As an author, you’ve probably heard people tell you, “Wow, you’ve written a book? I could never do that.” The idea of creating something so big out of nothing, writing and revising for months, and eventually putting it out in the world, feels overwhelming to most. Some may say it seems incomprehensible.So how do you do it?Chances are, you have a system.It may not be a formal system. You may not utilize all the fancy tools like Scrivener or Plottr to craft your novels. In fact, you may not even realize you’re doing it. But if you’ve sat down day after day and put your hands keyboard, you have some system for creating.Can you create a system that ensures your muse visits early and often? Let’s find out!This is the season two finale of the Your Breakout Book podcast. I hope you’ve enjoyed this season’s themes, interviews, and trainings. While the podcast is going on summer vacation, the Your Breakout Community is still going strong, so if you’re looking for more guidance to help you launch your breakout book, now is the perfect time to join.As a member, you’ll gain access to monthly roundtable discussions, live trainings, and a savvy community of authors. Click here to learn more!
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12:21
Systems and Tools for Financial Success
Historically, the intersection of art and money was infrequent and in poor taste. If you were an artist, you were expected to solely focus on your craft and not worry about compensation or financial security. Hence the stereotype of the starving artist.Today’s world is different. There is far less stigma around artists discussing money or expecting compensation for their work. In fact, there are entire communities of working artists and creative entrepreneurs, where the sole purpose is to discuss the business side of creativity. Sure, money is still an uncomfortable topic for many, but if you want to thwart your starving artist destiny, it’s necessary to get clear on your finances and begin seeing your writing career as a business.All month long, we’re focusing on the systems and tools needed to create processes and streamline your workflow. In today’s episode, we’re focusing on the financial systems you need to get clear on your cash flow and improve your bottom line.I get it. You’d much rather talk about craft, securing media coverage, really anything other than money. But I promise, this episode will leave you feeling empowered, confident, and ready to take control of your finances.Resources mentioned:QuickbooksFreshbooksDana's budget / forecast template (make a copy in order to input your data)
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33:44
Systems and Tools for Marketing Your Book
You’ve written a book, that’s step one. Step two? Get that book into the hands of thousands of readers. That means, you have to promote.But you didn’t become an author because you love marketing and publicity. You became an author because you love to tell stories. And now the thought of having to promote your book feels confusing and overwhelming. Perhaps that’s why you’re listening to this podcast?In my experience, it isn’t always the actual promotion that overwhelms people; it’s all the promotional opportunities available. Should you start a Facebook author page? Should you host a virtual event? What about influencer marketing? And do I need a newsletter?Today’s episode isn’t about how to market your book. If that’s what you’re looking for, scroll back to previous episodes. There’s plenty to listen to. Today’s episode is about the systems and tools to help you streamline and simplify your marketing process.Resources mentioned:BufferLaterHootsuiteCanvaMailerLiteActiveCampaignMailchimpZapier
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39:38
Systems and Tools: Project Management
Albert Einstein famously said, “Everything must be made as simple as possible. But not simpler.” When I think about that quote, I visualize stripping away aspects of my life and business until everything is clear and straightforward, stopping before I strip away the things that make my life and business great.This, is systematizing.Much of what we do in our daily lives, whether it’s responding to emails, creating content, or meal-prepping, can be simplified and streamlined using systems.This is particularly true of your writing career.You may think that plotting a novel, writing your newsletter, or appearing at online events are all nuanced, individual propositions that cannot be duplicated or systematized. I’m here to show you that you can.All month long, we’re diving into the systems and tools authors like you can use to save time, increase efficiency, AND deliver better work. We’ll be covering marketing tools, systems for keeping your finances on track, even software to help you craft your novels. But today, we’re starting with project management, which I believe serves as your foundation.Resources MentionedAirtableAsanaTrelloNotion
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21:04
Writing for Readers: Live Training Sneak Peek
Today is the last day of our April theme: Writing for readers. All month long, we’ve been exploring how authors like you can leverage their writing skills to secure more readers for their books. But this podcast isn’t the only place we’ve been exploring writing for readers, this has also been an ongoing discussion in the Your Breakout Book community. All month, members have been re-purposing old blog posts for new newsletters, pitching book excerpts to websites, and placing guest articles with media outlets. It has been so rewarding to see these authors leverage their writing skills to reach new readers AND nurture relationships with their existing ones.Earlier this month, I led a training to help our community members get a better understanding of the writing opportunities available to them and how they can re-purpose the content they create across several platforms. Today, I’m sharing a portion of that training with you!Keep in mind, this was originally a video presentation, so you may have to hit pause at times to write down notes. Or better yet, become a member of Your Breakout Book today and access the full training, with video and slides.
Welcome to Your Breakout Book, the podcast that helps authors like you write, publish and prosper. Hosted by Dana Kaye, founder of Kaye Publicity, Your Breakout Book is a combination of live audio trainings and expert interviews, providing everything you need to launch your own breakout book. If you’re looking to implement long-term, sustainable strategies that ensure your readers will come back for every book you write, then you, my friend, are in the right place.
New Zealand