With Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach, you'll gain clarity and overcome hurdles to become a better writer, pursue publishing, and reach your writing goals. Ann provides practical tips and motivation for writers at all stages, keeping most episodes short and focused so writers only need a few minutes to collect ideas, inspiration, resources and recommendations they can apply right away to their work. For additional insight, she incorporates interviews from authors and publishing professionals like Allison Fallon, Ron Friedman, Shawn Smucker, Jennifer Dukes Lee, and Patrice Gopo. Tune in for solutions addressing anything from self-editing and goal-setting solutions to administrative and scheduling challenges. Subscribe for ongoing input for your writing life that's efficient and encouraging. More at annkroeker.com.
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Find a Chunk of Writing Time for Your Creative Deep Dive
2026/09/30
Find a Chunk of Writing Time for Your Creative Deep DiveRelease Date: Sep 30, 2026(episode 296)
With a chunk of time you could do a deep dive into your work in progress, immersing yourself in it so your structure takes shape and your chapters emerge. Instead of chipping away at the project in Pocket Sessions, Deep Dives drop us into creative focus and flow where you binge-write, far exceeding your word count goals.
Finding time for a Deep Dive seems impossible, and yet it’s not as outlandish as you might think. In this episode, I offer simple solutions to carving out and preserving chunks of writing time for you to enjoy a creative deep dive.
You've got your book idea. Now it's time to get book-ready! Learn how my comprehensive coaching program called Book-Ready Writers can get you there: https://annkroeker.com/bookreadywriters
Are you book-ready? Check the 4Ps
2026/09/02
Are you book-ready? Check the 4PsRelease Date: Sep 22, 2026(episode 295)
If you’ve wondered how ready you are to write a book and pursue publishing, it’s time to determine your readiness with the 4P Diagnostic. Writers who struggle to make progress are almost always stuck in one (or more) of the 4Ps: Pitch, Prose, Platform, or Practice.
Over the years I developed separate programs designed to help writers level up all 4Ps, individual programs that were dedicated to each of the Ps. Addressing these in isolation got great results and I'm really proud of the programs and the people who went through them, but with the onset of AI and publishers raising expectations, I began to see the need for comprehensive, human-centered coaching.
So I combined the best of all my content and coaching into one group program built around all 4Ps: Book-Ready Writers. To support you on your goal of finding time to write, consider applying. Learn more at https://annkroeker.com/bookreadywriters
Don’t have blocks of time to write? Pockets work great!
2026/07/25
Don’t have blocks of time to write? Pockets work great!Release Date: July 25, 2026(episode 294)
In my last post, I recommended you value yourself and your work enough to stop putting it off. The assignment: figure out where the time goes so you find time to write.
The good news is that even if you only have slivers of time available, a lot of writing rolls onto the page during these “Pocket Sessions.”
This post encourages you with quotes from famous writers who worked during Pocket Sessions and with practical tips to make the most of your time.
Learn more at the link to this episode where you'll find the full post with additional resources, including 5-Minute Writer HERE.
To support you on your goal of finding time to write, consider applying for Book-Ready Writers. Learn more at https://annkroeker.com/bookreadywriters
”I don’t have time to write”- Ah, where does the time go?
2026/07/02
”I don’t have time to write”- Ah, where does the time go?Release Date: July 2, 2026(episode 293)
It comes up in nearly every conversation with a writer, whether in a group or one-to-one: “I don’t have time to write.”
Their deep longing to compose thoughtful, focused prose runs up against scrunched schedules that squeeze out creative effort. It seems they have nothing more than cracks or crevices of time to sit at the computer and can’t focus long enough to write what they want to say.
Worse, they give up, and the project remains unwritten, living only in their head.
Don’t let it be you.
This is the first in a series of episodes where we'll look at ways to deal with the struggle of finding time to write.
Learn more at the link to this episode where you'll find the full post with additional resources: https://annkroeker.com/2026/07/02/i-dont-have-time-to-write-ah-where-does-the-time-go/
To support you on your goal of finding time to write, consider joining WriteTrackers. We write together twice a week for an hour and a half. Some people can only come to one or the other or only a couple of times a month and they still report that they are completing projects they never would have gotten to if they hadn’t joined WriteTrackers. I love hosting this because I write alongside everyone and get things done, too. Learn more at writetrackers.com.
