If you’ve been wondering what you can do to find motivation to write, this episode is for you. This week, Annalisa and Tashya Knight talk about how to overcome your fear and start writing, how to connect with publishers, and how to develop your freelance writing. Check out the freebie at https://writing-gym.com/freelance/.
This week, Annalisa and author Cassandra Thompson are in conversation about breaking genre molds, how to take rejection and use it to propel you forward, and what it feels like to get that first novel published. Take a look at the freebie for this episode over at https://writing-gym.com/rejectionletters/.
In this week’s episode, Annalisa and up and coming author Aaron Betts talk about what it feels like to finally finish his novel. After joining the Writing Gym, Aaron finished the novel he’d spent years writing in just two weeks. Annalisa and Aaron also discuss overcoming writer’s block and why getting professional feedback on your writing is so important to propelling you towards your dream of being published. Check out the freebie at https://writing-gym.com/finishanovel/.
This week, Annalisa and literary agent Kevin O’Connor discuss how to craft a stand-out query letter, the purpose of literary agents, and what really goes on in an agent’s head when they read your query letter. Take a look at this week’s freebie and spend some time reflecting on where you could up your query letter game at www.writing-gym.com/CHILDRENSLITERARYAGENT.
In this final episode of Season 5, we highlight key moments in authors finishing, revising and publishing their books. How do authors finish and publish novels/ Listen in.
What kind of writer am I ?
What is a pantser?
What is finishing a manuscript really like?
Annalisa speaks with Sara Wigal, Director of Publishing at Belmont University about the timeline of a book getting published and what publicity and marketing for your books looks like, and more!
In this episode, you’re going to learn:
-The behind the scenes of the publishing industry
-What it takes to be a working professional in the publishing industry
-The full process for how a book gets published--and each step along the way
You’ll want to be sure to download the free worksheet, The End is Only the Beginning, for this episode that will walk you through how to become a published author, so take a minute and download it at www.writing-gym/Pubjobs. Don’t forget the dash!
Sara Wigal is an Assistant Professor of Media Studies and Director of Publishing at Belmont University. She is also the Fundraising Chair for the Next Chapter Society which supports the programming made possible by the Nashville Public Library Foundation. Wigal has been published by The Tennessean, Publishers Weekly, and Writer's Digest.
How do I jumpstart my creativity?
What is a simple writing prompt you can do over and over?
How do I get to know my characters better?
Annalisa speaks with Carey Nelson Burch, owner and consultant of My Own Shingle, about how to find the right agent to maximize your publication and media rights, how to advocate for your manuscript in the publishing industry, and how to find the right professional partners for your creative work.
In this episode, you’re going to learn:
-How to get YOUR voice heard in the noisy marketplace
-How to sell your book through networking
-How to be your own advocate for your work
You’ll want to be sure to download the free resource guide, The Dating Game: Finding Publishers and Agents in a Digital Dating world for this episode that will walk you through the multiple media your manuscript can take in addition to a published book. Take a minute and download our free resource guide at www.writing-gym.com/EXPAND. Don’t forget the dash!
Carey Nelson Burch is the Owner of My Own Shingle where she consults for several companies while managing a handful of screenwriters, authors and influencers. Previously she was a packaging agent at William Morris Endeavor for over twelve years and an Executive at NBC in Los Angeles. Carey currently serves on the boards of the Nashville Film Festival, Belmont’s Film & TV Advisory Committee, and Film Com.
How do I know if I'm a pantser?
How do I know if I'm an outliner?
How do I add structure to my writing?
Annalisa speaks with Joe Curcillo, Speaker and Author of Getting to Us about how to reach thousands of people with your content, and more!
In this episode, you’re going to learn:
-How to reach thousands of people with your content
-How to contribute to national magazines
-When and how to produce an audiobook
You’ll want to be sure to download the free worksheet, Tell the World Your Message, for this episode that will walk you through how to reach a wide audience and share your knowledge with them, so take a minute and download it at www.writing-gym/vision. Don’t forget the dash!
Author, CEO, & Advisor to Visionaries, Joe Curcillo inspires audiences by sharing the strategies and secrets to solving seen and unseen problems. Joe has published three books, Getting to Us: Discover the Ability to Lead Your Team to Any Result You Desire, What’s Your Freakin’ Point: How To Maximize The Impact Of Every Word You Speak, and Don’t Be a Hamster: 30 Tips to Spark the Imagination of Busy People to assist others in balancing work and happiness in their lives.
How do I plan a writing project?
What are the steps to completing my goal successfully?
How do I hold myself accountable?
Annalisa speaks with Megan Dobson, publisher at ChristianAudio about important considerations in writing a book that will be produced as an audio book and more!
