The Writing Sparrow
Sarina
Subscribe
The Writing Sparrow is all about writing, publishing and marketing your book, so you can go from unfinished draft to published novel no matter where you are on your indie author journey! We're here to motivate and encourage you.
Also find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thewritingsparrowpodcast
Available episodes
Newest first
Oldest first
Mar 6, 2023
How to Write a Great Reader Magnet with Savanah James
This is it, folks! The final episode of Season 2! To wrap up, Savanah James is here to talk about reader magnets and how to write the perfect one for your mailing list subscribers.
To find out more about Savanah, visit her website or her Facebook page.
*The Writing Sparrow will return for Season 3. Date TBC. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out when we're back!*Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Feb 27, 2023
Newsletter 101 with Tammi Labrecque
This week I had the great pleasure to talk to Tammi Labrecque, Newsletter Ninja and author of, erm, Newsletter Ninja. We had such a great time talking about newsletters that we got cut off, but we've had a chat and Tammi will be back for Season 3 to finish what we started today.
To find out more about Tammi, visit her website or her Author Think Tank on Facebook.
*Next week: How to Write a Great Reader Magnet with Savanah James*Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Feb 20, 2023
How to Create and Publish a Graphic Novel with Imelda Wei Ding Lo / FortunusGames
Today we're talking about graphic novels and how to create them. Imelda Wei Ding Lo aka FortunusGames joins me for this one with great insight into this path.
To find out more about Imelda, check out her Twitter or her own podcast.
*Next week: Newsletter 101 with Tammi Labrecque.*Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Feb 13, 2023
A Rant About Editing with Kirsten McNeill
* HEADS UP: we now have a new home on Facebook! I'm deleting the page because I hate how pages work/don't work and have created a group instead. This is our new home: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thewritingsparrowpodcast *
Kirsten McNeill is back! This time, she joins me for a (fun) rant about the editing process. We're both editors, so this episode is part venting and part tips for working with your editor.
To find out more about Kirsten, check out her Instagram, her Facebook group, and her website.
*Next week: How to Write and Publish a Graphic Novel with FortunusGames / Imelda Wei Ding Lo.*Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Feb 6, 2023
Writing Routines: Astrid VJ
Welcome to the Writing Routines chat of the season! Astrid and I talked about the big questions such as Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? , Do you write every day? , Where does your inspiration come from?, What’s your beverage of choice?, and many more!
At the end of each episode, the writers recommend their favourite book on writing and share their advice for establishing a writing routine that works for you.
To find out more about Astrid, check out her YouTube, her Facebook, and her website.
*
Next week: A (Fun) Rant about Editing with Kirsten McNeill.*Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Jan 30, 2023
How to Write Historical Fantasy with Katie Hayoz
Welcome back, folks, for a chat on what I thought would be historical fiction but instead morphed into a fun discussion about historical fantasy! Katie Hayoz is back for this one with lots of great insights.
If, like me, historical fiction isn't really your thing but fantasy is, or if you want to know how to infuse your historical settings with more fantasy elements, then we've got you covered!
To find out more about Katie, check out her website, find her or Twitter, or follow her on Instagram.
*Next week: Writing Routines | Astrid VJ.
*
Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Jan 23, 2023
How to Find and Agent and Get Traditionally Published with James Fahy
This week I welcome James Fahy back on my show! James had all of his books published the traditional way. While this podcast mostly talks to self-published authors, it's not the right path for everyone, so today James talks us through how he found his agent, and what happened next.
If you want to take the traditional route, this is the episode for you!
To find out more about James, check out his website or follow him on Instagram or on Twitter.
*Next week: How to Write Historical Fantasy with Katie Hayoz.*Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Jan 16, 2023
How to Resurrect a Dead Book with Cara North
Welcome back, folks, for an exciting chat about how to resurrect a dead book (and what that even means, anyway). Cara North joins me for this one!
Got a published book that isn't doing too well, or something from your backlist that's not getting any attention anymore? This is the episode for you.
(We may have shared the video on Patreon super early last year around Halloween, because the timing fit and the topic was too perfect not to.)
To find out more about Cara, check out her Twitter and her website.
*Next week: How to find an Agent and Get Publish with James Fahy.*Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Jan 9, 2023
How to Find New Readers on Facebook with Jo Holloway
Welcome back, Sparrows! This week, Jo Holloway joins me for a chat about how we can find new readers on Facebook! Get a notebook ready, friends - Jo has loads of great tips to share.
You probably know that your readers are on social media somewhere, but how do you find them, and how do you engage with them in a way that'll make them want to buy your book? Find out in this episode how Jo aces this on Facebook.
As mentioned in the episode, these are the bookish groups she recommends:
YA Fantasy Addicts
YA Sci-Fi & Fantasy Addicts
Indie Fantasy Addicts
Fantasy ARC Readers
*Your action step this week* is to check out the above groups, find others in your genre, and join a few as a reader if this approach appeals to you.
To find out more about Jo, check out Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and her website.
*Next week: How to Resurrect a Dead Book with Cara North.*Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Jan 2, 2023
Social Media Warnings with Sarah McKnight
LET SEASON 2 BEGIN
*throws confetti*
*Welcome back, Sparrows, for Season 2 of The Writing Sparrow!* In this first episode (or Episode 76, if you're counting the total), Sarah McKnight joins me for the light topic of social media warnings.
To find out more about Sarah, check out her Twitter and her website.
*Next week: How to Find New Readers on Facebook with Jo Holloway.*Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Dec 15, 2022
TRAILER: Season 2
*Coming in Season 2:*
* How to Write and Publish a Graphic Novel
* A Rant About Editing
* How to Find an Agent and Get Published
* How to Write Historical Fantasy
* Social Media Warnings
* How to Resurrect a Dead Book
* How to Find New Readers on Facebook
... and more!
*Season 2 starts on January 2nd 2023 with a new episode every Monday*... or on December 30th - with a new video the Fridays before! - for all Patreon supporters.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Aug 18, 2022
The Writing Sparrow is now taking a break, but we'll be back!
