Join Alexa Bigwarfe as she celebrates the 10-year anniversary of Write Publish Sell with guests Raewyn Sangari and Cayce LaCorte, as they unveil their exciting plans for the future of the Women in Publishing Summit, diving into the challenges and triumphs of Alexa's journey, and the power of helping authors and publishers succeed.
One of the core values of the Women in Publishing Summit is the importance of inclusivity and representation in the publishing industry. We need to incorporate diverse voices and marginalized narratives, showcasing a wide array of experiences and perspectives. It is so important to us that we are facilitating such inclusion and advocating for underrepresented voices in the publishing domain.
Memorable Moments:
00:08:43 – Evolution of Kat Biggie Press Alexa discusses the evolution of Kat Biggie Press from operating as a vanity press to a hybrid press, where they kept authors under their umbrella but allowed them to retain their royalties. She also highlights the need for ongoing support for authors after their books are published, leading to the expansion of services offered by Kat Biggie Press.
00:15:25 – Favorite Projects All three reflect on their favorite projects, including memoirs, children's books, and novels. They mention books that have had a profound impact, such as “Navigating the Unknown” and “Surviving the Unimaginable.”
00:18:05 – Working on Different Genres Alexa and her team talk about their experiences working on different genres, including entrepreneurship books, YA books, thrillers, and paranormal romance. They discuss the challenges of marketing novels and the joy of bringing different stories to life.
00:21:07 – The Healing Power of Writing Writing can impact mental health and help individuals process their emotions. Alexa announces the upcoming release of a grief journal for grieving mothers and expresses her excitement about its potential impact.
00:29:19 – The Birth of the Women in Publishing Summit Alexa shares her journey of starting the Women in Publishing Summit after attending a conference with no women speakers. The support from male colleagues and the timing of the MeToo movement fueled the creation of the summit, focusing on creating a supportive environment for women in the publishing industry.
00:31:30 – The Importance of Mindset and Networking The summit goes beyond just writing and publishing, emphasizing the importance of mindset and networking for women in the industry. Discussions focus on the unique challenges faced by women in writing, publishing, and selling books, creating a supportive and empowering community.
00:46:24 – Future Plans and Training Programs Alexa shares her vision for the future, including more conferences, events, and webinars. They plan to create training programs for assistants working with authors to ensure a baseline understanding of the publishing industry.
If you're feeling overwhelmed and stuck in your book writing and publishing journey, despite your countless hours of research and effort, then you are not alone! Many aspiring authors find themselves spinning their wheels, unsure of the next step to take or making little progress towards their goal.
Transformational nonfiction writers and entrepreneurs who want to write a book to grow their business, leave an impact on the world, or help people get through a situation in their life may often struggle to make the time to get the book done. Lanette Pottle & Alexa Bigwarfe discuss the importance of accountability and community to get the book done!
Writing a book is a roller coaster ride, but with the right guidance and mentorship, you can shorten your timeline and overcome overwhelm. – Lanette Pottle
In this episode, we discuss:
The importance of expert guidance through mentorship and coaching in your book writing and publishing process.
The significance of community solidarity, offering you the support necessary in your writing journey.
The role your mindset plays in surmounting challenges and staying committed to your book-writing objective.
Writer Friends, Mentorship and Coaching
Mentorship and coaching play a significant role in the journey of writing and publishing a book. A knowledgeable mentor could offer just-in-time information and support, tailoring guidance to individual goals and motivations. Avoiding costly mistakes and saving time and money are some of the many benefits that come with coaching that ensures authors adapt a successful methodology that best suits them.
Memorable Moments:
00:04:24 – Creating a Supportive Community, Lanette explains her approach to helping women navigate the writing and publishing process. She emphasizes the importance of personalized guidance and finding what works best for each individual. Her core values include uplifting and empowering women and providing accountability to help women achieve their goals.
00:08:07 – The Role of Accountability, Lanette and Alexa discuss the role of accountability in writing a book, especially for busy women. They highlight the emotional challenges that come with writing and the need for someone to guide and hold authors accountable to their goals. Accountability programs can help authors stay focused and motivated throughout the writing process.
00:09:29 – Mindset and Awareness, The conversation delves into the importance of mindset and self-awareness when writing a book. Lanette emphasizes the need to be aware of the stories we tell ourselves and overcome self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Writing a book is a personal growth journey
Time seems to be one of the biggest issues. Or lack there of. Prioritization can be really helpful. Alexa Bigwarfe talks about the stresses and time crunches on authors, and how we can make sure we're choosing the BEST for US places to spend our time and energy.
Are you struggling to find a balance between writing your book and effectively marketing it? In this episode, we talk about a strategy that will help you optimize your time and efforts, leading to heightened productivity and effectiveness in achieving your writing and marketing goals.
Time is the one resource we cannot create more of. We all have the same amount of it. So how do I fit in all the things? How do you fit in the things? How do you decide where to spend your time so that you can move forward? – Alexa Bigwarfe
In this episode, you will be able to:
Learn practical approaches taming time management difficulties authors often encounter.
Ascertain how to balance the duality of writing and marketing roles effectively.
Realize how a professionally designed website can levitate your book promotion efforts.
Gather efficient strategies for task prioritization that propels progress in publishing.
Comprehend the pivotal role of dedication and unwavering perseverance in navigating the publishing industry.
