Author Audience: Helping You Reach More People With Your Message | Writing | Self-publishing | Book Marketing | Business Grow

In this episode, you will learn several ideas for setting up systems and learning what works best for you in your writing process. Links mentioned: Video on how to organize your computer files: https://www.facebook.com/christianbookacademy/videos/848819582302598/ Writing Wheel free eBook: https://trainingauthors.com/writingwheel/ Move Forward in God’s Call to Write If you don’t have a copy yet, get your copy of our new book Kingdom Writers so that you can move forward in God’s call to write in your life here: https://trainingauthors.com/book

We typically recommend giving yourself 90 days for each stage of the Kingdom Writers Path at the most. However, we’ve had members publish a book within a month of joining Christian Book Academy. For example, Jennifer Nelson published a book 10 days after enrolling in our membership. It depends on the time you have to invest and the scope of your book project. If you take at least 90 days on each stage it would look something like this... First Draft: 90 days Final Draft: 90 days Self-Publish: 90 days This means you can get your book published in 9 months.   Join Our Community of Kingdom Writers Get on the waitlist for Christian Book Academy here: https://christianbookacademy.com 

Many of you have visited the Redwood National Park in northern California. Shelley & I visited that area a few years ago. I remember walking through forests with lush ferns among these gentle giants in all their majesty. Imagine the Creator of those trees! -Redwoods can grow as tall as 400 feet -The oldest redwood is thought to be over 3200 years old and is known as the “President” -Some are wide enough for a car to drive through -Roots only go about 7-8 feet deep but can be spread out over 100 feet -Redwood roots are intertwined with other redwoods which allows them to remain stable even through strong storms. I see Christian Book Academy like a gentle redwood forest where our roots intertwine with one another. -A redwood cone can produce 150-250 seeds, each seed being only the size of a tomato seed. That’s about the size of the head of a matchstick Our books also begin with a seed idea. That seed is then watered by God and it continues to grow into something we could have hardly imagined. Redwoods are r

There are three types of book marketing you can do. 1. Free organic marketing (usually takes longer and requires more time) 2. Paid ads (for authors the best platform is Amazon Ads but still requires a learning curve) 3. Partner marketing through strategic relationships (very powerful but requires connecting with others in your niche or those who already have a platform similar to your target audience) Free Organic Marketing: Content marketing, social media, etc. The pro is that it’s FREE. The con is that it takes more time. Amazon ads: Amazon ads do take time and a learning curve. But with persistence, they can be very effective. We've done very well with ads for my book Broken Crayons Still Color. Partner Marketing: I share 11 ideas for partner marketing in this video. You can watch it here: https://trainingauthors.com/get/email-list/ 27 Book Marketing Ideas Download our free PDF with 27 different ideas to market your book here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/ideas/

There are advantages to both traditional publishing and self-publishing. I personally have chosen self-publishing (independent publishing) and love it! However, it’s not always the best fit for everyone. Here are some benefits to consider: https://www.trainingauthors.com/the-benefits-of-independent-publishing-self-publishing/ If you want to go down the path of self-publishing, I’m your girl and can help you every step of the way. If you want to traditionally publish, you will need to create a book proposal and pitch it to publishers and/or find an agent to help you. Publishing Map Download our free publishing map and video explaining the self-publishing process here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/publishing-map

When you have multiple book ideas, how do you decide which book to write first? Here are a few questions to ask: When you're praying about it, do you get a sense from God which book is first? What do you feel the most passionate about right now? What are your goals right now? Does one of the books line up better with your goals? What are your goals right now? Does one of the books line up better with your goals? Which book could you get done first? Which one seems like you have the most content or is easiest to write? You learn the process, get it done, and start momentum. Move Forward in God’s Call to Write If you don’t have a copy yet, get your copy of our new book Kingdom Writers so that you can move forward in God’s call to write in your life here: https://trainingauthors.com/book   

