Today, let’s chat about book sales and the lack of results…the sales you’re NOT getting.
So, say you wanted to excel as a writer in any genre, but you didn’t know how. Could you do it?
In this video, we’re going to talk about how some writers struggle with finding their sweet spot.
You know what? When you just get started as an author, when you launch your very first book–when you first begin on the publishing journey–it’s exciting and fun and just the thought of readers enjoying your book and going to book events and signing your books for adoring fans, and oh yeah, ALL THAT MONEY you make on doing something you really love to do, it is FANTASTIC!
And certainly, if I can do it, you can do it.
check out my book page at www.kimsmithauthor.com/books
But just because I can and have (13 books so far)-doesn’t mean you can repeat and rinse and come out with the same book sales.
So, to find out more about my thoughts on this subject and also see some fun video of a day at the farmer’s market near my home, check out the YouTube channel video above. If you like it, please consider subscribing.
Have you ever thought about how much negative self-talk you produce every day? I didn’t either until recently when I found a fellow online that really impressed me with his affirmation ideas. This got me to thinking… and I decided that everyone INCLUDING WRITERS needs positive reinforcements.
So, this week’s video is all about positive affirmations for writers. That’s all writers, young, old, and in-between.
Many people have wonderful positive affirmations like I am beautiful, I am peaceful, I am joyful. But I wanted to say things like, I am a writer. Because sometimes we just need to hear that.
I have put together this little video with voiceover speaking positivity into your ear. I hope it is something that benefits you in the days to come. If you ever need someone to just talk to about writing, well, I am always listening.
Please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing to the Writer Groupie channel over on YouTube. I would love to have you as a fan and follower.
Writer Groupie is also on iTunes if you are a podcast listener. Sometimes it is about writing, sometimes it is about writing mindset. If that sound like something you would be interested in, would you consider adding the podcast to your favs?
Writer Groupie Podcast
Be sure to leave a comment below if you want to see a specific video on the channel. And leave me a comment with your thoughts on what I am doing. I am trying to do more and better videos, but it takes time!
This video is focusing on older writers, senior writers, over fifty writers, and those who need a shot in the arm to get in the writing chair.
If you are interested, you may pick up my book Ten Tips for Getting that Book Written on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2MkNPA7
You can find me on the web at: www.writergroupie.net and my writing site at: www.kimsmithauthor.com
This video was created with iPhone 12Pro.
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Disclaimer: This video description might have some affiliate links and I may receive a small commission. I only share resources that I love. Thank you so much for your support!
Today I have uploaded a day in the life vlog for you to the YouTube channel. I have been sick with a sinus cold of some sort for about a week, so I couldn’t really record. It is terrible trying to talk and breathe when your nose is sooo stuffy.
No, I do not think it is Covid. I don’t feel that bad-but I am staying home away from everyone just in case. I have been staying away from people in general all this while, which is another reason I do not think it is Covid. Of course, my hubby works, so there is that possibility that he might have come into contact. He is not sick however, so I really do not buy that either. No, really, I think it’s the same crud I get every winter. Sinuses. Ugh. I am treating as such anyway. My desire is to feel better soon. I have SO much to do.
Writing while sick and quarantining
This video has clips from our fun New Years Day of going to the beach, and I end it with some writing (me writing). It is not very informational, and I promise to get to that soon. It’s winter and it’s cold here in Florida, Yeah, I know. But it was 38 when I woke up this morning. That’s cold by anyone’s standards.
DO check back for new videos and podcasts coming soon. If you like this day in the life style of video I will be happy to make more!
Hey, everybody! I am back with another tarot for writers video. This time the cards were a little sneaky. The true meaning of the setting didn’t reveal itself until the end of the video. I hope you are enjoying these as much as I am making them!
If you are an older writer, just diving into the writing life, you may enjoy my other videos over on YouTube. Just search for Writer Groupie. I should come up.
This video was created using a smartphone and a tripod. If you are an over-fifty writer who would like to get started creating videos, drop a comment below. I will be happy to share what my setup is like-it is really simple.
I would love to get more tech-heavy, but I have to reach a few milestones first. First, I need 100 subscribers. That will get the Writer Groupie name in the URL. Having it that way will make finding the channel much easier.
Then it is on to monetization hopefully. We will see.
Why do we worry so much about how we are going to write a book? I recently saw a tweet from a youngster who was going to dive into book writing after being a fan fiction writer. He seemed genuinely concerned about this decision. So, while I am primarily speaking to an older demographic, youngsters, listen up and learn.
Here’s five (5) ways to write a book worry free
(1) Practice consistency – meaning do it every day like brushing your teeth or taking your vitamins. The more you write, the better you get and making it a priority and doing it every day will take a lot of worry about it away. Now, if you are like me and worry you won’t be able to do it every day, then pick a schedule for yourself that works. This is supposed to be fun, remember that. But if your weekly Mahjong game is going to get in the way and give you the blues then go around that rock in the road. You can just move the writing to another day or another hour. It is worth the feeling of being worry free.
(2) Plan the amount of time you have to write. The young folks will like this because they are SOOOO busy. But we older, wiser writers know that any time is a good time when it’s something that we love. So, anyway, pick out how many minutes or hours you want to contribute to your book. You can feasibly get anywhere from 500-1000 good words down in an hour. That’s 2-5 pages give or take.
