Podcast Show Notes

On The Indy Author Podcast, we discuss the writing craft, the publishing voyage, and how we can navigate our way to the readers who will love our books. Click the links below for the show notes for episodes since 200, including summaries and transcripts.

Matty Dalrymple 11/5/24 Matty Dalrymple 11/5/24

Episode 263 - Collaborate and Create with Michael La Ronn

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Michael La Ronn discusses COLLABORATE AND CREATE, including the intricacies of collaborative writing, and the importance of formal agreements when co-authoring a book. Michael highlights the necessity of having clear contracts to avoid misunderstandings and ensure smooth transitions in case one collaborator is unable to continue. They delve into practical writing tools like Google Docs and Microsoft Word, and discuss strategies for managing long-term collaborations, including effective marketing and promotional efforts. Emphasizing professionalism, clear communication, and adaptability, they share insights on leveraging each collaborator's strengths, assigning tasks based on expertise, and navigating the logistical challenges of joint promotional activities. The episode underscores the value of initial agreements, shared philosophies, and the application of organizational tools for successful collaboration.

Michael La Ronn has published many science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. He built a writing career publishing 10-12 books per year while raising a family, working a full-time job, and even attending law school classes in the evenings. Visit his fiction website at www.michaellaronn.com and his resources for writers at www.authorlevelup.com.

Episode Links

https://www.authorlevelup.com
https://www.youtube.com/authorlevelup

Companion Episodes:
Episode 261 - Navigating Collaborative Storytelling with Todd Fahnestock (on collaboration on fiction)

Summary

This week on The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Michael La Ronn about the intricacies of co-authoring a book, drawing from their personal experiences collaborating on "From Page to Platform: How to Succeed as an Author Speaker." The discussion is a deep dive into the collaborative process, exploring everything from initial agreements to writing, editing, marketing, and distribution strategies.

The podcast underscores the importance of formal agreements when beginning a co-authoring project. Michael stresses that having a written contract keeps everyone honest and organized. The contract should cover critical aspects like royalty splits and decision-making authority–who has the final say if disagreements arise. Matty adds that these agreements prevent confusion over time, as co-authoring projects can stretch over years.

With the contract in place, the next step is coordinating the writing process. Both Matty and Michael found the process of selecting tools for collaboration surprisingly challenging. They experimented with Google Docs and Microsoft Word before deciding on a more effective method. They recommend creating independent drafts that funnel into one person for assembly, reducing repetitive content and improving efficiency. Matty uses the analogy of "digging the clay out of the sand" to describe this stage, emphasizing how essential it is for collaborators to continuously communicate and adjust.

The conversation shifts to discuss logistics, a critical element of maintaining a smooth workflow in co-authoring. Matty and Michael liken their method to airplane pilots passing control to one another. They emphasize using project management tools like Trello for task tracking and coordination, noting its usefulness in maintaining a centralized repository of project-related information.

In discussing marketing and distribution, Matty highlights their initial plan to use Draft2Digital for its royalty-splitting capabilities, but the ultimate decision to switch to distributing direct on Amazon because of discrepancies between the D2D and Amazon requirements regarding royalty levels and the additional management and promotional levers that managing Amazon books directly on KDP offer. They learned the importance of staying flexible and adapting their strategies as necessary.

The duo explores how each author's marketing strategies can diverge while still supporting the same project goals. Michael points out that both authors can bring their audiences to the new work, even if it means using different platforms or marketing strategies. They agree that it's vital to pull "in the same direction" to maximize the book's reach.

Matty and Michael also delve into the complexities of joint promotional appearances. While fun, these can be logistically challenging. They agree it's often more practical to appear individually, coordinating efforts to ensure consistent messaging.

The podcast concludes with reflections on their journey. Michael acknowledges that the chemistry between them made the collaboration smoother, while Matty appreciates the efficiency they have gained through consistent processes. They contemplate simplifying future projects by focusing on well-defined scopes, as they had with their current collaboration, limited to non-fiction topics.

In summary, Matty and Michael offer a comprehensive overview of their co-authoring experience, providing invaluable insights for anyone considering a similar partnership. They discuss tools, techniques, and philosophies that can help aspiring collaborators anticipate and overcome potential challenges, ensuring a project that not only succeeds but thrives.

Matty Dalrymple 10/29/24 Matty Dalrymple 10/29/24

Episode 262 - Combating and Tapping into Imposter Syndrome with Diane Vallere

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Diane Vallere discusses COMBATING AND TAPPING INTO IMPOSTER SYNDROME, including how understanding personal goals and recognizing the difference between internal self-assessment and external comparisons can help manage imposter syndrome; the benefits for creatives of focusing on our own definition of success rather than external validation; and how pricing our work appropriately is crucial in avoiding the pitfalls of both imposter syndrome and undervaluation.

Diane Vallere is the national bestselling author of over forty books, including the Material Witness, Madison Night, and Killer Fashion mystery series. She edited the Agatha Award-winning essay collection Promophobia: Taking the Mystery out of Promoting Crime Fiction. Diane majored in art history at the College of William and Mary and worked in luxury retailing before reigniting her love of fiction. She currently lives in Pennsylvania where she spends her free time curled up with a book.

Episode Links

https://facebook.com/dianevallereauthor
https://instagram.com/dianevallere
https://pinterest.com/dianevallere
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4739022.Diane_Vallere
https://www.youtube.com/dianevallere

Summary

This week on The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Diane Vallere about tackling imposter syndrome as an independent author. Throughout the episode, they delve into the psychological challenges that writers may face and how these affect their careers and creative processes. Importantly, they discuss how authors can manage the pressures of comparing themselves to others and staying motivated. Diane Vallere brings her insights as an indie author to the table, as they explore crucial themes such as comparison, rejection, and pricing in the publishing industry.

Understanding Imposter Syndrome in Creativity

Diving into the podcast, Matty and Diane discuss the widely accepted notion that writers are introverts, and they challenge assumptions about imposter syndrome being an inevitable phenomenon for all creatives. Diane emphasizes that imposter syndrome typically arises when we doubt our abilities or face criticism that fuels our self-doubt. She notes that the writing and self-promotion required of authors can exacerbate these feelings, leading one to question their worth or the quality of their work. Diane states, "No one ever experiences imposter syndrome when they know they can do something."

Matty raises the question of imposter syndrome in the context of one's creative life, suggesting that these doubts can impact other areas. Diane concurs, identifying the myriad of question marks when transitioning from a stable job to a creative endeavor and the self-doubt that accompanies such a change. They agree that both imposter syndrome and "comparisonitis"—an obsession with comparing oneself to others—are related, with Matty noting, "It’s the internal assessment versus the external assessment."

Navigating Comparison and Setting Personal Goals

One critical point they explore is how comparisonitis, while often condemned, can sometimes serve as a useful indicator of what we want in our careers. Diane suggests using others' successes as a guide, saying, "When you see somebody who has something, and you realize you want it, that is huge because it tells you something about your own journey."

Matty and Diane caution against setting overly aspirational goals, like comparing oneself to bestselling authors with extensive support teams. Instead, focusing on achievable goals inspired by peers can provide clearer, actionable steps. They highlight the importance of knowing one's goals, whether it’s gaining reviews, awards, or a wider readership, and aligning one's efforts with these objectives.

Dealing with Rejection and Maintaining Control

Matty brings up the inevitability of rejection in the creative industry, whether from agents, publishers, or even platforms like BookBub that promote books to large audiences. Matty advises treating rejections as transactional decisions rather than personal judgments. Persistence is key; authors should continue submitting work and understand that many factors in a rejection decision are beyond their control.

Rejection should not deter authors from pursuing promotional opportunities, as the process of applying itself can be an affirmation of one's belief in their work. This mindset allows authors to maintain focus on what they can control—writing the best book possible.

Pricing and Perception of Quality

The podcast delves into how pricing can influence readers' perceptions of a book's quality, a topic of significant interest to indie authors. Matty shares her experience of raising the prices of his books and encourages other authors to charge prices that reflect the quality of their work. Diane agrees, noting that while low prices can initially attract readers, they may also signal inferior quality.

Diane and Matty discuss the balance between setting competitive prices and ensuring that the pricing strategy aligns with the perceived value and quality of the book. For authors, pricing is an essential aspect of positioning their work alongside traditional publishing standards.

Conclusion: Self-belief and Continuous Improvement

As the podcast concludes, Matty and Diane reiterate the importance of self-belief while recognizing areas for improvement in one's work. Diane encourages authors to assess their projects honestly and seek feedback to ensure their works meet professional standards. They underscore that imposter syndrome can be mitigated by establishing a robust understanding of one’s work and its place in the market, as well as by celebrating personal achievements.

Ultimately, the podcast offers practical advice and encouragement to indie authors navigating the hurdles of self-doubt and comparison. Diane’s insights emphasize that authors can take actionable steps to overcome imposter syndrome and embark on a confident and self-aware publishing journey.

Matty Dalrymple 10/22/24 Matty Dalrymple 10/22/24

Episode 261 - Navigating Collaborative Storytelling with Todd Fahnestock

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Todd Fahnestock discusses NAVIGATING COLLABORATIVE STORYTELLING, including the intricacies and benefits of collaborative writing, the flexibility required for successful collaborations, the dynamics of sharing creative control, and the emotional impact when projects don't meet expectations. He details the guidelines his collaborators in the ELDROS LEGACY series established to maintain world consistency, and the importance of a “just say yes” approach to foster creativity.

Todd Fahnestock is an award-winning, #1 bestselling author of fantasy for all ages and winner of the New York Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age Award. Threadweavers and The Whisper Prince Trilogy are two of his bestselling epic fantasy series. He is a founder of Eldros Legacy—a multi-author, shared-world mega-epic fantasy series—three-time winner of the Colorado Authors League Award for Writing Excellence, and two-time finalist for the Colorado Book Award for Tower of the Four: The Champions Academy (2021) and Khyven the Unkillable (2022). His passions are great stories and his quirky, fun-loving family. When he’s not writing, he travels the country meeting fans, gets inundated with befuddling TikTok videos by his son, plays board games with his wife, plots future stories with his daughter, and plays vigorously with Galahad the Weimaraner.

Episode Links

https://toddfahnestock.com/
https://www.facebook.com/todd.fahnestock
https://www.youtube.com/@toddfahnestock7108?app=desktop
Episode 224 - Secrets of Maximizing In-person Sales with Todd Fahnestock

Summary

This week on The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Todd Fahnestock about various aspects of collaboration within the literary world. Todd, an award-winning, bestselling author of fantasy, shares insights from his experiences with both successful and challenging collaborations throughout his career.

Todd describes his early experiences of collaboration beginning in high school while role-playing with friends, which inspired his initial writing projects. He recounts an incomplete early project that was purely for fun and stopped due to their commitment-free approach. This transitions into discussing his first significant collaboration on "The Hearthstone Trilogy" with Giles Carwin, which was picked up by HarperCollins. Todd explains how the duo initially thrived on shared creativity, likening it to playing Dungeons and Dragons with a best friend. However, as they moved into subsequent drafts, conflicts emerged over creative decisions leading to stressful discussions. Despite their effort, the trilogy did not meet sales expectations and was dropped by the publisher, a pivotal moment Todd refers to as "falling to fly."

Matty then inquires about Todd’s reflections on whether the outcome would have been different if the work had been a commercial success. Todd speculates that success might not have alleviated the underlying tensions but rather exacerbated them. He philosophizes that success often magnifies existing problems rather than solving them and considers it possibly a blessing that their project did not lock them into a strained professional relationship.

The discussion moves onto Todd’s subsequent collaboration, "Eldros Legacy," a multi-author shared-world project. The collaboration includes authors working semi-independently on their respective continents but following a unified world’s rulebook. Todd emphasizes the benefits of collaboration, such as creating richer, more detailed worlds and contributing unique perspectives, while also acknowledging the challenges, such as coordinating visions and resolving disputes.

Matty explores the logistics behind managing such a large-scale collaboration. Todd elaborates on the multi-faceted roles of leading authors, who maintain creative autonomy over their continents while contributing to a synchronized world-building effort. Todd talks about the detailed world bible that outlines rules for magic and historical timelines, ensuring consistency across all authors' works. He describes the flexible structure allowing authors to either deeply integrate or minimally involve their stories with the overarching plot.

Addressing promotional strategies, Todd states that while they conducted joint activities initially, the group has become more individualized, although ready to collaborate on promotional efforts when needed again. Matty then discusses the flexibility inherent in handling the workload and creativity, which Todd agrees is crucial. They reflect on how rigid plans didn’t work, leading to a structure where authors are in charge of their continents, providing a balance between coordination and creative freedom.

The conversation also touches on Todd's interaction with cohort authors, who are not founding members but write within the Eldros world. He describes how this arrangement provides opportunities for broader storytelling while maintaining quality and coherence through oversight from continent leaders. Todd illustrates how new authors must submit writing samples and adhere to established world rules. He also discusses cover design coordination to ensure brand consistency while allowing artistic diversity.

Matty wraps up by mentioning her upcoming conversation with Michael La Ronn about co-authoring nonfiction, noting the significant differences in collaboration between fiction and nonfiction projects. She considers the idea of co-authoring a fiction piece with Michael to write about co-authoring fiction next.

Todd concludes by directing listeners to his website, ToddFahnestock.com, for more information and mentions his frequent appearances at conventions.

This podcast episode offers an in-depth look at literary collaboration, highlighting the balance of creative freedom, structural coordination, and the influence of success and failure. Todd’s insights provide valuable lessons for authors considering or engaged in collaborative projects.

Matty Dalrymple 10/15/24 Matty Dalrymple 10/15/24

Episode 260 - Four Pillars of Author Success with Emma Dhesi

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Emma Dhesi discusses FOUR PILLARS OF AUTHOR SUCCESS: Awareness, Acceptance, Growth, and Fun. She shares insights into the ups and downs of the writing journey and how to maintain focus and joy throughout the process. We discuss the importance of aligning your plans with your goals and of staying true to your writing style and pace. We also touch on the psychological aspects of writing, marketing, and promotion. And Emma provides advice on maintaining balance and avoiding burnout while pursuing writing as a career or passion.

Emma Dhesi, bestselling author and certified book coach, educates and inspires first-time authors to fulfil a calling and write their debut novel. Drawing from her own success and training, Emma guides writers to finish their first book through detailed feedback, accountability check-ins, and compassionate support in her year-long 1:1 mentorship. Emma lives in Edinburgh with her husband, three children, three cats, and is passionate about helping authors achieve their dreams through her individualized mentoring.

Episode Links

https://emmadhesi.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@emmadhesi
Four Pillars document for listeners of The Indy Author Podcast: https://emmadhesi.com/IndyAuthor

Summary

This week on The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Emma Dhesi, a bestselling author and certified book coach, about the "Four Pillars to Author Success." Emma shares her observations and experiences from over ten years in the writing community, focusing on the challenges and triumphs authors face. The discussion revolves around how writers, whether new or established, can navigate the journey of writing with the help of these four pillars: Awareness, Acceptance, Growth, and Fun.

Pillar #1: Awareness

Emma emphasizes the importance of being aware of one's position in the writing journey. She describes how writers often experience ups and downs, not only in the writing process but also in the stages of publication and marketing. Awareness involves recognizing where you stand on this path, whether you're just starting or have published multiple books. Emma encourages writers to acknowledge their progress and understand that every writer is on their own unique journey.

Pillar #2: Acceptance

Acceptance is the second pillar, where Emma discusses the need to be at peace with where you are in your writing career. She highlights the tendency to constantly chase the next milestone, often leading to unnecessary stress. Acceptance doesn’t mean complacency; rather, it's about acknowledging your journey and continuing to work towards your goals without beating yourself up. Emma advises writers to stay in their lane and run their own race, doing the work necessary to progress.

Pillar #3: Growth

The growth pillar represents the challenges writers face, from drafting to revising, and learning the ropes of publishing and marketing. Emma notes that every step, from writing to promoting the book, is filled with opportunities for personal and professional growth. She reassures writers that growth is the most rewarding part of the process, despite the difficulties and insecurities that arise. Emma reflects on how each book she writes presents new challenges, pushing her to improve her craft.

Pillar #4: Fun

The final pillar, fun, reminds writers to find joy in their creative endeavors. Emma points out that the seriousness of publishing can overshadow the original joy that led writers to put pen to paper. It's essential to celebrate milestones, both big and small, and to remember the excitement that initially sparked a passion for writing. Simple acts of recognition, such as treating yourself after completing a draft, can maintain the fun in the writing process.

Beyond Writing: Applying the Pillars

Emma and Matty discuss how these pillars extend beyond writing into areas like marketing and promotion. Emma encourages writers to align their marketing strategies with their personal preferences, whether it's blogging, social media, or podcasting. The key is to feel comfortable and authentic in your promotional efforts. Emma also advises not to let marketing fears prevent you from finishing or sharing your book. Recognizing the value of your work and communicating it effectively to the right audience can transform your approach to marketing.

Understanding and Overcoming Hesitation

The conversation also explores the reasons behind writers' hesitations to market their books. Matty suggests examining whether hesitancy stems from discomfort with promotion or doubts about the book's quality. Being honest about these feelings can help address underlying issues and improve both the writing and marketing process. The discussion touches on the psychology of publishing and the impact of money mindset on authors' willingness to promote their work.

Conclusion

Emma Dhesi's insights on the Four Pillars to Author Success offer a valuable roadmap for writers navigating their creative journeys. By cultivating awareness, acceptance, growth, and fun, authors can not only enhance their craft but also enjoy the process of bringing stories to life. Whether you're facing the challenge of writing a first draft or promoting your latest release, these pillars provide a framework for achieving success on your own terms.

Matty Dalrymple 10/8/24 Matty Dalrymple 10/8/24

Episode 259 - Working Harder, Working Smarter with Diane Vallere

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Diane Vallere discusses WORKING HARDER, WORKING SMARTER, including the trap of busywork; the danger of getting caught on autopilot; how small tasks can add up to big chunks of time and the importance of always assigning value to your time; pursuing a minimum viable product; understanding what you’re doing for your audience versus what you’re doing for yourself (and acknowledging what work is strictly for your own enjoyment); considering the indirect as well as direct value of work; when outsourcing is the smart option; and when doing nothing is sometimes the smart choice.

National bestselling author Diane Vallere writes funny and fashionable character-based mysteries. After two decades in luxury retailing, she traded fashion accessories for accessories to murder. As past president of the national Sisters in Crime organization, she edited the Agatha-Award-winning essay collection PROMOPHOBIA: Taking the Mystery out of Promoting Crime Fiction. Diane started her own detective agency at age ten and has maintained a passion for shoes, clues, and clothes ever since.

Episode Links

https://dianevallere.com/
https://facebook.com/dianevallereauthor
https://instagram.com/dianevallere
https://pinterest.com/dianevallere
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4739022.Diane_Vallere
https://www.youtube.com/@DianeVallere

Summary

This week on The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Diane Vallere about the nuanced balance between working harder and working smarter as an indie author. Vallere shares valuable insights on managing time, prioritizing tasks, and leveraging community to enhance productivity while maintaining a healthy and fulfilling writing life.

In the episode, Matty and Diane dive deep into the philosophies of working harder and working smarter. Matty starts by explaining her own approach: "I like to work harder and smarter. I figure I get double benefit if I do both of them." She asks Diane about her philosophy on this topic.

Diane and Matty’s Philosophies about Working Harder and Working Smarter
Diane reveals, “I have definitely fallen into the trap of working harder, not smarter. A lot of people who had day jobs are used to fitting more into a day to get as much done as possible.” She talks about the endless to-do lists that indie authors face, emphasizing that there's always something to improve or update. However, Diane notes that self-acceptance is crucial, saying, “We're all doing enough, and just accepting that is a big hurdle to get past."

Having Another Pair of Eyes on Where You're Focusing Your Work
Matty highlights the importance of external perspectives, sharing her experience with her business manager who helped her identify uneven investments in time and money across different business activities. This outside perspective showed her how shifting focus from less profitable to more profitable tasks could have a significant impact.

Diane adds, “Those kinds of things are fantastic because, for that exact reason, we function, we just do what we normally do and we don't question it because it's just what we've done.”

Being Clear on Your Goals
Diane underscores the necessity of having clear goals, suggesting, “We should have a concrete goal attached to everything we do.” She talks about using recaps as checkpoints to ensure that time and resources are being utilized effectively.

The Trap of Busywork
Describing busy work as a form of self-deception, Diane says, “We don’t give ourselves that ability to step away from the task and see if it's actually an important thing to do.” She explains that unnecessary tasks, like tweaking a website endlessly, might give temporary satisfaction but don't necessarily yield productive outcomes.

Minimum Viable Product
Matty and Diane discuss the concept of the "minimum viable product" in the context of indie publishing. Matty mentions how simplifying her website by following the advice to maintain fewer pages significantly decreased her maintenance tasks. Diane agrees, adding, “It felt so good to just wipe them, like just blow them up and be like, I don’t even have to think about that anymore."

Acknowledging What Work is Strictly for Your Enjoyment
Matty acknowledges that some tasks may not have direct business benefits but are worth doing because they bring joy. She enjoys making book trailers, admitting that while they may not boost sales significantly, they are fulfilling.

When Outsourcing is the Smart Option
Matty and Diane concur that delegating tasks that don't align with their strengths can be tremendously beneficial. Matty shares how she outsourced financial management, and Diane mentions how hiring professional editors allowed her to focus more on writing, thereby increasing her output.

Effective Use of Time
Diane discusses how eliminating distractions, like unnecessary social media use, helped her gain more productive time. She realized that small pockets of time add up and eliminating even minor distractions can lead to significant cumulative benefits.

Always Assign Value to Your Time
Matty stresses the importance of assigning value to one's time. She encourages authors to put a monetary value on their hours to understand better the costs of doing tasks themselves versus outsourcing them. Diane supports this by sharing an example of how recalibrating her approach to editing freed up her time for more profitable tasks.

You Don't Know What You Don't Know
Both Diane and Matty emphasize the importance of staying open to learning new practices and tools that can save time and improve efficiency. Diane talks about discovering Vellum for ebook formatting, which drastically reduced the time she spent on formatting tasks.

The Double-Edged Sword of Community
Matty and Diane discuss the pros and cons of author communities. While communities can provide valuable insights and support, they can also lead to shiny object syndrome. Diane suggests adopting practices from the community while being clear about personal goals and values to avoid this pitfall.

Finding a Community That Shares Your Goals
Diane advises that aligning with people who share similar goals is more beneficial than just joining any author community. Matty shares her experience of finding alignment among rapid release authors and realizing that these practices didn’t align with her goals.

You Probably Know More Than You Think
Diane closes by encouraging authors to trust their instincts. She states, “You’re not starting at ground zero, you're not starting in a vacuum with no knowledge.” This recognition can help authors feel more confident in their decisions and strategies.

Conclusion
Matty and Diane's discussion offers a comprehensive guide for indie authors striving to balance working harder and working smarter. By setting clear goals, acknowledging the value of their time, leveraging community wisely, and being open to learning, authors can achieve a sustainable and successful writing career.

For more about Diane Vallere, visit her website at DianeVallere.com, follow her on social media, or subscribe to her newsletter, The Weekly Diva.

Matty Dalrymple 10/1/24 Matty Dalrymple 10/1/24

Episode 258 - Getting the Word Out: Media Campaigns for Authors with Marie Whittaker

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Marie Whittaker discusses GETTING THE WORD OUT: MEDIA CAMPAIGNS FOR AUTHORS, including why press releases remain a valuable promotional tool, the five milestones that deserve a press release, how press releases compare with social media posting, media campaigns for crowdfunding, tips for approaching bookstores and libraries, whether authors can apply these tips to their backlists, and how to maximize the value of your website real estate.

Marie Whittaker enjoys teaching about publishing and project management for writers. She’s Associate Publisher at WordFire Press and Executive Director of Superstars Writing. She started her career writing horror. Marie created The Adventures of Lola Hopscotch, is published in Weird Tales, and habitually adopts rescue animals.

Episode Links

https://mariewhittaker.com/
https://www.instagram.com/mariewhittaker_/
https://www.facebook.com/marie.g.whittaker

Summary

This week on The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Marie Whittaker about the evolving expectations of authors in both traditional and independent publishing. The conversation delves into the changing dynamics of the author-publisher relationship and emphasizes the importance of authors taking an active role in the marketing and promotion of their work.

Marie begins by highlighting a significant shift in the traditional publishing world. Gone are the days when publishers took complete control of an author's career and provided comprehensive marketing support. She points out that current publishers look for a partnership with authors. This means that authors are expected to tackle much of the legwork involved in promoting their projects.

Marie notes, "They're looking for a partnership with their authors. The heyday when they're going to do everything for authors and be your big motivation behind your work, that's over."

The discussion underlines that accepting this reality is crucial for authors. Embracing the need for self-promotion is not just advantageous but necessary. In both traditional and independent publishing, authors must be proactive in engaging audiences and driving the success of their books.

This insight into modern publishing highlights several essential actions for authors:

1. Building a Personal Brand: Authors should invest in creating a recognizable and professional personal brand. This can include a well-designed website, active social media presence, and consistent communication with their audience.

2. Engaging with Readers: Authors need to cultivate a relationship with their readers. This can be accomplished through regular updates, newsletters, fan interactions, and leveraging social media platforms effectively.

3. Collaborating with Publishers: A partnership approach with publishers can enhance the marketing strategy. By working collaboratively, authors and publishers can align on promotional activities and ensure that both parties are contributing to the book's success.

4. Learning Marketing Skills: Understanding basic marketing principles and tactics is becoming increasingly important. Authors should educate themselves on topics like SEO, social media marketing, email marketing, and content creation.

Marie’s straightforward discussion provides a reality check for authors aspiring to succeed in today's competitive market. While publishing routes may differ, the core responsibility of promoting one's work remains consistent. Authors must be ready to partner with publishers and readers to elevate their projects.

Marie concludes with a pragmatic perspective: "Might as well embrace that." This statement encourages authors to adapt to these changes willingly and actively participate in the promotion of their work.

In summary, this podcast episode offers valuable insights into the current expectations placed on authors, emphasizing the shift towards a more collaborative and proactive approach to book promotion in both traditional and independent publishing domains. Whether you're a seasoned author or just starting, understanding and embracing these responsibilities is key to achieving success in today's literary landscape.

Matty Dalrymple 9/24/24 Matty Dalrymple 9/24/24

Episode 257 - Book Sponsorships with Dale L. Roberts

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Dale L. Roberts discusses BOOK SPONSORSHIPS, based on his experience soliciting sponsors for his series of non-fiction books. We discuss the importance of matching sponsorships with your theme and brand; of reading the fine print in the terms and conditions of the platforms you will use to distribute your book; how he made the decision about where to place the ads and what reader response has been; the information you’ll need to pitch a potential sponsor, and the importance of asking “why” if you get a no. We also discuss some ways that fiction authors might pursue sponsorships for their books and whether sponsorships and crowdfunding is an either/or or a both/and proposition.

Dale L. Roberts is a self-publishing advocate, award-winning author, and renowned video creator. With over 50 publications, he has become an authority in self-publishing, leading him to create his own YouTube channel, Self-Publishing with Dale, regarded as one of the premier information resources in the indie publishing community. Dale lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife Kelli and two rescue cats, Auggie and Allie.

Episode Links

https://www.facebook.com/selfpubwithdale
https://twitter.com/selfpubwithdale
https://www.instagram.com/selfpubwithdale/
https://www.youtube.com/selfpublishingwithdale

Summary

This week on The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Dale L. Roberts about the concept of book sponsorships and how indie authors can leverage this strategy to fund their publishing projects. Dale shares his personal experiences, strategies, and practical advice on navigating the world of sponsorships.

The Concept of Book Sponsorships
Dale delves into his journey of securing book sponsorships, explaining how his background in securing sponsorships for his YouTube channel led him to explore similar opportunities for his books. He shares the initial spark that led him to consider book sponsorships, mentioning a conversation with his friend Justin Moore, a renowned expert in brand deals and sponsorships. Justin had not only thought of book sponsorships first but had also envisioned even more ambitious ideas, such as securing multiple sponsors for a single publication.

Securing Sponsorships: The Process
Dale emphasizes the importance of approaching potential sponsors well in advance of a book's launch date. He shares his experience of reaching out to his dream brands, including Miblart, Draft2Digital, and Book Award Pro. Despite the tight timeline, he successfully secured four out of five sponsors, underscoring the necessity of having a strategic and proactive approach.

Presenting Ads to Readers
Matty inquires about how the ads are presented to readers within Dale's books. Dale explains that he places the ads in the front matter to capitalize on the "Look Inside" feature on Amazon, ensuring maximum visibility. However, he acknowledges feedback suggesting that placing ads in the back matter might offer better context and appeal once readers have engaged with the book's content.

Organic Product Placement vs. Traditional Ads
The discussion shifts to the idea of integrating ads more organically into the book's content. Dale recalls advice from Johnny Andrews, who suggested that product placement within the book's narrative might feel more genuine and less intrusive than traditional ads. While Dale admits this train of thought came too late for his current series, he acknowledges the potential of this approach for future projects.

Reader and Platform Response
Matty asks about reader and platform responses to these sponsorships. Dale reassures that he has not received negative feedback from readers. He also discusses the importance of reviewing platform terms and conditions to ensure compliance with rules regarding ads in books. While enforcement of these rules seems rare, Dale advises caution to avoid potential account issues.

Risk Tolerance and Suitability for New Authors
Addressing concerns for new authors, Dale highlights the importance of risk tolerance and the groundwork required to secure sponsors. He encourages new authors to leverage their creativity and to approach potential sponsors with a well-thought-out proposal that outlines the benefits for the sponsor. He also advises tracking data meticulously to support future negotiations.

Real-world Examples and Creative Opportunities
Matty shares her thoughts on integrating real-world locations, such as local airports or wineries, into her fiction books, blending sponsorships with the narrative in a fun and engaging way. Dale likens this to product placements in movies, citing Adam Sandler's effective use of brand integration. This creative approach can make sponsorships feel less commercial and more integral to the story.

Crowdfunding vs. Sponsorships
Matty and Dale discuss the parallels between sponsorships and crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter. Dale mentions his consideration of Kickstarter for his series but decided against it due to the additional workload while managing his sponsorship deals. He suggests that combining both methods could be viable for those with the bandwidth to handle the demands.

Final Advice
Dale concludes with practical advice for authors considering sponsorships. He emphasizes the importance of aligning with brands that resonate with one's audience and ensuring transparency about sponsorships to maintain trust. Matty adds that highlighting planned promotional efforts can also help authors without a track record to demonstrate their seriousness and gain sponsor support.

In this episode, Dale L. Roberts sheds light on the nuanced world of book sponsorships, providing valuable insights and actionable advice for indie authors looking to explore this innovative funding avenue. Whether you're an established author or just starting, understanding the dynamics of sponsorships can open new opportunities for creative collaboration and financial support.

Matty Dalrymple 9/17/24 Matty Dalrymple 9/17/24

Episode 256 - Lessons from the Nomadic Author with Nicholas Harvey

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Nicholas Harvey discusses LESSONS FROM THE NOMADIC AUTHOR, including how Nick became a nomadic author, and how his lifestyle has opened out-of-the-box marketing opportunities for him to connect with his fans (here’s a teaser: it’s not even on land!). We discuss which came first, the book or the location, how to create a writing-friendly environment, the importance and challenges of building routine, and the vital importance of stepping away from the keyboard.

