AI Writing:

Technology is constantly advancing-even in writing! This doesn’t mean that AI will do everything you want it to, but you can definitely save time when doing your writing by using this program. Remember it isn’t perfect which is why today I am covering the baselines of what to expect when using AI in your writing.

Key Points

● It doesn’t understand funny.

● It doesn’t do name recognition.

● It is totally great at titles, subtitles, and outlines, but when it comes to outlines, you need to ask it for more detail. You need supportive points that bolster each chapter's objective.

● You may have a hard time-saving the prior version as you are working through different versions of your content. At times, edits may go too far, and, in that case, you will need to re-paste the version that you like.

● It’s not great at using details

● It’s fabulous as defining and explained quite well the foundations of algebra and calculus.

● When you ask it to edit existing content, it will clean it up as it dehumanizes it. This is very effective for business writers that want to be straightforward and use bullets and teaching to explain methodologies, and so on.

● It will get smarter, but it will take time.

● It refuses to write hateful language - yay! It did write a little bit on supporting LGBTQ+ peeps, which was so heart-warming.

● It even explained the pros and cons of using AI to write a book.

Outro

That’s ten tips exactly and our time on this week’s chapter of Write Effing Now. When you need proven tips on getting the best writing on the page, or you’re ready to write your book head to bookmarkpub.com and get in touch. Until next time authors, write on.

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On today's episode of WEN, we’re meeting the characters who are just dying to get to know you in your own book, whether fiction or non-fiction. This is a storytelling element you don’t want to skip!

Why character development is important. People relate to people. We want to make it enjoyable for the reader and easier for them to make sure they can use their emotions so they can connect.
Business books need personality - retention, ease of digestion - this is why we teach the way we do.

Connecting to someone emotionally means you need to define their character.

1. What are the nuts and bolts? Who are they? Why are they acting the way they do?

2. They need to be likable.

3. They need to be believable.

4. They need to be multi-faceted - you have to feel sorry for the villain.

5. Make them human - they are not perfect.

Outro

That’s ten tips exactly and our time on this week’s chapter of Write Effing Now. When you need proven tips on getting the best writing on the page, or you’re ready to write your book head to bookmarkpub.com and get in touch. Until next time authors, write on.

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Co-Authorship can be sticky sometimes. It takes the right partner and the perfect amount of communication to be successful when working with someone else. You wouldn’t purchase a house without viewing it- so don’t do that when picking a Co-Author. Look at their credentials and writing styles.

Remember this is a partnership- create improved skill sets from each other's Strengths and Marketing. I also have 5 other bonus tips that you need to keep in mind during this process.

Write it together as one voice- Stay connected with your partner and make sure you are both on the same page about the context and information you want to include.
Each of you take a chapter - Collaborate and speed up the writing process by dividing sections for each of you to complete.
Each of you take a chapter and don’t make it obvious- Make sure that in your writing yourself and your partner are writing to a similar style so that the reader doesn’t point it out.
What does “with” me mean? Use Julie and Julia as a reference.

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When we decide to write it’s more than a pen hitting paper, or your fingers pressing on a keyboard. It’s an expression of emotion and storytelling. You want people to feel what you’re speaking about and to remember the moral of what you are portraying. You are here to entertain, share your pain, provide hope and inspiration. That’s what it means to become an author.

Writing isn’t easy, but it’s important to keep working diligently at your craft.

Over time, you will share something that others connect to and in many cases, transform their lives. As a result, you become a better writer, speaker, and a better teacher of the craft.

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When writing your book there are many different processes involved, but you can’t sell your book without organizational marketing. You are going to learn where you can build your calendar whether it is online or written down. Knowing where to post is going to be one of the most important parts of this. Hilary addresses the four major objectives you have to complete if you want to make the most of getting your book out to the public.

Marketing Outline

Focused Objectives
1. Brand awareness- Make sure you understand how you’re going to Brand your work.
2. Promos- Utilize as many social media platforms as you can and get the word out. Be cautious when using third party apps.
3. Excerpts/memes- Find something relatable for your audience or something humorous.
4. Events - Speaking: Get the message out by making public appearances.

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Transcribing is the best technique to use when writing your book. Hilary shares 4 tips that will provide more proficiency and speed in your writing. This not only helps you with your transcript- it also adds a new skill into your toolbox.

Tips

Have your outline at the ready - can be on the phone
Open your mouth- this will help you speak more clearly.
Practice speaking slowly- This helps your prevent tripping over a word- Especially if you have an accent.
Speak up- You want your audience to hear you- Don’t be afraid to get loud but know the difference between yelling.

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Procrastination will hit you harder than running into a brick wall. Hilary addresses why procrastination is deeper than what’s on the surface. We stop and over think the amount of time it will take to complete a task and end up rushing to complete it at the last minute, or even at all.

Why do we not do what we have to do? Hilary answers how to tackle procrastination head on by sharing 5 tips that will improve your motivation and focus when writing.

Implementing a guideline- Be clear with what you’re doing and want to accomplish.
Finding a way to not be intimidated- Instead of thinking about everything as a whole just break it into multiple sections that way you are more focused.
Where do I start?- Pick one part of the process that flows easily for you and start from there to avoid writer's block or continuous distractions.
Plan everything out- You chose where to start- now plan what you want to get done per hour or per day.
Utilize quick transitions- When you finish one part of the process do not wait around to start the next step- slam that door and get to work!

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Before making the decision to publish a book, it is always important to reference back to a checklist to make sure you completed every step and didn’t miss any. Hilary addresses from an editor's point of view, what you need to look for when completing the revision and editing process. She shares 10 major points to think about when writing, even throwing in a bonus one.

Here are the Top 10 Editing Tips:

Prepositions- Pay attention to the writing to see what’s proper- learn about them.
Tenses- Figure out which one you want to use and stick with it
Consistency of Spelling- Train yourself on the versions of a word you’re going to use
Order of Sentence Clauses- Creating more Creative Energy behind your words
Comma usage- Using commas correctly
Missing Words- Don’t try to put the puzzle together- Take a moment to refresh
Improper Synonym- Be cautious that what the thesaurus spits back may not be the proper words you’re looking for
Redundancies- Stay away from repeating subjects unless needed
No Dialogue- Dialogue humanizes us- Use it to your full advantage
Cliches- Avoid them like the plague unless you reinvigorate them to fit what you are speaking about

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What are publishers looking for when you decide to release a book? Content can stretch across horizons based on your mindset or the type of content you want to create. When deciding to take this step, be sure to remind yourself how critical it is to nail the content and the main point of the context you are trying to spread. It is important in the process to be persistent with marketing and consistency when speaking about what you released.

Hilary speaks about the multiple step process it takes to become qualified for any author before they fully release their novel, like making sure you’re using the proper publishing app and remembering the process of becoming a Best Seller.

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There are many different formats we can use when it comes to writing Fiction and Non-Fiction but there are 5 main format’s you should know about as a writer for Non-Fiction. Hilary addresses why you need to understand what formula you will apply before you start typing anything. The 5 formats that will be discussed are listed below:

The Blockbuster- Your story starts with a bang- immediately exciting filled with a Pit and a Peak
Chronological- Picking a series of events that lead in order
Half and Half- Memoir in the beginning of the book- get in touch with your gut
Story Driven- Simple and easy to flow with no preamble- Upfront about the take aways
Business Textbook- Using Academic nature and emphasizing readers through the use of storytelling, case histories, etc. This format isn’t commonly used.

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After we receive a bad review or rating, we end up trying to compensate to provide better content or we completely change our style of writing. Remember that our failures shouldn’t be passed on. Most people quit, or in worse cases, give up completely. The best course of action is to go back and review WHY it was a failure so that you can learn from it.

Today Hilary discusses what makes a failure and she provides information on how we can actually use that as an advantage moving forward in our writers to scale our audience. Failure is valuable in the way it helps us grow. It gives us the experience to know what to do, what not to do, and how to make it better.

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There are some days when you can look at something that’s been written and just think, “I don’t feel this. I don’t feel inspired.” It happens to everyone, but it’s important to understand that writing is the core of creativity. There’s an emotional connection you have to have if you’re going to sit down and unleash that creativity through writing. Hilary shares part two of rules for bad writing and what to do moving forward to improve and enhance your literary skills.

Today you will learn a few things:

Pick out what you want- We don’t need to be flowery and over-explain something we are writing about. Keep it simple.
Follow the format in the industry- Keep the same structure of the book and follow it in the proper order.
Don’t reinvent the wheel- Do the process that you follow in everything else you write about or will be writing about.
Avoid cliches- Embrace YOUR styles, cliches just come off as being unoriginal and lazy.
The thesaurus isn’t your friend- Fix and limit your redundancies and keep your writing relevant.
Don’t be too “I” oriented- We all like to stroke our egos once in a while- don't make it a habit. Your writers do not want to hear about you the whole time they are reading.

Hilary covers these topics in more detail and shares a few extras. It’s your time, energy, life experiences, and work going into what you’re writing. Take this advice and build the best story you can. Write on!

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There are so many rules in life. We have rules for school. Rules for relationships. Rules for driving a car, rules for functioning in society, and pretty much everything you can imagine. So, why would there not be rules for writing? There are good rules for writing and bad rules for writing. There are so many different ways to write but are you applying your best strategies? Today, we're going to cover 10 rules of bad writing.

Here are some questions to ask yourself as you continue into your writing journey:

Are you being your true self in your writing?
What kind of equipment do you have, is it everything you need?
How consistent are you with your work?
What is your process with your structure?
Do you use too many analogies?
How much time are you generating for perspective?

Hilary speaks about why you need to stop comparing yourself to your favorite Author/ Writer. Why would you want to sound like a knockoff version of those who you emulate when you can branch out in your writing and become someone who gets looked up to as a leader in their own creativity?

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Hilary shares some practical tips on what you need for your Author signing! Hilary talks about her upbringing in writing starting as a young writer who is now living her dream past her expectations in writing.

Hilary covers a lot of helpful information to keep in mind when you’re doing a book signing. Here are just a few of the many things you will learn more about!

Where is your Book Signing going to take place?
Does the location have plenty of room for a line, tables, and Chairs?
Where are you going to be located?
Will you be doing the reading, or will you have someone else read to the listeners?
Do you have the proper attire- No, you don't necessarily have to be all dressed up but look presentable!
Offering a few dishes, and drinks can be helpful- Just keep in mind not everyone drinks alcohol!
Make sure you keep good hygiene when you do your Author signing (Clean Hands)
Make sure you use a Pen- They don’t bleed through

Hilary addresses why you need to be referring back to yourself if you’re going to be giving a speech. Hilary is going to ask you some questions to prepare you for your Author Signing!

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There are so many distractions a person can have in life. Oftentimes, we like to push off our task because we think we’re going to miss out on a TV show, an ordinary night out at the bar, or a conversation we can have on the phone with a friend at any other time. The truth is we make excuses for ourselves and being lazy.

Hilary addresses why procrastination can be the worst enemy in any aspect of your life but how she sees a consistent pattern of it in writing. Hilary speaks about why we shouldn’t think of writing as work but as our creative expression. Hilary breaks down the 9 main topics on why we don’t think we’re good enough. Take a moment to figure out why you’re writing.

In this episode, Hilary explains why we need to love ourselves and different approaches we can take to decrease the amount of procrastination we carry. Procrastination can show up in any form, but Hilary goes over the 5 major forms that you might go through yourself.

#WriteOn!

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Editing is sooooo easy. That’s what everyone says, especially after they hear the investment required to have their work properly edited. How hard can it be? You simply need to download Grammarly and start writing, but there’s more to it! No great idea or collection of ideas should ever go without being viewed by a second set of eyes, and a different perspective other than yours.

Hilary addresses why the editor or publisher is there to help you. She also talks about why you can’t lose your conversational edge. Hilary discusses figuring out how your characters are going to speak. What will their personality be? Understanding why you need to be clear and honest with what you want in your book or story. Hilary shares a few tips on how to improve your character development and your writing.

She also talks about inflection which is a way to change the form of a word to express the mood, person, tense, and etc. People are not going to listen to you if you change the way you speak or tell a story. It all comes naturally when writing.

How do you speak?

Do you use profanity?

Do you have a lisp?

Are you a quiet speaker?

WriteOn!

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Our imagination is what creates a vision for ourselves. We listen to music, read novels, and find joy in hobbies. These activities are molded from our creativity. Hilary speaks about an experience from when she was married to her first partner and how that made her feel held back from being able to write while juggling all of life's responsibilities.

It’s time to take back your freedom. Be defensive.

Hilary addresses how she defended herself to embrace her creativity in her writing. She will be talking about why writing is important and the liberties it allows.

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Every "expert" has a coach. The President has advisors. Every guru has a "guru." Every influential person to ever roam this planet in every industry and discipline has one thing in common; They all had coaches.

In today's episode, Hilary addresses the questions on why you need a book coach. She speaks about topics discussed in the writing community and shares the actions required to apply them. Just like an onion, writing can be layered. There are answers that will unfold into a deeper perspective to help you become a more well-rounded and impactful author.

Hilary talks about when she reached out to a Book Coach after she found herself stuck in an 8-year hiatus and the constant struggle to finish her book. She breaks down the definition of a Book Coach and the impact they can make on your writing when it comes to creative concepts, proofing, editing, and developing the draft manuscript you decide to use.

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A vision is embedded in everyone. A vision is a pathway to our own goals. For many people, they keep their vision alive through vision boards, sticky notes, constant reminders of self-talk, and even writing pages full of aspirations. However, most people are missing the key factor in this process. They aren’t taking the first step to their goal due to fear.

Today, on Write Effing Now, Hilary host’s special guest Steve Gamlin. Steve is a man of many experiences and careers. Steve is the founder of Motivational Firewood, is a Speaker, Emcee, Stand-up Comedian, Author, and master of vision boards. Steve and his Wife also run a Non-Profit organization that helps others in the community who are struggling called Beach Bums.

In this episode Hilary and Steve speak about what a vision really is and how to implement your actions into full effect. Steve speaks about the adversity he faced in 2002 after he decided to quit his career in radio, he had gotten divorced from his wife, and he had three dollars to his name. After a conversation with a life coach, he transformed his life and career into what it is today. A few things that are discussed are the importance of gratitude, working forward into a vision, pulling away from negativity, and having a different outlook on what fear really is. Steve shares his three perspectives on fear and how he applied them and pushed fear to the curb.

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There are many kinds of people in this world ranging from all forms of life. The struggles range entirely from different situations and experiences. A person that is Neurodivergent has cognitive thinking that is rather not typical like the general population. For example, people who deal with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, and Dyspraxia are considered to be Neurodivergent.

In this episode Hilary is joined by special guest Brian Mckittrick as they discuss what it’s like to be a neurodivergent person and the importance of reaching out for guidance when writing. Brian talks about his journey as he wrote his Best-Selling book “It Ain’t Rocket Surgery”. Brian felt stuck as he was writing his book but felt the gratitude of being able to reach out into his inner circle of writers and other entrepreneurs as they helped guide him into place.

Brian and Hilary discuss different tactics on how to improve your writing when coming to face those times where you may feel stuck or unable to concentrate. Brian gives an outlook on his journey where he started from nothing, to becoming the successful entrepreneur he is today and how writing has impacted him closely along his journey of leveling up.

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It Ain't Rocket Surgery: 21 Simple Tips that will Take Your Sales to the Moon!

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Oftentimes, people believe that writing is more creative through fast pace as you type or write. As you continue into your writing the most important piece that everyone forgets is self-care. The writer's ability is endless but without taking the necessary time to make yourself comfortable and patient it tends to drag into a process that is more work than fun.

In this episode Hilary is giving exclusive information on how to enjoy your writing to the next level. No one is forcing you to write, therefore there's no need to apply extra stress throughout the process. Fall back to the roots and find your purpose.

Here are a few things you will learn in depth in today’s episode:

Pacing- Take the required amount of time you need to expand your creativity.
Commit to being an expert and leading yourself to success.
Having fun- Remember this isn’t supposed to feel like work.
Being defensive with your time by creating goals.
What is your reason and why does it impact your writing?
Focus on your interests- writing just to write can be dull
Keep yourself constantly motivated
Understand that there are continuous steps to perfect a piece of writing. Edit and revise constantly.
The thirteen self-care steps that will improve your writing, your mental capacity and creativity.

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On today's episode of WEN, we’re chatting about a problem that plagues the uber-productive but that is not often talked about… how do I write when I feel like crap?

We are all exposed to feeling under the weather, depressed, and unsure of what we are going to write about. When you dive into writing there can be distractions that easily fade into the picture. Even the best writers, authors get stuck in a funk. How are you going to take action and control?

What You'll Learn:

Get comfortable. Prepare ahead for the time you are about to put into your work.
Get dressed – It’s ok to dress casually and comfortable but remember you’re working, not hanging out watching tv or taking a nap.
Implement breaks that can keep your head clear and your mind focused
Delegate with yourself. What work comes first–what do you need to accomplish before moving on with your day.
Be sure to implement a deadline schedule for yourself so that you aren’t cramming everything at the last minute.
Make sure you’re writing about something you are passionate about. It’s important to love what you do
Do not sit there and feed yourself negative judgment.
Understand the process and learn to enjoy it. As you continue into your writing you are constantly changing.
Be consistent- Flow with what is on your mind but also be sure to keep the consistent values that you have in your writing.

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On the 57th episode of the Write Effing Now, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a time, Hilary Jastram has some insight about how to improve your skills as a writer.

Today we are in a society where the majority of people think becoming a writer is difficult. In today's episode Hilary focuses on the four key guidelines of writing. One of the many things you'll learn for example is:

What does it truly mean to critique your writing?
When revising and doing a final edit, are you making sure you have someone you trust read it over and give you honest feedback?
What levels of readers are you targeting?
Why it’s never a good idea to focus on your opinions in your own writing and how they can be negative to your narrative and what you’re creating.

Here are a few things you can apply to your writing moving forward:

Make yourself uncomfortable when writing in general, that is how you use the most of your creativity.
What is your reason to re-write and edit your piece?
Who is your target audience and what style of writing should you be using to get their attention?
Watch the number of adjectives you use in your writing and recognize how the overuse can impact your writing negatively.

As Hilary speaks throughout this episode, she is going to break down writing as a whole. What is the purpose? Why are you writing? Who is your audience? What truly makes a good writer is not the use of fiction, it's the knowledge they gather about what they are writing about.

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On the 56th episode of Write Effing Now, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we are talking about how to talk about yourself when you can’t stand talking about yourself–when marketing your book.

Book marketing as an author is such a paradox. You love your story. You love the process. You love writing, and you’re so proud of your efforts. It’s safe to say as much you love writing, it loves you back! But that’s not enough because when it’s time to let the world know about what you did, you clam up.

Here are some pointers to help you overcome all those challenges. Just remember, no matter how awkward you feel, the more you market yourself, the more comfortable you’ll be.

Speak from a place of gratitude as you remember your mission and how you can help your reader. That is why you wrote the book, after all!

Let other authors who do it well inspire your own growth and content. Don’t plagiarize–duh. But do brainstorm and apply.

Don’t go it alone! Use your author affinity group so others can help spread the word about you and your masterpiece.

Marketing your book is necessary work–so don’t neglect it. Instead, focus on the action you need to take and mission and remember, if you get it wrong on any level, no one is going to keel over and die. You can always correct yourself and get your message right. Show up as perfectly imperfect and resist any doubt. You are going to be GREAT!

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart out.

Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 55th episode of Write Effing Now, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time,Drewbie Wilson returns to the airwaves to talk about blending business and please content and how memes play a huge part in bridging the gap.

Oh millennium, you are such a trip! Who would have thought that at some point, we would be using memes to communicate with people? If you’re still on the fence about how memes can be so useful, here are three advantages:

Memes send a message at the speed of light–well, not exactly that rate, but faster than if you were to read something. Your brain processes words in a meme and images at the same time. Boom! Supercharged message!
Memes tap into emotions and forge a connection to other peeps on a more personal level.
Memes bring up nostalgia–also highly recommended in marketing!

There’s so much more to discuss, and Drewbie brings all the heat! So make sure to listen up to this author who bestsellered so hard he broke Amazon for a day. His book is Crushing the Day: A Simple Guide to Success in Business and Life Through Service to Others. Make sure you grab it now to read from the lips of the meme lord about a true sales god!

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart out.

Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 54th episode of Write Effing Now, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time,Jennifer Aube is with us talking about her bestselling book Naked Wealth and her process for writing. She’s a pistol, and a consummate creative savage, so you will want to take notes.

Jennifer Aube is the embodiment of BEAST in every sense of the word. As I have gotten to know her as an author and a friend, I have been impressed by her never-stop attitude. By her embrace of adventure, of abundance, of the calling inside her to teach others. A brilliant financial advisor, mom, and coach, she had a very definite idea of what her book would be about, and she stayed on track.

