Author Your Dream: Recent Episodes
Kenny MacKay
"Author Your Dream" is a podcast hosted by Kenny MacKay. It is dedicated to helping aspiring authors as they take the journey of writing and publishing their book.
In this episode, Kenny talks with Abigail K. Perry about writing query letters. Abigail is the host of the Lit Match podcast, a show that helps writers find the best literary agent for their writing and literary career.
Abigail talks with us about what a query letter is and some mistakes you should avoid when writing them and has some great advice on choosing comparable titles. She also talks about the three paragraphs every query letter should have; the hook, the book, and the cook.
If you are looking to publish traditionally, this episode will add so much value to your writing journey.
Highlights:
- What a query letter is
- Doing your research
- Mistakes to avoid
- Format of a letter
- Comparable titles
- Expressing your voice
- Author Platform
Author Action Point:
Do your research! Research the literary agent and the agency. This will set you up for the most success. It gives you a place to find a connection with someone who may just be the most important person in your writing career.
We dive deep into the world of writing romance. In this episode, we're thrilled to have bestselling romance author Olivia Gaines as our guest. Olivia shares valuable insights on how to overcome the common pitfalls that writers encounter when crafting love stories.
Whether you're looking to create compelling love scenes, establish deep connections between your characters, or keep a romance series going strong, this interview is packed with practical tips and techniques. Olivia also delves into creating romantic tension, incorporating themes of self-love and self-discovery, and finding the right balance of drama in your stories. Aspiring romance writers and seasoned pros alike won't want to miss this engaging conversation with Olivia Gaines. Tune in now and take your writing to the next level!
Highlights* Olivia's Journey * Common pitfalls when writing romance * Putting a feeling of depth in your romance * Tips for connecting with your readers at the start * Keeping a romance series going * Writing compelling love scenes * Creating romantic tension * How much drama is too much * Obligatory scenes * Incorporating themes of self-love and self-discovery
Author Action PointWhat kind of writer do you want to be? Once you determine what that looks like to you, it will really determine your writing career. Make sure
In today’s episode, we are talking about entering writing contests. Kenny talks with Paula Sheridan, the founder of the Page Turner Awards, about how authors can enter, what they can in, and why they should even consider entering in the first place. Paula shares her insights into this topic and provides some practical tips and mistakes to avoid.
Highlights
• Paula’s story
• Page Turner Awards
• Submitting to the Page Turner Awards
• What do you win?
• How writing contests can help you
• Who are contests for
• Biggest mistakes when entering contests
• When should a writer enter
Visit the Show Notes page for free resources and discount codes.
In this episode, we are talking about sensitivity readers. I had the pleasure of speaking with author J.H. Dahler about her experience of working with one. And as a bonus, we are joined by Candice Roma, who is an editor and and Jodie's sensitivity reader.
They both share their perspective on the process and how sensitivity reading can improve representation in literature. This is an insightful conversation that sheds light on the importance of inclusivity in storytelling and the role of sensitivity readers in ensuring authentic representation.
Highlights
What is a sensitivity reader?
Jodie's experience with the process
Candace's perspective
About Jodie's book Forest Girl
Qualifications for a sensitivity reader
Feedback
Giving Feedback
Mindset and attitudes authors should have
Does a sensitivity reader have an impact on a book's success?
If you've ever found yourself struggling to categorize your writing or wondering why certain books fit into specific categories, then this episode is for you. We'll start by discussing why genre is essential in fiction writing and how it helps readers find books they enjoy. Next, we'll delve into the two main types of genres: commercial genres and content genres. We'll explain their differences and explore the various sub-genres that fall within each category.
Highlights
- What is genre?
- What to do when your story fits into multiple categories
- Five things our content genre can tell you about your story
- Internal and external genres
- Avoiding getting overwhelmed
- How this applies to science fiction and fantasy
Resources Mentioned
Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast
www.savannahgilbo.com/blog/genre
How to Structure a Scene with Emma Dhesi
Free Master Class
Sign Up for a FREE 30-Day Trial of the Novel Factory.
Do you have questions about traditional publishing? As a first-time author, you probably have a lot of questions about everything. In this episode, Kenny talks with traditionally published author Mary Adkins about the four biggest questions she gets asked all the time. She will share her experience on everything from agents to royalties and more.
Highlights:
- How do I know if I need a literary agent?
- How do I get a book deal?
- What’s it like working with an editor?
- How much can I expect to earn from publishing?
Sign Up for a FREE 30-Day Trial of the Novel Factory.
In this episode, Kenny talks with Katja Kaine, the creator of Novel Factory, a purpose-built software for novel writers. With her experience as an author, she created Novel Factory to help writers achieve their goals by providing them with the tools they need to streamline their writing process. Katja will share her journey as a writer and the story behind the creation of Novel Factory.
Highlights* How does the software help authors * Key features of the Novel Factory * Writing Resources included * Price * Success Stories * Future Plans * Author Action Point
In this episode, I talk with Emily Layne about how to write a book in 30 days. Emily has written several books in just 21 days, and she shares some tips and tricks to help you write yours. She shares how she writes fast and writes quality books that have been picked up by a traditional publisher.
Highlights
01:48 Emily's story
05:55 Process of writing a book in a month
09:54 How do you create a quality book in a short time frame
19:42 Staying motivated
27:00 Tips to be more productive
35:09 The Prep before the writing
40:20 Author Action Point
Visit the Show Notes page for more
Getting local media coverage for your book can be a great way to increase visibility and sales in your community. By reaching out to local newspapers, radio stations, and television programs, you can pitch your book to journalists and producers and potentially secure interviews or feature articles. This type of coverage can be especially valuable for authors who are self-publishing or have a small publisher, as it can help to build buzz and awareness for your book among your target audience.
Highlights
01:45 Introduction to Mickie Kennedy
04:25 Why authors often shy away from media
07:23 Strategies for reaching out to local media outlets and pitching your book
10:55 Tips for pitching
16:29 Where to find local connections
22:02 Process of Working with eReleases
34:36 Press Release
40:15 What is the wire?
46:55 Author Action Point
Check out the Show Notes page for more.
When Matty Dalrymple created the idea of the story frame, she didn't want it to be just another name for an outline. For some, an outline is rigid, whereas the story frame feels a little more organic. This frame gives an author a clear picture of the overarching story and gives you something to hang everything else on.
05:45 The Indy Author Podcast
09:32 What a story frame is
15:16 Formatting
24:23 How long the process takes
33:21 How you can create a frame
41:54 Differentiating plots and subplots
43:49 How to know you've gone too far
50:17 Author Action Point
We have all heard the statistics about people making and breaking their new year's resolutions. It's nothing new, and if you are like me, you're probably one of those numbers. These resolutions don't work because, more often than not, they are too generalized. I want to lose weight. I want to be more outgoing. I want to finish my book. If you don't have a plan on how you are going to lose weight, be more outgoing than your resolutions are as good as the wishes you made when blowing out your birthday candles.
In this episode, Kenny shares how to create an Author Growth Plan or AGP for short. An author growth plan is a road map to help you move forward in your author journey.
How do you answer the question, "What do you want for Christmas?" In this episode, Kenny shares 12 gift ideas for writers.
Physical Gifts:
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Noise Cancelling Headphones
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Blue Light Glasses
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Laptop Stand
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Travel mug, coffee cup, or sticker with an encouraging saying or a phrase stating what you want to be ex. Future Best-Selling Author
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A Gift Card to your local bookstore
Books:
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Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
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The Ten Commandments of Author Branding by Shayla Raquel
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The Secrets of Character by Matt Bird
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The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi
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Author Your Dream by Kenny MacKay
Program/Subscriptions:
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Grammarly
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Milanote
In this episode, I’m going to walk you through planning your author website whether you want to make your own or hire someone to do it for you, there are some foundational items you need to have in place to help the process go quicker and smoother. You may have heard in past episodes that I create websites. I earned a diploma from an online college back in 2010. It was a skill I thought I would learn because it would give me the freedom to pick up extra work on the side as I lived and worked for the church here in the UK. Since then, I have created several websites for non-profits, daycares, auto shops, and authors. Since starting this podcast, I decided to narrow my focus to authors.
