The Writer's Mindset

It doesn't matter how long we've been publishing, sometimes there are gaps in our knowledge. In this episode, we're going to look at:

• Why you need a business mindset to succeed as an indie author
• How preorders work on different platforms
• The benefits of defining success
• Why you need a body of work, not one book, to make a living

Book of the week - Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2TlttKH*

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3hqHgaN*

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/vampire-academy/id357991657?itsct=books_box_link&itscg=30200&at=1000l335I&ct=books_vampire_academy&ls=1*

Listener pick (Alexa Whitewolf) - The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Getting Your Shit Together by John Carlton

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3w7WYwB*

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3dBHfj6*

Become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/writersmindset

*Affiliate link. It won't cost you any extra, but we'll get a small commission if you purchase via one of our links :)

It's common for writers to label themselves as 'plotters', 'pantsers', or even 'plantsers', but in this week's episode, we're asking if it really matters?

In this episode, you'll learn:

- Why it isn't about the writer, it's about the book

- How you know when you've planned too much

- Why labelling yourself as a plotter or a pantser digs you into a hole

- The importance of writing down your ideas

Book of the week - Lifelong Writing Habit by Chris Fox

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3jCG4Uy*

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3jCG4Uy*

Become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/writersmindset

*Affiliate link. It won't cost you any extra, but we'll get a small commission if you purchase via one of our links :)

Writers often pitch quality and quantity against each other. But what if it isn't an either/or thing?

What if you could publish great quality books – at a quantity that allows you to pay the bills?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The fastest ways to grow your writing craft
• Why endlessly tweaking the same work in progress is bad for your writing – and mental health
• Why rapid releasing your books is effective, but when you SHOULDN’T do it

Book of the week - I Would Leave Me If I Could by Halsey

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3qHIRwT*

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3hcg8gN*

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/i-would-leave-me-if-i-could/id1460614957?itsct=books_box_link&itscg=30200&at=1000l335I&ct=books_i_would_leave_me_if_i_could.&ls=1*

*Affiliate link. It won't cost you any extra, but we'll get a small commission if you purchase via one of our links :)

You can support us by visiting patreon.com/writersmindset

It's time to talk frankly about depression and mental health, and how it can impact our writing.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to channel your mental health issues into your writing
• The benefits of channeling depression into your writing
• How Kristina used her depression and grief to fuel her writing
• Why publishing a book can feel like such an anticlimax

Book of the week - Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3yjQnk6*

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3h9JXi0*

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/queenie/id1432052416?itsct=books_box_link&itscg=30200&at=1000l335I&ct=books_queenie&ls=1*

Become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/writersmindset

*Affiliate link. It won't cost you any extra, but we'll get a small commission if you purchase via one of our links :)

We've got a BIG announcement – we're changing our podcast name. Here's why, and what you can expect coming up.

The ultimate writing royale: which is more important? Great dialogue or great description?

What you'll learn:

• Are you using too much dialogue? How to balance it out with description
• How – and when – to use purple prose (or, as Kristina calls it, frilly knicker writing)
• When to use dialogue (and when not to)
• How to deepen your connection with your readers

Trigger warning: this episode includes brief discussions of child abuse. Listener discretion is advised.

Many of us remember Maya Angelou as a poet, but she didn't publish her first poetry collection until she was in her 40s. What did she do before then? And what can we learn from her? Let's find out...

Real life has consequences and limitations, so why shouldn't our characters' actions if we want them to be realistic?

In this episode, we explore why consequences and limitations matter, and some ways they're used in TV and books.

What you’ll learn:

• The importance of increasing the stakes in your story
• Why consequences and limitations aren’t just for fantasy writers
• Why we need to write about health more – even in fiction
• What happens when your characters’ actions DON’T have consequences

Do you need more emotion in your story? Probably. You can never have too much of the very thing that deepens your reader's connection with your characters!

In this episode, we look at how you can add more emotion to your writing by working on your own emotional awareness.

Warning: things get a little emotional!

What you’ll learn:

• The secret technique to writing more emotive scenes
• Ways to build your self-awareness
• Why bottling up your emotions is bad for your characters
• The difference using the right – or wrong – language can make to readers’ interpretations
• How to overcome your emotional barriers (it's not what you think, but it works)

Shoutout to: Mary Beth Bretzlauf, Cassie Kelly, Geoff White, Techdojo, and Bessie Clarke!

Ah, the ultimate question for writers: should you write every day? What difference does it really make? Is there something you should aim for instead?

What you’ll learn:

• The #1 thing that’s more important than writing every day
• Why a daily writing habit changes your perspective
• What to do on bad days (no, it isn’t soldier through)
• Why some people go too easy on themselves (and how to spot the signs you are, too)
• How fast you could write – if you concentrated on just writing