Letters From Libby James
I help writers strengthen their writing and creative practice, navigate the publishing world, and turn their art into an act of rebellion.
Sinners and Storytellers
I watched this film two days in a row. I am hesitant to call Sinners a masterpiece, because I hate that word, but it’s something wicked awesome alright. The music – I love music of a wide variety, and the use of it in this film is excellent.Two Michael B. Jordans – You can’t take your eyes off that man, and now there are two of them.The cinematography – I don’t know how they do it, but the colors are so rich.Fresh vampires – It’s the same old story, but it felt new (remember when I wrote...
No Word Count, No Gods, No Masters
I am in Arizona for the next couple of months. Leading up to my travels, then driving here, then trying to get settled—it became clear I’m good for nothing without a consistent routine. I’m a creature of habit, and when my routine’s messed up, nothing gets done. Now that I’m settled in, I’ve been able to get back to work. I have a friend who can write her books while watching SVU marathons. She has two young kids now and still manages to find time to write and watch SVU. Her brain can do many...
No Kings. Art as Protest.
I was at the No Kings protest last week in Chandler, Arizona. People showed up with their kids, their water bottles, their handmade signs. No one was screaming. No one needed to. The message was steady, deliberate: we are here, we see you, and we don’t like what you’re up to. If you make art—and if you write, you do—then you’re already part of the conversation whether you like it or not. You should already know the violence of silence. You already know the systems that swallow voices whole. I...
The Story Without the Resolution
I was talking to a friend about how I felt my memoir had stalled the last couple of months. My life has more stability after the divorce, a far cry from the throes of the separation, but I don’t feel I’ve had my big moment yet, the one that ties everything together and proves to the readers that I made it through. I didn’t have my cheetah moment (Untamed). I didn’t get in anywhere fancy (Educated). I didn’t publish a poem that led to a book deal, that saved my house (You Could Make This Place...
What the Luke Bateman mess actually means for your book launch
I know you may have seen this Luke Bateman drama on social media and were likely among the many writers annoyed AF. Honestly, none of this surprises me—his contract or the backlash. I will say, I liked his response. He probably didn’t even realize this kind of issue would even be a thing. (It seems clear he’s spent very little time in the writing world—not totally sure, just based on his said surprise.) Why I bring all this up and what I want you to take away from it: Publishing is a...
Are writers making money at this?
I know people with rave book reviews, books on the shelves of Barnes and Noble, that got to speak to their local news channels, and had writeups in newspapers— authors who after a year, still haven’t made back their advance. I also know writers that their book opened all kinds of new roles for themselves. Are those authors living off only their books income? No. Not a single one. But they are more comfortable now. Getting cooler teaching jobs. Seeing their work on the big screen. (Please...
Healing one meme at a time
The best gift I received in the last year was learning to fully appreciate how truly wonderful my friends are. To know how damn lucky I really am in this department. On the first day of my separation, my friend, a man I have known since I was 17, someone who knows me very well, asked if I wanted to talk to his partner’s sister, who was also going through a divorce. I had met her a few times over the last 15 years so this wasn’t weird. She got on the call with me right away when I said yes....
Writing Nonfiction That Gets People Talking
If you’re writing self-helpish nonfiction, you are making a promise: this will matter beyond the page. Not just because you said so, but because you’ve done the work. You’ve lived it, researched it, paid attention. You’re not just reporting facts or offering tips. You’re building trust. Sentence by sentence. If you want readers to talk about your book before they’ve even finished it, it has to sound like something they can’t keep to themselves. Atomic Habits, The Life-Changing Magic of...
Reading in Public Without Sounding Like You're Apologizing
I’ve done a lot of public readings. Open mics, workshops, theatres, places with folding chairs and weird lighting. People have told me I’m decent at it. That it sounds natural, strong, alive. And I sometimes even believe that is true. But I didn’t start that way. It started when I began reading my pieces into the air a million times until it stopped feeling awkward. Until I didn’t stumble or shrink halfway through. So, if you’ve got a reading coming up—maybe your book’s out, maybe you’re...
Fascists, Fiverr, and Sh*t I Hate in Fiction
In March, the Trump administration issued an executive order to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the sole federal agency supporting U.S. libraries and museums. This move jeopardized over $160 million in annual grants that fund essential services such as early literacy programs, high-speed internet access, and telehealth spaces, particularly impacting rural communities. The publishing and library sectors have condemned this action. The American Library Association...
I help writers strengthen their writing and creative practice, navigate the publishing world, and turn their art into an act of rebellion.