5 things I wish I knew before my debut as an author

Your First Chapter Is Losing Readers — Fix These 5 Mistakes

Is your first chapter losing readers? Your opening chapter has one main job: to make the reader want to keep reading. But many writers accidentally slow their story down before it has even started. We’ll talk about why you might be starting your story too early, how too much backstory or worldbuilding can kill curiosity, why your protagonist needs to be active, how to create emotional stakes, and why the end of chapter one needs a turn that pulls the reader into chapter two. If you are writing a novel, revising your first chapter, editing your manuscript, or preparing to self-publish your book, this video will help you make your opening stronger and more engaging. In this video, you’ll learn: * how to tell if your first chapter starts too early * why readers do not need all the backstory right away * how to make your protagonist more active * how to add emotional stakes to your opening scene * why every first chapter needs a turn * how to make chapter one promise the right kind of book Video where I talk about Lisa Cron's book Story Genius https://youtu.be/ORAxSsXR26E?si=FgGd0mSHSX3g-7oP Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:35 Mistake 1: Starting too early 03:17 Mistake 2: Explaining instead of creating curiosity 05:11 Mistake 3: Passive protagonist 08:11 Mistake 4: No emotional reason to care 10:31 Mistake 5: No turn at the end 12:15 Bonus: The first chapter is a promise

Don’t Self-Publish Your First Book in 2026 Until You Do This

Thinking about self-publishing your first book in 2026? Before you upload your manuscript to KDP, there are a few important things you need to have in place. In this video, I walk you through the complete self-publishing checklist I would follow if I were publishing my first book today. We’ll talk about finishing and revising your manuscript, getting feedback, editing, book covers, KDP keywords and categories, pricing, reviews, launch planning, and marketing your book before release. Self-publishing is not just about uploading your book to Amazon. It is about making sure your book is ready for readers, easy to understand, easy to find, and professionally presented.If you are an aspiring author, indie author, or first-time writer trying to publish your book, this video will help you understand the full process before you hit publish. Subscribe for more videos about writing, self-publishing, book marketing, author platform growth, productivity, and building a sustainable author career. 💬 What part of self-publishing feels most confusing to you right now: editing, cover design, KDP setup, keywords, reviews, pricing, or marketing? ✨Timestamps ✨ 00:00 Intro 01:20 Start with the reader 03:36 Finish the manuscript 05:32 What do DIY and when to hire a professional 08:53 Crafting a great blurb 11:12 Research before KDP 15:15 Build a platform in advance 19:07 Getting reviews 21:46 Time to upload 23:01 Marketing after launch

NaNoWriMo Is Gone. Here’s What Writers Should Do Now

NaNoWriMo is gone, but writing challenges do not have to disappear with it. Stop struggling with rigid schedules and one-size-fits-all word count goals. In this video, I’ll show you how to create a personalized writing challenge that fits your real life, helps you create a writing routine. Popular events like NaNoWriMo worked because they gave writers a deadline, a number, and a sense of community. But they also discouraged many writers because 50,000 words in 30 days does not fit every schedule, every project, or every season of life. Instead, you’ll learn how to use the WRITE Framework to build your own sustainable writing challenge: W — What are you actually trying to do? R — Right-size the goal I — Install a tracking system T — Think in minimums, targets, and stretch goals E — Expect disruption Whether you are drafting, outlining, revising, editing, rebuilding your writing habit, or returning after a long break, this approach will help you design a daily writing habit that creates a personalized writing challenge that actually fits your life instead of burning you out. By the end of the video, you’ll know how to choose the right goal, set a realistic timeline, track your progress, plan for missed days, and keep writing even when life gets messy.♥️ Subscribe for weekly writing productivity breakdowns, and comment below: what kind of writing challenge are you building — drafting, outlining, revising, or rebuilding your writing habit? FOLLOW ME ON SUBSTACK: https://diaryofanauthor.substack.com MY BOOKS: 📓 Library of Eternity https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/245897025-library-of-eternity 📘 The 66-Day Writing Challenge: Build a Sustainable Writing Habit with Daily Prompts https://a.co/d/8rAAeng 📙 Flykten https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/138323690-flykten 🎧 Flykten - ljudbok https://www.storytel.com/se/books/flykten-2255091 📔 Essäer om skrivande och vardagsflykt https://amzn.eu/d/0eUeZSLT My name is Natalie Forslind, I am a writing coach, author, and Growth Markter who teaches writers how to become more productive and market themselves online. #indieauthor #authortube #growthforauthors___________________ ✨Timestamps ✨ 00:00 Intro 01:24 Why writing challenges work 02:28 What is nanowrimo? 03:05 Why writing challanges fail 04:17 The WRITE framework 04:27 W — What are you actually trying to do? 05:12 R — Right-size the goal 07:30 I — Install a tracking system 10:18 T — Think in minimums, targets, and stretch goals 11:28 E — Expect disruption 12:47 Common questions

How Readers Discover Books Now — What Authors Can Learn From BookTok

How do readers discover books now? In this video, we look at what authors can learn from BookTok, reader recommendations, tropes, emotional hooks, social proof, and online book communities. You’ll learn how modern readers find books, why some stories are easier to share, and how to make your book easier to recognize, recommend, and remember. Link to the news referred in the video: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/booktok-community-50-million-books?lang=en-150 ✨Timestamps ✨ 00:00 Intro 01:07 Mistakes 03:40 Why BookTok matters 04:19 How readers discover books 06:18 What makes a book discoverable 09:31 Q&A

Want to Write a Book But Have No Ideas? Start Here

Want to write a book but have no ideas? In this video, I’ll show you how to find a book idea from your own life, interests, questions, fears, and favorite stories. You’ll learn simple ways to generate ideas, turn a tiny concept into a real book premise, and start writing even if you don’t feel like a “real writer” yet. FOLLOW ME ON SUBSTACK: https://diaryofanauthor.substack.comMY BOOKS:📓 Library of Eternity https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/245897025-library-of-eternity📘 The 66-Day Writing Challenge: Build a Sustainable Writing Habit with Daily Prompts https://a.co/d/8rAAeng📙 Flykten https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/138323690-flykten 🎧 Flykten - ljudbok https://www.storytel.com/se/books/flykten-2255091📔 Essäer om skrivande och vardagsflykt https://amzn.eu/d/0eUeZSLTMy name is Natalie Forslind, I am a writing coach, author, and Growth Markter who teaches writers how to become more productive and market themselves online.#indieauthor #authortube #growthforauthors___________________✨Timestamps ✨ 00:00 Intro 00:46 You don’t need and idea 04:00 The easiest book to write 06:58 I’m not a writer 08:22 Idea generators 11:40 Avoid copying others