Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 72 of the podcast and it's June 14, 2022 as we record this. Main Topic: Global Cs: Conflict, Choice, and Consequence This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a shout out on the podcast and we can make announcements for you on the podcast. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. I'M READING: Ghost Music by An Yu Erick's Reading: Tales From the Gas Station, Volume II by Jack Townshend Next episode: Editing Passes and A.I. Revision Software I wanted to announce that my friend, colleague, and mentor, J Thorn, just launched his new book, Writing Scenes. I'm especially excited about this because I contributed to the making of this book in several ways, and I feel quite proud of all I did. One of the example scenes in the book is one I submitted from my current work in progress (my memoir). I narrated that scene (in the Before and After example) in the audiobook. (Audiobook is coming soon. Just waiting on Audible to approve it.) And I edited the book for J. It would tickle me if you picked up the book for yourself. Here's the link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/three-story-method-writing-scenes Valerie’s Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie’s Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie’s Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick’s Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick’s free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick’s Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick’s Facebook Page and Instagram account Writer Craft Facebook Group The Author Life Community Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link) Writing Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat

 Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 71 of the podcast and it's June 7, 2022 as we record this. Main Topic: W riting when kids not in school    This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a shout out on the podcast and we can make announcements for you on the podcast. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.    I'M READING:  Seven Steeples  Erick's Reading: Be Brief and Tell Them Everything by Brad Listi Announcements: I'm in an Infostack Platinum bundle for writers and giving away three free months of group coaching and accountability. I'm proud to work with Infostack on this:  https://valerieihsan--infostack.thrivecart.com/wpp5/  Next episode: Global Conflict, Choice, and Consequence. I wanted to announce that my friend, colleague, and mentor, J Thorn, just launched his new book, Writing Scenes.​ I'm especially excited about this because I contributed to the making of this book in several ways, and I feel quite proud of all I did. One of the example scenes in the book is one I submitted from my current work in progress (my memoir). I narrated that scene (in the Before and After example) in the audiobook. (Audiobook is coming soon. Just waiting on Audible to approve it.) And I edited the book for J. It would tickle me if you picked up the book for yourself. Here's the link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/three-story-method-writing-scenes​ Valerie’s Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie’s Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie’s Facebook Page and Instagram account   Erick’s Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick’s free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick’s Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick’s Facebook Page and Instagram account   Writer Craft Facebook Group The Author Life Community   Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link) Writing Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat

Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan and this is Episode 70 of the podcast, and it's May 31, 2022 as we record this. Main Topic: Passive Voice/Sentence Structure    This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a shout out on the podcast, and we can make announcements for you on the podcast. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.   I'M READING: Seven Steeples by Sara Baume Announcements: https://infostack.io/ebook-wpp5/?affiliate=valerieihsan for a free ebook entitled Your Hero's Journey: Overcome the dragons of dread, doubt, and defeat, and release your creative power as a writer. By the staff at Infostack. Next episode: How to keep writing when your kids are home. Resources/Notes: The British actress I thought of during the episode was Olivia Colman. But the narrator for the audiobook, My Mess is a Bit of a Life, was Katherine Parkinson--which was the medical receptionist in Doc Martin. GREAT voice.   I wanted to announce that my friend, colleague, and mentor, J Thorn, just launched his new book, Writing Scenes.​ I'm especially excited about this because I contributed to the making of this book in several ways, and I feel quite proud of all I did. One of the example scenes in the book is one I submitted from my current work in progress (my memoir). I narrated that scene (in the Before and After example) in the audiobook. (Audiobook is coming soon. Just waiting on Audible to approve it.) And I edited the book for J. It would tickle me if you picked up the book for yourself. Here's the link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/three-story-method-writing-scenes​ Valerie’s Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie’s Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie’s Facebook Page and Instagram account   Erick’s Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick’s free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick’s Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick’s Facebook Page and Instagram account   Writer Craft Facebook Group The Author Life Community   Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link) Writing Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat  

Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, and this is Episode 69 of the podcast and it's May 24, 2022 as we record this. Main Topic: Full-Time Writing This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a shout out on the podcast and we can make announcements for you on the podcast. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. I'M READING: Once and Future Witches jumped the stack, so Seven Steeples will have to wait a bit more. Resources: How to Write Light Novels and Webnovels by R.A. Paterson The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu by Tom Lin Run, Rose, Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson A Ghost in the Throat by Doireann Ní Ghríofa Next episode: Passive Voice/Sentence Structure I wanted to announce that my friend, colleague, and mentor, J Thorn, just launched his new book, Writing Scenes. I'm especially excited about this because I contributed to the making of this book in several ways, and I feel quite proud of all I did. One of the example scenes in the book is one I submitted from my current work in progress (my memoir). I narrated that scene (in the Before and After example) in the audiobook. And I edited the book for J. It would tickle me if you picked up the book for yourself. Here's the link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/three-story-method-writing-scenes Valerie’s Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie’s Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie’s Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick’s Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick’s free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick’s Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick’s Facebook Page and Instagram account Writer Craft Facebook Group The Author Life Community Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link) Writing Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat

Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, (Pause) and this is Episode 68 of the podcast and it's May 19, 2022 as we record this. Main Topic: Pacing This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a shout out on the podcast and we can make announcements for you on the podcast. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. I'M READING: Just finished Meet Me in Another Life by Catriona Silvey and Red Paint by Sasha LaPointe. Once and Future Witches jumped the stack, so Seven Steeples will have to wait a bit more. I wanted to announce that my friend, colleague, and mentor, J Thorn, just launched his new book, Writing Scenes. I'm especially excited about this because I contributed to the making of this book in several ways, and I feel quite proud of all I did. One of the example scenes in the book is one I submitted from my current work in progress (my memoir). I narrated that scene (in the Before and After example) in the audiobook. And I edited the book for J. It would tickle me if you picked up the book for yourself. Here's the link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/three-story-method-writing-scenes Valerie’s Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie’s Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie’s Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick’s Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick’s free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick’s Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick’s Facebook Page and Instagram account Writer Craft Facebook Group The Author Life Community Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link) Writing Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat

Erick’s free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n   I wanted to announce that my friend, colleague, and mentor, J Thorn, just launched his new book, Writing Scenes.​ I'm especially excited about this because I contributed to the making of this book in several ways, and I feel quite proud of all I did. One of the example scenes in the book is one I submitted from my current work in progress (my memoir). I narrated that scene (in the Before and After example) in the audiobook. (Audiobook is coming soon. Just waiting on Audible to approve it.) And I edited the book for J. It would tickle me if you picked up the book for yourself. Here's the link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/three-story-method-writing-scenes​     Valerie’s Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie’s Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie’s Facebook Page and Instagram account   Erick’s Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com   Erick’s Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick’s Facebook Page and Instagram account   Writer Craft Facebook Group The Author Life Community   Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link) Writing Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat  

Resources: How to Book Challenge   Valerie’s Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie’s Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie’s Facebook Page and Instagram account   Erick’s Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick’s Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick’s Facebook Page and Instagram account   Writer Craft Facebook Group   Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link) Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat   The Author Life Community: https://theauthorlife.com

Resources: How to Book Challenge Books We Talked About: Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles Story by Robert McKee Valerie’s Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie’s Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie’s Facebook Page and Instagram account   Erick’s Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick’s Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick’s Facebook Page and Instagram account   Writer Craft Facebook Group   Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link) Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat   The Author Life Community: https://theauthorlife.com

Valerie’s Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie’s Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie’s Facebook Page and Instagram account   Erick’s Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick’s Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick’s Facebook Page and Instagram account   Writer Craft Facebook Group   Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link) Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat   Resources: 5-Day Challenge (How to Write ‘How To’ Books), starts April 18, 2022: https://howtobookchallenge.com The Author Life Community: https://theauthorlife.com JP Rindfleisch is a writer of things dark, strange, and queer; a co-host of the Write Away Podcast and Serial Fiction Show; and a Three Story Method editor and coach. When they aren't spouting on about the importance of community or how theme can be an excellent tool for writers, they find themself wandering into nature with their Siberian husky, partner of 11 years, and a campervan aptly called Hank the Tank. Their works include several short stories, a serial called NRDS with Jeff Elkins, an upcoming Dark Urban Fantasy Series with AB Cohen, and an upcoming Three Story Method’s Masterwork Analysis of the Road with J Thorn.   Resources: You are a Storyteller podcast Max Neef 9 needs:  subsistance, protection, affection, understanding, participation, recreation, creation, identity, freedom. Centered app   Books We Talked About: How to Write Light Novels and Webnovels by R.A. Paterson Children of Blood and Bone by Tom Adeyemi Editing Your Novel's Structure by Bethany A. Tucker Ever After by F.T. Lukins The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu by Tom Lin A Boy with a Bird in His Chest by Emme Lund The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes by Ruth Hogan Run, Rose, Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson A Ghost in the Throat by Doireann Ní Ghríofa The Golden Theme by Brian Macdonald

Valerie’s Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie’s Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie’s Facebook Page and Instagram account   Erick’s Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick’s Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick’s Facebook Page and Instagram account   Writer Craft Facebook Group   Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link) Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat   Resources: 5-Day Challenge (How to Write ‘How To’ Books), starts April 18, 2022: https://howtobookchallenge.com The Author Life Community: https://theauthorlife.com

What tools and services do you use as an author? Valerie’s Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie’s Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie’s Facebook Page and Instagram account   Erick’s Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick’s Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick’s Facebook Page and Instagram account   Writer Craft Facebook Group   Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link) Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat   Resources: 5-Day Challenge (How to Write ‘How To’ Books), starts April 18, 2022: https://howtobookchallenge.com Drifter’s Sympathy Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emil-amos-drifters-sympathy/id1139584853   The Author Life Community: https://theauthorlife.com  

Monsters are needy, y'all. So, how do we write them? We hear about writing protagonists, but how do we write the villains? Valerie: https://valerieihsan.com Erick: https://erickmertzwriting.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Registration closes April 2, 2022. The Author Life Community: https://theauthorsuccessmastermind.com

How is world-building different than writing setting into your books? Do you world-build the same when writing series vs standalones? And what about if you're not a fantasy or science fiction writer; Do you need to bother with world-building? Valerie: https://valerieihsan.com Erick: https://erickmertzwriting.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Registration closes April 2, 2022. The Author Success Mastermind group: https://theauthorsuccessmastermind.com?aff=ValerieIhsan

What's the difference between a retreat and a residency? Valerie: https://valerieihsan.com Erick: https://erickmertzwriting.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Registration closes April 2, 2022. The Author Success Mastermind group: https://theauthorsuccessmastermind.com?aff=ValerieIhsan   Resource lists of residencies, retreats, and grants can be found in: The Writer’s Chronicle, Poets and Writers Magazine, A.W.P., and on Google! (i.e. thewritelife.com)  

Valerie: https://valerieihsan.com Erick: https://erickmertzwriting.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Registration closes April 2, 2022. The Author Success Mastermind group: https://theauthorsuccessmastermind.com?aff=ValerieIhsan   The Girls by Emma Cline (Erick’s rec this week)  

Valerie and Erick talk about character arc, how to make it believable, and how the character's internal struggle fits in. Resource: The Art of Dramatic Writing Valerie: https://valerieihsan.com Erick: https://erickmertzwriting.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Registration closes April 2, 2022. The Author Success Mastermind group: https://theauthorsuccessmastermind.com?aff=ValerieIhsan    

Erick and Valerie talk shop about launching the publication of a new book. (We tried to hit the very basics, but there are a few tips even seasoned publishers may try out.)   Valerie: https://valerieihsan.com Erick: https://erickmertzwriting.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Registration closes April 2, 2022. The Author Success Mastermind group: https://theauthorsuccessmastermind.com?aff=ValerieIhsan  