”Oh no! My book was written by someone else!”
2026/05/27
”Oh no! My book was written by someone else!”Release Date: May 17, 2026(episode 292)
Discovering "comps" (comparable books) for your book proposal is discouraging. But this episode gives you the good news: your comps validate reader interest and show your topic is in demand.
Learn how to leverage these existing titles to position your book as "similar, but different." Don't let competition discourage you; rather, embrace it as a sign of reader (and publisher) interest.
Listen or head to https://annkroeker.com/2026/05/27/oh-no-my-book-was-written-by-someone-else/ to read it and access additional related reading.
Working on a book proposal for your nonfiction book? Want support as you develop your similar-but-different book? Work with me in a year-long coaching program: Your Compelling Book Proposal - The 12-Month Accelerator. You'll craft a brilliant book proposal and build the author platform you need to succeed—no matter where you're starting. https://annkroeker.com/yourcompellingbookproposal
Dear [favorite author]
2026/04/20
Dear [favorite author]Release Date: April 20, 2026
Use this prompt to write a letter to your favorite author, alive or dead. Listen and you'll hear the letter I wrote (and who I wrote it to). This simple act reveals your creative values as you tell the author what it is you admire about their work.
Listen or head to to read it and access additional related reading: https://annkroeker.com/2026/04/20/dear-favorite-author/
And to get a copy of 52 Creative Writing Prompts, head to annkroeker.com/52prompts.
Are Abandoned Projects a Sign of Creative Weakness?
2026/03/25
Are Abandoned Projects a Sign of Creative Weakness?Release Date: March 25, 2026
Writers I work with—and if I’m honest, I myself—launch multiple projects, enthusiastic about every idea. We open a document, give it a working title, tap out a few paragraphs with loads of energy. Like the squirrel, we scamper around the Internet or library doing research, gathering quotes and anecdotes to incorporate into this shiny new work-in-progress.
A few days or weeks later, we abandon it, our sentences as sparse as the squirrel’s twigs up in that tree. The raw materials of a project—research, paragraphs, quotations—sit on our hard drive. Will we return to it and continue building or abandon it for projects with more potential?
Often we do abandon the project and scamper off to start another one.
Weeks or months later, we might open our Finder window or Google Drive and scroll through our archives, astonished to see so much unfinished business: half-drafted projects, a concept of a book, or the start of a post. We can feel like we’ve wasted our time and resources.
Are we quitters? Are we creatively weak? Are we people who love to start things but get bogged down in the messy middle, throwing in the towel when we can’t find our way through?
Our inability to finish can leave us feeling embarrassed, ashamed, or frustrated.
But that’s unhelpful self-talk. Instead, in this episode, we reframe it.
Listen or head to https://annkroeker.com/2026/03/25/are-abandoned-projects-a-sign-of-creative-weakness/ to read it and access additional related reading.
And to work with one-on-one, head to https://annkroeker.com/writing-coach - I can provide you with human support for writing you produce as the thoughtful human you are...no AI necessary!
Don’t want to say it yourself? Put a frame around it!
2026/03/22
Don’t want to say it yourself? Put a frame around it!Release Date: March 22, 2026
In novels, memoir, nonfiction, and poetry, a narrator can set up the main story so that we have a frame effect. This is, in fact, called the “frame narrative.” The main story, then, becomes “the story within the story.” Learn all about it and study examples in this episode.
The frame narrative sets up the “main” narrative, and provides context and lends plausibility to the story within the story. The nested story likely has a completely different narrator from the frame’s narrator (and the frame might also offer insight into that nested-story’s narrator).
The frame creates distance and reduces criticism of the first storyteller who sets things up. If you dislike or don’t agree with the story told, well, don’t blame the messenger. The main narrator is simply telling someone else’s the story (”Hey, this is what I heard a guy say”).
The frame narrative’s speaker says the bold thing by letting someone else say the bold thing. In other words, the frame narrative delegates to someone else the task of saying the hard or controversial thing.
You can see how you can try the frame narrative yourself to add distance from topics that matter to you. It’s a way of telling it slant. Invent one or both narrators, and create the story that sets up the nested story. You, too, can say the bold thing by letting someone else say the bold thing.
