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2024 Laptop Buying Guide for Authors
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An Uber driver’s most valuable asset is his car. A photographer’s camera is critical. An Uber driver with a broken car can’t make money, and a photographer with a cheap camera will slowly starve.What is the critical tool for an author? What tool will help you earn money and keep you from starving?Your laptop!You write, edit, and promote your book on your laptop. A reliable, compatible computer is key to your success. Put another way, an old, unreliable computer is a terrible liability.Investing in a good laptop is not just a smart move, it’s a potential tax-deductible business expense for professional authors.But how do you know what kind of laptop is best for you?In this week’s episode, you’ll find out:What kind of speed and storage an author’s laptop needsWhat to avoid when buying a laptopWhat you don’t need in a laptopListen in or check out the blog version of this episode to find out what kind of computer will best help you in your writing career.Support the show
How to Sell More Books With Amazon Ads
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When readers browse Amazon, they have already decided to purchase a book. The only question is: Which book will they choose? What if there was a way to reach readers at this pivotal moment and persuade them to pick your book from the list they’re considering?There is! It is called Amazon Advertising, and it has become one of the most popular forms of book promotion for indie authors.However, many authors feel intimidated by the idea of running Amazon ads.In this week’s episode, you’ll hear from Alana Terry, a USA Today bestselling author of over 40 books and Amazon ads expert.You’ll discoverWhy Amazon ads might be a good place to startSix steps to quickly create your first adHow to determine whether your ads are workingAnd much more If you’ve wanted to sell more books on Amazon but have felt overwhelmed by the process of running ads, listen in or check out the blog version of this episode to find out the quickest way to get started.BookLaunch.fun Support the show
Writing Conflict: How to Keep Your Protagonist on Their Toes
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Most humans try to avoid conflict as much as possible, but novelists love conflict. Without conflict, a novelist has no story. Conflict keeps your novel moving forward and your readers turning pages. As Vladimir Nabokov once said, “The writer’s job is to get the main character up a tree, and then once they are up there, throw rocks at them.”But how do you get your protagonist up a tree? What kind of rocks should you throw?In this week’s episode, I interview professional fictional rock-thrower, Angela Hunt, to discuss the six classic conflicts. In this episode, you’ll discover Biblical and modern examples of classic conflictsHow to mix the conflicts to make your story more interestingWhich conflicts resonate with most readers todayIf you want to up the tension in your book or make your next novel more riveting, listen in or check out the blog post to find out how to add and layer the six classic conflicts to keep your readers reading.BookLaunch.fun Support the show
AI for Authors in 2024 – The Good, Bad, and Ugly
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The tools we use for writing have evolved over the centuries, from quill and inkpot to the printing press, to the word processor to AI. Recent developments in AI tools for writers have sparked everything from laughable images to controversy and fear.Is AI evil? Is it safe?In this week’s episode, we’ll discuss what you need to know about AI in our current day. You’ll learnHow (and how early) it developedWhat threats it poses to writersWhat advantages it offersHow to wield it for good in the worldListen in or check out the blog version of this episode to learn what to watch for and how AI can increase your writing output and improve your craft.BookLaunch.fun Support the show
Pros and Cons of Pre-Orders
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Almost every traditionally published book goes up for preorder before it comes out. However, the advice surrounding preorders can be confusing for indie authors. Some indies say preorders are critical. Others say having a preorder for your book can hurt sales.Who is right?Should you set up a preorder for your book? Are preorders a good idea or a bad idea?Preorders can help or hurt, depending on what kind of author you are.In this week’s episode, you’ll learn:What kind of author is helped by a preorderWhy preorders are so important for some authorsHow to make the most of your preorder windowListen in or check out the blog version of this episode to learn the benefits and drawbacks of making your book available for preorder before its launch date.BookLaunch.fun Support the show
Marketing 101: Place
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You’ve heard me talk about the Five Ps of Marketing, and in this week’s episode, we tackle the third P: Place. In other words, where should you sell your book?Many authors struggle to find the right place to sell their books. Whether you’re an indie or traditional author, you must discover the best places to sell.So, how can you unlock the power of place for your book?In this episode, you’ll learn:Why the location where you sell your book is important and powerfulThree case studies on authors who have maximized sales in the right placesOnline and offline places where you can sell your bookSelling your book in the right place is important for connecting with the right readers and making sales. Listen in or check out the blog post to find out how place impacts your book sales.BookLaunch.fun Support the show
How to use Reedsy to Independently Publish Your Book
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The term “self-publishing” doesn’t mean that you sit in a cabin in the woods all by yourself and emerge with a published book as if you’d done it all singlehandedly.It’s rare to find one person who has all the skills required to turn an idea into a physical book. We need cover designers, formatters, web designers, assistants, and more. You might be self-publishing, but you will need some help.But what if you don’t know anyone who can help? Where can you find skilled professionals who can produce the high-quality work your book deserves?I asked Ricardo Fayet, the cofounder of Reedsy, a curated community of book professionalsIn this week’s episode, you’ll learnHow to search Reedsy to find experienced professionals who specialize in your genreHow Reedsy vets the professionals in their marketplaceHow Reedsy makes money and saves you money at the same timeListen in to discover how Reedsy can help indie and traditional authors create beautiful, compelling, and marketable books, and find all the related links in the blog version.Support the show
Platform Overrated?
