Indie Writers Club

SummaryIn this episode of the Indie Writers Club, hosts Cara Clare and James Blatch discuss alternative income streams for writers, focusing on ghostwriting and non-fiction opportunities. They explore the benefits of ghostwriting, including collaborative writing processes and reliable income, while also emphasizing the importance of diversifying income sources through teaching and coaching. The conversation highlights the value of community support among independent authors and the various ways to monetize writing skills beyond traditional publishing.TakeawaysAlternative income streams are essential for independent authors.Ghostwriting can provide reliable income and valuable writing experience.Collaboration in writing can enhance creativity and productivity.Non-fiction writing, such as courses and coaching, can diversify income.Authors should not underestimate their knowledge and skills.Community support is crucial for motivation and accountability.Setting realistic writing goals helps maintain progress.Exploring different genres can lead to new opportunities.Understanding market trends can inform writing projects.Building a brand as a writer can open doors to various income sources. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Indie Writers Club01:14 Exploring Alternative Income Streams for Writers17:17 Diving into Ghostwriting33:26 Non-Fiction Opportunities for AuthorsSupport the show

James & Cara discuss TikTok and it's impact on the book market and whether it's still a place where authors can find new readers.  Useful links:  Our TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@indie.writers.clu The Discord Server: indiewritersclub.com/discord PublishDrive: publishdrive.comSummaryIn this episode of the Indie Writers Club, hosts Cara Clare and James Blatch discuss the significant impact of TikTok on the book world, sharing personal experiences and insights on how the platform has transformed book marketing for indie authors. They explore the dynamics of their Word Count Club, the challenges and strategies of using TikTok for book promotion, and the evolution of social media in the writing community. The conversation also touches on the importance of SEO, the commercialization of TikTok, and the various ways authors can engage with their audience without necessarily appearing on camera. TakeawaysTikTok has revolutionized book marketing for indie authors.Setting achievable writing goals can boost motivation.Engaging with readers on platforms like TikTok can lead to significant book sales.SEO is crucial for visibility on TikTok.The platform has become more commercialized, affecting organic reach.Authors can succeed on TikTok without showing their faces.Community support is vital for maintaining motivation in writing.Analyzing successful content can help tailor your own strategy.TikTok serves as a powerful recommendation engine for books.Virality on TikTok can attract both positive and negative attention. Chapters00:00 Introduction and Welcome01:15 The Impact of TikTok on the Book World07:01 Word Count Club Updates18:37 Exploring Reem Stories and Author Platforms22:16 The Evolution of TikTok and Its Commercialization40:11 Strategies for Success on TikTokSupport the show

Cara & James discuss the many scams awaiting the unwary indie author.Sign up for alerts and never miss an episode: indiewritersclub.comJoin the discussion: indiewritersclub.com/discordShownotes for 004Links:https://www.alamy.com/ - Huge library of archive photographs, including publicity and news. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rubyroe/nsfw-lesbian-vampire-romance-special-editions - Sacha Black's successful Kickstarter (writing as Ruby Roe).SummaryIn this episode of the Indie Writers Club, James and Cara discuss their writing progress, community engagement, and the importance of setting realistic word count goals. They share insights on the challenges of self-publishing, including scams targeting new authors and the significance of using reliable resources. The conversation also highlights the recent success of a Kickstarter campaign and praises a stock photography service that has improved for indie authors. The hosts emphasize the need for indie authors to be cautious and informed in their publishing journey.TakeawaysWriting every day can lead to significant progress.Setting realistic goals helps maintain motivation.Community support is crucial for indie authors.Stock photography can enhance book covers significantly.Be cautious of marketing companies that promise too much.ISBNs and formatting are manageable tasks for authors.Joining writing communities can provide valuable insights.Scams targeting new authors are prevalent and should be avoided.Money should flow to authors, not the other way around.Indie authors can do much of the work themselves with the right resources.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene02:57 Word Count Goals and Accountability05:59 Community Engagement and Support09:10 Praise for Alamy and Stock Photography11:56 Mailing List Challenges15:00 Kickstarter Success and Shoutouts18:01 Scams Targeting New Authors24:11 Golden Rules for Indie Authors27:04 Closing Thoughts and Future GoalsSupport the show

SummaryIn this episode, Cara Clare and James Blatch discuss their writing progress and strategies. They talk about their word count goals and the challenges of writing during the summer holidays. They also discuss the benefits of accountability and writing sprints. The conversation then shifts to the topic of plotting and pantsing. Cara shares her experience with ghostwriting and using detailed outlines, while James talks about his discovery writing process and the influence of his personal experiences on his stories. In this conversation, James and Cara discuss the creative process of writing and the importance of giving oneself time and space to think. They also touch on the topic of editing and the balance between perfectionism and getting the book finished. They mention the use of sound and music while writing and share their preferences for white noise and instrumental tracks. The conversation concludes with a discussion about the tolerance for typos in indie and traditional publishing. KeywordsIndie Writers Club, word count, writing progress, accountability, writing sprints, plotting, pantsing, ghostwriting, outlines, discovery writing, writing process, creativity, thinking time, editing, perfectionism, sound and music, typos, indie publishing, traditional publishing. TakeawaysSetting word count goals and having accountability can help writers stay motivated and focused.Writing sprints and body doubling can be effective strategies for overcoming writing challenges.There are different approaches to plotting and pantsing, and what works for one writer may not work for another.Detailed outlines can provide structure and guidance for writing, while discovery writing allows for more creativity and spontaneity.Personal experiences and emotions can influence and shape the stories that writers tell. Give yourself time and space to think and let ideas mature before starting to write.The creative process requires rumination and time for the brain to work.Sound and music can be helpful for setting the mood while writing, but it's important to find what works best for you.Typos and minor errors in published books are common and often matter less to readers than the overall story.Finding the balance between perfectionism and getting the book finished is crucial for indie authors. Chapters00:00 Introduction and Word Count Goals02:00 Writing Sprints and Accountability06:37 The Benefits of Writing Sprints and Body Doubling10:38 Exploring Plotting and Pantsing13:33 Ghostwriting and Detailed Outlines18:39 Discovery Writing and Personal Influences21:11 The Importance of Thinking Time26:45 Finding the Right Sound and Music30:20 Balancing Perfectionism and Getting the Book Finished34:24 The Tolerance for Typos Support the show

SummaryIn this episode, James and Cara discuss the balance between character and plot in writing. They share their own writing projects and word count goals, and explore how different genres prioritize character development and plot progression. They also discuss the importance of finding the right balance between character and plot to create a satisfying reading experience. The conversation explores the importance of character and plot in storytelling. It discusses the idea that characters are what draw readers into a story and keep them engaged, while plot is the reason why readers pick up a book in the first place. The hosts share examples from different genres, such as police procedurals and thrillers, to illustrate how character-driven stories can be just as compelling as plot-driven ones. They also discuss the interplay between character and plot, emphasizing the importance of seamlessly weaving them together to create a captivating narrative.Keywordswriting, character, plot, genre, balance, word count, development, progression, character, plot, storytelling, engagement, police procedurals, thrillers, interplay TakeawaysThe balance between character and plot varies across different genres.Character-driven stories focus on the development and growth of the characters, while plot-driven stories prioritize the progression of events.Both character and plot are important for a successful book, but the emphasis may differ depending on the genre and reader expectations.Finding the right balance between character and plot is crucial to create a satisfying reading experience.Word count goals can vary for different writers, and it's important to find a pace that works best for individual writing styles and preferences. Characters are what draw readers into a story and keep them engaged.Plot is the reason why readers pick up a book in the first place.Character-driven stories can be just as compelling as plot-driven ones.Seamlessly weaving character and plot together creates a captivating narrative.TitlesSetting Personal Word Count Goals and Writing PacesThe Varying Emphasis on Character and Plot Across Genres The Role of Plot in Engaging ReadersThe Power of Characters in Storytelling Sound Bites"Character-driven stories focus on the development and growth of the characters.""Plot-driven stories prioritize the progression of events.""The balance between character and plot varies across different genres.""I'm fantasizing about rewriting that book... instead of him being underconfident, he's cocky and arrogant.""Plot is the reason somebody reads a book, characters are the reason they stay and like it.""It's likely to be the small conversations and interactions between characters that stay with people."Chapters 00:00 Introduction and the Challenges of Talking About Writing02:55 Character vs. Plot: Exploring the Balance10:51 James and Cara's Writing Projects and Word Count Goals16:50 The Emphasis on Character and Plot in Different Genres22:57 The Importance of Finding the Right Balance24:23 The Power of Characters26:32 The Role of Plot29:53 Character vs. Plot33:51 The Interplay Between Character and PlotSupport the show

SummaryIn this episode, hosts Cara Clare and James Blatch introduce themselves and the purpose of the podcast. They discuss their backgrounds as authors and their experiences in the publishing industry. They also explain how listeners can get involved in the podcast through the Discord server and Facebook group. The hosts emphasize that the podcast will cover a wide range of topics related to writing, including craft, marketing, and mental wellbeing. KeywordsIndie authors, podcast, introduction, publishing industry, writing craft, marketing, mental wellbeing.TakeawaysThe Indie Writers Club podcast is a platform for indie authors and anyone interested in writing.The hosts, Cara Clare and James Blatch, have backgrounds in writing and publishing.Listeners can get involved in the podcast through the Discord server and Facebook group.The podcast will cover various topics related to writing, including craft, marketing, and mental wellbeing. TitlesIntroducing the Indie Writers Club PodcastCovering a Wide Range of Writing Topics on the Podcast Sound Bites"Hello, welcome to the Indie Writers Club.""I had this one novel, which I'd done a NaNoWriMo to get it going and had, I think I had something like 106,000 words a bit, but it was a complete mess.""Writing a novel is a strange thing. It's a complicated thing, writing novels." Chapters00:00Introducing the Indie Writers Club Podcast01:41Writing Journeys: From NaNoWriMo to Published Novels03:03The Complicated Process of Writing Novels08:06Cara Clare's Journey into Writing and Self-Publishing09:47The Democratization of Publishing and Indie Authors13:52Exploring Various Writing Topics on the PodcastSupport the show

News of a new podcast for writers from James Blatch.Join the alerts list at indiewritersclub.comSupport the show