Cheri Merz is a twenty-year serial entrepreneur who returned to her dream of a writing career after retirement.  Today, with more than thirty indie-published novels and one memoir behind her, Cheri’s mission is to guide entrepreneurs to write the right book to attract their ideal audience.

Because most have self-doubt about writing, publishing, or marketing their books, Cheri works with her clients to remove the barriers and write the books that will establish authority, provide credibility, and engage prospects organically. Bottom line, they confidently liberate the transformational message inside them, write and publish their books for impact and income.

Connect with Cheri:

Home - The Write Expert
Home - Metaprosperity

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In this episode:

CritiqueMatch is an online platform that connects writers, beta readers, and freelance editors. Its founder and CEO Mike Cavaioni kindly talked to me about the benefits of working with a critique partner as well as pitfalls to look out for. 

Mike explains how CritiqueMatch can help you find the right person and build a relationship with them.

Since Mike and I chatted, CritiqueMatch has gone from strength to strength and last year was named one of Writer’s Digest best websites for Writers. Not only can you find a critique partner, but beta readers and reviewers.

Unlock this amazing platform and your writing life will never be the same again.

Connect with Mike:

CritiqueMatch | Find Critique Partners, Beta Readers, Editors

CritiqueMatch | Facebook

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In this episode:

Mariëlle Smith shows you how you can use Tarot cards to inform and inspire your writing life.

But where Mariëlle differs from other readers, she doesn’t use Tarot specifically for storytelling, but (or any other card system) for developing your author mindset.

What struggles can you use Tarot for?

• Connect with your intuition
• Finding your voice
• Tackling imposter syndrome

And much more...

Mariëlle admitted that when she ‘came out of the card slinging closet’ she was amazed at how many other authors use them, and I can back that up with my own experience. 

I’ve been amazed by how many authors use non-traditional tools to improve their writing and writing mindset.

So if you’re curious, don’t be embarrassed - you’re in good company :) 

"If there’s a book you want to read but it hasn’t been written yet, you must write it." - Toni Morrison

Mariëlle will take you through how to ask your deck questions and how to interpret the cards. 

She does emphasise that, like anything, interpreting the cards takes a bit of practice. Don’t worry if it feels awkward at first!

Despite writing her own book on tarot for writers, Mariëlle generously shares a lot of other free resources available for people new to Tarot.

If you're interested if Tarot can help you, today's episode is a must-listen!

If you want to watch the FB video, you can watch it here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BwBZwn5pAtC_FFsnEz1Hwu0mXcBjuDnY/view?usp=sharing

About Mariëlle:

Mariëlle is an editor, writing coach, and writer. She's half Scottish, half Dutch, and was born and raised in the Netherlands. She now resides in Cyprus, where writing and helping others to write is her full-time job.

Links mentioned:

• Kristen ~ Over The Moon Magic a Coffee. ko-fi.com/
• Intuitive Wellness with Kristen
• The Mystic*Maker*Muse Question Cards for Creatives - An interview - M.S. Wordsmith
• Marielle Smith’s Books
• Podcast - Healing Thru Tarot

Connect with Mariëlle:

• www.mswordsmith.nl (in English)
• Mariëlle Smith (@mariellessmith) • Instagram photos and videos
• M.S. Wordsmith | Facebook
• M.S. Wordsmith - YouTube
• Marielle S. Smith | Patreon
• Doing Diversity Podcast

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Today I talk to Kenny McKay, an author and podcaster who is on a mission to help new writers publish their first novel.

His book, Author Your Dream: A Guide to Writing and Self-Publishing Your First Book takes you through everything you need to know, as a complete newbie, to writing and publishing your novel.

Kenny takes me through everything you need to know about publishing and marketing your book. Get your notebook out because this episode is jam-packed full of practical ideas on how to find an editor, get a book cover, format your book and, importantly, find readers.

Discover why writing your book is only the beginning of your exciting author journey!

Links:
Author Your Dream website
Author Your Dream book
Upwork
Fiverr 

Connect with Kenny:
Instagram
Facebook
Email

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About Sharon Hughson:

Sharon loves stories, having escaped into them for many years, and she understands the struggles writers face to finish a book, get it ready for a publisher’s eyes and then getting it into readers’ hands. The journey can be soul-sucking…when you try doing it alone.

As a certified Hope Writers coach, Sharon ascribes to ICF standards. With experience as a published author and freelance editor, Sharon can’t wait to be your Story Sensei, Plot Wizard and Brainstorming Buddy.

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Reflections Series - Sharon  Houghton
• hope*writers (hopewriters.com)
• Sweet Promise Press – Books you can believe in
• One Stop For Writers
• Kristen Lamb
• Everyone needs a coach blog post
• Welcome | NaNoWriMo
• Kindle Vella

Connect with Sharon:

• Sharon Hughson, Author – A Hero on Every Page
• Sharon Hughson, Author (facebook.com)
• https://twitter.com/SharonLHughson
• Sharon Hughson | Goodreads
• Write Your Book Nook | Facebook

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About Imogen:

Internationally #1 bestselling author Imogen Clark writes contemporary fiction about families and secrets.  

