Sacha Black's Blog, page 17
January 3, 2023
171 How to Raise the Emotional Stakes in your Novel with Stephanie Dethlefs
Hello Rebels, welcome to episode 171 of The Rebel Author Podcast. Today, I’m talking to Stephanie Dethlefs all about how to raise the emotional stakes in your novel.
In this episode we cover:
The importance of the emotional journeyMaking your prose more emotionalTips for writing emotional storiesHow to avoid writing cliched emotionsThis week’s question is: Are you a lover or hater of New Year?
Recommendation of the week is: A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
***this show uses affiliate links
Find out more about Stephanie:
Rebel of the Week is: Eden Collier
If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com
No new patrons this week, but a big thank you to my existing patrons. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack
Get 20% off using this Rebel Discount link.
The post 171 How to Raise the Emotional Stakes in your Novel with Stephanie Dethlefs appeared first on Sacha Black.
December 31, 2022
The Black Herron: Episode 5
Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number five between Rachael Herron and I.
This is The Black Herron Episode five. Don’t forget, Patrons get early access to these episode an entire month early and then we air them on the podcast feeds the following month. If you’d like to hear them early you can join me on Patreon from as little as $2 right here.
To find out more about Rachael, you can listen to her show “How Do You Write” or visit her website.
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If you haven’t read The Anatomy of a Best Seller, what are you waiting for? Grab my latest craft book and start deconstructing so you can write your own best seller today.
Book we’re reading:
Happy Money by Ken Honda
Quit by Annie Duke
**This show uses affiliate links
The post The Black Herron: Episode 5 appeared first on Sacha Black.
December 27, 2022
170 How to Write Feminist Fiction with C.L. Polk
Hello Rebels, welcome to episode 170 of The Rebel Author Podcast. Today, I’m talking to C.L. Polk all about writing feminist fiction and worldbuilding.
In this episode we cover:
Writing about gender inequality in an engaging wayCreating powerful female charactersAdvice for writing feminist fictionAttracting a specific audienceBalancing a bittersweet endingThis week’s question is: What are your goals for 2023?
Best Nonfiction of the Year:
Happy Money by Ken Honda
Quit by Annie Duke
Relentless by Tim S Grover
Best Fiction of the Year:
Queen Takes Rose by Katee Robert
King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St Clair
Darkest Night by Alessa Thorn
Special mention to Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
***this show uses affiliate links
Links I mentioned:
Preorder A Game of Hearts and Heists
Find out more about C.L. at:
Rebel of the Week is: Jasmine Arch
If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com
Thank you to V.E. Griffith for upping their pledge and welcome back to returning patron Jessica Samuels. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack
The post 170 How to Write Feminist Fiction with C.L. Polk appeared first on Sacha Black.
December 21, 2022
Revealing My Big Secret… Pen Name
So if you haven’t caught the podcast this morning, then this is also revealed in the show. For those that prefer to read… Here’s a summary of what my big secret pen name reveal.
My Big Secret Revealed…So I’ve been a secretive dick for a while.
There was a reason for that.
If you’re up to date with the podcast or you follow me on socials you’ll know that I’ve been squirrelling away under a secret pen name.
This feels like the end of a long road of growth and change for me over the last year. Much of it thanks to Clifton Strengths, Becca Syme and Elli who coaches me on the regular.
But also the start of a new wave of ME. A better me, a bigger me, a more accepting of me ME.
I’m excited.
I’m feeling stronger mentally which is why I’m ready to share.
In the summer of 2021, I read a sapphic young adult book and my mind shattered. I’d spent a lot of my childhood reading crime, or straight romance. We can all speculate on why that was the case, but why it happened isn’t the important bit. What’s important is the shift it created.
An opening.
A realisation.
I wanted more from fiction. I’d seen myself in a book, I’d felt something about the characters for the first time in a long time. If ever there were a case to help one realise that the world needs your book, there’s some little girl or boy or non binary child out there in need of your words and your representation, let this be it. There aren’t enough words in the world.
But then the joy ran out.
