Indie Author Mastermind: Recent Episodes
Indie Author Mastermind
In this week's author diary, Jon talks about his 40th birthday, his progress on Trial of Thieves, and his current reads.
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In this episode of Indie Author Mastermind, Jon talks about the key thing new authors should focus.
And it might not be what you think.
In this week's author diary, Jon talks about having a fun week. He went to see the band TOOL, planned a story with his son, and did a little bit of work on Trial of Thieves.
Follow him on TikTok @joncronshawauthor
In this week’s author diary, Jon talks about his rewrite of Trial of Thieves, reading Good Omens, and project that may or may not happen.
Follow Jon on TikTok @joncronshawauthor
Having a dedicated workspace might not always be best for productivity...
...in fact, it could be breeding procrastination.
On Monday morning, I just wasn’t feeling it.
My office was cold. It was dark. I wanted to stay in bed and listen to an audiobook.
Instead, I made another coffee, blasted my head with a cold shower, and set up on the kitchen table.
I've been very productive.
So, if you’re not feeling it, change things up.
Give yourself a different wall to stare at.
Try something...anything.
It beats procrastination.
Find the Indie Author Mastermind wherever you listen to podcasts.
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In this week’s author diary, Jon talks about his progress on Trial of Thieves and some places he visited over the Easter break.
Follow Jon on TikTok @joncronshawauthor
To claim your free copy of Birth of Assassins, visit joncronshaw.com
On today’s Indie Author Mastermind, Jon Cronshaw is join by Clare Littlemore and Alison Ingleby to talk about running Facebook reader groups.
We cover:
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what are the advantages of running an author Facebook group?
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what types of posts work in author Facebook communities?
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how can Facebook groups help authors sell more books?
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how can you build an audience on Facebook groups?
Clare Littlemore is a young adult dystopian and sci-fi author who thrives on fictionally destroying the world with a cup of tea by her side.
The tea will often be cold, because her characters have a way of grabbing hold of her and not letting go until the final page of their story is finished. They regularly have the same effect on her readers.
Visit: https://clarelittlemore.com
Alison Ingleby is a USA Today bestselling author of sci-fi and fantasy fiction. She loves writing cross-genre books featuring complex characters, twisting plots and fast-paced action with a dash of romance.
When not writing, Alison enjoys reading, drinking tea and spending time outdoors. She lives in Yorkshire, England, but her heart loiters by the sea in north-west Scotland.
Visit: https://alisoningleby.com
Their Facebook group is The Last Book Cafe on Earth.
About the host:
Jon Cronshaw is the best-selling author of fantasy and science fiction based in Morecambe, England.
You can find out more about his work at https://joncronshaw.com
Do it for the exposure...yeah, right!
If something is good enough to publish...
...it’s good enough to pay for.
There are a lot of sharks out there who make money from things they did not create...or even pay for.
Don’t let them.
If someone wants to use your intellectual property, they should pay you fair exchange.
Never fall for the 'do it for the exposure' line.
Exposure is one of those vague, nebulous terms that sounds great, but rarely moves the needle.
When you hear the word ‘exposure,’ replace it with the the word ‘exploitation.’
Respect your work and others will respect it too.
If someone asks you to ‘do it for the exposure,’ run away.
Don’t negotiate. Just run.
You’ll get backlash from those who think everything should be free, but who cares?
That’s a reflection on their lack of value, not yours.
If you’re going to give something away for free, do it on your terms.
Do it in a way that benefits you directly, such as giving away a lead magnet or running a free promo to draw new readers into your series.
If you’re going to spend money on ‘exposure.’ make sure it’s something where you can track your return on investment, such as pay-per-click advertising, or reputable book promotion sites.
Do interviews, by all means. But do so only with the mindset that it is a mutually beneficial arrangement between you and the interviewer.
You should not pay for these.
And you should never, ever pay for the privilege of someone else using your intellectual property.
You’re work is worth more than that.
You’re worth more than that.
Support this show at patreon.com/indieauthormastermind
In this week’s author diary, Jon Cronshaw talks about writing up his outline for the second Ravenglass Legends book.
He also talks about reading The Eye of Obscurance by Jeffrey L. Kohanek, Take Off Your Pants! by Libbie Hawker, and others.
He then outlines his plans for next week.
Have you heard of the 10,000-hour rule?
According to Malcolm Gladwell, it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate training to reach true expertise.
But not everything is as focused as mastering a sport or musical instrument.
