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    Indie Author Weekly

    Indie Author Weekly shares your host, Sagan's, behind-the-scenes journey of writing and publishing books as a self-published authorpreneur. New episodes are released every Tuesday and feature diary-style personal stories of the indie author journey, experiences of what works—and what doesn’t—as an author, plus tips on everything from book marketing to outlining chapters to managing perfectionism to finding writing inspiration and more! 

    You’ll learn practical tips and ideas for getting started with your own writer journey. This indie author podcast can be enjoyed by new and aspiring authors who want to learn more about self-publishing (plus tips and tools for writing and editing your own work), as well as curious bookworms who are interested in getting a peek behind the curtain of a writer’s life. 

    RECOMMENDED STARTING POINT: "Ep 140: Welcome back to the podcast!" AND "Ep 50: What made me start writing the Polyamorous Passions series" AND "Ep 53: Top 5 episodes from the first year of podcasting on Indie Author Weekly (and why I started this podcast)". 

    Indie Author Weekly is hosted by Sagan Morrow, a Kamloops-based writer with more than a decade of experience as a small business owner. Sagan started out as a blogger and freelance writer (and editor) around 2008. In 2016, she began teaching other freelancers how to improve productivity and time management through her online courses. She is an internationally board-certified Success & Life Coach who specializes in solopreneur coaching and anti-hustle productivity. 

    Sagan writes the Polyamorous Passions romantic comedy series, and has published several business books in addition to her work as a romance novelist. She published her first work of fiction in 2018. 

    The first 12 episodes of this podcast were originally published on a “secret” platform only for email subscribers, but you can tune into all of those original episodes right here. Access bonus materials to go along with the Indie Author Weekly podcast (including cheatsheets and spreadsheets relevant to the episode topics), plus full episode transcripts, sample chapters of her novels, and additional resources, at https://saganmorrow.com/secretpodcast. Starting with ep 140, you can also access these podcast episodes on YouTube at https://saganmorrow.com/youtube.

    Learn more about Sagan’s published works and upcoming novels at https://saganmorrow.com/books/. Connect with Sagan on Twitter & Instagram: @Saganlives

    en-ca179 Episodes

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    Episodes (179)

    178: On being a beginner vs intermediate at your practice (and why being a beginner can be a lot easier!)

    178: On being a beginner vs intermediate at your practice (and why being a beginner can be a lot easier!)

    In this episode, we explore the dynamic of being a beginner vs being intermediate at your practice... and why being a beginner can, in some ways, be a lot easier! Tune in now to find out about the pressure I put on myself in my 2nd solo burlesque dance performance, what I took from that experience compared to my 1st solo burlesque act, how this connects back to my work as a fiction author, and the top 3 takeaways for how you can apply this to your own creative practice or craft (including important questions to ask yourself in order to relieve fear and/or pressure from yourself).

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    Indie Author Weekly
    en-caFebruary 27, 2024

    177: Ideation, content creation, and writing process for my Solopreneur Diary Entries weekly newsletter

    177: Ideation, content creation, and writing process for my Solopreneur Diary Entries weekly newsletter

    In our previous episode, Episode 176, we talked about what it means to be a creative and an indie author — and how it can be so much more comprehensive than book writing! That's why, in today’s episode, I want to build on that and share with you the idea creation and writing process around my weekly Saturday email newsletter: the Solopreneur Diary Entries.

    Tune in now for the inside scoop on what that weekly newsletter is all about, an exercise to expand your own creativity, why I never worry about coming up with fresh new ideas (even after writing these emails for 8-ish years), the logistics of my writing process, and more...

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    en-caFebruary 20, 2024

    176: What does it mean to be a creative and an indie author?

    176: What does it mean to be a creative and an indie author?

    In our most recent couple of episodes here on the Indie Author Weekly podcast, we’ve been exploring the importance of trust in the creative process — including self trust and trusting others. I want to take it a step back today and ask this question: What does it even mean to be a creative, and, since this is the Indie Author Weekly podcast, what does it mean to be an indie author?

    Especially given that recently here on the podcast, I’ve been sharing about my creative process in designing burlesque choreography. What does that have to do with being an indie author? Can we count that as something appropriate for our purposes of being on this podcast? 

    TUNE IN NOW for my take on the question of “What does it mean to be a creative and an indie author” — plus what you can expect as we move forward with the Indie Author Weekly podcast...

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    en-caFebruary 13, 2024

    175: Creative process as a solo artist (trusting OTHERS)

    175: Creative process as a solo artist (trusting OTHERS)

    In this episode, we explore the delicate balance of the creative process when you are a solo artist — Because it’s hard to maintain distance and objectivity when you are working on creative pursuits in a silo! Is it good enough? Is it good at all? Are you conveying what you intend to convey? Even if it IS “good enough,” what interesting improvements can be made? And if you don’t have confidence in it being “good enough,” how is that going to affect the way you share your work with the world?

    These are all big questions! 

    In our previous episode here on the Indie Author Weekly podcast, we talked about the value and importance of trusting yourself and building that self trust muscle. Tune into episode 174 to check it out — it’s a great episode and includes a 3-part exercise for improving self trust!

    So in this episode, let’s talk about a different element of TRUST — trusting other people and bringing them into the creative process when you're a solo artist...

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    Indie Author Weekly
    en-caFebruary 06, 2024

    174: Self trust thought exercise when you experience self doubt as a creative

    174: Self trust thought exercise when you experience self doubt as a creative

    In this episode, I talk about the balance between trusting yourself AND not believing that negative voice in your head which might be filled with self doubt.

    As long-time listeners of the podcast will already know, I’m a Personal Fulfillment Coach when I’m not writing novels! And many of my clients first come to me because they’re struggling internally: there’s an internal battle going on, where they have a mean voice in their head that sends them into negative thought spirals.

    I feel like we can ALL relate to this. Most of us have at the very least experienced this from time to time. And when it comes to ANYTHING in life — including our creative endeavours — we need to be able to differentiate between those parts within us.

    TUNE IN to this episode for a 3-question thought exercise to help you navigate self doubt and improve your self trust.

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    en-caJanuary 30, 2024

    173: 5 observations while reviewing my current work-in-progress

    173: 5 observations while reviewing my current work-in-progress

    Last week, I went through the entirety of my current work in progress — Book 8 in the Polyamorous Passions series. So today I want to share with you what happened when I read through it… It had been a few months since I last worked on it, so it was great to review it with fresh eyes!

    There were 5 main things that jumped out at me… TUNE IN to this episode to find out what I realized and discovered as a result of reviewing the first full draft of my current work in progress manuscript.

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    en-caJanuary 23, 2024

    172: Improving one's relationship with the creative process

    172: Improving one's relationship with the creative process

    This episode is a follow-up to the previous episode, and shares recommendations and thoughts about how to improve your relationship with the creative process (what to do BEFORE you even sit down at the computer and start writing, plus a beautiful question to hold onto and guide you through the creative process).

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    en-caJanuary 16, 2024

    171: Applying my 2024 Word of the Year to creative writing

    171: Applying my 2024 Word of the Year to creative writing

    In this episode, find out how my 2024 Word of the Year — ELEVATE — connects back and translates into my work as a writer... elevating my approach to my work! PLUS, tune in to find out what I am NOT doing this year as an indie author (this decision feels so, so good).

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    Indie Author Weekly
    en-caJanuary 09, 2024

    170: 3 steps to make time for creative pursuits when "life is life-ing"

    170: 3 steps to make time for creative pursuits when "life is life-ing"

    How can you prioritize writing (or any creative pursuit, or a solopreneur business, or a passion project, or a hobby, etc) when life “gets in the way”?

    In this episode, learn my 3-step strategy for how to DO this — plus a personal example of this in action with my own writing projects.

