The Author's Corner

Summary:

You’ve probably heard the term “vanity press,” but you may not know exactly what it is or where it fits in the myriad of publication routes available to authors today. 

In episode #126 of The Author’s Corner, Robin is back with another riff to pull back the curtain on the true purpose of a vanity press, and identify some of the red flags you should look out for before you sign with any publisher. Plus, she reveals a surprising truth about why she is in this business and what she thinks should be at the core of every author’s motivation for writing a book.

Key takeaways:

• The definition of a vanity press
• What an IP grab is, and why you should look out for it
• Traditional publishing vs self-publishing vs hybrid publishing vs vanity presses
• How to tell the difference between a legitimate hybrid press and a vanity press
• Why vanity presses exist
• And more!

About Robin Colucci:

Robin Colucci has been helping world class experts write world changing books since 2003. Before that she built, grew, and sold a personal fitness business. She also was a journalist and worked as an acquisitions editor for an independent publishing house. Robin brings her deep, hands-on knowledge of publishing and entrepreneurship to her clients whose books cover a range of topics including: business, personal development, memoir, health and fitness, science and technology, politics, equality, and the environment.

Summary:

A good ghostwriter must be a great writer. But, what makes a ghostwriter great? According to Sheree Trask, a great ghostwriter will act as your business coach, your spiritual guru, and sometimes even your therapist. 

In episode #125 of The Author’s Corner, Robin speaks with Sheree Trask about what it takes to be a great ghostwriter. They take a deep-dive into ghostwriting, including which details matter in storytelling, the common mistakes authors make, and how authors can help streamline the writing process towards a great book. 

Key takeaways:

• What it takes to be a great ghostwriter
• How to tell what details matter in a story
• The three things authors can do to support ghostwriters
• Why being selfish is okay
• A prescriptive memoir vs memoir
• The cardinal mistakes that authors make (and how to avoid them)
• And more!

About Sheree Trask:

Sheree Trask is a seasoned ghostwriter, nonfiction book writing coach, and the bestselling author of Surviving Silence: A Healing Path to Living Out Loud After Trauma. She is on a mission to help transform the hearts and minds of humanity through courageous storytelling so that together, we can raise the collective consciousness of our world and truly be free to live unapologetically out loud.

Summary:

The #1 area in the entire writing and publishing process that authors report the most frustration and disappointment is book sales. After a few months of promoting their book, most are dismayed by their results, and they stop promoting altogether. 

It’s vital to understand that the activities that actually cause book sales are different from activities that promote your book. They are not one in the same. And if you’re confused about which is which, you likely will end up not only disappointed, but you’ll have spent a lot of money that you’ll wish you could get back.

In episode #124 of The Author’s Corner, Robin Colucci is back for another Robin’s Riff where  she explains the distinction between book promotion and book sales, and why it is so important to understand the difference. She reveals the specific activities that apply to each category, and the one that counts for both! And, she explains the word-of-mouth tipping point–what it is and how books get there... 

Key takeaways:

• The distinction between book promotion and book sales and why you have to understand it
• Activities that promote your book 
• Activities that cause sales
• The word-of-mouth tipping point 
• And more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Malcolm Gladwell’s Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
• Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen’s Chicken Soup for the Soul
• M. Scott Peck’s The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth
• Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter’s Rich Dad Poor Dad
• Jen Sincero’s You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life

About Robin Colucci:

Robin Colucci has been helping world class experts write world changing books since 2003. Before that she built, grew, and sold a personal fitness business. She also was a journalist and worked as an acquisitions editor for an independent publishing house. Robin brings her deep, hands-on knowledge of publishing and entrepreneurship to her clients whose books cover a range of topics including: business, personal development, memoir, health and fitness, science and technology, politics, equality, and the environment.

Summary:

The human species is the only species on earth that suffers from confirmation bias. And with today’s divisive political climate, confirmation bias is on the rise. 

Bias is inevitable. It’s impossible to know the experience of every single person, so you must speak from your own. But how do you, as an author, combat the biases that show up in your writing? What can you do to ensure that you’re not inadvertently alienating or excluding segments of your audience?

In episode #123 of The Author’s Corner, Robin is joined by Celeste Headlee to discuss how confirmation bias shows up in books, and what authors can do about it. Celeste also talks about the inspiration behind each of her books, and she divulges her personal process for writing and how it helps to maximize focus.

Key takeaways:

• The inspiration behind each of her books
• How bias shows up in books and what authors can do to mitigate it
• The downfall of self-help
• How to make diverse audiences feel seen
• The rise of confirmation bias
• The power of self compassion
• How to maximize your focus for writing
• And more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Celeste’s books
• Do Nothing: How To Break Away From Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving
• Speaking of Race: Why Everybody Needs to Talk About Racism—and How to Do It
• It Starts with Self-Compassion: A Practical Road Map
• Headway DEI’s Cultural Context Editing 
• A Generation of Sociopaths: How the Baby Boomers Betrayed America, by Bruce Gibney

About Celeste Headlee:

Celeste Headlee is an internationally recognized journalist, radio host, professional speaker, and author of multiple bestselling books, including We Need To Talk: How To Have Conversations That Matter and Speaking of Race: Why Everyone Needs to Talk About Racism and How to Do It. She is the president and CEO of Headway DEI, a non-profit that works to bring racial justice and equity to journalism and media through targeted training and interventions. Celeste is a regular guest host on NPR and American Public Media and in 2019, she received the Media Changemaker Award.

Summary:

If you’re thinking about writing a book, and you’ve also been writing a blog for a few years, it might occur to you: why not just turn my blog posts into my book?

Before you dive right in, consider this. Blogs can be helpful tools as you write your book, but I believe it’s best if you avoid the somewhat popular approach of “copy, paste, and call it a manuscript.”

In this Robin’s Riff episode, I explain why you shouldn’t use your blog posts as the primary content for your book. However, that doesn’t mean that your blog can’t be helpful to your process. I also share some of the ways that you can turn to your blog post archives to help you write a compelling and valuable nonfiction book.

Key takeaways:

• Why you shouldn’t copy and paste blogs to write your book
• How you can use your blogs to help you write
• Why blogging while writing your book is a good idea
• How to use blogs to see how you have grown and evolved 
• And more!

About Robin Colucci:

Robin Colucci has been helping world class experts write world changing books since 2003. Before that she built, grew, and sold a personal fitness business. She also was a journalist and worked as an acquisitions editor for an independent publishing house. Robin brings her deep, hands-on knowledge of publishing and entrepreneurship to her clients whose books cover a range of topics including: business, personal development, memoir, health and fitness, science and technology, politics, equality, and the environment.

Summary:

If you’re a regular listener of The Author’s Corner, then you’ve probably considered going for a traditional book deal at some point. If you’d like more insight on how to succeed with that goal, listen up, because this week’s episode will be of special interest!

What better way is there to gain insight into traditional publishing than to learn from the Editor-in-Chief of an important independent publishing house?

In episode #121 of The Author’s Corner, Robin is joined by Matt Holt, Editor-in-Chief of Matt Holt Books, a BenBella imprint. Matt divulges invaluable insight into how he decides who to publish and how authors can make the most of their conversations with editors. He shares his perspective on what it takes to have a bestseller. And Matt and Robin discuss the big shifts happening in the publishing industry and what might be in store for the future.

Key takeaways:

• The big shifts in the publishing industry
• Matt’s three criteria for how he decides which books to publish
• Why memoir is such a difficult genre
• What it takes to have a bestseller
• Advice for searching for and talking to a potential publisher
• And more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• BenBella submissions page 

About Matt Holt:

Matt Holt is Editor-in-Chief of the BenBella imprint Matt Holt Books. Holt was previously Senior Vice President and Executive Publisher at John Wiley & Sons, where he oversaw a team of 85 staff. Over his 27-year career, Matt has acquired over 1,000 and published 10,000 titles including: Jon Gordon’s Energy Bus, Larry Winget’s Shut Up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life, David Meerman Scott’s New Rules of Marketing and PR, and much more. Holt acquires roughly 20 titles per year focusing on business, finance, and professional development topics.

Summary:

One of the most common questions that Robin gets asked is, “how much should a literary agent cost?” 

The short answer is… “We hope your agent costs a lot!” 

In episode #120 of The Author’s Corner, Robin explains why that’s a good thing, and it’s all because a legitimate literary agent’s pay is based on how much the publisher pays you. She also reveals the four key ways you can make money through book sales (and the various ways that your agent earns their commission). 

Key takeaways:

• What literary agents are typically paid
• The four key ways to make money through book sales
• The red flags you should look for when in the hunt for an agent 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Association of American Literary Agents (AALA)
• AALA Canon of Ethics 

About Robin Colucci:

Robin Colucci has been helping world class experts write world changing books since 2003. Before that she built, grew, and sold a personal fitness business. She also was a journalist and worked as an acquisitions editor for an independent publishing house. Robin brings her deep, hands-on knowledge of publishing and entrepreneurship to her clients whose books cover a range of topics including: business, personal development, memoir, health and fitness, science and technology, politics, equality, and the environment.

Summary:

People aren’t born ready to lead. Leadership is a continuous process of growth, connection, and courage. And while it can seem scary, it also means that you can be a leader right now. You just have to commit to the process. 