Crys helps Valerie workshop a scene she wrote for her current work in progress, a memoir. Valerie: https://valerieihsan.com Erick: https://erickmertzwriting.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Registration closes April 2, 2022. The Author Success Mastermind group: https://theauthorsuccessmastermind.com?aff=ValerieIhsan Crys Cain: https://cryscain.com/services

Valerie: https://valerieihsan.com Erick: https://erickmertzwriting.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Registration closes April 2, 2022. The Author Success Mastermind group: (Valerie’s affiliate link) https://theauthorsuccessmastermind.com?aff=ValerieIhsan

Valerie's site: https://valerieihsan.com Erick's site: https://erickmertzwriting.com Jeff's site: https://dialoguedoctor.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Retreat tix: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat (Registration closes on April 2, 2022)

Writer Craft Ep 52 We talk about why reading is important to writers and their Voice, how to be intentional in your reading, and improving reading habits. Retreat tickets: https://valerieihsan.com/retreat Patreon support: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Erick: https://erickmertzwriting.com Valerie: https://valerieihsan.com  

Previously heard at the Essential Gathering of The Author Success Mastermind group. Find out more about this online mastermind group here: https://theauthorsuccessmastermind.com?aff=ValerieIhsan https://patreon.com/valerieihsan https://valerieihsan.com/retreat https://erickmertzwriting.com  

"Readers get invested in characters that have well-developed, realistic, relatable wants and needs, driving them to continue reading and seeing what happens to those characters." ~V.E. Griffith Do you know what your character's needs and wants are before writing the first draft? https://valerieihsan.com/retreat (Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop; August 11-14, 2022) https://erickmertzwriting.com https://patreon.com/valerieihsan (For $1/mo, you can send us an announcement to read out on the podcast.) 

We get Real on this episode and talk about what's changed in the writing community in the past two years, and how we manage it. erickmertzwriting.com valerieihsan.com/retreat Patreon.com/valerieihsan https://theauthorsuccessmastermind.com?aff=ValerieIhsan

What makes a good character? How do you write one that readers will think about after they've put down the book, or even dress up as cosplay-style? https://valerieihsan.com/retreat https://patreon.com/valerieihsan https://erickmertzwriting.com  

How do you prepare for the coming year? Resources: Valerie uses Passion Planners to plan out her year (and does a check in (Passion Roadmap) two times a year. The Year You Want by Holly Worton. Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop  Early Bird Tickets on sale until January 2, 2022.  

Meet the new co-host! www.erickmertzwriting.com https://valerieihsan.com https://patreon.com/valerieihsan  

1. We're getting a co-host! 2. A new name for new times, and new content. 3. August 11-14, 2022 writing retreat. Early Bird Price: $680 Check out retreat details at https://valerieihsan.com/retreat.

I get a little choked up in this episode.   For more info about the retreat, go to valerieihsan.com/retreat.  

We all want to take charge of our situations. Here's one way to do that.

How to fit in All the Things in a pandemic. Plus, best tips for entrepreneurs that have little time. Learn more about Sarina at sarinadorie.com.  

After my personal and professional update, we launch into an interview with author and advocate, Kim Johnson. Find out more about her and her book at kcjohnsonwrites.com. We talk success, fitting it all in, and the patience it takes to follow your dreams.

I have a lot of goals. But I need systems like this CEO Control Journal to keep me in the game.

I want to tell you about a book I read. It was so fabulous, I think I might just have to read it again. Better Than Before: Mastering the habits of our everyday lives by Gretchen Rubin   This book didn't say "Just do this and your set." It didn't even say, "Here's one way and see if it works for you." And it didn't just say, "Everyone's different, do your best, here are some principles." It said, "Here's how we're different. Here are examples of what that looks like is real life. What sounds like you? Here are a few ideas for folks that see themselves in this camp and some for this camp, etc." Not only does it acknowledge we're all different, but it promises hope that by understanding and embracing more of ourselves, we'll be more successful in our goals. Are you an Upholder, an Obliger, a Questioner, or a Rebel? Are you an Abstainer or a Moderator? Are you an Early Bird or a Night Owl? These are some of the categories Gretchen Rubin identifies and explains in the book. I've decided I'm an Obliger with Upholder tendencies and I both abstain from some things in my life in order to stay healthy, but then stay moderate in other areas with no problems. I'm definitely more of an Early Bird.   Let's say you were a Questioning Moderate Nightowl, and you were advised to get up early before the rest of the house woke up, and exercised (or wrote in your novel) every day. You, never mind how hard you tried or what attitude you strapped on, you wouldn't find success with that habit for very long. It's just not you. And instead of hating yourself for not getting it right again, or failing again, or wondering why you can't get your shit together.. Instead, embrace the core things about you. USE them. I have a client that is a firm Obliger. She finds it very difficult to self-motivate and only gets tasks done if she's externally motivated and held accountable for the very things she really wants to do. Instead of succumbing to the irritation and frustration of never getting things done, she embraced that obliging tendency to do work for others and now has a team of people that work for her. She has a personal trainer. She has a business coach. She has a counselor. She has hiking buddies. She has a housekeeper. If you are a Questioner, you'll say, "But WHY is it that I need to do this before anyone else gets up? What difference does it make WHEN I do this? As long as I do this. When else makes sense to do this? And how much time a day do I REALLY need to put in to see real results? If you are a Questioner, you're a researcher. Embrace that. Figure out, through questioning, what and when is right for you. And, if you're a night owl, no amount of discipline or willpower or going to bed early is going to shift that nature enough to help you sustainably and consistently get up at 5:30 a.m. And if you tend to be more moderate in your behaviors, why would an all or nothing, do it every day, don't break the chain habit ever work for you? Embrace the moderation, if that is in you. Be proud that you can take a day or two off of habitual behavior and not have it disintegrate. You're someone that doesn't have to do a behavior every day to make it stick. Another thing I appreciated from this book was when she said that our "identity" shifted based on what we were presented with. For instance, I can be moderate in drinking alcohol. I can have a glass or two of wine and not want anymore. I self-"identify" as someone who can be moderate with my alcohol consumption. BUT, I have to abstain from sugar. I can't have it in the house, or I'll eat a whole chocolate bar in one sitting. Those big jugs of chocolate-covered salted caramels from Costco? Shit. I'm lost. And they're all gone in a weekend. I can't stop myself. It's disgusting. I feel disgusting as I'm doing it and I can't stop. So, I'm Moderate in some things, but I know I have to Abstain from others to build good habits.   What habits are you wanting to change or add to your life or business? How can you use your personality and strengths to become more successful? Leave your comments in the blog or join me in my FB group, Strategies for Authors and Other Entrepreneurs. And check out: Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin. 

