The Art & Business of Writing

Cutting her teeth as a newspaper journalist Stephanie believed one thing—stories are the most powerful way to reach people and inspire change.   She brings that same strategy to Consociate Media, where she specializes in working with business owners, legislative initiatives, economic development programs, non-profit organizations, tourism efforts and individuals to strategically plan and execute storytelling across a wide range of new and traditional media.   In this episode, Stephanie and I discuss: Marketing and PR, their similarities and differences How authors can use storytelling to attract attention How to tell stories across different mediums (e.g., email, social, interviews) The elements of a good platform Advice for using PR as a platform springboard How to make yourself newsworthy for traditional media What goes into querying journalists and how to find them How to write a press release and why they matter

For many authors, writing authentic dialogue in the voice of a character who doesn't look like you or have your ethnic background can be scary.  Jeffrey Walker, an author of historical fiction, talks about how he uses a combination or research, readers, and indicators to help write his characters so they don't come across as caricatures.

John David Mann is co-author of more than thirty books, including four New York Times bestsellers and five national bestsellers, including The Go-Giver (coauthored with Bob Burg).   His wife, Ana Gabriel Mann, holds a Master's degree in clinical psychology and dance-movement therapy from Antioch New England, where she specialized in working with adults and family therapy.   John and Ana have been dreaming about cowriting The Go-Giver Marriage and bringing its message to the world ever since the first draft of John and Bob's original book came sliding out of his desktop printer in early 2005.   In this episode, we discuss:   The Go-Giver Marriage story The structure of the book and how to write a book that's part parable part practical application—a fiction and nonfiction book working as one narrative. How John and Ana wrote individually and together and what its like working with a spouse as a co-author Who their audience is for the book and how its meant to be read and applied Why it's not just another marriage book Ways authors can build a community around their books

This week, I talk about my favorite way to set goals—using lead and lag measures. I've used this method I learned from Stephen Covey to achieve a lot of things in my writing life—publishing books, getting writing jobs, etc. Listen along and think about ways you can use it to level up your writing career.

As founder and principal designer at Mayfly Design, Ryan is experienced in all aspects of book design, including cover design, page design, typesetting, and eBooks. He is also knowledgeable in other publishing services for the ever-growing population of independent authors who are setting out on their own publishing journey, including acquiring ISBNs, registering their book with the Library of Congress, and assistance with distribution platforms such as KDP and IngramSpark. His strength is taking a finished manuscript and supporting assets and creating a beautiful, engaging, and exciting book with a process that is very time-efficient and worry-free.   Mayfly Design was created in the thriving literary city of Minneapolis in 2007 with a mission to celebrate and advance the universal connection and goodwill of storytelling. Visit mayflydesign.com for more information.   In this episode, Ryan and I discuss: Cover design, typography, and industry genre trends Why  self-published authors should hire a cover designer What authors can do if they can't afford a designer Cover design and Image usage rights in stock photography Book design and the elements of a good interior book design Typesetting ebooks

This week, we're talking about the p-word—platform. Every author needs one, but most may not know what areas constitute it. Platform isn't one thing; it's a cluster of many things all validating your marketability as an author. Let's discuss!

Peter Cox is a best-selling author of more than 20 books and is the managing director of Redhammer Management, a London-based literary agency recognized by the Association of Authors' Agents.   Redhammer specializes in managing a small number of exceptional authors, working closely with them at every stage of the journey from monitoring and supporting publisher's performance to aggressively selling film, television, and all other rights.   In this episode, Peter and I talk about:   His work as a literary agent and how he got started The relationship between agent and author—and why his agency is different than most. Whether author should work with literary agents in different countries. How to query an agent (and what really captures their attention in a query letter and a proposal). How agents choose authors to represent What makes up an author platform and why it matters to agents The most important aspect of your book proposal How agents shop books The financial side of traditional publishing for authors and agents How to send him your query

Do you know who you're selling your books, products, or services to or are you out on the intersections of the Internet with a sign begging people to buy? In this episode, I'll give you a few tips to refocus and get your art into the hands of the people you originally intended to have it. 

You've heard of S-M-A-R-T goals, but what about W-R-I-T-E goals? This week, I walk you through what these goals are and why authors and writers need to embrace this system for writing and publishing success in 2022.

Joanna Penn is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers under J.F.Penn. She also writes inspirational non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning creative entrepreneur and international professional speaker. Her site, TheCreativePenn.com is regularly voted one of the top 10 sites for writers and self-publishers. In this episode, Joanna discusses: How she got started writing The mindset needed for authors and writers to successfully go full-time How to diffuse comparisonitis and turn it into positive, productive energy The importance of writing down goals How to build your audience using the host of tools available to authors and writers The big advantages indie authors have over traditionally published authors What Patreon is and how she uses it to build her publishing empire through her podcast

This is a unique episode. It's the first time I've brought another podcast creator on to do a round-table style back-and-forth interview format. My friend Tim Brien of Create Art Podcast and I talk about why creatives need to respect their time and talent, honor the process, work around the difficulties of work and family, and stay encouraged by engaging in communities. 

In this episode, Patrick Belcher talks about his new book "Fundraising Is" and shares tips, advice, and guidance for nonprofits and how his book can help them find organizational success.,   Patrick Belcher instructs local non-profit organizations on how to consistently raise money. His passion is to guide charities in developing a long-term strategy to gather resources that help them achieve their mission. Using a detailed evaluation process, major gift strategies, and planning, Patrick ensures nonprofits have the resources to make a difference. On several instances, he has helped these charities establish their first $100,000+ event. Patrick discovered how his sales background applied to fundraising while working for the American Red Cross where he far exceeded fundraising goals. As a consultant, he has worked with local affiliates of national groups like Adult & Teen Challenge. He has also worked local addiction and recovery centers, organizations that support the arts, local private schools and other groups focused on education. Learn more about Patrick and his 20+ year track record as a nonprofit sales leader at PBJmarComm.net.

Dawn Brotherton is an award-winning author and featured speaker at writing and publishing seminars. When it comes to exceptional writing, she draws on her experience as a colonel retired from the US Air Force as well as a softball coach and Girl Scout leader. Her variety of interests has led to a variety of genres including mystery, romance, young adult fantasy, middle-grade sports, picture books, and nonfiction. In this episode, Dawn talks about how the books she writes come from her life's experiences and how that way of generating a story can lead to a vein of gold for an author. 

In this episode, I talk to Marilen Crump, the expert dream catcher. Marilen has helped countless people—women in particular—create the blueprint for achieving their dream goals and then mobilizing them to achieve them with great results.  If you have a writing dream, Marilen offers steps to improve your mindset and clarity and exercises you can do to take action today!

On this episode, author and artist Laurie Marshall talks to Chris about art, writing, our creative spark, and why we all need to honor and share our creative gifts to make a better world today and for the future.

This week I'm joined by Dr. Deborah Tillman, parenting expert and star of Lifetime TVs American Supernanny. On this episode, Dr. Tillman and I talk about how writers should balance creative life and family life.  You'll learn: How to parent and create during an uncertain pandemic How prioritizing your family helps with getting creative time scheduled Purposeful parenting vs perfect parenting Why you should strive for a harmonious home over a balanced home How parents can meet the needs of their children and still find time to write Setting boundaries on your writing time and teaching your kids how to respect it How to involve your kids in your creative process How to use your creative time to institute a block of time for your kids to pursue their own hobbies What to do when you feel like you have to choose kids over creating How to make time for self-care All this and more await in this episode!

C.M. Healy currently lives in Mesquite, Texas with his wife, dog, and two giant cats where he teaches HS chemistry. When he's not busy writing, he enjoys building Lego sets, playing video games, reading comic books (The Flash is his favorite), and watching TV with his best buddy, his wife. He earned the distinguished award of Eagle Scout during high school and went on to obtain his master's in child development from Oklahoma State University. He has been working with and entertaining children of all ages ever since. P.S. He loves to wear FUN SOCKS to his events so ask him to show you

