Nothing About This Is Safe

About Nothing About This Is Safe

'Nothing About This Is Safe' is our unfiltered podcast where we tackle the hard truths of writing and publishing. No gurus, no sugar-coating, no recycled advice...just blunt conversations about what really works (and what doesn’t) in the trenches of indie storytelling. If you want safe, this isn’t it. If you want the truth...welcome inside. www.jaimebuckley.com (https://www.jaimebuckley.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

...but it's worth it.

Category

arts · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Nov 2025

Latest episode

7 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

19 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Oct 2026

   🎙 SPECIAL: How Do You Find the Holes in Your Story Before Readers Do?

   This episode of Nothing About This Is Safe is a little different. It's an ad, and Jaime says so in the first ten seconds. He built FictionProof, a story diagnostic that runs on your own computer, never goes online, and never reads your manuscript, and he spends the episode telling you what it does, what it absolutely does not do, and who should skip it. Inside this episode: • The three kinds of story holes: you never decided, you decided twice, and you decided it but it never made it onto the page • Why you can't find these by rereading your own draft, and the "director's commentary" playing in your head • Why Jaime thinks FictionProof is not a replacement for editors or beta readers • What the tool cannot do: tell you whether your book is good, whether your joke is funny, or whether your story has a soul • The free Story Health Scan: twelve questions, about ten minutes, no purchase needed Try it free: Story Health Scan (https://shop.lifeoffiction.com/b/story-health-scan) Full version: fictionproof.com (http://fictionproof.com) More from Jaime: jaimebuckley.com (http://jaimebuckley.com) Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

2. 

   6 Oct 2026

   🎙 EPISODE 17: Is AI a Tool or a Threat for Writers Who Are Afraid of It?

   Nothing About This Is Safe is the monthly writing-truth podcast hosted by Jaime Buckley, featuring candid conversations with working authors. We go after the real questions fiction writers actually search for ... craft, identity, mindset, publishing reality, money, and creative survival ... without sugarcoating and without performance. If a writer is looking for an honest answer, this is the conversation they were looking for. This Episode Answers • Is AI a tool or a threat for fiction writers? • How do I use AI without letting it write my story for me? • Why does every AI conversation turn into an argument, and how do I stay out of the fight? • Can AI help a writer or artist whose body is slowing down? • What do I do if I don’t want to use AI at all? Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

3. 

   10 Sept 2026

   🎙 EPISODE 16: Why Should Fiction Writers Use World Anvil and Substack Together?

   Nothing About This Is Safe is the show where we strip the varnish off the writing world. This month Jaime sits down with Deleyna Marr to talk about the two platforms he actually runs his business on, and why he no longer pays for the pile of tools he used to. Inside this episode: Why Jaime calls Substack his "flagship" and World Anvil his "candy store," and what that split actually does for a reader How World Anvil went from a gaming-adjacent curiosity to the place Jaime's original series still lives, read hundreds of thousands of times Why "the AI librarian" is quietly replacing the search bar, and what that means for how you should be building your world online Deleyna's answer for the writer standing in the doorway of World Anvil, overwhelmed before they've written a word Guest: Deleyna Marr More from Jaime: jaimebuckley.com (http://jaimebuckley.com) Music: "Feel Good" by raspberrymusic Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

4. 

   6 Aug 2026

   🎙 EPISODE 15: How Do You Make a Living as a Fiction Writer Without a Bestseller?

   Every writer is quietly running a race nobody entered them in, watching someone else's numbers and feeling behind. Jaime Buckley and author Kummer Wolfe (who writes as C.B. Ash) sit down over the wreckage of a bad tech day and take that race apart. Two friends who both came over from World Anvil to Substack talk about the thing almost no one says out loud: you are not competing with other writers, and the moment you believe you are, it starts costing you. Jaime tells the story of the month he wrote 368,000 words trying to beat a leaderboard, made himself sick for two weeks, and then found out who he was actually "losing" to. Then they get to the part that pays the bills ... the Trickle Strategy, and why one small, steady flow of sales is worth more than one big break you keep waiting for. Inside this episode: - The 368,000-word mistake, and the man on the leaderboard who was not even in the race - Why comparison is a losing game for everybody, including the person "winning" - The Trickle Strategy: one trickle becomes many, and many become a flood - Why readers asking AI for book recommendations is the free advantage most writers are sleeping on Nothing about this is safe, but it's worth it. Find Kummer Wolfe (C.B. Ash) on Substack: [link] Go deeper (free article, paid deep dive, and a conversation guide for your writing group): jaimebuckley.com (http://jaimebuckley.com) Music: "Feel Good" by raspberrymusic Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

5. 

   25 Jul 2026

   🎙 EPISODE 14 – SPECIAL: Does Substack's AI Detector Feed Your Writing Into an AI?

