At Authors Talking Bookish, our mission is to dedicate ourselves to inspiring writers and readers by providing the-road-to-publishing insights from two debut novelists who learned the hard way and discussing our love of books from the writer’s perspective.
Whether you’ve signed a publishing contract or are self-publishing, you need a launch plan. From author brand to gaining an audience, to release day and beyond, we’ve tracked our own journeys in order to provide you with a realistic timeline to follow for your own launch.SHOW NOTES:Your launch plan might look different based on how you are publishing your book:Big 5Small PressSelf-publishingHow to figure out your ducks (To Dos) before you can get them in a rowThree phases of launching:Before (18-12 month prior to launch)During (6-1 month before launch)After (3-6 months after launch)SOURCES:Before and After the Book Deal by Courtney MaumLaunch Pad: The Countdown to Marketing Your Book, Mary Helen Sheriff & Grace Sammon, EDs.Jane Friedman https://janefriedman.com/David Gaughran https://davidgaughran.com/We Grow Media, Dan Blank https://wegrowmedia.com/about/Book Marketing with Mary, Mary Helen Sheriff https://maryhelensheriff.com/marketing/DO NOW:Download your free READY TO LAUNCH timeline and get to work! We are taking a break in December to spend time with family. Yes, writers need a break and we hope you’ll take one too. We’ll be back in January with an added feature to our podcast that we’re excited to unveil, so stay tuned for our first episode of 2024 on January 10thAuthors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.comHope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred https://www.donnanormancarbone.com
When an author/writer writes a book, they invest not just their time and effort but a piece of their soul. Their hearts.They pour their thoughts, emotions, and creativity into the pages, and when that book is finally out in the world, it becomes vulnerable to the opinion of readers. And this is where book reviews come into play. They serve as the bridge between the book and its readers, helping prospective readers decide whether or not a book is worth their time and money. But why are these reviews so crucial?What are book reviews?Why are they important?Are all reviews created equal?The hierarchy of reviewsGoodreadsAmazonBookBubKirkus and other industry standardsBlurbsReadersThe pros and cons of reviewsHow does an author get reviews?The old fashioned way: ask, query, create a street teamLook at reviewers of book compsBook Review PlatformsSuzy Approved Book ToursKate Rock ToursDO NOW:Make a list of comps. Look on Amazon, Goodreads (on the author’s page for each). Read their reviews. Notice who has reviewed their books. Make a list. Take a look at Bookstagrammars pages to notice who reviews books like yours, follow them, add their names to a list. This take a lot of time, but time well spent.Join us for our next episode: Book Launch TimelineAuthors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.comHope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacredhttps://www.donnanormancarbone.com
Is writer’s block a real phenomenon? Or is it a story you tell yourself when you aren’t writing?In this episode, we’ll discuss our thoughts and experiences surrounding writer’s block, what others say, and provide you with some tips to keep the words flowing.SHOW NOTES:According the the New York Times article “How to Beat Writer’s Block,” by Maria Konnikova,psychologists deem it a real phenomenon. The term was introduced in the 1940s by a psychiatrist named Edmund Bergler who claims writers are blocked psychologically and need therapy to become unblocked. In the 1970s, two Yale professors Jerome Singer and Michael Barrios did a study that showed anxiety, depression, perfectionism, OCD, and self-doubt were the result of blocks to writing.Not all blocked writers fit into these categories, however.What are some characteristics of Writer’s Block?feeling unmotivatedfeeling uninspiredstaring at a blank pagelack of ideaswriting below one’s standardsWhat are some tips to combat Writer’s Block?determine the cause if you canestablish a writing routine and stick to itword sprintsjoin the NaNoWriMo challengeassess how you’ve prepared/outlined a workit may simply lack planning or be too rigid of a planwrite through the crap & come back to it later to make it shinerefrain from ending a writing session at the end of a scene or chapterinstead, stop in the middle when you already know where the scene is headedwork with writing prompts to get the juices flowingbrainstorm with a writing group or critique partnerwrite in a different localework on a new projectjournaltake a writing break (go for a walk, shop, meet a friend for coffee…)work with a book coachSOURCES & LINKS:“How to Beat Writer’s Block,” Maria Konnikova“How to Overcome Writer’s Block: Get Your Groove Back,” Reedsy BlogWriting Down the Bones, Natalie GoldbergJuicy Pens, Thirsty Paper, SarkWrite for Your Life, Anna Quindlenhttps://nanowrimo.org/DO NOW:Make a list of what you could do IF you encounter writer’s block. What are the fixes you will try?Join us for our next episode: Reviews: How to get them, when to listen to them and how to let go?Joins us for our next episode: Reviews: How to get them, when to listen to them and how to let go?Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.comHope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred https://www.donnanormancarbone.com
You’ve heard the old adage: Show NOT Tell. Is it true? What are the benefits to showing not telling in writing and when it is appropriate to tell? We’ll provide insight into the differences between showing vs. telling and advice regarding when one is most appropriate.SHOW NOTES:Showing- when a writer slows down a scene to provide clues as to action and concrete descriptionTelling- providing exposition by abridging time or details thus providing a summaryExamples of eachWhat matters most to the story?The benefits of showingThe benefits of tellingEffects of showing vs. telling LINKS & SOURCES:“Show and Tell: The Key to Engaging Meaningful Storytelling,” Heather Davis, Launch Pad: The Countdown to Writing Your Book, ED. Emma Dhesi and Grace Sammon“Don’t Tell, But Show” and “Be Specific,” Writing Down the Bones, Natalie Goldberg“Show Don’t Tell,” Everybody Writes, Ann HandleyDO NOW:Take a piece of writing you’ve done and two highlighters (3-5 pages for this exercise, anywhere in your draft). Highlight where you show with one color and highlight where you tell with the other color. Think about the goals for this scene and what really matters.Is there something you should have shown instead of told? Is there something you should have told instead of shown? Take a look at the balance of both within the scene. How does it affect the pacing?
Have you heard the terms plotter and panster? What about a planster? They refer to the level or lack thereof of planning that goes into storytelling before the story is told. We’ll talk about the characteristics and benefits of each, so that you may determine your organizational style in your approach to writing a novel.SHOW NOTES:Plotter- someone who outlines their work fully before any writing takes placePanster- someone who starts with an idea and begins writing without a planPlanster- a combination of the two: generally one who creates a broad outline, then allows the story to take them where they need to goWhat are the benefits and drawbacks to each?Types of Outlines:TimelineChapter by ChapterActs (3-5 acts)Character ArcsCharacter BiosHow do you know which you are? Are you right brained or left brained?LINKS & SOURCES:“Pantser or Plotter? Deciding Which Can Save Your Writing Life” Jane Friedman Blog https://janefriedman.com/panster-or-plotter/“Outlining a Novel for Plotters, Pansters, and Puzzlers Alike,” Lewis Jorstad, Launch Pad: Countdown to Writing Your Book, ED. Emma Dhesi and Grace SammonSave the Cat: Writes a Novel,Jessica Brody“Writing Quiz: Are You a Plotter or a Pantser?” Kate Sullivan https://www.tckpublishing.com/writing-quiz-plotter-or-pantser/DO NOW: Take the quiz. Experiment. You won’t find your groove until you try both methods and somewhere in-between to figure out where you lean. Do what works for you!