Full Transcript for Episode 111: The Not-So-Sexy Side of Your Writer Life

the whole purpose, intention behind doing the, the line and copy edits. 00:06:29.340 --> 00:06:36.090 I know line edits are one that, especially self-published authors tend to skip over and save the cost on. 00:06:36.660 --> 00:06:41.759 Um, but I really felt like I needed to do it because. 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:54.600 After developmental edits, my word count was still around like 118,000 words, which is quite long for a memoir and certainly wouldn't be accepted in like traditionally published realm. 00:06:54.810 --> 00:06:59.100 But as a self publisher, I've talked about this before, like what that means is cost. 00:06:59.220 --> 00:07:00.629 Cost to print it, right? 00:07:00.629 --> 00:07:03.780 It means a bigger book, it means a more expensive book to print, which means. 00:07:04.129 --> 00:07:08.780 You know, less, less of the income is profit, more of it goes to printing costs. 00:07:08.780 --> 00:07:11.000 So it was worth it to me. 00:07:11.090 --> 00:07:25.579 Um, also knowing that it was going to increase the quality of the reading experience, um, by removing any redundancies, by simplifying and clarifying the language, making the concepts a little bit more concise. 00:07:25.910 --> 00:07:28.370 And so that's what I spent last weekend doing. 00:07:29.300 --> 00:07:41.900 Along with filtering through my beta reader feedback, which has come in, and I've got a whole episode next week that I recorded with our guest, Jared Glenn, that we dig into receiving feedback and, and processing that. 00:07:41.900 --> 00:07:45.980 So if that, if that's of interest to you writers, like check out that episode next week. 00:07:46.370 --> 00:07:47.120 Um. 00:07:47.730 --> 00:07:50.610 But yeah, so that's been where I'm at in the process. 00:07:50.610 --> 00:07:57.720 So the next stage I, I did send it to my formatter this week and the next stage is recruiting art readers. 00:07:57.720 --> 00:08:16.590 So finding those people who, you know, use their Instagram accounts or tiktoks or whatever, who enjoy reading memoir, who hopefully fall within the, the target audience or readership of this book, and reaching out to them to see if they'd be interested in a digital copy. 00:08:17.564 --> 00:08:26.564 In order to do the advanced reading and hopefully get some drum up, some interest, get some early reviews and things like that. 00:08:26.564 --> 00:08:30.915 So it feels like a lot of really tedious steps. 00:08:31.365 --> 00:08:35.444 I mean, to be honest, I kind of wish I was just still in the writing or editing stage. 00:08:35.924 --> 00:08:41.024 Um, and it's not that I'm not enjoying it, but it's like there's no more writing left. 00:08:41.204 --> 00:08:42.914 It's just a whole bunch of emails. 00:08:43.725 --> 00:08:44.444 Um. 00:08:45.194 --> 00:08:45.944 So I don't know. 00:08:45.944 --> 00:08:52.274 Maybe that's a perfect segue though into our like actual conversation topic for this week, which is like the really 00:08:52.514 --> 00:08:53.324 absolutely.

00:08:54.194 --> 00:08:56.444 admin stuff we have to do as authors. 00:08:56.444 --> 00:09:04.634 Whether you are self-publishing, indie publishing, hybrid publishing, or traditionally publishing, it's, there's so much that has to happen. 00:09:05.745 --> 00:09:08.384 In the background outside of the writing. 00:09:08.835 --> 00:09:12.495 Um, and it can be difficult to carve out the time for it. 00:09:12.495 --> 00:09:26.745 I mean, you've talked already Stephanie, about carving out the time for the writing itself, but then to have time to do the, the website build or the promotional periods or finding these readers that I need, or, you know, whatever stage you happen to be at, it can be difficult. 00:09:27.269 --> 00:09:28.620 To carve out that time. 00:09:29.220 --> 00:09:33.419 But we do have, uh, a virtual Writer's retreat. 00:09:33.509 --> 00:09:40.439 We do these quarterly through the Inspired Writer Collective, and we are doing our next one in a couple of weeks. 00:09:40.500 --> 00:09:44.069 So mark your calendars for April 17th, 18th, and 19th. 00:09:44.370 --> 00:09:46.349 You do not have to come to all the sessions. 00:09:46.349 --> 00:09:49.019 You can drop in to just one or two or all three. 00:09:49.319 --> 00:09:50.789 We're gonna have one each day. 00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:53.129 Um, that's a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 00:09:53.490 --> 00:09:56.009 And you can sign up using the link in these show notes. 00:09:56.399 --> 00:10:01.379 Um, if you're already on our just general email list, we'll be sending out an email blast about that as well. 00:10:01.949 --> 00:10:13.679 And so we'd love for you to join us and, and this can be a time where you either work on that messy first draft, like you're doing stuff, like if you've got a big, you know, goal that you're writing, goal that you're working towards. 00:10:14.069 --> 00:10:21.240 Or you can also just work on the really unsexy admin side of being a, a writer and an author. 00:10:23.414 --> 00:10:35.654 Well, and it's so interesting to, it reminded me about how we've talked so often about that body doubling piece where sometimes just especially for the unsexy. 00:10:35.884 --> 00:10:36.634 Things we have to 00:10:36.859 --> 00:10:36.939 Hmm. 00:10:37.234 --> 00:10:45.034 the things we, the tasks we put off, the things we don't wanna show up for that are just like, Ugh, I don't wanna do this. 00:10:45.064 --> 00:10:49.625 But having this space to say, okay, this is on my calendar. 00:10:49.625 --> 00:10:52.984 I'm showing up with other writers, I'm gonna get this done. 00:10:53.044 --> 00:10:57.814 And I know my sister has come to some of our writing. 00:10:58.819 --> 00:10:59.419 during the week. 00:10:59.419 --> 00:11:07.189 And that's sometimes what she does for her writing life is she blocks off that time'cause she knows she doesn't like to do those 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:07.500 Hmm. 00:11:07.789 --> 00:11:09.709 And so, and I know. 00:11:10.469 --> 00:11:23.909 It's not my favorite part of any of it either, but it's also one of those realities because a writer, regardless of which publishing route you go, you are the CEO of your writing life. 00:11:23.909 --> 00:11:29.279 You are the one who has to do those not so fun business tasks and keep track. 00:11:30.129 --> 00:11:50.289 What you're doing and reach out to the, the people who are your team, and like you shared Elizabeth, you know, you've, you've built this team around you, which I remember when I went to an a WP conference a few years ago, that was one of the big conversations about how you should have a team, you shouldn't be trying to do all the things yourself. 00:11:50.289 --> 00:11:51.370 And so that does require. 00:11:51.870 --> 00:11:58.349 Administration because you have to reach out to them, you have to connect with them, you have to schedule, you have to plan, you have to fit it in, you have to. 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:08.579 then not only do you have to fit that piece in, but then you have to fit it into your schedule of when you get those edits back and when it works out, and are you doing. 00:12:08.579 --> 00:12:17.964 And yeah, there're just so many little details that you don't realize are important, but become necessary for you to move yourself forward. 00:12:19.534 --> 00:12:20.639 Yeah, it's true. 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:25.344 And there, there's just a lot that maybe you don't think about when you're first starting out, but. 00:12:26.609 --> 00:12:32.309 Ultimately you're going to need an author website and probably some kind of email list. 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:51.029 Um, certainly by the time you get to like pre-sales, you're gonna want an email list, even if you're not using it, you know, ahead of time to, to drum up interest in your upcoming book, there's all the, like you said, coordinating with the people that you've hired to do, whether that's cover, design, formatting, editing. 00:12:51.599 --> 00:12:52.409 Any of that. 00:12:52.709 --> 00:13:08.219 I mean, at this point, like I just need to carve out some time to even pull all those little nuggets of like review blurbs I've gotten about the book from my beta readers and some of those early people that have read the book that have sent me this beautiful, wonderful feedback. 00:13:08.250 --> 00:13:16.049 I need to compile that into like a spreadsheet so I don't have to go searching through this text message chain and looking through this email. 00:13:16.109 --> 00:13:16.679 You know? 00:13:17.334 --> 00:13:18.444 Group email thing. 00:13:18.774 --> 00:13:21.144 I, it can be, it can be a lot. 00:13:21.144 --> 00:13:24.954 And just taking that time on the front end can be really helpful. 00:13:25.344 --> 00:13:42.264 Um, the other thing that I've had so much fun doing this past week after I got my edit sent out is, and you guys can laugh if you want, but I've had this idea for a while, so I've been brainstorming what songs make me think of. 00:13:42.750 --> 00:13:48.389 Like each

