Arts
**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.

Latest Episodes:

Sacha Black on Financial Freedom and the Power of Authenticity Nov 24, 2020

Show notes

Episode 045 / Sacha Black, author of young adult fantasy as well as non-fiction for writers, joins us this week to talk about how being your authentic self empowers you. We also delve into practical tips on how authors can achieve financial independence. Then Sacha answers questions from the Facebook group about productivity, rebellion, and how to write great villains.

Intro recap:

Sara’s deep in Direct Sales Land, figuring out the Woocommerce plugin and shipping options for her special edition hardcover with hand-stamped end pages. Jami was sick last week, but she’s recovered and is planning a price promotion, dropping her books to 99 cents. She’ll report back on how the sale goes.

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

In this podcast episode, you’ll discover:

How blogging and NaNoWriMo helped Sacha return to her first love of writing
Why Sacha is passionate about financial independence for authors
How she paid off her debt so she could leave her day job; plus Sacha’s tips for authors who’d like to do the same
What Sacha wishes she’d known about craft and how she now dissects the books she reads and does forensic breakdowns to find the patterns and tools the authors employ
Why everything counts in marketing
Why Sacha’s assumptions about being a full-time author were wrong
How having multiple streams of income creates financial stability
How Sacha accidentally created a pen name for herself
When you shouldn’t listen to your audience
Sacha’s tips for focus and productivity
What Sacha sees people doing wrong when they create their villains and how to fix those missteps
The benefits of Alli (Alliance of Independent Authors) for authors
The power of authenticity

Genres discussed include fiction and non-fiction for writers.

Links:

Sacha Black website: https://sachablack.co.uk

Sacha’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sachablackauthor/

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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

Narrating Your Fiction Audiobooks with Nikki Haverstock Nov 17, 2020

Show notes

Episode 044 / Cozy mystery author Nikki Haverstock joins us to talk about how authors can record fiction audiobooks. This episode is packed with Nikki’s practical tips for set-up, tools, and promotion ideas.

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

In this podcast episode, you’ll discover:

How Nikki learned she didn’t need a special dispensation to be a writer--that it’s more about hard work
Why Nikki wishes she’d known that it’s okay that writing is hard
How Nikki gives away some of her work get her books in front of the right people
Why finding readers of your genre is critical for getting good feedback
Why sometimes it's okay to make “bad” business decisions on the basis of personal growth
Why Nikki decided to narrate her fiction books
Nikki’s tips for authors who want to narrate their books
- Be okay with listening to your voice
- Be reasonably good with hunting out your own information on how to record and edit
- Listen to audiobooks
Nikki’s recording set-up and tools:
- Closet
- Blue Yeti
- Music stand with Kindle app to read from
- Hospital (adjustable height) table
- Audacity
- ACX check
- Set RMS
Practical tips:
- Records when her family is out of the house
- Claps when she makes a mistake so she can find it later
- Recommends recording a couple of minutes, then go through the whole process as if you were going to upload it
- Plan to set aside a few weeks to record and edit
- Do a visual first pass edit to remove mouth sounds and some breaths

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Is it too Late to Plan Holiday Promotions? Nov 10, 2020

Show notes

Episode 043 / Is it too late to plan holiday promotions? Nope. You still have plenty of time--and holiday promotions don’t have to be complicated or time-consuming.

We share what we wish we’d known about holiday promos. We delve into what tactics we’ve used and found effective for marketing to cold, warm, and hot audiences.

Come over and say hi to Jami and Sara in the WIKT Facebook group! You can find show notes and links at wishidknownforwriters.com. New! You can find the WIKT podcast on Youtube: Wish I’d Known Then Youtube Channel

What we wish we’d known about marketing during the holidays:

Jami: that it was a thing!

Sara: you don’t have to have a holiday book

Group promos ideas -> warm/cold audience

Get together with a group of authors and promote books in your newsletters and on social media

Jami: this has been one of my most effective promotion tactics

Sara: print book sales promotion though BookFunnel - https://books.bookfunnel.com/paperbackcozymysterychristmas/gtsoc2z64x

Solo promo ideas -> hot audience

-Bundles:

Limited time or bundle whole series (convenience of having them all together)

-Gift Giving lists

Bookish Wish List - your favorite books/bookish things

https://www.sararosett.com/bookish-wish-list/

Mystery Lover’s Gift Guide: https://www.sararosett.com/gift-guide/

Last Minute ideas -> Cold and Warm audiences

Price Drop - easiest thing to do!