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You’re probably tired of hearing that you need a large platform to be a successful author.Some industry professionals believe having a large platform is equivalent to having a large social media following.If you’ve been listening to the Christian Publishing Show or Novel Marketing, you know that having a social media following doesn’t necessarily mean you have a platform. Nor does it mean you’ll sell more books than someone not on social media.In fact, sometimes people sell more books by spending less time on social media.Authors hear me say, “Your social media following isn’t very important.” But when they talk to a literary agent or publisher, those people care about social media numbers.How do you navigate this platform predicament?I asked Mary DeMuth, literary agent and author of more than 50 books. She’s been in the Christian publishing industry for 20 years and recently wrote about how author platform is broken.In this episode, you’ll learnThe history behind the prominence of author platformHow the author-platform landscape is changingYour biggest advantage in a digital worldListen in or read the blog version to learn how to navigate the author platform predicament and what you can do to help change the status quo in the publishing industry. Be sure to add your comments and questions at AuthorMedia.social.Support the show
Book Launch Secrets
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This year marks the end of an era.The Book Launch Blueprint is entering its seventh and final year. Since we began offering it in 2018, it has been one of our most popular courses.Launching a book is one strategy that works well for indie and traditional as well as fiction and nonfiction.But why is a book launch so important?In this week’s episode, you’ll discoverWho needs a book launch (and who doesn’t)Other methods that work for some authorsWhat a successful book launch does for your book and your careerWhat we’ll cover in this year’s final Book Launch BlueprintRegistration for the final cohort of the Book Launch Blueprint course is now open.Registration Closes: Friday, April 12Live Student Orientation: Friday, April 12.Course Begins: Monday, April 15Course Concludes: Friday, May 10Listen in to learn a few book launch secrets and get an overview of the course, or check out the blog version of this episode.Support the show
How to Publish on a Budget
How to Publish on a Budget
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How much money does it cost to become a professional author?Any profession will cost you when you’re just getting started. If you’re broke, I recommend listening to my episode titled The Starving Author: How to Market Books Without Money.Assuming you have some money, you need a spending plan. But how much money do you need to budget for the first five years of your writing career? I asked Kent Sanders, host of The Profitable Writer Podcast and founder of the Profitable Writer Community, a membership group that serves writers and helps them become more profitable.In this week’s episode, you’ll learnHow much money to set aside for writing-related expensesWhat writing tools and investments yield the best return for authorsWhich expenses you can avoid early in your career Listen to the podcast or read the blog version, and be sure to ask your questions and leave your comments on AuthorMedia.social.Support the show
How to Write Emails That Readers Want to Read
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Email marketing is one of the most powerful tools for connecting with readers and selling books. Obviously, you want a lot of email subscribers, but it doesn’t matter how many subscribers you have if they don’t open and read your emails.How do you craft the kind of emails that capture your reader’s attention and help you sell more books?In this week’s episode, you’ll learnThree elements that make readers open your emailsWhich element is least importantWhat to write in your email newsletterIf you don’t yet have your first 1,000 newsletter subscribers, listen in, and you’ll be on your way to 1,000 subscribers. Be sure to check out the blog version for a long list of links related to growing your email list.Attend the 2024 Book Launch Secrets Webinar Attend the 2024 Book Launch Secrets WebinarSupport the show
How to Build a Tribe Online And Form a Community of Readers
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A few years ago, the popular buzzword in the author world was “tribe.” Building a tribe of readers was seen as the key to success. Reader relationships are still important for authors, so why did the term “tribe” go out of fashion?Having a tribe of readers is still an incredible asset that will help you sell your books and raise your profile amongst readers, but you need to know how and where to build a tribe if you want it to grow.In this week’s episode, you’ll learn:The difference between a platform and a tribeWhy authors need a tribeHow large your tribe needs to beWhere to gather your tribe to ensure a positive experienceIf you’ve been wondering how to listen to your Timothy or eavesdrop on a conversation between several of your target readers, listen in to find out how and where to build your tribe or check out the blog version of this episode.Support the show
Mistakes to Avoid at Your First Writers Conference
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When authors attend writers conferences, they often have big expectations but make common mistakes that squash their goals and diminish the return on their investment in the conference.In this episode, you’ll learn11 common mistakes authors often make and how to avoid themHow to avoid missing opportunitiesThe right time to attend your first conferenceListen in or read the blog version to find out how to make the most of your first (or next) writers conference.Support the show