The Biggest Challenge for Authors
In a recent networking session, participants identified time as the biggest challenge in their author businesses. The never-ending tasks of writing, marketing, and building a platform make it difficult to find time for everything. In order for people to value your book, they have to know that it exists. You have to be doing things. You have to be making the time to go on podcasts, to go to book fairs or book events or places where you can speak as an author, to go to school visits if you've got a children's book, to go to craft fairs or trade markets or farmers markets…You have to be doing things so that people know what you are doing. Prioritize your goals and decide whether you want to focus solely on writing or also engage in marketing and audience growth activities. Map out specific time slots for each task and considering seeking help from professionals to save time.
Key Takeaways
Check out Pubsite: Pubsite is a DIY website platform designed specifically for authors to market their books. Visit womeninpublishingsummit.com/pubsite to get a free two-week trial and save $5 per month for a whole year on your monthly hosting. This platform makes it easy to create sales pages, event pages, blog pages, and more for your book. It also includes templates and tools to help you market your book effectively.
Build your author website: Having a website is essential for authors to promote their books. Use a platform like Pubsite to create a hub where readers can find information about your book, sign up for your email list, and learn more about you as an author. A website is a central place to share content, post updates, and connect with readers. Make sure to include a clear call to action on your website, such as joining your email list or purchasing your book.
Grow your email list: Email marketing is a powerful tool for authors to connect with readers and promote their books. Make it a priority to grow your email list by offering a free resource or bonus content in exchange for email sign-ups. Use platforms like Mailchimp or ConvertKit to manage your email
Memorable Moments:
00:15:45 – The role of publishers in book marketing, Alexa discusses the potential help authors may receive from publishers in terms of marketing and launch support, but emphasizes that authors are ultimately responsible for selling their books.
00:16:08 – The importance of focusing on one book, Alexa advises authors to focus on one book at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed and making slow progress. She suggests dedicating time specifically for writing and setting a deadline for completing the book.
00:21:19 – Separating writing and marketing phases, Alexa suggests separating the writing and marketing phases of book production. Authors can focus entirely on writing for a set period of time and then dedicate another period to marketing and audience growth. This approach allows for better focus and reduces the risk of distractions.
00:30:53 – Balancing Learning and Implementation, It's easy to get stuck in the cycle of constantly learning without taking action. To make progress, authors need to strike a balance between learning new skills and implementing them.
00:39:53 – Setting Goals and Deadlines, Having clear goals and deadlines is crucial for efficient time management. Set realistic milestones and create a timeline that allows for flexibility, ensuring you stay on track without feeling overwhelmed.
00:43:11 – Prioritizing and Saying No, Focus on activities that directly contribute to your goals and say no to those that don't align. Avoid the fear of missing out and make decisions based on what will help you progress towards your desired outcomes.
We're excited to announce that Pub Site is joining us a the platinum sponsor for our 2023 Women in Publishing Summit. Pub Site is the premiere website solution for author. Their support for a space of our own, as women in this industry, is a reflection of their commitment to an inclusive, accessible publishing industry.
We're looking forward to welcoming Fauzia Burke and her husband, John Burke, back to our conference this year. Alexa first connected with Fauzia when she saw her speak at BookExpo. We’ve been a huge fan of her transformative take on how authors can use their websites to grow their writing career. We’ve been privileged to see that happen in real time for clients, past attendees, and friends using Pub Site in the past few years.
The ease and elegance of Pub Site, quite simply, just works. And in a world where so much doesn’t, we're excited to share more about them with you!
What does Pub Site do?
In short, Pub Site works with authors to build functional, beautiful, smart websites that move their career forward.
That can happen several ways, depending on each author’s unique needs and wants. A variety of proven and specialized templates are available, or Pub Site offers custom design to create the website of your dreams, so you don’t have to worry about it.
Authors need different things on their websites than baseball leagues or jewelry stores or news sites. They need functional e-commerce, clear space to share creative content, places for landing pages and more. They need to have strong visual language and branding that tells potential readers what this writer is all about. They need to connect to all the important social sites, of course. And they definitely need clear, strong calls to action to get on the newsletter list.
Pub Site understands that. Fauzia has spent her whole career in book publicity and marketing – she’s built her company around knowing what authors need. Pub Site isn’t trying to sell you a template made for a realtor or a stone mason or a teacher. They’re giving you the opportunity to build a custom website for a working author that will attract ideal readers, aid in your marketing and become your digital home.
What kind of author needs Pub Site?
We believe that every author needs a website. A website is a great place for people to find out more about you and your books. It also allows them to connect with you on social media and through your email list.
We believe perfecting your book should come before learning a new technical skill set. Every spare minute you have as an authors should go first to making sure your book is everything it should be. Every step you take in marketing is a step towards a successful book.
So unless you love web design or are truly committed to an ultra-low cost process, spending some money on your website is a very smart bet.
Pub Site offers both a semi-DIY option for those who want to flex their creative muscles and get involved in the hands-on work of the website, AND a done-for-you option. We’ve had clients successfully use both, because Pub Site’s team is supportive and helpful at every turn.
How can you learn more about Pub Site?
Head on over to their website to see if Pub Site is the right online home for your writing career!
In this 2-3 hour training session, the founders of Pub Site, John and Fauzia Burke, will teach you exactly how to start and set up your author website.
We'll go through step-by-step. By the end of the training session, you'll have a professional website, ready to go.
Register now. The week before the event, you'll receive a checklist of things to do to be prepared for the training. They do have a 2-week free trial. Do not start this until the day or two before the event, so that you can maximize your two week free trial.