John David Mann is an award-winning author whose books have sold more than 3 million copies in 3 dozen languages, including the bestselling classic THE GO-GIVER with Bob Burg, the New York Times bestselling memoir THE RED CIRCLE with former Navy SEAL Brandon Webb, and the New York Times bestselling parable THE LATTE FACTOR with personal finance legend David Bach. As a teenager, John started his own high school and was an award-winning composer and cellist before turning to careers as an entrepreneur and author. His book TAKE THE LEAD (with former White House staffer Betsy Myers) was named by Tom Peters and the Washington Post “Best Leadership Book of 2011.” His first novel, STEEL FEAR, will be released in August 2021; iconic author Lee Child has called it “sensationally good—an instant classic, maybe an instant legend.”   My journey as a writer, and especially my two current books: "How to Write Good (Or At Least, Gooder)"—released March 1 as an ebook exclusive; and "Steel Fear," released July 13.   In this episode, you'll learn:   Why he wrote "How to Write Good, or At Least Gooder" What makes a good story in any genre How we identify with story and the human nature of storytelling Knowing you're a writer and living it out The anatomy of a good story Your writing life as story How he developed diverse writing styles (John writes fiction, nonfiction, and parable) The writing of Steel Fear and the value of accurate research in writing

Alicia R. Riley, who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fine Arts and a Master's in Business Administration-Marketing, is the author of The Power of Events and The Virtual Event Planner. She is a professional event producer and an educator who began studying the field in 1996—an era when the profession was foreign to many, and educational or training options were limited. Riley believes any goal is possible if you commit yourself to work for it, and she reaches every professional goal she sets, based on her list of lessons that are critical to an event planner's success.   In 2002, the Glendale, Arizona native launched a business and amazed clients with her event planning knowledge and expertise. This led to a teaching position and service as a professional speaker in the event planning industry. Her motivational speech, “The Power of Events,” educates audiences about special events and life planning.    She refuses to be content and is committed to staying current in her profession. In 2020, Riley earned digital event strategist certification, which allows her to help companies transition in-person events to a digital platform. Her recently published book, The Virtual Event Planner, provides a detailed, personal guide to all aspects of virtual event planning, which will be an inspirational and indispensable resource for anyone already involved with event planning or anyone who may be considering a career in the profession.   In this episode, you'll learn:   How COVID changed event planning and what that means to you today How to embrace changes and move forward with grace Setting up virtual events Keys to successful events Why hybrid events may become be the norm and how you can host them Setting your fee structure How long virtual and hybrid events should be How to choose the right speakers for virtual and hybrid events

Known as the Evangelist of Authenticity (#authenticityevangelist), David is also an Ordained Minister & Evangelist with the Christian Church.  With 24+ years of ministry experience, David has had the privilege of leading within seven different congregations.  He was also instrumental in establishing three additional Church plantings.   David's background has been in helping organizations with both Transitional Leadership and Leadership Development.  He is passionate about the development of every organization's greatest resource: its people.  He has taught and trained on every platform from mentoring to workshops and Executive Coaching.   In this episode, you'll learn:   What the winning edge is for speaking and why it matters What confident speakers know and how you can learn it How to use public speaking techniques to sell more books at festivals and cons Why introverts are among the best public speakers What makes a great speaker The value of listening The power of the pause Why learning to code-switch can make you more effective in sales

On this episode, Joy O'Toole teaches us how to start a local or regional writer's conference from the ground up. We cover how to find a venue, locate authors to speak, get attendees excited, build contact lists, ways to promote a conference, and more.  Joy O'Toole is an adult services programmer at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She helped start and facilitate the Rappahannock Writers Conference.   One of her roles is to create and maintain a partnership between the library and the local writers and poets in its area.   Joy has worked for the library for almost ten years and loves every aspect of her work. She has the privilege of writing for the library website in addition to her other duties.   In her free time, she reads, maintains her personal blog, teaches women's Bible studies, and is working on a book project of her own.

