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This week is part three of building the perfect author beast. Robert Chazz Chute and Mat Morris join us again as we discuss how to sustain an author career and continue to be relevant. And the ever burning question, I have two books out, now what? Be with us live at 7 PST/10 EST for another lively conversation.
Tee minus 30 minutes. MEANWHILE IN NEW YORK CITY…
Hello friends
YO YO YO YOYO
matmorrisauthor invite sent
xgranville I’ll accept that…
Right on time.
Here! And perky and awake!
Hi!
Hey, Guys!!!
ReneeKelley So glad you’re here Renee!! Did you get to watch your Scandal?!
ChrishaunKellerHanna xgranville He’s quite sound in his values :p
michelleread ReneeKelley Girl, yes! The rain didn’t stop me.
I have a question for the panelists and show hosts, what the heck has been going on for the last seven weeks or so?!
Hello all!
David Anson Hi David! : ) How are you?
David Anson hi David
michelleread David Anson I’m well. How are you? Feeling better?
ReneeKelley Hi Renee
David Anson Hey You!
writerwade David Anson Hi ya Wade!
David Anson michelleread So much thank you. Feel back to 100%.
Yea, show up when I can’t stay.
JamieDodge Then stay!
Rejoice! I am here.
JamieDodge Pfft. Whatever.
michelleread David Anson 🙂 Glad to hear
PatrickSzabo *golf claps*
ChrishaunKellerHanna David Anson Hi. How are you this fine evening?
PatrickSzabo Oh. My. Cage.
michelleread PatrickSzabo Ha-cha-cha!
Can someone post the link on Facebook and tag us in it. I can’t get it to work from here. I’ll love you forever and stuff.
PatrickSzabo
michelleread Done, but you are the only one I could tag.
PatrickSzabo yaah….
http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/529/287/13f.gif
PatrickSzabo michelleread Thank you : ) I’ll tag the others. Much appreciated!
ChrishaunKellerHanna PatrickSzabo Stealing this gif for the moments that I HAVE to have it.
michelleread PatrickSzabo No problemo.
Mat Morris leaves the house. i do not recommend this. People are out there.
Not feeling well this evening. Going to lie down and watch Doctor Who.
JamieDodge Valid excuse. 4th Doctor?
michelleread But he just goes to coffee shops and Guitar Center.
PatrickSzabo michelleread And sushi. There’s sushi, too.
I did it Michelle.
xgranville PatrickSzabo michelleread There’s always sushi…
ChrishaunKellerHanna xgranville PatrickSzabo michelleread Until there isn’t. And then there’s sleepy-time.
xgranville PatrickSzabo michelleread Mmmm Sushi! I’m going to Seattle in two weeks. Sushit time!!!
ReneeKelley Thank you xoxo : )!
Yes sir. The hand of fear
JamieDodge 🙁 Feel better. I’m so sorry you don’t feel well.
xgranville ChrishaunKellerHanna PatrickSzabo michelleread …or a signal to the server…
High five to low six per month? I know a few of them. A couple feel it’s all going to end and the others don’t feel a lot of stress at all. It’s weird.
ChrishaunKellerHanna xgranville PatrickSzabo michelleread And he comes over only to tell you that you’ve eaten all the sushi. Please leave haha.
David Anson xgranville PatrickSzabo michelleread SUUUUSHHIIIII!!!!
I agree with what he’s saying. Being surrounded by supportive and energetic people is amazing.
michelleread ReneeKelley Your welcome
michelleread Rhonda gets on me when I don’t write The Words. And not in the good way.
There’s Camp Nanowrimo, too. They do Nano three times a year and put you into a “cabin” with other participants.
And then there’s a Round of Words in Eighty Days, which goes all year long and lets you come up and adjust your goals. (In other words, it respects the fact you have a life.)
I’m in a novel writing race with someone at the moment. I’ve started three different books, like a dope. I’m currently 35K words behind. 😛
PatrickSzabo michelleread Ruh roh. That’s good that she’s encouraging though. *High fives Rhonda*
CateMorgan What is this life you speak of?
PatrickSzabo Sounds like our good friend Carl Sinclair.
PatrickSzabo Carrots, man. How can you increase your horse power if you don’t eat them carrots?
xgranville It’s a mythological creature, whose footprints and blurry photos have been rumored to be seen.
michelleread PatrickSzabo I’m going to finish up a few shorts for the rest of September and get back into it come October. I’ll be caught up to him by early November.
