In today's episode, Kristen shares the second installment of Book Notes, a blog + podcast series that summarizes and provides key takeaways from books on writing, publishing, and creative living. This episode explores Joanna Penn's "How to Market a Book" — a powerful reference guide that teaches authors how promote their books and build lucrative and long-lasting creative careers. Find the episode transcript at: www.well-storied.com/notes Buy the book on Amazon: https://geni.us/zLZs (*affiliate)...
Nov 04, 2021•49 min
Running an Amazon ad campaign can be a great way to introduce your book to new readers and increase sales, but there’s no denying that Amazon Advertising comes with a learning curve. In today's episode, Kristen breaks down an introduction to Amazon Ads as a book marketing tool and walks you through the process of creating your first Sponsored Product ad step by step. Find the episode transcript at: www.well-storied.com/marketing Find me on Instagram: @kristen_kieffer 👉 Enjoy the show? Leave a r...
Oct 29, 2021•19 min
In today's episode, Kristen launches a new feature called Book Notes in which she summarizes and provides key takeaways from books on writing, publishing, and creative living. This first edition of Book Notes explores Rachel Aaron's "2,000 to 10,000" — an actionable guide to boosting your creative efficiency. Find the episode transcript at: www.well-storied.com/notes Buy the book on Amazon: https://geni.us/2kto10kbook (*affiliate) Buy the book on Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/55478/978154...
Oct 21, 2021•23 min
Do you often struggle to write full-length novels, never sure how to fill the gaps in your story without writing filler or fluff? In today's episode, Kristen breaks down one simple strategy for expanding your storytelling and crafting more complex plots: giving your protagonist a side quest! Find the episode transcript at: www.well-storied.com/plotting Find me on Instagram: @kristen_kieffer 👉 Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review! Both go a long way toward helping the podcast grow and rea...
Oct 04, 2021•17 min
Do you often get lost in research rabbit holes or relentlessly re-read old work? Do you toggle between chapters in search of scenes you "feel" like writing — or often fail to write at all? In today's episode, Kristen breaks down the three simple steps you can follow to ditch dissatisfying writing sessions in favor of writing with clarity, focus, and intention (and build a sustainable writing habit while you're at it!). Find the episode transcript at: www.well-storied.com/writingpractice Find me ...
Sep 02, 2021•18 min
Creative are knowledge workers who rely upon information and ideas to create fantastic work. So it’s no wonder that our heads are often chaotic or in the clouds, brimming with all sorts of thoughts that we struggle to organize and employ. That's where a second brain comes into play. By taking the time to create a unified system for knowledge management, we can organize our creative work and get serious about writing with clarity and focus. In today's episode, Kristen breaks down her preferred kn...
Aug 26, 2021•20 min
Storytelling is both an art and a craft — and like any craft, the skills required to write great stories can be taught and learned. What are some of the other steps you can take to improve your skills and stories beyond simply consuming how-to content? And how can you best apply what you learn to truly level up in your craft? In today's episode, Kristen breaks down the six essential strategies you can put into practice to pave the way for incredible growth in your writing life! Find the episode ...
Aug 19, 2021•14 min
Consistency is key to building a successful and fulfilling writing life, yet it's all too easy to procrastinate the act of putting pen to paper when our creative work gets tough. How can we overcome this urge to avoid writing and start building a little creative momentum? Kristen shares her top tips—including insights into why we procrastinate in the first place and why motivation as we know it is a myth—in today's episode of the podcast! Find the episode transcript at: www.well-storied.com/life...
Aug 05, 2021•17 min
Every writing journey has its bumps in the road. Sometimes those setbacks are of our own making, while other times they aren't our fault in the slightest. Either way, there’s no doubt that setbacks can drain your mental and emotional energy. Thankfully, there are steps that every writer can take to not only minimize the number of setbacks they experience but to weather creative turbulence with resilience and strength. What must you do to begin cultivating a little of this creative fortitude? In ...
Jul 15, 2021•21 min
As helpful as external feedback can be, there’s no doubt that allowing others to read and critique our work can be a terrifying process. Even with a positive attitude in place, criticism can sting. But receiving feedback can also be an empowering and uplifting experience. How can we ensure that our own encounters with solicited criticism are as positive as possible? Kristen breaks down five key tips that writers can use to handle constructive criticism with grace in today's episode! Find the epi...
