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Welcome to Paul's Podcast Diary for Saturday 27th April, 2019 – this is diary episode 150!
Coming up this week:
- The Secret Bunker has been submitted to BookBub for the 14th time – but did it get accepted?
- I had hoped to start writing my next psychological thriller on Thursday – I'll reveal if I cut the first turf this week!
- Why I took a day-trip for writing inspiration this week AND I’ve found a way to get me out of a book shop in record time
- AND as it’s the 150th episode of thee diary episodes, I have a special episode for you … I’ll be sharing My Indie Author Positives, Negatives & Aspirations …
This diary charts my self-publishing journey – the ups the downs, the successes and the failures.
Everything goes into this diary, week-by-week, but you'll also find it a source of great tips, resources, tools, podcast recommendations and so on.
If you're new to the podcast and want to easily access the back catalogue of podcast diaries, in chronological order, please check out this page.
If I ever miss something out, or you'd like more information, just drop me an email at paul@paulteague.com.
This Week's Talking Points
1) This week's word count:
2) Rob Scott-Norton shared this useful keyword tool – it's free too! https://www.publishingwithlove.com/keyword-nerve-center
3) Joanna Penn mentioned Tailflick at https://taleflick.com/ for book-to-film projects [my referral link]
4) Smart Blogger article: https://smartblogger.com/kindle-publishing/
5) Publishdrive: https://publishdrive.com/ [My affiliate link]
6) Rachael Herron's ‘How Do You Write?' podcast on revising your book:
150th Diary – My Indie Author Positives, Negatives & Aspirations
My Indie Author Negatives
1 – Not enough income – but the trend is, at least, upwards
2 – Need to improve on ‘show don’t tell’
3 – Need to find a process for editing and find more enjoyment in the process
4 – I’m a 3.something author and I need to find a way to become a 4.8 author
5 – Not enough traction among readers
6 – I’m easily deflated by poor and negative feedback – I always rally, but I probably need a thicker skin
7 – Money! I wish I could pay to get everything done properly instead of constantly boot-strapping
8 – Would probably have been better if I'd slowed down and moved the books through slower HOWEVER it's iterative, so I can change at any time
9 – Improve on craft … would like to find the right mentor to work with me and guide me through.
10 – I do often think about throwing in the towel and walking away … but after a short break, something always keeps me going.
In summary: Massive self-doubt about my abilities and therefore very vulnerable to the wrong kind of criticism.
My Indie Author Positives
1 – I enjoy it more than I ever thought I would
2 – I can do the work
3 – I can come up with the stories
4 – I love writing in my genres
5 – I love meeting and talking to other authors … I love this indie author world
6 – I love the excitement of it all
7 – I love the process of creation … books and podcasts
8 – I never thought I could do this … and I can!
9 – Pride at looking at my body of work and wondering how I did it
10 – I really want to do this and I crave success
In summary: I'm fueled by the sense of creating something from nothing … I love telling my stories
My author aspirations …
1 – That I write at least one really great book in my lifetime
2 – To get a film or TV series made from a book
3 – To get that feeling that I’m not pushing against a closed door … that people love something I created
4 – I want to turn it into a lifestyle – travel around for locations and festivals with my wife
5 – Freedom of location … the ability to travel and relocate anywhere in the world
6 – Financial success would be £5k per month, every month … massive financial success would be £10k per month, every month.
7- To leave an amazing body of work that I look back on with pride and some amazement at how I did it
8 – For my family to read one of my books like they might pick up any other and see no difference
9 – To appear on panels at festivals based on my success not my connections
10 – To have Harlan Coben write a blurb for one of my books
In summary: I want external & financial validation
This Week On Social Media
Here we are aged 19 & 20 working at the same site when it was Pontin's Middleton Tower Holiday Camp in 1984 🙂 pic.twitter.com/Zx4S5kLPZT
— Paul Teague (@PaulTeagueUK) April 21, 2019
Paul's Podcast Diary Archive
You can access every episode of Paul's Podcast Diary, in chronological order, here.