SPA Girls Podcast

Sometimes the muse has left the building.

Or you’re tired.

Or something happens that you weren’t expecting. Yeah, like a pandemic. That’ll do it!

There are probably very few people who haven’t felt the panic or sense of doom and gloom in some small way, and others far worse than the SPAGirls.

It’s fair to say that we all took a moment (read a week or three) to get our heads back in the game, and even if you didn’t, that’s okay. Don’t beat yourself up about anything you didn’t do or won’t do if that is the case because it won’t change anything or make you feel better.

However, if you’re like us, you’ll be ready to get back in the game. Writing is our livelihood, and we’re doing okay, so we thought we’d give you a few things that helped us.

Show Notes:

Firstly, let’s talk about how you feel. You don’t need a professional to listen, but if that’s how it plays at for you, then go for it. We have each other, but sometimes you need somebody else, right? Someone not to pass judgment but also someone who might offer advice. Someone who understands. Who could that be for you?

We’ve talked about plans and how they may have changed. Perhaps it’s now an excellent time to look them over. Can you tweak them to make a new plan? One that suits your life better at this moment and makes more sense.

Eg. If a book usually takes you four months from start to finish, working Monday to Friday, you would know precisely how many words that is a day, week, or month. (This is not an exact science, yet it could be the tool to get at least some work done.) Let’s look at the same book again, but with the understanding that the word count simply isn’t going to happen. Now the book could conceivably take six months or even a year. (Maybe way longer if you’re a slow writer or this isn’t your day job.)

It’s a ball-park figure only. Or you could reverse engineer it and say I know I can do 500 words a day x 5 days=2500 words per week. Now that’s not too shabby, is it? Then 2500 words per week x 1 month is approx 10k.

 Maybe this book could be shorter?

So, hey, what do you know? In 5 months you have a 50k book. Hurrah!

Here are some more tips:

– try something new 

– set a timer – when it’s done, you move on to something else.

– go back to when you first started writing and look for your why, or how your schedule used to look

– tiny chunks can take the pressure off 

– we all move around our houses to create a different environment

– Different environment, different sounds, different tools

– Recommended reading: Deep Work by Cal Newport, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

– Gamify – keep it fun! – https://4thewords.com/home

– podcasts!  https://unmistakablecreative.com/

– research – still work but more fun!

– get outside – go for a walk, garden, or simply smell the roses.

You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast at: www.spagirls.com

Keen to join the SPA Girls in a live workshop? Join our mailing list, and we’ll let you know the minute we have workshop bookings open. Info here: https://selfpublishingworkshop.co.nz/index.html

Come say hi on Facebook and Twitter @spagirlspodcast

This week the SPA Girls cover free and cheap (and simple!) marketing activities you can do right now! Many of those we talk about require nothing but a short time block and some brain-juice. We hope this inspires you – but please don’t feel like you have to do them All At Once. Chip away, one activity at a time, as you have the time and energy and you’ll be on the road to better marketing.

Here are some starters …

(1) Tweak book description – add a single BOLD (use html) line at the top of your book descriptions on Amazon – that’s the only line most folk on mobiles see!
(2) Add HTML to you book descriptions – use Dave Chesson’s free tool at https://kindlepreneur.com/amazon-book-description-generator/

(3) Check your categories on Amazon. Go to https://www.bklnk.com/categories5.php and put in your ASIN. Be is as many as you can (legitimately) and be OUT of any that don’t suit your book. Contact Amazon via Help and give them ALL the categories you wish to be listed in (full address) You can be listed in up to 10*

(4) Do Kindlepreneur’s free AMS Ad course https://courses.kindlepreneur.com/courses/AMS?affiliate=kpreneur

(Controversial opinion from Shar – Don’t overwhelm yourself with spreadsheets. Start with $5/day ads to 50-100 of the authors like you (use Goodreads / also-boughts and focus on indie’s only. If you’re game, run ads to book titles only). Spend 15 mins/day and watch your daily spend, daily income, and ranking on books advertised. FOCUS ON THE HOT books – your bestselling (and run to entire series).

(5) Write a prequel short story or novella for your best selling book/series – give that away on bookfunnel, social media, anywhere you can give it away.

(6) Write an epilogue for your best selling series – give away on social media, use as newsletter freebie, add link to back of relevant book for n/l signups.

… and there are plenty more in the podcast! Enjoy!

C’mon over to our facebook page and let us know how you’ve applied them.

Want to watch this recording in video? It’s posted on our youtube channel – don’t forget to subscribe and you’ll get a reminder each time we have a new episode up!

In this episode, we talk with the wonderfully talented author Louisa George. She takes us through the editing process for those starting out in their publishing journey, or those of us who need a refresher on what should be done before we publish our books.

The episode is packed full of wonderful tips and advice, I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Award-winning author Louisa George has been a book addict her whole life.

In between chapters she gained a degree in Communication Studies, trained as a nurse, married her doctor hero and had two sons.

Now, she spends her days writing chapters of her own in the medical romance, contemporary romance and women’s fiction genres.

Louisa’s books have variously been nominated for the RITA®Award and the NZ Koru Award (which she won in 2014 and 2016). Her romcom Something Borrowed won the HOLT Medallion in 2017. She currently lives in Auckland, New Zealand and, when not writing or reading, likes to travel, drink mojitos and do Zumba®- preferably all at the same time.

www.louisageorge.com

Books mentioned during the episode:
-Goal, Motivation, Conflict by Deb Dixon: https://amzn.to/2xedNO9
-Elements of Fiction Writing – Conflict and Suspense by James -Scott Bell: https://amzn.to/2RmWcKK
-Story Genius by Lisa Cron https://amzn.to/2JPDzLd

-Margie Lawson https://www.margielawson.com/

You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at www.spagirlspodcast.com

If you’re anything like us, you’re sitting around even more than usual at the moment… But never fear, the SPA Girls have you covered!

This week we talk with osteopath and pilates instructor Freya Scollay about how to keep active in difficult times, especially if you’re having to stay home more than usual, as well as what we can do as writers to keep ourselves in the best health possible. 

If you want to find out how to keep yourself healthy and fit in strange and unusual times (or even every day times) this is the episode for you! 

Find Freya at: https://www.facebook.com/symmetryinmotionpilates/

Goodreads for Authors

We’re joined in this episode by NYT Bestseller, the fabulous Alessandra Torre, to talk All Things Goodreads. Some authors are wary of Goodreads due to harsh reviews, but there are good reasons to use this platform and in this episode, Allessandra explains why.

About Goodreads

Founded by Otis Chandler and launched in January 2007, Goodreads is the largest collection of readers and reviewers – with over 55 million members. It’s important that you establish a presence on this social media site – and use all of the free promotional tools it offers!

Goodreads is the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations.

It is a great social media option for someone who doesn’t want to be on social media. You can pop in, make a post and leave.

Everything is 100% book related and there is a layer of separation between the readers and authors that gives you a nice amount of privacy.

A few things you can do on Goodreads

See what books your friends are reading.

Track the books you’re reading, have read, and want to read.

Check out your personalized book recommendations. Our recommendation engine analyzes 20 billion data points to give suggestions tailored to your literary tastes.

Find out if a book is a good fit for you from community’s reviews.

Remember to be a good community member. Be polite and courteous. Don’t post anything that might lead to negative feedback!

About Alessandra Torre:

A New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Alessandra Torre has written twenty-two novels, including three New York Times bestsellers.

Alessandra is the creator of Alessandra Torre Ink – an authors community and online school with over 10,000 members. She is also the founder of INKERS CON, an annual authors conference. A self-publishing advocate, Alessandra speaks frequently to universities, conventions and author groups.

From her home in Key West, Florida, she devotes several hours each day to various writing projects and interacting with her fans on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. When not battling her husband at Scrabble, she chases her pet chickens, three dogs, and shoos away iguanas.

To stay informed, consider subscribing to Alessandra Torre’s popular monthly newsletter.

Alessandra’s YOU TUBE CHANNEL that includes her How I Write series