Here are a few facts about her that you can use to apply to your process:

She has always loved writing. Is it necessary to ADORE writing? No, of course not. Does it help? Absolutely! As you pour your passion into your words, it makes you that much more magnetic to the reader.
She is a leap-first-build-your-airplane-on-the-way-down type of gal. Her fears are simply hurdles that she uses to catapult herself ahead. I can’t tell you how happy jelly that makes me!
Take it from Jenn, and if you are writing a business book and in a financial industry, make sure you check on your compliance rules. Unfortunately, the compliance department may feel like a ghostwriter plucking away on the keys along with you. Double-check their requirements before you go forward.

When you listen to Jenn, you can’t help but hear her logic in how she lives her life and accomplishes any task she wants to–whether that be writing a book, recording a podcast, or parenting her big brood of kids! She has faith that the next step is there, even if she can’t see the whole path laid out. In short: #belikejenn

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes. To fix your financial life and learn how to better seize the day, you can find Jenn at Wironen Aube Wealth Management.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart out.

Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter of Write Effing Now until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 53rd episode of Write Effing Now, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time,we’re rapping about the difference in pricing in various services and why you need to shop around. Listen up as I shoot myself in the foot! But seriously, take your time learning about what you need and make sure it matches with what you can spend–in both time and money!

Not much is sadder to me than a published book that no one knows about. What services do you need so the world knows your book exists? Here’s a refresh on the four book marketing pillars: 1) SM, 2) podcasting, 3) speaking, and 4) distribution. Invest in EVERY ONE of these areas.

And here’s some more intel to refer to when making a decision on your services:

Editing costs vary according to the market, scope of your book, and a few others areas you’ll need to tune in to learn.
Make sure you choose an experienced cover designer or have a fallback designer who can ensure your cover meets all the criteria.
Don’t use a blanketed budget approach in social media! If someone recommends this, they don’t know what they’re doing. So … run!

Also, obviously, take advantage of free press, beta readers/reviewers, bloggers, GoodReads, affinity groups, local bookstore placements, signings, etc. Always say yes to free press!

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart out.

Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 52nd episode of Write Effing Now, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, it’s collaboration time, baby! There’s a beauty in collaboration, and we all win together. Read on to learn all about this superpower.

To collaborate effectively means unlocking doors to experiencing the benefits of others’ minds. In publishing, you want people on a team to share the giant job of creating a book. It’s almost unfair to put that on anyone else.

Here are three more reasons why collaboration is the bomb diggity (yes, I know I am dating myself saying that!).

Collaboration makes you trust. You can’t truly do it if you don’t know how. And if trusting makes you uncomfortable, then make sure you keep listening because we are diving into that, as well.
You gotta get right with a healthy ego if you engage in collaboration! A healthy ego is poised to take the best care of you while lifting other people up. I’m a big fan of being there for each other and believe it’s one of the reasons we are all here on Earth.
Two brains are better than one. Whoever said that was right. Nuff said.

There’s no need to feel threatened when you are called to collaborate. This is a great time to get in touch with your strengths and what you like to do, and others’ strengths and what they like to do. Collaboration also takes pressure off you to feel like you have to be the heavy. You don’t! Just play it light and share the responsibilities of the team with people who truly want to help you–like the smashing team at Bookmark Publishing House.

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart out.

Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 51st episode of Write Effing Now, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we are rocking the airwaves with a real-life legend, Charles Hamm, a 2x #1 International Bestselling author whose book Ponder on It, Pilgrims hit 18 bestseller lists on Amazon. We recorded on his release day, and there has never been more appropriate synchronicity!

To quote a reviewer, “This book has the potential to become a 21st-century classic.”

Charles left us with some incredible insight when we chatted, and here are three nuggets, or as he is wont to call them, Texas Grit:

Be different: So many people try to match everyone else, and they wind up losing themselves. This is what has poured fuel onto the wildfire of Charles’ LinkedIn following.
It can take a lifetime to write a book: If you don’t feel ready to write, take heart. Charles started a book in his forties, and it’s still tucked away carefully, just waiting for the right TLC to bring it around. You are never too old to start!
We don’t need to agree with each other to love each other. Talking with Charles was like settling back into an easy chair, so comforting you lose yourself in his ponderins’ as the whole world slows. He taught us much about tolerance and slowing down to listen. I hope you learn to slow down, too.

It’s not every day that we get to hear such inspiration that we can allow ourselves to be swept away by a man who has seen so much and who is so willing to share their memories and lessons to make us better. I am so unglued about Charles; I even wrote the above run-on sentence! If you want to get off your rocker, grab Charles’ blockbuster book, Ponder on It, Pilgrims, then settle back down, and set a spell. Make sure you follow him on LinkedIn for more of his delightful wisdom.

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart out.

Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

For full show notes on this episode:

https://jhilcreative.com/51

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the landmark 50th episode of Write Effing Now, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, Jeremy Schreifels shares his songwriting mastery tricks and how he gets over all the creative blocks. If you’re feeling stuck, Jeremy will pull you out of the muck!

Creation is a mindset game, and Jeremy feeds his brain only good messages, which he freely shared in this episode. Since he collaborates a ton with other people, he provided smart ways to move past any impasses and how to keep the bigger goal in mind. Whether you are writing a song, a book, or anything in between, how he comes to the blank page is incredibly inspiring and useful.

These are our top three fave tips he shared. Plenty more await; all you have to do is listen!

Collaboration is an art in itself. Giving and receiving critique while keeping the main goal of honing the product into the best it can be takes dedication. Jeremy shares his best tips for working with a group, so everyone feels valued and excited about the creation.

Ask him about the “double bar” method. This is the plan you have in place to honor the place you are in when you are writing–even if it means stopping for the day. If you are a musician, you get that the double bar means the song is done. There’s no more writing allowed!

Not every song of Jeremy’s makes the cut and gets recorded. Sometimes, the job of that song is to free the pipes up for better ideas to come. Sometimes, the song might just need to exist that day. It might bring joy or insight to the people who hear it or read the notes. Just like everything you write won’t make the cut–see the similarity.

As a classically trained musician, Jeremy was a font of knowledge in this episode. He has a super chill way of giving you feedback, expressing new ideas, and dramatizing his experiences! You need to read Road to 99 whether you are a songwriter or not, and especially if you are trying to get past your ego and work with other people. Check him out on Amazon and on his website at www.Roadto99book.com, and earmark this episode to come back to when you need it. You’ll be glad you did.

Got questions, or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart out.

Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

For full show notes on this episode:

https://jhilcreative.com/50

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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What does drawing out your difficulties in writing do for you? Not much. Here are three disadvantages to be aware of. Listen up, you know you want more!

“Long-suffering” writers create a sort of club that denotes if you are a person who doesn’t have any of their symbolism, you don’t belong. Lacking an oceanside cottage? You can’t get in. Do you not own an ancient typewriter? Too bad for you! Such nonsense. You don’t have to pander to this kind of rhetoric.
It doesn’t make sense for you. Gather the tools that you will genuinely need to create productively. Clear your schedule. Get your headspace right. Read books that will make generating content easier. Take classes. Work toward a smoother road.
You’re living in the dark ages. Come out into the sunshine, sunshine. Today authors are learning about the tools of digital publishing. They are joining writing groups. They are not waiting for the old masters to give them permission into the traditional and elite clubs–they’re making their own!

For full show notes on this episode:

https://jhilcreative.com/49

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 48th episode of Write Effing Now, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we are discussing a timely topic that I am seeing more and more lately: you have to love your book more than anyone else to make it the masterpiece you want it to be.

You have to love your book enough to do your homework. You have to love your book enough to check off the boxes on each of the stages that make up the total completion of your book. You have to love your book enough to stop phoning it in.

Here’s a sneaky peak-y of why you need to love your book more than anyone–but listen to the episode to learn how to get past these roadblocks we throw up ourselves.

Transformation: Friend, you are about to change! I can’t explain your exact metamorphosis, but who you are at the beginning of this journey and who you will be–well, you won’t recognize yourself! That comes from discovery, doing the work, and going through an experience yourself versus reading or hearing about it.
Confidence: When you continually challenge yourself to show up even when you are not so sure of the content you are putting out and then you improve to the point of pride, this newfound feeling spills over into other areas of your life!
Paying it forward: You are about to learn the most beautiful facet of becoming a writer: sharing this art with the burgeoning artists among us!

When you decide to Write Effing Now, it means sitting down and doing the work. It means earning your author stripes. There’s no shortcut for knuckling down and getting it done. It can feel unglamorous and hard, but you’re tougher than that, right?

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart out.

Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

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On the 47th episode of Write Effing Now, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we’re talking about cadence, why it’s crucial to use in writing, and how it keeps readers coming back for more. As writers, this is a tip you def need to know!

Musically, cadence is defined as: “...a sequence of notes or chords comprising the close of a musical phrase.” Thanks, elusive Oxford Languages!

Here are three tips to kick off what you need to know. More awaits you in the episode….

Read aloud to determine where you might be hanging up. If you snag on anything, cut it out.

Consider the white space your reader will confront on the page. Is the readable area comprised of paragraph after paragraph stacked up one after the other? That’s too much. Break up your paras and make bite-sized chunks.

Don’t use the same beat: “He got his cat neutered. His hair was so poodled. She loves long pool noodles.” Try: “He got his cat neutered. When wet, his hair sprang into bouncy curls all over his head, so Myra dubbed him Poodle Boy. ‘Damn, I love these pool noodles, Stefanie!’”

When you decide to Write Effing Now, the rhythm is gonna get you, so let it. Steal away to new dimensions, ideas, innovations, and discoveries. Surrender to these splendid worlds and create experiences your reader will never forget.

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart into any media. Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 46th episode of Write Effing Now, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, today, we are going to learn that writer’s block isn’t even real. Nope, it’s masquerading as something we know all too well.

We are ripping the top off a common concept. Debunking a myth. This is a myth as old as the ages. But within the myth is also a mystical element of lies. This entity that takes over writers and holds them hostage on the regular is called writer's block. Ernest Hemingway called writer’s block the “white bull.” I call it the “white bullsh!t.”

Unravel writer’s block yourself and start with these tips, then listen for more:

Reframe how you think of it. That it is a necessary pain, that it is a negative eventuality, and it hurts you. These moments of searching are actually teaching you!
Challenge the theory. Are you physically unable to write? Likely, no. You are not blocked. You are in judgment.
Groom yourself to show up as the best form of you and accept you and love you. Your best in these uncertain stages IS perfection.

We are vessels walking around holding a creative spark. Yet we look to other people to tell us that we're good enough. This is what “writer’s block” is about. It is about being tangled up in our minds with the perception that our writing is not good enough and that perception is based on what we believe good enough to be. A lot of times, that has to do with the horrific standards that we put on ourselves that even we can't meet. And it has to do with other people–who have no authority over us–just what we give them.

