Rage Against the Manuscript

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Bestselling indie author Steff Green shares the highs, lows, and adventures of her self-publishing journey. Learn how to tell your story, find your audience, and build a badass author brand.

Steff Green


    • Mar 9, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 34m AVG DURATION
    • 41 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Rage Against the Manuscript

    How I launched my latest novel

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2023 42:34


    A detailed look into exactly what I've done to launch my brand new paranormal, kooky, spooky, ghost romance series, and all of Amazon's shenanigans to derail it. I talk about Tiktok, newsletter magnets, social media, PR boxes, ARCs, and more.

    Steff's 2023 self-publishing strategy

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2022 42:21


    In this episode, I let you in on the 6 key focus areas of my 2023 strategy, including my return to paranormal romance, translations, and building a fandom via bonus content. I hope you find this interesting and useful when thinking about your own strategy!

    Steff's self-publishing takeaways from 2022

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2022 36:41


    This year has been my best year in self-publishing EVER. It's blown me away, and I wanted to share with you all the things that have worked for me (and the things that DID NOT WORK). You'll learn about how I worked less, earned more, went woo woo, and learned to trust my own instincts.

    Everything you want to know about running a Kickstarter for limited-edition hardcover books

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2022 42:31


    Right now, I've raised over $26k on Kickstarter to create signed, limited-edition hardcovers of one of my book series. I tell you all about how I planned the campaign, what's worked, and how authors can use Kickstarter as a tool for fandom building. Interested in my Kickstarter? You can check it out here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/steffmetal/nevermore-bookshop-mysteries-exclusive-hardcovers-swag

    How to get your backlist selling

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2022 32:32


    Do you have 5 books, or 15, or 50, that aren't pulling their weight? Does your income slide back to nothing between book releases? It's time to get that backlist working for you with these ideas.

    How to make smart investments in your self-publishing business

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2022 29:56


    Today we are talking money! Specifically, all the millions of ways you can spend it on your self-publishing business, and where I think the smartest investments are.

    Self-publishing success in a competitive genre

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2022 41:17


    In this episode, I talk about the belief that there are certain fiction genres where so many authors are writing that it's extra tough to be seen, and how you can carve your own place in the genre fiction landscape.

    competitive self publishing success
    What to do when a book flops

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2022 30:29


    You've published your book and it isn't selling the way you hoped – what do you do? Is it time to give up self-publishing altogether? HELL NO. In this episode, I look at why some books flop, what you can learn from them, and how to make them valuable assets in your backlist.

    How I plan a book series (esp as a non-planner)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2022 34:02


    In this episode, I use the example of one of my successful series to show you how I plan a series from idea to finished product.

    Steff's 2022 self-publishing plans

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2022 35:44


    In this episode, I break down my 2022 strategy, why I'm doing what I'm doing, and tell you a little about my brand new secret pen name!

    Steff's 2021 self-publishing round-up and income

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2022 34:06


    In this episode, I break down exactly what I self-published in 2021, my successes and failures, the things I'm most proud of and where I'd like to make improvements, and show you how my strategy translates into income with a breakdown of my earnings from writing.

    Understanding reader behaviour

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2021 34:55


    In this episode we look at who are our readers, how they choose books, and how we as self-publishers can use this information to give them more of what they CRAVE.

    Diversifying your writing income

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2021 32:25


    How do writers earn a liveable income? What are some ways you can increase your income from writing, and how can you do that in a strategic way? I give you my tips from my experience.

    Rewriting and republishing a previous book

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2021 37:12


    Why unpublish a book and rewrite it? As authors, we all have unfinished series or books we feel didn’t get the chance to shine. I offer some tips for giving those neglected books a second lease on life.

    previous rewriting republishing
    How to write a book in a month

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2021 25:01


    In this week's podcast, I talk about how, and why, to write a book in a month, from draft right through to editing, and how that can become part of a wider strategy.

    Writing and publishing short fiction

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2021 36:41


    This episode is for you if you love writing short, but you don’t know what to do with your stories or how to fit short fiction into your writing career. I've loaded you up with ideas to get strategic about short fiction!

    Advertising your books – one author's perspective

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2021 37:52


    What are the three platforms you can use for advertising your books, and how do you use them to create a strategy that works? We talk FB, AMS, and Bookbub ad strategies.

    Write one book series at a time, or lots of different projects?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2021 33:29


    Is it better for you to write one series at a time, or jump around between different series as the muse calls? Let’s talk about series strategy, author branding, and the 75% rule.

    Working with other authors is awesome, and you should try it.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2021 24:58


    Other authors aren’t scary – they’ll be your biggest allies and cheerleaders. And you can work together to lift each other up and grow your readership. I’m declaring 2021 the year of working collaboratively. Here are my ideas for collaborations with authors.

    Front and backmatter – what to put in your book to increase sell-through

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 23:55


    Backmatter and frontmatter are some of the most important tools you have to generate sellthrough to other books in your series. This episode takes a look at best practices for adding extra “stuff” to your books.

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    Kindle Unlimited or wide?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2020 38:13


    Let’s take a look at the benefits and drawbacks of being exclusive with Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited programme versus taking your books wide across all platforms.

    Case study – launching a book in a new sub-genre.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2020 28:05


    In this episode, we’re doing a case study! I walk you through how I launched a series into a new sub-genre, exactly what I did for the launch, and how much money I earned. If you want to launch books in different sub-genres, I think you’ll find this useful.

