Show notes
Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 94 of the podcast and it's December 7, 2022 (and a full moon) as we record this. Main Topic: How to Decide on Your Next Project PATREON: No new patrons this week, A big squeezy hug and Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast. This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a shout out on the podcast and we can make announcements for you on the podcast. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. Comments: RE:Ep93: Mary says, enjoyed your conversation on a topic that plagues all of us. I believe that the notion (concept) of failing is the lie we have been told and swallowed very early on, by others. How we struggle throughout our lives to unravel and disarm the lie—is our Story. For me, at 69 I have come to understand that what people deem as failures are magnificent opportunities for learning and growing into who we become— Valerie, I received your postcard. The design is beautiful! Thank you. (We also had a planner conversation on Patreon.) Re92: Gratitude, Road to an Abundant Author Life said, Why are the updates always the hardest to come up with? lol Every time I have to give an update I freeze! WE NEED NEW TOPIC SUGGESTIONS for 2023. Send them in to [email protected]. A patron emailed to ask about a website domain question, which I answered to the best of my ability. All patrons (and listeners to the podcast) are encouraged to email with questions. [email protected]. Patron announcement: Barb Lachenbruch got THREE essays published recently. Calyx (fall issue) “Every Day is a Data Day” Gold Man Review (2022 issue, which came out in December “Bi-Mart” Then the Los Altos Hills town paper, “Growing Up Lachenbruch” (which isn’t peer-reviewed, but it’s edited). I didn’t write the first paragraph—you’ll see the tone change! I have my first essay in High Country News: “The Physics of Solitude and Connection” https://www.hcn.org/issues/52.9/north-essays-the-physics-of-connection-and-solitude Announcements: Tickets for the Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop are live. Priced at $900. 1) New pricing tiers: Alumni and patron price is $775. Early Bird price available from November - January. $800 Mid-Morning/Slept-In Bird price available from February - April. $850. Regular price starts in May. $900. Monthly payments are an option. Send me a message [email protected] for a unique PayPal link, or go to the shopping page on my website to purchase at full price. Writer Craft Writing Retreat is scheduled for next August 24-27, 2023. Tickets include all lodging and gourmet meals, plus instruction and coaching and retreat time on the river, in Marcola, OR. “We’ll be touching on book structure, story hypothesis, plotting that doesn’t hurt, author action plans, and more.” Go to valerieihsan.com/retreat for more information. 2) We want to celebrate our 100th episode with you. Please send in an audio clip via email to [email protected] with a comment or testimonial about the podcast. What you like about it, why you listen, etc. On the 100th episode on January 18th, we'll play the clips on air. Please send in your audio clips by January 11th at the latest. Erick Surprise (Happy Anniversary!) December 7th. Thank you for joining me in this co-hosting experiment. I haven't done much collaborative work before, so this has been a pleasant journey for me. Mostly because you let me do whatever I want. ;-) You've made each week enjoyable and I look forward to seeing you each Wednesday morning. I learn from you, think about things in a different way, and become inspired be your knowledge and business sense. It's interesting that I consider you both a colleague, a friend, and a mentor. I don't know many people who fit that bill. Update: Settled on a cover design. Patrons get the reveal now. Thinking (panicking) about taxes. Finishing up some client work. Got my new glasses. Just finished: A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny I'M READING: The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker, Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton, Up Next: Erick's Reading: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Poetry magazine Show Notes: Inspiration can mess with the production schedule. Follow the muse. Hybrid model! :-) Be open to the possibility that you can do more than you think you can. Have more ideas than the ones you execute. Library of ideas. Every boat needs an anchor. That idea might never be written. It's okay that the idea is your anchor. When you make the decision on the book project, now you have to stick with it. Now it's time for discipline. Decision making is different for every project. The salt of an idea. Resources: Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice. Contact Valerie for book coaching for help writing your book. Other Resources: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. The Author Life Community Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIEO866 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link) Find Us: Valerie’s Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie’s Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie’s Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick’s Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick’s free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick’s Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick’s Facebook Page and Instagram account Writer Craft Facebook Group Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan Some of the Books We've Read This Year: South of the Buttonwood Tree by Heather Webber (magical realism) and Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell (literary mystery) Productivity for Creative People: How to Get Creative Work Done in an "Always on" World by Mark McGuiness Essentialism by Greg McKeown The Anatomy of a Bestseller by Sacha Black Dowery of Blood ST Gibson Writing Scenes.: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/three-story-method-writing-scenes All Systems Red by Martha Wells (Murder Bot series) Artificial Condition (Book 2) Deserter by Junji Ito (graphic novel) The Cloisters Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor Death Masks by Jim Butcher Drinking Games A Prayer for the Crown-Shy. How to be a Good Creature Billy Summers by Stephen King The Dude and the Zen Master How to Write Light Novels and Webnovels by R.A. Paterson The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu by Tom Lin Run, Rose, Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson A Ghost in the Throat by Doireann Ní Ghríofa Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir The Anatomy of a Bestseller by Sacha Black The Many Daughters of Afong Moy Summer Night by Jim Butcher The Strange Bird by Jeff Vandermeer The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey Newsletter Ninja 2) Wintering by Katherine May The Nesting by CJ Cooke Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston Interview with a vampire Shadow over innsmouth h.p. Lovecraft Skippy Dies Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander and The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin