Writing Compelling Fiction

Every successful author you admire has a story they don’t usually share — the publisher who dropped them, the genre that stopped selling, and the moment they had to decide whether to quit or start over.

Bestselling author Donna Jones Alward chose to start over. In this candid conversation, she opens up about imposter syndrome, the fear of failure, what it felt like to lose her publisher, and how she rebuilt her career from scratch. That's the topic of this week's Writing Compelling Fiction podcast, available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.

If you've ever wondered if you have what it takes to make it as an author, this is for you! The writers who succeed aren’t those who never fall; they’re the ones who learn how to get back up.

In this video, discover:
* What imposter syndrome really looks like for a working author
* The truth about losing a publisher (and what comes next)
* How Donna pivoted from romance to historical fiction — and why it was terrifying
* What starting over teaches you about your writing career.

💬 Drop a comment below — have you ever had to start over? I’d love to hear your story!

My interview with Donna Jones Alward, Author on my podcast dove into lots of great topics--starting over in a new genre, pen names, the difference between writing romance and historical fiction, and how to be creative without being focused on the money. Look for the Writing Compelling Fiction podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple, and all major podcasting platforms!

We were out in the community this week—and my heart is full! Today I, Shirley Jump, Author , had the, honor of attending WISH (Women Inspired by Solving Hunger), a dynamic coalition of women leaders committed to ending hunger by raising awareness, fostering collaboration and driving impactful solutions. Watching Feeding Tampa Bay in action reminds me why we do what we do.

Nearly one million people in our community are just one layoff, tragedy or disaster away from needing assistance. Food alone won’t solve hunger; household financial instability is at the heart of the issue. Feeding Tampa Bay tackles both the symptoms and the root causes through interventive programs for today, providing food and immediate relief, and preventative programs for tomorrow that connect families to sustainable support and opportunity. In 2024–2025, they delivered products and services valued at over $445 million, while donors contributed over $260 million—a testament to the power of this community.

As VP of Building Success Productions, I’m proud that our team gets to partner with Feeding Tampa Bay on their “Stick a Fork in It” podcast. We recently produced an episode featuring Ty Pennington (yes, from Extreme Home Makeover!), link in the comments!

Moments like today remind me that storytelling isn’t just marketing; it’s a way to amplify the voices of those solving real problems and to rally our neighbors around the mission. Thank you, Feeding Tampa Bay and WISH, for letting us be part of your story ❤️

I've been on that dock--literally and figuratively--dozens of times in my career (and during triathlons) so I totally related to Wes's words during my interview with Elite Rewards for the Elite Advantage podcast. You need to learn to feel the fear...and do it anyway (whether that's writing or triathlons or anything in life).

I've done a half Ironman, but Wes Rasmussen at Elite Rewards has done a full. In my interview with him for his Elite Advantage Podcast, we talked fear, failure, and getting up again. I have felt exatly as he did more than once on this journey, so I thought I'd share this for anyone else who's having doubt or setbacks. Feel the fear...and do it anyway (my motto for writing and triathlons!).

Learning this one thing changed everything about how I plot a book. Do you struggle with the internal or external plot the most? Watch the full video on my YouTube channel. Link in bio.

I struggled to sell my first book for a LONG time because I hadn't cracked the code on Plot. Making this realization changed everything for me. Catch the full video on my YouTube channel (link in bio).

This was an honest, open conversation with Mandy Jump from Funayūrei about addiction, trauma, and how all that bleeds into your writing. Plus, how to LET it bleed into your writing (because let's face it; that stuff is hard to do). Watch the full episode on my YouTube channel!

If it sounds so simple, why is it so hard? Watch the full episode on my YouTube channel! Link in bio!

Sometimes, being successful isn't defined by your accolades but by your impact. This was a moment that drove that lesson home for me and changed everything about the way I see the word "success."

Too much time in the past can keep your story stuck there.