Newsletter content ideas -> hot audience

Ideas of things you can give:

Price drop

Exclusive short story/novella

Printables--calendar with release dates

Special editions - print or ebook

Links:

Post from Written Word Media for promotion ideas and consumer mindset: https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/book-promotion-for-holiday/

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Jo Lallo on How Creating a Plan Helps in Writing and Marketing Books Nov 03, 2020

Show notes

Episode 042 / Science fiction and fantasy author and co-host of the Six Figure Authors podcast, Joseph Lallo joins us to talk about the advantages of planning when it comes to writing books as well as in promotion and marketing. We also delve into how Jo’s prep for NaNoWriMo has changed over the years, his tips for writing short stories, how he commissions art, and his advice on the transition from the day job to full-time writer.

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

Interview with Sara Rosett and Tonya Kappes for Authors A.I. First Draft Friday

Jump Start Your Cozy Free Mini-Course

In this podcast episode, you’ll discover:

Why Jo wishes he’d known how to outline at the beginning of his career and how he learned to outline
How Jo’s prep for NaNo has changed over the years
Jo’s maintenance advertising strategy
Why rejections from agents and editors aren’t always a good measure of an authors’ ability to write or a book’s appeal to readers
How Jo’s “mistake” of writing a book that seemed to fit the steampunk tropes but was a little off in some critical details actually turned out to be a good thing
Jo deconstructs why one of his releases didn’t do as well as he hoped, even though he did all the “right” things (write to the tropes, rapid release into KU, and run an ad campaign)
Jo’s advice on writing short stories:
- Uses “orphaned ideas” file for starting points
- Can be all premise
- Start in the middle
How Jo uses short stories in his marketing:
- Patreon
- Turns longer ones into novellas
- Bundles into anthologies either for sale or as newsletter signup bundle bonus
Tips for commissioning art and how Jo uses it for marketing
Jo’s advice for writers who plan to transition from the day job to a full-time author
- Make a financial plans that includes boom years as well as slim years

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Robin Cutler on the Advantages of IngramSpark for Print and the Future of Publishing Oct 27, 2020

Show notes

Episode 041 / Robin Cutler, director of IngramSpark, joined Sara and Jami to talk about how indie authors can expand their readership through print books. They also discussed common mistakes Robin sees authors make, how to set up print preorders through IngramSpark, what genres are selling right now, and future trends in publishing.

Intro recap:

Sara was on the Six Figure Authors podcast (#60-How to Write Series that Sell with Sara Rosett) and her How to Write a Series audiobook just released. Jami’s exciting news: she has a new grandbaby! Jami is grateful for indie publishing, which gives her the ability to spend time with her family and help them out during this time.

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

In this podcast episode, you’ll discover:

An explanation of the wholesale model and discounting
Why discounting makes your books attractive to booksellers
Publisher direct orders - using IngramSpark as your printer and having them dropship your books to readers
The next iteration of publishing industry: direct sales
Common mistakes Robin sees authors make
Top genres right now and future publishing trends to watch for
IngramSpark’s free formatting tool
The advantage of print preorders, which are currently only available to indie authors through IngramSpark - Sara’s step by step guide to setting up print preorders through IngramSpark
Using Bookshop.org for online affiliate sales of print books - Wish I’d Known Then Bookshop.org page of recommended craft and marketing books mentioned on the podcast
How to use IngramSpark and KDP Print side by side

Links:

SPF 101 - Ingram Spark course

Six Figure Authors Podcast -

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Q & A: Developmental Editing, Going Wide, and Marketing Tips Oct 20, 2020

Show notes

Episode 040 / It’s Q & A time. We talk about how finding a critique group is similar to dating, how to prepare to go wide, and much more.

Intro:

Sara is planning a limited edition hardcover for the holidays and Jami is signing books for a subscription box. Plus Sara shares about an audiobook giveaway site.

Reveal Book Box

Library Thing Audiobook Giveaway

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

In this podcast episode, you’ll discover:

Developmental editing and critique groups
- Pros and cons of each
- Why finding a critique group is like dating
Tips for publishing wide
- Mindset - long-term thinking
- Why you may need to save up “quit your job money”
- Go wide in format first -- audio, print, large print
- Try a perma-free, either a first book in series or prequeal
- Use smaller paid newsletter sites
- Check price points
Advice for new writers
- Write your best book
- Don’t be in a rush
- Build a newsletter and draw readers to you that are interested in your specific genre
- Branding
Marketing for writers
- Use ads and content marketing
- Newsletter
Starting over in your author career
- Create new IP if you need to
- How to re-engage readers after you’ve been quiet for a while
- Risks of rapid releas

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Mark Leslie Lefebvre on Thinking Beyond the Ebook Oct 06, 2020

Show notes

Episode 038 / Horror and nonfiction author Mark Leslie Lefebvre gives tips on using your intellectual property to think beyond the ebook version of your book. Plus Mark shares ideas on how to get your print books into libraries and bookstores.

