there! Stay healthy, stay safe, see you next time!! :D PS: Hi Rosa!

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Aw thank you so much!! DEFINITELY recommend visiting the VLA if you're ever in New Mexico, it' so cool! :)

@alwaysapirateroninace443 5 месяцев назад

This was fascinating! I enjoyed this video. Really insightful about publishing.

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Thank you for watching! :)

@thegeekylibrarian360 5 месяцев назад

I figured out that if I do writingsprints/worksprints for 45 minutes and then a 10 minute break on stream it still feel more productive because I don't have to have breaks as often :) My word for this year is "complete"! I am great at starting stuff, but not at finishing them! So I will complete some first drafts, complete creative projects I have laying around, use up products so I don't have that much clutter and so on :D

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Nice!! That's a great word of the year.

@reginaduke7451 5 месяцев назад

How lovely to see a new vlog! As usual, I basically agree with everything you said. I even put off piano practice so I could watch your vlog. LOL I have decided that 2024 is a year for enjoying my writing, and as part of that, I am focusing on short titles, under 20K, even 15K. Amazon has categories for 1-hour reads, 2-hour reads, and so forth. And I am having such a good time writing this way. Already published one (My Vampire Marko, a 2-hour read) and I'm working on three others. Writing is fun again! Yes, you are doing enough. And doing a 4-day work week is a phenomenal idea. Love you, love catching up with you. Looking forward to the next one! 🥰🥰🥰🥰

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Ha, thanks for ditching the piano! :D I love the idea of focusing on shorter projects. And hey, congrats on getting one out in January! Amazing!

@zeropaloobatheuber1572 5 месяцев назад

I like to read widely as part of honing my craft and I recently read a couple of Emily McIntires. After pages and pages of churning guts and twisting hearts, I was burnt out. Fast fiction is too fast for me. I then picked up a Murakami and immediately felt more peaceful. Proust did the same for me when I read him (only the first three volumes). I definitely couldn’t write like McIntire without going through some deep internal reflection on what the heck my life has come to. As for emulating Proust-ain’t nobody got time for that. An author I really admire is Ishiguro. He really strikes a great balance between the two extremes.

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

It really is a case of "to each their own," isn't it? When I think back to how I read in my teens/20s, I absolutely would have gobbled up fast fiction.

@janvier882 5 месяцев назад

I love your content regardless of how often you post. So post when you can. 😊 I need to dig through your backlist of videos for something about getting out of a writing slump. I haven't written anything in about 2 months. My brain feels empty, and it's very frustrating. Love your travels!

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Thank you so much! And while I'm sure I made a bunch of videos about slumps - are you sure your brain just doesn't need the break? I completely get how frustrating it can be but sometimes writers need to not write for a bit!

@jvever4904 5 месяцев назад

Great to see your thoughts on the industry and your own self reflection

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Thanks so much for watching! :)

@aclutteredlife 5 месяцев назад

New to this corner of the internet, love your videos:) I hope to finish the first draft of my overly ambitious post cyberpunk novel. I don't need to make myself do anything with it afterwards, but I wanna finish a first draft just to prove that I can:)

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Well thank you so much! :) And that is an awesome goal - finishing your first first draft is the best feeling. How much farther do you have to go?

@aclutteredlife 5 месяцев назад

@@MichelleSchustermanAuthor Depends on how much it grows as I write it. I'm 18k in and my outline assumes ca 60k, so I've come a chunk of the road at least. Kicked out a character after some feedback for Christmas, let it rest for a few days, accidentally brainstormed 2 new ideas, and then got back to nibbling at it again today;)

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

@@aclutteredlife hey, that's about a third of a draft! Awesome! Love "accidentally brainstormed two new ideas," I've been there 😅

