In this two-week bootcamp, Emmy Award–winning media strategist and bestselling author Paula Rizzo will help you assess your current platform, imagine what’s possible, and develop a plan that fits your life and goals.

Through guided worksheets, video lessons, and one-on-one feedback, you’ll gain clarity on how to show up as the expert you are—using tools like newsletters, social media, video, Substack, speaking, or media coverage—in a way that’s authentic and sustainable.

Click to continue.

If you want more online education, see the full list of WDU courses here.

Listen to the New Episode of the “Writer’s Digest Presents” Podcast

New episodes of the “Writer’s Digest Presents” podcast stream every third Tuesday of the month. In the newest episode, editor Michael Woodson and editor-in-chief Amy Jones chat with author Chip Pons about meet cutes, miscommunication, and writing queer romance.

Register for the 2025 Science Fiction and Fantasy Virtual Conference

On August 22-24, the annual WDU Science Fiction and Fantasy Virtual Conference will provide expert insights from SEVEN bestselling Sci-Fi and Fantasy authors!

Click to continue.

There’s Still Time to Join Us in London!

REDUCED by $500! Writer’s Digest is heading across the pond to England with literary agent, Amy Collins this September! This unique trip is part literary tour and part retreat with an experienced literary agent and Writer’s Digest editor. Get inspired in the land of literary giants like Shakespeare and Dickens, Austen and the Brontës, Smith and Ishiguro. Pack your bags and favorite writing notebook for a trip of a lifetime. Space is limited!

Click to continue.

The post Elevate Your Platform appeared first on Writer's Digest.

While you are writing, before your book is published:

1. Attend author events. Pay attention to what you like and don’t like. Take notes on a document titled “Events” so when it’s your turn, you’ll already have a curated list of tips.
2. Create an organized digital file storage system along with file naming rules. Down the line you may be looking for a document and you’ll be grateful you know where to find it.
3. Backup everything—on the cloud and/or on an external hard drive. End each writing session with a backup.
4. When doing research, take photos and videos of setting locations and items of inspiration for future social media posts and newsletter behind-the-scenes features. Store everything in one carefully named folder on your computer.
5. Write your “back cover blurb” right from the start. It will help you stay focused on the main idea and hook of your story. Revise as needed until the manuscript is complete and then use it in your query letters.
6. From the moment you start a manuscript, keep a list of your promotion ideas: affiliate groups, article and blog post topics, media outlets that would be a good fit, bookstores to contact, etc.
7. Keep a file of everything you delete from your manuscript in case you decide to add something back in or for a newsletter freebie—readers love deleted scenes.
8. Ignore the voices telling you that “X isn’t selling,” or “readers don’t like Y.” Write the book you want to write. Go into a bubble and write from your heart, without wondering how good it is or who’s going to read it. Worry about all that once the first draft is finished. Your unique voice is what readers will connect with most.
9. If you write nonfiction, you already keep a bibliography of your sources, but fiction writers should do this, too. You may need to refer back to something during revisions, find a particular quote or item of interest to share in a newsletter, or you may want to share the entire bibliography with readers so they can investigate the subject on their own.
10. Read as much as possible in your genre. Keep a list of comp titles and authors to approach about providing an endorsement for your book. Note what you liked about their book so you can personalize your email to them, as well as why a blurb from this author would help your book.
11. Get to know your local booksellers. Attend their events. Buy from their stores.
12. Collect bonus content to add to your website once your book is published, including a glossary, book club discussion questions, author Q&A, character family tree, recipes of dishes mentioned in the story, playlists, a deep dive into a unique aspect of your story’s setting or culture, maps, and so much more.
13. Never bad mouth other authors, agents, editors, bookstores, or publishers online. Be positive and supportive. Always.
14. Don’t rush. Do multiple rounds of revisions. Have beta readers give you feedback. Revise again. And then again. Don’t submit until the manuscript is the absolute best you can make it.
15. Be professional on social media. Only send friend requests to agents and editors who are sharing industry information, and pay attention to their preferences to learn who is a good fit for your work. If their content includes pictures of their kids or other aspects of their personal lives, skip the request. You don’t want to come across as creepy.
16. Take a class on anything you need to become a better small business owner, social media promoter, salesperson, speaker…any of the many hats an author must wear.

Once you have a contract, but before your publication date:

1. Maintain a Master Document for each of your books with info you’ll need to refer to often. Include the back cover blurb, cover images, buy links for your book in each format and on all platforms (shortened), your ISBN number(s), all review quotes you receive, author bio, author photo, links to your social media, link to your Amazon author page, link to your Goodreads author page.
2. Read your finished book, or have a trusted friend read it, and flag quotes that would be good to highlight in social media posts and as pull quotes on your website and/or newsletters.
3. Contact the people on your Promotions list. Tell them about your book, its pub date, back cover blurb, cover image, your bio, and why you think they and/or their followers would be interested in your book. Share your availability for interviews or events and how to contact you. Offer to send them an Advance Reader Copy.
4. Create a calendar for the months leading up to publication for social media posts (including what, exactly, you will post), and newsletters (don’t forget behind-the-scenes content and freebies that will add value for subscribers so your newsletters aren’t only saying, “buy my book.”)
5. Create and post to your website all the bonus content that you collected during the writing stage to add value to your readers’ experience.
6. Revise and format a deleted scene, or other content, and add it as a lead magnet (a.k.a. freebie, opt-in) for your newsletter sign-up.
7. As reviews come in, add them to your website and to your Master document.
8. Visit your local bookstores. Consider taking an Advance Reader Copy or, at minimum, a postcard or bookmark with your book’s cover image, publication information, your bio, and your contact information. Talk to the booksellers about your book and your availability for signings and events.

Click to continue.

After publication:

1. Let go of all expectations you have for your book. It is now out of your control. Continue to promote it but move forward with your next project.
2. If talking about your book makes you nervous, remember that you are at the event in service to the audience. Be: entertaining (make them laugh), educational (teach them something they didn’t already know), or inspiring (share something that makes them leave with ideas and dreams swirling around in their minds). Accomplish at least one on that list and you’ll be great!
3. Revisit all action items from “Before you are published” above.
4. Update your Master document and website with every link you receive: coverage/reviews of the book, interviews, articles.
5. After every event, send a thank you note to the organizer.

