Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What Substack is and how it works Utilizing “Notes” on Substack effectively Substack as a new... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Breaking into the US market as an international author In-person and virtual signings  Main benefits of... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Changes in indie publishing in the last 8 years Necessary skill sets for returning to... more

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number twenty-seven between Rachael Herron and I.  Don't forget, Patrons get early access to... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Why reader magnets are important for authors Using TikTok to excel your author career How to... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Overview of the TikTok accountability challenge The biggest challenges in algorithm and audience shifts What content... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What brand keywords are and why authors should have them How keywords can guide an... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Using the consumer journey to build your author business How to start building an author... more

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number twenty-six between Rachael Herron and I. Don't forget, Patrons get early access... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Different writing approaches for different genres Creating realistic monsters Advice for switching between genres Balancing different elements... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Artistic decisions when setting up a series The different types of series Importance of series unity What... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Maintaining a passion for writing while building a thriving business Dealing with rejection and criticism... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The importance of humour in fiction Different types of humour The principles of writing funny fiction Making... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The importance of personality in email marketing How often to send newsletters to your audience Tips... more

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number twenty-five between Rachael Herron and I. This is The Black Herron episode... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What Kickstarter is and why authors should use it How to project manage better Aligning your... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Elements of a multidimensional villain Villain’s relationship with the protagonist Common mistakes when creating villains Developing back... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to use the enneagram in your work Infusing your personal experiences into your worldbuilding Fully... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Writing process of co-writing with an estate What the horror genre can uniquely express Common mistakes... more

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number twenty-four between Rachael Herron and I. This is The Black Herron Episode... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The importance of SEO in an author’s online presence Understanding the intent behind a user’s... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The journey from indie to trad Tips for pitching and querying Biggest differences between trad and... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  A "brick-by-brick" strategy for building a 7-figure author career The role consistent output can play... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Differences between self-publishing, independent publishing, and traditional publishing Publishing across different genres Working with an agent... more

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number twenty-three between Rachael Herron and I. This is The Black Herron Episode... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Tips for writing toxic characters and dialogue Approaching sensitive topics in a way that is... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What makes TikTok unique Adapting your content to suit TikTok’s short-form video format Finding your target... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Utilizing Instagram reels as an author Strategies to engage your audience on Instagram What an ‘audio... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The elements of a well-crafted reader persona Using a reader persona to connect with your... more

In this episode we cover:  Income update and breakdown Lesson 1: All in Works for Me Lesson 2: Capitalise if You Can Lesson 3:... more

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number twenty-two between Rachael Herron and I. This is The Black Herron episode... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How planning series differs across genres Approaching the overall story arc in a cozy series Tools... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Ways an author’s writing career and non-writing career interact Balancing a writing career with other... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Key elements of a successful book cover design How to know when cover trends are... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How brains are hardwired to respond to storytelling Using brain science to creative more effective... more

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number twenty one between Rachael Herron and I. This is The Black Herron... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Myths around productivity in the indie community How to assess our own productivity Explaining procrastination with... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to outline a nonfiction book Tips for becoming your own publicist Content marketing in the... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Why tropes hook readers Differences between internal and external tropes Craft tips to make our tropes... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What serial fiction is and how it differs from non-serialised fiction Common mistakes new serial... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The fundamentals of historical romance Balancing historical accuracy with creative storytelling Creating historical authenticity in your... more

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number twenty between Rachael Herron and I. This is The Black Herron episode... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What is burnout Differentiating burnout from everyday stress Recovering from burnout How to establish better boundaries The importance... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The importance of representation in our books Writing trans and queer characters when cisgendered Harmful tropes... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What are tarot cards and how do they work How tarot cards can help authors... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The structure of a good pitch Finding the right podcasts to pitch to What authors should... more

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number nineteen between Rachael Herron and I. This is The Black Herron episode nineteen.... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to pivot successfully Fiction vs. nonfiction author business structure Creating multiple streams of income The neuroscience... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What is LitRPG and how it differs from fantasy Major craft pillars of LitRPG Elements of... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What is the enneagram and how to use it as writers Motivation and why it... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Why audio is important Trends for audiobook publishing in 2024 How Podium works with indie authors Tips... more