Highlights
Do You need a website
Where to build it yourself
Domain Name
Asking yourself questions
Site Structure and Key Pages
Top Mistakes
Author Action Point
Visit https://authoryourdream.com/episode/planning-your-author-website/
I talk with author and podcast host Christopher Tallon about why this is important to do if you are writing a book. We also talk about a few strategies that Chris has done. We talk about blogging and podcasting and how what we have learned over the last few years. These tips will help you as an author to start your own show or help you pitch yourself to podcasts to get publicity for your book.
Highlights
02:22 Chris' Story
04:00 Defining strategizing
06:00 Strategy 1: Blogging
13:31 Strategy 2: Podcasting
16:59 Mistakes to avoid
25:21 How has all this helped with selling books
28:46 Picking topics for blogs and podcast episodes
40:54 Author Action Point
Amazon ads are a great tool for an author who is wanting to increase their sales. But where should you start? What should you have in place before doing an ad? What type of campaign are you able to do? These are just some of the questions that my guest Matt Holmes will answer during this episode.
Highlights 01:48 Matt's Journey
08:41 Why run Amazon ads
11:40 What to have in place before you start
16:39 Figuring out your targeting
19:29 Types of campaigns
23:37 What does it cost?
28:13 Biggest struggle authors have
31:30 How long does it take to manage ads
35:30 Resources
39:49 Mistakes to Avoid
43:31 Author Action Point
Visit https://authoryourdream.com/episode/amazon-ads/
With National Novel Writing Month a few weeks away I wanted to release this episode with Kelly Blanchard. Kelly has successfully completed NaNoWriMo several times and this episode has some great information for anyone wanting to take on the challenge.
In today's episode, Monique Mensah shares about building a ready-to-buy audience. She talks about the mindset shift that authors need to make and how they need to go from author to publisher if they want to make money with their books.
Highlights
1:20 Monique's Story
8:41 Authors write books, businesses sell them
12:02 Why you need to build a ready-to-buy audience
30:24 Brand awareness
36:10 Sharing the ups and the downs
38:56 The Role of Social Media
42:35 Author Action Point
Visit https://authoryourdream.com/episode/ready-to-buy-audience/ for more
In this episode, Kenny talks with Becca Syme about Facebook ads for intuitive authors. Becca shares her own experience as an author running ads and provides a unique perspective on this subject. She will share about the different components of an advertisement, how long you should run an ad, and give you tips on where you can create images.
Highlights
02:12 Becca's Author Journey
04:16 Intuitive Authors Defined
07:29 Are ads worth it
09:18 The Intuitive process
12:50 Shifting your mindset
24:10 Components of a Facebook Ad
27:19 The two types Becca uses
37:15 Talking about cost
40:52 How long to run the ad
43:53 What data should you look at
49:32 Author Action Point
52:55 Creating ad images
Visit https://authoryourdream.com/episode/facebook-ads/
Have you ever felt like marketing is difficult? Callan breaks it down in a way that makes it feel less daunting. He also shares his tips and advice for new authors just starting their marketing journey. You'll find out what he thinks about book trailers and how you can market if you write in multip genres.
Highlights 02:29 Callan's Journey
04:07 About Astreus
07:48 Is marketing really difficult
08:39 Where to start
19:51 More tips
23:27 Book trailers
29:16 How new writers can start marketing
39:28 Reciprocal marketing
41:18 What to avoid
46:39 Author Action Point
49:06 Marketing for multiple genres
Visit https://authoryourdream.com/episode/start-book-marketing/
Everyone has roadblocks that they have to overcome on the road to publishing. Some are internal and revolve around an author's own limiting beliefs. While others are external, we have a choice to either give up or find a way to overcome these obstacles. That is what today's guest Aisha Yusuf did when she encountered resistance. In doing so, she not only published her book but also created a publishing house and birthed a vision to change the literary world and bring diverse voices to the forefront.
Highlights
02:16 Aisha's Autor Journey
15:58 Aisha's Book
29:20 Roadblocks
35:44 Thoughts of giving up
38:27 Advice for others facing similar obstacles
42:23 Starting a publishing house
Visit https://authoryourdream.com/episode/roadblocks/
Anthologies are a collection of poetry, short stories, or other writing pieces, all compiled into one book and under one theme. My guest today is Gabriella White. She is currently a co-author of fourteen published anthologies and came in second and third place in two writing competitions. Gabriella is also the Founder of the New Leaf Writing Community and has presented a lecture for the Writers Global Movement (WGM).
Highlights
09:12 Gabriella's experience with anthologies
16:55 Royalties situation
18:19 Compiling anthologies
22:31 Submission Criteria
24:03 Finding collections to contribute to
25:46 What's included in your submission
27:19 Recruiting over 100 authors
33:22 Process of compiling
40:38 Author Action point
Visit https://authoryourdream.com/episode/anthologies/
A book coach is similar to a sports coach in that they will invest time in helping you achieve your goals when it comes to writing your book. In this episode, I dive deep with Sara Gentry and discuss what it is like working with a coach and what you should expect.
Sara is an Author Accelerator certified book coach with a Ph.D. in applied and interdisciplinary mathematics. She is on a mission to help writers avoid illogical pitfalls so that they can keep their readers engaged with cohesive and compelling narratives.
Highlights 02:43 Sara's Story
05:18 Author Accelerator
08:04 What does a book coach do?
13:17 How a book coach differs from an editor
15:44 Time commitment
17:26 Who should look at working with a book coach?
22:37 Sara's process
30:00 How much does it cost?
31:49 What to consider when searching for a coach
37:09 Inside Outline
45:11 Author Action Point
Get involved in the Thirty-2-1 Challenge by visiting https://authoryourdream.com/episode/book-coach/
Beta readers are people familiar with your genre who have agreed to read your unpublished book and give you honest feedback. I have seen many authors ask for beta readers but fail t provide them with any criteria or information regarding the feedback the author is looking to receive. In this episode, my guest David Brown from the Darling Axe will give you advice on what you should have prepared for readers, what feedback to expect and what to look for in a beta reader.
Highlights 02:48 David's story
10:45 Darling Axe
13:37 Beta Reader Defined
16:26 Difference between editors and beta readers
21:13 Key Points Authors Should Provide
24:00 Do you always pay for beta readers?
25:50 What to look for
27:51 How many should one have?
29:28 Protecting your work
34:56 Responding to the negativity surrounding beta readers
36:55 Building rapport
38:36 Feedback to expect
40:52 Author Action Point
Visit https://authoryoudream.com/episode/beta-readers/ for more show notes.
Grammarly is an extremely useful AI writing assistant. It scans your document and makes suggestions to help improve your grammar, punctuation, spelling, and more. I have personally used it since I published my first book in 2018.
Key Features
- Set your goals
- Provides a performance Review
- Allows you to change to English options between American, Australian, British and Canadian
- The browser extension
- Personal Dictionary
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel is a fantastic book if you are a first-time author. As my guest, Jessica Brody, says, "Everyone has to add in structure at some point." Throughout our interview, we go over the fifteen beats of the Save the Cat method and closely examine some of the critical beats. For those of you who are less structure-minded, a major point that came out of this episode was that writing is an art, and this structure method should be seen more as a guideline rather than a legal document that must be followed to the letter.
Highlights 02:09 Jessica's Author Journey
04:30 The Writing Mastery Academy
07:82 How Jessica connected with Save the Cat
09:29 Struggles authors often have with structure
13:16 Overview of the 15 Beats
16:49 Tips for the Opening Image
18:59 How to avoid rushing the finale with the 5-point finale
32:59 Genres
37:13 Genre first or Beats First
39:24 What to do if you are unsure how to start
41:57 Author Action point
Visit https://authoryourdream.com/episode/save-the-cat/
In this episode, I speak with Janice Hardy about character voice. We discuss the difference between your voice as an author and your character's voice, which is so important. Janice will also share some ways to develop voices by paying attention to people around you in your daily life, on your travels or even on YouTube. As you listen to the interview, you will see just how deep and complex this topic can become.
