The Aspiring Authors Podcast

01/11/2021

02/08/2020

It's the last episode in season 1! Episode 20 - What we've learned:
We give our top recommendations from the entire series and chat about what we've learned so far, as well as our favourite episodes. Make sure you have a pen with you for this one!

https://aspiringauthors.podbean.com/

Join us for an informal chat between two aspiring author friends, sharing our tips and experiences from our own writing journeys. Safe space for budding authors wanting to have a giggle and a no frills/frank chat on how we are trying to make it in the wri...

15/07/2020

And.... our 2nd last episode of the 1st season is up!

Episode 19 - Goal Reflection

We chat about our original goals from the first episode and reflect on our progress to date.

https://aspiringauthors.podbean.com/e/episode-19-goal-reflection-the-aspiring-authors-podcast/

This week we go back and look at our original goals for the year and if we have completed them. We also look on previous episodes that we feel have been the most worthwhile for an aspiring author. 2nd last episode of season 1!...

15/07/2020

Episode 18 - Behind the scenes of making a podcast. We open up about the difficulties of making a podcast and declare our new writing routines:

https://aspiringauthors.podbean.com/e/episode-18-behind-making-a-podcast-new-routines-aspiring-authors-podcast/

Hayley recommends The Creative Penn episode:
https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2019/08/28/podcasting-goes-mainstream-podcast-movement-2019/

Lorna recommends podcast Write Now by Sarah Rhea Werner:
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/sarah-rhea-werner/write-now

&

Girl In Space : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvef0MICy99oyPCzmvD-vvw

Nothing fancy here -- just the simple audio diary of a girl in space. Also, there’s this weird and potentially ominous light in the distance that seems to be...

25/06/2020

Our last episode "Synopsis & The Cover Letter"
Episode 17 is available from where-ever you usually get your podcasts! or follow the link below:

https://aspiringauthors.podbean.com/e/episode-17-synopsis-the-covering-letter-aspiring-authors-podcast/

Our recommendations:

Lorna recommends Reedsy blog post & Jeriko writer's article:
https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-write-a-synopsis/
https://jerichowriters.com/sample-literary-agent-query-letter/

&

Hayley recommends Jeriko writers, Alexa Donne & Will Dean:
https://youtu.be/Ga7LeoQ8U80
https://youtu.be/t3D6k7B6U3E
https://youtu.be/yUU3mpZGakg

Join us for an informal chat between two aspiring author friends, sharing our tips and experiences from our own writing journeys. Safe space for budding authors wanting to have a giggle and a no frills/frank chat on how we are trying to make it in the writing world! Lorna & Hayley x

18/06/2020

Our last episode "Social Media & Author Branding"
Episode 16 is available from where-ever you usually get your podcasts! or follow the link below:

https://aspiringauthors.podbean.com/e/episode-16-social-media-author-branding-the-aspiring-authors-podcast/

Our recommendations:
Lorna recommends The Creative Introvert-
https://www.thecreativeintrovert.com/category/podcast/

Hayley recommends The Creative Penn-
https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2020/04/20/unique-author-brand-gail-carriger/

Join us for an informal chat between two aspiring author friends, sharing our tips and experiences from our own writing journeys. Safe space for budding authors wanting to have a giggle and a no frills/frank chat on how we are trying to make it in the wri...

11/06/2020

Our last episode "The Art of Storytelling"
Episode 15 is available from where-ever you usually get your podcasts! or follow the link below:

Our recommendations:

Lorna recommends Studio Ghibli https://www.studioghibli.com.au/

Hayley recommends The Invisible Man. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSBsNeYqh-k

Studio Ghibli is one of the most acclaimed animation studios in the world, and the home of some of the most revered and beloved animated works to have ever graced the screen.

11/06/2020

**Answer Time! Self-doubt**
Thank you, again, for sharing your worries. I hope you can see from the post replies that you are definitely not alone.

One theme which came up in several replies is self-doubt.
As Katie Wells put it: ‘How to know the product I have produced or will produce is good and professional enough to be sold.’

Self-doubt is not all bad. It ensures we work on our books to the best of our ability and educate ourselves about writing and publishing. However, it's very unhelpful when it comes to assessing our finished product.

First off, we’re too close to our own work to see it clearly and, most importantly, there is no such thing as ‘good’ or ‘bad’. It’s entirely subjective. Just look at the reviews for one of your favourite books on Amazon and you will see that some folk hate it!

My advice is to focus on the professional part. What makes a professional product in the book world? A professionally-designed cover which clearly shows the genre, carefully edited text and decent formatting/layout. Make a plan to ensure you have achieved these elements and then execute it.

