Over the years, I’ve published essays, poems, reported articles, and interviews in every size outlet in America and beyond. I’ve had a reported article and an essay published in the New York Times. Both went viral. I’ve written book proposals for two of my manuscripts and successfully got an agent two different times. My nonfiction book Mom Rage: The Everyday Crisis of Modern Motherhood (part memoir, part reportage, part social critique) was acquired by a “Big Five” publisher and I got a 6-figure advance to write it. Mom Rage went on to be published in the United States, the UK, and has been translated into Russian and Chinese. The book has been written about all over the world. I’ve gone on to get a speaking agent and do workshops and speaking gigs at Universities, elementary schools, libraries, and postpartum support organizations.

Most writers, myself included, start out with no idea what we’re doing when it comes to writing and publishing. We learn through a lot of trial and error, and if I’m honest, heartache. Many times I was clumsy where I could have been smooth and strategic. I gave writing away to small literary outlets when those pieces had potential to be published in places with much larger readerships. I queried 40+ agents I had no business querying, before I learned to do the work required to query “smarter." When we start out on our publishing journeys, we don’t know about “best practices.” Writers don’t benefit from being uninformed. There’s no reason we each have to reinvent the wheel. My goal is to help writers feel knowledgeable, empowered, supported, and proud of their publishing choices.

There are many ways to get published, and many places to publish. How should we know which outlet is right for our type of writing and which outlet we should pursue to reach our literary goals? Speaking of which, what are our literary goals? A reported article in the Atlantic? International publications? An essay in a trade magazine that is specific to our subject? A poem in a local literary magazine?

Or are we ready to publish our memoir? What sort of publisher do we think is the right fit for our book: One of the “Big Five?” A small or independent press? A trade press? An academic press? What about hybrid or self-publishing? When we get told by agents that our manuscript is good but our platform is too minuscule, how should we be metabolizing that feedback? Do we need to have the entire book written to get a publishing deal or an agent? Do we need a book proposal? How do we write a book proposal with all the needed components? And how do we get an agent for that matter? How do we write a query letter, and how do we choose wisely when querying an agent so it doesn’t feel like we’re stabbing in the dark over and over with no reply? Are there other ways to get agents besides emailing strangers and getting our one precious manuscript added to their mountain-like slush piles? What are the best ways to keep track of all our submissions and query attempts?

Are you stressed out reading all these questions? Trying to get published can be but it doesn’t have to be.

Through a variety of writing, editing, and publishing support services, I am here to demystify the often nerve-racking, cloudy, and demoralizing process of publishing by gently guiding you every step of the way.