How to Write Books on 90 Minutes of Sleep (And Still Get Published) | Eugene Myers

What does it actually take to become a published author?In this conversation, Holly sits down with award-winning author Eugene Myers to talk about writing under pressure, creative discipline, publishing realities, and how to build a sustainable writing career while balancing a full-time job and family life.Eugene built his career the long way. Querying agents. Surviving years on submission. Attending Clarion West. Writing through burnout. Auditioning for Scholastic series. Meeting tight deadlines. Revising on limited sleep. And continuing to publish consistently across middle grade, interactive fiction, and major media tie-in projects.This episode goes far beyond writing tips. It’s about resilience. Community. Professional generosity. Imposter syndrome. Productivity systems. Creative identity. And what publishing actually looks like once you’re inside it.If you’ve ever wondered, “Is it even possible to build a writing career without quitting my job?” this episode will give you clarity, structure, and honest encouragement.What you’ll learn in this episode:How Eugene landed his first literary agentWhat being “on submission” for years really feels likeHow Scholastic opportunities opened unexpected doorsWhat auditioning for a major series looks likeThe Clarion West experience and how it transforms writersWhy drafting fast matters more than drafting perfectlyThe TK placeholder strategy for maintaining writing momentumHow to manage overlapping book deadlinesThe difference between drafting and revising energyHow to balance writing with a full-time job and parentingWhy community and generosity matter in publishingThe mindset required to stay in the game long termWe talk about:00:00 Introduction + Meet Eugene Myers02:00 Writing with an AlphaSmart and eliminating distraction06:00 From pantser to structured outliner10:00 Auditioning for Scholastic and landing the Ruby series13:00 Writing media tie-ins under tight deadlines16:00 Querying agents and selling a first novel18:00 Draft fast, revise later philosophy20:00 The TK placeholder strategy22:00 Early reading influences and sci-fi foundations25:00 Clarion West and leveling up as a writer29:00 Publishing culture, networking, and professionalism33:00 Managing multiple projects at once35:00 Writing with a full-time job and family37:00 Word count goals and interactive fiction challenges39:00 Creativity under exhaustion40:00 Slush reading and editorial perspectiveConnect with EugeneBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ecmyers.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/flipthecoin/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ecmyersvids Books: https://site.andrewsmcmeel.com/the-stream-team-pre-order-giveaway / https://holidayhouse.com/book/gamers-1-attempting-connection/ Website: https://ecmyers.net/ Connect with Holly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehollyhughes/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hollyhughesintuitiveGet Holly’s book here: http://bit.ly/4ggvAamWebsite: https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/ #WritingUnderPressure #HowToBecomeAPublishedAuthor #WritingDiscipline #PublishingJourney #MiddleGradeAuthor #WritingWithADayJob #ClarionWest #AuthorLife #CreativeDiscipline #HollyHughesPodcast