The No BS Guide to Writing (& Selling) Your First Book: An Author's Hustle
About this audiobook
Stephen King said "most books about writing are filled with bullsh*t." True. Most are self-indulgent anecdotes or a byproduct of CEO ghost writers. But not this one.
The No Bullsh*t Guide for Writing (& Selling) Your First Book: An Author's Hustle is a straightforward writing guide for those with a story to tell, self-starters and late bloomers, and anyone willing to gain practical expertise without the snobbery or advanced degree. Whether you're a creative gunning for best-seller fan-fiction, an entrepreneur giving advice, or a family member preserving history, the goal is to write something worth reading.
Executive Producer of The Sandlot, Chris Zarpas, says “DeFonzo’s considerable ability as a writer is matched only by her ability to sell.”
"Award-winning author and professor Alicia DeFonzo delivers a clear-eyed, brutally honest guide for aspiring writers with her latest release" -- Medium
“Essential reading for anyone even thinking about becoming an author in the 21st century world of publishing"
--Peter Adams of The Insurrectionist
“I wish I had known the lessons DeFonzo outlines in this book. Read it and use these great techniques.”
--Best-selling author David Crow, The Pale-Faced Lie
This accelerated guidebook doesn't just kickstart your writing journey, it prepares you for the last leg: how to position your work, build credibility, and grasp the modern publishing landscape. You're writing could be beautiful, but if you don't know the industry, your story will stay on the page. You'll hear a lot of people talk, but the fact is, they don't know how publishing operates. Don't listen to them. Get the facts and advice from an author who's been through the process.
The No Bullsh*t Guide contains 10 condensed lessons, recommended readings, podcasts, assignments, author resources, and checklists which streamline the writing, research, and creative process. I recommend one lesson per week or month. What matters most is consistency.
How bad do you want this?
If you're looking for an easy road, this isn't it. If you're waiting for more hours in the day, you'll never start. But if you're in, you're in.
Inside, you’ll discover:
The importance of strong plotting and character development
How to revise your manuscript like a pro
Strategies for handling rejection—and using it as fuel
Key differences between traditional publishing and small presses
What literary agents are really looking for
Curated checklists, podcast recommendations, and essential author resources
Discover more
About the author
Alicia DeFonzo is an award-winner professor and author of the WWII nonfiction narrative The Time Left Between Us (Potomac Books, 2022). Featured on CNBC and NPR, DeFonzo has been the literary guest for the 80th anniversary of D-Day ceremonies in Normandy as well as the Battle of the Bulge celebration by the Ambassador of Luxembourg. Library Journal calls her debut book “a deeply personal venture but also one of significant importance now and for all future generations to learn from.”
DeFonzo is currently adapting her book to a limited TV series, a Winner at the Cannes World Film Awards 2024. Her screenwriting has received multiple accolades from Netflix, Disney, MAX, and Marvel Universe jurors at Austin Film Festival (2024), UK Film Awards (2024 & 2025), and Lonely Wolf (2024). A Senior Lecturer of Writing and Literature at Old Dominion University and former Fulbright Specialist, she is a frequent literary guest and contributing writer to NPR programs and regional expert on banned books and literary censorship.
