What if your book wasn’t the finish line, but the beginning of something bigger?

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, Susie Schaefer sits down with publishing strategist and “bee lady” Judy M. Baker, founder of Buzzworthy Books. Judy shares her unique approach to helping authors create meaningful, sustainable visibility by aligning their book with their bigger mission.

From her early days working in Napa Valley wine country to publishing her first book at just 16, Judy’s journey is full of unexpected connections, bold decisions, and powerful insights.

You’ll discover:

• Why your book should be part of a bigger ecosystem, not a one-and-done project
• How “bees for brand” can transform your visibility and audience growth
• The importance of consistency, clarity, and connection in your author platform
• Why building an email list matters more than chasing social media
• The biggest mistake authors make (and how to avoid it)

If you’re writing—or thinking about writing—a book, this conversation will change how you approach it.

Connect with Judy M. Baker

Website: https://buzzworthybooks.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judybaker/

Ready to finish your book and turn it into something bigger?
Book a consultation at FinishTheBookPublishing.com

Finish the Damn Book Podcast is for writers who know they have a book in them, and are ready to finally get it done.

Hosted by Susie Schaefer, this show cuts through perfectionism, overwhelm, and publishing myths to focus on what actually moves a book forward. Through honest conversations with authors, editors, ghostwriters, and industry insiders, Susie explores the craft, mindset, and real-world mechanics of writing books readers finish and share.

Each episode offers a blend of:

• Practical writing and revision strategies
• Clear-eyed insight into publishing, platform-building, and promotion
• Encouragement for writers stuck in the middle (or avoiding the hardest chapter)
• Permission to write imperfectly — and keep going

Whether you’re working on memoir, nonfiction, or a book that defies categories, Finish the Damn Book is here to help you stop circling the idea and start delivering the work.

Because the world doesn’t need another unfinished manuscript, it needs your finished book.

Struggling to finish your book, or feeling like your writing doesn’t sound like you anymore?

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book Podcast, Susie Schaefer sits down with ghostwriter, developmental editor, and writing coach MJ Halberstadt to explore how writers can reconnect to their voice, build momentum, and navigate writing in an AI-driven world.

MJ shares how he moved from copywriting into ghostwriting, and why the label “developmental editing” is often more collaborative, and more powerful than people realize. Together, they unpack what it really looks like to create a book that sounds like you, not like a template.

You’ll also learn a practical system that makes big manuscripts feel possible: six-week writing sprints. These shorter cycles create clear goalposts, realistic deadlines, and the flexibility to pivot when your title, structure, or story needs to evolve.

The conversation goes deeper into what success really looks like for authors today, especially when your book is part of a larger thought leadership ecosystem. MJ shares insights on how a single newsletter can grow into a powerful nonfiction book.

And then, the big question: Will AI replace writers, editors, and ghostwriters?

Susie and MJ break down what AI can support, what it flattens, and why the slow writing process isn’t a flaw, it’s what creates depth, clarity, and transformation. Because writing a book isn’t just about producing pages… it’s about becoming the person who can share them.

You’ll also hear:

• Why many writers feel disconnected from their voice (and how to fix it)
• How breaking your book into smaller phases reduces overwhelm
• Why relationships, not algorithms, shape the strongest books
• A powerful creative technique using voice memos to unlock emotional, authentic writing
• Why the writing journey itself is just as important as the finished book

If you’ve been stuck, second-guessing yourself, or wondering if your book is even worth finishing, this episode will help you reconnect to what matters and take your next step forward.

Listen, subscribe, and share this episode with a writer who needs it.
If this resonated, leave a review to help more writers finish what they started.

Connect with MJ Halberstadt

Want to learn more about MJ’s work or explore his unique approach to voice-driven writing?

Email: findthewordswithmj@gmail.com

Website: https://findthewordswithmj.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjhalberstadt

Special Offer:
MJ mentioned a powerful exercise where he creates a voice memo from your “ideal reader” to help unlock deeper, more authentic writing. If that resonates, reach out to him directly to learn more.

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Finish the Damn Book Podcast is for writers who know they have a book in them, and are ready to finally get it done.

Hosted by Susie Schaefer, this show cuts through perfectionism, overwhelm, and publishing myths to focus on what actually moves a book forward. Through honest conversations with authors, editors, ghostwriters, and industry insiders, Susie explores the craft, mindset, and real-world mechanics of writing books readers finish and share.

Each episode offers a blend of:

• Practical writing and revision strategies
• Clear-eyed insight into publishing, platform-building, and promotion
• Encouragement for writers stuck in the middle (or avoiding the hardest chapter)
• Permission to write imperfectly — and keep going

Whether you’re working on memoir, nonfiction, or a book that defies categories, Finish the Damn Book is here to help you stop circling the idea and start delivering the work.

Because the world doesn’t need another unfinished manuscript, it needs your finished book.

If you’ve ever felt like your book has to be perfect before you can finish it…
this episode is for you.

In this conversation, Susie Schaefer sits down with author Janelle Strube to unpack the anxiety, pressure, and perfectionism that keep so many writers stuck.

Janelle shares what it really felt like to write her novel Adelaide, Painter of the Revolution, from battling the fear of rejection to navigating the emotional weight of her personal story.

And one of the biggest takeaways?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why anxiety and perfectionism can quietly stall your writing
• How to stop rewriting and actually finish your book
• The difference between “good enough” and “never done”
• What it’s like to work with a hybrid publisher
• Why writing your book is only the beginning of the journey
• How to trust your voice (even when you doubt it)
• The surprising role intuition can play in storytelling

📚 Check out Janelle’s book:

👉 https://a.co/d/0bT737Ko

🔗 Connect with Janelle:

🌐 https://janellstrube.com/

📘 https://www.facebook.com/janell.strube

📸 https://www.instagram.com/janellstrube/

Ready to finish your book?

👉 https://finishthebookpublishing.com

Finish the Damn Book Podcast is for writers who know they have a book in them — and are ready to finally get it done.

Hosted by Susie Schaefer, this show cuts through perfectionism, overwhelm, and publishing myths to focus on what actually moves a book forward. Through honest conversations with authors, editors, ghostwriters, and industry insiders, Susie explores the craft, mindset, and real-world mechanics of writing books readers finish and share.

Each episode offers a blend of:

• Practical writing and revision strategies
• Clear-eyed insight into publishing, platform-building, and promotion
• Encouragement for writers stuck in the middle (or avoiding the hardest chapter)
• Permission to write imperfectly — and keep going

Whether you’re working on memoir, nonfiction, or a book that defies categories, Finish the Damn Book is here to help you stop circling the idea and start delivering the work.

Because the world doesn’t need another unfinished manuscript, it needs your finished book.