This week we're talking audiobook narration with voice-over artist Lillian Rachel. A native Brit, after 9 transatlantic moves, Lillian is now at home in Washington DC. She discovered the joy of audiobooks while homeschooling 2 children, and has developed her passion for learning into well rounded audio narration career. Connecting with each character in a project, she brings her heart along with a mix of proper British class or east coast attitude to every project. In this episode, we discuss: How Lillian got started in voiceover work What she does to keep her voice healthy How she got started in recording audiobooks The growing popularity of audiobooks The types of audiobooks she narrates (fiction, nonfiction) Narrating in character Why should authors make an audiobook version of their work Should authors who want to create audio versions of their books write with audio in mind? Should authors hire narrators or narrate their own books  Her production process making an audiobook How long it takes to complete a recording Outtakes and funny recording stories.  How an author can find voiceover talent for their audiobook   Want to contact Lillian? Website: lillianrachel.com Facebook: facebook.com/LillianRachelVoiceOver Twitter: twitter.com/LillianRachelvo Instagram: instagram.com/lillianrachelvo Narrated works: amazon.com/LillianRachel

Aubrey Kosa has developed a passion for storytelling: helping others communicate clearly. In pursuit of that passion, she has provided freelance editing services for nonfiction authors since 2016. Her goal is to help authors create a polished final manuscript and navigate the publishing process so they can spend less time on the details and more time focusing on their big-picture message. In this episode. Aubrey breaks down the different types of editing, which you need, and why you need editors before you publish.

As writers, we're told to silence, ignore, or drown out the voice of our inner critic...but is that the right advice? On today's episode, I share an excerpt from the book "Unleash the Writer Within" by Cec Murphey that could change the way you relate to your inner voice.  "Unleash the Writer Within" is available on Amazon.

James Noll is the author of dozens of short stories and a handful of novels. He recently began adapting his stories into films.   In this episode, James discusses:   How he got started as a writer How he chose his genre Pivoting into authorship The evolution of self-publishing (2013 to present) The need for authors to be fearless and to try new ways to expose audiences to their books Turning a story into a short film How he found his director and crew Challenges and triumphs of the process Why you should try converting your stories to short films   Connect with James:   Website Instagram Facebook Amazon Author Page BookBub

When you want to make it easy for bloggers, editors, journalists, show producers, and podcast hosts to give you guest posting/contribution opportunities, write a story about you, or interview you, what's your best resource for getting their attention? A press kit, of course. In this episode, I show you nine elements of an attention-grabbing press kit to get your book more attention and score you more interviews.

My first foray into minimalism started when I read Walden many years ago. Next came Tim Ferriss in the 4-Hour Work Week when he quoted William of Occam, who said, " It is vain to do with more what can be done with fewer." Then I read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up back in 2017 on a whim.  All the pieces came together this year when I read Atomic Habits by James Clear. When he talked about how environment was one key to ensuring successful habits stick, it all fell into place. Since doing these eight things, and I have felt my energy go up, my drive and focus increase, my productivity heighten, my ability to start and finish tasks more rapidly improve, and this has been since the end of January. Here they are. (Get the full explanation on the show) Deleted Unnecessary Software. Organized, Optimized, and Decluttered Digital Files.  Made a One Notebook, One Sketchbook, One Book, One Magazine, and One of Each Type of Writing Utensil Rule.  Had a Shred Party.  Got Rid of Cord Clutter.  Inbox Zero. I Continue to Write in Scrivener as My Main Vehicle. What are some ways minimalism has made you a more productive writer?

