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Podcast

SPF-099: Slave to the Algorithm – with Data Ninja David Gaughran

29 December 2017
Mark Dawson
Categories: Podcast


Champion of indie author justice, David Gaughran joins James at the NINC conference to discuss his start in self-publishing, and what he’s observing lately in the industry.

This week’s highlights include:

  • How the fundamentals of indie publishing have not changed since 2011
  • The importance of different marketing strategies depending on whether an author is in KU or publishes wide
  • Why the business of being an author is better than ever
  • Remembering that no one will work harder for your book than you will
  • On indie authors being miles ahead of the big 5 when it comes to marketing
  • David’s lesson on writing in a series

Resources mentioned in this episode:

PATREON: Self Publishing Formula Podcast’s Patreon page

David’s books:

Let’s Get Digital

Let’s Get Visible

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SPF-098: Here’s Johnny! (And Sean) – Inside stories from Two Self Publishing Pioneers

22 December 2017
Mark Dawson
Categories: Podcast


No doubt you’ve heard of Johnny, Sean and Dave, the self-publishing pioneers from the Self-Publishing Podcast, one of the original podcasts focused on indie authors. Today James talks to Sean and Johnny about their two brand new offerings for authors, how things have changed in recent years, and how they will continue to change.

This week’s highlights include:

  • Being authentic while still being helpful when giving a keynote address
  • On the evolution of the SPP team and the value of meeting in person
  • Preparing during 2017 for 2018, Sterling & Stone’s big year
  • Story Shop and Stories to Go, two big S&S projects
  • Reorganizing Sterling & Stone using the team’s natural strengths
  • Throwing away a $100K project and starting over

Resources mentioned in this episode:

SPF FOUNDATION: Click here to learn more

PATREON: Self Publishing Formula Podcast’s Patreon page

STORY SHOP: Writer better stories faster.

STORIES TO GO: We give you the story. You keep the rights. (Forever.)

 

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SPF-097: Funding Your Way from the 9 to 5 – with C. Hope Clark

15 December 2017
Mark Dawson
Categories: Podcast


Hope Clark always knew she wanted to write. So by her mid-40s she had retired from her day job and was running a writing business full-time. She talks to James about how she supports other writers to do the same.

This week’s highlights include:

  • An announcement about the newest course coming from SPF
  • Hope Clark on retiring in her 40s so she could write
  • On Funds For Writers and the work Hope does to help authors
  • How every bit of writing helps us find our voices
  • Hope’s focus on realistic steps for writers to take when they want to quit their day jobs
  • Managing the risks involved with an author career
  • The increasing opportunities available for writers

Resources mentioned in this episode:

SPF FOUNDATION: Click here to learn more

PATREON: Self Publishing Formula Podcast’s Patreon page

HOPE’S WEBSITE FOR WRITERS: FundsForWriters.com

NEWSLETTER OFFER: If you’d like a complimentary subscription to Hope’s Funds for Writers newsletter, send her an email to [email protected] before December 29, 2017 and mention you heard her on the SPF podcast. An $18.75 value.

 

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SPF-096: A Quiet Catastrophe – with John Birmingham

8 December 2017
Mark Dawson
Categories: Podcast


British-Australian author John Birmingham was forced into a crash course on self-publishing when, through no fault of his own, his trad deals disappeared. Luckily for readers, John turned those lemons into a new, lucrative self-publishing career.

This week’s highlights include:

  • John’s success as a freelance writer, and his unplanned, rapid switch from trad publishing to indie
  • What’s working for John now in marketing and where his focus is
  • On the shrinking mid-list at trad publishers and how that could prove to be their downfall
  • How John adjusted to running an author business as well as writing
  • The challenges in the Australian book market

Resources mentioned in this episode:

SPF FOUNDATION: Click here to learn more

PATREON: Self Publishing Formula Podcast’s Patreon page

ARTICLE: John Birmingham’s article at Which-50.com, called The Quiet Catastrophe

 

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SPF-095: How to Defeat Imposter Syndrome – with Katie Cross

1 December 2017
Mark Dawson
Categories: Podcast


This Week's Handout

How to Beat Imposter Syndrome by Katie Cross

Download

Author, mother, and nap-time entrepreneur Katie Cross offers an explanation for why it’s normal for indie authors to struggle with Imposter Syndrome, and also specific strategies for how to deal with it.

This week’s highlights include:

  • Katie’s success as a YA author and her move into chick lit via Wattpad
  • What’s working for Katie now in marketing
  • The importance for Katie of segmenting her list and connecting with her readers
  • How Katie began investigating Imposter Syndrome and what she did about it for herself
  • How Imposter Syndrome can affect book sales
  • Tips from Katie for how to deal with Imposter Syndrome

Resources mentioned in this episode:

FREE PDF: Katie created a free PDF on how to defeat Imposter Syndrome

BOOK RECOMMENDATION: Playing Big by Tara Mohr

COMPLIMENTARY SESSION: Katie offers a complimentary 20 minute strategy session with authors

SPF FOUNDATION: Click here to learn more

PATREON: Self Publishing Formula Podcast’s Patreon page

 

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SPF-094: A Helping Hand from SPF – with Reedsy’s Ricardo Fayet

24 November 2017
Mark Dawson
Categories: Podcast


James Blatch and Lucy Dawson introduce the Self Publishing Formula Foundation, a partnership with Reedsy, that will help four authors each year to fulfill their dream of publishing and marketing their books.

This week’s highlights include:

  • The origins of the SPF Foundation
  • How the foundation works and how to apply
  • What SPF are looking for in foundation applicants
  • What Reedsy does and how they help indie authors
  • Reedsy’s suggestions about the best use of the self-publishing support available from them
  • Thoughts on the rise of book marketers who help authors

Resources mentioned in this episode:

More information about the Self Publishing Formula Foundation

Reedsy

Self Publishing Formula Patreon page

Do What You Can’t video – Casey Neistat

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SPF-093: From Teacher to Writer in One Year – with Cecelia Mecca

17 November 2017
Mark Dawson
Categories: Podcast



Medieval romance author Cecelia Mecca started out thinking she’d traditionally publish her books. A chat with an indie author at an RWA conference changed Cedelia’s mind and a year later she’s a full-time author, working at home and in full command of her author career.

This week’s highlights include:

  • Picking up a manuscript after 20 years and starting again
  • Learning about independent publishing – and changing directions
  • Genre research and writing in a small genre niche
  • Strategies for building a new author business
  • Thoughts around the pros and cons of free as a marketing strategy
  • The importance of finding the right editor

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Ads for Authors Course – INFO/PURCHASE link

Nov 21, 2017: Free Webinar with Mark about Advertising Strategies REGISTER HERE

Self Publishing Formula Patreon page

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SPF-092: Building a Career in Fantasy – with Michelle Madow

10 November 2017
Mark Dawson
Categories: Podcast


This week’s highlights include:

  • Doing the math and making the transition from traditionally published author to indie
  • Focusing on the genre you love to read
  • Do blog tours work any longer?
  • Outlining in order to write faster
  • Using LeadGen ads to grow Michelle’s mailing list and business
  • Classic marketing copy that still works

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Ads for Authors Course – INFO/PURCHASE link

Vellum for ebook and print formatting

Self Publishing Formula Patreon page

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SPF-091: Why I Turned Down Seven Figures to Self Publish – with Hugh Howey

3 November 2017
Mark Dawson
Categories: Podcast


This week’s highlights include:

  • Hugh’s beginnings as a writer
  • The search for a publisher … and then a change of heart
  • Re-acquiring rights
  • The increasing empowerment of creative people
  • Negotiating a print-only deal

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Selfpublishingformula.com/ads17 Get on the waitlist for the next enrollment window for the Ads for Authors course

Bella Andre episode of the SPF Podcast

Author Earnings Hugh’s project with Data Guy

Data Guy’s episode of the SPF Podcast

Conrad literary festival, Poland

Self Publishing Formula Patreon page

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SPF-090: Using BookBub CPM Ads for Profit – with Adam Croft

27 October 2017
Mark Dawson
Categories: Podcast


This Week's Giveaway

Adam Croft’s BookBub CTM Ads Tip Sheet

Download

This week’s highlights include:

  • The basics on how BookBub ads work and how to split targeting
  • Getting on the wait list to use BookBub ads
  • Differences from the Facebook and AMS ads platforms
  • The superior reporting of BookBub ads
  • Using BookBub ads for picking up sales at vendors other than Amazon

Resources mentioned in this episode:

FREE PDF: Adam created a free PDF about BookBub Ads for SPF listeners

BOOKBUB WAITLIST: Use the form at the bottom of this article to get on the waitlist to be a BookBub advertiser