(3) Have no plans. Yes, you heard right. If you try to PLAN the writing in advance then you may find a bit of worry. Like, “what if nobody reads this”? Or, “what if my kids read this”? Or “I’m not good at this”. That’s going WAAAY too far in advance. So, stop worrying and just enjoy this time you have to express your storytelling ability. It is okay to be writing a memoir. It’s okay to be writing Snow White from your perspective. Pretend that no one will ever read it but YOU and have some fun. And who knows? You may find that all the other worrisome thoughts fade away.
(4) Take a notebook everywhere. When you have downtime like sitting at the doctor’s office, write a few lines. At the DMV? Write something. Waiting for a plane, train, or bus? Yep. Time to write. This will stop that old excuse “I DON’T HAVE TIME”.
(5) Find your place. I have written in some pretty weird places but my fav place is in a car on a trip as a passenger. I can really focus in the quiet of a car, or with just a little radio playing. This might now work for you especially if you have a chatty driver. Having a fav place to write makes the experience so much more enjoyable. It will encourage writing.
Don’t worry about it. If all you have is an old beat up desk in a corner, that’s okay. Even if you just use your breakfast bar, it is fine. Just make it YOURS. Put a plant close by, put some tunes on your smartphone and get busy.
While this is not a complete list, it is a good start to kill that old worry-monster. Writing is FUN.
IF you want to see more of what Writer Groupie has to offer check out this interview:
This is the third installment of my tarot for writers experiment. So far so good. I really love doing these. I am going to try to come up with a way to record them where the viewer can see the cards easily. Right now, I have no way to record except my phone and the tripod I have is sort of “eh”- so excuse my simplistic way of production right now. Maybe if we grow the channel into something bigger, we can afford to do better things.
Christmas
It is Christmas week this week and I hope that you take some time to enjoy it. I know we are all at home all the time anyway, but there is just something special about this WEEK. Eat too much good food, sleep too much, watch too much Netflix, and just enjoy life in general. That is my wish for you!
Today I am reading for a story/book written in multiple POVs. There is a butcher, a baker, and a candlestick maker and all their fortunes await! I thank you for being my guest today!
Share this channel with your friends and let’s get people checking it out! Call it a CHRISTMAS present to me!
I will be uploading a podcast very soon all about what this year has brought and what I hope to accomplish in 2021. If you like goal setting and all that, be sure to check it out. And if you have suggestions for future videos, please let me know. It is so hard to come up with new content! I am likely going to have to consult my guru, Pinterest. Yeah, you know. The one EVERYONE goes to for ideas? Yeah, that one. Anyway, don’t forget to like the videos, and if you haven’t subscribed, please do that!
For the channel, I still have not decided on how I want to present these videos, and I still haven’t decided how to title my blog post for them. So, excuse me while I am in the throes of new things. Maybe soon I will get thumbnails, banners, etc. all in order. Just another thing for 2021!
Anyway, here is the next video over on the YouTube channel called Tarot for Writers. This is the second one I have put up, and I have added cards to the video where you can click to go get another reading. This one is all about a multiple POV story. If that sounds like you, I hope this video helps you.
I am having a lot of fun doing these. I hope you are enjoying them. If you are, would you please go out and like and subscribe to the channel? I am going to do my best NOT to have a long period of no content. I don’t like it when that happens any more than you do, so believe me, we are on the same page.
This week, I will have TWO of the readings to go live (Christmas is coming!) and then I will upload once a week thereafter. Probably on Fridays, as that seems to be a good way to kick off my weekend.
If you have any desire to follow me around doing a vlog, let me know. I do go on daily walks and the bird life is fun to see. I wouldn’t mind doing vlogs, but it needs to be something my fans will watch.
So, there you have the latest on my channel. And you have the latest on my endeavors to entertain and astound you.
We are starting a new thing (TAROT for WRITERS) on the channel over at YouTube beginning today. It is a Goal, Motivation, and Conflict tarot card reading for all things writer. For example, you may need a muse-tweak for a villain. Or a sidekick character, or maybe even a setting. Likely we will be doing this once a week, as I am really enjoying it first of all, and I need content on my channel secondly.
If you have suggestions for something you would like to see on Writer Groupie, drop me a comment below. I am considering interviews again, as Zoom now has made video chatting very easy, and more people are getting into it.
What’s Coming to WRITER GROUPIE?
Writer Groupie will put out a call for interviews when that is something that I am ready to go back to.
There will be a podcast soon talking about end of year accomplishments and likely another one for new year goals. I hope you are ready to see and hear me because in 2021 I will definitely be AROUND. I will provide for you once again, blogs, videos, and podcasts. Thank you for being a fan and follower. This would be a very lonely time without you along for the ride. And I do have so many new things coming in 2021-I am pretty excited! Tarot for writers is only one of them.
This should be live on or around the 18th of December so… a very happy week of Christmas lies ahead!
Hope you are all ready for Santa Claus to come!
Check out the new vid here:
And while you are there, would you mind subscribing? I have to have 1000 subscribers before YouTube will give me any love. Thanks again!
If you want to see one of my interviews please go here:
