Activated Authors

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Activated Authors episodes

April 16, 2020#031: Tosca Lee – Learning enough to be dangerous, evolutions as a writer, and finding the joy in your work.
Tosca Lee is the multi-award winning, New York Times, IndieBound, and Amazon bestselling author of eleven novels including The Line Between, The Progeny, Firstborn, The Legend of Sheba, Iscariot, and the Books of Mortals trilogy with New York Times bestseller Ted Dekker. Her work has been translated into seventeen languages and optioned for TV and film. She is best known for her meticulous research, masterful prose, unexpected points of view, and high-octane thrillers.

A notorious night-owl, she loves movies, playing video games with her kids, and sending cheesy texts to her husband. She’s also a big fan of her amazing readers.

In this episode we go deep into:
What video games Tosca is currently playing
What makes a good soup?
How Tosca got involved in writing
The naivety that comes with writing your first novel and how to learn the craft
The importance of pushing onward despite failures
Being tenacious and passionate enough to write until you succeed
Key changes along Tosca’s evolution as a writer
Controlling word counts and being economical with your words
Outlining to maximize efficiency of writing
Tosca’s research process for each book
Learning enough to be dangerous
Surrounding yourself with smart people to inform your work
Tracking and taming your research
How accolades can impact your sales and writing
Writing like no one will read your work
Remembering that writing is supposed to be fun
Handling criticism like a champ
Analyzing and finding your ideal reader
The key to making merchandise that sells
Understanding the difference between marketing to readers and marketing to writers
Tosca’s writing schedule and living as a night owl

Tosca answers questions from Patrons:
Mark McClure: I liked Tosca's idea of hiding 'easter eggs' in her books. Are you able to measure or track reader engagement with this approach?
Also, what are your view on blogging vs an email newsletter (or both) for a writer with a following?

This week’s question:
How do you approach the research and planning for your books?

Find out more about Tosca:
https://toscalee.com

Links from the show:
Tosca’s merchandise (https://toscalee.com/shop/)
Tosca’s blog (https://toscalee.com/blog/)
Book Easter eggs (https://toscalee.com/code/)

Special thanks to:
Intro vocals: Persephone Rose
Show theme: Karl Hughes

Become a Patron of the show! Get exclusive bonus content, find your tribe, and get early access to all episodes.
Thank you to my patrons:
David Hines
Harley Christensen
Jon Cronshaw
Jenn Mitchell
Innes Richens
Ian J Middleton
PT Hylton
Michael Anderle
Jerry Evanoff
Mark McClure
Katie Forrest

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
55 min
April 09, 2020#030: T.W.M. Ashford – The difference between good prose and great storytelling, lessons learned from SPF, and soft relaunching your author career.
Tom (T.W.M.) Ashford is a British novelist. He lives in London with his American wife, not far from where he was born.
He’s written hundreds of scripts and copy for some of the biggest companies in the world, and previously published articles on games and films. He has been known to play a bass guitar on more than one occasion, and sometimes well.
of course, his main passion is writing fiction. His books include the Blackwater trilogy, the Checking Out series and numerous standalone adventures.

In this episode we go deep into:
Adjusting to working around the coronavirus quarantines
How Tom started writing
How writing gets easier over time
Transitioning from writing good prose to telling a good story
How Tom got involved with the Self Publishing Formula gang
Pushing yourself to deliver when you believe in your goals
Taking opportunities where you can and not expecting too much
Behind the scenes of the Self Publishing Formula
Lurking or being vocal in online communities
Thoughts from the Self Publishing Show Live
Curating a strong brand for your books
Tips on cover design
To follow or not to follow trends in covers
How to perform a soft re-launch once you know what you’re doing
Hazards of turning a passion into a career
How Tom unwinds

Tom answers questions from Patrons:
What is your favorite place to write (a coffee shop, a corner in the library, a cave, etc.)?
What would your profession be if you weren't a writer (or writing wasn't an option OR never existed)?
How do you reward yourself when you've completed a project?

Find out more about Tom:
https://www.twmashford.com/

Links from the show:
https://selfpublishingformula.com/

Special thanks to:
Intro vocals: Persephone Rose
Show theme: Karl Hughes

Become a Patron of the show! Get exclusive bonus content, find your tribe, and get early access to all episodes.
Thank you to my patrons:
David Hines
Harley Christensen
Jon Cronshaw
Jenn Mitchell
Innes Richens
Ian J Middleton
PT Hylton
Michael Anderle
Jerry Evanoff
Mark McClure

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
49 min
April 02, 2020#029: Jonathan Yanez – Conquering the impossible, becoming a healthy writer, and finding freedom in sci-fi.
Jonathan Yanez is an author of sci-fi and fantasy fiction. He's the creative mind behind the “Forsaken Mercenary” series and the “Gateway to the Galaxy” series. He is also the author of the non-fiction, “Get it Done: Hard-Hitting Motivation For Authors”, which I’d HIGHLY recommend.
This is not where Jonathan’s skills end. He is also a former personal trainer, a part-time model, and an all round inspiring guy.

In this episode we go deep into:
How Jonathan started his journey into non-fiction
Jonathan’s 5-year journey from grinding to success
The importance of getting up early to get your shit done
Jonathan’s morning routine and how he gets 4,000 words done a day
Finding a way to keep your routine with the current coronavirus pandemic
The importance of physical health with your writing career
How to build a healthy workout habit that’s easy to keep
Fail early. Fail often. Fail forward.
Why Jonathan writes science-fiction
Leaving the day job with no safety net
Maintaining a healthy social life as a writer
Making friends at the gym
Expanding to foreign markets and film rights
Finding the want. Finding the motivation
How Jonathan defines success
Jonathan’s Rocky Balboa speech for new writers
How Jonathan keeps learning and progressing
Keeping going when you feel like giving up
Surrounding yourself with inspiring people
You don’t need anyone to give you permission to succeed
How does Jonathan reward himself when he’s finished a project
Why does Jonathan Yanez write?

Jonathan Yanez’s Quickfire Round time: 25 seconds

This week’s question
How do you incorporate exercise into your writing routine?

Find out more about Jonathan:
https://www.facebook.com/JonathanYanezAuthor
https://www.facebook.com/groups/jonathansreadingwolves/

Links from the show:
Jonathan Yanez’s ‘Get it Done'
James Clear’s ‘Atomic Habits'

Special thanks to:
Intro vocals: Persephone Rose
Show theme: Karl Hughes

Become a Patron of the show! Get exclusive bonus content, find your tribe, and get early access to all episodes.
Thank you to my patrons:
David Hines
Harley Christensen
Jon Cronshaw
Jenn Mitchell
Innes Richens
Ian J Middleton
PT Hylton
Michael Anderle
Jerry Evanoff
Mark McClure

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
58 min
March 27, 2020#028: Jeffrey A. Carver – Over a decade of publishing changes, becoming your own publisher, and the power of teaching in your own fiction.
Jeffrey A. Carver is an American science fiction author. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated from Brown University. He now lives outside of Boston, Massachusetts and his novel Eternity's End was a finalist for the 2001 Nebula Awards.

In this episode we go deep into:
The story behind Jeffrey’s 11-year publishing gap
Bridging the series gap between 2008 and 2019
Changes in publishing over the last decade
Leaning how to publish and market new books in 2019/2020
Bringing older properties to a brand new audience
The best way to learn what you need to know
How indie publishers are becoming more savvy than traditional
How elder publishing bodies are opening the doors to indies
Jeffrey’s changing in process given the new publishing culture
Understanding and adapting your personal process, despite what others tell you
Losing yourself in your story and letting your characters speak
Why Jeffrey blogs, and is it worth it in 2020?
How to get past the times when you just want to give up and pack it all in
The importance of support from your partner
Thinking outside the box and finding creative ways to teach
Claiming yourself as an expert in your field as Jeffrey describes his former TV Show
Lessons learned from teaching fiction
Advice for new writers
How writers groups can help you
How Jeffrey defines success

This week’s question:
How have you found positivity in the unlikely places while adhering to the quarantines?

Find out more about Jeffrey:
starrigger.net

Links from the show:
Jeffrey’s Amazon page
Jeffrey’s Writing Course

Special thanks to:
Intro vocals: Persephone Rose
Show theme: Karl Hughes

Become a Patron of the show! Get exclusive bonus content, find your tribe, and get early access to all episodes.
Thank you to my patrons:
David Hines
Harley Christensen
Jon Cronshaw
Jenn Mitchell
Innes Richens
Ian J Middleton
PT Hylton
Michael Anderle
Jerry Evanoff
Mark McClure

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
1 hr 10 min
March 20, 2020#027: Jonathan Janz – Knowing your value, cultivating positivity, and being authentic to yourself.
Jonathan Janz is the author of more than a dozen novels and numerous short stories. His work has been championed by authors such as Joe R. Lansdale, Jack Ketchum, and Brian Keene; he has also been lauded by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and School Library Journal.
His ghost story The Siren and the Specter was selected as a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Horror. Additionally, his novel Children of the Dark was chosen by Booklist as a Top Ten Horror Book of the Year. Jonathan’s main interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children.

In this episode we go deep into:
What it’s like to be praised by horror sensation, Brian Keene.
What were the core mistakes that Brian Keene helped him through.
Knowing the value of your own work and shooting for the moon.
The value of mentorship.
How social media strengthens connections and widens the world.
Gravitating towards the people that raise you up, and distancing yourself from those who push you down.
Flipping the switch on positivity.
Jonathan’s entry into reading and what held him back for 14 years.
Types of reading, and the best ways to digest and analyze books and media.
How to cultivate self-definition and accept yourself for who you are
The importance of being transparent and honest, across all areas of your life.
What role does story play in Jonathan’s parenting style.
Why Chris Evans is a boss on and off camera.
How to best hone your craft and create a rich reading experience.
The importance of reading widely, outside of the cultural zeitgeist and giving time for more diverse voices.
What Jonathan’s writing process looks like.
Why does Jonathan write?

Jonathan answers questions from Patrons:
What is your top productivity tip or the "go-to" habit that keeps you on track?
How do you reward yourself when you've completed a project?

This week’s question:
How do you tackle negativity and self-doubt with your writing?

Find out more about Jonathan:
Jonathan.janz IG
Jonathan Janz Twit
jonathanjanz.com

Links from the show:
Carolyn Kepniss
Joe R Lansdale
Brian Keene
Josh Malerman
Tananarive Due
Stephen King’s 'The Tommyknockers'
Chris Evans interview
Robert McCammon
Ray Bradbury’s ‘Dandelion Wine’
Josh Malerman’s ‘Malorie’
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
1 hr 17 min
March 13, 2020#026: H.B. Lyne & Angeline Trevena – Navigating collaborations, running author events, and reviving a podcast.
HB Lynne and Angeline Trevena are the power duo behind the Unstoppable Authors podcast and the masterminds behind the UK’s Indie Fire Writers Conference. They each write across the science fiction and fantasy genres, and I’d be doing a disservice if I didn’t give each of them a highlight from their respective bios.

Angeline Trevena is a British science fiction, fantasy, and horror author. Creator of The Paper Duchess series, she is best known for her feminist brand of dystopia.
She's been writing stories since she was old enough to hold a pen, and after gaining a BA Hons degree in Drama and Writing, she honed her craft with horror and fantasy shorts which are published in numerous magazines and anthologies.

H. B. Lyne has always lived close to the dark side, never quite mastering the ability to force choke but contemplating it during dark times.
These days, when not chasing two chaotic munchkins around, Holly somehow engineers time to write fantasy. Her series, Echoes of the Past, is the tale of one young shape shifter's epic struggle to reconcile her humanity with her inner demon, whilst battling very real demons who threaten both humans and shifters alike.

In this episode we go deep into:
How Holly and Angeline got into their collaborations together
What are the benefits of collaboration
Putting your ego aside
Trust versus paper agreements
The difference between collaborating and co-writing
The biggest mistake to make before launching your podcast
Rebranding and streamlining your podcast, content, and its message
Managing difficult conversations when bringing new flavor to someone else’s product
How to hold yourself accountable
Running events and aiming it at indies
Are you the right person to run an event?
Thoughts on independent and traditional publishing

Holly and Angeline answers questions from Patrons:
Ian Middleton: Question for Angeline: any book recommendations for someone new to Dystopian Horror?
How do you reward yourself when you've completed a project?
What is your top productivity tip or the "go-to" habit that keeps you on track?
Favorite place to write (a coffee shop, a corner in the library, a cave, etc.)?

This week’s question:
Are you fiercely indie, hybrid, or determined to go the traditional route?

