Get Writing Podcast

I’m so happy to be back! I’ve been on a short break from the podcast—finishing a book, trying to stay focused, and, honestly, wrestling with what it means to keep making art when the world feels heavy. I’ve caught myself wondering whether talking about creativity and writing and books is indulgent… or beside the point. What I keep coming back to is this: creating isn’t frivolous. It’s resistance. Paying attention, telling stories, making meaning—this is how we stay human. So I’m back after a short sabbatical, and I couldn’t have picked a better conversation to return with. In this episode, I’m joined by author and communications professional John David, whose debut novel The Bystander launched just weeks before we recorded. We talk honestly about the part of the writing life that doesn’t get romanticized: what happens after launch, how it feels to market your own work, the long silence of querying, and how to keep going when there’s no magic formula. This is a conversation about persistence, patience, and staying in the work—even when it feels uncomfortable or uncertain. In this episode, we talk about: • Coming back to creativity as resistance and meaning-making • The question every author has after launch: What’s next? • Why marketing often feels like selling one book at a time • The strange truth: it’s easier to market everyone else’s work than your own • How a career in communications shaped John’s fiction writing • Why journalists make compelling investigators—and compelling characters • Mystery vs. thriller, and why genre lines are increasingly blurred • Why not every mystery needs to start with a murder • The reality of querying agents and hearing nothing back • Turning down the wrong offer—and why fit matters more than validation • Finding the right publishing home through an independent press • Writing into a three-book deal and learning to live with deadlines About the book The Bystander is a mystery with thriller elements inspired by a real-world event. When a journalist captures a viral act of violence on camera, everything that follows isn’t quite what it seems—and the deeper he digs, the more complicated the truth becomes. Find John David John writes on Substack at https://byjohndavid.substack.com/, where he shares reflections on writing, publishing, and the behind-the-scenes reality of building a fiction career. If you enjoy long-form, thoughtful essays about the writing life, his Substack pairs naturally with the conversations we have here—and with the kinds of reflections I share on my own Substack as well. The Bystander is available wherever books are sold and can be ordered through your local bookstore. If you’re in the middle of the writing life—querying, launching, wondering if your work is “good enough,” or asking yourself why you keep going—this episode is for you. Thanks for being here. And if you needed the reminder: making art still matters. Keep writing. Listen + Subscribe You can listen to this episode of Get Writing with Liz Mugavero wherever you get your podcasts. Remember to: • Hit follow/subscribe • Leave a quick rating or review • Share the episode with a writer friend who needs a reminder not to give up 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.