Wish I'd Known Then: a Podcast for Self Published Indie Writers

Latest Episodes:

The Power of Owning Your Reader’s Experience with Matt Briel from Lulu Feb 07, 2024

Show notes

Episode 205 / This episode is all about harnessing the power of direct connection with your readers. Matt Briel from Lulu discusses the value of direct sales as we move away from a distribution-first publishing model.

Importance of owning customer data
Why you should start building your direct audience even if you only have one book
Using Lulu for Kickstarter fulfillment
Order Import Tool: upload csv files for order fulfillment of crowdfunding or direct sales that Lulu prints and ships for you
New features that are coming to Lulu, including ribbons and endpapers
Lulu’s website plug-ins for direct sales

Website: Lulu.com

Lulu’s Publish & Prosper Podcast: https://www.publishprosperpodcast.com/

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🚀 Jami’s Consulting and Workshops: https://www.jamialbright.com/authorworkshops
❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5
🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/
📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/
The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast

Get the First Draft Written and Mental Health for Writers with Erin P.T. Canning Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

Episode 204 / Having trouble getting words on the page? Erin P.T. Canning has strategies to help! We delve into how to let go of perfectionism and give yourself permission to write a “bad” first draft. Erin also shares how writing helped her with depression.

Why it’s important to look backward as well plan for the future
Making time to write as a busy at-home and working mom
Turning off the inner critic
Embracing you genre
Daydreaming: mentally draft and revise before writing
Placeholder as the first chapter

Erin’s website: https://erinptcanning.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinptcanningauthor;

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinptcanning

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentswhowrite

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✅ Why Branding and Quality are More Important Than Ever with Clayton Noblit of Written Word Media Jan 24, 2024

Show notes

Episode 203 / Do you want to simplify marketing? Do you want to take your branding up a notch? Do you want to know the trends in writing and publishing? Clayton Noblit of Written Word Media has answers about these topics and also shares tips on where to start with branding and common mistakes new authors often make.

https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/

💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support.

Links mentioned:

Instalove course: https://instalove-university.teachable.com/p/ilu?affcode=1725974_-clezvvk

ACFW Virtual Conference - Swoony in the Sweet session on Saturday with Jenny B. Jones: https://acfw.com/acfw-virtual-conference/

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🌟 My Favorite Trope (Part 2) Jan 17, 2024

Show notes

Episode 202 / It’s part two of our trope series–very appropriate for episode #202!

What’s your favorite trope? We asked a range of authors this question, and we’re here to share the answers.

We unpack the benefits of writing tropes, why we love specific tropes, and where to find the favorite examples of the specific trope in books, movies, and television.

💡 We hope this episode sparks inspiration for you!

Tropes discussed:

Crouching moron/hidden hero
Second chance romance
Amnesia,
Grumpy/sunshine
Chosen one
Found family
Intrepid sleuth
Inheritance

Authors included in this episode:

Jo Lallo
Kait Nolan
Jennifer Hilt
Elena Johnson
Anton Eine
Lynn Morrison
Adriana Locke
Heather Day Gilbert
Greta Boris
Deanna Roy

Listen to Part 1: https://wishidknownforwriters.com/195-2/

Instalove course: https://instalove-university.teachable.com/p/ilu?affcode=1725974_-clezvvk

Ink and Magic podcast: https://pod.link/1714112525

💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

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Increase Productivity with Intentional Planning with S.L. Hansen Jan 10, 2024

Show notes

Episode 201 / Mystery author S. L. Hansen shares how she hacked her writing process. She figured out how to fit writing in with her full-time job and also learned how to work with her Clifton Strengths to draft her books faster.

Stephanie shares so many great tips that you can personalize to fit your writing personality. We talk about how starting with a log line or blurb can help you stay on track in your writing, why linking habits and strengths helps develop consistency, tracking energy to find your optimum time to write, and different types of rewards you can use for motivation.

Stephanie also shared a pdf: Discover Your Personalized Strategy for Writing Success.

