Podcast appearances and mentions of monica leonelle

Quick recapThe conversation among Russell, Monica, and Audrey revolved around the significance of planning in the writing and publishing process, with a focus on various planning and time management strategies. They also discussed the role of AI tools in creating content and the challenges of balancing work and personal life. The conversation highlighted the importance of managing expectations, setting and sticking to priorities, and maintaining a visible presence in business operations. The participants also shared their experiences with sleep cycles and work strategies, and the challenges of delivering quality work. The conversation concluded with a discussion on the importance of process improvement and transitioning into a mentor role.SummaryPlanning in Writing and Publishing ProcessThe conversation among Russell, Monica, and Audrey focused on the significance of planning in the writing and publishing process. Audrey, a planner expert, stressed the advantages of target-setting and planning for authors. The trio also reviewed the success of their author ecosystem efforts and upcoming projects. The discussion highlighted various planning and time management strategies, with Audrey and Monica sharing their experiences, while Russell expressed his struggles with content planning. Audrey and Monica also discussed the importance of time blocking and noted that it can be beneficial in different scenarios. The conversation ended without a definitive conclusion on which method was superior.Writing, Productivity, and AI in Creative ProcessesRussell Nohelty discussed his writing process, highlighting his ability to focus on his work due to not having any dependents. Monica Leonelle brought up the concept of women often being seen as support in others' lives. The conversation then shifted to productivity and Audrey Hughey shared her strategy of dedicating Saturday mornings to brainstorming and building her vision, which she found to be a highly productive time for her. Russell also mentioned the use of AI for writing and noted the recent release of Microsoft 365's Copilot Pro.AI Tools for Presentations and Task DelegationRussell, Audrey, and Monica discussed the benefits and limitations of AI tools in creating presentations and content calendars. Audrey shared her approach to monthly maintenance tasks, which involves using AI for content creation and delegating tasks to her team. The conversation concluded with Russell discussing the concept of 'chaos agents' and how they can disrupt plans, and Audrey bringing up the idea of 'yellow, red, and gray tines'.Balancing Life PrioritiesAudrey shared her top life priorities, which include self-care, family, her writing career, and income generation. She admitted struggling with balancing these priorities, particularly when her writing flow is disrupted and it affects her time with her family. Audrey, Monica, and Russell discussed the importance of setting and sticking to priorities, sharing their personal approaches. The conversation highlighted the challenges of balancing work and personal life, with Monica admitting that her family often takes precedence over her own needs.Managing Expectations in Project PlanningMonica shared her approach to project planning and meeting deadlines, emphasizing the importance of managing audience expectations. Russell expressed concerns over the fulfillment rate of a recent crowdfunding campaign and the need for maintaining a visible presence in business operations. Both Monica and Russell discussed the significance of managing expectations, particularly in terms of project timelines, and the importance of focusing on one goal at a time. The conversation also touched upon the varying expectations from different audiences and the psychological impact of losing supporters.Quality Work Challenges for Small BusinessesMonica, Audrey, and Russell discussed the challenges of delivering quality work, with Monica noting the struggle small businesses may face in balancing time and quality. Audrey emphasized the importance of prioritization, adaptability, and stakeholder communication, while Russell highlighted the subjective nature of quality. Audrey stressed the need for weekly evaluations, holistic planning, and strategic time management. Her suggestions were agreed upon by the team, with Russell and Monica acknowledging the practicality of her approach.Sleep Cycles and Work StrategiesThe participants discussed their experiences with sleep cycles and work strategies, noting how their approaches have changed as they've aged. Audrey emphasized the importance of self-care and limiting commitments to preserve energy. Russell shared how his strategies evolved as he had to adapt to chronic fatigue and reduced physical capacity. Monica mentioned her struggle with sleep deprivation and the need to shift her work habits. The conversation also touched upon the challenges of balancing work commitments and self-care when life circumstances change, such as becoming a parent or caring for a sick relative.Digital Products Income Boost: Planning, Efficiency, ChallengesAudrey Hughey highlighted the significance of planning and efficiency in boosting income from digital products, underscoring the need to balance income generation with personal fulfillment. Russell Nohelty and Monica Leonelle concurred, discussing their personal approaches to planning and the challenges of running a business, particularly in relation to digital presence and income generation. Russell shared his experience of losing his social media accounts and discussed the potential use of AI in advertising as a solution to regain lost revenue. The trio also explored various strategies such as finding more traffic sources, creating packages of old posts, and providing transformative experiences for clients.Writers Discuss Editing, Teamwork, and Outsourcing.Audrey Hughey shared her plans to package and edit her previously written short stories and flash fiction for her audience who enjoys horror and thriller genres. Russell Nohelty and Monica Leonelle reflected on the quality of their teams, noting their ability to work independently and deliver the desired experience. They emphasized the importance of hiring a well-suited team who require less oversight. The conversation concluded with the idea of documenting their processes for future reference, particularly in relation to a book project. Monica acknowledged her role as a bottleneck and decided to delegate much of her remaining workload to others. Russell emphasized the importance of investing in outsourcing and hiring professionals when possible.Marketing, Processes, and Leadership DiscussionsRussell, Audrey, and Monica discussed their experiences with marketing tool ConvertKit, with Audrey expressing satisfaction and Russell raising concerns about cost. They underscored the importance of understanding personal processes for improvement or outsourcing. Monica shared the benefits of gaining clarity about her work process and the advantages of outsourcing tasks. Russell introduced a new tool, Scroll, which uses AI for process documentation. The conversation also touched on the need for process improvement in their business ventures and the importance of transitioning into a mentor role, especially after turning 40. Audrey and Monica discussed the challenges faced by individuals who don't make this transition, with potential burnout being a significant concern. Additionally, they talked about the importance of training and leadership in the military, with Audrey emphasizing the potential for dismissal if one stagnates at the same rank.Work Challenges and Priorities: A Team DiscussionMonica, Audrey, and Russell discussed their work challenges and benefits. Monica mentioned an upcoming milestone birthday and the need for better systems. Audrey shared their bi-weekly meetings to focus on important projects and evaluate progress. Russell expressed interest in learning about their systems to avoid burnout and improve operations. Audrey admitted struggles with delegation, indicating a need to improve their system further. They also discussed the importance of having a team to manage and prioritize tasks, with Audrey sharing her strategy of breaking up projects into manageable tasks. Monica and Audrey discussed their respective strategies and priorities, with Monica emphasizing sales and marketing skills, and Audrey focusing on sales for the year. The conversation concluded with the group agreeing on the value of coaching for addressing planning problems and finding solutions. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.writermba.com/subscribe

In this episode of the Brave New Bookshelf, we’re joined by Monica Leonelle, co-founder of Writer MBA and a trailblazer in the publishing world, to explore how AI is revolutionizing wide strategies and translations for authors. Monica shares her journey from skepticism to fully embracing AI as a tool to expand creativity, save time, and break into international markets through accessible translation workflows. She also dives into her experiences with tools like Scribe Shadow and Publish Drive, offering invaluable insights for authors looking to go wide while maximizing their existing content. Visit our website https://bravenewbookshelf.com to view the full episode notes, links and apps mentioned in the episode, and the full transcript.

Episode Summary: Live from New Orleans – Six Figure Author ExperimentIn this episode, recorded live at a conference in New Orleans, hosts Monica Leonelle, Lee Savino, and Russell Nohelty reflect on a uniquely energizing experience. Unlike typical conferences that leave attendees drained, this event fostered connection, collaboration, and genuine breakthroughs.Key Takeaways1. Surprisingly Energizing Experience• Despite two full days of activities, the hosts felt energized instead of exhausted.• This is rare for conferences, especially when you're also organizing or speaking.2. Responsibility Was Shared—By Design• The event was intentionally structured so attendees, not just organizers, contributed to each other's success.• This created a more collaborative atmosphere and lightened the burden on the “core team.”3. Mastermind Format Delivered Results• The small group and one-on-one conversations during the mastermind led to powerful breakthroughs.• Attendees had space to talk, listen, and support one another—something often missing from big events.4. Hybrid Structure = Best of Both Worlds• The event included both a mastermind and a traditional conference portion.• The mastermind was experimental but impactful; the conference followed a more familiar format with vendors and speaker tracks.5. The People Made It Work• The success was largely due to curating a room full of generous, driven, “cool” people.• The team trusted that putting the right people together would lead to magic—and it did.Final ThoughtThis episode is proof that author events can go beyond panels and presentations. With intentional design and the right community, they can create meaningful momentum and real change in an author's career.Let me know if you'd like this turned into show notes, a newsletter, or something visual! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.sixfigureauthorexperiment.com

Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie) decluttering, pitching conferences, starting new projects Aligned Author: A Workshop in Intuitive Planning and Strategy "Using strategic principles, core values, and your desired feelings as a guide, you can create goals that feel good to pursue. Aligned Embodied Action is an intuitive and authentic way to approach goal-setting and strategic planning. Join life coach and author Valerie Ihsan for this experiential, full-day workshop packed with hands-on exercises, practical tips, valuable resources, and live coaching opportunities. By the end of the day, you'll walk away with a personalized action plan—clear, aligned, and ready to implement—so you can take your next steps with confidence." Use this link to register for the workshop:  https://link.clover.com/urlshortener/L9cSGN   (Erick) client work, reorganizing my life around ghost-writing, new clients and project management coming up, process re-structuring. What are you reading? Valerie:  In the Dream House (Carmen Maria Machado) You Will Find Your People: How to Make Meaningful Friendships as an Adult (Lane Moore) • (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ;  The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong    Erick:   Mort Terry Pratchett Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1: comfortable chair for your office Tidbit #2: Human Design chart; It'll validate so much about yourself! Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check):  Segment 4 (Main Topic):   Writing communities look different from one to another. There's: Writing friends, Critique group, Service Trade Friends, Organizations, Conferences, Writing groups, Colleagues you can chat with at meetings that understand the writing life (don't discount this!). I'm a writer. We all have something in common. Stay in contact Do I want to make this MY community? Like-mindedness. Compatibility, flexibility, fits my value system.           And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance   Next episode:  Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE184 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link) Resources:  "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Komp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching. Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Balance meditation app. Story Rubric version 1.1 and podcast episode. Three Story Method worksheet   Book Recs for writing/creativity/business: Fast-Draft Your Memoir (Rachael Herron) Thinking in Pictures (John Sayles) Poemcrazy (Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge) The Art of Dramatic Writing (Lajos Egri) On Writing (Stephen King) A Swim in a Pond in the Rain (George Saunders) Save the Cat! (Blake Snyder) Writing in Restaurants (David Mamet) Notable Mention: Story Engineering (Larry Brooks), Running Down a Dream: Your Road Map to Winning Creative Battles (Tim Grahl); Story Hypothesis (J.P. Rindfleisch IX); Three Story Method (J.Thorn and Zach Bohannon); The Anatomy of a Best Seller (Sacha Black)  

Main Topic: Writing as a Black Woman in the Speculative Fiction World (Main Topic starts at 28:00.) PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.  Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.   Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Accidental Stranger Book 2 out) Print out NOW! On Amazon.  Write in the Harbor (Erick teaching.) (Valerie will be at  Write in the Harbor in Gig Harbor, WA this year, too!  back from Ghost Story Weekend in Rainbow, OR. (Erick) https://wordcrafters.org/unlock-the-heart-of-your-memoir/  (Valerie's teaching a class in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday, December 7, 2024; 10am-5pm.) EMBODY (fit and intuitive) on Patreon. Michele: teaching at NC Writers Network Conference "Bending Reality" (Keynotes: art and creativity unifies and grounds us; What is your Zone of Genius? Create a keynote talk from there.) Book rec: The Big Leap (Hendricks);  teaching "Afro-Futurism and the Black Imaginary" class     What are you reading? Valerie: Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) Roland Rogers isn't Dead Yet (Samantha Allen); A Happy Pocketful of Money (David Cameron Gikandi) Erick: The October Country (Ray Bradbury) The Great When (Alan Moore) (Shout out to local bookstore: Parallel Worlds; NE Portland, OR) Michele: Nalo Hopkinson (Jamaica Ginger and Other Concoctions); How to Be Old (Lyn Slater)  Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1: Invite the Random into your Storytelling. (Roll the dice.) Tidbit #2: Eat fries before dinner. Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check):  Segment 4 (Main Topic):   Dr. Michele Tracy Berger is a professor, an award-winning writer, a creativity coach and a pug-lover. Her main love is writing speculative fiction, though she also is known to write poetry and creative nonfiction, too. 1. Spec fiction definition: ideas that are outside the regular laws of the universe; Margaret Atwood (feminist author used ); sci fi, fantasy, paranormal, horror. Toni Morrison's Beloved is a ghost story (literary). Horror is a feeling (also a genre) (elevated horror, social horror). In social horror, Creatives of Color now write systems of power as the monster in the basement.  2. What challenges do you face? Meet reader's expectations; gatekeepers have changed; a decade of rejections for Doll Seed story; understanding African American literary history (more space now, public ready now for more interesting characters); black women were absent or monstrous in horror media from the 70s and 80s, now there's interest in a rebalance, and an appetite for complex characters, indie pubbing lead the way for this. Trad pub catching up. "This May Hurt a Bit" (horror podcast) 3. Marketing through this lens: finding a press that resonates with you, being authentic and consistent, IG Live, learning as you go, embrace the work of marketer, watch documentary of Jackie Collins (Lady Boss: The Jackie Collins Story) and Harlan Ellison (Dreams with Sharp Teeth: A Film About a GrandMaster), writers have always had to think about how people find them.  Aunt Lute Press: mood board with intersection of empowered female characters, black readers of spec fiction, how to think about ideal reader ("If you like Octavia Butler, Kelly Link, AND Dean Koontz, you'll love Michele Tracy Berger").  Start with a character, then construct the story and follow the character through. Think about audience in the submission process.  4. Author services: Write affirmations. Neutral to positive self-talk for writers as a pattern interruptor. Coaching creatives for 15 years. The Creative Tickle. "Tickle your genius awake." Specialize in writers interested in mindset work. Online classes. Group coaching. "More Joy on the Path." "See the joy in the process."       Next episode:  Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE184 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link) Resources:  "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Komp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching. Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Balance meditation app. Story Rubric version 1.1 and podcast episode. Three Story Method worksheet   Book Recs for writing/creativity/business: Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles Take Off Your Pants: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker Story Hypothesis: A Writer's Guide to Crafting Resonating Stories by JP Rindfleisch IX Fast-Draft Your Memoir: Write Your Life Story in 45 Hours by Rachael Herron Three Story Method: Foundations in Fiction by J.Thorn and Zach Bohannon The Anatomy of a Best Seller by Sacha Black Slow Productivity by Cal Newport     

