In this episode I detail the issues that have affected Patreon since roughly Sept 2022 and how these can cause authors to lose income or depending on what they write, affect their ability to be on the platform at all. Additionally, I mention a few alternatives. Links mentioned in the show: Epona Author Solutions’ Patreon Kit’s Membership Group
ick up and put the pieces back together after serious burnout. How do you decide which projects to pick up and which to discard? I also talk about the most important consideration for deciding how to move forward. Join me for both parts of this series, and if you like what I’m talking about here, please visit Chicken Yogi where I talk specifically to neurodivergent individuals.
In the first of this two part series, I talk about burnout as it is commonly discussed and why for neurodivergent authors our burnout can be something more. We often don’t realize we’re in burnout or understand what burnout is or how it works. I push back against the “cure narrative”, especially for neurodivergent individuals, and talk about how I, as an author, use my annual word count to really tell me when I’m in burnout. Join me for both parts of this series, and if you like what I’m talking about here, please visit Chicken Yogi where I talk specifically to neurodivergent individuals.
In this episode I finally give in and tell you what I really think about marketing. As a neurodivergent person, marketing can be incredibly difficult, and I’m not alone on this. It’s something I hear from other neurodivergent people too. But marketing isn’t just tough for neurodivergent folk, it’s tough for all of us, and it’s getting more difficult too. I wouldn’t exactly call this a rant, but I also don’t hold back when I talk about marketing. Are you ready? Go listen.
or fantasy and science fiction, especially, the setting can be a major component of the story. But do you world build just enough for the story you’re writing or do you build a bigger world? I talk about my Musimagium world, which for me stretches back into history and forward into the future (and I’ve written some of those stories), but also stretches beyond the confines of the story. While building my world is a bit of a special interest of mine, and I find the more I write the larger this universe becomes. But also, as an author, I think when you create a vast world, it gives you more to work with and the readers can tell, too. Enjoy this episode where I talk about one of my favorite topics–world building.
I’ve been completely self-published, all indie all the time, since probably about 2006-2007. I mean sure, I published through my own publication company (And we published as many as 75 authors over the company’s lifespan.), but I still consider that self-publishing since I did all the work. Recently, I’ve thought about submitting stories again and have had several very interesting calls for submission coming across my feed. While (spoiler alert), the story I talked about writing for a class and submitting did eventually get a rejection notice, I’m finding this writing for submission calls an interesting and fascinating exercise that’s helping to spark my muse.
As writers we spent a lot of time at our desks and ergonomics matter. Visit the show notes to see the link to your workstation assessment, as well as see how I finished out my desk. Now, if I could just stop leaning forward to read long articles.
In this episode I’m going to get a little esoteric, and maybe a little spiritual, and talk about “numinous writing”. Otto coined the term numinous to refer to something sacred with otherworldly qualities, and I’m a firm believer that an author’s act of creating stories out of their minds, hearts, and if so you choose to believe, souls, counts as an experience with a numinous quality. So don’t worry, I’m not going to get organized religious on you, but instead, I want to talk about how this sacred quality to our writing, and treating it as something more than a “job” or a way to make money, but instead like a vocation or a calling, can help us to remain balanced and yes, holistic, in our approach to being authors. I hope you enjoy this sidequest to our podcast.
With the spectacular and foreseen implosion of Twitter over the past year or more, and corporate-owned social media making it more difficult for smaller creators to gain traction, not to mention followers, and engagement, where is an author to go in search of readers? I, and many other authors, have found a new home in the Fediverse – on Mastodon. Join me as I discuss what Mastodon (and the Fediverse) is, how it differs from social media, and invite you to find a server to begin, such as Epona Author’s own EponaAuthor.Social. (See a full list of links in the show notes on our MuseCharmer page.)
In this episode, which marks my pivot from the earlier episodes marked, I discuss why I’m moving away from the Wellness Wheel and the Wellness term/industry in general when it comes to doing my coaching and creativity work.
When it comes to writing, or doing activities around them like marketing, are you experiencing a fight, flight, or freeze response? These are normal ways in which our bodies handle stress. But they can impact your writing life. Learn more in this episode.
Note: These early episodes (through episode 8) were recorded quite some time ago. The podcast has changed focus since then, as has Author Yogi. Episode 10 discusses the change in focus. The information is still good, so that is why these episodes are being published. In this episode we’ll talk about how to cultivate a daily writing habit and the best way to do so.
Note: These early episodes (through episode 8) were recorded quite some time ago. The podcast has changed focus since then, as has Author Yogi. Episode 10 discusses the change in focus. The information is still good, so that is why these episodes are being published. This episode dives deeper into the many layers of the wellness wheel that falls under “emotional”
Note: These early episodes (through episode 8) were recorded quite some time ago. The podcast has changed focus since then, as has Author Yogi. Episode 10 discusses the change in focus. The information is still good, so that is why these episodes are being published. This episode gets more into the “nuts and bolts” of writing and talks about how to organize a book. Whether you’re writing linearly or in flashbacks or putting together a memoir or essay collection, organizing the book is one of the most important decisions you can make.
Note: These early episodes (through episode 8) were recorded quite some time ago. The podcast has changed focus since then, as has Author Yogi. Episode 10 discusses the change in focus. The information is still good, so that is why these episodes are being published. Part of having a long lasting writing career is loving what you’re doing. In this episode, I talk about finding the love of writing, and making sure you are loving what you do when it comes to publishing.
Note: These early episodes (through episode 8) were recorded quite some time ago. The podcast has changed focus since then, as has Author Yogi. Episode 10 discusses the change in focus. The information is still good, so that is why these episodes are being published. Do you write in more than one genre? If so you’re singing my song (and I’ve love to interview you for this or one of my other podcasts – reach out!) In this episode I talk about my experience as a multi-genre (multi-passionate) author and how I think that helps my experience of being an author.
Note: These early episodes (through episode 8) were recorded quite some time ago. The podcast has changed focus since then, as has Author Yogi. Episode 10 discusses the change in focus. The information is still good, so that is why these episodes are being published. One of the biggest ways we, as authors, compare ourselves to others is in daily word counts. It’s tough not to see the big numbers some people put on their social media and feel like you’re missing out or compare yourself to them. But like most things on social media, you only see the highlight reels, and everyone’s life is different. In this episode, I talk about how word counts can be encouraging and discouraging and how to handle it if you’re a writer (like me) who has “life” or “health” interfere with your daily writing habit more often then you’d like.
Note: These early episodes (through episode 8) were recorded quite some time ago. The podcast has changed focus since then, as has Author Yogi. Episode 10 discusses the change in focus. The information is still good, so that is why these episodes are being published. The wellness wheel is a creation used by many organizations to help create a work-life balance. In this episode, I talk about how it can be defined within the publishing world. While my work as the Author Yogi no longer relies as heavily on the wellness wheel, as I move away from wellness and toward liberation, I think it’s still valuable insight and can be helpful to many.
Note: These early episodes (through episode 8) were recorded quite some time ago. The podcast has changed focus since then, as has Author Yogi. Episode 10 discusses the change in focus. The information is still good, so that is why these episodes are being published. In this episode, I talk about the current publishing paradigm and why we need a new one. From rapid release to marketers selling tips and tricks, capitalism has its hooks in publishing. It’s time to be aware of it, so we can change the industry to be healthier for everyone.