Want to get your first book reviews before launch—even if you don’t already have a big audience?

In this video, I’m walking through the ARC strategy I would use to build a realistic path toward your first 25 honest book reviews. We’ll cover how many advance reader copies to send, how to find the right readers, how to build an ARC application, where to find ARC readers if you have no audience yet, what review rules you need to follow, and the exact email sequence I would use before launch.

I also break down a full six-week ARC timeline, plus a two-week emergency version if your release date is already close.

The goal is not to collect five-star reviews from friends or pressure people into reviewing. It is to find readers who genuinely enjoy books like yours, give them enough time to read, and make the review process simple and respectful.

If you are a first-time author, indie author, or self-published writer preparing for a book launch, this video will help you create a more organized ARC and review strategy.

In this video, you’ll learn:

▪️How many ARC copies to send if you want 25 reviews

▪️Why reader fit matters more than simply finding “reviewers”

▪️When your manuscript is ready for ARC readers

▪️How to create a simple ARC application

▪️Where to find ARC readers

▪️What to do if you have no existing audience

▪️Common ARC mistakes to avoid

▪️Important review rules and ethical considerations

▪️How to prepare your ARC campaign

▪️The email sequence I use for ARC readers

▪️A six-week ARC launch plan

▪️A two-week emergency launch plan

If you’re preparing for a launch right now, tell me in the comments: How many ARC readers do you currently have?

And if your answer is “none yet,” watch this video next: https://youtu.be/6_njL2bca1M?si=jaL3mri7UrwkaWPj

Subscribe for more practical videos about writing, self-publishing, book marketing, ARC teams, book launches, and building a sustainable author career.

🚀 Publisher Rocket – My favorite keyword research tool for authors (affiliate): https://publisherrocket.cartknox.com/buy-rocket?aff=539______FOLLOW ME ON SUBSTACK: https://diaryofanauthor.substack.comMY BOOKS:📙 A New Chapter by the Canal https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/255267123-a-new-chapter-by-the-canal 📓 Library of Eternity https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/245897025-library-of-eternity📘 The 66-Day Writing Challenge: Build a Sustainable Writing Habit with Daily Prompts https://a.co/d/8rAAeng🎧 Flykten - ljudbok https://www.storytel.com/se/books/flykten-2255091📔 Essäer om skrivande och vardagsflykt https://amzn.eu/d/0eUeZSLTMy name is Natalie Forslind, I am a writing coach, author, and Growth Markter who teaches writers how to become more productive and market themselves online.Some of the links in this description are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the channel!✨Timestamps ✨

00:00 Intro

03:00 How many ARCs to send?

05:00 Look for readers, not reviewers

07:27 Your ARC needs to be ready

08:36 How to build an ARC application

10:20 Where to find ARC readers

12:56 Common mistakes

14:47 If you don’t have an audience

18:13 Rules you need to follow

19:34 How to prepare

20:42 My email sequence

23:26 Six-week plan

27:48 Two-week launch plan

29:53 Key takeaways

You do not need a published book—or even a finished manuscript—to start building an author email list.In fact, waiting until launch week can leave you trying to market your book to an empty room.In this video, I’ll show you how to build an author email list from scratch before your book exists. We’ll cover what you can offer when you do not have a finished book, how to create a reader magnet, what your signup page should say, the first emails to include in your welcome sequence, and how to find your first subscribers without spamming everyone you know.I’ll also explain how fiction and nonfiction authors should approach email differently, how to attract readers rather than only other writers, and what you can send in a newsletter when you do not have major book news yet.By the end of the video, you will have a simple 30-day plan for creating your first author newsletter system. In this video, you’ll learn:▪️Why authors should start an email list before publishing ▪️How to decide who your newsletter is for ▪️What to offer when your book is not finished ▪️How to create a reader magnet that attracts the right audience ▪️What to include on your email signup page ▪️The four emails I would put in a welcome sequence ▪️How to find your first 100 subscribers ▪️What to send when you do not have a book to promote ▪️Common author newsletter mistakes ▪️A simple 30-day email-list planYour email list does not need to be huge. It needs to give interested readers a clear way to stay connected until your book is ready.Comment below: What do you write, and what could you offer as your reader magnet—a short story, prequel, bonus scene, checklist, first chapter, or something else?Subscribe for more practical videos about writing, self-publishing, book marketing, author platforms, and building a sustainable author career.Mentioned resourcesWritten Word Media’s 2025 Indie Author Survey:https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/2025-indie-author-survey-results-insights-into-self-publishing-for-authors/BookFunnel:https://authors.bookfunnel.com/MailerLite for authors:https://www.mailerlite.com/email-marketing-by-industry/authorsWatch next: https://youtu.be/US3u0XBZUfw?si=WnvPQzoqcV9LAf0x