Main Topic: Jeanne Blasberg, Story Retellings (starts at 21:39 on video) PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.  Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.   Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Accidental Stranger Book 2 out) SWWC and Write in the Harbor (Erick teaching.) (Valerie will be at  Write in the Harbor in Gig Harbor, WA this year, too! And also speaking at Alaska Writers Guild conference in Anchorage in October.) Host of Ghost Story Weekend for Wordcrafters. (Erick) writing, working on print version of Accidental Stranger, rewriting next Strange Air novel, client biz. (Erick) client work, getting ready for conference next weekend. (Valerie)   What are you reading? Valerie: Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Horse (Willy Vlautin); We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman's Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power (Rachel Rodgers) Erick: The United States of Cryptids: A Tour of American Myths and Monsters  (J.W. Ocker) Jeanne Blasberg's reads: Land Rich, Cash Poor: My Family's Hope and the Untold History of the Disappearing American Farmer (Brian Reisinger) Entitlement (Rumaan Alam) Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1: Six-Week Writing From Your Body workshop (author Anna Willman)--starts September 28 --  $40 per session or discounted rate for all six. They always work with individuals to make their workshops accessible to all. Focusinginternational.org Writing from your body FII workshop Tidbit #2: Squibler (new writing organizer); Knowing what your boundaries are is key. I get to say what I do.  Tidbit #3: Chris Frizzell (Frizz Lit) Book club of the classic, chapter by chapter, funny host Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check): Segment 4 (Main Topic): Jeanne Blasberg is an award-winning and bestselling author and essayist. Her novel The Nine (SWP 2019) was honored with the 2019 Foreword Indies Gold Award in Thriller & Suspense and the Gold Medal and Juror's Choice in the 2019 National Indie Excellence Awards. Eden (SWP 2017), her debut, won the Benjamin Franklin Silver Award for Best New Voice in Fiction and was a finalist for the Sarton Women's Book Award for Historical Fiction. Her forthcoming novel, Daughter of a Promise (SWP, April 2, 2024) is a modern retelling of the legend of David and Bathsheba, completing the thematic trilogy she began with Eden and The Nine. Jeanne cochairs the board of the Boston Book Festival and serves on the Executive Committee of GrubStreet, one of the country's preeminent creative writing centers. Jeanne was named a Southampton Writer's Conference BookEnds Fellow in April 2021. She reviews contemporary fiction for the New York Journal of Books, When not in New England, she splits her time between Park City, UT, and growing organic vegetables in Verona, Wisconsin.   Jeanne Blasberg Daughter of a Promise Retellings: def -- not side story (that's its own genre) -- have the events from the original tellings (same or parallel); reimagined in different setting; make things contemporary and relevant. Not a 'diss' on the original. Opportunity to retell is a fun journey for reader and author. Plots are familiar (off-beat romance, forbidden relationship, etc), can insert or end story at a different point. In conversation with other works.   Only so many plots, we process our lives with story. Not derivative. Our human struggle has really never changed. The setting has, but universal truths haven't. As a species, have we really made much progress?    Take plot, make modern day, explore the relationships.  Do the research of retellings (all) already written first. Find what hasn't been said. Why are you telling this version? What questions exist? Why are you driven to write about it?   Follow your why's? What story has you still thinking about it? Follow your curiosity. This is the ultimate fan fiction. What are you obsessed with? What are you wanting to say with this retelling? "Inspired by" -- have permission to make these stories our own. Insert our own thoughts and conversation with this art. Art evolves this way. Museums hold many variations of the Virgin Mary. For instance.  License to play with it. What about exposing yourself to the "scholars" and experts response? Interest and curiosity is the response. Tip: Don't feel like anything is out of bounds for you. Just do it well. You are allowed to do it. If it lights you up, I think you should do it. If you've triggered someone, clearly you've done it right. @jeanneblasbergauthor  Constantly Curating on Substack (writing and farming) Sonic Branding (link TBD)   Next episode:  Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE184 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link) Resources:  "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Komp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching. Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Balance meditation app. Story Rubric version 1.1 and podcast episode. Three Story Method worksheet   Book Recs for writing/creativity/business: Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles Take Off Your Pants: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker Story Hypothesis: A Writer's Guide to Crafting Resonating Stories by JP Rindfleisch IX Fast-Draft Your Memoir: Write Your Life Story in 45 Hours by Rachael Herron Three Story Method: Foundations in Fiction by J.Thorn and Zach Bohannon The Anatomy of a Best Seller by Sacha Black Slow Productivity by Cal Newport 

Main Topic: Welcome to Season 5 PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.  Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.   Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): Three Story Method: Writing How-To Books out now. Focus and Finish: Goal-Setting and Strategic Planning for Writers (First in Series; out now.) Black Springs Saga Book 1 out now (it's the prequel) 99 cents (Accidental Stranger Book 2 preorder this coming week) SWWC and Write in the Harbor (Erick teaching.) (Valerie will be at  Write in the Harbor in Gig Harbor, WA this year, too! And also speaking at Alaska Writers Guild conference in Anchorage in October.) Host of Ghost Story Weekend for Wordcrafters. (Erick) submitting stories, client biz, new ad campaign. Working on next novel. (Erick) finishing 2024 retreat (Valerie) upcoming: courses, new novel (Valerie) What are you reading? Valerie: Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Horse (Willy Vlautin) The Universe Has Your Back (Gabrielle Bernstein)  Erick: The Tusks of Extinction (Ray Nayler), The Glass Hotel (Emily St. John Mandel)   Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1: Six-Week Writing From Your Body workshop (author Anna Willman)--starts September 28 --  $40 per session or discounted rate for all six. They always work with individuals to make their workshops accessible to all. Focusinginternational.org There is a free introductory workshop (one hour) on Saturday, September 14 at 7:00 a.m. pacific Writing from your body FII workshop Tidbit #2: Open rate and engagement rate on mailing list is more important than the size of the mailing list. Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check): Segment 4 (Main Topic):   Next episode: Jeanne Blasberg on Story Retellings Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE184 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link) Resources:  "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Komp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching. Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Balance meditation app. Story Rubric version 1.1 and podcast episode. Three Story Method worksheet   Book Recs for writing/creativity/business: Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles Take Off Your Pants: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker Story Hypothesis: A Writer's Guide to Crafting Resonating Stories by JP Rindfleisch IX Fast-Draft Your Memoir: Write Your Life Story in 45 Hours by Rachael Herron Three Story Method: Foundations in Fiction by J.Thorn and Zach Bohannon The Anatomy of a Best Seller by Sacha Black Slow Productivity by Cal Newport 

PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.  Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre. Announcements: 2024 Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop registration open; https://valerieihsan.com/retreat (Day Passes $400) Three Story Method: Writing How-To Books out now. Focus and Finish: Goal-Setting and Strategic Planning for Writers (First in Series; out now.) Black Springs Saga Book 1 out now (it's the prequel) 99 cents (Accidental Stranger Book 2 preorder this coming week) SWWC and Write in the Harbor (Erick teaching.) (Valerie will be at Write in the Harbor this year, too!) Host of Ghost Story Weekend for Wordcrafters. (Erick)   Author Update: Erick:   Valerie: back much better (still stiff) and knee improving, but slow; seeing the need to focus on my health needs (physical and mental) speaking Alaska Writers Guild conference in Anchorage in October and Write on the Sound in Gig Harbor, WA in November. Working with my Burnout Recovery plan; Updates through my Patreon page.   I'm reading:  (Gina's Reads) "But Everyone Feels This Way" Paige Layle - memoir on autism diagnosis; "Quit" Annie Duke  Thunder Song by Sasha taqŵšeblu LaPointe The Entire Sky by Joe Wilkins Erick:   Notes: Main Topic starts at 17:25. https://ginasoldano.com/author-spotlight-valerie-ihsan/ (Valerie's Author Spotlight feature on Gina's blog) Getting to the Heart of Why We Write (Gina's podcast) The Curious Compassionate (marketing podcast for children's books) with currated booklist Nia's Rescue Box (50% of profits go to Colorado Food Rescue) Food Rescue U.S. (national) Noise cancelling headphones Writing short Organized folders in Google and date every document (DATETitle.docx) Type with thumbs. Know what project I'm working on. Think about it first (a lot). Leave the sentence open (notes for rest of scene). Prefer writing memoir or essays and middle-grade fantasy (faves), but picture books are easy right now for those stolen moments. Writing in multiple genres not a choice. Have stories and ideas in brain. Have to get them out. Direction of energy is career and curiosity led. Focusing on picture book and middle grade (rather than memoir and novels) right now. Would like to be more focused in my direction: querying and direct submissions. Drafting emails and query moments during the screaming moments. Admin on laptop at couch. Things that work for me: Grace. Bullet journaling. Lists on post-it notes, less stressful to move the list than rewriting the list on a new day. Daydreaming and stickers. The Practice by Seth Godin (Your work needs to rhyme with itself.) Ginasoldano.com Podcast, all the socials, IG @gina.soldano, Substack, (check out new Core Connected Marketing/Substack)   Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE150 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link) Resources:  "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Komp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching. Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Balance meditation app. Story Rubric version 1.1 and podcast episode. Three Story Method worksheet   Book Recs for writing/creativity/business: Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles Take Off Your Pants: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker Story Hypothesis: A Writer's Guide to Crafting Resonating Stories by JP Rindfleisch IX Fast-Draft Your Memoir: Write Your Life Story in 45 Hours by Rachael Herron Three Story Method: Foundations in Fiction by J.Thorn and Zach Bohannon The Anatomy of a Best Seller by Sacha Black Slow Productivity by Cal Newport 

Welcome to the Kickstart Your Book Sales podcast with USA Today bestselling authors Russell Nohelty and Monica Leonelle, where you'll learn how to supercharge your book sales, go aggressively wide, and take your author career to the next level.In this episode we break down billionairess Taylor Swift's writing with psychological triggers in mind! Taylor Swift is just one pop culture example that we will use in our new upcoming course, StoryUrge. You can get StoryUrge as a bonus if you are attending our in-person conferences: Writer MBA Conference or the Future of Publishing Mastermind!We hope you enjoy! Excuse the lack of polish—we just wanted to get this one out into the world for you.Listen and subscribe to our new podcast: SixFigureAuthorExperiment.com.You can get your tickets to Writer MBA Conference here:https://writermba.com/conferenceThe Future of Publishing Mastermind application process is open:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeo9-oM3DlmII-A_NDZ0pEFHN-0q7v_t9ZpmCX9gHoFV0IgWg/viewform*****Join the Author Ecosystems Membership: http://authorecosystem.com/join Or subscribe to our free email list here: https://authorecosystems.substack.com/

Main Topic: Discovery Writing with KimBoo York PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.  Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre. Announcements: PNW inspired horror caretakerpress@gmail.com; Submissions closed. Reading stories now. Garden Home Community Library Writers Series "Self Publishing Success" June 25 gardenhomelibrary.org 2024 Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop registration open; https://valerieihsan.com/retreat (Day Passes $400) Three Story Method: Writing How-To Books out now. Focus and Finish: Goal-Setting and Strategic Planning for Writers (First in Series) Focus and Finish Group Coaching Cohort Black Springs Saga Book 1 out now (it's the prequel) 99 cents (Accidental Stranger Book 2 preorder this coming week)   Author Update: Erick: launched new book series (Black Springs Saga) June 21st, Importance of Telling Your Story. 90.7 FM KBOO Erick 9am-10am frustrated with the stories coming in (writers are not listening to submission requirements) Valerie: injured, humping along speaking Alaska Writers Guild conference in October Moose's Tooth Pizza (Erick recommends I eat there.) I'm reading: Thunder Song by Sasha taqŵšeblu LaPointe Erick: Cold Victory by Karl Marlantes KimBoo York is reading: Nirvana in Fire (English translation) (This is the graphic novel/manga version.)   Notes: Writing fan fiction helped [KimBoo] come into her own voice and writing process.  Discovery writing is a technique. Leaning into your curiosity.  Writing into the Dark (Dean Wesley Smith) Can intuitive writers use it? Dear Writer, Are you intuitive? Becca Syme. Instinct comes in. Study and practice = intuition Discovery writers lean on intuition heavily. New writers may have a hard time with discovery writing until they practice. After one million words, you will discover your writing style. Discovery writing as improve "Yes And" -- leaning on knowledge. Not free association writing. Writing into your curiosity (guard rails, not stream of consciousness). Going on the journey with the character.  Don't get stuck on what "should" happen. Just follow the curve as it goes around. Start small. Practice. Discovery writing before the page (Erick). Write out of order.  Reverse story beats, reverse outline. How can you use this in nonfiction or blog posts and essays? YES. A different process.  Nonfiction: Start with the introduction. Choose sentences to pull out as a section header. Move things around in manuscript for flow. Writing it out is what helps her (KimBoo) understand the organization.  First draft or second is not the finished product.  Do this with your marketing! Take two days to do it and stay curious. Stay curious until it's done. Purposely leave holes so readers will be curious and explore. Plug: houseofyork.info By the Seat of Your Pants: Secrets of Discovery Writing One Million Words Club on Discord (productivity, mindset) Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Writer Craft Facebook Group Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE150 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Resources:  "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Komp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching. Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Balance meditation app. Story Rubric version 1.1 and podcast episode. Three Story Method worksheet Book Recs for writing/creativity/business: Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles Take Off Your Pants: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker Story Hypothesis: A Writer's Guide to Crafting Resonating Stories by JP Rindfleisch IX Fast-Draft Your Memoir: Write Your Life Story in 45 Hours by Rachael Herron Three Story Method: Foundations in Fiction by J.Thorn and Zach Bohannon The Anatomy of a Best Seller by Sacha Black Slow Productivity by Cal Newport 

