When I signed with my first agent back in 2011, I really thought I’d made it. I had a contract, someone finally said yes to my work, and I figured from here on out, it would all just… flow.
Write books, publish books, repeat. Easy, right?
Yeah. No. That’s not how it works.
Every milestone in publishing just opens a new set of questions. The middle of a writing career is this weird mix of gratitude and uncertainty—you’re not the shiny new debut anymore, but you’re not the household name with a dozen contracts either. You’re somewhere in between, still showing up, still hustling, still trying to figure out what success even looks like now.
That’s what I’m digging into in this episode with my friend Korina Moss, Agatha Award– winning author of The Cheese Shop Mysteries. After six books, a loyal fan base, and all the recognition you’d hope for, her series came to an end—and she’s been really open about what that’s been like.
We talk about what happens when your career takes a turn you didn’t see coming, how to find your footing again, and why community and resilience are everything when you’re stuck in the middle.
If you’ve ever looked around and thought, Wait a second—wasn’t this supposed to get easier by now? …you’re going to feel seen in this one.
What We Talk About
- The myth of “making it” in publishing
- What really happens when a successful series ends
- The grief, relief, and recalibration that follow
- Burnout, deadlines, and learning to set boundaries
- Shifting genres and re-learning how to write again
- The good and bad of social media for authors
- How to stay connected to readers without losing yourself
- Why community is what makes perseverance possible
- My Takeaway
The middle isn’t failure—it’s feedback. It’s part of the deal. You’re allowed to pause. You’re allowed to want something different. You’re allowed to protect your energy, your health, and your joy—even when the world tells you to keep producing.
If you’re in the in-between right now, I get it. It’s uncomfortable and uncertain, but it’s not the end. You’re not the only one figuring it out, and you’ll find your footing again—probably sooner than you think.
Connect
Find Korina Moss on Instagram @korinamossauthor or visit korinamossauthor.com.
You can also follow the Get Writing podcast on all platforms and join my newsletter at lizmugavero.substack.com for creative rituals, seasonal challenges, and behind-the-scenes stories.
And if you’re craving a little more support, come hang out with me inside The Creativity Lab— it’s where we write together, keep each other accountable, and make space for the kind of progress that actually feels good.