The Writing Sparrow will take a break now. It will return, I just don't want to promise a date. This is a good time to subscribe to the show (completely free, if the word puts you off!) or follow the podcast at any of the links below. That way, you won't miss us when we're back.
Thank you for listening, writers and Sparrows! Speak soon.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Aug 15, 2022
How to Conquer Your Writing Fears with Kirsten McNeill
Kirsten McNeill joins me again for this week's episode to talk about how we can overcome fear on our writing journey, be that the fear of writing a book, of being read, of our books being disliked, etc.
This is a super-sized episode, and we hope you'll enjoy our pep talk!
*Please note: *The Writing Sparrow will take a break after this episode. It will return, I just don't want to promise a date. This is a good time to subscribe to the show (completely free, if the word puts you off!) or follow the podcast at any of the links below. That way, you won't miss us when we're back.
To find out more about Kirsten, check out her Instagram, her Twitter, and her website.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Aug 1, 2022
How to Narrate Audiobooks with Adriene Arce
Today I have the great pleasure of welcoming Adriene Arce to my show! Adriene is my narrator for the Blood Wisp trilogy, and it was really great to talk about the process with her. It's a slightly longer episode, but we think it's worth every second. (but if you want an even longer chat, the Patreon Extended Edition is 2 1/2 hours long :O We couldn't shut up! Clearly, we both love this topic.)
To find out more about Adriene, check out her Instagram or her ACX profile.
Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Jul 18, 2022
Writing Routines: N.D.T. Casale
Once a quarter, I talk to another writer about their writing routine. We answer questions such as Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? , Do you write every day? , Where does your inspiration come from?, What’s your beverage of choice?, and many more! At the end of each episode, the writers recommend their favourite book on writing and share their advice for establishing the right writing routine for you.
This quarter, I talked to Nicole Casale, a writer of all genres from Italy!
To find out more about Nicole, check out her Instagram, her TikTok, and her Facebook author page.
Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Jul 3, 2022
Holding One Another Accountable - Sarina's July-September 2022 Goals
Welcome to my quarterly writing updates, goals, and podcast news! If this isn't why you're here, don't worry - it'll only happen four times a year. Hopefully, my process, goals, and achieved deadlines (as well as surprise challenges) will be interesting for you whether you're here as a writer or as one of my readers!
Listen to find out what I'm working on, what progress I've made on my WIPs, and what's coming up next in my writing and on this podcast.
And if you'd like to share your goals with me, too, go right ahead! Some of you have shared your goals in this episode, and it's wonderful to see you get involved <3 Let's hold one another accountable *high five*Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Jun 20, 2022
How to Stop Procrastinating and Foster Consistency with Aluko Deborah JB
Today I'm talking to Aluko Deborah JB about every writer's greatest foe (besides burnout, self-doubt, etc): the rabbit hole of procrastination. Want to know how to beat procrastination and foster consistency instead? You've come to the right place.
Note: we sadly had technical issues when we were recording, so we apologise if this chat sounds a little rushed. We had a lot to cover and were aware of our time limit.
To find out more about Aluko, check out her website, her Instagram, her Twitter, and her own podcast RealityCore.
Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Jun 6, 2022
What to Include on Your Author Website (& Do You Even Need One?) with Marisa Mohi
This week, I talked to Marisa Mohi about Author Website 101 - what kind of content you should have, how early on your writing path you should create one, your questions from social media, and if you even need a website in the first place.
To find out more about Marisa, check out her website, her Instagram, her Twitter, her TikTok, her Facebook, and her YouTube channel.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
May 23, 2022
Worldbuilding with Bekah Berge
Sparrows, we're finally discussing one of my favourite subjects this week! Bekah Berge stopped by to talk about *drumroll* worldbuilding! We specifically discuss things like maps in fantasy novels (how much do you need to include?), magic systems, the flora and fauna of your world, worldbuilding in epic fantasy and in urban fantasy genres, series bibles, and all that fun stuff.
Prepare a notebook and a pen and get ready to take notes, because we had a blast talking about this!
To find out more about Bekah, check out her Instagram and her website.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
May 9, 2022
How to Market Your Book with Chloe Hodge
Welcome to our second episode on book marketing! This time, Chloe Hodge joins me to discuss this most daunting of author tasks.
And if you missed it, Lyndsey Hall talked us through her strategy a few weeks ago in Episode 61!
To find out more about Chloe, check out her Instagram, her website, her TikTok, and her Facebook.
Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Apr 25, 2022
How to Write About Sensitive Subjects with C E Hoffman
Welcome to one of my favourite chats of all time! In this week's episode, I talked to C E Hoffman about how to approach sensitive subjects in our writing. We discussed things like gender, spirituality, and the Shadow in Jungian psychology, so you're in for a fantastic episode.
The short answer is that it all comes down to respect.
The long answer is in this episode.
(and the even longer answer is on Patreon, where you can find the extended versions of all episodes! This one is 1 hour 40 minutes long.)
To find out more about C, check out their Twitter, their website, and their YouTube channel. C will also be launching their own podcast soon! Get an early glimpse of Scribbles & Spills.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcas…
playlist_add
Apr 11, 2022
Writing Routines: Kirsten McNeill
Once a quarter, I talk to another writer about their writing routine. We answer questions such as Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? , Do you write every day? , Where does your inspiration come from?, What’s your beverage of choice?, and many more! At the end of each episode, the writers recommend their favourite book on writing and share their advice for establishing the right writing routine for you.
This quarter, I talked to Kirsten McNeill, a writer, editor, and fellow podcaster! Her book recommendation is On Writing by Stephen King.
To find out more about Kirsten, check out her Instagram, her Twitter, and her website.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Mar 28, 2022
Holding One Another Accountable - Sarina's April-June 2022 Goals
Welcome to my quarterly writing updates, goals, and podcast news! If this isn't why you're here, don't worry - it'll only happen four times a year. Hopefully, my process, goals, and achieved deadlines (as well as surprise challenges) will be interesting for you whether you're here as a writer or as one of my readers!
Listen to find out what I'm working on, what progress I've made on my WIPs, and what's coming up next in my writing and on this podcast.
