In Which Kait Talks to Herself
Summary:
In this conversation, Nancy Smay interviews Kate Nolan about her writing career and process. They discuss topics such as the different genres Kate writes in, her experience with self-publishing and traditional publishing, her decision to use pen names, her approach to wide distribution, and her writing routine. Kate shares that she is a rabid plotter and uses Scrivener and Evernote to organize her ideas and outlines. She also talks about her she shed, a dedicated writing space she built for herself. In this conversation, Kait Nolan discusses her writing process, including how she uses dictation to capture ideas and the software she uses for transcription. She also talks about her editing process and working with beta readers. Kait shares her approach to marketing, including using free book promotions and focusing on building her newsletter. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining control over her own platform and not relying solely on social media. Kait also discusses the importance of finding a supportive community of writers and the value of accountability partners. Finally, she touches on the importance of maintaining physical fitness as a writer.
Takeaways
Kate Nolan writes predominantly small town romance with a southern flair, but she has also branched out into other genres like romantic suspense.
She started her writing career in self-publishing and had success in the early days when there was less competition.
Kate has used pen names to explore different genres and reach different audiences.
She prefers wide distribution for her books and has always been interested in diversifying her publishing platforms.
Kate is a rabid plotter and uses Scrivener and Evernote to organize her ideas and outlines.
She built a she shed as her dedicated writing space, which has been a valuable retreat for her creativity. Using dictation and transcription software can be a helpful tool for capturing ideas and details for writing.
Having a trusted editor and beta readers can provide valuable feedback and improve the quality of a book.
Building a newsletter and focusing on maintaining reader engagement can be an effective marketing strategy.
Maintaining control over one's own platform, such as a website and newsletter, is important for long-term success.
Finding a supportive community of writers and accountability partners can provide valuable support and motivation.
Taking care of physical fitness is important for writers who spend a lot of time sitting.
Resources:
Larry Brooks Story Fix Blog
Blake Snyder: Save the Cat
Becca Symes Better Faster Academy (Strengths for Writers)