moment in the book, and this is a list I've been keeping throughout the writing process. 00:13:48.389 --> 00:14:00.809 Anytime like I think of a song that's been meaningful to me or was meaningful, something I listened to over and over again during a certain period of my life that takes place in this memoir, I would jot it down on this one piece of paper. 00:14:00.899 --> 00:14:09.569 And this week I finally got to sit down with that compared to my finished manuscript and really match up the song with the chapter. 00:14:10.304 --> 00:14:15.884 And I'm really excited for this to be part of my presale promotion for the book. 00:14:15.884 --> 00:14:20.324 So when people order the book on presale, they of course have to wait for the book, right? 00:14:20.504 --> 00:14:25.814 But they're gonna instantly get the chapter list and the Spotify playlist and song list that goes with it. 00:14:26.264 --> 00:14:34.064 And what this soundtrack, as I'm calling it, quote unquote does, is it really marks the. 00:14:34.694 --> 00:14:40.184 Emotional landscape of the memoir, like, you know, I start off with a very hopeful song, right? 00:14:40.184 --> 00:14:41.924 And then we've got some heartbreak songs. 00:14:41.924 --> 00:14:53.324 We got some struggles, we got some more, you know, romantic songs and songs about motherhood and, and all sorts of things and about taking chances and betting on yourself and, and all of that. 00:14:53.324 --> 00:14:56.625 And so it'll be a way for readers to. 00:14:57.059 --> 00:15:04.709 Whether they just look at the chapter list and that, you know, gets them excited about the book, or they do take an opportunity to listen to some of the songs. 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:11.309 They'll get a glimpse at, you know, the like emotional rollercoaster that the, the book is going to take them on. 00:15:11.309 --> 00:15:19.589 And if nothing else, it's, I've been listening to it nonstop since I created it, sometimes shuffling songs around to get it just right. 00:15:19.979 --> 00:15:28.169 And it's been really cool for helping me just stay focused on kind of the lead up for promotion and publication. 00:15:28.169 --> 00:15:42.569 And it's given me a lot of different marketing ideas of, you know, being able to put a song on a reel and say, this is the song that goes with chapter, whatever about this, and wouldn't you like to know what that's about? 00:15:43.409 --> 00:15:44.519 Um, and. 00:15:45.254 --> 00:15:50.564 Yeah, that's, that's another sort of admin type thing that also plays into the creativity. 00:15:50.564 --> 00:16:02.804 It's something in addition to just writing the book comes in more with the marketing piece, but it is something that I'm having loads of fun with, and so that's been quite a fun endeavor this past week or so. 00:16:05.334 --> 00:16:10.194 You make an important point there about finding ways to make it fun. 00:16:10.584 --> 00:16:25.254 That, especially with the marketing piece and coming up with creative ways about

how you're getting your story out there, how you're getting into the hands of readers sometimes for a lot of writers, we don't wanna be in the spotlight. 00:16:25.254 --> 00:16:27.774 We don't wanna put ourselves out there. 00:16:27.774 --> 00:16:28.704 I know I'm one. 00:16:29.409 --> 00:16:32.799 I struggle with this, with, you know, social media. 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:36.549 I know want to show up and then I resist. 00:16:36.549 --> 00:16:40.089 But then it's always good when I do so, and there's proof of that. 00:16:40.089 --> 00:16:43.779 When I did a 30 day sprint, maybe, it's probably been about a 00:16:43.809 --> 00:16:44.229 Mm-hmm. 00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:45.219 since I've done that. 00:16:45.219 --> 00:16:48.879 And I, you know, and I keep saying to myself, okay, I need to do that again. 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:54.250 And that again is another one of those admin tasks that I'm resisting because I want to be in my book. 00:16:54.250 --> 00:16:56.769 I wanna be in the writing piece, and. 00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:59.979 I look at the other pieces and I go, ah. 00:17:00.309 --> 00:17:06.370 But again, as we've had other guests on who've talked about the marketing, you need to have a runway for your 00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:06.680 Hmm. 00:17:07.870 --> 00:17:18.549 Of which path you're, you're going down, it doesn't matter because even in traditional publishing, you are still the main leader of the. 00:17:18.859 --> 00:17:24.920 Word that gets out about your book and, and especially if you're self-publishing, you are that person. 00:17:24.920 --> 00:17:31.460 And so finding the way to manage that for yourself is really important. 00:17:31.549 --> 00:17:33.769 And are. 00:17:34.089 --> 00:17:43.690 Certainly the, uh, programs out there that allow you to schedule in advance and set things up or you know, there are people you can work with. 00:17:44.470 --> 00:18:00.849 am leaning into offering that as a support to writers around helping you set up your platform and the value for that, because sometimes that's not always something that you think about or you don't know how you want to put yourself out there and. 00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:03.309 People need a place to go 00:18:03.450 --> 00:18:03.529 Hmm. 00:18:03.849 --> 00:18:11.724 and readers do love to connect with writers and, and you want to build that connection. 