The Rebel Author Podcast

A motivational podcast for all the creatives out there with an inner rebel. Listen for interviews, industry news, tips, tricks and tools to help you take your creative business to the next level.

277 Tapping into Tropes in Fantasy & Sci-Fi with Jennifer Hilt

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What makes tropes so powerful Using tropes to help outline Avoiding cliches when using tropes Tropes that consistently resonate with readers How to use tropes in marketing Find out more about Jennifer: The Trope Thesaurus : An Author Resource Guide Substack YouTube Facebook Rebel of the Week is: Chris If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com 3 new patrons this week, welcome and thank you to Melanie Reber, Bethany Tucker, Heather Flyte. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack This episode is sponsored by Fictionary Find out more about Fictionary StoryCoach Certification here. As a rebel listener you can get 25% off StoryTeller, StoryTeller Premium and certification with code REBEL25.

01-15
59:31

276 Why Wide? Diversifying Your Book Distribution with Erin Wright

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What does having your books “wide” mean Advantages and disadvantages of your books being wide Dealing with losing Kindle Unlimited page reads Different marketing approaches for different platforms Planning your releases when publishing wide Learn More about Erin: Erin's Website Sign up for free replays of courses Wide for the Win Courses Rebel of the Week is: Richard If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com 2 new patrons this week, welcome and thank you to Erin Lynn Austin and Martha Knox. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY KOBO WRITING LIFE Visit Kobo Writing Life here, read the Kobo Writing Life blog here, and listen to their podcast here.

01-08
01:02:50

275 Starting the Year with Gratitude and Community

Links I mentioned: Follow the Girl Games Kickstarter   If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack 

01-01
52:22

The Black Herron: Episode 28

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number twenty-eight between Rachael Herron and I. Don't forget, Patrons get early access to these episode an entire month early and then we air them on the podcast feeds the following month. If you’d like to hear them early you can join me on Patreon from as little as $2 right here. To find out more about Rachael, you can listen to her show “How Do You Write” or visit her website. * If you haven’t read The Anatomy of a Best Seller, what are you waiting for? Grab my latest craft book and start deconstructing so you can write your own best seller today.

01-01
58:49

274 Lessons Learned From a Kick-Ass Kickstarter with Sacha and Petra

Links I mentioned: Follow the Girl Games Kickstarter   If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack 

12-25
53:10

273 How to Create a World-Class Substack with Russell Nohelty

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What Substack is and how it works Utilizing “Notes” on Substack effectively Substack as a new way for authors to monetize their work The importance of branding How to analyze the data from Substack How to increase engagement Find out more about Russell: The Author Stack Writer MBA How to Build a World Class Substack Rebel of the Week is: Karla If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com 1 new patron this week, welcome and thank you to Kat Vroman. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack This episode is sponsored by Fictionary Find out more about Fictionary Software + Fictionary Live! here. As a rebel listener you can get 25% off StoryTeller, StoryTeller Premium and certification with code REBEL25.  

12-18
01:13:59

272 The Ins and Outs of International Signings with Jacqueline Hayley

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Breaking into the US market as an international author In-person and virtual signings  Main benefits of attending book signings Logistics of attending international book signing events Balancing travel time with your writing schedule Tips for energy management Links I mentioned:  Order House of Crimson Curses direct from me Order House of Crimson Curses on all platforms Find out more about Jacqueline: JacquelineHayleyAuthor.com HaileyJay.com Rebel of the Week is: Rachel If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com 1 new patron this week, welcome and thank you to Gina. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack  THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY KOBO WRITING LIFE Visit Kobo Writing Life here, read the Kobo Writing Life blog here, and listen to their podcast here.