A USA Today Bestselling author, Nicholas Harvey's life has been anything but ordinary. Race car driver, adventurer, divemaster, and since 2020, a full-time novelist. Raised in England, Nick has dual US and British citizenship and now lives nomadically wherever he and his amazing wife, Cheryl, choose to land for a few months. He is the author of the AJ Bailey Adventure and Nora Sommer Caribbean Suspense series, as well as multiple collaborations.

Episode Links

https://www.harveybooks.com

Summary

This week on The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Nicholas Harvey about navigating the diverse landscape of marketing strategies for authors. The episode underscores the idea that one size does not fit all when it comes to promoting books, and that an author's unique process and preferences should guide their choices.

Matty kicks off the conversation by discussing the pitfalls of jumping onto popular marketing trends without considering personal fit. Nicholas concurs, emphasizing the importance of authenticity in marketing. He argues that blindly following trends can be counterproductive if they don't resonate with the author's brand or personal comfort level. For instance, he mentions TikTok as a platform that, while successful for some, doesn't align with his own marketing strategy. Harvey states, "People shouldn't jump on an approach if it doesn't fit for them, period, on anything."

This sets the stage for a broader discussion on the variability of successful marketing methods. Nicholas points out that what works for one author might not work for another due to the diverse nature of audiences and platforms. He illustrates this with the example that some authors achieve great success with Amazon ads while others find Facebook ads more beneficial. The key takeaway here is the absence of a universal, guaranteed path to success in the writing business.

Nicholas also touches on the idea of developing a personalized process. He encourages authors to experiment and discover what works best for them. He acknowledges that this can be a trial-and-error journey but stresses its importance for long-term success. "One thing you have to figure out is what's your process, what works for you," Harvey advises, reinforcing the notion that authors should trust their instincts and experiences.

Moreover, Nicholas challenges the authoritative voices that claim to have the definitive strategy for book marketing. "If anyone stands up there and says, this is the way you should do this, I'm like no, I don't really subscribe to that necessarily," he asserts. This skepticism towards rigid methodologies promotes a more flexible and personalized approach to marketing.

The podcast episode with Nicholas Harvey provides valuable insights into the significance of personalized marketing strategies for authors. It advocates for an individualized approach, encouraging authors to experiment and find their own path rather than adhering strictly to popular trends or prescriptive advice. By highlighting the successes and preferences of different authors, Harvey demonstrates the value of authenticity and personal fit in the competitive landscape of book marketing.

The conversation is a reminder that there are few hard-and-fast rules in the business of writing. The priority should be on figuring out what resonates personally with the author and their audience, and then pursuing those avenues with dedication and creativity.

Matty Dalrymple 9/10/24 Matty Dalrymple 9/10/24

Episode 255 - From Page to Platform: How to Succeed as an Author Speaker - Part 2 with Michael La Ronn

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Michael La Ronn discusses moving FROM PAGE TO PLATFORM: HOW TO SUCCEED AS AN AUTHOR SPEAKER. This is the second of a two-part series, and in this part, we discuss how to find opportunities for speaking engagements (and whether placement services like speakers’ bureaus are worth pursuing), how to assess the opportunities you find or are offered, how to negotiate the offer, how to make the most of in-person events, and how to capitalize on the connections you’ll make.

Michael La Ronn is the author of over forty science fiction & fantasy novels and self-help books for writers. He runs the popular YouTube channel Author Level Up and serves on the staff of the Alliance of Independent Authors as a US Ambassador, and he also co-hosts the AskALLi Member Q&A Podcast.

Episode Links

www.youtube.com/authorlevelup

Summary

This week on The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Michael La Ronn about the myriad considerations and strategies that authors can use to bolster their careers through public speaking engagements.

The episode digs deep into how authors can find speaking opportunities, evaluate their value, navigate negotiating speaker fees, and the importance of upholding professional relationships after the event. Michael La Ronn offers insightful advice drawn from his extensive experience as an author and speaker.

Summary of Part 1: Recap on Unusual Speaking Engagements

Matty and Michael start by briefly recapping the first part of their conversation, which focused on unconventional speaking engagements for authors. These included podcast interviews, panels, author readings, and both in-person and virtual events. This context set the stage for a more detailed exploration of traditional speaking opportunities.

Finding Speaking Opportunities

The conversation then shifts to discovering new speaking opportunities. Michael emphasizes the importance of starting with podcast interviews to build a track record. He recommends authors listen to shows in their niche, understand the format, and make pitches tailored to each podcast. Michael explains that nothing turns off a podcast host more than a mismatched pitch.

Michael suggests creating a speaker demo reel comprising clips from a few interviews to showcase one's speaking abilities. He stresses the value of showing organizers snippets of past talks, which can serve as a powerful 'business card.' This, he says, helps organizers visualize what working with you might be like.

Matty also underscores the importance of leveraging one's author community to find and pitch speaking opportunities. Networking with fellow authors can reveal valuable leads on conferences and events that fit an author's style and expertise.

Using Placement Services

The discussion also touches on the utility of placement services like speakers’ bureaus. Michael shares his personal preference not to use them and suggests they aren't mandatory to secure speaking engagements. He points out that while some may find them useful, building personal connections is often more beneficial, especially when starting out.

Assessing the Opportunities

One of the critical segments of the conversation revolves around assessing speaking opportunities based on personal and professional goals. Michael discusses the importance of determining whether an event aligns with one's goals, be it monetary, reach, networking, or otherwise. He advises authors to consider what they aim to accomplish with each engagement—whether they want to sell books, spread a message, or build networks.

Monetary Considerations

Matty and Michael delve into the often-uncomfortable topic of negotiating payment. Michael stresses that authors should not shy away from discussing fees and should approach these conversations as professional transactions. Matty adds that publishing speaking rates on a website can be a double-edged sword, potentially scaring off opportunities that one might want to take pro bono.

Michael highlights the importance of understanding the full scope of what's being asked before agreeing on a fee, citing an experience where additional demands were added after the initial agreement.

Understanding Copyright Considerations

The conversation also covers the significance of understanding copyright implications for speaking materials. Michael advises authors to closely examine contracts to ensure they aren't unwittingly giving away valuable rights. He suggests using tools like ChatGPT to decode complex legal language in contracts to better grasp their terms.

Participating Actively at Events

Both Matty and Michael stress the importance of active participation in events, whether in-person or virtual. Michael advises against simply flying in and out for speaking engagements, advocating instead for engaging with other sessions and attendees. For virtual events, he recommends being active in event chats and sharing event details with one’s audience to support the organizers.

Managing Energy

Another pivotal topic discussed is managing one's energy, especially for introverts. While Michael says he becomes an extrovert at writing conferences, he acknowledges that others may need to conserve their energy. Matty suggests practical strategies like the "one drink rule" for those finding social events exhausting.

Post-Event Follow-Up

Matty and Michael agree on the critical importance of follow-up after events. Michael shares his practice of taking detailed notes on conversations and contacts made during an event, which he uses for later networking. Matty emphasizes that following up can help capitalize on the event’s full benefits, from forging new friendships to building professional networks.

Michael also points out the value of capturing the post-event energy, recommending acting fast before the buzz wears off. Keeping in touch with new contacts shortly after an event can cement relationships that may bear fruit in the future.

Engage with Your Tribe

Michael concludes by encouraging authors to engage actively with their audience and peers, emphasizing the unique energy and connection that comes from interacting with fellow writers at such events. He underscores the opportunity to learn, grow, and expand one's network through participation.

Maintaining Professionalism

Throughout the episode, a recurring theme is the importance of professionalism. Michael advises against making extravagant demands and emphasizes treating every interaction as a business transaction. By being courteous, responsive, and transparent about needs and expectations, authors can foster long-lasting professional relationships.

Wrap-Up

In closing, Matty and Michael agree that speaking engagements offer authors a valuable avenue to reach new audiences, build networks, and even earn income. Matty highlights the need to be strategic about choosing opportunities that align with one's goals and to follow up diligently after events to maximize benefits.

For those interested in delving deeper, Matty recommends their book "From Page to Platform: How to Succeed as an Author Speaker," which offers a comprehensive guide on the topic.

This episode of The Indy Author Podcast is a must-listen for any authors looking to elevate their speaking engagements and make the most out of every opportunity.

Matty Dalrymple 9/3/24 Matty Dalrymple 9/3/24

Episode 254 - From Page to Platform: How to Succeed as an Author Speaker - Part 1 with Michael La Ronn

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Michael La Ronn discusses moving FROM PAGE TO PLATFORM: HOW TO SUCCEED AS AN AUTHOR SPEAKER. This is a two-part series, and in this first part, we discuss types of talks ... not just the usual suspects. Even if you don’t have a goal of making paid speaking engagements part of your repertoire, you are an author speaker if you participate in interviews, including podcasts, panels, or author readings, and we share best practices for those types of events. We discuss the pros and cons of in-person and virtual events. And we discuss defining your goals as a speaker and establishing yourself as a true professional.

Episode Links

Michael's Links:
www.youtube.com/authorlevelup

Referenced Episodes:
Episode 148 - Making the Most of In-person Events with Michael La Ronn
Episode 153 - The Importance of a Professional Photo and Video Presence with Wade Walton

Summary

This week on The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Michael La Ronn about the various speaking opportunities available to authors, focusing on ways to maximize their impact and build a successful speaking career.

Introduction

At the outset, Matty and Michael discuss Michael’s experience in the indie author world and his numerous appearances on the podcast. They emphasize the importance of professionalism and the valuable resources authors can access on Michael's platforms, including AuthorLevelUp.com and his YouTube channel.

From Page to Platform

The primary theme of this episode is centered on Matty and Michael's recent book, "From Page to Platform: How to Succeed as an Author Speaker." The book explores how authors can make the transition from writing to public speaking and how this can help elevate their visibility and credibility.

How Did the Book Come About?

Their collaboration began at a Writer’s Digest annual conference in New York City, where both were speaking on different topics. Over drinks, they discussed their shared experiences in public speaking, which led to the idea of writing a book together. This spontaneous conversation blossomed into a fruitful partnership, resulting in the book.

Speaker Opportunities: Not Just the Usual Suspects

Matty and Michael delve into various speaking opportunities beyond the standard author talks, such as interviews, podcasts, panels, and author readings.

Interviews as Speaking Engagements

Matty and Michael stress the importance of interviews and podcasts as a starting point for building a speaking career. Michael advises starting small and working with the equipment you already have, eventually investing in better gear as you grow. He emphasizes the critical nature of making a good first impression in these interviews to engage the audience and potentially promote your book or platform.

The Importance of Making It a Conversation

Both speakers agree that maintaining a conversational tone during interviews is essential. They caution against being overly scripted or rigid in interviews, advocating for a balance between preparation and flexibility. This approach, they argue, is not only effective for interviews but also for other speaking engagements such as public talks where adaptability and interaction with the audience are crucial.

Participation on Panels

Panel discussions come with their own set of challenges and opportunities. Michael recommends following basic manners reminiscent of lessons from "Sesame Street"—sharing your speaking time, being concise, and adding unique insights to the discussion. Matty adds that being a good panelist also means fulfilling your role adequately and respecting the time allotted to you.

Author Readings

Author readings present another underutilized opportunity for authors to engage with their audience. Matty suggests following the guidelines provided by organizers, especially regarding time limits, and practicing to ensure you can deliver your reading within the allotted time. Practicing allows you to give the audience time to absorb your words, rather than rushing through your material.

In-Person or Virtual? What Attracts You More?

The conversation transitions to the logistical and personal preferences that influence whether to pursue in-person or virtual events. Virtual events, widely adopted due to COVID-19, offer flexibility and reach but require the same level of professionalism as in-person events. Michael points out that virtual events have made it easier for speakers to start their careers and reach a global audience.

Treat Virtual Events as Professionally as In-Person Events

Despite the convenience of virtual events, Matty and Michael warn against treating them with less seriousness than in-person events. Ensuring high-quality presentations and mastering the platform’s functionalities are crucial for maintaining professionalism and creating a good impression.

Investing to Ensure an Excellent Experience

Michael suggests that for paid virtual engagements, hiring an assistant to help manage the technical aspects and audience interaction can be a wise investment. This not only enhances the audience's experience but also increases the likelihood of being invited back for future opportunities.

Building Long-Term Relationships

Matty highlights the importance of capitalizing on initial speaking opportunities by building lasting relationships with organizers and audiences. Professionalism and thorough preparation can lead to repeated invitations and new engagements.

Steps to Make Opportunities Available

Michael’s advice for aspiring speakers boils down to putting a hundred percent effort into every engagement, treating every audience with respect, and providing valuable content. By mastering the fundamentals of public speaking and providing unique "golden nuggets" of wisdom, speakers can stand out and create a memorable experience for their audiences.

Conclusion

This week’s episode offers valuable insights for authors looking to expand their speaking careers, covering a range of ways to engage audiences, whether through interviews, panels, or readings. Michael's practical tips and Matty’s shared experiences provide a well-rounded guide for authors aiming to succeed as public speakers.

Call to Action

For more resources and to learn more about Michael La Ronn’s work, check out AuthorLevelUp.com. Stay tuned for the next part of this conversation on standing on stage, both virtually and in-person, and making the most of those opportunities.

Matty Dalrymple 8/27/24 Matty Dalrymple 8/27/24

Episode 253 - Navigating the Worlds of Fiction and Film with Rene Gutteridge

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Rene Gutteridge discusses NAVIGATING THE WORLDS OF FICTION AND FILM, including the nuances and intricacies involved in transitioning from writing novels to screenplays, the technical constraints in screenwriting, the necessity of collaboration in film, and the importance of adhering to a rigid structure. Rene also covers how understanding screenplay techniques can benefit novelists, particularly in terms of pacing and scene structure. She offers insights for novelists considering a venture into screenwriting, emphasizing the innate differences in storytelling approaches.

Rene Gutteridge has been writing professionally for over twenty years in fiction, non-fiction, comedy sketches, novelizations, and screenwriting. She is the multi-genre author of 24 novels plus several non-fiction titles. Her indie film SKID won deadCenter’s Best Oklahoma Feature in 2015, and her novel My Life as a Doormat was adapted into the Hallmark movie “Love’s Complicated.” She is co-writer on the feature film Family Camp, a Movieguide award winner and a Dove Award nominee for 2023. She is also a Screencraft finalist in true crime. Rene is co-director of WriterCon in Oklahoma City, senior contributor at Writing Momentum and is the head writer at Skit Guys Studios.

Episode Links

https://www.facebook.com/ReneGutteridgeAuthor
https://www.instagram.com/rene_gutteridge/
https://x.com/ReneGutteridge

Summary

This week on The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Rene Gutteridge about the intricate world of screenwriting and how it compares to novel writing. Their conversation delves into the specifics of each medium, offering valuable insights for authors who might be contemplating a shift into screenwriting or simply looking to enhance their novel writing.

Transitioning from Novels to Screenplays

Rene starts by discussing her journey from screenwriting to novel writing and back. She began as a reader of screenplays during her high school years, influenced by her mother's dedication to encouraging her reading habits. Eventually, her early fascination with screenplays led her to write her own. Despite studying screenwriting in college, Rene shifted to novel writing due to the lack of a film scene in Oklahoma at the time.

Rene notes the significant differences between novels and screenplays, particularly the collaborative nature of screenwriting. While screenwriters plant the vision of the story, much of the creative process, including acting, direction, and set design, is handled by other team members. This necessity to share creative control can be a challenging adjustment for novelists who are used to having full authority over their work.

Reading Screenplays and the Importance of Detail

Rene explains how her interest in reading screenplays developed from childhood subscriptions to magazines that offered screenplay orders and later through her discovery of screenplays at the library. Moreover, she underscores the importance of understanding screenplays' structure and technical aspects to write compelling and coherent screenplays.

Matty brings up the concept of the reader or viewer filling in details, prompting a discussion on whether reading a screenplay requires the audience to imagine more than they would with a novel. Rene clarifies that screenplays must convey enough detail to guide the directors and actors while allowing them room to interpret the scene.

The Shared and Divergent Experiences in Mediums

The conversation shifts towards the experience of collaborative creativity in screenwriting, comparing it to the solo nature of novel writing. Rene appreciates those instances where directors and actors bring fresh, unexpected takes to scenes, acknowledging that while not every deviation aligns with her vision, the collaborative process often enriches the project.

Matty explores the dual nature of screenplays as both creative works and technical documents. Rene clarifies that screenplays contain specific technical directions, like sound and lighting cues, designed to assist various departments in a film's production. This technical precision is crucial for budgeting and execution.

Seeing Through the Characters' Eyes

The interplay between screenplays and deep point of view in novels is a recurring theme. Screenwriting demands brevity and clarity, often getting into a scene late and exiting early to maintain pace, while novels can explore deeper points of view and internal monologues.

Rene argues that novelists can learn the art of pacing from screenwriting, emphasizing the impact of knowing when to end a scene. This timing is pivotal not only for the audience but also to ensure that the narrative remains engaging. In screenwriting, every page counts, influencing the overall duration of the film, where one page typically equals one minute of screen time.

The Challenges of Adaptation

Rene discusses how authors should approach the adaptation of their novels into screenplays. It's often advised that experienced screenwriters handle adaptations, as the skills required are quite different. The novel's original narrative can serve as an inspiration rather than a verbatim transcription, capturing the essence of the story while adjusting it to suit the visual medium's needs.

The Impact of Fast-Paced Writing and Consideration of AI

Matty raises the subject of AI-generated content, pondering its potential influence on screenwriting and novel writing. Rene expresses her concern over AI's role, valuing the irreplaceable human element and creativity in storytelling. They discuss the evolving landscape, where AI might cater to readers looking for quantity, while quality-driven content remains the domain of human artists.

Learning from Screenwriting for Novelists

Even if novelists have no plans to write screenplays, they can still benefit from understanding screenwriting techniques. Learning when to enter and exit scenes, using concise language, and retaining a strong sense of character point of view can all enhance the pacing and quality of a novel.

Conclusion

Rene concludes by advising authors to balance their aspirations in screenwriting with their current projects. Screenwriting often involves selling spec scripts and working on assignments rather than solely relying on personal creative projects. Emphasizing the importance of perseverance and passion, Rene encourages authors to explore the exciting world of film while continuing to craft compelling narratives in their novels.

Through this detailed conversation, Matty Dalrymple and Rene Gutteridge provide a comprehensive guide for authors navigating the worlds of screenwriting and novel writing, highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities each medium presents.

Matty Dalrymple 8/20/24 Matty Dalrymple 8/20/24

Episode 252 - Strategic Website Planning for Authors with Pauline Wiles

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Pauline Wiles discusses STRATEGIC WEBSITE PLANNING FOR AUTHORS. This conversation was prompted by Matty's need to migrate her websites—MattyDalrymple.com and TheIndyAuthor.com—off Weebly, since Square, which owns Weebly, is phasing out support for Weebly. Pauline and Matty delve into the critical aspects of planning a website overhaul, such as understanding author goals, target readership, and key marketing tactics. Pauline emphasizes the need to keep sites simple and user-friendly and discusses tools and integrations that are effective for different types of authors. The conversation also covers practical tips for improving website functionality and engaging visitors, including the use of popups for email sign-ups.

Pauline Wiles is an author turned website designer, who helps authors and solopreneurs with books create modern websites for strong business results. Her strategic approach delivers a powerful marketing asset that grows your audience and sells your books and services. British by birth, Pauline is now a contented resident of California.

Episode Links

https://www.paulinewiles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/paulinejwiles
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIErOCKJGjRjsXz395fd0Bg

Episode References:
Episode 073 - Author Websites with Pauline Wiles
Episode 238 - The Big Indie Author Data Drop 2024 with Melissa Addey

Summary

[Summary]

Matty Dalrymple 8/13/24 Matty Dalrymple 8/13/24

Episode 251 - Strategic Self-Doubt and the Indie Mindset with Diane Vallere

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Diane Vallere discusses STRATEGIC SELF-DOUBT AND THE INDIE MINDSET, including overcoming limiting beliefs, handling self-doubt, and recognizing personal roadblocks. Diane emphasizes the importance of understanding the various choices available in the independent and traditional publishing routes, and we discuss myths within the indie community, the impact of constructive criticism, and the significance of aligning personal goals with creative and business objectives.

National bestselling author Diane Vallere crafts humorous mysteries that are out of this world. After two decades navigating the galaxy of luxury retailing, she swapped designer accessories for accessories to murder, propelling her career into the stratosphere. As past president of the national Sisters in Crime organization, she edited the Agatha-Award-winning essay collection “PROMOPHOBIA: Taking the Mystery out of Promoting Crime Fiction,” rocketing the conversation about marketing crime fiction to new heights. Diane launched her own detective agency at the age of ten, and her passion for shoes, clues, and clothes has been in orbit ever since.

Episode Links

https://www.dianevallere.com/
https://facebook.com/dianevallereauthor
https://youtube.com/dianevallere

Summary

This week on The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Diane Vallere about the critically important "Indie Author Mindset" and how it shapes the journey of independent authors. Diane offers practical advice and shares her experiences, providing invaluable insights that can help indie authors navigate through various challenges in their careers.

Meet Diane Vallere

Matty kicks off the episode by introducing Diane Vallere, an author known for her humorous mysteries, including a series set in outer space. Diane's diverse background—once being involved in luxury retailing and now writing quirky, crime-solving adventures—is a testament to the indie author mindset. She shares how she pragmatically adapted her bio to be genre-specific, reflecting her latest outer space-themed book release. By updating her biography creatively, Diane illustrates the importance of aligning your marketing materials with your current projects. This adaptability embodies the indie mindset, ensuring that you consistently stay relevant to your audience.

Leveraging an Indie Mindset

A significant part of the conversation focuses on the "Indie Mindset," beliefs and attitudes uniquely beneficial to indie authors. One key topic is overcoming limiting beliefs. Diane identifies a common hindrance facing many indie authors: the self-defeating idea that one isn't good enough for traditional publishing. This limiting belief can deter an author’s confidence and skew their perception of the indie publishing route as a lesser alternative rather than a chosen path.

The rapid growth and increasing legitimacy of indie publishing, supported by various channels and resources, have made it a respectable career choice. Diane encourages authors to view indie publishing as an empowering option. It offers control over one’s work, from editorial choices to marketing strategies.

Understanding and Conquering Limiting Beliefs

Discussing another prevalent issue, Matty and Diane explore how limiting beliefs can pave the way to suboptimal work. Authors who treat indie publishing as a backup plan might not devote the required effort to make their work as polished as that of established publishers.

Lies We Spread Through Our Community

Diane brings up another noteworthy subject: the unintentional "lies" spread within the indie community. These include generalized statements like "you can't sell books on XYZ platform" or "you must be in Kindle Unlimited to succeed." While initially intended to help, such advice can be misleading. The absolute truths one author experiences may not apply universally across the diverse landscape of indie publishing. Diane advocates for a more nuanced understanding, urging indie authors to discern what advice will effectively align with their specific goals and circumstances.

The Role of Self-Doubt

The power of self-doubt and how it can be used constructively is another critical discussion topic. Diane refers to self-doubt as a signal that denotes the presence of something one might deeply care about. Recognizing this, indie authors can harness these feelings and transform them into actionable plans to overcome perceived obstacles.

The Importance of the Creative Process

In dissecting the creative process, Diane emphasizes the importance of focusing on one's creation without succumbing to external pressures or reviews. Writing a book true to your vision and maintaining its integrity is paramount. Reviews often reflect more about the reviewer’s personal preferences than the inherent quality of the work. The key is to stay authentic to your creative impulse while also being open to constructive feedback that aligns with your vision.

Recognizing and Overcoming Roadblocks

Diane also touches on recognizing personal roadblocks. When feelings of jealousy arise about another’s accomplishments, it's a useful indicator of one’s own aspirations. Instead of viewing them as barriers, these emotions can inform authors of what they truly desire, helping them to recalibrate their goals and strategies appropriately.

Staying Focused Amid Multiple Paths

Matty and Diane also explore the complexity of taking on too many paths. In striving to embrace every opportunity, indie authors may become less effective in their endeavors. The focus should be on identifying and pursuing avenues that align closely with defined goals, fostering deeper expertise and more meaningful progress.

Closing Thoughts

Towards the end of the episode, Diane shares her focus on social media and the strategies she employs to balance online visibility with her intensive creative process. She also emphasizes the significance of aligning one's actions with the core goals of authentic storytelling and meaningful reader engagement.

This episode of The Indy Author Podcast encapsulates the indomitable spirit of the indie author mindset. Diane Vallere’s insights serve as a valuable guide for authors navigating the ever-evolving terrain of indie publishing, empowering them to take confident, deliberate actions in their careers.

Matty Dalrymple 8/6/24 Matty Dalrymple 8/6/24

Episode 250 - From Firearms to Fiction with Chris Grall

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Chris Grall discusses FROM FIREARMS TO FICTION, including his book TRIGGER GUARD: A WRITER'S GUIDE TO FIREARMS. Chris shares the challenges he faced in creating consistent and accurate illustrations for his book, with some valuable do’s and don’t’s for authors with books that include illustrations; the attitude he brought to receiving feedback from his target audiences; and the goal of his book: to enable writers to write gripping and accurate firearms scenes.

Chris Grall is a retired US Special Forces team sergeant with 26 years of service. In 2007, he served as a technical advisor for Scott Sigler's book CONTAGIOUS, and since then, he’s shared his knowledge of firearms with authors via his consulting business, TactiQuill, and at conferences.

Episode Links

https://trigger-guard.com/
https://chrisgrall.com/
https://www.facebook.com/chris.grall.9
https://x.com/dtn8or

Summary

This week on The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Chris Grall about various facets of writing about firearms in fiction and the challenges he encountered while creating his book, "Trigger Guard." Chris shares his journey, from illustration and formatting struggles to gathering meaningful feedback for his work.

Matty Dalrymple, the host, sets the stage for an insightful conversation by detailing how she first met Chris, who has a unique background as a retired U.S. Special Forces Team Sergeant and a consultant on firearms for authors. Chris's journey culminated in the creation of "Trigger Guard," a comprehensive guide for writers on the usage and detailed aspects of firearms.

Illustration Challenges

Chris highlights how he tackled the illustrations for "Trigger Guard." He created the illustrations himself using PowerPoint, a process that turned out to be labor-intensive and time-consuming.

He explained, "It was painful. It would take me at least two or three hours just to do a single firearm, and I think there are a hundred and something drawings in there. It was horrible."

When Matty inquired whether Chris had considered using photographs instead, Chris clarified that maintaining consistency across all illustrations was crucial. He noted that stock images could have been expensive and inconsistent, thus justifying the choice to create his own graphics.

Choosing the Right Approach

Chris mentioned that with hindsight, he might have approached the process differently. Instead of illustrating sporadically, he would have initially examined all the firearms he planned to include to avoid unnecessary work.

"Through the editing process, that gun fell out of the book as a specific firearm I was going to talk about," Chris said, emphasizing the importance of forethought in the creative process.

Deadlines as Motivators

Chris attributed a significant part of his productivity to setting personal deadlines. His goal was to have "Trigger Guard" ready for purchase by ThrillerFest, a conference that he believed would be the ideal exhibition platform. He emphasized how having a deadline can enhance efficiency:

"There are points where you are a slave to the process and you have no control over how much time it takes for some things to happen."

DIY Publishing and Marketing Choices

The decision to indie publish "Trigger Guard" was influenced by Chris’s desire to get the book to the market quickly, especially considering its niche nature. Going the traditional publishing route could have delayed the book’s availability significantly, a luxury he couldn’t afford given the book’s specific audience.

“Trigger Guard is a very niche book. It’s not gonna be a New York Times bestseller... the faster I could get it out, the faster people could get access to it, use it, and hopefully not make mistakes.”

Content Creation and Layout

Chris provided a candid reflection on the initial decision to draft the entire book using PowerPoint, which made the editing process cumbersome. Illustrations and text elements would displace upon converting documents, causing significant headaches.

"The original sin of this book was to do the entire first draft in PowerPoint. It was a horror show."

Feedback and Iteration

Gathering feedback was another critical component of Chris's process. He sought insights from three distinct groups: authors, firearms experts, and general readers. This multifaceted feedback enabled him to fine-tune the book to serve various levels of firearms knowledge.

Balancing Detail and Readability

Matty and Chris also discussed the importance of balancing technical details with readability in fiction. Chris stressed that while writers need to possess detailed knowledge, they should be cautious about overwhelming readers with excessive technicalities.

"I like generic actions with specific firearms. You’re going to load a gun, you’re going to fire a gun, you’re going to aim the gun... That’s good enough for most scenes."

He recounted practical examples and mistakes, such as the common but incorrect portrayal of empty guns clicking, underscoring the importance of accuracy.

Inspirations for Fictional Gunfights

Chris shared case studies from real-life scenarios, such as the assassination attempt on Harry Truman, to illustrate the unpredictable and often chaotic nature of gunfights. These examples serve as valuable resources for authors aiming to depict realistic firearms scenes.

Conclusion

In summarizing the wealth of experience, Chris offers valuable advice for both writers and readers. Chris's approach to creating "Trigger Guard" and his candid reflections on the process provide strong takeaways for any author dealing with technical subjects in their writing.

"Trigger Guard is meant for anyone in the full array of firearms experience. You can use it as a resource or read it cover to cover."

Final Thoughts

Chris's journey exemplifies the intricate balance between technical accuracy and creative storytelling. His insights into the challenges of illustrative consistency, the importance of deadlines, and the necessity for diverse feedback make this podcast episode a must-listen for any author dealing with specialized topics.

For more, you can find Chris Grall and his work at ChrisGrall.com, Trigger-Guard.com, and his consulting venture Tactiquill.com.

Matty Dalrymple 7/30/24 Matty Dalrymple 7/30/24

Episode 249 - How to Keep Non-Fiction Fresh with Anna Featherstone

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I talk with Anna Featherstone about HOW TO KEEP NON-FICTION FRESH, including maintaining the human touch in an age of AI, the importance of fresh perspectives, effective book proposals, and integrating multiple viewpoints. Anna also emphasizes the need for authenticity, the strategic exclusion of outdated or overly technical information, and innovative formats that can enhance the reader's experience.

Anna Featherstone mentors and empowers writers who value practical, warm, wise, and creative advice during the various stages of writing, publishing and marketing their words. She is the author of five non-fiction books, a judge of the Australian Business Book Awards, and the non-fiction book advisor to The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi). Anna is also the founder of Bold Authors, a collaborative online hub where publishing insiders share their insights about writing, publishing, and book marketing. When she’s not being bookish, Anna is a seedsaver, and into bees, beings, and the big issues of our time.

Episode Links

https://annafeatherstone.com/
https://www.instagram.com/annafeatherstonewriter/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-featherstone-writer/
https://www.threads.net/@annafeatherstonewriter
https://www.facebook.com/AnnaFeatherstoneWriter/
https://aus.social/@AnnaFeatherstone

Summary

This week on The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Anna Featherstone about her insights on how to keep nonfiction writing fresh and engaging. The discussion covers Anna's motivations for writing nonfiction, different strategies to maintain freshness, and suggestions for nonfiction authors to enhance their writing process.

Anna's Journey into Nonfiction
Anna Featherstone shares that her passion for writing nonfiction began with a deep love for exploring topics through writing. She emphasizes that the clarity and understanding she gains from writing help her make sense of the world. Anna appreciates nonfiction for its ability to develop empathy and provide insights into different perspectives.

The Importance of Freshness in Nonfiction
Anna believes that keeping nonfiction fresh is crucial for both writers and readers. A stale narrative can drive readers away and make the writing process tedious for the author. To combat this, Anna suggests putting a project aside if it starts feeling dull. She asserts that the energy and passion for a topic should be present from the beginning of the writing process, including during the creation of a book proposal.