✨Timestamps ✨00:00 Intro05:08 What are you actually building?10:19 Define your reader promise14:05 What can you offer before the book excists21:39 The simple technical setup26:26 The four-email welcome sequence31:09 How to get your first 100-subscribers35:29 What do you send when there’s no book38:21 The biggest mistakes40:39 Your 30-day plan

Your book description might be costing you readers—and you may not even realize it.When I started preparing my upcoming romance novel, A New Chapter by the Canal, for publication, I had a nagging feeling that my blurb explained the story… but didn’t make people want to read it.So I decided to run an experiment.I studied the language behind some of the most talked-about books on BookTok and rewrote my book description using the same psychological principles that make readers stop scrolling. In this video, I compare my original blurb with the new version, explain every change I made, and share five lessons any author can apply to make their book description more compelling.Whether you’re writing romance, fantasy, thrillers, or nonfiction, these storytelling techniques can help your blurb create curiosity instead of simply summarizing the plot.In this video you’ll learn:• Why most book blurbs explain too much• How BookTok creates curiosity without spoilers• The difference between selling a plot and selling an emotional experience• How I rewrote the blurb for A New Chapter by the Canal• Practical tips you can use on your own book description todayA New Chapter by the Canal releases the 18th of August 2026.Let me know in the comment which of the blurbs is your favorite?🚀 Publisher Rocket – My favorite keyword research tool for authors (affiliate): https://publisherrocket.cartknox.com/buy-rocket?aff=539______FOLLOW ME ON SUBSTACK: https://diaryofanauthor.substack.comMY BOOKS:📙 A New Chapter by the Canal https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/255267123-a-new-chapter-by-the-canal 📓 Library of Eternity https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/245897025-library-of-eternity📘 The 66-Day Writing Challenge: Build a Sustainable Writing Habit with Daily Prompts https://a.co/d/8rAAeng🎧 Flykten - ljudbok https://www.storytel.com/se/books/flykten-2255091📔 Essäer om skrivande och vardagsflykt https://amzn.eu/d/0eUeZSLTMy name is Natalie Forslind, I am a writing coach, author, and Growth Markter who teaches writers how to become more productive and market themselves online.#indieauthor #authortube #growthforauthorsSome of the links in this description are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the channel!✨Timestamps ✨00:00 Intro01:14 The original blurb04:24 Lesson 105:36 Lesson 207:15 Lesson 308:52 Lesson 4 09:39 Lesson 511:34 The biggest lesson

What do high-earning indie authors do differently?I studied survey results from 1,346 indie authors to look for patterns in what separates lower-earning authors from authors who are making more money from their books. This is not a get-rich-quick video, and there are no guarantees in self-publishing. But the data does reveal some useful patterns around catalog size, series, email lists, book packaging, marketing systems, direct sales, and long-term author business strategy.In this video, I’m breaking down the biggest lessons aspiring and indie authors can learn from high earners — and what you can start applying even if you are still at the beginning of your author career.We’ll talk about why one book usually cannot carry an entire author business, why series and read-through matter, why email lists are so important, how covers and blurbs affect sales, and why marketing works better when it is a system instead of random promotion.In this video, you’ll learn:

• what high-earning indie authors tend to do differently
• why catalog size and series can affect author income
• why email lists matter for indie authors
• how book covers, blurbs, and packaging influence sales
• why random promotion is not the same as a marketing system
• what beginner authors should focus on first
• how to think about self-publishing as a long-term author business

This video is based on my interpretation of data presented in Written Word Media’s 2025 Indie Author Survey. You can read the full survey here: https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/2025.... 💬 Comment below: Which part of your author system needs the most work right now — writing more books, building an email list, improving your cover and blurb, learning marketing, or planning your next book?🚀 Publisher Rocket – My favorite keyword research tool for authors (affiliate): https://publisherrocket.cartknox.com/...Subscribe for more videos about writing, self-publishing, book marketing, author platform growth, and building a sustainable author career.

