Indie Author Lifestyle

Have you lost the joy of writing? In this week’s episode, we interview Steampunk & Fantasy Author, Maram Tiabah, who shares her journey to becoming an indie author and why you should focus on the joy and wonder of writing. IN EPISODE 33 YOU WILL LEARN: The whys behind Maram’s journey to become an indie […]

Do you have consistent writing habits? In episode 32, we discuss how we develop consistency especially amid distractions and differing schedules. Listen in for pro tips on how to develop consistent writing habits during the summer. IN EPISODE 32 YOU WILL LEARN: How to develop a consistent schedule that allows you to write, edit, repeat. […]

Do you have consistent writing habits? In episode 32, we discuss how we develop consistency especially amid distractions and differing schedules. Listen in for pro tips on how to develop consistent writing habits during the summer.

IN EPISODE 32 YOU WILL LEARN:

How to develop a consistent schedule that allows you to write, edit, repeat. Why having a daily routine is mandatory for productivity.Using multiple writing sessions to help you maintain your flow and increase your word count.Working backward to determine how many words you'll need to write per day to finish your work in progress.Why writing to hit a word count doesn't always work, and here's what you should do if you're struggling.How to create more productive writing sessions by plotting.Staying focused when you have multiple distractions.Why you should have an accountability partner or someone who can help you stay focused on your goals.Ways to stay consistent every single day to increase your word count and production. Afraid of the blank page? Here's some suggestions to overcome the fear of starting. Why you should identify when you do your best work. The importance of trusting yourself when writing so you can overcome your writing fears. What to do when you have ideas for other stories and want to quit your current project and start something new.

https://youtu.be/c-_mlzerpLk

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

4theWords

GIVEAWAY!We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below or tag us on Instagram with your #1 takeaway from this week’s episode. Each month we’ll pick one person to win access to one of our paid workshops.

HOSTS CORNER

Stephanie BwaBwa is working on a brand new series that focuses on mages and sirens who are at war with each other. Learn more about her books here.

Stephanie's Book Recommendations:

Fiction Recommendation - Steel and Fire Series by Jordan Rivet (YA Fantasy Series)

NonFiction Recommendation - Build your Best Writing Life by Kristen Kieffer

Angela J. Ford is wrapping up Realm of Rulers and feeling refreshed after taking a break from the series. Learn more about her books here.

Angela's Book Recommendations

Fiction Recommendation - Ink Mage by Victor Gischler

NonFiction Recommendation - Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King

What does your writing process look like? Fantasy author, Jeffrey L. Kohonek shares his process on writing and marketing best selling fantasy novels.

IN EPISODE 31 YOU WILL LEARN:

How to take your creativity and funnel it into storytelling.Crafting magic systems for your fantasy novels.Taking a series and going from an heavy plotter to a light outliner.Using characters to move your story forward.Gaining confidence in your writing process and understanding whether your need to plot or pants your series.Magic systems, world building and maps: key things to start your fantasy series. What to do if you struggle with character growth and deciding what your character(s) should do next.The key marketing strategies for fantasy authors. Why you should plan your releases to cover the months when income is low versus the months when income is higher.Testing different ad strategies and using a backup plan to give you more funds to test with.How to find quality subscribers for your email list.Fostering community with your email list and how to keep them coming back for more.Do free and 99 cent books still work?

https://youtu.be/QjnePscMABA

ABOUT Jeffrey L. Kohanek

Jeffrey L. Kohanek is an international bestselling author, best known for his Runes of Issalia and Wardens of Issalia epic fantasy series.He grew up in rural Minnesota where comic books sparked his young imagination, inspiring fantasies of heroes with super-powers saving the day. His tastes later evolved to fantasy epics featuring unlikely heroes overcoming impossible odds to save worlds born from the writer’s imagination.

Now residing in southern California, Jeff uses his imagination to weave tales of engaging characters caught in fantastic plots to inspire the dreamer within us all.You can contact Jeffrey at [email protected]

CONNECT WITH Jeffrey

Website

GIVEAWAY!We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below or tag us on Instagram with your #1 takeaway from this week’s episode. Each month we’ll pick one person to win access to one of our paid workshops.

HOSTS CORNER

Stephanie BwaBwa is working on her serial and excited about the Indie Author Lifestyle Anthology. Want to submit? Click here for ALL the details.

Angela J. Ford is stretching her creativity by writing short stories and is wrapping up her third one, Lord of the Castle. Learn more about her books here.

