Can you find one hour to write? ⏰

Today's guest is USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling novelist Carter Wilson.

You don’t need long writing sessions to make progress

So many authors get stuck because they struggle to fit writing into their routine, but you don’t need to churn out thousands of words a day or outline every scene before you start writing.

The real key? Finding a process that keeps you coming back to the page — and trusting that it’s enough. Even if that means sitting down with the pages for just one hour (even over your lunch break).

Success in publishing comes down to perseverance.

Many writers believe their biggest challenge will be landing an agent. But even after securing representation, the hurdles don’t stop. Rejections still pile up, books go unsold, and the publishing journey continues to test a writer’s patience.

The truth is, outside of their manuscript, there’s little an author can control — except their willingness to keep going.

In today’s interview, USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling novelist Carter Wilson shares what carried him through 75 rejections, why he doesn’t believe in writer’s block, and how writing just one hour a day has led to ten published books.

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OUR SPECIAL GUEST TODAY IS…

Carter Wilson

USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling novelist

His 10th thriller, TELL ME WHAT YOU DID, is just out and was named a Barnes & Noble monthly pick for February 2025.

What was the biggest obstacle you faced in your publishing journey?

An author has very little control over their journey, aside form the book they've written. I will say landing an agent was tough (75 rejections), but then getting a book sold proved even more daunting. I wrote three novels that were repped by my agent but never sold. Fortunately, my next 10 did. Patience is key.

What is one thing you wish you had known about the publishing process before going through it yourself?

I actually appreciated being completely ignorant about the publishing industry — if I knew how long the odds were, it might have discouraged me enough to quit. But I wish I would have started getting involved with the writing community (conferences, networking, etc) earlier than I did. That's a critical step for aspiring writers.

How do you balance finding time to write and managing other obligations and responsibilities?

We all do the things for which we have a passion. Writing is a passion, so I make time. But one of my keys is that I've only ever written one hour a day (7 days a week). Anyone can find an hour in their day. At that pace, I can have a book done in 6-9 months.

What's one writing "rule" or commonly followed piece of advice that you decidedly break?

I don't believe in writing rules. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, someone will tell you.

How do you personally get over writer's block?

Like writing rules, I don't believe in writer's block. I do writing coaching and any time a student mentions writer's block I start to ask them questions about it, and their block is never about writing. It's always something much deeper, like a fear of failure, fear of success, fear of sharing their work, or maybe they're unwilling to admit they actually don't like writing. If you do the thing you love and are willing to find confidence in that thing, there won't be any blocks.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? What's your personal drafting process like?

Pantser. I simply cannot outline — it's not how my brain works. I start with an opening scene and then just see where it leads me. I think the outline is actually buried in my subconscious, but I need to be actively writing for it to reveal itself.

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🏆 How to Write a Better First Draft Than 99% of Writers (YouTube)

🤔 How do you know if your manuscript is ready to query? (X/Twitter)

☠️ The biggest hook mistakes (Reels)

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