Find out more about Holly and Angeline:
https://angelinetrevena.co.uk/
http://hblyne.com/
https://unstoppableauthors.wordpress.com/
https://www.subscribepage.com/indiefire

Links from the show:
Margaret Atwood
‘Vox’ - Christina Dalcher
M.R. Carey
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
53 min
March 06, 2020#025: Brandon Ellis – The secret to marketing box sets, embracing mentorship and tutelage, and using vision boards to drive success.
Brandon Ellis is the bestselling author of the Mars Colony Chronicles, Ascendent Chronicles, and many more sci-fi works.

Brandon grew up on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon. After being declared an All State Baseball and All League Basketball player, he obtained his state and federal Therapeutic Massage License to become a successful Sports Massage Therapist & Instructor. During his life adventures so far, he has become a father of three and a successful author, and has recently taking the plunge in moving to Bali.

In this episode we go deep into:
Brandon’s love for board games
Writing in Brandon’s early years
What kept Brandon motivated when he believed his writing stunk
Building a strong mentality and learning to excel
Lessons which crossed from sports therapy to writing
Why networking is a superpower
Giving, being helpful, and being charitable without expectation
Not being scared to reach out and ask for advice from those you want to learn from
Brandon’s passion to help others who reach out to him
Brandon’s secret formula for making a box set successful
Entering the age of the box set culture
Why newsletter swaps still work
The importance of trust with your readers
Secrets into making sure your emails get read
How to theme your newsletters and make them engaging
Why vision boards are the secret to true success
The difference between affirmations and incantations
The value of ‘yet'
Why does Brandon write?

Brandon answers questions from Patrons:
Jenn Mitchell: How have you been able to push through the hard stuff and keep writing? It's the kind of thing we all face and you remain so positive and genuine. So, what’s the secret?
Jon Cronshaw: How do you research the market for your series
Mark McClure: How do you go about improving your writing craft skills?
Mark McClure: How relevant has your author website been to your success?

This week’s question:
How do you keep yourself motivated to achieve your writing goals?

Find out more about Brandon:
brandonelliswrites.com

Links from the show:
Great Writers Share Facebook Group
Chris Fox’s ads course
Brandon’s Atlantis Quadrilogy
Nick Cole & Jason Anspach’s Legionnaire
Hugh Howey’s Wool
A.G. Riddle Winter World
Jackson Dean Chase

Special thanks to:
Intro vocals: Persephone...

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
1 hr 4 min
February 28, 2020#024: John L Monk – The importance of being unforgettable, writing through the tough stuff, and the reality behind rapid release.
John L. Monk is the creative mind behind such series as The Jenkins Cycle, This Dark Ages, and The Chronicles of Ethan. His work has spanned the genres of science-fiction, post-apocalyptic, with his most recent venture taking him into the genre of LitRPG

John lives in Virginia, USA, with his wife, Dorothy. A writer with a degree in cultural anthropology, he boldly does the dishes, roots out evil wherever it lurks, and writes his own stunts.

In this episode we go deep into:
What’s changed in the 3 years since John and Dan spoke.
The importance of following up quickly on a success
Emotional and intellectual expenditure and how to manage it when writing about tough issues.
Writing your reality and wondering about reviews later
Experimenting with the fast release with John’s LitRPG series
Why John decided to play in the LitRPG genre
Seizing opportunities when they come
John’s experience working with a small press
The reality of writing three books in a row for rapid release
What does John’s writing process look like?
Making small things big
Outlining versus pantsing
What John is working on next
Why does John L Monk write?

John answers questions from Patrons:
PT Hylton: Would you rather fight Bruce Lee in his prime, or an elderly grizzly bear?
What is your top productivity tip or the "go-to" habit that keeps you on track?

This week’s question:
What is your optimum release schedule?

Find out more about John:
John-l-monk.com

Links from the show:
John’s interview on The Story Studio
Hell’s Children
Hell’s Encore
The Chronicles of Ethan
Terry Brooks - Sometimes the Magic Works
PT Hylton’s Deadlock Trilogy

Special thanks to:
Intro vocals: Persephone Rose
Show theme: Karl Hughes

Become a Patron of the show! Get exclusive bonus content, find your tribe, and get early access to all episodes.
Thank you to my patrons:
David Hines
Harley Christensen
Jon Cronshaw
Jenn Mitchell
Innes Richens
Ian J Middleton
PT Hylton
Michael Anderle
Jerry Evanoff
Mark McClure

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
58 min
February 21, 2020#023: Meg Cowley – Creating an author brand, business vs art, and making the muse your b**ch.
Meg Cowley is a USA Today bestselling author of fantasy fiction.
She lives in Yorkshire, England with her husband, son, and their two cats, Jet and Pixie. Meg loves everything fantasy, magic, and dragons, and has been a writer and artist since she could pick up a pencil. Meg works best when fuelled by Earl Grey Tea, margherita pizza, and characters who won’t do what they’re told! She’s passionate about writing sweeping fantasies with characters that could step off the page, and worlds that could be as real as our own.

