Writing a book is hard. Navigating what comes next shouldn't be.

The early days felt electric. The characters were loud, and the opening scenes practically wrote themselves. Then reality set in. Maybe you stalled halfway through the draft, or didn't know when to stop revising. Or maybe publishing turned out to have a rulebook no one bothered to share. Either way, it left you feeling insecure, and a sinking suspicion set in: everyone knows something you don't.

Writing is solitary work, and the publishing industry was not designed to be transparent. Somehow, you end up blaming yourself for things that were never within your control.

Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid are the co-hosts of Writers With Wrinkles, a podcast with tens of thousands of downloads across thirty-three countries, built around one idea: that writers deserve honest answers.

Over five seasons, Beth and Lisa have interviewed dozens of literary agents, editors, publishers, booksellers, and bestselling authors to gather insight into the craft of writing and the realities of the publishing process. What emerged is the framework for this book, Write. Revise. Publish.

Whether you're wrestling with a first draft, deep in revisions, preparing to query agents, or considering self-publishing, this book meets you where you are and helps you navigate what comes next.

No gimmicks. No gatekeeping. Only what you need to go from blank page to published book, with your confidence and sanity intact.