The Novel Writing Podcast

What are the self-publishing options available to indie authors?

This is the second of three episodes unpacking the variety of ways authors can set themselves up for success with indie publishing.

This episode dives into the eBook and digital delivery platforms of Amazon, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, Lulu, Curios, and BookFunnel.

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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

What are the self-publishing options available to indie authors?

This is the first of three episodes unpacking the variety of ways authors can set themselves up for success with indie publishing.

This episode dives into the Print on Demand platforms of Amazon, IngramSpark, BookVault, and Lulu and what each platform is best at doing.

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

www.curios.com/Joincolleenmitchellwrites

How do you control direct eBook sales as an indie author?

The big platforms take a dramatic cut of your profits, don't provide reader contact information, and can kick authors off if they think you're violating the rules... even if you aren't.

So what's an indie to do?

Selling direct doesn't have to involve building your own website or ecommerce store.

It can be as simple as joining Curios, the platform made for authors to sell direct, keep 100% of sales, AND own reader contact information.

Learn more about Curios and selling direct in this interview with co-founder Greg Keogh.

Sign up for Curios through the affiliate link below, and we both make $$!
www.curios.com/Joincolleenmitchellwrites

Other Links:

• Schedule a meet & greet with Greg: curios.com/meetgreg
• Follow Curios on Instagram: @joincurios
• Visit the website: curios.com
• Read the Blog Post on how to use Curios if you're in Kindle Unlimited
• Send Greg an email: [email protected]

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

SAID IS DEAD. Or is it? Do you even need to use dialogue tags?

Action tags are the kings of showing over telling in dialogue, and when used correctly can deliver a far weightier emotional punch than dialogue tags.

Listen in for more of why these two are different, and why there's a clear winner!

Read my prequel novella, The Orphan's Gambit, for FREE by clicking here.

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

Struggling with a slow pace or a saggy middle? 

Story structure may be the answer. But what is story structure?

In short, it's the skeleton of your book that lays out where major beats take place.

But it's not a formula!

Listen in to learn more about Story Structure at a high level.

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

If your story feels weak, you may have a problem with your characters' goals, motivation, and conflict.

Digging deeper into "GMC" will help strengthen the plot because GMC is what drives a story forward.

Learn more about GMC in The Trope Thesaurus, by Jennifer Hilt.

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

Suspense thriller author JD Barker shares why it's important to think differently as an author, and how to build a stand-out author brand in today's publishing landscape.

Connect with JD at jdbarker.com

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 got an announcement!

This coming October, the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge is becoming FREE again!

Listen in for the full details on this change, and what to expect from us going forward.

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

If you build it (write it) they will come, right?

Not so fast. 

Publishing is just like any other industry.... If you want to be make money, you have to market your book. 

There's a pervasive myth among new authors that they can write a book, slap it on Amazon, and start making the big bucks overnight.

But that's never the case, unless you have a strong, healthy platform and an audience ravenous for your books... neither of which happen without marketing.

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

There are many pieces in the self-publishing puzzle, but what are the pros and cons of DIY-ing them?

Doing it yourself saves money (and time) but in many cases, the risks outweigh the benefits.

This is a deeper dive into DIY and self-publishing, and goes to show there's more to the puzzle than we might think at first glance.

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