And if you'd like to share your goals with me, too, go right ahead! Some of you have shared your goals in this episode, and it's wonderful to see you get involved <3 Let's hold one another accountable *high five*Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Mar 14, 2022
Patreon for Authors with R.S. Williams
For this week's episode, R.S. Williams kindly agreed to come back to discuss Patreon for Authors! If you want to know what this platform does and how authors can use it to connect with their readers, this is the episode for you!
You can learn more about Rhianne and her books on her website, her Instagram, or support her directly via Patreon.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Feb 28, 2022
How to Successfully Launch Your Book with Alice Ivinya
Alice Ivyna joins me this week to talk about how to make your next book launch a success! She has a lot of information for you guys, so I recommend you get a notebook.
As promised in the episode, here is a summary of the steps she takes when she publishes a new book:
* *Include a pre-order link to the sequel* (if your book is part of a series) at the end of your book. If your book is a standalone, you can link to one of your other books. Don't have the next book ready just yet? You can put a temporary cover on Amazon and set the release date far enough into the future that you don't create a problem for yourself. Simply update the listing when you have a date and have announced the cover.
* *Do a cover, blurb, and/or title reveal 1-2 months before the book is out*. This creates hype!
* *Send your book to your Advanced Reader Copy team* to ensure early reviews (and more hype!)
* Up to one week before publication, *do a social media countdown* with graphics, quotes, discounts…
playlist_add
Feb 14, 2022
How to Write Romance vs Erotic Romance vs Pure Smut with Lyra Thorsson
This week I welcome romance author Lyra Thorsson onto my show! We discuss the differences between romance novels, erotic romance novels, and pure smut ;)
Her action step for those of you wanting to write one or all of the above holds true for any genre: read books like the ones you want to write, familiarise yourself with how other authors approach your subject, and then get writing yourself! It's fine to copy those other authors first until your find what works for you.*
*To find out more about Lyra, check out her Instagram, her Facebook, and her website. You can also support her directly on Patreon. Don't let the links to Dani Hoots confuse you - Lyra Thorsson is her pen name.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on…
playlist_add
Jan 31, 2022
How to Market Your Book with Lyndsey Hall
In today's episode, marketer Lyndsey Hall chats about what's possibly the most daunting part of being an author: book marketing. She shares her tried-and-tested marketing techniques, tips, and lots of advice on how to market your book in free as well as paid ways.
Why not treat yourself to the Enchanted Waters anthology she's a part of? It's for charity!
To find out more about Lyndsey, check out her Instagram, her Facebook, and her website.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Jan 17, 2022
Writing Routines: Tris OR How to Write with a Baby
*Content warning:* Please be advised that this episode mentions the author of a certain popular wizarding series as well as the books several times. Please also be advised that the word paedophile comes up once but is not discussed in detail beyond the mention. I would like to make it clear that this mention has absolutely nothing to do with my guest's baby.
__________
Once a quarter, I talk to another writer about their writing routine. We answer questions such as Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? , Do you write every day? , Where does your inspiration come from?, What’s your beverage of choice?, and many more! At the end of each episode, the writers recommend their favourite book on writing and share their advice for establishing the right writing routine for you.
This month, I talked to Tris, a writer and young mother who's juggling both like a pro.
*Her advice to new mums is to not put any pressure on yourselves!* You're learning to be a mum - cut yourself…
playlist_add
Jan 3, 2022
Holding One Another Accountable - Sarina's 2022 Goals AND January-March Goals
(Sooo, I'm here saving and scheduling this episode for Monday, and I notice I only have 58 previous episodes scheduled. This is because I had a moment many months ago and made a spot for '59: 27/12: Christmas Break' in my planner -.- Ignore me when I say this is E60. It's of course E59 *ahem*)
Welcome to my quarterly writing updates, goals, and podcast news! If this isn't why you're here, don't worry - it'll only happen four times a year. Hopefully, my process, goals, and achieved deadlines (as well as surprise challenges) will be interesting for you whether you're here as a writer or as one of my readers!
Listen to find out what I'm working on, what progress I've made on my WIPs, and what's coming up next in my writing and on this podcast.
And if you'd like to share your goals with me, too, go right ahead! Let's hold one another accountable *high five*
Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow…
playlist_add
Dec 13, 2021
How to Read with Intention with Faith Rivens
Today I have the great pleasure of talking to Faith Rivens about reading with intention. It's no secret that writers can learn a lot by reading--in fact, many writers swear by it and will tell you that you need to be a reader if you want to be a writer. In today's episode, Faith and I discuss how reading can improve your writing skills!
To find out more about Faith, check out her Twitter, her Instagram, and her website.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Nov 29, 2021
How to Put Together an Anthology with Stephanie Ellis
Today I'm talking to Stephanie Ellis about how to put together an anthology! Stephanie has worked closely with horrortree.com for the last four years doing just that. In this episode, she shares her experience with how it's done and what to keep in mind.
To find out more about Stephanie, check out her Twitter and her website.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Nov 15, 2021
How to Write Cross-Genre with Dani Hoots
Today I'm talking to Dani Hoots about how to include several genres in one book (or one series)! Dani is the author of over 20 books, and with her latest being a sci-fi western, she knows a thing or two about crossing genres.
To find out more about Dani, check out her Instagram, her Twitter, her website, or support her on Patreon.
Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Nov 1, 2021
How to Nurture Your Creativity with Jon Tilton
This week I talk to Jon Tilton about how we can nurture our creativity - a subject he discusses regularly with his guests on the Cause of Craft podcast. I can't think of better timing for this chat than the first of November - happy NaNoWriMo, everyone! We hope our discussion will help you nurture your own creativity this month, whether you participate in NaNo or not.
To find out more about Jon, check out his Instagram and his website.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Oct 18, 2021
Writing Routines: Becky Wright
Once a month, I talk to another writer about their writing routine. We answer questions such as Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? , Do you write every day? , Where does your inspiration come from?, What’s your beverage of choice?, and many more! At the end of each episode, the writers recommend their favourite book on writing and share their advice for establishing the right writing routine for you.
This month, I talked to Becky Wright, a gothic horror writer and formatter from England.
