Valerie interviews Cai Emmons about her new book, her writing process, and her brain hack tip for more productive writing. Cai will be giving a talk on The Evolution of a Novel at Tsunami Books on WEDNESDAY, September 4, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. Suggested donation: $5-10 (for non-Willamette Writers members; members are free) CaiEmmons.com CaiEmmonsAuthor.com

Procrastination and Writer's Block might just be the same thing around here. What about you? Show Notes: Hello Indie Authors! I'm Valerie Ihsan, and This is Season Two, Episode 21 of the podcast and it's 8/21/2019 as I record this. Main Topic: Procrastination/Writer's Block But first the personal update segment: • Course work for Sweet Spot Strategy. I finished writing my Origin Story and I'm working on a production calendar --trying to figure out how many times I want to offer my signature coaching program. I'm getting really excited about this! • 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, Just finished Elizabeth George's first YA novel called The Edge of Nowhere. It was a fast read. Now reading The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld; Non-fiction: Resonance by Nancy Duarte, on how to give presentations that the audience, well, resonates with--doesn't make them fall asleep. PATREON: No new patrons this week. I'd like to remind everybody that this podcast is sponsored by my supporters at Patreon. Being a Patron of the Arts is a totally cool thing to do. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get sneak-peeks into my creative world, become a patron of the arts, and of me! Find me at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. Resources: Trying out a new-to-me podcast on business called Seanwes podcast; looks like it has a lot of good content. Next week I'll have an interview for you! I'll be talking with author Cai Emmons about her latest book and what her take is on mindset. Plus, what her upcoming talk at the Eugene Willamette Writers chapter meeting is about. And now: Procrastination and Writer's Block ▪ Where are you? (In between books? Stuck in the middle? On deadline?) ▪ Why? (Self-doubt? Too hard? Too big of a project? Distracted? Emotionally/Creatively dry? Exhausted?) ▪ What can you do about it? ⁃ Accept it. Clean out that closet. Maybe you really can't write until you've cleaned your office. ⁃ Research theme and character motivations. ⁃ Sleep. ⁃ Go play. ⁃ Take a walk. Or a shower. Do yard work. ⁃ Write about something different. ⁃ Journal. Or do other writing exercises or prompts. ⁃ Set a timer and just do it. Be miserable for 25 minutes, until you aren't. ⁃ Wait for the story. Do another hobby. (Knitting, or snorkeling.) ⁃ Meet up with other authors and discuss the perceived problem. ⁃ Chip away at it. Trust that if those wretched 300 words took 90 minutes to write and the scratched at you the whole time, when you read you manuscript before editing, you won't be able to tell where those 300 words are. ⁃ Affirmations. "I'm doing the best I can right now." Remember, your best yesterday doesn't equal your best today. You're different every day.

