An Inside Look at Traditional Publishing with Lauren Marie Fleming and Richelle Fredson

What if the book you’re trying to write is actually the wrong one? In this episode of Kind of a Big Book Deal, Meghan Stevenson sits down with publishing experts Lauren Marie Fleming and Richelle Fredson for an honest, no-fluff conversation about what it really takes to write a meaningful book and navigate traditional publishing without losing yourself along the way. Together, they challenge the obsession with trends, hacks, and overnight success. Instead, they make a compelling case for writing the book you needed years ago, not the one you think the market wants tomorrow. The conversation unpacks why lived experience matters more than credentials, why comparison quietly derails writers, and why most great books are built through patience, resilience, and community. They also pull back the curtain on common misconceptions about traditional publishing, including money myths, platform pressure, and predatory shortcuts that leave authors burned out or regretful. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, expert, or creative with a book idea, this episode offers grounded guidance on choosing the right path, trusting your voice, and committing to the long game with clarity and confidence. If you’ve been stuck overthinking, waiting for permission, or chasing the “right” way to do this, this conversation will help you refocus on what actually moves the needle. This week’s guests are Lauren Marie Fleming and Richelle Fredson. Lauren Marie Fleming (xe/her) is a multimedia storyteller and the founder of School for Writers®. Her work explores power, desire, resilience, and the stories we tell about our bodies and our lives. Xe is the author of the queer rom-com Because Fat Girl and multiple nonfiction books, including Bawdy Love: 10 Steps to Profoundly Loving Your Body and The Writer’s Career Guide. Through School for Writers®, Lauren helps storytellers reconnect with their creativity, build resilience, and make writing feel less intimidating—and a lot more doable. A graduate of film school and law school, Lauren has produced and overseen multimedia content for major stages and audiences, including two years as a Creative Content Producer for Tony Robbins. Xe has been featured in Good Morning America, Glamour, and Cosmo, and has written for VICE, Curve, and The Huffington Post. As a speaker, Lauren has presented at universities and conferences including Yale, Brown, and Cal Poly. A lover of a good story, Lauren will try almost anything once—as long as it’s gluten-free. When not traveling, xe can be found walking her dog along the beach in San Diego listening to an audiobook. Learn more at LaurenMarieFleming.com or SchoolForWriters.com. Find her free Creative Resilience Toolkit at https://schoolforwriters.com/creative.... Her 33 Asks program can be found at https://33asks.com and her Write Your Friggin’ Book Already ® program is at https://writeyourfrigginbookalready.com. Find Lauren on social www.instagram.com/laurenmariefleming laurenfarmiefleming.substack.com – Richelle Fredson is a book publishing coach and consultant working with aspiring and published authors to create impactful book concepts and competitive book proposals. Richelle’s clients have amassed over $6 million in book advances from top publishers. Her recent clients include Farnoosh Torabi, Shadé Zahrai, Chrissy King, Vanessa Marin, Chika Uwazie, and many more. In addition to book consulting, Richelle also serves as a creative development consultant for clients growing their promotional platforms, starting podcasts, or bringing new creative products into their businesses. Richelle is the host of the Forbes-featured Bound + Determined podcast, where she interviews industry experts, authors, and creative business owners. She’s also the creator of The Book Proposal Blueprint Program. Formerly, Richelle was the Director of Publicity & Book Marketing for Hay House, also serving in Acquisitions. Richelle is writing her first book, Do the Thing: A Creative and Practical Guide for Women Bringing Their Big, Bold Ideas to Life (Hachette, Spring 2027). Learn more at Richellefredson.com. Find Richelle on social www.instagram.com/RichelleFredson Episode Highlights: (0:00) Intro (1:37) Meet the publishing experts and their backgrounds (5:02) Mission-driven authors and meaningful book ideas (7:52) Green flags when working with book coaches (14:30) Red flags that derail authors early (22:39) The danger of comparison and get-rich-quick thinking (25:30) Why publishers want your take, not reinvention (27:24) The biggest myths about traditional publishing (30:22) Choosing between traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing (34:09) Why writing what you’ve done beats writing what you want (37:50) Approval-seeking vs. confident partnership energy (55:05) Practical advice for entrepreneurs who want a book deal (58:01) Why resilience matters more than talent (1:13:20) Outro