In this episode, Janeen Ippolito reflects on the challenges and expectations that come with the New Year, particularly for authors. She discusses the importance of evaluating one's progress and setting realistic goals, emphasizing the need for a personalized creative calendar that aligns with individual rhythms. Janeen also shares her strategies for streamlining content creation and managing social media presence, encouraging listeners to let go of unnecessary pressures and focus on what truly matters in their author journey.

takeaways

• The New Year can bring mixed feelings of accomplishment and disappointment.
• It's important to evaluate what truly matters in your author life.
• Creating a personalized creative calendar can alleviate pressure.
• Sometimes doing less can lead to greater productivity.
• Self-reflection is key to understanding your goals and ambitions.
• Letting go of certain expectations can be liberating.
• Consistency in content creation is more important than perfection.
• Social media presence should align with your personal goals.
• Don't be afraid to try new things, even if they didn't work before.
• Focus on what matters to you and your creative journey.

In this conversation, Janeen Ippolito discusses the critical role of theme and message in storytelling. She emphasizes that understanding and effectively communicating these elements can significantly enhance a book's connection with readers. The discussion covers the definitions of theme and message, their importance in narrative structure, and practical tips for authors to identify and convey these concepts in their writing. Janeen also highlights the value of beta readers in the editing process and the impact of reader expectations on theme and message communication.

In this conversation, Janeen Ippolito shares her personal journey through the challenges of writing, emphasizing the importance of humility, faith, and patience. She discusses the struggles of completing her latest book, the lessons learned in waiting for inspiration, and the significance of trusting God throughout the creative process. Janeen encourages writers to embrace both the joys and difficulties of storytelling, reminding them that their worth is not tied to their work but to their faith.

In this episode, Janeen Ippolito discusses the intricate relationship between world building and genre in science fiction and fantasy writing. She emphasizes the importance of understanding genre definitions, cultural influences, and reader expectations. The conversation provides practical tips for authors on how to navigate the complexities of genre research and effectively connect with their target audience.

• World building is essential for defining genre in speculative fiction.
• Genres are influenced by cultural factors, including economic needs and reader expectations.
• Readers of sci-fi and fantasy particularly seek immersive world building.
• Understanding genre requires reading widely within the genre and its subgenres.
• Successful authors can provide insights into genre-specific tropes and expectations.
• Engaging with reader communities can reveal what audiences expect from a genre.
• Trial and error is a natural part of the genre research process.
• Authors can influence genre evolution through innovative storytelling.
• Crossover effects from other media can shape genre trends.
• The choice of genre and its elements ultimately lies with the author.

In this episode of the Author Culture Podcast, Janeen Ippolito explores the balance between writing faster and writing better. She discusses the importance of understanding one's writing process, the trade-offs involved in increasing word count, and practical tips for enhancing writing speed without sacrificing quality. Plus, why your word count speed might just come down to font choice.

• Writing faster doesn't always mean writing better.
• It's essential to assess if increasing word count really matters to you.
• Quality can suffer when focusing solely on speed.
• Understanding your genre can help set realistic writing goals.
• Creating a writing process that works for you is crucial.
• Using community-based incentives can boost your writing productivity.
• Font choice can influence your writing speed.

In this conversation, Janeen Ippolito explores the pivotal questions authors face regarding the significance of their work. She emphasizes the importance of asking not just why their writing matters, but whether it matters at all. Through personal anecdotes and insights, she encourages authors to confront uncomfortable truths about their motivations and the changing landscape of the publishing industry. The discussion highlights the necessity of self-discovery, adaptability, and finding deeper reasons for pursuing a writing career beyond financial gain.

• Every author questions if their work matters at some point.
• Asking 'does it matter?' is crucial for author longevity.
• Change is hard, but necessary for growth in the author journey.
• The publishing industry is chaotic and requires adaptability.
• You are allowed to shift your focus and priorities as an author.
• Self-discovery is key to understanding your motivations.
• It's okay to let go of projects that no longer resonate with you.

Hey there! In this episode I share some of my recent (and not-so-recent) experiences with pivoting my focus and what that means going forward. I'm going to be closing down some things (this podcast is staying), shifting over others, and stepping into some areas that have been really on my heart lately. This is going to be a new, highly consolidated focus that I'm super-excited about - and of course, I'm sharing how you can take a look at your priorities and make solid adjustments as well.

Includes:

• The pros and cons of the Author Elevate brand
• Giving yourself permission to move on
• The importance of balancing mental loads
• Figuring out how to human professionally with other humans
• What the next steps are!

*waves* Hey there! Anyone feeling data and info overload? I'm right there with you!

And in this quick episode I offer an alternative to getting lost in the analytics, likes, subscribes, and all the rest.

Learn one crucial tip for sifting through all the info, and how to prioritize your goals and health to keep author life sustainable.

It's time to reclaim your confidence and clarity. See you in the episode!