The Rebel Author Podcast

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 brutal critique of my blurb! This week’s question is: What are your plans for the festive season? Recommendation of the week is: Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth  Apple Kobo Amazon UK Amazon USA ***this show uses affiliate links Find out more about Brian...

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Time management mistakes How to set and work with boundaries How to deal with interruptions, emails and notifications Life management hacks This week’s question is: What is your favorite book of 2021? Recommendation of the week is: Kay’s Anatomy and Kay’s Marvellous Medicine by Adam Kay Apple Kobo Amazon UK Amazon USA ***this show uses affiliate links...

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to decide what income streams are worth it How to balance income streams and workload Mistakes to avoid with income streams  What are the most important factors for creating a sustainable long term career This week’s question is: How do you work with deadlines? Recommendation of the week is: Lies The Guardians Tell by Herman Steuernagel Amazon UK A...

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  When should you update your covers? How to know if a cover is good Cover mistakes to avoid How to create covers when you’re writing cross-genre This week’s question is: How do you plan for a new year? Recommendation of the week is: One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston Apple Kobo Amazon UK Amazon USA Links and events I mentioned:  30% off my courses using c...

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Mistakes to avoid in your description What good description is and looks like How to avoid information dumping How maximise settings  How to let a character’s personality impact description This week’s question is: Since you started writing, what’s the best money you’ve spent? Recommendation of the week is: Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes Apple   Kobo...

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to write books when you’re an editor Why you may or may not want to be hybrid Benefits of being hybrid What’s changed in 30 years of publishing Why you may or may not want a pen name secret How to transition between writing fiction and nonfiction This week’s question is: do you have a pen name? or if you don’t what would your pen name be? Recommend...

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Where to start creating voices How to reflect personality at the sentence level Literary tricks and tools for creating richer character personality Worldbuilding philosophy Character accents, dialogue, rhythm and melody This week’s question is: what characters have you read with really strong voices? Recommendation of the week is: Way of the Argosi by...

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 question is: what type of launch appeals to you most? Recommendation of the week is: Magick by C. M. Newell Apple   Kobo   Amazon UK   Amazon USA   Buy Direct from C.M.   ***this show uses...

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 week’s question is: What adventure have you been on? Recommendation of the week is: Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune Apple Kobo   Amazon UK Amazon USA   ***this show uses affiliate links Links and events I mentio...

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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 make with conflict How to show conflict How to use “choice” and complicating choice to further tension and plot This week’s question is: what is the best book you’ve read in your genre? Recommendation of the week is: 13 Steps to Evil: How to Craft a Superbad Villai...

Show Notes Howdie folks, I finally pushed my first audiobook over the finishing line. Now, I’m by no means an expert at any of this stuff, but boy did I learn a lot from the process. I love learning from other people’s mistakes, so I thought I would share 8 lessons I learned from narrating and producing my first audiobook. Read full blog here . Listen to audiobook: Audible US   Audible UK Buy Dire...

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Analogies to help you better understand editing vs drafting How to approach editing The pitfalls and mistakes writers fall into How to show the change a hero goes through The five big scenes you need to get right The stakes paradox This week’s question is: tell me something you’ve achieved this year. Recommendation of the week is: I Love You To My Hear...

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Why you need to establish a local brand Indie marketing methods that don’t work for children’s author How to connect with schools How to work with curriculums Children’s marketing mistakes to avoid This week’s question is: What unusual marketing methods have you tried that have worked? Recommendation of the week is: Keepers Universal Link The 99c Ficti...

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  How to work with audiobook narrators How to find narrators What information you need to give narrators Mistakes authors make working with narrators How to create good working relationships with narrators This week’s question is: what’s your relationship with audiobooks? Recommendation of the week is: Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan Apple Kobo Amazon UK...

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What a three word rebellion is How to create one How to then use your three word rebellion Why writers and creatives feel like they’re bad at marketing How to use the inoculation theory This week’s question is: do you have a three word rebellion or tagline for your business? Recommendation of the week is: Fixing Your Setting & Description Problems by J...

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Why diversity in fiction is important  What to do if you’re afraid to approach writing diverse characters Sensitivity readers What you need to research How to include diverse characters when you yourself are not diverse This week’s question is: Tell us a book you’ve enjoyed with diverse characters. Recommendation of the week is: Jay’s Gay Agenda by Jas...

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 to prepare for a shoot Common mistakes in shoots This week’s question is: Have you got a professional headshot? Recommendation of the week is: Life in a Fishbowl by Len Vlahos Apple  Kobo  Amazon UK Amazon USA ***this show uses affiliate links Events I mentioned ar...

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What rights reversion is How you find out if you can revert your rights A walk through of a high level rights reversion How long the process takes What mistakes to avoid in the reversion process This week’s question is: Would you consider selling subsidiary rights and if so, what ones? Recommendation of the week is: Take Back Your Book Rights by Katlyn...

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Defining short fiction How much story do you need for short fiction? How to do more with your short fiction Mistakes writers make with short fiction Quirky ideas for your short fiction This week’s question is: how do you use short fiction in your writing business? Recommendation of the week is: The Anatomy of Prose: The Senses Course : Discount Code: r...

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 between print and ebook formatting What to look for in a professional formatting company This week’s question is: How do you format your books? Recommendation of the week is: 10 Steps to Hero: How to Craft a Kickass Protagonist by ME! b...

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What Kindletrends is and how it can help you The different aspects of book market research How to find readers How to research blurbs, covers, content and more This week’s question is: How do you learn about your genre? Recommendation of the week is: Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar Apple Kobo Amazon UK Amazon USA ***This show us...

To celebrate the launch of 8 Steps to Side Characters, I thought I’d add a sneaky little bonus episode. I’m going to give you a few tips from the book to help you write better side characters. If you haven’t purchased your copy yet, you can do so here: Order the textbook here . Order the workbook here . Or you can order signed paperback copies or digital copies straight from me using this link . I...

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 increase your visibility on Amazon Publishing mistakes to avoid This week’s question is: Do you enter competitions? Recommendation of the week is: The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe Apple Kobo Amazon UK Amazon USA ***This show uses affiliate li...

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover: The type of book launch when you’re only publishing once a year The type of marketing needed between launches How to build your audience and find readers The writing and marketing process for one book a year Tips for marketing to YA audiences This week’s question is: how many books would you ideally like to publish a year? Recommendation of the week is:...