Author | Lightnews

Heather Garbo

@heathergarbo.bsky.social

310 followers 500 following 26 posts

Book coach + editor who works with women’s fiction writers (re)discovering their writing voices in midlife. WFWA Rising Star co-chair. Detroit-ish, MI ➡️ Denver, CO ➡️ Chapel Hill-ish, NC 🔵 garbobookcoaching.com https://writeyournextchapter.substack.com/

writeyournextchapter.substack.com

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Heather Garbo @heathergarbo.bsky.social · 10d

Thanks for sharing! 😊

Christopher Hennessy @thealtchris.bsky.social · Sep 8

This. Is. Amazing. What a list of resources, @heathergarbo.bsky.social !!

writeyournextchapter.substack.com/p/a-curated-...

A Curated Syllabus for Aspiring Novelists: 50+ Expert Posts to Build Your Own Masterclass on Substack

A Round-Up of Author, Editor, Book Coach & Literary Agent Guidance on Fiction Writing, Revising and The Writer's Mindset

writeyournextchapter.substack.com

Heather Garbo @heathergarbo.bsky.social · 10d

Glad it’s helpful! Thanks for sharing! 😊

Heather Garbo @heathergarbo.bsky.social · Jul 15

Thank you for sharing!

Reposted by Heather Garbo

P.S. Literary Agency @psliterary.bsky.social · Jun 26

"I'm on the hunt for a submission on misandry. I'm open to all categories and formats: essay collection, narrative nonfiction, short story collection with misandry as a common theme, memoir manifesto, etc."
CeCe Lyra #MSWL

psliterary.com/submissions/

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Reposted by Heather Garbo

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · Jun 25

If you’re zip-tying grandmas protesting losing health care maybe you’re not the good guys in the story?

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Reposted by Heather Garbo

Helen Lane @helenlane.bsky.social · Jun 25

I am now open to all the genres I represent through till 31st August. That includes: Fantasy, Sci Fi, Horror, Romance, Thriller, Action and Adventure, and YA Fantasy.

I look forward to reading your subs.

a white cat is laying on its back with the words gimme gimme written above it

ALT: a white cat is laying on its back with the words gimme gimme written above it

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Heather Garbo

P.S. Literary Agency @psliterary.bsky.social · Jun 18

"You Don't start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence." —Octavia E. Butler

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Heather Garbo @heathergarbo.bsky.social · Jun 19

This week I got to interview lit agent @ecniumata.bsky.social about pitching women’s fiction, female midlife protagonists, quiet stories, and what she hopes to acquire next! open.substack.com/pub/writeyou...

Literary Agent and Industry Veteran Erin Niumata on the Future of Women's Fiction

The Folio Literary Management Senior Vice President discusses pitching women’s fiction, female midlife protagonists, quiet stories, and what she’s currently hoping to acquire

open.substack.com

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Heather Garbo @heathergarbo.bsky.social · May 30

Such a thrill to be featured by Jennie Nash for doing this work that I love!

From Small Press Director to Book Coach

What is the path to becoming a book coach? Author Accelerator Certified book coaches answer 7 questions about their journey. Today, we feature Heather Garbo.

open.substack.com

Heather Garbo @heathergarbo.bsky.social · May 22

Is your weird girl fiction ready to query? One of these 12 literary agents might be your perfect match!

12 Literary Agents Who Want Your Weird Girl Fiction

Lately I’ve noticed an uptick in agent deals for what I was thinking of as “hot mess protagonists.” You know the ones…you see words like bizarre, twisted, perverse, obsessed, humiliated, or even unhin...

substack.com

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Heather Garbo @heathergarbo.bsky.social · May 17

I don’t understand why he thinks it’s necessary to put on his gravestone… Obvious to everyone who knows of him. 🙄

Heather Garbo @heathergarbo.bsky.social · May 12

What is Weird Girl Fiction and why is it seemingly so in demand right now? @karingillespie.bsky.social has the scoop…

The Quirky Genre That’s Sucking Up All the Oxygen and Other Surprises in This Week’s Deep Dive on Debut Book Deals.