In this episode we go deep into:
Meg’s obsession with tea and pizza
Finding and connecting with fellow writers
Coloring books for adults
Becoming a USA Today Bestselling author
Realizing that writing can be an actual career
The reality of the business vs the artistic brain
How Meg structures her day
Balancing writing with the duties of being a mother
Training yourself to rest
The importance of reading and socializing to balance the writing life
Creating a strong author brand, and when to do it
Bringing your readers into your big writing decisions
Managing cover design, and what to look for when taking on clients
Finding authors to promote with and maintaining the quality of your brand
Building trust with your readers and setting expectations
How motherhood has affected Meg’s writing
The power of emotional writing

Meg answers questions from Patrons:
Mark McClure: How much research do your books require and how do you do that research? (e.g. while writing, as issues occur or before a word is even written ).
Find out more about Meg:
megcowley.com
Meg’s Instagram

Links from the show:
Ryan Holiday’s Stillness is the Key
Becca Symes Dear Writer, You Need to Quit
Meg’s Resources for Branding
https://www.yourwriterplatform.com/personal-branding-for-authors/
https://kriswrites.com/category/business-musings/
https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2017/11/10/authentic-author-brand/
Sylvia Mercedes, The Venatrix Chronicles

Special thanks to:
Intro vocals: Persephone Rose
Show theme: Karl Hughes

Become a Patron of the show! Get exclusive bonus content, find your tribe, and get early access to all episodes.
Thank you to my patrons:
David Hines
Harley Christensen
Jon Cronshaw
Jenn Mitchell
Innes...

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
56 min
February 14, 2020#022: Craig Falconer – Lessons in writing Sci-Fi, modeling specific success, and quality versus quantity.
Craig A. Falconer is a bestselling Scottish novelist, specializing in science fiction. He has written several widely popular series in his career, including the Not Alone series, Terradox series, and the Sycamore series.

In this episode we go deep into:
What it feels like to win a ‘Best Dressed’ at a ceilidh
Advantages of leveraging a box set
Changing your mindset from minimum work to maximum output
Importance of specializing in one ad platform instead of trying to juggle them all
Best ways to market a box set
Modeling specific success
Finding your ideal writing routine
Going beyond what you believe you’re capable of (writing 113,000 in 13 days)
How speed can help the quality of your writing
Tips to increase your odds of creating a runaway success
Studying trends across mediums to find what could sell
Knowing your genre inside and out
Craig’s research process
Capitalizing on emotional resonance and playing with contrasting lines
Sticking in your own lane and abiding by your own pace
Working with agents on your audio deals
Taking risks and thinking outside of the box to secure success (with audiobooks)

Craig answers questions from Patrons:
Jenn Mitchell: What kinds of things did you do to deal with the pressure of trying to write the next few books following such a huge initial success?
Mark McClure: Do you plot, pants, or dance between the two?

Find out more about Craig:
facebook.com/CraigAFalconer
Craig’s Facebook group

Links from the show:
www.danielwillcocks.com
www.facebook.com/groups/greatwritersshare
Not Alone by Craig A Falconer

Special thanks to:
Intro vocals: Persephone Rose
Show theme: Karl Hughes

Become a Patron of the show! Get exclusive bonus content, find your tribe, and get early access to all episodes.
Thank you to my patrons:
David Hines
Harley Christensen
Jon Cronshaw
Jenn Mitchell
Innes Richens
Ian J Middleton
PT Hylton
Michael Anderle
Jerry Evanoff
Mark McClure

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
1 hr 9 min

About Activated Authors

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Activated Authors is an online author community centered around principles of healthy productivity, community, and shared knowledge. Founded by international bestselling author, award-winning…

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Activated Authors episodes

About Activated Authors