Listen or head to https://annkroeker.com/2026/02/25/do-you-really-want-to-write-quietly-its-an-ai-favorite/ to read it and access all my sources in the footnotes. And to work with one-on-one, head to https://annkroeker.com/writing-coach - I can provide you with human support for writing you produce as the thoughtful human you are...no AI necessary!
Do you really want to write “quietly”? (It’s an AI favorite)
2026/02/27
Do you really want to write “quietly”? (It’s an AI favorite)Release Date: February 27, 2026
We all have “pet” words or phrases that slide into our prose like a favorite shoe that’s shaped to our foot and supports our gait—literary techniques that feel like our voice on the page.
Some writers come across more casual, using sentence fragments or words like “ain’t” and “c’mon!” Others turn to ellipses for hesitation and pop a statement (or question) in parentheses for humor.
Guess who’s been paying attention to how we express ourselves?
Yeah, LLMs slurped up our online writing and got a taste for the way we write. Their favorite words and phrases draw from our favorite words and phrases, and now they’re repeating them ad nauseam, shoving them into everyone’s drafts so people leaning on AI for their writing start to sound suspiciously similar.
What’s especially frustrating is that these are perfectly good writing techniques, and now that I see them spilling into my inbox, I hesitate using them.
In the hands of skilled writers, a light touch with these could produce a pleasant flow, but AI doesn’t yet seem to fully sense the need for restraint, balance, and pacing. It stuffs otherwise effective wording into their drafts like too many prizes in a box of Cracker Jack. They stop being special after the fifth appearance.
Once I point them out, you’ll start to spot them in blog posts, articles, newsletters, and social media. In this episode, I point out several AI favorites. You'll start t spot them everywhere.
Listen or head to https://annkroeker.com/2026/02/25/do-you-really-want-to-write-quietly-its-an-ai-favorite/ to read it and access all my sources in the footnotes. And to work with one-on-one, head to https://annkroeker.com/writing-coach - I can provide you with human support for writing you produce as the thoughtful human you are...no AI necessary!
Whose Voice Is on Your Pages? Human vs. AI Writing
2026/02/11
Whose Voice Is on Your Pages? Human vs. AI WritingRelease Date: February 11, 2026
I opened someone's newsletter a few weeks ago touting the “glorious” age of AI and the advantages it provides.
Hm, I thought. AI is fascinating, I guess. Speedy. Clever, in its way. But…glorious?
It’s been studying us. Wouldn’t that suggest anything “glorious” about AI can be attributed in part to what it’s drawn from that which makes us gloriously human? It did, after all, train on our published projects like articles, blog posts, and books (which it’s already consumed, with or without our permission).
I’ve been thinking a lot about AI lately, as headline after headline offers dire warnings (job losses!) or lavish praises (glorious!), depending on the source. I know clients and colleagues who are using AI extensively in their operations, including research, drafting, and editing. I know others who haven’t tried it even once.
To be honest, I’ve gone back and forth on it myself. When ChatGPT was first making the headlines in 2022, I “interviewed it“ because I was curious to see how it worked and what it would say. I was simultaneously freaked out and fascinated with the results. Should I avoid it or embrace it?
I didn’t decide on the spot. Instead, I experimented with it in low-stakes ways before drawing any conclusions; it’s evolving so rapidly, however, I land on an opinion only to change my mind a week later based on new information. I’m suffering from technological whiplash.
Now that AI is embedded in our writing programs, email inboxes, and more, I’m revisiting my opinion once more.
Turns out I had a lot to say. Listen or head to https://annkroeker.com/2026/02/11/whose-voice-is-on-your-pages-human-vs-ai-writing/ to read it and access all my sources in the footnotes.
Self-Publishing vs. Traditional: Janyre Tromp's Real-World Experience with Both (and Clear Favorite)
2025/12/16
Self-Publishing vs. Traditional: Janyre Tromp's Real-World Experience with Both (and Clear Favorite)Release Date: December 17, 2025
Award-winning author and editor Janyre Tromp joins us for an in-depth exploration of her deep publishing experience. She’s seen it from all angles, as an editor in traditional publishing houses, and as an author who has seen the pros and cons of both traditional and self-publishing. Janyre breaks down the definitions, differences, and decision-making process for authors as they consider the publishing path that’s right for them.