To find out more about Becky, check out her Instagram, her Twitter, and her website.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Oct 4, 2021
Holding One Another Accountable - Sarina's October-December 2021 Goals
As requested in my reader group on Facebook, I will be sharing quarterly writing updates and goals. If that's not why you're here, don't worry - it'll only happen four times a year. Hopefully, my process, goals, and achieved deadlines (as well as surprise challenges) will be interesting for you whether you're here as a writer or as one of my readers!
Listen to find out what I'm working on, what progress I've made on my WIPs, and what I'm planning next.
And if you'd like to share your goals with me, too, go right ahead! Let's hold one another accountable *high five*Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Sep 20, 2021
How to Write Fan Fiction with DovahTobi
This week I've had the great pleasure of talking to my good friend Tobi about how to write fan fiction! I'm a complete newbie to this, but Tobi has been writing fan fiction for a rather long time as you'll hear and had a lot of great advice to share.
Want to try writing fan fiction but don't know where to start? *Tobi's action step *for you is to figure out which universe and characters you already like and take it from there. Remember that you don't have to stick to the rules of that universe too rigidly--you can go any way you want! (even to the pizza parlor 👍)
*You can read Tobi's fan fiction on:
*
His blog
Archive of Our Own
FanFiction.Net
WattPad*
*
Follow Tobi on Twitter and on Instagram.
Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her…
playlist_add
Sep 6, 2021
Writing a Non-Linear Series with Eden Sharp
Writing lecturer and author Eden Sharp stopped by my podcast this week to talk about her approach to writing a non-linear series--that is, a series that can be read in any order. Get a pen and some paper ready for this one!
To find out more about Eden, you can find her on Twitter and Instagram. She also has a writing blog on Facebook.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Aug 23, 2021
How to Write Poetry with Holly Ducarte
You're in for a treat, Sparrows! This is one of my favourite episodes - I *may* even have tried my hand at writing poetry afterwards. Prepare to be inspired.
Whether you're completely new to writing poetry or consider it your go-to writing style, I think you'll enjoy this chat with Canadian poet Holly Ducarte! She will sweep you away - I guarantee it.
To find out more about Holly, you can find her on Instagram and her website.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Aug 16, 2021
Writing Routines: Ash Oldfield
Once a month, I talk to another writer about their writing routine. We answer questions such as Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? , Do you write every day? , Where does your inspiration come from?, What’s your beverage of choice?, and many more! At the end of each episode, the writers recommend their favourite book on writing and share their advice for establishing the right writing routine for you.
This month, I talked to Ash Oldfield, a fantasy author from Australia.
Her book recommendations are On Writing by Stephen King and Once Upon a Time, which is a writer's handbook and card game all in one. Don't forget to check out the all-new library on my website for all book recommendations from these routine chats!
To find out more about Ash, check out her Instagram, her Twitter, her TikTok, and her website.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook gr…
playlist_add
Aug 9, 2021
How to Fast-Draft Your Novel with B.T. Frost
Today I'm talking to B.T. Frost, an urban fantasy mystery author who has achieved the unthinkable: he wrote 90k words in 23 days. In today's episode, he talks us through how he did it and shares his tips for anyone wanting to try the same.
*
*To find out more about B.T. Frost, you can find him on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and his website.
Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Aug 2, 2021
How to Meditate - Writer Edition! - with T.L. Clarke (+ short meditation!)
This week, author T.L. Clarke is back to talk about how to meditate and how to use it to your advantage as a writer.
We cover a lot of ground in this one: how to sit when you meditate, common misconceptions, can you still meditate when you have aphantasia (an inability to imagine things), etc.
*As an added bonus at the end,* T does a lovely guided meditation to help you relax. This is a great introduction if you've never meditated before! To help you come out of it gently, I've left a bit of space between the end of her meditation and the end-of-episode music, and I'm not including the usual talk-over this time - this way, you can come out of the meditation gently <3 This also doubles as this week's action step!
*Please note: *if you don't want to do the meditation, we're letting you know when the episode is effectively over for you, but: the first sign-off is a false start because I missed a question, so don't go anywhere just yet the first time I say you're done! We're about to di…
playlist_add
Jul 26, 2021
How to Arrange Author School Visits with C.M. Healy
Ready your pens and notebooks, Sparrows, because there's a lot of info in this one! Especially in the first 20 minutes or so - you won't have time to drink your tea, you'll be scribbling so furiously!
Your action step for this week is to research schools in your area/schools you could easily get to and find out if they're open to arranging a visit.
You can find out more about C.M. Healy on his website, his Instagram, his Facebook, and his YouTube channel.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Jul 19, 2021
How to Create and Sell Your Own Bookish Merchandise with Dana Fraedrich (+ GIVEAWAY)
(Note: please ignore the message at the beginning mentioning transcripts; unfortunately, these are no longer available)
Dana Fraedrich is back this week to talk us through how to create our own bookish merchandise, how to price it and where to sell it, and how to figure out what merch is right for your book. Oh, and we're holding this podcast's first ever giveaway ;)
*The giveaway is now closed.*
To find out more about Dana, check out her website , find her or Twitter , or follow her on Instagram.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Jul 12, 2021
Writing Routines: Beverley Lee
Once a month, I talk to another writer about their writing routine. We answer questions such as Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? , Do you write every day? , Where does your inspiration come from?, What’s your beverage of choice?, and many more! At the end of each episode, the writers recommend their favourite book on writing and share their advice for establishing the right writing routine for you.
This month, I talked to Beverley Lee, a horror author from England.
Her book recommendations are On Writing by Stephen King and Writing in the Dark by Tim Waggoner. Don't forget to check out the all-new library on my website for all book recommendations from these routine chats!
To find out more about Beverley, check out her Instagram, her Twitter, and her website.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and h…
playlist_add
Jul 5, 2021
Holding One Another Accountable - Sarina's July-September 2021 Goals
As requested in my reader group on Facebook, I will be sharing quarterly writing updates and goals. If that's not why you're here, don't worry - it'll only happen four times a year. Hopefully, my process, goals, and achieved deadlines (as well as surprise challenges) will be interesting for you whether you're here as a writer or as one of my readers!