CateMorgan xgranville Ah yes, our Canadian woods are filled with the fuckers.
xgranville PatrickSzabo My problem is I treat myself early.
xgranville As are certain lochs of a Celtic nature. But that’s probably just the whiskey, which explains the blurriness.
michelleread I decided to stay, you made me feel guilty.
michelleread PatrickSzabo Yeah, she’s keen.
JamieDodge michelleread Yeahhhh!!!! The power of the Thursday face.
JamieDodge michelleread But…Eldrad must die…
Sales? What is that?
PatrickSzabo It’s a thing that happens I hear.
PatrickSzabo Another mythological creature. CateMorgan
michelleread Someone has to keep X from going crazy in the after show.
michelleread PatrickSzabo The hell, you say!
xgranville PatrickSzabo CateMorgan Sounds like something that needs slaying.
Screw Michael Jordan. There. Someone had to say it.
PatrickSzabo Hey man! Space Jam is the SHIT!
xgranville PatrickSzabo Because of Bill Murray.
xgranville PatrickSzabo And Daffy Duck.
PatrickSzabo xgranville And Larry Bird. “Larry isn’t white. Larry is clear.”
xgranville PatrickSzabo I haven’t seen that movie in such a long time.
Pay bills? What is that?
JamieDodge hahahahahaha ohhhhhhhhh 🙁
Ramen. It’s all about the Ramen.
JamieDodge A third mythological creature! CateMorgan PatrickSzabo
CateMorgan mmmmmmm
A buddy of mine saw his sales drop to a third in September but he’s ahead with the writing and has something like 3 books waiting and ready to publish.
CateMorgan Spicy kimchi ftw!
Yeah but Mat writes Duck Shifter Pron.
PatrickSzabo So glad my mic wasn’t on. I think…I think I just guffawed.
xgranville PatrickSzabo VICTORY!
I feel you Michelle.
And MONEY!
michelleread check out yocladesigns. Clarissa is an AWESOME cover designer and not very expensive.
xgranville ChrishaunKellerHanna PatrickSzabo michelleread and then gives us a bill for 500$ (true story)
Those people need to try for a trad deal.
Or hire an assistant/partner to take care of the business.
KIss method? Rock N Roll All Nite or God of Thunder?
CateMorgan Taaaaking care of business!
PatrickSzabo Love Gun.
Am I the only one that giggled when he said business end. Like the business end of a baby.
xgranville *skivvy dance*
Or, trade services with other writers. BETA reading for newsletter help, etc.
xgranville PatrickSzabo Their second song I learned to play.
CateMorgan But that requires money….which I’m now afraid to spend not he wrong thing because I’ve spent on other things that didn’t result in seeing a rise in the bottom line.
michelleread Dirty!
JamieDodge michelleread Exactly!
michelleread Yeah, I know what you mean. I do everything myself except some editing (what I spend all my money on, because my editor is reasonable and AWESOME), and I do chapter critiques and cover copy drafting in exchange for BETA reads.
CateMorgan michelleread TAAAAAKING CARE OF BUSINESS!
marketing is sharing the story of the product… it’s a narrative, not a sales pitch.
xgranville michelleread *more skivvy dance*
Goodreads: A wretched hive of scum and villainy.
PatrickSzabo Here be pirates…
xgranville CateMorgan michelleread You’re amazing, wanna do all my stuff too? Yeah? In exchange for being enrolled in the tea of the month club?
xgranville PatrickSzabo Here be 1-stars…
PatrickSzabo No! I love Goodreads. Was just saying….so many rules and not sure which ones to break while still maintaining my street cred.
PatrickSzabo xgranville Avast ye, indie autherrr. Here be your 1 starrr.
michelleread PatrickSzabo Libby Hawker is pretty darned great at Goodreads marketing stuff. There’s an old thread she made at KBoards on how she uses it.
michelleread PatrickSzabo (I have no link because I’m not permitted to openly post there anymore)
michelleread PatrickSzabo Listen to those who are selling, not those who just know it all!
ChrishaunKellerHanna This is true, but this isn’t where I get hung up in marketing, personally. I get hung up in the “Where do I market?” I am not even concerned so much about the money, I’ll spend whatever on whatever, it’s just that every time I ask someone where to advertise they all have different answers. Darren Wearmouth was the most specific, and when I did it he said “Yes but you forgot these two places” and I was like “AWW C’MON! I did didn’t I.”
Robert is totally right. I have both trad pub books and indie books, and there’s very little difference these days.
