Afleveringen
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As an author, youâve probably heard people tell you, âWow, youâve written a book? I could never do that.â The idea of creating something so big out of nothing, writing and revising for months, and eventually putting it out in the world, feels overwhelming to most. Some may say it seems incomprehensible.
So how do you do it?
Chances are, you have a system.
It may not be a formal system. You may not utilize all the fancy tools like Scrivener or Plottr to craft your novels. In fact, you may not even realize youâre doing it. But if youâve sat down day after day and put your hands keyboard, you have some system for creating.
Can you create a system that ensures your muse visits early and often? Letâs find out!
This is the season two finale of the Your Breakout Book podcast. I hope youâve enjoyed this seasonâs themes, interviews, and trainings. While the podcast is going on summer vacation, the Your Breakout Community is still going strong, so if youâre looking for more guidance to help you launch your breakout book, now is the perfect time to join.As a member, youâll gain access to monthly roundtable discussions, live trainings, and a savvy community of authors. Click here to learn more!
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Historically, the intersection of art and money was infrequent and in poor taste. If you were an artist, you were expected to solely focus on your craft and not worry about compensation or financial security. Hence the stereotype of the starving artist.
QuickbooksFreshbooksDana's budget / forecast template (make a copy in order to input your data)
Todayâs world is different. There is far less stigma around artists discussing money or expecting compensation for their work. In fact, there are entire communities of working artists and creative entrepreneurs, where the sole purpose is to discuss the business side of creativity. Sure, money is still an uncomfortable topic for many, but if you want to thwart your starving artist destiny, itâs necessary to get clear on your finances and begin seeing your writing career as a business.
All month long, weâre focusing on the systems and tools needed to create processes and streamline your workflow. In todayâs episode, weâre focusing on the financial systems you need to get clear on your cash flow and improve your bottom line.
I get it. Youâd much rather talk about craft, securing media coverage, really anything other than money. But I promise, this episode will leave you feeling empowered, confident, and ready to take control of your finances.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Youâve written a book, thatâs step one. Step two? Get that book into the hands of thousands of readers. That means, you have to promote.
BufferLaterHootsuiteCanvaMailerLiteActiveCampaignMailchimpZapier
But you didnât become an author because you love marketing and publicity. You became an author because you love to tell stories. And now the thought of having to promote your book feels confusing and overwhelming. Perhaps thatâs why youâre listening to this podcast?
In my experience, it isnât always the actual promotion that overwhelms people; itâs all the promotional opportunities available. Should you start a Facebook author page? Should you host a virtual event? What about influencer marketing? And do I need a newsletter?
Todayâs episode isnât about how to market your book. If thatâs what youâre looking for, scroll back to previous episodes. Thereâs plenty to listen to. Todayâs episode is about the systems and tools to help you streamline and simplify your marketing process.
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Albert Einstein famously said, âEverything must be made as simple as possible. But not simpler.â When I think about that quote, I visualize stripping away aspects of my life and business until everything is clear and straightforward, stopping before I strip away the things that make my life and business great.
AirtableAsanaTrelloNotion
This, is systematizing.
Much of what we do in our daily lives, whether itâs responding to emails, creating content, or meal-prepping, can be simplified and streamlined using systems.
This is particularly true of your writing career.
You may think that plotting a novel, writing your newsletter, or appearing at online events are all nuanced, individual propositions that cannot be duplicated or systematized. Iâm here to show you that you can.
All month long, weâre diving into the systems and tools authors like you can use to save time, increase efficiency, AND deliver better work. Weâll be covering marketing tools, systems for keeping your finances on track, even software to help you craft your novels. But today, weâre starting with project management, which I believe serves as your foundation.
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Today is the last day of our April theme: Writing for readers. All month long, weâve been exploring how authors like you can leverage their writing skills to secure more readers for their books. But this podcast isnât the only place weâve been exploring writing for readers, this has also been an ongoing discussion in the Your Breakout Book community. All month, members have been re-purposing old blog posts for new newsletters, pitching book excerpts to websites, and placing guest articles with media outlets. It has been so rewarding to see these authors leverage their writing skills to reach new readers AND nurture relationships with their existing ones.
Earlier this month, I led a training to help our community members get a better understanding of the writing opportunities available to them and how they can re-purpose the content they create across several platforms. Today, Iâm sharing a portion of that training with you!
Keep in mind, this was originally a video presentation, so you may have to hit pause at times to write down notes. Or better yet, become a member of Your Breakout Book today and access the full training, with video and slides.
