Inspired Writer Collective Podcast

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In this week’s episode, the first in a two part series, Elizabeth interviews Mariska Maas (@rubreart) about cover design. Elizabeth connected with Mariska on Instagram about book design, especially for writers who are interested in self-publishing, and so this week the emphasis is on cover design and next week will be about formatting the inside of your book. Mariska, who lives in the Netherlands, has been in the book design industry for a long time. As a fellow bookworm, she discovered the publishing industry as her avenue to connect her art and books. Mariska has her own company now where she helps indie authors create book covers that bring them the same recognition as they would receive from a traditional publisher. If you approach Mariska for your book design, the first step is to respond to a series of questions to provide as much detail as possible. The more detail you provide, the easier it is for her to make sure the cover displays important elements of your book and aligns with current industry standards for your genre. You need to have a good idea of what you want for your book because that allows for the best possible cover art. All of Mariska’s cover art is illustration, no photos, because it’s easier to align with current trends and it’s her expertise. If you were to decide to walk through the cover design process with Mariska, you would receive mock ups and have the opportunity to request changes and express your opinion about what you like and don’t like. What’s great about Mariska’s process is she wants you, as the author, to be happy with the outcome and she helps guide you to make sure you get the cover you want and that will be noticed in bookstores and online. Your book cover is your best marketing tool. Mariska recommends connecting with a book cover designer as soon as you have a clear idea about the book you’re writing. A lot of artists can get booked way in advance, so if you wait, you might not get the cover in the time frame you expect. So, start shopping around now, even if your manuscript isn’t ready. Peak your readers’ curiosity with the cover art, so when it becomes available, the cover is recognizable and readers will want to pick it up. It’s important to note that if you’re hoping to be traditionally published, there’s a very slim chance you’ll get to use a cover you have someone design for you because publishing houses often have a direction they prefer to go based on how they design their books in house. As an indie author, when you self-publish, having a book cover can add an element of excitement to your book writing process because you start to see your book come to life. When you see the cover, it’s the start of visualizing your book being complete and ready for readers. Your cover helps sell your book. You have 7 seconds to appeal to a reader. Even if your book is amazing, if the cover doesn’t connect with readers, you won’t sell books. If you’re listening to this podcast within 3 months of it’s launch date, so that wou

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Our Book Club selection for the month of August was Go As A River by Shelley Read and we’re talking about it in this week’s podcast. There is so much packed into this novel that is both enjoyable for readers and for writers. We balance our discussion this week with insights for both, but definitely lean into what we learned as writers. We’re not putting all of the details in the newsletter because we, of course, want you to go listen for yourself, but we’ll share a brief overview of what we touched upon and hope that, if you haven’t already, you’ll add this book to your list. For writers, we talk about the brilliant flow of adding backstory in scenes where the main character, Victoria, touches an object, such as her father’s rifle, and it brings up a memory that gives us insight into her experience and her family’s history. It’s an approach that is both reflective of the human experience, because we all have stories to tell about objects in our homes, but also lends itself to a seamless flow of language that doesn’t disrupt the story. There’s poetic language that you can find on just about every page of the book. It creates a rhythm to the story that is very engaging. It’s a great reminder of how poetry is a resource for writers of all genres to explore the precision and beauty of language. We also touch upon character development, the 3 Act structure, writing about a place, and how this novel, while fiction, can also help memoir writers. For readers, we discussed how the book just kept getting better and better with each turn of the page. In a workshop we attended led by the author, Shelley Read, she talked about how as she’s traveled the world now on her book tour that so many readers have come up to her to gush about how well she creates the feeling of belonging to a place. It creates a connection between people because we all have places in our lives that touch our heart, and this book accomplishes that for readers. Also, there’s a main character that you’re rooting for from start to finish as you read. It’s what readers expect. They want to have a main character they believe in and read about their transformation. It definitely happens when you read this book.

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In this episode, you'll learn about Elizabeth's Memoir Cohort Course and the huge benefit of writing in community. You'll discover that when you take this upcoming course, you'll get the benefit of two writing coaches! As our fall schedules get underway and we settle in for the end of the year, I'm excited to begin thinking about the next cohort of the Memoir Master Plan Group Course. So much of the struggle in trying to write and work on a memoir is that we, as the writer, are so close to the material. It's difficult to look at one's life and see the core message screaming to be shared. That's where the group learning environment and support is key. One participant shared this testimonial: "Elizabeth is wonderful to work with. I felt right at home when I took her memoir writing class. When we were in group she helped me feel seen and heard because I have some learning disabilities. I enjoyed the group dynamic and the course material was very helpful and unique. I feel Elizabeth's class helped prepare me and propel me forward in my writing!"In the multi-week course, we hammer out the core message (or main theme) of your memoir before diving into a detailed outlining process. We start with a broad outline of key concepts before dissecting which specific moments will be best to emphasize the intention of each scene. You'll conclude the course with a detailed outline that takes the guesswork out of what to write next. You won't fall victim to distraction or lack of focus when you sit down to start writing. You'll have confidence that the story you are crafting is one that is valuable to the overall message."The guidance offered in the Memoir Course results in the formation of a thorough outline that empowers you to begin drafting your memoir with confidence. The Memoir Course facilitates development of the scene-by-scene outline needed to make drafting the book as easy as sitting down and allowing words to flow."All of the recent course participants had made prior attempts at starting their memoirs on their own. They struggled with lack of accountability, support, and clear direction. Self-doubt takes over and we freeze. This small group cohort provides that necessary accountability and guidance many found lacking on their own.Don't take my word for it...one of my course participants said it best. "This is the course I didn't know I needed! I am incredibly grateful for the resulting ease with which I am now able to draft my memoir, turning my dream into reality. "Are you missing support and accountability in your writing process? Are you in need of more structure so you know what to write when you finally carve out the time to sit down? The he group is kept to a small cohort, so space is limited! You can SAVE YOUR SEAT here. If you're still unsure whether or not this is the right course or time for you, schedule a coffee chat with Elizabeth to talk more about your specific project and writing go