In this wide-ranging discussion, you'll learn:
Clear definitions of vanity press, hybrid publishing, self-publishing, and traditional publishingWhy Janyre decided to try self-publishing (indie publishing) after undeniable success as a traditionally published authorHow she leverages her marketing background for maximum salesWhen to choose traditional publishing vs. self-publishing vs. other optionsThe financial realities and potential of each publishing pathWhich path has become her favorite (and why)
This interview is perfect for aspiring authors, seasoned writers considering a change, or anyone curious about how things are changing…and how we can make an informed decision.
⌚️Timestamped Notes
00:00 Multitasking Editor Embraces Indie
05:13 Publishing Access vs Readers
08:37 Indie Publishing Workflow Explained
12:45 Indie Publishing Services Evolve
13:37 Building Your Self-Publishing Team
19:21 Nonfiction Marketing Strategies
22:35 Self-Publishing: Learn or Delegate
23:29 Indie Authors as a Business
28:43 Effective Nonfiction Self-Publishing Tips
31:05 Publishing Requires Patience and Marketing
34:48 Indie Influence on Traditional Publishing
38:44 Hybrid Author vs Publisher
41:07 Navigating Publishing Rights & Royalties
45:39 Hiring Reputable Publishing Services
46:56 Vetting Publishers for Success
52:45 Benefits of Audiobooks for Readers
53:52 The Enduring Power of Books
57:51 Craft Your Book's Big Idea
Resources & Links:Free 3-Day Challenge: Craft Your Book’s Big Idea: annkroeker.com/3dayPrevious interview with Janyre about target audience: Start with Your Ideal Audience
What's your role in your reader's life?
2025/12/02
What's your role in your reader's lifeRelease Date: December 2, 2025
In this episode, Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach, explores how clarifying your role in a reader’s life transforms your tone, structure, and connection on the page. Using real-world analogies and examples from Anne Bogel, Annie F. Downs, and Lisa TerKeurst, Ann shows how to choose and calibrate a voice readers trust—whether you’re a knowledgeable friend, a teacher, a tower of authority, or a fellow traveler in the field.
In This Episode You’ll Discover:
Why defining your role makes writing more intuitive and effectiveHow to spot a voice/role mismatch that’s holding your manuscript backThe “knowledgeable friend” approach that helped Anne Bogel find her flowHow Annie F. Downs’ “coffee with a friend” brand guides tone and contentLisa TerKeurst’s 4 voices for authors: Tower, Teacher, In the Field, and In the PitWhen to avoid the “In the Pit” voice (and what to do instead)Practical tone tweaks: contractions, anecdotes, sentence fragments, vulnerabilityA quick exercise to test multiple voices and choose what fitsHow to align structure, examples, and word choice with your chosen roleWays to iterate based on reader response
⌚️Timestamped Notes
0:00 - Introduction and welcome from Ann Kroeker
0:26 - Episode topic: What’s your role in your reader’s life?
0:40 - Roles professionals play and their impact
0:57 - Why writers should understand their role for better connection
1:10 - Identifying your reader-facing role: friend, expert, or fellow traveler?
1:17 - The impact of a tone-role mismatch for writers
1:35 - How tone, structure, and writing style change when role aligns
1:45 - Aligning roles for authenticity and effective voice
1:50 - Writers Anne Bogel, Annie F. Downs, and Lisa TerKeurst refine their roles
2:17 - Anne Bogel’s “friend who knows some things” approach
2:47 - Using knowledgeable friend tone: relate and inform
3:04 - Annie F. Downs’ “coffee with a friend” brand
3:33 - Using anecdotes, humor, and vulnerability as a friendly writer
3:50 - Lisa TerKeurst’s four author voices explained
4:23 - The Tower Voice (authoritative expert)
4:46 - The Teacher Voice (research-backed and vulnerable)
5:04 - The In-the-Field Voice (guiding as fellow traveler)
5:26 - The In-the-Pit Voice (venting without solutions)
5:45 - Finding your role: reflection questions for writers
6:12 - How readers see you shapes your style
6:22 - Structuring research-based writing with the Tower Voice
6:33 - Blending guidance with personal insight as a Teacher
6:40 - Using shared experience for trust in the Field Voice
7:04 - The pitfalls of writing from struggle without solutions
7:12 - Experimenting with different writer voices
7:38 - Adjusting tone and style to suit your authentic role
8:12 - Realizing and embodying your role for writing flow
8:29 - Invitation to Craft Your Book’s Big Idea challenge
8:50 - Ann Kroeker encourages and supports writers
9:02 - Closing and ongoing support for writers
Resources & Links:Free 3-Day Challenge: Craft Your Book’s Big Idea — annkroeker.com/3dayLisa TerKeurst interview (linked in episode show notes at annkroeker.com/writersrole)
To read and check out all info, head to annkroeker.com/writersrole
Why Writers Get Lost in Research (And How to Find Your Way Back)
2025/10/08
Why Writers Get Lost in Research (And How to Find Your Way Back)Release Date: October 8, 2025
In this episode, Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach tackles the common "research rabbit hole" problem that plagues nonfiction writers. Learn how to balance thorough research with productive writing, using Isaac Newton's famous quote about "standing on ye sholders of giants" as inspiration for leveraging others' knowledge without getting lost in endless sources.
