“Don’t let somebody else tell you no until you’ve exhausted every avenue.”
When I heard this advice from author Liz Alterman, I actually sat back in my chair.
Because it’s So. True. In fact, it is the key to success in this author life—persistence, intuition and an almost ridiculous belief in yourself and the project that keeps you up at night.
Liz Alterman is a novelist and essayist whose work ranges from psychological thrillers to rom- coms and memoir. We talk about how she’s navigated the rollercoaster of agents, rejections, indie publishing, and trusting her creative instincts—plus what happens when the “wrong” killer turns out to be the right one.
This one’s a love letter to persistence, self-belief and the weird, wonderful process of being a writer—whether you’re 3,000 words in or deep in a series. Also: goats, cats and the occasional suburban meal-train rivalry.
We cover ALL OF IT:
- What it really takes to claim “writer” as your identity
- Liz’s merry-go-round ride with different agents and how it led to a deep belief in herself and her work
- Navigating agents, rejections, and alternative publishing paths
- Building better writing habits that fit real life
- Trusting your gut when feedback is conflicting
- How to find humor in dark stories
- Substack experiments, marketing without losing your soul…and of course, cats
If you’re wondering why your own writing career doesn’t go neatly from point A to point B… this episode is for you.
Favorite Quotes:
- “Are you writing for two gatekeepers—or thousands of readers?”
- “This isn’t a pan of brownies; it’s a year of my life.”
- “If feedback doesn’t feel true in your body, it’s a no.”
About Liz Alterman:
Liz Alterman is a multi-genre author and journalist based in New Jersey. Her novels include You Shouldn’t Have Done That, The Perfect Neighborhood, He’ll Be Waiting, The House on Cold Creek Lane, and the memoir Sad Sacked. Her rom-com Claire Casey’s Had Enough lands June 3, 2025. She also writes essays, humor, and freelance pieces for publications like Parade Pets.
Connect:
You can find everything Liz here.
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.