 

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SPF-089: Masterclass: The Value of a Sale – with Mark Dawson

20 October 2017
Mark Dawson
Categories: Podcast


This week’s highlights include:

• Using Facebook Messenger to boost launch sales
• On the excellent response rate of Messenger
• Calculating ROI for ads based on sell-through rates, rather than just sales of one book
• Different ways to calculate read-through
• Why it makes sense to run ad campaigns at a loss because of read-through
• Ways to promote and encourage read-through
• On the new and updated modules for the Ads for Authors course

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Authors on a train

Facebook Messenger for Business

Help! My Facebook Ads Suck (book)

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SPF-088: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Revision Process – with Joan Dempsey

13 October 2017
Mark Dawson
Categories: Podcast


This week’s highlights include:

  • The misconception that the first draft is the finished book
  • The overwhelm that can occur when revising a novel, and how to tackle that
  • Breaking the revision process into smaller chunks to deal with overwhelm
  • On Joan’s online courses about revision and their flexibility for different types of writers
  • Tips for establishing distance from your manuscript in order to revise like an editor
  • Tips for overcoming “My writing is rubbish” syndrome

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Joan’s Website

Joan’s novel: This is How It Begins

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SPF-086: How to Administer your Advance Readers – with Chris Leippi, Booksprout

6 October 2017
Mark Dawson
Categories: Podcast


This week’s highlights include:

  • The challenges Chris faced when sending ARCs to his readers
  • How Booksprout addresses those challenges
  • Why having advanced readers matters
  • Price points for new authors and also those with larger review teams
  • How Booksprout reduces follow-up time for authors
  • Discoverability for readers on Booksprout
  • The leap in ARC review response Chris has seen since using Booksprout himself

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Booksprout

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SPF-085: Shaking Up the Audiobook Market – with Kevin Tumlinson

29 September 2017
Mark Dawson
Categories: Podcast


Kevin Tumlinson from Draft2Digital reveals the company’s exciting new plans for indie authors wanting to make the most of the audiobook market.

This week’s highlights include:

  • Changes to the tools available for indie authors at Draft2Digital
  • The new partnership between Findaway Voices and D2D
  • Details on the expanding world of audiobooks available to authors
  • Removing the limits on pricing and book length that have been in place
  • Why audiobooks are an important part of an indie author’s library

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Draft2Digital (https://www.draft2digital.com/)
SPF Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/SPFPodcast)

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SPF-084: When Your First Novel Goes Global – with Felicia Yap

22 September 2017
Mark Dawson
Categories: Podcast


Felicia Yap talks at length about how she achieved global success with her first novel – and how she’s dealt with the repercussions.

Highlights of this week’s episode:

  • Felicia’s unique and intriguing premise for her new thriller, Yesterday
  • Working out story ideas on the dance floor
  • Felicia’s very flexible approach to her writing routine
  • Applying to the Faber School
  • Finding an agent and working with editors
  • Applying creativity and a strong work ethic to the submission process

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SPF-083:Breathing Life into your Backlist with Chris Fox

18 September 2017
Mark Dawson
Categories: Podcast


How do you go about ensuring that ALL of your books are out there earning for you? Cue, self publishing wiz, Chris Fox, on how to get the most out of your previously released books.

This Week's Giveaway

Chris Fox’s free book: Relaunch your Novel

Download

This week’s key highlights:

  • Chris’s beginnings as a writer and his background in Silicon Valley
  • About Chris’s books and videos offering help for authors
  • How to make a novel work
  • Chris’s approach to productivity
  • The power of a backlist
  • The recommended tools that Chris uses for his writing and publishing

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

STORY GRID: Editor Shawn Coyne’s book about story structure

MORE ABOUT STORY STRUCTURE: Dan Harmon’s Story Circle

PATREON: The SPF Podcast Patreon page

FREE COPY OF CHRIS FOX’S LATEST BOOK

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SPF-080: How to Sell Your Foreign Rights – with Orna Ross

1 September 2017
Mark Dawson
Categories: Podcast

The paradigm shifts in publishing have opened doors for authors. And sometimes caused challenges for those authors who have lost rights to a trad publisher and now want them back. Orna Ross, Founder and Director of the Alliance of Independent Authors, talks to James about these issues, how authors can approach getting lost rights back, what it takes to sell rights in foreign territories, and what to be aware of when doing so.

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