I have some kind of selective memory disease. That or a piss poor excuse for a long term memory. Either way, unless I write shit down, it doesn’t get remembered. I used to journal, I stopped when I went to university… too busy studying studiously. Ahem. But this journey into full-time writing is not something I want to forget. So here are the 8 lessons I’ve learned after three months full-time writing.
[Read more…] about Full-Time Writing: 3 Months in
writing
000 – The Rebel Author Podcast
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Hey guys, I’m absolutely delighted to announce the launch of The Rebel Author Podcast. This is episode 0, an introduction if you like to the podcast and what you can expect from the show. I’ll be launching regular episodes at the end of the month. For now, welcome.
Transcript below:
Hello and welcome to the Rebel Author Podcast.
My name is Sacha Black and this is episode 0.
Why have an episode 0? Well because I wanted to tell you a little about the show and what to expect as well as a little about me and who I am.
And, if I’m being completely honest, it gives me a chance to get the podcast feed set up in advance so that if I make any fuck-ups, I have a chance to correct them before the episode’s launch.
If you’re listening to this on any kind of device, then go me, Sacha 1, technology 0
What can you expect from The Rebel Author Podcast?
Well, this show’s blurb is the following:
A motivational show 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.
Which is why each episode will be hosted by me as I interview someone that I think will provide you guys with inspiration, motivation, lessons on creativity, business, publishing or marketing.
I’ll be launching the episodes fortnightly in 2019 with the hope that I can move into weekly episodes in the near future.
If you’d like to hear the episodes before anyone else, then you can support the show by going to Patreon at:
https://www.patreon.com/sachablack
Who am I?
If you don’t know who I am, I’m a proud indie author. I write YA books in a variety of genres, I also write nonfiction writing craft books. I’m a developmental editor, freelancer and occasional rebel. I’m a wife, mum, expensive shoe collector and lover of conspiracies, self-help and favourer of the go hard or go home philosophy. I also eat too much chocolate, drink too much caffeine and swear like a fucking trooper.
So why have a podcast?
I’ve blogged for years, the purpose was to share lessons Id personally learnt on my journey to full-time writing. But as the business grew, it actually became harder and harder to keep up the intensive work of blogging. I needed a new solution. A way to reach and give back to everyone who’s supported me along the way, and those just joining the industry
I suppose in a way, this podcast has been a long time in the making. I’ve been obsessively listening to podcasts for over half a decade. Frankly, I’m amazed I didn’t start one earlier.
I guess combine my podcast obsessery with the fact I used to do voice over acting as a teenager and it was waiting to happen. But like so many creatives I suffered with doubt and imposter syndrome. It wasn’t until I appeared on several podcasts and I had lots of encouraging feedback, that it even became a twinkling idea.
I’ve had several lovely people tell me I have a voice for audio though what that means about my face for TV I can only speculate. But what tipped me over the edge was a random act of kindness.
A lovely lady at Edinburgh 20books to 50k came up to me and told me she kept hearing me speak around the venue and that she could have listened to my voice all day. It was such a surprise comment but one that filled me with confidence. So I will forever be grateful to you for your spontaneous compliment which ultimately helped me birth The Rebel Author Podcast
That’s it for this show, a whistle-stop intro to what you’ll get.
If you’d like to follow the twitter account it’s @rebelauthorpod
Don’t forget you can support the show and get all the episodes early by visiting
11 of The Best Self-Help Books for Writers
I’ve been reading a lot of self-help books of late. I’ve said it before, but the transition to full-time self-employment has been turbulent to say the least. So, when in doubt, I always turn to books. Knowledge is power, education is the only solution. I thought I’d share some of the best self-help books for writers out there in the hopes it helps you on your journey too.
In no particular order:
[Read more…] about 11 of The Best Self-Help Books for Writers
How to Be a More Productive Writer, Entrepreneur & Business Owner
Productivity and me go way back. We’re like siblings: we both wana get shit done and somewhere deep down (like REALLY deep) we love each other. But mostly, we kick seven shades of shit out of each other while stealing one another’s greatest posessions (time) and taddle tailing about who got what done on the ‘to do’ list. We need to be more productive because right now, we’re a mess.
We both know it, though neither of us will admit it. It might possibly, probably be the reason I have 22,000 words of a novel on ‘How to Be Productive’ and it’s also – ironically – the reason I’ve neither finished it, nor published it.
Sigh. [Read more…] about How to Be a More Productive Writer, Entrepreneur & Business Owner
Learn to Self-Edit With @literaryliving
The self-edit can be daunting. But it doesn’t need to be. Just like drafting, it’s another process, another part of the journey to publication. And one that is vitally important if you want to get the best product you can on the market.
This is a short post, one to recommend my friend the author and writing teacher, Joan Dempsey has launched an online master class on self-editing, which is open now and immediately available as soon as you enroll.
Enroll now [Read more…] about Learn to Self-Edit With @literaryliving
I Quit My Job – Lessons in Perseverance: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
I quit my job.
Four innocent little words that strung together have the same potency as a Hiroshima shaped nuke aimed straight at my family. I’m pretty sure my mum had heart failure. My wife definitely swallowed her tongue while trying to blink her way through the wide-eyed horror. Even my dad – who’d spent the last eighteen months telling me to quit – had a momentary aneurysm at the news.
No one thought I’d quit.
Hell, I didn’t even think I’d quit.
But on March 5th 2019, I found myself sat at a canteen table, both my managers staring back at me. One of them knew. Maybe it was written in the glint in my eye or the tremor in my hands. Perhaps it’s just that somethings are inevitable. Somethings you can taste like the cut of thunder in the air before it arrives.
I didn’t even open my mouth.
“You’re leaving, aren’t you?” he said.
I was. [Read more…] about I Quit My Job – Lessons in Perseverance: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
