Hybrid publishing gets talked about a lot… and misunderstood even more.

In this episode, I sit down with Megan Sells (Acquisitions Manager and Developmental Editor at Atmosphere Press) to unpack what hybrid publishing actually is—how it differs from traditional publishing and self-publishing, why it’s often confused with vanity presses, and how authors can decide if it’s the right path for them.

We talk candidly about money, rights, marketing, selectivity, speculative fiction word counts (yes, we went there), and what success really means in today’s publishing landscape.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• “Is hybrid publishing legit?”
• “Do I keep my rights?”
• “How selective are hybrid presses really?”
• “What kind of marketing support would I actually get?”
• “Can I still control my cover, edits, and audiobook narrator?”

…this episode is for you.

We cover:

✨ The difference between traditional, self-, and hybrid publishing
✨ Why “vanity press” is not the same as true hybrid publishing
✨ How selective Atmosphere Press really is (spoiler: around 1–2%)
✨ What authors actually invest in—and what they receive in return
✨ Editing, cover design, marketing, distribution, and collaboration
✨ Why hybrid publishing can protect your IP rights (film, audio, merchandise)
✨ The surprising flexibility around word count
✨ Why success isn’t just about bestseller lists
✨ The power of continuing to publish

We also dive into something I care deeply about as a speculative fiction writer: voice.

Hybrid publishing can create space for niche, diverse, genre-bending, or non-trending books that might not fit traditional commercial molds—but absolutely deserve readers.

And we talk about ownership.
Not just of your book—but of your rights, your long-term IP, and your creative decisions.

Because at the end of the day, the question isn’t just:

“Can I get published?”

It’s:

“What path aligns with my goals, my values, and my definition of success?”

👉 Learn more about Atmosphere Press (and read their full contract + services):
https://atmospherepress.com/

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Think you need an MFA or a creative writing degree to become great at writing? Don't be so sure.

In this episode, I’m breaking down why so many aspiring authors believe formal education is the key to success, what MFA programs actually teach versus what commercial fiction truly requires, and how to build a smarter, more intentional path to mastering writing on your own.

If you’ve been wondering whether you’re “qualified enough” to pursue writing seriously, this episode will show you exactly what actually matters.

In this episode, I walk you through how to create your own powerful writing education—the kind that develops real craft skills, sharpens your storytelling instincts, and prepares you for the business side of being an author.

We’ll dig into the difference between literary training and commercial storytelling, why plot and character arc matter more than a diploma, and how to design a self-directed learning plan that works better than a traditional creative writing degree.

You’ll learn:

✨ Why an MFA is not a prerequisite for great writing
✨ The critical difference between literary writing and commercial fiction craft
✨ The three pillars of building your own writing education
✨ How to study novels intentionally to accelerate your growth
✨ Why feedback is non-negotiable if you want to level up your writing

If you’ve been hesitating to pursue writing because you don’t have a creative writing degree, or you’ve been wondering whether an MFA is the missing piece, this episode will help you rethink what actually creates mastery.

By the end, you’ll have a clear, practical roadmap for improving your writing skills with purpose, confidence, and strategy—no degree required.

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Feeling overwhelmed by querying—or stuck in the rejection cycle with no clue what’s “wrong”? You’re not alone. In this episode, I sit down with Julie Artz (author, editor, book coach, and dragon 🐉) to demystify what agents actually want—and how to build a pitch package that makes them want to read more.

We break down what’s inside today’s modern pitch package (including the two pieces Query Manager made way more common), why your synopsis must spoil the ending, and how to avoid the biggest query traps—especially for speculative fiction writers who love their worldbuilding (hi, it’s us).

Julie also shares her go-to framework for tightening your pitch from the inside out: Four Essential Questions that should be clear in your logline, your query, your synopsis, and your pages. Because if you can’t articulate the story in short form, it might be a sign the story itself needs a stronger foundation.

You’ll learn:

✨ Who actually needs to query—and why pitch skills still help self-publishing authors
✨ What’s in a modern pitch package (query, sample pages, one-sentence pitch/logline, synopsis)
✨ Why your synopsis should spoil the ending (and why agents need that)
✨ How to avoid “genre soup” (and what to say when your book is both sci-fi and fantasy)
✨ The Four Essential Questions—and how they reveal what your story might be missing

If querying has been making you feel confused, discouraged, or like you’re shouting into the void, this conversation will help you get grounded, get strategic, and start pitching with way more clarity and confidence.

👉 Grab Julie’s FREE Four Essential Questions Workbook (mentioned in the episode):
https://www.julieartz.com/four-essential-questions-workbook?utm_source=spec-fic-made-simple&utm_medium=podcast&utm_term=guest&utm_content=episode&utm_campaign=get-to-yes

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Struggling to make your scenes feel tense, gripping, and impossible to look away from? You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m breaking down why so many scenes feel flat even when the stakes seem high, what writers often get wrong about conflict, and how to build the kind of tension that keeps readers glued to the page. If your scenes feel a little too easy on your characters (and your readers), this episode will show you exactly how to fix that.

In this episode, I walk you through how to create meaningful, effective conflict in your scenes—the kind that feels natural, purposeful, and emotionally charged rather than forced or melodramatic.

We’ll dig into why conflict is the engine of great storytelling, what happens when it’s missing, and how to design scenes that actively push back against your protagonist at every turn.

You’ll learn:

✨ Why scenes with clear goals and stakes can still feel boring—and what’s actually missing
✨ The five essential elements every high-tension scene needs to create friction and suspense
✨ How opposing goals instantly raise tension between characters
✨ How to use stakes, constraints, and escalating obstacles to make scenes feel dangerous and alive
✨ Why ticking clocks and hard decisions are so powerful—and how they turn scenes into true story moments

If your scenes tend to resolve too neatly, your characters get what they want too easily, or your conflict feels muted and safe, this episode will help you rethink how you’re building tension from the ground up.