00:18:12.505 --> 00:18:12.835 Yeah. 00:18:12.835 --> 00:18:13.974 I mean, I'm not gonna lie. 00:18:14.005 --> 00:18:19.404 More than likely I'll be using this virtual writer's retreat time to be in Canva, creating. 00:18:20.049 --> 00:18:28.869 All the different images that I'm gonna wanna use that I have available to me so far, um, for marketing material because I just know myself. 00:18:28.869 --> 00:18:30.789 And there are moments where I'm like, oh, I should post something. 00:18:30.789 --> 00:18:32.230 I should sit down and do something. 00:18:32.470 --> 00:18:41.740 But if I don't have it ready to go already, then I just, that momentum just will not continue for me and for whatever reason, I tend to think about this when I am. 00:18:42.144 --> 00:18:53.214 You know, sitting in the car waiting to go into the school where I work or while the, the children are taking their nap time, like not at times when I can actually go in and create the thing that I wanna post. 00:18:53.335 --> 00:19:01.494 And so it's so nice for me if I can take advantage of times like these chunks that we offer during our writer's retreat where. 00:19:01.764 --> 00:19:06.174 You know, I can go ahead and do like the backend work that needs to happen. 00:19:06.684 --> 00:19:14.664 Um, Stephanie, will you just explain briefly like what our writer's retreats actually look like for people who maybe haven't heard us talk about them before or haven't attended one before? 00:19:16.875 --> 00:19:23.379 Yeah, so our writer's retreats are opportunities for you to show up on Zoom, be in community with other writers. 00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:28.690 You do not have to have your camera on unless you want to. 00:19:28.869 --> 00:19:31.539 You don't have to share it all about what you're doing. 00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:32.859 It's totally optional. 00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:40.389 What we've created these for is to give you space to show up in community with other writers. 00:19:40.389 --> 00:19:51.509 That's a huge part of what we talk about so much here as about the value of having community, having the touch points with other people who are in a similar space as you. 00:19:52.754 --> 00:20:07.974 As you listen, Elizabeth and I are in different places with our writing and we're in completely different genres with our writing, but we're still showing up together and we're, you know, podcasting together and there are all these pieces and, and we just want to bring you into our space. 00:20:07.974 --> 00:20:10.164 We, we want you to connect with us. 00:20:10.164 --> 00:20:21.454 We want to be a support for you and that's your opportunity when you come to the writing retreat is you get to connect with other writers. 00:20:21.484 --> 00:20:23.944 And again you show up. 00:20:24.579 --> 00:20:28.240 As much or as little as you like, you can. 00:20:28.509 --> 00:20:31.569 If you have to come a little bit late, it's not a big deal. 00:20:31.809 --> 00:20:36.009 You'll just come in the room and be a part of what we're, what we're doing. 00:20:36.009 --> 00:20:40.149 And you know, typically we have a little brief intro in the beginning. 00:20:40.509 --> 00:20:45.190 Then it's turning off the camera and the audio and there's a set work time. 00:20:45.190 --> 00:20:46.299 We set a timer. 00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:50.230 Then we come back together at the end and we debrief if you want. 00:20:50.230 --> 00:20:51.129 You don't have to. 00:20:51.129 --> 00:20:53.440 Again, it's really your choice. 00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:54.639 You make it what you want. 00:20:54.909 --> 00:20:56.169 You work on what you want. 00:20:56.409 --> 00:20:59.349