The definition of perfectionism, how it shows up in a writer's life, and what to do about it.   Show Notes:   Hello Indie Authors! I'm Valerie Ihsan, and This is Season Two, Episode 20 of the podcast and it's 8/14/2019 as I record this. Perfectionism But first the personal update segment: Course work for Sweet Spot Strategy; contact me via email [email protected] to meet with me (virtually or locally) for a four question interview. Tell me what your challenges are and how you think a coach or mentor could help you.   I'M READING: In fiction, Just finished Sparks by Maren Anderson and loved it. Now reading First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen, also loving it; Non-fiction: Almost done with Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit   I'd like to remind everybody that this podcast is sponsored by my supporters at Patreon. And being a patron of the arts is a totally cool thing to do. Joining my Patreon community also gets you sneak peeks into my creative world. For $1/month, or more, less than a pack of gum, you too can become a patron of the arts, and me! Find me at: Patreon.com/valerieihsan.    Resources: kriswrites.com Main topic: Perfectionism     Perfectionism   I want to talk about perfectionism. What it is, how it shows up, and what to do about it.   WHAT It has to be perfect before I can release it out into the world. Why? People will think I'm dumb if it's bad. People will think I'm a loser if it's bad. I'll be embarrassed/horrified/ashamed/mortified. People won't take me seriously is if not professional. I'll let myself down if it's not the best I can do. [Xxx] won't be proud of me if it's not any good.   HOW (Stuck in cement.) Rewriting it for ten years and never publishing it or moving on to another project. (Never start.) Find excuses why you can't work on your book. (Kids, partner, no support, no resources, mental illness, chronic health problems, job, too much to do...) I didn't want to be bad at something.  Writing was what I was good at. I didn't want to find out differently. Logically, I knew that books needed to be edited and reworked after writing them, but somehow I didn't *actually* believe that. Somewhere deep inside I thought that if I was good enough (insert negative belief structure to read: good enough person), it would be practically perfect and people would exclaim, "What?! That's your rough draft?! No way!!" Not only did I not want to be bad at something, or more accurately, *look* bad, I didn't want to know that I was sub-par. Not good enough. As a human. WHAT TO DO Know that your first book will not be your best work ever. It might be the best you can do *right now*, but you will grow as a writer. Your skills will improve. Here's how I battled perfectionism one time: I was just about to publish my first novel. It was out at the ARC readers (which is past the point where you want changes to your manuscript--unless it's dire) and one reader (another author) got back to me about what she perceived as a lack of motivation for some of the characters. As if, I--the author--just wanted the characters to do something and so they did it. I was so done with working on this book. It had taken me a couple of years to finish and I was proud of it. When she gave me the feedback, I said, "Thank you. I can maybe see how you'd think that, but here's the thing. It's my first book. I know it's not going to be the best thing I ever write. It's good enough for a first book. I'll make more. But it's time to let this one go. I'm not going to get to be any better of a writer by re-working the one over and over for another six months to a year. But I will improve by writing another whole one." And on another note: RESOURCE:  The Pursuit of Perfection: And How It Harms Writers   by Kristine Kathryn Rusch    I've heard people say that if you aren't doing it, you don't want it bad enough. I'd always get so mad hearing that. I did, too, want it! I just had all this other stuff in the way--what I thought were legit reasons. But, really, what they were was not excuses, it was perfectionism. Perfectionism is self-doubt. AND, I've discovered, a crazy mutant version of the inner-editor. So one thing that helped with that was Nanowrimo. I learned two things the first year I did it (and finished): 1) I worked faster than the inner-editor could keep up. When I'd hear him running up behind me, I stuff earplugs in and say, "It's not about quality, it's about quantity. I just need the words right now." And, 2) I *did* have time to write. With a family, raising two elementary school-aged children, and homeschooling my 2nd grader. None of my excuses worked. I wrote a whole novel in one month. (Maybe you'll learn something different from Nanowrimo.) As far as the self-doubt goes, I just try to remember that everyone (even Lee Child and Steven King and Sandra Brown and Clive Cussler and Rachael Herron and Joanna Penn--read: all authors) has self-doubt. It's part of the writing process. It's part of being an author. When I remember that, I can default into self-care. I have several in my toolbox: Affirmations Meditation Journaling Artist Dates Reading Writing Connecting with other authors Surrounding myself with people who think I'm awesome Read books and listen to podcasts to get inspired, change my mindset, and learn new things. (If I doubt my ability to do something, I'll study it until I'm confident I can do it.) Do something that inspires me   Last thoughts about perfectionism--the kind that keeps you from writing or putting your work out into the world: Go to Goodreads or Amazon and read the reviews of famous authors. Lots of people hated The Great Gatsby; Eat, Pray, Love; The Lovely Bones; and The Davinci Code. If your reviews are coming in and some of them are 1 stars, you're a real writer, and in the company of some of the greats.  The biggest epiphany I ever had as a writer was: My husband is not my target audience. I was never going to write a book that he loved, and that was okay, because he didn't read the kind of books I wrote. I was a much happier writer after that.   How does perfectionism show up in your writing life? How can you deal with it and push through to success?

Valerie goes over some of her highlights from the conference this year.

What's the difference and does one work better than the other?   Show Notes:  Hello Indie Authors! This is Episode 18, Season Two, and it's 7/24//2019 as I record this. Goal-setting vs Time Blocking   But first the personal update segment: Course work for Sweet Spot Strategy; contact me via email [email protected] to meet with me (virtually or locally) for a four-question interview. Tell me what your challenges are and how you think a coach or mentor could help you. No writing for the summer (summer hours) Thinking of online courses, some clients have asked for them and they would generate passive income.  Camping this weekend and at the Willamette Writers Conference the first weekend in August. I'll be taking a master class from a literary agent on Good Beginnings. And doing a book signing on Saturday night at the conference. I skipped it last year, so I'm super looking forward to it. Jeff Goins will be there, and I'm volunteering to staff his workshop, so I'll meet him. I'm READING: In fiction, The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan. Non-fiction: Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit: Learn it and use it for life.• I'd like to remind everybody that this podcast is sponsored by my supporters at Patreon. And being a patron of the arts is a totally cool thing to do. Joining my Patreon community also gets you sneak peeks into my creative world. For less than a $1/month, less than a pack of gum, you too can become a patron of the arts, and me! Find me at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.    Resources: Jeff Goins' podcast Your Portfolio Life; Teachable has a new podcast, interviewing successful online teachers, Everyone is Teachable.   Main topic: Goal-setting vs Time Blocking