Listen to find out what I'm working on, what progress I've made on my WIPs, and what I'm planning next.
And if you'd like to share your goals with me, too, go right ahead! Let's hold one another accountable *high five*Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Jun 28, 2021
How to Choose a Pen Name with T.L. Clark
For this week's episode I had a chat with author T.L. Clark about pen names! We discussed what authors need to know when considering using a pen name, the legal side, how to choose the right name for you, and more.
*
*To find out more about T.L. Clark, you can find her on Instagram, her author page on Facebook, Twitter, and her website.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Jun 21, 2021
TikTok for Authors with G.R. Thomas
For this week's episode, I had a chat with G.R. Thomas about how authors can use TikTok to reach new readers and sell more books.
You can find out more about Grace on her website, find her on Instagram, or follow her on TikTok.
Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Jun 14, 2021
Writing Routines: Briana Morgan
Once a month, I talk to another writer about their writing routine. We answer questions such as Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? , Do you write every day? , Where does your inspiration come from?, What’s your beverage of choice?, and many more! At the end of each episode, the writers recommend their favourite book on writing and share their advice for establishing the right writing routine for you.
This month, I talked to Briana Morgan, a horror author from Georgia.
Her book recommendations are On Writing by Stephen King and Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody. Don't forget to check out the all-new library on my website for all book recommendations from these routine chats!
To find out more about Briana, check out her website , find her or Twitter , follow her on Instagram, or support her on Patreon.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebo…
playlist_add
Jun 7, 2021
BookFunnel for Authors
In today's episode, I talk about how authors can use BookFunnel to reach more readers faster without spending a fortune!
Your action step for today is to check out BookFunnel's website and do a little research. Do they offer what you're looking for?Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
May 31, 2021
My Experience of Writing My Whole Trilogy Before the First Edit
In this week's episode, I talk about my experience of writing all three books of my Blood Wisp trilogy before I started editing the first book. I talk about what the benefits and downsides are for me to help you decide whether this might be a good approach for you.
Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
May 24, 2021
How to Write a 10-Book Series with Sharon Turner
In this week's episode, I talk to fantasy author Sharon Turner, who has written the 10-book series Kingdom of Durundal. We discuss her process, how she approached writing such a long series, and her tips for writers wanting to attempt the same.
To find out more about Sharon, check out her website or follow her on Instagram.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
May 17, 2021
Writing Routines: James Fahy
Once a month, I talk to another writer about their writing routine. We answer questions such as Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? , Do you write every day? , Where does your inspiration come from?, What’s your beverage of choice?, and many more! At the end of each episode, the writers recommend their favourite book on writing and share their advice for establishing the right writing routine for you.
This month, I talked to James Fahy, a multi-genre author from the UK.
His book recommendations are On Writing by Stephen King and From Pitch to Publication by Carol Blake. Don't forget to check out the all-new library on my website for all book recommendations from these routine chats!
To find out more about James, check out his website or follow him on Instagram or on Twitter.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about S…
playlist_add
May 9, 2021
The Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing vs Traditional Publishing with Rachel Grosvenor
This week, Rachel Grosvenor is back to talk about the differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing and the pros and cons of each. If you're unsure which path is right for you (or if you're just curious to learn more!), this episode is for you!
It's a little longer, but it's worth every second *high five*
To find out more about Rachel, check out her website , find her or Twitter , or follow her on Instagram.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
May 3, 2021
The Different Paths to Audiobook Creation with Dana Fraedrich
This week, I had a chat with Dana Fraedrich about her experience of creating audiobooks with FindawayVoices, ACX, and by herself!
If you'd like to read more on the topic, I recommend Dana's blog posts:
ACX vs. Findaway ~ My Audiobook Creation Experience
Hiring an Audiobook Narrator Through Findaway Voices
You might also be interested in my Audiobook Diaries, where I blogged about my experience as it happened, and last week's episode, where I talked about my experience of working with FindawayVoices.
To find out more about Dana, check out her website , find her or Twitter , or follow her on Instagram.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Apr 26, 2021
How to Create Your Audiobook with FindawayVoices
In this week's episode, I explain how I created my audiobook of Rise of the Sparrows with FindawayVoices. Next week, we'll hear from Dana Fraedrich, who has created audiobooks with FindawayVoices, ACX, and by herself.
Here are the resources I used for my research as mentioned in the episode:
Audio for Authors by Joanna Penn (book)
ACX vs. Findaway ~ My Audiobook Creation Experience (blog post by Dana Fraedrich)
Hiring an Audiobook Narrator Through Findaway Voices (blog post by Dana Fraedrich)
How to Make an Audiobook | Part 1: Set up (YouTube video by Jenna Moreci)
How to Make an Audiobook | Part 2: Production (YouTube video by Jenna Moreci)
Audiobooks For Authors With Will Dages From Findaway Voices (blog post or podcast (your choice!) by Joanna Penn)
You might also like to check out my Audiobook Diaries, where I blogged about my experience as it happened.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing…
playlist_add
Apr 19, 2021
How to Work with a Writing Coach with Rachel Grosvenor
For this week's episode, I talked to Rachel Grosvenor, an author and writing coach. We had a chat about what a writing coach does, who the service is right for, and what to look for when you consider hiring one.
To find out more about Rachel, check out her website , find her or Twitter , or follow her on Instagram.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Apr 12, 2021
Writing Routines: Julia Blake
Once a month, I talk to another writer about their writing routine. We answer questions such as Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? , Do you write every day? , Where does your inspiration come from?, What’s your beverage of choice?, and many more! At the end of each episode, the writers recommend their favourite book on writing and share their advice for establishing the right writing routine for you.
This month, I talked to Julia Blake, a multi-genre author from England.
To find out more about Julia, check out her website or follow her on Instagram.
Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Apr 5, 2021
Holding One Another Accountable - Sarina's April-June 2021 Goals
As requested in my reader group on Facebook, I will be sharing quarterly writing updates and goals. If that's not why you're here, don't worry - it'll only happen four times a year. Hopefully, my process, goals, and achieved deadlines (as well as surprise challenges) will be interesting for you whether you're here as a writer or as one of my readers!