Intro links:

Sara’s interview on Authors Love Readers podcast

Jami’s interview on Authors Love Readers podcast

Sara’s reader-focused podcast: Mystery Books Podcast

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

In this podcast episode, you’ll discover:

Finding your tribe through writing critique groups and conferences and learning from other writers
Why Mark wishes he’d written a series earlier
Mark and Sara’s advice on creating hardcover large print books for libraries through Ingram Spark
Draft 2 Digital tools to help authors: epub and mobi creator, Books2Read geo-targeted links, library distribution, print books
How Mark uses Draft 2 Digital’s paperback wrap creator to bring all his books, even short books, into print and then uses them for promotion
Why you’re “lying” to your readers when you market to the wrong audience
First steps to getting your books into bookstores and libraries: signed copies, encourage readers to get your book at libraries, meet your local booksellers, create a one-sheet for libraries with ISBNs--link to Sara’s one-sheet here for an example
Thinking beyond the book -- ways to license your intellectual property besides ebooks

Genres discussed include horror, ghost stories, urban fantasy, and nonfiction for writers.

Links:

Mark’s website

Stark Reflections Podcast

Ingram Spark

Draft 2 Digital

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Zara Keane on Nurturing Your Newsletter Sep 29, 2020

Show notes

Episode 037 / Cozy mystery author Zara Keane shares how changing genres allowed her to write to her strengths. We also delve into nurturing our newsletters, chatbots, and selling direct.

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

Intro links:

In this podcast episode, you’ll discover:

Why finishing that first book is so important
How our writing processes change and evolve and how we can’t pin down a single system and replicate it again and again
Why trying to do it all is a mistake and the importance of filtering advice
How Zara moved from romance to cozy mystery
Zara’s “experiment budget” and her attitude to testing
Writing to your strengths--writing in a genre that lets you use your natural talents to their fullest
Nurturing your newsletter
Filtering readers who find you through a promotion
Using a serial novella in your newsletter
Using content themes to guide content creation for newsletter
Zara’s recommendations for getting started with chatbots
Benefits of selling direct with Payhip and Bookfunnel: flash sales, coupons, and built-in discounting
How Zara created a Christmas in July, promoted it to her newsletter, which gave her a financial return on par with a Bookbub featured deal

Genres discussed include cozy mystery, romance, and romantic suspense.

Links:

WIKT Interview with C.C. Hunter

How to Outline a Cozy Mystery

Newsletter Ninja

Mailer Lite

Flo Desk

New Author Discovery

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Trends in Selling Direct and Audiobooks with Damon Courtney of Bookfunnel Sep 22, 2020

Show notes

Episode 036 / Damon Courtney of BookFunnel joins Sara and Jami to talk about getting books to readers, best practices of successful authors, and trends in audio--and Damon has some exciting news about audiobooks and Bookfunnel!

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

Intro:

Condolences to the T.S. Paul family.

Jami’s broadcasting from a closet and is still on grandbaby watch. She’s focusing on writing the next scene. Sara’s working on a solo podcast that will have short seasons and doing exciting admin things like bookkeeping. She’s got plenty of writing quotes. It’s a quote-tastic intro.

Hindenburg - for editing podcast audio

Thomas Umstattd Jr. - Novel Marketing Podcast

In this podcast episode, you’ll discover:

How Bookfunnel helps authors get books and bonuses (reader magnets, bonus epilogues, short stories) to readers
Bookfunnel’s author-driven features like a group promo, integrations for selling direct, and audiobooks
Damon’s advice to authors who are just starting out
Mistakes Damon sees authors making and why writing books is the most important thing
Current trends: increase in readers new to ebooks
Benefits of selling direct: customer data and reader happiness :)
The best time to put your books into audio
What’s coming in the future: Bookfunnel will soon add full-length audio
Promotion ideas for ebooks and audiobooks

Genres discussed include science fiction and fantasy.

Links:

Bookfunnel

Damon’s author website

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Laura Durham on the Benefits of Writing in Multiple Genres Sep 14, 2020

Show notes

Episode 035 / Cozy mystery and sci-fi romance author Laura Durham joins Sara and Jami to discuss how writing in different genres can improve your books plus a lot more including: tips for transitioning from traditional publishing to indie publishing and getting the most out of your intellectual property.

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 from intro:

Kobo Writing Life podcast about audiobook production

Ingram Spark podcast about the state of bookselling during Covid and how to get into print and get books into bookstores and libraries

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Enola Holmes and the Missing Marquess

In this podcast episode, you’ll discover:

How Laura transitioned from traditional publishing to indie publishing
How Laura got her rights back to her traditional books and how she updated those books before releasing them
The perils of writing a love triangle
Learning what your readers want
How Laura juggles the writing and marketing in two extremely different genres, including her thoughts on pen names
Laura’s tips for translations, selling direct, and creating multiple streams of income

Genres discussed include cozy mystery and sci-fi romance.

Links:

Laura Durham

Dean Wesley Smith courses

Alliance of Independent Authors

Becca Syme Write Better Faster

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