How do I write a book? How do I create compelling characters that readers will love? How do I build a believable world for my story? What does it even mean to w...
#169. 5 Tips To Help Neurodivergent Writers Finish Their Books
Finally, finish your book with effective writing strategies designed to work in harmony with your neurodivergent mind.Does sitting down to write your book feel impossible on some days, while on other days, you can write for hours on end? Maybe you feel guilty whenever someone says, "Real writers write every day" or "Just stick to a routine,"—but here's the thing—your neurodivergent brain may not work that way. And that's totally okay.In this episode, I've brought together four amazing writing coaches and book editors who either specialize in working with neurodivergent authors and ADHD writers or are neurodivergent themselves. And they’re here to share their best writing tips for finishing your book. Even if you're not neurodivergent, you'll want to tune in because these writing strategies are pure gold.Here’s what we talk about: [02:55] How to tap into your natural neurodivergent energy cycles (from intense hyperfocus to foggy days) so that these energy cycles become your writing superpower.[09:16] Why there's nothing wrong with your neurodivergent writing process just because it’s different from the standard writing advice (or what others say you should do.)[16:08] What to do when writing suddenly feels impossible because your brain sees it as a demand instead of a choice. [22:06] Discover the magic of having an accountability partner in your corner who understands your unique writing process and celebrates progress on your terms.[27:57] Why breaking your writing time into small, manageable chunks can help you finally finish your book without the overwhelm.Tune into this episode to discover how to write your book in a way that honors your neurodivergent mind, celebrates your unique creative rhythms, and turns writing rules into gentle guidelines that actually work for your brain.⭐ Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this show! Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're also super fun for me to read. Just click here, scroll all the way to the bottom, tap five stars to rate the show, and then select "Write a Review." Be sure to let me know your favorite episodes, too! Also, if you haven't done so already, make sure you're following the podcast! I'll be adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed, and if you're not following the show, there's a good chance you'll miss them. Click here to follow now!🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:Alyssa Pfingst’s WebsiteDani Abernathy’s Website & InstagramGeorgina Green’s Website & InstagramKerry Savage’s Website & Interested in becoming a book coach? Click here to watch Author Accelerator's free video for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run a successful book coaching business!Support the show👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.
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#168. Women's Fiction vs. Romance: What's The Difference?
If you’re serious about becoming a published author, determining your novel’s genre is one of the most important things you’ll have to do. But sometimes that’s easier said than done, especially if your book toes the line between Women’s Fiction and Romance.In this episode, I’m going to walk you through the difference between Women’s Fiction and Romance so you can write the best book possible and snag the attention of both agents and readers alike. You'll learn things like:[02:12] Five different ways to talk about the genre of your story (and why it’s so important to know where your book fits in the market)[04:18] How to tell the difference between Women’s Fiction and Romance—and why this difference really boils down to just one thing[07:53] The key characteristics of a Romance novel—including my thoughts on romance genre tropes and creating sizzling character chemistry[11:52] The defining traits of a Women’s Fiction novel (and how to develop your story’s plot when these stories tend to be so character-driven)[19:13] Episode recap and final thoughtsIf you’ve ever struggled to understand the difference between Women’s Fiction and Romance, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!⭐ Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this show! Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're also super fun for me to read. Just click here, scroll all the way to the bottom, tap five stars to rate the show, and then select "Write a Review." Be sure to let me know your favorite episodes, too!Also, if you haven't done so already, make sure you're following the podcast! I'll be adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed, and if you're not following the show, there's a good chance you'll miss them. Click here to follow now!🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:Download the Women’s Fiction vs. Romance Cheat SheetEp. 2 - Genre: The Key To Writing A Story That WorksEp. 23 - The 6 Key Scenes Every Romance NeedsEp. 38 - Romance Genre ConventionsEp. 46 - The 6 Scenes Every Worldview Novel NeedsEp. 25 - Worldview Genre ConventionsEp. 84 - The 6 Scenes Every Status Story NeedsEp. 70 - Status Genre ConventionsBook Club Replay: Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie GarmusInterested in becoming a book coach? Click here to watch Author Accelerator's free video for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run a successful book coaching business!Support the show👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.
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#167. Why Marketing Matters From Day One With Lacy Lieffers
“When should I start marketing my book?” This is a question I get asked all the time! Along with other similar questions like, “Do I need to build an email list?” And “What are some effective ways to market my book?”My guest, Lacy Lieffers of Black Fox Marketing, is here to answer all of these questions (and more) in this podcast episode! Tune into this episode to hear us talk about why marketing matters from day one, how to think about book marketing throughout the entire writing, editing, and publishing process, and so much more.We’ll also cover things like:[04:59] Why it’s important to start your book marketing efforts early—and how integrating marketing into your writing process from day one can set you up for long-term success[05:33] What to do if you feel overwhelmed by book marketing (and how to avoid spinning your wheels, wasting a bunch of time and money)[10:28] Lacy shares her thoughts on the age-old debate of growing your social media versus growing your email list and tells you exactly where to spend your time and energy to make the most impact[11:08] How to flip the script on what it means to work with book influencers (spoiler alert: stop making everything all about you!)[25:22] How to build your author brand in a way that resonates with readers and sets you (and your books) apart in a crowded market[33:52] A few of Lacy’s favorite tactics for creating buzz around your book (and later, driving sales during your book launch)I LOVED this conversation with Lacy because she’s so knowledgeable and passionate about book marketing—and no wonder, with over 16 years of experience helping authors build their personal brands and market their books! If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or uncertain about book marketing, you’re going to love this episode!⭐ Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this show! Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're also super fun for me to read. Just click here, scroll all the way to the bottom, tap five stars to rate the show, and then select "Write a Review." Be sure to let me know your favorite episodes, too! Also, if you haven't done so already, make sure you're following the podcast! I'll be adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed, and if you're not following the show, there's a good chance you'll miss them. Click here to follow now!🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:Black Fox MarketingLacy Lieffers on InstagramGrab Lacy’s Book Launch Playbook here!Interested in becoming a book coach? Click here to watch Author Accelerator's free video for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run a successful book coaching business!Support the show👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.