Highlights
02:15 Janice's Author Journey
11:11 Fiction University
16:47 Defining Voice
22:50 Why character voice is important
29:33 Crafting different voices for different characters
37:58 Ways to develop character voice
42:15 What to look for when getting inspired
49:00 Where authors go wrong when creating character voice.
52:54 Should voice always remain the same
55:14 Is it ok to have a character sound like your author's voice
Visit https://authoryourdream.com/episode/character-voice/
Clarissa Gosling is an author of fiction and non-fiction books and an admin for the 365 Writing Challenge. In this episode, she discusses the importance of having accountability as an author and how you can build a writing habit.
Highlights 03:00 Clarissa's Story
12:29 Why accountability is important
14:36 The 365 Writing Challenge
19:56 Building the habit of writing
27:03 Accountability Tips
29:41 What to look for in a partner
33:55 How to discover your process
40:51 Author Action Point
Visit https://authoryourdream.com/episode/accountability/
Asking questions is not just another sales technique. It goes much deeper because when you ask a question and someone answers it, you are building a connection. You can begin a conversation with them and get to know them and allow them to get to know you, which as authors is something we want to do with our audience. As you ask questions and genuinely engage with people you will start to see your audience grow.
Highlights 02:15 Jody's Story
05:07 The Reluctant Bookmarketer Podcast
06:53 The reason questions work so well
08:33 Implementing this approach
15:04 Engaging with people who respond
17:18 How do questions help us find our niche
20:14 What do you do with the information you get
23:40 What platforms to use with this
29:01 How to know when you've asked a great question
33:41 Planning your questions
37:58 Jody's most engaging questions
44:19 Are there bad ones to ask
45:33 How to avoid making people feel interrogated
46:16 What happens to people when you ask questions
49:42 Author Action Point
Show Notes: https//authoryourdream.com/episode/asking-questions/
Writing historical figures can be a lot of fun. But it also comes with a lot of expectations. Especially if you have access to resources that will tell you about them. If this is the case, it's essential that you do your best to portray them as accurately as possible. My guest M.B. Zucker endeavored to do that in his book The Eisenhower Chronicles and talks about this in the episode.
Highlights
02:31MMichael's Story
13:40 What is a biographical drama
16:40 Why it's important to portray historical figures accurately
20:30 Writing historical people when you have little info about them
24:03 Keys to consider
26:32 Where to start with a character outline
34:20 Sources to use when doing research
38:33 What elements should you add to a character profile
43:25 Author Action Point
Visit https://authoryourdream.com/episode/historical-figures/ for more show notes.
My guest today was referred to me by Carla Holt from the Art of the Fight Scenes episode. When I first reached out to this person, I was looking at having him discuss sword fighting. I wanted to help those who have them in your books to write them better. What I got was something so much more. Through my guest's experience and passion, you will learn how swords and sword fighting can help you not only create conflict but also build your world and reveal your character's personality. Even if you are not writing this kind of scene, I would encourage you to give this episode a listen.
Highlights 02:48 Kirk's journey
8:18 What a sword is made up of
16:20 Terminology authors should know
21:47 How to take care of a sword
25:45 Common types of swords and body type
35:06 The balance of a sword
40:10 Sword fighting during WW2
43:45 Is it easy for a character to wield a type of sword they've never used
47:51 What to ask yourself when tackling a fight scene
50:55 Writing realistic vs. fantasy
53:07 Fighting multiple opponents
58:04 Fighting in and out of armor
01:06:21 What do authors get wrong
01:12:24 Should you include quirks in a character's fighting style
01:18:40 Resources
01:21:59 Author Action Point
01:23:28 Connect with Kirk
Visit https://authoryourdream.com/episode/sword-fighting/ for more resources and show notes.
Writing a great book quickly is something that every new author I have talked to would love to do. But so many times, they don't have a plan or infrastructure to accomplish that. In this episode, Chandler Bolt shares tips from his new book, Published, to help you get your book written quickly. This is actually version two of his book, and the first version helped me get serious about finishing my book.
Highlights 02:22 Chandler's Author Journey
08:25 Published
13:37 How do you write a great book quickly?
21:29 How to choose what idea to tackle
27:12 Advice for pushing through the editing slog
30:13 How do you successfully launch a book
35:2 3 Using books to grow a business
40:06 What holds people back
41:06 Author Action Point
43:07 Self Publsihing School
Visit https://authoryourdream.com/episode/great-book-quickly/ for more from this episode.
In this episode, I talk with Robert Wilson about diversity in the publishing world. This is such a huge topic, but it is so vital if we are going to grow as writers and, more importantly, as people. Throughout this interview, we talk about the importance of diversity in fiction and how authors can avoid perpetuating stereotypes. Robert also shares some tips for how you can write stories that honor people who come from diverse backgrounds without using them as a prop for your novel.
Highlights
02:54 Robert's Journey
10:09 Why is diversity important
14:05 How can we help improve diversity
16:59 Analyzing our own bias
25:41 Why diversity is important in fiction
33:22 Diverse characters
34:13 Ways authors unintentionally perpetuate stereotypes
46:50 Tips for writing stories that honor others
52:25 Avoiding using diverse characters as props
1:02:00 Author Action Point
Visit https://authoryourdream.com/episode/diversity-in-publishing/ for more from the show.
Middle grade fiction requires a slighgly different approach than other genres. During the episode, we discuss mindsets, where to find inspiration, and how to handle mature topics. Hint very carefully. If you have a dream of writing a middle grade book this episode is going to be a great starting point for you.
Highlights:
03:10 Tonya's Author Journey
08:14 About the Sophie Washington series
11:45 Defining Middle Grade books
15:10 Mindset for this audience
19:02 If you don't have kids
21:07 Beats to include
28:14 Finding ideas
30:51 Handling mature topics
34:01 Beta readers
37:27 Recommended authors to read
39:20 Suggestions for writing middle grade
44:18 Author Action Point
Check out https://authoryourdream.com/episode/middle-grade-fiction/ for more.
Notifications
Saved Middle Grade Fiction with Tonya Duncan Ellis - Author Your Dream
Twitter for authors is the next installment of the social media for authors series. There are so many options, and it can be challenging to decide which one you should be on. In this episode, my guest, Hannah Richards, will share some tips on how authors can get the most out of using Twitter.
Highlights
02:07 Hannah's Journey
04:11 Common Struggles authors have on Twitter
06:35 Identifying your dream reader
10:13 Connecting with readers and reviewers
12:20 How often should you Tweet
17:38 Content ideas
26:58 Content Pillars
31:27 Photos and Videos in posts
34:15 Creating a clear brand
37:01 Suggestions for genre content ideas
42:21 Author Action Point
Check out the Show Notes Page for more.
TikTok for Authors is one of the subjects that I have wanted to do for a long time. But not being on the platform very much myself, I had didn't know who I should approach to be a guest on the show. In comes the fantastic writing community. I reached out to a Facebook group TikTok for Authors and asked for some suggestions, and A.K. Mulford was someone who repeatedly came up in the comments.
Highlights
01:25 Ali's Author Journey
05:08 What is TikTok
06:24 Why Ali started on the platform
07:22 Reservations
10:23 Why it's so good for authors
13:56 Indies Fully Booked podcast
16:49 How TikTok uses hashtags
18:14 BookTok and other author terms
19:27 Finding your audience
21:08 Dueting
22:23 Content creation
30:59 Ali's content creating process
32.39 Do you have to be good at editing?
33:06 Building a readership before your published
38:18 Finding and saving sounds
40:39 Engaging with others
40:55 Top tips of beginners
46:04 Author action point
47:24 Ali's Book The High Mount Court
Check out the Show Notes page for more.
Writing myths can stop aspiring authors from going after their dream and writing that book. In this episode, Kenny discusses some of the most common myths with author and podcaster Kristina Adams. This episode will talk about whether or not you need to have a blog as an author, writer's block, as well as some myths that aren't actually myths.
Kristina Adams is the author of seventeen books, including three non-fiction books and several series. She co-hosts a podcast called the Writer's Mindset that covers topics from writing romance to communicating confidently. Kristina also helps to help writers through her blog and website, The Writer's Cookbook. She has excellent insight into myths that writers face that will help you face any yourself.