Welcome back to the Art & Business of Writing podcast. I am your host Chris Jones, and I am ... BACK! It's been nearly three full years (March 30, 2018) since my last podcast episode so, before we get rocking and rolling and picking up where we left off, let's play some catch up, because my writing life has been an exciting adventure.   Roman poet Ovid once said, "Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop." And I can say for sure that after three years—and a few false starts when I wanted to bring the show back and was prohibited by life and COVID fallout (i.e. helping manage the family, teach my kids, and balance work)—I'm teeming with good ideas and a fresh outlook.   So, after pausing the show in 2018, here's what I managed to get myself into:   I've ghostwritten a couple of books with some fantastic authors. I've collaborated with another author to produce an inspiring work. I've done a bit of developmental editing as well as general book editing. I've been working with Morgan James Publishing as an acquisitions editor. I'm in the market now for business books and memoirs, so if that's you, be sure to reach out to me. I'm excited about one in particular called Fundraising Is by Patrick Belcher. That's coming this fall. I've coached a number of new authors and taken a few through my synopsis course and others all the way through to self-publishing on Ingram Spark and Amazon. I've continued to be a mainstay in the magazine world where I function like an off-site managing editor for a couple of magazines and health website called SpineNation. I've also written quite a bit over the past few years for publications.   In the midst of that, COVID-19 struck and, gratefully, no one in my family was affected by the virus itself, but we all felt the change.  I took on a broader role with my family and helped the kids with virtual learning.   In January, I went into my annual eye exam where I spoke to my optometrist about some distorted vision in my right eye. After watching me bomb on the eye exam and then reading m scans, he had me see an ophthalmologist across town who diagnosed me with a detached retina and had me go into surgery at a retina specialist's office over an hour and 15 minutes away. If you've never had your retina worked on, it's fascinating.  The ophthalmologist puts a gas bubble into your eye, and you spend the next several days with your head down to allow the bubble to press your retina back into place, so it can reattach itself. Then you walk face down and sleep face down for another week to 10 days. Unfortunately for me, after three weeks, more retinal damage was discovered, and I endured a second surgery a month later. So here we are. I'm three weeks post-op, but everything looks good. I can work, I can do cardio (no weights), and it's probably 6 or so months before I'll be able to drive again.   Now that we're all caught up, be sure to email me or find me on Instagram and tell me how your writing life has been and what you've accomplished since we last spoke. I'll be back next week and until then ... write on.

This week, I'm introducing a 15-week podcast boot camp on how to write your book from start to finish. Here are the topics we will cover. Episode 074: The Writer's Mindset & Daily Habits Episode 075: Who is Your Avatar? Episode 076: Developing Your Book Idea Episode 077: Tools of the Trade Episode 078: Writing Your Book Synopsis Episode 079: Developing Your Book Outline Episode 080: Ways to Get the Writing Done Episode 081: How to Start & Build Your Email List Episode 082: Choosing the Best Social Media Platform/s Episode 083: Building Your Author Website Episode 084: Book Editors & Editing Styles Episode 085: Book Designers & Why Looks Matter Episode 086: Choosing & Working with Beta Readers Episode 087: The All-Important ISBN Episode 088: Uploading on Amazon, KDP & IngramSpark Episode 089: Launch Parties Some of the episodes will have links to downloads in the show notes that you can use between episodes as homework to help you get closer to building your book. I'm looking forward to helping you on this journey. 

In this rebroadcast episode, I talk with children's book author Tasha Fuller about how authors can be successful at book festivals. I chose to do this episode as a replay since we are entering spring and many cities and regions are beginning to launch their annual book festivals. If you're planning on attending a book festival this year, you'll want to hear these marketing tips that will help you to sell more books.

If you're about to write a book, are writing a book, or about to publish a book, Candy Zulkosky is going to tell you how book launches work and why they need to start from the moment you have a concept for your book. She talks about the timeline for a book launch, from getting a cover to getting testimonials from your audience. You'll also learn: Why a book launch starts before the book is completed  How to get your book cover and what comes next  Building a community for your book launch  Where to focus your social media strategy  Producing a media kit Why it's important to have a separate website for your book  How to co-ordinate a successful launch day  Choosing your launch date What is a good frequency for emailing and posting to your audience  The importance of asking for testimonials  Setting up an Author Central page on Amazon  How long you should keep promoting your book The importance of having people to support you as you write your book

Today's guest is Hannah Carmack, author of the book "The Seven Sided Spy" (released by NineStar Press in January). Hannah talks about how she went through several rejection letters before a clever 140-character tweet caught the attention of a book publisher who offered her a deal for her book.

Chris Jones shares the top 5 lessons that he learned in 2017 that helped him to have a better year of writing and creativity.

Zack Miller is the CEO of Hatch where he helps entrepreneurs to start, build, grow, and thrive in their businesses. Zack is also a television show and podcast host, as well as an author. Today he's going to teach you how to get influencers to say, "Yes!" to contribution to and endorsing your books. Get the complete show notes at: http://www.readywritelaunch.com/abw067

Ajay Prasad is a serial entrepreneur and Founder of GMR Web Team, GMR Transcription and RepuGen. A former Fortune 10 executive with years of marketing expertise, Ajay has helped small businesses grow to their fullest potential. He continues to craft a name for himself by building online businesses from the ground-up. Today, Ajay discusses: What makes up the digital landscape Creating a system to filter reviews Reputation management for authors to convert critics to customers Benefits to book landing pages Facebook ads vs Google ads Social media targeting Get to Know Ajay: Website

