Wish I&#8217;d Known Then: a Podcast for Self Published Indie Writers

Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainans

🚀 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

Learning to Reverse Engineer a Novel with Cecelia Mecca (Reair) Jun 14, 2022

Show notes

Episode 124 / We’re taking this week off for a summer break, but we’re giving you a quick recap on Inkers Con (it was great!) and then replaying one of our early episodes. Historical romance author Cecelia Mecca what she learned when she changed genres and how she now reverse engineers her books before she writes them.

Intro links:

Sara’s interview with Findaway Voices about writing mysteries, publishing, and audiobooks: https://youtu.be/RL3lTq0Rix8

Show notes:

Cecelia’s mistake involving releasing her prequel novella on Super Bowl Sunday
The challenge of replicating success
Ceclia’s love of plotting books and how she wishes she’d read more craft books before writing her first novel
How important packaging is for your book (cover, title, blurb, trope) and reverse engineering your novel, including considering how to marry what her muse wants her to write with considerations about cover and marketing
Tips for using free marketing strategies including Facebook Live and Facebook groups (types and timing of posts)
How to get to know your readers
An incredibly simple, yet effective tip on how to to be successful on social media
How not using a pen name can be a mistake and lead to confused also-boughts on the ebook stores
Learning not to be so hard on yourself when things don’t as you expect
Strategies to reach new readers including being a hybrid author and using print, including hardbacks and large print

Links/Mention:

Cecelia’s website http://ceceliamecca.com
Launching Indie Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/263060221047105/
Romancing the Beat https://books2read.com/u/mBgGGD
Rock Your Plot https://books2read.com/u/mYp77P
Book Faces Live podcast https://nathanvancoops.podbean.com/e/cecelia-and-nathan-compare-favorite-plotting-methods-and-their-

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

Websites for Authors with Mike Stop Continues Jun 07, 2022

Show notes

Episode 123 / Mike Stop Continues, founder of SiteArcade, joins us to talk all the things related to author websites: why you need a website, what should be one it, branding, and the benefits of a press kit for authors.

Links of interest:

Sara will be chatting with Findaway Voices next week Wednesday (June 8th) about mysteries and audiobooks at 11:00 AM (EDT). You can register here: https://app.livestorm.co/findawayvoices/cozy-mystery-with-author-sara-rosett?type=detailed…

Show notes:

How Mike got started working with writers
What Mike wishes authors knew about websites
What he sees authors doing that they do because they think they have to, but aren’t producing results
The most common mistakes he sees related to author websites
Trends in author websites and what he sees for the future of author websites
How to use your website to build your list, sell your books, send people to your social platforms
What should be in your press kit
What’s coming on the horizon in writing and publishing

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:

SiteArcade: Websites for Authors

Mike's 20Books Vegas Talk, One Day to a Great Author Website

Damon Suede & Heidi Cullinan's Your A Game

Arvid Kahl's The Embedded Entrepreneur

OpenAI's Dall-E Image, Generation AI

Google's Imagen Image, Generation AI

SudoWrite, AI Writing Assistant

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

How to Build an Email Welcome Sequence That Sells More Books (Even on Autopilot) May 24, 2022

Show notes

Episode 122 / Romance author and email expert Holly Darling joins us to share how we can connect with readers from the moment they opt-in to our emails. There’s so much good info in this episode! We guarantee you’ll come away with so many ways to improve your welcome sequence.

Show notes:

Creative ways to use double opt-in as part of the welcome sequence
What happens in each email inside a welcome sequence
How to use the welcome sequence to create engagement
What to do if someone doesn't engage
How to create a custom experience for your readers inside the welcome sequence
Common mistakes authors make with their emails
Ideas for lead magnets for new authors without a lot of intellectual property
Trends in newsletter marketing including customization, paid newsletters, and video

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:

Holly’s website: HollyDarlingHQ.com

Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainans

Book boxes and merchandise

How to Write Diverse Characters with Daniela Romero May 17, 2022

Show notes

Episode 121 / Daniela Romero, new-adult and paranormal romance author, joins us to talk about why it’s important for readers to have books and characters that reflect their experiences and how authors can write diverse characters. We also delve into Daniela’s principle of having many streams of income, so that if one stream wanes her overall revenue isn’t impacted. She tell us how she’s creating multiple streams of income through merchandise, book boxes, and Pateron.

