Writing a memoir can be a challenging yet rewarding genre that can have a profound impact on creativity, emotions, and financial success as an author.
Authors need to embrace disruption in the publishing industry and stay ahead of the curve by adopting technological advancements like generative AI tools to enhance the creative process and improve writing and publishing processes.
Deep dives
Lesson 1: Memoir is a challenging and rewarding genre
Writing a memoir can be one of the most difficult and fulfilling genres to tackle. The host shares her experience of writing her memoir and the personal and professional growth it brought. She emphasizes the importance of taking the time to write the book of your heart and the positive impact it can have on your creativity, emotions, and financial success as an author.
Lesson 2: Disruption is inevitable and should be embraced
The host discusses the concept of disruption in the publishing industry and urges authors to disrupt themselves before they are disrupted by external forces. She highlights the need to stay ahead of the curve and embrace technological advancements like generative AI tools that can enhance the creative process. The host shares her own experience of using AI tools and how they have transformed her writing and publishing processes.
Lesson 3: Diversifying income streams through Kickstarter and Shopify
The host shares her journey of diversifying her income streams and reducing dependence on platforms like Amazon. She explains how she leveraged Kickstarter to fund her book projects and create limited edition physical copies, resulting in a successful launch and increased revenue. Additionally, the host discusses the development of her own online store using Shopify, allowing her to sell directly to readers and gain more control over her book sales.
Lesson 4: Reflecting on the past and looking toward the future
The host reflects on her 12 years as an author entrepreneur and urges others to find their own lessons from their author journey. She encourages authors to continue writing, publishing, and marketing with a focus on long-term growth and enjoyment. The host expresses gratitude to her supporters, patrons, and sponsors, and shares her excitement for future projects and opportunities.
In this solo episode, I talk about my lessons learned from 12 years as a full-time author entrepreneur. You can read/listen to previous updates at TheCreativePenn.com/timeline. In the intro, Finding readers [ALLi blog]; Writing the Shadow Kickstarter. Today's show is sponsored by ProWritingAid, writing and editing software that goes way beyond just grammar and typo checking. […]