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart into any media. Writing is life. Ink is blood. Pages are bones. Words are breath. By the way, if you’re wondering when is the right time to write, it's Write Effing Now!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 45th episode of Write Effing Now, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we’re finishing up our 62 book marketing ideas. This is the third of three episodes since we’ve broken up all the ideas to make them easier to digest.

As you listen to this week’s episode, remember to Get courageous. To unbatten the hatches. Unlock yourself and unblock yourself. Don't be afraid to talk about your book. When it comes to our books, we want to rise to the top and break through the Clutter to be remembered.

Here are three tips to get started. Keep listening to learn the rest.

Sell your book at book festivals.
Learn from authors who have come before you. What’s effective or ineffective?
What’s hot in your industry or genre? Post about it and tie in your book.

That’s a wrap on our big ol’ list of book ideas! But don't be afraid to keep learning, researching, and updating your own list and ideas. Brainstorm with other people. Multiple brains are better than one. Don't have a horse in the race named ego–where you feel like you must do and know everything yourself. Taking the ego out of the race will take you further.

Got questions, or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → jhilcreative.com

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart into any media. Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 44th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we’ve got 62, count ‘em 62 book marketing ideas that you can use to blast your book out into the world. This is the second of three episodes since we’ve broken up all the ideas to make them easier to digest.

You learned about twenty book ideas last week, and today, we’ve got more for you! Use these brain dumps in conjunction with traditional and digital marketing, and watch out! Soon the name of your book will be on everyone’s lips.

Check out these three tips first, and listen to the episode to learn the rest.

Two words: “promo stacking.” It means you need to run an ad every day, so they all work in concert with each other, and each media piece enhances the next.
Send your book to a celebrity.
Make a book trailer.

We are now two-thirds of the way through our big ol’ list of book ideas! You’ve got a great head start to implement these tactics and build a solid following. Just remember the cardinal rule: don’t stop. Keep going. Every day, sell your book. Remember, it’s your job now. Embrace what you are afraid to do, and before long, you won’t remember feeling awkward as your confidence grows.

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart into any media. Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 43rd episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we’ve got 62, count ‘em 62 book marketing ideas that you can use to blast your book out into the world. This is the first of three episodes since we’ve broken up all the ideas to make them easier to digest.

Yes, in the digital publishing world today, authors are expected to split themselves in half. One half is the author, of course. The second half is the marketer. Even if you don’t want to play by these rules, you won’t get anywhere if you don’t adapt. So, make sure you always put your best foot forward!

Here are three steps you can take to get started. Listen to this week’s episode to get the rest.

Sell your book at local bookstores.
Piggyback on another industry, company, organization, and so on. If you are a real estate agent/author, arrange to speak at a mortgage company, for instance.
You absolutely need a website and media kit.

Many more ideas await you! Combine together everything you learn on the podcast to create a compound effect on your campaign and keep people talking about you.

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart into any media. Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

View Details

On the 42nd episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we’re talking about writing horror! No, we’re not, but we might as well be since our topic is what makes a horrifically bad book.

As an author, you never want to create a book that will fall into this category. So, here are three elements to avoid to ensure you are putting out your best work:

Continuity errors - For instance, a character can’t be in two places at once.
Don’t rush the ending - As much time as you spend crafting your plot, stories, and formatting, that’s what the ending (and your reader) deserves!
Mismatched formatting - You are not knitting together a patchwork quilt. If you don’t know the rules of formatting, don’t attempt it yourself. Hire a professional. Readers slam shut books that make them wonder about their quality.

This episode is chock full of a bunch of tips to remember and apply; it might feel a little like drinking from a fire hose. Put in the time to learn the best practices of the craft. Dip your toes in, then wade out until the water hits your middle. After that, when you get your bearings, dive in. Do it again and again and again. That’s how you improve and become a writing master.

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart into any media. Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

View Details

On the 41st episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we are creating compelling content. You’ll want to bookmark this one to come back to at a later date.

Compelling content like most everything in life, can be reverse engineered. We can look at the formula that makes it and set out to recreate it. This gives us captivating, memorable content that will rivet readers. That’s the name of the game, getting people’s attention and keeping it until the end of the book.

These three signs will give you a strong start to writing your book so it makes the greatest and longest impact. As always, there’s more, so make sure you listen.

Book hook - The first sentence of the book sets the hook and when it’s juicy you can reel the reader in through the rest of the pages.
Pacing - Keep a faster tempo when you are talking about action and excitement, and slow it down, interweaving backstory elements where it’s called for.
Solve a problem for the reader - No matter what it is, letting the reader know you’ve thought about them and want to make their life better goes a long way in keeping them glued to the page.

These steppingstones will lead you to the goal you seek–wowing your reader. Put them to work to help you as you continue to write your story and improve your writing.

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from pouring your heart out onto the page. Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

View Details

On the 40th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, the universe is bringing you this subject: Dealing with imposter syndrome in writing–because Hilary heard from FIVE authors in ONE day wrangling with this sucker. Listen to learn to conquer it and why feeling it is a positive sign.

First, did you know imposter syndrome is actually recognized by psychologists and other mental health professionals? It is not an official diagnosis or condition, but the American Psychological Association says: “It is a very real and specific form of intellectual self-doubt. Impostor feelings are generally accompanied by anxiety and, often, depression.”

And that’s just the beginning. Check out these three signs that will tip you off to experiencing this common syndrome. Don’t miss the others on this episode.

Imposter syndrome means you care.
It means you want to be clear.
You may feel stuck in your writing.

Now that you’ve got (some of) the answers let your pen or laptop be mightier than the sword that will slay you–if you let it. Go forth and redo, gather resources, beef up, and present a better product, book, speech, or whatever you want to share with the world. Then let us know how it goes and what breakthroughs you made.

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart into any media. Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

View Details

On the 39th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we’re putting readers first. Well, we always do, but we’ll tell you how to do it in such a way that they feel special and your writing positively shines!

Question: What in the French toast does being reader-centric mean in writing?

Answer: Just what it sounds like: serving the reader, putting them first. Being anticipatory.

Here are three tips that you can apply to your writing, right now, today, to become instantly reader-centric! (Of course, there are more on the podcast, so don’t miss out!)

Writing to give them resources - Where can you refer your reader to find the information they need that will be the most beneficial to them?
Writing to prevent their pain - Whether you are distracting them from any kind of pain or sharing with them lessons you learned that they can use, readers love this form of writing.
Writing to set them free in their imaginations - Storytelling is such a gift that humans can give freely. There’s nothing like getting lost in another world, traversing landscapes that are new to your senses, getting inside the head of a wily character, gasping in surprise at a masterful suspense novel. Nothing at all like it. Don’t hold back in this area, and you will have readers flocking to you for more.

We are creating our books to help, lift, advise, resolve, ease, entertain, fascinate, enthrall, and so on. That needs to be the focus. Let’s do it in a way that the reader will not just love, but they will appreciate.

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart into any media. Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

View Details

On the 38th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we are chatting about how to cultivate writing ideas and kick your brain in the booty to create!

As a prolific writer, you may run into this challenge–running out of ideas to write. It happens to the best writers. The key is to tap into what will move you out of this slump. It’s not a matter of never having ideas but knowing what to do to continually move forward. There are definite brain hacks that work, and we’re sharing them here!

These three ideas will progress your writing and get you groomed to stay on task more easily and often. As usual, there are more, so keep listening!

Do a different creative exercise. If you’re trying to write, draw, color, paint. Vice versa.
Put yourself in a different environment.
Update/refresh an existing book or piece of content.

Part of the creative process includes taking different actions and doing different things regularly. Add them to your routine anytime you want to create. Challenge yourself to think differently. To approach concepts from a different angle. Do this, and you will be awed at all the other ways you can be creative. As you do, you’ll continually refresh yourself and grow more comfortable with the elements of the creation process.

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart into the stories you want to tell. Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

View Details

On the 37th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we are establishing writing rituals and discussing why they can move you forward as a writer.

But…

Just what in the holy ham hock is a writing ritual?

Why should you even care about having one or taking the time to learn about one?

A writing ritual is a predictable routine that you set around creating your book or other forms of writing. It is not comprised only of blocking time but has to do with incorporating anchors (an anchor might be a song you listen to, a piece of clothing you wear, a desk accessory, etc.) to signal your senses that you are there to write and not do anything else. Anchors keep you locked down to the task and discourage a splintered focus.

Here are your three tips to help you stay grounded and keep your BIC (butt in chair). There are natch more in the episode, so don’t skimp on listening!

Chipping away at your writing keeps you present and connected to long-form projects.
Writing rituals feed your identity. You tell yourself you are a writer doing what writers do: creating.
Design your space and set it up in the same way each time before you sit down and start writing again. Place all your anchors around you to facilitate focus.

Create a haven for you. You own it. It has nothing to do with anyone else. Give yourself permission to take this time for you. You want to write, go write. Do it for you. This is one of the highest forms of self-care, honoring yourself as a writer who wants to grow and evolve.

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart into the stories you want to tell. Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

View Details

On the 36th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we are creating characters, making them believable and breathing dimension into their flat little lives.

For your characters to be real, they have to be as believable and multifaceted as you. You’re not only a wife, a marvelous cook, a great brother, a school teacher, a coach, a daughter. You feel, and you are in charge of protecting your self-esteem. Go deep with your characters and give them a real life with fears and aspirations.

Use these three tips to create a fleshed-out character:

Rely on the power of the unexpected. What action can your character take that will be out of line for them but still realistic?
What kind of childhood did your character have?
How can you leverage telling your story to emphasize character traits? Can you implement cliffhangers and foreshadowing, for instance?

Making your characters human means that your reader will more readily attach to them, and that keeps them reading and engaged--meaning they will keep your book in their hot little hands until the very last page. That’s every author’s goal as well as a hallmark of Bookmark.

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart into any media. Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

View Details

On the 35th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, Hilary is talking turkey about diversity. It doesn’t have to feel comfortable to make discussing important topics the right thing to do. But we want to do it anyway. And here’s the major takeaway (but, you know, keep listening!): RESEARCH.

When you are working on diverse content and introducing characters or elements in your work, it’s okay to not know what to say. Make sure that you research credible sources to get the appropriate information to use. Also, make sure you know what is credible and not.

These three tips will start you off on the right foot (but there’s much more in the show):

Focus on describing what the reader sees no matter the subject. What is the texture, the color, the scent, the taste, etc.?

Be authentic and organic when you are being inclusive. Don’t just plop a character in there who doesn’t contribute a lot or describe something to force home the point that it is different.

When taking advice, get it from a relevant source. An expert in Italian cuisine, for example, not a novel set in Italy. When you encounter a janky resource, refuse to use it until you find one that is correct.

