Authoring Onward

 

Happy Holidays, everyone! Today is the New Year’s planning episode. Today is all about setting goals for the coming year, frequency of goal setting and evaluation, SMART goals vs. more nebulous objectives, and the five areas I like to use as criteria for coming up with goals: production, marketing, publicity, author education, and personal goals.

I hope you’re enjoying the holiday season so far. I know I am. I’ve got lemons and oranges studded with whole cloves slow roasting in the oven as I type this. My house smells amazing!

Speaking of planning, the indie author planner is coming along. If you’d like a free review copy, either pdf, print, or both, let me know in the form below and be sure to check your email for a confirmation that will add you to the list.  I’ll send out as many print copies as I can afford. We’ll have to see what the printing costs come to.

Thanks again for listening. Have a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year. Let me know in the comments, what are some of your goals for 2020?

 

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Hi, folks. It’s all holiday stuff all the time around here. We’ve got a gingerbread house to build today and a Christmas pudding on its way to our door.

Today, I’ve also got for y’all a lovely interview with children’s author A.J. Culey. We talk about her funny series about a classroom pet rabbit named Tyrabbisaurus Rex, writing multiple POVs, and much more!

Next week, I’ll be back–yes, on Christmas Day!–with the 2020 planning episode. Speaking of planning, I’ve been pleased with my progress on creating an indie author planner. With luck, I’ll have something great to share with you all next week.

About A.J.:

A.J. Culey is a teacher, world traveler and writer with an out-of-control imagination. When driving, standing in lines or doing chores, she’s often imagining cats in flight, antlers exploding from human heads and rabbits wrestling tigers. If caught giggling at nothing, she just shrugs and says, “I crack myself up.”

A.J. lives in Kansas City, Kansas with her clowder of cats and can be found online at www.ajculey.com

Hi, folks! As we’re winding down the year, today’s episode is all about a problem that’s common for writers: Imposter Syndrome. What is it? And if you’re feeling some Imposter Syndrome, how can you move past it to keep creating?

I felt inspired by this topic as I realized that a little Imposter Syndrome (plus some letting the perfect get in the way of the good) was holding me back on my author planner project. So that project is now back on the table, depending on how much time I have before the holidays.

Is Imposter Syndrome holding you back on a project? How are you combating it?

Hello! 2019 is drawing to a close, but there’s still 3 more episodes of the show yet to go in this decade. Yes, decade!

Today I’ve got a great interview for y’all with the first coloring book author I’ve yet to have on the podcast. I think you’ll enjoy and benefit from this chat with Jules Fox.

I’d also love to hear from y’all in the comments about planners. One of my 2020 goals is to produce an author planner. So, before I print out my prototype that I’ll use and test in the first 1/4 of 2020, what features do you like or dislike in a planner?

Be back next week with a solo show, then on the 18th with the last interview of the year.

About Jules:

Jules Fox is an award winning author from Hawaii. He is an adventurer and thrill seeker, a Parkour Generations Level 1 coach, certified Waldorf Educator, PADI Scuba Rescue Diver, the very proud father of one amazing daughter, and a good listener. He teaches writing workshops for kids and teens across the USA and internationally, and is available for public speaking.

Website

Jules’ books on Amazon

 

Hi, folks.

It’s the day before Thanksgiving and I’d forgotten my next author interview wasn’t due to release until next week–I’d meant to take this week off but forgotten that too–so today I’ve got a quick solo episode for those of you looking to get a few more words in for November.

These 5 tips will help you get more words in this week. And there’s a bonus tip that takes a bit longer than a week to put in place.

I’m off to make some casserole. Until next time, happy writing!

Phew! I’m back from the 20Booksto50K conference in Las Vegas!

The three days I spent there were an absolute blast. I met a lot of wonderful authors, made new friends, and learned some new things. And I felt very glamorous playing roulette and losing my (gasp!) Naturally, today’s episode is all about conferences! The episode includes:

Why you should attend a writer’s conference

Top tips for conference attendees

My personal takeaways from the 20Books Conference

If you are looking for more info, check out the 20Booksto50K Facebook group (please read the description and answer all questions before joining, also be careful of the rules before posting).

And for the other conferences I mentioned:

SCBWI regions (each region has its own conference and there’s two national/international conferences each year)

Virginia Writer’s Club (holds a symposium every summer)

The Virginia Festival of the Book (free festival every spring)

 

Hello, again.

Today on the show, I talk with J. Kasper Kramer about her new book set in 1989 Romania, The Story that Cannot Be Told. We chat about writing in another place and time, setting aside old projects to start something new, and so much more.

In announcements, don’t forget you can get podcast news delivered straight to your inbox by signing up for the newsletter. You’ll also get a free copy of my ebook Writing Without Childcare.

Finally, I’m doing NaNoWriMo…sort of. Anyway, if you’re Nanoing this November, come be my buddy! My username is ConnieBDowell.

About J. Kasper Kramer:

 

J. Kasper Kramer is an author and English professor in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She has a master’s degree in creative writing and once upon a time lived in Japan, where she taught at an international school. When she’s not curled up with a book, Kramer loves researching lost fairy tales, playing video games, and fostering kittens.

Find more from her on her website.

Busy week here at Book Echoes Media! I’m leading the Writing Schedule Revamp Challenge mostly on Facebook through Friday. (Join in and revisit earlier video lessons at your leisure).

And today is my publication day for Writing Without Childcare! It’s a super short read that condenses a lot of what I’ve learned the past 4 years. If you’re interested, I’m looking for reviewers. Get a review copy here.

Onto the podcast, I’ve got an interview with children’s author and dance educator Connie Dow. We had a good laugh about how similar our names are. It’s a great listen if you are interested in dance and movement for children or have a particular expertise you’d like to translate into a book for young readers. Scroll on down and enjoy!

About Connie:

Connie believes that every child should have the opportunity to participate in the arts. The arts are not “extras” – they are vital and transformative forces in our lives. She has drawn upon her career as a performer and dance educator in writing her books and articles, so that teachers, parents, and caregivers can offer children the gift of movement.

Please visit my website: www.movingislearning.com

And check out From A to Z with Energy!

Hi, folks!

Today I’ve got a solo episode for you all, one that I’ve been planning for awhile about my experience putting out my first audiobook as an indie author. I talk about the pros and cons of the various options with ACX for audiobook production as well as the process of going from ebook to published audiobook. I hope it is helpful. Bonus, you get some kids sounds in the background.

And again, signups for the Writing Schedule Revamp–free five day challenge to find your writing time and get ready for National Novel Writing Month–are open! The fun starts on Monday, October 21st. To get the video lessons delivered to your email, click here. If you’d rather just join the Facebook group and skip the email, lessons will be posted there too, so click here and answer the questions to join in.

Some resources from today’s episode:

All the ACX produced audiobooks narrated by Douglas Birk

The audiobook cover requirements from ACX

Until next time,

Connie

Hello, again!  Today we’ve got a great interview about writing for reluctant and struggling readers, the upcoming National Novel Writing Month and more! At times the audio did cut out on us, but the material is great, so please bear with the occasional interruption for a wonderful conversation with Rebecca Laffar-Smith.

In other news, Nanowrimo, National Novel Writing Month, is coming fast, so I’ve got something special to help folks get ready. I’m leading a free productivity/time management challenge called the Writing Schedule Revamp from Oct. 21-25. It’s five days of quick video lessons and actionable steps that you can fit into your busy life. Plus, we’ve got a private Facebook group to help keep us all accountable. I hope you’ll join us in writing a lot more and having more fun doing it. Just click here to sign up!

Now, all about Rebecca:

About Rebecca Laffar-Smith

Rebecca grew up in the magical worlds of wonder and darkness that was 80’s science fiction and fantasy. She devoured stories of knights and castles, angels and fairies, demons and dragons, aliens, space ships, and time travel. When she’s not lost in Camelot, Gallifrey, Pegasus, Narnia, or any number of fictional realities, she’s writing within her own.

Now an internationally published, award-winning author, Rebecca spins tales inspired by magic and the vastness of potential. She’s committed to telling transformative stories that help her readers escape reality and experience possibility. She’d like to invite readers to come with her to explore everything the Universe has to offer and beyond!

Find out more at: http://www.rebeccalaffarsmith.com

And she also writes with her kids as Bec J. Smith. Find out about her books for reluctant and struggling young readers at http://www.aulexic.com.au/books/