SPA Girls Podcast

In the SPA today, we talk about the evolution of our writing process. We delve into the changes that have taken place in our writing journeys over the last few years. Wendy discusses her collaboration with her son, and how merging two styles makes life interesting! Are you someone who has storyboards? Do you write linear, or do you start at chapter one and then skip to chapter five? Some authors need to see the cover of their book before they write it, others, pictures of the main characters. Everyone is different and trying to fit into a mould that doesn’t suit you can often stifle creativity. The point is, there is no right or wrong way to do things! This is your journey. Podcasts: https://www.patriciamclinn.com/blogpodcast/ https://www.thecreativepenn.com/podcasts/ ❤️ Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! ➡️ Visit SpaGirlsPodcast.com for full show notes and all previous episodes 🔍 Subscribe on your fav podcast app – search “SPA Girls Podcast” 📧 Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors Get your FREE Cheat Sheet! You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: Podcast Episodes ✔️ Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ How To Self-Publish with the SPA Girls ✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

If you’re considering changing genres, starting a new series, trying new tropes, or are even just so confused about this writing malarky that you’re not even sure you’ll write anything next… this is the episode for you. It’s a difficult decision to move to a new genre, or to move on from a series that’s not doing as well as you’d like, or even from a series that you love, but just can’t write any more, but it’s a decision we’ve all made here in the SPA. We talk about what we do when trying to decide what to write next, how we’ve made the decisions to switch something up or change course, and how you can successfully do the same thing. We talk about what it took to make the decision, the things we took into account, and why we decided to make the changes. If you’re at the point where you’re asking yourself that dreaded writer question – What Do I Write Next? – then we hope this episode will help give you the answers you need. Links mentioned: Fallyn Briggs – Writing to Market vs Writing To Trendhttp://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep297-fallyn-briggs-writing-to-trend-v-writing-to-market/ Patricia McLinn – http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep189-pantsing-with-patricia-mclinn/ Access your inner wisdom – interview with psychotherapist, Linda Pucci : http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep314-interview-with-linda-pucci/

It’s no secret that we use Written Word Media for ads and while we don’t have affiliate links, we can’t think of a reason not to try Freebooksy and Bargainbooksy. But what would you say to them running Facebook ads for you? Today in the SPA we have Clayton Noblit, Senior Marketing Manager, along with Grant Shepherd, Ad Fulfilment Manager at Written Word Media, and they’re here to talk to us about Reader Reach. Reader Reach is a data-driven all-in-one ad solution that allows authors to reach thousands of readers on Facebook as efficiently as possible. Learning how to build ad images, audience research, or writing ad copy, the setting up and running ads can be time-consuming, costly, and stressful. Reader Reach does all the heavy lifting for you. The Reader Reach team handles everything, from ad creative and copy to audience targeting and bidding. Their goal is to help you find the right audience for your book, and let you focus on what matters most: writing your next book! Show Notes: How does it work? Reader Reach Ads are easy to book. Simply go through the checkout process, enter your book information, plus your desired run dates, and the team handles everything else. Schedule your ad campaign in 5 minutes. The Reader Reach Ads team designs the ad images, writes the copy, set budgets, picks the best audiences, and schedules your ads. Your Reader Reach Ads run for 5 days. During your campaign, the Reader Reach Ads team monitors your ads and optimizes the campaign to get the best results possible. The cost is currently $150 for 1 book. Usually they will do 2 ad sets, monitor them and move funds around if 1 ad is doing better than the others. If the ad does well you can repeat the process by having them copy it. All ads are done through Written Word Media Facebook pages. There is no price restriction for books, but$4.99 or less show the best results. You can find Reader Reach here: https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/reader-reach 💗 Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! * Visit SpaGirlsPodcast.com for full show notes and all previous episodes * Subscribe on your fav podcast app – search “SPA Girls Podcast” * Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors on our website * Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @SPAGirlsPodcast * Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt Today we’re inspired by this quote from Franklin Roosevelt’s triumphant 1910 speech, dubbed “the man in the arena”. In particular, it’s use in Brene Brown’s work (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-JXOnFOXQk) on facing your critics and dealing with self doubt. Courage Over Comfort How can we, as authors and self-publishers, deal with the internal (and external!) voices of criticism, meet our expectations and forge ahead with our publishing plans when we don’t feel at all confident we’re on the right path? How do you know when it’s time to move on from your book or books you loved writing, but no one else seems interested in buying? We hope you find this relatable – and uplifting!  Resources mentioned: Brene Brown: https://brenebrown.com/ Sunk Cost Fallacy further reading: https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/the-sunk-cost-fallacy/ 💗 Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! * Visit SpaGirlsPodcast.com for full show notes and all previous episodes * Subscribe on your fav podcast app – search “SPA Girls Podcast” * Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors on our website * Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @SPAGirlsPodcast * Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

Evan Gow is the indie developer of StoryOrigin, a marketing tool and community of authors that work together to find reviewers, build mailing lists, increase sales, and stay on top of deadlines Evan studied the strategies that authors use to build their mailing lists, find reviewers, increase sales, or manage deadlines for nearly 4 years, while building features to make using all of those strategies easier. Cross-promotionGroup Promos (multiple authors promoting a landing page where you all list your books)Newsletter Swaps (another author will promote your book directly in their newsletter – and vice verse – you promote theirs in your newsletter)GoalsFinding reviewers (vetting reviewers, follow-up, pre- / post-publication, …)Increasing sales (universal book links, newsletter swaps, …)Building your mailing list (reader magnets, group promos, …)Managing deadlines (word count tracking, newsletter planning, …) Recently added – finding beta readers and collecting feedback. https://storyoriginapp.com/ You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: www.spagirlspodcast.com Make sure you’re signed up to our weekly self-publishing tips newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bGkz8L Come say hi on Facebook and Twitter @spagirlspodcast  

Wondering how to get started with Facebook ads, but not sure where to start? Join us for today’s podcast with Facebook ads guru, Nicholas Erik! Nicholas is a science fiction author with more than 20 books to his name. He’s also written books for authors including The Ultimate Guide to Book Marketing and The Ultimate Guide to Productivity, as well as running courses about Facebook Ads, Amazon Ads and BookBub Ads for authors. He was awesome to talk to and gave a huge amount of useful information for authors – this is one of those episodes you really don’t want to miss! You can find Nicholas at www.nicholaserik.com

After logging time as a music journalist, playwright, and radio writer, Theodora Taylor fell in love with penning hot books with heart. Since deciding to become an author, she’s published 54 books in a range of genres—but with one thing in common—universal fantasies.  When not thinking of ways to write and sell even more hot books with heart, she enjoys spending time with her amazing family, going on date nights with her wonderful husband, learning German, watching ALL the Shonda Rhimes shows ever, and attending parties thrown by others.  She’s here to talk about universal fantasies with us today—what they are, and how you can use them to get your books on the bestseller lists!   Some examples of universal fantasies  •          Banging the beast  •          Hot guy likes the geeky girl •          Makeover scene •          Love triangles  •          Not just any gift – the right gift  •          Wounded main character in need of love  •          Fixer upper Listen to What makes Universal Fantasies so powerful for authors and why readers love them so much. Find Theodora at: https://theodorataylor.com/ email at tt @ 7figurefiction.com Buy Theodora’s Book 💗 Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! * Visit SpaGirlsPodcast.com for full show notes and all previous episodes * Subscribe on your fav podcast app – search “SPA Girls Podcast” * Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors on our website * Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @SPAGirlsPodcast * Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

How To Stop Being Your Own Worst Enemy! The Key To Success Is Between Your Ears! Linda Pucci, Ph.D is a retired psychologist who has turned into a romance novelist (under a separate penname).  After working with people in therapy for 35 years and coaching for 20, she’s realized the key to building lasting relationships and being happy involves letting go of emotional baggage – something her fiction demonstrates through character arcs.  Today Linda is here to talk about how we as creatives can overcome our limiting beliefs, fears of success, failure, being an imposter et al and how we can STOP being our own worst enemy! “I believe that all people carry within themselves the resources to solve their life’s challenges. They just don’t know how to access them. I help them find those inner resources and stand back as they change their lives.” – Linda Pucci, Ph.D. You’ll find this episode incredibly insightful and encouraging – one you’ll listen to again and again especially for the guided meditation! Don’t forget to let Linda and ourselves know what shift you will have experienced in 2021! You can reach Linda via email at linda @ innerresourcecenter.com Linda’s romance penname: Cassidy Wells http://www.cassidywells.com/ 💗 Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! * Visit SpaGirlsPodcast.com for full show notes and all previous episodes * Subscribe on your fav podcast app – search “SPA Girls Podcast” * Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors on our website * Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @SPAGirlsPodcast * Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

Feeling a bit bombarded by conflicting advice re writing and self-publishing? Got FOMO about courses and conferences others are experiencing, but you can’t afford or attend? And how do you figure out what advice works best for YOU? Friends, you’re not alone – we’ve been there too. This episode we discuss The Best (and Worst!) Advice and …WHERE is it coming fromWHO is giving itHOW it can derail youHOW it can also put you on the right pathWHAT filters to apply so you’re listening to the right adviceWHAT are the credentials of the advice giver?WHAT should you do when you’re overwhelmed by advice 💗 Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! Visit SpaGirlsPodcast.com for full show notes and all previous episodes Subscribe on your fav podcast app – search “SPA Girls Podcast” Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors on our website Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @SPAGirlsPodcast Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

Author and host of Become A Writer Today Podcast, Bryan Collins, joins the SPA today from Ireland. We love our Irish guests and are super stoked to welcome him here today to talk all things Creativity and how to pull yourself out of a creative rut. Topics covered include finding the time to write, author expectations, free writing, conquering writers block, simple ways to improve productivity and the power of crafting a personal mission statement for your own writing. About Bryan Bryan Collins: Bryan fell in love with the art of writing when he was just 7 years old. After failing as an Irish journalist and short story writer, he drifted in and out of other jobs and spent a year as a stay-at-home Dad. Broke, lacking self-belief and feeling a lack of purpose, Bryan decided to go back into writing but this time focused on learning skills like copywriting and content marketing. He became an award-winning senior content marketer for Sage – one of the top accounting software companies in the world and launched ‘Become a Writer Today’ which generated 2,500,000 page views over the past year. He’s been a guest writer for major publications like Lifehacker, FastCompany, and Copyblogger. He’s also a former Forbes contributor. His writing online has been viewed over 10 million times He’s also the author of several bestselling books including, ‘The Art of Writing a Non-Fiction Book’, ‘The Power of Creativity’, and ‘Yes, You Can Write’. On his top-ranked podcast, Bryan has interviewed NY Times bestselling authors including Daniel Pink, James Clear, and Joanna Penn. Bryan’s website is: http://www.becomeawritertoday.com/ Resources mentioned: Books: Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon Essays by Joan Didion (Essays — Joan Didion)  https://www.thejoandidion.com/essays/ Story by Robert McKee Seven Habits of Effective People by Stephen Covey