Book Proposals as a Tool
Anna discusses the importance of writing a book proposal, even if it’s just for oneself. A book proposal helps in planning and gauging one’s commitment to a project. According to Anna, it includes the book's basic idea, market placement, target audience, marketing ideas, and potential experts for interviews. This process helps filter out projects that might not be worth pursuing and ensures that the writer’s enthusiasm remains high throughout the writing process.

Bringing Fresh Perspectives
One of the most effective ways to keep nonfiction fresh is by offering a unique perspective. Anna encourages authors to consider alternative angles that haven't been overexplored. For example, a book on knitting written by a man or a parenting guide co-authored by a teenager would bring unusually fresh viewpoints. Anna also emphasizes the value of choosing unique and lesser-known experts for interviews to avoid overused quotes and ideas.

Handling AI in Nonfiction Writing
The conversation touches on the role of AI in nonfiction. Anna shares her reluctance to use AI extensively in her projects, expressing concerns about losing the uniqueness of her fresh ideas to the machine. Instead, she prefers to keep her work original and authentic by relying mainly on tools like ProWritingAid for final cleanups rather than content generation.

Engaging with Sensory Details
Anna recommends incorporating sensory details to make writing more engaging. Describing experiences in a way that involves sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell can make a story come alive for readers. This technique can be applied beyond memoirs to other nonfiction topics, enhancing the reader’s connection with the content.

Collaborations and Multiple Viewpoints
Collaborating with others can add depth and freshness to a book. Anna gives an example of a memoir enriched by including perspectives from different family members. This multi-faceted approach can provide a more comprehensive and engaging narrative. Moreover, including interviews and case studies from a diverse set of people worldwide can expand the book’s appeal and marketing potential.

Practical Strategies for Marketing Nonfiction
Anna offers practical advice on marketing nonfiction work. She highlights the importance of bullet points and concise, targeted pitches when reaching out to bloggers, podcasters, and reviewers. She also suggests conducting interviews to gather content and marketing opportunities, recommending that authors leverage international interviews to gain fresh perspectives.

Evergreen Content vs. Timely Trends
Matty and Anna discuss the balance between creating evergreen content and capitalizing on current trends. While evergreen content remains relevant for a longer period, timely topics, such as AI, can attract immediate attention but may quickly become outdated. Authors need to be clear about their strategy and the lifespan they expect for their work.

Making Content Personal and Unique
To stand out, nonfiction should reflect the author’s unique voice and experiences. Anna jokes about using personal anecdotes, humor, and unique metaphorical structures to make the content more relatable and engaging. Matty shares how she used a nautical metaphor throughout her book to provide a fresh twist on the topic of podcasting.

Conclusion
Anna Featherstone’s advice centers on the principle that fresh, engaging nonfiction results from passion, unique perspectives, and smart planning. Whether through multi-sensory details, unique angles, or strategic collaborations, authors can keep their non-fiction vibrant and appealing to readers. Anna encourages writers to allow their individuality to shine through their content, ensuring their book stands out in a crowded market.

Matty Dalrymple 7/23/24 Matty Dalrymple 7/23/24

Episode 248 - Constructing a Multi-Layered Villain with Greta Boris

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Greta Boris discusses CONSTRUCTING A MULTI-LAYERED VILLAIN, including how analyzing villains in our previous works can help us understand what does and doesn’t work with readers and how characters' personalities, based on tools like Enneagram, influence their effectiveness as villains. We also explore examples of well-crafted villains from TV shows like Breaking Bad and movies like The Silence of the Lambs. Greta shares insights from her personal writing process and touches on the challenges and nuances of writing morally complex villains.

Greta Boris is the USA Today Bestselling author of The Mortician Murders, a ghosty mystery series, and the soon to be released Almost True Crime thriller series. She's also co-creator of The Author Wheel, producers of books, courses, and a podcast dedicated to helping writers overcome their roadblocks.

Episode Links

https://www.gretaboris.com
https://www.facebook.com/greta.boris/
https://podcast.authorwheel.com

Summary

This week on The Indy Author Podcast, I talk with Greta Boris about the multifaceted nature of villains in storytelling. Our conversation explores various themes, from the allure of playful antagonists to the competition between heroes and villains, offering valuable insights for authors and storytellers.

The Multifaceted Villain

In our discussion, Greta emphasizes that a great villain often possesses layers beyond mere malice. She points out that memorable antagonists, like Moriarty from the Sherlock Holmes series, captivate audiences not just through their deeds but through their complex personalities.

Playfulness and Competition

We discuss the playful nature of villains, using Moriarty as an example. This playful aspect makes the character's interactions with Sherlock Holmes more compelling. This is a broader trait found in other notable villains such as Hannibal Lecter, who engages in an intellectual game with his enemies. This playfulness, combined with a sense of competition, adds layers to their personalities, making them more engaging for the audience.

Beyond the Archetype

Our conversation also delves into the importance of moving beyond archetypical representations of villains. We discuss how adding unique traits and motivations can significantly enhance a villain's depth. For instance, a villain who sees their actions as a game can create a dynamic interplay with the hero, pushing the narrative in unexpected directions.

The Role of Perspective

We touch on how a villain's perspective can redefine the story. By exploring the villain’s mindset and motivations, writers can create more rounded characters whose actions, although villainous, are understandable within their own logic. This approach not only enriches the story but also challenges the audience to see the world from a different point of view.

Key Takeaways

1. Complex Characters: Villains with multifaceted personalities are often more engaging and memorable.
2. Playful Antagonists: Incorporating a sense of playfulness and competition can add depth to villain-hero dynamics.
3. Unique Motivations: Moving beyond archetypes and exploring unique motivations can enhance character development.
4. Perspective Matters: Understanding a villain’s perspective can add richness to the story and offer new angles for the narrative.

Matty Dalrymple 7/16/24 Matty Dalrymple 7/16/24

Episode 247 - Newsletter Marketing as a Creative Endeavor with Roz Morris

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Roz Morris discusses NEWSLETTER MARKETING AS A CREATIVE ENDEAVOR, including how authors can creatively integrate personal stories and ongoing projects into newsletters to engage readers. Roz shares her journey of finding the right content for her newsletter, emphasizing the importance of marketing the author alongside the books. She provides insights into using personal adventures and research anecdotes to connect with the audience. And we also discuss the benefits of interactivity, the role of social media groups, and maintaining a consistent creative output that resonates with readers.

Roz Morris’s novels and memoir have been recognized by major mainstream awards. She’s coached award-winning writers in both fiction and non-fiction, taught creative writing for The Guardian masterclasses, blogged for Writers & Artists Yearbook and been a regular judge on Litopia’s Pop-Up Submissions show, critiquing manuscripts from promising writers.

Episode Links

https://rozmorris.org/
https://www.facebook.com/roz.morris.7
https://twitter.com/Roz_Morris/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/roz-morris-1102a019/
https://rozmorris.substack.com/
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:3h2h6nqdtxe4liyqemetux5o
https://rozmorris.tumblr.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqCAHoKUsq3FOHt5srTfvA/
Newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/rozmorriswriter

Summary

In this episode of The Indy Author Podcast, host Matty Dalrymple and author Roz Morris offer insights into how authors can effectively use newsletters not just for marketing their books, but also for engaging their readers on a more personal level.

Recognizing Marketing as Creative Work

Matty opens the conversation by addressing a common dilemma for writers: the perceived separation between creative work and marketing. She points out that Roz exemplifies how these two can be intertwined, particularly through her engaging newsletter. Roz highlights that her newsletter became a way to embed her creative process, making it relatable and interesting for her audience.

Roz's Goal for Her Newsletter

Roz shares her journey of struggling to find content for her newsletter initially. Influenced by advice from Joanna Penn, she started looking for a unique angle. She felt that most indie authors produced content rapidly, creating template-based newsletters about books, research, and inspirations. In contrast, Roz writes more slowly and in less defined genres.

No Template for Roz's Content

For a long time, Roz didn’t know what to put in her newsletter. Unlike other indie authors who published quickly and followed set templates, Roz struggled to find a model that worked for her. But she eventually found her groove by making her newsletters more personal and reflective of her creative life.

Opening a Window into Your Creative Life for Your Readers

Roz discovered that by sharing personal stories and insights into her creative process, she could keep her audience engaged. She recounts how a travel diary from 2016 led to an idea for a book, which she shared in her newsletter. This approach opened up a more personal way of connecting with her readers, making them feel part of her creative journey.

Marketing the Author as Well as the Works

The conversation shifts to the idea of marketing the author, not just their works. Roz emphasizes that readers are often invested in the author's unique perspective and style. Matty agrees, adding that newsletters succeed when they let the author's personality shine through.

Elements of Roz's Newsletter

Roz outlines the structure of her newsletter, which includes a personal story, updates on current projects, and an ongoing story about her life with her horse. This segmented approach keeps her readers anticipating more, fostering a deeper connection with them. Matty admires this formatting tactic, noting how it encourages readership.

The Challenge of One-Way Communication and Interaction

Matty shares her challenge with newsletters being a one-way communication channel. They discuss creating a two-way interaction by asking readers questions or opinions within the newsletter. This strategy might engage the audience and make them feel more connected.

Giving Subscribers a Glimpse into Your Creative Life

Roz shares an interesting practice: posting a picture of her desk every Monday on her Facebook author page, which asks followers what they are up to. This simple act keeps followers updated about her activities and provides them with a tangible connection to her workflow.

Whether to Differentiate Fiction and Nonfiction Platforms

Matty has separate platforms for her fiction and nonfiction work. She talks about the different content strategies she employs for each, reaffirming the necessity of tailoring content to specific audiences.

Exercising a Fundamental Writing Skill

Roz discusses how writing newsletters can sharpen other writing skills. The challenge of making everyday experiences interesting can help improve storytelling abilities, which can benefit all forms of writing.

Ideas for Newsletter Fodder for Fiction Writers

Matty brainstorms ways to enhance her fiction newsletter by sharing research and behind-the-scenes insights. She suggests including excerpts from her work-in-progress and personal experiences related to her writing research, making the newsletter more engaging.

Conclusion

This conversation between Matty Dalrymple and Roz Morris offers a treasure trove of practical advice for authors looking to improve their newsletters. By intertwining creative work with marketing, sharing personal stories and research, and making the process interactive, authors can cultivate a more engaged and loyal readership. Whether you are an aspiring writer or an established author, these tips can help you connect with your audience on a deeper level.

Matty Dalrymple 7/9/24 Matty Dalrymple 7/9/24

Episode 246 - The Secrets of World-Building: It’s the Small Stuff with Timons Esaias

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Timons Esaias discusses THE SECRETS OF WORLD-BUILDING: IT’S THE SMALL STUFF, including his insights into effective world-building for fiction, emphasizing the importance of small, non-generic details that enhance character development and scene-setting. He touches on the difference between immersive storytelling and simpler narratives and offers practical tips on how to gather and use unique details from ephemera, old books, and postcards to enrich a narrative. He offers guidance on balancing research with storytelling ... and on knowing when to stop.

Timons Esaias is a satirist, writer, and poet living in Pittsburgh. His works, ranging from literary to genre, have been published in twenty-two languages. He has been a finalist for the British Science Fiction Award, and he won the Winter Anthology Contest, the SFPA Poetry Contest, and the Asimov's Readers Award (twice). He is a recent Pushcart nominee, and Intrepid Award winner for the story "To Do." His poetry collection is “Why Elephants No Longer Communicate in Greek.” He collects chess sets.

Episode Links

https://twitter.com/EsaiasTimons
https://www.facebook.com/timons.esaias/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/867037.Timons_Esaias

Summary

The interview opened with an introduction to Timons Esaias, an esteemed satirist, writer, and poet. He's known for his diverse literary works published in 22 languages and his accolades, including being a finalist for the British Science Fiction Award and winning multiple writing contests. The conversation aimed to delve deep into the nuances of world-building and character development in fiction writing.

The Importance of Small Details
Timons began by emphasizing the importance of integrating small, meaningful details into both world-building and character development. He noted that focusing on particulars like adornments, everyday tools, and small personal items adds depth and authenticity to the narrative.

Quote: "One of the things I find missing in fiction is anybody wearing anything and any story behind it."

By concentrating on these finer elements, writers can convey much more about their characters and settings without overwhelming the reader with exhaustive descriptions.

Leveraging Playsearch for World-Building
Timons introduced the concept of "playsearch", a playful and exploratory approach to research. Instead of traditional research methods, playsearch involves flipping through old catalogues, postcards, and ephemera to draw inspiration and authentic details for fictional worlds.

Example: "For a science fiction setting, I can look at 1886 and go, okay, that's already changed. How will it change again by the time it's in my story?"

This method helps writers to add realism and depth to their settings by drawing on historical and cultural references.

Emphasizing Character Reactions
Timons argued for the importance of focusing on character reactions rather than exhaustive physical descriptions. Readers will naturally form their own mental images of characters, making it more impactful to describe how characters make others feel or react.

Quote: "We judge people in an instant when we meet them. And it's utterly unfair, but we do it."

This approach ensures that descriptions serve a narrative purpose and deepen the reader's engagement with the characters.

Using Cultural Exceptions to Establish Norms
Illustrating cultural norms through exceptions is another powerful tool Timons recommends. By showing what happens when something goes wrong or deviates from the norm, writers can effectively establish the rules of their fictional world.

Example: "You get somebody upset by the fact that it's not working, now we know what the rules are."

Strategic Research Approaches
While emphasizing the importance of research, Timons advised writers to write their initial drafts first and then conduct targeted research to fill in specific gaps. This ensures that time is spent effectively on indispensable details that contribute to the story.

Quote: "Write the story first, then research the things you need."

He also pointed out that different audiences require different levels of detail. Writers should balance the depth of their world-building based on whether their readers prefer immersive worlds or simpler, more focused storytelling.

The Role of Architecture and Maps
Timons discussed the value of books on architecture and maps as essential resources for sparking creativity and ensuring consistency in world-building. These resources offer insights into different time periods and cultural practices, helping writers create believable settings.

Example: "I have this history of London in maps... it's been useful, especially with students who are setting things in London."

Understanding the layout of streets and the architectural styles of different periods enhances the authenticity and inspires new ideas for settings.

Practical Insight: Matty mentioned how historical research helped him avoid mistakes, like discovering that a modern through street was not a through street in the past due to a fire. Such details honor the setting and improve the reader's experience.

Distinctive Character Development
Timons highlighted the importance of describing unique behaviors or possessions of characters instead of falling back on generic traits. This makes characters more memorable and authentic.

Quote: "Find a thing, or a behavior, that will reveal it."

By focusing on specific, revealing details, writers can avoid repetitive descriptions and instead use these to deepen character development.

Knowing When to Stop Researching
Recognizing when to stop researching and start writing can be challenging. Timons offered practical advice: if you feel drained by a story, it's likely you’ve gathered sufficient information.

Quote: "Psychologically, if you're shelving a story because you are just tired of it, it's probably tired of you."

This helps writers avoid endless cycles of research that don't contribute meaningfully to the narrative.

Effective Writing Techniques
Timons shared several practical writing techniques:

1. Start in the Middle: Captivate readers quickly by dropping them into the middle of the action and revealing the world's details gradually.

   Example: "With immersive settings, start in the middle. Have a lot of stuff going by that’s interesting but you don’t explain at first."

2. Infuse Meaning: Ensure every descriptive element in the story adds plot complexity or character depth.

   Quote: "Only if you're adding plot complexity in an interesting way or meaning should a thing be in there."

3. Secret Symbolism: Using secret meanings or symbolic elements, which might not be immediately apparent to readers, can give depth to the narrative.

   Example: Timons mentioned using a real map and fictionalizing its details to create an underlying structure of meaning.

Resource Recommendations
Timons recommended exploring museums and antique shops, as they often contain bins of old postcards or books that provide historical context and inspiration.

