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

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Defining genre How to mix genres  Tropes with a twist Genre-specific mistakes to avoid This week’s question is:... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Planning systems How to plan effectively Planning for the unknown Balancing family and career Mindset shifts This week’s question... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Giving yourself permission Changing your mindset around writing How to start writing How to keep writing fun Quitting... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Japan The most common writer fears How to become fearless Approaches to perfectionism Approaches to failure This week’s question... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Advice for working full-time and trying to write Balancing caring duties and writing Boundaries, how to... more

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

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What elements make urban fantasy Crafting the urban fantasy voice Marketing urban fantasy Urban fantasy tropes This week’s... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What NaNo is and how to participate The community of NaNo Tips and tricks for setting... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The psychology of cozy mysteries Cozy tropes Mistakes to avoid  Craft advice for writing cozy mysteries Marketing for... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Mistakes to avoid when outlining or trying to write fast The 9 critical story beats  What... more

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

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What makes a historical novel Craft tips for historical novels Research tips for historical novels  Writing about... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Dozens of ideas for how to collaborate Ways to market your collaborative work Mistakes to avoid... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Can you pivot in 2022 and be successful? What are good reasons to pivot? What you... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What makes a good thriller How to market thrillers How to create pace and tension The voice... more

Hello Rebels,   And welcome to a special episode. Going forward, Rachael Herron and I will be doing a bonus episode each... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to approach a series Setting up a character arcs Series writing for “pantsers” Making every book... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How the literary agency landscape has changed How indie authors can work with agents Mistakes authors... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The foundations of managing social media How to track social media progress What content should authors... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What TikTok is and how it’s different from the other social platforms Types of content... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Definitions of best seller How to look at comparisonitis differently Examples of deconstruction  The what, why and... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Mistakes to avoid writing epic fantasy Marketing epic fantasy Trends in epic fantasy  How to keep readers... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Understanding the readerscape Mistakes authors make with their first series How writers can weave marketing into... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What genres are better suited to being wide vs in KU Best methods for managing... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Does skeleton drafting work for everyone? Skeleton draft mistakes to avoid An overview of the skeleton... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to approach a new genre How to market multiple genres How to research a new... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The most common mistakes authors make with beginnings What you need to establish in the... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The five types of intuition How to stop crushing your intuition Putting plotting vs pantsing to... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The difference between active and non active settings How to make your settings more active How... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to assess your time  Mistakes to avoid when trying to structure writing systems How to... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to collaborate effectively  Mistakes to avoid in collaborations How to approach writing humour The format and... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Overview of the genre and subgenres What makes a good erotica novel Terminology and language How to... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to approach and research trauma and mental health Trigger words and content words How to... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Top tips and tricks to get through your draft Mistakes to avoid Mindset barriers for first... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The income update Realising I’m not superhuman Refining and focusing on the money Being a better publisher Human... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How they felt as first time authors in 2022 How and why they chose their... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to write a retelling Mistakes to avoid with retellings How closely you need to stick... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What is a niche? How to assess a niche How to find and assess comp authors The... more

Episode Show Notes Order your copy of The Rebel Diaries at all good stores: https://books2read.com/rebeldiaries Kobo Apple Amazon UK Amazon US   Find out more about the... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Lessons learned from writing short stories Mistakes to avoid Submission tips Anthology marketing tips How to organise and... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to include complex topics sensitively How to write difficult female relationships How get into the... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What Save the Cat is What the main beats are Mistakes to avoid with Save the... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Finding the balance between realistic detail and info dumping Making mental health representation realistic Taking care... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover: What are sex positive stories and where is the line between sex positive and... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Where to start with a mailing list How to build a mailing list Types of reader... more