Indeed, I would say that for most people who succeed in life, the 10,000-hour rule is bunk.
What we need is to be better than average.
Not at one thing, but several.
Scott Adams calls this ‘skill-stacking.’
It’s the idea that your set of skills are worth more than the sum of their parts.
Adams says he was never the funniest in the room, that his artistic skills were mediocre, and that his jokes were mere observations from years working in corporate environments.
And, yet, his Dilbert comics are some of the most successful of all time.
It’s not about being great at one thing, it’s about combining the things you are already good at in a unique way.
I’ve had something of a zig-zag career, ranging from academia to finance, DJing to journalism, student mentoring to fiction writing.
And the skills I’ve gained help me every day.
What does your talent-stack look like?
How have you combined your unique talents?
Find the Indie Author Mastermind wherever you listen to podcasts.
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In today’s episode of Indie Author Mastermind, Jon Cronshaw talks to Paddy Finn about writing materials for Dungeons & Dragons and funding them using Kickstarter.
We cover:
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how can authors make money outside of fiction?
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how do you fuse your passion with business?
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how to build a team of creatives around you?
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what are the mistakes authors make running Kickstarter?
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how do you get backers for an author Kickstarter?
Paddy Finn is an indie author and indie game publisher. He writes SFF novels and designs content for Dungeons & Dragons and other TTRPGs.
He enjoys playing D&D and trotting the globe with his family, something they document on their Faraway Family YouTube channel.
Thinking of ways to scale up my business is exciting...
...and challenging.
It takes a lot of self-reflection, analysis, and honesty.
I know where my strengths are. I know what I do well.
I also know the areas where I don’t make the best use of my time.
The hardest part of scaling a business is knowing what to do more of and what to delegate...and having the confidence to let someone else take the reins.
Though I could do a necessary task exactly how I want it doing, my time could be better spend doing the most valuable tasks.
I have to think in terms of opportunity cost.
I already do this for accounts, editing, narrators, and cover artists.
But what about advertising? Branding? Social media? Mailing lists? Audience building? Audio editing? Publishing?
These are tasks I do that could be managed by someone else.
My highest value task is creating stories.
Everything else can be done by someone else.
That’s going to be a huge mindset shift for me...
...but I know it’s what I need to do.
Find the Indie Author Mastermind wherever you listen to podcasts.
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In this week's author diary, Jon talks about having some time off, his progress on Trial of Thieves, and outlining the second book in his Ravenglass Legends series.
You can subscribe to Jon Cronshaw's Author Diary wherever you listen to podcasts.
Visit: joncronshaw.com to claim your free copy of Birth of Assassins.
Some days, it feels like you’re running on empty, that no matter what you do, you just can’t get going.
But it’s okay.
Those days happen and tomorrow is a sleep away.
You can recharge.
You can start again.
You can take a break and come back refreshed.
Keep looking ahead. Don’t look back. And don’t look down.
Just pick yourself up and keep moving forward.
Even if it’s just a small step, it’s still a step closer.
You’re still further along than you were before.
Just keep going.
Keep going.
Find the Indie Author Mastermind wherever you listen to podcasts.
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Jon Cronshaw caught up with bestselling author Daniel Willcocks to talk about author collaborations.
We cover:
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how do you find a co-author?
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what kinds of author collaborations are there?
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what are the benefits of co-writing?
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what are the pitfalls of author collaboration?
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how do you protect yourself when working with co-authors?
Daniel Willcocks is an international bestselling author, award-winning podcaster, author coach, and speaker.
Dan writes non-fiction for authors and creatives, as well as dark fiction for the twisted reader, spanning the genres of horror, post-apocalyptic, and sci-fi.
www.danielwillcocks.com
www.activatedauthors.com
@willcocks author (FB, IG, TikTok, Twitter)
In this week’s author diary, Jon talks about his progress on Trial of Thieves, The Wolf and the Wyvern, plus building a new Facebook group for readers.
Get your free copy of Birth of Assassins from joncronshaw.com
Completing a creative project isn’t the finishing line...
...it’s the starting line.
I see too many authors who think that finishing a book marks the end of a long journey.
But it’s really the beginning.
For many artists and creative types, sales, business, and marketing are dirty words.
They don’t want to sell out.
But such artists rarely get the appreciation their work deserves and often bemoan those less talented creators who do find success.
Artists need to create...but they need to show their work.
If you aspire to turn your passion into your career, show it people who will appreciate what you do.
