Advancing Authors: Writer Coaching

Despite the fact that most of our writing schedules are our own personal goals, we often tell ourselves we are “behind” at them, or we think that other writers are further ahead than us. Our brains love to tell us that “we are behind,” as though they are just stating the obvious. When actually, there is no universal measuring stick to tell us where we should be in our progress. Being ‘behind,’ or ‘ahead,’ in writing is simply our own thoughts, not a fact of the world. We believe that thinking, “We are behind,” will light a fire under us to get writing, but it does the exact opposite and makes us write less. Here’s how you can start to notice this thought pattern so you can get ahead in your writing. https://www.blockbusterya.com/post/behind-in-writing * © Blockbuster YA Author Coaching LLP Created and produced by Tiana Warner and Stephanie Warner Jingle: Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this podcast, we answer listener-submitted questions like; How can I stop being distracted by social media? What is the difference between YA and Middle Grade? How can I overcome my fear of failure? What if I can’t pick a story idea? Tune in for the answers or read the blog: https://www.blockbusterya.com/post/listener-qa-1 * © Blockbuster YA Author Coaching LLP Created and produced by Tiana Warner and Stephanie Warner Jingle: Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

For all writers (especially first-time authors), the desire to write competes with the desire not to write. This often looks like a short period of time where you write consistently, immediately followed by a long period where you find yourself not writing as much as you want to be. In your head, you find yourself thinking thoughts like, "I work better in the morning; I’m just going to rest tonight instead.” “I had a long day, and I want to relax.” "I worked all day; I want a break." So you take a break instead of writing. It feels great in the moment, but afterwards, you berate yourself for it. You end up feeling miserable, and you're angry at yourself for giving in. What’s actually going on here is that not that you don’t want the book badly enough or that you don’t have a good enough reason to write, it’s that you have competing desires. But the more you push against your desires, the more you are creating a combative relationship with yourself. You will never get to the finished novel in this kind of relationship – because it’s forced and miserable. In this podcast and blog, learn why the fastest way to get that finished novel is by loving that part of yourself that doesn’t want to write. * © Blockbuster YA Author Coaching LLP Created and produced by Tiana Warner and Stephanie Warner Jingle: Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Do you know someone who makes writing hard for you? Are you constantly trying to tip-toe around their desires, or getting frustrated with their lack of understanding? Writing can certainly be difficult when you spend the whole time wishing that this person was different, feeling guilty about upsetting them, or trying to write and do everything else at the same time. I’ve come across two kinds of “challenging” people when it comes to writing. There is the person who can feel abandoned because of the time you spend writing, and the person who can feel threatened or inadequate because of your writing. In this podcast and blog, learn how you can stop feeling guilty, angry, and anxious, and how to make your writing (and relationships) more effective. https://www.blockbusterya.com/post/when-writing-is-affecting-your-relationships * © Blockbuster YA Author Coaching LLP Created and produced by Tiana Warner and Stephanie Warner Jingle: Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Hi writers! I'm super excited to announce a new group program I'm launching called Advancing Authors. I get a kick out of the name because I look at it like the anti-writing retreat. The problem with writing retreats is they tell us that our lives are somehow a problem that need to be escaped from. But you do not need to hide away from your life in order to write. Your life is not the problem. Your mindset is the problem. In Advancing Authors, we teach you the tools to grow your self-confidence, to manage your calendar, to stop people-pleasing, and to reprogram your brain so it works with you and not against you. We teach you lifelong skills for living your best life. Combined with individual writing tips along the way that will make your story stand out among the crowd. You do not have to give up your job, your sleep, your family, or your sanity to be a writer. You can be that writer now – let us show you. Sign up for the waitlist at https://www.blockbusterya.com/advancing-authors * © Blockbuster YA Author Coaching LLP Created and produced by Tiana Warner and Stephanie Warner Jingle: Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Do you want to write or publish a novel because you think it will prove something about yourself? Do you want a novel because you secretly believe you are not good enough as you are? You’re not alone. Many writers, including myself, try to write books to feel better about ourselves. But it doesn’t work. Thinking that you aren’t good enough without a published novel puts way too much pressure on yourself to write a novel. You end up failing and proving yourself true that you are worthless. So to try and feel better, you bully yourself into writing. But this just makes you feel terrible and makes writing incredibly difficult. The only way to write a novel (and to learn how to feel good about yourself) is to see yourself as worthy now. This is some of the hardest and most profound work. Learn how you get started in this podcast episode. https://www.blockbusterya.com/post/self-worth *  © Blockbuster YA Author Coaching LLP Created and produced by Tiana Warner and Stephanie Warner Jingle: Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Fights and battles need to be written carefully so they don't come across like a list of actions. The key is to assign meaning and emotional drama to every fight, and to weave the protagonist's interpretation and inner voice into the action. Let’s look at five guidelines to keep in mind as you write. In this lesson, we'll discuss: Using the protagonist's inner voice to amplify tension. Different types of goals to lace through your fight/battle scenes. Tips for sentence structure and word choice. Important considerations for fight scenes in YA. Two lessons from screenwriting. Download free writing checklists and worksheets at https://www.blockbusterYA.com/blog

“Massive action” means taking action consistently, until you get what you want. It can be a game-changer for writers who struggle with commitment, or self-doubt, or the frustration that comes with trying to achieve a goal and not having it go as planned. If you’re trying to get a publisher, finish a novel, or get a movie deal, you can apply massive action to get it. Massive action eliminates this pressure of doing the right or wrong thing because it doesn’t matter what you choose. You just keep taking action until you get the result you want. If something doesn’t work, you try something else. Maybe that’s after 5 actions, maybe that’s after 500. It doesn’t matter. If you don’t have the result, it’s because you’re not done taking action.  In this podcast, learn how you can achieve your writing goals through massive action. https://www.blockbusterya.com/post/massive-action * © Blockbuster YA Author Coaching LLP Created and produced by Tiana Warner and Stephanie Warner Jingle: Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

A lot of book marketing strategies exist, but which ones are the most effective? Where should you focus your time, effort, and money when promoting your book? Let’s talk about the most effective channels for authors. In part two of this two-part book marketing series, we’ll cover: Why reviews are so important and how to get them Connecting with book bloggers Price promotions and Bookbub Ads, influencing, and other strategies Download the example book marketing checklist at https://www.blockbusterYA.com/post/book-promotion

How many of you think you are committed writers? Despite the fact I had very little work to show for it, for ten years I thought I was committed to writing a novel. The truth was, I was just wanting to write a novel. Wanting, though it was a very safe place to be, left me feeling pretty awful about myself. Commitment requires risk. That’s why our brain doesn’t like it. But if you want to write a novel, you need to go from wanting to write a novel to being committed to writing a novel. It’s the only way. Many of you writers are also stuck in this place of wanting. We tell ourselves we are committed, but actually, we are not willing to keep taking action no matter what. We are not willing to keep writing when it gets hard or when we get busy. In this podcast and blog, learn about commitment vs. wanting so you can spot the difference and save yourself from the decade of struggle I went through. * © Blockbuster YA Author Coaching LLP Created and produced by Tiana Warner and Stephanie Warner Jingle: Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/