I’ve had too much wine. I kinda forgot we have people leaving comments… Sup, y’all…
David Anson michelleread PatrickSzabo Good advice, David
David Anson michelleread PatrickSzabo Sellers are the ones that I listen to the most.
matmorrisauthor Money. >.>
CateMorgan matmorrisauthor So money.
CateMorgan Well aren’t you fancy….
PatrickSzabo David Anson michelleread Before I buy books on writing or anything to do with it, I check to see if they have sold anything besides nonfiction help books.
Xavier is summing up all the things. I like it.
matmorrisauthor CateMorgan So shiny, so chrome!
David Anson PatrickSzabo michelleread YES
David Anson michelleread PatrickSzabo To point: DWS used to be must read for me. Not any more.
PatrickSzabo David Anson michelleread I agree. He use to put out some really good advice. Especially for new writers.
David Anson PatrickSzabo michelleread Yep. Problem is, he doesn’t sell.
michelleread *Yawn* Someone say my name?
xgranville michelleread Fred!
michelleread ChrishaunKellerHanna the thing is not to get hung up, a least not at first. Tell your story where you can and get back to writing. There are those that are machines when it comes to it and there are others (like me) who are shy and introverted and can only tell my story and the story of Allazar one person at the time and one blog post at a time and gets easier (or at least not terrifying).
Me after formatting
Templates are your friend.
JamieDodge xgranville michelleread Richard!
JamieDodge Oh man haha.
michelleread I was kinda surprised, actually. The difference (at least with my publisher) is they end up paying for the cover and editing/proofing, formatting, and cast their own marketing net. (However, I’m still expected to do my own stuff, marketing wise, and the draft I submit to my editor has to be as close to publishable as possible. They use my cover design input and the synopsis I query my editor with as the jacket copy.
I can do most or all that myself, and publish much, MUCH faster. But there’s more outlay of cash with the production costs.
xgranville JamieDodge What sucks is my computer decided to not save the formatting I did yesterday.
It sounds like Michelle needs procedures. We need to write her procedures she can put in a three ring notebook, and we can also fill the pages with kittens and dancing unicorns to cheer her up.
I need that. Whats the website again?
JamieDodge xgranville Oh maaaaan….
Robert, have you tried Gwen Hernandez’s Scrivener For Dummies. It’s worth grabbing–saved my life on more than one occasion, let me tell ya.
xgranville JamieDodge 4 hours man, down the drain.
Write to the market.
michelleread Dorky and fun?
JamieDodge Me in post-production (i.e. now):
How do you hit the market in the face?
JamieDodge michelleread OH YES. Super dorky.
This is just the best show. You guys rock!
CateMorgan This is a great book as well:
http://www.amazon.com/Format-iBookstore-Smashwords-CreateSpace-Afternoon-ebook/dp/B00AFOMI8S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443149613&sr=8-1&keywords=how+to+format+your+novel+for+kindle
I have Kindle Spy it’s really good.
JamieDodge I’m about to start a Space Opera series that’s going to punch it in the mouth.
I’ve been using it for a month now. And it has helped some.
michelleread you are asking the right questions… I asked these too… http://www.kdspy.com/ is your friend… meet your new friend
I know how you feel, Michelle. I am in the middle of revamping All The Things, while still trying to get books out. And day job. And stuff. It’s mentally exhausting sometimes, even when you have time to write.
CateMorgan Thank you! And *hugs* because I’m so glad to know I’m not the only one who feels that way!
His name is Anne Bice.
ChrishaunKellerHanna michelleread <3 <3 <3 Thank you!!
michelleread Lawd have mercy, you are definitely not alone. Now Keep Calm and Have Some Tea.
PatrickSzabo I was thinking it must be Fade Wennegan
MrJohnRead NO YOU’RE THE BEST SHOW…. (caps intentional)
JamieDodge Preferably with a bat and a two-handed grip.
CateMorgan michelleread Not alone at all. I’m going to be launching a pen name on the advice of some other writer friends and focus on a market.
MrJohnRead we love you John!
David Anson PatrickSzabo Perhaps, Dean RR King? Maybe Stephen Koontz?
michelleread ChrishaunKellerHanna no worries… this is MAJOR LEAGUE OVERWHELMING… but in small bites it gets manageable… I promise!
ChrishaunKellerHanna michelleread Yeah, it’s the whole ‘how do you eat an elephant’ question.
PatrickSzabo michelleread It sounds like we need a SPRT forum/support group. Where we can wail and gnash our teeth and go away feeling better, during off-podcast time.
CateMorgan PatrickSzabo michelleread Interesting idea haha
It might be middle of the line but if you hit it right it’s HUGE.
CateMorgan PatrickSzabo michelleread I usually curse at the sky. It usually rains on me as pay back.
JamieDodge PatrickSzabo michelleread
That’s me. I have one more book that I owe to a few people in my YA/COA series and then BOOM all SciFi/SO for the next few months.
PULP IS MONEY!
Haha!
michelleread Is your series novels or novellas?
ChrishaunKellerHanna michelleread This is so encouraging! I didn’t mean to take over the show and whine for a bit – but I needed the encouragement to get back into writing my own stuff for fun. Also again, so glad I am not alone in feeling overwhelmed. These guys always seem to have it all together, you know?!
MrJohnRead You just like the eye candy……Mat’s beard is quite a bit longer….
As writers we are officially & absolutely unemployable!
PatrickSzabo michelleread Novels I think. Between 30 and 50K
michelleread ChrishaunKellerHanna I wrote 400 words today and am behind 20k. YEP I GOT IT ALL TOGETHER.
ChrishaunKellerHanna SO TRUE. I thought about getting a day job and my eye started twitching.
xgranville michelleread ChrishaunKellerHanna X! Let’s be on it tomorrow, shall we?
ReneeKelley Which one, Renee? Sorry, I just saw this.
xgranville michelleread ChrishaunKellerHanna Don’t even get me started on being behind. Remodeling is messing with my writing something fierce .
michelleread PatrickSzabo Okay. Just curious.
michelleread ChrishaunKellerHanna I have a day job with a company that folks want to get into BADLY and all I do there pays for writing, editing, covers…
xgranville michelleread ChrishaunKellerHanna I’m supposed to be writing 1k a day. Today is not my day. Tomorrow doesn’t look good either.
David Anson xgranville michelleread ChrishaunKellerHanna Awwww that’s frustrating!
michelleread ChrishaunKellerHanna What is this job thing you speak of?
JamieDodge michelleread ChrishaunKellerHanna A FIFTH MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURE!?! CateMorgan
ChrishaunKellerHanna michelleread I clean houses for extra money. And by extra I mean regular money for bills.
michelleread David Anson xgranville ChrishaunKellerHanna It is, but at least I’m writing!!!
JamieDodge michelleread ChrishaunKellerHanna I work for WP Engine
BTW, where the hell is the Author Strong FB group? Meesa can’t find it!
PatrickSzabo I’ll add you.
I need a cleaner link to it.
matmorrisauthor PatrickSzabo Cool beans, daddio.
CateMorgan xgranville michelleread ChrishaunKellerHanna Cate seriously – do it. Pester me on social media somewhere and I’ll poke you until you get it done and reward you when you do.
matmorrisauthor PatrickSzabo hey me too
JamieDodge michelleread ChrishaunKellerHanna It’s the thing that sucks your life blood
matmorrisauthor PatrickSzabo Um, me too.
matmorrisauthor PatrickSzabo Thanks, man.
michelleread xgranville ChrishaunKellerHanna I’m getting ready to release a book next week, so I’ve been caught in the deep, dark hell of revisions. It’s a special level of hell, where they put axe murderers, book critics, and people who talk in the theatre.
Goat porn?
JamieDodge Goat shifter erotica. Mat’s favorite.
JamieDodge Shifter Alpha Billionaire Goat Erotica
CateMorgan michelleread xgranville ChrishaunKellerHanna I just got my first one back form the editor. Never seen so much red ink in my life, but she liked it. Scary!!!
David Anson michelleread xgranville ChrishaunKellerHanna HA! My indie editor is also known as The Pink Hammer, because she uses pink instead of red. Talk about searing the eyeballs!
Great show!
Thanks Mat! I need the formatting book
ARRRGH!
GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY!!!
OMG! Really!
that deserves five stars.
CateMorgan David Anson michelleread xgranville ChrishaunKellerHanna With all the corrections and notes it’s twice as think as the original manuscript.
Is there an afterparty?
So gross and so magical!!!
michelleread Much like me!
ChrishaunKellerHanna You got it! Coming right up
https://hangouts.google.com/call/vu7lakgalqbkvdseqkbukfe4pea
michelleread Like bubble wrap!
writerwade AFTER PARTY!
PatrickSzabo michelleread haha!
CateMorgan michelleread Yeah!!
This is a great episode. I wish I’d heard this a couple of years ago. Matt reminded me how far I’ve come but also, how far I still have to go. Onward and upward.