Quote: "Little bins full of old postcards... frequently, it’s not the main thing they’re portraying but what is parked next to it or what the gal in the front is wearing."

In addition, he suggested looking through travel guides and ephemera for insights into daily life and cultural practices that add realism to writing.

Conclusion
Timons’ approach to incorporating small, meaningful details, leveraging real-world inspiration, and using practical research techniques can help any writer elevate their storytelling. By focusing on these aspects, writers can create rich, immersive narratives that resonate with readers, making fictional worlds feel as real as the one we live in.

Matty Dalrymple 7/2/24 Matty Dalrymple 7/2/24

Episode 245 - Co-Authoring Fiction with LynDee Walker and Bruce Coffin

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This week on The Indy Author Podcast, I talk with LynDee Walker and Bruce Coffin about their experiences co-authoring the Turner and Mosley series. LynDee, an award-winning journalist and author of 19 novels, shares how her abundance of ideas led to the co-authoring opportunity with Bruce, a retired detective sergeant and best-selling novelist. The duo discusses how their collaboration began through mutual acquaintances, how they navigated the creative and logistical processes, and the unique methods they use to keep their writing cohesive. They highlight the importance of trust, creative synergy, and clear communication in a co-authoring relationship. With insights into blending their writing styles and managing different genres, both authors provide valuable tips for aspiring co-authors. The episode also delves into the development of their characters and storylines, emphasizing the fun and challenging aspects of writing collaboratively.

Episode Links

LynDee's Links:
lyndeewalker.com
facebook.com/lyndeewalkerbooks

Bruce's Links:
https://severnriverbooks.com/collections/bruce-robert-coffin
https://www.facebook.com/brucerobertcoffin
https://www.instagram.com/brucerobertcoffinauthor/
https://www.threads.net/@brucerobertcoffinauthor

Summary

This week on The Indy Author Podcast, I talk with LynDee Walker and Bruce Coffin about the intricacies and nuances of co-authoring fiction. Our conversation dives into the logistical, creative, and personal aspects of sharing the reins of a writing project.

Meet LynDee Walker

Our discussion begins with LynDee Walker, who provides listeners with an informative look into her book series and her collaboration with Bruce Coffin. LynDee introduces her fictional world, where strong women who find themselves frequently entangled in trouble take center stage. Her series, Turner and Moseley Files, co-authored with Bruce Coffin, brings a unique blend of adventure, mystery, and character dynamics.

Why Co-Author?

LynDee explains that the opportunity to co-author arose when she found herself overwhelmed with ideas but constrained by time. During a call with her agent, she discussed a concept involving young, resourceful characters who use their wealth and freedom to solve mysteries and embark on treasure hunts. Faced with her busy schedule, the suggestion to bring on a co-author seemed promising. This is when Bruce Coffin, a writer LynDee admired and trusted, was brought into the mix.

Testing the Partnership

To ensure compatibility, LynDee and Bruce decided on creating a sample chapter. This practice chapter allowed them to test the waters. Bruce initially had reservations, but the sample proved that they could indeed work harmoniously. LynDee recounts how Bruce’s wife, agent, and she herself were convinced about the potential success of their collaboration, eventually leading Bruce to agree fully.

The Creative Process

One highlight of the episode is LynDee’s detailed description of how the creative process is navigated. She generally takes charge of plotting and outlining, sending Bruce what she refers to as a "detailed outline." Initially, these outlines were extensive, running as long as 53,000 words for the first book. Bruce would then flesh out these outlines into full drafts, which LynDee would polish and enhance, a process that Bruce humorously describes as her "sprinkling glitter" on the manuscript.

Navigating Differences

LynDee emphasizes the importance of personal compatibility and shared vision in co-authoring. They had numerous discussions to ensure both had a unified outlook on the series' direction. The positive feedback from their editor and the seamless integration of their individual contributions were key indicators of their successful partnership.

Consider the Goal of Your Co-Authored Work

LynDee and Matty discuss the varying goals writers might have when co-authoring, from promotional crossovers to creating a cohesive series. This versatility allows for different methods of collaboration, whether focusing on seamless integration or showcasing distinct narrative voices.

Meet Bruce Coffin

Transitioning to Bruce Coffin, Matty underscores his impressive background in crime fiction and his decision-making process in joining LynDee for the Turner and Moseley Files. Bruce provides insight into his initial hesitations and how conversations with peers and his agent convinced him to embrace the opportunity, including an anecdotal endorsement from Reed Farrell Coleman.

Methods of Work

Bruce details how they handle the logistics of co-writing. Unlike some collaborations that involve shared online documents, Bruce and LynDee prefer keeping it simple with email exchanges of Word documents. This straightforward method works effectively for them, despite the copious file versions they each accumulate over time.

Bruce's Approach

Bruce’s approach to writing within the confines of LynDee’s outlines is both innovative and disciplined. He reads only as much of the outline as he requires for his current writing task, preserving a sense of discovery and excitement akin to reader engagement. This method ensures his creative freedom while respecting the plotted framework.

Differences in Genre

Bruce elaborates on the genre transition from detective procedurals to the more action-adventure style of the Turner and Moseley Files. This shift allowed for more imaginative and extreme scenarios, which can be liberating compared to the stringent realism required in crime procedurals.

Trust and Feedback

The element of trust is a recurring theme in their collaboration. Bruce highlights the importance of trusting each other’s instincts and decisions. Matty and Bruce agree that mutual respect and trust are crucial in successfully co-authoring fiction, ensuring that both partners feel confident and valued in their creative input.

Future Projects and Advice

Bruce teases his upcoming series, the Detective Justice Mysteries, which promises to retain the gritty, procedural essence of his previous work while introducing new dimensions and locales. When advising prospective co-authors, Bruce reiterates the significance of setting clear expectations and ensuring creative compatibility through honest and open conversations.

Conclusion

LynDee and Bruce's interview on The Indy Author Podcast provides insights into the art of co-authoring. From the technical logistics to the interpersonal dynamics and creative processes, their experience underlines the potential of collaborative writing when approached with mutual respect, clear communication, and a shared vision for the narrative.

Matty Dalrymple 6/25/24 Matty Dalrymple 6/25/24

Episode 244 - Understanding Your Book's Neighborhood with Nat Connors

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Nat Connors discusses UNDERSTANDING YOUR BOOK’S NEIGHBORHOOD, including the importance of understanding what books you want your book to appear next to and how authors can use data to guide their publishing decisions about positioning their books. We discuss wide versus KU, series versus standalone, pricing, cover design, blurbs, and compliance with genre conventions. We discuss the importance of tracking the best practices in your genre, how to solicit input from readers to get the most valid results, and using categories to educate the retail platforms about your books. And Nat has a special offer for listeners of The Indy Author Podcast!

Nat Connors is a romantic comedy writer, medical scientist, and dance teacher, and creator of the Kindletrends newsletter for genre fiction authors. Kindletrends started when he got fed up with trying to make sense of the Kindle Store and wanted a no-nonsense summary of the most important information. Nat uses the Kindletrends information to plan his own writing, publishing, and book launches, so it has to be focused, relevant and actionable.

Episode Links

https://kindletrends.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Kindletrends
https://x.com/kindletrends
https://www.youtube.com/@kindletrends

Fantasy 'State of the Nation', powered by Kindletrends: https://kindletrends.com/static/fantasy/ - a free interactive infographic for fantasy authors, referenced in our discussion.

Kindletrends newsletters: https://kindletrends.com - subscription is free for the first month, and you can cancel any time. Use the code 'INDYAUTHOR' on signup for a USD5 discount, making it USD10/month, forever.

Kindletrends free resources for authors:

Also Boughts Downloader Chrome Extension: https://kindletrends.com/download-also-boughts-chrome-extension/
Kindle Power Search: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUP5I1hBq00
List of categories on the Amazon Store: https://kindletrends.com/categories/

Summary

The episode of The Indy Author Podcast, featuring Nat Connors, delves into numerous strategies for genre fiction authors to enhance their publishing decisions and optimize their writing processes.

Data Utilization for Authors:
Nat emphasizes the importance of authors understanding their genre's dynamics, recommending a breakdown of big data into manageable segments. He advocates for what he calls "market awareness," suggesting that authors periodically engage with market trends while balancing writing and promotional efforts.

Choosing Publishing Platforms - Wide vs. Kindle Unlimited (KU):
The discussion shifts to deciding between publishing wide (across multiple platforms) or exclusively through Amazon's Kindle Unlimited. This decision is noted as genre-specific, with some genres traditionally performing better on KU. Nat mentions how book length and author preference for marketing channels play into this choice, with tools like Draft2Digital facilitating multi-store marketing.

Series vs. Standalone Books:
Considering whether to write a series or standalone books is another focal point. Nat points out that series may benefit more from KU due to the binge-reading potential, whereas standalone books might appeal differently to the market. He also discusses the impact of series on book cover design, stressing the need for visual consistency across series.

Pricing Strategies:
The conversation touches on pricing strategies, highlighting the recent trends of increasing ebook prices. Nat discusses the strategic pricing of series books and the implications of Amazon’s pricing policies on royalties, advocating for pricing that aligns with perceived value and competitive positioning.

Cover Design and Market Trends:
Cover design is a critical topic, with Nat advising authors to revisit their cover designs periodically to align with current market trends. He recommends subscribing to reader-focused newsletters to understand visual trends and stresses the importance of covers in marketing and reader engagement.

Blurb Writing and Genre Conventions:
The role of book blurbs and the need to keep them updated with genre conventions is discussed. Nat suggests using AI tools like ChatGPT to refresh blurbs, while cautioning against losing originality.

Understanding and Utilizing Genre Categories:
Nat explores the significance of accurately categorizing books in online retail platforms like Amazon to ensure they appear alongside similar titles, enhancing visibility and sales potential.

Kindletrends and Author Resources:
Nat concludes by discussing Kindletrends, which provides genre-specific insights and trends to help authors make informed decisions.

Transcript

Matty: Hello and welcome to the Indie Author Podcast. Today my guest is Nat Connors. Hey, Nat, how are you doing?

Nat: Hi, Matty, it's great to be back!

Meet Nat Connors

Matty: It is lovely to have you here, and to give our listeners and viewers a little bit of background on you, Nat is a romantic comedy writer, medical scientist, dance teacher, and creator of the Kindletrends newsletter for genre fiction authors. Kindletrends started when he got fed up with trying to make sense of the Kindle store and wanted a no-nonsense summary of the most important information. Nat uses the Kindle Trans information to plan his own writing, publishing, and book launches. So, it has to be focused, relevant, and actionable.

And I invited Nat back to the podcast, he's been a previous guest, to talk about the state of the genre. We're going to be talking generally about what is the data that every author should be tracking related to their own genre, but because it's always more fun to talk about something specific than something general and theoretical, we're going to be talking about fantasy.

I figured I talked so much about crime fiction, it was time to talk about something different. But if you're not a fantasy author, I would recommend you not tune out because the information we're going to be sharing is something that is applicable to really any kind of genre fiction that listeners may be working on.

How can authors use data to guide their publishing decisions?

Matty: And so, Nat, I'm just going to ask you to sort of step back and talk generally about how people should be looking at the data that's available to them out there, in order to better plan their writing and publishing work, and then we'll dive into the details of a couple of pieces of data that you specifically recommend people look at.

Nat: Yeah, sure. So, this is something that I've been thinking about for a long time, as Matty and many others will know, about how you go about getting your head around all of the things that are going on in your genre, and in your subgenre, and the specific environment that you're in, and I've got a bunch of stuff that I've written about this stuff. About ways to take a very big problem and divide it up into little chunks because when you're looking at a whole genre, something like fantasy, which has got so many different aspects to it and so many different moving parts, it can be a bit overwhelming. You read some books and you think, well, I like this, but do other people like this? Having a way of listing the things that I need to look at and the things I need to think about helps me feel like I'm getting around stuff and I'm not missing anything. One of the things I often say to people is that market research is an ongoing process if you're an author. In fact, I call it market awareness more than market research. I like to think of the fact that we need to be aware of our market, aware of what's going on around us. We make most of our time for writing because that's what we love, but we also have to look up from our keyboards occasionally and see what other people in our genre are doing, see how readers are responding to it, and think a little bit about how that affects us. So, I've got a few different things that I go through step by step when I'm looking at what's going on in my genre and we're going to do that sort of bit by bit with fantasy but to try and generalize it at the same time.

Wide versus KU

Matty: Well, one of the things that I think is top of mind for many authors who are deciding what route to take for their publishing is the whole question of wide versus KU. My understanding is that this is very genre dependent. There are just genres that have historically proven to do well in KU and genres that have not.

I think that would be a great point to start if people are deciding whether they want to go the KU route or not. What pieces of information do you recommend they be aware of in order to make that decision?

Nat: Yeah, that's a very good place to start, Matty. I think there's a bunch of factors, and some of those factors, just stepping away from the market, are also to do with you, the writer, and your own preferences for where you want to market and sell your work. and also for the length and the tempo at which you prefer to write.

I'd never want anyone to feel like they have to do a particular thing if they want to be in any genre. It's absolutely true that some genres have traditionally been quite heavily KU. We've also seen that changing, I think. And when we look at the fantasy, what we'll see is that there are some subgenres in fantasy, which are quite all-in on KU, but there are others which are pretty much 50/50.

So, I guess I'd put it down to a couple of factors. As far as the individual author is concerned, as we know, KU pay rates are per page. So, if you tend to write longer, then, relatively speaking, KU is going to be a better bet for you. So, a good example there is LitRPG, which has really exploded in popularity over the last, what is it, four years, five years, I think.

I probably first heard the term about 2019, just before the lockdown. now, and then that, that was a genre, subgenre, that was always around before that, but it sort of got this name and suddenly exploded in popularity. lit RPG books, my colleagues who write in that genre, tend to run quite long.

And by quite long, I mean more than a hundred thousand words. They are often sort of in serials. So I think that has contributed to them being in KU quite a lot. On the other hand, there are a lot of shorter fantasy, and there are a lot of more traditional, sort of swords and sorcery fantasy books that are published by small publishers, not by the big five, big four, but they, in that situation, they are more often wide.

So another factor for authors to consider, I think in terms of KU versus wide, as well as their writing tempo, is also how much they want to spend time on marketing to different stores. There are great services now like Draft2Digital, which will make it very much easier for you to get your books onto multiple stores, but then of course.

Remember, there's the exclusivity agreement, so if you are wide, then you are prevented from having your books in KU for a three-month period. We also know, then, that quite a few authors have practiced putting books in KU for the first three-month period and then taking them out and going wide.

Matty: Yeah, I think that one of the areas that I as someone who is not in KU have benefited from being aware of the KU versus Y distinction is when I'm running book bub ads. And I know that I would go through, and I would find other authors who are successful in my genre, which is Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, and I would run book bub ads against them.

But one thing that I realized very quickly I had to check was whether they were in KU or not. Because I realized that running a BookBub ad, now I'm talking about ads, not feature deals, but running a BookBub ad against a KU author's audience when I myself am not in KU is probably targeting the wrong group because KU readers are looking for something different than people who are not KU readers.

And so I feel like, you know, if I had spent money on advertising to KU author followers, then I probably would have been not using my advertising dollars to the best effect because I'm advertising to people who aren't used to interacting with getting content in that way.

Nat: Yeah, that's true. I mean, I think also there, my instinct is that it is less a matter of the difference in terms of what people are looking for, and maybe a bit more the simple fact that they have already paid for KU. So for them to pay extra money for a book, it's much more difficult for them to justify.

So, you're absolutely right that targeting if you're not a known author to them, it's much less likely that they're going to take a

punt on your book rather than taking a punt on another book that's actually in KU already. It's interesting also, and I don't know if you heard this, but as a romance author, traditionally, like five years ago, it was very difficult to get a book bub if you were in KU.