Most everyone knows it’s a tough market, but what’s selling?

substack.com

Heather Garbo @heathergarbo.bsky.social · May 8

I’m only a few chapters into small press debut author Alexandria Faulkenbury’s new book, SOMEWHERE PAST THE END, but I’m already hooked! I loved doing this interview with her on her experiences working with a small press.

Interview with a Small Press Debut Author: Alexandria Faulkenbury (Plus Read Her Query Letter!)

Alexandria's Debut, Somewhere Past the End, Releases on May 20, 2025

open.substack.com

Heather Garbo @heathergarbo.bsky.social · Apr 17

Did you read the article in Jane Friedman’s newsletter on pitching women’s fiction? I have some additional thoughts…

Should You Stop Pitching Your Manuscript as Women’s Fiction?

What We’re Talking About When We Talk About Women’s Fiction

open.substack.com

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Heather Garbo @heathergarbo.bsky.social · Apr 5

Hey North Carolina friends! The NC court of appeals just upheld a challenge against the validity of 60,000 votes in the state’s Supreme Court election which means 60k people must reverify their votes for them to count. Check if you’re on the list at thegriffinlist.com. And please share!

The Griffin List

A list of 60,273 North Carolina voters – these are registered voters who showed ID to early vote in the November 2024 election – whose votes Jefferson Griffin wants to not be counted. ...

thegriffinlist.com

Heather Garbo @heathergarbo.bsky.social · Feb 28

Just a reminder…if you have a book emergency tomorrow, visit your local indie bookstore, order it through bookshop.org (also indies!), buy it used from ThriftBooks.com, or check it out from your library. And you can actually do this any day but especially tomorrow for #economicblackout.

Bookshop: Buy books online. Support local bookstores.

An online bookstore that financially supports local independent bookstores and gives back to the book community.

bookshop.org

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Reposted by Heather Garbo

Adam Kinzinger @adamkinzinger.substack.com · Feb 28

CALL TO ACTION: Call your representatives at (202) 224-3121 and ask what criteria they plan to use when “vetting” their constituents.

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Heather Garbo @heathergarbo.bsky.social · Feb 14

I analyzed 164 women’s fiction debut deals announced in 2024 to see what I could learn about which types of stories publishers were acquiring. Here’s what I found…

10 Insights I Learned from Analyzing the 2024 Women’s Fiction Debut Deals

'90s Nostalgia, Feminist Rage, and The Most Frequently Used Comp Titles

writeyournextchapter.substack.com

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Heather Garbo @heathergarbo.bsky.social · Jan 30

What’s the biggest leap you’ve ever taken? This year we made a cross-country move. We’d only visited once, knew no one and had no jobs there. Some days it’s hard, some days it’s exhilarating. You might think this has nothing to do with writing, but here’s why I’ve learned it totally does…

The Midlife Pivot: If Not Now, Then When?

What Do Moving Cross-Country and Writing Have in Common? A Lot More Than You'd Think

writeyournextchapter.substack.com

Heather Garbo @heathergarbo.bsky.social · Jan 27

Thank you! 😊 Most of the credit goes to my amazing designer!

Heather Garbo @heathergarbo.bsky.social · Jan 23

My first Write Your Next Chapter Substack is all about the insidious internalized beliefs that stifle our writing voices, which I’ve found is especially true for women writers. I know I’m guilty of doing some of these. How many ring true for you?

Are You Still Seeking Permission to Write?

The Insidious Internalized Beliefs that May Be Stifling Your Writing Voice

open.substack.com

Heather Garbo @heathergarbo.bsky.social · Jan 22

Yes! And thanks for letting me know… I’m not seeing it in either of my profiles though. Where did you see it? Definitely want to fix that so thank you!

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Heather Garbo @heathergarbo.bsky.social · Jan 20

And do we ever need that today!

Heather Garbo @heathergarbo.bsky.social · Jan 20

Yes! It’s been on my TBR forever and I started reading it 2 days ago. Exactly what I need right now.

Heather Garbo @heathergarbo.bsky.social · Jan 20

Yep. I reread Parable of the Sower so many times the first go around. Octavia knew. 😞