Write The Revolution

Did you ask yourself what you did today that moved you closer to your goal? What's your plan to take another step closer tomorrow?

People are succeeding all around you. It can feel like you're not good enough because you're not doing as much on the same timeline as them and that you're a bad person for doing the same thing they're doing but not getting the same results. You're not a bad person. What someone else does and the degree to which they do it are not your responsibility to emulate, they're a demonstration of what's possible. Their success is not your template, so don't adopt what they're doing to get their success as a way for you to get your own success along the way. You do you, they do them.

Do you have a best friend? How do you talk to them, whenever you do talk to them? Is it overly formal? Is it too lax? Is it a constant on-going conversation across text and chat? Is it once in a blue moon? What if you could speak to your ideal reader that way?

Will your book be one of the 60,000 books produced in the next 12 months. On average, the majority of those 60k books will sell between 6 and 14 copies over their entire book lifespan, so are you prepared for that? Are you ready to treat this like a job, even if it's a fun job? Or are you more in love with the fantasy of being a writer and the act of writing than being a published author who works for a living?

It's another week and another 12 questions answered, all to help you write better. BE WARNED!! Things get spicy and ranty here as we talk about second acts, saving money, writing plans, doing your best and navigating criticism.

With all this talk about ideal readers, it's important to take a second and make a point of highlighting the most critical part of developing a relationship with those readers once you find them - patience. They're not all going to show up at once, and they're not going to come in huge droves all the time. Resist the urge to micro-manage and aim for consistency.

Once you start figuring out who your ideal reader is, someone always says "Yeah yeah, I get it" and then starts complaining that they're problem isn't the WHO it's the WHERE, as in "Where is my reader?" They're all over the place, but you're going to have to consistently, intentionally, and regularly go outside your comfort zone or usual "marketing" habits to find them. Things like a landing page. Or a promotional podcast. Or a newsletter. Or some graphics. Go just outside what you're used to and you'll find new readers.

Your ideal reader wants some bridge built between their reality and your created world. They don't necessarily only want token representation of a job or a goal, but more than that. They want to see a view of their world shown through how you've put your characters through their arcs, and how the character changes in relation to those arcs and the world. If you're trying to make the sale, aim to build a relationship with your ideal reader based on a worldview or an expression of reality (through the unreality of what you're writing) that they can say speaks to them.

On the portable headset today while waiting for a cat food delivery, I thought it would a be good time to talk to you about your ideal reader. So today, let's imagine this reader Who are they? How do they identify? What are you offering them - what's your plot? what are your themes? And then tomorrow, we'll add characters and arcs to what you're offering and talk more about the sort of person they are.

Your book, whatever it is, isn't going to be for everyone. And you don't need to try and make it for everyone. There's going to be a set of people (I don't know how large a number) that just won't ever be interested in what you're writing - and that doesn't even have anything to do with you. They won't like it because of the genre or the cover or the title or any number of other reasons that have nothing to do with who you are as a person or author and nothing to do with what you've written. These are people you don't have to try and persuade to read your book. They're not your people. Your people are out there, and they're going to like your book (and you) for what you provide. Focus on them.

A conversation with a woman who was overwhelmed by all the not-writing things a writer "has" to do leads me to take a few minutes and explain to you that you don't need to do all that much every day. If you're not published: Produce your art Track what you've done for the day Tell someone about what you've done If you are published, add the following: Tell people where they can buy what you've made

If you ever need help, ask for it. You'll get it.

Day 3 of 30: Writing doesn't have to be some complicated bloated academic thing, it can be simple. Don't mistake simple for bad or stupid, simple is just simple.

Oh goodness! It's a Writers Chat. This time, we talk about genre and marketing and pricing and doing your best. It's good to be back.

Continuing 30 posts in 30 days, here's Day 2, where I ask the question - can people change? Can people shrug off labels? Should they? Do you know your labels? How do you feel about them?

Here's Day 1 of 30 of daily podcast content. Enjoy this 19 minute long podcast with a delicious Sprecher root beer available at https://sprecherbrewery.com/ (https://sprecherbrewery.com/)Come back tomorrow for more.

CLASSIC CHAT!! From way back in January 2021.

Starting tomorrow (9/26), there's a whole string of podcast and other content coming about all different kinds of things related to being a writer, producing good writing, and encouraging both you and I not to give up. Here's Day 0, the announcement explaining it.

I don't know how to tell you this, but you actually have to do the work. No shortcuts, no magic bullets. Just you and your story and your fears and your doubts and your talent and your time and your discipline and your want to succeed. You can do this. If you want. PATREON - patreon.com/johnhelpsyouwritebetter

It's the Writers Chat for August 24th. Tonight's topics include: complainers, tripwires, and people watching. ALSO: there's a new Patreon tier. GO CHECK IT OUT - http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyouwritebetter

Great Scott! It's the Writer's Chat, it's back (but not in pog form), and I'm answering a ton of questions about headaches, file organizing, humor, revision, writing groups, giving feedback, and advice I wish I took years ago.

Back to streaming and podcasting we go! And back to basics tonight as we cover one of the fundamentals of writing - action beats. What are they? What do they do? Why does any of this matter? Find out tonight and level up your writing.

