Let Me Reintroduce Myself ...
Two weeks ago, I haphazardly published this note on Substack (at the time, I had two subscribers). I thought it might reach a few dozen friends, if that.
17,000+ subscribers later, it’s clear I had no clue how Substack works. So here I am, humbled and caught off guard, and I thought a bit more context about myself may be helpful.
So, allow me to reintroduce myself.
Hello, I’m Will.
I’m a senior editor at Waterbrook and Multnomah, which is a Christian imprint of Penguin Random House. I edit adult non-fiction, so my content here will be most relevant for writers interested in that genre. Fiction writers, there will be plenty here for you too, particularly around storytelling.
Why I’m on Substack
It’s not lost on me that, as an editor, my presence here on Substack is open to misinterpretation. So to clarify, I’m not here to scout talent, introduce authors to agents, or review manuscripts. In the past two weeks, I’ve received a flood of DMs with such requests, so please don’t take it personally if I can’t respond.
You should know, I can’t accept manuscripts directly from authors at my publisher. Everything comes via agents, so even if I wanted to, it’s not how the gig works ;)
My goal here is to be a writing teacher—to help non-fiction writers sharpen their skills and publish their work.
I meet tons of writers who feel stuck on the outside—like writing is an elite inner circle they’re not welcome to join until they’ve done something cool. So frustrating. I call my newsletter “Writers Circle” because I want this to be a community where your questions are a joy, not a nuisance. No cool kids, just fellow learners. A safe place to grow our writing chops together. A way to pull back the curtain and demystify an ever-changing industry.
No shortcuts here. Just practical tips from a non-fiction editor. If that interests you, I think you’ll enjoy the content.
A little about me:
Before entering full-time publishing, I was a pastor for 10 years. I’m a follower of Jesus, so you’ll hear me talk about faith and how it informs writing. Many of the techniques and principles I talk about will include examples from faith-driven books (though not exclusively) because that’s where I spend most of my time. I realize some will love that while others won’t, but please know, everyone is welcome. I’m honored if you stick around; understanding if not.
I also know some are understandably skeptical of Big 5 publishers (or the publishing industry in general). If that’s you, I really do get it. I’m sorry if you’ve had a negative experience. If we sat down for coffee, I’m sure we’d lament many of the same industry flaws, but in the meantime, I hope to nourish your love for the craft of writing.
If you care about the nerdy stuff, I hold a BA in journalism from Biola University and a MA in New Testament from Talbot School of Theology.
I’ve been married to Emilykate for 11+ years and we have 3 adorable kids. I love being outdoors, songwriting, playing drums, and Mexican food of all varieties.
A few folks have asked what books I’ve edited, so here’s a few recents: The Narrow Path by Rich Villodas, Godly Ambition by Ruslan KD, Love Life Sober by Christy Osbourne, and Single Today by Ryan Wekenman.
What to expect
My content falls into two categories: 1) how to write better, 2) how to get published
More specifically, here’s a sneak peek of some topics I plan to unpack in the next few months:
The biggest mistakes I see in book proposals
How to structure, outline, and organize your writing
How to approach literary agents
How to build more trust with readers
Strategies for growing your platform
Techniques for better storytelling
How to develop a regular writing routine
If you subscribe, I’ll regularly ask for your input to help me decide which topics or questions to tackle about writing and publishing. My preference is to let my readers steer the ship, so I can serve you better.
Thank you
More than the number of subscribers, I’ve been moved by the warmth I’ve received from many of you. Substack feels like a breath of fresh air—a reprieve from the onslaught of reels, memes, and trivialities that is social media. It’s refreshing to discover a platform tailor-made for writers and I hope to contribute in a way that’s encouraging and helpful.
Welcome to the circle. I’m honored you’re here.
Warmly,
Will
The Christian aspect is interesting, especially since we seem to have entered an era of false prophets and one or two would-be anti-Christs. Joseph Campbell saw most religions as mythologies in which the rules needed to maintain a social equilibrium were embedded. As obvious internal contradictions in the mythology begin to emerge, people tend to drift away. The danger is that the social glue that was embedded in the mythology is weakened as faith in the mythology diminishes. The result is an increase in social chaos. The reaction against the loss of traditional order then emerges as Christian nationalism, which often runs counter to the basic teachings of Jesus, whose main message seemed to be that we should treat each other with basic decency.
I think it’s so true about feeling like writing is some sort of cool club with lots of secrets outsiders don’t know. Which is really intimidating for someone who has no formal training and is writing as an obedience to the Holy Spirit. Love that you are here “to nourish your love for the craft of writing.” I will be following along !