Sometimes you just need to take a step back.

I was just playing around with Overdub and created a voice double of myself. I'll use it for editing audio on my podcast files. Have a listen! The future is grand!

For me, a monthly review is super important to do every month, for personal health and for business health. So that I can make sure that I'm on track, to make sure that I can pivot if I need to. And to remind me of the things that are important. 

A step-by-step accounting of how I create an action plan for a coaching client.

Every entrepreneur needs to be able to pivot these days. Things change fast in this world, including the business world, and if you want a sustainable business model that will ride the waves--even global pandemic waves--you'll need to quickly change course to stay afloat.   http://valerieihsan.com

 Hello Indie Authors! I'm Valerie Ihsan, and Episode 33 of the podcast and it's April 17, 2020 as I record this. Main Topic: Healthy Grieving When Things Aren't Great But first the personal update segment:  INSTEAD of the hard launch of Focus and Finish (valerieihsan.com/focus), I've opened up my schedule to individual coaching sessions to support authors through this weird and unsettling time. A lot of people are unfocused right now and may appreciate the chance to talk and get a few priorities identified, so they can get back to work-at-home. Especially helpful to those who haven't worked at home up until now. This service isn't offered on my website, but you can go to my scheduler tool valerieihsan.as.me to book a one-hour session. It's $150 and will go toward the cost of Focus and Finish, if you decide to go that route. I'M READING: In fiction,  MY BOOK, The Scent of Apple Tea (because I want to write a second epilogue involving Kyle after he goes home after the story ends--exclusively for my mailing list). Non-fiction:  Better Than Before: mastering the habits of our everyday lives by Gretchen Rubin.  Writing update: I finished going through the hardcopy of And Then There Was Me: a memoir , doing a macro pass. Next up is to implement the changes into my Scrivener file and start fleshing out scenes and working in the transitions.   PATREON:  This podcast is sponsored by my patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. I'd like to remind everybody that for as low as a $1/mo, you can get a shout out on the podcast and  a monthly connections video, and at other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, free editing, and free coaching. Become a patron of the arts, and of me! Find me at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.  AND because of my still unresolved Audacity/Mac challenges, I have a PUSH GOAL of raising my Patreon support up another $29/mo. This will pay for the podcasting service, Alitu, that will help me to create the kind of professional podcast product that I want to continue providing for you. So, tell your friends about the podcast and check out my Patreon page and consider becoming a Patron of the Arts (and this podcast) TODAY, or consider upping your pledge if you are already a supporter. Again, Thanks so much. I really appreciate your support.   Resources: Passion Planner discount code for 10% off new planners http://rwrd.io/ox4t69l And now: Healthy Grieving When Things Aren't Great I chose this topic because I'm seeing a lot of people in my community talking about not being able to read anymore. Folks that just can't focus on the words and stay in a story anymore.  Being in a global pandemic is stressful. There is no doubt about it. Whether you are at risk for getting the virus or not, the change in our routines and circumstances is stressful. Stress and grief go hand-in-hand. Or they can. So that's why I wanted to give you some tips on how to grieve in healthy ways during these uncertain times.      

