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

Indie authors Jami Albright and Sara Rosett interview authors focusing on lessons learned about writing, marketing, and self-publishing.

Copyright: © Sara Rosett and Jami Albright 2020

Latest Episodes:

How to Use Tropes to Build Unforgettable Characters and Intense Conflict with Jennifer Hilt Feb 21, 2023

Show notes

Episode 155 / You can hook readers with a few words or a concept when you use tropes. Romance and non-fiction author, Jennifer Hilt, shares tips on how to recognize tropes, how to bake them into your writing to make marketing easier, and how to twist tropes so they’re fresh for both readers and authors.

Author website: www.jenniferhilt.com

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

https://wishidknownforwriters.com/survey (Closes 2/24/23)

Show notes:

Why it’s a good idea to consider marketing before you write the book
Thinking beyond the basic genre expectations (i.e. “happily ever after in romance)
The importance of guarding your time
What Jennifer would do if she were starting over today
Why you don’t have to rush
Tropes as building blocks for relationships
Incorporating tropes with goals, motivations, and conflict
Twisting tropes
Jennifer’s Kickstarter for The Trope Thesaurus Romance and her tips for authors thinking of doing a Kickstarter

✨ Support Wish I’d Known Then

If the podcast has helped you and provided value to you and you’d like to give back, become a supporter! (https://www.SaraRosett.com/support)

We’ll give you a shoutout in a future episode.

Learn more here: https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

___________________________________

More links:

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

Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/launchplan

Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainans

📥 Send us a Text Message

Support the show

🚀 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

Reader Swag: Dana Claire on Using Swag to be Top of Mind and Retain Readers Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

Episode 154 / Swag can be a great way to engage with readers. Hybrid young adult author and BookBrush COO, Dana Claire, shares how to create swag that will help you contect with readers and stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Author website: https://www.danaclairebooks.com/

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

Show notes:

How Dana’s writing is a legacy from her mother
What Dana learned working with branding for corporations and how she used those tactics in marketing for her self-published books
Developing relationships with readers by following and interacting with them on GoodReads and Bookbub
How to pick swag items that are reusable and keep you top of mind with readers
What assets to ask your cover artist for to make creating swag easier
How Dana automates merchandising through Printful
Why you should pick items that have a higher perceived value for merchandise
How Dana uses exclusive items for live events

✨ Support Wish I’d Known Then

If the podcast has helped you and provided value to you and you’d like to give back, become a supporter! (https://www.SaraRosett.com/support)

We’ll give you a shoutout in a future episode.

Learn more here: https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

___________________________________

More links:

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

Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/launchplan

Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainans https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

📥 Send us a Text Message

Support the show

🚀 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

Teaming Up for Game-changing Success: Traci Andrighetti on Going Wide and Collaborating with Other Authors Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

Episode 153 / Cozy mystery author Traci Andrighetti joins us to talk about how changing her covers, going wide, and collaborating with other authors on a series have been game-changers for her writing career.

Links:

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

Traci’s website: https://traciandrigehetti.com

WIKT Podcast survey: https://wishidknownforwriters.com/survey

Show notes:

How Traci moved from academia to writing mysteries
Why Traci enjoys having a day job and writing on the side
How she infuses a sense of fun into her comedic mysteries
How a change to her covers and going wide helped her gain readers find readers
How she collaborates with three other mystery authors to write a co-write a series that features each one of their sleuths as POV characters in each book
Benefits of collaborative project when it comes to marketing

✨ Support Wish I’d Known Then!

If the podcast has helped you and provided value to you and you’d like to give back, become a supporter! (https://www.SaraRosett.com/support)

We’ll give you a shoutout in a future episode.

Learn more here: https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

More links

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

Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/launchplan

Sara’s Book Release Timeline Checklist https://www.sararosett.com/timeline

Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainans

📥 Send us a Text Message

Support the show

🚀 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

How to Write Reader-Centric Books That Sell with Olivia Hayle Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

Episode 152 / Olivia Hayle, author of contemporary romance, joins us this week to discuss how her shift to focusing on what her readers want in both her writing and her promotion helped her author career.

