Indie Writers Club – Details, episodes & analysis

We are joined by the multi-talented Adam Beswick (AP Beswick) to talk empire building.

Adam has used TikTok to build a loyal following of readers and he now focuses on selling direct to them, using TikTok Shop and TikTok Lives. He's an evangelist for the platform and he has a fantastic mindset. It's a great chat!

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It's NovelNovember and we're both drafting a new novel!

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In episode 55, James reports from the Floridian beach where he's attending the annual NINC conference. He and Cara also report some encouraging signs from their Facebook Ads campaigns.

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Making the switch from hobbyist to full-time author is a dream for many. But it comes with its own challenges. From two of us who have become full time self-employed, we go through some of the pitfalls and areas to think about.

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Self Publishing Launchpad is open for enrolment:

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It's part 2 of our discussion about generating income from audio versions of your books. We talk about the AI options among other things, and James has a mini rant about the opposition many authors still face, because they use the latest technology which is available to all.

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ElevenLabs: https://www.indiewritersclub.com/elevenlabs

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We take a two episode dive into audio books. In the first part we discuss the options facing indies, such as wide or exclusive, self produce or collaborate etc.

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There's no correct way to plot, but here are our suggestions.

Mentioned in the pod were my 5 points to note during plotting - see below the links.

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Novel November - a new way to write a novel in November

https://prowritingaid.com/novel-november

Five Plotting Points to help Guide You:

1.     Conflict and stakes 

   Identify the main conflict that drives your story forward

   Ensure the stakes are high enough to keep readers engaged

   Consider both external conflicts (between characters or characters and their environment) and internal conflicts (within the characters themselves)

2.     Character arcs 

   Develop your main characters' journeys throughout the story

   Ensure each main character has a clear goal, motivation, and potential for change

  Consider how the plot events will affect and change your characters

3.     Pacing and structure 

   Decide on the right structure for your story (e.g., three-act structure, hero's journey)

   Balance action, dialogue, and description to maintain a good pace

   Consider the timing of key events, revelations, and twists to keep readers engaged

4.     Causality and coherence 

   Ensure that plot events have a cause-and-effect relationship

   Avoid coincidences or deus ex machina solutions

   Make sure all subplots and character arcs are coherently tied to the main plot

5.     Theme and message 

DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THEME IN FIRST DRAFT

   Consider the overarching theme or message you want to convey through your story

   Ensure that your plot, character arcs, and conflicts all reinforce this central theme

   Avoid being too heavy-handed or preachy in your message delivery

Episode 50 is a good time to take stock of the industry and discuss the latest developments that can affect our indie world.

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Let's talk about the author platform you need to build. This episode covers those crucial foundation months as you start out.

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Welcome to episode 48 of the Indie Writers Club. This week Cara (spicy romance, romance) and James Blatch (thrillers) discuss Facebook (Meta) Ads. For years they have reigned supreme as the goto resource to drive readers to Amazon. But are they still working for writers?

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And join James for a live webinar on book packaging with AuthorNation on Weds 6th August: https://www.indiewritersclub.com/webinar