There was a belief, true or otherwise, that you were much more likely to get one if your books were wide than in KU, and you could get them if you were in KU, but you had to be a very heavy hitter. Was that a belief in Mystery and Suspense as well? I think it's changed a bit now, and I've seen, you

Matty: Yeah, not that I've heard of. And I also think that it's important to point out to people who aren't familiar with BookBub that I think you're talking about feature deals, sort of two approaches to BookBub. One is to apply for a feature deal, which is quite challenging to get and expensive if you land it, and then ads, which anyone can run. But, it could well be. I just don't recall, hearing, you know, hearing chatter about that in my genre.

Nat: yeah, yeah. So, so talking about the Y versus KU distinction in the case of fantasy, what we can see, just looking at the data that I've got in front of me now, is that actually, for the top 200 books in all of fantasy. They're actually pretty much 50 50 wide versus KU. if you look at this sort of split across other genres, like say paranormal romance, or urban fantasy, then you'll find a much higher proportion of KU, books compared to wide, but across all of fantasy, it's actually pretty much 50 50.

At the moment. Now there's a couple of, in the case of fantasy, there's a couple of, reasons for that. And probably one of the, the most common ones, or the most obvious ones is that, there are quite a lot of TRA published fantasy books in the top 200. Those are the ones which tend to be more wide.

So we've got a situation where kind of 50% wide, 50% KU. The KU half is mostly indie. Mostly and the wide half is much more trad. So that another, another factor, I think, for listeners is if you are interested in being trad published now or in the future, then that might affect your decisions about whether you're IN KU or wide.

Of course, Your commitment to, enrollment in KU is only a 90-day commitment, so there are always options to change things later on, and I think, we, and we'll see this when we get to the covers. I think in the past, there was a much bigger, distinction between KU covers and wide covers. It was generally believed that you sort of had to recover your books if you were going to go wide, otherwise they wouldn't sell.

I think that's much less the case now than it has been in the past. Yes,

Matty: to that conversation.

Series versus Standalone

Matty: Another piece of data that you recommend people look at is series versus standalone. And this is usually not something that people are, like, some people who are really organized are actually making this as a decision, but I think many authors, if they're like me, finish their book and then realize it's one or the other. So can you talk a little bit about when people are looking at data and using fantasy as an example, and they're looking at the series versus standalone, what are you recommending people look at there?

Nat: Yeah, sure. Well, another kind of obvious thing is that if you are in mind to write a series or you're continuing a series, then KU in some ways is a bit more appealing because if people like your work, it's very easy for them to binge and to just keep reading the next book in the series and the next book and the next book. And, as a lot of listeners will know, often, whether you're in KU or not, people in the past have priced the first book in their series quite low, so 99 cents or $2.99, in order to encourage people to take a gamble on it. And then, when you get them interested in your writing style and you get them invested in your characters, then you can carry on, you know?

However, of course, planning out a series is a lot of work, and it's quite reasonable, I think, to start, I've certainly done this, to start something without really knowing whether the world has got enough in it for you to write a compelling series, you know? I think not every long series, or even series of just a couple of books, starts out that way.

So, I think, and also, in fact, again, when we get to covers, we'll see that if you have a series that places different constraints on your cover design, because as we know, we want the covers to be linked in one way or another, and when we look at a cover montage, you can really see examples of things where there's a bunch of books in a series, and you want it to be very clear to the reader that that's what's going on.

Pricing Considerations

Matty: Oh, the pricing conversation is interesting because we're recording this in the middle of 2024. At the end of 2023, I made a change to my pricing because everything was getting more expensive. For a long time, my pricing model was that for my nonfiction books, my first in series book was $2.99 and then the subsequent books were $4.99. And I started feeling like not only is it nice to get more money for each book, but I felt as if the pricing defines the books that you want to be compared with. Now many of the traditionally published ebooks are $14. There are reasons that indie authors are not doing that because we get penalized for pricing a book over $9.99, but I put up all my first in series ebooks to $6.99, and then I increased my first in series to $3.99, which I still feel as if it's a price that I as a reader am willing to take a chance on, and I think that's kind of a benefit that indies have.

I mean, it's unfortunate that we're, in a sense, being forced to do this because of the Amazon rule that if a book is priced over $9.99, then you get a lower royalty rate, but it also makes it easier for readers to say, "Oh, here's somebody that looks interesting, but I don't know them, but I want to check it out."

And having that lower cost of entry to the series, I think, is really smart.

Nat: Yeah, that's true. I think also in your case, Matty, and I know I've said this a lot in the past, your covers and your branding are very classy, so it looks like it's done by a trad house, it looks like books that should be on the shelf next to some of the famous trad mystery authors, and that's a specific branding decision, and I think it's great. Look, fantastic, I've always been a big fan of your covers, but that's one decision and there are other decisions, but I think for where you are at and for the price point that you're talking about, particularly since, as you've said and we'll see, prices across most all genres have been steadily marching upwards over the past four years or so, which is great news because of that, I think you're absolutely right that your books can stand a higher price point.

Matty: Yeah. I'm sort of fascinated with this topic lately of what. What do you want? What books do you want to show up next to yours? And when I think about the books that I would love to have my books show up next to, many of them are traditionally published, and so you're sending a message one way or the other to your audience based on the kinds of information that you're putting on, you know, the quality of your cover, but the style of your cover, and it's all messages that you're sending to your potential reader.

Nat: Yes, exactly. It's a question of a sort of visual language and the pricing and the language in your blurb and so on and so forth. So, I'd never say to any author that they have to do exactly the same things that their comp authors or comp titles do, but I would always say that you need to be aware of them because if you want to be seen next to those books and also boughts and also reads and those kinds of things and in ads, then you need to be aware of what they're doing.

And to some degree, you need to align with it. I guess that's the point I'd say you've got to align with what those, in your case, those trade authors are doing. You don't have to copy it, but you've got to not kind of go against it, as it were.

Cover Design

Matty: Well, we've been referring to cover design and I'm going to seize the opportunity to go slightly off the fantasy topic because I'm very interested in this currently. For my Lizzie Ballard thrillers, I had covers that I love. Like, when I hold one of those print books in my hand, it gives me good goosebumps because I think they're lovely covers. But what I realized was that, first of all, the subtleties that make the print covers lovely are kind of lost in the tiny thumbnails online. And then the other thing I realized is that in some ways they were almost more fantasy-esque than thriller-esque. And I'm just having them redone, and I'm starting to be a real believer in the idea that you really need to revisit your covers maybe every five years because I always recommend that people subscribe to an email newsletter like BookBub or BargainBooksy, FreeBooksy, one of those, eReader News Today, Fussy Librarian, there are many of them out there. Subscribe as a reader to your own genre, because oftentimes the trends in the cover are so starkly evident when you look at the list, and I would pull up my daily BookBub newsletter for mystery, thriller, suspense. And I was like, I don't know, my book cover isn't looking like it fits in with these books now.

And you have these trends that come and go, like for a long time with a thriller, it was the woman in the yellow jacket running away. I don't know why yellow jacket was so popular. But I finally just thought, you know, I have to stop being sort of emotionally tied to the beautiful covers that I love and say, "You know, that was fine, but it's not what I need to be doing in 2024."

Can you talk more generally about advice you would give to people on that front?

Nat: Yeah. Absolutely. Well, I mean, first I always loved those covers and I think that was maybe one of the first things I said to you when we first started talking some years ago was, wow, those are really classic covers. But yes, you're absolutely right. The thing is, new books come out all the time. And, what that means is those books, the readers read them, and those books will change readers' expectations of what is being communicated, the visual language. of particular elements or colors or devices on the page that changes over time because of course it does and so what your book, what anyone's cover is communicating in 2018 or 2019 is not what it is going to be communicating to readers in 2024.

Those things don't change overnight. And, you know, I'd never say that you have to constantly be changing your covers because I think sometimes that could be confusing as well as expensive and a lot of work. But the timeframe that you're talking about, Matty, I think is absolutely right. and you're very right that subscribing to reader-focused newsletters is a great way to see a low effort way to see what other people are doing because you can, as you say, imagine your book next to them and say, well, does it fit in?

And you, like, if you will see, I suspect, probably, you were seeing books that, if you read the blurb or the ad, they sounded like your books, they sounded like a potential comp, but the cover was completely different. So you're sort of thinking, well, hang on, this looks like my kind of book, it looks like my reader's kind of book, more to the point, but my cover is saying is speaking a really different language to this book, which is kind of coming out now.

And again, you don't have to change absolutely everything, but it pays to be aware of that. And some of the best redesigns, I think, that I've seen have been quite subtle ones, where they are updating things, but they're keeping what was good about the original cover.

You know, you can see this a lot in fantasy and in some other speculative fiction genres with the trend towards what are called discrete covers. I think maybe we've talked about this a bit in the past, that there are now a lot more covers that have objects or sort of symbolic representations of them of things on them a bit like that so the classic example I think from a long time ago was the Harry Potter books that the first editions had illustrated covers and then there were some more ostensibly more adult, images of, of symbols and things.

And you can see the difference. And they convey, they convey different things in a way that's happened for a lot of people in fantasy now. And in fact, if when we look at a montage of all of fantasy books, we can see a lot more of those discrete object style covers. that, that they often include things about the, the nature of the story.

And they also just going back to the issue of, series. a discrete or object style cover often makes it quite easier for you to have a common through line in terms of the same, having similar elements or complementary elements on a particular series. So if you've got a series of objects or whatever.

Matty: Yeah, the Harry Potter one is interesting because my guess is that when they were first putting out the first book, and it was very much targeted at children, that they came up with that illustrated idea, and then they had to kind of carry it through, but then I think when they realized what appeal that had to adult readers.

They wanted to readjust it a little bit to make it less like, not cartoonish, but more serious. I'm not coming up with exactly the

Nat: something, something, yeah, absolutely something that somebody in their sort of 40s would be more likely to go into a bookstore and pick up. yeah, you're absolutely right. But I think also, if we look at the history of all of the covers of a sort of a very famous book or book series, we can see these changes as well.

So, one reason to change covers, of course, is to appeal to a different market segment. But another one is the thing that you were saying about your books that, even if you're trying to appeal to the same people that you were five years ago, their expectations have changed because of all of the other books coming out.

And now, just looking at the cover montage, now we can see that, fey or books about, fey or elves will often have these kind of symbolic discrete covers, whereas in fantasy lit RPG books will often have more cartoon, illustrated type covers, actually more similar to the old Harry Potter books in some ways.

Matty: And we're going to be talking eventually about an easy way people can see all this information, but a good available resource for people would just be to go to your favorite online retailer, go to your genre, look at the top, however many books, top 100 books or whatever, and try to picture your book cover among those and see if it makes sense to you, visual sense to you or not.

Nat: Yeah, absolutely. It's okay with you, Matty, in the show notes, we'll list a couple of free tools, which I've got, which will make it very easy for you to just download that kind of information. So to download a cover montage and the simplest things, you know, if you're very short on time, then the things that I would recommend would be one, as Matty says, sign up to relevant newsletters in your genre. Scan them, because that's what your readers are seeing, and the other one is go to the relevant top 100s in your genre, download the cover montage, and just look at that. That's a very short job every week, and once you do it for a month, you'll start seeing a whole lot of little changes, and those changes can be quite profound.

Matty: Maybe a good news for indie authors is that something I've noticed in my BookBub emails is that I'll see the same authors come up, over the course of a month, over the course of a couple of months, the same authors pop into those. And the covers from book to book are very similar, the overall design is very similar. In a sense, almost identical, but maybe the colors are slightly different. I'm following this approach with the updated covers for the Lizzie Ballard books, but rather than a cover designer having to start from scratch each time they do a new book in a series, it seems as if readers are accepting of and maybe even looking for more consistency. So you make a few tweaks from cover to cover, but the designer isn't having to start from scratch each time, which I think could be a more efficient and more cost-effective way of indie authors getting covers in, you know, if what I'm saying is true.

Nat: Yeah, you're absolutely right. And in some situations where you have serials, that is, and by serial I mean a story which follows essentially the same group of characters over perhaps three or four or even more books, and there is sort of an overall story arc and the focus is on that, which we do, we see in a number of situations. So, at the moment, short romance, just to take a quick look. Diversion, Short Romance, has a few different segments in it. Some of it is the sort of fairly steamy instant attraction thing, but there's also, and this is from fairly recent, quite a lot of serials which have very, very similar covers. And the reason I bring this up, Matty, is to pick up on your point about the similarity of covers. in that situation, the covers are so similar that I actually thought they were all the same cover, from a distance, you know, in a montage or in the sort of thumbnail size thing you get in an ad, they all look like the same book, and it's not until you, and it seems to work, but, it's not until you actually look at the thing, that it will sort of say, you Book five or book four or something like that. So the focus there, if you're a serial writer, is much more on reinforcing the brand of the serial as a whole. And of course, a lot of them are in KU. So it's easy for people to pick up The next one and the next one and to keep reading, you know, to reinforce the brand of the serial as a whole, rather than to differentiate the books in the serial, you know, because if people come to the book and they think, Oh, hang on, this is book five, and I haven't read book three yet, they're just going to go back to book three, they're much less likely to kind of give up. So different, I think the take-home message that I'm trying to get to there, Matty, is that, your choices, listeners' choices about, cover design, whether it's for stand-alones or series, are affected not only by your comps, but also by the reading habits of people in your genre. whether they prefer to read, sort of, long books, or whether they prefer to read IN KU, or wide, or whatever.

Matty: Yeah, I think another good takeaway for people would be, whatever tool they're using, whether that would be, email, like BookBub emails or other tools, that when you see a cover from an author that you would consider a comp author that you really like, just copy that off into a little, you know, a little, book. electronic bulletin board because, it's, it can be very informative. That's how I ended up landing on the redesign that I wanted because I started seeing this emerging, trend in thriller type covers. I'm like, oh, that's pretty cool. And so I, you know, collected half a dozen that I really liked, and I was able to send that to my cover designer and say, I

Collect Best Practices in Your Genre

Nat: Yeah, well, that's good. I mean, one per five years, that's probably okay. Yeah, absolutely. So keep a, another great tip, I think, for listeners is to keep a crib file, like a file of all the things that you like, which are relevant to you in terms of your comps, terms of phrase, advertising taglines, loglines for books, and also covers, of course. Sign up to one of those free services like Notion or Airtable, and you will quickly, if you do that sort of once a week, end up with a whole lot of stuff that you can use to start making decisions. Because I think in the past when I've tried to recover things or rewrite my blurbs, I've started from a blank slate, and that was a long way up the hill, if you know what I mean, whereas if you've got a bunch of other stuff that people are doing and you think, "oh, that's cool," or "wow, I wish I'd come up with that," that makes it that much easier for you to get into the groove of what it is you're actually trying to do.

Study Genre Conventions for Blurbs

Nat: When you're rewriting blurbs, because we, I know we haven't talked about blurbs very much this time, Andy, but again, that's a thing. Blurbs drift. They change just the same way covers do and for exactly the same reasons. So they are something that's worth revisiting periodically to see what the other blurbs in your neighborhood are saying to readers, you know, and they're also arguably cheaper and easier to work on than covers.

Matty: One of the things that I've seen that's very interesting is when, like, ChatGPT started to be all the rage. And I would do things like I would take my existing blurb and put it into ChatGPT, and I would say, like, rewrite this as in the style of a best-selling thriller or mystery or suspense novel. And, you know, a lot of times the information I got back was quite good. But I realized that there's like an identifiable ChatGPT style. And so it's just an argument for using these things as a tool, not for the final product, because what I did find is that I would think like, "oh, that's a word, like, it's using a word that I hadn't thought of." I'm going to incorporate that word. But I think as people get more sophisticated about it, I think it's a good look at the kinds of information that AI platforms like ChatGPT put out, then they're going to read something and it's going to be clearer that, where it's coming from, because there would be, like, there were very identifiable ways that it would close out the blurb. And, and it sounded okay to me the first time, but after I read three or four, I was like, "yeah, no."