Oliva’s website: http://oliviahayle.com

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

Show notes:

How Olivia learned about branding and applied it to her stories as well as her covers, titles, and book page
How she writes in the same sub-genre without getting bored
Why writing is all about crafting an experience for your reader
The question she asks herself about each book, “Do the readers want it?”
Downhill vs. uphill marketing
How Olivia thinks like her reader in storytelling, newsletters, and bonus content
How authors can build in “fail-safes” into books to make sure you can end a series if it’s not performing
How Oliva’s wide audio is a way to reach new readers while her ebooks are in KU

✨ Support Wish I’d Known Then

If the podcast has helped you and provided value to you and you’d like to give back, become a supporter! (https://www.SaraRosett.com/support)

We’ll give you a shoutout in a future episode.

Learn more here: https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

More links:

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

Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/launchplan

Sara’s Book Release Timeline Checklist https://www.sararosett.com/timeline

Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainans

📥 Send us a Text Message

Support the show

🚀 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

Joanna Penn on Intuitive Writing for Memoir plus Kickstarter and Direct Sales Tips Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

Episode 151 / Do you want to write a memoir? Joanna Penn joins us to share her lessons learned about writing memoir and other nonfiction. Joanna is a discovery writer and shares how the structure and content of the book evolved. We also delve into overcoming fear around Kickstarter and launches as well as what’s on the horizon for authors related to A.I. and direct sales.

Intro links:

Gift books for authors blog post from Alli: https://selfpublishingadvice.org/why-indie-authors-should-publish-gift-books/

Show notes:

How Joanna’s memoir evolved as she wrote it and how it became a very different book than she expected
Why you time and perspective when you write a memoir
Why we need to honor the intuitive urge to write something even if it may not seem like the best strategy
Dealing with fear of judgment when writing personal stories as well as fear around running a Kickstarter (Joanna’s kickstarter: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/pilgrimage)
The possibilities beautiful print books
Direct sales and the empowered mindset
Incorporating A.I. into our writing routines so that it helps us be more creative and productive

Come over and say hi to Jami and Sara in the WIKT Facebook group! You can find show notes and links at wishidknownforwriters.com.

Links:

Joanna’s Kickstarter: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/pilgrimage

The Creative Penn: https://www.thecreativepenn.com

The Minimal Viable Store: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2022/08/12/selling-books-direct-with-shopify-minimum-viable-store/

Furistist episodes: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/future/

Interview with Morgana Best on Selling Direct with Shopify: https://wishidknownforwriters.com/136-2/

📥 Send us a Text Message

Support the show

🚀 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

Kate Baray on Productive Longevity Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

Episode 150 / Cozy and romance author Kate Baray joins us this week to talk about how she focuses on productive longevity and creates a sustainable author career.

Show notes:

Kate’s unusual path to being an author
Why it’s important to tune out writing and craft advice that doesn’t apply to your genre or your personality type
Kate’s method of trying and testing ideas
The biggest mindset shift Kate has had to make: identifying as a creative
Balancing running a business and being a creative
Being wide with a paranormal cozy pen name

Come over and say hi to Jami and Sara in the WIKT Facebook group! You can find show notes and links at wishidknownforwriters.com.

Links:

Author websites:

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

Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/launchplan

Sara’s Book Release Timeline Checklist https://www.sararosett.com/timeline

Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainans

📥 Send us a Text Message

Support the show

🚀 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

Megan Haskell on Defining Success, Going Wide, and Helping New Authors Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

Episode 149 / Megan Haskel, co-host of the Author Wheel podcast and fantasy writer, joins us this week. We delve into defining success when you’re an achiever, going wide, selling direct, and helping new authors.

Show notes:

Tips for getting writing done with kids at home
Setting goals and defining success when you’re an achiever
Why marketing and career growth isn’t alway linear and how to deal with that
How Megan splits her time between fiction and nonfiction and her tips on being a multi-passionate creative
Being a “tortoise” writer – slow and steady
Going wide
How Megan transitioned her website to a Shopify store and what she sells, including bundles (ebook, audiobook, and signed paperback) as well as merchandise
How the Author Wheel helps authors who are just starting out

Resources mentioned:

