SPA Girls Podcast – EP301 – 50 Shades Of Writing: Does Size Matter?
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Conventional wisdom says ‘bigger is better’ for books, but is that really true? In this episode, we discuss what different word counts and book sizes mean for successful publishers today, how you can use different sizes to your advantage, and how to find your sweet spot. The Right Size isn’t a black and white thing – in fact, there are 50 shades of writing (size) to embrace!
There is NO ONE RULE for word counts:
Example: The Romance Writers of America defines a novella as 20,000 to 40,000 words and a novel as a work of fiction of 40,000 words or more as determined by computer word count.
The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America organization defines:
Short Story: less than 7,500 words;
Novelette: at least 7,500 words but less than 17,500 words;
Novella: at least 17,500 words but less than 40,000 words
Novel: 40,000 words or more.
Bookbub current rule for word count needed for a featured deal:
A full-length book. Novels and collections of short stories or novellas should be at least 150 pages in length, works of nonfiction at least 100 pages, cookbooks at least 70 pages, middle-grade books at least 100 pages, and children’s picture books at least 20 pages. We currently do not feature stand-alone novellas or short stories.”
Uses of shorter fiction:
Short stories can be published on their own or used to create anthologies
They can be used as newsletter subscription lures
READER EXPECTATION is the key to what word count you should aim for
Romance readers (generally) expect a full novel to be 50,000 to 80,000 words; however, there are some popular niches such as sexy shifter romance telling the story in a shorter word count eg 35,000.
Thrillers and suspense normally are 60,000 – 90,000
Epic fantasy can have 120,000 words +
Cozy mysteries tend to 40,000 to 60,000
Serialized fiction tends to be around 700 – 2000 words per episode
The new Kindle Vella program states “between 600-5,000 words”
IT”S NOT SET IN STONE and TRENDS DO CHANGE
Advantage if you’re publishing exclusively with Amazon and in the Kindle Unlimited program is to have a longer word count. More pages = more $
Want more of the SPA Girls?
✔️ Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors https://www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/
✔️ You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: https://www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/
✔️ Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast
✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast
SPA Girls Podcast – EP284 – Lucy Score talks Reader Groups, Releases and Relationships
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If you’ve ever considered starting up a Facebook reader group, then you need to listen to this episode. Lucy Score’s group is an example of a well run group that is positive, supportive and fun – everything you want in a reader group. She talks to us about how she set it up, and what makes it so great, as well as why she loves her readers so much.
Lucy also gives us insight into her most recent book launch, how she connects to readers and why relationships are such an important part of her very successful Indie career.
The best thing about Lucy? She’s awesome, genuine, and super smart. We love having her on the show, and we know you’ll get a whole bucket load of useful information for your author career in this podcast. Enjoy!
Lucy’s official Bio:
Lucy Score is a Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon bestselling author. Small town contemporary rom-coms are her lady jam and she enjoys delivering the feels with a huge side of happily ever after.
Her books have been translated into several languages, making readers around the world snort laugh, swoon, and sob. Lucy lives in Pennsylvania with the devastatingly handsome Mr. Lucy and their horrible cat.
In her spare time she enjoys sleeping, drinking copious amounts of coffee, and reading all the romance novels in the universe.
Links mentioned:
Previous SPA Girls Podcast episode with Lucy: https://www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep232-interview-with-lucy-score/
SPA Girls Podcast episdoe with Becca Syme: https://www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep146-interview-with-becca-syme-on-writing-better-faster/
Write Better Faster by Becca Syme
https://betterfasteracademy.com/wbf101/
SPA Girls Links:
✔️ Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors https://www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/
✔️ You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: https://www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/
✔️ Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast
✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast
SPA Girls Podcast – EP182 – Facebook Ads with Maria Luis (Part One)
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Not sure about how Facebook Ads work? Need to learn the basics?
Join the SPA Girls as bestselling author Maria Luis breaks down Facebook Ads for us, from the beginning steps, to how to choose the best images; plus what to do, and what not to do, and everything in between!
This is the first part of a two-part series on Facebook Ads from an author who has been successfully running her own ads for the last two years. It features loads of tips and advice for running ads, how to tell if it’s a good ad, and how to scale up once you’ve got an ad that’s working for you.
If you’ve been thinking about trying out Facebook ads, or have previously tried them only to be disappointed, then this is the episode for you!
P.S. to see what ads an author’s page (or brand’s) is running, just go to facebook, click on Page Transparency (right hand column on desktop) and click SEE MORE – then scroll down to “Ads From This Page” and you’ll be able to view the ads they’re running.
Example of Maria’s facebook ad:
SPA Girls Podcast – EP169 – 5 Goals You Need To Make In 2019
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Goals! We’re all so excited about them at the beginning of January, and then we feel them like chains around our necks by the end of the month. (Well, here in the SPA we do. Maybe you’re able to make it into February without feeling like you’re never going to make them work…hehe)
What we’ve decided is that instead of overwhelming yourself with ALL THE GOALS, if you set one goal in these five areas, for a shorter period of time (we’re suggesting 12 weeks) then you’re more likely to make them happen.
We go through the five areas, and talk about the goals that we’re setting in each, and give suggestions of goals that you could set as well.
This is another information packed episode that will help you set some relevant goals that are going to help you move forward in 2019.
SHOW NOTES:
Quote from the 12 week year by Bryan Moran “Identify the “Keystone” Action and Focus on It. Once you have an intense desire to accomplish something, you then need to identify the core actions that will produce the result you’re after. Often you can come up with a laundry list of things that you could do, but that just leads to diffusion and discouragement. In most cases there are a few core activities that account for the majority of the result, and in some cases, there is one, perhaps two, primary activities that ultimately produce the result. It is critical that you identify the one or two “Keystone” actions and focus on them.”
What we’re trying to do is (whether over a year or a quarter (ie 12 weeks) is give you five areas to set a goal in, that will serve your long term growth as an author.
This was inspired in part by our podcast with author Kelly St Clare (Podcast #163) who sets ONE craft goal per manuscript she’s working on, rather than trying to fix “All The Things.”
Remember a goal needs a specific timeframe.
You also need to review your goals as you go through the specified timeframe to make sure you’re doing what needs to be done to hit the goal at the end. If you’re not achieving it, look at why, and try to make changes so that you will make the goal.
Craft: (in the next book)
One goal per book for a craft skill that you’re working on.
Sharyn: Learn correct comma usage
Trudi: Do better at characterisation.
Cheryl: Being more descriptive.
Other ideas for craft goals:
- Work on dialogue
- Work on your sentence structure
- Work on eradicating the passive voice in your writing
- Introduce core elements early (setting, conflict, major characters, motivations etc)
Social Media: (To work on in Q1)
One aspect of SM that you’re going to work on.
Cher: Learn more about Facebook ads
Shar: Grow SPA Girls FB likes by 100 peeps, organically.
Trudi: Get more interactive in FB posts. At least 1 interactive post a week.
Other ideas for social media goals:
- Learn a new platform (but research the right one for your genre)
- Create a post schedule and post daily – eg. #MondayMusings #TuesdayTunes #WednesdayExcerpt #ThursdayThrowback #FridayFunFact #SaturdaySilly #SundayBookRec
Marketing: (Work on in Q1)
One aspect of marketing to work on in first quarter.
Shar: Nail Book Bub Ads.
Cheryl: Get the open rates/clicks up on my newsletter.
Trudi: AMS UK ads – sign on and do them.
Other ideas for marketing goals:
- Learn facebook ads – create five new ones each month
- Work on sending your email newsletter sign ups content that will have them opening every email from you! Short stories, deleted scenes etc.
- Amp up your blurbs
- Read more about copywriting
- Write some short stories and other content for your newsletter and other marketing content
Productivity (Work on in Q1)
One thing to amp up your productivity in the next quarter.
Shar: Write 5000 per week on new manuscript. Set aside an hour a day for writing.
Cher: Get up earlier, and work without social media distractions.
Trudi: Lynn Johnston trick – write down everything you do.
Other ideas for productivity goals:
- Spend time learning dictation
- Work out the word count of your next book, and when it needs to be finished by, then work out how many words you need to write each day and set as a daily goal
- Try changing where you write if you are struggling to get the words down. Cafes, or writing in a group situation.
Well Being (One per month)
One new habit per month.
Cher: New exercise regime – Pilates
Shar: Listening to headspace
Trudi: Start doing 10,000 steps every day. Get out in the garden.
Other ideas for goals:
- Set timer on phone and spend ten minutes stretching every day at 2pm.
- Set a timer on your phone and go for a walk every hour for five-ten minutes.
- Drink more water every day
Show Notes & Links
SPA Girls Podcast – EP166 – Retrospective Of The Best Of 2018
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Merry Christmas from the SPA Girls! We hope you all have the best of everything this festive season, and that you get to spend the big day with the people you love. (And failing that, some chocolate and a good book.)
In the spirit of giving, we’ve created an episode full of tips and tricks, advice, with the best of 2018 crammed into one small (ish) episode. (Okay, not so small). Join us for a retrospective of 2018 to find out what we did right, what we did wrong, and how you can learn from us to help you make 2019 the best year yet!
Dear 2018, you were tough. I’d planned for you to be productive, smooth and knocking out goals left, right and center. However life had other plans. Anyhow, I’ve learned to schedule better, plan better and give myself a bit of grace for dealing with Life Stuff. But look out 2019, cos I’ve got BIG plans for you too and I’m coming back in the first quarter with my own personal zero $ to $1k challenge. Shar x
So, 2018, you were full of promise. I tried not to count my chickens, especially after Shar found hers, but I believed I was on to something with the new series and pen name. It was a lot of hard work and you didn’t make things easy, but all in all, I have no real complaints as it wasn’t totally your fault that I was side-tracked. The new year brings a (hopefully) quieter life and I intend to fill it with words. Cher x
2018 started with a frenetic pace, and continued on that way for me. It was a year that changed my writing style yet again. It’s funny how that continues to happen even though you think there’s nothing more you can learn about your process. I achieved most of what I wanted, but also a little less, if that makes any sense to anyone but me! 2019 will be a year for setting writing goals, and focusing on my work routine. It will be year of friends and family. Can’t wait! Wendy x