12-11
52:44

271 The Pivot From Trad Pub to Indie with Sasha Wasley

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Changes in indie publishing in the last 8 years Necessary skill sets for returning to indie publishing Marketing and promotion differences between trad and indie Advice for switching from trad to indie publishing Current trends in trad and indie publishing Links I mentioned: Preorder House of Crimson Curses direct from me Preorder House of Crimson Curses on all platforms Find out more about Sasha: Preorder Ghostling Sasha's Website Instagram @sashawasley_author TikTok @ash.harrier Instagram @ashharrierbooks Rebel of the Week is: Liz If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com No new patrons this week, but a big thank you to my existing patrons. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack

12-04
01:03:16

The Black Herron: Episode 27

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number twenty-seven between Rachael Herron and I.  Don't forget, Patrons get early access to these episode an entire month early and then we air them on the podcast feeds the following month. If you’d like to hear them early you can join me on Patreon from as little as $2 here. To find out more about Rachael, you can listen to her show “How Do You Write” or visit her website. * If you like dark humor, learning through examples and want to create perfect prose, then you’ll love my guide to crafting sensational sentences. Read The Anatomy of Prose today and start creating kick-ass stories.

12-01
46:55

270 Mastering Reader Magnets with Z.S Diamanti

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Why reader magnets are important for authors Using TikTok to excel your author career How to promote your reader magnet Keeping readers engaged after the freebies How to come up with prequel/novella ideas Links I mentioned: Preorder House of Crimson Curses direct from me Preorder House of Crimson Curses on all platforms Find out more about Zac: Socials: @zsdiamanti Get his free stories here Rebel of the Week is: Kiersten Lillis If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com 1 new patron this week, welcome and thank you to Anthony Paparello. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack  This episode is sponsored by Fictionary Find out more about Fictionary Software + Fictionary Live! here. As a rebel listener you can get 25% off StoryTeller, StoryTeller Premium and certification with code REBEL25.

11-27
01:07:28

269 TikTok 1 Year On with AP Beswick & Cara Clare

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Overview of the TikTok accountability challenge The biggest challenges in algorithm and audience shifts What content are they making on TikTok Keeping up with TikTok trends Building a sustainable business that doesn’t rely on TikTok Links I mentioned: Preorder House of Crimson Curses direct from me Preorder House of Crimson Curses on all platforms Find out more about Adam and Cara: Adam's Author Website Cara's Author Website Rebel of the Week is: Karla If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com No new patrons, but a big thank you to my existing patrons. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack 

11-20
01:08:00

268 Creating Cohesive Branding & Innovative Revenue Streams with David Viergutz

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  What brand keywords are and why authors should have them How keywords can guide an author’s marketing Maintaining consistency in your branding across platforms Using other types of writing like “Scaremail” to increase revenue Building and maintaining and engaged email list Links I mentioned:  Preorder House of Crimson Curses direct from me Preorder House of Crimson Curses on all platforms Find out more about David: davidviergutz.com Rebel of the Week is: Chris If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com No new patrons this week, but a big thank you to my existing patrons. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack 

11-13
56:40

267 Understanding the Consumer Journey with Celeste Barclay

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Using the consumer journey to build your author business How to start building an author brand Balancing a brand promise with experimentation and growth Considerations for creating repeat readers Social media’s effect on the author-reader relationship Links I mentioned:  Preorder House of Crimson Curses direct from me Preorder House of Crimson Curses on all platforms Find out more about Celeste: Celeste Barclay Facebook Instagram @celestebarclayauthor Sabine Barclay Facebook Instagram @sabinebarclayauthor Rebel of the Week is: Ciara If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com No new patrons this week, but a big thank you to my existing patrons. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack  THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY KOBO WRITING LIFE Visit Kobo Writing Life here, read the Kobo Writing Life blog here, and listen to their podcast here.

11-06
01:07:16

The Black Herron: Episode 26

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number twenty-six between Rachael Herron and I. Don't forget, Patrons get early access to these episode an entire month early and then we air them on the podcast feeds the following month. If you’d like to hear them early you can join me on Patreon from as little as $2 right here. To find out more about Rachael, you can listen to her show “How Do You Write” or visit her website. * If you haven’t read The Anatomy of a Best Seller, what are you waiting for? Grab my latest craft book and start deconstructing so you can write your own best seller today.

11-01
44:16

266 Monster Romance with Jason Pinter

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Different writing approaches for different genres Creating realistic monsters Advice for switching between genres Balancing different elements when crafting a story Keys for reaching a wide audience Links I mentioned:  Preorder House of Crimson Curses direct from me Preorder House of Crimson Curses on all platforms Find out more about Jason: Tiktok @JerseyBookGuy Instagram @JasonPinter Read Dating & Dismemberment Rebel of the Week is: Lena If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com 1 new patron this week, welcome and thank you to Elle Thorpe. A big thank you to my existing patrons. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack

10-30
53:15

265 Secrets of Writing a Series with Kristina Stanley and Lucy Cooke

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Artistic decisions when setting up a series The different types of series Importance of series unity What a “skeleton blurb” is and how they help in planning a series The role of subplots throughout a series Story arcs for open and closed series Links I mentioned: Preorder House of Crimson Curses direct from me Preorder House of Crimson Curses on all platforms Release date: 5th December 2024 Find out more about Kristina and Lucy: fictionary.co Rebel of the Week is: Jo If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com No new patrons this week, but a big thank you to my existing patrons. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack   

10-23
01:09:24

264 Growing & Sustaining a Happier Writing Career with Tiffany Yates Martin

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  Maintaining a passion for writing while building a thriving business Dealing with rejection and criticism as a writer Finding your authentic writer’s voice Overcoming writer’s block and the need for perfectionism Imposter syndrome and quieting unhelpful internal voices Find out more about Tiffany: FoxPrint Editorial Tiffany's Books Instagram Facebook YouTube Rebel of the Week is: Trish If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com 3 new patrons this week, welcome and thank you to Denise Yoko Berndt, Cheyanna Lynn, and Drayga. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack  This episode is sponsored by Fictionary Find out more about Fictionary Software + Fictionary Live! here. As a rebel listener you can get 25% off StoryTeller, StoryTeller Premium and certification with code REBEL25.

10-16
01:06:16

263 Understanding Humour & Writing Funny Fiction with Dave Cohen

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The importance of humour in fiction Different types of humour The principles of writing funny fiction Making humour work on page Funny vs. offensive – where is the line? Embracing the rebel mindset Find out more about Dave: Bluesky @daveiswriting.bsky.social Funny Up Your Fiction: How to Add Light, Shade and Laughs to Your Novel Rebel of the Week is: Krista If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com 2 new rebels this week, welcome and thank you to Bethany Hensel and Jo Narayan. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY KOBO WRITING LIFE Visit Kobo Writing Life here, read the Kobo Writing Life blog here, and listen to their podcast here.

10-09
01:05:49

262 Level Up Your Email Marketing Game with Liz Wilcox

Episode Show Notes In this episode we cover:  The importance of personality in email marketing How often to send newsletters to your audience Tips for self-promotion How new authors can grow their email lists Measuring the success of your email marketing Links I mentioned:  Support my Kickstarter Find out more about Liz: The Email Sound Booth Facebook Group Instagram @thelizwilcox Rebel of the Week is: Jacqui If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com 2 new patrons this week, welcome and thank you to Pavlov and GA Rea. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack 

10-02
48:41

The Black Herron: Episode 25

Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number twenty-five between Rachael Herron and I. This is The Black Herron episode twenty-five. Don’t forget, Patrons get early access to these episode an entire month early and then we air them on the podcast feeds the following month. If you’d like to hear them early you can join me on Patreon from as little as $2 right here.   To find out more about Rachael, you can listen to her show “How Do You Write” or visit her website. * If you like dark humour, learning through examples and want to create the best villains you can, then you’ll love Sacha Black’s guide to crafting superbad villains. Read 13 Steps to Evil today and start creating kick-ass villains.

10-01
46:59

Shahrzad

Thank you Sacha. It was very informative (as always)💜 I didn't quite understand what you meant about the character arc in the hunger games,tho.

11-27 Reply

Renee Conoulty

I'm now neck deep in a Fictionary trial 😁

10-24 Reply

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