Confessions of a First Time Author

What I've been up to in September and the first half of October, plus author tips.

Activities around my new release, A Sleuth & a Charlatan, including:

• Newsletter swaps.
• Newsletter promotion services with my results. (My series is historical fantasy adventure with romance.)
• My first orange bestseller tag on Amazon!

Links for the tips and recommendations for this episode - full links and info at claresager.com/confessions:

• CoverVault.
• Newsletter promo sites that worked well for me at 0.99: Book Barbarian, Bargain Booksy, Fussy Librarian, BKnights, and BookSends. (Again, remember results can vary by genre.)
• Zoom – great video/audio conferencing software I used to interview Sylvia Mercedes.

Connect with me: Twitter @claresauthor, email [email protected].

Credits:

Intro/Outro Music: "Inspired" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

What I've been up to in August, goals for September, and your monthly author tips.

What I've been up to, such as:

• Finishing A Sleuth & a Charlatan, and putting it up for pre-order.
• Tons of promotional tasks on social media.
• My first BookBub application.
• Planning for a new series I'll be putting on rapid release, including trying out a slightly different writing process.

Links for the tips for this episode:

• That book I'm excited to read: Daughter of Shades, Sylvia Mercedes. [US Affiliate link] [UK Affiliate link]

Connect with me: Twitter @claresauthor, email [email protected].

Credits:

Intro/Outro Music: "Inspired" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

What I've been up to in July, what I've learned, goals for August and your monthly tips.

What I've been up to, such as:

• Editing.
• Working out low cost launch plans for my new book, A Sleuth & a Charlatan.
• Reading fiction & non-fiction, including Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert and David Gaughran's BookBub Ads Expert.
• Reformatted A Thief & a Gentlewoman's paperback size.
• Reviewed notes for Strangers to Superfans (also by David Gaughran) to plan what I need to implement.

I talk 20Books to Edinburgh, including:

• Delayed flights and working at the airport.
• Catching up with existing friends and making new ones.
• Feeling even more of a sense of belonging with my tribe.
• My first writing retreat – making a start on drafting my pirate books.
• Getting my arse kicked by mad people who get up at 5am.
• Getting my arse kicked/being made to cry in the nicest way by Lyz Kelley – all part of finding your inner, truest why, leading to your inner, truest brand.
• Cool plans for a potential collaboration … More information soon.

Links for the tips for this episode:

• 5am Writer's Club: https://5amwritersclub.wordpress.com/
• Big Magic [UK affiliate link: https://amzn.to/33dhPS8] [US affiliate link:https://amzn.to/2yA3BwB]
• BookBub Ads Expert, David Gaughran [UK Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/2KgYRTd] [US Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/2MCr8oB]
• Strangers to Superfans, David Gaughran [UK affiliate link: https://amzn.to/2M0pyxE] [US Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/2T9mwYr]

Connect with me: Twitter @claresauthor, email [email protected].

Credits:

Intro/Outro Music: "Inspired" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We are slap-bang in the middle of 2019, so what better time for a review of the year so far?

I catch you up on what I've been up to, such as:

• What I failed to write (oops).
• Some new tools I've been using. (Spoiler alert - I love them!)
• Outlining two new series

I also talk about my (perhaps overambitious goals for the rest of the year, including:

• Income targets.
• A new direction for my author business.
• Writing - there's lots to draft and edit this year!

And to make up for my absence, I hit you with three tips!

Links for the tips for this episode:

• The Emotional Wound Thesaurus (US: https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Wound-Thesaurus-Writers-Psychological-ebook/dp/B076KFRFNF/) (UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Emotional-Wound-Thesaurus-Writers-Psychological/dp/0989772594/) & The Negative Trait Thesaurus, (US: https://www.amazon.com/Negative-Trait-Thesaurus-Writers-Character-ebook/dp/B00FVZDZ6K/) (UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Negative-Trait-Thesaurus-Writers-Character/dp/0989772500/) both by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi
• Tarot for Writers, by Corrine Kenner – UK (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tarot-Writers-Corrine-Kenner/dp/0738714577/) US (https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Writers-Corrine-Kenner/dp/0738714577/)
• The Rider Waite Tarot Deck – UK (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Rider-Waite-Tarot-Deck/dp/0712670572) US (https://www.amazon.com/Original-Rider-Waite-Tarot-Pack/dp/0880796863)

Connect with me: Twitter @claresauthor, email [email protected].

Credits:

Intro/Outro Music: "Inspired" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

It's a bumper episode with 2 months' worth of updates, including:

• Initial development work on a new series of shorter books. I talk about this more in an interview with Jon Cronshaw on Stop Booking Around, episode 32 - http://stopbookingaround.libsyn.com/032-long-novels-with-clare-sager
• Dictation struggles and wins, including my best ever writing speed and most words ever written in a day.