00:00 Intro

01:44 Pattern 1

04:22 Pattern 2

07:18 Pattern 3

12:23 Pattern 4

16:29 Pattern 5

19:17 Pattern 6

22:48 Pattern 7

24:32 Takeaways

Master effective book launch strategies to reach your ideal readers. Learn why specific audience targeting beats chasing fame.

New authors often struggle with the pressure of trying to reach everyone, but the most successful book launch strategies focus on quality over quantity. This video breaks down how to identify your specific niche and connect with the readers who actually want your work. Using examples like Library of Eternity by Natalie Forslind, we examine practical ways to position your title without getting lost in the noise of broad marketing.

By narrowing your scope, you stop wasting energy on broad campaigns and start building a real readership. This approach helps you clarify your author marketing tips, ensuring your effort goes toward people interested in your genre. Whether you are prepping for your first release or refining your process, these book launch strategies offer a clearer path to connecting with your audience.

Subscribe for weekly writing advice and author marketing tips, and comment below with your biggest challenge when launching a new book.______
FOLLOW ME ON SUBSTACK: https://diaryofanauthor.substack.com
MY BOOKS:
📗A New Chapter by the Canal https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/255267123-a-new-chapter-by-the-canal
📓 Library of Eternity https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/245897025-library-of-eternity
📘 The 66-Day Writing Challenge: Build a Sustainable Writing Habit with Daily Prompts https://a.co/d/8rAAeng
📙 Flykten https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/138323690-flykten
🎧 Flykten - ljudbok https://www.storytel.com/se/books/flykten-2255091
📔 Essäer om skrivande och vardagsflykt https://amzn.eu/d/0eUeZSLT
My name is Natalie Forslind, I am a writing coach, author, and Growth Markter who teaches writers how to become more productive and market themselves online.
___________________
✨Timestamps ✨

00:00 Intro

02:06 Day 90-61 Step One

06:04 Day 90-61 Step Two

08:45 Day 90-61 Step Three

13:06 Day 90-61 Step Four

15:59 Day 60-31

18:52 Day 30-Launch

21:10 Launch Week and Beyond

22:47 Recap

Is your first chapter losing readers?

Your opening chapter has one main job: to make the reader want to keep reading. But many writers accidentally slow their story down before it has even started.

We’ll talk about why you might be starting your story too early, how too much backstory or worldbuilding can kill curiosity, why your protagonist needs to be active, how to create emotional stakes, and why the end of chapter one needs a turn that pulls the reader into chapter two.

If you are writing a novel, revising your first chapter, editing your manuscript, or preparing to self-publish your book, this video will help you make your opening stronger and more engaging.

In this video, you’ll learn:

• how to tell if your first chapter starts too early
• why readers do not need all the backstory right away
• how to make your protagonist more active
• how to add emotional stakes to your opening scene
• why every first chapter needs a turn
• how to make chapter one promise the right kind of book

Video where I talk about Lisa Cron's book Story Genius https://youtu.be/ORAxSsXR26E?si=FgGd0mSHSX3g-7oP

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:35 Mistake 1: Starting too early

03:17 Mistake 2: Explaining instead of creating curiosity

05:11 Mistake 3: Passive protagonist

08:11 Mistake 4: No emotional reason to care

10:31 Mistake 5: No turn at the end

12:15 Bonus: The first chapter is a promise

Thinking about self-publishing your first book in 2026? Before you upload your manuscript to KDP, there are a few important things you need to have in place.

In this video, I walk you through the complete self-publishing checklist I would follow if I were publishing my first book today. We’ll talk about finishing and revising your manuscript, getting feedback, editing, book covers, KDP keywords and categories, pricing, reviews, launch planning, and marketing your book before release.

Self-publishing is not just about uploading your book to Amazon. It is about making sure your book is ready for readers, easy to understand, easy to find, and professionally presented.If you are an aspiring author, indie author, or first-time writer trying to publish your book, this video will help you understand the full process before you hit publish.

Subscribe for more videos about writing, self-publishing, book marketing, author platform growth, productivity, and building a sustainable author career.

💬 What part of self-publishing feels most confusing to you right now: editing, cover design, KDP setup, keywords, reviews, pricing, or marketing?