When it comes to the actual writing or story, the best way to find out if readers will like it is to put it on the market. However, you can get to that point more easily if you show your work beforehand. You could find a couple of trusted beta readers to give you feedback or pay a reputable structural editor. A longer-term strategy is to build an ARC team who will read your book before publication and provide feedback.

When looking for beta readers, do make sure they are readers of your ‘kind of book’. There is no point getting feedback on your sci fi novel from folk who loathe the genre!

Ultimately, at some point you have to decide that your book deserves to be on the shelf at the bookshop. Something which might help is to remember that it’s just a book… It’s not life or death and you’re not forcing anybody to buy it, just offering the option.

I still feel enormous self-doubt, so hopefully I can serve as proof that it’s possible to take action despite it. 😊

09/06/2020

Great opportunity here, check it out.

***Giveaway!***
Stop Worrying; Start Selling is out tomorrow! 🎉
To celebrate, I'm giving away a pair of signed paperbacks (Stop Worrying; Start Writing and Stop Worrying; Start Selling) to one lucky winner.

To enter, like this post and leave a comment with your biggest worry or headache about book marketing.

Check back tomorrow when I will be answering your questions and concerns (and to find out who won).

Good luck! 😊

[Giveaway is available internationally and is not affiliated with Facebook. Closes at 10am BST, 9th June 2020]

04/06/2020

Our last episode "Writing The Blurb For Your Novel"
Episode 14 is available from where-ever you usually get your podcasts! or follow the link below:

https://aspiringauthors.podbean.com/e/episode-6-writing-the-blurb-for-your-novel-the-aspiring-authors-podcast/

Our Recommendations this week:
Vivien Reis
https://youtu.be/9qNhmq6tBr8

&

Esther Rabbit
https://estherrabbit.com/

L&H x

This week we chat about book blurbs!  Discussing steps on how to write the best blurb for your novel, we look at existing novel blurbs, going through step by step. We also do the dreaded task of reading out our own blurbs! L&H...

28/05/2020

Our last episode "How to Pitch Your Book Episode 13 is available from where-ever you usually get your podcasts :

https://aspiringauthors.podbean.com/e/episode-13-how-to-pitch-your-book-aspiring-authors-podcast/

Our Recommendations:

Lorna recommends
Literary Agent: Sarah Hornsley - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqKWgInvZhgs__-OUpYbkuw

Hayley recommends
Kate Harrison's book Pitch Power
https://kate-harrison.com/pitchpower
&
The Book Doctors
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaJoRFCTiQpaOwyARPjKaog

L&H x

This week we discuss pitching your very first novel! We run through the different types of pitches - yes theres more than 1! And chat about lots of nonsense inbetween. L&H...

28/05/2020

Episode 12 - Indie or Traditional
Our recommendations from our episode:

Hayley recommends Will Dean:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZKBDoy7_stUsiL0YBM3aNg/feed

Lorna recommends The Kate and Abbie Show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3boP4voANY&list=PLV6pMftb_QTlt0cGZwCbLc_z7L4D40_Bl

Hello. I’m Will Dean - Forest Author. I’m a British bestselling author who lives in a boggy Swedish forest. I write the Tuva Moodyson thrillers. I want to sh...

21/05/2020

Our latest episode - Indie or Traditional?

This week we announce what path we're both going to take - Indie or Traditional.

Touching on the pros and cons of both and share our recommendations for the week.

L&H
https://aspiringauthors.podbean.com/e/episode-12-indie-or-traditional-aspiring-authors-podcast/

This week we announce what path we're both going to take - Indie or Traditional. Touching on the pros and cons of both and share our recommendations for the week.   L&H...

14/05/2020

Last episode - Writing the Antagonist :

Hayley recommends K.M. Weiland and her website www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com

Lorna recommends Ellen Brock's Youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgvu0q49l3BfsMyp9WSTQLw

L&H x

10/05/2020

New episode ! The Antagonist:

What makes a good antagonist? This week we chat about the villain and look at examples from books and film. We share our tips on how we write antagonists and our recommendations for the week.

https://aspiringauthors.podbean.com/e/episode-11-writing-the-antagonist-the-aspiring-authors-podcast/

What makes a good antagonist? This week we chat about the villain and look at examples from books and film.  We share our tips on how we write antagonists and our recommendations for the week. L&H ...

30/04/2020

Hello! That time again, new podcast now live:

This week we're talking about the love interest:
How we decide what traits the love interest will have, do we base them on people we know, if their appearance is important and we look at fairytales on how the love interest is shown.