Today, we're excited to have prolific fiction author Toby Neal on the show. She's a writer who made the leap from the corporate world to full-time writing in an inspiring way.   Toby made a name for herself with her 12 book Lei Crime Series, which has now turned into an Amazon Kindle World.    She's gone on to co-write a 6 book action/romance series with Emily Kimmelman as well her own series of romance novels and a Lei Crime spin-off series called Paradise Crime.    Toby joins us to talk about those things, as well as share tips on how to write a long-running series, how to co-write with another author, and what it's like to have your own Amazon Kindle World. In this episode, Toby discusses:   Writing a long-running fiction series How her former career informs her writing Kindle Worlds Co-writing   Resources Mentioned: Amazon Kindle Worlds Get to Know Toby: Facebook Twitter Website Amazon

Julie C. Gilbert is a multi-genre writer and a high school chemistry teacher. She writes everything from middle grade fantasy (Awakening) to Christian mystery (Heartfelt Cases) to fast-paced mystery/thrillers (Lei Crime Kindle World Shadow Council Series) to nonfiction (5 Steps to Surviving Chemistry and 5 Steps to Better Blurbs. In other news, you can find her taking walks on lovely days, drinking tea, building Legos, or collecting something Star Wars related. In this episode, Julie discusses: What elements should be included in a good book description (blurb) Where to start in the process of writing a book description (blurb) How long should a book description be? Why authors need to be thoughtful about how they approach writing book descriptions Why keyworking book descriptions for Amazon matters What to look for in a book blurb writer Resources Mentioned: 5 Steps to Better Blurbs: Crafting Dynamic Descriptions that Sell - Julie's book Get to Know Julie: Website Facebook Pinterest LinkedIn Twitter Let's Hear from You: Leave a comment below Message me on Twitter Join my Facebook Group Share this show on Twitter or Facebook Leave a review on iTunes Subscribe to The Art & Business of Writing Podcast: iTunes Stitcher Google Play  

Joanna Penn is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers under J.F.Penn. She also writes inspirational non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning creative entrepreneur and international professional speaker. Her site, TheCreativePenn.com is regularly voted one of the top 10 sites for writers and self-publishers. In this episode, Joanna discusses: How she got started writing The mindset needed for authors and writers to successfully go full-time How to diffuse comparisonitis and turn it into positive, productive energy The importance of writing down goals How to build your audience using the host of tools available to authors and writers The big advantages indie authors have over traditionally published authors What Patreon is and how she uses it to build her publishing empire through her podcast Resources Mentioned: The Creative Penn - Joanna's Podcast How to Market a Book - Her Book BookBub Freebooksy Get to Know Joanna: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Podcast Let's Hear from You: Leave a comment below Message me on Twitter Join my Facebook Group Share this show on Twitter or Facebook Leave a review on iTunes Subscribe to The Art & Business of Writing Podcast: iTunes Stitcher Google Play iHeart Radio 

Eric Rosenberg is a finance, travel, and technology writer in Ventura, California. When away from the keyboard, Eric he enjoys exploring the world, flying small airplanes, discovering new craft beers, and spending time with his wife and little girl. On this episode, Eric talks about when and how he started blogging, how it led to him getting bigger writing opportunities, and what he did to to turn up the heat and write himself to a six-figure income. In this episode, Eric discusses: How he got started with blogging Why blogging is the perfect side hustle How to determine what you should write on your blog Turning your blog into a platform Building social proof How to use guest blogging and PR to stand out from the crowd Resources Mentioned: Google Keep HARO Answer the Public Gusto Get to Know Eric: Website Facebook Podcast Twitter Let's Hear from You: Message me on Twitter Join my Facebook Group Share this show on Twitter or Facebook Leave a review