Jul 01, 2021•13 min
To succeed in the business of writing and selling books, you’ll need an online headquarters — a place that readers can visit to learn everything they need to know about who you are, what you write, and where they can purchase your books. In other words, you’ll need an author website. What information should an author website include? How does one go about creating an author website, exactly? When is the right time to create and launch your online headquarters? Kristen breaks down each of these q...
Jun 22, 2021•17 min
Creative comparison often gets a bad rap. Like self-doubt, comparison can be a lens through which writers can identify the strengths and weaknesses in their work, ultimately helping them improve the quality of their skills and stories with intention. But without the right attitude in place, ego and insecurity can blind writers to the insights that comparison can provide, warping constructive comparison into a dangerously destructive act. So, how can you overcome unhealthy creative comparison? Kr...
Jun 03, 2021•15 min
Episode Transcript: www.well-storied.com/platform To find commercial success, every author needs a platform -- the ability to sell books because of who they are or who they can reach. But how do you build a platform that helps you reach the right readers and sell more books? In today's episode, Kristen breaks down the four foundational elements of any successful author platform, the five most popular strategies that authors use to expand their reach, and the key to successful platform growth tha...
May 24, 2021•15 min
Episode Transcript: www.well-storied.com/death Death can serve as a powerful storytelling tool in many ways, but with great power comes great responsibility. What's the secret sauce to killing off characters in a way that readers can respect? In today's episode, Kristen breaks down the five key reasons that good storytellers choose to kill their characters. 👉 Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review! Both go a long way toward helping the podcast grow and reach new writers. 👈 You can also fu...
May 06, 2021•10 min
Episode Transcript: www.well-storied.com/three Many writers dream of becoming full-time authors. But how exactly do successful self-published authors earn their livings? In today's episode, Kristen breaks down the three P's of successful self-publishing: production, presentation, and promotion! 👉 Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review! Both go a long way toward helping the podcast grow and reach new writers. 👈 You can also fuel the next episode by buying me a coffee: www.ko-fi.com/kristen...
Apr 20, 2021•18 min
Episode Transcript: www.well-storied.com/decision Both the traditional and independent publishing industries offer writers the fantastic opportunity to share their work with the world. But which path to publication is right for you? In today's episode, Kristen breaks down an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of both publication paths, as well as common publishing misconceptions and a persistent limiting belief that may cloud your understanding of which path is best for you. Enjoy the ...
Mar 22, 2021•15 min
Episode Transcript: www.well-storied.com/emotions Writers are commonly advised to craft complex characters. But what exactly makes a character complex? In today's episode, Kristen explains why characters are often defined by the archetypes they embody and how developing characters who experience a wealth of emotions beyond their defining archetypical traits can lead to a cast that feels fully real and believable on the page. Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review! Both go a long way toward ...
Feb 12, 2021•14 min
Episode Transcript: www.well-storied.com/trust Have you tried and failed to build a lasting writing habit time and time again? Taking a break from writing when life gets tough is one thing. But when the slightest hint of upheaval repeatedly sends your creative practice into a tailspin, you know you have a bigger issue on your hands — and that is issue is almost certainly a lack of self-trust. In today's episode, learn how you can begin building self-trust ASAP using atomic habits, as well as how...
Jan 21, 2021•15 min
Episode Transcript: www.well-storied.com/tracking Want to create a better, stronger writing habit? One of the easiest ways to double down on your commitment to the craft is by habit tracking. In today's episode, Kristen breaks down what habit tracking is, what writers should log when tracking, and how habit tracking can serve as a source of motivation, momentum, and a sense of accomplishment. Grab your free writing habit tracker today by visit our episode transcript linked above. Enjoy the show?...
Jan 11, 2021•11 min
Episode Transcript: www.well-storied.com/beats Every story features at least one arc of events. This arc can be broken down into acts, which are comprised of chapters that contain scenes. Inside every scene should live the most atomic aspect of storytelling's composition: the beat. What is a beat exactly? Why is it an essential element in any story, and how can you craft powerful beats of your own? Let's dive in! Click here for Savannah Gilbo's articles on genre beats Enjoy the show? Leave a rat...