REGISTER FOR A WORKSHOP

Workshops are designed for career authors who want in depth training on certain topics to help you take your career to the next level.  Join us each month to dig into writing, publishing and book marketing strategies for only $27.99 plus access to the exclusive community.

Should you pants or plot your next novel? In episode 30 we dig into the pros and cons of plotting or pantsing your novel. IN EPISODE 30 YOU WILL LEARN: Consider whether your are a more spontaneous person or tend to be more organized and structured. Rules for pantsers and what you should consider before […]

Should you pants or plot your next novel? In episode 30 we dig into the pros and cons of plotting or pantsing your novel.

IN EPISODE 30 YOU WILL LEARN:

Consider whether your are a more spontaneous person or tend to be more organized and structured. Rules for pantsers and what you should consider before you start writing a story.Why every book does not need extensive plotting and planning and how to tell when you need to take extra time plotting or if you should dive into writing right away.Once a plotters, always a plotter? Here's why you style might change depending on the project you're working on.The cons of over-plotting and why you should allow room for pantsing. Lessons learned from studying story structure and why you understand your genre and popular tropes.What to do when you write yourself into a corner and get stuck.Using visual inspiration, music and the "what if" method to get unstuck. Pros and cons for pantsers.Pros and cons for plotters.

https://youtu.be/dHNHr4oBzwg

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

K.M. Weiland

GIVEAWAY!We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below or tag us on Instagram with your #1 takeaway from this week’s episode. Each month we’ll pick one person to win access to one of our paid workshops.

HOSTS CORNER

Stephanie BwaBwa is back in the writing groove and excited about writing her fantasy romance with a siren. She is marketing Seraphim Falling to see what she should do for Book 2. Interested? Learn more about her books here.

Angela J. Ford is supposed to be taking a break after finishing Fated and releasing the audiobook for Pawn. She is excited about working on her Beauty and the Beast retelling and writing her own sea-themed story: Realm of Rulers. Learn more about her books here.

REGISTER FOR A WORKSHOP

Workshops are designed for career authors who want in depth training on certain topics to help you take your career to the next level.  Join us each month to dig into writing, publishing and book marketing strategies for only $27.99 plus access to the exclusive community. Sign up for a workshop here.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

The journey to becoming a full-time author on your own terms doesn’t have to be lonely or hard.

We have an awesome community where we chat daily, write together, and motivate each other.

Join the Indie Author Lifestyle Community

LISTEN TO PREVIOUS EPISODES

Interesting in co-writing an epic fantasy series? Robert Zangari takes us behind the scenes of cowriting a 12-book series with his dad.

IN EPISODE 29 YOU WILL LEARN:

The creative freedom of self-publishing. How to take someone else's vision and incorporate ideas to embellish the plot line.The process of co-writing and whether you should write back and forth with your co-author.How to combine two difference voices when developing characters.Compromising when it comes to co-writing and how to settle disagreements.Scheduling your epic fantasy series and determining how many books and how often to release.Marketing tactics for an epic fantasy series including kickstarters, reader magnets and pricing.Finding a constant source of constant inspiration and asking the question: What if?Advice for authors who want to start co-writing but don't know how/where to begin.

https://youtu.be/mT0-jpvGRBw

ABOUT ROBERT ZANGARI

Robert Zangari is a fantasy fiction writer and co-author of the Legends of Kalda universe. He started his writing career in 2009 writing non-fiction but switched to writing fantasy novels in 2011 to help his father, Dan Zangari. Since 1991, Dan had been writing a fantasy epic but due to other responsibilities the work was never completed. However in 2011 Robert began working with his father. Together they created a new series based on Dan's original concepts called, Tales of the Amulet.

Robert grew up in northern Utah where he attended Weber State University and the University of Utah, studying Bio-medical Engineering. He served a proselyting mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in eastern Tennessee. He currently resides in Utah, just north of Salt Lake City, with his wife, three daughters, and their dog, Chewie. When he's not writing, he enjoys immersing himself in stories through a variety of mediums (Books, plays/musicals, TV, Movies and Video Games), practicing martial arts, spending time with his family and serving in his Church.

CONNECT WITH ROBERT

WebsiteFacebook

GIVEAWAY!We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below or tag us on Instagram with your #1 takeaway from this week’s episode. Each month we’ll pick one person to win access to one of our paid workshops.

HOSTS CORNER

Stephanie BwaBwa just got the brand new cover for Seraphim Falling. She is testing out marketing strategies to see what works best for her series. See the new cover here!

Angela J. Ford just released Curse of the Healer, finished writing Fated and just released the audiobook for Pawn. Learn more about her books here.

