Latest / The Book Deal / What we have learned (and observed) after 100 episodes of Book Dealin'

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What we have learned (and observed) after 100 episodes of Book Dealin' · The Book Deal

• 0:09
  Tina Strachan: The Book Deal Podcast Where you will discover the inspiring stories behind your favorite books.
• 0:15
  Speaker 2: We interview seasoned and debut authors, as well as publishing industry professionals, to bring you the best tips and advice on how to get that elusive book deal.
• 0:25
  Speaker 3: So no matter what stage of writing you're at, we've got you covered.
• 0:29
  Speaker 3: I'm Tina Strachan.
• 0:30
  Tina Strachan: I'm Madeleine Cleary.
• 0:32
  Speaker 2: And I'm Natasha Rai.
• 0:34
  Speaker 3: And join us as we pull back the curtain of published authors.
• 0:37
  Speaker 4: One deal at a time.
• 0:43
  Speaker 4: The Book Deal podcast acknowledges the traditional owners of the land and waters which it's recorded on, and pays respect to their elders past, present, and emerging.
• 0:56
  video1035058110: Ladies, 100 episodes.
• 0:58
  video1035058110: Can you even believe it?
• 1:00
  Tina Strachan: Yay! We need party poppers.
• 1:02
  Tina Strachan: Where's the party poppers?
• 1:04
  Tina Strachan: That's a mammoth achievement
• 1:05
  Madeleine Cleary: And we don't
• 1:06
  video1035058110: It is.
• 1:06
  video1035058110: And we don't even have a glass of wine well to celebrate.
• 1:09
  Tina Strachan: What were we thinking?
• 1:10
  Tina Strachan: That's to come
• 1:11
  video1035058110: That is to
• 1:12
  Tina Strachan: Next month when we all actually gather together, we can do it in person.
• 1:15
  Tina Strachan: But yeah, congratulations ladies.
• 1:17
  Tina Strachan: It's such a milestone, 100 episodes
• 1:20
  video1035058110: It's insane.
• 1:21
  video1035058110: I actually, I mean, if you remember, Tina, I sent through some
• 1:26
  Madeleine Cleary: messages
• 1:26
  video1035058110: of when we started this podcast- Mm-hmm uh, just the initial conception of it.
• 1:31
  video1035058110: Mm-hmm.
• 1:32
  video1035058110: I don't think I would've thought we were c- going to going after two years and
• 1:37
  Madeleine Cleary: episodes.
• 1:37
  video1035058110: Like, that's a lot.
• 1:38
  video1035058110: significant, isn't it?
• 1:39
  Tina Strachan: Oh, and that ti- that time has flown though.
• 1:42
  Tina Strachan: L- absolutely flown.
• 1:43
  Tina Strachan: I can't believe it was two years ago.
• 1:45
  Tina Strachan: It's, but, you know, it's been so much fun, so I don't think it's felt like work at all, and, you know, it's just been a really fun ride.
• 1:52
  Tina Strachan: But yeah, I it's been so long
• 1:54
  video1035058110: and feels Tash, been part the journey for the whole time.
• 1:57
  video1035058110: I don't know know.
• 1:58
  video1035058110: I, I was almost surprised when I saw'cause I was like,
• 2:00
  Natasha Rai: Oh,
• 2:00
  video1035058110: am I?
• 2:01
  video1035058110: Oh, that's right."
• 2:03
  Tina Strachan: Hang on.
• 2:05
  Tina Strachan: But not for long.
• 2:05
  Tina Strachan: Not for long.
• 2:06
  Tina Strachan: It wasn't for long, and yeah
• 2:08
  video1035058110: goodness we brought you on.
• 2:10
  Tina Strachan: Mm-hmm.
• 2:10
  Tina Strachan: Mm-hmm.
• 2:11
  video1035058110: yeah it's been so amazing.
• 2:13
  video1035058110: Like, just so much
• 2:14
  Natasha Rai: fun
• 2:15
  video1035058110: It has been Yeah Mmhmm the the fact that we to catch each month as well it just puts it in the it?
• 2:20
  video1035058110: That get to chat with your your friends and talk writing Mmhmm it's just a dream isn't Exactly is Um so I went back and I listened first ever ep episode
• 2:34
  Tina Strachan: I rec- I, oh, I'm sc- I don't, I'm scared do that.
• 2:37
  Tina Strachan: I don't think I'm
• 2:37
  video1035058110: do that So um I still recording actually Um and this just between Tina and myself obviously That's right yes
• 2:45
  Madeleine Cleary: time.