Nobody's going to be critiquing what you're doing. 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:01.389 You don't have to share what you're doing. 00:21:01.569 --> 00:21:06.190 I mean, as you as, as we're talking here, I mean, both of us are thinking like, oh, okay. 00:21:06.190 --> 00:21:08.559 This is a great time to get some of these admin. 00:21:08.865 --> 00:21:09.434 Tasks 00:21:09.585 --> 00:21:10.095 Mm-hmm. 00:21:10.634 --> 00:21:20.504 you know, I'm sitting here thinking as I'm talking, I'm like, okay, like this is my chance to set up another 30 day sprint on Instagram with Canva. 00:21:20.504 --> 00:21:21.914 I mean, Elizabeth talking about Canva. 00:21:21.914 --> 00:21:24.194 I'm like, you know, I love being in 00:21:24.579 --> 00:21:25.359 You are so good at it. 00:21:25.544 --> 00:21:28.634 you know, design the, I can design the heck out of anything. 00:21:28.634 --> 00:21:28.815 And 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.230 Yeah. 00:21:29.384 --> 00:21:31.274 Like, why am I not in Canva? 00:21:31.305 --> 00:21:31.605 You know? 00:21:31.605 --> 00:21:37.154 So those pieces and we're really here to support you. 00:21:37.404 --> 00:21:40.284 And we offer invitations during that time too. 00:21:40.315 --> 00:21:46.014 Elizabeth offers an invitation to work with her and her one-on-one coaching for memoir writers. 00:21:46.464 --> 00:21:58.164 I'll be inviting you if you need help with building your platform, setting up your presence, online guidance with how to do that in a way that's simple and manageable for you. 00:21:58.944 --> 00:22:03.984 know, I, as I say, just probably like you writer who's listening to this. 00:22:05.029 --> 00:22:18.180 You know, you have a love hate relationship with all of that piece, or maybe you love it, maybe you're all about the spotlight, and that's great you can bring that with you and, share your wisdom of how that works and for you. 00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:24.180 And so again, we're really about learning from each other and, and using the time to connect. 00:22:24.424 --> 00:22:25.649 and this is a free offering. 00:22:25.649 --> 00:22:27.450 There's no cost at all to attend. 00:22:27.450 --> 00:22:30.184 Simply add your email address to our list. 00:22:30.899 --> 00:22:35.759 Um, so that you can get those Zoom links drop in for whatever parts you want. 00:22:36.029 --> 00:22:39.180 But this is a way for you to try out our community. 00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:46.529 This is something that we have other offers that are a little bit more closed door, but this is a great way for you to get a sense of. 00:22:47.190 --> 00:22:54.329 Whether or not our community is one you wanna be a part of, it can be such a challenge to find a writing community that you jive with. 00:22:54.329 --> 00:22:58.980 And so much of the time you're asked for like a financial investment or time commitment up upfront. 00:22:59.069 --> 00:23:03.659 And it's hard to commit to that when you don't know if these are the people that are your people. 00:23:03.869 --> 00:23:06.930 And so these virtual retreats are a great way to come. 00:23:07.230 --> 00:23:09.869 Meet a handful of our regular people. 00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:18.930 And then if you like it, if you wanna stay, we do offer weekly writing times, but we only send those links out to those who specifically request it. 00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:20.970 And that's a much smaller group. 00:23:21.329 --> 00:23:23.309 Um, and it's really only those who work. 00:23:23.315 --> 00:23:30.514 Committed and need the accountability and want that current accountability for whatever big writing project they're currently working on. 00:23:30.904 --> 00:23:38.555 But I just have to say, there's so many nuggets of wisdom that come out of those really brief, like introduction and debrief times around the writing. 00:23:38.825 --> 00:23:41.884 That's basically what inspired next week's episode with Jared. 00:23:42.244 --> 00:23:48.904 Um, and, and so there's, there's just a lot there, not just for your own work, but simply. 00:23:49.484 --> 00:24:01.065 Seeing other writers working on their craft because in our day-to-day lives outside of the internet where we're connected to all these other people and writers, you might be the only writer around. 00:24:01.184 --> 00:24:02.865 You might be the only writer in your friend group. 00:24:02.865 --> 00:24:05.894 You might be the only writer in your family and they don't really get it. 00:24:05.984 --> 00:24:09.315 But you can come hang out with a room full of people. 00:24:09.615 --> 00:24:11.504 Our writing times are like an hour. 00:24:12.629 --> 00:24:22.289 So it, it's not a significant amount of time, it's just enough to like maybe write a, a scene or like get some admin work done as we mentioned. 00:24:22.829 --> 00:24:29.759 Um, but you'll see the link in our show notes to hop on that list if you're interested to make sure you get those. 00:24:30.134 --> 00:24:38.444 Zoom meeting links and you can check out our website for specific times'cause we haven't totally decided on those yet in this moment of recording. 00:24:38.444 --> 00:24:39.704 But we have picked the dates. 00:24:39.884 --> 00:24:47.055 So mark your calendar for April 17th, 18th, and 19th if you wanna be a part of our next quarterly Virtual Writer's retreat. 00:24:47.654 --> 00:24:50.714 And in the meantime, happy writing. 00:24:54.855 --> 00:24:55.027 All right.