Author website: https://slhansenbooks.com

https://www.subscribepage.io/s5l2w7 - newsletter

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🥳 200 Episodes! What We Learned + Trends that will Impact Authors in 2024 📈 Jan 03, 2024

Show notes

Episode 200 / We’re celebrating 200 episodes with a look back (what we learned in 2023) and a look forward to 2024 (trends that matter to authors).

We’re so happy to have such a warm community around the podcast! Thanks for listening and supporting us during the last four years.

Here’s to the next 200 episodes! 🥂

💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

Top Episodes in 2023:

How to Thrive in a Flooded Market: Discussing Becca Syme’s New Rules of Publishing
Angel Lawson on Learning to Use Tropes and Universal Fantasy
How to Use Tropes to Create Strong Characters and Deepen Conflict with Jennifer Hilt
How to Pace Your Novel with Ines Johnson
Olivia Hayle on Reader-Centric Books and Promotion

First episode released on Jan 15, 2020!

Top episodes (All Time):

Zoe York on Secret Pen Names, Iterating Your Goals, and Tik Tok for Authors
Holly Darling on the Power of an Email Welcome Sequence
Book Launch Plans: The Mega Episode (Reair)
Tammi Labrecque on What to Email to Newsletter Subscribers
What We Wish We’d Known About Creating Characters

Life Trends from Accenture: “trends that will give businesses a way to navigate change in the next 12 months and beyond.”

Trend discussed that impact authors:

-Customer service

-Branding

-Disengaging from tech

Link to article: https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insights/song/accenture-life-trends

Link to Infographic:

https://www.accenture.com/content/dam/accenture/final/capabilities/song/communicate/imagery/LifeTrends24-Infographic.pdf

Year in Review Sell More Books Show episode:

https://www.sellmorebooksshow.com/episode-507-self-publishing-2023-the-year-in-review-with-becca-syme/

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German Translation Tips plus Insight to the German Market with Julia Stirling Dec 27, 2023

Show notes

Episode 199 / Julia Stirling is a German romance author of over twenty books. She shares tips for when to go into translation, German covers, and connecting with German readers.

Julia also has some fantastic ideas on newsletter bonus content and a unique book giveaway that brings her new readers and also creates bonds between her readers.

We delve into giving ourselves permission, knowing yourself so you can judge what will work for you, and trusting yourself.

Author website: www.juliastirling.com

German conference for indie authors: Romancecon.de

Links mentioned:

WIKT Episode 51: Zoe York on Goal Setting: https://wishidknownforwriters.com/zoe-york-on-goal-setting/

WIKT 114: Episode Zoe York on Secret Pen Names, Iterating Your Goals, and Tik Tok for Authors: https://wishidknownforwriters.com/114-2/

💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shout-out on a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

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Writing with Neurodiversity and Including Neurodiverse Characters with Claire Kohler Dec 20, 2023

Show notes

Episode 198 / Claire Kohler writes Scottish fantasy romance and is also an editor, tutor, and neurodiversity advocate. Claire shares how her autism and ADHD can be both a positive and a negative in her writing career and encourages neurodivergent writers to pursue their goals.

We also talk about slowing down, the power of writing routines, how to connect with other writers, and why representation of neurodivergent characters is important.

Sara is now all-in on Kdramas, and she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to ask Claire for some Kdrama recommendations, which include Extraordinary Attorney Woo, The King’s Affection, Goblin, and several others.

Claire’s website: www.clairekohlerbooks.com

💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

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Tara Cremin on Thinking Globally and Kobo Plus Subscriptions Dec 13, 2023

Show notes

Episode 197/ Tara Cremin is the Director of Kobo Writing Life and has great tips for how to go wide, how to reach readers globally, and how Kobo Plus, their non-exclusive subscription platform, helps authors reach new readers.

We also talk about common mistakes Tara sees authors make as well as library distribution and cover trends.

Kobo website: www.kobo.com/writinglife www.kobo.com/p/kwlpodcast