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 eleven 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 fifteen 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—a truly odd duck, if ever there was one.
Plus, at the end of the day, don’t we all feel a bit like misfits? Especially if we’re that dreaded creative type?
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.
And let’s be real, I’ve never met a daydreamer I didn’t like. We’re hopeful, we’re inspired, and I truly believe we’re the ones who will effect the most change in the world.
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…
Because 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
Writing prompts
Sneak peeks, first looks, and extra content for my books
High quality writing and publishing advice
I’m also hilarious.
If you don’t trust me, you can find heaps of my advice here for free and decide for yourself.
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 13 years. It has been free for readers, though it has never been free for me.
To keep this sustainable for me, I am adding extra features that will be exclusive to paying Misfits & Daydreamers:
AMAs (Ask Me Anything)
Short fiction by yours truly
Archived advice from old newsletters, updated and refreshed
In-depth takes on publishing, writing, and creative living
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.
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.
But I feel I should mention: I liked them before they were cool, okay? #octopushipster
Also, just FYI: we say octopuses…not octopi. Never octopi! It’s a Greek word anyway, and the plural would be octopodes if you want to get technical and wow your friends on trivia night.
Now what are you waiting for?
I promise, I’m very nice—and the whole community is too! We’re all a bunch of misfits and daydreamers, right? 🐙
So grab a magical cookie 🍪 and let’s dive in…
