Wish I'd Known Then . . . For Writers Learning to Reverse Engineer a Novel with Cecelia Mecca
Historical romance author Cecelia Mecca joins Jami Albright and Sara Rosett. Cecelia shares what she learned when she changed genres and how she now reverse engineers her books before she writes them.
Jami, Sara, and Cecelia discuss:
- How Cecelia transitioned from being an English teacher and a teacher of teachers to writing fiction full-time
- Her mistake involving releasing her prequel novella on Super Bowl Sunday
- The challenge of replicating success
- Ceclia’s love of plotting books and how she wishes she’d read more craft books before writing her first novel
- How important packaging is for your book (cover, title, blurb, trope) and reverse engineering your novel, including considering how to marry what her muse wants her to write with considerations about cover and marketing
- Tips for using free marketing strategies including Facebook Live and Facebook groups (types and timing of posts)
- How to get to know your readers
- An incredibly simple, yet effective tip on how to to be successful on social media
- Assumptions involving transferring from one genre to another
- How Cecelia wishes she’d taken a closer look at the market for vampire books, but then discusses how much she learned from not doing that and how she now reverse engineers her books
- The benefits of focusing narrowly on social media
- How not using a pen name can be a mistake and lead to confused also-boughts on the ebook stores
- Learning not to be so hard on yourself when things don’t as you expect
- Strategies to reach new readers including being a hybrid author and using print, including hardbacks and large print
Importance of friendships in a writing career and how attending conferences can help you connect with other authors in your genre
- Links/Mentioned:
Cecelia’s website http://ceceliamecca.com - Launching Indie Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/263060221047105/
- Romancing the Beat https://books2read.com/u/mBgGGD
- Rock Your Plot https://books2read.com/u/mYp77P
- Book Faces Live podcast https://nathanvancoops.podbean.com/e/cecelia-and-nathan-compare-favorite-plotting-methods-and-their-strategies-for-structure/
- Podcast deliberate actions for success in Facebook g
🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices
❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5
🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/
📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/
The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing