New paradigm publishing | Lindsay's thoughts on why influencers are walking away from book deals

<p>Lindsay takes a solo dive into "new paradigm publishing," unpacking four major shifts reshaping the book industry as the old traditional-publishing playbook collapses. </p><p></p><p>She explores:</p><ul><li>why major influencers are walking away from big book deals in favor of creative ownership, </li><li>why nonfiction sales are cratering under AI-saturation, </li><li>why book deals are now happening in reverse (platform first, deal second), </li><li>and why huge follower counts no longer guarantee a book deal. <p></p></li></ul><p>Drawing on her own journey — four traditionally published books, one self-published poetry collection, and a USA Today bestseller this year — Lindsay argues that authors must reclaim creative sovereignty rather than wait to be "chosen." </p><p></p><p>The episode closes with three tactical takeaways: only write a book if it's truly spilling out of you, build your own platform regardless of publishing path, and trust your body/intuition over industry noise.</p><p></p><p><b>Key Takeaways:</b></p><ul><li><b>Why are influencers refusing traditional book deals?</b> Creative ownership, IP control, and the reality that six-figure advances net very little after publisher cuts.</li><li><b>Why are nonfiction book sales declining?</b> Market oversaturation, AI-written or AI-assisted books flooding shelves, and readers turning to podcasts/ChatGPT instead of 300-page books.</li><li><b>How are book deals changing in 2025?</b> Agents and publishers now approach authors <i>after</i> they've built a visible platform and proven demand — not before.</li><li><b>Do social media followers guarantee a book deal?</b> No — publishers have been burned by high-follower authors whose books didn't sell, so follower count no longer predicts book sales.</li><li><b>What kind of nonfiction books are still succeeding?</b> Ones with distinct personality, humor, and voice — not generic advice books that could've been a blog post.</li><li><b>Should you write a book or choose another format?</b> Only write a book if it's an undeniable soul-calling; otherwise consider Substack, podcasting, or short-form writing instead.</li><li><b>What's the new author success formula?</b> Build an audience first, self-publish or traditionally publish from a place of leverage, and use intuition — not trends — to guide the medium.</li></ul><p><br /><b>Resources &amp; References Mentioned:</b></p><ul><li><b>Jordan Younger's Substack</b> — <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="h