⁉️Q&A☎️: ⚡— Key Takeaways & Cliff Notes & replay

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17h (edited) • 🚨 News

This Q&A was a great example of why live conversations matter. The questions were practical, honest, and very real — and the answers touched on writing, publishing, mindset, and long-term impact.

If you missed the live call, here are the highlights 👇

📚 1. Your Book’s Impact Matters More Than Book Sales Alone

A core reminder from the call:

For nonfiction authors, the message is more valuable than the royalty check.

Selling books is great — but books are often the gateway:

to speaking opportunities
consulting or coaching
credibility and authority
invitations, partnerships, and impact

A single speaking engagement or opportunity sparked by your book can be worth far more than months of book sales.

👉 Write with impact in mind, not just units sold.

✍️ 2. There Is No “Right” Writing Cadence Refer to the Classroom

Many writers get stuck because they think there’s a correct way to write.

There isn’t.

Instead of prescribing rigid schedules, the focus here is on:

finding your natural cadence
writing in ways that fit your life
using tools creatively (voice-to-text, notes on the go, short bursts)

If a strict routine makes you stop writing altogether, it’s not helping.

👉 Consistency matters — but it has to be yours.

🧠 3. Manage Multiple Ideas Without Losing Focus

A common trap:Starting the next book before finishing the current one.

The solution discussed:Create a “parking lot” for ideas.

Capture ideas so they’re not lost
Trust they’ll be there later
Stay focused on finishing what you’ve started

Starting feels productive.Finishing is what actually moves your career forward.

👉 Systems help you acknowledge ideas without chasing them.

👖 4. You’re Allowed to Call Yourself an Author

This came up directly — and it matters.

If you’ve:

written a chapter in a collaborative book
published work publicly
committed seriously to a manuscript

You are an author.

You don’t have to “earn” the title by suffering more.

One simple reframe shared:

Put on your author pants — and keep wearing them until they fit.

👉 Identity often follows action, not the other way around.

🏆 5. Stop Downplaying Your Wins

Many authors (especially women) minimize their accomplishments:

book awards
publications
reviews
milestones

This isn’t humility — it’s fear of being seen.

When something good happens:✔ update your bio✔ share the news✔ let it be true

Confidence is a skill you practice.

👉 If you don’t claim your work, others won’t know how to value it.

📘 6. Book Titles: Simple, Clear, Strategic

A practical framework shared:

Nonfiction titles work best when:

The main title is short (1–3 words)
It sparks curiosity or a question
The subtitle does the explaining:

Chapter titles can be more playful — but still clear and punchy.

👉 Clarity beats clever every time.

🔗 7. What a Book Funnel Actually Is (and Why It Matters)

A Book Funnel isn’t complicated — and many authors already do this without realizing it.

At its core:

invite readers off the book page
onto your website
in exchange for a free resource
to build a real relationship via email

This allows you to:

stay connected with readers
share future books, events, retreats
build community beyond one purchase

👉 Direct connection > algorithms.

⭐ 8. Reviews = Social Credibility (Not Just Validation)

Reviews on platforms like Amazon and Goodreads:

help future readers trust the book
increase visibility
matter more long-term than most people realize

This is why we’re excited to host Steve Sarner, former VP of Goodreads, on an upcoming call. 📆Add to your 📆

👉 Reviews aren’t about ego — they’re about discoverability.

🌱 9. You Don’t Need to Learn Everything at Once

Publishing has a steep learning curve — and overwhelm is normal.

The advice:

drip-feed your learning
one new concept at a time
let repetition reinforce understanding

You don’t need to master the entire industry this month.

👉 Progress comes from steady exposure, not panic.

✍️ 10. Co-Writing Sessions = Supported Momentum

A quick reminder at the end:Co-writing sessions are two-hour focused writing blocks where:

you name a goal
write independently
check in at the end

They exist to help you finish, not perfect.

👉 Showing up consistently is half the work.

If this Q&A sparked new questions for you — bring them to the next one. (or comment below👇) These calls work best when the community keeps asking real, honest questions.

🎥 Replay linked (coming soon)

📌 Notes saved here for reference

💬 Continue the conversation in the comments

And if you’re on the free tier and finding these calls valuable — this is exactly the kind of support included inside the paid Writer’s Circle.

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