    Want help with unpacking mindset blocks, setting and upholding boundaries, strategizing plans, and keeping accountable to what you want from you life? I’m here to support you! Book a coaching call: https://saganmorrow.com/coaching/ 


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    Indie Author Weekly
    en-caNovember 07, 2023

    169: How a new dance class is affecting my book writing plans

    169: How a new dance class is affecting my book writing plans

    I began a new solo development dance class last month in preparation for my first-ever solo burlesque show... and that's given me a few ideas for incorporating burlesque choreography and culture into my upcoming romcom novel (Book 8 in the Polyamorous Passions series)!

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    Indie Author Weekly
    en-caOctober 24, 2023

    168: Writing alternative relationships, Q&A Part 3

    168: Writing alternative relationships, Q&A Part 3

    This episode provides Q&A inspired by the Weeknight Writers "Writing Alternative Relationships" panel discussion I spoke at this past summer — it's a follow up to our previous two episodes where I answered the first 5 questions: 

    • Q6: In romances, people usually expect a level of sexual tension that leads to sexual catharsis; how can you create a relationship arc where people have a similar level of emotional catharsis without the sexual aspect?
    • Q7: How do you manage a story with multiple love interests and/or romance arcs?
    • Q8: What kinds of alternative relationships do you want to see more of? How would you like existing representation of alternative relationship models to change?
    • Q9: What do you love MOST about writing the alternative relationships you do?

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    en-caOctober 10, 2023

    167: Writing alternative relationships, Q&A Part 2

    167: Writing alternative relationships, Q&A Part 2

    This episode provides Q&A inspired by the Weeknight Writers "Writing Alternative Relationships" panel discussion I spoke at this past summer — it's a follow up to our previous episode where I answered the first 3 questions: 

    • Q4: What level of awareness is it important to have when thinking about writing alternative relationships? (harmful tropes to avoid, poor representation traps, trusted places against which to check info/questions about types of alternative relationships we’re less familiar with?)
    • Q5: What advice would you give to a writer who wants to create a world where these alternative relationship models are considered normal or even the norm? What changes would this normalization have?

    Stay tuned for Part 3 of this Q&A, coming next week!

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    Indie Author Weekly
    en-caOctober 03, 2023

    166: Writing alternative relationships, Q&A Part 1

    166: Writing alternative relationships, Q&A Part 1

    This episode provides Q&A inspired by the Weeknight Writers "Writing Alternative Relationships" panel discussion I spoke at this past summer...

    • About the type of alternative relationships I write in my novels.
    • Q1: Do you believe it’s inherently radical to write alternative relationship models?
    • Q2: How does writing alternative relationships affect the way in which you construct your setting and/or frame the in-story relationship between the level of support (or difficulty) the alternatively romantic characters have with the society they live in?
    • Q3: How do you deal with the exploration & creation of boundaries in alternative relationship models? 

    Stay tuned for Part 2 of this Q&A, coming next week!

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    Indie Author Weekly
    en-caSeptember 26, 2023

    165: Writing childfree women

    165: Writing childfree women

    In this episode, we discuss...

    • Why I write childfree women in my Polyamorous Passions novel and Small Town Stilettos (quick examples of my characters).
    • My personal reasons for being childfree.
    • What it means to be "selfish" (wanting to have children vs not wanting to have children).
    • The societal pressures to have children (a masquerade to control women's bodies).
    • A trope I cannot STAND in fiction related to childfree women.
    • My reaction when I found out that physically I shouldn't/can't have children (years after deciding I didn't want kids).

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    Indie Author Weekly
    en-caSeptember 19, 2023

    164: Book launch recap for Small Town Stilettos (part 2 — marketing expenses, book sales and dollars earned, and mindset struggles)

    164: Book launch recap for Small Town Stilettos (part 2 — marketing expenses, book sales and dollars earned, and mindset struggles)

    In this episode of the Indie Author Weekly podcast, we are doing PART TWO of the book launch recap for Small Town Stilettos: a modern marriage of convenience!