Her books have sold over one million copies worldwide and have topped the Amazon kindle chart eight times. Her third book, WHERE THE STORY STARTS, was shortlisted in the UK for Contemporary Romantic Novel of the year 2020. 

Imogen initially qualified as a lawyer but after leaving her legal career behind to care for her four children, she returned to her first love - books. She went back to University, studying English Literature part-time whilst the children were at school. It was a short step from there to writing novels. 

Imogen’s great love is travel and she is always planning her next adventure. She lives in Yorkshire with her husband and children.

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Open University
• Lucinda Fox (Imogen’s YA pen name)
• Scrivener
• Reedsy

Connect with Imogen:

• Imogen Clark - Author
• Imogen’s books

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About Nikki:

Nikki is an author, speaker and a creative writers coach. 

Her debut novel, Pivotal, was published in 2019 and reached the 2020 finals of both the People’s Book Prize and the Page Turner Awards.

It is a relationship mystery which explores the impact of a life-changing dilemma on four seemingly unconnected lives, and the multiple paths a life may take at the crossroads of each significant decision. 

In 2021 Nikki founded the Facebook group, Lost Books of Lockdown matching authors with readers who may otherwise never have met. Many new and upcoming authors have struggled to reach their readers and many avid readers are seeking out new authors. Both were unable to meet at festivals and book events during the pandemic. The group helps bring them together. 

Nikki is on a mission to give a voice to mid-lifers who may be feeling stuck. Through both her novels, featuring women in their forties, and her coaching she hopes to inspire the closet novelists to give themselves permission to follow a different path and write the stories they have always dreamt of writing.

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Nikki Valance Website
• Thetawaves
• The Lost Books Of Lockdown
• Pivotal - Nikki Vallance
• Anne Williams  - Book Blogger

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About Paulina:

Paulina Pinsky is a writer and educator based in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. She received her MFA in Nonfiction Creative Writing from Columbia University, where she has been teaching comedy writing to high schoolers since 2017.  

She received her B.A. in American Studies with a concentration in Media and Popular Culture from Barnard College, where she wrote her undergraduate thesis on Joan Rivers.  

She is the co-author of IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AWKWARD, and, most notably, in October 2021 she was a finalist for Longridge Review’s Barnhill Prize for her essay, “Other Mother”.  

Additionally, she was a 2021 MacDowell fellow and has been published in Narratively, Human Parts, Columbia Journal, Slackjaw Humor, and HuffPo Women, among others. She is currently working on a memoir.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• The Artist’s Way
• Paulina Pinsky
• Dr. Drew Official Website | drdrew.com
• Joan Rivers
• Amazon.co.uk : the artists way (abc.com)

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About Sara:

Sara Letourneau is a poet, freelance editor, writing coach, and workshop instructor who lives in suburban Massachusetts. 

She works with writers to help them craft stories they're proud of, start or finish their projects, and develop the confidence they need to trust their creativity and achieve their writing and publishing goals. 

Her specialty genres include speculative fiction, YA fiction, poetry, memoir, and prescriptive nonfiction. 

Her poetry has received first place in the Blue Institute’s 2020 Words on Water Contest and appeared in Mass Poetry’s Poem of the Moment, Aromatica Poetica, Muddy River Poetry River, Constellations, Soul-Lit, Amethyst Review, and The Aurorean, among others. 

Her manuscript for her first full-length poetry collection is currently on submission.

Connect with Sara:

• Heart of the Story Editorial & Coaching Services — Heart of the Story Editorial & Coaching Services
• Sara Letourneau Website

Links mentioned in the episode:

• www.gofundme.com
• www.flickr.com
• Iceland Writers Retreat
• DIY MFA

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In today's episode:

Like so many of us, Dr Rachel Grosvenor knew she wanted to be a writer from a very early age.

Unlike so many of us, she didn't let life get in the way!

She completed a BA, MA and PhD in Creative Writing. She explains why she chose to complete all three, and what the benefits were.

She fell in love with The Lord of the Rings at an early and that was the start of a love affair with Fantasy books and that's the genre in which she writes. In fact, she's writing a book at the moment she would describe as 'wild west fantasy'!

I ask Rachel where she gets her ideas from and she says that the character comes first. She needs to fall in love with them and later devise a plot for them. That's a big part of her process. Rachel likes to have a chapter by chapter knowledge of the story before she writes.

We go on to discuss finding the time to write in our busy lives. Rachel is a big believer in time blocking and task batching, and explains her process to me.

We also talk about the Creative Tap. This is about training inspiration, rather than waiting for it to turn up.

Learn how to be creative on demand.

Dr Rachel Grosvenor rounds off our conversation by telling me about her coaching and editing services and the writers she works with, and what she gets from working with her own coaches.

With 2022 looming, you can grab a copy of Rachel's Planning Workbook. This will help you plan your writing year.

Connect with Rachel:
Home - Rachel Grosvenor Author
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

Links mentioned in the show:
Boston Spa University
Terry Pratchett
3 Act Method
Rachel Grosvenor’s Planning Workbook

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