Your words are always amazing!!! I've published my first novel at the beginning of the month and you when you said "enjoy your debut novel" I felt like you were speaking to me directly. Thank you so much for these videos. They are by far the best source of info for self-published authors.
Look whos on fire this week. Finishing books, and posting youtube videos! You are killing the game dwl. God, I'm so dumb haha But seriously you continue to be an inspiration to me. I haven't published a single thing all year, not because I haven't written but because I think I've lost sight of who I am and anna be as a writer. So, I needed this. And I'm Gonna Keep On Going even if that means I'll be the only one enjoying my books. Because you remind me constantly that success is possible if you put in the work! ❤❤❤❤
This was so helpful! I’ve been writing for over ten years and honestly, not consistently. Recently, I’ve gotten on fire about my writing and digging deep back into the courses I bought and didn’t use, it’s like a light switch flipped on! I’m revisiting this stuff and now it’s like ‘oooooh! Now I see why I should do this!’ Oooh now I get it! Where tf was my head before? Jeez! Thank you Courtney!❤️❤️
Needed this. Been stuck and had to step back and start something different for now so I can come back to what I'm really trying to work on. Sometimes you have to go at things from a different angle to get where you want to be
In this and at least one other Self-Publishing Q&A video you mentioned consistent publishing schedules. I have two related questions: If you are publishing one or two books each year, do you think it needs to be at a consistent time of year? And do you think the ideal number of books for a fulltime self-published author is dependent on genre. As someone just starting out (not yet published), I have gotten a lot of mixed advice on this. I write fantasy novels, usually around 100k words.
I don’t think it needs to be a consistent time of year (so like every April/Nov), but I’d choose a season. So your readers know oh, every spring and fall, there will be a new book dropped. You teach them to expect it so they never forget about your books. I think the number depends on what you can handle. There isn’t a magic amount to release, but the more you release, the quicker your backlist grows so it’s easier to build an audience when you have more to offer. I have friends who are full-time romance authors and consistently release 2-3 books per year and they do amazing! I’d find a realistic number for you and stick with it, and then later on if you decide you can handle more, add another release to your schedule. It can always be changed! I’d just say to not go years without releasing because you essentially have to start over each time that happens because things move so quickly in self-publishing.
Wow! I'm so happy I found your channel and I think I just binged a bunch of your videos yesterday. Your advice is amazing and as a first time author who's new to all this your advice has been so helpful and encouraging. Right now I'm in the middle of writing my first draft of a contemporary romance. So the video you had on writing romance books was just what I needed. I would love to see your series on romance tropes because that would be very useful. Do you by chance have any videos for first time writers with what they should know or be considering early on? Many of your videos have information on the self publishing industry and I just want to make sure I understand it all before I get to that point. Also, do you have a guide on what a book cover should have or a book cover basics? I love your cover critique videos. So glad that Bethanny recommended your channel after you reviewed her cover! Thank you for everything you do!!!
Thank you so much for answering my question! I was worried about that but I did my taxes right. I have another question you may be able to answer: if you end up not owing taxes because you were in the negative, would you touch the money you’ve saved for that purpose? I take 30% of all my royalties and save it. Since I didn’t owe, now I have that money. Should I just let it sit there in case of I don’t know what or use it for publishing my books this year and next? Also, what you said about readers still reaching out to you is so true. I just had a reader ask me where she could find my historical fantasy books. I totally wanted to gift them to her because they are on a serial app. Not sure if that’s something I should do or not just because she was nice, lol
If tax season has come and gone and you didn’t use that money for taxes because you didn’t need to, then I’d say it’s yours to invest back into your business or your retirement! 🙌🙌 Lol, you can be as generous as you want with your readers. How does it work on apps to gift books? Is it easy? LOL, I have no experience with that!
Ooh, I’ll have to look that keyboard up! I love the vertical mice too, but can’t seem to figure out how to use it with photoshop because I’ve been working on my laptop for so long. 😂 So I have one of those flat ones that works in the same way as my laptop!
@@TheCourtneyProject I'm a designer as well I have a verticle one that isn't a trackball one so it's the same movement and fingers as the flat mice. It's from anker. I want a track ball but not sure I could get used to it either lol
@@juliaduquette7927 ooh, that’s good to know! I didn’t realize they made them like that. I’ll have to check them out. I’m always looking for ways to make my desk more ergo.
I think it takes practice. I’d start with short stories. Write something small and build your way up to longer books. For me, once I finished one full-length it gave me the encouragement I needed to do it again.
Your words are always amazing!!! I've published my first novel at the beginning of the month and you when you said "enjoy your debut novel" I felt like you were speaking to me directly. Thank you so much for these videos. They are by far the best source of info for self-published authors.
Congrats on publishing, Ginia! And yessss, omg, enjoy it! It only happens once! ❤️❤️❤️ I’m so glad you’re finding all of this helpful, means a lot!
Look whos on fire this week. Finishing books, and posting youtube videos! You are killing the game dwl. God, I'm so dumb haha But seriously you continue to be an inspiration to me. I haven't published a single thing all year, not because I haven't written but because I think I've lost sight of who I am and anna be as a writer. So, I needed this. And I'm Gonna Keep On Going even if that means I'll be the only one enjoying my books. Because you remind me constantly that success is possible if you put in the work! ❤❤❤❤
You’re not dumb! We all have setbacks, and that’s okay, as long as you don’t allow it to stop you in your tracks. ❤️ Keep going! I believe in you!