In this episode, you’re going to learn:
You’ll want to be sure to download the free worksheet, How to Navigate the Audiobook World, for this episode that will walk you through how to implement these concepts in your own writing life, so take a minute and download it at www.writing-gym/negotiate. Don’t forget the dash!
Megan Dobson was the publisher of ChristianAudio, under RBMedia, an independent audiobook producer. Megan previously worked at HarperCollins Christian Publishing where she was the associate publisher for W Publishing. She has recently become the vice president of publisher Zonderkids, the child sector of Zondervan publishing.
How can Neuroscience boost my creativity?
Can dancing really help my writing?
How do I get in the creative mood?
Annalisa speaks with author Barbara Zito, about how to go from query to publication, how to negotiate rights in your publishing contract, and more!
In this episode, you’re going to learn:
You’ll want to be sure to download the free worksheet, How to Get That Publishing Contract, for this episode that will walk you through how to implement these publishing concepts in your own writing life, so take a minute and download it at www.writing-gym/BeyondMFA. Don’t forget the dash!
BIO: Barbara Zito is a freelance writer, an alumni of the Writing gym, and the author of an upcoming contemporary fiction novel through Literary Wanderlust.
What do I do when an agent requests my manuscript?
How to avoid the slush pile?
How do I prepare for submitting my writing materials?
Annalisa speaks with David O’Hara, professor at Augustana University about how to make time for your writing, immersing yourself in research for your writing, and more!
In this episode, you’re going to learn:
You’ll want to be sure to download the free resource guide, Making Time to Write, for this episode that will walk you through how to dive deep into the research that could help your novel come to life. So take a minute and download the resource guide at www.writing-gym.com/refocus. Don’t forget the dash!
David O’Hara is the co-author of From Homer to Harry Potter, The Hobbit and Philosophy, and Narnia and the Fields of Arbol - among others. He writes about wild places like the Alaskan Tundra, the Rainforest of Guatemala, or the Barrier Reef of Belize.
What is a writers worst enemy?
Where does writers block come from?
How do I overcome writers block?
Annalisa speaks with Jeanne Covert, Writing Gym member about how to get a literary agent to request your manuscript.
In this episode, you’re going to learn:
You’ll want to be sure to download the free resource guide, Escape the Slush Pile that will walk you through how to avoid an agent’s ‘no’ list--the slush pile AND accelerate manuscript requests. Take a minute to download the free resource guide at www.writing-gym.com/request. Don’t forget the dash!
Jeanne Covert is a screenwriter who has now successfully added novelist to her publishing credits. Now agented, her journey was an exciting one including receiving 2 requests for full manuscripts in one day from top agencies. She shares her secrets with us today.
What is my writing goal?
What is a quality writing goal?
How do I reach my writing goal?
Annalisa speaks with River Jordan, a novelist from Southern Alabama about How to handle rejection with humor, How to choose the right literary agent and How to tap into your potential as a writer to move your readers.
In this episode, you’re going to learn:
You’ll want to be sure to download the free resource guide, How to Create and Achieve Writing Goals, for this episode that will help you to shape what you want YOUR author lifestyle to look like, and work toward obtaining those goals. Take a minute and download the free resource guide at www.writing-gym.com/authorlife. Don’t forget the dash!
River Jordan is a novelist from Southern Alabama. She was raised surrounded by many storytellers and found her calling to be a writer in the sixth grade. Her most recent book is Confessions of a Christian Mystic.
How do I get confident in my writing?
How to break through the fear of writing?
How do I unravel the mysteries of writing?
Annalisa speaks with writer John Ridge about breaking out of research mode, how to finish a novel, and how to squash imposter syndrome.
In this episode, you’re going to learn:
You’ll want to be sure to download the free resource guide, Break Out of World Building, It will walk you through the important steps John took to stop researching and finish his novel. Take a minute and download the resource guide at www.writing-gym.com/worldbuilding. Don’t forget the dash!
John Ridge is a writer from Colorado. He writes epic fantasy, and loves layering his world with interesting places and characters.
What is the path to publishing?
How do I get published?
How do I find help with my publishing goals?
Annalisa speaks with Kathy Meis, founder and CEO of Bublish about distributing books to various outlets, becoming an “authorpreneur,” and more!
In this episode, you’re going to learn:
You’ll want to be sure to download the free resource guide, Sell More Books as an Authorpreneur. This guide will walk you through the steps it takes to market your book, reach multiple distribution points, and make a sustainable profit on your book. You don’t want to miss this one. So take a minute and download it at www.writing-gym.com/Authorpreneur. Don’t forget the dash!
Kathy Meis is the founder and CEO of Bublish, the world's first complete publishing platform with built-in marketing. Kathy has been a writer and editor for more than twenty-five years, working for editorial brands as CBS and Forbes, Inc.