Highlights
01:12 The Writer's Mindset podcast
03:43 Kristina's Author Journey
12:52 Kristina's Book: Writing Myths
16:20 Common Writing Myths
22:18 You have to have a blog
16:38 Is Writer's block a myth
36:10 Book series and first-time authors
39:39 Wher writers go wrong with social media
43:12 Writing Fast vs. Taking Your Time
47:58 Author Action Point
49:05 Connect with Kristina
Check out the Show Notes page here for more resources.
Doing research for historical fiction can be one of the most fun and most frustrating parts of writing in this genre. You love history as a historical fiction author, but how do you not bag down the story with the facts? How do you avoid going down rabbit holes? And where do you find good quality information about your subject? Jodi Daynard will answer these questions and more in this episode.
Highlights
01:53 Jodi's Author Journey
07:05 Jodi's Process for fact gathering
13:34 List of research resources
18:24 What are you looking for when you visit a location?
22:09 Maps and Artwork
25:32 Time spent researching vs. the amount of info used
28:12 Organising your research
30:13 Syncing your chapters with your research
32:47 Jodi's must-have facts
36:43 How to avoid outweighing the story with the history
41:39 Ensuring accurate portraits of historical figures
43:34 What to include in an Author's Note
46:36 Avoiding the Research Rabbit Hole
53:17 Author Action Point
Check out the Show Notes page for more including a list of research resources.
In this episode, Kenny talks with guest Emma Dhesi about scene structure. Emma shares some very very actionable information for new authors. During the interview, Emma shares what a scene is, mistakes to avoid, and a great scene structure model to help you with your writing.
Highlights
03:48 Emma's Author Journey
09:03 Definition of a scene
12:15 Length of scenes
15:25 Setting and Scene
18:21 Scene structure
28:50 Mistakes to avoid
30:57 Problems in your scene
33:36 The relationship between Aim and Outcome
36:06 Using the scene structure model to troubleshoot your book
42:41 Emma's Coaching Program
Check out the Show Notes for more including an action point and how to connect with Emma Dhesi.
Social media marketing can be overwhelming, especially when you add it to the vast list of responsibilities you already have on your plate as an author. In this episode, we follow on from the interview with Rick Lite about The Ultimate Book Marketing Timeline and focus on a specific aspect of marketing.
Highlights
03:44 Erik's Writing Journey
09:50 Branding Yourself
13:26 Big 4 Social Media sites to use
16:26 Using Twitter as an Author
25:52 Content for each platform
34:00 Planning your content
37:29 Blogs and websites
46:37 How to approach new platforms
51:52 Avoid Twitter Yo-Yo
58:38 How to measure success in your social media marketing
1:01:40 Author Action Point
Visit the Show Notes page for more resources.
Book marketing has been one of the most popular topics on the show. It is also one that many authors struggle to wrap their heads around. In this episode, I talk to Rick Lite from Stress Free Book Marketing. Rick shares the book marketing timeline he uses with his clients. This timeline is broken down into seven steps that we talk about in-depth throughout the interview.
The 7 Steps are:
- Before You Begin Writing
- As You Begin Writing
- While You're Writing
- While Your Book is Being Edited
- Two Weeks Before Release
- Release Date
- Post Release
Highlights
02:23 Rick's story
07:39 Success stories
10:29 What is the Ultimate Book Marketing Timeline
13:00 Step 1 & 2
19:08 Social media strategy defined
25:04 Step 3
29:16 Media Kits
32:56 Advanced Reader Copies
38:24 Step 4
41:44 Step 5
45:25 Step 6 & 7
51:20 Author Action Point
54:43 Connect with Rick
Check out the Show Notes page for more resources.
If you are looking to save time and money, which, let's face it, we all are. The information that Tenita shares during the interview will be incredibly helpful. I talk to her about the importance of getting a professional editor. How you select someone, and what you are looking for when you get your sample edit back. She also shares tips and mistakes to avoid before you hire someone.
Highlights
02:20 Tenita's Story
07:37 Success Story
09:01 Why you need a professional editor
12:42 How to select a professional to edit your book
13:37 Sample edits
18:58 What does it mean to write like an editor
26:19 Know your voice and your audience
30:48 Mistakes authors make when selecting someone to work with
37:46 Author Action Point
40:06 Audience Freebie
41:23 Connect with Tenita
Check out the Show Notes page for more, including a link to the Freebie Tenita has offered the Author Your Dream audience.
Assembling a book launch team is one of those things that first-time authors can dismiss as unimportant. I know I did when I published my first book. This was partly because I didn't understand the importance of a team. If you think you don't need this group or have already launched without a team, this episode will provide you with some great information.
Highlights:
01:59 Allen's Author Journey
07:29 What is a book launch team
08:43 Why is it so important
09:47 Where to start
13:09 How many people should be on your team
18:06 What point should you begin assembling
20:10 Communicating expectations
27:24 Mistakes to avoid
30:55 Tools used to build a team
36:19 What if an author has already launched their book
40:13 Author Action Point
42:30 About Allen's book "I Am Not the King."
Check out the Show Notes page for more.
With audiobooks becoming more popular, recording your own audiobook is something you might want to consider. In this episode, I talk with Kevin G. Chapman about his experience recording the audio for all of his books. We discuss the equipment and software he uses, his setup, and mastering the audio. Kevin is very open about the mistakes he has made over the years and happily shares so that others can avoid doing the same.
Recording Your Own Audiobook Highlights
01:33 Kevin's Author Journey
04:25 Kevin's recording process
14:40 The importance of backing up your recording
15:36 Equipment and Software
25:02 Writing for audio
27:05 Mistakes that Kevin made
31:43 What to look for when editing
34:52 How long does the process take?
38:29 Mastering your audio
42:56 Submitting your audio to Audible
46:56 Recording audio directly into Audacity
48:23 The most fun part for Kevin
52:21 Author Action Point
54:23 Mike Stoneman Series
Visit the Show Notes page for resources and practical tips from Kevin G. Chapman.
Building a fanbase is not a simple task to accomplish. It can be slow going at times, yet it is vital to your success as an author. You want to build a group that loves what you do and will support you and your books. That's what my guest, Tahani Nelson, has done with what she affectionately calls her army. Tahani writes female military fantasy, has gathered a faithful following, and happily shares how she has done that.
Highlights
01:32 Tahani's author journey
04:11 The Faoii Chronicles
07:57 Why Tahani calls her fans an army
09:33 Ideas to connect with your fans
11:07 Pushing through the negative
14:36 Getting through the lonely beginning of building a fanbase
18:33 Joining groups online you are interested in
23:03 Attracting new fans
32:19 In-person or online platform building
35:09 How Tahani engages or fans
44:28 Author Action Point
46:07 Faoii Chronicles
Check out the Show Notes page for more from this episode.
Time management is something that a lot of authors struggle with. In today's episode, I'm talking with author Stacy Juba. We discuss a number of topics, including effective strategies, time blocking and automating tasks to help you be more productive.
My guest today is Stacy Juba. Stacy is an author, a freelance developmental editor, an online writing instructor, and an award-winning journalist who has published more than 3,000 articles in newspapers and magazines. She is the founder of Shortcuts for Writers, and her goal is to take the writing, editing, and time management tips she learned in the trenches and simplify them for her clients and students. Her courses include Time Management Blueprint for Writers: Transform Your Life and Finish Your Book and Book Editing Blueprint: A Step-By-Step Plan to Making Your Novels Publishable.
Highlights
01:38 Stacy's Author Journey
05:25 Tips for those without a home office
09:55 Why time management is such a struggle
13:05 Suggestions for those struggling
15:53 Increasing productivity during your writing session
23:24 Effective strategies
30:56 Time blocking
35:55 Resources to help
42:36 Tasks to automate
48:58 Author Action Point
Do you have a dream to write a book? Grab a copy of Author Your Dream: A Guide to Writing and Self-Publishing Your First Book
Check out the Show Notes page for more.