@@TheCourtneyProject Thanks Court ❤❤
I really appreciate you discussing (not giving financial advice) LLCs and taxes. It really gave me tools and information to take action for myself.
This was so helpful! I’ve been writing for over ten years and honestly, not consistently. Recently, I’ve gotten on fire about my writing and digging deep back into the courses I bought and didn’t use, it’s like a light switch flipped on! I’m revisiting this stuff and now it’s like ‘oooooh! Now I see why I should do this!’ Oooh now I get it! Where tf was my head before? Jeez! Thank you Courtney!❤️❤️
Yay for flipping on that switch, Angelia! You’ve got this 💯!!!
That was Texas AND Slytherin coming out when the threat of plagiarism reared its ugly head!! Woot, you got 'em!
😂 I mean, you’re not wrong. If someone plagiarized us, it would be hell on earth.
Some great advice, especially about the romance market. I write contemporary romance and am a new Authortuber.x
You give the best pep talks.
Thank you!
You are so on point about vanity editors. I have read so many big name books that had such stupid simple errors. How do you put knees on elbows?????
Yep! No one is perfect, so don’t pay them $3500 to edit.
OMG! I think we have the exact same wrist rest pad! Thanks for this Q&A Monday. Love this series :)
😊 I think I ordered it off Amazon! Glad you’re enjoying it!
Needed this. Been stuck and had to step back and start something different for now so I can come back to what I'm really trying to work on. Sometimes you have to go at things from a different angle to get where you want to be
Absolutely! Sometimes it takes a little bit of perspective change to help you realize what you should and like to do. 😊
That was exactly what I needed to hear! Thank you! 🤍🤍🤍
You’re welcome! ❤️
Thank you for sharing.
In this and at least one other Self-Publishing Q&A video you mentioned consistent publishing schedules. I have two related questions:
If you are publishing one or two books each year, do you think it needs to be at a consistent time of year?
And do you think the ideal number of books for a fulltime self-published author is dependent on genre. As someone just starting out (not yet published), I have gotten a lot of mixed advice on this. I write fantasy novels, usually around 100k words.
I don’t think it needs to be a consistent time of year (so like every April/Nov), but I’d choose a season. So your readers know oh, every spring and fall, there will be a new book dropped. You teach them to expect it so they never forget about your books. I think the number depends on what you can handle. There isn’t a magic amount to release, but the more you release, the quicker your backlist grows so it’s easier to build an audience when you have more to offer.
I have friends who are full-time romance authors and consistently release 2-3 books per year and they do amazing! I’d find a realistic number for you and stick with it, and then later on if you decide you can handle more, add another release to your schedule. It can always be changed! I’d just say to not go years without releasing because you essentially have to start over each time that happens because things move so quickly in self-publishing.
Wow! I'm so happy I found your channel and I think I just binged a bunch of your videos yesterday. Your advice is amazing and as a first time author who's new to all this your advice has been so helpful and encouraging. Right now I'm in the middle of writing my first draft of a contemporary romance. So the video you had on writing romance books was just what I needed. I would love to see your series on romance tropes because that would be very useful.
Do you by chance have any videos for first time writers with what they should know or be considering early on? Many of your videos have information on the self publishing industry and I just want to make sure I understand it all before I get to that point. Also, do you have a guide on what a book cover should have or a book cover basics? I love your cover critique videos.
So glad that Bethanny recommended your channel after you reviewed her cover! Thank you for everything you do!!!
I’m so glad you’re here! I don’t have a video on that, I don’t think. But that’s a good idea and I could probably put something together.
Oh and a tropes video is coming!!
Thank you so much for answering my question! I was worried about that but I did my taxes right. I have another question you may be able to answer: if you end up not owing taxes because you were in the negative, would you touch the money you’ve saved for that purpose? I take 30% of all my royalties and save it. Since I didn’t owe, now I have that money. Should I just let it sit there in case of I don’t know what or use it for publishing my books this year and next?
Also, what you said about readers still reaching out to you is so true. I just had a reader ask me where she could find my historical fantasy books. I totally wanted to gift them to her because they are on a serial app. Not sure if that’s something I should do or not just because she was nice, lol
If tax season has come and gone and you didn’t use that money for taxes because you didn’t need to, then I’d say it’s yours to invest back into your business or your retirement! 🙌🙌 Lol, you can be as generous as you want with your readers. How does it work on apps to gift books? Is it easy? LOL, I have no experience with that!
I have the same wrist pad lol. I just got a ergo perixx keyboard and it’s amazing!!!! I also have a vertical mouse. Both help tons!
Ooh, I’ll have to look that keyboard up! I love the vertical mice too, but can’t seem to figure out how to use it with photoshop because I’ve been working on my laptop for so long. 😂 So I have one of those flat ones that works in the same way as my laptop!
@@TheCourtneyProject I'm a designer as well I have a verticle one that isn't a trackball one so it's the same movement and fingers as the flat mice. It's from anker. I want a track ball but not sure I could get used to it either lol
@@juliaduquette7927 ooh, that’s good to know! I didn’t realize they made them like that. I’ll have to check them out. I’m always looking for ways to make my desk more ergo.
wow your hair is gorgeous
Thank you!
You are AWESOME
You are too!
I’m late, but I have a question. How do I get my stories on paper? I can’t seem to start at the beginning and just write through to the end…
I think it takes practice. I’d start with short stories. Write something small and build your way up to longer books. For me, once I finished one full-length it gave me the encouragement I needed to do it again.
Evil thoughts. Lol lol lol
😂😂😂