Ideas for managing overwhelm and burnout.   Show Notes: Hello Indie Authors! This is Episode 17, Season Two, and it's 7/17//2019 as I record this. In Season Two, I'll be talking about Mindset and Work/Life Balance, and all the things that might fall under that category. If you have a particular topic you want to discuss or a question you want the answer to, please contact email me at [email protected].   But first Author Life segment: I've been thinking a lot about ways that I can help the writing community and that means YOU. I do have a coaching program that I'm designing with the help of business coach Racheal Cook, MBA--she does the Promote Yourself to CEO podcast. Highly recommend it! And also with the help of some author friends and some prior students. There are a lot of writing coaches out there and I want to make sure I can stand out in the crowd, and offer the help that writers need. Mostly, right now, that means I'm looking at what my strengths are and how I can translate that into a viable service that writers will pay for. Because, maybe like you, I want to make a living with my writing and with my author brain. Minnesota was a great experience. I reconnected with my sister, whom I hadn't seen in twelve years, back when we were more judgmental people. ;-) I'M READING: In fiction, The Reckoning by Louise Penny. And before that, Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen. Non-fiction: Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit: Learn it and use it for life. (Recommended by Racheal Cook.) I'd like to remind everybody that this podcast is sponsored by my supporters at Patreon. And being a patron of the arts is a totally cool thing to do. Joining my Patreon community also gets you sneak peeks into my creative world. For less than a $1/month, less than a pack of gum, you too can become a patron of the arts, and me! Find me at: Patreon.com/valerieihsan.    Resources: Promote Yourself to CEO podcast by Racheal Cook, MBA   Main topic: Taking a day off vs. Goofing off (Managing Overwhelm and Pre-Burnout)   Taking time off to recharge is a necessity. Everyone seems to agree with that, but lots of entrepreneurs, stay at home parents, and grad students seem to agree with it in principle, rather than reality.   I'm good at taking time off when I need it. Saying Yes to myself, watching British gardening shows and Queer Eye on Netflix, or diving into a novel with a dog on my lap. Even napping or sitting in the hot tub when the day has just gone wonky. BUT, I'm afraid I'll Yes myself into laziness.   Where's the line between taking the day off and goofing off?  I know. And I bet you do, too. The trick, I think, is to plan ahead--like budgeting--for the inevitable need to take time off--trying not to have it happen during a deadline or when my reputation, client satisfaction, or money are on the line. I could plan one afternoon a week off to recharge. I could say Yes to myself until I detox and naturally want to create and accomplish. (For burnout or extreme overwhelm.) I could scale back and lighten my load so that overwhelm doesn't happen as frequently. (Requires some checking in and time budgeting.) I could start saying No to things I want to do. I've mastered the saying No to things I DONT want to do. Create systems so that projects take less time to do. (I'm still working on that. Read Running Down a Dream by Tim Grahl for help with that.)   In conclusion, when overwhelm or burnout occur, try on a little compassion. Things don't always go according to plan. Course correction, making a new plan, or sitting out the next dance are all successful tactics of successful authors.   What do you do when you hit overwhelm?

Valerie offers multiple strategies for launching your book and talks about ad stacking.   Show Notes: Hello Indie Authors! This is Episode 16, and it's 6/19//2019 as I record this. Today we're doing Book Launch, Part Two. But first Author Life segment: Life has been getting in the way and I haven't been working this week on my manuscript. Trying not to beat myself up about it. I told my husband I needed a week off to get ready for the vacation...and remembered I often needed a week off AFTER a vacation to get caught back up. So, note to self--vacations take a huge chunk out of writing and revising time. And brain space. I'll be heading to Minnesota and Wisconsin this weekend, seeing both family and friends. Most of the friends I've seen within the year, but my family--some of them--I haven't seen in ten years or even, in the case of my youngest niece, haven't met at all. So I'm hoping to reconnect with that part of my family. This episode will conclude Season One of The Indie Author Mentor. The podcast will resume mid-July (the 17th) for Season Two. I'll be planning out the next season during this short hiatus, so if you have any requests for topics or any questions, please contact me at [email protected]. Had my monthly review with an author friend of mine. I like these because they always get me back on track and inspired.  I'M READING: In fiction, White is for Witching. Don't know if I like it yet. Non-fiction: YNAB. Nearing the end of them, so I'm thinking about my next reads, and because I'm going on vacation, I'll be bringing favorite authors and lighter reading. That means probably Sarah Addison Allen and Louise Penny, and the like. No NEW PATRONS this week, but I hope you'll consider becoming a patron and helping me reach my FIRST Patreon goal. To earn $125 in monthly income from Patreon. When that happens...extra bonus Q&A episode for Patrons only.  Think of it as an inexpensive mini coaching session with me! Patreon.com/valerieihsan.  Resources: selfpublishingformula.com, booksandtravel podcast, tex thompson's newsletter is either hilarious or inspiring, most times both. Go to thetexfiles.com to read about her and sign up for her newsletter. The blog is funny, too.   Main topic: Book launch, Part Two  

