Writing for Page Reads: Crafting Chapters that Kindle Unlimited Readers Devour When you publish in Kindle Unlimited, your royalties don’t just come from selling books. They come from how many pages your readers actually read. Which means the way you craft your chapters can directly influence how…

AI Audiobooks + YouTube: A Side Income Stream Most indie authors dream of audiobooks… but the narrator costs alone can feel like trying to scale Mount Everest in flip-flops. $1,500–$3,000 upfront? For a single book? Yikes. No wonder so many authors shove “audiobook” to the someday pile. But here’s…

Your First Author Welcome Email-An Easy Walkthrough (+swipe copy) Starting an email list can feel like staring at a blank page. You know it matters — but what on earth do you say in that very first welcome email? Here’s the secret: your welcome email doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to be…

🍂 Author Autumn Reset: Tame Your Backlog Without Burning Out The air is getting crisper, the leaves are starting to turn here in West Virginia, and for me, something about fall always whispers: time to reset. For authors, though, that reset button often comes with a side of panic.Because alongside…

Boundaries for Burned-Out Authors: Protecting Your Time & Energy 🌙 Introduction: The Burnout Spiral If you’ve ever said yes when your whole body wanted to scream no—If you’ve ever opened your inbox at midnight because you felt guilty ignoring it—If you’ve ever sacrificed your own writing to meet…

AI Without Losing Your Soul: A Gentle Guide for Authors 🌙 The Fear Behind the Screen If the word AI makes your stomach twist a little, you’re not alone. For many authors, AI feels like a threat—soulless machines replacing sacred words, churning out generic books, stripping creativity down to…

Why Your Writing Routine Isn’t Broken—It’s Just Evolving Have you ever thought, “My routine isn’t working anymore. Maybe I’m broken.” If so, let’s take a collective deep breath. Because here’s the truth: you’re not broken. Your writing life is simply evolving. The Myth of the Perfect Routine So…

From Sabbatical to Momentum: Easing Back Into Your Writing Groove You’ve just come back from a sabbatical, vacation, or even just a week where life demanded all your focus. You sit down at your desk, crack open your laptop, and… nothing. Your brain feels like molasses. The words won’t flow.…

World-Building for the Feeling Author: Create a Setting With Soul You don’t need a 42-page lore bible to create a world your readers will fall in love with. Your world building just needs soul. Resonance. And the courage to write places that feel real—not because they’re mapped down to the sewer…

Author Burnout Red Flags (and What to Do Instead) You don’t have to be drowning in deadlines or crying on your keyboard to be experiencing author burnout. It can look quiet.It can look like procrastination, avoidance, or even over-planning.It can feel like you're “just tired” when really—you’re…

Visibility for Introvert Authors: Batch, Breathe, and Be Seen Visibility for Introvert Authors doesn't mean: You need to be loud to be visible. You need to dance on TikTok to build trust. You definitely need to burn yourself out trying to be “everywhere.” What you do need? A workflow that honors…

Build-a-Hero(ine): Using Astrology or 16-Personalities to Develop Deeper Characters ✨ Ever wonder what your heroine’s sun sign might be? Or what Enneagram your villain might be secretly hiding? This post is for every author who wants to deepen their character arcs without slogging through 300…

Tech Graveyard No More: How to Evaluate and Let Go of Author Tools That Don’t Serve You 🪦 Have you become the keeper of the Tech Graveyard? You know the one I mean.The dozens of apps, platforms, logins, subscriptions, and digital “helpers” that were supposed to streamline your writing life… but…

Plot Like a Priestess – Archetypes, Energy, and Your Heroine’s Journey Darling writer-bears, if you’ve ever felt like your stories hold sacred truth but get tangled in structure and plot charts, this post is for you. ✨Instead of rigid outlines or ‘beat sheets,’ let’s talk about plotting with the…

The 3 Author Tech Tools That Saved My Sanity (and Boosted My Book Sales) Feeling tech-overwhelmed, sugarbean? You’re not alone. 🐻‍❄️ If you’ve ever wanted to chuck your laptop out the window while trying to set up a newsletter or pick the ‘right’ keywords, take a deep breath. This post is a balm…

