Writing Momentum

In this episode of the Writing Momentum Podcast, hosts Christopher and Gena Maselli explore the common question of whether a formal degree is necessary to become a successful writer. They discuss their personal experiences with formal education in writing, highlighting the pros and cons of pursuing a writing degree versus self-education through resources like writers' conferences and continual lea...

In this episode of the Writing Momentum Podcast, hosts Gena and Christopher Maselli discuss the importance of staying engaged in the 'writing world' for both emerging and experienced writers. They explore what constitutes the writing world, including the processes of writing, publishing, and marketing. The Maselli's emphasize the ease of distraction in today’s world and the necessity of keeping wr...

Gena and Christopher Maselli host the Writing Momentum Podcast, targeting emerging writers aspiring to write a book. They emphasize that the writing journey is not competitive and there's space for everyone. The podcast provides practical tips, including choosing a genre, understanding genre specifics, and the importance of knowing the rules before breaking them. They recommend reading extensively...

In this episode of the Writing Momentum podcast, hosts Christopher and Gena Maselli discuss strategies for finishing first drafts, acknowledging it as a significant challenge for many writers. They emphasize the importance of completing a draft regardless of its initial quality and suggest focusing on editing afterward to improve it. The hosts share personal experiences, tips for maintaining momen...

In this episode of the Writing Momentum podcast, hosts Gena and Christopher Maselli explore the final habit in their series that can significantly hinder a writer's productivity: excessive, mindless screen time. They discuss how spending too much time on devices like televisions, computers, mobile phones, and video game screens without purpose can detract from valuable writing time. The Masellis s...

In this episode of the Writing Momentum Podcast, hosts Gena and Christopher Maselli discuss everyday habits that can negatively impact your writing progress. They address the dangers of comparison and disengagement from the writing community, emphasizing the importance of staying connected and involved. The conversation highlights how distractions and perfectionism can halt a writer's momentum, of...

In this episode of the Writing Momentum podcast, Chris and Gena discuss common habits that can impede a writer’s progress or productivity. They share insights about the traps of comparison and the need to stay engaged with the writing community. The episode encourages writers to embrace their unique voice, style and journey, and stresses the importance of continuous reading and learning within the...

In this episode of the Writing Momentum podcast, hosts Gena and Christopher Maselli explore different ways to stay motivated in writing. They discuss tracking your writing successes, identifying your 'why', immersing oneself in the writing world through books, podcasts, and conferences, and the benefits of co-writing and surrounding yourself with writing friends. Chris also describes the benefits...

In the Writing Momentum Podcast, Christopher Maselli and his wife, Gena, share practical tips for finding time to write in a busy world. With over 30 years of writing experience, they tackle the challenge many writers face - finding time to pursue their passion amid various life commitments. They suggest keeping a reminder of your writing vision in front of you, scheduling your writing time, emplo...

In this podcast transcript, hosts Chris and Gena highlight common mistakes that writers make when crafting content for nonprofit organizations. They discuss the importance of focusing on the benefits to the reader, creating clear calls to action, telling impactful stories of individual beneficiaries, and maintaining consistent branding across all communication channels. The hosts emphasize that th...

After 30 years of working with nonprofits, hosts Gena and Chris discuss three common mistakes that writers often make when writing for non-profit organizations. These include the excessive focus on asking for help without celebrating the wins, constantly changing branding messages, and overuse of organization-specific jargon. Insights are also shared on how to execute effective communication strat...

Self-publishing on Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is accessible and easy. Professional editing and formatting are essential. Use PDF and EPUB formats for both print and ebook versions. Consider specialized software or hiring a professional formatter. Design an eye-catching book cover. Create a KDP account and connect your bank account. Write a compelling book description, choose relevant...

Join us in this episode as we delve into the fascinating world of pen names. We discuss the definition of pen names and explore the various reasons why authors choose to use them, such as protecting their identity, exploring different genres, and maintaining privacy. We also highlight how pen names can help separate writing styles and target specific audiences, while overcoming bias and stereotype...

