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“Shoulding” ourselves – saying, “I should do this or that” – freezes us from making progress. Let’s stop beating ourselves up! Author coach, Alice Crider, suggests practical tips for getting out of our own way so we stop sitting on the sidelines and become leaders.
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What motivates a writer to have such faith in their project that they persevere for months or even years in the face of countless rejections?
Grit.
To flesh out what grit means for the success of your business, I’m sharing fascinating stories from real-life creatives, as well as four ways to develop grit, from Angela Duckworth’s book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.
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Does talking about books put you in your happy place? Do you enjoy influencing readers to pick up good books and steer away from bad ones?
You might want to try your hand at reviewing books. Katherine Scott Jones – book enthusiast, reviewer, and author – introduces us to the art of book reviewing. You’ll discover (1) who should – and shouldn’t – become a book reviewer; (2) what readers, publishers, and authors look for in a book reviewer; (3) four ways to get started reviewing books; (4) how to write a balanced, fair review, and (5) how to follow up with the publicist/author after you publish your review.
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Are you seeking a literary agent? Wondering what you can do that’ll help them say “yes” to your pitch?
Barb Roose, an agent with Books & Such Literary Management, unpacks 3 important factors that’ll help you land an agent, and shows us 3 effective ways to build an author platform. Transcript included.
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Some people mistakenly assume that writing for children is simple. Multi-published author, Diane Stortz, knows that writing children’s books is every bit as challenging – and rewarding – as writing for adults. In Episode 56, Diane shares the secrets to her success and recommends six things prospective children’s writers can do to get started.
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Crafting guest post guidelines for your blog requires a lot of thought and decision-making. But guidelines are well worth your time investment. In episode 55 (part 2 in my mini-series on guest blogging), you’ll get a free printable swipe file of my guest post guidelines that you can adapt for your own use.
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I receive bizarre guest post pitches every week. I instantly delete them without opening them. Episode 54 is a guidebook for what NOT to do when pitching your guest blogging services. Follow along with the transcript while listening – I reprint several actual, unretouched pitches I’ve received, complete with hilarious spelling and punctuation errors!
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When you’re writing a book, it’s just you, banging out beautiful words. When you finish the draft, your next step is to invite others to help prepare your manuscript for publication.
In part 2 of my conversation with freelance editor, Samantha Hanni, we discuss three ways authors can bring the ‘reader first’ mindset into the editing process: (1) stay humble about your message, (2) stay humble about your edits, and (3) communicate with your editor.
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Approach writing as if you’re hosting a dinner party. Invite readers to the table with the understanding that they bring life experiences with them that’ll impact the way they’ll receive your words. “Set the table” for your readers by putting them FIRST.
In Episode 52, Samantha Hanni and I unpack three questions that’ll help you shape a reader-first mindset: (1) What are my publishing goals? (2) Who is my reader? (3) How do I want my reader to be different after reading my book?
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Should I seek a traditional, royalty publishing house or should I self-publish?
It’s a question nearly every author asks themselves.
For Dianne Andre, the answer was “self-publish ebooks.” In Episode 51, Dianne and I discuss why she chose indie publishing, and she unveils four book launch tactics she tried during her recent book launch.
A bonus infographic is included: 7 Steps to Plan an Ebook Launch.
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