Author Audience: Helping You Reach More People With Your Message | Writing | Self-publishing | Book Marketing | Business Grow

Have you ever struggled with motivation and often feel like you have to force yourself to sit down in front of your computer to write? Well, don’t worry because you are not alone.  There are many strategies out there, but in this episode, we talk about the one tool that can help you be more productive in your writing journey. You’ll be surprised to know that it’s something simple you have access to right now. Free WRITING WHEEL Download Learn 5 proven writing strategies you can use today to get more writing done. Download it now here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/writingwheel Your Book on Paper in Just 90-Minutes Are you ready to get your book onto paper without the frustration of getting stuck or dealing with writers’ block?  Get your book out of your head and onto paper by the end of this 90-minute workshop using our 3 simple book writing formulas here: www.BookWritingLab.com

The third chapter of Ecclesiastes tells us that everything has a season and every activity under heaven has its own time. Yet most of the time, we find ourselves comparing our own season with others; our own tulip with others’ roses. In this episode, we reflect on this and share how to embrace both the beauty and mystery of our own seasons; of our own “tulips.”  He will accomplish what He has promised, in His own beautiful time. “When you accept the fact that sometimes seasons are dry and times are hard and that God is in control of both, you will discover a sense of divine refuge, because the hope then is in God and not in yourself.”  -Charles R. Swindoll This episode is an excerpt from our War Room prayer meeting with Christian Book Academy members in May. We wanted to share this encouragement with you today. The Power of Having a Weekly Business Meeting with God Learn the simple steps you can take to implement a weekly business meeting with God. This is one of the most important actions you can take as a C

Your book is finally ready. Hooray! But are you? If you are wondering when is the perfect time to launch your book then fasten your seatbelt and get ready to listen because this episode is for you. Free: 27 Book Marketing Ideas You have finally written and published your book. Yay! Now, it’s time to market and promote it to reach more people and inspire lives. Get instant access to our FREE PDF on 27 Book Marketing Ideas to help you with your book marketing strategy here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/ideas/ Book Marketing Templates to Save You Time and Money You’ve got a book you’re proud of. Now you’re looking for a simpler way to get it into the hands of more readers. One way you can do that is through social media. It's free to use...however, it can also take up a lot of your time.  Good news! You can get your social media posts for the next month done in just 90 minutes so that you can reach more readers with your book (without being pushy or salesy) in the Mini-Marketing Messages workshop here: https:

You might be wondering how you will share your powerful message with the world.  Is traditional publishing really the only option? Is self-publishing truly less “excellent”?  In this episode, you’ll discover insights on ways you can get your message to your target audience through self-publishing and why we don’t believe it is any less “excellent.” Links Mentioned in this episode: IBPA Industry Standards Checklist (PDF) Benefits of independent publishing (self-publishing) Self-publishing vs. traditional publishing Download Your Publishing Map If you want to write and publish a book but don't know where to start, this Publishing Map is for you. You will learn Shelley's 9 simple steps inside her publishing map that will help you gain clarity on your next steps. Download it now for free here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/publishing-map/  Join Our Procrastination to Publication Workshop With our simple 5-step system, you’ll be able to self-publish a quality Kindle eBook (without breaking the bank) in as l

Ever feel that you aren’t making any progress in your writing journey? Have you experienced hitting a wall at times? Well, don’t worry because you are not alone.  In this episode, we cover several ways to be consistent in your writing progress and to celebrate each milestone. After all, God has called us to be faithful and consistent in the gifts that He has given us. Amen? “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” -1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT Free WRITING WHEEL Download Learn 5 proven writing strategies you can use today to get more writing done. Download it now here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/writingwheel Your Book on Paper in Just 90-Minutes Are you ready to get your book onto paper without the frustration of getting stuck or dealing with writers’ block? Get your book out of your head and onto paper by the end of this 90-minute workshop using our 3 simple book writing formulas her

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation.I will be honored throughout the world.” This iconic verse can be directed either to the enemies of God’s people or to God’s people themselves as we’ll take a look at. The verse implies a stoppage of fighting, raging, striving, or operating out of human strength alone and relaxing as we watch the Lord fight on our behalf.  God is essentially saying, “Lay down your arms and surrender. No more defensiveness or resistance to the plans I have…let ME be God.” We’ll also refer to Exodus 14:10-14 and Isaiah 37:33-36 as we look at this concept of being or standing still. If you’re experiencing resistance in your writing, you are not alone! You have an army of fellow Kingdom writers beside you and, most importantly, you have the God of the universe going before you to fight on your behalf! The Power of Having a Weekly Business Meeting with God Learn the simple steps you can take to implement a weekly business meeting with God. This

