The Writer's Mindset

All the times we couldn't speak, pets interrupted us, or we went on random segues during season four.

How do you get over your hatred of worldbuilding enough to publish a fantasy series? Kristina shares her tips in our latest episode!

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why Kristina hated worldbuilding so much
• How planning and outlining can help

Show notes:

• 00.00 – Introductions
• 02.30 – Have you seen our awesome merch?!
• 03.50 – Our favourite fictional worlds.
• 06.15 – Kristina used to HATE writing fantasy.
• 09.50 – What was the biggest barrier between Kristina and writing a fantasy series.
• 11.30 – It all came to her in a dream…
• 12.20 – Then she had to start worldbuilding…
• 15.40 – Don’t forget about outlining!
• 16.50 – How does worldbuilding feel a couple of books in?
• 18.00 – Balancing worldbuilding and relationships.
• 21.15 – Where did the inspiration for Empath come from?
• 26.35 – Goals, goals, goals!
• 29.10 – How do you know when a book is ready?
• 29.45 – Incorporating concepts from other books.
• 31.10 – Why mummies, ghosts and necromancers?
• 32.50 – Need a coma? Add mummies.
• 34.40 – How to approach worldbuilding.
• 36.25 – Write. Stuff. Down.
• 38.00 – Separate different brain tasks.
• 40.30 – Which book changed Kristina’s life?

• The Writer's Mindset Facebook group
• Vampire Academy
• Gateway Series
• Dresden Files
• World of Linaria

You might know them as hosts of the very entertaining podcast, The Email Marketing Show, or as the founders of the survey platform that makes you sales, ResponseSuite – our guests this week are fast becoming recognised as two of the most dynamic speakers in the world and for reshaping the way we think about email marketing…

Red-haired Rob is a comedy stage hypnotist, and platinum-haired Kennedy a psychological mind reader (or mentalist as they call it in the US), who have spent almost 18 years each relying on their skills of getting into other people's heads to carve out successful careers in show-business.

Now as founders of EmailMarketingHeroes.com, Rob and Kennedy's mission is to save the world from that grubby old-fashioned email marketing we've all grown to loathe, and give others the tools to become the Email Marketing Heroes in their small businesses.

Wherever you happen to be in your relationship with email marketing, Rob and Kennedy are here to help you make more sales and grow your business by sending more emails that people love receiving.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How storytelling is the key to writing better emails
• Why understanding psychology will get you more clicks
• Why you're probably not sending enough emails
• How to overcome your fear of selling

Show notes:

• 00.00 – Introductions 
• 03.20 – Ellie would rather be writing - check out our merch!
• 04.10 – Interview with Rob and Kennedy.
• 07.15 – Why do authors need email marketing?
• 11.40 – Do marketing strategies change depending on the product?
• 15.30 – Psychology and marketing.
• 17.30 – Start with the least boring thing that started in the last 24 hours.
• 23.50 – Focus on what you are good at. 
• 24.30 – What are the big marketing mistakes people make?
• 27.30 – Should we be emailing our mailing list every day?
• 32.40 – Busy or plain emails?
• 36.00 – Create an image with words.
• 37.50 – Should we show them ALL the links?
• 41.40 – What should I write about if I have nothing to sell?
• 44.40 – …and how often should we be trying to sell?
• 48.30 – How to approach the fear of selling.
• 50.50 – Keep repeating the same content.
• 54.00 – Stroppy unsubscribers again.
• 59.30 – What is the biggest tip that Rob and Kennedy can give us?
• 1.00.00 – Which book changed Rob and Kennedy’s life?
• 1.02.00 – Where can you find out more about Rob and Kennedy?

Debbie is the author of nine novels across two series, 7 in the Sophie Sayers Village Mysteries, and 2 in the Staffroom at St Bride's series, currently writing the third. She writes a blend of cosy mystery and romantic comedy and is a course tutor in self-publishing for Jericho Writers and a UK Ambassador for the Alliance of Independent Authors, for whom she has also written how-to books for authors. She runs the Hawkesbury Upton Literature Festival in the Cotswolds, which she founded in 2015. Two of her novels have been shortlisted for The Bookbrunch Selfies Awards, given for the best independently-published fiction in the UK (in 2020 and 2021).