You are not going to know everything on your writing journey, but letting the fear of doing something wrong when the right intention is in your heart will hold you back. Start to have these conversations and expand your world, learning about different cultures, countries, orientations, and elements that might not be so prevalent in your reality. Then put them in your world :)

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart into any media. Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

View Details

On the 34th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, Hilary is sharing her editing tips she applies to every author’s manuscript.

Sometimes, taking a peek into the inner mechanisms of the mind of someone doing a different job than you helps you do your job a little bit better. Here’s hoping this insight into the editing process helps you when you sit down and confront the blank page.

Remember these three tips and listen for even more. There’s a long list this go-round, so don’t skip a minute!

Check the order of the words in your sentences. Do you need to move anything around? What is describing the subject?
Develop the ability to switch back and forth between reading perspectives. It’s easier than you think! Hilary tells you how :)
Don’t use ten-dollar words when a buck will do.

Apply these tactics as you create your masterpiece, but do make sure you get the writing done first before leaping into editing. The art of writing is free-flowing, so edit only when you are done expunging yourself of all your ink and ideas.

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart into any media. Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

View Details

On the 33rd episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we are putting negative writing self-talk out of its misery with helpful and insightful responses you can say to yourself. Your critical alter-ego won’t stand a chance.

We don’t know one writer who sails through their craft completely on an even keel and feeling 100% about their ideas, efforts, understanding, and results. So if you feel like you are less than in this area, be assured that you are not alone. If you were to stand in a crowded room and scream out your writing vulnerabilities, you would hear an echo back of challenges that would sound eerily close to yours.

File these three ready responses away to beat back the pessimist that loves nothing more than to beat up you and your writing. BTW, of course, there are more. You just have to listen ;)

Remember, we are groomed not to accept mediocrity. It forces us to push ourselves, and in this state, we don’t produce our best results. So cut yourself a break and build in self-care and time for reflection on your work, and even just to walk away when you are creating.
Not getting a publishing deal doesn’t mean that you haven’t written a quality book.
Sharing your story is self-care, and there is no guilt in self-care. That’s the rule, man. We didn’t make it up!

Writing can be the most blissful experience of your life as you wring out all the ideas and aspirations in your head. But it can also be a tremendous trudging uphill, where you fight to extract genius, and doing so leaves you cold and longing. To experience more of the joy, you must keep your mind conditioned to believe you can accomplish anything. This means combatting thoughts that are harmful to you and your writing. Get in the habit of excusing these thoughts through daily meditation or meditating as you hit the page, and you will empower your best writing.

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart into any media. Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

View Details

On the 32nd episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, SEO monster hunter Tim Kearney of Time Kearney Creative Services is with us to talk about best practices in copywriting, what works and doesn’t and why you may need to switch up your game.

SEO is not a lost art. Sure it’s not as sexy as when we embarked on the craft in the first place, cramming all the keywords without any sort of finesse into text--j/k! But is an art that has been finessed, and Tim K. is a finesser. He has deep, deep marketing roots, having advised Fortune 500 companies on the right actions to take to improve the quality and quantity of their leads. He will share with you what’s not so important in your SEO journey and what strategies you can double down on to get the biggest payoff!

Geek out on these three prompts to polish up your SEO (but oh, there’s so much more in the show--it’s almost obscene!:

Gone are the days of burying text in white font, so Google ranks you.
Good, relevant writing is more important than ever in SEO. Thank goodness for small favors!
Did you know the LinkedIn algorithm is just like the Facebook of yore, that wide-open door, letting throngs of peeps in? Capitalize here.

Tim K. came to this podcast armed and valuable. GBY can’t say enough about the good things he is doing for us and how getting on the map got easier. If you are ready to stop receiving spam emails from people telling you they can’t find you (was that just us before Tim jumped on board?) Hit him up and transform your business. You can find him at thetimkearney.com/.

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author or pouring your heart onto any media. Storytelling is life.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

View Details

On the 31st episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, the audiobook master Drew Linsalata of Helix interactive fame, teaches you everything you need to know about creating an audiobook and if it even makes sense to have one.

This is a subject that needs to be talked about. It’s a subject that many authors bring up but don’t know how to approach. If you're an author, you probably have about a million questions. How do I create one? Should I read my own content? How much does it cost? What don't I want to do when creating an audiobook? And on and on.

Your three takeaways:

You likely don’t have the right mic or equipment for the job. But you also likely don’t need to pay through the nose to get it. When you work with Drew, he sends you the fancy equipment to ensure your book is accepted by the biggest audiobook publishers.
Reading for a non-fiction book or fiction book are different animals. The fiction book might even need multiple voice-over artists. As the author, how fun to audition them! Just think, you could get some sunglasses, a beanie and a director’s chair. If you ever needed an excuse to be cooler than you already are, this is it!
DO NOT try and knock out the recording of your book in one session. Your manuscript will sound like it was narrated by your evil twin!

Drew is the credible resource allowing you to make the most informed decisions concerning creating your audiobook. Check out his services at Helix-Interactive.com to start working on your audiobook today.

AND … We need to pump up Drew’s other baby (is it just us, or did that sound weird?). His brand-new bestselling book, Seven Percent Slower should be required reading if you struggle with anxiety. Seven Percent Slower marries the chaos of today with the instinctual nature of our bodies to speed up when we perceive danger. When we learn how to manage that urge, we can enjoy life a little more and retrain our brains to stop putting us through those panicky paces. So, read it and feel better!

Got questions or ready to work on your book? Reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author.

We’re closing this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

View Details

On the 30th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we are pushing you out of the mud and muck of supposed writer’s block to get your ideas flowing once more. So, let’s strap the chains on your tires and roll on down the road to break free of those writing ruts.

Hilary is covering 13 reasons why--very different from the controversial Netflix series, btw--you might wind up trapped in the confines of your own mind, unable to move forward due to self-doubt, confusion, overwhelm, and a bunch of other fun emotions!

Here are three different reasons why you might be stuck, and you don’t want to miss this episode because there are ten more!

This is the book I have to write, not the book I want to write.
I don’t know what step to take next.
I’m afraid people will judge me.

Reasons that hold us back from doing what we truly want to do and what we dream of are actually excuses. We know you don’t want to let any of these reasons stop you from your progress on the road to becoming a writer. If it’s hard to move forward, you’ll need the keys to get unstuck, the rationale behind the reasons you have for being stuck. You might need validation. You might need a shot of self-confidence. You might need to have the plan laid out a little more clearly for you. And sometimes, you might just have to get down and do the work.

If any of this is ringing a bell, reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance. Go here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author.

We’re closing this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

View Details

On the 29th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we’re answering all your questions on book covers.

It’s always the goal to communicate information to you in a way that makes sense--especially when it comes to breaking down the big projects and turning them into smaller ones. That’s how Mats, our lead designer from theartcat.com, works with you--so it’s not as intimidating, and you feel like you are accomplishing something. And we think that is a trick when it comes to accessing true motivation and perseverance. For instance, Mats will ask you for the back cover copy, your condensed bio of max 75 words, and your headshot. That’s not so daunting, now, is it?

These three cover clues will get you started working on your cover. To complete it, reach out!

If you are stuck on a title, keep working and don’t get hung up. You will find as you go through the process that the book will often name itself.
Pick out and share with your book designer some of the covers that you like best. This gives them a place to start and a better shot at putting together what you will actually like.
The width of the spine is predicated on the number of pages in the book.

Getting your cover right is important. This is the reader-facing advertisement that you are using for enticement to get people to crack open the book. That old saying, “You can’t judge a book by its cover,” may be true because who knows what nuggets are nestled inside. But … if you have a crapola cover, you will not want to promote the book, and it may undermine all your hard work that is just a few pages away from a curious reader. So spend some time on the cover, and if you want to talk to the master himself, head to theartcat.com and get in touch with Mats. Tell him I sent you and then prepare to be blown away by his politeness :)

As always, reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance. Go here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author.

We’re closing this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 28th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we are kicking your writing muse right in the keister with the use of writing prompts. These prompts will let loose all kinds of inspiration; they will shake up your doldrums and set you back on the path of creating.

These three prompts are just a sampling of the 40 total that Hilary shares on the show:

Describe all the qualities of your favorite animal.
Write your obituary.
Share the time when you received the best news of your life.

The crazy creative, the orderly structured, and all the writers in between can benefit and take flight from this list. Writing is a craft that, like anything else, needs to be continually honed. When you are feeling a touch rusty and unmotivated, when you’re searching for the right word, when you want to take a walk on the wilder side of writing, try a writing prompt and see where it takes you. Hopefully, somewhere that’s a complete surprise as you see your mind opening up to new adventures.

As always, reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance. Go here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author.

We’re closing this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 27th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we are digging deep, discovering the beauty of literary devices, the word helpers that expand, enrich, and allow us to extract the best out of word art.

We got totally nerdy this week and geeked out on some of the most well-known literary devices. We won’t bore you with the technical details but will say that these devices exist to help you reach new heights in your writing, so make sure you listen to learn. You just might shortcut that literary level up!

These three tips will help you understand how to use literary devices to pump up your words!

Personification of inanimate objects. “That chair had arms like a fullback.” Doesn’t that make you want to read more? Can’t you envision a squat chair with overstuffed arms inviting you to plop down on its cushions?
Dramatic irony. Many people have used the classic example of Romeo and Juliet, but you can use this literary device in your current works. Have you ever worked and worked to reach a target only to have that gold ring ripped away from you? That’s dramatic irony.
Vignettes. When authors share experiences we can relate to, teaching moments, and supportive stories, they gift us with greater in-depth knowledge of their lives and their characters’ lives.

Hilary went over quite a few more of these devices to sharpen your tongue and pen. All you have to do is listen and apply what you’ve learned to your writing and see how hard you can push it. But don’t be afraid to play with your words. Sit and marinate in your thoughts and see where they will take you. It’ll be somewhere great.

As always, reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance. Go here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it's a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author.

We’re closing this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 26th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, three time-bestselling author and media darling Jessica Weaver is sharing what sounds like a beautiful dream, her new, best-selling book, Confessions of a Money Queen, given to her by the universe.

Confessions of a Money Queen: 10 Money Moves to Claim Your Power and Prosperity shares what’s missing in your mindset to tap into the wealth that God, Spirit, and the Universe want you to have. Jess is breaking the stigma of what we believe we deserve, just like she did with her #pinkfix movement. As a woman helping other women find their truth, Hilary is tickled pink to share her advice on helping you uncover your truth, learning what ignites you, and the best ways to monetize your voice.