We invite you to subscribe to our email list to be the first to know about our weekly podcast episodes, get insights into our writing lives, and learn about upcoming programs for writers!
If you prefer video versions of the podcast or want to leave a comment on this specific episode, you can find all of them on our YouTube channel.

We hope you've found guidance and inspiration for your own writing.

Here are two resources for you:

Get your list of 4 Essential Reads for Memoir Writers

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You've been there. You walk into a room and feel overwhelmed by the mess in the space. It can feel like a lot to figure out how to get it organized. You’ve tried before, but it just doesn’t stick.
You might just want to look up our guest, Julianna Strickland, who has been featured in the New York Times and has a partnership with the Container Store, on this week’s podcast for inspiration and connect with her to help you get organized.
There’s no shame in getting help.
In fact, it can be incredibly empowering to connect with someone who can help solve something you’ve been struggling with that’s blocking your creativity.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, getting organized might be your answer.
When you clean up your space you open space for creativity.
There's something about knowing your things are in their place that allows your brain to focus on your art. Even when you're not paying attention, you're naturally organizing your things and it's distracting for your mind.
You want the feeling of being organized because it far exceeds the experience of looking at the space.
You're clearing space in your brain and it can become addictive to organize your space when you begin to see the result of being more productive.
You’ll feel more connected to your creative work.
You don’t have to be type A to get organized and transform your life.
If you have the desire to be organized, you can do it.
If organizing is not your thing, you'll benefit from having someone teach you how to get your space in order so you can get back to your work as a creative.
You naturally see the beauty in all that you have and you want to enjoy it, but then you get lost in what you have, like the 100s of books, and forget to focus on your own creativity.
There can be a domino effect to making one simple change and allowing it to flow into the next.
You can make your space functional and beautiful. It’s okay if you need to call upon someone for help.
website: https://spacecamporganizing.com
course: https://spacecamporganizing.com/makebetterspace
IG: https://www.instagram.com/makebetterspace/
Personal IG: https://www.instagram.com/julianna_strickland/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/makebetterspace/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@spacecamporganizing
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@makebetterspace

We invite you to subscribe to our email list to be the first to know about our weekly podcast episodes, get insights into our writing lives, and learn about upcoming programs for writers!
If you prefer video versions of the podcast or want to leave a comment on this specific episode, you can find all of them on our YouTube channel.

We hope you've found guidance and inspiration for your own writing.

Here are two resources for you:

Get your list of 4 Essential Reads for Memoir Writers

Get your Character Coffee Chat Guide for Character Development

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In this week's episode, Elizabeth chats with Jenny Benitez about the benefits of creating her podcast and discovering journaling for mental health and self-discovery. Elizabeth and Jenny share a passion for amplifying women's voices. Their conversation focuses on the transformative power of writing and journaling in women's lives. Jenny shares how she got started podcasting.With her podcast, she's created a space for women to share their stories and feel valued.
You can get the guide she created ​here​.
Journaling is transformative because, like meditation, it brings you into the present moment. Jenny discusses how journaling became both a stress reliever and a spiritual practice that helped her navigate career challenges and financial difficulties. She discovered through her daily writing practices that her life started to change for the better, and while it might sound "woo-woo," it's been incredibly beneficial to her life. Writing can be important to document life experiences not just for personal growth but as a legacy for future generations. Yesterday, Elizabeth was featured on Jenny's podcast, Steel Roses. Elizabeth shares her story about how writing saved her life. You can listen ​here​.

Who is Jenny Benitez?

Excerpt from: ​https://womensjournal.com/empowering-women-through-authenticity-the-story-of-steel-roses-women/ ​

Jenny Benitez, the founder of Steel Roses Women, embarked on a mission to empower women to embrace their authenticity. With over 17 years of experience in communications and a deep passion for women’s healthcare, she has dedicated her life to fostering a supportive and engaged community where women can thrive. Jenny’s work is built upon her desire to uplift women, encourage personal growth, and provide tools like meditation, manifestation, and affirmations to help women lead fulfilled, empowered lives. The Steel Roses Podcast, one of her flagship projects, addresses the challenges that many women face but may not openly discuss. Through her podcast, Jenny hopes to spark dialogue and inspire women to break their silence and reclaim their power.

Connect with Jenny:

Website

LinkedIn​

Instagram

Facebook

We invite you to subscribe to our email list to be the first to know about our weekly podcast episodes, get insights into our writing lives, and learn about upcoming programs for writers!
If you prefer video versions of the podcast or want to leave a comment on this specific episode, you can find all of them on our YouTube channel.

We hope you've found guidance and inspiration for your own writing.

Here are two resources for you:

Get your list of 4 Essential Reads for Memoir Writers

Get your Character Coffee Chat Guide for Character Development