Today's top story is Can You Take It All? Question of the week is what mindset shifts have you been working on here in 2024? Join the Sell More Books Show Afterparty group on Facebook and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. Be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Main Topic: Using Tropes to Avoid Writer's Block PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.  Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre. Announcements: PNW inspired horror caretakerpress@gmail.com; Submissions closed.  Garden Home Community Library Writers Series "Self Publishing Success" June 25 gardenhomelibrary.org 2024 Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop registration open; https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Three Story Method: Writing How-To Books out now. Focus and Finish: Goal-Setting and Strategic Planning for Writers (First in Series) Exploring Imagery in Creative Nonfiction Black Springs Saga Book 1 out now (it's the prequel) 99 cents   Author Update: Erick: launched new book series (Black Springs Saga)   Valerie: new class good (planning on repurposing the content)   I'm reading: Crow Talk by Eileen Garvin Thunder Song by Sasha taqŵšeblu LaPointe   Erick:   The Manitou by Graham Masterton   Notes: Use the tropes to get started.  The obligatory scenes are already outlined for you. You can definitely make it your own. It's not cheating. Read in your genre. Understand the tropes in your genre. (Deconstruct books you love so you can learn to write that way. Read: The Anatomy of a Best Seller by Sacha Black. Make an Id List to discover your favorite tropes. Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Writer Craft Facebook Group Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE150 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Resources:  "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Komp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching. Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Balance meditation app. Story Rubric version 1.1 and podcast episode. Three Story Method worksheet Book Recs for writing/creativity/business: Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles Take Off Your Pants: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker Story Hypothesis: A Writer's Guide to Crafting Resonating Stories by JP Rindfleisch IX Fast-Draft Your Memoir: Write Your Life Story in 45 Hours by Rachael Herron Three Story Method: Foundations in Fiction by J.Thorn and Zach Bohannon The Anatomy of a Best Seller by Sacha Black Slow Productivity by Cal Newport 

Episode 5: Monica Leonelle joins Lee and Russell to discuss big launches. We run down a laundry list of the things Lee Savino and her cowriter did for their biggest launches (which resulted in each book hitting the USA today bestseller list back in 2021-2022). Then we asked Russell: What sounds fun for you? Opening credits and editing by the amazing Jim Wilbourne. The Book Launch Laundry list: * Bookbub pre-order promotions * Social media posts, giveaway posts* Goodreads giveaways* ARC Team vs Street Team * Your own newsletter * Newsletter Swaps with author peers* Merchandising at Kobo, Barnes and Noble* Newsletter promo sites like Bargainbooksy (Lee used Book-rank.com/Ram's Promo stacker and clicked “Give me the Max”) * Pay per click ads Lee hasn't had much success with: Amazon ads, tiktok ads, Bookbub ads, Snap chat ads, Google ads, Pinterest ads * Facebook ads, including self-liquidating offers like running ads to a direct store* Not discussed: affiliate marketing and video content marketing on Reels, Tiktok and Youtube shorts  Ask yourself “What on this list sounds fun to try for my next launch?” Resources: * Free Book Launch Checklist (includes how to apply for merchandising)* Book-rank.com (formerly Ram's promo stacker)* Recommended book Promotion sites by Nicholas Erik: https://nicholaserik.com/promo-sites/* Stats on the revamped USA Today Bestseller list: https://hotsheetpub.com/2023/10/the-revamped-usa-today-bestseller-list-isnt-what-it-used-to-be/* What's your Author Ecosystem? (Forest, Tundra, Desert, etc): * Free book on Author Ecosystems: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/dddd61c9j4Monica Leonelle's Book Sales Supercharged seriesAnd the Written Word Media Book Marketing template: https://geni.us/Bookmarketingtemplate This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.sixfigureauthorexperiment.com

We have a new podcast! Listen and subscribe to the SixFigureAuthorExperiment.com.Welcome to the Kickstart Your Book Sales podcast with USA Today bestselling authors Russell Nohelty and Monica Leonelle, where you'll learn how to supercharge your book sales, go aggressively wide, and take your author career to the next level.Today, we are answering questions from the community and in the process, going DEEP behind-the-scenes of some of our problems within our own publishing businesses. Let's get vulnerable! We also talk a lot more about the Writer MBA Conference that you should come to.Listen and subscribe to our new podcast: SixFigureAuthorExperiment.com.You can get your tickets to Writer MBA Conference here:https://writermba.com/conferenceThe Future of Publishing Mastermind application process is open:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeo9-oM3DlmII-A_NDZ0pEFHN-0q7v_t9ZpmCX9gHoFV0IgWg/viewform*****Join the Author Ecosystems Membership: http://authorecosystem.com/join Or subscribe to our free email list here: https://authorecosystems.substack.com/

We have a new podcast! Listen and subscribe to the SixFigureAuthorExperiment.com. Welcome to the Kickstart Your Book Sales podcast with USA Today bestselling authors Russell Nohelty and Monica Leonelle, where you'll learn how to supercharge your book sales, go aggressively wide, and take your author career to the next level.Today we are doing something VERY different and cross-posting an episode of our new podcast, The Six Figure Author Experiment. Lee and Russell are joined by Melissa Storm to discuss releasing a NSFW paranormal romance comic book on Kickstarter. They're two days into this launch and are already fully funded. This is the third episode of the podcast, so if you want to catch up the experiment from the beginning, head on over to SixFigureAuthorExperiment.com and listen from the beginning.Content warnings: dirty jokes. It's Lee's fault. Put your headphones in. The basics of Kickstarter projectsPopular genres on Kickstarter  Pros and cons of working with a comic publisher Best practices for collaborating or co-writing with another creator The three stages of a Kickstarter launchThe challenges of publishing a French and English version simultaneously The optimal length of a Kickstarter campaignWhat to include in a Kickstarter campaign A crash course in different types of comic covers (metal FTW) The stages of making a comic Color printing options with Bookvault Russell's most important tip for authors who want to turn their books into comics Listen and subscribe to our new podcast: SixFigureAuthorExperiment.com.Sign up for our virtual summit! It's May 22-24 and free to watch (paid recordings optional):http://writermba.com/virtual2024/You can get your tickets to Writer MBA Conference here:https://writermba.com/conferenceThe Future of Publishing Mastermind application process is open:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeo9-oM3DlmII-A_NDZ0pEFHN-0q7v_t9ZpmCX9gHoFV0IgWg/viewform*****Join the Author Ecosystems Membership: http://authorecosystem.com/join Or subscribe to our free email list here: https://authorecosystems.substack.com/

PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.  Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre. Announcements: PNW inspired horror caretakerpress@gmail.com; Submissions open until stories filled, or May 31st. 2024 Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop registration open; https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Three Story Method: Writing How-To Books out now. Focus and Finish: Goal-Setting and Strategic Planning for Writers (First in Series) Exploring Imagery in Creative Nonfiction Submissions class June 25th in Portland area. Link TBA. (Taught by Erick.)   Patron comment:  Comments/email from listeners:  Questions from listeners:   Author Update: Erick: prepping for new class launched new book series (Black Springs Saga) went camping with son (Cub Scouts) writing new story (TV pilot) (using as a sample for ghostwriting website) Valerie: started teaching new class mastermind helping me make some decisions getting ready for LeslieSophia changing website to streamline and point to coach I'm reading: Crow Talk by Eileen Garvin Thunder Song by Sasha taqŵšeblu LaPointe   Erick: Werewolf anthology Ten Things I Learned from Bill Porter by Shelly Brady HT to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack by Chuck Sambuchino Homicide (GN based on The Wire)  by David Simon One Tough Mother by Gert Boyle   Notes: Single use content is labor intensive.  Blog --> YT video, marketing material on various sites, podcast talking points. Podcast episode --> YT video, social media, newsletter, public newsletter.  Think about the purpose of the work you do. Harmonious message. Expert in field. Different video lengths serve different scenarios for your audience. Takes more than one time before they click on your content and engage with you. Look at HOW to use it, and where.      Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Writer Craft Facebook Group Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE150 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Resources:  "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Komp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching. Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Balance meditation app. Story Rubric version 1.1 and podcast episode. Three Story Method worksheet Book Recs for writing/creativity/business: Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles Take Off Your Pants: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker Story Hypothesis: A Writer's Guide to Crafting Resonating Stories by JP Rindfleisch IX Fast-Draft Your Memoir: Write Your Life Story in 45 Hours by Rachael Herron Three Story Method: Foundations in Fiction by J.Thorn and Zach Bohannon  

Episode 1: Join us for our first Six Figure Author Experiment: launching Russell's fantasy series, the Godsverse Chronicles. The series is written and complete, with covers and audio done and ready to go. Russell had great success launching this series on Kickstarter and now it's time to publish them wide on book retailers. Lee and Russell discuss pre-order strategy with Monica Leonelle, including: * The best way to juice the algorithm for success over on Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Google Play, Kobo and other book retailers * How to maximize your launch week on Amazon by publishing audio, paperback, hardback and ebook formats together to get an algorithmic boost*  What ‘merchandising' on wide retailers is and why it can give your book the best chance of success* How PublishDrive, Draft to Digital and Findaway Voices by Spotify can save you time and sanity * Pricing strategies including whether to launch full price or at a discountResources:* Free Book Launch ChecklistWe want to hear from you! Let us know what you're launching now and what was your favorite part of this episode.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.sixfigureauthorexperiment.com

