We were lucky to catch up with Mandy Webster recently and have shared our conversation below.
Mandy, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I think my resilience comes from watching my grandmother overcome her struggles. She left my abusive grandfather after 35 years of marriage and 13 children. With her four youngest still living at home, she got her first job ever and went to community college to earn an associates degree. She enjoyed school so much, she continued and went on to obtain a specialist degree by the time she was done. Once she regained control of her own life and destiny, my grandma went on to live the life that she wanted. When I later encountered similar difficulties of my own, I had her example to follow.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m an author, editor, and book reviewer, and I run a website called Write on the World, which has become my little corner of the internet for talking about stories—how we write them, why they matter, and how they shape the way we see the world. I write both fiction and nonfiction, and I love helping other writers get better at what they do. You can find a full list of my books on my Amazon author page, but the short version is this: my earlier novels were young adult, and my newer work is geared toward adult readers. My most recent novel, It Had to Happen, is a thriller about a man who has the opportunity to redo the worst day of his life.
One of the best parts of my work is that I get to balance creating my own stories with helping other writers develop theirs. I’m endlessly curious about the writing process—how ideas spark, evolve, and sometimes completely fall apart before they finally come together. Whether I’m editing, reviewing, or writing about craft on my blog, I try to keep things honest, helpful, and accessible.
I also enjoy editing anthology projects. I recently released Bad Moon on the Rise: An Anthology of the Unsettling, which was a blast to put together, and I’m currently accepting submissions for a couple of new anthologies. Anyone interested can find details on my website.
On the writing side, I have two big projects in the works right now. One is a novel with the working title Her Turn to Disappear, which digs into themes of identity and reinvention. The other is a nonfiction craft book called Write the Damn Novel, Already: A step-by-step guide for first-time novelists and repeat quitters—a practical, no-nonsense guide for anyone who just needs a little push (or a loving shove) to finally finish their book.
If you want to explore more—book reviews, writing advice, submission calls, or just my general thoughts on the writing life—you can find me at writeontheworld.wordpress.com. I always love connecting with readers and fellow writers.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, the three things that made the biggest difference in my journey were persistence, curiosity, and a willingness to revise—both my writing and myself.
Persistence matters more than any spark of inspiration. Most creative projects aren’t finished in a burst of energy; they come together slowly, in stolen moments and stubborn returns to the page. My best advice for anyone starting out is to build consistency before perfection. Show up for your work regularly, even if it’s just ten minutes at a time. Momentum is a powerful thing.
Curiosity has also been essential. Being genuinely interested in how stories work—and in how people work—keeps my writing alive. Curiosity pushes you to read widely, ask questions, and pay attention to the world around you. For writers, especially those early in their journey, curiosity is the fuel that keeps ideas fresh. The more you explore, the more you have to say.
And finally, embracing revision has been transformative. Not just editing sentences, but being open to rethinking entire approaches—to admitting when something isn’t working, and to learning new skills. Early on, it’s easy to feel discouraged when a draft falls apart or feedback stings. But revision is where the real writing happens. My advice is to treat it less like a judgment and more like an opportunity. Every rewrite makes your work stronger, and every mistake gives you a chance to grow.
If you can nurture those three things—persistence, curiosity, and a genuine openness to revision—you’ll not only improve your craft, you’ll enjoy the process a whole lot more.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Absolutely—I’m always looking to collaborate. One of my favorite parts of working in the literary world is connecting with other creative people, and I’m always excited to expand my network.
Right now, I’m especially interested in partnering with authors who would like to be interviewed for my website, as I love sharing different perspectives on writing, publishing, and the creative process. I’m also looking to connect with writers and artists who might want to get involved in my ongoing and upcoming anthology projects. Building a community around these collections is something I’m really passionate about, and I’m always open to new voices and fresh ideas.
If you’re reading this and think we might be a good fit to work together—whether on an interview, an anthology, or something we haven’t imagined yet—you can reach me through my website at writeontheworld.wordpress.com. I’d love to hear from you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://writeontheworld.wordpress.com/
- Instagram: @mandy_raine
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmandaLWebsterAuthor
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