Sasha Black Writing and Publishing Tips

Study Notes

Sasha Black is a best-selling fantasy author who also writes nonfiction for writers.
She started writing at a young age but pursued psychology and corporate jobs before turning to writing.
Sasha started with blogging, then moved on to writing flash fiction, leading to her first young adult fantasy novel.
She participated in NaNoWriMo, wrote 270,000 words for her first book, and revised it multiple times before publication.
Sasha emphasizes the importance of villains in storytelling, as they create conflict and push the hero to change.
A good villain needs a solid motive, morals/values, a past emotional wound, and possibly a redeeming quality.
Villains believe in their actions due to their values, giving them a perceived logic and justification.
Villains should reflect the theme of the story and embody the opposite of the hero's values on a continuum.
Heroes should be fleshed out with unique perspectives, layered conflicts, and meaningful sacrifices.
Sasha uses a "hero lens" approach to filter everything through the hero's experiences for reader connection.- The speaker emphasizes the importance of having multiple streams of income, particularly through workbooks, which have proven to be profitable for them.
Workbooks have generated additional income of 6-10% on top of textbook sales, leading to significant overall profits due to having multiple workbook products.
Tips for creating workbooks include summarizing core textbook chapters, writing questions simultaneously with the textbook, and using vellum for formatting to allow space for writing answers.
Digital versions of workbooks have proven to be just as profitable, if not more, than paperbacks, as many customers prefer digital formats for reuse.
The speaker highlights the importance of finding one's own unique path to success in the writing industry, emphasizing financial stability and gradual reduction of day job hours.
Networking with other authors and engaging in paid marketing strategies like AMS ads and BookBub CPM ads have been crucial for building readership and sales.
The speaker mentions the impact of Jack Canfield's book "The Success Principles" in setting goals and staying accountable in their writing journey.
Blogging has been effective for reaching a nonfiction audience, while Instagram has proven valuable for connecting with fantasy fiction readers through visual content and engagement features like polls and questions.
Instagram has provided a platform for building a personal connection with readers and promoting books effectively.
The speaker's website is sashablack.co.uk, where all books are available, and they can be found on Facebook and Instagram as Sasha Black Author.

Description

Learn about best-selling fantasy author Sasha Black's writing journey, emphasizing the importance of villains, heroes, workbooks, and multiple income streams in the writing industry. Discover tips on creating engaging workbooks, building readership through networking and marketing strategies, and connecting with audiences through blogging and social media.