Hello Indie Authors! I'm Valerie Ihsan, and Episode 32 of the podcast and it's April 8, 2020 as I record this. Main Topic: Myths About Productivity But first the personal update segment:  My planned launch for FOCUS and FINISH this month has been largely post-poned.  Meaning, it's live and available but I'm not doing an advertised hard launch. I just think right now people's heads are elsewhere, with the virus and the presidential primary elections.  In case you haven't heard about it, It's a 1:1 six-month coaching and accountability program that includes a customized author action plan in workbook format. If you are interested in joining the program before the hard launch, you would be a Founding Member, and would get a substantial discount and a really ROCKIN' bonus. Please let me know by email at [email protected] and I'll send you an invitation and discount code.  Ihsan is IHSAN. INSTEAD of the hard launch, I've opened up my schedule to individual coaching sessions to support authors through this weird and unsettling time. A lot of people are unfocused right now and may appreciate the chance to talk and get a few priorities identified, so they can get back to work-at-home. Especially helpful to those who haven't worked at home up until now. This service isn't offered on my website, but you can go to my scheduler tool valerieihsan.as.me to book a one-hour session. It's $150 and will go toward the cost of Focus and Finish, if you decide to go that route. I'M READING: In fiction,  I'm in between novels. Reading a colleague's manuscript right now, but next up is: MY BOOK, The Scent of Apple Tea (because I want to write a second epilogue involving Kyle after he goes home after the story ends--exclusively for my mailing list), and then, EITHER "In the River Sweet" by Patricia Henley, or Little Women again. Just finished Untamed by Glennon Doyle and o.my.god. Totally worth the read. I heart her.  Non-fiction: Just finishing up Make Noise: A creator's guide to podcasting and great audio storytelling. Next up is either Brave, Not Perfect y Reshma Saujani or Better Than Before: mastering the habits of our everyday lives by Gretchen Rubin. Plus, lots of memoirs are on my mind (I'll explain why in a minute) and I've got a stack of them to choose from. I'm leaning towards H is for Hawk, but Well Enough Alone: A cultural history of my hypochondria, Traveling with Pomegranates: a mother daughter story, and Wild Within: how rescuing owls inspired a family are also calling me. So many books to read! A bit more time to read them, but not really. We're finally getting some lovely sun in our Willamette Valley and is inspiring the desire to get outside and work in the yard. Speaking of which... Just starting to feel productive again. After being laid off at my day job as bookseller at Tsunami Books in Eugene, Oregon, it took me a week to get settled into what I want to work on and a more standard flow of days. And my standard, I don't mean what my schedule used to look like. I'm happy to announce that my week so far has been a juicy delicious balance of balance. At the end of the day, I can boast having worked on a writing project, an editing-for-hire project, a nature walk with my husband, a house chore, some alone time journaling and/or hot tubbing, and T.V. time. Even an errand fits in there.  I'm staying up a bit later but also sleeping in a bit later and not napping, but am resting throughout the day so that at the end of the work day, I am not jonesing for bed at 7 p.m. and grouchy until I actually go to sleep several hours later.  Writing update: a couple times a week, I sit in on a Zoom Write-In. Sometimes called Parallel Play with Words, it involves a 45 minute writing session where everyone is muted, and then a 15 minute water-cooler break for chatting, bathroom, and gathering tea and snacks. And then we do it again another time or two. I've been working on my memoir again. (Thus, the interest in reading more memoirs right now.) I've identified some key scenes and restructured the scenes I've already written. And pulled out some scenes that I don't think will fit anymore. BUT, I've printed it out hardcopy now and will go through it (macro style) with a marker and cut more. Then, I'll implement the chances into my Scrivener file and start fleshing out scenes and working in the transitions.   PATREON:  This podcast is sponsored by my patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. I'd like to personally thank all my patrons. Anika, Anthony, Heidi at Chasing Ebenezer, Donna, Karine, Kimberly, Sondra, Tamara, and Valerie. I really appreciate your support, especially right now. I'd like to hear from you, too. Feel free to comment on any of my posts in Patreon. Or, download the free Patreon app to make it even easier to send me a message. Shoot me a question or comment and I'll read it out on the podcast. Know that your support pays for the hosting of this podcast, and that is fabulous! I'd like to remind everybody else that for as low as a $1/mo, you can get a shout out on the podcast, a monthly connections video where I'm just myself and share something more personal than I put out on the podcast, and at other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, free editing, and free coaching. Become a patron of the arts, and of me! Find me at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.  AND because of my still unresolved Audacity/Mac challenges--which I've let get the better of me--I have a new PUSH GOAL of raising my Patreon support up another $29/mo. This will pay for the podcasting service, Alitu, that will help me to create the kind of professional podcast product that I want to continue providing for you.  Garage Band is not cutting it. So, tell your friends about the podcast and check out my Patreon page and consider becoming a Patron of the Arts (and this podcast) TODAY, or consider upping your pledge if you are already a supporter. Again, Thanks so much. I really really appreciate your support.   Resources: Ingram Spark is offering free file uploads and free file changes right now. Just enter the code INGRAMSPARK2020. Also, J Thorn is an author and podcaster that I've been following for years. (The Career Author Podcast, The Writer's Well Podcast, The Author Life Podcast, and now The Writers Ink podcast) He has a online mastermind group with lots of cool goodies for only $14.99/month. I just joined and I'm really loving The Lab and The Forum and the mini-courses available to members. You can check it out at theauthorsuccessmastermind.com.  And now, the show: If I could only get organized! (I think I've said this to myself eighty million times.) Maybe I need a new schedule.... (This might be true, but not four days in to a new one.)(Also something I've said to myself a billion times.) What's wrong with me? (Maybe you think you're lazy, or not strong enough, or the work is too hard, or you have too many obstacles. But, the surprise answer is it's none of them. Or, at least none of them will stop you from being productive.)   Being organized really has nothing to do with getting and staying focused on a project. If you are feeling distracted by a mountain of papers in your office, or laundry piling up, or the taxes that still need to get done, you might not need to get organized, but you do need to get focused. Having a clear plan that you can look at when you do get distracted (because, let's face it, we live in a distracting world. Our kids are home from school for the rest of the year, we're laid off and trying to find the discipline to actually write full-time now--a dream for many listening to this podcast, or we're simply distracted by the media, the Covid-19 news, our travel plans all disintegrating, and the grief and anxiety surrounding it all. That's distracting. That's exhausting. We're trying to cope the best way we can and everything still feels like it's swirling around us. That's why getting organized might not be top priority right now, but getting focused will help. It will make a difference in your day-to-day life because you won't be spinning your wheels. All your hard work won't get lost in the shuffle.   Here's what I mean: we have a pretty big yard at my house. A lot of it isn't super usable--steep--but there is a lot of it. That means there is always something to do in it. Some years I'd have grandiose plans and I do a teeny bit of all the projects. I expand an enormous amount of energy and get none of the projects completed. Fail.  Some years I narrow my focus to, say, weeding. My husband and I each pick a bed and start weeding. Several hours later, neither of us are done, we're in pain, we're frustrated, and, most dangerous, think, "Why'd we even bother?" So two years ago, I figured it out. I picked One Thing. The back patio. We bought new patio furniture, we picked one main color and picked out a bunch of flowers (only for the patio) and the containers for each of them, and power-washed the concrete. We finished it. It looked freaking fantastic. And every time we walked past it or spent time out there, we felt great. We focused on one thing until it was finished, and even though there were blackberry vines and shiny geranium and ivy invading our hill and the grass never got mowed and the front lawn beds were overgrown. BUT, we'd finished something and it stayed finished.  The next season, we picked a new project and worked on it, after brushing up the patio. We've learned that we can't go to the hill in the backyard and weed. It doesn't look like we've touched it even after spending HOURS on it. So, instead, we pick a small nook by the hot tub and weed that. And finish it. And then we pick another bed, and finish that. And so it is with our author work. If we think, If only I could get organized!, so that we can start a mailing list, learn Amazon ads, finish drafting that manuscript, and homeschool our kids...in the next six months...hmmm....most likely, none of those will get done.  Unless, you pick one, focus on it, and finish it.   What are YOU focusing on this week? Let me know in the comments Or email me at [email protected] IHSAN and let me know what you're struggling with. Let's help each other out during this time of global crisis.   Peace to you. Stay well, stay home, stay safe. And now I'm going to go mow my lawn.

