Writers in the Storm

by Sarah "Sally" Hamer

Ah, writing. That glorious pursuit of creativity, passion, and—let's be real—occasional existential despair. We writers open that proverbial vein and drip blood on the page, dress our “babies” in pretty words, and present them for the world to see.

Then comes the criticism and the rejection and the telling us that “our babies are ugly and we dress them funny.” Unbelievable! How can they not think it’s the greatest thing they’ve ever read? How can they not just send us a million dollar check and set up a publicity tour? What’s wrong with them?

Or…

We find out that the editor who actually is thinking about taking us on and has told us how good we are, has quit the business and become a forest ranger. (This actually happened to someone I know. She was worried that the former editor was using her manuscript as a fire starter.) Or, we get the query letter envelope back in the mail with a note scrawled across it: “Wish I liked it but I don’t.” (Also a true story!)

Then comes the sulking. And the crying into our pillow. And even the “I’m never writing again!” statement.

Unfortunately, these things happen. Even non-writing strangers have a say-so and can give you a one-star rating because the book didn’t get there for her mother’s birthday. But it’s okay. Because you’re not writing for her mother anyhow.

So, how do we feel better about this crazy, soul-sucking business?

Here’s a short list:

1. Don’t take it personally

Just because someone doesn’t like your work, it doesn’t mean that everyone won’t like your work. Really, if everyone only liked one kind of book, there’d only be one book. You may have to work a little to find that perfect match between your style and someone who likes that style, but I guarantee someone out there will. Don’t let criticism wear you down.

2. Remember why you write.

If it’s just for the money, then you may need to grow a thicker skin. But if it’s because you can’t NOT write, because writing is in your soul and you can’t imagine not writing, then what others think is not important. Yes, you may not ever sell a book. That happens. But, if you write because you love it, it will bring you pleasure.

Writing is a roller coaster. Period. Some days you’re going to love every minute, no matter what the chaos, and some days are soul-sucking. The sooner you accept that, the better. Embrace the highs, survive the lows, and remind yourself that even bestsellers were first drafts at some point.

3. Perfection is a Myth (and the Enemy)

Editing is essential, but perfectionism? A creativity killer. Some of the greatest stories were written by people who dared to put words on the page, even when they felt imperfect. Be kind to yourself—your first draft is just that: the first. No one’s expecting a masterpiece straight away (except maybe your inner critic, who really needs a vacation).

4. Find Your People

Writing can be lonely, but it doesn't have to be! Connect with other writers, whether online or in person. Surrounding yourself with a supportive community can help you weather rejection, celebrate wins, and share in the collective struggle of "why is writing so hard today?" Because we all have them.

5. Take Breaks—Seriously

Nothing fuels burnout faster than staring at a blank page. Get up out of the chair. Take a walk. Call someone you trust. Sometimes, I take a shower and pretend it’s a warm waterfall to help wash the critical thoughts away. Give your brain space to breathe, and watch your creativity flow again. NOTE: This is not an excuse to procrastinate. Set a time limit and get back to writing. Because it is what we love.

6. Rejection is Part of the Deal

Rejection. Why does it hurt so badly? Even the greats were told "no" at some point. But it helps us to grow into better writers. We learn from rejection, even if it’s only to be okay with ourselves. So, when rejection comes, allow yourself a moment of frustration, then remind yourself: it’s not personal, it’s just the process. Keep going.

7. Remember Why You Started

At the end of the day, writing isn’t just about publication, deadlines, or impressing the internet—it’s about the joy of storytelling. The magic of words. The thrill of creating something that never existed before. Hold onto that magic, and you’ll stay sane amid the chaos.

Writing may be wild, unpredictable, and occasionally maddening, but it's also one of the most rewarding journeys. So, laugh at the messy drafts, be kind to yourself on tough days, and keep going—because the world needs your words.

Learning Opportunity!

Join Sally, Margie Lawson, Lisa Norman, Jenny Hansen, four other amazing writers, and a panel of agents for an online symposium, Staying Sane in the Publishing World, on June 21st and 22nd. Email sally (at) mindpotential (dot) org for more information.

