Story Strategy - Coaching for Indie Authors: Recent Episodes
Evident Ink
Dawn and Nancy - story coaches and editors at indie fiction house Evident Ink - discuss how to make your fiction writing stronger. We explore topics of craft (characterization, plot, pacing, etc.), marketing (audience identification, rules of the genres, and understanding your comps), and more.
Julia Jarrett is a Canadian author of spicy romance novels. She started with small-town romance but recently branched out into sports romance, specifically baseball.
In this episode, Nancy and Julia talk about where Julia's ideas for her books come from and what goes on in their plot coaching sessions.
Julia shares her strategies for launching books in a series, building a community of author friends, and maintaining a positive mindset. They also talk about the importance of physical health for authors.
In this conversation, authors Nancy Smay and Mona Shroff discuss the process of writing contemporary romance novels, sharing insights into their creative process, inspiration, and the challenges they face. Mona Shroff shares her journey from optometry to becoming a writer, her approach to character development, and the unique way she plots her stories. The conversation also delves into the editing process and the tools used for writing. Mona Shroff discusses her writing process, book publishing timeline, marketing strategies, and the expansion of her writing into new genres. She also shares insights on maintaining motivation, self-care, and the excitement of branching out into different areas of writing.
In this conversation, Ines Johnson discusses her experience as a romance writer and the changes she has observed in the genre. She talks about her journey as an indie author and the challenges she faced in traditional publishing. Ines also shares her insights on the evolving preferences of readers, particularly the TikTok generation, and how she incorporates micro tropes into her books. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the market and finding the intersection between what she wants to write and what readers want. Ines also discusses her approach to planning and marketing her extensive backlist of books. In this conversation, Ines and Nancy discuss various strategies and techniques for successful book marketing and writing. They cover topics such as using affiliate links, pricing strategies for Kindle Unlimited, writing processes, and the importance of testing relationships in romance novels. Ines shares her approach to writing, including using note cards and Scrivener, and emphasizes the need for a strong structure and showing characters falling in love. They also discuss the significance of the third act break-up in romance novels and the importance of mindset and goal-setting in maintaining a positive attitude.
In this conversation, Nancy Smay interviews Denny S. Bryce, a traditionally published author of historical fiction. They discuss Denny's background as a writer and her passion for craft and research. Denny shares her experience as a fan fiction writer and how it led her to join the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and eventually get an agent.
They also talk about Denny's process of researching and writing historical fiction, including the use of tools like Aeon Timeline and Scrivener. Overall, the conversation highlights Denny's dedication to her craft and her love for storytelling. Denny S. Bryce discusses her approach to writing historical fiction and the importance of diverse reading. She shares how she got the attention of influential authors and judges through contests and endorsements.
Bryce explains her approach to historical fiction, which includes writing biographical stories and exploring key time periods and events. She emphasizes the importance of entertaining readers while also educating them about historical situations and reflecting on present-day issues. Bryce also discusses her writing process, including outlining, researching, and revising, and encourages readers to explore different genres and diverse voices.
In this episode, Nancy chats with spicy small town romance writer Lena Hendrix. Lena, who began publishing just a few years ago, has found success in KU writing multiple series and focusing on cozy settings, relatable characters, time-tested tropes, and an edge.
They discuss the importance of considering marketing before beginning to write, explore craft books that Lena especially likes, and discuss TikTok, PR boxes, street teams, and dictation.
In this conversation, Nancy interviews Kate Nolan about her writing career and process. They discuss topics such as the different genres Kate writes in, her experience with self-publishing and traditional publishing, her decision to use pen names, her approach to wide distribution, and her writing routine.
Kate shares that she is a rabid plotter and uses Scrivener and Evernote to organize her ideas and outlines. She also talks about her she-shed, a dedicated writing space she built for herself.
In this conversation, Kait Nolan discusses her writing process, including how she uses dictation to capture ideas and the software she uses for transcription. She also talks about her editing process and working with beta readers.
Kait shares her approach to marketing, including using free book promotions and focusing on building her newsletter. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining control over her own platform and not relying solely on social media. Kait also discusses the importance of finding a supportive community of writers and the value of accountability partners. Finally, she touches on the importance of maintaining physical fitness as a writer.
