By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

• What is a beach read?
• 12 beach reads to enjoy all year from anywhere
• How to get the most out of a beach read (even when you're not on the beach)

What is a beach read?

Discover the major steps of the writing process, why they matter, and how to personalize the process to produce your best work.

By Julie Tyler, Creator of StoryBold 

CONTENTS:

• What is the writing process?
• What are the steps of the writing process?
• Why is the writing process worth going through?
• FAQ

What is the writing process?

The writing process refers to a step-by-step method writers use to complete a single writing project, from idea to finished product. 

In your experience as a writer, you might complete a variety of projects, including:

• Short works like essays, poems, or stories
• Long works like novels, memoirs, or a self-help book

The writing process begins with that first moment of inspiration and goes all the way to the moment you make your work available to readers. Following a process means that you plan what to do first, second and so forth, so that each step logically follows the one before it and helps you complete the next step with greater ease. By mas...

A soulful, strategic guide to writing a book with purpose, no matter where you are in your writing journey.

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

• Introduction: writing a book in 2025
• The book-writing guide you've been looking for
• Soul + strategy: writing a book from the inside out
• When to pivot (and when to stay the course)
• Gathering more book-writing support

Introduction: writing a book in 2025

The desire to write a book can strike at any point in life. Some of us know from a young age that we have a book, or several, inside us. Others of us are called to the page later, perhaps after a cataclysmic life event that changes us forever, or after developing a body of knowledge we want to share with readers who are ready to learn. Sometimes this desire starts with a whisper of a fictional story that won’t leave us alone, one that awakens the inner storyteller in us all.

I've experienced it all and can tell you there's nothing quite like the writing journey. It's full of inspiration t...

Design your ideal reading nook on any budget. Discover unique ideas, creative approaches, and vibey tips to escape into your next read.   

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

• What is a reading nook and what makes one so powerful?
• The vibe of a reading nook, wherever you are 
• Reading nook ideas for every budget and space
• The right book for the right nook

What is a reading nook and what makes one so powerful?

A reading nook is more than just a stylish corner of your home. It’s a dedicated space that invites you to slow down, sink in, and get lost in a book. At its best, a reading nook offers a sense of immersion, stillness, and sanctuary. It helps you tune out the distractions of daily life and tune into the world of the story.

Have you ever thought about the psychology behind why reading nooks work? When you're physically comfortable, your body relaxes and allows your mind to focus. Some readers feel best curled up on a cushioned chair, wrapped in a blanket, and sipping tea in to...

Some book ideas choose you, even when the timing feels all wrong. Learn what happens when you resist, explore, and ultimately say yes.

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

• How a book idea found me

• Seeing the story through someone else’s eyes

• From resistance to clarity

• Owning the story as mine

• Saying yes to the idea I didn’t ask for

• Writing the story while living it

How a book idea found me

Writers love talking about book ideas. There are so many methods to summon them, like journaling, using writing prompts, or simply observing your surroundings. In these instances, when inspiration comes from within, it's easy to take ownership of the ideas and feel connected to them from the start. 

But what do you do with the book ideas that find you? The ideas that come to you from someone else's mouth instead of your own mind? The ideas you can't claim as your own, but somehow seem destined for your ears and your writing desk? What do you do when the ideas seem to c...

Wondering if you need a book editor? Learn what book editors really do in 2025 and how to find the right one to bring your manuscript to life.

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

Contents:

• Book editing: defining the role
• Benefits of having a book editor (even in the age of AI)
• Types of editors for books
• Do I need a book editor? 7 ways to tell 
• How much does it cost to hire a book editor?
• How to hire a book editor

Book editing: defining the role in 2025

A book editor helps you prepare your manuscript for publication. As the publishing landscape evolves, so does the role of a book editor. In 2025, editors help with polishing language and ensuring consistency across a text, as well as offer more strategic input on structure, voice, and marketability. 

Depending on their specific role and focus area, editors offer varying levels of involvement in a text:

• At the deepest level, an editor might help you develop your book idea from the ground up and stay with you through the entire writing p...

Discover self-help books that go beyond the usual picks and explore the self-help genre as a whole to unlock lasting impact, personal growth, and fresh perspectives.

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

• What are self-help books? (And why I stopped rolling my eyes at them)
• 45 self-help books to fuel your growth and reimagine your life 
• How to approach self-help books: a reading guide for lasting impact
• Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about self-help books

What are self-help books? (And why I stopped rolling my eyes at them)

Self-help books are written to empower readers to improve an area of their lives or solve a problem through insights, strategies, and actionable guidance. The genre spans a wide range of categories—relationships, health, finance, productivity, mindset, and more—and is often marketed as “self-improvement” or "personal growth," with the idea that a motivated reader can make meaningful change simply by reading and applying what’s in the book.

Depending on who you...

Follow my story of getting—and eventually parting ways with—a literary agent, and the empowering lessons I learned about finding the right creative partner for your book.

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

• Beyond the yes
• Part one: the dream
• Part two: the drift
• Part three: the tough decision
• The most important lessons

Beyond the yes: a candid look at getting (and saying goodbye to) a literary agent

Getting a literary agent is a dream for so many writers. For years, it was mine too.

I’d bought into the idea—common in many writing circles—that traditional publishing was the way to be taken seriously, to reach readers at scale, and to prove I was good enough. I wasn’t actively investigating other publishing avenues. I had, in many ways, brushed them aside.

In the years leading up to signing with an agent, I’d test-pitched dozens of agents in person at conferences. In almost every case, they expressed interest and personally invited me to query and send sample pages. So by the tim...

Discover how to find and work with literary agents and explore smart, actionable paths to publication in this empowering guide for authors.

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

• What is a literary agent?
• What does a literary agent do?
• Do you need a literary agent?
• How to get a literary agent: 4 key steps
• Author-agent fit and shifting the power dynamic
• Getting published without an agent 

What is a literary agent? 

A literary agent is a publishing industry professional who represents authors and their work to publishers. Writers often think of agents as gatekeepers, given that they serve as the primary point of access to many traditional publishers, especially the larger houses that do not accept unsolicited manuscripts. But they are much more than gatekeepers. Landing an agent means you've recruited a champion for your work, someone who'll use their industry expertise and networks to advocate for your story in a competitive marketplace.

You can also think of literary agents as bu...

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

• Why we seek out the "best books of all time"
• Self-discovery quiz: What kind of reader are you? 
• 60 of the best books of all time, categorized by what you're looking for
• How to rethink your own "best books" list

Why we seek out the "best books of all time"