Maria Riegger is a lawyer who joined me to talk about the legal issues that authors face when writing and publishing. This is a topic that I have seen so many questions about in the author communities. And I know that you will get a lot out of this episode. During the show, Maria and I talk about how to obtain permission to use song lyrics in your books and how to acquire that permission. We also discuss what to do if someone has infringed on your copyright and how to protect yourself by setting up your own publishing company.
Disclaimer: This is not legal advice, just information to help you in your publishing journey. If you are facing legal issues, please consult with an attorney in your jurisdiction.
Highlights
01:37 Legal Advice Disclaimer
02:25 Maria's Author Jurney
07:35 Using song lyrics and titles in your book
13:44 Protecting yourself by setting up a company
24:06 Copyrighting your work
27:00 Defamation concerns
32:18 Types of attorneys to seek out
35:05 Publishing Contracts
38:50 Author Action point
40:11 Self-publishing primer
Check out the Show Notes page for more.
What does it mean to get exposure for your book? Every author's goal is different for writing, but we all want people to read our books. Getting exposure means getting your face out there for the world to see, recognize and connect. Getting more eyeballs on your book and your brand is essential; you can't just publish and cross your fingers hoping for the best. In this episode, Christina shares a few ways you can get your face out there and get exposure for your book.
Highlights
02:01 Christina's Author Journey
08:25 Defining exposure
09.58 Why get your face out there and not just your book?
12:33 Tips for getting your story out there
14:34 The importance of newsletters and author websites
17:44 Why many authors are reluctant to show themselves
25:05 The go-to places to get exposure
27:42 Other avenues to explore
33:35 Pinterest explored
42:46 Pitching yourself to Podcasts, Youtube, and book blogs
53:41 Reaching out to Christina for a free consultation or sample edit
56:08 Book Boss Author Planner
Visit the Show Notes page for more, including the resource mentioned.
Trust, communication are key to co-writing a book. Kelly and Matthew have written an entire series and have some great insights to share.
Highlights
01:05 Matthew's story
05:00 The Crown's Secret
08:42 Kelly's Writing Process
12:36 What it's like co-writing with a spouse
16:23 Issues that can arise
25:11 Working in another author's fictional universe
30:10 Strengths and weaknesses each brought to the process
33:25 Keeping things cohesive
37:31 What Kelly learned from Matthew
41:19 How co-writing has helped Matthew's solo writing
42:45 Author Action Point
Check out the Show Notes page for more.
Self-doubt! Limiting beliefs! Imposter syndrome! These insecurities are known by many different names. But they have one thing in common; every author faces them. In this episode of the podcast, Kenny chats with Bryan Nowak. Together they share the self-doubts they each faced and share how they overcame these limiting beliefs.
Bryan Nowak writes horror, sci-fi, and mystery and currently has 8 books published. He is also the host of the All Things Writing Podcast. As an experienced writer, Bryan has dealt with and overcome his own limiting beliefs.
Highlights 1:31 Bryan’s Author Journey
10:18 All Things Writing Podcast
15:21 Bryan’s self-doubt experience
28:44 Breaking the barrier of your first book
36:21 How Bryan still struggles sometimes
42:07 Author Action Point
44:33 Connect with Bryan
Check out the Show Notes page for more.
Check out the Show Notes page for more.
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Instagram for authors is one topic guests and listeners alike have asked about. So I reached out to Danielle Wilkinson, a marketing specialist and social media strategist. In this episode, Danielle shares how authors need to niche down on Instagram to find their community, some mistakes to avoid, as well as common misconceptions about marketing. She also talks with us about creating an Instagram strategy and creating a content posting plan.
Highlights 01:59 Danielle's Background
05:00 Best way to grow on Instagram
10:27 Why authors are so reluctant to niche down
13:31 The truth behind follow-for-follow and engagement pods
17:11 Where to find your community
21:06 What is an Instagram strategy
24:48 Choosing your content options
27:21 Instagram Metrics
29:39 Biggest mistakes authors make on Instagram
36:22 Common misconceptions about book marketing
39:02 Qualities of authors with consistent sales
40:20 Author Action Points
43:20 A little about Danielle's coaching business
Get more from the Show Notes.
The Author Your Dream Podcast is back. Season 2 is packed with value. Kenny has interviews covering topics like submitting your work to agents, writing fight scenes and more.
Judging a book by its cover design is something we all do. A good cover design entices us to look at the back blurb or open the book to read the first page. Having a great cover is one component of publishing your book that can help you sell more books. Whether you work with a professional or not is up to you. As an independent author, I know that there can be many upfront costs, and hiring a professional for your cover design adds to the pile. It's almost easier to Google an image and does it yourself.
In this episode, I talk with Maja Kopunovic, a professional designer based in Serbia. Maja has been designing for over ten years and focusing specifically on covers for the last five. In this episode, we talk about what you should consider when looking for a cover designer, which makes a bad cover, and we also discuss why you shouldn't just Google and image. She also shares some great tips and resources for people if they want to create their own book cover.
You'll hear how I had a bad experience trying to save on a cover for my first book. This experience led me to hire Maja to create the cover for my upcoming book for aspiring authors. You can check out the cover reveal on the Author Your Dream Instagram account.
Check out the Show Notes page for more.
Learning how to write better dialogue is one way to capture your readers' interest. You want your reader to leave their own mind and go on a journey or have an experience with your characters. Having bad dialogue will pull them out of that experience into their own mind and break the magic of your story.
Today's guest is Justin Lee Anderson. Justin was a professional writer for fifteen years before publishing his first novel in 2015. As a scriptwriter, he has some great information for how authors can improve their dialogue and, in turn, improve their novel. In today's episode, we will talk about the importance of good dialogue, creating distinctive voices for each of your characters, and Justin will share some tips for how you can write natural-sounding dialogue.
Highlights
01:22 Justin's Story.
07:56 SPFBO and his book the Lost War.
12:53 Why good dialogue matters.
15:00 Why authors struggle with dialogue.
17:20 What does good dialogue sound like?
19:38 How to add variation to character voices.
26:54 Consider a character's background, history, and experience when creating dialogue.
32:07 Importance of dialogue in a novel.
33:54 Is it ever ok to use dialogue for exposition?
36:57 Dialogue tags.
41:22 The use of accents.
43:45 Ways to improve your dialogue.
48:03 Finding inspiration.
How to Write Better Dialogue Action Point
Take something that you have written and go to a room by yourself. Read it out loud and ask yourself if what you have written works. If it doesn't, ask yourself, why not? What's wrong with it? What would you say? If you were thinking what that character is thinking, would you say exactly what you've written down? Or would you say something slightly different? Who are they saying it to?
Click Here for more Show Notes and a full transcript of the episode.
Marketing and publicity are two things that an author must think about when writing and publishing a book. In today's episode, Kenny talks with Dana Kaye about this subject. Dana is the owner of Kaye Publicity and has been a publicist for 10+ years. She works with authors to help them become more memorable and make meaningful connections. She also is the founder and host of the Your Breakout Book podcast, a show that helps authors write, publish and prosper.
Dana gives two fantastic definitions to help understand marketing and publicity. According to her, marketing is you talking about your book or your work as an author. This includes your social media, newsletter, website, etc. While publicity is earned media, you cannot control it but has more clout than marketing. This could include a tv interview or being a guest on a podcast.
Highlights 02:28 Dana's Journey into PR
07:15 What is Marketing and Publicity?
09:33 When should an author start thinking about promotion?
14:53 What should authors focus on with their own platform.
20:58 What are some mistakes to avoid with Promotion?
27:33 Shift your mindset about self-promotion
32:11 Tailoring a pitch email
39:33 How had promotion changed during the pandemic?
44:46 Author Action Point
46:00 About "Your Book Your Brand."
Check out this episode's Show Notes for more content.
Funding your writing can be tricky. But did you know you have options if you are willing to put in the work? In this episode, I talk with author Christiane Allison, who has received a combined total of about $16,000 through applying for grants and crowdfunding with Kickstarter.
Christiane funded her children's books at a time when print on demand for pictures books was not a thing. In this episode, she shares the process for setting up a campaign on Kickstarter. She also shares her insights and tips for how you can apply for grants.