 Hello Indie Authors! I'm Valerie Ihsan, and Episode 31 of the podcast and it's Feb 5, 2020 as I record this. Main Topic: Focus and Productivity without Burnout (Not my round-up of the 20BKs Vegas conference) But first the personal update segment:  This podcast is sponsored by my patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. Their support pays for the hosting of this podcast, BUT because of my Audacity/Mac challenges--which I've let get the better of me--I have a new PUSH GOAL of raising my Patreon support up another $29/mo. This will pay for the podcasting service, Alitu, that will help me to create the kind of professional podcast product that I want to continue providing for you.  Garage Band is not cutting it. So, tell your friends about the podcast and check out my Patreon page and consider becoming a Patron of the Arts (and this podcast) TODAY, or consider upping your pledge if you are already a supporter. Thanks so much. I really really appreciate your support. I'm planning a launch an April launch for FOCUS and FINISH, my brand-new author strategy program. It's a 1:1 six-month coaching and accountability program that includes a customized author action plan in workbook format. If you are interested in joining the program before the launch, as a Founding Member, you'll get a substantial discount and a really ROCKIN' bonus. Please let me know by email at [email protected] and I'll send you an invitation and discount code.  Ihsan is IHSAN. I'M READING: In fiction,  Twenty-One Truths About Love by Matthew Dicks;  Non-fiction: Make Noise: A creator's guide to podcasting and great audio storytelling. Next podcast episode will be a round-up of my notes from the 20Bksto50K Vegas conference.   PATREON: I'd like to thank all my patrons for the podcast. I really appreciate your support. I'd like to hear from you, too. Feel free to comment on any of my posts in Patreon. Or, download the free Patreon app to make it even easier to send me a message. Shoot me a question or comment and I'll read it out on the podcast.  I'd like to remind everybody else that this podcast is sponsored by my supporters at Patreon. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a shout out on the podcast, a monthly connections video where I'm just myself and share something more personal  (today's was about aging parents and injured pets) than I put out on the podcast, and at other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, free editing, and free coaching. Become a patron of the arts, and of me! Find me at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.    Resources: The Plot Dot by Derek Murphy, a free book on Amazon about plotting. And now: Focus and Productivity Here's what I learned about accountability groups years ago.  They're awesome. And here's why: I have some mutated Wonder Woman glitch in my brain that makes me volunteer for jobs or writing projects or helping friends out at a rate that would stagger a cheetah. And it ends badly. I'm either stressed out so much that I start eating my weight in potato chips and chocolate bars (sometimes candy by the bag), crying, or I abandon everything. Jump ship and sleep. My sign that depression is looming. Overwhelm = Depression in my body and mind and spirit, so I need to be on guard. Which is difficult when my default setting is, "How hard could it be?" So, accountability groups. The biggest take-away from my group was this: If you have too much on your list, none of it gets done. Bam. I remember hearing, Three things. That's all you can do. If you get those three things done and you have time and energy left, great. Do more. But you can only pick three things to focus on this week. And I'd cry. In Barnes and Noble's Starbucks cafe. Cry because I could only choose three things to focus on when I KNEW in my cells I had 84 things to do. I remember hearing, I think you should not put anything else on your plate unless your house sells. And crying in Springfield's Public House because I couldn't bear the thought of not working forward on my dreams while I did this other humungous thing--fixing up and selling my rental house. I hate being told that I need to prioritize. I despise the perceived weakness in not being able to do it all. Sure, yes. Set a pomodoro timer for 25 minutes and focus on one thing at a time, but can't I do that 84 times? No. I'm too scattered. It's never the quality Deep Work that Cal Newport talks about, or The One Thing that Gary Keller writes about.  Scattershot and spaghetti on the walls do to get things done. And you're perpetually in Putting out fires mode. At the end of the day, answering your emails isn't nearly as satisfying and productive as writing 500 words in your manuscript, or building another page on your coaching and editing website. I have to choose one thing so that I CAN get the other things done. I know it's counter-intuitive. Seriously. I know. But you know what else I do if left unchecked? Read ten books at the same time. And I don't retain any of it. I never read long enough in one book to sink into the meaning and message, or the character's lives. When that happens now (thankfully MUCH less frequently--like maybe once a year), I force myself to pick one book and finish it. And then I pick the next one and read it. And my pile diminishes. And then! I feel the glory of picking out a brand new book and reading it in its entirety, with no guilt, with no 'hurry up and get through this book because I have three others I'm halfway through that I need to get to.'   And so it is with the author life. We all have hopes and dreams and goals and projects and maybe even tasks and backlog. The coolest thing that happens when we focus on one thing at a time is getting to the end of the year and reviewing what you've accomplished. I spent most of last year running around higgledly-piggledly  and feeling way more stressed than normal, and I STILL managed to start a podcast, and a Patreon page, adopt another dog, make important business decisions, sell a house, retire from my massage practice, start a new job at a bookstore I love, and design a signature coaching program that I'm hoping with one day fund my husband's retirement and our move to Costa Rica. That's a lot for someone that doesn't think they can get anything done. Focus did that. Even the little I could scrape up in odd moments between depression-induced Netflix binges.   Another thing to remember about focus is that it really can prevent burnout. If you can pick out one or two things to focus on for a month (knowing there are those 82 other things from your list taunting you), you can build the self-confidence and self-esteem to start treating yourself with compassion and respect that will enable and empower you to tell yourself, "Yes, I know you are still there Big Fat List, and I'll get to each and every one of you. But you need to wait in line like everyone else here." And that is power. That is space to breathe without beating yourself up. That is accomplishing what you set out to do. That is Focusing and Finishing something.  If you pick one thing at a time to work on, you can't get burnout or overwhelm, because you've only got one thing in front of you right now. Blinders are a beautiful thing. And why focus is so important to productivity. I hope you were able to take something out of this episode that resonated with you and inspired you to find that One Thing that you can focus on this month. What is it? Leave a comment in the comments section and tell me what your one thing is this month.

An email question came in: "I just published my first book. How do I promote it?" All marketing plans will be different based on your plans for the book, your career, and your personality, and--to some degree--your budget. 1) First, you'll need to decide what your plan is for this book and for any future books you plan to write. And you'll need to define TO YOU what success would look like for this particular book and also for your writing career. Do you want to write any more books? Do you want to be award-winning? Do you want to make a living with your writing? Et cetera. The answers to these types of questions will determine the answers to your other questions. Namely, how to market and promote your book(s). It's also important to note that if your goal is to make a living with your writing, you cannot do that with book sales from one book. Think, 10 or 20, or more. UNLESS, you are also providing author services, like editing or retreats or teaching. 2) Paid Advertising. It's the way to go these days. It is a Pay to Play Market now. There are 8 million titles on Amazon alone. The three top paid ads sites are BookBub, Facebook, and Amazon Ads. Additionally, there are FreeBooksy and BargainBooksy. As well as others. (For instance, if your e-book is published on the Kobo platform, there is a Promotions tab on your dashboard that enables you to partake in their promo days.) Each of the ad platforms have different rules and suggested methods of operation. There are loads of books and other resources on all of them. (Help! My Facebook Ads Suck by Mal Cooper; Mastering Amazon Ads by Brian Meeks; Bookbub Ads by David Gaughrin; Bryan Cohen has an Amazon Ads School on his Instagram site @bryancohenblurbs--just to name a few.) That said, up until very recently--and is still considered truth by many--the industry "standard" advice for advertising for authors with less than three to five books in one series is to NOT advertise. The return on your investment won't pan out very well with nowhere for the reader to go after reading your one book. (I don't know how many books you've published.) If an author has several books, then paying for an ad on one book can often lead a reader to reading the other books in an author's backlist, thereby making the cost of the ad click go much farther. 3) I believe the best thing an author can do to build excitement about their books is to write the next book. Seriously. If you look at it like any other business, a business owner (read: bookseller) needs to create more than one product for their store. They need to create free content marketing for their audience and to build a(n) [author] brand through engagement with their [readers] customers. The most important first step in getting people to buy your product is to get readers to know it exists. That comes with getting on podcast interviews, going to networking events, doing book readings, teaching workshops at libraries, etc. That's Attract Marketing. Letting people know you are out there. Then, you Engage with them. Write a blog, or do a podcast, or create some other way of engaging with the people that now know you exist, but still have not become a customer of yours (like get them on your mailing list). Then, you Nurture them. That's where they begin to Know, Like, and Trust you. Still before they buy! This is the time when you'd be posting regular content for them in a newsletter or FB Live posts, or pictures of your life on Instagram. Only then can you Invite them to buy. And, in order to keep them as an ongoing client [reader], you must Delight them. Create the best book(s) possible and they'll come back for the next one and tell their friends. This process isn't something you do in a week or even a month. It's a long-term strategy. It's part of the author life and part of our job. Have fun with it. *** I hope some of that was useful and has given you some ideas for your marketing/promotional plans. Another resource I would highly recommend is How to Market a Book by Joanna Penn. Good luck!

erickmertzauthor.com erickmertzwriting.com Portland-based author Erick Mertz talks about his upcoming talk, Monsters Are Needy, and his new fiction series, Strange Air.

No intro or outro today, as my newest iOS won't play with Audacity. I need to learn a new software for making podcasts! (Gasp!) The main topic is all about Oh Shit lists and why they work.    Hello Indie Authors! I'm Valerie Ihsan, and This is Season Two, Episode 28 of the podcast and it's 10/16/2019 as I record this. Main Topic: Action Steps But first the personal update segment: New job (more part time work to supplement my massage income, author services income, teaching, and book sales) If you want to talk to me for a 30-minute interview and tell me what your challenges are and what you think can help you, you can book yourself a call at indieauthormentor.as.me and choose the Interview Call option. I'M READING: In fiction,  Tana French's book "In the Woods"; Non-fiction: Monica Leonelle's Prosperity for Writers I planned for this to be a sabbatical week, but I didn't get my deadlines met before hand. (Sigh.) Focus for October is getting ready for the 20Bksto50K conference in Las Vegas next month (mid-November). I wrote the welcome email sequence for my new lead magnet and brainstormed/mind-mapped the pages for my new website. This website will be for my signature Author Business Strategy Program called "Focus and Finish"--an author strategy program that includes a customized author action plan, as well as six months of coaching and accountability. The new website will also house the other author services I provide. PATREON: I'd like to thank all my patrons for the podcast. I really appreciate your support. I'd like to hear from you, too. Feel free to comment on any of my posts in Patreon. Or, download the free Patreon app to make it even easier to send me a message. Shoot me a question or comment and I'll read it out on the podcast.  I'd like to remind everybody else that this podcast is sponsored by my supporters at Patreon. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a shout out on the podcast, a monthly connections video where I'm just myself and share something more personal than I put out on the podcast, and at other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, free editing, and free coaching. Become a patron of the arts, and of me! Find me at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.    Resources: Monica's book, Prosperity for Writers And now: Action Steps   Have you heard of the Oh Shit list? I make them frequently. Whenever I face a freak-out moment of overwhelm or fatigue, I make one. And, I really think it's the most important step you can take to reach your goals and dreams. Think about it, when you are upset about something (especially if you're mad about something), it's usually because you are faced with an unmet need. There is something in your life, some need you have, or some value you have to uphold to feel safe, that is lacking right now.  Maybe it's only temporary. But maybe it's been going on for a long time. Maybe you've been wading through a pool of auto-pilot and you're only now noticing that something's not quite right. Or maybe you know what's off and it's untenable, but you don't know what to do about it. By writing down what's bothering you, several things happen. One, you slow your brain down long enough to physically write the words on a piece of paper, and that's helping you breathe, but it's also helping you see some of the parts of the problem. It's allowing you to re-organize your thoughts and beliefs about what's bothering you. Maybe you start to write something and realize, "No, what's really going on, or what's really bothering me about this is xxx." Often, we can't get to that place unless we write it down. Two, it's out of your head. You aren't forced to hold it there anymore. This is particularly helpful if what is bothering you is a slew of tasks that have to be done before that conference next month. Three, sometimes it allows you (or someone else you've trusted with the list) to see that some of the things on that list are actually not that important. Or rather, it's not important that you do them. Maybe someone else can. Or maybe you decide to postpone it until next quarter, or next year. Or, maybe you decide it's not where your priorities lie anymore, and you can cross it off your list. So, what if you aren't a list maker, list lover, like me? Why don't you have someone else make the list for you? What? Yes. Get together with a business colleague or a close friend, one that will understand your need to get things straight--if not in your head, then on paper. Make an appointment with them to talk. You talk, they write. Tell them all the things that are stressing you out, overwhelming you, maybe even alarming you. ("Maybe I'm closer to burnout than I thought?") They can take notes for you. Make that list for you. Or, if not a list, then themes that they've noticed about the types of things you were talking about. If you don't have that person in your life, feel free to schedule yourself one of those free interview calls. I'll take notes for you.   And remember. Always add in time for self-care. It's a crazy exhausting world out there. Take that time to re-center and ground yourself. You deserve it.   Thanks for listening. If you are finding this podcast episodes helpful please consider subscribing to the podcast, telling someone else about it, or becoming a patron today.   Until next time!      