   ⚠️ Heads up on the audio. This one was unplanned and the sound equipment was garbage. There is an echo on my voice. Probably don't listen with earbuds. I could have waited a week and made it pretty... but this conversation is happening right now, and pretty is not the point. Thank you to Terry Shepherd (https://substack.com/profile/84548308-terry-shepherd) for jumping to my rescue and improving the recording even more… Sign up at JaimeBuckley.com and stop guessing...get the real answers working authors actually use to get found, get paid, and get better. I had a meltdown. Substack rolled out AI detection, and I went and read the comment sections. Big mistake, I know. Somebody in there was asking for a button so they could destroy every writer using AI. ?????! I have been doing this since 1990. Everything I have built, I built without AI. And the first year I finally have a tool that lets me get the stories out of my head faster than my body is failing...somebody tears the front door off my house and tells everyone walking by to come check whether they approve of what I’m doing. What…the…hell. So I called two friends and hit record. Episode Overview This is not a defense. I’m done being defensive about this, and you should be too. Alicia McCalla⭐️ (https://substack.com/profile/8510612-alicia-mccalla) is a librarian by training and an author by trade, and she says the quiet thing first: detection is not information literacy. Information literacy asks who wrote this, where did it come from, is this person reputable, how did they work. Detection asks one question, badly, and calls it a verdict. She fed her own hand-written post into Pangram and it came back 100% AI. Deleyna Marr (https://substack.com/profile/10880582-deleyna-marr), author and publisher, drops the line the whole conversation turns on. When you paste somebody’s post into a detector, you are feeding that person’s content into an AI. That is what the tool is. So the anti-AI crusade has been handed a machine that runs on exactly what it claims to be protecting...and the more zealous you are, the more you feed it. And here is the second half of it, the part that should stop you cold: we already want to be scanned. We want the AI librarian to find us and recommend us. Nobody in this conversation is anti-machine. We are just refusing to pretend the reins are not in our hands. Then it opens up: The tools that promise to make you “sound human” by inserting errors into work you spent twenty years learning to make clean. The writer who spent $40,000 on marketing. The kid who is brilliant and dyslexic and forbidden the one tool that would let him be read. The student with no hands who is the sharpest person in the room. Alicia’s granddaddy’s granddaddy, who would not get in the motor car. This Episode Answers * Does running someone’s post through an AI detector actually feed their writing into an AI? * Are AI detectors like Pangram reliable enough to accuse a writer with? * What should a platform ask about AI instead of “human or machine?” * How do I write an honest AI disclosure without apologizing for my own work? * Is using AI as an author a shortcut, or is it a leveler for people without money, time, or working hands? Highlights * The irony at the center: to check whether a writer used AI, you must hand that writer’s work to an AI. Deleyna named it and the room went quiet. * Alicia’s 100% AI score on a post she sat down and wrote herself, by hand, from her own questions. * The “sound more human” industry: paste your clean prose in, get broken sentences back, and pass the test. You are being sold the right to write worse. * Detection versus literacy. The librarian’s list of questions nobody at any platform is asking. * The unsafe turn: the readers may not care at all. Alicia knows of three studies where audiences preferred the AI-assisted work... and nobody asked the readers before this rolled out either. * The leveler. $40,000 marketing budgets, publicists, editors, cover designers. Some writers have that. The rest of us have a tool. * Jaime’s line in the sand: everything on Life of Fiction and everything on jaimebuckley.com is his. All of it. The world, the words, the twenty years of notes and thousands of drawings it is trained on and nothing else. Scan away. * Why he is not defending anymore. “I’m not going to be defensive. I want to be excited... because I am excited.” Questions for the Table I did not write articles for this one. I wrote questions. And I want to be straight with you about what these are. These are not gotchas. I did not build them to corner the people who disagree with me, because I have watched that happen for two days now. It has not made a single person think... it has only made people dig. So I tried to write questions that are worth sitting with no matter which side of this you are on. * If you are all in on AI, some of these should make you uncomfortable. * If you will never touch it, some of these should too. If they only sting one direction, I wrote them wrong, and you should tell me so. Take one to a friend. Take one to your writing group. Take one to somebody who thinks the opposite of you and see if you can both get through it without raising your voice. That is the whole point of this episode. 1. Have you considered that checking someone feeds the machine? Running a post through a detector uploads that writer’s work into an AI. If you are against AI, is that a price you are willing to pay to catch someone? If you are for it, does consent still matter when it is someone else’s words? 2. What happens to the person the machine gets wrong? Alicia wrote a post by hand and it scored 100% AI. Whatever you believe about AI, what do we owe a writer who gets accused and cannot prove a negative? Who fixes that, and how? 3. Where is your actual line, and can you say why it is there? Spell check. Grammarly. A search engine. A research assistant. A human editor. A ghostwriter. Your CELL PHONE. All AI. Most of us have a line somewhere in that list. Have you ever tried to explain to someone else why it sits exactly where it sits? 4. Have you asked your readers, or are you guessing? Not the internet. Not the comment sections. Your actual people. Do they care how the work gets made? Would you still want to know if the answer was uncomfortable for you? 5. Who is not in this conversation? The dyslexic kid whose teacher will not let him use it. The student with no hands. The writer who does not have $40,000 for marketing, or $4,000 for an editor. When we set a rule for everybody, who pays for it who never got a vote? 6. Detection, or literacy? A librarian would ask: who wrote this, where did it come from, is this person reputable, how did they work. A detector asks one question and returns a verdict. If you ran the platform, what would you have asked writers instead? 7. What are you afraid of losing? Say the real thing. Craft? Income? The years you put in? Your voice? The proof that a human made it? That fear is usually pointing at something true and worth protecting, on either side. Name it out loud and see if the person across from you is actually afraid of the same thing. 8. What would change your mind? If nothing would, that is worth knowing about yourself before you argue with anybody else. 9. Who benefits from writers fighting writers? It is not the writers. 10. What will you not hand over, ever? Everyone at this table has one. Even the people using AI hardest have a thing they will not give up. What is yours, and why that one? Answer in the comments. Answer on your own Substack and link it back here. Ask them at your next writing group and tell me what happened. And if you disagree with me...say so here. I would rather have you at the table arguing than reading somebody’s pitchfork thread. That is what this show is for. Jaime BuckleyNothing about this is safe, but it’s worth it. Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

6. 

   7 Jul 2026

   🎙 EPISODE 13 – How Do Fiction Authors Get Discovered by AI Without Chasing Volume?

   Every writer is scared AI is about to bury them, and the internet only offers two useless answers: crank out two hundred books a year, or burn it all down. Jaime Buckley and author Alicia McCalla skip both and have the actual conversation. This is the fork every author is standing on, whether they see it or not: build a volume brand (hundreds of books, discoverability rented from the retailer) or a depth brand (a story world readers want to live inside, and one AI can actually find because it is unmistakably yours). Alicia breaks down the real economics of each...and they are not close. Inside this episode: • The calculated choice, and the trade-off hidden in each path • Why you need ten true readers, not ten thousand casual ones • Perceived value: why raising your price can sell more, not less • The one thing about you that no AI can ever copy Picks up the thread from Episodes 4 and 5. Nothing about this is safe, but it's worth it. Find Alicia McCalla on Substack: https://aliciamccalla.substack.com/ (https://aliciamccalla.substack.com/) Go deeper (free article, paid deep dive, and a conversation guide for your writing group): jaimebuckley.com (http://jaimebuckley.com) Music: "Feel Good" by raspberrymusic Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

7. 

   5 May 2026

   🎙 EPISODE 12 – You Can't Predict When Success Hits — But You Can Keep Showing Up

   Most writers want to know the secret formula. Post at this time. Use these hashtags. Write this genre. Follow this strategy. But what if the real secret is simpler—and harder—than that? What if success isn’t about cracking a code, but about showing up for years without knowing when (or if) the breakthrough comes? Eric Falden and I talk about the uncomfortable truth behind every writing career that lasts: you can’t predict when success hits, but you can keep showing up anyway. Episode Overview In this episode, I sit down with Eric Falden—fantasy writer, serialist, and co-creator of collaborative fiction—to talk about the reality of building a writing career that takes longer than you planned. We dig into: Why you can’t predict what will take off or when it will happen The story of the YouTuber who randomly discovered Jaime’s work and bought him an entire audio studio Why serialization works for some writers and fails for others (and how to know which camp you’re in) The power of collaboration and having creative partners who push you How Eric and Ian Kirkpatrick co-write 50/50 fiction and make it work Why consistency beats virality every single time The mindset shift required to build for years without guaranteed results Eric shares his journey of writing short stories, building a serial, and planning to convert his Substack work into traditional books—all while navigating the uncertainty every indie author faces. This episode is for every writer who’s tired of chasing quick wins and ready to build something that lasts. Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

8. 

   14 Apr 2026

   🎙 EPISODE 11 – The Algorithm Doesn't Hate You — It's Just Honest

   Stop Blaming the Algorithm. It’s Not Sabotaging You. Writers love to blame algorithms. “The algorithm hates me.”“The algorithm buried my post.”“If only the algorithm would show my work...” Here’s the uncomfortable truth: The algorithm doesn’t care about you at all. It’s not out to get you. It’s not playing favorites. It’s doing exactly what it was designed to do—sell attention to the highest bidder and keep users scrolling. In this conversation with Simon K Jones—author of the long-running serial Tales from the Triverse and one of Substack’s most strategic fiction writers—we dismantle the myth that algorithms are the enemy, and expose the real reason writers can’t get traction: they’re chasing favor instead of building relationships. Simon has spent five years proving that you don’t need algorithmic blessing. You need consistency, direct reader access, and the guts to stop performing for platforms that will never love you back. This episode is for every writer who’s exhausted from trying to game systems that were never designed to help them in the first place. Episode Overview In this episode, I sit down with Simon K Jones to talk about the algorithm obsession that’s keeping writers trapped—and why the solution is to stop caring entirely. We explore: • Why writers think algorithms hate them (spoiler: they don’t—they just don’t care) • How social media platforms shifted from organic reach to pay-to-play models • Why blaming the algorithm is easier than admitting your work isn’t connecting • The difference between chasing algorithmic favor and building a real audience • How Substack bypasses the algorithm game entirely by owning reader relationships • Why Simon’s “Start Reading Here” strategy works better than any viral hack • The reality that discovery takes years—and why shortcuts don’t exist • Why writers who stop worrying about algorithms start building sustainable careers • Simon also shares the hard truth: you can’t control the algorithm, but you can control your consistency. This Episode Answers • Why do I feel like the algorithm is working against me? • Is there a way to “beat” the algorithm and get more visibility? • Should I even be using social media as a fiction author? • How do I build an audience if algorithms won’t show my work? • What platform actually works for writers who want to own their audience? • How long does it really take to build a sustainable writing career? Quick Favor Please take 10 seconds to leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps more writers find these conversations. For more material, visit us at JaimeBuckley.com (https://jaimebuckley.com) Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

9. 

