HBIC Nation Podcast

Summer Short #5: Get Unstuck

Our last summer mini-sode, features HBICs Alexandra Haughton and Laura von Holt (aka, The Sparkle Squad) who have combined their formal training, knowledge, and personal experience to design a workshop that addresses the mental and spiritual fortitude required to be a creative. 

In other words, the stuff they probably didn't teach you in that creative writing class, or any of those courses about how to market your work.

In this episode Alexandra and Laura  each share their favorite exercise from their popular Get Unstuck workshop. In less than 20 minutes you'll have two really powerful tools to help you move past creative blocks. And, as if that isn't enough, they are also sharing some free downloadable graphics you can use when you need a reminder to "Say yes to sequins. Say no to self-doubt." Get those here: bit.ly/UNSTUCKAF

If you are a registered attendee at the Romance Writers of America conference (RWA) in New York next week, experience the whole workshop in person at Alexandra and Laura's session: Get Unstuck: Recalibrating the Creative Brain, Friday, July 26, at 12:45pm. 

In the New York area, but not attending the conference? Be sure to follow HBIC Nation on Instagram or Twitter to find out how to meet up with us at open-to-the-public events. If you're not attending RWA, or won't  be RWA adjacent later this month, you can still join in the party by participating in our July Instagram Challenge (#hbicnationchallege, @hbicnation)

And remember you can always join us on Facebook to ask questions or share your own thoughts about this, or any of our episodes. Finally, don't forget to subscribe to the HBIC Nation Podcast in your preferred podcasting app, so you don't miss a thing.

Summer Short #4: Don't be Scared of the Synopsis

We're thrilled to be joined by the lovely Justine of the book blog I Should Read That and the podcast You're Never Going to Read This for this installment of our summer series. In this mini-sode Justine interviews her sister, Julia, about the "mysterious writer side" of her life, specifically the workshop about synopses that she'll be co-leading at the Romance Writers of America (RWA) Conference later this month.  Justine and Julia talk about why you'll often hear authors muttering about how much writing a synopsis sucks, what a good synopsis can do for you, and the story behind how Julia learned to write a really strong one. Make sure to listen all the way to the end of this fun conversation for Julia's words of wisdom about how to get the most out of RWA (or any conference, really) and take home lots of lessons about how to best manage your own unique career path.

If you're a registered attendee at RWA you can catch Julia and Alisha Rai's session: Synopses, Blurbs, and Marketing Hooks: How to Sell Your Book Before You Even Write It on Thursday, July 25 at 11:00am. In the New York area, but not attending the conference? Be sure to follow HBIC Nation on Instagram or Twitter to find out how to meet up with us at open-to-the-public events.

If you're not attending RWA, or won't  be RWA adjacent later this month, you can still join in the party by participating in our July Instagram Challenge (#hbicnationchallege, @hbicnation)

And remember you can always join us on Facebook to ask questions or share your own thoughts about synopses. Finally, don't forget to subscribe to the HBIC Nation Podcast in your preferred podcasting app, so you don't miss a thing.

Summer Short #3: What is Kanban & What Does it Have to do with Writing?

In our third summer mini-sode, Alexis Anne explains what Kanban (pronounced: con-bon, rhymes with bonbon) even is, and why you should care. She gives you a quick birds-eye view of a process that has worked for engineers for years and then makes the short jump to how this can help YOU organize your writing life -- everything from plotting your next book, to creating a marketing plan.

Want more? If you are attending the Romance Writers of America (RWA) Conference this year-- Alexis is leading a session in which she will dive much deeper into all the ways kanban can enhance your creative life: Keep It Simple: Using Kanban to Plan Your Marketing, Plot Your Book, and Organize Your Life (Friday, July 26, at 3:15pm). Not attending RWA? No worries, Alexis plans to release a series of YouTube videos full of Kanban content. Find all the information on her website: https://alexisannebooks.com/kanban-for-writers 

We'd love to know your thoughts on kanban or any of our recent summer mini-sodes. Join us on Facebook to ask questions or share your own thoughts. And don't forget to subscribe to the HBIC Nation Podcast in your preferred podcasting app, so you don't miss a thing.

And while we're on the subject of connecting-- we're hosting an Instagram challenge for the whole month of July and would love for you to join in the fun at #hbicnationchallege, @hbicnation

Summer Short #2: Five Things We Wish We had Known About Podcasting

In the second of our Summer Shorts, Laura von Holt and Lindsay Emory sit down to talk about the five things they wish someone had told them before they started their podcasts. This mini-sode (as Lindsay calls it) is packed with amazing advice that will help you feel confident and ready to share your beautiful voice with the world.

Here are links to the things mentioned in the show:

Lindsay's podcast

Laura's podcast

HBIC Guide to Podcasting

If you are attending the Romance Writers of America (RWA) Conference this year-- learn more from Lindsay and Laura, as well as Sarah MacLean (Fated Mates podcast) and Jenny Nordbak (Wicked Wallflowers) during their panel, Perfecting the Podcast (Thursday, July 25, at 9:45am).

After you listen, we'd love to know what you think. Join us on Facebook to ask questions or share your own experiences with podcasting. And don't forget to subscribe to the HBIC Nation Podcast in your preferred podcasting app, so you don't miss a thing.

Thanks for listening! Go forth and Dream. Do. Dominate.

Summer Short #1: Back to the Future with Newsletters

This summer we're bringing you a series of short podcasts that share some key strategies, thoughts and tips/tricks on topics we've been feeling passionate about lately. Many of these will be snippets of things that HBICs attending the Romance Writers of America (RWA) conference in July will have a chance to explore further in sessions we're leading. However, even if we won't see you in New York this summer, we promise you'll gain insights from these shorts.

Just because they're small, doesn't mean they aren't mighty.

Out first summer short is a conversation between Lindsay Emory and Alexis Anne about newsletters. They start by explaining why going back in time to use old school email might be even more important than your awesome Facebook page and that witty Twitter banter you've cultivated. Alexis shares what she's learned about refining her content, creating value for her readers, and why she doesn't stress about a few unsubscribes. While there is certainly no universal secret sauce to newsletters, this episode will help you experiment with making your newsletter something your readers are excited to see in their inbox.

Here are links to things mentioned in the show:

The Newsletter Ninja // Tammi Labrecque

Serena Bell's newsletter

Alexis Anne's newsletter

Lindsay Emory's newsletter

After you listen, we'd love to know what you think. Join us on Facebook to ask questions or share your own experiences with newsletters. And while we're on the subject,  don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss a thing.

Thanks for listening! Go forth and Dream. Do. Dominate.

Content marketing-- wait? What exactly does that mean? What content are we marketing? Are we now just using "content" as a super generic synonym for "art"?

If you're not familiar with the concept, the mere mention of content marketing can cause confusion. Fear not! We're clearing all that up for you this month.

Essentially content marketing involves intentionally drawing people to your art without you having the scream "BUY THE THING I MADE" at the top of your lungs all the time. We start the podcast off with a comprehensive explanation of what exactly content marketing is and two specific ways to approach it, before diving into specific examples of how Lindsay, Julia, and Alexis are currently using these techniques.

Then we offer some tips for brainstorming your own content marketing campaign without getting distracted by all the bright, shiny ideas. We also talk about how, as a creative, you're naturally equipped to be amazing at creating content (imagine that!). Plus there's also some chatter about the importance of being evergreen, which has absolutely nothing to do with holiday decor.

And finally, here are links to all the things:

• Books:
• • Your A Game by Damon Suede & Heidi Cullinan
  • The Royal Runaway by Lindsay Emory  
  • The Light Over London by Julia Kelly
• Examples of Content Marketing:
• • Lindsay Emory's Women with Books Podcast
  • Julia Kelly's The LightSeekers articles
  • Alexis Anne's Reckless Kiss serial
  • • Newsletter Sign-up
    • Book
  • Alexis Anne's Reading in Bed videos
  • Laura von Holt's The Mermaid Podcast

Want to talk more about content marketing, or suggest some content for future podcasts? Continue the conversation in our Facebook group or in our new Slack channel (sign up here). Also, don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter so our podcast always lands in your inbox as soon as it's live.

Thanks for listening! Go forth and Dream. Do. Dominate.

Since it's October, the month of all things ghoulish and ghostly it seemed appropriate to tackle a super scary topic, which means we're talking about [cue foreboding organ music] MARKETING. That's right-- getting out there, finding people who like your art, and making a sale-- things we know can cause creatives some trepidation.