Psalm 127:1-2 - “Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard   from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” Our workaholic society tells us to push and strain and strive in order to accomplish our goals. Many books have been written with this method…but at what cost and for what benefit? We also see many in the world today trying to protect all of the work they’ve accomplished in their own human strength. If we’re honest, we’ve all done this as if everything depends on us alone. It’s interesting to note that this Psalm is written by Solomon who wrote most of Proverbs, many of which instruct us to not be lazy and to work hard. Here, he’s looking at the issue of going it alone without including God in the picture. Whether it’s building houses or writing books, both are acceptable enterprises. They serve an i

We believe in the power of being surrounded by like-minded writers in community while you write, publish, and market your book… …even if that community is online. We have been coaching and mentoring writers online for over a decade and have seen the power it has over and over again. Right now, our doors to Christian Book Academy are open. WooHoo!

You can still get a copy of our new book, Kingdom Writers, here: https://trainingauthors.com/book And enjoy this excerpt from our War Room prayer meeting call with our Christian Book Academy members in January. We pray it blesses you!

Today is the day we are launching our new book, Kingdom Writers. WooHoo! Get your copy today at an early-bird price (plus all the bonuses) here: https://trainingauthors.com/book This book has been in the works for over 2.5 years. We have been praying for you and believe it will help you move forward in your call to write. Here’s what a few writers are saying… “If you are a Christian and feel called to write a book, but maybe you're intimidated by the process, this book by Shelley and CJ Hitz was written for you. God is a God of story, and He has given us each a story to tell; some people are called to put that story in writing for the world to experience with us. Be encouraged with the practical tips in this book, by Shelley's own story, and also by the stories of other authors who have been in your shoes whom God has helped follow His plan for their lives.” - Katie Erickson, Editor, Designer, Author Kingdom Writers was written to inspire you to share your story. Everyone matters and everyone has a story to t

In Luke 1:5-38 we see two different people visited by the angel Gabriel. Each was presented with something impossible which would be accomplished by God. One was a priest who had an extensive religious experience. The other was a teenage girl who had very little life experience, let alone religious experience. Ironically, it was the one with extensive religious experience who didn’t believe the angel’s words while the teenage girl believed the impossible. How about you and I? If we’re honest, we’ve all identified with Zechariah’s response when faced with the impossible. Do we really believe God can birth books through our lives that many times feel barren of words? Like Mary, may we find ourselves saying, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” (Luke 1:38) Your Writing Battle Plan Powerful things happen when you integrate your faith with your writing, publishing, and marketing. Learn how to create your writing battle plan so you can move forward in God's call on your life

Get access now here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/secret/  It’s hard to believe it, but… …CJ and I just finished our 70th book. It’s called, “Kingdom Writers” and it’s been in the works for almost 2.5 years so it’s soooo good to finally be birthing it into the world. Yay! Are you in the process of writing, publishing or marketing your book? If so, you’ll want to make sure you get a copy of this book. It officially launches on February 1st with an early bird discount and special launch bonuses. So stay tuned. This is going to be fun! An Out of the Box Book Launch For this book, we decided to do something different. We’ve never done this kind of book launch before.  First of all, we created a secret book launch party via a private podcast where you can listen to an excerpt of the book, get behind the scenes tips, and lessons learned.  I haven’t seen anyone do this for a book launch yet and am excited to share this with you. If you want access to our secret book launch party podcast, Sign up here: https://www

The goal of a media kit is to have one place where people can find your information. This can be used for guest blog posts, podcast interviews, speaking engagements, etc. When the media calls and/or when opportunities open up…will you be ready? Enjoy this short episode that is an excerpt from a recent Media Kit Workshop we hosted for Christian Book Academy members. As a member, you get access to our Media Kit template and checklist. Get on our waiting list here: https://christianbookacademy.com Marketing Templates to Save You Time and Money You’ve got a book you’re proud of. Now you’re looking for a simpler way to get it into the hands of more readers. One way you can do that is through social media. It's free to use...however, it can also take up a lot of your time. Good news! You can get your social media posts for the next month done in just 90 minutes so that you can reach more readers with your book (without being pushy or salesy) in the Mini-Marketing Messages workshop here: https://minimarketingmessage

There are so many decisions when self-publishing or independently publishing a book. In this episode, you’ll learn one mistake to avoid when working with graphic designers who create your book cover and/or interior formatting. This episode was inspired from a question from Christian Book Academy member, Nancy, and we hope it helps you as well! Download Your Publishing Map If you want to write and publish a book but don't know where to start, this Publishing Map is for you. You will learn Shelley's 9 simple steps inside her publishing map that will help you gain clarity on your next steps. Download it now for free here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/publishing-map/

Do you want to write a book but you're just not sure how you're going to fit it into your schedule or if you have time to actually do it? Keep watching because in the next few minutes I'm going to share with you three different ways to finish a 10,000-word book. I see writers getting stuck in the stage of trying to write their first draft. What I have found is there are three main categories you may fit in where you can actually get your book done and your first draft out of your head and onto paper in a much faster time than you ever imagined. Let’s do a little math together (I promise it won’t make you cry). Then, let me know which way you think would work best for you.

Join Shelley Hitz and several authors from Christian Book Academy who will share case studies + tips they've learned along the way. A few things you'll learn: 1. The easy path Jennifer Nelson discovered to finally become an      author 2. The easy path Jennifer Nelson discovered to finally become an      author 3. How Jan Cox gained both freedom and control over publishing      her books (plus saved thousands of dollars) 4. The pivot Lola Oshinowo made after spending time in prayer          that made all the difference for her first book. 5. How Tanecia Mitchell gained a strategy to take the first draft of      her manuscript to a finished book 6. The strategy Esther Espinoza used to sell over 100 copies of            her book last month. And more! Support each of these authors by purchasing their books below. Jennifer Nelson: Jennnifer Nelson’s Mediakit Jan Cox: www.janiscox.com/bookstore Lola Oshinowo: https://www.iwalolaademodioshinowo.com/ Tanecia Mitchell: https://www.taneciamitchell.com/ Esther Espinoz

In this story of Jesus healing a blind man in Mark 8:22-26, it seems as if this was a two-part miracle where the blind man’s sight was gradually restored. After Jesus lays his hands on the man’s eyes the first time, the man says he can see people but they look like trees walking around. So Jesus places his hands on the man a second time and completes the miracle. In our own journey as Kingdom Writers, sometimes it seems as though we are seeing things like trees walking around. We don’t always receive the instant clarity that we would like. Like the blind man, Jesus may give us gradual clarity as we continue trusting his methods and timing for our writing. This story also reminds us that our spiritual journey is a process of sanctification rather than instant maturity or clarity. In the end, we will look back and see God’s perfect plans for our lives. “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and i

As the holidays approach I want to share 5-holiday sales strategies you can use to sell more books. BOGO deals Offer an extra digital bonus for those who buy your book during a certain time. Put together a gift-giving guide for your target audience as a PDF download.  Sell a book bundle.  Sell bulk orders If you’d like the workshop I taught on this topic as well as all of the templates that will make this super easy for you to implement, you can get it here: https://authors.thrivecart.com/11235-79978/

When you self-publish or independently publish your book, you need to make the decision about which format you will publish your book in.   Some options include eBook, print, full-color, audiobook, translations, and large print.   It depends on your audience, how well your book is selling, as well as your budget and the time you have to invest.   Learn more about this in today’s episode and also enjoy a case study from Christian Book Academy member, Teresa Mills, who found one particular format has sold better than others for her travel books. Join Our Community of Kingdom Writers  In our online membership, Christian Book Academy, we help you write words that outlive you, self-publish books that fulfill your calling, and reach more readers with your message. Join us here: https://christianbookacademy.com/

In this episode, Shelley answers this question from Christian Book Academy member, Stephanie... “How do we balance our author life and regular day-to-day job life? When and how do we know to take the step of quitting our job to move into focusing more on our writing author life? I feel I am not focused enough on writing because of my other job. What do you do?"  We know many of you have full-time jobs and therefore thought this would be a great topic to cover on the podcast. Enjoy! Christian Book Academy In Christian Book Academy, we help you write words that outlive you, self-publish books that fulfill your calling, and reach more readers with your message. Join the waitlist here: https://christianbookacademy.com/