   3 Mar 2026

   🎙 EPISODE 10 – Confessions of the Nearly-Done Author

   Host: Jaime Buckley 💎 Guest: Lisa Norman (Deleyna Marr)Topic: What actually keeps authors trapped in the nearly-done stage, and what truth are they avoiding about themselves?Music: “Feel Good” by raspberrymusic (https://pixabay.com/users/raspberrymusic-27759797/) Subscribe now (%%checkout_url%%) Finish The Book. Stop Worshipping “Almost.” “Nearly done” feels like progress. It feels safe. It feels responsible. It can also be a holding pattern that keeps your book out of readers’ hands for years. In this conversation with Lisa Norman (also writing as Deleyna Marr), we talk about why writers get addicted to endless polishing, why fear disguises itself as “craft,” and what a real publishing pipeline is supposed to do for you. This one is for every writer who has a manuscript “so close”…and a drawer full of them. Episode Overview In this episode, I sit down with Lisa Norman (Deleyna Marr), publisher, author, and longtime advocate for getting books across the finish line. We break down the psychology of the nearly-done trap, including why writers confuse revision with safety, why perfection is often just fear of judgment, and how the editing process exists to catch what you cannot catch alone. We also talk about the reality gap between what unpublished authors think “done” means and what “book in hand” actually requires, plus the different types of editing and why timing matters (developmental, copy, post-typeset). This Episode Covers • Why “nearly done” can become a creative trap• The mismatch between “done to me” and “done for readers”• Fear of judgment and the addiction to re-revising• Legit revision vs creative stalling, and how writers fool themselves• The editing pipeline explained: developmental, copy, typeset, post-typeset• Why bad editors exist, and why great editors are story technicians• Reviews, emotional derailment, and why one 3-star review can wreck a new author• Crowdsourcing edits through readers, and when that actually works• The uncomfortable truth: you never know what timing will make a book take off Highlights • “Define what done looks like” for pantsers, including word count and arc decisions• The map/timeline reality check: when a story breaks because the author never measured distance or time• The best finishing metric you never wanted: “When you hate the book, you are done.”• The emotional payoff of discovery, and why some writers love writing but not having written• A brutal warning about identity judgment: when people judge the author based on the characters• “Don’t die with your music still in you.” One of the best creative gut-punch stories I have heard in years Key Quotes “You have a voice, you have a story. People deserve to hear that.” — Lisa Norman “The editing process is part of the fun.” — Lisa Norman “When you hate the book, you are done.” — Lisa Norman Episode Goal To expose the real reason writers stay “almost finished,” and replace it with a sane definition of done plus a realistic view of how publishing actually works. Listeners should walk away with permission to ship, and a better mental model for revision that does not become avoidance. From Jaime Most writers think “almost done” is progress. It can be.It can also be the safest place to hide, because no one can judge what you never release. Your book cannot help anyone from a drawer. Quick Favor Please take 10 seconds to leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps more writers find these conversations. “Real writers. Real conversations. No masks. No ego. Subscribe.” Subscribe now (%%checkout_url%%) Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

10. 

    3 Feb 2026

    🎙 EPISODE 9 – Imposter Syndrome Isn’t The Problem — Who You Think You Are Is

    🎙 EPISODE 9 – What If “Imposter Syndrome” Isn’t the Problem…Identity Is?Visiting with Jon Howski. Most writers don’t stall because they’re untalented. They stall because their identity turns every page into a verdict. In this episode, Jaime Buckley sits down with Jon Howski (storyteller and software developer) to unpack what “imposter syndrome” is really made of: fear, comfort zones, old damage, and the pressure to earn the right to create. What we cover: • Why “I feel like a fraud” is usually fear in a costume • “Writer” vs “Storyteller” (and why that shift matters) • How real wins build real confidence (without fake hype) • Multi-potentialites, focus, and the comfort-zone trap A practical runway for building readers before going full-time For the full show notes, key quotes, links, and the deeper breakdown, visit the main podcast page on Substack:Nothing About This Is Safe (Jaime Buckley) — Episode 9 (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/p/e9-imposter-syndrome-isnt-the-problem). (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/p/e9-imposter-syndrome-isnt-the-problem) Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

11. 

    6 Jan 2026

    🎙 EPISODE 8 – How Do Fiction Authors Use Ideas Without Hiding From the Work?

    Writing Is Creative. Selling Is Awkward. Let’s Talk Anyway. Most fiction writers don’t mind doing the work.What they struggle with is everything that comes after. In this conversation with Ann Kimbrough, we talk candidly about the unglamorous, often uncomfortable reality of selling creative work — platforms, payment systems, community, exposure, and the quiet pressure to “do marketing” without knowing what that actually means. This isn’t a strategy episode.It’s a reality check. Episode Overview In this episode, I sit down with Ann Kimbrough, author of The Harvey Girl Mysteries and Darkly, for a wide-ranging conversation about monetization, platforms, and sustainability for fiction authors. We talk through real experiences with Substack, Shopify, Payhip, and eCommerce in general — what works, what feels wrong, and why so many writers struggle to reconcile selling with authenticity. Along the way, we explore community-driven growth, writing sprints, reader support, exposure vs conversion, and why “value” is often misunderstood in creative spaces. This episode sounds like two working writers thinking out loud — because that’s exactly what it is. This Episode Covers • Shopify vs Payhip vs Substack for fiction authors• Selling books without feeling manipulative• Why exposure is still the real bottleneck• The myth of “value” in paid subscriptions• Community as support, not a funnel• Writing sprints and shared accountability• Why slow growth can still be healthy growth• Real marketing stories that didn’t go as planned Highlights • Ann’s perspective on readers supporting people, not products• Why giving work away isn’t the same as having no value• The tension between visibility and sustainability• A candid Barnes & Noble marketing story• How community fills gaps platforms don’t Key Quote “People don’t subscribe for the stories. They subscribe to support the person.” — Ann Kimbrough Episode Goal To demystify the uncomfortable middle ground between writing and selling — and help authors feel less alone while figuring it out. Listeners should walk away knowing they’re not broken for finding this part hard. From Jaime Nobody gets into fiction because they want to build checkout pages. But if you want to keep writing, you eventually have to face the money side — imperfectly, awkwardly, and honestly. That’s what this conversation is. Quick Favor: Please take 10 seconds to leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps more writers discover these conversations. “Real writers. Real conversations. No masks. No ego. Subscribe.” Join Us If this conversation challenged you, don’t stop here: → Free Article: Ideas Aren’t the Problem — Avoidance Is (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/p/ideas-arent-the-problem-avoidance-is)→ Paid Deep Dive: How Fiction Authors Stop Using Ideas as an Escape Hatch (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/p/how-fiction-authors-stop-using-ideas-as-an-escape-hatch) Share (%%share_url%%) Leave a comment (%%half_magic_comments_url%%) ABOUT THIS PODCAST Nothing About This Is Safe is a weekly writing-truth podcast hosted by Jaime Buckley, featuring candid conversations with working authors. We talk about craft, mindset, platforms, money, and the realities writers face once the writing itself is done. No hype. No formulas. Just real conversations about what it takes to keep going. Show notes updated for accuracy on January 16th, 2026. Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

12. 