@Avionne_Parris 5 месяцев назад

Welcome back, Michelle! So excited to see a full-length video from you, even though I totally understand why and the reasons are valid, I did missed seeing what you're up to so much :) My words of the year are: "faith", "creativity", and "courage" because these days I could use ALL of them! Haven't written anything since Nano 2023 because I've been stuck in a research mode loop / rabbit-hole/ Bermuda Triangle. What I have noticed is that with every bit of new research my outlines have gotten better and more-detailed, I'm just having trouble with the drafting part of the writing process. I know I can do it - I have done it many times in the past, I just... haven't. Congrats on the RV travels and four day work week; I so wish I could have either or both of those options on my plate. For now, I'm working on the latter, hoping to make Friday my first weekend day :) I also am giving myself grace and living a more"anti-hustle" lifetsyle. Life is too short to be wasted on dumb stuff (people included). If I may say something about the "Review Unabomber", what irks me the most is that she had it made with that 2 book deal with Del Rey Books under friggin Penguin Random House! Things non-white authors such as myself can only dream of. She would've achieved success, all she had to do was sit tight and let nature takes its course. But no, insecurity, petty, and entitlement had to enter the chat, resulting in that mess. And to blame it on mental health, yikes! Mental health doesn't make you racist. It doesn't make you create fake accounts and review bomb your fellow BIPOC debut authors while upvoting your own debut. It doesn't make you blame an imaginary person once you've been had. I feel bad for the publishing company who wasted time, money, energy, and resources on that book. Okay, rant over. Hope you're having a great week, Michelle! Hi Rosa :)

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Avi!! Those are great words for 2024. And you'll get back into drafting. Sounds like you're just in a season of planning/outlining - and all of that will pay off later! I nearly went off on a tangent about that - the fact that it seems every time an author gets caught behaving this way, they had a GREAT deal with plenty of marketing. Again, not trying to make any excuses for them, but I wonder if the pressure of all that attention is part of what makes them snap like that. But yeah, in that one particular case, it was a bad move to try and put the blame on mental health. She might very well have those issues but so do a lot of people who don't try and tear down BIPOC writers. Overall just a really sad situation.

@ryanmhines 5 месяцев назад

Glad to see another vid from ya! Hope van life is treating you well 😊

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Thanks so much! It's been a blast so far :)

@eunicefazzi6697 5 месяцев назад

Now that I watched till the end: I have not set an intention word for that year. Sounds like a good idea. For writing goals, I intend to journal everyday. I bought a journal that has one page for each day and I’ve been keeping up with it so far. It’s an A5 size so it’s not very big so the bar is low on filling up the page and I’ve enjoyed doing it so far. Great video! I also wanted to say thank you for your character workbook/sheets. I’ve been using them recently for some fanfic and they have really helped 😊💛

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

That's awesome! I journal every day, too - it took awhile for me to really get into it, but now I'm so glad it's become a habit. And I'm thrilled to hear the character stuff has been helpful for your fanfic!!

@jennamorganbooks 5 месяцев назад

One of my goals is to have both of my active writing projects polished and submission ready by the end of the year. I’m on sub right now with my first book! 🙏🏻❤️

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

OMG that's so exciting!!!! My fingers and toes are crossed for you!!

@esthermarieandujar 5 месяцев назад

Any video you upload is such a highlight for me!!! Love all the broll about your travels!!! Geez, human greed can really messed up so many things. Why it seems like publishing houses misunderstand what readers want? or like they can only (most of the time it feels like they choose to) serve one group of readers and move on when another group of readers are loud enough or when they have sucked dry the readers they've been catering to. Publishing is such a tricky business to navigate. Peace is such a nice word! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, your travels and your journey with us.

@ramonarobot 5 месяцев назад

“Authorpreneur”? Oh my god… it’s the first time I’m hearing this word. Is this where writing is going? Say it isn’t so 😭

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Yeahhhh that word has been around for a few years and I hate it :(

@MassielValenzuela 5 месяцев назад

Love your videos

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Thank you Massiel! :)

@JoeyPaulOnline 5 месяцев назад

I didn't set a word, never have done that, but today I should finish one project and then again doing the same Thursday! My year started with me sick but doing better now, and I did a nice writing retreat for my birthday at the beginning of Jan, so all good!