Intro links:

Inkers Con

Show notes:

How Daniela went from book blogger to author
Why she wishes she knew more about story structure and how she learned about it
How Daniela uses preorders to increase her production
Why she writes diverse characters and her tips on how authors can write diverse characters in their novels in a way that’s satisfying to readers
How she uses book boxes, merchandising, and Patreon to create multiple streams of income
What Daniela wishes she’d known about creating a subscription book box
Her tips for pricing tiers on Patreon
Why she focuses on one big takeaway from the conferences she attends and how that has shaped her business

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:

Daniela’s website: Daniela Romero

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

Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainans

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

Rapid Release Secrets: How to Pivot, Brand, and Use Cliffhangers to Sell More with Lisa Suzanne May 10, 2022

Show notes

Episode 120 / Lisa Suzanne, sports romance author, joins us to talk about how a pivot to writing shorter sports romance books, banking them, and releasing rapidly took her career to a new level. We also talk about how she brands her series as well as using cliffhangers to keep readers coming back to a series.

Show notes:

How Lisa shifted from pantsing to plotting her books
The importance of trope in branding
Banking books and Lisa’s release schedule
How Lisa brands the covers of her books to create a recognizable look
Writing interconnected series
Tips on writing cliffhangers
The value of persistence

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:

Lisa’s website

Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainans

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

Kimbra Swain on Connecting with Your Readers through Books, Merchandise, and Pateron May 03, 2022

Show notes

Episode 119 / Southern urban fantasy author Kimbra Swain joins us this week to share tips on connecting with your readers and expanding your income streams. Kimbra creates jewelry, book boxes, tumblers, and many other items for her readers. Learn how she uses physical items to deepen her connection with readers and create life-long fans through her books, merchandising, and Pateron.

Intro links: Kickstarter webinar (affiliate link)

Inkers Con - June 3-5, Dallas TX

Show notes:

Why you can’t sit still when it comes to marketing your books
How Kimbra used reader feedback to learn how to write marketable books
How the switch to full-time author impacted Kimbra’s outlook and writing
Kimbra’s tips on merchandising to create an extra layer of connection between you and your reader
How Kimbra uses Pateron: exclusive serial story, early access to her books and merchandise, and a more personal connection with her

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:

Kimbra’s website: https://www.kimbraswain.com

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

Orna Ross on Writing Across Multiple Genres Apr 26, 2022

Show notes

Episode 118 / Orna Ross, author and poet as well as director of the Alliance of Independent Authors, joins us this week to talk about writing across multiple genres and planning for authors. So much wisdom on how to learn from mistakes and grow in your career in this episode!

Show notes:

How Orna transitioned from teaching to writing fiction and poetry
The advantages of writing in multiple genres
Identifying the three kinds of marketing (access, influence, and algorithmic)
Why bringing the same passion you have for writing to your marketing is a game changer
Why we often make perception mistakes and how to step back and assess the situation so we can learn from those mistakes
The “one book at a time” rule
Orna’s tips for planning, including the three hats authors wear (Producer/Maker, Promoter, and Manager)
The importance of making time for rest and play

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:

Orna’s website is www.ornaross.com

Orna’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OrnaRoss

Twitter: @ornaross

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

TikTok for Authors with BookTokker Sarah Thompson Apr 19, 2022

Show notes

Episode 117 / Do you want to use TikTok to grow your readership? BookTokker Sarah Thompson shares tips for authors who want to get started as well as insights on how she picks and reviews books.

Show notes:

How Sarah got started reviewing books
How Sarah picks and reviews books
Tips for authors who want to reach out to BookTokkers
Mistakes authors make when they reach out to BookTokkers
How to get started on BookTok

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:

Twitter: @Biracialbooty

Instagram: @Biracial_booty

Tik tok: sarah_thompson25

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

Pitching Your Book for Film and TV with Entertainment Attorney and Author Maggie Marr Apr 12, 2022

Show notes

Episode 116 / Do you want to pitch your books to Hollywood for film or television? Entertainment attorney Maggie Marr is here to share insight on how to find and vet and entertainment attorney. Plus she shares tips on negotiation as well as why now is a good time to delve into screenwriting, if you’ve always wanted to adapt your novel.

Intro links: InkersCon - Jami and Sara will be in Dallas in June. Connect in the WIKT Facebook group if you’ll be there.

Show notes:

Why you never finish learning as an author
Lessons learned around branding and genre hopping
How factors beyond your control (pandemic, economic downturn) may impact a book release
Why everything Maggie does comes back to story
Why authors need an entertainment attorney
How to vet a literary or entertainment attorney
Why negotiation is a good thing and why authors need to overcome their fear of negotiating
Why film and TV adaptations require the author to let go of some creative control
Why the need for content makes it a good time to adapt your novel into a screenplay

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:

Maggie’s attorney website: www.maggiemarrlegal.com

Maggie’s Youtube Channel

Maggie’s books: www.maggiemarr.net

Twitter: @maggiemarr

Instagram: maggie_marr_legal_pc

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/maggiemarrlegal