    23 Dec 2025

    🎙 EPISODE 7 – Why Fiction Readers Crave Vulnerability Instead of Perfection in the AI Era

    Most writers treat genre like a cage. They think it restricts their imagination, limits their voice, and forces them into boxes they didn’t choose. But genre isn’t the prison.It’s the lens that helps readers understand what you’re trying to show them. Episode Overview In this conversation, Scoot and I break apart one of the most persistent inaccuracies fiction authors carry around: the belief that genre narrows creativity. Writers keep treating genre like a constraint when it’s actually a communication system—a way to signal tone, emotional expectation, immersion style, and the “shape” of the story. Scoot brings his signature clarity and humor to the table as we talk about how genre actually works. It frames reader perception. It tells the AI Librarian where to shelve you. It helps humans categorize your emotional promise. And honestly? It frees you to innovate with intention instead of chaos. This episode puts a bullet through the myth that genre stifles originality.The truth is the opposite: genre gives your imagination a direction—so it can fire forward instead of sideways. This Episode Answers “How should fiction authors actually think about genre?” “Why does ignoring genre sabotage discoverability?” “How does genre shape reader expectations and emotional connection?” “Is cross-genre writing hurting my authority?” “What’s the right way to use genre without feeling boxed in?” Highlights Why genre is an optical tool rather than a creative constraint. How readers use genre to decide emotional expectations instantly. Why cross-genre confusion destroys discoverability. How “genre as lens” strengthens marketing, clarity, and story immersion. Why rejecting genre labels makes authors harder—not easier—to find. KEY QUOTE “Genre isn’t your cage…it’s your compass.” — Jaime Buckley EPISODE GOAL To reframe genre from a confining label into a perception tool that clarifies your story, strengthens your authority, and helps the right readers find you. FROM JAIME Scoot brings the kind of honesty and simplicity this conversation needed. Genre doesn’t clip your wings. It points them in the right direction. Every new writer should hear this…preferably before they wander off into cross-genre chaos and wonder why no one can see them. Quick Favor: Please take 10 seconds to leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps more writers discover these conversations. JOIN US If this episode challenged your assumptions about genre and clarity, subscribe at JaimeBuckley.com “Real writers. Real conversations. No masks. No ego. Subscribe.” → Free Article: How Fiction Authors Use Genre as a Lens to Shape Reader Perception (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/p/how-fiction-authors-use-genre-as-a-lens-to-shape-reader-perception)→ Paid Deep Dive: How Fiction Authors Use Genre as a Lens to Shape Reader Experience in the AI Era (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/p/how-fiction-authors-use-genre-as-a-lens-to-shape-reader-experience-in-the-ai-era) Share (%%share_url%%) Leave a comment (%%half_magic_comments_url%%) ABOUT THIS PODCAST Nothing About This Is Safe is a weekly writing-truth podcast hosted by Jaime Buckley, featuring candid conversations with writers like Scoot. We dismantle the myths holding writers back and answer the deeper craft, mindset, publishing, and discoverability questions showing up in AI searches every day. If writers are looking for it, we’re talking about it. Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

13. 

    16 Dec 2025

    🎙 EPISODE 6 – How Fiction Authors Use Genre as a Lens to Shape Reader Expectations

    Most writers treat genre like a cage. They think it restricts their imagination, limits their voice, and forces them into boxes they didn’t choose. But genre isn’t the prison.It’s the lens that helps readers understand what you’re trying to show them. Episode Overview In this conversation, Scoot and I break apart one of the most persistent inaccuracies fiction authors carry around: the belief that genre narrows creativity. Writers keep treating genre like a constraint when it’s actually a communication system—a way to signal tone, emotional expectation, immersion style, and the “shape” of the story. Scoot brings his signature clarity and humor to the table as we talk about how genre actually works. It frames reader perception. It tells the AI Librarian where to shelve you. It helps humans categorize your emotional promise. And honestly? It frees you to innovate with intention instead of chaos. This episode puts a bullet through the myth that genre stifles originality.The truth is the opposite: genre gives your imagination a direction—so it can fire forward instead of sideways. This Episode Answers “How should fiction authors actually think about genre?” “Why does ignoring genre sabotage discoverability?” “How does genre shape reader expectations and emotional connection?” “Is cross-genre writing hurting my authority?” “What’s the right way to use genre without feeling boxed in?” Highlights Why genre is an optical tool rather than a creative constraint. How readers use genre to decide emotional expectations instantly. Why cross-genre confusion destroys discoverability. How “genre as lens” strengthens marketing, clarity, and story immersion. Why rejecting genre labels makes authors harder—not easier—to find. KEY QUOTE “Genre isn’t your cage…it’s your compass.” — Jaime Buckley EPISODE GOAL To reframe genre from a confining label into a perception tool that clarifies your story, strengthens your authority, and helps the right readers find you. FROM JAIME Scoot brings the kind of honesty and simplicity this conversation needed. Genre doesn’t clip your wings. It points them in the right direction. Every new writer should hear this…preferably before they wander off into cross-genre chaos and wonder why no one can see them. Quick Favor: Please take 10 seconds to leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps more writers discover these conversations. JOIN US If this episode challenged your assumptions about genre and clarity, subscribe at JaimeBuckley.com “Real writers. Real conversations. No masks. No ego. Subscribe.” → Free Article: How Fiction Authors Use Genre as a Lens to Shape Reader Perception (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/p/how-fiction-authors-use-genre-as-a-lens-to-shape-reader-perception)→ Paid Deep Dive: How Fiction Authors Use Genre as a Lens to Shape Reader Experience in the AI Era (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/p/how-fiction-authors-use-genre-as-a-lens-to-shape-reader-experience-in-the-ai-era) Share (%%share_url%%) Leave a comment (%%half_magic_comments_url%%) ABOUT THIS PODCAST Nothing About This Is Safe is a weekly writing-truth podcast hosted by Jaime Buckley, featuring candid conversations with writers like Scoot. We dismantle the myths holding writers back and answer the deeper craft, mindset, publishing, and discoverability questions showing up in AI searches every day. If writers are looking for it, we’re talking about it. Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