Now, tell me—what kind of writing adventure are you currently on? Can you think of another way to stay sane? Please share it with us in the comments section!

About Sarah (Sally)

Sarah (Sally) Hamer, B.S., MLA, is a lover of books, a teacher of writers, and a believer in a good story. Most of all, she is eternally fascinated by people and how they 'tick'. She’s passionate about helping people tell their own stories and has won awards at both local and national levels, including two Golden Heart finals.

A teacher of memoir, beginning and advanced creative fiction writing, and screenwriting at Louisiana State University in Shreveport for over twenty years, she also teaches online for Margie Lawson at www.margielawson.com and for the No Stress Writing Academy at https://www.worldanvil.com/w/classes-deleyna/a/no-stress-writing-academy.  Sally is a free-lance editor and book coach, with many of her students and clients becoming successful, award-winning authors.

You can find her at info@mindpotential.org

Top photo purchased from Depositphotos.

by Penny C. Sansevieri

Many authors struggle with the decision of whether to enroll their books in Kindle Unlimited (KU), Amazon's subscription reading program. This choice can significantly impact your book's reach, revenue potential, and marketing effectiveness—but the right answer varies widely depending on your specific circumstances.

During a recent podcast episode, we discussed this topic. Understanding the fundamental differences between Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and Kindle Unlimited is the first crucial step.

Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) vs Kindle Unlimited

One of the most common misconceptions we encounter is authors believing that publishing through KDP automatically enrolls them in Kindle Unlimited. This is absolutely not the case.

 KDP is simply Amazon's publishing portal—the platform through which you upload and sell your books on Amazon. You can use KDP to distribute your book on Amazon without any exclusivity requirements.

Kindle Unlimited, however, is an entirely separate program that demands ebook exclusivity in exchange for inclusion in Amazon's subscription service where readers pay a monthly fee for unlimited reading.

The Exclusivity Requirement

The exclusivity requirement only applies to your ebook—not your print editions or audiobooks. This means you can still sell physical copies of your book everywhere while keeping your ebook exclusive to Amazon.

When enrolled in Kindle Unlimited, authors earn money based on pages read rather than a flat fee per download. The payment rate fluctuates monthly based on the KDP Select Global Fund, typically ranging around half a cent per page, though this can vary.

Genre Considerations

Genre considerations play a significant role in determining whether Kindle Unlimited makes sense for your book. Romance, mystery, thriller, and other genre fiction categories tend to perform exceptionally well in the program. This is largely because readers of these genres are often voracious consumers who read multiple books per month, making Kindle Unlimited's subscription model particularly appealing to them.

Business books and certain non-fiction categories might see less benefit since their readers are typically willing to purchase individual titles and read at a slower pace.

Compelling Reason for Kindle Unlimited

Perhaps the most compelling reason many authors choose Kindle Unlimited is its impact on Amazon advertising effectiveness.

We've consistently observed that Amazon ads perform significantly better for books enrolled in Kindle Unlimited, especially in those genres already well-represented in the program.

This improved ad performance happens because Kindle Unlimited subscribers view these books as "free" within their subscription, removing a significant barrier to trying a new author or title.

One Strategic Approach

One strategic approach many series authors employ is putting only their first book in a series into Kindle Unlimited as a reader acquisition tool. This allows them to capitalize on the increased visibility and lower barrier to entry for new readers, while still selling subsequent books in the series across all platforms.

Some authors also delay enrolling new releases in Kindle Unlimited, focusing first on maximizing direct sales before later transitioning to the subscription model to extend the book's commercial lifespan.

Final Thought

Remember that Kindle Unlimited enrollment runs in 90-day periods.

While you can set it to auto-renew indefinitely, many authors prefer to manually evaluate performance at each renewal opportunity. This gives you the flexibility to adapt your strategy based on actual results rather than committing indefinitely.

Most importantly, don't view Kindle Unlimited as a magic solution for books that aren't selling.

If your book isn't performing well overall, exclusivity alone won't solve fundamental marketing or positioning issues.

Do you have books in Kindle Unlimited? Why or why not? And do you subscribe to KU? Again, why or why not? Feel free to to ask me any questions down in the comments!

About Penny

Penny C. Sansevieri, is a powerhouse in the publishing industry. As the Founder and CEO of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., she has revolutionized book marketing, shaping the careers of authors and guiding them to bestseller status. Penny's influence is undeniable—named one of New York Metropolitan Magazine's Top Influencers of 2019, she's known for her cutting-edge Amazon campaigns and innovative strategies that catapult exceptional books onto bestseller lists. She is also the author of 24 books. To learn more about how Penny can help you amplify your book’s exposure, visit her website at: www.amarketingexpert.com

Tune into her podcast at: www.amarketingexpert.com/podcast

Top featured photo purchased from Depositphotos.

by Jenny Hansen

Last month, I talked about "the How and Why of a Strong Author Brand," and the comments were amazing. So many of you said, "I've been meaning to do this for ages!" This month's post is for any of you who felt like the Mysterious Branding Forest was just way too confusing to navigate based on that big picture overview.

This post divides your questions into seven distinct areas. You're invited to do them all at once, or (even better) to divide them up and do one every week. This would mean you'd have a much stronger author brand by the end of the summer. How awesome would that be?!!

7 Types of Branding Questions

Remember: Your brand is what builds recognition, loyalty, and trust.

Without those three emotions, no one will be moved to spend time or money on your stories. Marketing is largely a waste of your time and money if you don't build it around a strong, consistent author brand.

Taking the time and energy to build your brand thoughtfully is a love letter to your readers.

The 7 Question Groups

Below is what it would look like if you divided the groups into weekly tasks:

• Week 1: Core Identity and Voice
• Week 2: Mission, Message and Impact
• Week 3: Audience Clarity
• Week 4: Style, Aesthetic and Vibe
• Week 5: No-Cringe Marketing
• Week 6: Positioning and Differentiation
• Week 7: Bonus: Brand Personality Deep Dive

Let's go-o-o-o-o!

Your "Quick Guide to Author Branding"

This guide is for indie authors and solopreneurs who want to build a strong brand, but don't really know where to start. These questions are designed for writers looking to define a clear, authentic author brand without sounding salesy or sleazy, or (even worse) desperate or fake.

These 30+ questions are meant to keep you on track, especially if you decide to do a "branding extravaganza" this summer.

I've grouped these prompts into themed sections, mostly so none of you get too tired out. Maybe it's my ADD talking, but I need to break big projects into small pieces if I want to finish them.

Core Identity & Voice

This is the heart of everything about your author brand. What you write is a reflection of who you are. And most of us have an emotional impact that we wish to make on our readers. Keep in mind that most readers just want to be entertained, or have their heartstrings tugged.

Some questions:

• What kind of stories (or knowledge) do I feel most compelled to share?
• What topics, themes, or values keep showing up in my writing?
• What emotional experience do I want readers to have during or after reading my work?
• If my writing voice were a personality at a dinner party, who would it be?
• What 3 adjectives do I want people to use when they describe me or my books?

Mission, Message & Impact

Many writers have a message, whether it's personal or social or emotional. And if you do have a mission that is central to your life and you want to bring it into your writing, then do it. But do it with the knowledge that you are self-selecting (and narrowing down) your audience to readers who also hold that mission dear.

Note: I recommend that you keep political messages out of your brand, unless your brand is politics or unless that is a mission that is deeply entwined in your entire online platform. Politics can be a polarizing topic, and you don't want to drive away readers over something that's easy to leave off the pages.

Some questions:

• What do I want to be known for, beyond just book titles?
• Why do I write? Is there a personal or global problem I am trying to help solve?
• What transformation do I want to create for my readers?
• How do I want people to feel after interacting with my brand (not just my books)?
• What message would I put on a billboard (for free) to attract my readers?