Highlights 01:10 Christiane Allison's publishing journey
09:42 Definition of crowdfunding
10:36 Grants defined
11:16 Christiane's prior experience with grants and crowdfunding
12:53 What gave her the idea
14:07 Is this easy money?
15:36 A walk through setting up a Kickstarter campaign
18:16 Best practice for setting prices and choosing rewards
21:09 Encouragement for setting your prices
22:30 Factors for choosing a money goal
23:52 What happens if you don't meet your Kickstarter
25:06 Where do you find grants?
27:23 Genre-based grants
28:13 Grant amounts
29:40 Is there work to be done after you receive the money?
32:37 What to do when you are unable to complete your work in time?
34:43 Tips for a successful grant application
41:46 Where to get grant writing training
43:36 You can attend the Alaskan Writers Guild from anywhere
44:13 What is the timeline from submission to receiving the grant?
45:55 Mistakes to avoid
48:35 How the pandemic has affected the grant process
50:39 Author Action Point
52:28 Connect with Christiane Allison
52:56 Where to find her books
Funding Your Writing Action Point Crowdfunding: Create an account on Kickstarter and start figuring out the information you need.
Grants: Search for grant resources online and make a list including the name of the grant and the deadline.
Resources Mentioned Kickstarter
Creative Capital Foundation
Alaska Writers Guild
Connect with Christiane Allison Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | GoodReads
Building an email list is something that every author should be seriously considering. It is a great way to stay connected with your fans and build an authentic connection with them. Plus, being able to contact them about a promotion or a new book you have coming out is priceless. If you rely on social media to do this, you run the risk of them changing the rules without any input from you. Having your own list prevents you from losing touch with your people.
Today's show is all about building this email list. My guest is author PD Alleva, who admits that he wishes he had started building his list sooner. We talk about what you should include, how often you should send them, and give you strategies to help you grow.
One of these strategies is a Giveaway, which PD is in the midst of running. He shares his prep work and breaks down the process for us. As well as giving some helpful tips on how to decide on prizes.
Highlights
02:50 PD Alleva's publishing journey
04:50 Synopsis of his book The Rose
06:53 How PD began working on his email list
08:28 Why is a newsletter important?
09:50 How often should you send?
12:30 What should you include?
15:20 Platforms to help you grow your list
16:55 Strategies for building your list
18:55 A look into promo swaps
22:30 When should you start building your list?
26:38 Why have a list in addition to social media
28:28 PD Alleva's Giveaway
31:04 The preparation process
24:55 How to choose prizes for your giveaway
40:35 Final advice
Author Action Point for Building an Email List
Research Mailchimp and MailerLite to decide which one will be better for your situation. Then sign up for one of them.
Resources Mentioned
BookFunnel
Story Origin
Fiction-Atlas Press
Mailchimp
MilerLite
Connect with PD Alleva
www.pdalleva.com
Visit the Author Your Dream website for more author resources.
Have you ever wanted to know how to write great setting descriptions? I don't mean simple, bland descriptions; I'm talking amazing descriptions that immerse your readers in the world you've created. The ability to do this isn't something people are born with. It's a skill they've developed by studying their craft and practice. In this episode, author Justin Fike shares some tips for how you can improve your descriptions.
Throughout the interview, we talk about anchor points, the difference between show and tell, and mistakes that new authors make. Justin also shares two examples of a scene written with and without anchor points, and we analyze the two descriptions.
Highlights
00:01:20 Justin's Author Journey.
00:13:20 How Justin improved his setting descriptions.
00:19:02 What is the difference between a poor description and a great one?
00:26:18 Lack of confidence will cause writers to over-describe a scene.
00:26:53 Anchor Points.
00:28:03 Examples of scene descriptions with and without anchor points.
00:31:47 What is the difference between show and tell?
00:35:21 Analyzing the two examples.
00:40:10 What anchor points should an author include? How many?
00:45:00 Should you rotate your use of anchor points?
00:46:14 Common mistakes new authors make when describing scenes, and how can they avoid them?
00:50:39 How do inside scene descriptions differ from outside ones?
1:02:09 Resources for scene descriptions.
1:09:00 Author Action Point.
Resources Mentioned
Story by Robert McKee
Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass
Writing Vivid Settings by Rayne Hall
Head to the Show Notes for more.
Do you want to save time and get organized with your writing? In today's episode, I talk with USA Today Bestselling author Craig A. Price about how to do that. We were originally going to discuss using an app called Story Planner to plot your novels. But The more we talked, the clearer it became that this episode was about a fantastic resource for authors.
Craig has written multiple series over the years and has tried different approaches to plotting and outlining. Until he found the Story Planner app, he walks us through the app and its features and even has a few YouTube videos to show you what it's like. In the end, you might just consider giving yourself a gift for the New Year.
Save Time and get Organized Highlights
1:18 Craig shares his author's journey.
14:21 What is the difference between plotting and outlining?
16:52 What is the Story Planner app and its features?
23:58 Exporting from Story Planner.
27:00 The benefit of using Story Planner vs. Microsoft Word.
33:50 Craig's final advice.
Check out the Show Notes page for more, including the resources mentioned.
Developing characters is a favourite part of writing for today's guest. D.J. Munden, which is one reason I asked him on as a guest. D.J. is a science fiction and fantasy author with multiple books to his name, including Tavern, which we discuss during the interview. D.J.'s author story is interesting because he found his love for writing while pursuing a different career.
In this episode of the Author Your Dream podcast we talk about where to start in the character development process, how to find inspiration for your physical descriptions and how you don't need to write a full biography.
D.J. Munden gives some fantastic tips for how to help you when you are developing your characters and gives us an idea that many of you may not have considered. Playing Dungeons and Dragons! He also shares some tips for how to write non-human characters and how to avoid creating flat ones.
Developing Characters Highlights:
02:09 D.J. Munden's author journey
07:46 Writing Characters that differ from you
9:36 How D.J. approaches developing characters
10:28 Where to start
13:43 Your character's backstory
14:40 developing physical attributes
18:14 Where to get visual ideas for characters
25:31 What is a flat character and tips to help you avoid them
29:06 Developing the core milestones and turning points of your character's life
34:52 Non-human characters
38:36 How to know if a character is developed enough
41:09 D.J.'s final piece of advice
Head to the Author Your Dream website for more show notes.
Hybrid outlining is the approach that J.M.D. Reid has discovered works best for him and his novels. But what exactly is hybrid outlining, and how can it help you? This approach is a combination of pantsing and plotting.
A pantser is someone who writes intuitively and rarely has an outline at all. A plotter is someone who knows every detail of their story before they sit down and write. J.M.D. Reid has found that he works best when he plots the mechanics of a story and takes a pantsing approach to the emotional side of his characters.
Click here for the full show notes.
Search engine optimization has often been the cause of headaches for many authors. With everything else that you have to do as an author, SEO can seem overly complicated and even a bit scary. Many think that it's too technical or not for them. But it doesn't have to be.
In today's episode, my guest Dorit Sasson shares how you can and should change your perspective on this topic. She explains how SEO is really about connecting with people you normally wouldn't have a chance to connect with.
Finding the right keywords and phrases will help you connect with the people you want to connect with or your target audience. It can be easy to pick keywords because they sound good or seem right, but Dorit encourages authors to take the time to really understand your audience so that you can craft the best keywords for them. This will take a little extra time, but in the end, it will be worth the effort.
Highlights 12:44 With search engine optimization, you are trying to convince search engines that your website is useful and should rank higher than other sites.
22:02 Keywords are a single word, while key phrases are a cluster of words like "how to improve my SEO."
24:02 It's better to place keywords in the first few lines of a blog.
29:09 A pain point is something that keeps a person up at night.
Search Engine Optimization Resources Uber Suggest
SEM Rush
Writer's Digest SEO Course Starting November 19, 2020
Get Your Free SEO Checklist
Connect with Dorit www.doritsasson.com
Balancing work, life, and staying healthy can be tricky. My guest is the first to admit that she hasn't mastered this ability but is constantly working to improve. In this episode is L.J. Stanton, she talks about writing with a disability and how she keeps things in balance. L.J. shares some fantastic advice for authors in any walk of life. Having been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, L.J. talks a lot about knowing your body and its limits.