    Planning your writing and publishing strategy for 2021

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2020 31:40


    The new year is fast approaching, and it’s time to reflect on what’s working in our author business and what we can change up to have an amazing writing year in 2021.

    Christmas and holiday book promotion ideas for any budget

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2020 31:30


    Christmas is 8 weeks away. I googled it this morning and it terrified me. I thought I’d put together some promotional ideas to help you prep new readers over the holiday period. I’ve organized them via budget, so there are promotional ideas for every type of author within.

    Tips for creating compelling characters

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2020 24:01


    In this episode I discuss some of the ways I create the kinds of characters that keep the pages turning and readers guessing. Plus, I give you an exclusive sneak peek into my upcoming project.

    Q&A with Steff: Editing, keywords, categories, and balancing the creative and business side of writing

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2020 49:11


    Today’s podcast is a little different – I’m answering your questions! I’ve chosen three questions from members of the RAtM Facebook group. We’re talking about my editing process, categories and keywords on Amazon, and how to balance the creative and business sides of being a writer.

    Branding mistakes authors make (and how to fix 'em)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2020 33:07


    Building and tending your brand is vital if you want a career as an author. So what exactly is your author brand, and what are the common mistakes authors make that can tank their brand?

    building branding mistakes
    Smart worldbuilding tips for your fiction

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2020 35:29


    Worldbuilding is super fun, but it’s also one of the key aspects to creating an engaging novel. I dive deep into some of my favorite fictional worlds, share how I build a world around my characters, and discuss common worldbuilding pitfalls.

    Writing tropes to supercharge your fiction and create reader-crack

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2020 27:37


    Tropes are reader-crack. Readers love and actively search for their favorite tropes, and as a clever author you can use tropes to create stories that attract your ideal readers. In this episode I wax lyrical about tropes and why they’re awesome.

    Outline your novel with the skeleton drafting method

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2020 35:28


    Skeleton drafting is the technique I use to plot intricate, action-packed, emotionally-charged books quickly, and enjoy myself during the process. I explain exactly how to use this technique, why it’s so powerful, and give you some examples from my books.

    Steff’s guide to freelance writing success (and failure)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2020 30:29


    To celebrate the release of my new book, How to Rock Freelance Writing, I give you a run-down of all the mistakes I’ve made over my freelance career, and how you can use freelancing as part of a sustainable writing career.

    Successful crowdfunding for writers on Kickstarter and Patreon

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2020 46:29


    Are you considering crowdfunding your book? I love crowdfunding as a tool to help you create an awesome project or provide long-term income security. However, not all crowdfunding platforms and projects are created equal. Learn from my crowdfunding successes and failures.

    How to market your book on a cheap-ass budget

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2020 46:17


    How do you build an audience of readers when you don’t have a huge marketing budget? How can you compete with the big name authors in your genre? There are heaps of great ways you can approach marketing your books on a teensy budget. Enjoy these marketing tips from a USA TODAY bestselling fiction author.

    Why isn't my book selling?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2020 31:45


    This is probably THE most common question I'm asked. When you pour your soul into a book and it doesn't sell, you want to know WHY. I offer five key reasons why a book isn't selling, and what you can do about it.

    Who should you listen to for writing and publishing advice?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2020 21:39


    Do you talk to other writers online? Do you ask for advice and get a million different answers? How do you decide which writing and publishing advice is worth listening to? This week we talk about who's giving advice, how to figure out what to choose, and when you're listening too much.

    Is blogging dead?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2020 26:33


    In 2020, the way we consume content online is completely different from the heyday of blogging. In this podcast I ask the question, “Is blogging dead?” We look at the history of blogging and where blogging is at in 2020, and whether a blog is a good idea for an author growing an audience.

    What life is like as a full-time author

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2020 47:48


    The highs, the lows, the cat piles, the existential angst... I bare all about what my 2 1/2 years as a full-time author have been like. This podcast is packed with advice if you're dreaming about leaving your day job. If you want to get serious about becoming an author, come join 12-Months to Full-Time – it's open to new students THIS WEEK ONLY. Join here: https://www.rageagainstthemanuscript.com/12_months_to_full_time

    Writing faster: how to hit challenging word count goals without sacrificing your story

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2020 23:45


    This week's episode is all about being a speed freak! Discover why you should master the skill of writing faster, what to do when you hit the "wall of suckage" and how to stop doing the hard work of writing in the most time-consuming way.

    The method behind my author website madness

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2020 46:20


    Join USA Today bestselling author Steff Green as she discusses the evolution of her author website from the early days of blogging and how you can get started quickly with a website for your readers.

    How do you start building a mailing list when you don’t have an audience?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2020 33:02


    In this episode, we're talking mailing lists and author newsletters – what to start, what to say, how often to say it, and why you don't have to worry if you've only got 20 readers.

    What you can learn from my biggest book advertising mistake

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2020 20:12


    Welcome to the Rage Against the Manuscript podcast. Join bestselling indie author Steff Green as she tells you how she threw $1000 down the toilet on advertising her books, and what you can learn about getting your book advertising ready. Get a free copy of Unleash the Beast: Releasing Your Inner Writing Monster when you sign up for updates: http://rageagainstthemanuscript.com/unleashdownload

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