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

That's amazing, Joey! I'm sorry you were sick but hey - a writing retreat sounds like a fantastic way to start the year!

@splufford 5 месяцев назад

I agree about the sprints writing session not being that productive. 20mins isn't enough for me so what i usually do is have you guys on low in the background as I write for two hours. It's kind of nice writing with other people, knowing I'm not the only mad person who spends hours making stuff up! I don't have a word for the year but I have a resolution to make sure I take time off from writing at least one day a week and do something fun otherwise I'll spend all hours God sends at my keyboard. Also, just to say that not all self published authors publish at a hundred miles an hour. Some of us spend a long time writing the book, edit it many times, ditch an ending and re-write it if we think it needs to be done. Some of us value quality over quantity and will only publish when we think it's right. We might not make as much money as our rapid release colleagues but better that than force ourselves to put out something we're unhappy with. Hope you are enjoying van life 🙂

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

It's funny, sometimes sprints are super productive for me, but lately they haven't been. I agree with you though, it's mostly about that feeling of community and connection in what can be a very lonely endeavor!

@terryrustad1800 5 месяцев назад

Safe travels! 💫

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Thanks!!

@kanashiiookami6537 5 месяцев назад

Yay, welcome back!❤ I understand the whiplash moments of trying to keep up with the latest publishing/author info, especially after a break. I'll not say anything about the author who shall not be named, because i think that got more than enough airtime. But yeah, that fast fashion of publishing one has me straddling the fence of both takes. Because while i agree with you about the wait being a good thing for the fans, the author, the editing and all those great points, i also feel like the faster publishing route is good in some respects. I've mentioned how i will write an entire series before contemplating querying (or publishing, considering self pub is sounding more and more enticing as i talk with indie authors), so i've gotten quite a few stories done (or nearly done what with transcribing and editing) so releasing these faster would be amazing rather than waiting 2 years or so between books. And i'm sure i can't be the only author with a backlog. Anyway, i was wondering what you know about publishers having sneeky clauses to keep authors from being self pubbed. Because i stumbled into a discussion of that online and it made me think of you, Lisa, and Robert. (But i missed the livestream and a chance to ask you all) Have you heard anything about this? Anyway, best of luck with your work, and i hope you're enjoying van life and exploring the country!

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Yes exactly! It doesn't have to be all one way or another (and I don't think ALL of publishing is heading the fast fashion route). I will say though that it's sad to me that printed books are getting rushed and the actual physical quality is going down - that might be a sign that imprints that want to go the "rapid release" route should maybe stick to ebooks. Oh that's interesting about the clauses - it's common for there to be some sort of clause in a contract about a specific book not having been published elsewhere before, but I haven't seen anything sneaky. I'm assuming that means preventing an author from self-pubbing other works in the future? Hmm. Really great to hear from you, K!!

@eunicefazzi6697 5 месяцев назад

NM is my home state! Hope you enjoyed yourself there. White Sands is always great 😊

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

It's beautiful! Definitely wins for best sunsets, wow.

@JohnAllenRoyce 5 месяцев назад

Glad to have the new video, Michelle! You're very interesting to listen to, I learn a lot through your great rambles.

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Thanks so much for watching, John! :)

@manestreambeauty 5 месяцев назад

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor I appreciate you wanting to keep your word to post once a week. Don't apologize for living your life and being present in your life -- it's time well spent! This is your channel and you set the tone and pace for how often you post and what you post. Trust that you have a captive audience who value what you share. When you need a break or to slow down, do it without feeling a need to explain why. When you are recharged and have the energy to post videos more frequently (or as frequently as you want), so be it. You are one person. Don't wear yourself thin trying to do it all at once. Quality, not quantity. If that means a shorter video because it's easier to edit or actual Shorts, so be it. Once you find a sustainable pace you'll probably feel more inspired and consistent.

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Thank you so much!!! I really appreciate this! :)

@manestreambeauty 5 месяцев назад

@@MichelleSchustermanAuthor