But here's the thing, if you want to make money you've got to find the people who want to buy that thing you make as much a trick-or-treater wants a full size candy bar. So we're sharing lots of tips and tricks for getting started on this process: including getting clear about your ideal customer (in an inspired segment we'll call "What Would Laura Buy"), hacks for researching your corner of the market, the benefits of tapping into that micro-market, and how to adjust your marketing if you don't see what your selling "trending."

We also learn Lindsay's dirty little secret, Laura talks about bras, and Julia has got all the best tough love everyone needs to hear about the absolute necessity of marketing if one intends to make money.

All treats. No tricks.

After you listen, let's continue the conversation in our Facebook group! We'd love to answer any questions you have, and find out what one step you're going to take today toward finding the best market for your work. (Perhaps it's reading the book we mentioned on the show: Write to Market by Chris Fox) Also, don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter so our podcast always lands in your inbox as soon as it's live.

Thanks for listening! Go forth and Dream. Do. Dominate.

Our summer episode kicks off with Alexandra and Laura singing, just for fun and in perfect harmony, in a way that can only be accomplished when they're in the same room together. Which they were, because this episode was recorded during a few quiet moments during the Romance Writers of America national conference last month.

We think of the conference as our "Romance New Year." Not only because we dress up for a fancy dance party and drink champagne, but also because we leave energized and inspired, making it feel like a natural time to reflect on our progress toward goals we set earlier in the year. But you certainly don't have to write romance (or write at all) to stage your own creative reset. All it requires is setting aside some time to think about things like whether your actions are in harmony with that big goal you are working toward? Are you having fun? Did you set too many goals at the beginning of the year? Are your goals really dreams?

We tackle these questions, and share some of our favorite conference takeaways from Sarra Cannon and Cathy Maxwell in our summer episode. Here are links to all the resources we mention:

Sarra Cannon RWA Workshop

HBIC Nation Conference Survival Guide

HBIC Nation Post-Conference Workbook

After you listen, come talk to us about your Creative New Year in the Facebook group! Also, don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter so our podcast always lands in your inbox as soon as it's live.

As always, thanks for listening! Go forth and Dream. Do. Dominate.

Highlights:

• Crossover episode w/ First Draught
• We answer Laura's cousin's questions on networking at the beginning of your career
• Networking peer to peer vs networking "up"
• Icebreakers & tips for approaching people
• Helpful strategies for following up appropriately
• Adding value to relationships
• Approaching mentors
• Media relations also B2B networking
• Networking by connecting other people
• Adding value by being generous!
• You have value, no matter what stage of your career you're in. We promise.
• At minute 32:00,  Alexandra Haughton made us do the most embarrassing/amazing parlor game where we roleplayed networking with a big wig. We were uncomfortable but also kind of loved it. Julia Kelly may never forgive us for casting her as Perpetua Winterborne.

LInks:

First Draught 2017 Networking: https://firstdraughtwriting.com/2017/07/05/networking-at-conferences-july-2017/

HBIC Conference Survival Guide (with networking article): https://hbicnation.com/conference-survival-guide

Network with us in our FB group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/HBICnation/

We're wrapping up March Money Madness here at HBIC Nation!

We'll be honest this isn't the easiest topic to talk about. But that's probably because people don't talk about. How do we make that better? You guessed it-- by talking about it. So that's what we did this month.

We're sharing practical tips (from personal experience, none of us are financial advisors) and budgeting apps we love, but we're also talking about broader concepts like your thoughts about money and the energy this puts into the world. Oh, and we call bullshit on the starving artist story that it can be oh so tempting to buy into (hint: HBICS don't starve).

Here are the apps and resources we mentioned in the show:

Money Dashboard (available in the UK)

Good Budget

4 accounts you need as a freelancer

The HBIC Conference Survival Guide (see the #moneyhoney section on p 25)

You are a BadAss at Making Money by Jen Sincero

{What the heck is joint accounting, anyway?}

This podcast isn't meant to be the end of the money conversation. It's a catalyst for you to go forward and put your own words about money out into the world. Not sure where to start? We'd love to chat over on our Facebook page. (And don't forget you can also find us on Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss a thing.)

Thanks for listening! Go forth and Dream. Do. Dominate.