• 2:46
  Madeleine Cleary: So published pretty
• 2:48
  video1035058110: two years ago Uh and do you know
• 2:49
  Madeleine Cleary: know
• 2:50
  video1035058110: I I so hard cause the first thing we say Tina is It's been big month."
• 3:00
  Tina Strachan: Oh, how the perspective has changed.
• 3:03
  video1035058110: Yes.
• 3:03
  video1035058110: Yeah And I'm A month
• 3:05
  Tina Strachan: Such a big thing
• 3:06
  video1035058110: big year.
• 3:06
  video1035058110: I feel like that's say every time we
• 3:08
  Madeleine Cleary: catch don't we
• 3:10
  video1035058110: We
• 3:11
  Tina Strachan: really do.
• 3:11
  Tina Strachan: Oh, look, it's a good problem to have, I guess.
• 3:13
  Tina Strachan: Uh, that's so funny.
• 3:15
  Tina Strachan: You know, I would think back to that and, um, I, I mean, I'd like to hear how we sound, if we sound differently.
• 3:22
  Tina Strachan: But I mean, I don't feel like, uh, it felt just very natural straight away.
• 3:26
  Tina Strachan: I don't think Well
• 3:27
  video1035058110: don't even introduce ourselves Tina
• 3:30
  Tina Strachan: Oh, yeah.
• 3:31
  Madeleine Cleary: We just
• 3:31
  Tina Strachan: We knew who
• 3:32
  Madeleine Cleary: start we're immediately just start talking
• 3:35
  video1035058110: I think
• 3:35
  Madeleine Cleary: um first 10 or 15 minutes,
• 3:37
  video1035058110: um it must sounded like you were a rep for CYA Conference
• 3:42
  Tina Strachan: Yeah.
• 3:43
  Tina Strachan: I still do sound like a rep for the CYA conference.
• 3:46
  video1035058110: Like we're getting endorsements or
• 3:47
  Tina Strachan: good rep, I'm not a very good rep since they, you know, they don't exist anymore, but
• 3:51
  video1035058110: who knows And I also mention Melbourne's weather as well so Yeah we we're consistent I reckon
• 3:57
  Tina Strachan: if anything
• 3:59
  Madeleine Cleary: but yes it it great
• 4:01
  video1035058110: listen I'm if we sounded different Maybe sound I don't know
• 4:05
  Madeleine Cleary: know
• 4:05
  video1035058110: Have we grown more cynical do think the last two years
• 4:09
  Tina Strachan: Yeah, interesting.
• 4:11
  video1035058110: know.
• 4:11
  video1035058110: We'll to people Yeah What do you think Tash Or are we still optimistic I don't think so I think, w I think the curiosity and the optimism's always there Mm
• 4:14
  Natasha Rai: don't think so I think I the curiosity and the optimism's always there
• 4:19
  Madeleine Cleary: Hmm
• 4:20
  video1035058110: I I maybe we ma have a bit more about parts the publishing journey that we didn't know all the business stuff Now I couldn't talking so confidently about tax Two years ago Uh so I think yeah maybe it's that Yeah There there was actually part where I laughed because obviously two weeks ago we recorded our episode um talking about our edits and Tina just trying to motivate us going Ladies I'm sitting
• 4:52
  Madeleine Cleary: here on the outside What going through
• 4:55
  video1035058110: of process It's Relax And in our first episode I was also going through edits and Tina How are you going And I just said Oh just love it
• 5:05
  Madeleine Cleary: I love everything about it
• 5:08
  video1035058110: You know I just can't I just love such a privilege And now Oh my God,
• 5:13
  Madeleine Cleary: brain
• 5:14
  video1035058110: do
• 5:15
  Madeleine Cleary: for
• 5:16
  video1035058110: I
• 5:17
  Tina Strachan: Okay.
• 5:18
  Tina Strachan: Yes.
• 5:19
  Tina Strachan: Yes.
• 5:19
  Tina Strachan: Well, I mean, you've had to do it a few times now, I suppose
• 5:22
  video1035058110: I know and doesn't get any easier it that's not we shouldn't leave it that super positive Um
• 5:28
  Madeleine Cleary: uh, of edits though Tash how is your tight deadline going Did you submit your edits?
• 5:34
  video1035058110: I did and I actually feedback already on afternoon 500 so I didn't look at even though I thought about it all weekend Oh, really?
• 5:42
  video1035058110: That's so You look it all on weekend No It was cause you were so you thought Yes that is right That's right Just gonna yep leave Mmhmm okay But 430 morning couldn't sleep I thought I what do Mm I'll start going through my edits
• 5:56
  Tina Strachan: Sure.