The biggest thing I took away from my interview with L.J. Stanton was that we, as writers, need to surround ourselves with people. Those with who we can be extremely honest and have clear communication.
Highlights 26:22 Have people to keep you accountable when you want to write for 15 hours. You don't have to write when you're tired.
28:30 Get yourself an ergonomic setup.
34:50 Give yourself permission to take time off from writing
Resources Mentioned Aeon Timeline
Cold Turkey
Connect with L.J. Stanton Instagram
The author-reviewer relationship is something you, as an author, should be looking to cultivate. It will take some leg work, but in the end, it is well worth it. In today's episode, I talk to Kali Brixton about her experience as a book reviewer here experience and what she thinks is important for authors to know. You will hear some useful tips to help you find book reviewers and how you can build authentic relationships with them.
Kali also shares the importance of remembering that reviewers are human too. It's important that you treat them how you would want to be treated and remember that they are human beings. This episode is filled with so much great information for approaching a book reviewer. I know you will find this episode valuable.
Highlights
20:54 Find your tribe and build a network of reviewers. 24:35 You don't have to go to the reviewers who have hundreds of thousands of followers. Take a chance on a new reviewer. They will grow. 31:15 Be upfront and honest about any triggers in your book.
Check out the Show Notes page for more.
Have you ever wondered how to do NaNoWriMo? Maybe you have attempted the challenge but couldn't complete it. In this episode, I had the opportunity to speak to author, Kelly Blanchard, about how to have a successful NaNoWriMo. Kelly has participated in National Novel Writing Month every year since 2007. She has successfully written and published multiple books including several from her fantasy series The Chronicles of Lorrek.
With NaNoWriMo 2020 just a few weeks away I really wanted to have an episode to help those of you who are attempting the challenge for the first time. As well as anyone who may have tried in the past but not succeeded. This episode is full of some practical advice. Kelly also shares an inspiring message to those aspiring authors who feel as though they failed because didn't succeed.
Highlights
- Save your work and back it up. Something inevitably happens during NaNoWriMo.
- If you've never done NaNaNoWriMo start practicing now.
- You don't want to go into this without any preparation. Create an outline.
There is no such thing as failure. There is not accomplishing what you wanted when you wanted, but that doesn't mean you failed.
Kelly Blanchard
Connect with Kelly
www.kellanetta.com Kelly's FaceBook Group Kelly's Author Page Instagram: @kellanetta Twitter: @kellanetta
Join NaNoWriMo 2020
Sign Up for NaNoWriMo 2020
What is book formatting? What are some tips for working with a professional book formatter? Can I do it myself? These are just a few questions that might be running the mind of an aspiring author. In this episode of the podcast, I had the chance to interview author and professional book formatter, Julia Scott.
Book formatting is all about making the inside of your book look nice. You can do a simple format or a much more comprehensive one that includes graphics. Whatever your need is, Julia shares some insightful information and helpful tips to help you on your publishing journey.
Highlights
9:03 Paperbacks have to be more exact than e-books. 13:31 Formatting is the very last thing that you should do. 20:48 Find a template for the software you are using and start from there.
"I'd always encourage authors to check out other books in their genre, to find out design elements that frequently feature in their genre."
Julia Scott, Professional Book Formatter
Book Formatting Resources Paperback:
Vellum Adobe InDesign Microsoft Word
E-book:
Kindle Create Calibre
Fonts:
Dafont.com Font Squirrel Creative Market
Graphics:
Deposit Photos Free Pik
Connect with Julia Scott Instagram: @juliascottwrites @evenstarbooks.juliascott
www.juliascottwrites.com www.evenstarbooks.com
Finding your genre can be difficult, especially when your book kind fits into a genre but not completely. Today's guest Andrea Nourse knows what that's like. She writes women's fiction but doesn't feel that it is an entirely adequate genre for her books. Andrea is a woman who writes about strong women, but her books are not necessarily romance novels. In today's episode, Andrea shares how she categorizes her books and shares some tips to help you.
Highlights
• Read widely and find comparison novels. • Reach out to book bloggers and reviewers. Listen to how they categorize your book. • Build Authentic relationships
Connect With Andrea
Facebook Twitter Instagram
www.andreanourse.com
Creating diverse characters in your writing is such an essential topic for all writers. It is also an extremely deep topic that cannot be covered in a single podcast episode. It's a subject that we all need to be continuously learning about.
I have been planning this episode for quite a while, and I'm excited to share this interview with Marian Llanos. Mariana was born in Peru, and she writes children's books with a diverse cast of characters. Throughout this episode, we talk about how writers can include diverse characters in their writing. This episode has some helpful information for representing the world around you in the worlds you create.
Highlights
Do your research, read books about the culture and interview people.
Talk to people with a similar background to your character.
Avoid putting token characters in by humanizing them, avoid stereotypes, and give your characters depth.
Connect with Mariana
Facebook Twitter Instagram www.marianallanos.com
Find Mariana's Books
Amazon Boookshop.org
Writing from the antagonist point of view can be a challenge. Today's guest is best selling author Maria Ann Green. She is the author of eight books in the thriller and romance genres, and she talks about how she approaches this challenge.
So many of the books I read and even write come from the hero's perspective. When Maria reached out to me and mentioned she could talk about this topic, I jumped at the chance. There is just something so interesting about making your villain the main character.
This episode is full of helpful information if you are tackling a story from this perspective. Writing a flawed yet relatable character is key to succeeding in this endeavor.
Tips for Writing from the Antagonist Point of View
- Don't second guess yourself.
- Make them three dimensional.
- Find a way to get into the mindset.
Writing Prompt
Take a scene and write it from a different perspective or a different genre. If you have written from the hero's point of view, write from your villain's. If you have written a romance turn that scene into a thriller.
Connect with Maria
Sign up for Maria's newsletter Instagram Facebook Twitter Goodreads Bookbub Pinterest
Have a topic you would like covered on the show? Contact me and let me know.
In today's episode, I had the chance to have a conversation about recording audiobooks with Joe Monzo. Joe is a professional voice artist who has recorded several audiobooks, informational commercials, video games.
We talk about the process of a narrator goes through to record an audiobook, and he shares the behind the scenes work that goes into the final product. You will hear some great tips for how you can be better prepared if you are planning to hire someone to narrate your audiobook as well as some helpful information if you have decided to save money and try to record your book yourself.
According to a recent study conducted by the PEW Research Center, audiobooks are increasing in popularity. As an author, if you want to stay current and relevant, you should be at the bare minimum, considering an audiobook.
Tips for Recording Audiobooks Yourself
31:14 Your voice doesn't sound as bad as you think it does. 31:40 Invest in a decent microphone 34:20 Look into editing software 36:09 Find a quiet space
Resources Mentioned
ACX
Microphones
Blue Yeti AT 2020 Rode NT1A (The mic Joe Monzo uses)
Editing Software
Audacity Garage Band Adobe Audition
In today's episode, I had the opportunity to interview Shayla Raquel. Shayla was referred to me by Mindy Schoeneman in Episode 03, and I am so glad that I reached out to her. She is an expert editor, best selling author, and book marketer. On top of all of that, she runs an award-winning blog for writers. Shayla is the author of "The 10 Commandments of Author Branding" and joins me to share her knowledge. Believe that this episode will provide you with some valuable insights as you build your own author brand.
Throughout the entire episode, Shayla shares some fantastic advice for authors new and old. In the end, she delivers a challenge for anyone who is finding it hard to write during this time. Make sure you have something to write with because you will definitely want to take notes. Or you can just listen to the episode again.
Highlights 12:02 Author Branding defined 21:12 Commandment #1 Thou Shalt Be Thyself 35:45 Commandment #9 Thou Shalt Not Bear a Boring Book Launch 43:44 Commandment #10 Thou Shalt Not Covet Another Author's Success
"Value means what you are putting out there in the world is educational, entertaining, or encouraging."
Shayla Raquel Connect with Shayla www.shaylaraquel.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shaylaraquel
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shaylaleeraquel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaylaleeraquel
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ShaylaRaquel
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shayla-raquel-9813a582
Visit the Show Notes page for more.