Around April this year, I’d had enough. Everything I’d read was clean and sweet and mostly contemporary.
FWIW there’s nothing wrong with any of those things, but I think we can all agree I am neither clean nor sweet.
I’m the kinda gal who would gut you in your sleep if you got in the way of my win.
Just saying.
Then I read Queen Takes Rose by Katee Robert and fell into the rabbit hole of fantasy romance. Steamy lesbian books and a whole romance world that was hot and spicy, dark and sweary.
It felt like home.
Like desire and chocolate and a beating yearn at my core… calm down heathens we’re not at the steam yet.
Christ.
What it was, was the missing puzzle piece.
But that’s not what Sacha wrote.
I mean sure, Sacha wrote a lot of swear words in her non-fiction, a fair amount of dick jokes.
But her fiction had taken a beating. You all know I’d lost confidence, it took me four years to finish Trey, and while I love that book, it was fraught with mindset and anguish issues. I dragged myself over that finish line limping and bleeding.
The sales results reflected that. It was the end of an era of having not delivered what the market and readers wanted. I’d tried to ram too much into one series, too many mistakes were made. But we all learn.
This time things had to be different.
I took 1-2-1 coaching. I ramped up my writing speed to drafting a book in under three weeks. This was great. This meant I had more flexibility. But the first book I did that with was still a YA book.
Okay… but it was sapphic at least.
I didn’t want to focus on it. I will do something with that next year, but I realised I needed to do something else.
Somewhere along the way, I’d lost the joy of writing.
I’d forgotten that I came to this industry in pain. You only have to read the post I wrote announcing the fact I’d quit my day job – see the photo I included to know the pain I was in.
And still, I’d manage to lose the joy. I’d stopped letting my inner 2 year old play with words, mash them together in sticky fists and gnaw on half sentences cause they tasted good.
See, here’s the thing. What I learned through coaching, is that somewhere down the line, I’d stopped loving myself.
I was functioning.
I was existing to do the work, pay the bills, and keep everyone alive.
I didn’t love myself. I wasn’t proud of myself. I didn’t think I was worthy or valuable.
Now, I’m not going to open the can of worms that led me to that conclusion, it is what it is. Let’s just table it as a fact. Another reminder that what you see on the outside isn’t always a person’s truth on the inside.
If you feel this way, just know I see you.
I understand.
Realising it shifted something monumental inside me. I was done hating myself. I was done letting other people’s judgments seep into my mind and influence my own judgment of myself.
I’m reading Happy Money by Ken Honda right now, and he said something last night that just fried my braincells.
“The bullies are just in their minds. The person who is really judging them is themself.”
Wait.
What?
I know. Re-read it. Take a second, I’ll wait. I shit the bed too.
Anyway, I realised that I needed to love me first. We all need to love ourselves first.
But to do that, I needed to be vulnerable.
Vulnerable with myself. I needed silence. I needed a moment to breathe and inhale and remember who I was, what joy was, and how to play again.
So I had to retreat. Do it in secret.
And at the time of writing the book, right up until the moment I sent it to the editor, I really thought that it would stay that way. That this was going to be a secret pen name for good.
But there’s a moment of letting go when you shove a book off to an editor. A separation of you the creator and the art you plied and mashed together with your pudgy fingers and it becoming a product and asset.
I’m sure that moment shifts depending on the person. But for me, it’s the moment I hand the book to the editor. It splits, much like giving birth I suppose, which is why writing and publishing is likened to childbirth so often.
Anyway. I sent the book off and realised I was free.
I’d done it.
And surprising no one, I felt lighter. Freer. Happier.
I’d written a book entirely just for me.
I wrote the kind of story I wanted to read. I’d rammed it with as much competition and dark heart steam as I could and you know what…
I fucking LOVE it.
I still love it.
When have you ever heard me talk about a book like that? At this point, I’m usually riddled with doubt and fear. Just look at the way I spoke about Trey.
No. This is different. This book is pure escapism. It’s fun. It’s not meant to be a literary masterpiece. It’s meant to whisk you away and keep you gripped to the pages, it’s meant to make you swoon and sigh and grin in sheepish delight. Because that’s exactly what I did writing it.