Listen to find out what I'm working on, what progress I've made on my WIPs, and what I'm planning next.
And if you'd like to share your goals with me, too, go right ahead! Let's hold one another accountable *high five*Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Mar 29, 2021
New-Writer Q&A with Marco Arzate
For today's episode, I become the guest on my own podcast as Marco Arzate, a new writer who hasn't published yet, asks me his questions on writing and publishing. We discuss things like character development, whether you can still query agents once you've self-published and vice versa (spoiler: you can!), how to find your tribe of like-minded writers, and many more!
To support Marco on his writing path, you can follow him on Twitter and on Instagram.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Mar 22, 2021
How to Find a Cover Designer with Andrew and Rebecca Brown
This week, I had the great pleasure of talking to my cover designers, Andrew and Rebecca Brown from Design for Writers, about all things--you guessed it!--cover design! If you're a writer who's unsure about how to find the right designer or if there's anything you should know before you hire, this is the chat for you. It's also a great listen if you're just curious about what exactly cover designers do and how they work their magic.
You can find out more about Andrew and Rebecca and get in touch via their Twitter and their website.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Mar 15, 2021
Writing Routines: Katie Masters
Once a month, I talk to another writer about their writing routine. We answer questions such as Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? , Do you write every day? , Where does your inspiration come from?, What’s your beverage of choice?, and many more! At the end of each episode, the writers recommend their favourite book on writing and share their advice for establishing the right writing routine for you.
This month, I talked to Katie Masters, a multi-genre author from California.
Her book recommendation is On Writing by Stephen King. Don't forget to check out the all-new library on my website for all book recommendations from these routine chats!
You can learn more about Katie and her books on Twitter and on Instagram or support her directly via Patreon .Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books,…
playlist_add
Mar 8, 2021
How to Find a Cartographer with Glynn Seal
This week I had the great pleasure of talking to my cartographer Glynn Seal from MonkeyBlood Design. He has done every map for my novels so far, and in this episode, he talks about how to find the right cartographer for your bookish map, what to know before you hire someone, and more!
You can find out more about Glynn and get in touch via his Twitter and his website.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Mar 1, 2021
How to Find an Editor with Briana Morgan
This week, I welcome Briana Morgan back to my podcast. Last time, we talked about social media for writers, but today, we talk about how to find an editor for your book, why you should, and what to know before you hire someone to edit your novel.
To find out more about Briana, check out what services she offers on her website , find her or Twitter , or follow her on Instagram.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Feb 22, 2021
Your Team of Pros: An Overview
Over the next few weeks, I'll be talking to my editor, my cover designer, and my cartographer about what they do and why they're important to authors. Today, I give you a little overview so you know what to expect and to give you a first idea of why you need these pros on your team.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Feb 15, 2021
Writing Routines: R.S. Williams
Once a month, I talk to another writer about their writing routine. We answer questions such as Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? , Do you write every day? , Where does your inspiration come from?, What’s your beverage of choice?, and many more! At the end of each episode, the writers recommend their favourite book on writing and share their advice for establishing the right writing routine for you.
This month, I talked to R.S. Williams, a fantasy adventure author from England.
Her book recommendations are The Fantasy Fiction Formula by Deborah Chester, Let’s Get Digital by David Gaughran, and Business for Authors by Joanna Penn. Don't forget to check out the all-new library on my website for all book recommendations from these routine chats!
You can learn more about Rhianne and her books on her website or support her directly via Patreon . You can also find her on Twitter and on Instagram.Support the show
___________________________________________________…
playlist_add
Feb 8, 2021
How to Be a Multi-Genre Author with Julia Blake
This week I had the great pleasure of talking to Julia Blake, an author who has written every one of her books in a different genre (besides series, of course!). We had a chat about how she approaches the different genres, how she handles the marketing, whether she's ever considered a pen name, and much more.
To find out more about Julia, check out her website or follow her on Instagram.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Feb 1, 2021
How to Co-Write a Novel with Olivia Wildenstein and Katie Hayoz
This week I talked to Olivia Wildenstein and Katie Hayoz, both authors in their own right who have now written their newest novel, Of Wicked Blood, together. In this week's episode we chatted about what's involved and how to co-write a novel successfully.
To find out more about Olivia, check out her website, find her or Twitter, or follow her on Instagram. To find out more about Katie, check out her website, find her or Twitter, or follow her on Instagram.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Jan 26, 2021
Holding One Another Accountable - Sarina's 2021 Goals and January-March Goals
As requested in my reader group on Facebook, I will be sharing quarterly writing updates and goals. If that's not why you're here, don't worry - it'll only happen four times a year. Hopefully, my process, goals, and achieved deadlines (as well as surprise challenges) will be interesting for you whether you're here as a writer or as one of my readers!
Listen to find out what I'm working on, what progress I've made on my WIPs, and what I'm planning next.
And if you'd like to share your goals with me, too, go right ahead! Let's hold one another accountable *high five*Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Jan 25, 2021
How to Plot Your Whole Trilogy Before You Write It with Noelle Riches
For this week's episode, I talked to romance author Noelle Riches about plotting your whole series before you start writing it... and writing the whole series before you start publishing.
*Please note:* as with anything in writing, you should do what works for you. You don't need to plot your whole trilogy or write the whole series before you start publishing (or plot at all, if that's not your thing). In this episode, Noelle and I discuss the benefits and challenges as we've found them for ourselves. It's one process out of many options.
To find out more about Noelle, check out her website, find her or Twitter, or follow her on Instagram.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Jan 18, 2021
Writing Routines: Villimey Sigurbjörnsdóttir
Once a month, I talk to another writer about their writing routine. We answer questions such as Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? , Do you write every day? , Where does your inspiration come from?, What’s your beverage of choice?, and many more! At the end of each episode, the writers recommend their favourite book on writing and share their advice for establishing the right writing routine for you.
This month, I talked to Villimey Sigurbjörnsdóttir, a horror author from Iceland.
Her book recommendation is Writing in the Dark by Tim Wagner.