Whether you do all of these, or just a few, you will thank yourself one day down the road by being organized and prepared for your career as a successful published author.

Check out Kelli Estes’ Smoke on the Wind here:

Bookshop | Amazon

(WD uses affiliate links)

The post Favors to Do for Your Future Author Self appeared first on Writer's Digest.

(Paying Video Game Markets for Freelance Article Submissions.)

So, I decided to try out Medium to discover what its Partner Program is like. Now, I can give you an honest review of whether Medium is worth your time.

What Is Medium?

Although its founders might say otherwise, Medium is one big content site with a blogging angle. It is an open-to-all website where you can freely submit formatted articles about pretty much anything. Like blog posts, readers can reply to content on Medium.com with comments. Medium article pages include additional audience engagement options for clapping, following, and sharing content.

You can start freely submitting articles to Medium by signing into it with a Google, Facebook, or Apple account. Click the Sign in option on this Medium.com homepage and select a Google, Apple, or Facebook option to input the required login details. Then, you can access and utilize the story editor to submit articles.

Thus, getting started on Medium is straightforward. Medium can at least be a good place to add some sample articles if nothing else. All articles submitted to Medium outside of its paywalled Partner Program will be accessible for all. So, you can show article samples on Medium to anybody.

What Is the Medium Partner Program?

The Medium Partner Program enables member users to submit articles for its paywall content. Paywall articles on Medium, which non-members cannot read, can generate variable revenue for authors. To join the Partner Program, you must first become a Medium member by paying a regular $5-a-month subscription fee ($60 annually). Then, you can read all articles on Medium and satisfy the primary requirement for Partner Program enrollment.

However, there are also a few additional Partner Program requirements. You’ll need to have submitted one article to Medium within the last six months. You must be 18 or older and live in one of the many eligible countries (listed on this Medium page), which includes the USA, UK, Australia, and Canada. Bank and Stripe accounts are needed to receive article remuneration from Medium, for which there’s a $10 payment threshold.

The Medium Partner Program remuneration is entirely variable and residual. The revenue articles generate primarily depends on the number of member reads (not basic pageviews) they amass. Medium defines a read to be an article page open for 30 seconds or longer. Additional audience engagement from members, like claps and comments, also generates revenue for your articles. This Medium help page provides further details about the Partner Program earnings algorithm.

Partner Program members have no idea what remuneration they’ll receive for their Medium articles. Articles that are widely read on Medium can potentially generate high revenue. However, articles won’t generate any revenue if Medium members don’t read them. Plus, the membership requirement for joining the Partner Program means you must pay $5 a month to paywall stories, amounting to a $60 annual cost. Thus, your articles will need to generate more than $5 a month to make a profit on the membership charge.

Click to continue.

Why I Joined Medium

I decided to join Medium primarily because of this online publishing platform’s flexibility. It is, after all, a website where you can submit articles about pretty much any topic you like. Nor are there any minimum length, stylistic, or formatting editorial requirements for articles to abide by. All articles you submit to Medium go straight onto the site without any editorial checks. Thus, Medium gives you complete freedom to write and format articles as you wish.

I also joined the Medium Partner Program because I have many old articles saved on my hard drive previously submitted to a Helium content site that closed down in 2014. These were old articles going to waste I could easily reuse on Medium. Thus, Medium gave me a chance to revive my hundreds of old articles previously on a former content website that no longer exists.

At first, I submitted articles without being a Medium member to see how many pageviews and reads they amassed. I was not impressed by the few pageviews my articles amassed but had little to lose by submitting more. Furthermore, my early Medium articles weren’t even indexed on Google. However, I decided to try the Medium Partner Program when my monthly stats for pageviews and reads increased to 294 and 88, and more of my articles appeared in Google searches.

Submitting Articles With the Medium Text Editor

I found the Medium story (text) editor for submitting articles quite user-friendly after getting to grips with it. However, it is somewhat different from the WordPress text editor I and many other bloggers are probably more familiar with. Unlike WordPress, the Medium story editor doesn’t have a toolbar from which users can select formatting options.

Medium users can apply text formatting by selecting passages and clicking the + menu button to add visual elements. The story editor enables you to apply italic, bold, hyperlink, subheading, and quotation text formatting. You can add saved images, Unsplash pictures, and videos to articles with the story editor to enhance their visual appeal.

The story editor includes additional content menu options on an ellipses (…) menu beside the Save and publish button. You can select the Manage paywall setting on that menu when you’ve joined the Medium Partner Program. Selecting the Paywall your story checkbox enables the article to generate Partner Program revenue.

Medium Publications

Article visibility is important for increasing readership statistics on Medium. You can enhance the visibility of your articles by joining Medium publications. Medium publications are shared spaces for articles that typically focus on more specific topic categories. For example, there are many history, sport, science, and gaming-related Medium publications with articles that fit those topic categories.

Some Medium publications invite members to join them and have more specific editorial requirements for articles. This Medium page includes a big list of publications open to submissions for those who join them. Those publications provide instructions for how you can join them. You can submit articles to publications you’ve joined by clicking the three-dot menu button in the story editor and selecting Add to publication on the menu.

I joined the Day in History, Press Box, and Readfy Medium publications. Submitting articles to those publications slightly increased their readership statistics and revenue generated. However, submitting articles to the bigger Medium publications with the most followers could make a more significant difference.

My Medium Article Revenue Total for Two Months

I submitted many articles to Medium during my first Partner Program month. Those articles amassed 549 views and 88 reads. They generated a revenue total of $1.95.

I continued submitting many more articles to Medium for another month, about 300 in total. My page views and reads statistics for those hundreds of articles increased to 733 and 148. However, that amounted to a relatively slight earnings increase, with article revenue for the month amounting to $2.44.

My hundreds of Medium articles generated only $4.39 for two months. This total was less than the $10 membership cost required to access the Medium Partner Program for those months. My Medium articles reduced the membership fee, but nothing more than that.

Is Medium Worth It?

I can only say that I’ve found the Medium Partner Program to be disappointing from a business perspective for two months. My hundreds of Medium articles have generated revenue that is slightly less than half the two-month membership fee. Furthermore, I have yet to receive any remuneration from Medium because of the $10 payment threshold.