In This Episode You'll Discover:Why the research rabbit hole is a distraction for nonfiction writersNoticing when you're researching versus procrastinatingPractical strategies to ensure you stay focused on the researchThe importance of research for credibility and specificity in nonfiction
⌚️Timestamps:
0:00 - Welcome & Introduction
0:48 - Getting Lost in Research
1:30 - Does Detail Matter?
2:00 - Value of Specifics
3:15 - Building Trust Through Research
3:44 - Research in Memoir & Essays
4:09 - Standing on Giants’ Shoulders
4:40 - 7 Focused Research Tips
5:05 - Bracket Placeholders
5:23 - Tackling Online Distractions
5:45 - Parking Lot Document
6:00 - Staying Relevant
6:23 - Research Timers
6:48 - Organizing Research
7:16 - Research as Conversation
7:45 - Back to Writing
To read and check out all info, head to annkroeker.com/rabbithole
Start with Your Ideal Audience: Insights from Janyre Tromp
2025/09/24
Start with Your Ideal Audience: Insights from Janyre TrompEpisode 283 | Release Date: September 24, 2025
Quick SummaryIn this episode, Ann Kroeker is joined by award-winning author and editor Janyre Tromp for a deep dive into identifying your ideal audience as a writer. Janyre draws on 20+ years of publishing, editing, and marketing experience to explain why targeting the right readers—and understanding their true needs—will transform every stage of your writing process, from drafting to editing to pitching and platform-building. Whether you write fiction, nonfiction, essays, or poetry, this conversation will equip you with actionable strategies, creative encouragement, and permission to be yourself as you connect with real people through your words.
In This Episode You'll Discover:The difference between demographics and psychographics (and why felt needs matter most)How to use “real people” as your audience guide—beyond generic market profilesWhy writing purely from your own perspective may miss your target audience (and what to do about it)Practical strategies for exploring and validating your audience—before you write the whole bookThe value and methods of “testing” your message on social media, in articles, or through speakingSmart ways to use outlines, chapter summaries, and comparative titles to clarify your audienceWhy platform-building is about genuine connection, not perfection or performanceHow to balance platform work with writing—plus batching, repurposing, and self-care tips from Janyre’s own practiceEncouragement for embracing your unique voice and message, even when life or creativity feels overwhelmingKey MomentsJanyre’s multi-role background: Traditional/indie publishing, editing, and marketingDefining your ideal audience: From broad demographics to nuanced psychographicsHow emotion—not just facts—sells books and builds connectionThe role of social media as a “testing lab” for ideas and audience resonanceOutlining, annotating, and revising to realign with your audienceUsing comparative titles and community spaces to get to know your readersOvercoming perfectionism and performance pressure as you build your platformGrace for the process—nobody does it all, and real people connect with real peopleMemorable Quotes“Emotion sells a book. Facts do not sell books… That’s why you see a commercial, they’re appealing to an emotion, not a fact.”
“If you want to publish a book and help people, then you have to approach your book writing from that person’s perspective and write the book that they need, not the book that you want to write.”
“Social media is this lovely little lab where you can write about stuff and get immediate gratification of whether it works or not.”
“Go find your audience wherever they are and hang out with them… If you have a conversation with them that resonates, they’ll come hang out with you elsewhere too.”