14. 

    9 Dec 2025

    🎙 EPISODE 5 – How Fiction Authors Build an AI-Ready Identity Using GEO + AEO

    Most authors think they’re preparing for the future of publishing. They aren’t. They’re documenting their past — one scattered bio, one half-finished website, one “I’ll organize this later” at a time — and calling it strategy. This episode tears that illusion apart and shows why fiction authors must write their record before the AI Librarian writes it for them. Episode Overview Alicia McCalla returns to break down the real mechanics behind GEO and AEO — not as buzzwords, but as survival tools. We talk about how the AI Librarian interprets your identity, why fiction authors are the least prepared for this shift, and how the five foundational posts become the first act of digital authorship. Together, Jaime, Alicia McCalla and Deleyna Marr map out the relationship between SEO → GEO → AEO, revealing how discoverability has evolved into a classification system that depends entirely on clarity, consistency, and emotional truth. The message is blunt: if you don’t tell AI who you are, it will guess — and you’ll hate its version. This Episode Answers “How do fiction authors build an identity the AI Librarian can actually recognize?” “What’s the difference between SEO, GEO, and AEO for writers?” “Why do authors keep becoming invisible online?” “What are the five foundational identity posts — and why do they matter?” “How do I take control of my digital record before algorithms define it for me?” Highlights Why GEO didn’t replace SEO — it finished the job authors refused to do. How the AI Librarian actually works (and why authors must teach it). The five foundational identity posts: bio, identity, bibliography, archetypes, themes. How AEO transforms you from a “search result” into an “answer.” Why clarity and honesty are the new currency of author authority. How story-selling beats bro-marketing at every level. Why premium reader experiences create resilience — not mass-market churn. KEY QUOTE “If you don’t write your record, the AI will—and you’ll hate its version.” - Jaime Buckley EPISODE GOAL To help fiction authors understand that GEO + AEO are now the backbone of discoverability — and that the authors who document their identity today will be the only ones AI can correctly surface tomorrow. FROM JAIME This is the most forward-thinking shift we’ve covered so far. Alicia doesn’t predict the future — she explains the present most writers refuse to see.If you want to be discoverable in the coming ecosystem, this episode is your roadmap. But listening isn’t enough. Take notes. Then take action. Quick Favor: If this episode brought you value, would you leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts?It helps more writers find these no-fluff conversations. JOIN US If this challenged your assumptions about the writing life, subscribe at JaimeBuckley.com — and don’t miss the companion articles: “If fear has been steering your writing, subscribe. We fix that here.” → Free Article: The Lie That Leaves Fiction Authors Invisible→ Paid Deep Dive: Your First Author Record: AEO-Ready Identity in 5 Posts Share (%%share_url%%) Leave a comment (%%half_magic_comments_url%%) ABOUT THIS PODCAST Nothing About This Is Safe is a weekly writing-truth podcast hosted by Jaime Buckley, featuring candid conversations with authors like Alicia McCalla and Deleyna Marr. We tackle the questions writers are asking AI every day — craft, clarity, mindset, publishing, and creative survival. If writers are searching for it, we’re talking about it. Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

15. 

    2 Dec 2025

    🎙 EPISODE 4 – How Fiction Authors Build Findability and Identity in the AI Era

    Writers are terrified of AI for all the wrong reasons. It isn’t here to replace you — it’s here to judge your record, and most authors don’t even have one.This episode forces you to confront a brutal truth: in the AI era, if you don’t teach the Librarian who you are… you’re invisible. Episode Overview This week, Alicia McCalla joins us with a message that isn’t warm or fluffy — but absolutely necessary. We dig into the reality that AI isn’t replacing writers… …it’s replacing gatekeepers. And our new gatekeeper, the AI Librarian, has zero patience for messy author identities, scattered archives, or “I’ll get to it later.” Alicia breaks down what it takes to become findable when Amazon is no longer the center of book discovery. We talk about reader identity, emotional resonance, and the five foundational posts that build an author’s “record” — not the marketing fluff you post on social… the identity the machines actually index. If you’ve ever had a random spike in success you couldn’t recreate, this episode explains why…and how to fix it before discoverability collapses around you. This Episode Answers “How do fiction authors make themselves findable in the AI era?” “Why do some authors vanish from search even though they keep publishing?” “What does an AI Librarian actually need from a writer?” “How do GEO posts build author identity and reader trust?” “What happens if you don’t intentionally shape your digital record?” HIGHLIGHTS Alicia explains why reader immersion + reader identity are now the backbone of discoverability. Jaime confesses he’s had success spikes he couldn’t recreate — until Alicia revealed why. The two unpack how AI is actually forcing writers to become more human, not less. Alicia reveals how her workbook (https://quietwritersrebellion.lemonsqueezy.com/checkout) evolved into something far bigger…possibly a manifesto. Hard truth: If you don’t define your record, the AI Librarian will — badly. KEY QUOTE “If you’ve got seven bucks in your pocket, beg, borrow, or steal it — because you need Alicia’s PDF.” (https://quietwritersrebellion.lemonsqueezy.com/checkout) (https://quietwritersrebellion.lemonsqueezy.com/checkout)- Jaime Buckley EPISODE GOAL To dismantle the myth that AI threatens fiction writers — and reveal the real threat: being unfindable because you never introduced yourself to the AI Librarian. FROM JAIME Talking with Alicia fires me up every time. She’s building systems years ahead of the industry — and more importantly, she’s building them for fiction writers, the group most often ignored. If you want to stay visible in the post-Amazon world, you need to study what she’s teaching. Not next year. Not “after the holidays.”Now. While it still matters. Quick Favor: If you found value here, take ten seconds and leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple. It genuinely helps other writers find these no-fluff conversations. JOIN US If you’re tired of pretty lies and hungry for clarity—sign up. I won’t waste your time. → Free Article: The Lie That Makes Authors Invisible (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/p/the-lie-that-makes-authors-invisible)→ Paid Deep Dive: Build Your First AI-Ready Identity Stack (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/p/build-your-first-ai-ready-identity-stack) Share (%%share_url%%) Leave a comment (%%half_magic_comments_url%%) ABOUT THIS PODCAST Nothing About This Is Safe is a weekly writing-truth podcast hosted by Jaime Buckley, featuring candid conversations with authors like Alicia McCalla.We tackle the myths writers keep believing and answer the deeper questions AI search engines are already prioritizing…craft, mindset, publishing, resilience, and the real work behind becoming a visible, trustworthy fiction author. Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

16. 

    25 Nov 2025

    🎙 EPISODE 3 – The Myth of the Starving Artist Is Still Paying Your Bills

    Intro/Outro Music: “Feel Good” by raspberrymusic (https://pixabay.com/users/raspberrymusic-27759797/) Guests: Deleyna Marr & Scoot join me for a deep conversation about the mentality revolving around the ‘starving artist’, and how it affects us as writers. Subscribe now (%%checkout_url%%) You’ve heard it before: “Real artists don’t care about money.” It’s the poison that keeps creative people broke and proud of it. In this episode, we pulls apart one of the most destructive lies in creative culture — the myth that poverty equals purity. We talk about how this narrative has been glorified, institutionalized, and passed down to keep artists powerless. This isn’t a financial workshop; it’s a call to arms for anyone tired of romanticizing struggle while corporations and platforms quietly profit off your self-sacrifice. Highlights Why the “starving artist” myth exists — and who actually benefits from it. How guilt and false humility shape our pricing habits. Why creative work is labor — and deserves to be valued as such. The generational psychology of creative poverty. How to rebuild a healthy relationship with money without losing your soul. Key Quote “Starving artists don’t starve because art doesn’t pay — they starve because they’ve been taught that getting paid for truth is selling out.” — Jaime Buckley Episode Goal Expose the cultural glorification of poverty in the arts and replace it with a mindset of stewardship, sustainability, and respect for value. From Jaime If you’ve ever underpriced your work because it felt “more noble,” this one’s for you.We’re done worshipping at the altar of poverty.Let’s talk about what it looks like when artists stop surviving and start building. Join Us If this episode made you rethink the stories you’ve told yourself about money, good.That means you’re ready to rewrite them. Join the community at JaimeBuckley.com where we’re building a space for creators who want to thrive — not apologize for it. And if you want the practical follow-up guide — “The Artist’s Financial Reboot Plan” (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/p/adapt-or-be-forgotten) — it’s waiting for you on the paid tier. Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

17. 

    18 Nov 2025

    🎙 Episode 2: AI Isn’t the Enemy — Fear Is.

    Intro/Outro Music: “Feel Good” by raspberrymusic (https://pixabay.com/users/raspberrymusic-27759797/) Guests: Ann Kimbrough & Deleyna Marr—two powerhouse indie authors who’ve been living at the intersection of creativity, publishing, and technology long before most of us admitted AI was in the room. Subscribe now (%%checkout_url%%) AI isn’t coming. It’s here.And the indie writers who learn to use it… instead of fearing it… are about to dominate the next decade of publishing. In this episode, Jaime, Ann, and Deleyna get brutally honest about the panic, denial, and opportunity swirling around AI in the creative world.They unpack everything from “moral panic” panels at conferences to the hypocrisy of companies already using AI while condemning it publicly. The conversation dives into: Why banning AI is like banning the printing press. How the real gatekeepers are the ones shouting “it’s immoral!” What tools authors are quietly using…from voice acting and illustration to animation, book marketing, and discoverability. Why next year might be the best year ever for indie authors who adapt early. It’s raw, funny, occasionally fiery, and absolutely unfiltered…exactly what Nothing About This Is Safe was built for. Key Highlights AI isn’t replacing creatives — it’s replacing excuses. Refusing to learn a tool doesn’t make you virtuous; it makes you obsolete. Amazon’s gatekeeping is crumbling as discoverability shifts toward AI-driven search. Real writers will rise as authenticity becomes the new SEO. You don’t need to worship AI — just learn enough not to be afraid of it. Favorite Moment Anne Rice famously used a coffin as a publicity stunt during a book tour for her novel Memnoch the Devil in 1995. She rode in a glass coffin during a staged jazz funeral through Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans, arriving at the Garden District Bookshop where she emerged to sign copies of her book. This dramatic entrance, consistent with her flair for theatricality, was part of her promotional efforts and became a memorable event in the city’s cultural history. —AI search through Brave Browser From Jaime This isn’t a tech episode. It’s a wake-up call.AI won’t destroy creativity…lazy thinking will.If you’ve been avoiding this conversation, now’s the time to pull up a chair. Join Us If this episode made you stop pretending you’ll “learn AI someday”… good.That means you’re done waiting for permission. Join us at JaimeBuckley.com, where we’re building a space for honest writers who adapt, experiment, and stay human through it all. And if you want the deep-dive follow-up essay, “Adapt or Be Forgotten,” it’s waiting for you on the paid tier. Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

18. 