Apply Jess’ three tips to improve your writing and push you closer to the finish line:

Get very clear on what you want your message to be. When you answer any lingering questions, your brain flows.
The book you want to write might make you uncomfortable. Write it anyway. Then watch how new people more in alignment with you are drawn to you.
Organization makes everything easier. Keep your docs in a central file you can easily access.

To come out on the right side of wealth and tap your potential to receive not just what you want but what you need, read Confessions of a Money Queen. Available on Amazon. To get in touch with Jess, visit her website: jessicaweaver.com.

As always, reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance. Go here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it's a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author.

We’re closing this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Confessions of a Money Queen: 10 Money Moves to Claim Your Power and Prosperity (#pinkfix Powerbooks: Leveraging Your Feminine Empowerment at Every Age and Stage Book 3)

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On the 25th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we’re peeking inside the mind of best-selling author and Apex Entourage VP Drewbie Wilson. On his publication day, he sold so many books that Amazon stopped working for thirteen hours!

Crushing The Day: A Simple Guide to Success in Business and Life Through Service to Others is Drewbie's best-selling ten-plus category book. Here are his first three tips to help you set your own PBPR (personal best publishing record):

Before publishing, your team needs to know what’s coming as soon as your book is live. Make sure they are prepared to take action for you.

Ensure you have at least 20 verified purchasers ready to post their reviews (send them preview copies).

Staying on track is critical to ensuring you finish. Remain committed to your milestones.

Adhering to your goals takes drive, grit, and a refusal to surrender your dream. Follow Drewbie’s example, and you will enjoy the accolades of being an author, too. Connect with him on Facebook to learn more about his process and his upcoming book: Millions from Memes: Understanding the Value of Social Trends and Leveraging Them to Build Your Multi-Million-Dollar Empire @ facebook.com/DrewbieRides.

As always, reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance. Go here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it's a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author. We’re closing this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 24h episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we’re going back to the basics. And this is a great place to be whenever we need a refresher. In this case, we are revisiting all the smart tactics to use to improve your writing.

Every once in a while, we need to gauge how we feel about our writing, if we are improving, if we are stagnating, or anything in between.

There's a misnomer in the writing world that the first draft will be the finished draft. That if we don't sit down and write absolute perfection, something is wrong with us. We might hear these little liars in our heads: We don't have the chops to be a writer. We'll never be a published author. No one is ever going to read our books because we are no good. Listen up to this episode to get these voices to clam up! When you know how to hone your writing, you’ll feel confident about the words you put out into the world.

These three tips will help you finesse your writing!

Drop unneeded words: “really,” “very,” “just,” etc. Train yourself to cut them from your manuscript ruthlessly--and you will never miss them!
Do crosswords and other word games. It gives your mind a break from hammering on the same content while growing your vocab--which will work to your advantage later.
Suck and be okay with it. As we talked about in a prior episode, the process of writing a book doesn't entail perfection but progress.

Want more? Tune in :) That was just a little teaser.

If you have the fire inside you to create, to share your world through the incomparable craft of interweaving words, do it. It doesn’t matter how you start; it matters that you keep going!

As always, reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance. Go here → GBYPodcast.com.

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 23rd episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we are opening our toolboxes and peeking inside at the best choices to help us write our books.

Writing a book is completely unapologetically, dramatically overwhelming. We enter into writing a book thinking in terms of before and after. Or in terms of A to Z. We know we’re at A, we know we’re at before, and where we want to go, Z or after, but we don’t know how to get there. What do the letters in-between look like? What does the route getting to after look like?

There are so many different kinds of writers. Hence, there are so many different kinds of apps. I have never encountered an identical writer on this publishing journey. People think differently; they retain information differently; they organize differently. Some people are visual learners. Some people need a more audible manner and love working with transcriptions. Some people feel a connection to their words and the story they're crafting only when they can put actual pen to paper or place their fingers on each individual key and customize their sentences. No matter what you like to do, the following list is chock full of the tried-and-true ways to use technology to time collapse your route to success as an author. They’ll help you check off the jobs needed to finish your book.

Here are three quick resources (you want the rest, then tune in!):

Your old English teacher - Don’t put them out to pasture just yet! People in your circle who have made the study of language their expertise are assets to you. Have them read what you wrote. They can proof your work as well. Just make sure you pay them :)
Otter, Rev.com, Zoom, Google doc (in certain browsers) - These are all apps you can use to record chapters of your book, extraneous content (like your bio, for example), the Amazon description, the back cover copy, and so on. If you just need to give your fingers a rest or prefer to get info out into the world by speaking, these apps are your jam.
Grammarly - Not to be used as a fail-safe. For that, you need an actual human, trained and educated in the art of language. But Grammarly is a solid option as a catch-all. Figure out what you may have missed, but beware that it does offer wrong suggestions: incorrect tenses, and vernacular, and even some offerings that are quite stiff and stodgy. Writing is ALIVE, so make sure you don’t hammer the soul out of it using every suggestion Grammarly churns out. Use your judgment to create the best result.

Our only goal today is to get you over the writing hump. We all need tools to go farther and faster. As writers, we are only as good as the tools we use.

If you need help, reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance. Go here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it's a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author.

We’re closing this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 22nd episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you “Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time,” we’re talking about compounding momentum and combatting sluggy feelings to finally get your book written. These are tried-and-true procrastination-busters that drown out the self-doubt in your head. We call this nasty self-talk a liar. And just like mice, when you hear one self-delivered nastygram, count ten. More thoughts usually follow until you are flailing around at them all, trying to destroy them.

Here’s your secret weapon to KO the nasties: ready responses to those big, fat liars.

Remember, this is a judgment-free zone. No one is labeling you for having scary feelings about writing. We all have them. The trick is to know what to do about them :)

Over 100 books… that’s why Hilary’s here with you. She’s worked with enough authors to confide in you the little earworms and tidbits that helped them hop over the white bull--as Ernest Hemingway put it--in other words, writer’s block. We all need a little kick in the caboose now and then, so here is some super motivation to get you pumped up and writing, or pumped up and dictating, as it were!

Your three quick self-fueling tips to combat the liars in your head are:

Liar #1: I’ll get around to it later. Response: That is a load of bee-loney, and you know it. You made a promise to yourself, so train yourself to keep it.
Liar #2: It’s going to take a long time. Response: The time will pass anyway. Will you be an author by then or a wanna-be-author who keeps procrastinating?
Liar #3: I might hate it. Response: Then you're not done.

Our fearless host got on a roll, so make sure you listen to learn about how to combat the other eight liars in your head.

Part of tackling the big book bogey man has to do with having responses prepared to tear your excuses down. The more you practice, the easier it gets. Then the integration of regular life will blend rights in with your book writing tasks.

As always, if you have any questions or are ready to create your book, reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance. Go here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it's a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

We're closing this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 21st episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you “Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time,” we are chatting it up with the incomparable Drew Linsalata.

For the past seven years, Drew has hosted The Anxious Truth podcast, boasting over 1,000,000 downloads (and growing). After liberating himself from crippling anxiety, he now helps others manage their anxieties and panic disorders. A three-time author, today, we are getting the scoop on what works in writing a book, what you need to do, what you don't need to do, and what Drew learned in writing the soon-to-be-released, Seven Percent Slower, which joins The Anxious Truth: A Step-By-Step Guide to Understanding and Overcoming Panic, Anxiety, and Agoraphobia, and An Anxiety Story: How I Recovered From Anxiety, Panic and Agoraphobia—both long-standing Amazon bestsellers.

Drew has a lot to teach you about the process, honoring the voice in your head, saying yes to your ideas, and ... peaches!

Your three quick tips from Drew:

Teach yourself that you can write day after day. After Drew built up more confidence, he found he could churn out content faster.
You must flip your story around to benefit the reader.
Tell yourself you are whatever title you need to hear to start your book. It was only after Drew told himself that he was a "teacher" that he felt free to write.

If you and anxiety don't see eye to eye, tune into Drew's podcast The Anxious Truth wherever podcasts are available and follow him on social media. You won't be disappointed, and you will be entertained.

As always, if you have any questions or are ready to create your book, reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance. Go here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it's a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

We're closing this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 20th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we are learning all the nuts and bolts of creating an outline. Since the outline is the first step toward writing your book, you definitely don't want to skimp on this part.

Let's make it easy while we're at it! We're going to explore the items we put into the outline in a list so you can just shoot right down the list and check the box. When you simplify your tasks, you take out the overwhelm. Do that, and you will halt procrastination while lighting a fire under your skivvies.

Here are three quick pieces from the outline (listen to the dang show to get the rest!):

First, know where you're going and who you're talking to. Answer the positioning questions Hilary talks about in this episode.
Consider your format. These three work well and gel with what's on the shelves right now:
1. Blockbuster - Start with the riveting details. What is going to draw the reader in? Think of your life/story and the pits and peaks you or your character has experienced. Readers love contrast!
2. Half and half - This pertains to memoirs/business books. Share your story in the first part, business/life lessons in the second.
3. Chronological - With your backstory woven into the chapters/sections. Start with the lessons you have learned that define you into "before I learned this thing I was this person/after I learned this thing I was that person."
4. Don't worry about getting the order of the content you are sharing right. The point is to get everything out, brainstorm, and then move it around in the order in which you want it later. This takes off major pressure, so you feel like you are accomplishing more.

Listen to the rest of this episode to learn even more about writing a competitive, genre-specific, and super-solid outline that can stand up to any book the big pubs push out!

As always, if you have any questions or are ready to get started creating your book, reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance. Go here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it's a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don't let intimidation stop you from becoming an author.

We're closing this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 19th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we are creating a plan to sort through the edits that you receive from your editor.

Developing a plan to handle the recommended changes you receive from your editor can shift the focus from feeling emotional through giving you new ways to interact with critique. In short, you will be fixated on completing tasks versus trying to trudge through how you feel about the comments on your book.

Your three quick tips from this episode:

Ask yourself about the suggestion: is this something that needs to be corrected to be accurate? If this is the case, 100% take the edit.
Is there any way that the content will be confusing to the reader if it’s not changed? Be HONEST.
Here’s another question to ask yourself: what is the worst-case scenario? If you said, “I am going to hear my book isn’t any good,” you already know that isn’t true. A publisher or editor wouldn’t have agreed to work with you if that was the case.

When you can think of your book as being shepherded into the publishing world by an ensemble of people, it helps. This is the aim. And truly, it is exciting! You have gotten to the level that you have earned a slew of people wanting to be on your team because you are THAT good. But you won’t be instant best-seller material after one rough draft. No one has ever achieved that. If this is your criteria, man, are you ever tough on yourself!

Listen to the rest of this episode to learn even more about the best ways to manage people manhandling and womanhandling your words. We’re here for you to help you become the best writer you can be!