It's a camera-less Writers Chat from a studio WITH NO AC. With spicy questions and a hot and uncomfortable John. it's sure to be a great listen. Topics tonight include - agents, communities, turkey sandwiches, ticks, flashbacks, and newsletters. SO MUCH SPICE IT SHOULD COME WITH A WARNING LABEL.

Rejection happens. Poor sales happen. But why though? Here are 5 reasons and what to do about them. WEBSITE - http://johnhelpsyouwritebetter.comPATREON - http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyouwritebetterTWITCH - http://twitch.tv/johnhelpsyouwritebetterYOUTUBE - http://youtube.com/johnadamus

The Writers Chat for July 13th is packed with business and creative questions alike. There are questions about LLCs, tea, death, marketing, humor, and trends. This one was a good one. PATREON - http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyouwritebetterTWITCH - http://twitch.tv/johnhelpsyouwritebetter

RE-UPLOADED. Perefectionism is a trap we allfall into from time to time and it's something we really need to talk about.PATREON - patreon.com/johnhelpsyouwritebetterTWITCH - twitch.tv/johnhelpsyouwritebetter

It's time to talk about birthday cake and learn a little about nuance as a writer and as a member of whatever writing spheres you call your own

A quick note from a Tuesday.

It's a Monday, so let's talk about it.

WARNING! If this were a menu, this would have three of those little jalapeños next to it. Loads of spicy stuff here all about heroes, villains, RevPit and Nancy Pelosi. Yeah, this is a good one.

How's the beginning of your story looking? Does it need some structure? How about a boost? Would it help you to know what should be there so you can make it better?In this thrilling sorta technical episode of Building A Better Second Draft, I walk you right through your first five scenes (and by extension all the way through your first act), one scene at a time. I think you're going to like this one.

It's the pretty spicy edition of the Writers Chat. Loads of good stuff here tonight. Exclamation points, time, suffering, and a good discussion about pies. I think you're going to love this one.

How do you tell your story? Is it working for you? Time to look at the how of "how you're writing." http://writernextdoor.comhttp://patreon.com/johnhelpsyoucreate

It's great to be back and talking about something both abstract and practical like voice, helping debunk its mythology and turn it into a tool that can help you not only be a more effective writer, but a more prosperous creative.

You never make art alone.

In today's quick writing tip, let's talk about one of the ways to make the mundane into something tremendous by creating steps of difficulty rather than the normal progression. Is this a useful tool? Sometimes. Is this also a tool you can badly misuse? Sometimes.

It's time to talk all things romance. Whether you're crafting a romance novel or just a subplot, these are the things you need to know in order to get the most of your characters and give the best you can to your reader.

It's Friday the 13th. I thought I could try the Chat on a different day and that would make a difference in some substantial good way. It ... well, it didn't entirely set the world on fire like I hoped, but all the same is was good to answer questions and get people the help they need.

The start of a new series! Let's make your second draft into something remarkable. Tonight, we start by looking at all things plots and arcs. Learn about how to organize plots, what they need, when you can cut scenes, when you may need to bolster things, and how to identify themes. This one gets a little crunchy, so feel free to take some notes.

Oh man, this writers chat is great. Coming off a short covid-plague-headcold hiatus, this chat covers a load of things like descriptions and believing in yourself and adverbs. Lots of GREAT info here. Hope you love it.

Grab your tea and Werthers Originals, I've got a cold, but that's not going to stop me from answering questions about anthologies, second drafts, beats, and subplots. PATREON - http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyoucreateTWITCH - http://twitch.tv/johnhelpsyouwritebetter

Every book is a marathon, a long haul from point A to point B with loads of questions an challenges along the way. Tonight, I want to talk to you about what you need to know and what you can do to run the best race you can as long as you want to as often as you want to. PATREON - http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyoucreate

Sorry there's no Chat tonight. Instead, I've got a sampler platter of what happens over at the Patreon. For $2 a month, you can get tons of storytelling, writing, and publishing each week. Consider giving it a look. http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyoucreate

I need you to challenge yourself and make some imperfect characters. Because you're good enough to.

I had 15 minutes between projects and here's a few quick thoughts about how to make a schedule. (This will later find its way into more fully formed thoughts for a stream at the end of April)

This was one hell of a good night. We talked tropes and genres and food comparisons and why sample pages are like bad plumbing etiquette. Such a good time. I think you're going to find a lot of valuable help here.

I'm bringing you a few tools and a new lens through which to view pitching. It's scary, but it doesn't need to be as scary as so many people make it. It's hard, but it doesn't need to be the impossible terrible thing people make it out to be. I think this will help you get better at it.

One hell of a good night. Great questions about editors, feedback, notes, publishers, social media and how to write multi-person conversations. Also, there's a great story about a massage chair that tried to kill me.

We can no longer deny how important platforms are for every kind of creative. Tonight, we walk through SEVEN different platforms, their pros and cons, as well as some stats to help you better use them to whatever creative end you may have.

Oh man, what a night! Tonight we talked about book covers, fear, pricing, salescopy, writing as a job, tea, editors and editorial style, and how great my couch is. One hell of a great night, thanks to everyone who was there.TWITCH - http://twitch.tv/johnhelpsyouwritebetterPATREON - http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyoucreate

You are not your stars. You are not your bad reviews. What matters in a review you get, what matters in a review you leave, and more all explained in this episode of How Do I Write This.