    We discuss: 

    • Breakdown of book marketing expenses and total monetary investment.
    • Results of the book launch (actual numbers for book sales and dollars earned).
    • Mindset struggles and shifts.
    • Next steps moving forward with general book marketing.

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    Indie Author Weekly
    en-caSeptember 12, 2023

    163: Book launch recap for Small Town Stilettos (part 1 — marketing strategies, mistakes made, and what I'd do differently next time)

    163: Book launch recap for Small Town Stilettos (part 1 — marketing strategies, mistakes made, and what I'd do differently next time)

    In this episode of the Indie Author Weekly podcast, we are doing PART ONE of the book launch recap for Small Town Stilettos: a modern marriage of convenience!

    We discuss: 

    • 5 marketing strategies I used for the book launch.
    • 6 mistakes I made with this book launch.
    • 7 things I'd do differently with a future book launch.

    Stay tuned for PART TWO of the Small Town Stilettos book launch recap on next week's episode of Indie Author Weekly — we'll be diving into the numbers (book expenses, book sales, and dollars earned), as well as the mindset stuff that came up throughout this book launch, plus 3 big experiments I want to try for general book marketing.

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    en-caSeptember 05, 2023

    162: How my polyamorous romcoms all fit together

    162: How my polyamorous romcoms all fit together

    In this episode, we explore how the stand-alone novel Small Town Stilettos fits into the Polyamorous Passions series, and the interconnectedness of the “world” of these polyamorous romantic comedy novels. Learn more about the world of Polyamorous Passions, background on the fictional settings, character overlaps and interactions, and more!

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    Indie Author Weekly
    en-caAugust 29, 2023

    161: Frivolity, worthiness, and internalized misogyny (from Taylor Swift to romcoms)

    161: Frivolity, worthiness, and internalized misogyny (from Taylor Swift to romcoms)

    In this episode, we explore...

    • What makes something "frivolous,” vs worthy or deserving of your attention and enjoyment? 
    • Internalized misogyny that can come to play with how we perceive Taylor Swift, romantic comedies, and more.
    • The perceived validity and worthiness of more "serious" content vs women being allowed to have fun and put themselves first.
    • Questions to explore to overcome feelings of embarrassment and shame about your (or other people's) "guilty pleasures," and the freedom and liberation of allowing more frivolity and personal enjoyment, regardless of how "silly" a thing may be perceived.

    (This episode contains swearing between 6:45 - 7:02)

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    Indie Author Weekly
    en-caAugust 22, 2023

    160: The responsibility, risk, privilege, and choices involved in writing polyamorous romantic comedies

    160: The responsibility, risk, privilege, and choices involved in writing polyamorous romantic comedies

    “What made you decide to write polyamorous romcoms?” Today we’re answering THIS question!

    In this episode, we address the luxury and privilege of talking about “controversial” topics such as polyamory and burlesque, the responsibility vs risks of being open about this, the concept of sharing your values without explicitly stating them, the reasoning behind my very deliberate decision to use the setting of contemporary romantic comedy to feature polyamory, and more.

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    Indie Author Weekly
    en-caAugust 15, 2023

    159: Book club discussion prompts for Small Town Stilettos

    159: Book club discussion prompts for Small Town Stilettos

    "Small Town Stilettos: a modern marriage of convenience" deals with a variety of different themes (including grief, loss, and personal identity) and it’s the perfect novel to discuss at your book club! This episode features 10 book club discussion prompts, ranging from character development to fat positivity to societal expectations of women and more.

    Get the PDF version of these book club discussion prompts when you join Sagan's author newsletter: http://saganmorrow.com/secretpodcast

    GRAB YOUR COPY of Small Town Stilettos: https://www.amazon.com/Small-Town-Stilettos-marriage-convenience-ebook/dp/B0C776DB4M

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    Indie Author Weekly
    en-caAugust 08, 2023
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