The most revenue a single article of mine has generated on Medium is $0.42. Many of my articles submitted have not generated any revenue at all. Of course, all those articles can still generate revenue in the future. However, it seems this monthly future earnings potential could be less than the Medium membership charge.

Yet, this doesn’t mean the Medium Partner Program will be disappointing for everybody, even though it has some shortcomings. Some Medium members say their articles have generated monthly revenue amounting to $900 to $1,000. This highlights Medium can be a genuinely worthwhile market for some, but that might only be a small minority of its members. Those who have reported much higher monthly returns for their articles say it can take time and persistence to make Medium worth it. So, two months might not be an entirely fair period for judging the Partner Program.

I recommend submitting some articles to Medium as a non-member first before jumping into the Partner Program. Then, you can review their readership statistics and build up a following from there. If your articles get a good number of member reads (at least 200 to 300), becoming a member and joining the Medium Partner Program might be worth it. However, don’t expect too much from the Medium Partner Program.

The post An Honest Review of the Medium Publishing Platform Article Market appeared first on Writer's Digest.

One way or another, everybody thinks about food every day: eating food, cooking food, shopping for food, going out for food. If you’re an aspiring cookbook author, then you have plenty of opportunities to build your platform, ranging from writing culinary newsletters to teaching cooking classes. You can join groups that overlap with your food focus, like a mycological group if you’re writing about mushrooms or a gardening club if you’re writing a book centered on farmer’s market finds. “If you’re the food expert creating that kind of content in an adjacent group, then you’re not competing against your colleagues—you’re standing out as the expert,” says Sally Ekus, president and lead agent of The Ekus Group, a literary agency specializing in cookbooks and culinary works. Agents, publishers, and readers all want trusted experts who are both passionate and professional. For an eventual cookbook author, that means establishing an audience and interacting with their audience. Building a community = building a platform. 

Getting Started

First, you’ll need to find your people. Dianne Jacob, author of the perennially popular Will Write for Food, highlights the significance of figuring out what niche you’ll fill. “A cookbook should not just be your overall philosophy of ‘I love food,’” she points out. “It needs to have a focus. It’s not about everything—you need to decide what’s going to be your specialty. That’s a foundational question to ask yourself.” Whether you’re drawn to a particular cuisine or ingredient, or you have expertise with a medically driven way of eating, seek out those existing subgroups and see what they’re talking and writing about. Who do you want to help? Let your curiosity get the better of you! Read books, ask questions in forums, show up at library talks, join associations in your field of interest (and not just ones aimed at authors), and follow your favorite experts on their social media feeds. Then start sharing what you’ve learned. 

“You have to start somewhere,” Ekus says. “Think of it as a pie. Each slice of that pie is a part of your platform and your community. You usually don’t put your head right into the pie unless you’re participating in a pie-eating contest at the fair—you’re going start with one slice at a time. If you start by grabbing a fork and a knife and one slice of your platform pie, the next thing you’ll realize is that you’re sitting next to somebody who’s doing the same thing. So, then you share a piece of your pie with the person sitting next to you, and all of a sudden, you’re building your community.” 

Establishing Your Brand

Inevitably, as you start sharing what you’re learning and helping your audiences, you’ll figure out your style. Kathy Hester, author of 10-plus vegan cookbooks and an online cooking instructor with a dedicated fan base, says that part of her brand is making everyone feel cozy and seen as much as possible. She’s also a big believer in always being willing to try new ways to connect with audiences. “In the beginning,” she says, “you don’t know what you’ll ultimately be good at and enjoy, so be open-minded.” Case in point for her: although she had long said she’d never do live video, now it’s her bread and butter, and she has hosted two live cooking classes online every month for more than four years. Not only does she love doing it, she’s also able to maintain a strong connection with her audience—she gets to hear what’s on their minds and what they’d like to know more about. It’s a classic example of passion uniting with purpose. Figuring out what kind of atmosphere you want to create will help you figure out what exactly you’re offering your audiences and readers.

Building Your Platform

Another way to build and define your presence is to write. If you don’t have any bylines under your belt, pitch local magazines. Start a newsletter even if you just persuade a few friends to subscribe to it. Start a blog and ask friends to make some of your recipes and give you feedback. Getting feedback is important—recipe writing is a technical skill, and you’ll get better at it faster if people tell you what’s working and what isn’t. (If you know anyone who’s writing their own cookbook, volunteer to be a recipe tester and give them feedback.) Putting words to page will force you to home in on your core message. 

Speaking is much like writing in that you need to map out what you want to say, convey your ideas effectively, and be concise. Odds are, you can pair your food focus with topics that would interest community groups, library patrons, and other local audiences. While public speaking might seem mildly terrifying at first, if you’re talking about a subject you’re passionate about, you’ll likely lose yourself in your message and have a great time sharing your thoughts—it won’t be about you, it’ll be about however you’re trying to help your audience. Are you an avid gardener and cook? Do a class on how to successfully grow herbs, veggies, edible flowers, and fruits at your community center. Love food history? Approach your library about doing a program that combines food lore with cooking tips. Just like teaching cooking classes, a big benefit to doing speaking engagements is getting immediate feedback in the form of questions and comments, all of which will give you ideas for future talks and books. 

Expanding Your Skills

As you continue to find and interact with your audiences, keep sharpening your skills. “Cookbook writing is about being a good writer,” says Jacob. “The same tools and techniques you use as a writer are relevant in food writing.” Ekus agrees with that, pointing to Jane Friedman’s website and newsletter as being go-to resources for writers regardless of genre. For cookbook-centric resources, she recommends the “Everything Cookbooks” podcast (hosted by four seasoned cookbook authors) and Raeanne Sarazen’s The Complete Recipe Writing Guide. Ekus herself runs a Facebook group called How to Be a Cookbook Author, which provides budding and established authors a place to ask questions, get resources, and connect with people. 

Professional associations like the International Association of Culinary Professionals likewise offer ways to network and connect—another piece of that “platform pie.” Or you could work with an experienced cookbook editor to learn how to write recipes or get coached on how to write a cookbook. If you’re struggling with speaking in front of audiences, join an improv group! That’ll be a fun way to get comfortable speaking from a podium. Toastmasters International likewise offers welcoming ways to learn how to present and communicate more effectively. 