Get feedback and listen, even if it hurts...and then improve your craft.
Can’t find your audience?
Try harder.
Start a community if you have to.
Don’t look for excuses...look for solutions.
No one is going to turn up and do it for you.
Put yourself out there and don’t be afraid to market what you’ve created.
If you offer value, you can sell it for a fair price.
Your work deserves more than obscurity.
Find the Indie Author Mastermind wherever you listen to podcasts.
https://indieauthormastermind.com
https://facebook.com/indieauthormastermind
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Jon Cronshaw talks to Russell Nohelty about how indie authors can use Kickstarter.
We cover:
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why should authors consider using Kickstarter to launch their books?
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what fiction genres are good for Kickstarter campaigns?
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how do you turn fans to Kickstarter backers?
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what are the common mistakes authors make on Kickstarter?
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how will Brandon Sanderson’s historic Kickstarter impact the platform?
Russell Nohelty is a USA Today bestselling fantasy author, publisher, and consultant. He runs the small press Wannabe Press, which makes weird books and comics for weird people.
He’s run over 20 successful crowdfunding campaigns,raising over $300,000 to date, including six campaigns that raised over $20,000 each, and four that raised over $30,000.
He’s also written several graphic novels, novels, and children’s books which all can be found on his site, www.russellnohelty.com.
Social Media Links: @russellnohelty on Twitter and Facebook.
In this week’s author diary, Jon talks about his progress on Trial of Thieves, starting a new project set in the Ravenglass Universe, and some news on the future of Indie Author Mastermid.
Visit: joncronshaw.com to claim your free copy of Birth of Assassins.
Accountability is important...
...especially if you’re prone to procrastination.
Having concrete, achievable targets gives your mind somewhere to focus.
But sharing those goals and making yourself accountable is an equally important part of the equation.
Can you find a partner or group you trust to share your goals?
Be specific. Be clear. And be realistic.
Then come back in a week, or a month, or whatever timeframe works, and share how you did so you can encourage and support each other.
Be honest and be inspired.
Solutions are always better than excuses.
Find the Indie Author Mastermind wherever you listen to podcasts.
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Getting readers onto your mailing list is one of the best tools authors have to market their books.
But you should have something exclusive you can offer your readers to entice them to sign-up.
Here are nine ideas for things you can give to readers:
1) A prequel
Set before the main story, a prequel can be a great way to entice potential readers.
You can tell a story from earlier in your protagonists life, or detail an important event in the world.
2) A side story
A short story or novella detailing parallel events to your novel.
It doesn’t have to include characters from your main story, but it should give the feeling of a wider world.
3) Back story of an intriguing secondary character
Similar to the prequel, a story about a character your readers love might be an offer they can’t refuse.
4) Bonus epilogue
Your novel has a satisfying end, but you could give your readers chance to spend a little bit more time with your characters.
These can work especially well for fantasy and romance genres.
5) Maps
This could be a street map and locations for a crime series, the map of a small town for a cozy mystery, a continent-spanning map for fantasy, or a map encompassing an entire star system for space opera.
6) Photobook/scrapbook
This could be from your perspective as a writer, or from the perspective of a character in your world.
It could contain photos from your research, or newspaper articles clipped by one of your characters.
7) Diary entries
A personal journal by one of your characters.
It could add an extra dimension to the story, or give an insight into its author.
8) A document from the world
This could take the form of articles, legal documents, holy scripture, evidence, history, or any other text that exists within the world.
9) Art and illustrations
Can you offer free artwork or illustrations from your world?
This could be characters, creatures, or concept art for locations.
Offer it a desktop background.
So, that’s my nine suggestions.
Combine them to offer more value for your readers and turn them into superfans.
What do you use a reader magnet?
Let me know in the comments.
Remember to subscribe and show your appreciation however you’re consuming this.
Remember, there’s a podcast, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
Simply search for Indie Author Mastermin and give me a follow.
I make things using my imagination and want people to enjoy them.
I am writing to you to ask for permission to share them with the world.
I hope you will consider making as much money as you can from something I created.
Please, please, please give me a chance.
Pretty please. You can have all my rights...forever. I don’t care.
Let me in. Please.
I’ll be good.
Honest.
...just kidding.
In this week's author diary, Jon talks about his progress on Trial of Thieves, and why he chjanged his method of writing.
He also discusses The Heroin's Journey by Christine Downing and The Daylight War by Peter V. Brett.
amwritingfantasy #amwriting #writinglife
In April 2017, I drew up a five-year plan to make a sustainable full-time income as an author.