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All month long, weâve been exploring how authors like you can leverage their writing skills to secure more readers for their books. Todayâs weâre looking at a different aspect of writing for readers: freelancing and podcasting.
Now, you may not think of podcasting as writing, but for many of us, our episodes are scripted and outlined, and we spend just as much time writing the content as we do reading it into a mic.
You also heard in the first episode of the month how my freelance writing career better prepared me for a career as a publicist. Today, weâll hear from full-time freelancer, podcaster, and book author Tori Telfer, who has created an ecosystem of content creation that all feeds on each other.
When weâre talking about freelance writing, weâre talking about paid writing gigs. Not highly paid writing gigs, but actual compensation other than publicity. I think this is an important distinction because while itâs great to write an op-ed or guest blog to gain exposure for your book, youâll want to be wary of outlets asking you to write longer journalism pieces without any compensation. Plus, wouldnât it be nice to BE paid for exposure?
About Tori Telfer
Tori Telfer is the author of Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History and Confident Women: Swindlers, Grifters, and Shapeshifters of the Feminine Persuasion. She is also the host of the podcast Criminal Broads. She lives in NYC with her husband and son.
Connect with Tori:
https://toritelfer.com
https://criminalbroads.com
https://instagram.com/tori__telfer
https://instagram.com/criminalbroads
https://https://www.harpercollins.com/products/confident-women-tori-telfer?variant=32180878868514 -
For todayâs guest, Ellen Byron, writing frequently and on a deadline is not a challenge. She began her career as a playwright before moving to LA and transitioning to sitcom writing. As she says in this interview, there was no time to be precious with words or to not be inspired. If you werenât contributing to the team, there was a line of writers waiting to take your seat.
Now, as a multi-published author of three cozy mystery series, Ellen is putting her writing skills to use to reach new readers, specifically through blogs and newsletters. Today, she shares how she approaches what she calls âshameless shillingâ, how by approaching her newsletter differently she actually grew to love it, and how blogging has not only helped her connect with new readers, but a community of writers as well.
About Ellen Byron
Ellen Byron is the Agatha Award-winning author of the Cajun Country Mysteries. The USA Today bestselling series has also won multiple Best Humorous Mystery Lefty awards from the Left Coast Crime conference. She also writes The Catering Hall Mysteries (under the pen name Maria DiRico), which launched with Here Comes the Body.Ellenâs TV credits include Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents. Sheâs written over 200 national magazine articles, and her published plays include the award-winning Graceland. She also worked as a cater-waiter for the legendary Martha Stewart, a credit she never tires of sharing. A native New Yorker who attended Tulane University, Ellen lives in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter, and rescue chi mix, Pogo. She still misses her hometown - and still drives like a New York cabbie.
Ellen's website and newsletter: https://www.ellenbyron.comEllen's workshops: https://www.ellenbyron.com/workshopsChicks on the Case blog: https://chicksonthecase.com/Canva: http://canva.com
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For most authors, email marketing is a four letter word. They cringe at the idea of growing an email list and writing a newsletter, thinking theyâd be treated as spam and wondering who would be interested in what they would have to say.
Perhaps Iâm describing you?
But the fact is, email marketing is the most powerful tool in your book promotion toolbox. Unlike social media, you own your newsletter list and arenât reliant on algorithms to deliver your content. Plus, email marketing utilizes your number one skill: writing!
If youâre still with me, chances are youâre curious about email marketing, but want to make sure you get it right. Thatâs why Iâm so excited to share my conversation with todayâs guest, Eman Ismail.
Eman is a copywriter, storyteller, pizza-lover, certified Ravenclaw, and the founder of InkHouse, where she helps business owners and non-profits communicate who they are, what they do, and how they do it. In todayâs interview, she breaks down the different types of email marketing campaigns, shares some of her biggest email pet peeves, and how authors like you can nurture and sell your audience via email.
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Did you know that when I started Kaye Publicity in 2009, I had zero PR experience? Ifâ Iâm being honest, I donât think I fully grasped the difference between publicity and marketing, or what the broader public relations umbrella looked like.
So how did I launch a successful book PR agency with zero experience? I relied on my writing skills.