Marketing sometimes feels hard. I get it! If you’re in a season where marketing feels like a “have to”, a dread or a burden this episode is for you. Free: 27 Book Marketing Ideas You have finally written and published your book. Yay! Now, it’s time to market and promote it to reach more people and inspire lives. Get instant access to our FREE PDF on 27 Book Marketing Ideas to help you with your book marketing strategy here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/ideas/ Book Marketing Templates to Save You Time and Money You’ve got a book you’re proud of. Now you’re looking for a simpler way to get it into the hands of more readers. One way you can do that is through social media. It's free to use...however, it can also take up a lot of your time.  Good news! You can get your social media posts for the next month done in just 90 minutes so that you can reach more readers with your book (without being pushy or salesy) in the Mini-Marketing Messages workshop here: https://minimarketingmessages.com

Join Shelley Hitz and several authors from Christian Book Academy who will share case studies + tips they've learned along the way. A few things you'll learn: ✅ The one thing that helped Heather Erdmann finally finish her first draft so she was able to publish her first book (previously she got stuck and never finished more than a few pages). ✅ How MaryAnn Ward combined her passion for art and writing into an unexpected book that wasn’t even on her radar…and it has already sold more than 100 copies. ✅ The strategy that helped Lauren Darroch overcome “writer’s guilt” and finally start writing consistently. She’s more productive than ever, publishing book twins (two books at the same time) and is now working on her third one. WooHoo! ✅ Denise Goosby received strategy, focus, and her next steps from the Lord for her writing that made all the difference. ✅ Shelly Laroque published her second book and learned techniques that helped her complete her illustrations. And more! Support each of these authors by purchasi

Ever feel like your writing journey is going too slow? If so, be encouraged by this episode! It is the small, consistent habits over time that can change your life. Whether you want to improve your health, start a business or write a book, it takes intentionality with your habits. “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” – Galatians 6:9 NLT Free WRITING WHEEL Download Learn 5 proven writing strategies you can use today to get more writing done. Download it now here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/writingwheel Your Book on Paper in Just 90-Minutes Are you ready to get your book onto paper without the frustration of getting stuck or dealing with writers’ block?  Get your book out of your head and onto paper by the end of this 90-minute workshop using our 3 simple book writing formulas here: www.BookWritingLab.com 

Jesus Shows Up – A few post-resurrection sightings Jesus spent 40 days on earth after His resurrection. During this time, He eased His followers’ doubts and gave them direction for the future. Like those original followers, we as Kingdom Writers sometimes feel like we’ve missed something along the way. We had high hopes for books that are currently in a tomb. Might as well just go back to our day job and forget about this writing thing. It was a nice 3 years of adventure we can tell our grandkids about. It’s precisely in those moments when Jesus shows up… 1.) Walk to Emmaus – “We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.” Luke 24:21 “Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:31-32 Jesus wants to open our eyes and restore hope that has been lost in us. He wants our he

One of the best ways to sell your book is to let your customers sell your book for you. Customer reviews and word-of-mouth referrals are powerful. Learn more in this episode of the podcast. Next week we will publicly open the doors to Christian Book Academy. Something new we have launched is a success stories podcast which allows our members to share their results with you. Listen to case studies and success stories from Christian Book Academy members here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/success-stories  Join our community of Kingdom Writers!  Get on the waitlist here: https://christianbookacademy.com

When it comes to self-publishing, is it possible to publish a quality book on a budget? Yes, it is! Here are 3 ways to consider… 1.) Hire the right people Many companies will offer to publish your book for thousands of dollars. Typically it will cost $3000 - $10,000. When you remove the middleman and hire the right people directly, you can save thousands of dollars. Why not use some of the money you saved for other things like marketing your book once it’s published? 2.) Start small Your main expense when self-publishing will be hiring a professional editor. Most editors charge by the word or by project. Therefore, when you publish a shorter book; your costs will be significantly less. 3.) Know where you can cut costs (and where you shouldn’t) For example, one of the easiest ways to save money when publishing your book is with the formatting. However, you still want to use tools that are cost-effective and give you a final product you’re proud to share with the world. Want to learn even more ways to self-publ

Self-publishing can be overwhelming and expensive. You've done some research and have been praying about the best way to publish your book. However, you have some doubts and hesitations. I’ve been there. We’ve all been there. Don’t let paralysis of analysis keep your book as an unfinished project on your computer's hard drive or in your notebooks gathering dust. Instead, let’s breakthrough the myths that may be holding you back. Myth #1: Traditionally published books are of better quality than self-published books. The truth is that self-published books can have the same quality as a book published with a traditional publisher. There are certain things you can do to make sure that when someone picks up your book they won’t know it has been independently published.  If you want to self-publish a book that has a quality interior design (on a budget), be sure to check out Dave Chesson’s presentation at our upcoming Kingdom Writers Conference! Myth #2: It costs thousands of dollars to self-publish a book. The tru