Greta’s episode on the WIKT podcast: Small Press to Indie Publishing: https://wishidknownforwriters.com/146-2/
ToDoist organizer: https://todoist.com
Flat Tomato pomodoro app: https://appadvice.com/app/flat-tomato-time-management/719462746
Printify.com: https://printify.com

Links:

Author website: www.MeganHaskell.com

The Author Wheel website: www.authorwheel.com

The Author Wheel Podcast: https://authorwheelpodcast.buzzsprout.com/share

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

Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/launchplan

Sara’s Book Rele

📥 Send us a Text Message

Support the show

🚀 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

Renee Rose on Mindset Hacks: How to Cultivate Abundance and Sell More Jan 03, 2023

Show notes

Episode 148 / Want to get your mind right for the New Year? Then join us as we talk with romance author Renee Rose about mindset, abundance, and how we can stop holding ourselves back.

Show notes:

Renee’s definition of success, “Are you joyful?”
How Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes helped her with the craft of writing
Why being fearless is critical when it comes to marketing
Crafting our marketing as an invitation, a pull, instead of pushing our book on readers
The most common mindset blocks and money blocks that hold writers back
How to deal with negative self talk

Come over and say hi to Jami and Sara in the WIKT Facebook group! You can find show notes and links at wishidknownforwriters.com.

Links:

Renee’s website: www.write2riches.com

http://write-to-riches.teachable.com/p/write-to-riches-8-week-immersion

Author Abundance Central Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/authorabundance/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes

Jami’s Launch Plan

Sara’s Book Release Timeline Checklist

Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainans

📥 Send us a Text Message

Support the show

🚀 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

Anton Eine on Writing Nonfiction with a Mission Dec 20, 2022

Show notes

Episode 147 / Anton Eine, a science fiction and nonfiction author who lives in Ukraine, joins us this week and shares his experience of being a writer living in Kiev and Lviv during the war and how he translated those experiences into a documentarian war diary, The Thin Blue-Yellow Line Between Love and Hate.

Show notes:

Why Anton decided to take a break from fiction and write a war diary documenting his life and the stories of his fellow Ukranians in the months after Russia invaded Ukraine
How the creative project gave him a type of creative freedom he hadn’t experienced when writing fiction
How writing about painful experiences can be a cathartic experience
How Anton gets his books translated and how works with Ukrainian creatives through his writing and publishing process
How he focused on a creative project in the middle of the uncertainty of war and how he used that uncertainty as motivation
How fragile peace is and how we should value it

Come over and say hi to Jami and Sara in the WIKT Facebook group! You can find show notes and links at wishidknownforwriters.com.

Links:

Anton’s website: https://antoneine.com

The Thin Blue-Yellow Line Between Love and Hate: https://mybook.to/TBYLKn

United 24: “UNITED24 was launched by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the main venue for collecting charitable donations in support of Ukraine. Funds will be transferred to the official accounts of the National Bank of Ukraine and allocated by assigned ministries to cover the most pressing needs.”

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes

Jami’s Launch Plan

Sara’s Book Release Timeline Checklist

Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainan

📥 Send us a Text Message

Support the show

🚀 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

Small Press to Indie Publishing with Greta Boris Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

Episode 146 / Mystery author Greta Boris joins us to talk about the benefits of publishing with a small press for her first series, and how she transitioned to self publishing with her new series. She also shares about collaborating with another writer for nonfiction and their podcast, The Author Wheel.

Intro links:

PirateShip https://www.pirateship.com

Show notes:

How Greta learned the craft of writing fiction
Why getting a publishing deal isn’t the ticket to the big time
The steps Greta took to prepare for her transition from traditional publishing to indie publishing
The benefits of publishing with a small press
How Greta works with her small press publisher to market her books
Important mindset changes Greta had to make
How the Author Wheel Podcast helps authors as well as the plans Greta and Megan have for community building

Come over and say hi to Jami and Sara in the WIKT Facebook group! You can find show notes and links at wishidknownforwriters.com.

Links:

Author website: https://www.gretaboris.com

https://www.authorwheel.com

https://authorwheelpodcast.buzzsprout.com

https://the-author-wheel-school.teachable.com

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes

Jami’s Launch Plan

Sara’s Book Release Timeline Checklist

Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainans

📥 Send us a Text Message

Support the show

🚀 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

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