Nat: In stats, it's called regression to the mean, Matty. And a lot of those LLM text generation things, it's very much regression to the mean where, it looks good the first time and looks pretty good the second time and then you do it a few times and you start to look in the store and you realize how many other blurbs are like that and you're like, "wait a minute, you're not being as creative as you kind of implied you were, buddy." So yes, absolutely a great way to help if you're creatively blocked, but generally much better if you use it as a starting point rather than as an ending point.

Soliciting Input - Ask People to Rank a Selection

Nat: The other tip that I have, if you don't mind me mentioning, Matty, which I know I've mentioned before, is when I get people to evaluate stuff, I never send one blurb and say, do you like it? Or tell me what's wrong. I always send them three. Not two, but three. And I say, rank these in the order that you prefer. And this has a bunch, yeah, this has a bunch. Now, maybe one of them is your real one and two of them are kind of crappy ones that you just got ChatGPT to do. Doesn't matter. Don't tell anyone that. Just present them neutrally, but the reason I do this is because people often find it much easier to rank things in order of their preference than to say specifically that they do or don't like something because in a way, saying whether they do or don't like something is a little bit of an emotive decision, you know, and if you don't like something, then it's sort of incumbent upon you to articulate why, a lot of people don't like giving feedback that is along the lines of, I don't really like this, but I've got no idea why. And yet, that's actually a valid feeling, particularly if it's something that a reader might have. Whereas, if you give your blurbs to five people, and they all rank a particular blurb bottom of three, probably don't use that one. Like, whatever else is going on, that's probably not the blurb you want to use, you know, if there's one, what I find usually is that there is one that everyone dislikes, and sometimes it's the one that I thought was good, and rarely there is one that everyone thinks is the best, and in that situation you go with your own intuition and your experience and stuff, but yeah. I hope that helps.

Consider the "Key Topics" of Your Genre

Matty: Yeah, that's great advice. When we were talking about, we haven't hit, I haven't given you a chance to talk about fantasy books specifically, very, but I think that the generic stuff is great because then this, everybody can apply it to their own. Circumstances, but this is one where we might want to, we might end up diving into fantasy as an example a little bit, but you had said key topics is another piece of data people should be looking at.

Nat: Yeah. Absolutely. So one of the things that I've spent a lot of time thinking about is trying to understand what's in a book that is resonating with readers, we use words like tropes, and archetypes, and settings, and themes, and so forth, and those are all, they're all perfectly valid words, and I use them a lot, but for me, they're all trying to answer the same question, which is, what's in this book? What am I going to get when I read it? And our blurbs, of course, are one of the main things, as well as the title and the cover. Those are the instruments by which we signal to readers what you're going to get, what's the emotional experience you're going to get when you, you pick up a book. Readers have their own language about doing this, and it's not always the same one that we do. And it's very genre specific. I think that's maybe a bit of a statement of the obvious, but one of the things that I try to do when I'm looking at a genre is to say, what does this specific word mean in this genre? So to give you an example, I'm looking at the fantasy, a list of sort of key topics in the top 200 fantasy books at the moment. And I'm seeing some, like, there's some kind of obvious ones like supernatural and dragons and fey and elves and yeah, it's not surprising that those, but I'm also seeing an interesting one, which is military. And the reason that I, I've sort of collected these things together is to get a general sense of what's going on. So in this case, in the fantasy books, if a book has any mention of military units, So, I don't just use general words or military words, so generals and corporals and captains or battalions or, you know, strategy, those kinds of things. I kind of group them all into one topic. So what I'm trying to do is to get a general sense of what's going on. in the case, this was coming, came to me this morning, the use of those military words in a fantasy blurb, it means something different to the way it might mean something in, say, a mystery blurb. So, if you see military words in a fantasy blurb, I think that's more likely to imply that there is

Assessing Your Genre Assignment

Matty: But I think the other thing that's always important to point out is you may have picked the wrong genre. I think that writers are notoriously bad at understanding their own genre because they're writing from their heart. Many writers are writing, "Oh, I want to write a military fantasy book," but some are just writing a story, and then they're stepping back and saying, "What is this?" And so if you're stepping back and looking and you're seeing a disconnect, maybe it's not a matter of changing what you're doing to match what you thought were the comps. Maybe it's a lesson that your comps are different than you thought. And if your blurb or your tropes or your cover is looking more like something else, maybe you just need to recategorize the genre that you've put your book in.

Nat: Yeah, totally. The way that I would put it is that at the moment it might be that the current conventions and reader expectations of that genre are not a fit for the story that you're telling. And it might be that other conventions and other expectations in another genre, at the moment, are better because we know that genres are constantly on the move, and reader expectations are constantly on the move. And so it doesn't mean that your book is doomed. It doesn't mean that it's never going to find a readership. It just means that the expectations of what people, what's resonating with people right now in that area, aren't a fit for what you're doing. So, there are a lot of other areas, and sometimes it can take a bit of work to go and find those other areas, you know?

The Neighborhood of Your Books

Nat: Maybe this is where I can talk about this concept that I've been thinking of to do with a neighborhood—that is, the neighborhood of your books is not just your genre or your subgenre, and it's not just your comps. For me, it's actually the things that make your comps and your subgenre what they are. It is the language that people around you, your authors around you, use in their blurbs. It's the visual elements that they use on covers to signify particular things. So, we'll be able to see that a visual element in one genre signifies one thing. Same visual element, different genre. Different signification.

It might also, your neighborhood, as an author, might also include some of the other products that your readers are interested in. So for instance, if you have a fantasy reader, they are much more likely to be interested in fantasy TV shows, so your neighborhood also in that case includes fantasy TV shows. It might also include podcasts or videocasts about fantasy. Now, I'm not saying all of this to sort of overwhelm listeners and to say, "Hey, you've got to spend all your time keeping up with all of this other media rather than writing," but rather to think of, to encourage people to think of their neighborhood as being kind of a broad thing, which includes the books that people are reading, but it also includes the language that they're using and what emotions are being triggered when they read books, for instance. And my argument, the reason why I'm talking about this, is because I think the important business decisions are actually made in that microenvironment. They're actually made in your neighborhood, much more than about the generally what's happening in your genre, so in mystery or in fantasy, there will be some big trends, but, my argument is actually it's the little trends, the things that are happening close to you, which are the ones that really affect the day-to-day business decisions you make as an author, like your covers, your example before, Matty, of how your reader expectations for books like yours have changed in terms of covers. That's a great example because if you were just looking at all mystery books, that might not be so obvious, you know?

Using Categories to Educate the Retail Platform

Matty: So, we've been talking, I think that the conversation about neighborhood is hopefully a good entree to the last topic I wanted to discuss, which is categories. So, I can imagine that neighborhood and categories have a connection, but how direct is the connection between those two concepts?

Nat: Yeah, well, I mean, a lot is discussed about categories on the Kindle store, and on the wide stores as well, although generally the wide stores don't have the same level of detail, I think, in terms of how many categories they have. Whether that's a bad thing or not, I'm not sure, but sometimes I think it's not a bad thing at all. But, one thing's for sure, there are a heck of a lot of categories on the Amazon store, and they are, the way I see them, is actually they're a way of teaching Amazon what books your books are like. They are the most direct way of teaching Amazon about your comps, and I think that's why they are important.

I think they're less important in the sense of an objective description of what's in your book. I think what matters is when you're looking at categories, where are the books that you want to be next to? Those are the categories that you should be in, even if the label on top of the category isn't quite how you'd describe your book. I would urge listeners to take a pragmatic approach and say, "Okay, well, this category, when I look at the top 100, or I follow it for a bit, I see that this category includes a lot of my comps and the language, the visual language and the language of blurbs in this category, is a fit for what I'm doing." So that's the category for me, even if the name of the category isn't what you personally see as being your book, you know, because ultimately all of that metadata is a way of teaching Amazon who to show your book to with the greatest chance that they're going to like it. When we look at a lot of these categories, a lot of them are actually pretty arbitrary.

Just looking at fantasy, obviously, most books in the top 200 in fantasy, have at least one category in fantasy, but there are also a fair chunk, so what, 25 percent of them have a romance category as well. A bit more than 25 percent are in one of the literature and fiction categories, so mythology and folk tales and so on and so forth. Now, is that where you want to be? Well, that depends, but it's always worth looking at the other categories that are kind of around yours, and you know, listeners I'm sure know that when you go to a book on the Amazon store, you can scroll down, and when you go about halfway down the page, you'll see the three top-ranked categories for a book. Again, I would put those in your crib file that we talked about a little bit earlier and make a note of those categories and go and investigate them when you can, because you might find that there are some other categories, as well as the obvious ones, which are a good fit for your book.

Matty: That's great. Especially now because I think that Amazon's trying to get its hands around this idea. You had suggested that maybe more categories isn't necessarily a good thing. And some of the changes that they're making, recently, I think, suggest that they also agree that more categories are not necessarily a good thing. And I think it's an incentive for people to think about it more carefully than maybe they would have in the past.

Nat: Yeah, well, I think maybe what's happened is that there was a huge explosion of them when ebook reading took off. And so they were added a lot. I don't know, Matty, if you've ever looked at all of the categories under mystery thriller and suspense, like the thriller ones and stuff. Boy, there are a lot of them. And boy, I don't know what the difference is. And I mean, you could sort of invent one, but then you go and look, and in actual fact, in the top 100 or 200, there's a lot of overlap. So what that's telling me is I don't think readers really know either, but it doesn't change the fact that at the moment, the important thing to do is go and find the ones where your comps are most likely represented and find the ones that are within your neighborhood and stick with them. It may be that there will be a reduction in categories in the future, because I don't think that readers really browse by category. I think this is, you know, pure speculation, but I think that most buying decisions are made by books being shown to readers, and the things that we talked about before, the visual language of the cover, the language of the blurb, those are the things

that make a reader give a buying decision. I don't believe that many readers come to new books and new authors by browsing categories. So they're still important, but they're important indirectly rather than directly, because they can teach Amazon who our books should be shown to, so they then make the buying decision.

Matty: And I like that idea of looking at it both ways. Go to the category and see what other books are there, but then also look at the books that you consider to be comps and go backwards and see what categories they're putting themselves in. So we've talked about lots of great information, some of which would be quite labor-intensive to collect manually. So I want to give you an opportunity to talk about a less manual way that people can get the information that we've been talking about.

Nat's resources, including the Kindletrends newsletter

Nat: Thank you, Matty. So, there are a few things. First, I hope we can fit all of this in the show notes. I have a bunch of free tools for the author community that make collecting information quite easy. I've got a Chrome browser extension where you can download cover montages, and data about the Top 100, and also about your also boughts.

We didn't get time to talk very much about also boughts, but they are important when they're around because they come and go. They are a really important part of understanding what's going on in your neighborhood because they are what readers are prepared to pay money for. They don't have to be your also boughts; they might be the also boughts of your comps or also boughts of an author to whom you aspire to be like. Go and look at those when you can find them because, to me, they are the most concrete aspect of reader behavior because it involves putting down some money, and that's what really counts. So, I have a tool that allows you to download all of the also boughts from a particular book very quickly and easily.

What I also do, though, to help people keep up with what's going on in their neighborhood, is make an author newsletter called "Kindle Trends," and this is a subscription thing. I'll give you a discount code just at the end, but the idea is that you sign up, and every week or every month, I send to your inbox a quick description of what's going on in your genre of interest or genres of interest. There are 14 different ones, and you get links to everything that's trending on the Kindle store and suggestions about books to look at because they've just come out and they're shooting up the charts, and so forth. So, what I'm trying to do is to take a lot of the donkey work of research out and make it so the author can spend all the time doing the stuff that only you can do, which is reading and understanding how it fits with you.

Matty: Yeah, I'm a subscriber of Kindletrends and, just as one example, one way that I've used it recently is when I was rethinking my pricing. It was great to be able to go into the Kindletrends newsletter and see the breakdown, in the top 100, of how many books were priced at each price level. Of course, I could have come up with that eventually myself, but it is super nice just to open a newsletter and have it right there for you.

Nat: Yeah. So, my 30-second description is it is like the Wall Street Journal or the Financial Times for working fiction authors. If you've got 30 seconds, you can just read the front bit, read the headlines. If you want to dig into a specific thing that's going on in your genre, then it's all laid out for you there as well. I've got a bunch of videos showing you how to do things, and some examples of how to do research in your genre, and to keep up to date. What's going on using Kindletrends as a base and all of the data there. I want to take a moment to mention this: All of the data is available to you. So, if you want to go and do your own thing, if you really like using Excel, people like that do exist. If you really like doing that kind of thing, then, hey, look, then I'm very much an open data advocate. So, I try to make things straightforward for authors. But also, if you want to know why something is the way it is, or why I'm recommending things, there are no black boxes. It's all laid out there for you, and you can go through the reasoning yourself and come to a different conclusion if you want. That's one of the things I'm really trying to advocate now, is the idea that we can have kind of roundtable discussions, in a genre community about what's going on. And we might agree or we might disagree about what's going to happen, but we've all got a common evidence base of the information that I've gathered, and I think that's really important, and it's a lot of fun too.

Nat's offer to followers of The Indy Author

Matty: That's so great. Well, Nat, thank you so much. It's always lovely to chat with you and let people know where they can go to find out more about you and Kindletrends and the discount code online.

Nat: Thanks for reminding me about it. So, I am at kindletrends.com, and that's where you'll find all the free resources, we'll put some of the links in the show notes, for listeners of The Indy Author Podcast. I have a special deal, which is if you use the code INDYAUTHOR, then you will get a 33 percent discount. So normally, Kindletrends is $15 a month flat, never changes. There's no upselling, no premium tiers. There will never be any of those kinds of things. That's my commitment. It's one price. That's it. But if you are a listener of The Indy Author Podcast, then you can put in the coupon INDYAUTHOR and get it for $10 a month forever.

Matty: Thank you so much.

Nat: All right. Thanks very much, Matty. It's been a lot of fun.

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Podcast Show Notes

On The Indy Author Podcast, we discuss the writing craft, the publishing voyage, and how we can navigate our way to the readers who will love our books. Click the links below for the show notes for episodes since 200, including summaries and transcripts.

Are you getting value from the podcast? Consider supporting me on Patreon or through Buy Me a Coffee!

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Are you getting value from the podcast? Consider supporting me on Patreon or through Buy Me a Coffee!

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Are you getting value from the podcast? Consider supporting me on Patreon or through Buy Me a Coffee!

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Are you getting value from the podcast? Consider supporting me on Patreon or through Buy Me a Coffee!

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Are you getting value from the podcast? Consider supporting me on Patreon or through Buy Me a Coffee!

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Are you getting value from the podcast? Consider supporting me on Patreon or through Buy Me a Coffee!

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Are you getting value from the podcast? Consider supporting me on Patreon or through Buy Me a Coffee!

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Are you getting value from the podcast? Consider supporting me on Patreon or through Buy Me a Coffee!

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Are you getting value from the podcast? Consider supporting me on Patreon or through Buy Me a Coffee!

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Are you getting value from the podcast? Consider supporting me on Patreon or through Buy Me a Coffee!

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Are you getting value from the podcast? Consider supporting me on Patreon or through Buy Me a Coffee!

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Are you getting value from the podcast? Consider supporting me on Patreon or through Buy Me a Coffee!

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Are you getting value from the podcast? Consider supporting me on Patreon or through Buy Me a Coffee!

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Are you getting value from the podcast? Consider supporting me on Patreon or through Buy Me a Coffee!

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Are you getting value from the podcast? Consider supporting me on Patreon or through Buy Me a Coffee!

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Are you getting value from the podcast? Consider supporting me on Patreon or through Buy Me a Coffee!

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Are you getting value from the podcast? Consider supporting me on Patreon or through Buy Me a Coffee!

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Are you getting value from the podcast? Consider supporting me on Patreon or through Buy Me a Coffee!

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Transcript

Check out Matty’s suspense and thriller novels, novellas, and short stories here.

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