How 18 Months of Rejection Turned Into a Six-Figure Book Deal with Dr. Natalie Nixon

Send us Fan MailWhat if the very thing holding you back from a book deal isn’t your writing, but your platform? In this episode, Meghan sits down with Dr. Natalie Nixon to unpack the highs and lows of her author journey. From countless rejections to finally landing a deal for The Creativity Leap, Natalie reveals the grit, courage, and community support it took to get there.Whether you dream of landing a traditional publishing deal or simply want to bring your ideas into the world, Natalie’s story is a masterclass in resilience, creativity, and believing in your work even when the path isn’t clear.This week’s guest is Natalie Nixon, Ph.D. Dr. Natalie Nixon is the creativity whisperer to the C-suite, helping companies connect the dots between creativity and business impact. At Figure 8 Thinking she’s a creativity strategist, global keynote speaker and author of the award-winning The Creativity Leap. She’s ranked in the 2024 Thinkers50 Radar cohort and Real Leaders named Natalie one of the top 50 keynote speakers globally. She’s been featured in Forbes, INC, and Fast Company.Natalie received her BA from Vassar College, and her PhD from the University of Westminster. She’s a lifelong dancer, swimmer, and doodler. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, John Nixon.Find Natalie Nixon on social https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalienixonphdhttps://www.instagram.com/natwnixon https://youtube.com/@natalienixonhttps://vimeo.com/user231039213/albumsPreorder your Move. Think. Rest. hardcover today and sign up for the “Ever Wonder…?” Free newsletter at www.figure8thinking.com and https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/dr-natalie-nixon-ph-d/move-think-rest/9780306835582/?lens=balance Episode Highlights:(0:00) Intro(1:14) Introducing Dr. Natalie Nixon and her new book Move. Think. Rest.(2:23) Natalie’s journey from academia to publishing her first book(5:29) Facing 18 months of rejection and revising her proposal(7:40) The chance email that led to a book deal(10:08) How developmental editing shaped The Creativity Leap(16:03) The hard truth about platform and publishing(18:09) Building courage through life experiences(21:07) Growing her platform through community and consistency(23:11) Becoming a top 50 global keynote speaker(29:10) The power of showing up authentically as an author(36:03) Why Move. Think. Rest. is timely for burnout and modern work(46:14) Lessons learned from publishing The Creativity Leap(51:19) Writing Move. Think. Rest. as a “team sport”(56:31) Natalie’s advice for aspiring authors(59:35) OutroHave a great idea for a book but don't know where to start? MeghanStevenson.com/quizTraditional publishing expert Meghan Stevenson blasts open the gates of the “Big 5”—Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, and Macmillan—to share what every entrepreneur and expert needs to know about landing a book deal. In episodes released every Monday, Meghan shares wisdom and stories from 20+ years in publishing as well as interviews with authors, literary agents, and editors. She also answers questions from listeners like you. Whether you are an experienced entrepreneur with an empire, or are just starting out—this podcast will help you understand what you need to do in order to turn your dream of being a bestselling author into real life.