Learn to self-publish and build a dream life for yourself where you can write what you love, make money, and truly thrive.
Who is this course for?
- Writers who want to publish their first book
- Authors who want to learn how to self-publish
- Authors who want to learn what it takes to build a career that is not only sustainable but is also joyful
What you’ll learn
- The fundamentals of publishing
- Metadata and categories
- Overviews and walkthroughs of vendors
- The business aspects of writing
- Marketing your books
- Mindset for your author career
About the course
This Course Will Change Your Life!
Have you been dreaming of a life and career as a successful author?
Taking your career into your own hands and self-publishing your work is an incredible, fulfilling path that can lead to life-changing income and connections, but there’s a learning curve.
Successfully self-publishing your books is not as simple as just throwing a PDF up on a website and watching the money roll in (we wish, right?). I’m not going to lie to you. If you really want…
This Course Will Change Your Life!
Have you been dreaming of a life and career as a successful author?
Taking your career into your own hands and self-publishing your work is an incredible, fulfilling path that can lead to life-changing income and connections, but there’s a learning curve.
Successfully self-publishing your books is not as simple as just throwing a PDF up on a website and watching the money roll in (we wish, right?). I’m not going to lie to you. If you really want to do this right, there is a lot to learn along the way.
On top of that, the rules for each vendor and the best ways to get noticed are constantly changing.
Now, you could certainly spend your time searching blogs, listening to podcasts, scouring Facebook groups, and reading books on self-publishing in order to piece together the knowledge you’ll need to get started…
But would you rather spend your time searching for resources and hoping you know enough to separate good advice from bad advice?
Or would you rather be writing your next book?
You are not alone!! Let me help guide you toward the successful career of your dreams!
Over the course of five weeks, you will join me on a path to learning all about self-publishing and what it takes to build a career that is not only sustainable but is also joyful.
Each module covers a lot of ground, but don’t worry! I’ve arranged these videos in such a way that they will become a great reference for you as you publish your books. You’ll have lifetime access to this course, so when you’re in the thick of it and need to refresh your memory on keywords, you’ll be able to easily come back here and find the most recent and up-to-date video on keywords, even if it’s two years from now!
And once you’re a member, you’ll have access to all upgrades and bonuses I may publish in the future–for free! You never have to sign up again.
Students and alumni will also have exclusive access to a Facebook group where they can ask questions of Sarra and fellow writers.
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Course Content
Each week, there is also a 2-hour LIVE Question and Answer session where Sarra will answer any questions on the business of writing that you have. This LIVE time with Sarra is one of the most valuable parts of the course!
Lesson Name & What’s Included
Welcome to Publish and Thrive
4 lessons, 9 min
While this course is filled with the fundamentals you'll need to get started, it also contains so much information that I wish I'd known when I was getting started. Information that will help you stay organized, keep track of expenses, develop a successful publishing strategy, think through your author branding, and so much more. We will also be addressing the mindset issues that go along with starting your own publishing business and putting your work out there.
Gearing up for Success
13 lessons, 3 hrs 10 min
In order to set yourself up for success as an indie author, there are certain things you need to have in place before you even begin. These are truly the fundamentals, and often these are the things authors don't have in place or understand. Having a good understanding of these fundamentals can radically alter the course of your career and rocket you to success.
Publishing your Novels
19 lessons, 6 hrs 20 min
In this Module, we'll cover your book's Metadata in detail. This includes categories, keywords, titles, descriptions, and more. Then, we'll move onto an in-depth discussion of each online retailer that will include a behind-the-scenes walkthrough of how to upload your books. We'll end Module Two with a discussion of how to format your books and the best practices for creating your backmatter. An important thing to realize about this particular module is that this information is constantly evolving and changing. Rules change, royalties change, terms of service change. Even the uploading screens change every once in a while. I will keep this up-to-date for your reference, and I have specifically arranged these lessons to make it easy for you to pop in and check on each vendor or topic individually!
Running your Writing Business
12 lessons, 4 hrs
When you become an Indie Author, you are also becoming a business owner and entrepreneur. You will now be the CEO of your writing career. This means more than writing and publishing your books. (as if that wasn't enough, right?) It means structuring your business in the way that makes the most sense for you and your family, planning for taxes, tracking your income and expenses, and deciding on your own budget. It also means cultivating a unique mindset that is right for those of us in a constantly-evolving digital landscape. I'm excited to get started on this third Module with you. Keep in mind that while this course is meant to give you an overview of common business types and tools, I am not qualified to create a specific business or tax strategy for your or your family. I highly recommend that you consult with your local Secretary of State and an accountant to help get your business set up in the way that is best for you.
Marketing your Books
22 lessons, 6 hrs 33 min
We will start off by discussing some of the fundamentals of Indie Marketing and the 4-Step Framework that has the most power in Indie Marketing. Then, in later lessons, we'll address specific tactics like boxed sets, giveaways, marketing standalones, and more. Keep in mind that though this is a long module, this is by no means exhaustive. There are countless ways to market your books, so feel free to experiment and have fun with new things. The 4-Step Framework I'll introduce to you, though, is the most solid, long-term strategy I've seen used time and again for the past decade. It works.
Creating Success that Lasts
10 lessons, 3 hrs 2 min
This Module will be less about the technical and marketing side of publishing, and instead, we'll focus on the mindset of a thriving Indie Author. We'll discuss everything from managing your time and energy to how to organize your data so that you can have less stress in your life. We'll also discuss how to handle some of the toughest mental roadblocks in this career like how to handle criticism and what to do when you feel discouraged. So often, the reason Indie Authors quit or can't sustain a successful career is due to the mindset issues and the stress that comes along with being an entrepreneur author. This means that I will be giving you more than just the fundamentals of how to publish or market your books. It means giving you the tools you need to not only survive and succeed, but also to truly THRIVE AND FIND JOY in this business for decades to come.
Plus 40 hrs of Q&A Modules!
Instructor
Sarra Cannon
Hi, I'm Sarra! I have been self-publishing my books since 2010, and in that time, I've sold well over half a million copies of my books. I'm not a superstar or a huge bestseller, but I have built an amazing career that brings me great joy. Here at Heart Breathings, I hope to help you find that same level of success. Let's do this.
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