As always, if you have any questions or are ready to get started creating your book, reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance. Go here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it's a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author.

We’re closing this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 18th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, Hilary helps you release your book baby into the wilds of publishing, both emotionally and physically. Here’s a hint: your book is a product, and it’s time to treat it that way, or the quality will suffer. Then even your love for it won’t be enough to save it!

First things first, and read this part as many times as you need to: a critique of your book does not mean that you suck as an author. Lather, rinse and repeat that now. Never let anything shake your confidence to the point that you stop creating.

If you’ve received critique and you’re feeling attacked, it helps to remember that this is exactly what editors and publishers are supposed to do: they are supposed to be honest to help you improve your work. That is what you paid for: their professional feedback.

Here are three quick tips of the many shared in this episode:

Practice positive self-talk before you receive any comments on your book. When you do this, you will build up your skin, so it is nice and thick. Then you will have an easier time hearing what people have to tell you.
Positioning your book is critical to its success and to ensure it remains memorable in the marketplace.
Don’t let your ego get in the way of improvement--what all authors strive for. Don’t let it block you from learning about all the amazing aspects of this industry. The big-name authors are pros in receiving opinions and sorting out the ones that are relevant to their works.

Don’t stop the process of writing your book and throw away all the time you deliberately sunk into this incredible venture. Be reassured that the reason you sat down and created this book is still valid. Nothing can take that away from you. No one else’s opinion. No one else’s style preference. Your desire to write your book and the information you want to share with the world still stands. You don’t want to go out with a whimper. You want to send your book into the world with a bang!

As always, reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance. Go here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it's a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author.

We’re closing this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 17th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we’re talking about why you MUST (it’s supercritical, so we capped this!) know why your book is different.

Different = Memorable

Different = Better branding

Different = More sales

Different = Captivated reader

Different = Dialed-in messaging.

Think about all the books you have ever held in your hands and why you remember them. It likely pertains to the title as well. It was probably strong and sank into your psyche. In this episode, Hilary does give you some stellar examples of awesomely positioned book titles. These are titles that you can tell the authors worked on. These authors sorted out the sludge and landed on a succinct result.

That’s the goal.

Tune in to hear more of how you can filter down from every idea on the market (and in your head!) to be unforgettable.

YOU. CAN. DO. THIS.

As always, reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance. Go here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it's a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author.

We’re closing this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 16th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we’re talking about writing the extraneous pieces (anything but the main content) of the book. These are super important and sometimes don’t get the love and attention they need.

We’re going to love them up today!

Here’s a cheater list for you to work off so you can follow along:

Resources page - This is the page where you will provide all the ways that a reader can get in touch with you.
Dedication - Not mandatory, but a nice nod to people/causes that mean the most to you.
Foreword - Written by another person and ideally an influencer.
Afterword - Placed at the back of the book, a recap of the value of the book.
Introduction - Written last--listen in to learn why.
References/footnotes - All you need to remember is that you must cite info when required. Your editor/publisher should handle the formatting.
Acknowledgments - Located at the back of the book and gives thanks to specific people instrumental to the creation of your book.
About the Author - Aka, your bio.
Disclaimer - Not mandatory (but a smart way to CYA--cover your arse).
Book bonuses - Super cool gifts from you to the reader.
CTA (Call-to-action) - Bring your readers closer to you with high-value content designed to benefit them and you.
Amazon description - Exactly what it sounds like. Check out any book on Amazon for a better idea of what to do here.

The above are little tidbits that will help you with your own list. Listen to the show to hear the specifics of the what, why, and how that you need to know to create totally tuned-up and tight extraneous content.

As always, reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance. Go here → GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it's a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author.

We’re closing this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 15th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we’re talking about the topic no one ever delves into--how to position your book so your message will resonate inside the reader’s head and they will connect even more deeply to you.

In life, in writing, you have to know where you’re going to get there in one piece. That means knowing why you are sharing what you are and who you are sharing your story with. If you just leap into writing without exploring who your book is meant for, your words won’t find your audience. They will fall flat; they will miss the mark; they will be the equivalent of throwing a bunch of gunk at the wall to see what sticks. You know you don’t want that. That is not a marketing strategy.

Positioning means understanding your audience. In any campaign, there are usually three main slices to your audience’s demo. You will ask yourself the positioning questions that we get into on the show, and a couple of which we share here, but there will still be about three different types of people that you want to direct your message to.

Group a (usually the biggest one) might be single moms between the ages of 24-32 who homeschool their kids, Group B (a smaller segment) would be married moms from 32-40 who homeschool, and Group C (the smallest segment yet), would be single moms in their thirties who send their kids to school. You can see what we’re getting at. Regardless of the segment, you will want your audience to answer four positioning questions. Here are two of them.

You want the rest? Listen to the episode ;) Happy sneak peeking!

Two Positioning Qs:

Who is your book for? (Age, gender, income level, geographic/psychographic data, etc.)
Why is your book different? Answer this question using ONE sentence--and no, you can’t use a run-on sentence!

Everything that we talked about today is reader-centric. Between asking these questions and keeping your attention on the reader, your book will not only be more memorable but it will be regarded with warm feelings for years to come.

The next time you’re ready to put words to screen, get in touch with jhilcreative.com. We’re helping authors everywhere get published.

That’s it for this chapter of the podcast! Now, it’s time to Go Book Yourself. Until next time authors, write on!

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On the 14th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we’re clearing up the confusion on what to do on the book marketing front. Hilary is spilling the tea on what the most effective tactics have been for Bookmark authors.

For full show notes on this episode visit https://jhilmark.com/14

Just like everything in life, forging a successful book marketing path comes down to knowing what the heck you’re doing--and making sure that you are executing a few selective initiatives well. These are the topics we covered in this week’s podcast:

Social media and other marketing. The biggest mistake you can make is releasing your book to radio silence. It might feel uncomfortable, but this is the time to be a big mouth. This is the time to share your incredible undertaking. Make a plan, like any other campaign, and stick to it!
Podcasting. Get on podcasts and start your own. Period. Talk about your book in the easiest and most economical venue available. Get in on it.
Listen to the show...hahaha! You knew that was coming! (We have to make you work for it a little bit!)

Today, marketing your book has become almost as important as writing it. When you work with a publisher, it’s absolutely expected that you will have a large part in advertising. And whether you are self-publishing, or publishing through a publisher, commit to rolling out a strategic plan to get people to buy your book.

That’s it for this chapter of the podcast! Now, it’s time to Go Book Yourself. Until next time authors, write on!

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On the 13th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we’re cracking the proverbial whip! Face it, we all need a little whip-cracking in our lives to help us stay on task--especially when it comes to writing a book. And why is that? Because when we look at everything that must be done to get that book to publication, it can be quite overwhelming!

(For full show notes on this episode visit https://jhilmark.com/13 )

Effective discipline comes down to understanding your personality type. You aren’t going to take the steps you need if you aren’t gelling with the process. So let’s talk about these major personalities and get you going on the right track to clobber that book to-do list in a way that makes the most sense to you. If you are a person who blazes through their duties, you might not dig checking a box.

Three of the Five Ways to Get to the Same Place: The Finish Line (Hey, we can’t give it all away...yet!)

If you are a blazer/attacker and even a procrastinator… Schedule a chunk of time or getaway to a place that will take you out of your world.
Chip, chip, chiparooooo. Every day schedule a time that is non-negotiable.
Where can you make time in your day? Yes, you do, too, have time!

The goal is not to make it overwhelming! Make it doable. I’ve helped a ton of authors with their books, and those who finish all have one thing in common. THEY DID IT! Sorry to yell, but that’s worth hollering about!

That’s it for this chapter of the podcast! Now, it’s time to Go Book Yourself. Until next time authors, write on!

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On the 12th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, you’ve got the question. We’ve got the answer. What the heck does an editor do anyway?

(For full show notes on this episode visit https://jhilmark.com/12 )

Some writers think editors are writers…

We are and we aren’t.

Some writers think we only fix punctuation and grammar.

We do and we don’t.

Some writers think we wield the red pen with ferocity…

We...uhhh...well, we kinda do.

But there’s so much more to our jobs. Here are three areas of focus that I identify in this episode. If you want to hear the other seven, tune it!

We hold no judgment. And aim to coax you to strengthen your work.
We will help you tell a story with proven storytelling tactics.
We encourage you to be reader-centric--meaning, that you need to write for the reader first and yourself, second.

When talking about the roles and responsibilities of an editor, the keyword is “advise.” Of course, we can’t make you do the work. But we can hold space for you while you do it. When appropriate, we can help you finish your train of thought, organize your details so they are the easiest to digest for your reader, and competitively structure your book so it stands up to others in your genre--which we will also help you select.

That’s it for this chapter of the podcast! Now, it’s time to Go Book Yourself. Until next time authors, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 11th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we are honored to be in the presence of the booger queen and best-selling author, Angela Halgrimson. Nobody Likes a Booger is the winner of the Mom’s Choice Award, the Independent Publisher Book Award, and children everywhere have awarded it their favorite, giggliest, funniest book ever!

For full show notes on this episode: https://jhillmark.com/11

We wholeheartedly concur!

If you want to experience the same success with your children’s book, then tune in to learn how to tackle these children’s book writing tasks:

Crafting the story.
The difference between writing a kid’s book and a grownup’s book.
When to engage an illustrator and formatter--and can they be the same people?
The cost to self-publish.
Pitching, yay or nay?

The most memorable message that Angela delivered hands-down is to never give up on your dreams! We wholeheartedly agree. So listen in and then get to work, creating your own unforgettable children’s book.

To take a page from last week’s podcast (see what we did there?), remember that writing your book begins before you write it. Figure out your story, why it’s salable, and then build the platform to support it. Instead of feeling intimidated by all that needs to be done, take it one step and one page at a time.

That’s it for this week’s chapter. Now, it’s time to Go Book Yourself. Until next time authors, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the 10th episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we are answering the question on everyone’s lips: “How the heckfire do I become a best-selling author?

Boy, if it were just as simple as answering this question with one simple answer. But the truth is, like everything else in the world right now, it depends on the criteria of the algorithm, whether you are talking about hitting the Amazon best-seller list or the bigger fish to fry: Wall Street Journal, USA Today, or even the biggest fish of all… The New York Times!

The good news is, it is possible! You just have to understand what you have to do. And you need to make a time and money investment (like everything else under the sun!)

If you are interested in busting onto the Amazon best-seller scene, these are the criteria that have to be executed. (But also note, there are specific levels and numbers you need to hit):

Pageviews
Reviews
Categories
Initial pricing
Overall activity and interest
Sales

Hilary gets into detail on each of these points, so make sure that you listen close. Also, tune into the tale of two Stus, two authors who trod two different paths to reach the status of Amazon best-seller.

