Author Diary Entries

Learn what it’s like to navigate real or perceived pressures as an author, and how your host Sagan Morrow has handled that. Polyamory is a niche topic to write as a romance author—and that means there can be a lot of pressures around it! 

How do you as an author ensure you are best representing the community? And what can you do to deal with situations when readers want you to write one thing or another? Should authors ever be dictated what to write about… and how can that be balanced with the importance of encouraging authors to use their platform in meaningful ways? 

We explore these questions and more in this episode of the Indie Author Weekly podcast! 

Access sample chapters of Sagan's novels, transcripts of each episode, cheatsheets and spreadsheets relevant to the episode topics, and additional resources, at SaganMorrow.com/secretpodcast.  

Resources & links mentioned in this episode:  

• Learn more about Sagan’s books at SaganMorrow.com/books  
• Tune into the “secret” version of this podcast at SaganMorrow.com/secretpodcast  
• Submit your questions at SaganMorrow.com/question  
• Lauren Layne (author)  
• Bending the Bookshelf (blog)  

Connect with Sagan (@Saganlives) on Twitter and Instagram. Feel free to use the hashtag #IndieAuthorWeekly to chat about this episode.  

Send fan mail! Click HERE to leave Sagan a voicemail & share your thoughts about this episode.

Support the show

Learn a 4-step process for how to figure out which book you should write first. Newbie authors, this podcast episode is for you! Plus, find out why you need to write the book you're excited about, regardless of whether or not you think you're "good enough" to write it yet.

This episode shares some tough love, writing motivation, writing encouragement, and practical tips for choosing which book you should start with for your writing career. If you have a lot of ideas for your next book and you're already a published author, you will definitely also benefit from learning about the different methods outlined in this episode for how to choose which story idea to write next. 

Access sample chapters of Sagan's novels, transcripts of each episode, cheatsheets and spreadsheets relevant to the episode topics, and additional resources, at SaganMorrow.com/secretpodcast. 

Resources & links mentioned in this episode:  

• Learn more about Sagan’s books at SaganMorrow.com/books  
• Tune into the “secret” version of this podcast at SaganMorrow.com/secretpodcast  
• Submit your questions at SaganMorrow.com/question  
• Episode 7 of this Indie Author Weekly podcast (whether to use a pen name)  

Connect with Sagan (@Saganlives) on Twitter and Instagram. Feel free to use the hashtag #IndieAuthorWeekly to chat about this episode.  

Send fan mail! Click HERE to leave Sagan a voicemail & share your thoughts about this episode.

Support the show

Learn about 3 ways to keep accountable with your writer friends in this episode of the indie author podcast! You'll find out the benefits of writing in virtual groups, doing one-on-one writing session hangouts, and participating in global writer challenges. 

Access sample chapters of Sagan's novels, transcripts of each episode, cheatsheets and spreadsheets relevant to the episode topics, and additional resources, at SaganMorrow.com/secretpodcast.

Resources & links mentioned in this episode:  

• Learn more about Sagan’s books at SaganMorrow.com/books  
• Tune into the “secret” version of this podcast at SaganMorrow.com/secretpodcast  
• Submit your questions at SaganMorrow.com/question  
• Episode 13 of this Indie Author Weekly podcast (writer's block tips) 
• National Novel Writing Month 
• Episode 5 of this Indie Author Weekly podcast (NaNoWriMo experience) 
• Word count tracker spreadsheet (Bonuses section of SaganMorrow.com/secretpodcast)  

Connect with Sagan (@Saganlives) on Twitter and Instagram. Feel free to use the hashtag #IndieAuthorWeekly to chat about this episode.  

Send fan mail! Click HERE to leave Sagan a voicemail & share your thoughts about this episode.

Support the show

Learn 6 tips for how to improve your writing skills as an author in this episode of the Indie Author Weekly podcast!

You'll find out why rereading your work matters so much, how even 15 minutes/day can make all the difference for improving writing skills, why you should "read between the lines" with what readers say about your work, and more. This episode of the indie author podcast also includes an important reminder about external validation, writing progress, and self-worth.

Plus, your host Sagan Morrow has some exciting news to share about her upcoming book... tune in now to find out the great news!

Access sample chapters of Sagan's novels, transcripts of each episode, cheatsheets and spreadsheets relevant to the episode topics, and additional resources, at SaganMorrow.com/secretpodcast.  

Resources & links mentioned in this episode:  

• Learn more about Sagan’s books at SaganMorrow.com/books  
• Tune into the “secret” version of this podcast at SaganMorrow.com/secretpodcast  
• Submit your questions at SaganMorrow.com/question  

Connect with Sagan (@Saganlives) on Twitter and Instagram. Feel free to use the hashtag #IndieAuthorWeekly to chat about this episode.  

Send fan mail! Click HERE to leave Sagan a voicemail & share your thoughts about this episode.

Support the show

Learn how an author's writing is affected by her real life (and vice versa!) in this episode of Indie Author Weekly. This episode shares a behind-the-scenes peek at author Sagan Morrow's personal life and the integration between books and real-life situations.

This episode answers 3 listener-submitted questions: 

1. For many authors, real life informs their work. Do you incorporate elements or inspiration from real life into your characters or plot? 
2. How has writing about polyamory affected your real-life relationships? 
3. How has focusing on novels for almost a year now changed your life? 

Find out the answers to all of these questions when you tune into this episode of the indie author podcast! 

Access sample chapters of my novels, transcripts of each episode, cheatsheets and spreadsheets relevant to the episode topics, and additional resources, at SaganMorrow.com/secretpodcast.  