“You have a message that only you can give. Don’t be afraid to step out into that and make those connections.”
Resources MentionedJoin Janyre’s upcoming YPM training: Your Platform Matters (YPM)Learn more about Janyre Tromp: janyretromp.com and Editing InsidersFree Facebook group for editing questions: Editing Insiders on FacebookConnect & Continue the ConversationEmail Ann: annkroeker.com/contactExplore free & paid offerings: annkroeker.com/everythingGet free coaching in your inbox: annkroeker.com/connectFollow Janyre Tromp: @janyretromp on Instagram, LinkedIn, and (newbie!) TikTokReady to go deeper?Join YPM for Janyre’s “X Marks the Spot” training on finding your true audience—live and on replay.I'm cheering you on as a writing coach in your ear. Thanks for listening!
Don't Wait to Share Your Message
2025/09/10
Don't Wait to Share Your MessageEpisode 282 | Release Date: September 10, 2025
Quick SummaryIn this episode, Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach, explores how we can share our ideas and messages immediately through digital platforms rather than waiting for traditional publishing timelines. Learn why starting small today can make a bigger impact than waiting for the "perfect" long-form project to be complete.
In This Episode You'll Discover:How digital publishing has transformed our ability to share ideas globallyWhy waiting to complete a book means delaying your impact on readersPractical ways to repurpose book content for immediate publicationHow to overcome algorithm anxiety and focus on genuine connectionThe value of reaching even a small audience with your messageKey Moments:[00:00] - Introduction: From farm life to digital publishing[03:15] - The Jetsons-like reality of modern publishing tools[06:30] - The lengthy timeline of traditional book publishing[09:45] - Creative ways to repurpose book content for immediate sharing[12:30] - Overcoming algorithm anxiety and focusing on real connections[15:45] - Why even reaching a few people matters[18:20] - Practical first steps to start sharing your message todayMemorable Quotes:"Someone out there needs exactly what you have to share—and they need it today.""Your message going out means you're intersecting with readers and potentially changing lives.""That chapter you're polishing for your book proposal? You probably have several subsections. Pick one and modify it to become a LinkedIn post."Resources Mentioned:annkroeker.com/ypm
Connect & Continue the Conversation:Email me: annkroeker.com/contactExplore all my offerings, both free and paid: annkroeker.com/everythingGet free coaching in your inbox: annkroeker.com/connectI grew up on a farm before email, before social media, before any Internet existed for the general public. We had phones, of course. We had walkie-talkies. But we didn’t have Instagram or websites.
If you traveled back in time and told young Ann (I was “Annie” back then) that at the click of a button—from the palm of my hand—I’d be able to write something that would be available to people anywhere in the world, I wouldn’t have believed you.
I would have laughed, thinking you were teasing me. “Come on,” I would have said, “that’s like something out of The Jetsons.”
Publish from the Palm of Your HandYet here we are, with publishing and distribution platforms literally in the palms of our hands. From your phone or a laptop, you can write something, click publish, and it’s live as an update on social media, a blog post on your website, a newsletter via email.
Anyone in the entire world can read it.
That really is like something out of The Jetsons.
Have you stopped to think how fast and easy it is to write and send a message into the world from your computer or phone—how it flies through the ether and into a follower’s feed or a subscriber’s inbox? The immediacy is mind-boggling.
The Power of Publishing NowIf you're working on a long-form project like a nonfiction book, you’re writing for a reader whose life you hope to impact, whether through a major transformation or a subtle shift in perspective. It takes a long time to complete a polished version of those 50,000+ words, ready for publication. When you seek traditional publication, you pitch agents in hopes of an offer.
All that work and waiting, and not one word has been read by your intended audience.
Let’s say you finally sign a book contract today. After all that time, your message still won't reach that reader for another year-and-a-half to two years.
That's a long time before your words finally reach your readers.
Why wait when you have Jetsons-like gadgets on hand? Why not start making a difference in your readers’ lives right away? Your full manuscript may still be in progress, but your message can begin changing lives today:
Blog posts and Substack newsletters let you do a deep dive into your concepts for readers to ponderSocial media posts allow you to test ideas and connect directly with your audiencePodcast appearances help you reach listeners who might never discover your bookOnline publications can feature your expertise to established audiencesThat chapter you're polishing for your book proposal? You probably have several subsections. Pick one and modify it to become a LinkedIn post.