The Author’s Mojo Metric Map: How to Tell What’s Actually Working It’s easy to get stuck in the grind — posting, writing, tweaking blurbs — without knowing what’s moving the needle. The truth is: you don’t need to track everything. You just need to track what actually matters — and trust your gut…

What’s In a Keyword? Everything: How to Get Your Book Found on Amazon If no one can find your book, it doesn’t matter how good it is. Welcome to the part of self-publishing that most authors wish someone had explained from day one: your keywords aren’t just metadata. They’re search spells.And the…

Step-by-Step Guide to Self-Publishing Your First Book So you’ve finished writing your first book…Now what? If you’ve googled “how to self-publish,” chances are your brain is now soup. 🥴 Between platforms, editing, ISBNs, formatting, and launch plans—it can feel like you need a PhD just to hit…

The Best Tools for Editing Your Manuscript Like a Pro You finally finished the first draft. 🎉Cue the dancing. Cue the snacks. Cue the panic. Because now comes… editing. And if that word sends a chill down your spine? You’re not alone. But here’s the truth:You don’t need to be an expert editor to…

The Secret to Crafting Memorable Characters We’ve all read that one character who somehow felt more real than half the people we know in real life. And we’ve also read the ones who… didn’t. 😬 Flat. Forgettable. Or worse—every single line of dialogue sounded like the same person in a different hat.…

The Reader Magnet Strategy That Actually Works (and Feels Good Doing It) If you're anything like me, you've probably wrestled with this question at least once (okay, like 57 times): “How do I build an email list that actually feels aligned... and not like I’m tricking people into a funnel?” Well.…

The Psychology of Writing: How to Trick Your Brain into Productivity Many self-publishing authors juggle full-time jobs, family responsibilities, and real-life chaos alongside their writing dreams. Finding time to write isn’t just about time management—it’s about understanding how your brain works…

The Pros & Cons of Kindle Unlimited for Authors: Is It Right for You? Should you enroll your book in Kindle Unlimited (KU) or go wide? This is one of the biggest decisions self-publishing authors face. KU can boost visibility and page reads, but it also means exclusive distribution with…

The Ultimate Guide to Pricing Your Books for Maximum Sales Pricing your book too high can scare off readers. Pricing it too low can devalue your work. So how do you find the sweet spot that maximizes both sales & profit? Self-publishing authors have full control over pricing, but that freedom can…

The Top 5 Time Management Hacks for Writers: Get More Words in Less Time Time—it’s the one thing every writer wishes they had more of. Between work, family, and life’s endless distractions, finding time to write can feel impossible. The good news? You don’t need more hours—you need better…

How to Run a Successful Book Launch Campaign (Even on a Budget!) Launching a book is exciting—but also overwhelming! Whether you're an indie author or traditionally published, a strong book launch campaign is key to getting eyes on your book. But how do you make a splash without spending a fortune…

How to Leverage Social Media to Sell More Books 🚀 Sell More Books with Social Media: A Step-by-Step Guide for Authors ✨ Social media isn’t just for cat videos and viral dances—it’s a powerful tool to build your audience, connect with readers, and sell more books! Whether you’re just getting…

📝 The Real Reason You Can’t Find Time to Write (and How to Change That) Your Author Life *IS* Your Real Life: Why You Can’t Separate the Two How many times have you said: “I just need to get through this week, and then I’ll write…” Or: “Once I get the house clean / kids situated / anxiety under…

Amazon Ads for Authors: Why the Bryan Cohen Challenge is Totally Worth It I used to think Amazon Ads were just for the big-name authors with massive budgets and complicated dashboards. I was a creative, not a marketer. The word “CPC” made me sweat. And the idea of “bidding on keywords” sounded…

Stacy - The Rewilding Dispatch authorsmojo.substack.com?r=2dhya7&utm...