Announcements: PNW inspired horror caretakerpress@gmail.com; Submissions open until stories filled. Starting to read May 1st. 2024 Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop registration open; https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Three Story Method: Writing How-To Books out now. Focus and Finish: Goal-Setting and Strategic Planning for Writers (First in Series) Author Update: Valerie: adopted a new dog "Buddy 'Keif' Nelson" Monthly Reflection tonight, or this weekend at the latest (if you are a patron and want to do it with me, let me know) just coming out of Q1+ funk and catching up on visiting with friends and self-care, so my tasks in the last week have been skewed towards personal/not business: haircut, birthday party, meditation, journaling, appointments with my life coach, yoga, introducing Usha to new doggy friend, fancy brunches, attending a new mastermind group I'm in, hot tub soaks, lunch out with a friend, and taking our new dog to the vet. And the next few days will be the same: catching up with friends, seeing my dad and step-mom, taking my son out to dinner, Chiro, yoga, the gym. starting work at the bookstore again part time starting next week. I'm reading: beta read manuscript The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman Thunder Song by Sasha taqŵšeblu LaPointe Notes: I read from the Foreward and Step One of new permafree book Focus and Finish: Goal-Setting and Strategic Planning for Writers. ** Foreward I'm a not-so-closet list-lover. Some of you may not like lists. Some of you might have tried list-making in the past and found it didn't work for you. But even if you are not a list-lover, you will find usefulness and value from this book and the exercises and resources in it. I think we've all had the experience at one point in our lives where we've woken up and discovered that what we are doing is not what we want to do and, in fact, was someone else's idea all along. Maybe that was the job that your dad wanted you to have, or maybe it's the parenting style that your partner wants you to use, or maybe it's the vacation that your friend wants you to go on. Maybe none of those things held interest for you—or went against a core belief, even—yet you somehow made yourself believe you wanted them and you trapped yourself into doing them. For instance, if you have been saying out loud all your life that you wanted to be a lawyer, and you went to law school, and you took the bar exam, and you passed the bar, and now you're working in a law firm, and you're doing the hours, and you say to yourself (and you say to everyone else), “I've always wanted to be a lawyer, and now I'm a lawyer. Isn't that great?” but underneath all that, you discovered at some point that, actually, you never really wanted to be a lawyer. What you wanted to be was a scuba dive instructor. If that is your passion and you can find a way to make a living doing scuba, then why are you a lawyer?  This book will help you identify your dreams and plan for a future of success doing the things that are truly important to you. Happy Planning! Valerie ** Step One The system I'm about to show you is one I do at least twice a year, because I know myself. And I know that I get caught up in the zeitgeist. I get caught up in the excitement that other people have about their businesses and I think, “I can do that, too!”  For instance, all my life, one of my dream jobs was to own a bookstore. And then, some years ago, I was offered the chance to buy, very inexpensively, a little bookstore. My breath quickened. My heart rate accelerated. Whoa. This was my dream. Here it was, handed right to me. It would be so easy to do—the way it was set up, the finances and the inventory and the space, and even the internship, basically.   I thought about it for weeks.  The reason she wanted to give up the bookstore was because she wanted to put more time into her own writing, which should've been a red flag from the very start, but I was still hooked into that old dream of owning my own bookstore. I sought the advice of my best friend. “If you were already making money as a published author, would you want to own a bookstore?" she asked. “No,” I said. I didn't even have to think about it. The word just blurted out all by itself. "Then there's your answer,” she said. "Oh."  And I didn't have to think about it anymore. Continually checking in with yourself and writing out your passions, writing out your dreams, is what's going to help you achieve them later on. Not just in the goal setting, in the strategizing and planning around it, but in acknowledging that this is your dream and you want to work towards it. Whatever it is—scuba diving, traveling, becoming a mailperson. Training dogs.  It can be anything. It can be work-related or can be personal. Maybe you just want to learn Russian because it's a gorgeous language. It would just be for fun. Do it. Dream it. Write a goal around it. And do it. Ideals change. Intentions change. It's natural. So, twice a year, I use this system to make sure I'm living the life I want, reaching for the goals that will fulfill my dreams. * * * There are two ways to go about doing this process, arguably a third, and on first glance it's going to be a big giant wishlist. But for you non-list-lovers, think of them as bullet points. Or mind-mapping. Option one is to go about these exercises wearing the Business Owner Hat. If you are a small-business owner, freelancer, or writer/teacher/artist, and you want to get a head start on your business plan, this could be a good option for you. You'll be planning and goal-setting with only your business or art in mind. Option two is to mix it all up: personal, spiritual, business, home/yard. If you work at home, all these areas merge anyway—to some degree—and feed into one another.  Option three is great if you are a linear thinker or you like to think in categories. Option three is really option one, over and over again. (i.e. personal goals/wishes, then business goals/wishes, then home/yard goals/wishes.) Choose one and go with it. If you choose option one and you veer off in the middle of it, no worries. The exercises all work the same. It's your mindset that can change as needed. Option two is my personal preference, but what usually happens for me is I do option two and then shift to option three. And what I mean by that is when I first start making my list of dreams, goals, and wishes, I dump everything in—reaching out to all aspects of my existence. My personal life, my spiritual life, my business life, my health projects, my gardening goals. And then at the end, when I feel like there's nothing left to put on the list, I reach back and look at the categories in my mind, starting with my business.  Is there anything in my business world that I'm leaving out? Is there anything that I haven't given myself permission to say out loud on the page? Is there anything that I'm too embarrassed, afraid, or irritated to mention on this list? And I write it down. And then I go to the next category. Is there anything that I'm forgetting about gardening that I want to put on this list? Et cetera. * * * Okay, let's get started.  Get yourself situated where you can be comfortable – and that could mean sprawling on the floor with markers, or at a bar stool with sharpened pencils, or lounging in a chair by the fire with a laptop. You need something to write with and something to write on, and probably a tasty beverage close by.  Once you're situated, think about whether you are going to focus on a specific area in your life right now, or let it fly and write down anything that comes to mind. If you decide that you just want to concentrate, for example, on your business goals, you could do that. Again, I prefer to lump it all in to one.  I find that one feeds into the other and, because I'm self-employed, sometimes it's hard to segregate anything out.    Step 1 Take as long as you need to write down anything and everything you want. This is the place to let go. No one will see this. Write down all the things. Think magic wand. Think No Barriers—financial, time, reality. This is the Dreaming Page. If you could do anything, if you could be anything, if you could have anything, what would it be? Maybe think of the Dreaming Page as your ideal life. What's on the page? What's in the dream life?   Your “bullet points” don't have to be huge grandiose things, like Go to China—although that could be one of them. It can also be Paint the Shelf in the Bathroom Turquoise.  Big dreams and little dreams. Write it all down. There may be a slight concern that, unleashed, this might turn into an eighty-two page To Do list. Don't worry too much about that, because if that's what ends up happening for you, I have another exercise at the end of Step Three that will fix it. So for right now, in any category in your life, or in every category in your life, write down the things that—if there were nothing standing in the way—you'd want to do, be, see, have, or experience. * * * Tips/Resources:  • For this exercise, you can use any kind of notebook, but since I'm a Passion Planner nerd, I like using the Passion Planner Road Map found in physical Passion Planners (or on passionplanner.com—affiliate link—under their downloads) as a template.  • I prefer to write on a notepad first and transfer the information over to my planner with better penmanship, and after I'm clearer about my goals. • If you need more structure, you can set a timer and brainstorm for a specified length of time. Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Writer Craft Facebook Group Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE150 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Resources:  "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Komp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching. Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Balance meditation app. Story Rubric version 1.1 and podcast episode. Three Story Method worksheet Book Recs for writing/creativity/business: Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles Take Off Your Pants: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker Story Hypothesis: A Writer's Guide to Crafting Resonating Stories by JP Rindfleisch IX Fast-Draft Your Memoir: Write Your Life Story in 45 Hours by Rachael Herron Three Story Method: Foundations in Fiction by J.Thorn and Zach Bohannon  

Announcements: PNW inspired horror caretakerpress@gmail.com; Submissions open until stories filled. Starting to read May 1st. 2024 Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop registration open; https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Three Story Method: Writing How-To Books out now. Focus and Finish: Goal-Setting and Strategic Planning for Writers (First in Series) Author Update: Erick: building landing pages for ads (for testing)  Dead Still presale price 99 cents Revision of Book Two in new series finished (this weekend) Pikes Peak Writing Conference in Colorado Springs, CO using content from conferences for social media clips     Valerie: new printer (printed out all the things) published a permafree book (first in series) Book two is half written from repurposed content   I'm reading: beta read manuscript Thunder Song by Sasha taqŵšeblu LaPointe   Erick: The Institute Stephen King   Notes: First Lines--book, chapters, scenes; sets the stage, POV, entice the reader away from other distractions, vary the opening lines within a book to prevent boredom; repetitive, stylistic elements only sometimes work.  Openings--protag's needs and wants Hooks-- into the story, seducing; narrative voice; themes; settings; odd or curious, "First lines are invitations." - Stephen King; what kind of party is your book? Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Writer Craft Facebook Group Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE150 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Resources:  "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Komp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching. Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Balance meditation app. Story Rubric version 1.1 and podcast episode. Three Story Method worksheet Book Recs for writing/creativity/business: Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles Take Off Your Pants: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker Story Hypothesis: A Writer's Guide to Crafting Resonating Stories by JP Rindfleisch IX Fast-Draft Your Memoir: Write Your Life Story in 45 Hours by Rachael Herron Three Story Method: Foundations in Fiction by J.Thorn and Zach Bohannon  

Main Topic: Writing Through Chronic Illness, with guest Kathie Giorgio   KATHIE GIORGIO is the author of a total of fifteen books: eight novels, two story collections, an essay collection, and four poetry collections. She's been nominated for the Pushcart Prize in fiction and poetry and awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Wisconsin Library Association, the Silver Pen Award for Literary Excellence, the Pencraft Award for Literary Excellence, and the Eric Hoffer Award In Fiction. Her poem “Light” won runner-up in the 2021 Rosebud Magazine Poetry Prize, and her work has also been incorporated into many visual art and musical events.  Kathie is the director and founder of AllWriters' Workplace & Workshop LLC, an international creative writing studio. She lives with her husband, mystery writer Michael Giorgio, their daughter Olivia, a cat named Oliver, and an eccentric dog named Ursula after Ursula Le Guin in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Three of her adult children, Christopher, Andy, and Olivia, live close by, along with her solo granddaughter, Maya Mae. One adult child has wandered off to Louisiana and lives among the mathematicians and alligators. PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.  Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre. Announcements: PNW inspired horror caretakerpress@gmail.com; Submissions open until stories filled. Starting to read May 1st. 2024 Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop registration open; https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Three Story Method: Writing How-To Books out now. Author Update: Erick: Web design changes,  Dead Still ARCs out now Revision of Book Three in new series happening   Valerie: adopted a new dog (foster fail) got cover for new book yesterday, uploading this week, permafree ebook, first in series Focus and Finish: Goal-Setting and Strategic Planning for Writers   Valerie's reading: Worthy Dead Still ARC   Erick: The Institute Stephen King Kathie: How to Be Eaten (Maria Adelmann)   Show Notes: One moment of happiness a day on FB for a year. (Today's Moment of Happiness Despite the News) Throw away idea that writers write 8 hrs a day.; write for half hour day. Write when you can, use your time. Lean towards fiction. Put your situation on another character's shoulders; if the character gets through it, so can you. A path to follow. Writing is a life saver. Go through it, roll with the punches.  motivation (my students keep me accountable to write; walk my talk/role model; what if I die? Gotta finish the book) How to get inspired when super stressed: accept it's dry, (don't panic, remember your successes); hear something that captures attention; always listening; never give up playing, don't go for logic. KathieGiorgio.org, FB, IG Allwritersworkshop.com Self care for the caregiver: learning on the run. (piano lessons, writing is a passion but job so writing not self care, start back to the gym, Nintendo.) Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Writer Craft Facebook Group Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE150 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link) Resources:  "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Komp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching. Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Balance meditation app. Story Rubric version 1.1 and podcast episode. Three Story Method worksheet Book Recs for writing/creativity/business: Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles Take Off Your Pants: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker Story Hypothesis: A Writer's Guide to Crafting Resonating Stories by JP Rindfleisch IX Fast-Draft Your Memoir: Write Your Life Story in 45 Hours by Rachael Herron Three Story Method: Foundations in Fiction by J.Thorn and Zach Bohannon  

Have you thought about running an event before? Have you thought about attending one of our events?Welcome to the Kickstart Your Book Sales podcast with USA Today bestselling authors Russell Nohelty and Monica Leonelle, where you'll learn how to supercharge your book sales, go aggressively wide, and take your author career to the next level.This particular episode is a raw replay of our recent membership call where we meet with the co-directors of our events, Mel Jolly and Tawdra Kandle, for a recap of the Future of Publishing Mastermind and more on what's to come for Writer MBA Conference, along with the related upcoming virtual conference. We hope you enjoy! Excuse the lack of polish—we just wanted to get this one out into the world for you.Sign up for our virtual summit! It's May 22-24 and free to watch (paid recordings optional):http://writermba.com/virtual2024/You can get your tickets to Writer MBA Conference here:https://writermba.com/conferenceThe Future of Publishing Mastermind application process is open:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeo9-oM3DlmII-A_NDZ0pEFHN-0q7v_t9ZpmCX9gHoFV0IgWg/viewform*****Join the Author Ecosystems Membership: http://authorecosystem.com/join Or subscribe to our free email list here: https://authorecosystems.substack.com/

Announcements:  Registration is open for the 2024 Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop in Marcola, Oregon. At this point, there is only three private tickets left and three shared tickets. We'll likely sell out again. ValerieIhsan.com/retreat for more info.  New book out for writers: Three Story Method: Writing How-To Books by Valerie Ihsan, J. Thorn, and Miranda Weingartner Erick is publishing an anthology; call for submissions for Back in the Ground (horror inspired by PNW); https://caretakerpress.org   UPDATE:  Valerie:   goal: create workshops for retreat, create the lesson plans for upcoming class, create memoir checklist, finish taxes son's birthday have a couple more conferences to pitch Tax Start this week! (find time in between meetings, the gym, and my son)     Erick:   roadtrip gave me two short story ideas and wrote them • inspired by the anthology submissions   Just finished:  I'M READING: Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life by Jamie Kern Lima     Up Next: The Creative Act by Rick Rubin  Erick's Reading:  Monica by Daniel Clowes (graphic novel)   Show Notes:  How do you explore, or understand, the world and your own values in the books and stories you write? "I love this weird stuff. How can I use this?" If you explore this, you'll engage yourself. The magic is I unconsciously know there is a lot to learn. Connect the dots of inciting incident to the relationship When the themes come up, now I know how to steer this (know where we are going). (Starts out unconsciously.) Engaging with the mystery. Making sense of relationships.  Stories that won't let me go are the ones that I learn from. No original stories but that's a propellent. Where you go with the trope is up to you. Open to the magic. "It doesn't start at the end."   Next Episode:  Kathy Giorgio (writing with a chronic illness) Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Writer Craft Facebook Group Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE150 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Resources:  "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Komp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching. Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Balance meditation app. Story Rubric version 1.1 and podcast episode. Three Story Method worksheet Book Recs for writing/creativity/business: Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles Take Off Your Pants: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker Story Hypothesis: A Writer's Guide to Crafting Resonating Stories by JP Rindfleisch IX Fast-Draft Your Memoir: Write Your Life Story in 45 Hours by Rachael Herron Three Story Method: Foundations in Fiction by J.Thorn and Zach Bohannon    

Announcements:  Registration is open for the 2024 Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop in Marcola, Oregon. At this point, there is only three private tickets left and three shared tickets. We'll likely sell out again. ValerieIhsan.com/retreat for more info.  New book out for writers: Three Story Method: Writing How-To Books by Valerie Ihsan, J. Thorn, and Miranda Weingartner Erick is publishing an anthology; call for submissions for Back in the Ground (horror inspired by PNW); https://caretakerpress.org   UPDATE:  Valerie:   started re-reading Goal-Setting and Strategic Planning for Writers (Focus and Finish series, Book 1), need to make some decisions (ebook and a workbook, audio book)(free audio book?) = Loss Leader/permafree bought the cover from 100covers.com but need to order the service now have a couple more conferences to pitch Tax Start this week! (find time in between meetings, the gym, and my son)     Erick:   week off with the family meeting with a digital marketer today to promote the author services part of his business (have pla launching a new series (Season in the Bush); first book Dead Still going to betas soon. Just finished:  I'M READING: Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life by Jamie Kern Lima     Up Next: The Creative Act by Rick Rubin  Erick's Reading:  Study for Obedience by Sarah Bernstein The Bachman Books (Stephen King) Ring Shout P Djèlí Clark   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Writer Craft Facebook Group Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE150 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Resources:  "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Komp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching. Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Balance meditation app. Story Rubric version 1.1 and podcast episode. Three Story Method worksheet Book Recs for writing/creativity/business: Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles Take Off Your Pants: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker Story Hypothesis: A Writer's Guide to Crafting Resonating Stories by JP Rindfleisch IX Fast-Draft Your Memoir: Write Your Life Story in 45 Hours by Rachael Herron Three Story Method: Foundations in Fiction by J.Thorn and Zach Bohannon    