1 Thessalonians 3:9-11Ezekiel 22:30 As Kingdom Writers, we can be people God uses to help fill in the gaps (as Paul says) and also stand in the gap (Ezekiel) in order to help repair a wall of righteousness and plead on behalf of others.  Our books and other writings are ways God brings us to others in order to encourage and edify their faith. Just as Paul’s letters were carried to believers all over the region, our books can be carried around the world in order to help fill in the gaps that people have in their faith and answer questions others may be wrestling with. Your Writing Battle Plan Powerful things happen when you integrate your faith with your writing, publishing, and marketing.  Learn how to create your writing battle plan so you can move forward in God's call on your life to write in our Battle Plan All-Access Pass. You'll get 15 presentations plus 13 bonus trainings including our Priestly Pen bundle here: https://kingdomwritersconference.com/battleplan/ 

This is how I typically do prioritize my marketing tasks, but it will be different for each of you.  My first priority: Will it produce income? (Long term or short term? What is the profit margin?) Will it build my email list? (Manual or automated?) My next thought process: What is the least minimum viable product? Done well, yes. But sometimes we don’t need to do everything right now (ie blog) Also: What’s required? Will I need to learn a new skill or technology? If I can choose something profitable with what I already have/know, I often choose it. What has worked well for me in the past? 80/20 rule. Finally: I take action and figure it out as I go. Very rarely do I have everything figured out before I take action.   Book Marketing Templates to Save You Time and Money You’ve got a book you’re proud of. Now you’re looking for a simpler way to get it into the hands of more readers. One way you can do that is through social media. It's free to use...however, it can also take up a lot of your time.  Good

Publishing is a very vulnerable process, isn’t it? You are putting your heart and soul onto paper for the whole world to see. How do you deal with the fear that comes with publishing? Learn a few ways to reframe it in this episode. Links mentioned: Conquer the fear of sharing your story: https://www.trainingauthors.com/conquer-fear/ Download Your FREE Publishing Map If you want to write and publish a book but don't know where to start, this Publishing Map is for you. You will learn Shelley's 9 simple steps inside her publishing map that will help you gain clarity on your next steps. Download it now for free here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/publishing-map/

In this episode, you will learn several ideas for setting up systems and learning what works best for you in your writing process. Links mentioned: Video on how to organize your computer files: https://www.facebook.com/christianbookacademy/videos/848819582302598/ Writing Wheel free eBook: https://trainingauthors.com/writingwheel/ Move Forward in God’s Call to Write If you don’t have a copy yet, get your copy of our new book Kingdom Writers so that you can move forward in God’s call to write in your life here: https://trainingauthors.com/book

We typically recommend giving yourself 90 days for each stage of the Kingdom Writers Path at the most. However, we’ve had members publish a book within a month of joining Christian Book Academy. For example, Jennifer Nelson published a book 10 days after enrolling in our membership. It depends on the time you have to invest and the scope of your book project. If you take at least 90 days on each stage it would look something like this... First Draft: 90 days Final Draft: 90 days Self-Publish: 90 days This means you can get your book published in 9 months.   Join Our Community of Kingdom Writers Get on the waitlist for Christian Book Academy here: https://christianbookacademy.com 

Many of you have visited the Redwood National Park in northern California. Shelley & I visited that area a few years ago. I remember walking through forests with lush ferns among these gentle giants in all their majesty. Imagine the Creator of those trees! -Redwoods can grow as tall as 400 feet -The oldest redwood is thought to be over 3200 years old and is known as the “President” -Some are wide enough for a car to drive through -Roots only go about 7-8 feet deep but can be spread out over 100 feet -Redwood roots are intertwined with other redwoods which allows them to remain stable even through strong storms. I see Christian Book Academy like a gentle redwood forest where our roots intertwine with one another. -A redwood cone can produce 150-250 seeds, each seed being only the size of a tomato seed. That’s about the size of the head of a matchstick Our books also begin with a seed idea. That seed is then watered by God and it continues to grow into something we could have hardly imagined. Redwoods are r

There are three types of book marketing you can do. 1. Free organic marketing (usually takes longer and requires more time) 2. Paid ads (for authors the best platform is Amazon Ads but still requires a learning curve) 3. Partner marketing through strategic relationships (very powerful but requires connecting with others in your niche or those who already have a platform similar to your target audience) Free Organic Marketing: Content marketing, social media, etc. The pro is that it’s FREE. The con is that it takes more time. Amazon ads: Amazon ads do take time and a learning curve. But with persistence, they can be very effective. We've done very well with ads for my book Broken Crayons Still Color. Partner Marketing: I share 11 ideas for partner marketing in this video. You can watch it here: https://trainingauthors.com/get/email-list/ 27 Book Marketing Ideas Download our free PDF with 27 different ideas to market your book here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/ideas/