Stu #1, upon publication, generated so many sales and reviews, in short, bombarding Amazon so hard that his ranking couldn’t be tabulated for 13 hours!

Stu #2 has sold over 5000 copies due to his consistent branding and marketing.

It should be noted that both these gentlemen also have tons of reviews on their books. This is a huge contributing factor to grabbing that best-seller sash. So, as you are writing your book, prepare to get those reviews in and coach your readers to get them uploaded to Amazon on time.

Writing your book begins before you write it. It begins with defining what you are saying and the building blocks of your platform. Doing all this work beforehand makes a huge difference.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. Now, it’s time to Go Book Yourself. Until next time authors, write on!

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On the ninth episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, our hot topic will help you save money!

Save money writing a book? You heard that right. It’s possible and Hilary and her Bookmark team helps peeps do it every day. This is the beauty of bundling and unbundling with a caring crew.

Just as authors aren’t one size fits all, and there are massive variations in book length, author aptitude, the services needed, and heck, even how the needs of the digital publishing company have changed, you don’t and shouldn’t approach writing and publishing your book with a broad brush.

On this episode, get ready for some truth bombs (is that still a thing?) concerning three areas where you need to invest your time and money, and more where you don’t. And we’re not talking about a few hundreds here and there, but actual savings that can turn writing a book from a pipe dream into a realized vision.

A few hints:

You never want anyone to question your book’s professional appearance.
Make sure that if there is a task you don’t want to do, or can’t do well, you hire out.
Examine whether you have more money or time resources--and what the tradeoff is.

As always, reach out to us if you have questions, and especially if you are ready to get started writing. Even if you have just a glimmer of an idea. That’s how all books start and catch fire, after all. Visit GBYPodcast.com for guidance.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode and leave us a review--especially if it’s a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes. (You know you want to).

It’s easier than you think to become an author. You just need a little faith and a solid team.

That’s it for this chapter until next week. Now, it’s time to Go Book Yourself. Write on!

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On the eighth episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, the subject is long overdue! Hilary often hears one question that kinda breaks her heart, and that question is, “Will anyone read my book?”

Picture this: two authors, one subject. Both writers will turn in two totally different manuscripts. But why? Because people are different, their experiences are different; their perceptions are different. What they think is cool is different. What they find fascinating is different. You get where this is going.

This is exactly why every author needs to work so hard on making sure their story is special. That it is memorable. Of course, you want to stand out in the crowd.

Three takeaways from this episode of the Go Book Yourself podcast.

Watch your self-talk. If you believe you don’t have a story worth writing, well, action follows thought. You won’t complete your book.
Loving yourself and your story takes practice. Give your inner author the self-love you deserve.
Try this. “The name of my book is ________. It’s about _______. The reason it’s different is because __________. Don’t draw out your answers. Make them as succinct as possible, and think of this as your book elevator speech.

Now, if you’re ready to rock and roll and write, visit GBYPodcast.com and feel free to reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it's a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author.

We’re closing this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

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If you struggle with getting content out of your head and onto the paper or laptop, keep reading and listening. On this episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we’re creating the optimal environment in which to create your book and get your ideas and content flowing.

How you think about and talk to yourself has everything to do with your success in writing. Think about it this way: when was the last time you reached a goal after berating yourself to get there? Probably never. Because negative self-talk stops you from making any forward momentum no matter what you are trying to do.

When you sit down to create, keep these three takeaways from this episode of Go Book Yourself in mind (of course, there are more in the show).

Walk away to clear your head and get busy doing something else so your brain won’t buckle under pressure.
There’s no such thing as writer’s block… What Hilary shares will change the way you think about approaching the white page forever--or the white bull, as Ernest Hemingway used to say.
Love yourself enough to suck.

Judgment of any kind hurts you, and it even hurts your writing. In some cases, it plugs up your creative channel so that new ideas can’t flow. Our brains inform our progress and success. So start working on loving yourself despite any missteps you might take. We all take wrong turns; it’s how we get back on the road to our goals that have the most impact on our productivity and futures.

For more on loving yourself through the blank page visit GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it's a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author.

Now, it’s time to close this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On this episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we’re talking about three storytelling strategies. When you practice these enhancements, you will set yourself apart as a solid writer with a world of experience.

Many writers do a fine job of laying down the bones of a story, but especially when they are a neophyte, they lack enough meat to hold their reader’s attention. It doesn’t mean they can’t improve; what it means is that they need to know the tricks!

Remember these storytelling enhancement techniques and watch your writing change from amateurish to absolutely on-point.

Here are the three takeaways for this episode of Go Book Yourself:

Set the scene. We can’t give it all away, but make sure you introduce the characters before you jump into dialogue. And that’s one point of this tip--the others are in the show!
Dialogue. There’s a reason dialogue is provided, and it’s up to you to figure out why and how to add it to the content to make your reader attach more easily to your characters.
Thoughts. When formatted in either italics or quote marks thoughts take the reader into the mind of whoever is doing the thinking, offering a fresh experience.

When you think of your favorite books, you’d probably remember that these practices are used thoroughly. It’s what grabs you and pulls you inside the book. It reveals what’s at stake, so you will keep reading.

Your reader wants an emotional connection with you, and these three strategies will absolutely link them to you. Through setting the scene, they can step inside the book and feel like they are there. Dialogue introduces your reader to verbal nuances and specific speaking styles. It adds dimension. When we use thoughts, it provides a glimpse into a person’s mind. So obv, all of these put together does a magical job of weaving a magnetic spell that will rope your reader into your book and make them never want to let go.

For more writing tactics and insights, visit GBYPodcast.com for guidance.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it's a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes, as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author.

Now, it’s time to close this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the fifth episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we’re talking about one of Hil’s fave topics: repurposing content. Not only that, but she is sharing a secret!

It seems like a lot of the episodes lately have revolved around setting the story straight when it comes to the real scoop about what it takes to write a book. This episode explains the work you actually need to do and asks the question are you doing too much?

And the truth is, you just might be--especially if you are regularly producing content because you can absolutely use that content in your book.

Three takeaways from this episode of Go Book Yourself:

Have a blog? You can use the content for your book.
Have a podcast--use a transcribing service, and BOOM! Book content!
You’ll have to tune in for the secret--but it’s a good one since you might have the copy that you need at your disposal right now!

For more tips on writing your book, no matter what state of writing or planning you’re in, listen to additional episodes at GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it's a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author.

We’re closing this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the fourth episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we’re ripping the roof off on how you can actually make money with your book.

So many people have stars in their eyes when it comes to what they think is going to happen with their book once it’s published. They envision living on an island, owning a pet kangaroo, and having enough money they can stuff their mattress with it. (Do people still do that?)

The truth is...the publishing industry has changed, and so has the way authors get paid. It’s pretty important that you know what you’re getting into, so I suggest you bend an ear here with Hil.

There are a handful of ways that will allow you to make meaningful money from your book, and they happen to encompass this week’s three takeaways...but there’s more to be heard, of course!

Tie your business to a higher-priced program or course.
Use your book as a lead magnet in emails and other media.
Examine what really brings in revenue and link your book to that. Can you gain ground in booking paid speaking engagements, for instance?

If you’re dreaming of writing a book or in the midst of it, reach out to Hilary for guidance at GBYPodcast.com.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it's a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author.

We’re closing this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

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On the third episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we’re talking about the two different ways of writing a book: old-school writing or recording-to-transcription.

Listen, we know how that sounds! Isn’t there just one way to write the sucker?

Surprise! There’s not!

For full show notes on this episode, visit jillmark.com/3

Three takeaways from this episode of the Go Book Yourself podcast:

Enunciate.
Speak slowly.
When you are writing, you are a writer. When you are editing, you are an editor. Resist editing yourself when you write, and you will have a fuller recording or first draft when you are done.

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On the second episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time, we’re talking about the first steps of writing a book. Before you can write anything, you need to know the elements of a book and how to do an outline. Well, you’re in luck because that’s what we’re talking about today.

[For full show notes on this episode visit jhillmark.com/2]

You need to know about the elements of a book, so you can plan for the way you will incorporate them into your outline. You already know the basics like intro, chapters, sections, bios, etc. If you want to know the rest, then listen to the whole show. ;) See what we did there?

When it comes to creating an outline, here’s a little trick. Bookmark’s authors use this all the time. It’s super simple...just get started! So many authors overthink themselves when it comes time to actually creating or writing content. It doesn’t matter what order the content comes out of you. You can always move it around. So focus on emptying your head--no matter the order.

Three more takeaways from this episode of the Go Book Yourself podcast.

Every chapter should have an objective.
Every objective will be supported by bullet points.
If you are writing a non-fiction book and tying it to your business, don’t forget to include calls-to-action (CTAs)

If you’re ready to rock and roll and write, visit GBYPodcast.com and feel free to reach out to your host, Hilary Jastram, for guidance.

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we have to say, please share this episode, and leave us a review—especially if it's a nice one. And if you really liked this episode, subscribe and get updates on upcoming episodes as well as read all the show notes.

Don’t let intimidation stop you from becoming an author.

We’re closing this chapter until next week. In the meantime, write on!

Music Credits:

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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It’s the maiden episode of Go Book Yourself, the podcast that helps you Master Writing, Marketing, and Publishing One Byte at a Time. We’re kicking off the show by dispelling some of the confusion around the difference between using a traditional, vanity, or digital publisher, or self-publishing.

When it comes to traditional publishing, think of the bigger names like Random House, Harper Collins, Penguin, etc. and the business models they use: accepting pitches from authors and literary agents and paying an advance in exchange for the rights to your book. Vanity publishers are a different kind of publisher, and they are as shallow as they sound. They will usually take on any book in any state and don’t care about the quality of it. Digital publishers have popped up to serve the need of the book publishing industry evolving and turning digital. They charge a fee for editing, marketing, and publishing your book--but the difference is there can be some great companies who actually care about the author. Still, you have to watch the cost! Prices can be inflated.

But times have changed, and the way that advances have been given out has changed, too. Of course, we can’t give everything away! You’ll have to listen to the show!

For full show notes on this episode visit jhillmark.com/big-pubs-self-publishing

Find all Go Book Yourself podcast episodes at jhillmark.com/gobookyourself

Music Credits

Happy Excited Intro 04 by TaigaSoundProd

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6802-happy-excited-intro-04

Bright Hopes Corporate by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6352-bright-hopes-corporate

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Write Effing Now! - Writing, Publishing, Marketing, and Everything in Between One Byte At A Time: Recent Episodes

Hilary Jastram

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