The plan worked.
I did it.
But as we’re moving towards April 2022, I keep asking myself ‘what next?’
Do I continue writing books and building up my back catalogue?
Or, do I scale the business up?
I’m always up for a challenge.
It’s time to grow this thing.
It’s time to look beyond just writing books.
I create worlds and stories.
Entertainment thrives on worlds and stories.
I’m inspired by what companies like Games Workshop and authors like Michael Anderle, Mike Kraus, and Craig Martelle have built.
They’ve created universes and a cast of unforgettable stories and characters.
Last year, I compeleted my twenty-one book fantasy series The Ravenglass Chronicles.
Today, book one in a new series set in the same universe came back from the editor.
It’s a universe where I can tell many stories, from stone age fantasy to space opera, and everything between.
And that’s exciting.
That’s potential.
It’s time to draw up the next five-year plan...
Find the Indie Author Mastermind wherever you listen to podcasts.
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You don’t need permission to create.
You don’t need permission to put your work out into the world.
Gatekeepers still guard the old bastions of culture...
...but they’re relics of the last century.
You don’t need them.
All you need to do is create and share.
Painted a picture? Show it...everywhere.
Made a film? Share it...everywhere.
Wrote a story? Post it...everywhere.
Seek honest feedback and adapt to useful criticism.
Sometimes the hardest criticism to take is the most important to hear.
But ignore those who don’t get your vision.
And ignore those who drag others down to build themselves up.
Creativity is a dialogue, not a dictatorship.
Your work is not for everyone. In fact, the vast majority of the world’s population won’t care.
But if you're authentic, you will find people who love what you do.
And you make those connections when you share your work.
Nothing happens when you do nothing.
The world needs your art.
Start now...
...don’t wait for perfection.
Find the Indie Author Mastermind wherever you listen to podcasts.
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In this week’s author diary, Jon talks about reaching the midpoint of Trial of Thieves, coming to an abrupt stop, and rewriting the outline for the second half of the novel.
He also reviews The Painted Man by Peter V. Brett and Character by Robert McKee.
I see this question bandied around a lot on social media and it strikes me as odd.
You never see people asking would you watch a video not produced by a Holywood studio?
Would you listen to a band not signed to a major label?
Would you listen to a podcast not made by an established radio station, or read a blog post not published by a news organisation?
How about enjoying photos taken by amateurs?
Or food cooked in independent cafes and restaurants?
Or art not displayed in galleries?
I’ve heard the arguments: there are so many bad books out there.
I agree, but you could say the same about all the content on any platform.
You don’t hear people decrying YouTube because the vast majority of videos aren’t to their taste, or abandoning Spotify because it’s filled with so much bad music.
No. Consumers find what they like and give independent creators a fair shake.
We’re in a world where the gatekeepers are no longer relevant and yet the stigma against independent authors still lingers.
It’s time to stop falling for corporate publishing’s PR spin, and embrace independent creators, whatever their chosen medium.
Who knows? You might discover something amazing.
Support on Patreon: patreon.com/indieauthormastermind
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The gatekeepers still stand guard...
...but the walls have already been kicked down.
If you're creative, you’re living in the most amazing time.
If you’ve got a story to tell, or music to share, or art to show...you can.
No one is stopping you.
It’s easier than ever to bypass the corporate publishers, record labels, art galleries, and other gatekeepers, to reach your audience directly.
If you’ve got a passion, what are you waiting for?
What’s holding you back?
Get in the arena.
You don’t need someone else’s permission, you just need to find your tribe.
Let people into your world. Share what’s in your imagination. No one else will do it for you.
And no one’s stopping you...
...except you.
Find the Indie Author Mastermind wherever you listen to podcasts.
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What makes you scared?
For me, it’s always been public speaking.
I can sit behind a keyboard all day and write, but the idea of standing up in front of a group of strangers terrifies me.
My mouth goes dry.
My stomach lurches.
My palms sweat.
But I find it’s important to push yourself, especially when you know the fear is irrational.
I’ve taught hundreds of students and played in bands.
I record regular videos and podcasts.
But the fear still nags me every time.
But I’m determined to keep doing this.
I need to do this.
Our brains lie to us all the time about the things we should fear and avoid.
Public speaking isn’t one them.
Today I want to talk to you about what I believe are the three most destructive words in the English language.
It’s not “I hate you.”