Summary:
Pippa Grant discusses her journey as a writer, from querying agents to self-publishing, and shares insights into her writing process and success. She emphasizes the importance of joining writing organizations, like Romance Writers of America, for learning and support. Pippa also talks about the strategic decision to rebrand under a new pen name and the impact of marketing and tropes on her success. She highlights the significance of newsletters and research in her writing process. In this conversation, Pippa Grant discusses her writing process and how she approaches different aspects of being an author. She talks about how she comes up with ideas for her books, her writing routine, and her editing process. Pippa also shares her thoughts on social media and how she manages it to avoid burnout. She emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself and finding a process that works for each individual writer. Pippa's latest book, 'Until It Was Love,' is highlighted as well.
Takeaways
- Joining writing organizations, like Romance Writers of America, can provide valuable knowledge and support for aspiring writers.
- The decision to rebrand under a new pen name can be a strategic move to reach a wider audience.
- Newsletters can be an effective marketing tool when providing value to readers and maintaining regular communication.
- Researching popular tropes and combining them creatively can lead to engaging story ideas.
- Success in the writing industry requires a combination of hard work, luck, and adaptability to changing trends. Pippa Grant dives into her writing process, from coming up with ideas to editing her books.
- She shares her thoughts on social media and how she manages it to avoid burnout.
- Pippa emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself and finding a process that works for each individual writer.
- Her latest book, 'Until It Was Love,' is highlighted as an example of her work.
Nancy and Sylvie Stewart discuss their pen names, their family histories, and their writing careers. They talk about how they got started in writing and the genres they write in. They also discuss their experience co-writing a series with Marika Ray and the process they use.
The conversation touches on the challenges of self-publishing and the importance of relatable characters in romance novels. Sylvie Stewart talks about how she comes up with ideas for books and how she approaches the writing process. She talks about the importance of letting characters guide the story and the challenges of planning and organizing a series, and also touches on the topic of third act breakups in romance novels and the different approaches to plotting and outlining.
Nancy and Sylvie also discuss various topics related to writing and publishing. They talk about the writing process, editing, marketing, mindset, and physical health. Sylvie shares her experiences with writing and launching books, including her use of promotional services and social media platforms like TikTok. They also discuss the importance of maintaining relationships with other authors and the challenges of staying positive in the face of criticism. Overall, the conversation provides insights into the author's journey and the strategies they employ to navigate the publishing industry.
The conversation between Nancy Smay and USA Today bestselling rom-com author Marika Ray delves into the world of writing and publishing, exploring topics such as book production, genre selection, marketing strategies, and writing processes.
Marika shares insights into her journey as an author, her approach to writing, and the challenges she faces in the industry. The discussion also touches on the use of writing software, market research, and the evolving nature of the publishing landscape.
The conversation covers a wide range of topics including AI, book production, mindset, wellness, and community engagement. Marika Ray shares her views on AI, her book production process, mindset and wellness, and her approach to staying connected with the writing community.
Finally, the conversation also delves into the importance of fitness and the impact of personal experiences on self-image. The discussion is candid, insightful, and engaging, offering valuable insights for authors and creatives.
In this episode, Nancy and author Kelly Collins delve into Kelly's writing process, book series, and publishing experiences.
They also explore the concept of 'steaminess' in romance novels, the challenges of writing, and the importance of backups and market research.
The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including the creative process, book launches, pre-orders, mindset, physical health, and the influence of teachers. Kelly shares awesome insights on writing, marketing, and personal growth, providing valuable takeaways for authors and readers alike.
We're flipping the script a bit!
Listen in as Nancy interviews working authors who run the gamut of genre and renown. First up? A bit of a multiple personality situation - Delancey Stewart!
Hear how she gets ideas, plots her books, tools she uses, and how she approaches marketing.
Our new focus gives you a look behind the scenes at your favorite author's desks!
Tropes are a storytelling convention that help us let readers know what to expect from our books. Learn how to use them, combine them, and twist them to make your stories fresh!