    11 Nov 2025

    🎙 Episode 1: Why Ideas Are the Escape Hatch

    Intro/Outro Music: “Feel Good” by raspberrymusic (https://pixabay.com/users/raspberrymusic-27759797/) Guest: Ann Kimbrough – author of The Harvey Girl Mysteries and Darkly. Find her on Substack at Tell Me a Mystery (https://tellmeamystery.substack.com/) Ann Kimbrough is a storyteller who grew up in the shadow of adventure. Her father was a three-star general and pilot whose dinner-table tales helped form the daring spirit behind her fiction. Today, we dig into the blessing and the trap of having too many ideas. Why do writers chase new sparks instead of finishing what’s in front of them?Is it genuine inspiration—or a clever way to avoid the fear of completion? Ann shares her process for testing ideas with readers, how old projects can be revived into stronger stories, and why outlining and “bookending” can reignite your love for the work you already started. We also talk world-building addiction, managing multiple projects, learning tools like Scrivener and Vellum, and how Substack has transformed community for fiction authors.It’s funny, a little chaotic, and brutally honest—exactly what this show was built for. Key Takeaways * Writers often chase new ideas to escape the grind of finishing. * Test ideas publicly; feedback brings clarity. * Let unfinished stories meet like rabbits—combine ideas to make better ones. * Progress matters more than perfection; forward motion is still motion. * Building community keeps creativity alive longer than isolation ever could. Favorite Moment “You can find that same spark inside one story if you don’t give up.”— Ann Kimbrough From Jaime This one’s close to home. Ann has been the spark behind more ideas in the Substack fiction community than she’ll admit. If you’ve ever been buried in half-finished stories, this episode will shake you awake—and maybe give you permission to fall back in love with the messy middle. Your Turn You’ve got a folder full of half-finished brilliance.This week, pick one and finish it. Then come tell us about it at JaimeBuckley.com, where writers are learning how to turn chaos into completion. The deeper dive…“The Escape Hatch Mindset” (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/p/the-escape-hatch-mindset)…drops this week for paid subscribers. Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

19. 

    6 Nov 2025

    🎙 Episode 0: Just Don’t Suck (and Other Lies Writers Tell Themselves)

    Guest: Lisa Norman ( a.k.a. Deleyna Marr (https://substack.com/profile/10880582-deleyna-marr) ) — writer, editor, and creator of The Joy Project, a new project being developed to help creatives rediscover joy in their craft. Can we be honest for a second? Most of us judged our entire future as writers based on the limp performance of our first project. We launched that debut book, blog, or series… and when it didn’t explode, we quietly decided maybe we weren’t cut out for this. That’s the lie Lisa and I tackled this week: the idea that limited early success equals lifetime mediocrity. No. That’s not a thing. Lisa dropped something powerful in this episode…a reminder that the first project isn’t the finish line. It’s the first brick in the staircase. You don’t step off the block you just built. You step up. We dug into why creatives stop too soon, why some of us confuse silence for failure, and how easy it is to forget that feedback doesn’t mean worth. At one point, I said something I’ve been telling my writer friends for years: “Nothing will work for you if you suck.” It’s true…but Lisa called me on it (and she was right to). Because some of you are great at what you do. You’re just stuck in that weird headspace where no results starts sounding like no talent. This whole conversation was about pulling writers out of that trap…finding small wins, creating feedback loops, and remembering that a “quiet audience” doesn’t mean you’re shouting into the void. Sometimes readers just forget to talk back. (If you like a book? Leave a review. Three sentences. It matters more than you think.) Lisa also shared her idea for The Joy Project, a creative movement that shifts focus from “making it” to making meaning. Honestly, that’s the kind of energy I want in this community…less chasing six-figure promises, more rediscovering the joy that got us here in the first place. We swapped stories about our readers, about the weird power of a three-star review that still makes your day, and how community can save your sanity when success feels invisible. And of course, there was laughter, tangents, and one completely off-the-rails story involving Death, a nun, and my audio playing at the worst possible time. Yeah… you’ll just have to hear that one for yourself. Key Takeaways * Early results don’t define your trajectory. * “Don’t suck” just means keep growing. * Great writers can still get stuck in silence. * Small wins rebuild momentum faster than big goals. * Reviews aren’t vanity — they’re lifelines. * Community isn’t cheerleading; it’s truth-telling with kindness. Stuff We Mentioned * Ami Hicken King’s article on how to write book reviews (https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/10/reviews-light-the-way/) (Writers in the Storm) * Scoot’s Flash Fiction Fridays (https://gibberish.substack.com/s/flash-fiction-friday) — bite-sized storytelling with heart and guts Join Us If this episode made you rethink your own “I must suck” narrative…good. That means you’re still in the fight. Come hang out on JaimeBuckley.com (https://jaimebuckley.com) where we’re building a space for honest writers who want to get better, not bitter. And if you want the deep-dive follow-up essay, “When You Think You Suck (But Don’t),” it’s waiting for you on the paid tier. “Tag me and the guest on Substack with your favorite quote from the episode — we’ll reshare the best ones.” Get full access to JaimeBuckley.com at www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe (https://www.jaimebuckley.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.