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!
Habits. Did you know that if you do something for a month it will become a habit? Here’s why I mention it.
There are quite a few things that writers should follow, like other writers. But I am not talking about that today. Today, it’s all about habits.
3 Habits all writers should follow
1. Write something every day.
a. Sit down and start typing.
b. You can free write until the ideas flow
c. The key is don’t edit yourself now. Just write.
2. Read–for fun
a. Reading should be fun. It was once, wasn’t it?
b. You learn from others
c. Make reading a priority to stay current on what kinds of books are out there.
3. Go for a walk
a. Don’t take your phone–instead focus on nature
b. Allow creativity to flow
c. Accept inspiration when it comes
Did you enjoy this episode? Please go to iTunes Podcasts and make Writer Groupie one of your favorites!
If you prefer videos, we have a YouTube channel also. You can check it out here. Please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing! When it gets to 100 subscribers, then we can get the WRITER GROUPIE name in the URL to the channel. That’s pretty exciting!
Also, I am a writer, too! Please go to my writing site to hear all about what I am up to in the writing world. I have a book page and you can visit that here
I sometimes have books that I am enjoying listed there, as well as some of the books on tour with some of my favorite book tour companies. If you are a book lover like I am, please check out the latest over on KimSmithauthor.com
I will be back soon with another podcast! I hope you will visit the site again soon,
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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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:
Ever wonder why someone is on #YouTube? This is the one you have been waiting for.
All about Writer Groupie and why I haven’t been active in so long and what on earth has brought me back around again.
It’s a new year, and a new chance to make videos for writers. I love to write, and I love those who write also. I hope you will enjoy this real-in-your-face video about me and my choice to shoot again and upload to this channel even though my situation is not perfect. Not that having a perfect situation is required. See other videos shot recently to find testimony to that fact. I am trying. That’s all one can do, right?
But if you listen to all the hoopla all you have to do is create videos, upload them, create a buzz for them, and voila! You’re an Internet hit. Well, on #YouTube anyway. They say you don’t have to have fancy cameras, or gear. Not even good lighting if you use a sunny location.
SO, HERE’S THE DEAL
Word to the wise: you ain’t gotta be perfect to start a #YouTube channel-you ain’t even gotta be purty.
The link mentioned is for this site: www.writergroupie.net I will upload quite a lot of videos for a while in hopes that this channel grows to the numbers it deserves. I am trying so hard to get 100 subscribers so that the channel can get its own name.
If you have suggestions on what you would like to see in the form of how to videos or vlogs or like that here at #YouTube, please let me know.
Thanks for watching. I promise to make things better each time. I even bought a tripod tonight, so if that ain’t dedication, well, I don’t know what is.
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.
Welcome to another episode of my podcast. Today I am chatting about getting content creation done and how we can begin rebuilding our readerships after the hiatus some (ok me) have taken. I am sorry if it’s a little bit rambling, but I am preparing for yet another surgery…