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number eighteen between Rachael Herron and I. This is The Black Herron Episode... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What is Kickstarter? Incorporating Kickstarter into your business model Common mistakes with Kickstarter Driving traffic to your... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What is queer joy Elements of the opposites attract trope Worldbuilding for contemporary romance  Writing relatable characters The... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How running a business is like being a parent Why write a nonfiction book? Staying resilient... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Highlights from Written Word Media’s 2023 author survey Indie author business structures What is meant by... more

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number seventeen between Rachael Herron and I. This is The Black Herron Episode... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Important elements of author planning Overwhelm (both caused and relieved by planning) Goal setting and organizing Planning... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Common tropes of the horror genre Lessons learned from acting in and directing horror films The... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What is the “why choose” genre Keeping characters unique in a large cast Writing interconnected romantic... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Creating an author-based marketing plan Boosting engagement on socials Finding your author voice, style, and brand Making... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Platforms for selling a multitude of products direct Creating your own book boxes Sourcing products and... more

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number sixteen between Rachael Herron and I. This is The Black Herron episode sixteen.... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Story hypothesis and how it connects to theme Max-Neef’s nine needs Developing the journey of a... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Systems and structures to write faster Planning needed to write four books a year Why accountability... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Craft and business lessons from launching a series Creating and utilizing street teams successfully Using outreach... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Tools and software for selling direct Driving traffic to your Shopify store Lessons learned from selling... more

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number fifteen between Rachael Herron and I. This is The Black Herron Episode... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Writing a children’s book from concept to completion Working with illustrators and translators Creating a high... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Personal development books Choosing what to read next Starting a new reading habit Reading effectively and taking... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Writing about gender equality and women’s issues Choosing which messages to refine in your book Managing... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Planning as an indie author Maker, manager and marketeer How to plan for 2024 What being a... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What does “editing for clarity” mean How to write with more clarity Developing self-editing skills When to... more

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number fourteen between Rachael Herron and I. This is The Black Herron episode... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to leverage folklore in your narrative Using folklore as the basis of a fictional... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Writing about taboo and controversial topics Educating readers through your work Working with sensitivity readers Setting and... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What the shadow is and its importance for writers Identifying shadow elements How to know if... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Business differences with middle grade fiction Marketing middle grade fiction How to engage with your audience Advice... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The four different types of series How to plan when writing a series Series arcs and... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  TikTok basics Ratio of engaging posts vs. promotional posts  Content creation ideas Capitalising on hype mode and... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The importance of setting in romance Romance subplot pacing Using a romance subplot to enhance the... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The importance of having a system Balancing creative work and parenting Techniques for the writing/publishing process Streamlining... more

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number thirteen between Rachael Herron and I. This is The Black Herron Episode... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What the creator economy is Community building vs. writing books How to authentically monetize our community Expanding... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How fan-backed film development works Developing an indie series into a movie Creating contacts for character... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What is the Amazon Kindle Storyteller Award Marketing tips to sell more books on Amazon Advice... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Overview of planning a novel Filling our creative wells Tips for brainstorming How to approach world building Things... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The difference between dialogue and exposition Making dialogue shine in the four parts of a... more

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number twelve between Rachael Herron and I. This is The Black Herron Episode... more

A big thank you to all of my lovely patrons. If you’d like to support the show, and get early... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to self audit your marketing The importance of attention in the AI age Marketing structures... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Advice for cowriting The journey from indie to traditional publishing Tips for working with agents Lessons learned... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Mistakes creatives make with their time How to be better at saying no Dealing with self-sabbotage Voice... more

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number eleven between Rachael Herron and I. This is The Black Herron Episode... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Cardio for the mind Discipline and self-imposed deadlines How to be a fan of yourself Combatting fear Mental... more

Episode Show Notes: In this episode we cover: How to start selling direct Tools and software for selling direct Common mistakes when selling directly... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover: Lessons learned during the writing journey Rebranding a series Audience building and marketing focus Moving into... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What is copywriting and why is it important Reframing your sales mindset Key marketing and copy... more

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number ten between Rachael Herron and I. This is The Black Herron Episode... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Challenges and considerations when writing true crime Legal implications of the true crime genre Researching and... more