No. The three words I’m talking about seem innocuous. They’re uttered daily by people who think nothing of what they’re saying. They seem almost innocent, but they might be the three most destructive words in the English language.
“I would, but...”
A wise man once told me that every word in a sentence that precedes ‘but’ is a lie.
“I would, but...” means “I won’t.”
It’s three little words that finds excuses over solutions.
It’s three little words that gives you permission not to bother.
But what makes these three words so galling is they’re often linked to something important, something meaningful, something that person would love to do.
But it means taking a risk, it means making a change, and getting out of your comfort zone.
It could mean launching a business. Relocating to warmer climes. Learning a skill. Starting a family. Writing a book. Or inventing an umbrella that doesn’t turn itself inside out at the first hint of wind.
It might be their life’s dream, the one thing that will give them true happiness, the one thing that will raise them from a life that is incomplete.
But instead of figuring how they can, they fixate on why they can’t.
They focus on the obstacle rather than finding a solution.
They say “I would, but...”
These aren’t the words of someone with a dream, someone with a desire to change,.
No. These are the words of your inner saboteur, your inner critic. It’s your brain trying to keep you safe.
But it’s not safe.
If you risk nothing, you risk everything.
“I would, but...”
“I’m not young enough, old enough, smart enough, fit enough...”
There’s always a reason. There’s always an excuse. But, more often than not, the only thing stopping you is you.
After all, a problem is something we don’t understand...yet.
And yet is a powerful word.
When you add the word yet to a phrase like “I can’t” or “I don’t know” it turns it into a possibility, into something your mind can focus on and eventually solve.
“I don’t know, yet.” shows willing. It’s the potential for growth.
“I can’t, yet,” means you will.
Have you heard of the Myers-Briggs Personality Test?
For those unfamiliar, you answer a series of questions about your likes and dislikes, and it spits out a four letter code which tells you who you are.
When I took the test, I came out as an INFJ. Which means I’m highly creative, that I like to ponder the big questions in life, like why are we here, do we have a soul, what happens when we die, and why don’t animals where hats?
It also means I’m often misunderstood, that I’m difficult to get to know, and that I’m highly introverted.
In fact, for me, lockdown was pretty much life as usual, except I had to contend with other people being in the house.
So public speaking is hard for me.
I have so many excuses why I don’t need to do it, why I shouldn’t put myself out there, why all this talky stuff is a waste of time.
Even today, all the “I would, buts” ran through my mind.
But I know those thoughts are irrational. They’re rooted in doubts and fears that only exist in my head.
And if I listened to those doubts, I wouldn’t grow as a person.
In fact, if I’m honest, I’d probably still be at home, lying in bed, and doing nothing.
But I want to live the best life I can.
And if that means doing things that scare me, so be it. It’s better than exuses.
Change those three words.
Say to yourself, “I haven’t, yet...but I will.”
Over the years, I've read far too many articles about the types of things you should ask your beta reader to look out for.
Things like characterisation, plot holes, consistency of voice, geography, typos, etc.
Stop!
There's only on thing you should ask your beta readers: what parts did you find boring?
That's it.
Nothing else.
In this week's author diary, Jon talks about:
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writing Trial of Thieves,
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launching a new podcast,
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joining TikTok, and,
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winning a speech competition.
Visit: https://joncronshaw.com to find out more about Jon's fiction.
There are many routes to becoming a full-time writer, but I want to share with you what I did to earn a sustainable full-time income from my fiction.
It’s notoriously difficult to make a sustainable living writing fiction. Or, at least, it was.
I don’t have a agent. I’m not signed to a corporate publisher.
But I am an independent author with my own publishing company.
I write commercial fiction. I’m not going to win any literary prizes or please critics, but I make more money than the average author and I get to spend most of my days writing stories.
My mindset changed from the idea of producing works of art, to producing assets that can bring in a sustainable recurring income.
I wanted to find the sweet spot between the types of stories I wanted to tell and the types of books that sold well, but were also underserved by the corporate publishers.
I came up with three genres: post-apocalyptic fiction, medieval fantasy, and space opera.
Because these are assets I can sell for the rest of my life, I didn’t want anything that would date.
So, I struck space opera from my list. I’m sure a post-apocalyptic wasteland or medieval fantasy will feel the same in fifty years as it does today.
Even though I’d read widely in those genres, the next step of my research was about trying to understand what the readers wanted.
I read reviews, hundreds of them, and got a feel for the types of things readers enjoyed and the things they did not.
So, in June 2017, I launched my first novel, Wizard of the Wasteland. It’s a post-apocalyptic tale about a reformed drug addict trying to rebuild his life.
I wanted the book to be indistinguishable from those released by a corporate publisher.
It has a professional cover, professional formatting, and professional editing and proofreading.
When I launched the book, it did well, but after a few weeks it dropped to making £7 per day and kept selling at that level.
For some, this might be a disapointment.
Indeed, I would have had my book dropped by a corporate publisher and would ti would be no doubt out of print and impossible for me to get a second book deal.
But after almost five years, this same book still brings in around £7 per day.
There are four books in that series, all bringing in recurring income.
And the omnibus of that series has earned double in one year than the entire series combined.
And that’s not my bestselling series by any means.
At present, I have eight novels, twenty-one novellas, and three series boxsets all bringing in multiple streams of income.
Of course, when you’re a full-time writer, you’re also a marketing company.
So, even though I try to write every weekday, I also have to get my books in front of the right readers and getting them to take a chance on my work.
Indeed, I have a prequel novella for each of my series that I give away for free.
A lot of authors are against the idea of giving away their art, believing it devalues their work.
But I know for a fact that the majority of my readers find me through a free book and go onto to buy the series.
Some buy all of my series. Some share on social media and email me wondering when the next book is coming.
I run adverts on Facebook and Amazon. I cross-promotion with other authors and send out a weekly email newsletter to over 9,000 subscribers.
My day yesterday looked like this:
I wrote 2.5k in the morning.
I recorded a video with my wife for social media.
I wrote and sent my newsletter, arranged a group promo with some other fantasy authors and took part in a live Q&A on Facebook live.
I then uploaded the Q&A to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
So, it takes a lot of extra work to be a full-time writer, but also means I get to be a full-time writer.
There are a few industries where you have to trust the unconscious parts of your mind.
Fiction writing is one of them.
Some call it the Muse. Some call it inspiration.
For me, the part of my mind that dreams and imagines is always ahead of what I think I know.
It’s never direct. It never shouts from the hilltops.
It’s subtle, but it’s there.
A half-heard whisper.
The echo of an echo.
The gentle vibrations along a thread alerting a spider that its web has worked.
But I’ve learned to pay attention. I’ve learned to listen.
That part of me knows. It sees things I can’t.
And I listen.
A project I'd thought finished needs something else, something more, something deeper.
So, I’m writing another draft of Dawn of Assassins - a book that was supposed to be ready, a storyI had finished.
But as I’m writing the second book, something’s pulling me back to the first.
The story is not finished.
It’s obvious now I see it.
I know what to do.
This is going to be great.
It will be worth the effort, I’m sure.
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The writing life is full of glamour...
Today, for example, I sent bank statements to my accountant, put together the script for an audiobook narrator, went through my expenses for the last tax year, and set up some adverts on Amazon and Facebook.
Rock and roll!
As much as I love creating characters and building worlds, it’s treating my writing as a business that has helped me find success.
Writing a story readers will enjoy is a good start.
But it’s meaningless without marketing and making sure the business side of things is running smoothly.
I’m an author.
But I’m also an entrepreneur.
So, even though some days are spent performing mindless admin tasks, it’s the price for doing what I love.
And I’m more than happy to pay.
Because when the business side is taken care of, I can play in imaginary worlds.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments.
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Creativity is not an infinite well...
...you can not draw from it forever without putting something back.
Over the past few months, I’ve seen more and more people in creative industries struggling to stay motivated.
Talk of writer’s block, of creative burnout, of feeling uninspired pop up again and again.
It’s not surprising given what we’ve all been through.
Life is hard for everyone at the moment.
You’re not alone.
Being creative in trying times seems like a luxury, like an unnecessary indulgence.
But it’s not.
We need your creativity more than ever.
We need imagination and humour and joy.
But refilling the creative well is challenging right now.
And when you pay your bills with something from your imagination, this adds another layer of pressure that doesn’t help you produce.
Creative people feed on the creativity of others.
They need to experience new things.
They need to feel in order to create.
I haven’t been to a concert, an exhibition, a play, visited a cinema, travelled abroad, or explored a castle since before the pandemic.
And this is where my ideas come from.
But when those experiences are limited, it can feel like you’re running on fumes, mining the past rather than drawing on the now for inspiration.
It feels dull, like a wax simulacra of something real.
It makes it harder to create.