Dec 04, 2020•12 min
Episode Transcript: www.well-storied.com/efficiency Wish you could crank out your stories more quickly? You aren’t alone. In today's episode, Kristen breaks down why more isn't always better and shares the seven key aspects writers should cultivate if they want to build a strong foundation for better, faster writing. Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review! Both go a long way toward helping the podcast grow and reach new writers. You can also fuel the next episode by buying me a coffee: www....
Nov 16, 2020•12 min
Episode Transcript: www.well-storied.com/subplots Subplots are more than just a secondary plotline in a story; They're secondary conflicts that arise from characters’ actions & reactions as they engage with the story’s central conflict. What types of subplots exist, how can these secondary plotlines lend depth to your story, and most importantly, how can you craft effective subplots all your own? Let's dive into today's episode together, writer. Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review! B...
Oct 29, 2020•13 min
Episode Transcript: www.well-storied.com/potential Shiny new story ideas are doubtless tempting to pursue. The only issue? Some story ideas simply aren’t worth developing. In today's episode, Kristen explores two easy activities that can help you determine whether your new story idea has powerful narrative potential. Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review! Both go a long way toward helping the podcast grow and reach new writers. You can also fuel the next episode by buying me a coffee: www....
Oct 08, 2020•11 min
Episode Transcript: www.well-storied.com/storygoals The surest way to drive your plot forward is to arm your characters with goals they’re motivated to achieve. Pit your characters’ goals against one another (or against their internal needs), and you’ll create deliciously engaging conflict that keeps readers turning pages. But how does one develop goals that effectively serve their characters and story? Is it even necessary to give every character a goal, for that matter? Let’s delve into this t...
Sep 11, 2020•15 min
Episode Transcript: www.well-storied.com/perfect As writers, holding our work to high standards can help us craft sensational stories. But when those high standards aren’t accompanied by a healthy creative mindset, the seeds of perfectionism can take root. Why is this so dangerous? In today's episode, Kristen breaks down how perfectionism can wreak havoc on your writing life, how you can recognize the signs that you're struggling with perfectionist behaviors, and the steps you can take to kick p...
Sep 04, 2020•12 min
Episode Transcript: www.well-storied.com/themes Themes are an integral part of any good story. Yet many genre fiction writers fail to consider their story’s themes, believing they have no place beyond literary novels — or worse yet, that authors who actively explore themes in their stories do so to preach to readers. These harmful misconceptions hinder writers’ efforts to produce effective and engaging stories. Why? And how can you go about developing powerful themes for your story? Tune into to...
Aug 14, 2020•11 min
Episode Transcript: www.well-storied.com/strongercharacters If you want readers to invest in your characters and their journeys, then you must craft characters that readers can believe in—characters so well-developed and realistic that they seem to spring to life on the page. But crafting a cast that moves beyond caricatures and cardboard cutouts can be difficult. What steps can you take to develop complex and compelling characters today? Today's episode includes 33 tips you won’t want to miss… ...
Jul 31, 2020•18 min
Episode Transcript: www.well-storied.com/motivations Your characters’ motivations hold the power to make or break readers’ interest in your story. Why? Because conflict means little without context. But when you allow readers to understand and sympathize with your characters’ actions, you encourage the reader-character connection that keeps readers turning pages. In today's episode, Kristen breaks down how you can develop powerful motivations for your characters by delving into the psychology of...
Jul 10, 2020•13 min
Episode Transcript: www.well-storied.com/personalities To fill our stories with characters who feel as real as the people around us, we must delve deeper than classic archetypes and easy characterizations. This work begins with developing richly complex personalities for our characters that lend to their most vibrant portrayals. Discover my favorite personality-building tool in today's episode! Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review! Both go a long way toward helping the podcast grow and re...
May 26, 2020•10 min
Episode Transcript: www.well-storied.com/lie Emotional struggles are human struggles. To create conflict readers find compelling, it's worth considering the internal obstacles that directly impact your characters' ability to achieve a goal, experience personal growth, and/or realize a happier future. This is where the "lie" your characters believe comes into play... Enjoy the show? Consider leaving a rating & review, both of which go a long way toward helping the podcast grow and reach new w...
May 22, 2020•8 min