Henry McLaughlin shares his research process for historical fiction novels, focusing on his latest book, "Emily's Trials." He emphasizes the significance of thorough research to create an accurate and authentic historical setting. McLaughlin's writing process involves "pantsing" and allowing the characters to shape the story. He encourages writers to revise and rewrite their work fearlessly. McLau...

Hosts Christopher and Gena reveal their words for 2024, "extreme" and "flow," while writer friends and newsletter subscribers also share their chosen words. These words can be categorized into commitment, appreciation, and strength. Examples of commitment words include "commitment," "get her done," and "structure," while appreciation words include "mindfulness," "enjoy," and "magic." Strength word...

Has it really been 100 episodes?! Yes!! In this episode of the Writing Momentum podcast, Chris and Gena celebrate their podcast's third year and 100th episode by taking a look back at their top five most listened to episodes. They discuss the importance of avoiding cliches in writing, explore the wide range of materials that can be written for children, highlight the benefits of using an email new...

Bank Novo is the perfect banking solution for freelance writers and authors. With no minimum balance requirement, no monthly fees, and free transfers, it offers a hassle-free banking experience. The mobile app allows you to easily scan checks and check your balance. You can also create and send professional invoices with its invoicing capabilities. Bank Novo even has an automatic allocation featur...

Liz Wilcox, an email strategist and creator of the Email Marketing Membership, helps small businesses, including authors, build online relationships and effective emails. With her own successful business ventures, Liz aims to write a screenplay and have the freedom to write what she wants. She takes a step-by-step approach, focusing on one thing at a time, and believes in building a long-term stra...

Kevin Tumlinson is a prolific author who has self-published over 70 books. He developed a 30-day author formula to write a book a month and has written most of his books between 2014-2020. Tumlinson writes in various genres and experiments with different writing speeds, with his fastest record being a 60,000-word book in a day. He emphasizes discipline, daily word count goals, and recommends break...

The first chapter of any book is crucial for capturing the reader's interest and keeping them engaged throughout the book. It is important to establish a clear premise, answer basic questions, set the tone and mood, and use storytelling techniques effectively. By doing so, the author can engage the reader, establish credibility, and deliver on the promise of the book's title. LINKS: melaniehemry@g...

Tune into the latest episode of the Writing Momentum podcast with Chris and Gena, featuring the knowledgeable Lara Bernhardt, where they delve deep into the complex world of Amazon categories. Lara shares invaluable insight into the significance of accurately categorizing books on Amazon, giving examples of how misidentification can lead to reader frustration. She also reveals the recent changes A...

Tune in to the latest episode of the Writing Momentum podcast with Chris and Gena, where they delve into the five must-have Black Friday deals for writers. Focusing on securing the best value for authors, their essential deals range from email marketing with ConvertKit's exclusive annual plan to the revolutionary email templates and trainings offered by Liz Wilcox, along with the time-saving socia...

In this episode of the Writing Momentum Podcast, Christopher Maselli interviews author Henry McLaughlin as they discuss his latest book launch for "Emily's Trials," a compelling historical fiction set in the 1880s. Henry talks about his decision to hire a launch team and highlights the importance of having an effective coordinator, who managed the recruiting, organization, and daily operations of...

In this episode of the Writing Momentum podcast, Chris and Gena are joined by bestselling author William Bernhardt to discuss the pros and cons of traditional versus independent publishing, also known as self-publishing. They explore the evolution of the publishing industry and how the internet has created more opportunities for authors to reach their audience. Bernhardt shares his insights on the...

In this episode of the Writing Momentum podcast, hosts Chris and Gena chat with Kevin Tumlinson, the voice of indie publishing and the former Director of Marketing for Draft2Digital. They discuss the benefits of self-publishing versus traditional publishing, the changing landscape of the industry, and the best self-publishing options available today. Kevin shares his expertise and insights on reac...