Self-Editing Strategies to Make Your Book Shine 📌 Self-Editing Strategies to Make Your Book Shine 1️⃣ Intro: Why Self-Editing Matters So, you’ve finished your first draft? First of all—congrats, you brilliant wordsmith! 🎉 But before you start querying agents or hitting publish, there’s one crucial…

Building a Long-Term Author Career: What You Need to Know If you’re dreaming of making a full-time living as an author, you need more than just one good book—you need a long-term strategy. The truth is, the self-publishing world isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. So how do you build an author career…

The Top Writing Challenges & How to Overcome Them 🚀 The Top Writing Challenges & How to Overcome Them Writing is a journey—one filled with excitement, creativity, and, let’s be honest, a few facepalm-worthy struggles. Whether you’re a seasoned author or just starting out, writing challenges are…

How to Write a Killer First Chapter That Hooks Readers Instantly 📌 Intro: Why Your First Chapter Matters Your first chapter is your book’s handshake, your first impression, your one shot at convincing a reader to stick around. Whether you’re writing an epic fantasy, cozy mystery, or sizzling…

The Science of Book Cover Design: What Sells? A book cover isn’t just an artistic choice—it’s a marketing tool. In a world where readers are flooded with options, your cover is the first impression that can make or break a sale. So, what makes a book cover irresistible? Let’s dive into the science…

How to Get More Book Reviews (Ethically!) 📚 Want More Book Reviews? Here’s How to Get Them (the Ethical Way!) Why Book Reviews Matter Book reviews are the lifeblood of an indie author’s success. They build trust with potential readers, boost credibility, and influence Amazon’s algorithm to show…

How to Build a High-Converting Author Website (That Sells More Books! ) Your author website is your digital home—a place where readers, media, and industry professionals learn more about you and your books. But if it’s just sitting there looking pretty without converting visitors into readers,…

SEO for Authors: How to Get More Eyes on Your Books What is SEO, and Why Does it Matter for Authors? Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing your online content so that search engines like Google, Amazon, and even YouTube can rank it higher in search results. For authors,…

How to Overcome Writer’s Block and Stay Inspired Writer’s block is a frustrating beast, but it doesn’t have to control your creativity. Whether you're staring at a blank page or struggling to find motivation, this guide will give you actionable steps to break through the block and get back to…

Mastering Amazon KDP: Tips for a Successful Book Launch 📌 Title: Mastering Amazon KDP: Tips for a Successful Book Launch The ultimate guide to launching your book on Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and setting yourself up for long-term success! 1️⃣ Intro: The Key to a Thriving Book Launch Launching…

How to Market Your Book on a Budget Marketing your book doesn’t have to cost a fortune—you can effectively reach readers without breaking the bank. Whether you’re launching your first book or looking to boost sales, these budget-friendly marketing strategies will help you build visibility and sell…

The Biggest Self-Publishing Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them) Self-publishing is an incredible opportunity, but many authors make mistakes that can hurt their book sales and career growth. The good news? Most of these mistakes are avoidable if you know what to look out for. Here are the biggest…

How to Build an Engaged Email List as an Author Social media algorithms change. Amazon policies shift. But one thing remains constant: your email list is your most powerful marketing tool. Unlike social media followers, your email subscribers are yours—you control the connection. The key is not…

How to Write a Book Description That Sells: Hooking Readers & Boosting SEO Your book description isn’t just a summary—it’s your most important sales pitch. Whether you're publishing on Amazon, your website, or another retailer, your description needs to hook readers emotionally while also being…

The Author’s Guide to AI Tools for Writing & Marketing Self-publishing authors juggle writing, editing, marketing, and business tasks—often while balancing full-time jobs, family life, and real-world demands. The good news? AI isn’t just for writing—it’s a game-changer for streamlining your entire…

Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing: Which One is Right for You? For many writers, one of the biggest decisions isn’t what to write—it’s how to publish. Should you pursue traditional publishing, with the backing of an established publishing house? Or should you take control and self-publish…

The Ultimate Guide to Using Canva for Author Branding Branding your author career just got easier (and way more fun) thanks to Canva! Whether you’re designing social media posts, book covers, or website graphics, Canva has everything you need to create professional-looking visuals—without breaking…

How to Fix a Sagging Middle in Your Story How to Fix a Sagging Middle in Your Story One of the biggest struggles authors face is the dreaded sagging middle—that point in your story where the momentum slows, tension weakens, and your readers start checking their phones instead of turning pages. If…