We also give our own tips for creating the love interest...

https://aspiringauthors.podbean.com/

Join us for an informal chat between two aspiring author friends, sharing our tips and experiences from our own writing journeys. Safe space for budding authors wanting to have a giggle and a no frills/frank chat on how we are trying to make it in the wri...

27/04/2020

From our last podcast episode 9 : How we create characters:

Lorna recommends podcast Writer's Routine:
https://writersroutine.com/tag/episodes/

Hayley recommends book editor Youtube videos:
https://www.youtube.com/user/KeytopServices

L&H

Posts about Episodes written by itsdansimpson

24/04/2020

Episode 9 now live!

How we write characters:
This week we talk about how we plan a character, how do we get inspired for creating a character and what our process is to work out each character. We share our tips on how to create characters, discuss the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator and give this week's recommendations.

L&H
https://aspiringauthors.podbean.com/e/episode-9-writing-characters-the-protagonist-aspiring-authors-podcast/

This week we talk about how we plan a character, how do we get inspired for creating a character and what our process is to work out each character.  We share our tips on how to create characters, discuss the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator and give this week'...

19/04/2020

Our last episode - HOW WE EDIT.

Hayley recommends Jericho Writers - https://jerichowriters.com/

Lorna recommends youtube writer, Abbie Emmons - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC20oEMuKgfaNBfpV7JlFRQQ

16/04/2020

Episode 8 now live!

HOW WE EDIT:
This week we chat about our editing process, starting from the first draft. We talk about different ways of editing, our struggles and what we love about it. It's a slow process, but we share our tips on how we try to tackle editing and give our recommendations of what we're listening to this week.

L&H x
https://aspiringauthors.podbean.com/

Join us for an informal chat between two aspiring author friends, sharing our tips and experiences from our own writing journeys. Safe space for budding authors wanting to have a giggle and a no frills/frank chat on how we are trying to make it in the wri...

14/04/2020

From last Episode 7: Covid19 & Writers Block

Lorna recommended Scottish indie film "Not Another Happy Ending" starring Karen Gillian. Great film to watch & also about our subject this week - Writer's Block:

https://youtu.be/1xmweTUqjkA

Not Another Happy Ending is a romantic comedy set in Glasgow, Scotland and starring Karen Gillan (Doctor Who, Oculus) and Stanley Weber (Borgia, Thérèse Desq...

14/04/2020

Check out our last episode 7: Covid19 & Writers Block.

We talk about the uncertain times we face in the middle of the pandemic. Feelings of anxiety and stress may be upon you, making you struggle to concentrate? We chat about what is happening in our lives during this time, but we are looking to the positive ways of using this time to write.

https://aspiringauthors.podbean.com/

Join us for an informal chat between two aspiring author friends, sharing our tips and experiences from our own writing journeys. Safe space for budding authors wanting to have a giggle and a no frills/frank chat on how we are trying to make it in the wri...

08/04/2020

Our recommendations from last week's episode - "How we create and plot story":

Hayley recommends book "Save the Cat" by Jessica Brody. You can find more from the link below:
https://www.jessicabrody.com/books/non-fiction/save-cat-writes-novel/about/

Lorna recommends podcast - Indie Author Weekly with Sagan Morrow. You can listen on the below link:
https://saganmorrow.com/indie-author-weekly/

"Save The Cat!® Writes A Novel" by Jessica Brody. On Sale October 9, 2018. The first novel-writing guide from the best-selling Save the Cat!® story-structure series, which reveals the 15 essential plot points needed to make any novel a success.

07/04/2020

Setting up for a bonus podcast, where we discuss how we are writing through the current crisis and using the worlds we have created to escape and bring a form of freedom. We also discuss writing blocks and how to work through it.
How is the lockdown affecting your writing and creativity?

04/04/2020

Check out our latest podcast !
Episode 6 How we create and plot story:

We share how we come up with an idea, how we adapt on it and write the story. We discuss our process on plotting, covering 3 act structure and plotters versus pantsers.

Go on have a wee listen.

We talk and share how we come up with an idea, how we adapt on it and write the story.  We discuss our process on plotting, covering 3 act structure and Plotters versus Pantsers.  We share helpful tips and recommendations for fellow aspiring authors ...

04/04/2020

Welcome to the new page for Aspiring Authors Podcast!

We are two friends chatting about our ambitions to make it as authors. Each week we discuss a topic that we have encountered and share our tips and experiences along the way!

A bit of fun, a bit of silly - come along for the journey as we try to make it as authors!