🎙 EPISODE 12 – You Can't Predict When Success Hits — But You Can Keep Showing Up

🎙 EPISODE 12 – You Can't Predict When Success Hits — But You Can Keep Showing Up

Most writers want to know the secret formula. Post at this time. Use these hashtags. Write this genre. Follow this strategy. But what if the real secret is simpler—and harder—than that? What if success isn’t about cracking a code, but about showing up for years without knowing when (or if) the breakthrough comes? Eric Falden and I talk about the uncomfortable truth behind every writing career that lasts: you can’t predict when success hits, but you can keep showing up anyway. Episode Overview In this episode, I sit down with Eric Falden—fantasy writer, serialist, and co-creator of collaborative fiction—to talk about the reality of building a writing career that takes longer than you planned. We dig into: Why you can’t predict what will take off or when it will happen The story of the YouTuber who randomly discovered Jaime’s work and bought him an entire audio studio Why serialization works for some writers and fails for others (and how to know which camp you’re in) The power of collaboration and having creative partners who push you How Eric and Ian Kirkpatrick co-write 50/50 fiction and make it work Why consistency beats virality every single time The mindset shift required to build for years without guaranteed results Eric shares his journey of writing short stories, building a serial, and planning to convert his Substack work into traditional books—all while navigating the uncertainty every indie author faces. This episode is for every writer who’s tired of chasing quick wins and ready to build something that lasts. Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe [https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

🎙 EPISODE 11 – The Algorithm Doesn't Hate You — It's Just Honest

Stop Blaming the Algorithm. It’s Not Sabotaging You. Writers love to blame algorithms. “The algorithm hates me.”“The algorithm buried my post.”“If only the algorithm would show my work...” Here’s the uncomfortable truth: The algorithm doesn’t care about you at all. It’s not out to get you. It’s not playing favorites. It’s doing exactly what it was designed to do—sell attention to the highest bidder and keep users scrolling. In this conversation with Simon K Jones—author of the long-running serial Tales from the Triverse and one of Substack’s most strategic fiction writers—we dismantle the myth that algorithms are the enemy, and expose the real reason writers can’t get traction: they’re chasing favor instead of building relationships. Simon has spent five years proving that you don’t need algorithmic blessing. You need consistency, direct reader access, and the guts to stop performing for platforms that will never love you back. This episode is for every writer who’s exhausted from trying to game systems that were never designed to help them in the first place. Episode Overview In this episode, I sit down with Simon K Jones to talk about the algorithm obsession that’s keeping writers trapped—and why the solution is to stop caring entirely. We explore: • Why writers think algorithms hate them (spoiler: they don’t—they just don’t care) • How social media platforms shifted from organic reach to pay-to-play models • Why blaming the algorithm is easier than admitting your work isn’t connecting • The difference between chasing algorithmic favor and building a real audience • How Substack bypasses the algorithm game entirely by owning reader relationships • Why Simon’s “Start Reading Here” strategy works better than any viral hack • The reality that discovery takes years—and why shortcuts don’t exist • Why writers who stop worrying about algorithms start building sustainable careers • Simon also shares the hard truth: you can’t control the algorithm, but you can control your consistency. This Episode Answers • Why do I feel like the algorithm is working against me? • Is there a way to “beat” the algorithm and get more visibility? • Should I even be using social media as a fiction author? • How do I build an audience if algorithms won’t show my work? • What platform actually works for writers who want to own their audience? • How long does it really take to build a sustainable writing career? Quick Favor Please take 10 seconds to leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps more writers find these conversations. For more material, visit us at JaimeBuckley.com [https://jaimebuckley.com] Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe [https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

🎙 EPISODE 10 – Confessions of the Nearly-Done Author

Host: Jaime Buckley 💎 Guest: Lisa Norman (Deleyna Marr)Topic: What actually keeps authors trapped in the nearly-done stage, and what truth are they avoiding about themselves?Music: “Feel Good” by raspberrymusic [https://pixabay.com/users/raspberrymusic-27759797/] Subscribe now [%%checkout_url%%] Finish The Book. Stop Worshipping “Almost.” “Nearly done” feels like progress. It feels safe. It feels responsible. It can also be a holding pattern that keeps your book out of readers’ hands for years. In this conversation with Lisa Norman (also writing as Deleyna Marr), we talk about why writers get addicted to endless polishing, why fear disguises itself as “craft,” and what a real publishing pipeline is supposed to do for you. This one is for every writer who has a manuscript “so close”…and a drawer full of them. Episode Overview In this episode, I sit down with Lisa Norman (Deleyna Marr), publisher, author, and longtime advocate for getting books across the finish line. We break down the psychology of the nearly-done trap, including why writers confuse revision with safety, why perfection is often just fear of judgment, and how the editing process exists to catch what you cannot catch alone. We also talk about the reality gap between what unpublished authors think “done” means and what “book in hand” actually requires, plus the different types of editing and why timing matters (developmental, copy, post-typeset). This Episode Covers • Why “nearly done” can become a creative trap• The mismatch between “done to me” and “done for readers”• Fear of judgment and the addiction to re-revising• Legit revision vs creative stalling, and how writers fool themselves• The editing pipeline explained: developmental, copy, typeset, post-typeset• Why bad editors exist, and why great editors are story technicians• Reviews, emotional derailment, and why one 3-star review can wreck a new author• Crowdsourcing edits through readers, and when that actually works• The uncomfortable truth: you never know what timing will make a book take off Highlights • “Define what done looks like” for pantsers, including word count and arc decisions• The map/timeline reality check: when a story breaks because the author never measured distance or time• The best finishing metric you never wanted: “When you hate the book, you are done.”• The emotional payoff of discovery, and why some writers love writing but not having written• A brutal warning about identity judgment: when people judge the author based on the characters• “Don’t die with your music still in you.” One of the best creative gut-punch stories I have heard in years Key Quotes “You have a voice, you have a story. People deserve to hear that.” — Lisa Norman “The editing process is part of the fun.” — Lisa Norman “When you hate the book, you are done.” — Lisa Norman Episode Goal To expose the real reason writers stay “almost finished,” and replace it with a sane definition of done plus a realistic view of how publishing actually works. Listeners should walk away with permission to ship, and a better mental model for revision that does not become avoidance. From Jaime Most writers think “almost done” is progress. It can be.It can also be the safest place to hide, because no one can judge what you never release. Your book cannot help anyone from a drawer. Quick Favor Please take 10 seconds to leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps more writers find these conversations. “Real writers. Real conversations. No masks. No ego. Subscribe.” Subscribe now [%%checkout_url%%] Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe [https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

🎙 EPISODE 9 – Imposter Syndrome Isn’t The Problem — Who You Think You Are Is

🎙 EPISODE 9 – What If “Imposter Syndrome” Isn’t the Problem…Identity Is?Visiting with Jon Howski. Most writers don’t stall because they’re untalented. They stall because their identity turns every page into a verdict. In this episode, Jaime Buckley sits down with Jon Howski (storyteller and software developer) to unpack what “imposter syndrome” is really made of: fear, comfort zones, old damage, and the pressure to earn the right to create. What we cover: • Why “I feel like a fraud” is usually fear in a costume • “Writer” vs “Storyteller” (and why that shift matters) • How real wins build real confidence (without fake hype) • Multi-potentialites, focus, and the comfort-zone trap A practical runway for building readers before going full-time For the full show notes, key quotes, links, and the deeper breakdown, visit the main podcast page on Substack:Nothing About This Is Safe (Jaime Buckley) — Episode 9 [https://www.jaimebuckley.com/p/e9-imposter-syndrome-isnt-the-problem]. [https://www.jaimebuckley.com/p/e9-imposter-syndrome-isnt-the-problem] Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe [https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

🎙 EPISODE 8 – How Do Fiction Authors Use Ideas Without Hiding From the Work?

Writing Is Creative. Selling Is Awkward. Let’s Talk Anyway. Most fiction writers don’t mind doing the work.What they struggle with is everything that comes after. In this conversation with Ann Kimbrough, we talk candidly about the unglamorous, often uncomfortable reality of selling creative work — platforms, payment systems, community, exposure, and the quiet pressure to “do marketing” without knowing what that actually means. This isn’t a strategy episode.It’s a reality check. Episode Overview In this episode, I sit down with Ann Kimbrough, author of The Harvey Girl Mysteries and Darkly, for a wide-ranging conversation about monetization, platforms, and sustainability for fiction authors. We talk through real experiences with Substack, Shopify, Payhip, and eCommerce in general — what works, what feels wrong, and why so many writers struggle to reconcile selling with authenticity. Along the way, we explore community-driven growth, writing sprints, reader support, exposure vs conversion, and why “value” is often misunderstood in creative spaces. This episode sounds like two working writers thinking out loud — because that’s exactly what it is. This Episode Covers • Shopify vs Payhip vs Substack for fiction authors• Selling books without feeling manipulative• Why exposure is still the real bottleneck• The myth of “value” in paid subscriptions• Community as support, not a funnel• Writing sprints and shared accountability• Why slow growth can still be healthy growth• Real marketing stories that didn’t go as planned Highlights • Ann’s perspective on readers supporting people, not products• Why giving work away isn’t the same as having no value• The tension between visibility and sustainability• A candid Barnes & Noble marketing story• How community fills gaps platforms don’t Key Quote “People don’t subscribe for the stories. They subscribe to support the person.” — Ann Kimbrough Episode Goal To demystify the uncomfortable middle ground between writing and selling — and help authors feel less alone while figuring it out. Listeners should walk away knowing they’re not broken for finding this part hard. From Jaime Nobody gets into fiction because they want to build checkout pages. But if you want to keep writing, you eventually have to face the money side — imperfectly, awkwardly, and honestly. That’s what this conversation is. Quick Favor: Please take 10 seconds to leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps more writers discover these conversations. “Real writers. Real conversations. No masks. No ego. Subscribe.” Join Us If this conversation challenged you, don’t stop here: → Free Article: Ideas Aren’t the Problem — Avoidance Is [https://www.jaimebuckley.com/p/ideas-arent-the-problem-avoidance-is]→ Paid Deep Dive: How Fiction Authors Stop Using Ideas as an Escape Hatch [https://www.jaimebuckley.com/p/how-fiction-authors-stop-using-ideas-as-an-escape-hatch] Share [%%share_url%%] Leave a comment [%%half_magic_comments_url%%] ABOUT THIS PODCAST Nothing About This Is Safe is a weekly writing-truth podcast hosted by Jaime Buckley, featuring candid conversations with working authors. We talk about craft, mindset, platforms, money, and the realities writers face once the writing itself is done. No hype. No formulas. Just real conversations about what it takes to keep going. Show notes updated for accuracy on January 16th, 2026. Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe [https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]