But there are ways to improve this.
Try something else.
Another field of creativity.
A new project that isn’t for your business.
Get out of your comfort zone.
Experiment.
Play.
Find a way to inject surprise and randomness into your process.
Read a genre you’ve never read before.
Watch some comedy.
Listen to an album all the way through.
Try consuming as much as you’re creating.
Or, go for a walk in nature and allow yourself to daydream.
Talk to another creative person.
Collaborate.
They don’t have to be working the same field.
Perhaps it would be better if they weren’t.
What can you learn from them?
They’re just ideas and they might not work for you.
But we’ve got to try something.
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The book is finished!
It’s edited. It’s proofread. It’s formatted.
The paperback is ready to go. The ebook looks great. Auditions are coming in for the audio.
Now I can sit back and...oh, wait...
Getting a book ready for publication is only the beginning.
Over the next few weeks, I have a long list of things to do to get readers interested in my next release.
I need to:
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write an amazing book description.
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A/B test different descriptions using ads - the book isn’t for me, it’s for the readers.
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upload the paperback and ebooks to Amazon exclusively.
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recruit at least 100 reviewers and set up a system for distributing review copies.
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create pretty graphics I can use on social media that scream my genre.
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set up low-level FB ads to send targeted readers to the pre-order so Amazon knows who the book is for and can start suggesting it to similar readers when the book goes live.
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add the title to my BookBub and Amazon pages.
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build interest using a free spin-off story as a lead magnet.
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craft amazing emails to my list promoting the launch while also offering them value.
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arrange newsletter swaps with other authors in my niche to go out during the first week after release.
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set up Amazon ads targeting similar books to mine in the top 100 and new release charts.
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do the same for the ‘customers also bought’ titles on the books that generate clicks.
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order book promos with sites like Book Barbarian, Fussy Librarian, and Robin Reads to go out in the second week after release.
My strategy is to get a slow and steady increase in sales over the first few weeks following the launch. This works much better than big a spike on day one.
But the main thing I’ve found with marketing books is to stay laser-focused on your target niche.
It’s better in the first few weeks to sell one-hundred copies to the right audience than a thousand to a much broader one.
Because that’s when the algorithms start working their magic...
It’s always a good feeling to get a book back from the greatest editor in the entire world.
Granted, my editor also happens to be my wife, so there might be a little bias there, but it means I’ve got another book almost ready for publication.
Now, it just needs a final listen (using a text-to-speech reader) to make sure everything flows.
Once I’m happy with the manuscript, it gets formatted for print and ebook and sent to early readers.
Then comes the dreaded book launch...
I try to create evergreen stories with the aim of becoming perennial sellers.
I’d rather a book sell consistently over time than have an early flurry of sales before sliding into obscurity.
With indie publishing, the book launch isn’t the be all and end all it is with corporate publishers.
If a book doesn’t sell in the first few weeks, it’s not the end of the world.
It doesn’t damage my future prospects.
My career isn’t dead.
I can learn from my mistakes and work out what I can do better next time.
I can pivot, try something else, or rebrand and re-release, if necessary.
I can even write the next book.
With seven novels, twenty-five novellas, and four non-fiction titles to my name, I still have to pinch myself that I’ve made it work as a sustainable business.
And I still get that tingling thrill when I sit back and hit publish.
For the past year, I’ve been running a little experiment, to avoid consuming the news.
So, for the past 365 days I’ve avoided all news and current affairs.
And as someone who used to be a reporter, that was a difficult habit to break.
Now, I know what some of you are thinking.
How can you say to avoid news with everything that’s going on right now?
If you’re hearing this on the day it was released, a month from now, or a year from now, that point can always be made.
There’s always something beyond our control that we can do nothing about.
There will always be something in the news to inflame our worries.
That’s the business model of the news.
Some of you will think I’m making myself ignorant.
I would argue the opposite.
Rather than being focused on the day-to-day trivialities of the news cycle, I’ve focused my attention on self-development.
Over the past year, I’ve read over 120 books on history, philosophy, self-improvement, business, writing, and also several books in my genre.
And that’s not including the courses I’ve taken and podcasts I’ve listened to.
So, it’s not making me ignorant, it’s focusing on what I can control.
And, of course, if something in the news is important, I hear about it anyway.
The difference is, I don’t go looking.
But the main thing this experiment has done is improve my mental health.
The weight of anxiety, of depression, of hopelessness have all been lifted.
I feel better than I have in a long time.