The podcast is also officially changing to a monthly show, rather than fortnightly. I'll also be trialing having quarterly goal episodes. Because, the writing has to come first.

My question for you this episode:

• What are your tools and processes that help with the admin tasks in your author career? For example, using Google Forms as a timesaver for newsletter swaps. I'd love to hear your tips for how you organise those admin jobs and keep track.

Links for the tips for this episode:

• Episode 327 Smart Podcast Trashy Books. The perfect pep talk ahead of setting your 2019 goals: https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/podcast/327-give-yourself-permission-to-be-successful-productivity-and-self-honesty-with-scarlett-cole/
• The One Thing book by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan: https://www.the1thing.com/
• Passion Planner - a great journal/planner for setting goals and keeping track of your day-to-day: https://passionplanner.com/

Credits:

Intro/Outro Music: "Inspired" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

What I've been up to this month (other than having a cold, hence the lack of episode last time!), including discussion of: blurb/book description writing; crit groups; outlining; scheduling; writing mindset; Instagram; and setting ongoing goals/targets.

My tip this episode is to try out Bullet Journalling - further information in the links.

Links:

• Self-Publishing Journeys Podcast - my second interview with Paul: https://self-publishing-journeys.com/episode-121-clare-sager/
• The Best Page Forward (I've not used their description-writing service, but Bryan gave me feedback on my previous blurb and I've heard others have had great experiences): https://www.bestpageforward.net/
• My blurb spreadsheet example: http://www.claresager.com/?attachment_id=492
• My free novelette Mudlark is available here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/h566xy8i7p
• This is the cover I made for Mudlark:

• Self-Publishing Formula's Cover Design Course: https://selfpublishingformula.com/design
• Epic Fantasy > Romantic Authors Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/915278855313426/
• My dining table hit by outlining here:

Bullet journalling info:

• Great guide from The Lazy Genius Collective: http://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com/blog/how-to-bullet-journal 
• Some pretty ideas for getting started: https://tealnotes.com/bullet-journal-ideas/
• Cheat Sheet from The Little Coffee Fox: https://littlecoffeefox.com/ultimate-bullet-journal-cheat-sheet/ 
• When you're ready to customise, here are some ideas: https://www.buzzfeed.com/nicolenguyen/genius-ways-you-can-customize-your-bullet-journal
• Minimalist and functional layouts: https://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelwmiller/minimalist-bullet-journals 
• Some other layout ideas: https://wonderfuldiy.com/bullet-journal-layout-ideas/ 
• And, of course, you know you can trust Pinterest to throw some beautiful ideas your way (just don't spend all your time pinning instead of doing!): https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/474215035752602151/?lp=true 

Credits:

Intro/Outro Music: "Inspired" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

What I've been up to since the last episode, including finally releasing my debut novel, A Thief & a Gentlewoman. My tip this week is actually a list of resources for launching your first book - see the links below.

Links:

• Editor - Kendra Olson: https://kendraolson.wordpress.com/development-editing-service/
• Cover designer - Stuart Bache at Books Covered: https://www.bookscovered.co.uk/
• BookFunnel: https://www.bookfunnel.com/
• Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/
• MailerLite: https://www.mailerlite.com/
• 20Booksto50k(TM) Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/781495321956934/
• Epic Fantasy > Romance Authors Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/915278855313426/
• Mark Dawson's Self Publishing 101 Course is currently open for enrolment (as of 9th September 2018) and you can buy it here (https://learn.selfpublishingformula.com/p/101/ ) or get more information in the Self Publishing Formula's Facebook community here (https://www.facebook.com/groups/SPFsecretgroup/ )

Credits:

Intro/Outro Music: "Inspired" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

That's right! I've been hiding away finishing the final edits of A Thief & a Gentlewoman and this is your chance to hear a very rambly update from me just minutes after doing so! I somehow manage to coherently talk about what I've learnt through the experience. I also give a very practical tip for this episode to help you make more of your time so you can get on with writing.

Credits:

Intro/Outro Music: "Inspired" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

What I've been up to not only for the past two weeks, but for the first half of this year in a mid-year round up and reflection episode. Tips this episode are my big lessons learned from those experiences in the first six months of 2018, including dealing with fear, making the writing process run more smoothly, and The One Thing.

Links:

• Elizabeth Gilbert Interview about fear and creativity (watch the whole thing, but pay particular attention to 4 mins where she starts taking about dealing with fear): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyUYa-BnjU8
• The One Thing: https://www.the1thing.com/
• Bullet Journal explanation: http://bulletjournal.com/

Credits:

Intro/Outro Music: "Inspired" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

What I've been up to for the past two weeks, including some challenging times dealing with anxiety and current affairs. Despite that the editing is going well. I also share a tip for making the most of your time and being productive even when you don't feel like it.

Links:

The Good Place - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4955642/

Credits:

Intro/Outro Music: "Inspired" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/