…..

As you continue to build your platform and your skill set, think longevity—you want to like what you do for a long time. It’s what Ekus refers to as the “art and science” of publishing. “The science is how to build your platform,” she explains, “and then the art is how to continue to have a platform, which is networking, building community, and cultivating relationships. It’s people thinking of you when they’re thinking about whatever your topic of expertise is. The art is all of the nuances about publishing.” And it’s about sharing the pie. Always remember to share the pie.

Subscribe to Writer’s Digest today!

The post A Recipe for Building a Cookbook Platform appeared first on Writer's Digest.

Whether you’re a nonfiction author looking to share actionable insights on your area of knowledge or a fiction author hoping to explore elements of your writing process, an online course offers a chance to create a new form of value from the hard work you’ve already done.

I have firsthand experience with the process of turning a book into an online course. I’ve done it many times with my expertise as a media trainer and a productivity expert. I hold courses and offer training materials based on my work.

I created Media-Ready Author to help authors and experts speak in soundbites, set up their virtual studios and sell more books. When my first book Listful Thinking came out I created the Listful Thinking Masterclass as a complement to give my readers even more ways to be productive and get things done. I’ve even done a whole series on LinkedIn Learning on topics ranging from list-making strategies to succeeding at hybrid work (check out my behind the scenes here!).

Based on these experiences, I have some tips and ideas for authors who want to develop their book into an online course:

1. Outline your course structure.

For both fiction and nonfiction authors, creating a structured outline for your course is critical. This will be the roadmap for your content and ensure that learners are guided through a logical progression of information. A typical online course has modules or lessons focused on different aspects of the main topic. The content should flow naturally, and the information should build towards specific learning goals.

For nonfiction authors: If your book is instructional or informational, break down your content into digestible lessons. Each chapter or section might inspire its own course, or it could be a module in a longer course.

For fiction authors: If you’re a fiction author, you have a wealth of knowledge about your craft—writing! Lots of people are interested in learning to become writers or want to improve their writing. And a published author, you have credibility. You might choose to focus on key lessons from your writing experience.

For example, you might create a course on “Writing Compelling Characters” or “Building Immersive Worlds.” You can use examples from your book to explain each point. You might also consider holding small-group workshops focused on developing the participants’ skills in a specific area, such as plot or setting.

2. Choose your platform.

Once your course outline is ready, it’s time to decide where and how you’ll host your course. There are several online platforms that can help you build and sell your course.

First you need to record or present your content. Your course doesn’t have to be video based. You can record it via audio or have all the content be written out and designed into PDFs and worksheets. However, if you want to build a video course as I have, you can do that with several video tools:

Zoom: If you want to hold live, synchronous classes or training sessions, Zoom can be a great fit. You’ll need to purchase a business account so you can hold meetings over the 40-minute limit for free accounts. The video quality isn’t the best if you want to record videos in Zoom but it’s better than nothing if you’re already using it. You can always record your lessons live and then edit them down into shorter videos later.

Mmhmm: Funny name, powerful tool. I love this one and used it to create my Media-Ready Author course. I recorded all the videos on this platform. Because I planned ahead, I already had each video thought out and had slides to go with each of them, so it made recording the videos in Mmhmm a snap.

Streamyard: I love this platform because it allows you to have a production studio right in your own home. I’ve been using it for years to record my live-stream show Inside Scoop where I interview experts and sometimes do solo episodes about media or productivity. You can stream live using this tool or you can record video as well and then download it for later use. You’re able to record horizontally or vertically.

Once you record your videos or your lessons then you need to store them somewhere. You could upload them to your own website but you’ll need to host the video somewhere first.

YouTube: You can put videos that are unlisted on YouTube so only people with the link can watch them. And then you can either share them directly or upload them to a platform or website like your own or Thrivecart, Kajabi, or any of the others that are now available.

Thrivecart: I’m a big fan of Thrivecart and host all my courses there. I didn’t always do this and used to have all my courses on my own website. But this allows you to sync up with your email list when someone purchases, and then you can have affiliates if you’d like to and offer coupons as well. I’ve found it very helpful and easy to use.

3. Create the content.

Turning your book into an online course involves turning your work into a digital format that’s easy to follow for your readers. Here’s how you can do it:

Video: Video content is the most engaging way to teach, and it’s how I do most of my courses. Whether you’re presenting key takeaways from your book or discussing personal experiences and insights, videos help bring your ideas to life. I recommend using many of the same strategies you can use to go live on social media. You’ll want to write a script for yourself so you stay on topic. For more information on using a teleprompter, check out this guide I created.

Written material: You can reuse parts of your book as PDFs or downloadable worksheets. This is especially useful for nonfiction books, where checklists, templates, and worksheets are common. Fiction authors might create story prompts or writing exercises that you can share with course participants.

Community interaction: One of the biggest benefits of online courses is the ability to build a community of learners. You can incorporate discussion boards, group coaching, or even live Q&A sessions. This is such a great way to get to know your readers more personally. As an author myself, this is one of my favorite parts of creating courses.

4. Don’t shy away from self-promotion.

Marketing your online course is one of the most important steps. After all, no one can take advantage of the course if they don’t know about it! It can be hard to do self-promotion—but remember, it’s an act of service. You need to come up with a strategic plan for spreading the word. That should include elements of these methods:

Email List: If you have an email list of readers, let them know about your course. You can even offer early-bird discounts or bonus materials to incentivize people to sign-up.

Speaking Events: If people are interested in your book, they are likely interested in your online courses too. Be sure to get permission from the hosts of the event to be sure you can mention your products first but it’s a great way to get the word out.

Social Media: Share behind-the-scenes content about the course creation process and host Q&A sessions to help readers get a sense of what you’ll be offering.

Partnerships: Reach out to your contacts! Check in with other authors you know who can help promote your course to their readers. You can offer a discount code for those authors to share with their readers.

Freebies: Offering freebies is one of the best ways to show potential customers and readers the value you’re offering. This might be a video, template, or checklist that relates to your course.

