How to be an Author

-What’s the difference between writer and author?

-Which things do you need to do to become a successful author?

-Which one exercise can you do TODAY to start transforming your writer mindset and eliminate excuses?

Join PhD writing coach Karena Akhavein on this first epiosde of the How to be an Author podcast.

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Episode 1, How to be an Author podcast

When I was a kid, maybe I was like you, I used to dream of being an author.

OK, maybe I'm lying, I think.

I used to dream of the romance of being an author.

You know, sitting in that scenic cabin with the always hot cup of hot chocolate.

That's 'cause I was a kid.

I didn't like coffee yet.

Now I kind of fantasize more about, you know tons of coffee and a little bit of wine.

I used to fantasize about the book signings in some glamorous city and me super popular everybody around me wanting me to sign my new book stacks and stacks of it.

I'd worry about what my autograph would look like and how long it would take me to sign my name as I was signing it.

You know when you're a kid, you have that autograph.

It's a little bit ridiculous, lots of bubbles and maybe a heart and squiggles.

I used to dream of being featured in those articles you know the ones.

Best young writers under 20 and then.

Best young writers under 30... I couldn't even visualize turning as old as 40 yet, so forget about that.

I used to fantasize about getting revenge on everyone who did me wrong by putting them in my book.

And having them killed off.

Don't say you haven't done that.

But I used to fantasize about being recognized at those chic literary cafes.

You know, the ones where I'd be hanging out with all my cool author friends.

And I'd be recognized by people who just happened to be carrying a copy of one of my many bestsellers, and then I'd sign it there and then, and you know, I'd be like, “No photos- come on... no no no. I'm just like you!”

And I used to dream about being the kind of person who could give out writing advice.

I guess I'm still doing the writing advice part.

I didn't dream about the years and years of writing utter and complete crap that actually did happen.

I did not dream of the rejections.

All those rejections.

From all those agents, publishers contests- all of that.

Which started leading to doubt... Oh my God so many doubts. I did not dream of actually writing other people’s words, being a ghostwriter... that sounded really fun, but then you get frustrated because it's not your name on the cover.

I didn't dream of being so unsure of myself that I published my work under pen names so that I could hide behind them.

I didn't dream of doing translations where I had to really look at the nitty gritty of kind of expressing what someone else wanted to say.

I did not dream of writing article after article in magazines, sometimes even featuring writers whose books I honestly didn't like that much, and that after writing all those articles, which was something I had kind of fantasized about, I did not imagine that I still would see myself as a writer, not an author.

Even worse, I would tell people that I was an artist, a shopkeeper, an interior decorator.

I would tell people how I ran multiple businesses, how I taught, and then I would tack on at the end, like an afterthought, “Oh, and I write?”

Why did I put the writing thing dead last, when truly it was the most important thing to me?

After all, I'm the girl who, when they awarded me my PhD in literature, I'm the girl who said, “No, I'm not going to be teaching. I'm going to be writing fiction.”

Well, you should have seen their faces and to be honest if they asked me that today I might be a little bit more diplomatic.

In fact, maybe I would even be a tenured professor by now, but I was passionate and I'd just given birth the week before, so I was super hormonal, so I guess I just told those people the truth.

But why didn't I listen to that brash girl? That obnoxious young mom was right. I wanted, and I've always wanted to be an author.

So why and how did I get so lost along the way?

*INTRO*

Welcome to the first episode of the How To be an Author podcast.

If you're anything like me or like I was, I really hope that you will consider this your place to get all the inspiration motivation, and information you need to make that jump from aspiring writer to successful author way faste...

In this episode of the "How to Be an Author" podcast, hosted by Writing Coach Karena Akhavein, we delve deep into the world of authorship alongside three talented writers, guiding them on their path to discovering and harnessing their distinctive author voices.

Craft: Join Corinne, an aspiring author who seeks to harmonize her writing style with her individual author voice. Karena provides invaluable insights into the significance of maintaining consistency and shares actionable steps to craft a voice that not only resonates with readers but also sets Corinne apart as a unique author.

Mindset and Productivity: Pavel, an author hesitant about personal branding, joins the conversation to explore the true essence of building a strong author brand. Discover how a well-crafted author brand can authentically connect with your audience, while Karena dispels myths surrounding self-promotion, highlighting its potential to profoundly impact your writing career.

Business: Sacha, an author determined to establish a robust online presence, grapples with the complexities of social media and website management. Our experienced writing coach shares invaluable insights on using your unique voice to effectively use social media, building an engaging author website, and maximizing your online presence for successful book marketing.

Whether you're a writer striving to find your unique voice, overcome branding fears, or navigate the intricate landscape of online authorship, this episode offers practical guidance and inspiration to propel you towards your writing aspirations. Join Karena Akhavein, PhD., as she empowers authors to unleash their creativity and thrive in the world of literature through the "How to Be an Author" podcast.

Come on, admit it- you dream of writing a bestseller. At the very least, you hope to touch as many people as possible with your book. Either way, authors who want to sell more books need to make a plan. There is no exact magic formula to writing a book that tops the charts, but you will maximize your chances by planning it. In this episode of the How to be an Author podcast, writing coach Karena Akhavein walks writers through all of the steps that go into writing a book that sells.