Category: Support

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+ Author Life, Author Toolbox, Editing, Marketing, Pep Talk, Productivity, Self, Support, Work With us

A Note for Mid-Career Authors

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If we want a long-lasting career writing fiction, we have to step back from what we’re doing once in a while and re-evaluate. Both in what we’re writing and how we’re approaching our author platform, branding, and social media. In the years from 2009 to 2017, I wrote an average of five to nine books a year. I was publishing at a frantic pace, … Read More A Note for Mid-Career Authors

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+ Author Life, Author Toolbox, Marketing, Pep Talk, Productivity, Sales, Self, Support, Work With us

7 Reasons You May Need a Publishing Consultation Call

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Are you feeling stuck in one or more aspects of your author career? Has the business side of the writing life got you down? A Publishing Consultation Call can help you get focused, and get moving again.  Here are 7 reasons why some one on one time might be exactly what you need to get back on track. 1. You’re sometimes paralyzed about which … Read More 7 Reasons You May Need a Publishing Consultation Call

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+ Author Life, Author Toolbox, diversity, Editing, featured, LGBT, Marketing, representation in literature, Self, Story, Support

Introduction to Writing LGBT+ Characters

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2021 has seen more books featuring LGBT characters hit the bestselling lists than any year prior. These books have come in all genres: memoirs, YA novels, erotica, thrillers, you name it. With this explosion in LGBT-centered stories, many authors have a desire to include an LGBT character in their stories, whether as a main character or a side character. However, this can sometimes be … Read More Introduction to Writing LGBT+ Characters

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+ Author Toolbox, Editing, featured, plotting, Self, Story, Support, Writing

DIY Workbook: 5 Point Story Mapping

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The 5 Point Story Mapping Method isn’t a plotting device. It’s not a new series of beats or a reworking of classic plot tools. The Waypoint Method aims to get deep under the skin of your story so that you understand more than just what happens to your characters. It’s about setting yourself up to succeed, understanding your own motivations as well as your … Read More DIY Workbook: 5 Point Story Mapping

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+ Author Life, Author Toolbox, Editing, Pep Talk, Productivity, Self, Support, Writing

DIY Workbook: Three Author Foundations

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It doesn’t matter if you are just starting your writing journey, you’ve finished one book, or your backlist is filled with titles. It doesn’t matter if you’re Independent or Traditional. Every single person we’ve worked with, or met in the writing world, has one thing in common: Occasionally, we all get stuck. We’re sometimes overwhelmed by the process, or afraid of the criticism/rejection, or … Read More DIY Workbook: Three Author Foundations

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+ Author Toolbox, Support, Writing

4S Author: Story

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Welcome back to the next S in our 4S author career series! Get caught up: 4S author career | Self | Story | Support | Sales Story is arguably the most important part of a writing career. You can be wicked confident and have a ton of money to throw at an in depth marketing plan, but if your story isn’t compelling all the hype will quickly flop. … Read More 4S Author: Story

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+ Sales, Self, Story, Support

The 4S Author Career

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There are a lot of paths to publishing your novels, and it can become quite overwhelming to decide which one is right for you. But under all the tech and strategies and marketing your success will hinge on only 4 core thing. Over the coming weeks I’ll dive into each one a bit further. Note: This series was adapted from a summer series available … Read More The 4S Author Career

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+ Pep Talk, Self, Story, Support

Pep Talk: Put a Positive Spin on Rejection

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Rejection is a normal part of life, but as humans, we tend to avoid it at all costs. If you’ve chosen to be an author, though, rejection is part of the journey. (Might as well rip off the band-aid first, right?) Our instincts tell us that our very existence is threatened if we’re rejected, so we tend to spend a lot of time and … Read More Pep Talk: Put a Positive Spin on Rejection

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+ Story, Support

5 Reasons You May Need a Story Chat

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A story chat is a one-hour phone or video chat where we can discuss your fiction project. It doesn’t matter if you’re drafting or editing, if you’re stuck on character or plot, or if you’re traditional or independently published. Story chats are meant to give you the confidence, clarity, and support to keep going. Here are five reasons you might need a story chat: … Read More 5 Reasons You May Need a Story Chat

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+ Self, Story, Support

8 Ways Self-Sabotage Disguises Itself to Block Your Creativity

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Once you embark on building your author life, you’ll find that self-sabotage is an insidious beast. It disguises itself as a number of different, seemingly innocuous feelings and scenarios that ultimately block your creativity. So what do you do about it? Obviously, we all want to nip self-sabotage in the bud. Anything that gets between you and your books needs to hit the road–right? … Read More 8 Ways Self-Sabotage Disguises Itself to Block Your Creativity

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+ Self, Story, Support

5 Author Life Accomplishments Worth Celebrating

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Author life has its ups and downs, like so many things in life. Let’s face it: writing a book can be a long road, especially if you’re just starting out or don’t write fiction full-time. It’s easy to lose focus on our writing goals, so we need milestones and celebrations to keep our focus and our energy on track. Sure, there are major milestones … Read More 5 Author Life Accomplishments Worth Celebrating

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+ Pep Talk, Story, Support, Writing

The Benefits of Talking Through Your Book While in the Drafting Stage

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During the drafting stage of writing your book, it’s highly beneficial to talk through your ideas with someone familiar with your genre. This can be a bookworm friend, editor, or even a coach. As writers, we often find ourselves working in a vacuum, stuck in our own heads. Once we’ve firmly planted ourselves inside our own brains (keep your hands, arms, and legs inside, … Read More The Benefits of Talking Through Your Book While in the Drafting Stage

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