Writer Craft Podcast

Show Notes:   After you've created the foundation, there is a time when it is advantageous to spread out and reach another audience. You're in a silo, but there's another one right next to you! Other authors are looking for ways to do this, too.   Some of these work better for selling books or getting reviews, and some work better for increasing your mailing list size.   Newsletter Swaps: 1. (BEST...

Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor   Announcements: free 7-day trial of my Mary Poppins Fan tier on Patreon. Regularly 15/mo https://patreon.com/valerieihsan   UPDATE:   Valerie:   I've been creating a Creator Profile in Convertkit's Creator Network (in beta). If you want to check it out and see if it'll increase your newsle...

Show Notes:   No single path to author success. No prescription.   1. Having idea 2. Writing it down so RAS (Reticular Activating System) can work. Write it Down, Make it Happen by Henriette Anne Klauser 3. Visualize what you want, with senses. 4. Be careful what you wish for, but also, be prepared to receive what you've asked for in a different way. 5. Trust the process and that the "muscle" will...

Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor   Show Notes:   Use the story rubric at https://valerieihsan.com . It's great for objectively identifying areas that need development and using a shared vocabulary with your critique partners. Receiving feedback requires open mind, growth mindset, willingness to hear the feedback, and being...

Show Notes:   Use the Rubric (available at valerieihsan.com for free) after drafting to have shared vocabulary to use with your critique partners and editors. And for self-editing. Find the parts that need work and study them as needed. (Read craft books on that subject, or listen to podcasts.) If a reader says:   "I just don't seem to connect with the character," work on inner dialogue , and char...

Writer's Block is a real thing, but I believe it is a symptom of something else. Whether it is procrastination, the story is broken, or you are trying to write to market and it's "just not you," there are ways to break through the writer's block and get you back to the page. ** Show Notes: When Can Writer's Block Hit? • Manuscript is broken • Procrastination • Fear • Not ready to write • Do I have...

Show Notes:   How do you start? FOMO creates stress. How do I do all of it?     Marching order:   1. Real estate (website--build your house);   2. Put up content: review books, talk about movies, response videos to current shows, try to get people to your site main purpose; non-fiction authors write to topic (keywords--what are people actually searching for by using Google Keyword Planner),   2.5....

Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 109 of the podcast and it's April 5, 2023   as we record this.   Main Topic: SEO (Part 2 in our Marketing That You Own series)   PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.   This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan . F...

Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 108 of the podcast and it's March 28, 2023   as we record this.   Main Topic: Website Basics   PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.   This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan . For as low as a $1/mo, you can get...

Jennie's Bio:  J. Komp, of Just Key Edits, has been taking apart stories, to explain why we love or hate them, for over 30 years. A Behavioral Science major, that found her voice after a decade of live theater productions, Jennie lives for stories that are as entertaining and consumable as they are transformative.  Her development editing focuses on the connection between a book and its potential...

  Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 106 of the podcast and it's March 22, 2023   as we record this.   Main Topic: Setbacks   PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.   This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan . For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a po...

  Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 105 of the podcast and it's March 8, 2023   as we record this.   Main Topic: Reflection as an Indie Author Tool PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.   This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan . For as low as a...

Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 104 of the podcast and it's March 1, 2023   as we record this.   Main Topic: Launch Day -- We live in an upside down world. PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.   This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan . For as...

Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 103 of the podcast and it's February 22, 2023   as we record this.   Main Topic: Mailing list maintenance PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.   This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan . For as low as a $1/mo, y...

  Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 102 of the podcast and it's February 15, 2023   as we record this.   Main Topic: Professional relationships: When to Ditch Them and When to Nurture Them. PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.   This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at P...

Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 101 of the podcast and it's February 8, 2023   as we record this.     PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.   This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan . For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a postcard from me, a sho...

Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Landmark Episode 100 of the podcast and it's January 18, 2023   as we record this.   Main Topic: Landmark Episode 100 with some clips PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.   This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan . For...

Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 99 of the podcast and it's January 11, 2023   as we record this.   Main Topic: Overthinking Your Writing PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.   This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan . For as low as a $1/mo, yo...

  Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 98 of the podcast and it's January 4, 2023   as we record this. Happy New Year! Main Topic: Monthly Gamechangers PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.   This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan . For as low as a...

New Author Action Plan Group Coaching cohort starts next week. Tuesday, January 3, 2023; 2:00-3:00 p.m. Pacific. Email writercraftpodcast@gmail.com  for Zoom link and schedule. Use discount code PODCAST for 10% off the price (at checkout): https://valerieihsan.com/shopping  

  Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 96 of the podcast and it's December 21, 2022   as we record this. Happy Solstice! Main Topic: Tarot for Your Business PATREON: No new patrons this week, but Sean Sharp raised his tier to Super Fantastic Fan, so thank you so much! Sean now gets all my ebooks as I publish them. In addition to his other benefits...

  Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 95 of the podcast and it's December 14, 2022   as we record this. Main Topic: A Year in Review PATREON: No new patrons this week,     A big squeezy hug and Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.   This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan . For as...

  Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 94 of the podcast and it's December 7, 2022 (and a full moon) as we record this. Main Topic: How to Decide on Your Next Project PATREON: No new patrons this week,     A big squeezy hug and Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.   This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at P...

New Pricing: Shared Lodging $650 (Must sign up together.) Alumni/Patrons $775 Early Bird $800 (through January) Sleepy Bird $850 (through April) Regular All-Inclusive Price $900 (starts in May) https://valerieihsan.com/retreat  (for more retreat information) https://patreon.com/valerieihsan   (to get the patron price) valerie@valerieihsan.com   (for questions, concerns, or PayPal links for patron/...

  Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 93 of the podcast and it's November 30, 2022 as we record this. Main Topic: Failing (in order to Succeed)   PATREON:   No new patrons this week,     A big squeezy hug and Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.   This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerie...