In this episode of the Write Anyway podcast, Sue interviews digital marketing expert Alex Strathdee (https://getshelflife.com/) to delve into effective strategies for growing your readership and ensuring a successful book launch. They discuss the concept of the viral coefficient, emphasizing the importance of finding ideal readers who will actively promote your book. Drawing parallels from startup strategies, Alex offers actionable insights, including leveraging virtual assistants, understanding audience dynamics, and adopting innovative marketing tactics.

The episode also highlights mindset shifts necessary for successful marketing and provides practical advice for systematizing marketing efforts. Learn from real-world examples like James Clear’s 'Atomic Habits' and Mike Michalowicz’s 'Profit First', as well as the unique approach of creating a book with built-in virality.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:28 Meet Alex Strathdee: Digital Marketing Expert

02:06 Understanding the Viral Coefficient

04:06 Applying Startup Strategies to Book Marketing

05:39 Real-Life Examples of Successful Book Marketing

11:02 Mindset Shifts for Effective Marketing

13:11 Systematizing Your Marketing Efforts

16:00 Final Tips and Closing Remarks

Host Anne Hawley speaks with developmental editor Rachelle Ramirez about what writers can expect from a developmental edit. The conversation covers the importance of submitting a clean manuscript, identifying the story type, and ensuring consistency in narrative structure, character development, and stakes.

Rachelle also discusses the common challenges authors face with their manuscripts and provides insights into the steps involved in the developmental editing process. This episode is a valuable resource for authors looking to improve their drafts and understand the developmental editing journey.

00:00 Introduction to Developmental Editing

00:32 Understanding the Developmental Edit

02:28 Key Elements of a Developmental Edit

04:10 Addressing Common Writer Concerns

13:04 Steps After Receiving Feedback

20:55 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Effective Writing Strategies for ADHD Writers: Beyond Habits

In this episode of the Write Anyway podcast, host Rachelle Ramirez, a developmental editor and ADHD coach, explores why traditional habits fail for ADHD writers and presents alternative strategies that better align with the ADHD brain.

These include designing flexible systems, using external reminders, emphasizing an interest-based approach incorporating elements like challenge, novelty, and urgency, and finding adaptable methods to move thoughts into action.

Learn practical tips such as breaking tasks into manageable steps, using gamification like the 'string of pearls' challenge, and adapting writing routines to energy levels. This episode equips ADHD writers with tools to enhance their productivity and creativity while acknowledging their unique challenges.

00:00 Introduction to ADHD Writing Challenges

01:32 Why Traditional Habits Fail for ADHD Writers

02:49 Understanding ADHD and Dopamine

06:29 Flexible Systems for ADHD Writers

09:32 External Reminders and Environmental Design

14:13 Initiating Writing Tasks with Interest-Based Approaches

16:21 Making Revisions More Engaging

22:37 Conclusion and Final Tips

In this episode of the Write Anyway podcast, hosts Anne Hawley and Rachelle Ramirez tackle seven common writing rules, aiming to debunk and reframe them as flexible tools rather than hard and fast decrees.

They discuss how strict adherence to advice such as 'write every day,' 'write what you know,' 'draft first, edit later,' 'show don't tell,' 'kill your darlings,' 'write to the market,' and 'open in the middle of the action' can stymie a writer's creativity. By balancing these traditional guidelines with practical realities and personal preferences, Anne and Rachelle provide insights to help writers maintain their authentic voice and creative flow.

The episode concludes with information about the Pages and Platforms Black Ink Friday Sale, which includes significant discounts on masterclasses, coaching sessions, and manuscript evaluations.

00:00 Introduction: Debunking Writing Rules

02:10 Rule 1: Write Every Day

03:57 Rule 2: Write What You Know

05:01 Rule 3: Draft First, Edit Later

06:52 Rule 4: Show, Don't Tell

08:23 Rule 5: Kill Your Darlings

10:03 Rule 6: Open with Action

11:23 Rule 7: Write to Market

13:36 Identifying Bad Writing Advice

14:33 Special Offers and Conclusion

In this episode of the Write Anyway podcast, host Sue Campbell chats with Patricia Marshall, founder and CEO of Luminare Press, about the different approaches to self-publishing: DIY publishing, assisted publishing, and hybrid publishing.

Learn the pros and cons of each method, and get insights into costs, processes, and what kind of authors and goals each approach is best suited for. Whether you're looking to keep full control and manage all aspects yourself, or prefer to hand over parts or all of the process to professionals, this episode aims to guide writers in making informed decisions about turning their manuscripts into market-ready books.

00:00 Introduction to Self-Publishing Options

00:34 Meet Patricia: Insights from Luminare Press

02:18 DIY Publishing: Pros and Cons

10:52 Self-Publishing Assist: Pros and Cons

14:10 Hybrid Publishing: Pros and Cons

18:23 Choosing the Right Path for Your Book

23:47 Avoiding Scams in Publishing

24:44 Conclusion and Resources

Certified book coach and editor Nicole Bross discusses strategies and tools for neurodivergent authors with our own ADHD coach and developmental editor Rachelle Ramirez. Nicole is the author of 'A Novel Approach: Strategies for ADHD Writers,' a guide aimed at helping neurodiverse authors overcome challenges like lack of motivation and disorganization. She emphasizes understanding the root causes of these issues, using various techniques such as changing work environments, visual organization, and finding the right accountability partners. Nicole also advocates for pre-emptive outlining to break down larger tasks into manageable ones, thereby reducing the feeling of overwhelm. The episode offers actionable insights and tips for both ADHD and non-ADHD writers.

00:00 Welcome to the Write Anyway Podcast

00:09 Meet Nicole Bross: Strategies for ADHD Writers

00:48 The ADHD Writer's Challenge: Finding Motivation

01:58 Tips and Tricks for Staying Motivated

03:12 Understanding Accountability: Internal vs External

05:32 Finding the Right Accountability Partner

09:58 Overcoming Overwhelm and Disorganization

12:39 The Importance of Outlining

15:51 Tools and Techniques for Organizing Your Writing

17:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

 Rachelle and Anne discuss the importance of creativity and writing during challenging times. They explore how writing can help individuals personally by enhancing self-esteem, resilience, and mental health, and collectively by fostering empathy and connection. Writing different types of narratives—be it fun stories or political essays—remains significant, even when the world feels tumultuous. Every form of storytelling, whether a memo, a romantic novel, or an essay, can be a powerful tool for personal expression and societal impact.

00:00 Introduction: Writing in Dark Times

00:14 The Importance of Creativity Now

00:33 Struggles and Doubts of Writers

01:27 The Value of Art and Writing

02:10 Personal Growth Through Writing

03:46 Connecting with Others Through Stories

04:11 The Impact of Fiction

10:38 Writing as a Form of Activism

13:24 The Power of Memoirs

14:00 Conclusion and Farewell

Demolish Your Comfort Zone: Why Comfort Kills More Dreams Than FailureEpisode Description:

Why does success elude you even when you're putting in the time and effort? The brutal truth: You're choosing short-term comfort over long-term results. In this game-changing episode, Sue Campbell interviews Art Turock, the "Comfort Zone Demolition Expert," about why stepping outside your comfort zone isn't enough—you need to demolish it entirely.

What You'll Learn:

• The crucial difference between holding people accountable vs. inviting accountability
• Why "interest" will sabotage your writing dreams (and how commitment changes everything)
• The "colossal deception" that keeps writers stuck in self-limiting patterns
• Art's proven system for overcoming fear of rejection (that landed him 125+ Fortune 500 speaking gigs)
• How to identify the hidden "short-term payoffs" that derail your long-term goals
• The identity shift that transforms aspiring writers into published authors

Key Quotes:
"Comfort kills more dreams than failure ever will."
"Discomfort is the price of freedom."
"There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, just results."

Perfect for writers who:

• Feel stuck despite "trying hard"
• Struggle with procrastination and self-sabotage
• Want to finish their book but keep choosing other priorities
• Need accountability strategies that actually work
• Are tired of staying in their comfort zone

Guest Bio:
Art Turock is a longtime executive coach for Fortune 500 companies and author of the new book Demolish Your Comfort Zones: Six Unconventional Practices to Crush Your Hidden Limitations. At age 55, he took up sprinting and won silver and bronze medals at the USA Track and Field Masters Championship. His quote about commitment vs. interest appeared on Starbucks cups nationwide.

Resources Mentioned:

• Art's book: Demolish Your Comfort Zones
• Art's website: artturock.com
• Write Anyway newsletter: pagesandplatforms.com/subscribe

Content Warning: Brief discussion of food and dieting from approximately 19:00-22:00.

Book Marketing Secrets from Alex Hormozi's $100M Launch with Tim Grahl

In this episode, marketing expert Tim Grahl breaks down the strategies behind Alex Hormozi's record-breaking $100 million book launch and shares actionable takeaways for authors at any level. Learn about:

• The innovative "donation" model that drove massive sales
• How Hormozi demonstrated his book's principles through the launch itself
• Practical ways authors can scale these strategies to their own level
• The power of customer-financed acquisition for growing your reach
• Why building genuine relationships is crucial for book marketing success
• Specific tactics for both fiction and non-fiction authors
• Tim's "Books & Beer" networking strategy that any author can implement

Tim also shares insights from his 17+ years helping authors market their books and discusses his work with Story Grid, where he applies deliberate practice principles to help writers improve their craft.

Featured Guest: Tim Grahl

• Founder of Story Grid
• Author of Your First 1000 Copies and The Shithead
• Book marketing consultant who has helped authors hit the NYT bestseller list

Resources Mentioned:

• storygrid.com
• Story Grid YouTube Channel
• Tim's latest novel: The Shithead

Subscribe to the Write Anyway Newsletter at pagesandplatforms.com/subscribe

Are you paralyzed by the fear of negative reviews? In this episode of Write Anyway, hosts Anne Hawley and Rachelle Ramirez share a powerful exercise to help writers overcome their fear of criticism. Learn how writing your own worst one-star review—and its positive counterpart—can actually free you to write with more confidence and clarity.

Key takeaways:
• How to use the "worst review" exercise to identify and face your writing fears
• Why negative reviews can help you better understand your ideal reader
• Real examples of one-star/five-star review pairs from both hosts
• Why not every book is for everyone (and why that's okay!)

Whether you're writing fiction or non-fiction, this practical exercise will help you push past perfectionism and write for the readers who truly matter. Join Anne and Rachelle as they demonstrate how embracing potential criticism can actually strengthen your writing practice.

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