After an Author Life Update, Valerie talks about the steps to take leading up to your book launch.   Show Notes: Hello Indie Authors! This is Episode 15, and it's 6/12//2019 as I record this. Today I'm talking about steps leading up to Book Launch. But first Author Life segment: Finished editing another chapter in my How to Write a Novel or Memoir book. Been looking at tile and cabinet catalogs online for the new house. Got our couch! It's beautiful. I'm struggling with getting all the things done. I'm trying to focus more on work times instead of deadlines for my personal work, but my day job (the client work) really vies for space in my schedule and it always feels like something is lacking. I'm good at Positivity and planning for the future and looking forward to where my hard work right now will take me, but sometimes I feel a little scattered. Perhaps I'm just struggling with process. Parenting Fail: I just heard that my son is giving his senior review presentation today at 4 (while I'm getting a pedicure)(headsmack) In my only defense, today's presentation was rescheduled from a previous time that I was available for. Author self-care: Do it. I'll have another episode solely on this topic next season, but for now, I just want to say that the older I get, the more I realize that self-care isn't just a luxury. It really is mandatory for my health, well-being, and productivity. It's no joke anymore. I'M READING: In fiction, White is for Witching. Don't know if I like it yet. Non-fiction: YNAB (You Need a Budget) Went to an editors luncheon and had a few lovely conversations with old colleagues, and new. Had a conversation about audiobooks. That is definitely on the horizon for me. I'm shooting for 2020. In doing the homework for Sweet Spot Strategy, I stumbled upon a cool cool idea for an author service that I'd love to shout to the rooftops, but I won't. It's too new and underdeveloped. Just like not sharing story ideas too soon. I have a couple of editing jobs I'm trying to finish up before I go on vacation on the 22nd. My husband had a birthday on Monday and we celebrated it over the weekend. "I love having birthday weekends," he says. (Aww!) No NEW PATRONS this week, but I hope you'll consider becoming a patron and helping me reach my FIRST Patreon goal. To earn $125 in monthly income from Patreon. When that happens...extra bonus Q&A episode for Patrons only.  Think of it as an inexpensive mini coaching session with me! Patreon.com/valerieihsan.  Resources: Check out two blog articles on the Mailchimp changes. Davidgaughran.com and writtenwordmedia.com.   Main topic: Book launching, (using slide deck)

In this episode of The Indie Author Mentor, I go over the uploading process with Ingram Spark and KDP Print, as well as touching on the online stores, like Kobo and KDP (Amazon). I address pricing in various countries (even India).   Show Notes: Hello Indie Authors! This is Episode 14, and it's 6/5//2019 as I record this. Today I'm talking about uploading your files to printers and stores, plus pricing tips. But first a personal update: Revised the chapter on characters this morning in my How to Write a Novel or Memoir book. Met with my architectural team via GoToMeeting this morning and had some technical difficulties. Got me thinking about working from another country and what kind of challenges I might face. Just found out our couch won't be delivered for another two weeks. So, in the meantime, the living room TV watching experience isn't as comfy as it used to be. I'M READING: Just finished Craig Martelle's non-fiction book on Successful Indie Publishing, a great section in the back on running conferences. He does 20Booksto50K. Here's the link for that book: https://craigmartelle.com/books/become-a-successful-indie-author-work-toward-your-writing-dream/ Next, I'll start Wired for Joy as my non-fiction book. In fiction, I finished Cold Comfort Farm and started The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen. No NEW PATRONS this week, but I hope you'll consider becoming a patron and helping me reach my FIRST Patreon goal. To earn $125 in monthly income from Patreon. When that happens...extra bonus Q&A episode for Patrons only. Patreon.com/valerieihsan.  Main topic: uploading your files to distributors and stores, plus pricing tips.           https://craigmartelle.com/books/become-a-successful-indie-author-work-toward-your-writing-dream/