To find out more about Villimey, check out her website, find her or Twitter, or follow her on Instagram.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Jan 11, 2021
Social Media for Authors with Briana Morgan
For this week's episode, Briana Morgan joined me to talk about social media! Heads up: we focussed on Instagram and Twitter, but TikTok and Facebook also got a few mentions.
We're tackling questions like:
How much time should we spend on social media, and how often should we post?
How can we please the Instagram algorithm?
What counts as engagement on Instagram, and how can we boost our engagement?
How can you use social media to get beta readers?
And many more!
*Your action step this week comes from Briana:* make sure your username and profile picture are consistent and of yourself across all your social media platforms.
If you want to see for yourself how well Briana is doing with social media, you can find her on Instagram, on Twitter, on TikTok, and her website.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, vi…
playlist_add
Jan 4, 2021
How to Become a Full-Time Author with Elisha Belden
I had the great pleasure of talking to Elisha Belden about how to turn your business into a success! This is a longer episode, but let me assure you that it's worth every second.
Elisha talks about Genesis goals, how to divide one big goal into smaller goals you can achieve easily, and why the right mindset is the single most important thing to have if you want to create a successful author career (or any business), and what to consider before you quit your day job to become a full-time author. We discuss common mistakes people make in the early days of their businesses which can lead to failure, and how to prepare yourself for full-time self-employment.
In short, this is a masterclass and a crash course all in one!
To find out more about Elisha, check out her Instagram page, her Facebook group B.O.S.S. Enterprises, and visit her website for Twistid Ink.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow…
playlist_add
Dec 13, 2020
Reflecting on One Tough Year
December is a great time to reflect, and because 2020 has been harder than most years, it's ever more important to take a moment and reflect on how you did. Remember to be kind to yourself as you do so; you don't need to have outperformed previous successes or reached your goals to have done well.
In this week's episode, I reflect on all the things that didn't go to plan this year, all the things I did that I hadn't planned but that worked out, and all the things I'm grateful for. It's easy to think that everyone else on social media has everything figured out, which is why I chose to focus on the things I didn't achieve this year. Remember that setbacks are normal and only turn into failures when you give up <3
Action step: time to reflect! How did 2020 go for you? Before you say 'terribly', take a step back, maybe make a list, and I'm sure you've done something this year you can be proud of, even if it's 'only' getting up most days. Even if you meant to write five books and only wr…
playlist_add
Dec 7, 2020
How to Write and Publish an Anthology with Your Friends with Jessica Reis
This week I had the pleasure of talking to Jessica Reis, who has written an anthology with three of her friends. For our chat, we talked about how they did it, how it came together, and how anyone might do the same.
Here are some lessons learned from Jessica:
* It helps to have every participating writer in one group. Jessica and her friends created a Facebook group where they could help one another, give one another feedback, and ask questions.
* It's a group effort, so pick the name together, choose the cover together, etc.
* Treat one another with respect, especially when you beta read for one another. Should tensions arise, talk about them and be understanding.
* Ask people to collaborate who you believe in and who believe in you, and ask people who write in the same genre as you.
To find out more about Jessica, check out her website or follow her on Instagram.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join T…
playlist_add
Nov 30, 2020
5 Quick and Easy Formatting Tips with Becky Wright
For today's episode, Becky Wright is back! Last time we talked about formatting, we got a little carried away. This time, we focussed on 5 quick and easy formatting tips you can apply to your book right now.
These are Becky's tips:
* STYLE - Different genres favour different styles, so have a look at some other books from your genre and see what they've done. For example, fantasy novels often have embellishments and illustrations, whereas horror novels have plainer, stricter styles.
* FRONT AND BACK MATTER - This includes your dedication, your copyright page, acknowledgements, About the Author, a Contents page, links to your social media accounts and your website, and your catalogue/the list of other books you've published. Note that there are some differences between paperbacks and ebooks. Again, have a look at other books in your genre to see what they've done.
* FONT AND CHAPTER HEADINGS - Keep your font to something simple like Times New Roman or Garamont. Becky's pro tip:…
playlist_add
Nov 23, 2020
How to Prevent Stress and Burnout with Kristina Naydonova
This week I had the privilege of talking to Kristina Naydonova, who published her debut novel earlier this year aged 12! She's now 13 and showing us all how it's done.
Here are Kristina's self-care tips for preventing stress and burnout:
* get enough sleep
* drink enough water
* eat healthy meals
* meditate (this is the app Kristina recommends (https://appadvice.com/app/meditation-nest/1460053458) and this is the app I mention: ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=yoga.meditation.yogamusic.meditationmusic )
* practice mindfulness
* keep a journal for your successes and assess failures to make tomorrow better
* try art therapy
* Your body and mind will make it clear when you need a break. Don't ignore them.
You can find out some more about Kristina on her Amazon US author page or go follow her on Instagram.
Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Fa…
playlist_add
Nov 16, 2020
How to Attend Book Fairs as Authors with Dana Fraedrich
This week, steampunk author Dana Fraedrich joined me on Zoom to talk about attending book fairs as an author. Last year alone, Dana has attended around 20 book fairs and events, which makes her a bit of an expert.
Guest-starring Bruin, Dana's dog.
Here are some tips from Dana:
* Research the other attending authors for the event you're interested in to make sure it fits your niche.
* If possible, attend the event the year before to see how it's set up and whether it's right for you and your books.
* You won't get along with everyone in your event, but do be nice and friendly :)
* How many books you bring with you to sell depends on your budget, but no matter how many you take, bring twice as many of the first book in a series.
* If you decide took a half table, make sure the other author is someone you can communicate well with so you can help each other out on the day.
* It's a learning process, so be patient with yourself.
* If you're giving away free stuff like book…
playlist_add
Nov 9, 2020
How to Fit Your WIP Around Your Everyday Routine with R.S. Williams
Today, I'm talking to author R.S. Williams about productivity. Rhianne is always working on something, and she's doing it while working full-time, exercising, and being married... and today, she shares how she balances everything.