In episode #119 of The Author’s Corner, Robin is joined by Ash Beckham, an activist and leadership expert. They discuss a few key traits of a leader such as authenticity, courage, individuality, and grace. Ash shares how she adapted her speeches into the book, and how the book has provided a new way to connect with her audience. And they discuss the fear of stepping up, and Ash asks listeners to challenge themselves.

Key takeaways:

• How to step up as an author
• Ash’s leap into authorship
• The difference between a book and a presentation as a medium to connect with your audience and share a message
• The responsibility of creating intimacy with your reader
• How to authentically engage with your audience
• The fear of stepping up
• How you can step up and be a leader today
• And more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Ash’s TEDx Talk, “Coming Out of Your Closet” 
• Ash’s book, Step Up: How to Live with Courage and Become an Everyday Leader

About Ash Beckham:

Ash Beckham is an inclusion activist, inclusive leadership expert, professional trainer, workshop facilitator, motivational speaker, business leader and author of Step Up: How to Live with Courage and Become an Everyday Leader.  Known for her unique voice, intrepid, relatable and intrinsically comic style, and powerful guidance, Beckham’s TEDx Talk “Coming Out of Your Closet” became a fast viral sensation. A popular speaker and leadership educator, she frequently addresses topics including embracing a different vision of leadership to create change in our workplaces, schools, places of worship, communities and more. Ash has presented keynotes and workshops for more than 200 corporate, government and collegiate events and conferences including The Boeing Company, Bank of America, Microsoft, the Out and Equal Summit, and more. 

Summary:

Writing a book is not just about writing a book. It’s also a journey of self-discovery and growth—if you’re open to it. A book can also be a powerful tool to connect with your reader and help them discover something about themselves. But in order to get your reader to a vulnerable place, you have to lead the way. 

In episode #118 of The Author’s Corner, Robin is joined by Josh Rivedal, who has dedicated his life to being vulnerable and open about his struggle with depression and suicide, so that others may learn from his challenges. Josh shares the moving story of how he got here today (and how he almost didn’t get here). He talks about how he transformed the darkest period of his life into something that others could learn from, first through speaking, then stand-up comedy, and finally through his books. And we discuss why it is crucial to build trust with your readers, and how humor and vulnerability can help you do so. 

Key takeaways:

• Josh’s struggle with depression, and how his family history contributed 
• How he turned his struggle with depression into something positive to support others
• How Josh uses his book, speaking, and training gigs together to reach people
• The epiphanies that turned his life around
• Using humor to connect with people about serious topics
• Why building trust with your reader is so important
• How you can get readers’ attention
• And more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Josh’s book, The Gospel According to Josh

About Josh Rivedal:

Joshua Rivedal is an author, speaker, educator, and stand-up comic. He has spoken about suicide prevention and mental health in 550+ locations in 12 years across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia. His original coursework on suicide prevention is taught in Washington State to dentists, pharmacists, and occupational therapists. As an actor, Joshua’s voice has been heard on U.S. national commercials like Dell, McDonalds, and Dunkin Donuts; and as part of the award-winning voiceover cast of The Art of Secrets by James Klise. In the business world, Joshua has consulted for the marketing team of the world’s best-selling author James Patterson. Joshua is the author of six books, including his memoir The Gospel According to Josh: A 28-Year Gentile Bar Mitzvah.

Summary:

Some of the most notable authors in history have also been the most prolific - Stephen King, Michael Lewis, Agatha Christie. They have made a name for themselves by producing dozens, if not hundreds, of notable works. 

But what does it really mean to be prolific? How is it measured? And to what extent does being prolific equal success?

In episode #117 of The Author’s Corner, Robin is joined by Brock Swinson, whose mission is to uncover the secret to being a prolific writer. In their conversation, Brock divulges all kinds of insights and advice for writers who want to be prolific. They touch on topics such as research, writer’s block, and accountability, and discuss what each of them has to do with being prolific. Brock also dispels many myths about the writing process and reveals the key to becoming a prolific writer: falling in love with the craft. 

Key takeaways:

• How to  reverse engineer your book
• The key role that research plays
• Does writer’s block exist?
• The relationship between quality and quantity
• changing your attitude towards writing (and money)
• How to hold yourself accountable
• The importance of creative growth
• Brock’s favorite piece of advice
• Common false beliefs about writing

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Steven King’s On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
• Elizabeth Gilbert
• Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life’s Work, by Steven Pressfield
• Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, by Chip and Dan Heath

About Brock Swinson:

Brock Swinson is an interviewer for Creative Screenwriting and the author of Ink by the Barrel: Secrets from Prolific Writers. His book is broken into three parts - time, voice, and process - and contains advice to help novice writers become prolific. He also has his own podcast Creative Principles, where he interviews writers, directors, actors, and musicians such as Aaron Sorkin, Ethan Hawke, and Judd Apatow, about the habits, routines, and methods of a creative life.