Announcements:  Registration is open for the 2024 Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop in Marcola, Oregon. At this point, there is only four private tickets left and three shared tickets. We'll likely sell out again. ValerieIhsan.com/retreat for more info.  Erick is publishing an anthology; call for submissions (horror inspired by PNW); https://caretakerpress.org   UPDATE:  Valerie:   50th birthday Calendly vs Acuity (I have both!) ;-( New book out for writers: Three Story Method: Writing How-To Books by Valerie Ihsan, J. Thorn, and Miranda Weingartner started re-reading Goal-Setting and Strategic Planning for Writers (Focus and Finish series, Book 1), need to make some decisions (ebook and a workbook, audio book)(free audio book?) = Loss Leader/permafree hire out workbook formatting (scrivener not the best with this; please prove me wrong) bought the cover from 100covers.com but need to order the service now have a couple more conferences to pitch Tax Start this week! (find time in between meetings, the gym, and my son)     Erick:     Just finished: The Book Keeper by Sarah Painter I'M READING: Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life by Jamie Kern Lima       Up Next: The Creative Act by Rick Rubin  Erick's Reading:  The Bachman Books (Stephen King) Ring Shout P Djèlí Clark Show Notes:  Rec Book List for creative writing: Take Off Your Pants: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker Story Hypothesis: A Writer's Guide to Crafting Resonating Stories by JP Rindfleisch IX Fast-Draft Your Memoir: Write Your Life Story in 45 Hours by Rachael Herron Three Story Method: Foundations in Fiction by J.Thorn and Zach Bohannon Other mentions: Story Rubric version 1.1 and podcast episode. Three Story Method worksheet Next Episode:  Erick will be back Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Writer Craft Facebook Group Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE150 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Resources:  "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Komp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching. Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Balance meditation app.   Book Recs for writing/creativity/business: Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles  

Announcements:  Registration is open for the 2024 Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop in Marcola, Oregon. At this point, there is only four private tickets left and three shared tickets. We'll likely sell out again. ValerieIhsan.com/retreat for more info.  Erick is publishing an anthology; call for submissions (horror inspired by PNW); https://caretakerpress.org   UPDATE:  Valerie:   New book out for writers: Three Story Method: Writing How-To Books by Valerie Ihsan, J. Thorn, and Miranda Weingartner     Erick:   working with marketer (digital); an analysis of web presence has a LOT of tasks to do (do this when you've been in the market--author services--for a while and have some idea of where you lack before hiring the analysis.)   Just finished: The Ward Witch by Sarah Painter I'M READING:    The Book Keeper by Sarah Painter   Up Next: The Creative Act by Rick Rubin  Erick's Reading:  The Bachman Books (Stephen King) Ring Shout P Djèlí Clark Show Notes:  KDP is always changing. In marketing main series, put lead magnet as permafree on Amazon (instead of using Book Funnel to get people on mailing lists).  1. New cover 2. 99 cents on amazon 3. Barnes and Noble free 4. Let amazon know for the price match 5. No marketing to it. But naturally 100 downloads from organic reach. Led to sell through to rest of series. A+. Plus led to multiple reviews to all the books. Permafree method still works.  Next step: running ads to permafree and amping up the sell-through. Virtual Voice on Amazon/KDP (in KDP profile opt in to Beta testing). Ease of use is great. Have an audio book at a click of button. Cost of narrator and editor (local guy) = ~$2200 Two different versions of the audio book? Narrated by Virtual Voice vs Narrated by the author. Can we proof the audio files? Am I "locked in" to this audio? We do outgrow things. We can pivot. Next Episode:  solo show "Bringing Your Manuscript from Boring to BadAss." Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Writer Craft Facebook Group Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE150 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Resources:  "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Komp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching. Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Balance meditation app.   Book Recs for writing/creativity/business: Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles

Announcements:  Registration is open for the 2024 Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop in Marcola, Oregon. At this point, there is only four private tickets left and three shared tickets. We'll likely sell out again. ValerieIhsan.com/retreat for more info.    UPDATE:  Valerie:   affirmations 15 mins/day of writing to my audience (new affirmation: This is how I create joy and change people's lives.)   Erick:   Book 1 in new series coming out this month new anthology out with co-producer (caretaker.org)   Just finished: Eat Smarter by Shawn Stevenson I'M READING:    The Ward Witch by Sarah Painter    Spill Simmer Falter Wither by Sara Baume What's a Poor Girl to Do?: Prostitution in Mid-Nineteenth Century America by Elizabeth A. Topping          Up Next: The Creative Act by Rick Rubin  Erick's Reading:  Lost Places by Sarah Pinsker Full Dark No Stars by Stephen King (novellas) Ring Shout P Djèlí Clark Show Notes:  Who do you know?  Look for listings to submit. Google search calls for submissions for topics/genres. Anthologies vs journal Doing is a great way of attracting readers and colleagues. What you like and don't in the genre (you'll get a wide variety within the genre) -- pick a sub-genre. What formats do you want? What's in and What's out? Best case scenario process. Budget See the stages.  Get the cover to promote the call of submissions. (Add names later; have an agreement with cover designer) Send out call. Start reading once enough stories in the hopper; don't have to accept all these. Marketing: IG lives to promote Accept simultaneous submissions; accept as they go. Caretaker Press (caretakerpress.org) Next Episode:  Writing During Prolonged Illness with author Kathie Giorgio (business without loans)   Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Writer Craft Facebook Group Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE150 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Resources:  "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Komp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching. Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Balance meditation app.

Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 146 of the podcast and it's February 14, 2024 as we record this. Happy Valentine's Day! Main Topic: How to Maintain Your Business During Crisis PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.  This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.  Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre   Comments/email from listeners:  Questions from listeners:   Announcements:  Go to valerieihsan.com/retreat for info on this year's writing retreat in August. Reading in Eugene, OR on March 8th (Friday). I'm in a new anthology by Tsunami Press with my essay "Eye Contact." • Stay tuned for new series stuff from Erick. UPDATE:  Valerie:   in Turkey; mother-in-law in ICU for the last week; no change for the last two days Sound Effect https://wordcrafters.org/nonfiction-imagery/ class on Wednesdays starting in May 15th for six weeks "Exploring Imagery Through the Senses in Creative Nonfiction" hybrid class (virtual and in person)       Erick:   finishing up new series stuff while rewriting novel in Strange Air period piece (30s and 40s), paranormal baseball season -- releasing short pieces based on baseball season calendar; baseball scout is main protagonist     Just finished:  Glucose Revolution by Jessie Inchauspé  Jane and the Man of the Cloth by Stephanie Barron I'M READING:      Up Next:    The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton Erick's Reading:  The Devil Himself Dollar Sign on the Muscle Show Notes:   Grief and brain fog are exhausting. Do what you can to stay inspired and maintain motivation, but above all: Be kind to yourself and be self-aware.       Next Episode:  Resources:  Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Kemp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching.   Other Resources: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Valerie's new day book for the year 2023 is: Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga by Rolf Gates. I've published our 2022 Book List on the website: valerieihsan.com/podcast-news   The Author Life Community Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE407 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor   Writer Craft Facebook Group Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account   Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account    Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries

Announcements:  Registration is open for the 2024 Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop in Marcola, Oregon. At this point, there is only four private tickets left and three shared tickets. We'll likely sell out again. ValerieIhsan.com/retreat for more info.    UPDATE:  Valerie:   meditation: Balance app updating website slowly pitch conferences (Accountability for Authors)(What could I teach?)   Erick:   ice storm cabin fever novella in Strange Air series on 2nd draft still developing second series; plotting from beginning to end Happy Birthday! (48)   Just finished: Ma and Me by Putsata Reang I'M READING:   What's a Poor Girl to Do?: Prostitution in Mid-Nineteenth Century America by Elizabeth A. Topping  Praying with Jane Eyre by Vanessa Zoltan The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo     Up Next: The Creative Act by Rick Rubin Erick's Reading:  A Prayer for the Crown Shy   Anna's reading:  Dortmuder novels (Donald Westlake) Show Notes:  Bio: Anna Willman has been a certified Focusing Trainer since 1982. She has a Master's degree in International Studies from Claremont Graduate School and a Master's in Comparative Politics from Columbia University. She was a Fulbright Scholar in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, in 1971 and 1972. She retired in 2008 after fourteen years as director of the Confidence Clinic, a Focusing-oriented community wellness program for women. Since retirement she has written extensively about the program's history, its philosophy and practice, and its outcomes. She has also written and published six novels and a humorous short story about disappointed expectations. Our bodies hold our experiences in its cells.  You feel your emotions in your body. (Pain, etc.) It starts like meditation, but with focusing you create an inner space and listen to Self and garner wisdom from it.  Shift = noticing how to carry my experience of past trauma TODAY. It's always healing. The shift that happens is a big sigh of relief. Because now you know. A Knowing. A Clarity. A way to heal and understand yourself better. Your characters also (as they become more and more real) have past experiences that they feel in their bodies. Select a character (problem, won't do what I want, motivation issues, or discomfort with the character).  Slow down and relax, feel your chair, your feet, aware of body, notice rhythm of your breathing, ... Bring your character into your body, see if you can sense your character's discomfort in a situation. Can you feel your character's body? Do they notice what they are feeling? Any physical discomfort?  Sit with the experience. How is your character physically feeling it? Where is it? What is the quality of the sensation--lethargic, energetic, restless? Does it have a color? Soft, hard, loose, tight? What words can you use to describe it?  When you have a strong sense of it, how does your character respond to it? If it is painful, how do they escape it? Hide from it? Run away? Whimper? What is their normal response? Do they have to respond out of their ordinary? Is this a normal response to them or brand new? Given nature of your plot, pause and write down the words about how character is feeling, etc. How aware are they showing their feeling? Show not tell. Write what they do. Is there an awakening for them? How do they act afterwards?  Sit with your char, let your body feel your char's body, write down everything (even if it doesn't make sense), ask "What else?" Listen with compassion and curiosity. You want to understand. Not judging. If you do, your character will clam up on you. If I let characters do what they want to do, instead of plotting it, they get where I want them to be regardless, usually. (Anna) Use when you have limited actionable responses for characters. Deepen the char, improve the writing, character's interact with each other is more Real. Use this to develop metaphors.  Loose Ends (novel Anna wrote with the serial killer character) Kaleidoscope (novel Anna wrote about focusing and D.I.D.) (Whole Body Focusing.)  Anna's Amazon page with all her titles. Focusing Initiatives International: webinars (check for any workshops Anna does).   Next Episode:  How to Use Your Local Library as an Author Resource   Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Writer Craft Facebook Group Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE150 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Resources:  "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Kemp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching. Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Balance meditation app.   Book Recs for writing/creativity/business: Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles   Some of the Books We've Read This Year: Nejishiki Yoshiharu  (Erick) Ma and Me by Putsana Reang (Valerie) The Weird and Eerie Children of Ruin    

Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.  Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre. Announcements:  Registration is open for the 2024 Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop in Marcola, Oregon. At this point, there is only four private tickets left and three shared tickets. We'll likely sell out again. ValerieIhsan.com/retreat for more info. I'll be doing a reading this Saturday at Tsunami Books in Eugene Oregon at 5 p.m. for the new anthology, and there will be a wine reception afterward, hosted by Tsunami Press.  Order wherever books are sold.  My new Focus and Finish Group Coaching cohort starts next week. We'll meet most Tuesdays through March at 4 p.m. Pacific. It's discounted to $333 this week. You can go to ValerieIhsan.com/shopping to purchase. Season of the Shadow up now! (Erick's new title.)    UPDATE:  Valerie:   meeting with co-writers next week follow the feeling; Aligned Action are my 2024 buzz words. updating website slowly   Erick:   new series work: mapped out first three books  have cover for print book now I'M READING:  What's a Poor Girl to Do?: Prostitution in Mid-Nineteenth Century America by Elizabeth A. Topping and Ma and Me by Putsana Reang Praying with Jane Eyre by Vanessa Zoltan   Erick's Reading:  The Weird and Eerie Children of Ruin Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Writer Craft Facebook Group Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account Resources:  Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Kemp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching.   Other Resources: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter.   Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE150 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)  

Monica Leonelle is a USA Today bestselling author best known for her book publishing and business expertise at TheWorldNeedsYourPassion.com. Her nonfiction books have sold over 70,000 copies and helped thousands of writers write faster, become better storytellers, and find their way to success with wide and direct sales. Today we'll discuss the future of publishing and where Wide fits in.//Draft2Digital is where you start your Indie Author Career//  Looking for your path to self-publishing success? Draft2Digital is the leading ebook publisher and distributor worldwide. We'll convert your manuscript, distribute it online, and support you the whole way—and we won't charge you a dime.  We take a small percentage of the royalties for each sale you make through us, so we only make money when you make money. That's the best kind of business plan.  • Get started now: https://draft2digital.com/• Learn the ins, the outs, and the all-arounds of indie publishing from the industry experts on the D2D Blog: https://Draft2Digital.com/blog  • Promote your books with our Universal Book Links from Books2Read: https://books2read.com  Make sure you bookmark https://D2DLive.com for links to live events, and to catch back episodes of the Self Publishing Insiders Podcast.