Resources & links mentioned in this episode:  

• Learn more about Sagan’s books at SaganMorrow.com/books  
• Tune into the “secret” version of this podcast at SaganMorrow.com/secretpodcast  
• Submit your questions at SaganMorrow.com/question  

Connect with Sagan (@Saganlives) on Twitter and Instagram. Feel free to use the hashtag #IndieAuthorWeekly to chat about this episode.  

Send fan mail! Click HERE to leave Sagan a voicemail & share your thoughts about this episode.

Support the show

Learn a simple exercise you can use in your novels to improve character development in this episode of the Indie Author Weekly podcast!

This technique, Situationals, will enable you to get to know your characters better, so whether you want to create a more complex character or whether you need to get past writer's block, you'll find this exercise helpful.

Don't forget to grab the freebie! You can access a worksheet featuring writing prompts to help you learn more about your characters at SaganMorrow.com/secretpodcast. 

Access sample chapters of my novels, transcripts of each episode, cheatsheets and spreadsheets relevant to the episode topics, and additional resources, at SaganMorrow.com/secretpodcast. 

Resources & links mentioned in this episode:  

• Learn more about Sagan’s books at SaganMorrow.com/books  
• Tune into the “secret” version of this podcast at SaganMorrow.com/secretpodcast  

Connect with Sagan (@Saganlives) on Twitter and Instagram. Feel free to use the hashtag #IndieAuthorWeekly to chat about this episode.  

Send fan mail! Click HERE to leave Sagan a voicemail & share your thoughts about this episode.

Support the show

Learn a simple 3-step system for how to keep track of everything when you're writing a book series in this episode of the Indie Author Weekly podcast! Plus, get 5 tips for how to write a book series so that everything stays consistent and cohesive from one book to the next.

You'll find out how your podcast host, Sagan Morrow, has organized her 9-book series (4 published to date, with the next one currently in the editing process), what's worked for her and what hasn't, and how you can apply the lessons she's learned to your own book writing experience.

The tips shared in this indie author podcast episode are relevant to any author considering writing a book series, or any author who writes novels that feature cross-over characters or exist in the same world.

Access sample chapters of my novels, transcripts of each episode, cheatsheets and spreadsheets relevant to the episode topics, and additional resources, at SaganMorrow.com/audio. 

Resources & links mentioned in this episode:  

• Learn more about Sagan’s books at SaganMorrow.com/books  
• Tune into the “secret” version of this podcast at SaganMorrow.com/audio  

Connect with Sagan (@Saganlives) on Twitter and Instagram. Feel free to use the hashtag #IndieAuthorWeekly to chat about this episode.  

Send fan mail! Click HERE to leave Sagan a voicemail & share your thoughts about this episode.

Support the show

Learn 10 tips for editing your own work, plus the editing process your host Sagan Morrow (a professional editor) uses when self-editing her own books, in this episode of Indie Author Weekly.

You'll learn about the importance of having a personal style guide and character bible for your books, different types of edits and ways to review your work, and more. This episode provides you with practical tips for editing books regardless of whether you hire an editor as part of your indie author journey.

Access sample chapters of my novels, transcripts of each episode, cheatsheets and spreadsheets relevant to the episode topics, and additional resources, at SaganMorrow.com/audio.  

Resources & links mentioned in this episode:  

• Learn more about Sagan’s books at SaganMorrow.com/books  
• Chicago Manual of Style   
• Hemingway App  
• Tune into the “secret” version of this podcast at SaganMorrow.com/audio  

Connect with Sagan (@Saganlives) on Twitter and Instagram. Feel free to use the hashtag #IndieAuthorWeekly to chat about this episode.  

Send fan mail! Click HERE to leave Sagan a voicemail & share your thoughts about this episode.

Support the show

7 questions to ask yourself, plus actionable ways for how to understand your unique strengths and weaknesses as a writer—so you can improve your writing skills and become a better author.

It can feel scary to analyze our work and figure out our unique strengths and weaknesses, but there is power in it. The more that you know this about yourself, the more you can do something about it. You will be able to create more opportunities for yourself. You will be a better writer, and your readers will enjoy your work that much more. So isn’t facing the fear of it worth it, for all that you can get in return?

Understanding our strengths and weaknesses, and identifying whether or not something is a strength vs. a weakness, often comes down to perspective and how we want to approach it. You will be able to find weaknesses in every strength—which means you can always make your strengths even stronger. And you will be able to find strengths in every weakness—which means you always have it in you to improve upon those areas. And that is powerful. 

Tune into this episode to learn more! 

Access sample chapters of my novels, transcripts of each episode, cheatsheets and spreadsheets relevant to the episode topics, and additional resources, at SaganMorrow.com/audio. 

Resources & links mentioned in this episode: 

• Learn more about Sagan’s books (and view the book cover designs) at SaganMorrow.com/books  
• Hemingway App 
• Tune into the “secret” version of this podcast at SaganMorrow.com/audio  

Connect with Sagan (@Saganlives) on Twitter and Instagram. Feel free to use the hashtag #IndieAuthorWeekly to chat about this episode. 

Send fan mail! Click HERE to leave Sagan a voicemail & share your thoughts about this episode.

Support the show

Learn 5 tips for how to deal with writer's block (or creative blocks) so that you can get past the slump and keep making progress with writing your awesome story.

Access sample chapters of my novels, transcripts of each episode, cheatsheets and spreadsheets relevant to the episode topics, and additional resources, at SaganMorrow.com/audio. 

Resources & links mentioned in this episode:  

• Learn more about Sagan's books at SaganMorrow.com/books 

Connect with Sagan (@Saganlives) on Twitter and Instagram. Feel free to use the hashtag #IndieAuthorWeekly to chat about this episode. 

Send fan mail! Click HERE to leave Sagan a voicemail & share your thoughts about this episode.

Support the show