Welcome to the Misfits & Daydreamers…
A place to learn about writing, publishing, and life as a full-time writer.
I’m Sooz, an award-winning, NYT and USA Today bestselling author of assorted series for teens and adults. With fourteen books published by multiple Big Five Publishers—and more books on the way!—I’ve reached many highs…and many lows. I’ve won awards; I’ve hit bestseller lists; I’ve toured all around the globe. I’ve also struggled to sell, facing wall after wall of rejection.
For the last seventeen years, I’ve been teaching, mentoring, and sharing all I have learned on my long journey through a constantly-changing industry. I have helped thousands of storytellers hone their craft and pursue their dreams.
I even have an entire Writing Academy dedicated to helping curious writers become thriving ones.
Why Misfits?
Because, my first group of fans called themselves The Misfits after my first heroine, Miss Eleanor Fitt. And at the end of the day, don’t we all feel a bit like misfits? Especially if we’re the creative artiste types?
Why Daydreamers?
Because if you want to write, you have to daydream. It’s the lifeblood of creativity, the heart of fiction, the source from which all story springs.
Why subscribe?
Because a curious writer is a thriving one.
Also, I am honest.
The reason so many people are subscribed here is because I don’t sugar coat the realities of traditional publishing or the creative life. My career has hit rock bottom and it has also hit mountain peaks. Then it has hit rock bottom all over again.
There are no guarantees in this life; no one has ever truly made it; and I hope I can impart all the painful, disappointing, but ultimately uplifting lessons I have learned after so much time in the industry.
Subscribers get:
Insights and news from my life as a full time author
In-depth takes on publishing, writing, and creative living
Hopeful advice with tactics for application
I’m also hilarious.
If you don’t trust me, you can find heaps of my advice here for free and decide for yourself.
Or check out the Primer Series for a broad overview of what’s on tap.
Why pay for subscriptions?
Because you like what I do and you want to support me. 🥰
It’s as simple as that.
I’ve shared high quality, deep-dive writing advice for seventeen years. For most of those years, it was entirely free for readers—though never free for me.
To keep the advice sustainable, I moved to Substack in 2022 and added a paid tier. These lucky Misfits & Daydreamers get:
AMAs (Ask Me Anythings)
Extra in-depth takes on publishing, writing, and creative living
Behind-the-scene looks at my process with hands-on examples
But don’t worry: most content will continue to be free!
I absolutely understand that we’re all struggling financially right now, and I am right there with you.
So for those of you who can’t pay, there will still be all the same writing and publishing insights available to you.
P.S. Why octopuses?
Because I used to work in marine ecology before I became a full-time writer, and octopuses were my favorite creature in the sea! And they still are.
Although I feel I should mention: I liked them before they were cool.
Now what are you waiting for?
I promise, I’m very nice—and the whole community is too! So grab a magical cookie 🍪 and let’s dive in…