In today's episode, I had the opportunity to interview indie author Arti Manani. During the interview, we talked about the trouble she had with a book cover designer. During the conversation, she also shares some marketing tips and tells us how she went about reaching out to book reviewers.
Highlights
05:11 Not everybody is exactly who they say they are. 18:11 The indie author community is massive and so helpful. 25:29 Compare your cover to other covers in your genre
Resources Mentioned
Canva 99 Designs
Connect with Arti
Facebook Instagram GoodReads
Listen to more Author Your Dream Episodes.
I am a pantser, someone who writes by the seat of their pants. It's how I live life, and if I'm honest, I'm happy with that. But when I was writing my first book, I was struggling to get it finished. I would jump around from chapter to chapter, making little to no progress. After researching how to publish a book, one thing stood out to me above all the information that I had found. Start with an outline! Today's episode talks about outlining form a pantser's perspective.
When I started writing, I would have scoffed at the idea of doing an outline. I used to think that any planning would stop me from being creative. Outlining was something to be avoided. But after years of fruitless effort, I needed to try something new, and it changed my perspective.
Now, as I work on writing my first fiction book, I am actively considering using different outlining methods. In this episode, I give a brief overview of three of them that I am considering. The first is the snowflake outlining method created by Randy Ingermanson. The second is called outlining in reverse, where you start with the end of your book and work backwards. The final way is the classic three acts structure. While I highlight these three methods in the episode, they are far from the only one's out there. If none of these work for you do some research on outlining methods to find one that suits your style.
Highlights
03:08 First start with an outline. 04:25 I thought having a plan would stop me from being creative. 06:39 Use outline methods as a simple framework to help you plan your book.
Resources Mentioned
www.advancedfictionwriting.com
In this episode, YA Fantasy author Jasmine Young shares with us her author's journey and talks to us about world-building. Jasmine is the author of the Four Kingdoms Origins series. With four different kingdoms and four unique characters, she has built an incredible world with a rich and varied history.
Throughout the episode, you will hear how Jasmine approaches world-building, some research suggestions, and what to avoid. She will also share some tips and resources to help you create your own fictional worlds.
Highlights
10:10 When world-building, remember your end goal is to finish your book. 12:24 Find a base culture you want to model your world. 20:35 Read books in areas you are weak as a writer.
"Add enough details on your map that are important to your character."
Jasmine Young
Connect with Jasmine
www.jasmineyoungauthor.com
Facebook: Jasmine Young Instagram: @theyoungjasmine Twitter: @theyoungjasmine
Resources Mentioned
Story Engineering by Larry Brooks Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell www.inkarnate.com
If you have any topics that you would like to hear discussed on the podcast, send me a message via the Contact page or to kenny@authoryourdream.com.
Visit www.authoryourdream.com for more content.
There are so many different publishing platforms available. But which ones should you use? One platform that comes to mind when thinking about this question is Amazon. Today's episode will talk about how to publish your book on Amazon. It's actually easier than you may think.
The episode takes a detailed look at the publishing platform. It covers everything from signing up to uploading your first book and creating your author bio for Amazon. Much of what I share in this episode comes from my personal experience using Kindle Direct Publishing or KDP.
Highlights
01:31 You are not limited to just E-books 03:03 There are three pages of info to fill out for your book 05:49 Amazon can take up to 72 hours to publish your book 12:37 Set up your author bio on Amazon Author Central
Visit this episode's Show Notes page for links.
Dealing with negative book reviews can be difficult, especially if it's your first one. You have invested a lot of time in your book, sometimes even years. You have edited your book and finally published your manuscript. Then come the reviews. As much as you love your book, it will not appeal to everyone. People will leave negative feedback. Some will be a fair appraisal of your book, while others may just be mean spirited. Learning how to handle these unfavorable reviews is important; you don't want a negative comment to stop you from writing.
This episode was inspired by a negative comment that I received about a quote from Episode 06 "Why Your Book Won't be a Success and What You can do." The person who made the comment disagreed with my quote but clearly didn't listen to the episode. It stung a little but I had to push past it somehow. I did so in the same manner as dealing with negative book reviews.
Negative comments will happen to you. But you are not alone. Even the well-known authors like Stephen King and J.R.R. Tolkein have received their fair share of not so positive comments from readers.
Highlights
04:29 Not everybody will like your book 08:43 Don't spend a lot of time focusing on the negative 09:20 Can you learn from the review? 09:42 Don't Argue with a reviewer 13:56 Understand Amazon's Guidelines for reviews and report abuse
Resources Mentioned
Amazon Community Guidelines
Amazon contact email to report abuse: community-help@amazon.com
Criticism is something that nobody likes, and it can be hard to deal with. Take some time. Deal with it. Don't focus on that negative review. Consider if there's anything that you can learn. Avoid starting an argument and know your rights. Know what the guidelines for Amazon are so that you can report anything that is actually abused.
In today's episode, find out why your book won't be a success. That may sound a little harsh, but there is something that you can do. If you want your book to be a success, then you need to define what success looks like for you. Failing to do this will ensure that your book does not succeed.
Highlights
• Defining success for yourself and your book is something that only you should do. • Use your why to define what success looks like for you and your book. •As you continue in your author journey, make sure that you are keeping your definition of success in front of you on a regular basis.
Understanding the editing process is one of the items on your to-do list as an aspiring author. If it's not, it should be. In this episode, I talk with author and professional editor Hannah Vaughan. Hannah has had over ten years of experience in the editing world and has worked on everything from websites to full-length books.
As you listen to this episode, you will get a better understanding of the entire editing process: self-editing, developmental and line editing, copy editing, and proofreading. Hanna will give you tips to help you edit your own work, and explain what the different types of editors do and in what order you will want to approach them. If that wasn't enough value, she will also be sharing some advice on what you should and should not do when you approach an editor for the first time.
Highlights:
09:41 Take a break from your book before going back to edit. 13:26 A developmental edit is the most intensive part of the editing process. 20:59 Copy editing is catching all of the errors and the grammar, but it will also deal a little more with like awkward wording. 30:56 Know the guidelines that each editor has going in.
Check out the Show Notes page for more.
Many of the things that used to distract us from writing our books aren't there anymore. Even though we have so much time on our hands, many of us are still struggling to find time to write. So how do we schedule writing time?
In this episode, I share some practical tips to help you find time in your schedule.
Highlights • Make an appointment with yourself • Get your family on board • Blockout distractions • Make it a habit
Resources Mentioned Haze Over
Freedom App
Flowstate
Connect with me on Instagram @author_your_dream
How do you overcome obstacles and launch a book during a pandemic?
Today’s guest, Mindy Schoeneman shares how she overcame the internal and circumstantial obstacles that we all face. You will also hear how just when she was about to launch her book Adrienne's Awakening a pandemic swept the globe. This left Mindy to wonder if she should even launch her book. Well, she launched and has some encouraging words for how she did it and how you can too.
Highlights * Utilize your network of friends and connections * Learn to ask for help * Try to be flexible * Look for the resources at your disposal and use what you have
Connect with Mindy www.mindyschoeneman.com FaceBook | Instagram | Twitter
Resources Mentioned Why Writers Are the Worst Procrastinators by Megan McArdle
Indie Book Festival If you are interested in attending the online Indie Book Festival that Mindy mentioned in the episode here are the details.
When: April 18, 2020 Where: www.mindyschoeneman.com
In this episode, I am introducing a new segment called the Author Base Camp. A base camp is the main encampment providing supplies, shelter, and communication. That’s what the Author Base Camp is, a place to provide answers to questions many aspiring authors have about the publishing journey. Each episode will focus on one aspect of publishing. Today I will look at what you should know about ISBNs.
ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number and is a ten or thirteen digit number that every printed book must-have. You have a few options when it comes to acquiring one of these important numbers. Some options are free while others can cost you a bit of money.
Common Questions about ISBNs * What are they? * Do you need to purchase one? * How much are they? * Where can you purchase them?
Resources Bowker for US authors Nielsen for UK authors
Kenny MacKay introduces himself and shares why he created the Author Your Dream podcast, what he hopes to achieve and what you can expect.
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