The Novel Writing Podcast

Getting critiques on our writing is a core part of improving, but what if you didn't have to wait until you finish the first draft?

Enter short-cycle feedback.

This episode is all about why writers ought to share their work before writing THE END and use that critique to make the entire book stronger while you're still working on the first draft. (Even if it's still garbage.)

*Something I didn't mention in the episode is that writing conferences are FANTASTIC places to make friends with other authors who can swap critiques with you. Many cons have online options now too, so you can still network while in your pajamas on your couch.*

Links:

• RealmSphere a community for Christian spec-fic writers: https://realm-makers.mn.co/
• Episode 117: How to Recruit Alphas, Betas, & Critters: https://thenovelwritingpodcast.buzzsprout.com/2133745/episodes/14437655-how-to-recruit-alphas-betas-critters

Send us Fan Mail

What to do next…

• Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack
• Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen
• Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE 
• Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
• Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)
• Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Dictating is one of many tools writers can slot into their writing toolbelts, but many who try dictation don't stick with it long enough to see real results.

I took Seth Ring's challenge to commit at least 20 hours to learning how to dictate, and this is what I learned by dictating 70,000 words in about 38 hours.

Learn more about AI transcription with Book Scribe: https://bookscribe.ai/

Send us Fan Mail

What to do next…

• Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack
• Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen
• Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE 
• Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
• Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)
• Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Publisher Rocket creator Dave Chesson walks through how to use features like keyword search, competition analyzer, category search, and reverse ASIN lookup. 

For Publisher Rocket and other self-publishing tools by Kindlepreneur, visit https://kindlepreneur.com/tools/

Send us Fan Mail

What to do next…

• Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack
• Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen
• Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE 
• Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
• Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)
• Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

A common piece of writing advice from prolific, full-time authors is that we need to write every day.

*insert squinty-eyed Thor Ragnarok meme*

But do we, really?

If your life circumstances by nature prevent you from putting your butt in the writing chair at least once a day, this episode is for you.

Send us Fan Mail

What to do next…

• Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack
• Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen
• Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE 
• Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
• Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)
• Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

We've all heard the claim... you NEED to be on social media if you want to make it as an author.

Or, do you?

Let's bust this pervasive myth that success requires a social media presence, even if you would rather eat nails than make a reel. 

Being a social media content creator in addition to being an author is not for everyone, and thankfully it's totally possible to build an author career without spending half your time battling the algorithms.

Send us Fan Mail

What to do next…

• Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack
• Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen
• Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE 
• Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
• Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)
• Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Strengths coach Becca Syme shares why the worst possible phrase is "just do it" and how there's no universal truth for writers... except one.

Becca has worked with over 6,000 individual clients and is a wealth of wisdom in helping creatives figure out how to do things better and faster, and continue to love those things even years down the line.

See what's available or connect with Becca at https://betterfasteracademy.com/links

Send us Fan Mail

What to do next…

• Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack
• Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen
• Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE 
• Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
• Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)
• Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Are you tired of hearing the "show, don't tell" advice thrown around with reckless abandon? 

Me too. Showing and telling both have their place in fiction, but it's important not to fall into the extreme of showing everything... just like we shouldn't be telling everything. 

Showing and telling need to be "perfectly balanced, as all things should be," to quote Thanos.

Listen in to understand what this advice really means, and how to know what parts of your story need one versus the other.

Send us Fan Mail

What to do next…

• Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack
• Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen
• Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE 
• Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
• Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)
• Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Have you ever tabbed over to quickly research that one little detail you're stuck on, only to surface hours later from a YouTube video that has nothing to do with what you started out searching for?

Welcome to the research rabbit hole.

Today's episode is on how to AVOID that rabbit hole, and what to do if you find yourself losing hours of valuable writing time to Wonderland.

Send us Fan Mail

What to do next…

• Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack
• Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen
• Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE 
• Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
• Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)
• Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

The publishing industry goes through constant changes. 

Greg Keogh, co-founder of direct sales platform Curios, shares his thoughts on what's happening in the publishing industry (both indie and trad) and where he sees the trends going over the next year.

From Amazon DRM to subscription-based reading, listen in for what's currently changing.

Send us Fan Mail

What to do next…

• Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack
• Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen
• Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE 
• Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
• Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)
• Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Have you ever tried to write your book's blurb and felt like throwing up instead?

Blurbs don't have to be hard, but authors make them hard without meaning to. They're a different skillset from writing a book, and they're never going to look perfect with the first draft.

So stop beating yourself up over having a weak or nonexistent blurb and listen in for some tips on how to craft a killer one.

Learn more about writing blurbs: 5 Steps to Better Blurbs, by Julie C. Gilbert

Send us Fan Mail

What to do next…

• Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack
• Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen
• Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE 
• Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
• Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)
• Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts