Wish I'd Known Then . . . For Writers

Episode 179 / We dug into the archives this week and pulled out one of our early episodes with David Gaughran, which is full of helpful and relevant advice.David decodes Amazon and breaks down Bookbub ads for authors in addition to writing historical fiction and sci fi. David shares how his mistakes have shaped his decision to reboot his fiction and nonfiction books.Supporter chat Aug 27th at 3pm CST. 💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/supportInkersCon: https://learn.inkerscon.com/inkers-con-2023-digital-launch/ You can get a discount with one of our codes: JAMI23 or SARA23 Historical Mystery Day Bookfunnel Promo in Sept https://www.sararosett.com/HMD23Sara’s 2023 Kickstarter: https://www.sararosett.com/ksLinks:David Gaughran’s website: https://www.DavidGaughran.comStarting from Zero course: https://courses.davidgaughran.com/courses/starting-from-zero   Transcript: https://wishidknownforwriters.com/179-2/More links: 🚀 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-podcastResources from the Author and Reader Community to Help UkrainiansSend us a textSupport the show🚀 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

Episode 178 / Do you want to improve the dialogue in your novels? Author and dialogue coach Jeff Elkins shares tips on differentiating character voices and tips for using (or not!) dialogue tags. We also touch on the “rules” of writing versus reader expectations. Author website: https://jeffelkinswriter.com/https://dialoguedoctor.com/💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/supportTranscript: https://wishidknownforwriters.com/178-2/More links: 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-podcastJami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/launchplanJami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help UkrainiansSend us a textSupport the show🚀 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

Episode 177 / Podcaster and mystery/ suspense author Matty Dalrymple joins us to talk about what she’s learned about how she’s learned to focus on writing her novels. We also chat about the benefits of writing short stories and podcasting for authors.Author website: https://www.mattydalrymple.com/ https://www.theindyauthor.com/💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/supportOther links mentioned: Link to download Matty’s Writer's Digest article "Creating Your Story Frame": https://www.theindyauthor.com/creating-a-story-frame.htmlLink to more on Podcasting for Authors: https://www.theindyauthor.com/podcasting-for-authors.htmlLink to more on short fiction: https://www.theindyauthor.com/short-fiction.htmlMatt Holmes’ Facebook ads class https://www.matthewjholmes.com/jumpstart-facebook-adsOur Sponsor: BookVault.appLink: https://wishidknownforwriters.com/BookVaultWIKT podcast episode with BookVault: https://wishidknownforwriters.com/162-2More links: 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-podcastJami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/launchplanJami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help UkrainiansSend us a textSupport the show🚀 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

Episode 176 / Direct sales is the current hot topic in the author community, but there’s lots of choices to be made. Landing page or store? Kickstarter or subscription? And taxes–what about taxes? Hello, decision fatigue. Fear not, we've got your back.In this episode, we break down direct sales into five main types 🖐️. We'll walk you through the difficulty level of each type, explain what kind of authors are best suited for each, and share some invaluable resources 🧰. 💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/supportTime Stamps:Buy ButtonDifficulty: EasySoftware options: Bookfunnel, Payhip, WooCommerce, LuluBest for: Authors who want to add direct sales to their income stream, but don’t want to spend time on adsRecommended resources: Bookfunnel integrations guide https://authors.bookfunnel.com/help/delivery-actions/Podcasts: most recent podcast with Jami Davis (WIKT Episode 170) https://wishidknownforwriters.com/170-2/Landing PageDifficulty: Medium Software options: Bookfunnel, Lead Pages, ThriveCart, etc with BookVault, LuluBest for: Authors who have either a few products and don’t want to create a store or authors with a huge backlist who want to sell direct, but don’t want to spend a massive amount of time uploading backlist to a storePodcast: Nell Goddin (WIKT Episode 161) https://wishidknownforwriters.com/161-2/Recommended resources:Russell and Monica’s Author Ecosystem https://authorecosystem.com/overview/Store (usually Shopify)Difficulty: AdvancedSoftware options: Payhip, Gumroad, Shopify, etc along with email providers like Klaviyo and ConvertKit along with BookVault or LuluBest for: Authors who have multiple series and enjoy adsPodcasts:Morgana Best (WIKT Episode 136) https://wishidknownforwriters.com/136-2/Rebel Author Podcast with Morgana Best https://pod.link/rebelauthor/episode/e446454bee2596c7a50843f72a8bee65Rachel Hanna (WIKT Episode 172) https://wishidknownforwriters.com/172-2/The Creative Penn interview with Katie Cross https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2022/06/20/selling-books-dSend us a textSupport the show🚀 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

Episode 175 / Romance author and creator of the Wide for the Win Facebook group, Erin Wright, shares a blueprint for going from KU to wide as well as marketing tips for selling wide–without ads!Erin’s website: https://erinwright.net/ https://erinwright.net/authorshttps://erinwright.net/consultingWide for the Win Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/wideforthewin💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/supportShow notes:  https://wishidknownforwriters.com/175-2/Our Sponsor: Bookvault.appLink: https://wishidknownforwriters.com/BookVaultMore links: 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-podcastJami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservicesJami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help UkrainiansSend us a textSupport the show🚀 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

Episode 174 / We attended Inkers Con Author Conference in Dallas a few weeks ago and we’re here to share our favorite moments and our biggest takeaways on taglines, tropes, direct sales, productivity, backlist sales, and so much more. The digital version of the Inkers Con conference is already open. Grab your ticket here: https://wishidknownforwriters.com/Inkers23 (Affiliate link). Use either one of our codes, Jami23 or Sara23, for $50 off.  You can watch the recorded sessions or participate in the live online events like roundtables, author Q & A, as well as networking and co-writing sessions. 💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/supportOur Sponsor: BookVault.appLink: https://wishidknownforwriters.com/BookVaultWIKT Episode 162: Print Books: Adding Extra Value and Maximizing Profit with Alex Smith of BookVault https://wishidknownforwriters.com/162-2/Transcript:https://wishidknownforwriters.com/174-2/Send us a textSupport the show🚀 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

Episode 173 / Raythe Reign writes in the gay paranormal genre and joins us to talk about writing serials, podcasting audiobooks as a lead magnet, and running a membership on her own site.Author website: www.RaytheReign.com & https://www.youtube.com/@RaytheReign💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/supportOur Sponsor: tryvellum.com/wishTranscript at https://wishidknownforwriters.com/173-2/More links: 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-podcastJami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/launchplanJami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help UkrainiansSend us a textSupport the show🚀 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

Episode 172 / Women’s fiction author, Rachel Hanna shares about writing women’s fiction and branching out into direct sales using Shopify and Klaviyo. Author website: www.RachelHannaAuthor.com💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/supportMore links: 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-podcastJami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/launchplanJami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help UkrainiansSend us a textSupport the show🚀 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

How do you balance writing, motherhood, and finding joy in your craft? Today, we had the pleasure of chatting with the talented Belinda Kroll, a cozy fantasy writer who's mastered the art of the joyful side hustle. Belinda shares her journey from vanity press publishing to indie success, and how she's cultivated a thriving newsletter and community along the way.Discover Belinda's efficient writing process that keeps her joy intact, and learn how her current lifestyle influences her writing and fits in with her busy life. We also explore her journey of utilizing Canva Pro to create a content calendar on Instagram and compose for TikTok, maximizing her social media presence to market her work to readers. Join us as we dive into the world of cozy fantasy and paranormal elements, examining the rules and distinctions within the genre. Belinda shares her experience building a community on Patreon, the importance of setting expectations, and her all-in-one planner for Discovery Writers. Don't miss this insightful conversation with the brilliant Belinda Kroll!Author website: https://worderella.com/links💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/supportThanks to our industry sponsor, Vellum. You can build, style, and preview your book, then purchase when you’re ready to publish. tryvellum.com/wishSend us a textSupport the show🚀 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

Episode 170 /  Fantasy and sci-fi author Jamie Davis joins us to share insights on author branding, diversifying income, plus the best and worst advice he’d been given. Find out how Jamie reaches his core readers and stays engaged with his audience, while also branching out into diversifying his income streams. Learn about promoting Kickstarter with additional content, and why failure can be a necessary step for growth.We also talk about his upcoming Kickstarter, selling direct through his WooCommerce shop on his website, and how he plans to add subscriptions to his author business.Author website: 💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/supportJamie Davis website:  https://jamiedavisbooks.comJamie Davis Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/podmedic/createdSend us a textSupport the show🚀 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