Guest: Lisa Norman ( a.k.a.
) — writer, editor, and creator of The Joy Project, a new project being developed to help creatives rediscover joy in their craft.Can we be honest for a second?
Most of us judged our entire future as writers based on the limp performance of our first project.
We launched that debut book, blog, or series… and when it didn’t explode, we quietly decided maybe we weren’t cut out for this.
That’s the lie Lisa and I tackled this week: the idea that limited early success equals lifetime mediocrity.
No. That’s not a thing.
Lisa dropped something powerful in this episode…a reminder that the first project isn’t the finish line. It’s the first brick in the staircase. You don’t step off the block you just built.
You step up.
We dug into why creatives stop too soon, why some of us confuse silence for failure, and how easy it is to forget that feedback doesn’t mean worth.
At one point, I said something I’ve been telling my writer friends for years:
“Nothing will work for you if you suck.”
It’s true…but Lisa called me on it (and she was right to). Because some of you are great at what you do. You’re just stuck in that weird headspace where no results starts sounding like no talent.
This whole conversation was about pulling writers out of that trap…finding small wins, creating feedback loops, and remembering that a “quiet audience” doesn’t mean you’re shouting into the void. Sometimes readers just forget to talk back. (If you like a book? Leave a review. Three sentences. It matters more than you think.)
Lisa also shared her idea for The Joy Project, a creative movement that shifts focus from “making it” to making meaning. Honestly, that’s the kind of energy I want in this community…less chasing six-figure promises, more rediscovering the joy that got us here in the first place.
We swapped stories about our readers, about the weird power of a three-star review that still makes your day, and how community can save your sanity when success feels invisible.
And of course, there was laughter, tangents, and one completely off-the-rails story involving Death, a nun, and my audio playing at the worst possible time.
Yeah… you’ll just have to hear that one for yourself.
Key Takeaways
Early results don’t define your trajectory.
“Don’t suck” just means keep growing.
Great writers can still get stuck in silence.
Small wins rebuild momentum faster than big goals.
Reviews aren’t vanity — they’re lifelines.
Community isn’t cheerleading; it’s truth-telling with kindness.
Stuff We Mentioned
Ami Hicken King’s article on how to write book reviews (Writers in the Storm)
Scoot’s Flash Fiction Fridays — bite-sized storytelling with heart and guts
Join Us
If this episode made you rethink your own “I must suck” narrative…good. That means you’re still in the fight.
Come hang out on JaimeBuckley.com where we’re building a space for honest writers who want to get better, not bitter.
And if you want the deep-dive follow-up essay, “When You Think You Suck (But Don’t),” it’s waiting for you on the paid tier.
“Tag me and the guest on Substack with your favorite quote from the episode — we’ll reshare the best ones.”