Which leads me to the reveal.
I’m keeping the pen name. I think it’s the persona I need to wear when writing these kinds of stories.
So meet:
Ruby Roe.
She’s like me, only more. Extra.
“Ruby Roe is the author of lesbian fantasy romance. She loves a bit of magic with her smut, but she’ll read anything as long as the characters get down and dirty. When Ruby isn’t writing romance, she can usually be found beasting herself in the gym, snuggling with her two pussy… cats, or spanking all her money on her next travel adventure. She lives in England with her wife, son and two devious rag doll cats.”
Why the name? Ruby is, for whatever reason, a name I’ve come across endlessly in the sapphic sphere. Roe is my step father’s surname and he was the one who tirelessly encouraged me to write “something naughty as it sells” so it’s a nod to him.
The book is called:
A Game of Hearts and Heists
This is the blurb:
Two enemies, one goal: steal each other’s hearts.
Scarlett Grey, disgraced assassin, is determined to get revenge.
Quinn Adams, medic turned-poisoner for hire, is her deadliest rival.
For years, they’ve stolen each other’s clients, sabotaged each other’s business, and occasionally… slept together.
When the Magician Queen offers an irresistible deal, Scarlett and Quinn are forced to work together. But this is not a simple job.
With an impossible heist ahead, they’re going to have to trust each other…
And that’s not easy when they both have secrets to hide.
Harder still when those secrets will betray the ones they love.
Now neither woman is sure if it’s a heist they want to win or a heart.
Two women, two deadly professions, and a romance that could be their downfall.
This is a steamy lesbian fantasy romance with enemies to lovers, a heist, found family, a secret royal, babes on bikes, and only one bed.
Two things as we round off this little jolly into my soul.
1. If this sounds like your sort of thing, and you’d like to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review or you’d like to be part of the street team, please let me know. This is a whole new venture. I need a team to help me launch. Email me on: ruby@rubyroe.co.uk or DM me or whatever you like.
2. If it sounds like the sort of story you’d like to read, the ebook is on preorder right now. Paper and hardbacks will be coming soon. You can see the little munchkin here.
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I have set up two socials for Ruby. Instagram and TikTok. But I haven’t quite decided on the platform I’ll be using yet. There will be a mailing list with smut, and dark hearts and free stories and gossip but again. It’s still brewing in my cauldron. But if you want to follow the adventure you can.
So that’s it. That’s where I’ve been and what I’ve been squirrelling away at.
No more secrets.
No more hiding.
That preorder button one more time:
Preorder A Game of Hearts and Heists
The post appeared first on Sacha Black.
December 20, 2022
169 Subscriptions for Authors with Emilia Rose
Hello Rebels, welcome to episode 169 of The Rebel Author Podcast. Today, I’m talking to Emilia Rose all about subscriptions for authors.
In this episode we cover:
How to use Patreon as an authorProducing content quickly and consistentlyGrowing your subscription platformEngaging and fostering your communityTips for creating cliffhangersThis week’s question is: Tell me something you love about yourself
Recommendation of the week is: A Game of Hearts and Heists by Ruby Roe
*** this show uses affiliate links
Links I mentioned:
The “I Quit My Job” Post: Read the post I wrote announcing the fact I’d quit my day job
Find out more about Emilia:
Professional Links to Subscription-Related Projects:
Rebel of the Week is: Sam Ross
If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com
1 new patron this week, welcome and thank you to Olivia Bedford. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack
THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY KOBO WRITING LIFE
Visit Kobo Writing Life here, read the Kobo Writing Life blog here, and listen to their podcast here.
The post 169 Subscriptions for Authors with Emilia Rose appeared first on Sacha Black.
December 13, 2022
168 Line Editing for Authors with Hayley Milliman
Hello Rebels, welcome to episode 168 of The Rebel Author Podcast. Today, I’m talking to Hayley Milliman all about line editing for authors.
In this episode we cover:
The different types of editingThe editing processLine editing for different levelsUsing tools like ProWritingAidThis week’s question is: Thinking towards next year and things you might need to put in place to help you achieve your goals, what motivates you?
Recommendation of the week is: Blood and Steel by Helen Scheuerer
***this show uses affiliate links
Find out more about Hayley and ProWritingAid with:
Rebel of the Week is: Judith Mortimore
If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com
No new patrons this week, but a big thank you to my existing patrons. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack
The post 168 Line Editing for Authors with Hayley Milliman appeared first on Sacha Black.
December 6, 2022
167 How to Write Fantasy Romance with Scarlett St. Clair
Hello Rebels, welcome to episode 167 of The Rebel Author Podcast. Today, I’m talking to Scarlett St. Clair all about how to write fantasy romance.
In this episode we cover:
What fantasy romance isWriting romantic tensionTips to writing sex scenesAudience buildingCreating boundaries with your fan baseThis week’s question is: Tell me something positive.
Recommendation of the week is: Wednesday (Netflix)
Links I mentioned:
Find out more about Scarlett:
Instagram @authorscarlettstclair
Buy Queen of Myth and Monsters
Rebel of the Week is: Lena Johnson
If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com
No new patrons, but thank you to Sparky Hazard for upping their pledge. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack
This Show is Sponsored by ProWritingAid
Get 20% off using this Rebel Discount link.
The post 167 How to Write Fantasy Romance with Scarlett St. Clair appeared first on Sacha Black.
November 30, 2022
The Black Herron: Episode 4
Hello Rebels and welcome to fireside chat number four between Rachael Herron and I. This is The Black Herron Episode four. Don’t forget, Patrons get early access to these episode an entire month early and then we air them on the podcast feeds the following month. If you’d like to hear them early you can join me on Patreon from as little as $2 right here.
To find out more about Rachael, you can listen to her show “How Do You Write” or visit her website.
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If you like dark humor, learning through examples and want to create perfect prose, then you’ll love my guide to crafting sensational sentences. Read The Anatomy of Prose today and start creating kick-ass stories.
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Book we’re reading: Happy Money by Ken Honda
**This show uses affiliate links
The post The Black Herron: Episode 4 appeared first on Sacha Black.
November 29, 2022
166 The Anatomy of Genres with John Truby
Hello Rebels, welcome to episode 166 of The Rebel Author Podcast. Today, I’m talking to John Truby all about the ins and outs of genre.
In this episode we cover:
Defining genreHow to mix genresTropes with a twistGenre-specific mistakes to avoidThis week’s question is: What self-limiting beliefs do you have?
Recommendation of the week is: Story Genius by Lisa Cron
***this show uses affiliate links
Links I mentioned:
Sacha’s Black Friday Discounts, use code BLACKFRIDAY30
Find out more about John:
Rebel of the Week is: Karla Hailer
If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com
3 new patrons this week, welcome and thank you to Tara D, V.E. Griffith and Liz Lazo. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack
The post 166 The Anatomy of Genres with John Truby appeared first on Sacha Black.
November 22, 2022
165 Planning for Authors with Sarra Cannon
Hello Rebels, welcome to episode 165 of The Rebel Author Podcast. Today, I’m talking to Sarra Cannon all about planning for authors.
In this episode we cover:
Planning systemsHow to plan effectivelyPlanning for the unknownBalancing family and careerMindset shiftsThis week’s question is: what have you learned about yourself this year?
Recommendation of the week is: High School Rocket Science: For Extraterrestrial Use Only by Patron Stanley B Trice
***this show uses affiliate links
Links/events I mentioned:
Sacha’s Black Friday Discounts, use code BLACKFRIDAY30
Find out more about Sarra:
Rebel of the Week is: Bair Klos
If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com
No new patrons this week, but a big thank you to all of my existing patrons. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack
THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY KOBO WRITING LIFE
Visit Kobo Writing Life here, read the Kobo Writing Life blog here, and listen to their podcast here.
The post 165 Planning for Authors with Sarra Cannon appeared first on Sacha Black.