By the end, you’ll have a clear framework for crafting scenes that force your protagonist to struggle, choose, and change—and that make readers eager to race into the next chapter.

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Struggling to make sense of story structure—or wondering if you’re doing it “wrong”? You’re not alone. In this episode, I sit down with Gabriela Pereira, founder of DIY MFA, to talk about story structure in a way that feels empowering instead of intimidating. We zoom in on the classic three-act structure (and why it’s classic, not universal), break down the role of pivot points, and explore how structure works best as a crosscheck rather than a paint-by-numbers formula.

You’ll learn:

✨ Why the three-act structure works—and why it isn’t universal or rigid
✨ Gabriela’s “3 + 2 = 1” framework (three acts, two pivot points, one cohesive story)
✨ How to navigate Act Two without falling into the dreaded “and then… and then…” trap
✨ What the midpoint and Dark Night of the Soul are really doing for your protagonist
✨ How different types of endings work (and how to choose the right one for your story)

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by story structure or unsure why something in your draft just isn’t working, this episode will help you move from instinct to intention—and finally see where your story needs support.

👉 Join Heather's email list for FREE and paid writerly goodies!
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Struggling to craft that perfect first sentence? You're not alone. In this episode, I'm sharing why your novel’s opening line matters more than ever in today’s distracted world, how to avoid the most common first-line pitfalls, and three powerful strategies to spark reader curiosity from the very first word. Whether you're revising or just starting out, this writing episode will help you grab attention—and keep it.

In this episode, I break down exactly how to write killer first lines—the kind that spark instant curiosity, hook readers emotionally, and make them need to keep reading.

We’ll talk about what first lines are actually for (hint: it’s not being pretty or clever), what not to do, and the simple but powerful strategies that make an opening line irresistible.

You’ll learn:

✨ Why first lines matter more than ever—and how reader distraction changes what works
✨ The most common first-line mistakes that quietly kill curiosity (and what to do instead)
✨ What creating curiosity actually means—and how to do it without confusing your reader
✨ The three most effective types of killer opening lines, with clear examples you can apply immediately

If your current first line feels bland, safe, or like it’s just… there—and you’ve been telling yourself you’ll “fix it later”—this episode will show you how to fix it, and what to aim for instead.

By the end, you’ll understand how to turn your opening line into a true reader-hooking powerhouse—and why this one sentence sets the tone for everything that follows.

👉 Join my email list for FREE and paid writerly goodies!
https://resources.manyworldswriting.com/U2F1zO

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In this episode, I sit down with New York Times bestselling author J.D. Barker to talk about writing that sells—without sacrificing craft, creativity, or your sanity. J.D. shares his unconventional journey from ghostwriter and book doctor to bestselling author, along with the systems, habits, and strategic decisions that helped him build a thriving, long-term writing career.

You’ll learn:

✨ How J.D. went from writing bestsellers under other people’s names to betting everything on his own career
✨ Why he self-published his first novel—and how that decision helped him break into traditional publishing
✨ What publishing looks like now (and why books need to be nearly “five-star ready” before agents or editors ever see them)
✨ His daily writing routine, word-count goals, and rituals for staying productive year after year
✨ How and why he uses outlining now—and what he learned plotting alongside James Patterson
✨ His approach to backstory, pacing, and suspense (including how he knows when readers are skimming)
✨ How beta readers actually help him shape stronger, more engaging novels
✨ Why thinking differently—especially when it comes to promotion—has been key to his success
✨ What it really takes to build a writing career that balances creativity, business, and real life

If you’re serious about writing books that connect with readers and building a sustainable author career in today’s publishing world, this episode offers a candid, practical look at what works, what’s changed, and how you can approach your writing with both confidence and strategy.

Join my email list for FREE and paid writerly goodies! https://resources.manyworldswriting.com/U2F1zO

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Do you know your story needs backstory… but every time you try to include it, it just feels wrong?

Clunky. Awkward. Like the story suddenly stumbles instead of flowing forward.

Or maybe you’ve gone the opposite direction—cutting nearly all the backstory out because you’ve been warned about info dumping—only to realize your scenes now feel thin, confusing, or emotionally flat.

You’re not doing anything wrong.
Backstory is one of the most misunderstood elements of writing a novel.

In this solo episode, I break down how to write backstory that actually works—backstory that deepens character, clarifies motivation, and pulls readers closer instead of pushing them away.

This episode pairs closely with Episode 41 on Interiority, and together they form a powerful foundation for writing scenes that feel emotionally alive and fully grounded.

You’ll learn:

✨ Why backstory is non-negotiable—and why the real problem isn’t having backstory, but how it’s used
✨ The five core guidelines that make backstory feel seamless instead of disruptive
✨ How framing backstory through interiority transforms it from explanation into emotional experience
✨ The difference between vague, abstract backstory and specific, concrete details readers can visualize
✨ How to place backstory inside a scene so it feels triggered, relevant, and purposeful
✨ Why “less backstory” isn’t always the answer—and how to find the right dosage
✨ How to use backstory to illuminate the present moment without stopping the story cold

If your backstory feels clunky, misplaced, or never quite right—and you’re tired of guessing what to cut or keep—this episode will give you a clear, practical framework for using backstory with confidence.

By the end, backstory won’t feel like a liability. It’ll feel like one of your strongest storytelling tools.

Join my email list for FREE and paid writerly goodies! https://resources.manyworldswriting.com/U2F1zO

Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗

Support the show