How might thinking differently help you create clarity in our noisy world? How can you produce a high-quality print book — and successfully fund it on Kickstarter? Holger Nils Pohl discusses these things and more. In the intro, Copyright in an age of AI [Self Publishing Advice, Monica Leonelle, Ars Technica, The Verge, The Atlantic; […] The post Producing Visual, High Quality Books, Thinking Differently, and Kickstarter Lessons With Holger Nils Pohl first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 109 of the podcast and it's April 5, 2023  as we record this.  Main Topic: SEO (Part 2 in our Marketing That You Own series)   PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.  This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a postcard from me, a shout out on the podcast, and we can make announcements for you on air. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.  Patreon.com/strangeairstories for paranormal mysteries short stories   Comments: email from listener:   Questions from listeners:   Announcements:  1) Next Group Coaching cohort is starting soon! On sale now for $333. April 11- June 7 weekly; Tuesdays 2:00 p.m. (day and time negotiated by cohort) UPDATE:  Valerie:  quarterly check-in and not monthly check-in felt weird; lots of knitting!; compiling a master list of business tasks so that I can prioritize them. Erick:  getting to finished points on two books, (accidental rapid release later this year)    Just finished:  The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz I'M READING: The Blackhorse by Carole Johnstone ; Bones Would Rain from the Sky: Deepening Our Relationships With Dogs by Suzanne Clothier; Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton.    Up Next: audiobook library pick. I want to finish this sweater! Erick's Reading:  The Wendigo by Algernon Blackwood Hyperion by Dan Simmons   Show Notes:  Make sure you have Google Analytics on website at the very least. Search Engine = Google; Google scans All Pages On The Internet; Which page is most likely to help the searcher? When building a page (blog, site, YT) you are optimizing that content so that Google can find it. Tailor the content for that purpose--to rise to the top of those search results. Website = newspaper (Erick analogy.) Write blog topics based on google search terms. (What's a hot search term right now?) Tailor your content to the broad topic (called long tail search term) and create content based on each smaller keyword. YOST plug-in gives you red/green lights on each page, and tells you where to naturally put your keywords. Google crawls your site to look for new content. Goal: to rank for multiple relevant keywords. After two dozen pages of targeted content, you'll be pushed up in the searches. This marketing strategy is part of SEO. (Or maybe the other way around?) Erick works on this quarterly and weekly. Every quarter he looks for trending search terms and plans a quarter of blog post topics; and writes one each week for his blog.  Also, thinking about how to narrow the search terms. "Ghost writer" becomes "best ghost writer for hire in Portland Oregon." This works especially well for writers that provide author services and non-fiction authors, but what about fiction writers? Fiction: what are your competitive keywords? Take the low hanging fruit. Be the best small fish. "Mystery author" (competitive), "Oregon City author" is less competitive than "Portland author." It's about branding. If "Books about haunted towns" is the search term, write a blog post on "Top Ten Haunted Towns." You can look at SEO like choosing amazon keywords and categories for your book. Amazon book page is same as a website page in terms of content for Google to search. Site age does factor in to the Google ranking. Start SEO habit today, don't go back to fix old blog posts. Republishing blogs does count as new content, though. Next Steps: 1. Install Google Analytics on your website. 2. Install Yost on your website. 3. Brainstorm for search terms. What do you want to rank for in six months? (Think highest paying job.) 4. Take each term and put it in AdWords or Keyword Planner, and it will give you fifty other terms that fit, and rank them.  5. Start with lowest competitive terms. (What does it cost to run an ad on that word?) And write a blog post on that. Alternate topics. It all starts with content. (There are further strategies that come beyond the page, but you need content first. This can be: blog post; pictures can have keywords, too (meta tagging); video descriptions.  Tools to use for SEO, domain analysis, and keywords: Google Analytics, Google  Ad Words, Yoast, Moz. Talk to Erick about it. Email him to start a conversation. He can help you get started. SEO Consultants are expensive. There's a lot you can do BEFORE you hire one.  Semrush, The HOTH Resources:  Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Kemp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching.   Other Resources: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Valerie's new day book for the year 2023 is: Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga by Rolf Gates. I've published our 2022 Book List on the website: valerieihsan.com/podcast-news   The Author Life Community Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE188 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Find Us: Writer Craft Facebook Group Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account    Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries

Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 108 of the podcast and it's March 28, 2023  as we record this.  Main Topic: Website Basics   PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.  This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a postcard from me, a shout out on the podcast, and we can make announcements for you on air. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.  Patreon.com/strangeairstories for paranormal mysteries short stories   Comments: email from listener:   Questions from listeners:   Announcements:  1) Next Group Coaching cohort is starting soon! On sale now for $333. April 11- June 7 weekly; Tuesdays 2:00 p.m. (day and time negotiated by cohort) UPDATE:  Valerie:  Coaching and birthday stuff Erick:  website re-do   Just finished:  Pilgrimage by J.F. Penn and Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan and The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden. I'M READING: The Blackhorse by Carole Johnstone ; Bones Would Rain from the Sky: Deepening Our Relationships With Dogs by Suzanne Clothier; Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton.    Up Next:  Erick's Reading:  Fairy Tale by Stephen King; anthologies from mom Dr Who 50th anniversary edition; Dispatches from Anarres   Show Notes:  Website (own your home; renting is risky): URLs that are you. Sitemap shows navigational flow Above the fold: mailing list signup and reader magnet Pages: About/Philosophy, Coaching, Editing, Podcast/News, Shopping, Retreat, Contact Me, Testimonials Home page: tag line/branding; About; Books; Categories of Books; Blog (can be gallery of images, podcast, video blog, showcase); reading lists, featured on... ;  #1purpose: Mailing list capture #2 purpose: keep people there as long as possible #3 purpose: convert to a customer Model after authors in your genre (how to depict self, branding); and in your journey (like, one book or a step ahead of where you are) Buy URL (claim domain name) ~$100 for two years Get hosting (GoDaddy, BlueHost, HostGator, Squarespace)  The bigger the website, the more complex the build.   Resources:  Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group 3 Bird View FB page Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for coaching for help writing your book. Other Resources: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Valerie's new day book for the year 2023 is: Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga by Rolf Gates. I've published our 2022 Book List on the website: valerieihsan.com/podcast-news   The Author Life Community Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE188 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Find Us:   Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor   Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account  Writer Craft Facebook Group Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    

Jennie's Bio:  J. Komp, of Just Key Edits, has been taking apart stories, to explain why we love or hate them, for over 30 years. A Behavioral Science major, that found her voice after a decade of live theater productions, Jennie lives for stories that are as entertaining and consumable as they are transformative.  Her development editing focuses on the connection between a book and its potential audience, emphasizing the tangible elements that bring a story into a reader's everyday life and reveal our relationship with the extraordinary.  Jennie's style, in both fiction and non-fiction, bridges that elusive gap between art and business. She's taken 2 companies to over 4 million Facebook fans, in less than a year, leads a live online, Read & Critique group for every proficiency level and type of writer, teaches at seminars and writers conferences across the country, and manages writers committed to reaching their publishing goals. A distinctive realist, Jennie's dark sense of humor is balanced by a mantra that is the standard for everything she does, “the Disney is in the details.”    Jennie's Read: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches Valerie's Reads:  Pilgrimage by J.F. Penn and Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan and The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden. Erick's Read:  Fairy Tale by Stephen King   Jennie's new book!: The Phone: An Unruly Collection of Second Chances   In Erick's update, he mentions "noodling" and I immediately thought of this (which was not what he was talking about!): https://youtu.be/Yu0GhasxOws (Kathleen Madigan video clip of stand-up talking about Noodling. Hilarious!)   Jennie's group you can join: Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group 3 Bird View FB page Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for coaching for help writing your book. Other Resources: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Valerie's new day book for the year 2023 is: Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga by Rolf Gates. I've published our 2022 Book List on the website: valerieihsan.com/podcast-news   The Author Life Community Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE188 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Find Us:   Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor   Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account  Writer Craft Facebook Group Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan  

 Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 106 of the podcast and it's March 22, 2023  as we record this.  Main Topic: Setbacks   PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.  This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a postcard from me, a shout out on the podcast, and we can make announcements for you on air. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.  Patreon.com/strangeairstories for paranormal mysteries short stories   Comments: email from listener:   Questions from listeners:   Announcements:  1)  UPDATE:  Valerie:  book launch party, speaking event, author expo, pitching conferences, doing some group coaching for The Author Life Community this weekend, some health issues slowed me down a bit. Erick: website error took me out of a week's worth of work; mountain of little client work to finish before getting back to my own work.   Just finished:   You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero I'M READING:  Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix; Bones Would Rain from the Sky: Deepening Our Relationships With Dogs by Suzanne Clothier; Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton.    Up Next: Pilgrimage by J.F. Penn and  The Blackhorse by Carole Johnstone Erick's Reading:  Fairy Tale by Stephen King   Show Notes:  "Everybody has a plan until you get hit in the mouth." Mike Tyson  It will happen--losing control. You can't insulate yourself or your business from setbacks. It's okay to get angry or sad. Let it out. Sometimes immediate response doesn't work, isn't helpful. Acknowledge the life shift and make a new plan. Making a new plan is empowering and gives space for new growth. "You might need a rest stop." And not every one knows how to merge, so there will be detours along the way. Take away: 1. Feel your feelings. 2.  Empower yourself to find a new plan 3.  Be analytical and reflective about why it happened. Sometimes there is no answer. 4.  Leave space for recovery. 5.  Start the new plan. 6.  Find support to carry on with the new plan. Next episode: interview author Jennie Komp Resources:  Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice. Contact Valerie for book coaching for help writing your book. Other Resources: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Valerie's new day book for the year 2023 is: Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga by Rolf Gates. I've published our 2022 Book List on the website: valerieihsan.com/podcast-news   The Author Life Community Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE188 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Find Us:   Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor   Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account  Writer Craft Facebook Group Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan  

 Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 105 of the podcast and it's March 8, 2023  as we record this.  Main Topic: Reflection as an Indie Author Tool PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.  This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a postcard from me, a shout out on the podcast, and we can make announcements for you on air. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.  Patreon.com/strangeairstories for paranormal mysteries short stories   Comments: email from listener:   Questions from listeners:   Announcements:  1) Book launch party on Saturday 2) Chasing Shadows 99 cents on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YZ44QXF UPDATE:  Valerie:  Went to Becca Syme's Publishing conference this past weekend. Blew my mind. I'll be going every year now. Got my books and delivered them to the bookstore for the launch party on Saturday. Starting new book project today; met with co-writer yesterday to set up the outline.  Erick: Website crashed; that consumed all of last week; working to catch up on client work, as a result; released reader magnet "Forgotten Shadows;" from the ground up marketing; reengaged with newsletter swaps; working on main series, plus side series with    Just finished:   In the Middle of Hickory Lane by Heather Webber I'M READING: Maame by Jessica George;  Bones Would Rain from the Sky: Deepening Our Relationships With Dogs by Suzanne Clothier; Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton.    Up Next:  The Blackhorse by Carole Johnstone Erick's Reading: Dead Beat by Jim Butcher   Show Notes: "Only do what you are good at." (Wisdom gem from Erick.) You don't need to use a spreadsheet for metrics; It can be more "feelings" oriented.  Pick a section of time (or a work) to reflect on. For instance, a co-writing experience, writing your last novel, the ad campaign you did last week, your last month. Example questions to ask yourself: What was the most memorable part of this past month? What were the three biggest lessons you've learned in this past month? Assess your priorities. Are you happy with how you spent your time? If not, what steps can you take next month to adjust them? What did you accomplish this past month? What are you most proud of? What or who are you especially grateful for this past month? Name three things you can improve on this upcoming month. What are concrete actions you can take to work towards these improvements? Next episode:      Resources:  Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice. Contact Valerie for book coaching for help writing your book. Other Resources: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Valerie's new day book for the year 2023 is: Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga by Rolf Gates. I've published our 2022 Book List on the website: valerieihsan.com/podcast-news   The Author Life Community Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE188 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Find Us:   Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor   Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account  Writer Craft Facebook Group Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan  

Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 104 of the podcast and it's March 1, 2023  as we record this.  Main Topic: Launch Day -- We live in an upside down world. PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.  This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a postcard from me, a shout out on the podcast, and we can make announcements for you on air. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.  Patreon.com/strangeairstories for paranormal mysteries short stories   Comments: email from listener: Catherine says, "I just bought your book and can't wait to read it!"   Questions from listeners:   Announcements:  1) This week I was interviewed on Sample Chapter Podcast; You can hear me read the first chapter of You Can't Dance a Lie after a short interview. https://samplechapterpodcast.com/valerie-ihsan-you-cant-dance-a-lie 2) New Patreon story up this week for Erick; new stuff coming.   UPDATE:  Valerie: Launch Day. Amazon is linking large print, pb, and ebook. Ingram got back to me to wait for hardcover dust jacket issue. Taxes prepped. Goal: reduce expenses by 10% (Profit First) Erick: tax prep this last weekend; Erick is weird and enjoys doing his taxes. Subscription audit. Finished a second novella. Novel re-write is slowing, due to writer's group logistics. Novellas end up being ebook only. Thinking of creating omnibus of short stories and novellas.   Just finished:   Profit First I'M READING: Only Good Indians (Not into it yet.);  Bones Would Rain from the Sky: Deepening Our Relationships With Dogs by Suzanne Clothier; Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton.    Up Next:  In the Middle of Hickory Lane by Heather Webber, The Blackhorse by Carole Johnstone Erick's Reading: Dead Beat by Jim Butcher   Show Notes: feed the book buying energy; new things to talk about; struggling with Learning in Public. Email writercraftpodcast@gmail.com if you want the Writing and Publishing Checklist Valerie uses. Next episode:      Resources:  Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice. Contact Valerie for book coaching for help writing your book. Other Resources: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Valerie's new day book for the year 2023 is: Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga by Rolf Gates. I've published our 2022 Book List on the website: valerieihsan.com/podcast-news   The Author Life Community Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE188 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Find Us:   Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor   Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account  Writer Craft Facebook Group Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan

Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 103 of the podcast and it's February 22, 2023  as we record this.  Main Topic: Mailing list maintenance PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.  This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a postcard from me, a shout out on the podcast, and we can make announcements for you on air. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.  Patreon.com/strangeairstories for paranormal mysteries short stories   Comments: email from listener: One of the things I enjoy most about your show is how you and Eric keep it real with your daily writerly struggles. It helps to hear of others going through and dealing with the same issues that we/I am. This is especially helpful to me since Covid began and getting to my local writing group has become much more difficult.  Keep up the great work!   Questions from listeners:   Announcements:  1) Writer Craft Writing Retreat sold out. 2) We have some interviews lining up, but we need topic suggestions and interviewees. (Once a month.) Please send to writercraftpodcast@gmail.com.    UPDATE:  Valerie: Trouble with Ingram files. I made some mistakes, trying to fix them in time. And waiting for proof. Book coaching/website updates coming soon.   Erick: cover designer needs to fix the windows on his new novella   Just finished:    Read Books All Day and Get Paid for It: The Business of Book Coaching by Jennie Nash   I'M READING: Profit First by Mike Michalowicz;  Bones Would Rain from the Sky: Deepening Our Relationships With Dogs by Suzanne Clothier; Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton.    Up Next:  In the Middle of Hickory Lane by Heather Webber, The Blackhorse by Carole Johnstone Erick's Reading:    Show Notes:  Promote newsletter on BookFunnel; Resource: Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions); open rates are important so that Google identifies your email as NOT spam; aim for 40% opens, 15% click rate; to get sell through from reader magnet-->next book in series "What happens next?"; if no next book, send to some social media account (or BookBub account) to have them follow you. Cover on reader magnet is vital.  Onboarding sequence: download csv and upload manually to segment people in order to know where they come from. Example: "Thank you for subscribing, here's your book; here's what I do; what do you read?; if you read first book, thank you, please review it." Once completed, they go on another list. Resource: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Cleaning the email list: important ("list hygiene" phrase creeps out Erick. Ha ha!)  Mailerlite "Clean up List" shows inactive members Subscribers cost money. Make sure they are there because they want to be. Off boarding sequence: Noticed you haven't opened recently. If you still want to be here, let me know. Send another incentive at that point. A link for them to click.  Free seekers will never buy. Now, delight them with engagement and giveaways. Ask questions. Next episode:      Resources:  Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice. Contact Valerie for book coaching for help writing your book. Other Resources: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Valerie's new day book for the year 2023 is: Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga by Rolf Gates. I've published our 2022 Book List on the website: valerieihsan.com/podcast-news The Author Life Community Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE188 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Find Us:   Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor   Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account  Writer Craft Facebook Group Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan  

 Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 102 of the podcast and it's February 15, 2023  as we record this.  Main Topic: Professional relationships: When to Ditch Them and When to Nurture Them. PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.  This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a postcard from me, a shout out on the podcast, and we can make announcements for you on air. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.    Comments: email from listener: For a while now I've been meaning to congratulate you both on 100 episodes!  I found the show last Summer and became a fan right away. Keep up the great work!   Jason A Meuschke Thriller Author/Podcast Host   Get the latest episode on all podcast platforms or by going to www.samplechapterpodcast.com Questions from listeners: Chad Boyer says, What is your favorite checklist (in general)? What is your favorite checklist for writing? Also for Erick: Does he have a favorite checklist since he knows you? or if he doesn't what checklist would he love to have or need this year? Announcements:    1) Writer Craft Writing Retreat is scheduled for next August 24-27, 2023. Tickets include all lodging and gourmet meals, plus instruction and coaching and retreat time on the river, in Marcola, OR. “We'll be touching on book structure, story hypothesis, plotting that doesn't hurt, author action plans, and more.”  Go to valerieihsan.com/retreat for more information. Alumni and patron price is $775.  $850 Only one ticket left. Monthly payments are an option. Send me a message Valerie@valerieihsan.com for a unique PayPal link, or go to the shopping page on my website to purchase in one lump sum.  2) We need topic suggestions and interviewees. (Once a month.) Please send to writercraftpodcast@gmail.com.    UPDATE:  Valerie: still panicking on the cover, sent out ARCs Erick: sending novella to the editor on Friday; editing next Patreon essays   Just finished:    The Baker's Man by Jennifer Moorman   I'M READING: Profit First by Mike Michalowicz;  Bones Would Rain from the Sky: Deepening Our Relationships With Dogs by Suzanne Clothier;    Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton.    Up Next:  In the Middle of Hickory Lane by Heather Webber Erick's Reading:  Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky Goosebumps #1 by RL Stine Show Notes:  Professional relationships can evolve into projects that you work on together. Recognize when a relationship doesn't serve you. Be aware of how to be friendly, but not friends, and watch that boundary slippage with clients. Musts: Communication and authenticity Nuture by being kind and clear and flexible. End relationships that are no longer serving you, your values, or your needs. It may be uncomfortable, but people evolve. It's okay to end a professional relationship. Not all of them will be the long-term kind. Next episode: Mailing list maintenance     Resources:  Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice. Contact Valerie for book coaching for help writing your book. Other Resources: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Valerie's new day book for the year 2023 is: Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga by Rolf Gates. I've published our 2022 Book List on the website: valerieihsan.com/podcast-news   The Author Life Community Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE188 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Find Us:   Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor   Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account  Writer Craft Facebook Group Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan  

Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 101 of the podcast and it's February 8, 2023  as we record this.    PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.  This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a postcard from me, a shout out on the podcast, and we can make announcements for you on air. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.    Comments:  Announcements:    1) Writer Craft Writing Retreat is scheduled for next August 24-27, 2023. Tickets include all lodging and gourmet meals, plus instruction and coaching and retreat time on the river, in Marcola, OR. “We'll be touching on book structure, story hypothesis, plotting that doesn't hurt, author action plans, and more.”  Go to valerieihsan.com/retreat for more information. Alumni and patron price is $775.  $850 Only two tickets left. Monthly payments are an option. Send me a message Valerie@valerieihsan.com for a unique PayPal link, or go to the shopping page on my website to purchase in one lump sum.  2) We need topic suggestions and interviewees. (Once a month.) Please send to writercraftpodcast@gmail.com.    UPDATE:  Valerie: personal: dress challenge and the gym; Author: layout and get the email to the cover designer; stop talking about the book Erick: Launched Patreon (where to fit in the providing benefits, advertising): patreon.com/strangeairstories   Just finished:    How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger     I'M READING:: Bones Would Rain from the Sky: Deepening Our Relationships With Dogs by Suzanne Clothier;    Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton.    Up Next:  In the Middle of Hickory Lane by Heather Webber Erick's Reading:  Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky The Farthest Shore Ursula LeGuin   Show Notes:  Erick: re-configure series, Patreon marketing, putting out cookie, work on newsletter list marketing Valerie: publish memoir, pitch conferences, Hermit card--self-discovery, inner world (5 of Cups for January) Next episode: Professional Relationships   Resources:  Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice. Contact Valerie for book coaching for help writing your book. Other Resources: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Valerie's new day book for the year 2023 is: Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga by Rolf Gates. I've published our 2022 Book List on the website: valerieihsan.com/podcast-news   The Author Life Community Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIEO866 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Find Us:   Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor   Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account  Writer Craft Facebook Group Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan  

Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Landmark Episode 100 of the podcast and it's January 18, 2023  as we record this.  Main Topic: Landmark Episode 100 with some clips PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.  This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a postcard from me, a shout out on the podcast, and we can make announcements for you on air. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.    Comments: Amazon Review 5 stars: The Scent of Apple Tea: A story about the choices we make, beautifully written! I chuckled, shrugged, shook my head, giggled, smiled, and cried happy tears. A beautiful story superbly written! I look forward to reading more stories written by this author! Announcements:    1) Writer Craft Writing Retreat is scheduled for next August 24-27, 2023. Tickets include all lodging and gourmet meals, plus instruction and coaching and retreat time on the river, in Marcola, OR. “We'll be touching on book structure, story hypothesis, plotting that doesn't hurt, author action plans, and more.”  Go to valerieihsan.com/retreat for more information. Alumni and patron price is $775.  Early Bird price ends January 31st. $800 Only four tickets left. Monthly payments are an option. Send me a message Valerie@valerieihsan.com for a unique PayPal link, or go to the shopping page on my website to purchase in one lump sum.  2) We need topic suggestions and interviewees. (Once a month.) Please send to writercraftpodcast@gmail.com.    UPDATE: Got a cold. First one since pre-covid. Weird. Hope it mostly clears before next week. Rest of the week will be for finishing up client work and packing for CR.   Just finished:    Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus     I'M READING:  Believers: Making a Life at the End of the World by Lisa Wells; Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton.  Up Next:  too early to tell Erick's Reading:  The Farthest Shore Ursula LeGuin Writing in Restaurants by David Mamet Heroic Hearts     Show Notes:  The weird way Erick reads anthologies : He reads the featured short story first, then the shortest one, and the next shortest, and so on. Most used words this year: Valerie: planner, self-care, I've got to go walk the dogs. Erick: Why can't I hear through my ear buds? I collected a few clips and outtakes from the past year that really seem to me to highlight what this podcast embodies for us. And that's: laughter, books, and shared experiences. And we'll end with a couple meaningful stories and quotes. So here it is, a hodgepodge of what I love about the podcast and why I can't imagine stopping. Resources:  Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice. Contact Valerie for book coaching for help writing your book. Other Resources: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Valerie's new day book for the year 2023 is: Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga by Rolf Gates. I've published our 2022 Book List on the website: valerieihsan.com/podcast-news   The Author Life Community Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIEO866 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Find Us:   Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor   Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account  Writer Craft Facebook Group Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan   Some of the Books We've Read This Year: London Seance Society by Sarah Penner Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 99 of the podcast and it's January 11, 2023  as we record this.  Main Topic: Overthinking Your Writing PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.  This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a postcard from me, a shout out on the podcast, and we can make announcements for you on air. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.    Comments: Your discussion inspired me. I ordered Wisdom of the Oracle cards by Colette Baron-Reid. I had one of her decks years ago. The illustrator's artwork is phenomenal!Announcements:  **I have a female writer looking for another female-identifying writer to share lodging at the retreat. The Shared Retreat Ticket price is $650 and includes all the food, lodging, instruction, retreat, and coaching. Please reach out to me at Valerie@valerieihsan.com to ask any questions or to get the PayPal link for the Shared Retreat Ticket. 1) Writer Craft Writing Retreat is scheduled for next August 24-27, 2023. Tickets include all lodging and gourmet meals, plus instruction and coaching and retreat time on the river, in Marcola, OR. “We'll be touching on book structure, story hypothesis, plotting that doesn't hurt, author action plans, and more.”  Go to valerieihsan.com/retreat for more information. Alumni and patron price is $775.  Early Bird price available from November - January. $800 Monthly payments are an option. Send me a message Valerie@valerieihsan.com for a unique PayPal link, or go to the shopping page on my website to purchase at full price.  2) We want to celebrate our 100th episode with you. Please send in an audio clip via email to writercraftpodcast@gmail.com with a comment or testimonial about the podcast. What you like about it, why you listen, etc. On the 100th episode on January 18th, we'll play the clips on air. Please send in your audio clips by January 11th at the latest. 3) We need topic suggestions. Please send to writercraftpodcast@gmail.com.   UPDATE: Went for a personal essay instead of a short story. Wow. What a difference!   Just finished:   Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore     I'M READING: London Seance Society by Sara Penner (ARC); Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton.  Up Next: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus or The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce. Erick's Reading:  The Farthest Shore Ursula LeGuin The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones Heroic Hearts Show Notes:  You need a way in for a short story. (Erick) Sometimes inspiration comes quickly and worker bee mentality pushes you past the goal (I've got to fill the time). Be okay with other forms of creativity besides words on the page. Filling the creative well, walking, reading Concern: editing out voice. (Valerie)   Resources:  Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice. Contact Valerie for book coaching for help writing your book. Other Resources: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Valerie's new day book for the year 2023 is: Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga by Rolf Gates. The Author Life Community Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIEO866 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Find Us:   Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account  Writer Craft Facebook Group Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan

 Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 98 of the podcast and it's January 4, 2023  as we record this. Happy New Year! Main Topic: Monthly Gamechangers PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.  This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a postcard from me, a shout out on the podcast, and we can make announcements for you on air. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.    Comments: Ep95: A Year in Review, Mary says: A very nice discussion. I especially like the advice you both give to yourselves for the upcoming year! (She also included some topic suggestions for both the podcast and for patrons.)     Patron announcement:  Announcements:  ** Author Action Plan Group Coaching started yesterday on the 3rd and goes for three months, ending on April 4th. You can still join the cohort this week, if you don't mind missing out on the first session. $500 includes group coaching with other writers every other week for three months, plus a customized author action plan for one of your larger projects/goals. Podcast listeners get a 10% discount, making the cost $450. Use the discount code PODCAST (all caps) at checkout. **I have a female writer looking for another female-identifying writer to share lodging at the retreat. The Shared Retreat Ticket price is $650 and includes all the food, lodging, instruction, retreat, and coaching. Please reach out to me at Valerie@valerieihsan.com to ask any questions or to get the PayPal link for the Shared Retreat Ticket. 1) Writer Craft Writing Retreat is scheduled for next August 24-27, 2023. Tickets include all lodging and gourmet meals, plus instruction and coaching and retreat time on the river, in Marcola, OR. “We'll be touching on book structure, story hypothesis, plotting that doesn't hurt, author action plans, and more.”  Go to valerieihsan.com/retreat for more information. Alumni and patron price is $775.  Early Bird price available from November - January. $800 Monthly payments are an option. Send me a message Valerie@valerieihsan.com for a unique PayPal link, or go to the shopping page on my website to purchase at full price.  2) We want to celebrate our 100th episode with you. Please send in an audio clip via email to writercraftpodcast@gmail.com with a comment or testimonial about the podcast. What you like about it, why you listen, etc. On the 100th episode on January 18th, we'll play the clips on air. Please send in your audio clips by January 11th at the latest. 3) We need topic suggestions. Please send to writercraftpodcast@gmail.com.   UPDATE:   Rachael Herron's blurb came back for my memoir! She wrote: A lovely story told with poetic lyricism and gentle humor, You Can't Dance a Lie is more than a memoir of love and relationships—it's the chronicle of a woman learning to trust herself completely before stepping into the love-shaped life she makes possible for herself.  - Rachael Herron, Bestselling Author of A Life in Stitches  ordered sample copies from Ingram so I can decide on which type of hardcover to do; and  started formatting the large print edition of the memoir.  Waiting to send more details to the cover designer until I get the samples from Ingram. I'm wondering about BookVault for distribution of a dust jacketed hardcover.   Just finished: I read 67 books last year. And I finished reading the day book from 2022: Simple Abundance: 365 Days to a Balanced and Joyful Life.     I'M READING: Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore; Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton. My new day book for the year 2023 is: Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga by Rolf Gates. Up Next: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus or The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce. Erick's Reading:  The Farthest Shore Ursula LeGuin The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones   Show Notes:  [Erick]: What do I do to keep the train running in the author services business? (Create content, set up the quarter (blog topics for each week)) (ghostwriting podcast/YT?) ROI is large enough for long term thinking. Only need to convert a few times.  Finishing three screenplays. What can I do to move the needle forward in the author business? Giveaway to newsletter recipients. Train readers to open emails and click links. [Valerie]: Realized there was no way I could publish my memoir, finalize packing for Costa Rican vacation at end of month, finish client job (line editing), and write and revise a short story in two and a half weeks. (Eye roll) Pushed launch date to March 1, 2023. Resources:  Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice. Contact Valerie for book coaching for help writing your book.   Other Resources: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter.   The Author Life Community Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIEO866 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Find Us:   Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account   Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account  Writer Craft Facebook Group Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan

 Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 96 of the podcast and it's December 21, 2022  as we record this. Happy Solstice! Main Topic: Tarot for Your Business PATREON: No new patrons this week, but Sean Sharp raised his tier to Super Fantastic Fan, so thank you so much! Sean now gets all my ebooks as I publish them. In addition to his other benefits.   Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.  This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a shout out on the podcast and we can make announcements for you on the podcast. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.    Comments:      Patron announcement:  Announcements:  ** Author Action Plan Group Coaching starting in January for three months. $500 includes group coaching with other writers every other week for three months, plus a customized author action plan for one of your larger projects/goals. Podcast listeners get a 10% discount, making the cost $450. Use the discount code PODCAST (all caps) at checkout. **I have a female writer looking for another female-identifying writer to share lodging at the retreat. The Shared Retreat Ticket price is $650 and includes all the food, lodging, instruction, retreat, and coaching. Please reach out to me at Valerie@valerieihsan.com to ask any questions or to get the PayPal link for the Shared Retreat Ticket. 1) Writer Craft Writing Retreat is scheduled for next August 24-27, 2023. Tickets include all lodging and gourmet meals, plus instruction and coaching and retreat time on the river, in Marcola, OR. “We'll be touching on book structure, story hypothesis, plotting that doesn't hurt, author action plans, and more.”  Go to valerieihsan.com/retreat for more information. Alumni and patron price is $775.  Early Bird price available from November - January. $800 Monthly payments are an option. Send me a message Valerie@valerieihsan.com for a unique PayPal link, or go to the shopping page on my website to purchase at full price.  2) We want to celebrate our 100th episode with you. Please send in an audio clip via email to writercraftpodcast@gmail.com with a comment or testimonial about the podcast. What you like about it, why you listen, etc. On the 100th episode on January 18th, we'll play the clips on air. Please send in your audio clips by January 11th at the latest. 3) We need topic suggestions. Please send to writercraftpodcast@gmail.com.   Update: started looking at keywords and categories, invoicing people for my coaching cohort that starts Jan 3rd,   Just finished: Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe     I'M READING: Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather WebberWabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton Up Next: Erick's Reading:  Future Stories by David Christian The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula Le Guin Blood Rites Jim Butcher   Show Notes:  Patrons will get pictures of my process Resources:  Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice. Contact Valerie for book coaching for help writing your book.   Other Resources: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter.   The Author Life Community Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIEO866 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Find Us:   Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account   Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account  Writer Craft Facebook Group Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan

The stakes are high!! In part two of a yet-to-be-determined number of parts, Smack and Gabi are at it again, going toe-to-toe to see who had the better reading experience during this year's Mysterious Galaxy Summer Bingo. By the end of this episode there are some tough calls and a surprising number of ties, but one of us has pulled ahead at the halfway mark (you'll have to listen to find out who!). Will our friendship survive another twelve PvP fights?? Only time will tell... The books competing in this segment are: Get Your Book Selling Wide: Get the Basics of Publishing in Print, Ebook, Audiobook, Translations, Apps, and More (Book Sales Supercharged #1) by Monica Leonelle v. A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot, #1) by Becky Chambers The Rose and the Beast: Fairy Tales Retold by Francesca Lia Block v. Jade City (Green Bone Saga #1) by Fonda Lee A Safe Girl to Love by Casey Plett v. A Spindle Splintered (Fractured Fables, #1) by Alix E. Harrow Starfang: Rise of the Clan by Joyce Chng v. Recognize Fascism edited by Crystal M. Huff Let the Mountains Be My Grave by Francesa Tacchi v. Never Home Alone: From Microbes to Millipedes, Camel Crickets, and Honeybees, the Natural History of Where We Live by Rob Dunn Summoned (Sundance, #2) by C.P. Rider v. If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy

 Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 95 of the podcast and it's December 14, 2022  as we record this. Main Topic: A Year in Review PATREON: No new patrons this week,    A big squeezy hug and Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.  This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a shout out on the podcast and we can make announcements for you on the podcast. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.    Comments:      Patron announcement:  Announcements:  1) Writer Craft Writing Retreat is scheduled for next August 24-27, 2023. Tickets include all lodging and gourmet meals, plus instruction and coaching and retreat time on the river, in Marcola, OR. “We'll be touching on book structure, story hypothesis, plotting that doesn't hurt, author action plans, and more.”  Go to valerieihsan.com/retreat for more information. Alumni and patron price is $775.  Early Bird price available from November - January. $800 Monthly payments are an option. Send me a message Valerie@valerieihsan.com for a unique PayPal link, or go to the shopping page on my website to purchase at full price.  2) We want to celebrate our 100th episode with you. Please send in an audio clip via email to writercraftpodcast@gmail.com with a comment or testimonial about the podcast. What you like about it, why you listen, etc. On the 100th episode on January 18th, we'll play the clips on air. Please send in your audio clips by January 11th at the latest. 3) We need topic suggestions. Please send to writercraftpodcast@gmail.com.   Update:  Spoke at an online conference, The Essential Gathering, for members of The Author Life community. My talk Accountability for Authors: How to Focus and Finish, and Get Sh!t Done.   Just finished:  A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny     I'M READING: The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker,  Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton, Up Next: Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber Erick's Reading:  Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.  The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula Le Guin Blood Rites Jim Butcher   Show Notes:  "Hold on tightly, let go lightly."  Noticing when decisions are "right" or not. Grieving for ideas that don't work. CEO time weekly. Finding balance is easily. "I know how to strive for it now."  Pull apart that one-track mind. Allow exploration and transition. Collect data and learn about yourself. Fully understand your process and how long projects and client work takes.  Resources:  Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice. Contact Valerie for book coaching for help writing your book.   Other Resources: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter.   The Author Life Community Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIEO866 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Find Us:   Valerie's Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie's Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie's Facebook Page and Instagram account   Erick's Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick's free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick's Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick's Facebook Page and Instagram account  Writer Craft Facebook Group Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan

Part 2 of our 2-Part Interview with USA Today Bestselling Author Russell NoheltyLaunching a book on Kickstarter . . .Russell Nohelty is a USA Today bestselling author, publisher, and speaker. He runs Wannabe Press, a small press that publishes weird books for weird people. Russell is the author of dozens of novels and graphic novels including The Godsverse Chronicles, The Obsidian Spindle Saga, and Ichabod Jones: Monster Hunter. He also edited the Cthulhu is Hard to Spell anthology series. To date, Russell Nohelty has raised over $400,000 on Kickstarter across more than twenty projects.Russell, along with his business partner Monica Leonelle, runs Writer MBA which offers courses for writers on everything from writing productivity to selling direct to readers. In this episode, Megan and Greta learn more about Kickstarter and how it's being used to launch books. Spoiler alert, after the interview, they joined Russell's Kickstarter Accelerator program and are excited to launch their first Kickstarter early next year! You can find all of Russell's books and lots more at http://www.russellnohelty.com/Question of the week: What do you think about using Kickstarter to launch a book and reach new readers? Let's chat on the Facebook page @AuthorWheelFeatured Program: The Kickstarter AcceleratorIn this paid course + community, Russell Nohelty and Monica Leonelle team up to give you feedback on your Kickstarter journey and help guide you to a successful campaign. Russell has launched 20+ campaigns on Kickstarter and personally raised over $400,000+ total with novels, comics, anthologies, nonfiction, and audio dramas, so you can be rest assured he definitely knows what he's talking about. Couple that with the direct sales + go wide expertise of Monica, and you've really got a winning combination! They have a 100% success rate for authors who launch their campaigns through the Accelerator, and the group so far has raised over $500,000+ on Kickstarter in 2022 alone!!!You can find more information about the Kickstarter Accelerator at the link below, since they just opened up the cart again for 2022 with the Early Bird pricing. https://writermba.teachable.com/a/aff_83z6264s/external?affcode=385310_wretpdc4The Author Wheel is an affiliate of the Accelerator, which means we earn a small commission from your purchase when you click our link. This does not affect your purchase price. But even more, we believe in this product so much, we signed up ourselves! We genuinely believe this is a phenomenal course to help build your (and our!) author career!Follow Us! Support the showFREE Mini Email CourseHave you ever struggled to explain to others exactly what you write? Or wondered which of the many fiction ideas running through your brain you should tackle? If so, The Author Wheel's new mini-course might be your solution. 7 Days to Clarity: Uncover Your Author Purpose will help you uncover your core writing motivations, avoid shiny-thing syndrome, and create clear marketing language. Each daily email will lead you step by step in defining your author brand, crafting a mission statement, and distilling that statement into a pithy tagline. And, best of all, it's free. Click here to learn more!

Part 1 of our 2-Part Interview with USA Today Bestselling Author Russell NoheltyValidation, Indie vs. Traditional publishing, and there's no substitute for time and experience . . . Russell Nohelty is a USA Today bestselling author, publisher, and speaker. He runs Wannabe Press, a small press that publishes weird books for weird people. Russell is the author of dozens of novels and graphic novels including The Godsverse Chronicles, The Obsidian Spindle Saga, and Ichabod Jones: Monster Hunter. He also edited the Cthulhu is Hard to Spell anthology series. To date, Russell Nohelty has raised over $400,000 on Kickstarter across more than twenty projects.Russell, along with his business partner Monica Leonelle, runs Writer MBA which offers courses for writers on everything from writing productivity to selling direct to readers. In this episode, Megan and Greta take a deep dive into the publishing industry and why it can be better to seek validation from readers than from publishers. You can find all of Russell's books and lots more at http://www.russellnohelty.com/Question of the week: How do you find validation for your work? Let's chat on the Facebook page @AuthorWheelFree Resource: The Top 5 Roadblocks Aspiring Authors Must Overcome, available for free when you join our newsletter at www.AuthorWheel.com/stuff.Follow Us! Russell NoheltyWebsite: http://www.russellnohelty.com/Facebook & Twitter: @RussellNoheltyThe Author Wheel:Website: www.AuthorWheel.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorWheelGreta Boris:Website: www.GretaBoris.comFacebook: @GretaBorisAuthorInstagram: @GretaBorisMegan Haskell:Website: www.MeganHaskell.comFacebook & Instagram: @MeganHaskellAuthor Support the showFREE Mini Email CourseHave you ever struggled to explain to others exactly what you write? Or wondered which of the many fiction ideas running through your brain you should tackle? If so, The Author Wheel's new mini-course might be your solution. 7 Days to Clarity: Uncover Your Author Purpose will help you uncover your core writing motivations, avoid shiny-thing syndrome, and create clear marketing language. Each daily email will lead you step by step in defining your author brand, crafting a mission statement, and distilling that statement into a pithy tagline. And, best of all, it's free. Click here to learn more!

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What genres are better suited to being wide vs in KU Best methods for managing all the distributors How to grow your audience wide Different approaches for different platforms This week's question is: what kind of research do you do for your books? Recommendation of the week is: My courses If you want to improve your sensory writing or create better villains, then I have a course for you. Get a whopping 30% discount using the code REBELSUMMER only valid until the end of July Learn more about Monica at: Go Wide, Grow Wide Rebel of the Week is: Karla Hailer   If you'd like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com  2 new patrons this week, welcome and thank you to Meg Cowley and Stella Bixby. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you'd like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack 

Would you like to successfully crowdfund your book on Kickstarter? Monica Leonelle shares practical and mindset tips for creating the right kind of project, as well as mistakes to avoid, and how to satisfy fans — and make money with your books. Monica and I recorded this before Brandon Sanderson's epic Kickstarter which has raised […] The post Kickstarter For Authors With Monica Leonelle first appeared on The Creative Penn.