So, ask yourself, is it time you should give up on the news?
Please share this and let me know what you think.
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In this week's diary, Jon talks about his progress on Trial of Thieves.
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Never judge a book by its cover...
...yeah, right!
Readers judge books by their covers.
And so they should.
Before your story. Before your reviews. Before your description.
A book cover is the first thing a reader sees.
It is a billboard.
It is a sales pitch.
It is not a work of art.
I see a lot of beautiful book covers, but a stunning cover is not effective unless it resonates with the right readers.
And this is especially true for independent authors who don’t have the same marketing clout as corporate publishers.
But having a good cover isn’t just about marketing, it is about giving your readers the best experience you can.
Good covers must communicate your story’s mood and genre in a fraction of a second.
Its composition and colours must draw the eye.
The typography must be readable, eye-catching, and appropriate for the genre.
It should be clear and not stuffed with too many details.
And it should look good as a greyscale thumbnail.
It’s a lot to ask. And it’s why ninety-nine percent of authors should not design their own covers.
This is the cover to my book Black Death Survival.
The colour and tone are right for the genre.
The typography is right for the genre.
The characters are right for the genre.
It looks great, but I wouldn’t call it a work of art.
Covers are symbolic communication devices that tell the right readers that this is a book for them.
Equally, it stops those readers who don’t enjoy your genre from buying and feeling disappointed.
Be clear who your story is for and give those readers something they want.
You can break the conventions.
You can carve your own path.
But it’s going to be more difficult to reach the right readers, and you might annoy a few in the process.
The perfect readers may squint at your cover for a moment, think it’s not for them, and click on a cover that resonates.
I want my stories to be read and enjoyed.
And the cover is the first step.
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I’ve been a full-time indie author since 2017.
In that time, the industry has changed dramatically, but there are key fundamentals that remain unchanged.
1) Write compelling stories in a genre that sells.
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Write them in a series.
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Find the crossover between what you love and what readers want.
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Learn about story and read widely in your genre. Understand the tropes and expectations of your genre. A romance without romance isn't a romance.
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Focus on character, dialogue, and action. Readers will be turned off by long passages of exposition.
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Make sure you have a main character who wants something, but something or someone is in the way.
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Write an outline. Or, at least, know your ending before you sit down to write.
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The genres that sell well for indie authors are romance, mysteries, thrillers, sci-fi, and fantasy. This is not to say you can't find success in other niches.
2) Get your book edited...professionally.
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Hire a freelance editor to copy edit and proofread your work.
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For early books, it might be worth getting a developmental edit to see where your story weaknesses are.
3) Get a professional cover.
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Hire a pro. Even if you’re a graphic designer by trade, book cover design is a skill in itself.
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Look for covers of books similar to your story that are selling well. Note the colours, type, and characters. Use them to guide your brief.
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You’re creating a billboard, not art. It needs to communicate what you’re selling and who it’s for in a fraction of second.
4) Get your book in front of the right people.
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Market your book to readers of your chosen genre. Your book is not for everyone.
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Avoid selling to friends and family, especially early on as this can influence who retailers think the book is for.
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Ask readers to leave reviews. Positive reviews offer social proof to potential readers.
5) Create a lead magnet and set up a mailing list.
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Above every other form of book marketing, the mailing list is still king.
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Write something exclusive that readers who love your book can't resist. For example, a free novella, maps, extra scenes, character interviews, etc.
6) Change your mindet about what authors do.
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Authors create assets.
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Digital publishing allows you to create an infinitely reproducible product that you create once and can sell for the rest of your life (plus 75 years).
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Treat your writing as a business.
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Being an author is as much about marketing and networking as it is about writing the next book.
7) Write. Publish. Repeat.
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Write the next book.
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Your stories will improve.
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Your marketing will improve.
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Your ability to make money will increase the more products you have to sell.
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Keep writing. Keep growing your network. Keep publishing.
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Good luck!
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I’ve been a full-time indie author since 2017.
I’m not a millionaire. I’m not a six-figure author. And I don’t write a book a month. But I do earn a sustainable full-time income from my writing.
And I want to share the tactics and strategies to help you make sustainable income from your books. And hopefully improve my own game in process.
The Indie Author Mastermind podcast will be a mixture of tips, tools, rants, and interviews with guests who know what they’re talking about.
Plus, I’ll share with you my own weekly author diary, so you can get an insight into my thoughts and writing process.
So, please share this and help spread the word.
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