In this episode, you'l learn:

• How cosy mysteries differ from other crime genres
• Ways to improve your writing craft
• Book marketing methods that work for cosy mysteries

Show notes:

• 00.00 – Introductions 
• 05.30 – Interview with Debbie Young
• 06.30 – What is a cosy mystery?
• 10.20 – Setting and worldbuilding in cosy mysteries.
• 13.35 – It all started with Holmes.
• 16.40 – Branching out to different genres.
• 18.20 – Writing different relationships. 
• 23.20 – Surprising the reader, and the writer!
• 24.45 – How does Debbie feel about outlines?
• 27.40 – How long does it take to write her first drafts?
• 30.30 – Where do authors go wrong writing cosy mysteries?
• 38.20 – How do we develop our cosy mystery writing skills?
• 42.30 – Eavesdropping for your writing career.
• 44.20 – The good and the bad of marketing.
• 50.00 – Newsletters swaps.
• 51.30 – Facebook ads.
• 53.30 – Which book changed Debbie’s life?
• 55.50 – Where can we find out more about Debbie?

Kenny MacKay is the host of the Author Your Dream podcast, a show he launched in March of 2020. As an author himself, he knows what it's like to have no idea what you're doing, and aims to answer the questions many aspiring authors are asking. Kenny lives in the UK with his wife and three kids.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Where Kristina's been for the last two weeks - and what it taught her
• Why having a website is important for every author
• How to choose a domain name and website host
• The pages every author website needs
• What to avoid on your website

Show notes:

• 00.00 – Introductions
• 01.15 – Kristina lets her blog rant out.
• 02.42 – Ellie breaks the rules and have 2 things that make her feel productive.
• 04.10 – Kristina it now THAT person.
• 12.00 – Interview with Kenny MacKay.
• 12.30 – Finding the right people to connect with.
• 15.00 – Remembering what people don’t know.
• 16.50 – Why do authors even need websites?
• 19.30 – What does every author page need?
• 22.20 – What kind of domain extension should you go for?
• 25.10 – Don’t waste your time on sliders!
• 28.40 – Keep everything three clicks away.
• 29.40 – Kristina drops the B-word.
• 33.20 – What even is a website host?
• 37.50 – Which host would Kenny recommend?
• 39.30 – But I can get all of this for free, can’t I?
• 42.00 – Obnoxious coffee all the way.
• 42.50 – Website priorities when you’re on a budget.
• 47.50 – Which design features should we be using?
• 52.00 – How do we feel about backgrounds?
• 55.20 – How to create a great author website in 3 tips.
• 57.25 – Which book changed Kenny’s life?
• 59.10 – Where can we go to find out more about Kenny?

Check out Kristina's interview on Kenny's podcast here: https://authoryourdream.com/episode/writing-myths/

Lori Vajda, MSW, Founder and CEO of GB Brand Partners, and co-founder of Sticky Brand Lab. She'd describe herself as a multi-hyphenated, multi-faceted individual as she believes each of us is, even if we don't always think of ourselves that way. Just like you, the whole of who she is, is made up of all her life, career, and personal experiences. Gratefully, those experiences have guided her to where she is today.

For more than a decade she's have been infusing her background as a therapist, dating coach, and content entrepreneur into all her career interests and pursuits including her current role as a podcaster. Now she shares her knowledge and experience with professional, multifaceted individuals to inspire, empower, support, and help guide their career diversification so they can create multiple streams of income through entrepreneurship. 

Nola Boea is president and podcast co-host with CEO Lori Vajda, of Sticky Brand Lab, where her love of entrepreneurship and her MBA combine to help people start side businesses and diversify their income.

For the last 15 years, she’s also worked full time with a nonprofit humanitarian organization. She has traveled to 16 developing countries, primarily as a staff writer and grant administrator, with the lofty goal to alleviate worldwide poverty. Currently, she fills an operational role focused on strategy development and change management.

Throughout her career, Nola has almost always held a side business (or two), such as developing websites, freelance copywriting, and business consulting. The common thread: she enjoys helping people help people.