All month long, weâre exploring how authors can put their writing skills to use in their book promotion, and why storytelling is the most powerful tool for attracting new readers. To start, Iâm sharing my journey from freelance writer to agency owner, and how what I lacked in PR experience, I made up for with my storytelling abilities.
kayepublicity.comkayepublicity.com/yourbreakoutbook
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This monthâs theme is Writing for Readers. So many authors complain and lament about all the promotional responsibilities falling on their shoulders, throwing up their hands and saying, âBut Iâm not a marketer! Iâm just a writer!â
What many authors donât realize is their skills as a writer can be their greatest asset as a marketer.
Any type of promotion begins with storytelling. For books, you tell the story of how your book came to exist, what inspired you to write it, and why itâs important. You share your author journey, your path to publication, your research process, and sometimes insight into your personal life. You may do this through blog posts, newsletters, or social media content. You may apply these skills to your media pitches, op-eds, or written interviews. Writing skills are necessary for so many aspects of promotion that Iâd argue you, as an author, have an advantage over many of the so-called professionals.
You have the skills, but how can you apply them to launch Your Breakout Book? Thatâs exactly the question Iâm posing to this monthâs guests. Iâll speak with content strategist Eman Ismail who will share the power and principles behind email marketing. Weâll hear from award-winning author and Your Breakout Book member, Ellen Byron, about the impact guest blogging has had on growing her audience. And tomorrow, Iâll share my personal journey of applying my writing skills to marketing and publicity.
Hit subscribe wherever youâre listening to this podcast and ensure you never miss an episode. Iâll be back in your earbuds tomorrow.
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Dig the well before youâre thirsty.
That is something that has been told to me several times over the years and is the perfect philosophy when it comes to creating a community.
Weâve all been in situations where someone from high school or a distant relative randomly reaches out under the pretense of re-connecting only to ask for a favor or try to sell us something. Weâve been in Facebook groups where people who never post or provide feedback suddenly surface around book launch to continuously post their promotional content. Weâve received random emails from fellow writers asking for a blurb, social media support, and so on.
None of us want to be those people, but we feel like we have to. Itâs true, successful authors rarely do it alone. They rely on the support of fellow authors, super-fans, and their friends and family. But if you donât want to leave a bad taste in peopleâs mouths, itâs necessary to nurture those relationships before asking for favors.
You must dig your well before youâre thirsty.
This is something todayâs guest, Lainey Cameron, has truly embraced. Before she was published, she joined Womenâs Fiction Writers Association and provided support for their events and social media channels. When she secured her book contract, she joined the 2020 Debuts, a group of traditionally published authors making their publishing debut in 2020. She also reached out to friends and family to join her launch team who not only helped her promote her novel, but provided morale boosts and encouragement as well.
In this episode, Lainey shares the power of online communities and the impact it has made on her writing career. If youâre an author looking to find your people, connect with readers, and create impactful online communities, then this one's for you!
https://www.laineycameron.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/BlueSkyBookChathttps://www.bestofwomensfiction.com/podcast
Connect with LaineyResources Mentioned:
https://www.womensfictionwriters.orghttps://2020debuts.com/meet-the-authorshttps://www.instagram.com/2021debutshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/Bloomwithtpw -
When I speak with authors about the importance of creating a community, Iâm often met with this reaction: "Oh great, one more thing I have to do!" Youâre already creating social media content, writing newsletters, pitching yourself to review, and oh yeah, you have to write books too!
But what if your online community didnât just serve your audience, it served YOU as well.
Todayâs guest, Tasha Harrison, grew her community out of a person need: to get out of a writing rut with the help of fellow writers. She gave herself the challenge to write 20K words in 5 days, and in order to achieve her goal, she knew she needed accountability and comradery. So she put it out on twitter and encouraged fellow authors to take the challenge with her.
The response, was incredible.
What started as one twitter hashtag has grown into a vibrant online community that supports authors as they write their manuscripts, generates additional income, AND fills Tashaâs creative cup.
Tasha L. Harrison is a romance author, freelance editor and host of Wordmakers Writing Community. You can learn more about her latest novel, IF SHE SAYS YES, and the Wordmakers community at http://tashalharrison.com.
Being BossAtomic Habits by James ClearZoe York
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This month, weâre focusing on communities: why we need them and what it takes to cultivate them. Last week, I shared a few different ways authors like you to can cultivate a community of superfans that will not only buy your books, but tell their friends about them. This week, weâre taking a deeper dive into Facebook groups with publishing consultant and full-service book designer, Melinda Martin.