Audience Clarity

This is a hard puzzle piece for most authors to define. If you're established and you know this answer already...awesome. But for a newer writer, this particular section of questions is going to take some extensive thought and research, and probably a LOT of asking around.

Some questions:

• Who is my ideal reader? What are their demographics, worldview, humor, hopes?
• What are they frustrated by or searching for? Why might they be attracted to me because of this?
• What inside joke, quote, or reference would make them instantly feel seen?
• Where are they hanging out online—and how can I show up as myself there?
• What t-shirt could I design that my reader would proudly wear? Is there a mantra, slogan, or photo on it (and what is it)?

Style, Aesthetic & Vibe

This is your "gimme" section. You know what you like, and you should absolutely share what you like with your readers. They'll feel your authenticity and love you all the more for it.

An example that applies to the third question below: I am a Gen Xer who grew up in the 70s and 80s. If a disco song comes on anywhere, I start dancing. Can't help it. It's part of my vibe.

Some questions:

• What visual style or color palette reflects my writing tone?
• If my brand were a season, what would it be—and why?
• What music, movies, or cultural references feel like part of my brand DNA?
• What type of book covers, merch, or graphics naturally fit my voice?
• If I had to distill my brand into one Instagram carousel post, what would it say?

No-Cringe Marketing

Most writers hate marketing. Like in the neighborhood of 80-90% of writers at least dislike marketing, if I were to take a guess.

But what if your marketing didn't feel like marketing? What if your marketing was just hanging out with your pals who liked the same stuff you do? And what if you shared some of the same stories you would tell your friends over coffee? Wouldn't it be fantastic if those stories made your readers laugh too?

Some questions:

• What’s a fun or weird way I can connect with readers without selling?
• How can I give readers a taste of my world before they buy a book?
• What kind of behind-the-scenes or “real talk” content could build trust?
• What’s a recurring content theme I’d actually enjoy posting about regularly?
• What email or post has gotten the most unexpected love from readers?

Positioning & Differentiation

Just so you know, it's okay if your genre and positioning is the same as someone else's. People like familiar things, whether it's people, music, books, or movies. But your differentiation focuses on the things that are unique to you.

Three examples:

1. Maybe you grew up in a small town and you now like to set books there?
2. What if you were adopted, and "found family" is a theme for you?
3. Perhaps you're an 80's kid, and you wish you saw more books with characters and cultural references from that decade. Write that book!

The more you do the things YOU like, the more you will find an audience that loves your books. Every single one of us is a product of our times, whether we've evolved or not. Have fun with this part!

Some questions:

• What do I offer that’s hard to find elsewhere in my genre or niche?
• What non-writing skills or quirks make me more relatable or memorable?
• How does my life story or path to writing help shape my author identity?
• If a reader had to choose between me and 10 other authors, why me?
• What do readers or friends say is “so you” when they describe your brand?

Bonus questions (Because you deserve some EXTRA)

• If my brand had a mascot, theme song, or tagline, what would it be?
• What pop culture reference or metaphor perfectly sums up my author vibe?
• What “hot take” do I have about writing or publishing that sets me apart?
• What story would I share on a podcast to win over new fans instantly?
• If my brand were a drink, would it be a cocktail, a coffee, or something else? What’s in it?

Final Thought

At the end of the day, thinking about branding is deciding how you want to show up in the world. Is it scary to be "seen?" Sometimes. But is it worth it if it puts your books in the hands of more readers? I say YES.

A thousand times YES.

What sections of questions above seem the easiest for you to answer? Conversely, what section is the hardest? Is there anything else you'd like to ask me? Lay it on me down in the comments!

About Jenny

By day, Jenny Hansen provides brand storytelling, LinkedIn coaching, and copywriting for accountants and financial services firms. By night, she writes humor, memoir, women’s fiction, and short stories. After 20+ years as a corporate trainer, she’s delighted to sit down while she works.

Find Jenny here at Writers In the Storm, or online on Facebook or Instagram.

Top featured photo created in Canva.