These are your summarised action steps from Rhianne:
* Track your days to figure out how much time you spent doing what. Rhianne uses the app Toggl ( https://toggl.com/ )for this.
* Block out time to write. For example, if you have half an hour before you make dinner, reserve that time for writing.
* No time to write? Write just one word, and it'll be one word you didn't have yesterday... and maybe one word will turn into a sentence or a paragraph.
You can learn more about Rhianne and her books on her website or support her directly via Patreon.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her bo…
playlist_add
Nov 2, 2020
Critique Partner and Beta Reader 101
This week, I talk about the basics of working with critique partners and beta readers - how to find them, when to get them involved, and why they're so valuable.
You can adjust the following points to whatever works best for you and your process. This is what works best for me and what I recommend based on my experience:
*Critique partners:*
* can come into the process at any time
* can help you with anything from making smaller decisions like character name changes over helping you choose a book cover to reading your whole book and giving you feedback on it.
* Critique partners aren't paid, but it is generally expected that you help them like they are helping you. It's a critique partnership, after all!
* I have a dedicated group of 7 critique partners, and we have an Instagram group chat where they are available whenever I need help with something book-related. *Please note: *you can have as many or as few as you want and talk to them however and wherever suits you best.…
playlist_add
Oct 25, 2020
How to Prepare for NaNoWriMo Without Overpreparing
This week we're diving deeper into NaNoWriMo preparations without over-preparing.
*Please note:* this is how I prefer to prepare for November. You can prepare more or less if you like :)
There are 4 equally important basics I get ready before NaNoWriMo:
* my main characters - names, ages, looks, wants and needs, fears, strengths and weaknesses, speech habits,...
* my world - relevant country names, what those countries are known for, culture, how growing up there influenced your characters,...
* my plot - beginning, why your character goes on this journey, how everything changes in the middle, and the ending/aka what every word is leading up to.
* my rewards - I like to set myself milestones throughout NaNoWriMo and treat myself if I reach them. My tiers are 15k, 30k, and finishing at 50k, but you can set those to whatever you like or not do this step at all. I recommend it as a month-long motivator.
If you're writing every day, your word count is 1,666 words a day. If you…
playlist_add
Oct 18, 2020
How to Write Short Stories for Anthologies with Beverley Lee
Do ignore me at the beginning when I say it's the 19th of September. It's definitely October :)
This week I had the pleasure of talking to horror author Beverley Lee about writing short stories and getting them published in anthologies. Beverley has published four books so far and has been featured in several anthologies this year alone, and she shares her top tips in this episode.
Want to write short stories for anthologies?
* Do your research - if you have a fantasy story, don't submit it to a pure horror listing
* Write to the brief - if it's asking for graveyards, make your short story about graveyards
* Set a goal - find one or two anthologies you want to submit to, and get writing or you'll fall down the submission rabbit hole.
* Not used to writing short stories? Here are some prompts for you:
* Write a short story that includes a scarecrow in a graveyard. (thanks, Beverley!)
* Write about an object that has personal meaning to you.
* Scientists announced they'…
playlist_add
Oct 11, 2020
What Is NaNoWriMo?
In today's episode, I explain my favourite season of the year: NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).
NaNoWriMo exists in two versions:
* the big event in November, in which the goal is to write 50,000 words in 30 days.
* the two smaller camps in April and July, for which you can set your own goal and edit or outline a novel instead of writing a novel.
All three are annual events, and they are free to join for writers of all backgrounds and experience levels.
This week's action step:
* Join the NaNoWriMo fun (https://nanowrimo.org)
* Declare your project
* Join a cabin (mine might have room! ask me on social media or leave a comment)
* Stock up on cafeeine and snacks.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podca…
playlist_add
Oct 5, 2020
Lessons Learned from Publishing a Debut Series with G. R. Thomas
This week, I had a chat with urban fantasy author Grace - G.R.Thomas - about her recently wrapped-up debut series, the importance of making connections, and what it's like to get negative reviews. Grace started working on her books in 2014 and has learned a great deal along the way. She shares some of her gained knowledge in this week's episode.
You can find out more about Grace on her website, find her on Instagram, or follow her on TikTok.Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Sep 28, 2020
A Chat About Formatting, Book Trailers, and Book Covers with Becky Wright
This week I had a chat with Becky Wright, indie author and founder of PlatformHouse Publishing, which she runs with her husband and where they create book trailers, covers, formatted interiors, and promo images for authors. I have worked with them on several projects (including the cover for this podcast!) and happily vouch for their quality and affordable prices.
You can find out more or book PlatformHouse Publishing for your project on their website.
To find out more about Becky, check out her Instagram, her Twitter, and her website.
Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Sep 21, 2020
Is Your Book Idea Good Enough?
We've all doubted whether our novel ideas are enough, but I'm here to tell you that yes, it is, because all it needs to do is exist!
*This week's action step:*
Just... start writing. I know it's hard, but you can't polish something you don't have. Get the first draft written and worry about infusing the magic later.
Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Sep 21, 2020
Welcome to The Writing Sparrow!
Meet Sarina, indie author of dark epic fantasy, mama to one beautiful cat, and your host for this writing podcast!
Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Come join The Writing Sparrow in **its very own Facebook group**!*
To find out more about Sarina and her books, visit her website, find her on Twitter and on Facebook, or connect with her (and the podcast!) on Discord.
playlist_add
Sep 21, 2020
My Experience with Burnout and How to Avoid It
In April 2020, I burned out bad. It took me over two months before I was back to myself again, and I want to help you avoid the same pain. In today's episode, I talk you through some of the symptoms, how burning out for two months affected me, and what you can do to stay far away from it.
Common symptoms of burnout include:
* You're exhausted physically and mentally
* Writing is harder than usual, even impossible
* You're emotional irritable,and stressed
* You feel like you can't possibly take any time off
* Your to-do doesn't seem to get any smaller even though you're working.
Your action steps for today are:
* Make a list of your burnout symptoms (or copy the ones from this episode if you've never burned out before)
* Make a list of the things that help you relax
* Share your symptoms with someone you trust so they can help you take a break when you need it.
Support the show
________________________________________________________________________________
*Com…
playlist_add