Born in Alaska, Nola currently works and podcasts remotely, surrounded by trees in the deep rural south.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to spot the signs of burnout
• How much time you should commit each day
• Ways to build resilience

Show notes

• 00.00 – Introduction
• 03.25 – Interview with Lori and Nola.
• 03.50 – Who are Lori and Nola?
• 05.00 – Nola’s box of notes.
• 05.30 – Why do people set up side businesses?
• 11.35 – What are common pitfalls of balancing multiple sources of income?
• 14.10 – How long does it take for a side business to feel worthwhile?
• 25.00 – What is the biggest issue people face when it comes to setting up a side business?
• 27.40 – Balancing your expertise.
• 29.00 – Creating for yourself can feel more rewarding, but…
• 32.00 – Keep taking those little steps.
• 33.20 – Where am I giving away my time?
• 37.00 – Follow your energy, follow your creativity.
• 41.30 – How much time should you set aside per day to start your side business?
• 44.00 – Making Millie steps.
• 45.24 – How do you know if you’ve taken on too much?
• 47.40 – Recognising the signs of burnout, and reducing the effects.
• 51.30 – Rest is about breaking the routine.
• 54.15 – Manage your expectations.
• 57.00 – Work with your brain type.
• 1.00.50 – Give yourself extra time.
• 1.01.00 – Which book changed Nola’s life?
• 1.01.00 – Which book changed Lori’s life?
• 1.08.00 – Where can you find out more about Lori and Nola?

Links

• Sticky Brand Lab
• The Writer's Mindset Facebook group

Children’s book author and indie publisher Darcy Pattison writes award-winning fiction and non-fiction books for children. Her works have received starred PW, Kirkus, and BCCB reviews. Awards include the Irma Black Honor award, five NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books, Eureka! Nonfiction Honor book, two Junior Library Guild selections, two NCTE Notable Children’s Book in Language Arts, and a 2021 Notable Social Studies Trade Books. She’s the 2007 recipient of the Arkansas Governor’s Arts Award for Individual Artist for her work in children’s literature.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to market a self-published children's book
• Whether you should write for children, teachers, or parents/guardians
• How to grow your children's fiction-writing skills

Show notes:

• 00.00 – Introduction
• 01.50 – Come and join the gang!
• 02.30 – Interview with Darcy Pattison.
• 03.20 – Why go Indie as a children’s author?
• 04.30 – What has changed in the indie publishing industry in the last 8 years?
• 06.10 – Does being a teacher help?
• 07.25 – Mindset is the most important factor in learning to build your writing business.
• 08.10 – Getting to know your audience.
• 10.15 – Why focus on recent publications?
• 11.10 – Working with short attention spans.
• 13.50 – Do children’s books get marketed towards the readers or their parents/teachers?
• 16.00 – Why is that adult reader this story in particular?
• 17.45 – How do you market children’s books?
• 22.00 – Trying different marketing methods.
• 23.50 – Which book changed Darcy’s life?
• 27.20 – Where can you find out more about Darcy?

Links:

• Darcy's website
• Free Facebook group

Gina Jackson is a content writer, copywriter and sometime proofreader. She also reviews books and wants to create a podcast for them.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The most common mistake authors make
• Why we need more diversity in fiction
• How NOT to write female characters
• How to become a book blogger

Show notes:

• 00.00 – Introductions
• 02.00 – Take off Your Pants.
• 04.30 – 13 Steps to Evil!
• 08.00 – Interview with Gina Jackson.
• 09.10 – How to review books.
• 10.35 – What should you include in the book review?
• 12.00 – Should you include your opinion in reviews?
• 14.00 – Fiction writing is a transferable skill.
• 15.45 – How long should book reviews be?
• 18.30 – How will you improve if everyone is lying to you?
• 23.00 – Men can’t write women.
• 26.20 – Bring in more boring jobs!
• 28.50 – Books set examples and expectations.
• 34.30 – Stories are about transformation.
• 39.20 – Reading when not all the books are out…
• 41.20 – The psychology behind criminals.
• 43.30 – Where should you post book reviews?
• 44.50 – How to get started as a book reviewer.
• 46.40 – One reason we need more diversity.
• 57.55 – Which book changed Gina’s life?
• 1.01.15 – Where can you find out more about Gina?

Books mentioned:

13 Steps to Evil - Sacha Black

• Amazon UK *
• Amazon US *

Take Off Your Pants! - Libbie Hawker

• Amazon UK *
• Amazon US *

The Ghost's Call - K.C. Adams

• Amazon UK *
• Amazon US *

The Mummy's Curse - K.C. Adams

• Amazon UK *
• Amazon US *

Stephanie Laurens's books

• Amazon UK *
• Amazon US *

The Devil You Know - Dr Gwen Adshead and Eileen Horne

• Amazon UK *
• Amazon US *

Gifted - Savannah Kade

• Amazon UK *
• Amazon US *

Clairvoyants - Brady Moore

• Amazon UK *
• Amazon US *

The Christmasaurus - Tom Fletcher

• Amazon UK *
• Amazon US *

Connect with Gina

• Website
• Copywriting
• Instagram
• Twitter

*Affiliate link. It won’t cost you any extra to purchase through one of our links, but we will get a small commission for every purchase.

Check out Wondrium*: https://www.writerscookbook.com/wondrium

Savannah wrote her first romance at age eight—even then it was clear she was looking for a story about a breakthrough. Though that particular book shall never again see the light of day (please, don’t even ask) it set the stage for everything after. Savannah writes steamy series in Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Romance, and Romantic Suspense and is a Maggie Award winner. There are romances you read when you want the fantasy, when you want to escape, these are what you read when you want to believe.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why book research doesn't have to be boring
• How to go super in-depth on your book research
• When you need to start researching for your next book
• The most fun types of research

Show notes:

• 00.00 – Introductions.
• 01.20 – What do you mean FUN research?
• 02.00 – Ellie’s magic goals.
• 03.20 – Kristina has Mummy issues.
• 06.15 – The wonders of Wondrium!
• 07.45 – Interview with Savannah Kade
• 08.30 – Characters pushing the plot.
• 11.30 – Why do we even need to research?
• 15.00 – Are we just being lazy?
• 17.00 – The power of aggressive support, hoebag.
• 18.30 – When should we be researching?
• 21.00 – How do you go about approaching experts?
• 25.10 – You don’t know who you don’t know.
• 28.30 – No outlines?!
• 29.50 – Does research vary between genres?
• 37.30 – Push it up a grade, don’t fix everything.
• 41.00 – Should we just invent our own towns?
• 43.50 – What is Savannah’s favourite research topic?
• 47.10 – Embracing the research.
• 48.50 – Accidentally falling into research.
• 50.45 – Be careful of your sources!
• 51.40 – Rolling snowballs around and clogging New York streets.
• 1.01.00 – Which book changed Savannah’s life?
• 1.05.50 – Where can we find out more about Savannah?

Download the book that changed Savannah's life:

• Amazon UK *
• Amazon US *

*Affiliate link. It won't cost you any extra to purchase through one of our links, but we will get a small commission for every purchase.

Jonathan Taylor is an author, editor, lecturer and critic. His books include the novel Melissa (Salt, 2015), the poetry collections Cassandra Complex (Shoestring, 2018) and Musicolepsy (Shoestring, 2013), and the memoir Take Me Home (Granta, 2007). He directs the MA in Creative Writing at the University of Leicester. Originally from Stoke-on-Trent, he now lives in Leicestershire with his wife, the poet Maria Taylor, and their twin daughters, Miranda and Rosalind.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Who can benefit from a creative writing degree
• What you could learn studying creative writing
• How to be a more self-aware writer
• Why poetry is everywhere, and we should embrace that

Show notes:

• 00.00 – Introductions
• 01.35 – What did her creative writing degrees teach Kristina?
• 03.00 – Ellie struggled to get to the end…
• 04.35 – Hollywood Heartbreak is out now!
• 05.00 – Interview with Jonathan Taylor.
• 06.10 – Creative writing is Frankenstein’s Monster.
• 09.00 – So is it just sitting around and writing stories all day?
• 11.00 – It doesn’t just pour out of you.
• 16.00 – Witches are fashionable, darling.
• 17.30 – We all right the same thing over and over.
• 21.00 – The psychology is what gets you.
• 24.00 – What is the most common pitfall that writers fall into?
• 27.00 – How do you learn how to tell a story again?
• 30.00 – The competitiveness just isn’t worth it.
• 32.45 – Should you do a writing degree?
• 34.50 – There’s a critical element?!
• 41.00 – Do you have to do public speaking?
• 43.20 – How do you get better at your reading skills?
• 53.30 – Which book changed Jonathan’s life?
• 1.00.00 – Where can you go to find out more about Jonathan?

Contact Jonathan:

• Website
• Blog
• Twitter