49. Should It Be a Book, Podcast, or Substack? A Practical Guide to Publishing

In this solo teaching, Kate gets real about finishing creative work—and whether your idea truly needs to become a book. She walks through practical next steps for authors and educators (hello, market comps and outlines), and widens the lens: podcasts, audio, YouTube, and Substack might serve your message—and your audience—better right now. If publishing is your path, you’ll hear where to start, how to think like a marketer (not just a writer), and why building audience before pitching changes everything.

What You’ll Learn

• Should it be a book? A simple litmus test to decide if your idea requires long form—or if audio, video, or Substack serve you better.
• Your first move (it’s not writing): Use publisher proposal prompts to clarify audience, comps, and the actual problem your book solves.
• Market comps that matter: How to read the field, then let it go so you can write your book.
• Outlines that flex: Why your outline is “meant to be broken” and how to rearrange chapters as your thinking matures.
• Audience before agent: The honest reason publishers ask about reach (newsletter, socials, podcast downloads).
• Self-publish vs. traditional: On-demand printing, hybrid routes, and why self-publishing now doesn’t preclude a future deal.
• Teacher advantage: Turning lectures, sessions, and talks into manuscripts using transcripts + connective tissue.
• Ayurvedic sensibility for creators: Right-sizing the project, steady rhythm over grind, and sustainable focus.
  
  

Key Takeaways

• Format follows function. If your core message must be said in 20–40K words, book it. If not, consider audio, video, or Substack to share sooner and iterate.
• Start with comps and audience. Proposals make you think like a publisher: Who is this for? What’s different? Why now?
• Build your platform. Visibility isn’t vanity—it’s how your work is found, read, and sustained.
  
  

Resources Mentioned (as referenced in the conversation)

• Publisher proposal pages (e.g., Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Shambhala Publications)
• Substack for writing + audience building
• YouTube & podcasts for sharing ideas in audio/video
• Using AI tools to research keywords and audience questions (e.g., “what are people searching for right now?”)
• Transcripts from lectures/teachings as manuscript seeds
  

👉 Want Kate to cover another behind-the-scenes topic? Email me at kateodonnell.ayurveda@gmail.com

Health Disclaimer

The information shared on Everyday Ayurveda with Kate is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, or wellness routine.

Spring Cleanse: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/kitchari-cleanse-ayurveda-spring

Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org

Ayurvedic Living Institute Membership: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/membership

Women's Health Collection: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/collections/womens-healthhttps://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/products/courses/copy-of-fall-community-cleanse-2024

Thanks to our Sponsor: Banyan Botanicals
Banyan Botanicals Link:  https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate
Super Nasya Oil https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate46v
CCF Tea : https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate7k3
Triphala: https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate28g

Kate's Discount code 15% off Banyan SPRINGWITHKATE