Episode 045 / Sacha Black, author of young adult fantasy as well as non-fiction for writers, joins us this week to talk about how being your authentic self empowers you. We also delve into practical tips on how authors can achieve financial independence. Then Sacha answers questions from the Facebook group about productivity, rebellion, and how to write great villains.

Intro recap:

Sara’s deep in Direct Sales Land, figuring out the Woocommerce plugin and shipping options for her special edition hardcover with hand-stamped end pages. Jami was sick last week, but she’s recovered and is planning a price promotion, dropping her books to 99 cents. She’ll report back on how the sale goes. 

Come over and say hey to Jami and Sara in the WIKT Facebook group! You can find show notes and links at wishidknownforwriters.com.

In this podcast episode, you’ll discover:

• How blogging and NaNoWriMo helped Sacha return to her first love of writing
• Why Sacha is passionate about financial independence for authors
• How she paid off her debt so she could leave her day job; plus Sacha’s tips for authors who’d like to do the same
• What Sacha wishes she’d known about craft and how she now dissects the books she reads and does forensic breakdowns to find the patterns and tools the authors employ
• Why everything counts in marketing
• Why Sacha’s assumptions about being a full-time author were wrong
• How having multiple streams of income creates financial stability
• How Sacha accidentally created a pen name for herself
• When you shouldn’t listen to your audience
• Sacha’s tips for focus and productivity
• What Sacha sees people doing wrong when they create their villains and how to fix those missteps
• The benefits of Alli (Alliance of Independent Authors) for authors
• The power of authenticity 

Genres discussed include fiction and non-fiction for writers.

Links: 

Sacha Black website: https://sachablack.co.uk

Sacha’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sachablackauthor/