Heather Garbo
@heathergarbo.bsky.social
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/
Detroit-ish, MI ➡️ Denver, CO ➡️ Chapel Hill-ish, NC 🔵
garbobookcoaching.com https://writeyournextchapter.substack.com/
Thanks for sharing! 😊
This. Is. Amazing. What a list of resources, @heathergarbo.bsky.social !!
writeyournextchapter.substack.com/p/a-curated-...
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
October 16, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Thanks for sharing! 😊
Reposted by Heather Garbo
"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/
CeCe Lyra #MSWL
psliterary.com/submissions/
June 26, 2025 at 5:49 PM
"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/
CeCe Lyra #MSWL
psliterary.com/submissions/
Reposted by Heather Garbo
If you’re zip-tying grandmas protesting losing health care maybe you’re not the good guys in the story?
June 25, 2025 at 9:51 PM
If you’re zip-tying grandmas protesting losing health care maybe you’re not the good guys in the story?
Reposted by Heather Garbo
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.
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
June 25, 2025 at 11:50 AM
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.
I look forward to reading your subs.
Reposted by Heather Garbo
"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
June 18, 2025 at 7:11 PM
"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
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
June 19, 2025 at 9:08 PM
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...
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
May 30, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Such a thrill to be featured by Jennie Nash for doing this work that I love!
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
May 22, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Is your weird girl fiction ready to query? One of these 12 literary agents might be your perfect match!
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
May 12, 2025 at 12:15 PM
What is Weird Girl Fiction and why is it seemingly so in demand right now? @karingillespie.bsky.social has the scoop…
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
May 8, 2025 at 11:55 PM
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.
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
April 17, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Did you read the article in Jane Friedman’s newsletter on pitching women’s fiction? I have some additional thoughts…
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
April 5, 2025 at 3:25 PM
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!
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
February 28, 2025 at 1:48 AM
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.
Reposted by Heather Garbo
CALL TO ACTION: Call your representatives at (202) 224-3121 and ask what criteria they plan to use when “vetting” their constituents.
February 28, 2025 at 12:54 AM
CALL TO ACTION: Call your representatives at (202) 224-3121 and ask what criteria they plan to use when “vetting” their constituents.
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
February 14, 2025 at 6:12 PM
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…
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
January 30, 2025 at 4:30 PM
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…
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
January 23, 2025 at 5:26 PM
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?
Hey writers, #MSWL Day is coming to Bluesky this Feb 12! See details below…
Hello Writing Community! We are delighted to announce our First Official Bluesky *** #MSWL Day *** February 12, 2025. 🎉🎉🎉
Agents + editors can post what they ✨wish✨ they had in their inboxes; writers can find their next best fit for querying.
Learn more here: manuscriptwishlist.com/the-next-off...
Agents + editors can post what they ✨wish✨ they had in their inboxes; writers can find their next best fit for querying.
Learn more here: manuscriptwishlist.com/the-next-off...
The Next Official #MSWL Day: February 12, 2025 – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website
manuscriptwishlist.com
January 16, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Hey writers, #MSWL Day is coming to Bluesky this Feb 12! See details below…
Reposted by Heather Garbo
"Tolerance becomes a crime when applied to evil."
Thomas Mann
Thomas Mann
December 14, 2024 at 1:13 PM
"Tolerance becomes a crime when applied to evil."
Thomas Mann
Thomas Mann
Reposted by Heather Garbo
“We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist”
James Baldwin
James Baldwin
December 14, 2024 at 1:14 PM
“We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist”
James Baldwin
James Baldwin