How to Market With No Money
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Learn two ways to proceed if you don’t have money to market your book.Support the show
When to Quit
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Are you thinking about quitting publishing or writing? You started full of energy and optimism, but it has been a hard road, and you feel tired.Should you quit? My answer may surprise you.Maybe you should.Publishing is an industry where almost everyone has a financial incentive to see you keep going. People in the publishing industry don’t earn money if you quit. But there is a lot of money to be made by telling writers exactly what they want to hear: “You will be the next bestseller and hottest thing in publishing!! Just keep paying for coaching, edits, covers, and conferences! Eventually, you will be a star!”Writing will cost you time and money.How do you decide if it’s time to quit or keep going?Only a handful of writers die at their keyboards, which means we all quit eventually. But how do you know if it’s time?In this week’s episode, you’ll answer five clarifying questions to help you know whether it’s time to press on or bow out.You’ll learn:Two uncomfortable publishing realitiesWhen the time is right (or wrong)What you need to invest or cut to achieve your ultimate goalListen in or check out the blog post to answer these five clarifying questions that will guide your decision.Support the show
From Page to Screen: How to Adapt your Novel into a Screenplay
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Do you long to see your story on the big screen? If so, I have good news.Every streaming platform is desperate for new content to give them the edge in the ongoing streaming wars, and traditional TV stations and movie companies are as prolific as ever. Even radio stations and theaters are looking for new content.But how do you turn a 100,000-word novel, which would be a 12-hour audiobook, into a two-hour movie? Is that even possible? Where do you begin?Few things boost a book’s sales like a giant Hollywood marketing campaign for the movie based on a book.But how do you turn your book into a screenplay?I asked Charles Harris in this week’s episode. He’s a bestselling author and award-winning director who’s helped hundreds of authors turn their novels into screenplays.You’ll discoverDifferences between writing a book and a screenplayTechniques to distill your novel into a much shorter screenplayWhat kind of novel makes a good screenplayListen in or check out the blog post to discover the important differences between writing for the page and the screen and find out how to turn your novel into a screenplay.Support the show
Chrome Extensions Every Author Needs in 2024
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Google Chrome is the most popular web browser, but if you’re just using basic Chrome, you’re missing out on some amazing time-saving tools and assistance.Wouldn’t it be great if you had an assistant who could correct a typo in your email before you hit send? How much time would you save if you didn’t have to think of a new password for every account? Would you get fewer headaches if you didn’t have to scroll past obnoxious ads as you research?Chrome extensions are tools that can help solve all of those problems! They can make you more productive, improve your writing, and give you more time to write.But with more than 137,000 Chrome extensions available, how do you know which will be best for you?In this week’s episode, I’ll recommend six specific Chrome extensions every author needs in 2024. If Chrome isn’t your default browser, don’t worry. Other browsers offer many of the same extensions.Listen in and find out how you can leverage these tools to save time, reduce stress, and give you more time to write. Check out the blog version here.Support the show
The Key Ingredient for Timeless Christian Storytelling: Morality
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The stories we ingest shape the morality we develop, but only to a point.If a story’s morality strays from reality or gets too twisted, the story fails to resonate with readers. Moral confusion is why movies and TV shows are less entertaining than they used to be.But what is morality?Why is it so important for good stories?How do you put a message into your book without being preachy?In this month’s episode, you’ll learn:Why you must carefully consider your own moral system before writing a storyHow to keep your book from being boringHow to write a story that resonates for decadesFiction can be a powerful tool to demonstrate the consequences of actions. It allows us to learn from the mistakes and triumphs of others. Listen in and discover why establishing a clear moral system is critical in writing a timeless story that conveys a memorable message. Check out the blog version of this episode here.Support the show
The Key Ingredient for Timeless Christian Storytelling: Morality
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The stories we ingest shape the morality we develop, but only to a point.If a story’s morality strays from reality or gets too twisted, the story fails to resonate with readers. Moral confusion is why movies and TV shows are less entertaining than they used to be.But what is morality?Why is it so important for good stories?How do you put a message into your book without being preachy?In this month’s episode, you’ll learn:Why you must carefully consider your own moral system before writing a storyHow to keep your book from being boringHow to write a story that resonates for decadesFiction can be a powerful tool to demonstrate the consequences of actions. It allows us to learn from the mistakes and triumphs of others. Listen in and discover why establishing a clear moral system is critical in writing a timeless story that conveys a memorable message. Check out the blog version of this episode here.Support the show