Ever wonder why some writers’ retreats and book conferences leave you feeling inspired but stuck?

In this episode of Kind of a Big Book Deal, Meghan Stevenson gets real about why so much advice out there won’t actually help you land a traditional publishing deal—and what will. Megan shares three crucial lessons for getting the right help for your book journey: finding experts who truly specialize, being wary of vague promises from conferences and memberships, and doing real due diligence before investing time or money.

If you're an entrepreneur or expert dreaming of a big book deal, this episode is a must-listen to avoid wasting energy, money, and momentum.

Find the Avoid Hiring a Hack freebie here: https://meghanstevenson.kit.com/491a80fe49

Episode Highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(1:21) Why desperate advice-seeking can backfire
(2:49) Ski lift story: People crave real publishing help
(4:01) Lesson 1: Publishing experts specialize
(6:16) Lesson 2: Why writers’ conferences usually fail
(8:11) Scams, misinformation, and opportunists
(10:54) How to assess real vs vague promises
(13:41) Lesson 3: Check the expert’s receipts
(15:58) Risks of working with unqualified book coaches
(18:27) How to truly vet publishing help
(20:44) Final recap: Specialization, skepticism, receipts
(22:10) Real success stories are collaborative
(23:55) Outro

Follow Meghan:

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• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megstevenson
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanstevenson/
• TikTok: @meghan.stevenson.books
• Website: https://www.meghanstevenson.com/

Have a great idea for a book but don't know where to start?MeghanStevenson.com/quiz


Traditional publishing expert Meghan Stevenson blasts open the gates of the “Big 5” – Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, and Macmillan – to share what every entrepreneur and expert needs to know about landing a book deal.

In episodes released every other Monday, Meghan shares wisdom and stories from 20+ years in publishing as well as interviews with authors, literary agents, and editors. She also answers questions from listeners like you.

Whether you are an experienced entrepreneur with an empire, or are just starting out – this podcast will help you understand what you need to do in order to turn your dream of being a bestselling author into real life.