5. Be responsive.

Once your course is live, keep track of student feedback and engagement. This is part of embracing a culture of feedback in your professional life. I suggest asking for feedback via email at the end of each course. Based on this feedback, you can continue to refine and improve the course, or use the ideas when you build your next one. I’ve gotten a lot of valuable information this way about what my readers and clients are most interested in.

Turning your book into an online course is an exciting way to engage with your readers, build a new revenue stream, and share your knowledge and expertise. But I want to warn you that this isn’t going to be a huge boon of passive income unless you put in the work to make it that way. You need to promote the course and get it in front of the right audiences.

Whether you’re a nonfiction author teaching practical skills or a fiction author sharing insights on your craft, an online course is a fantastic way to boost your book sales and connect with readers.

Build a Better, More Profitable Editing or Coaching Business with Jane Friedman

Click to continue.

The post Media-Savvy Author: Turning Your Book Into an Online Course appeared first on Writer's Digest.

One of the most effective ways to do this is through video content. We all use platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to watch videos now, which means you don’t need to wait for a TV show to accept your pitch (and in fact, you shouldn’t wait!) to make compelling videos. Through video, you can engage with your audience in real-time by giving your book a face and voice.

I know lots of authors feel uncomfortable promoting their work through video, but remember, you’re doing a public service by sharing your message. There are people out there who need to hear what you have to say.

For authors, video content helps build credibility, establishing you (yes, you!) as a trusted expert that the media will call on. Yep—doing your own video makes it much more likely that your media pitches will be accepted, because it shows producers and journalists that you know your stuff and you can communicate in a compelling way. It also prepares you to excel and handle the unexpected once you get those media opportunities.

But how do you create a consistent flow of video content that resonates with your audience? This is a question that comes up all the time with my media-training clients. I always tell them the same thing: Use your book!

[Media-Savvy Author: How to use video to sell more books.]

Your book is a treasure trove. It’s full of ideas, insights, and inspiration that can be turned into video content for years to come.

Here’s how to use your book to fill your video content calendar:

1. Create a list of themes based on your book.

The first step in filling your video content calendar is to break down your book into themes or topics that can be turned into videos.

If your book is nonfiction, take a look at each chapter and write down the key idea that summarizes the content. For fiction authors, consider your characters, world-building arcs, writing process, and themes within the story.

Each one of these can be a separate video that offers readers context and content. Don’t be afraid of “giving away” ideas from your book—a little taste will entice your readers to buy the book.

2. Repurpose quotes and excerpts.

Another way to fill your video content calendar is by pulling powerful quotes or excerpts from your book and turning them into short-form videos.

You can read aloud a quote from your book and then offer further insights or background information. Short-form content works particularly well on platforms like Instagram Reels and TikTok. Those are platforms where concise and engaging videos tend to get more traction.

3. Answer frequently asked questions.

As you promote your book, you’ll likely encounter questions from readers. Answering these questions on video helps engage your audience and positions you as an approachable expert.

Create dedicated videos addressing each common question. For example, a nonfiction author might create a video answering a question like, “What are some common misconceptions about X topic covered in my book?”

Fans of fiction often have burning questions about characters and plot twists. Address these in videos by answering FAQs like, “Why did you choose this setting for your story?” or “What inspired the character of X?”

4. Share your writing process and author journey.

Readers are frequently curious about the behind-the-scenes of writing a book. Sharing the journey of how your book came to life can be an inspiring and engaging video series.

Discussing the challenges you faced, how you developed your characters, or how you overcame writer’s block can help readers feel connected to your process and to your book. This approach works just as well for fiction and nonfiction authors!

5. Behind-the-scenes of your book launch.

When your book is launching, video content becomes even more crucial. You can use video to invite your audience behind the scenes. For example, you might shoot an unboxing video of copies of your book, showcase your writing space, or even take your followers along on a day in your life as you prepare for the book’s release.

This gives your audience a little peek into the work that goes into launching a book and makes them feel connected to your work.

6. Collaborate with other authors.

One of the best ways to grow your credibility as an author and fill your video content calendar is to collaborate with other writers. By participating in interviews with other authors, panel discussions, or joint video projects, you can reach a broader audience of people who are already reading books that are similar to yours.

For example, nonfiction authors can team up with another expert and create a video discussing key concepts from both your book and their area of expertise. For fiction authors, connect with a fellow author for a virtual roundtable or an interview where you both discuss your creative processes, your favorite literary influences, and your experiences in the publishing world.

7. Provide value through teaching.

Authors can also use video to teach concepts related to their book’s topic. There are many ways you can do this. For instance, if your book is a how-to guide or instructional, create videos that walk your audience through specific strategies or techniques discussed in your book.

If you write fiction, you could create videos explaining events that inspired your novel, offering interesting facts about where you set your book, or discussing historical figures that shaped your story.

Whatever approach you choose to take with turning your book into engaging videos, remember that you already have what you need—your writing is a goldmine of content just waiting to be explored. For more tips, you can check out my course Media Ready Author.

Improve Your Author Website: From Homepage to Contact Page

Click to continue.

The post Media-Savvy Author: Turning Your Book Into Video Content appeared first on Writer's Digest.

Media is how readers find out about books and authors. To get that media attention that will connect you with your audience, it’s essential to establish yourself as an expert—because you are one!

Some authors think the media plan will all come from the publisher. But as an author, you play an essential role in garnering media attention for your work. Your job is to get yourself out there as much as possible. That means training yourself: understanding the media landscape, pitching, preparing for interviews, and creating an infrastructure to keep the momentum going once you start getting featured in the media.

My free resource 10 Questions Every Author Needs to Answer is a great way to get started. You can download it at PaulaRizzo.com/10QWD.

I was a senior TV producer for nearly 20 years before I became a media trainer. I worked in local and national news in New York City and even received an Emmy Award for my work. I’ve gotten thousands of pitches and booked hundreds of authors. I know which pitches work and which ones don’t get responses. As the author of two books, Listful Thinking and Listful Living, I’ve put my knowledge into practice when it comes to doing media myself.

Here is how to create a sustainable media strategy, from before your book comes out to after the initial phase of promotion concludes.

Before Your Book Comes Out

Yes, the media strategy starts before your book even has a publication date. Maybe even before your book exists at all!