The research you’ve done to support your main argument? Some could become an infographic for Instagram.
The personal story illustrating your message? Share it on your Substack.
Deliver value now while building anticipation for your completed book that will launch later. You even test your ideas to find what resonates most and strengthen your draft.
But the Algorithm…If you’re thinking social media algorithms will throttle your reach, try to relax and have a little fun. Imagine how your post might reach a few of your ideal readers and make them think, laugh, feel something.
Remember to be social on social media: Like other people’s content. Leave a comment. Share their posts. Worry less about the algorithm and be social with people you care about.
When you focus on creating helpful content and engaging with others, you connect directly with the people who need your message most.
Sure, maybe fewer people interact with your Instagram carousel post than they used to. Maybe “social media” seems more performative and less “real,” maybe the algorithm change really did show your work to fewer people, but even a few views means you brushed against each other virtually. An interaction in the DMs can be two people chatting and not just an automated system sending out a link (those are handy tools, but I’m suggesting you could simply be real).
Worst case scenario, only a few people see your post. That’s a few people “Annie” never would have reached when sitting in the farm house back in the day.
If you told me then that five or ten people read something I had written and published on a platform called “Instagram,” I would have been astonished. Real people somewhere in the world instantly read my words! That would have changed my life; I would have thought of myself as a writer years earlier. I would have thought about my writing differently, imagining those readers, hoping my ideas would change them in some way as our lives intersected for those few seconds.
Today, at this moment, that’s our reality.
Your message going out means you’re intersecting with readers and potentially changing lives.
Start Now, Start SmallSomeone out there needs exactly what you have to share—and they need it today.
Choose one approach that feels relatively natural and comfortable. It doesn’t have to be social media. Maybe it’s an emailed newsletter, audio on a podcast, video on YouTube, or a blog post on your website.
Extract one idea from your long-form work-in-progress and shape it to fit the medium.
Press publish.
It’s like the Jetsons…but it’s really out there, reaching readers right now.
Podcast reviews
Read Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach podcast reviews
4.7 out of 5
113 reviews
★★★★★
@kimstewinspired 2023/02/12
What your writer’s heart needs!
I love Ann’s passion for helping us become better writers. I especially enjoyed her interview with Allison Fallon! Tune in and encourage your writer’s...
★★★★☆
txglen 2023/01/24
Extremely Actionable and Enjoyable
When I want to learn some thing, I don’t want to waste my time wading through a lot of irrelevant information. Ann is effective at cutting out the flu...
★★★★★
Dgreen3686 2022/08/19
Bottom line podcast
My favorite thing about Ann’s podcasts is that they are about writing. I hate listening to congratulatory commentary between host and guest. I’m also ...
★★★★★
Alexstrath1 2021/06/15
A labor of love
Ann hits home with her beautifully told stories that empower you as a writer. I recently heard her episode on the shift that must take place when deci...
★★★★★
kamikidd 2021/01/16
Grammar stories to remember
It is easy to remember grammar rules when you’re not eating your relatives: ‘‘Let’s eat Nana” versus ‘let’s eat, Nana!’
★★★★★
Dorina Gilmore-Young 2020/12/11
Always concise & helpful!
I’m a long-time listener to this show. I love how Ann concisely brings us tips and tools for writing. She has such enthusiasm in the way she presents....
★★★★★
InfinitelyMore 2020/09/20
Favorite writing podcast
Ann love your show! So helpful and inspiring! Love the length. Short and sweet. Love the upbeat music and your voice! Thanks for who you are! Lo...
★★★★★
JobRetriever 2020/06/01
Wise and very intelligent
Ann is a leader— in a world where very few exist anymore. She’s one of those people that you hope to have in your neighborhood, and community. There’s...
★★★★★
Erika in Idaho 2019/04/30
short and sweet!
So helpful. I love Ann's upbeat and short tips on how to live and write, and write some more. Just what I need to get myself back at the keyboard.
★★★★★
Hudson59tex 2019/02/05
HUD
I have listened to 20 or more of these podcasts. I love her attitude and disposition. The episodes range from somewhat useful to “that is a really goo...