Gordon Firemark is an expert in matters pertaining to the entertainment industry, particular theatre, film, television and music. Intellectual Property law is his forte'. On this episode, Gordon will talk about copyright laws writers and authors need to know, what fair use is when quoting sources in your book, how to protect your intellectual property, how to be book publishing contract savvy, what constitutes a legally binding contract, and more. In this episode, Gordon discusses: Music rights for podcasters What writers and authors need to consider when starting their businesses Copyright, public domain, and fair use laws Permission rights for using excerpts of other people's work (including religious texts) in your books Legal savvy for freelancers Why you should talk to an attorney before signing a book contract Protecting yourself when writing a memoir Book titles and trademark laws What the law says on writing biographies of famous people   Resources Mentioned:   The Podcast, Blog & New Media Producer's Legal Survival Guide: An essential resource for content creators - Gordon's Book Get to Know Gordon: Website Facebook Podcast LinkedIn Twitter Let's Hear from You: Leave a comment below Message me on Twitter Join my Facebook Group Share this show on Twitter or Facebook Leave a review on iTunes   Subscribe to The Art & Business of Writing Podcast: iTunes Stitcher Google Play iHeart Radio  

Danny is a leading online marketing expert who works with home-based entrepreneurs to help them understand and adopt the most effective ways to build their business using social media and the internet. He is passionate about the freedom that home-business and entrepreneurship provides, and is on a mission to help others understand what is possible if they follow their dreams. Doing exactly that he was able to move away from a high-pressured corporate career in 2013 and now works with other entrepreneurs to help them achieve success through his leadership, coaching and mentoring. In This Episode, Danny Discusses...  Why authors need to be comfortable niching in. The importance of building your author brand around you, not your books How to build relationships that lead to followers and interaction Thinking of your books as products and spin-offs Why sales is NOT a bad word and what's at stake when you don't have a call-to-action Choosing the right social networks Low and no-cost brand-building strategies Resources Mentioned 6 Steps To Refining Your Personal Brand Handbook - Danny's eBook Online Marketing Masterclass - Danny's Training Course Canva - image editing Unsplash - high quality free stock images Placeit - a great site for mockups Get to Know Danny Website Facebook LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Let's Hear From You  Leave a comment below Message me on Twitter Join my Facebook Group Share this show on Twitter or Facebook Leave a review on iTunes

Lisa Cherry Beaumont is a life purpose coach, workshop leader, and author of bestselling book Life Purpose Alchemy: Discover What Fulfills You and Do What You Love for a Living. Using her unique 6-step system, Lisa helps people who are stuck doing work they don't love, and those who find themselves hopping from one frustrating business to the next, to understand what's meaningful to them and create a business that makes them happy and keeps them motivated. In This Episode, Lisa Discusses... Why authors need more time unplugged and in the natural world How you can design a life that makes you happy Why being a messy writer will make you a happy writer How to stop caring about the opinions of other people How to beat “Comparisonitis” How published and marketed her Amazon bestselling book Resources Mentioned Start with Why by Simon Sinek Life Purpose Alchemy – Lisa's Book Crush It with Kindle by John Tighe Get to Know Lisa Website Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram YouTube

This Week We Welcome: Melissa Forziat Melissa Forziat is a marketing consultant and event planner and currently works with small business owners and nonprofits to develop impactful events and strategic marketing plans. She cares deeply about helping small business owners achieve success.   Before starting Melissa Forziat Events & Marketing, Melissa held event planning roles at the 2006 and 2010 Olympic Winter Games, 2011 Rugby World Cup, and US Olympic Committee. Through her experiences with some of the biggest brands in the world, Melissa learned the principles of building a brand, creating a marketing message, and reaching the right target markets. Melissa recently published a series of popular guides that include titles such as Small Business Marketing on a Budget, A Crash Course in Online Marketing, The Marketing Funnel Worksheet and Defining Your Target Market that focus on helping small business owners achieve greater success in their marketing initiatives. In This Episode, Melissa Discusses... Why authors need to be deliberate in their marketing efforts How launching your book is just the beginning and why targeted campaigns increase the probability of success How to build a pre-launch strategy Why introverts are some of the best marketers How Facebook Events and other social media tools help boost awareness Why authors should consider forming partnerships and collaborations for extending their reach Resources Mentioned Facebook Defining Your Target Market – Melissa's book Small Business Marketing on A Budget – Melissa's book Get to Know Melissa Website Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Let's Hear From You Leave a comment below. Message me on Twitter Join my Facebook Group Share this show on Twitter or Facebook Leave a review on iTunes Subscribe to The Art & Business of Writing Podcast  iTunes Stitcher Google Play iHeart Radiohttp://www.readywritelaunch.com/ABW058  