Melinda loves to work with authors who are process-minded, relationship-centric, and quality-driven. In 2008, she left Corporate America, became a stay-at-home mom to her two children, and started a blog as a means of developing community. In 2012, she transitioned from blogger to book designer and pursues living her best life on the daily. Her Facebook group, Self-Publishing Support Group is a place for authors to connect with service providers and collaborate with each otherâŠand it has nearly 13K members.
If youâre ready to hear whatâs working for Facebook groups, both as a moderator and as a participants, then start listening to this episode!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/selfpubsupportgrouphttps://melindamartin.me/
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If you enjoy these conversations, I encourage you to join my membership community. As a member of Your Breakout Book, youâll gain access to live trainings, roundtable discussions, plus plenty of templates and tutorials to help you launch your breakout book. You also have the opportunity to be paired with an accountability partner to ensure you stay on track. Visit http://kayepublicity.com/yourbreakoutbook for more info. -
All month long on Your Breakout Book, weâre focusing on cultivating community: why we want to, how to do it, and what pitfalls to avoid. Today, Iâm taking you on a deeper dive into online communities. First, Iâll address why online communities are so powerful and how they can impact your author career. Next weâll explore the different types of communities you can create. And lastly, Iâll cover best practices for growing and engaging in your online community.
Your Breakout BookMighty NetworksFacebook Groups
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Itâs March 1st, which means itâs time to introduce this monthâs theme: Cultivating Community.
As humans, we all want to feel seen and understood. Whether itâs your monthly book club, moms group, professional organization, or religious community, commiserating with likeminded individuals around a common interest is important.
2020 truly punctuated the need for human connection. Even introverts like me, once sent to lock down, really missed visiting with friends and family. And that led to an explosion in online memberships, Facebook groups, and virtual meet ups.
So what does that mean for authors like you? It may mean creating a Facebook group for your superfans. It may mean organizing a virtual meet up for fellow writers or those in the publishing industry. Your community may be an online forum or a paid membership.
As youâll hear from our guests this month, there are countless ways to cultivate a community.
All month long, weâre going to hear from authors and publishing pros on what it takes to create a vibrant and loyal community. Weâll discuss the things they wish they knew when they first started and the impact their communities have had on their careers, and their lives in general.
If youâd like to experience a supportive and vibrant community firsthand, I encourage you to become a member of Your Breakout Book. Your Breakout Book is where author like you come to write, publish, and prosper. As a member, youâll gain access to live trainings, roundtable discussions, plus plenty of templates and tutorials to help you launch your breakout book. Youâll also learn and commiserate with a supportive community of savvy authors, which, I think, it the most valuable part of your membership. Finally, you have the opportunity to be paired with an accountability partner to ensure you stay on track.
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All month, weâve heard from the experts about how to secure media coverage for your book. Youâve learned how to craft a pitch, find the right podcasts, work with editors and build relationships.
Todayâs guest, E. A. Aymar, is not a media expert. Heâs an author like you. He shares his windy path to publishing and how it was the connections that helped him establish his name in the crime fiction community and secure national media coverage for his books.
Ed didnât have a PR background or a huge budget to execute his promotion campaign. Instead, he focused on nurturing relationships and cultivating a community.
https://eaymarwrites.comhttps://eaymarwrites.com/noirbarhttps://thrillerwriters.org
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Around 2009, book bloggers emerged as the next big thing in books coverage. Today, blogs may be taking a back seat to #bookstagram #booktwitter and #booktok, but the concept is the same: any fan has the potential to cultivate an online audience and make an impact with their platform.
And thatâs just what todayâs guest, Ashley Hasty, did.
Ashley is the book blogger behind HastyBookList.com, a site for reviews, features, and interviews with authors, audiobook narrators, and book jacket designers. She has a Ph.D. in fashion history so itâll come as no surprise that her favorite genre is historical fiction, but she also enjoys mysteries, rom coms, and non-fiction. When not reading or blogging, she teaches college courses in marketing, merchandising, and fashion history.
Today, she shares how she started writing about books as a passion project and a way to escape her day job. She shares how she works with authors and publicists to amplify the voices of new authors and connect readers with great books.Resources Mentioned:
https://www.instagram.com/ashleyhasty/
https://www.hastybooklist.com/subscribe-hasty-book-list
https://www.facebook.com/hastybooklist
https://www.pinterest.com/hastybooklist/
https://twitter.com/AHastyLife
Conversations like these are happening every day in Your Breakout Book. As a member, you'll gain access to trainings, tutorials, monthly roundtable discussions, and a community of savvy authors. If you're ready to take your writing career to the next level by increasing your sales and expanding your name recognition, then you're ready for Your Breakout Book. Click here to get started! -
Over the past few years, podcasting has exploded. According to a study by Infinite Dial, in 2019, 169 million people in the US alone, reported to have listened to a podcast in the past week. And those US podcast listeners are listening to an average of 7 podcasts per week. Since the pandemic, podcast downloads have increased by 40%. Itâs clear that podcasts have officially entered the mainstream.