Episode Show Notes: In this episode we cover:  What a professional network is and why you need one Tactics for building a network How... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What is voice? How to create distinctive voice How does a character’s background influence voice Mistakes to... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What kickstarter is A run through a basic kickstarter How to market them The best types of... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The fundamentals of romance How to build tension and attraction How to write humour Tropes, HEAs and... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to find your genius Can you monetize your genius How to incorporate your genius into... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What is content marketing and repurposing Common mistakes to avoid with content marketing How to repurpose... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Marketing mindset principles The top 3 things everyone should to do market their books Budget marketing Launch... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What makes a good crime book Mistakes to avoid writing crime How to create mystery and... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What a magic system is The mistakes to avoid when building one How to test your... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What a good description looks like The structure of a good description Common blurb mistakes A rather... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Time management mistakes How to set and work with boundaries How to deal with interruptions, emails... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to decide what income streams are worth it How to balance income streams and... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  When should you update your covers? How to know if a cover is good Cover mistakes... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Mistakes to avoid in your description What good description is and looks like How to avoid... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to write books when you’re an editor Why you may or may not want... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Where to start creating voices How to reflect personality at the sentence level Literary tricks and... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Launch considerations   Release strategy mistakes Shorter vs Longer release strategies Boxset release strategies Preorder strategies Nitty gritty tactics This week’s... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Travel writing narrative arcs Travel writing processes Mistakes to avoid Adventure planning  Truth and lies in narrative nonfiction This... more

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Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What conflict is and why it’s so important for your novel How to layer conflict Mistakes writers... more

Show Notes Howdie folks, I finally pushed my first audiobook over the finishing line. Now, I’m by no means an expert... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Analogies to help you better understand editing vs drafting How to approach editing The pitfalls and... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Why you need to establish a local brand Indie marketing methods that don’t work for... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to work with audiobook narrators How to find narrators What information you need to give... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What a three word rebellion is How to create one How to then use your three... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Why diversity in fiction is important  What to do if you’re afraid to approach writing... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Why you need a headshot How a shoot works Considerations for tone and mood of photos How... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What rights reversion is How you find out if you can revert your rights A walk... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Defining short fiction How much story do you need for short fiction? How to do more... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Why formatting is important Mistakes to avoid with formatting Why you might consider a formatting company Differences... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What Kindletrends is and how it can help you The different aspects of book market... more

To celebrate the launch of 8 Steps to Side Characters, I thought I’d add a sneaky little bonus episode. I’m... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What the Kindle Storyteller Competition is What the judges are looking for Storyteller success stories How to... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover: The type of book launch when you’re only publishing once a year The type of... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to start building a magic system How and why you need to limit your... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Mistakes to avoid when running an author event What small details set an event apart... more

Episode Show Notes:  In this episode we cover:  The overarching steps indies need to take to publish their book Most common indie publishing... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Methods and tactics for selling on Apple Mistakes on Apple Using preorders on Apple What it’s like... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How publishing schedules will help you reach your goals Common mistakes authors make trying to... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The minimum viable requirements for an author website Common mistakes authors make on websites  What SEO... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What memoir is What memoir story structure is Where the line between your truth, factual truth... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The different types of edits and what you can expect from them The most common... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to create character voices Behavioural consistency vs character arcs Creating better dialogue  How to create and... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Why mindset is so important The most common mindset roadblocks Tools and techniques for helping you... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The differences between writing a novel and a graphic novel How to actually write a... more

It feels like a blink since the original post “lessons from one year of writing full-time”. But it is with... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What are the key elements you need to take into account when starting from... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Why we still struggle with time management despite there being so many tools out... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What creative self-publishing means What are success measures for indie authors How to harness the thing... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to create rich and memorable characters How to develop chilling atmospheres How to use the... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What is storybrand? How writers can incorporate storybrand into their marketing Mistakes people make with storybrand The... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Kobo’s new audiobook platform How to publish audio with Kobo How to price your audiobook What’s hot... more

Get your copy of Mark's book Wide for the Win which is PACKED full of tips and tricks for marketing... more

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Why whopping bits of paper are awesome for plotting The biggest mistakes writers make with... more