Establishing yourself as an expert can happen at any stage, and the earlier, the better. For instance, I started my blog, ListProducer.com, in 2011 and began creating videos and trainings on productivity before my books came out.

By the time my first book, Listful Thinking, was published in 2015, I had already created a catalog of evidence to share with producers and editors showing that I could speak about my work. That way I could point to my blog while pitching and say, “Look at all this content I’ve created about list-making and productivity.” It backed up my expertise. Plus, when it came time to get a traditional book deal, it was easier to sell myself as an expert because the media already gave me their seal of approval.

You can begin creating media on your social media platforms, through a blog, or by launching a podcast or live-stream show. When producers look you up, having an active online presence with high-quality material will show them that you’re professional, knowledgeable, and reliably able to share your message with an audience.

Remember, media begets media. The more media you do, the more that you’ll get. You can always use one media segment to pitch another.

Pitching the Media

Pitching the media can seem intimidating at first. But crafting the perfect pitch requires some prior planning. Over the years I’ve developed a pitching formula—I use it to pitch media, so I know it works. As a producer, I always gave a careful look at stories that had these elements.

Remember, the media won’t just find you. It’s important to tell them that you’re there, that you’re available, and that you want to be featured. That’s where the three elements of a perfect media pitch work their magic.

The perfect pitch has three elements: the hook, the twist, and the takeaway.

The hook answers the question Why now? Why is this story idea interesting and relevant right now?

The twist answers the question How is this different? When I was a producer, I appreciated a pitch that wasn’t the same narrative over and over.

The takeaway answers the question What does the audience leave with? What action do you want the audience to take after they watch your segment? This is what makes your pitch meaningful.

Using these questions to guide your pitch is key to making it stand out above the rest. And don’t be a snob! You can’t hold out for “Good Morning America” and turn down smaller or local channels. It all matters. And guess what, you likely won’t get those big opportunities at first. Start small, practice, get better and more confident. Then, the bigger media outlets are more likely to book you if you have a good track record of previous media appearances.

Preparing for Media Appearances

Your pitch worked. Now what? I developed an approach I call the Accordion Method for preparing for interviews that I use with all my media-training clients. The Accordion Method is about having a small, medium, and long answer for the questions you think you’ll be asked. It works for all kinds of media opportunities.

First, you need to do some research and watch or listen to previous interviews. That way you’ll have a sense of the kinds of questions common to the show or anchor and the order in which they’re asked. Gather as good of a sense as you can and then jot down the questions you expect.

For each question, come up with a short answer—and think in headlines and soundbites. You want to make the producer’s job easy. Producers are always more likely to ask back experts who speak articulately and concisely. This short answer needs to be attention-grabbing.

Then come up with a medium answer. You still need to get right to the point, but now you can add a little more detail. Always start with a bang and then explain the context.

Finally, create your long answer. Once again, you start with the headline and add specific evidence for your first statement.

Once you have your Accordion Method answers for the questions you think you’ll be asked, you need to practice—then practice some more! Practice on camera, watch it back, and do it again. Some people think they can “wing it”—but even if you know your topic inside and out, you still need to practice. You need to hear yourself saying the words out loud. This is much different than simply writing them down or reciting them in your head.

Record yourself and listen or watch back. Pay attention to how fast you talk (you probably need to slow down!) and try to cut down on filler words such as like and um.

Smiling also makes a big difference in how you come across on camera. If you’re joining from a home studio, I have lots of tips for creating a setup that looks professional. But most of all, always start with a smile. (Unless, of course, it’s a serious topic!)

And remember—always look directly at the camera when shooting at home, not at the little thumbnail of your video!

If you’re in the studio, pick one eye on the reporter or anchor and stare into it the whole time. This takes the guesswork out of whether you should look at their mouth or forehead or switch eyes. Pick one eye and stick with it. This works for any conversation, and I’ve been told it’s one of my most useful tips.

Keeping the Media Momentum Going

Once your book is a few months old, it’s no longer new and notable.

Does that mean you should stop doing media? Of course not! I still do interviews and am identified as the author of my books. I talk about productivity and lists more than anyone else and people remember me for it. Especially members of the media. They remember me when they need an expert in this area. Focus on keeping the media momentum going by finding new ways to pitch the media that revolve around you as an author and expert, not just on your book.

It’s also essential to keep sharing the media you do. No one will know about it if you’re not promoting yourself. I know many people feel uncomfortable about self-promotion. That’s natural—no one wants to be thought of as braggy or self-centered. But as an author, sharing about what you’re working on is a way of being of service to others. Your message is important, and people need to hear it.

Media training is an aspect of becoming an author that many people are unprepared for. But once you learn these skills, you’ll continue to reap the benefits.

Click to continue.

The post Media Training for Authors appeared first on Writer's Digest.

In a past edition of this column, I explored the ways you can approach creating and sharing content to support your work as an author. But what about the nitty-gritty of video production and content creation?

This is where many people get stuck. You want your content to be a reflection of you and your writing: high-quality and reliable. You definitely don’t want people to second-guess your expertise because of the way you present yourself online. Luckily, there are lots of wonderful tools accessible to you—and I’ll clue you in on my go-tos.

Thinking like a producer means creating content in multiple ways and across multiple platforms, from pre-recorded videos to live video interviews. Producers also know how to leverage tech and on-camera skills for the best possible end result.

Here are my tips for creating content that boosts your profile and supports your goals as an author.

1. Consider your appearance.

Even though an at-home video recording or interview means the camera will only capture you from the waist or chest up, don’t wear sweatpants or pajamas! Get fully dressed, as if you were heading into an in-person meeting or interview. You want to fully embody your professional persona as an author, and the right clothes help you step into that role.

When getting dressed, think about what outfits will be the least distracting. Solid colors such as blue or green are ideal. If you’re using a microphone, don’t wear jewelry that could bump into it while you’re talking and make a distracting sound. If you wear makeup, test out a few different looks so you can see what comes across well on camera. You don’t need to transform into someone else—you just want to come across as your best self.

2. Slow down your speaking.

We all use “um” and “like” sometimes, but it’s time to work on cutting those out, at least on camera. Using filler words distracts from your message and it undermines your credibility. Record yourself and notice what filler words you tend to rely on. Then, try again and practice slowing down and removing them from your speech. My best suggestion is to get comfortable with a moment of silence—it’s always better than rambling.