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#166. Student Spotlight: How Jennifer Sold 5,000+ Copies of Her Debut Novel in 18 Months (Without a Big Social Media Following)
Selling 5,000+ copies of a debut novel in 18 months (without a massive social media following) might seem out of reach to most aspiring authors. But, in fact, it’s not. And our incredible podcast guest, Jennifer Lauer, is here to show you how it's done.When we last spoke, Jennifer was on the brink of launching her debut sci-fi novel, The Girl in the Zoo. Fast-forward to today, and she's sold over 5,000 copies, launched a successful fiction podcast, and released a new paranormal mystery novella series.In the episode, you’ll hear us talk about things like:[05:01] Jennifer's honest breakdown of book launch setbacks, including how she handled unexpected Amazon delays and a COVID diagnosis[07:49] How Jennifer leveraged NetGalley to rack up over 200 Amazon reviews and 250 Goodreads reviews—and why she says it was worth braving the potential for harsh feedback[10:57] Jennifer's persistence in securing BookBub features for international and US markets that drove her novel to #1 on multiple Amazon lists[21:48] How Jennifer sold just over 5,000 copies in 18 months with minimal social media presence (plus, the importance of releasing your work, even if it's imperfect, and how this mindset contributed to her success)[28:03] How Jennifer's fiction podcast, The Strange Chronicles, helped her overcome writer's block and draft her latest novella in one summer[38:24] The marketing plans for Jennifer's new series launch, including which strategies she's keeping, which she's ditching, and why influencer boxes might not be worth the hypeWhether you're gearing up to launch your first novel or looking to breathe new life into your backlist, this episode is packed with actionable strategies you can use today.⭐ Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this show! Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're also super fun for me to read. Just click here, scroll all the way to the bottom, tap five stars to rate the show, and then select "Write a Review." Be sure to let me know your favorite episodes, too! Also, if you haven't done so already, make sure you're following the podcast! I'll be adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed, and if you're not following the show, there's a good chance you'll miss them. Click here to follow now!🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:Ep. 85 - Student Spotlight: How She Overcame Her Fear of the Blank Page (and Indie Published Her Novel) with Jennifer LauerJennifer Lauer's Website & InstagramStart Somewhere by Jennifer LauerInterested in becoming a book coach? Click here to watch Author Accelerator's free video for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run a successful book coaching business!Support the show👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.
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#165. How To Interpret Agent Rejections (& What To Do Next)
It’s no secret that one of the biggest roadblocks to getting traditionally published is the dreaded literary agent rejection. But to find the right literary agent for you and your story, you have to go through the process of querying a handful of agents—which means you should expect to get a handful of rejections before finding your perfect match.In this episode, I’m sharing the three most common literary agent rejection scenarios and, more importantly, what you can do in each scenario to take the next steps and keep moving forward with your querying journey.Tune into this episode to hear things like:[02:04] What it means to get a form rejection letter from a literary agent (and why this does NOT mean you should give up on your publishing goals)[05:21] The next steps to take if an agent requests your full manuscript (or some sample pages) but then still doesn’t offer you representation[05:46] What literary agents are looking for in your opening pages—and how to determine if you might be missing any of the elements they’re looking for[10:42] What it means to get a “Revise & Resubmit” request from a literary agent (and more importantly, what NOT to do if you get one)[12:38] 5 signs you should stop querying—including my answer to the commonly asked question, “How long should I query agents before giving up?”If you’ve ever wondered how to interpret the rejection letters you’re receiving (or how to take action on the rejection letters you’re receiving), you’re going to love this episode!⭐ Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this show! Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're also super fun for me to read. Just click here, scroll all the way to the bottom, tap five stars to rate the show, and then select "Write a Review." Be sure to let me know your favorite episodes, too! Also, if you haven't done so already, make sure you're following the podcast! I'll be adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed, and if you're not following the show, there's a good chance you'll miss them. Click here to follow now!🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:Ep. 58 - 10 Querying Mistakes (& How To Avoid Them)Ep. 142 - How To Write A Query Letter That WorksFirst 5 Pages Workshop: How To Hook Readers In Your First 5 PagesInterested in becoming a book coach? Click here to watch Author Accelerator's free video for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run a successful book coaching business!Support the show👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.
How do I write a book? How do I create compelling characters that readers will love? How do I build a believable world for my story? What does it even mean to write a story that works? Do you have any writing tips? These are just some of the big questions that developmental editor and book coach, Savannah Gilbo, digs into on the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast. Each week, Savannah shares actionable tools, tips, and strategies that will help you write, edit, and publish your book. So, whether you're brand new to writing, or a seasoned author looking to improve your craft, this podcast is for you!
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