✨Timestamps ✨

00:00 Intro

01:20 Start with the reader

03:36 Finish the manuscript

05:32 What do DIY and when to hire a professional

08:53 Crafting a great blurb

11:12 Research before KDP

15:15 Build a platform in advance

19:07 Getting reviews

21:46 Time to upload

23:01 Marketing after launch

NaNoWriMo is gone, but writing challenges do not have to disappear with it.
Stop struggling with rigid schedules and one-size-fits-all word count goals. In this video, I’ll show you how to create a personalized writing challenge that fits your real life, helps you create a writing routine.
Popular events like NaNoWriMo worked because they gave writers a deadline, a number, and a sense of community. But they also discouraged many writers because 50,000 words in 30 days does not fit every schedule, every project, or every season of life.
Instead, you’ll learn how to use the WRITE Framework to build your own sustainable writing challenge:
W — What are you actually trying to do?
R — Right-size the goal
I — Install a tracking system
T — Think in minimums, targets, and stretch goals
E — Expect disruption
Whether you are drafting, outlining, revising, editing, rebuilding your writing habit, or returning after a long break, this approach will help you design a daily writing habit that creates a personalized writing challenge that actually fits your life instead of burning you out.
By the end of the video, you’ll know how to choose the right goal, set a realistic timeline, track your progress, plan for missed days, and keep writing even when life gets messy.♥️ Subscribe for weekly writing productivity breakdowns, and comment below: what kind of writing challenge are you building — drafting, outlining, revising, or rebuilding your writing habit?

FOLLOW ME ON SUBSTACK: https://diaryofanauthor.substack.com

MY BOOKS:

📓 Library of Eternity https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/245897025-library-of-eternity

📘 The 66-Day Writing Challenge: Build a Sustainable Writing Habit with Daily Prompts https://a.co/d/8rAAeng

📙 Flykten https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/138323690-flykten

🎧 Flykten - ljudbok https://www.storytel.com/se/books/flykten-2255091

📔 Essäer om skrivande och vardagsflykt https://amzn.eu/d/0eUeZSLT

My name is Natalie Forslind, I am a writing coach, author, and Growth Markter who teaches writers how to become more productive and market themselves online.

#indieauthor #authortube #growthforauthors___________________

✨Timestamps ✨

00:00 Intro

01:24 Why writing challenges work

02:28 What is nanowrimo?

03:05 Why writing challanges fail

04:17 The WRITE framework

04:27 W — What are you actually trying to do?

05:12 R — Right-size the goal

07:30 I — Install a tracking system

10:18 T — Think in minimums, targets, and stretch goals

11:28 E — Expect disruption

12:47 Common questions

How do readers discover books now?

In this video, we look at what authors can learn from BookTok, reader recommendations, tropes, emotional hooks, social proof, and online book communities. You’ll learn how modern readers find books, why some stories are easier to share, and how to make your book easier to recognize, recommend, and remember.

Link to the news referred in the video: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/booktok-community-50-million-books?lang=en-150

✨Timestamps ✨

00:00 Intro

01:07 Mistakes

03:40 Why BookTok matters

04:19 How readers discover books

06:18 What makes a book discoverable

09:31 Q&A

Want to write a book but have no ideas? In this video, I’ll show you how to find a book idea from your own life, interests, questions, fears, and favorite stories. You’ll learn simple ways to generate ideas, turn a tiny concept into a real book premise, and start writing even if you don’t feel like a “real writer” yet.

FOLLOW ME ON SUBSTACK: https://diaryofanauthor.substack.comMY BOOKS:📓 Library of Eternity https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/245897025-library-of-eternity📘 The 66-Day Writing Challenge: Build a Sustainable Writing Habit with Daily Prompts https://a.co/d/8rAAeng📙 Flykten https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/138323690-flykten 🎧 Flykten - ljudbok https://www.storytel.com/se/books/flykten-2255091📔 Essäer om skrivande och vardagsflykt https://amzn.eu/d/0eUeZSLTMy name is Natalie Forslind, I am a writing coach, author, and Growth Markter who teaches writers how to become more productive and market themselves online.#indieauthor #authortube #growthforauthors___________________✨Timestamps ✨

00:00 Intro

00:46 You don’t need and idea

04:00 The easiest book to write

06:58 I’m not a writer

08:22 Idea generators

11:40 Avoid copying others