OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn
I'm generally pretty reticent about doing live online stuff. I pre-record the podcast and edit it so you get a smooth audio, and I get really nervous before anything live.
But my friend Mark Dawson encouraged me to do a Facebook Live video Q&A. He even said it would be fun.
So I tried it … and it was fun!
The video recording is below, with time stamps so you can fast-forward to the questions you're interested in. Or click here to watch on YouTube.
And I'll be doing it again this Sunday 3 July 3pm US Eastern / 8pm UK time.
Just come along to Facebook.com/TheCreativePenn at that time and I will be there, answering your live questions!
Time stamps for questions
2:20 – What is the most effective advertising for authors – Facebook, Google or Twitter?
5:32 – Will you be releasing the mindset audiobook at the same time and how are you recording it? Yes, and the details are here: www.thecreativepenn.com/mindset/
7:39 – Do you have a template to share from deconstructing a novel in detail?
9:34 – Lulu vs Createspace
10:44 – Is it best to start with a novel, a novella or a short story?
12:01 – What do you do daily for marketing?
14:40 – What are your thoughts on crowdfunding?
16:09 – How do you transition from non-fiction to fiction?
18:27 – When should you start an author platform?
20:34 – Is non-fiction essential for steady income from books early on?
21:13 – When should you get an editor? More on editors and a list here: www.TheCreativePenn.com/editors
22:19 – What setup do you use for walking dictation?
22:56 – Does YouTube help sell books?
23:47 – Series vs stand-alones
24:28 – If you're in Canada, should you get started with publishing on Kobo?
25:13 – How do I publish print books? Ingram Spark / Createspace / Lightning Source. Lots on publishing print books here.
26:50 – What size should the books be?
27:29 – Using images in books
29:45 – How do you get on Audible if you can't use ACX? Check out AuthorsRepublic.com
30:25 – Can you get hardback books on Createspace?
30:42 – How can I make sure my characters aren't boring?
30:51 – Tracking taxes for direct sales
32:54 – How do you find the time to write and market?
33:54 – Do you have stories you have never published?
34:37 – What about writer's block for fiction? Lots on writer's block here.
35:40 – When did I first publish?
36:45 – Have I ever done NaNoWriMo? More on NaNoWriMo here.
37:07 – Where can I get a book cover? My recommendations: www.TheCreativePenn.com/bookcoverdesign
37:23 – Are ebook sales decreasing? See this article.
39:04 – Why I don't use ISBNs
39:35 – What about publishing a personalized print book?
40:11 – Would I ever write to market?
41:01 – Any advice for couples working together?
42:25 – Should you wait to have a few books done before publishing?
43:58 – Should indies focus on one genre?
45:16 – When is it too late to start writing?
45:56 – What is the % split in my income between fiction and non-fiction? All the detail in this income breakdown post.
46:34 – Do I recommend any specific Scrivener training? Yes. www.TheCreativePenn.com/scrivener
46:50 – How does an unknown author reach out to bloggers and podcasters?
49:27 – What about outsourcing the writing of a book?
50:32 – How many times should I edit a book?
51:57 – Should you send print books to Amazon for them to sell?
52:18 – How has selling direct gone for you?
52:57 – How do you keep track of multiple plots in a novel?
53:56 – Is it important to sell an ebook as well as a print book? Yes. More on publishing ebooks here.
I hope you found this useful!
Come along to the next Facebook Live Q&A on Sunday 3 July at 3pm US Eastern / 8pm UK.
Just turn up at Facebook.com/TheCreativePenn and I'll be there! You can just type your questions as comments and I'll answer them live. I'll also be talking about what I did for my launch this week so you get some inside info 🙂
If you can't make it, no worries, I'll post the replay next week. If it's popular again, I'll make this a regular event. Please do let me know in the comments below if you enjoyed this more casual approach.
As I told you via email, Daniel and I loved the fun, casual vibe of your first-ever live Q&A on FB – and we learned a lot about your writing/marketing process as well. Although we might not be able to make it this Sunday – due to our annual July 4th family reunion – we would definitely join you for future sessions. Hope your book launch is going well!
Thanks Laura 🙂