3. Make eye contact.

Always look at the camera, not at yourself! I know that it feels more natural to look at yourself or at the person you’re speaking with when you’re doing an interview. But when you do that, people don’t get that sense of eye contact and connect with you. It’s much better to make eye contact with the camera. It feels less uncomfortable the more you do it! I have lots of tips and tricks like this in my course, Media-Ready Author.

4. Simplify your background.

When you’re creating content from home, you want to make sure your background is appropriate for video meetings or interviews. Try to have a simple background—you can always move your desk around for the occasion. Having lots of items behind you will draw your audience’s attention away from your message and towards your knick-knacks! If you can easily get your book behind you, do it. Ideally, you’ll have some depth behind you if you can, but if not, a solid color works too. As for virtual backgrounds or blurring effects, I suggest skipping them. You don’t want to look like you’re hiding a messy room behind you!

5. Keep the lighting natural.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money on fancy lighting. Use natural light whenever possible. Never put a window behind you, because it will make your space look dark and uninviting. The more light, the better quality your on-camera image. Remember keep the light on your face, not behind it.

6. Invest in a microphone.

Having a good microphone means you’ll be heard loud and clear during video calls and interviews. You don’t want someone to have to ask you to repeat yourself because your voice sounded too fuzzy.

I suggest the Stick Microphone for when you’re using your laptop, or the Lav Microphone when you’re using your phone. You should test out your new hardware prior to creating any content or using it for an interview—you want to make sure you know how it works before the big moment.

7. Check out noise-canceling software.

Creating content from home means you run the risk of background noise. No one expects that you’ll have a soundproof recording studio, but you should try your best to minimize sounds that distract from your voice. Krisp is an app that allows you to mute background noise during calls. It’s perfect for working from home, since you don’t have to worry about the sounds of your kids or pets interrupting an interview.

8. Make sure your camera is up to the task.

A low-quality camera can’t produce a good image, even with the best lighting. It’s important for your audience and your interviewers to be able to see you clearly. Many smartphones and computers have great cameras these days, but if you want to buy a separate camera, the Logitech 1080p is a great option.

9. Elevate your computer.

Having a computer stand is one of my best tips for elevating your on-camera appearance. Elevating your camera creates a more natural, and level video, as if you really were right in front of your audience. This is super important for creating connection and intimacy with the person you’re talking to. You can also try a standing desk! If you don’t have time to order a computer stand, you can always prop up your laptop with some books. Just make sure to do a quick test to make sure things look right.

10. Practice, practice, practice.

If you’re new to creating video content or doing media interviews, it’s a good idea to practice talking and answering questions before the real thing. Try recording yourself so that you can see how you’re doing. Then you can rewatch and take note of what you’re doing well and what you want to improve on. Try using my 10 Media Questions Every Author Needs to Answer as you practice.

Here’s some things to look out for: Are you looking at yourself or the camera? Are you using filler words? How is your posture? Is the background distracting?

Practicing will help you feel more confident in your presentation, and that will definitely come across in your content. The more content you create and the more interviews you do, the more comfortable you’ll feel.

Click to continue.

The post Think Like a Producer to Look and Sound Your Best appeared first on Writer's Digest.

Making your own video content means you don’t need to wait for producers or editors to say “yes” to you. You don’t need to wait to be found by the media. And remember—you won’t be discovered if you’re not out there to be found. That means the time is now to start creating content that supports your profile as an author and boosts the chances of a successful media pitch.

Why? Well, producers want to see what they’re agreeing to when they invite someone on their show. If you have an online presence full of fresh, interesting videos, they’ll know that you are someone their audience will find compelling—they will have seen you do it already!

So how can you create video that does all these things? It’s a matter of knowing your tools, deciding on your content, and making strategic decisions and how and when to share your videos.

1. Get to know video-creating tools.

While there are pros and cons to both live and pre-recorded videos, I prefer live videos. They can save you time (and energy) once you get the hang of them. Live videos also help you get over perfectionism. Plus, they keep you accountable, since if you said you’re going live at a certain time, you’ve got to stick to it! Of course, you can always re-use your recorded live content. For more tips, here is my guide to going live on social media.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money to create a set-up that looks professional. Good lighting is essential, whether that means sitting close to a natural light source or using lamps to create soft brightness. You can learn more about how to do this here.

When it comes to pre-recorded video, I am not a fan of virtual backgrounds or other video-production tools that change your background. Why? Well, they’re not high-quality, they don’t serve a purpose (besides hiding clutter!), and they take attention away from you. If you have a green screen, then this is an exception because it will look much better.

A real background is more professional and authentic. I suggest having your background be neutral and intentional. That could mean a neat office space, a wall with a painting or print, or even a blank wall.

Another great tool is Streamyard. Streamyard lets you stream live video to multiple platforms at once. You can also create an announcement about when your live video is airing so that people can plan to tune in. I use it for all my live-streaming of my show Inside Scoop. I have a class called Go Live Masterclass that teaches you how to create your own live-stream show and repurpose the video here.

2. Let your point of view decide your content strategy.

When deciding what topics you want to focus on, it’s important to define your point of view.

A lot of people struggle to decide exactly what they’re going to be known for and talk about. Remember, you have to choose one thing—for now. Who are you, and why should people listen to what you have to say?

Let me give you an example from a guest on my live-streaming show Inside Scoop. My guest on this episode was Nikki Dinki, a chef and cookbook writer. We met way back when I was a senior health producer at Fox News Channel. When Nikki was building her online following, she had a realization that helped her shape the rest of her content.

Nikki explained that to get people to follow you, you have to be very clear about what you’re offering them. Now Nikki knows that veggies are her thing. But she didn’t know that immediately.

“I’m not really a vegetarian,” Nikki explained. “I celebrate veggies. I cook them a little bit uniquely. But I incorporate meat.” Her brand was cemented while competing on Food Network Star. On the first day, she had to give a spiel about who she was. And she said, “I cook in a way with meat on the side.” That became who she was: “I just felt like everyone lit up and I felt like I’m onto something.”