Valerie walks you through how to assign an ISBN to a book.   Show notes: Hello Indie Authors! This is Episode 13, and it's 5/29/2019 as I record this. Today I'm talking about managing your ISBNs and finalizing your print cover. But first a personal update: Got some clarity about client work. Created a model calendar. Slowly doing the homework for the business coach I hired. Learning Spanish and bought some children's books from a local independent book store. Got first thoughts back from my Alpha Readers Book Club and put the changes into Scrivener for one of the manuscripts. I have some work to do! One of the things that came back across the board was What Level is the Audience at? And to add examples and definitions. This reminds me that the people I talk to hear on this podcast, on YouTube if you're watching, and in my community are perhaps at different levels. Perhaps there are questions that you need answering. If that is the case, you are welcome to connect with me via email, on Patreon, or through my FB Group The Indie Author Mentor. If you have questions that you'd love to hear me actually talk through, as opposed to emailing you about them. In that case, I hope you'll consider becoming a patron and helping me reach my FIRST Patreon goal. To earn $125 in monthly income from Patreon. When that happens...   No NEW PATRONS this week:  Stretch goals: the first one is $125/mo = secret monthly Q&A audio; The support of my patrons on Patreon helps make this show and other projects possible. Plus, being a patron of the arts is a totally cool thing to do. Joining my Patreon community also gets you sneak peeks into my creative world, allows you to interact with me directly, and rewards you with exclusive bonus content you can't get anywhere else. For less than the cost of a tasty hot beverage or a pack of gum, as low as a $1/month, you too can become a patron of the arts, and me! Find me at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.  Main topic: managing ISBNs and print cover finalizing    

Valerie talks about all the social media platforms and book stores where you can update before publication date.   Show notes:    Hello Indie Authors! This is Episode 12, and it's 5/22/2019 as I record this. Today I'm talking about Author Pages. But first a personal update: I've written more sections to The Nitty Gritty of Self Publishing manuscript. Had a meeting with the woman who will be designing a tracking and accounting system for me. Time Edit results. New insights at my local monthly business mastermind group about pricing. The Writer's Well had some great tips about weekly schedules. Reminded me that there is no correct way to set up your days.      No NEW PATRONS this week:  Stretch goals: first one is $125/mo = secret monthly Q&A audio; other stretch goals include book description and chapter critiques that I'll do (with the writer's permission) on the podcast. Thank you to all my patrons! Reminder to folks that all of my patrons, at any level, get a Connection Video the first Monday of every month, so if you want to connect with me in this way, join me on Patreon. The support of my patrons on Patreon helps make this show and other projects possible. Plus, being a patron of the arts is a totally cool thing to do. Joining my Patreon community also gets you sneak peeks into my creative world, allows you to interact with me directly, and rewards you with exclusive bonus content you can't get anywhere else. For less than the cost of a tasty hot beverage or a pack of gum, as low as a $1/month, you too can become a patron of the arts, and me! Find me at: Patreon.com/valerieihsan. 

Valerie Ihsan explains what Pre-orders are, how they work, and whether you should do them, or not. Show Notes: Hello Indie Authors! This is Episode 11, and it's 5/15/2019 as I record this. Today I'm talking about Pre-Orders. But first a personal update: • I've written another three sections to The Nitty Gritty of Self Publishing. • I'm doing a time audit to find all the places my time hides, or places where I waste it. • Been doing quite a bit of WW work this week to get reintroduced to the organization and help the current co-chair take a little off her plate. • Did a lot of yard work over the weekend. Weeding and reclaiming spaces that had been covered over by ivy vines and shiny geranium. Hoping to create a pretty seating area. • Doing some backlog work and ordered print copies of my books for events this summer. No NEW PATRONS this week: Thank you to all my patrons! Remind folks that all of my patrons, at any level, get a Connection Video the first Monday of every month, so if you want to connect with me in this way, join me on Patreon. The support of my patrons on Patreon helps make this show and other projects possible. Plus, being a patron of the arts is a totally cool thing to do. Joining my Patreon community also gets you sneak peeks into my creative world, allows you to interact with me directly, and rewards you with exclusive bonus content you can't get anywhere else. For less than the cost of a tasty hot beverage or a pack of gum, as low as a $1/month, you too can become a patron of the arts, and me! Find me at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. Resources/reviews: Mark Dawson's Self-Publishing 101 course For education on business, I'm loving the Uncomplicate Your Business podcast with Racheal Cook, MBA. If you do any author related services like coaching, or your day job centers on heart-centered services that you provide, this might be a great resource for you. I'm (still) reading: I'm finishing up Become a Successful Indie Author: Work Toward Your Writing Dream by Craig Martelle. Almost done with Newsletter Ninja and will be starting up Wired for Joy next. Recommended by Becca Syme to me in our 1 on 1 coaching session. I'm listening to a new podcast called The Dream recommended by Rachael Herron of The Writers Well podcast and How Do You Write? Podcast. Main topic: Preorders