On this episode, Courtney Buzzell of Proximo Marketing Strategies and Shelley Smith of Premier Rapport Incorporated talk about their book, "Brass Ovaries: Own Yours." On this episode, you'll also learn about how the pair used the power and depth of their networks to write the book, build a buzz, and grow their audience. Learn more: Facebook Website Amazon

Jonathan David Lewis is the author of "Brand vs. Wild: Building Resilient Brands for Harsh Business Environments." On this episode, he shares the value of creating a niche platform with a unique angle that represents your business. He talks about how to choose the right social media platforms, niche in, target your market, and find your brand's place in the market. He's a partner at McKee Wallwork + Company, an award-winning integrated marketing firm that has been recognized by Advertising Age as the Southwest Agency of the Year, the B2B Campaign of the Year, and one of the top ten small agencies in the country, as well as a repeat winner of the prestigious Effie Award for marketing effectiveness. Learn more at: http://www.johnathandavidlewis.com

Award winning author of Leadership Lessons From A Chef: Finding Time To Be Great and Tasting Success, “Your Guide to Becoming a Professional Chef,” Chef Carroll is currently the Executive Chef of River Oaks Country Club, in Houston Texas. River Oaks Country Club enjoys the reputation of being rated the number four Country Club in the United States. Today, he's going to talk about how to write a book with purpose so that it achieves what you set out for it to become. Key Takeaways: Know the purpose of your book. He wrote his book with the goal of it becoming a movie. Use your network to reach your goals. You won't have if you don't ask. Make a contract with yourself and then get to work! Dreams don't happen without commitment and action. It's all up to you. If you want to have a bestseller, you best be selling

Elliott Katz, author of "Being the Strong Man A Woman Wants: Timeless Wisdom on Being a Man," shares how authors can can sell foreign rights to increase revenue, influence readers around the world, and give their books more credibility. His book has been translated into 24 languages by publishers in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa. You will learn: How to contact international publishing houses The best practices for submitting your book to protect yourself. The three important benefits to selling your books internationally What you can expect in royalties

Darren Carrington is a video Impact coach with more than 25 years broadcasting experience in both Radio & TV.  He coaches people all over the world on a one-to-one basis through telephone, Skype or mutually convenient technology. Darren works with people who are using video, podcasting or engage in educational based marketing platforms to showcase their talents and services as well as existing broadcasters who are aspiring to the next level in their career. On this episode, Darren talks about what he does as a video impact coach and how he helps people who are shy or fearful about doing Facebook Live videos in front of the camera using some targeted techniques that bring out your best personality traits. You'll learn: How you can learn how to figure out your unique video personality that will resonate with your audience. Why you need to “ramp it up” when you get in front of the camera to make your energy larger than usual to draw in your audience. Why silence matters and how to use silence for better engagement. Should you use Facebook Live on desktop or mobile? How authors can use Facebook Live to gain readers and generate sales.   Learn more about Darren: www.VideoImpactCoach.com www.Facebook.com/groups/BetterVideosMoreClients

Welcome to Episode 52 of The Art & Business of Writing podcast. This week, I am joined again by New York Times bestselling author John David Mann. If you remember, John joined me for the first time on Episode 17. John is back and this time he's talking his new book, "The Recipe" and what he did when 40 publishers rejected it. John shares what he learned as he dove into the world of self-publishing and how he merged his knowledge of the traditional publishing world into self-publishing.   Learn more about John here: http://www.JohnDavidMann.com John recommends: The Book Launch Blueprint by Tim Grahl

This week, Chris and Kayla talk about the aesthetics that make for a great author website home page. Everything from email list capture, offers, free book downloads, and video are covered. If your author website is in need of a makeover, you don't want to miss this episode.

In this episode, we talk about the importance of moving to a self-hosted web environment (Wordpress is our recommendation). We examine how to choose a domain, other things you can use a domain for besides websites, and ow many to buy. Then we conclude with hosting providers and which providers offer what services.