But thatâs not all.
50% of listeners say they listen to the entire episode. How often do you watch an entire YouTube video or read an entire article? I bet, not very often. But when it comes to podcasts, most people are staying engaged for the entire episode.
At Kaye Publicity, we pitch our clients to podcasts regularly, and we see the impact it can have. Podcast interviews build trust between listeners and hosts or interviewers in a way that other types of media donât. If youâre looking to reach a new audience and quickly build trust with that audience, podcasts are the way to go.
Thatâs why Iâm so excited to introduce todayâs guest, Angie Trueblood.
As a podcast visibility expert and host of the Go Pitch Yourself podcast, Angie Trueblood knows that the only 'perfect pitch' is the one that leads with value and focuses on building a genuine connection. Whether she is teaching entrepreneurs how to pitch themselves or working behind the scenes to secure opportunities for others, Angie leverages her super-connector powers to grow businesses and build long-lasting relationships.
In this episode, she shares how authors can find which shows to pitch, secure interviews, and make the most out of each podcast appearance.
Podcast RoadmapWebsitePodcastInstagram
Connect with Angie:Resources mentioned
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Having a breakout book requires reaching people outside of your circle, and one of the best ways to do that is through media coverage. When you or your book are featured on podcasts, websites, or TV shows, youâre introduced to a whole new audience of potential readers.
But how do you start? Do you rely on your publisher to handle media outreach? Do you have to hire a publicity or marketing company to get the word out?
Not necessarily.
I know from my decade plus experience in book publicity that authors have the power to secure media coverage for themselves. In fact, editors and journalists like todayâs guest say that often, authors doing a better job of pitching themselves than most publicists!
Thatâs why this month, weâre focusing entirely on securing media coverage for your book, starting today with S. Zainab Williams, Book Riot's managing editor and co-host of the SFF Yeah! podcast. She shares her insight into making your pitch stand out, how to work with editors, and what authors should consider when pitching themselves to media.
If youâre new listener, you are just in time to join our 28-Day PR Challenge. Participants are learning how to create media lists, pitch themselves to journalists, and successfully secure media coverage for their book. Youâll receive training videos delivered straight to your inbox as well as weekly check-ins to ensure you stay on track. Youâll also gain FREE access to the Your Breakout Book community for the entire month of February. Thatâs one free month of Your Breakout Book included in your registration fee.
Are you ready to hear the challenge part? Any participant who secures a placement will have their registration fee refunded. Thatâs right. I know this process works, but I also know doing the work can be intimidating. So what better incentive than a full refund?
Book RiotSFF Yeah! PodcastFollow Book Riot on Instagram
Click here to get started!
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Today is February 1st, which means itâs time to announce this monthâs theme: In the Media. All month long, weâre exploring what it takes to secure book reviews, features and interviews in and on a variety of media outlets. I speak with S. Zainab Williams of Book Riot about how she considers what books and authors to feature on the popular website. I speak with Angie Trueblood about how authors can grow their readership through podcast interviews. I also talk with Ashley Hasty of the Hasty Book List about working with book influeners. And finally, I chat with Ed Aymar about how he was able to secure a slew of media coverage for his recent book.
If youâre ready to learn the ins and outs of launching your own publicity campaign, hit subscribe wherever youâre currently listening so you never miss an episode.
But thatâs not all.
In addition to media-centric podcast interviews, today marks the first day of our 28-Day PR Challenge. Participants are learning how to create media lists, pitch themselves to journalists, and successfully secure media coverage for their book. Youâll receive training videos delivered straight to your inbox as well as weekly check-ins to ensure you stay on track. Youâll also gain FREE access to the Your Breakout Book community for the entire month of February. Thatâs one free month of Your Breakout Book included in your registration fee.
Are you ready to hear the challenge part? Any participant who secures a placement will have their registration fee refunded. Thatâs right. I know this process works, but I also know doing the work can be intimidating. So what better incentive than a full refund
Itâs not too late to get in on the 28-Day PR Challenge. Click here to sign up!
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