As a marketing strategy, which is better for your author business--KDP Select or Going Wide. Valerie breaks down the pros and cons of both.   Resources: Booksandtravel.page (new podcast I'm listening to) Speculative.Work: an author's diary (new podcast I found)   My show notes:  Hello Indie Authors! This is Episode 10, and it's 5/8/2019 as I record this. Today I'm talking about Marketing Strategies regarding your book launch and distribution methods. Specifically: To KDP Select, or Not But first a personal update: I signed up for the Career Author Summit in May of 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. Meet for a coffee? Talk went well, despite losing my work. I've written another two sections to The Nitty Gritty of Self Publishing. Had another Skype meeting with the architectural team and saw an updated floor plan for our Costa Rican home. Homework, measuring our rooms and comparing it to the measurements in the floor plan--seeing if the rooms need to be bigger or smaller for our tastes.     No NEW PATRONS this week: (but I am getting some lovely comments and it's so fun to interact with other authors there.) "I'm really excited about all the great projects you're working on. Glad to be a supporter!" James says. Thank you to all my patrons! Remind folks that all of my patrons, at any level, get a Connection Video the first Monday of every month, so if you want to connect with me in this way, join me on Patreon. The support of my patrons on Patreon helps make this show and other projects possible. Plus, being a patron of the arts is a totally cool thing to do. Joining my Patreon community also gets you sneak peeks into my creative world, allows you to interact with me directly, and rewards you with exclusive bonus content you can't get anywhere else. For less than the cost of a tasty hot beverage or a pack of gum, as low as a $1/month, you too can become a patron of the arts, and me! Find me at: Patreon.com/valerieihsan.  Resources/reviews: I FB Lived my talk at Lane Connect, so if you'd like a few tips on how to self-edit without freaking out, join my private FB group, The Indie Author Mentor. (I'll try and put it up on Patreon...)   I'll be speaking next Tuesday in a small discussion group at WAAC on To Pre-Order or Not To Pre-Order. 14th at 7pm in the lobby.   I'm (still) reading: Become a Successful Indie Author: Work Toward Your Writing Dream by Craig Martelle. I'm really liking it.  I'm also reading Hook by Randall Horton and I'm not liking it so much. Art is so subjective and there isn't enough of the things I like in a memoir in there to hold my interest. I like the letters written by LXXX, but she's not the author of the book. And sometimes I'm riveted by Randall's use of language, and I was hoping to see into a world that was different than mine--drug deals and prison time--but it's just not capturing my attention enough. Should I stop reading? I'm listening to a new podcast called Books and Travel (.page) with Jo Francis Penn and the episode I listened to today was on scuba diving. (Tears) Speculative.Work: an author's diary--most recent episode was on abundance for authors, and saying Yes and No to opportunities. Main topic: KDP Select (or Not)    

Valerie talks about how cool Book Funnel is, what Advanced Readers are for, and the free way to design your book's interior.   Go to Patreon.com/valerieihsan for monthly Connection Videos.

Valerie talks about who to hire as a proofreader, more thoughts on cover design, and what software to use to create epub and mobi files.  

Valerie talks about front and back matter of your books, deleted scenes, and the tools of the trade. In her personal update, she mentions @rlsyme (Becca Syme) of The QuitCast on YouTube and of BetterFasterAcademy.com.

How do you determine what keywords to use in your metadata? And how do you write those dang book descriptions so that they'll appeal to readers and get them to buy?!

Oh those nitty gritty details! Valerie talks about ISBNs, Library of Congress numbers, deciding on a title, and more on editing.

It's time to schedule editors, cover designers, and beta readers. Also, book blurbers. A book blurb is the short testimonial quote put on the back book cover.

Author Valerie Ihsan shares how to make scene cards in Scrivener and talks about her rough drafting process.