Valerie goes over five tips to getting back on track when you've fallen off of it.   Show Notes:  Hello Indie Authors! I'm Valerie Ihsan, and This is Season Two, Episode 27 of the podcast and it's 9/28/2019 as I record this. Main Topic: How to Get Back on Track (hint: it's not beating yourself up) But first the personal update segment: • Passion Planner rep (affiliate, but different). 10% new customers. http://rwrd.io/ox4t691 • If you want to talk to me for a 30-minute interview and tell me what your challenges are and what you think can help you, you can book yourself a call at indieauthormentor.as.me and choose the Interview Call option. • I'M READING: In fiction, Kay Kenyon's book "At the Table of Wolves"; Non-fiction: Jeff Goins' Real Artists Don't Starve; and also travel memoir, Kingdom by the Sea by Paul Theroux. • Guests this week and this visiting my dad for a long weekend. • Picked a monthly game changer/focus for October, and that's getting ready for the 20Bksto50K conference in Las Vegas next month (mid-November). Broke down the steps, assigned them to specific weeks between now and then. And this week's tasks are to plan a lead magnet and create it. (If you want to try a Passion Planner for 10% off, use this link: http://rwrd.io/ox4t691) PATREON: I'd like to thank all my patrons for the podcast. I really appreciate your support. I'd like to hear from you, too. Feel free to comment on any of my posts in Patreon. Or, download the free Patreon app to make it even easier to send me a message. Shoot me a question or comment and I'll read it out on the podcast. I'd like to remind everybody else that this podcast is sponsored by my supporters at Patreon. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a shout out on the podcast, a monthly connections video where I'm just myself and share something more personal than I put out on the podcast, and at other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, free editing, and free coaching. Become a patron of the arts, and of me! Find me at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. Resources: If you are a memoir writer, Rachael Herron's book Fast Draft Your Memoir is fabulous. In addition, she was interviewed last week on Ella Barnard's podcast, Author Like a Boss. Episode 67: How to Write and Market Your Memoir with Rachael Herron. GREAT tips. And now: How to Get Back on Track This seems, to me, like a repeat of the other mindset topics we've covered. I checked though, and didn't see it. I guess it seems like we've talked about it because I talk to myself about it quite often. It seems it must be important if I really do revisit the topic that much. I fall off the track of many many things. Weight loss, going to the gym, doing the housekeeping, writing new words in my manuscript, keeping up to date with my email inbox and listening to my podcast subscriptions. And this is why I know how to get back on track. Because I fall off it so much. I'm reminded of meditation. The practice of it. How Rachael Herron says that when your mind drifts off and you forget you're meditating, the act of pulling your mind back to the task at hand (meditating) is actually the meditation part. Practicing bringing your mind back into "order." It's like that with anything else. If I gain back the three pounds I lost last week because I keep forgetting to track my food, I will remind myself and re-commit to tracking my food. Maybe I'll even set an alarm to remind me. Perhaps I'll remember to track my food four days of the week, instead of the 1.5 I usually do. --The act of re-committing and pulling my mind and body back to what I'm wanting to focus on. Some practical tips for getting back on track include: 1. Trying again. Centering again. Grounding again. Committing again. 2. Make a new plan. (Life curve balls and interruptions require a Plan B. And so what if you end up on Plan M before you finish your task.) New schedule? New system? Examine the current one, find the holes, brainstorm, patch them up, 3. Let go of something. Often we lose our focus because we have too much on our plate. (Free online conference, free webinar replays, YouTube video subscriptions, newsletters that have piled up.) Delete them. 4. Remember to say No. (I get lots of awesome specials and offers that sound perfect for me, but I ask myself if this particular web special/course/research will help me finish my current project, and if the answer is No, I delete. That used to hard--"Will I ever find it again?!"--but it just can't fit in my world right now. I can't use it right now. So, I remember to say, No. 5. Self-care. (Acknowledge you're off track, how disappointing or embarrassing that is, nurture yourself, and then get into gear.) *Would like to state that these tips are not designed to aid someone who is suffering from depression or another chronic illness. But actually, it is. Though, the self-care would very likely include counseling or medications, too.

Valerie interviews author Jessica Cagle-Faber and they talk about rejection and Writing by the Numbers.

Author Valerie Ihsan gives tips on filling the creative well.