With her perspective defined, Nikki could go about creating video content that spoke to people who connected with this mission.

When I first started my blog ListProducer.com I wrote only about lists and productivity and that lead to my first book Listful Thinking. I got known as “the list producer” or “the list lady” and yes, I still talk about lists all the time, but that’s not the only thing. I’ve expanded my content to talk about ways to live an easier, less stressful life while being efficient.

Imagine that you have to give an elevator pitch to your audience. What would you say in one or two sentences to get right to the heart of what you are doing and why?

3. Make a plan for sharing content.

Consistency is key when it comes to creating compelling videos. If you do Instagram stories, try a short video every day. For YouTube, post once a week. When people know to expect content from you, they’ll be more likely to tune in and get to know you. I’d also make sure to send your email list these video links—you’d be surprised by how much people miss. Don’t be afraid of self-promotion. I wrote about that in a past edition of this column.

You should post where you already have the most audience engagement. If that’s Instagram, go for Instagram. If that’s Facebook, post there. You should try to match your content to the platform. Tutorial-type videos, for example, work best on YouTube. But if you want to do shorter videos, try Instagram Stories or Reels.

Creating your own video is a key skill for authors. It may seem intimidating at first, but once you get comfortable with it, the possibilities are endless.

Click to continue.

The post Think Like a Producer: How to Create Compelling Videos appeared first on Writer's Digest.

For the first few days, he refreshes his Amazon and Goodreads pages. Slowly but surely, the reviews start ticking in. Four stars…five stars! Owen feels buoyant on the clouds of success all his hard work has paid off.

Then: “This book could be a far superior piece of fiction, if only more attention was given to it. The premise is promising, but it just didn’t quite deliver. Needed a lot more work on the plot—cliché and a little bland—and there were several typos.”

Owen is, understandably, horrified and heartbroken. On the tail end of those emotions: fury. He types several paragraphs worth of a response to the reviewer, letting them know exactly what he thinks of them and their work. He drafts a scattered, scathing email to his agent. Typos? Really!? He opens up X and makes a post about how stupid people are. He calls his best friend and bursts into tears.

As someone who has worked with over 100 debut authors, I know how painful it is when people say, either to your face or online, that they hate your work. After months or years of putting your heart, soul, blood, sweat, and tears into something, it can feel deeper than any betrayal to have someone tear you down and belittle that effort.

Unfortunately, negative reviews are unavoidable. You can write the next Great American Novel, win all kinds of awards, hold bestseller spots…and people will still hate it. Art is, and always will be, subjective. Reviews are also a healthy part of our literary ecosystem. They can help you sell more books; they can help you become a better author. But they can also be deeply hurtful and unhelpful for you personally.

The line is really blurry when it comes to social media; fans love seeing their favorite authors interacting with them, but it’s a double-edged sword. For example, Nora Sakavic took a 10-year gap between books 3 and 4 of her self-published All for the Game series. In those 10 years, fans have written hundreds of fan fiction pieces, created thousands of pieces of fan art, and run wild with headcanons (meaning something a fan imagines about the characters that doesn’t actually appear in the main text).

As a member of Nora’s fandom myself, I didn’t expect that something as simple as her mentioning one character isn’t a natural blond and he actually bleaches his hair would lead fans to attack her on social media. But that’s exactly what happened.

So how does a writer go about developing a healthy relationship with their community while protecting themselves? Here are a few tips to consider.

Stay Out of Known Fan Spaces

This is probably harder than it seems, especially if you’re in fan spaces yourself. But keep in mind that places like Goodreads—which is known for its GIF-ridden, overly exaggerated reviews of books—is not meant for authors to use. It’s meant for readers! It’s where they keep track of what they’ve been reading, enter to win free copies of books, and see lists of books recommended for them.

Any fan review site should be visited with extreme caution or not at all.

Tumblr is another one of those spaces that isn’t set up to protect authors. While you might get a lot of pleasure seeing things like fanart and discussions about your work, you’ll inevitably see something you don’t like, agree with, or is downright offensive.

Fans might not appreciate your presence in these spaces anyway. It can be a little like Mom looking over your shoulder.

Instead, stick to corners of the internet made for and curated by you. Your professional social media accounts, your website, etc. These are spaces where you can interact with fans if you so choose, but you also have more control over what you see and respond to.

Draw Boundaries—and Stick to Them

Boundaries are healthy! It can be really important for you to draw boundaries for yourself and your fans, and it makes interacting with people less stressful online.

If you’re someone who is easily overwhelmed by social media but still wants to have an online presence, you can create Update Only accounts—authors like Maggie Stiefvater and Tashie Bhuiyan utilize this feature. It’s a way for authors to still keep things like cover reveals and other important announcements in front of readers without the expectation that there will be back-and-forth between the author and readers.

When it comes to boundaries for yourself, it’s important that you hold yourself accountable for your actions and reactions. If you’re trolling through the tags of your latest release and see negative reviews, it’s not fair for you to become angry and start an argument.

Rely on Community

Even professional reviews can and will be triggering in some aspects. If you feel like you need to know what’s being said, you can always loop in someone else—your agent or publicist, a trusted friend or fellow writer, or even a parent or sibling—to comb through the reviews and send you a curated list of must-read reviews or a paraphrase of what people like about the book.

Remember, all writers have been where you are. Don’t be afraid to utilize your writing community to discuss the complexities of this aspect of authorship.

Have a Self-Care Routine

It would be nice if we could just avoid any negativity about our work, but unfortunately, that’s almost impossible. Instead, you should prepare yourself for what will happen once you’ve seen a negative review.

It’s important not to minimize your emotions. What exactly are you feeling? Where in your body are you experiencing them? What insecurities are these words tapping into for you? Journaling your responses to these questions can be helpful to work through your emotional reaction as well.

Then cast a critical eye on the review. If you can’t manage this alone, feel free to loop in a friend to do this with you. Is the review a fact or an opinion? For example, someone calling out racism or sexism is vastly different than someone saying they just didn’t like your narrator. And if the review is tapping into fact, what can you do differently moving forward that will make your work better? If it’s an opinion, do your best to breathe and let it go—everyone is entitled to their opinion!

The post Why Authors Should Stay Out of Fan Spaces appeared first on Writer's Digest.