REGISTER FOR A WORKSHOP

Workshops are designed for career authors who want in depth training on certain topics to help you take your career

To pre-order or not to pre-order? 99 cents or full price? This episode covers book launching challenges authors face and simple steps to overcome them.

IN EPISODE 28 YOU WILL LEARN:

Should you pre-order or live launch? The answer may surprise you.How established authors can use pre-orders, ad campaigns and newsletter swaps to boost sales.The kinds of authors you should target when you're releasing a book.Why you shouldn't have a one-day spike during your launch and what you should focus on instead.99 cents or full price? Pricing strategies for new and established authors. The pros and cons of Kindle Unlimited and how to make money with page reads.What authors often forget about when pricing their books.How to avoid returns and low quality readers.Understanding also-boughts and the dangerous of pushing your books on friends and family.Using your review team to get more reviews. Advertising your book and how to be successful with it.Pro Tips for using Amazon Ads especially when you release a book plus how to track your ads to ensure you are profitable.Is advertising necessary for an indie author? The importance of newsletter swaps and how to use them to make your book launch effective.How to use research for your book launch.What to do after your book releases to keep it selling. Social media strategies for authors. The #1 takeaway for authors on planning a book launch.

https://youtu.be/gcI7-wcphu0

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

Inkarnate - Create Fantasy MapsMark Dawson's Ads for Authors - CourseHelp! My Facebook Ads Suck - Book SeriesAds for Authors Who Hate Ads - BookBookfunnel StoryOriginArt of the Arcane Bookfunnel Management

GIVEAWAY!We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below or tag us on Instagram with your #1 takeaway from this week’s episode. Each month we’ll pick one person to win access to one of our paid workshops.

REAL TALK

Stephanie BwaBwa finished episode 2 of her serial and has begun a fantasy romance serial with an island girl and a man from the sea. Interested? Learn more about her books here.

Angela J. Ford is jotting down ideas on her fantasy romance serial and planning her big epic fantasy series for 2021. Learn more about her books here.

REGISTER FOR A WORKSHOP

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How do you make your stories addictive? Listen to bestselling fantasy author, Andy Peloquin as he shares about anti-heroes, using research in writing, and creating a connection to your readers that leaves your audience wanting more.

How do you make your stories addictive? Listen to bestselling fantasy author, Andy Peloquin as he shares about anti-heroes, using research in writing, and creating a connection to your readers that leaves your audience wanting more.

IN EPISODE 27 YOU WILL LEARN:

Why writing thieves, bounty hunters, and people on the wrong side of the law is so much more fun.Using psychology and neurology in writing to find a connection to your characters. How to stay on schedule with writing and releasing without getting burnt out. The logistics of sitting down and ironing out an entire series included books and themes. What to do to keep writing fun, surprise yourself, and continue to come up with new ideas.How to use research to better understand people, give them their own voice and help the reader see from a different perspective or viewpoint. Evolving your world building based around your character's backstory and need. Using characters to make your stories addictive. Why you should work with an editor who pushes you and helps you grow as a writer.Marketing as an author and finding success by using Facebook and Amazon Ads. Tips and recommendations for being more fan centric when it comes to social media.Asking your reader questions to start the conversation and encourage a back and forth connection. Advice for authors who are writing and publishing but not as inspired as they'd like to be.

https://youtu.be/yKdaTktEpkQ

ABOUT ANDY PELOQUIN

First and foremost, Andy is a storyteller and an artist--words are his palette. Fantasy and science fiction are his genres of choice, and he loves to explore the darker side of human nature through the filter of heroes, villains, and everything in between. He is also a freelance writer, a book lover, and a guy who just loves to meet new people and spend hours talking about his fascination for the worlds he encounters in the pages of fantasy and sci-fi novels.

Speculative fiction provide us with an escape, a way to forget about our mundane problems and step into worlds where anything is possible. It transcends age, gender, religion, race, or lifestyle--it is our way of believing what cannot be, delving into the unknowable, and discovering hidden truths about ourselves and our world in a brand new way. Fiction at its very best!

CONNECT WITH ANDY

WebsiteFacebookThe Fantasy Fiends Podcast

GIVEAWAY!We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below or tag us on Instagram with your #1 takeaway from this week’s episode. Each month we’ll pick one person to win access to one of our paid workshops.

HOSTS CORNER

Stephanie BwaBwa is out of her writing slump and having fun diving into her serial with an angelic storm elemental. Learn more about Stephanie’s work here.

Angela J. Ford is working on her final edits of Fat