Why do you need to understand comps as an author? Because you can't market a book without understanding the market. This episode of Story Strategy focuses on helping indie authors figure out how to market their books based on identifying where they fit with other books in the market.
The Story Strategy podcast is back, and in this episode, we explore Deep POV - a fiction writing technique that eliminates the narrator and pulls readers directly into the emotion and action of your story.
Want to learn how to do it?
Practical tips and examples are inside!
Join story coaches Dawn and Nancy as we talk with bestselling author Melanie Harlow about how she pulls readers into her characters and builds stories that make them care. Melanie is an expert at developing relatable heroines that we want as our best friends and heroes that are often called book boyfriends by her fans.
*This episode was originally aired in 2020.
We're rebooting last year's popular blurb episode! Listen as Nancy and Dawn discuss what makes a blurb that sells books -- and how exactly to structure your blurb. Not sure what to include? This episode is for you. At the end, Nancy and Dawn take a listener blurb live and help make it better.
Want more help with blurbs? We're launching our first ever blurb-building workshop, a four-week interactive course that will give you the tools you need to write great blurbs for your books. Get more information by signing up here!
Learn more about how story coaching works and find out if it's right for you.
In this episode, you'll hear story coaches Nancy and Dawn help author Daniela Romero recover her excitement about a story she'd felt stuck on.
You'll learn about Daniela's unique writing process, and learn strategies to improve the way you work through your own story problems!
Wonder what story coaches do? Hear Dawn and Nancy work through some story issues with new author Rae Fields as she plots out her first three books. We'll help her solidify her crisis, understand how internal conflicts drive her story forward, and how parallelism can pull story elements together.
Curious about story coaching? Wondering if a quick call with Dawn or Nancy might actually give you what you need to write a better story, tighten your conflict, or build layers of tension into your plot? This episode is for you! Dawn and Nancy chat with two real authors who volunteered to do mini coaching sessions for the show! Meet Erin A. King and Aria Wyatt, two indie authors working in the romance genre, and listen as Dawn and Nancy help them work through plot problems on the fly!
Last time we talked about how to build a story if you've got a plot in mind. Today we're exploring working from character first. Most writers identify with one strategy over the other, and many use a combination of the two. Which type of writer are you?
Maybe you've got a great idea but you're not quite sure how that idea turns into a full-fledged story. Or maybe you know part of your plot but aren't sure what's missing to get it all the way to a bestselling book. This episode is for you. Story coaches Dawn Alexander and Nancy Smay talk through the process of turning a kernel of an idea into a story.
You've got your idea and you're ready to write. Or are you? How should you begin? Do you outline? Do you just get going and hope for the best? Story coaches Dawn and Nancy help you get off the ground with actionable advice you can put to use today.
Have you always wanted to write a book? Is this your year to do it? Story coaches Dawn and Nancy talk about the multiple ways a new writer can take their idea and turn it into something wonderful -- a story. Even experienced authors might find tips about how to generate and test ideas. Join us to explore - how to begin!
Clifton Strengths coach, writer, and writing coach to thousands of writers, Becca Syme, joins Dawn and Nancy to discuss common "wisdom" shared in the writing community. Is it critical that you write every day? Should you be rapid releasing to stay on top? Are Facebook ads absolutely necessary for success? Listen as Becca Syme uses data to examine writing myths and explain why the golden rules of writing don't always apply to everyone.
Do you know who your reader is? Or are you writing books and sending them out into the world, hoping for the best? Learn tips and tricks for figuring out exactly who your audience is or will be as Dawn and Nancy from Evident Ink offer insights gleaned from NYT and USA Today bestselling clients.
We'll chat with USA Today Bestselling Authors Marika Ray and Delancey Stewart about their latest co-writing project, the Digital Dating series. They'll offer some hard-learned lessons and advice for how other authors might set up a co-writing project.
Looking for an idea for your romance novel? Look no further. Dawn, Nancy, and several best-selling romance authors share their real-life love stories and make book recommendations to get your wheels turning. You'll hear from Melanie Harlow, Claire Kingsley, and more! Don't miss this one!