• 5:57
  video1035058110: Yeah And then stopped doing that at had get ready for work
• 6:01
  Natasha Rai: Uh but
• 6:02
  video1035058110: okay Uh there's few kind dangling bits that need to address, but it's going to be okay And when when do you to submit your by
• 6:13
  Natasha Rai: Actually it was supposed
• 6:14
  video1035058110: be this Friday but I if I make it next Monday and said yes So next you feel That is empowered when ask for that deadline ex extension was just like, What's gonna happen I submit it on Monday And and there you go It's nothing I'm That's
• 6:28
  Natasha Rai: goes nothing I'm like Excellent
• 6:29
  Tina Strachan: That's my theory about a Friday deadline though, I do have to say, especially like a close of business Friday.
• 6:34
  Tina Strachan: Like, you know they're not touching it till Monday morning.
• 6:38
  Tina Strachan: You know, and I've had lots consultants during the years just automatically assume and send it, like, at 6:00 AM s- Monday morning or very late Sunday night, and they use that whole weekend to keep working on their, know, their proposals and stuff.
• 6:51
  Tina Strachan: So yeah.
• 6:52
  Tina Strachan: No, that's fair.
• 6:52
  Tina Strachan: That's good,'cause a whole weekend is massive amount of extra time.
• 6:56
  video1035058110: Exactly
• 6:57
  Tina Strachan: Yeah.
• 6:57
  Tina Strachan: You always gotta ask, I think, hey
• 7:00
  video1035058110: There's no thing a weekend when a writer
• 7:03
  Madeleine Cleary: isn't
• 7:03
  video1035058110: No ever keep working don't Really not just edits
• 7:06
  Natasha Rai: Yeah.
• 7:06
  Natasha Rai: 'Cause you yeah
• 7:07
  Tina Strachan: It reminds me, um, you saying, what you were saying then, just talking about edits as we have so much over the last years.
• 7:15
  Tina Strachan: Um, but I think it's really important, and, uh, I just actually this evening posted, um, like a highlight from our Sarah Armstrong interview from last week, and it's the part where she talks about And she teaches writing, and it's the part where she talks about how a lot of the, um, work, I guess, is actually done in the rewriting.
• 7:36
  Tina Strachan: You know, you can have
• 7:37
  video1035058110: this
• 7:37
  Tina Strachan: book and you do everything, but a lot of the magic and everything actually happens in that whole editing space after you've, like, sort of written the end.
• 7:46
  Tina Strachan: What comes after that is a lot of pulling apart that people don't realize.
• 7:50
  Tina Strachan: Like, get to a point and you feel like it's fully formed, and then it's, there's a lot of pulling apart, and that's where it can really turn the book from just, um, a good book into that's un-put-down-able.
• 8:02
  Tina Strachan: So yeah, it's, it's very I think
• 8:05
  Madeleine Cleary: Emily McGuire same
• 8:06
  video1035058110: thing
• 8:06
  Natasha Rai: Yeah
• 8:07
  video1035058110: I and I agree with that not just as a theory the the doing I always feel now getting it when I'm doing the and the edit Mm Um
• 8:18
  Natasha Rai: how are edits going Mads
• 8:21
  video1035058110: Um so after we spoke I got an email I think quite no not stressed but I was just aware that had a a looming deadline Um and
• 8:34
  Madeleine Cleary: I
• 8:34
  video1035058110: three weeks Uh I got an email from my editor asking I could if she could bring forward deadline by a week so that me two weeks And it's so funny ladies because so sent that request to you guys and Tash straight away you're Say no." was like,"I've already said yes Tash Because I'm a people pleaser
• 8:59
  Madeleine Cleary: It's what
• 9:03
  video1035058110: do I did it.
• 9:05
  video1035058110: I did it, and actually having that Time pressure quite good on for productivity I think I had free weekend well I didn't
• 9:15
  Madeleine Cleary: have anything on so that
• 9:16
  video1035058110: also good Uh and what it has done though
• 9:21
  Madeleine Cleary: though it's I haven't really lost a week I
• 9:23
  video1035058110: got I just week on back of my next edits So my editor turned around fast in four three She read days and then gave her comments Wow Hmm Some really good linelevel comments now so we're getting right the detail which awesome Um and now got extra week to look at those so going to be yeah refining So I think it was good that I did it Um and yeah it's getting there It's really shaping And what been doing and I'm not sure you both do this as go through the manuscript there's just a s small peppering of nice comments from your editor Right Yes yes And I've been Cause then you've or delete them and I think I leave them.
• 10:11
  Tina Strachan: Do smiley face
• 10:12
  Natasha Rai: I leave in the
• 10:13
  video1035058110: very last moment so cause every Oh I go to the nice comment I'm Well that's right Aw It makes feel so good doesn't it it does Yeah almost like sycophantic It's like Um well what I've been is I've been screenshotting Oh Putting them into a document and then I delete them so know that still there And when I feel bad and when my brain's like Oh this rubbish it's nonsense go to document which says nice things I like that I love that
• 10:41
  Natasha Rai: I love that.
• 10:42
  video1035058110: Yeah that An evidence
• 10:43
  Natasha Rai: log
• 10:43
  Madeleine Cleary: this
• 10:44
  video1035058110: do you Tina What do you do with yours
• 10:46
  Tina Strachan: No, but I do think about...
• 10:48
  Tina Strachan: Oh, with when I get my
• 10:49
  video1035058110: in Mm
• 10:50
  Tina Strachan: Um, I just do like a little smiley face emoji back underneath and reply and keep there.
• 10:55
  video1035058110: Yeah Nice
• 10:57
  Tina Strachan: But, um, I do often think that I should do that, and I've heard of people doing it before where you do collect all your, your positive, um, affirming sort of messages or s- just reviews and things as well, and put them somewhere really blatantly obvious.
• 11:13
  Tina Strachan: Not just like a hidden document, but have it as your screensaver on your computer or a poster on your desk, anything because, number one, you should be really proud of it as well and not hiding it away, and number two, you need it very clear and obvious for those times when y- that little negative worm gets in your head telling you that you can't write, when you can.
• 11:30
  Tina Strachan: "Look, all these people said these nice things about you," so yeah, I had
• 11:34
  Madeleine Cleary: a very
• 11:35
  video1035058110: excellent boss one of first ever bosses when I joined um my public, public service and she said to me Make sure in your keep a brag book Yeah And every someone something good about you you just write down in brag book Um I did not follow her advice the stuck with me I always thought I do that, and I think really for writers Yeah And particularly you're receiving a lot rejections and you are an emerging writer any time you know you're submitting your work for short story competition you're getting good feedback pop that all in a document I think that's really important in a brag
• 12:14
  Tina Strachan: Yeah you think that you'd never forget it sometimes Like you get something and you just think Oh that's just the most amazing news I'll never forget it but you actually do You actually do over time It it just sort of whittles away so it's important and you
• 12:26
  video1035058110: you should celebrate
• 12:27
  Tina Strachan: the wins
• 12:28
  Madeleine Cleary: Do
• 12:28
  video1035058110: have you had any wins the last two weeks Tina been going on with you?
• 12:31
  video1035058110: Last
• 12:32
  Tina Strachan: two weeks Oh gosh Um what's been going on
• 12:35
  video1035058110: me Well Well your hair looks amazing obviously Oh that's
• 12:38
  Tina Strachan: the most important thing Um that's what happens when you wash it It
• 12:42
  video1035058110: Um
• 12:43
  Tina Strachan: I you know what Like this is well it's book week CBCA Book Week this week so uh the whole month really is just booky kids booky things So um I've done some school visits and you know it was a book week parade last week which was so cute My kids did book week parade and there was a few uh knickers dressed up there in the
• 13:08
  video1035058110: They're in the
• 13:08
  Tina Strachan: Like honestly is that not the most the just
• 13:12
  video1035058110: just
• 13:12
  Tina Strachan: the biggest kind of just out this world thing you know I just I've always dressed my own kids up as characters forever and now to have know kids dressing up as um my own characters is just mindblowing So yeah there's been lots of prep for workshops and author talks and visits and bookstore visits and and yeah keeping myself very busy
• 13:35
  video1035058110: So um I mean that so super to see uh kids dressing as Neekah I just
• 13:40
  Madeleine Cleary: that.
• 13:41
  Madeleine Cleary: Um
• 13:41
  video1035058110: are you So are when Book Week Is that this week or
• 13:44
  Madeleine Cleary: is it
• 13:45
  Tina Strachan: week Yeah
• 13:46
  video1035058110: And
• 13:46
  Tina Strachan: week But there's school schools like I went to one last week cause they had to do it the week before and then I'm going to another one next week cause they're doing it the week after cause they all just have different schedules sometimes So it t it turns into a bit of a month
• 13:59
  video1035058110: And I if authors for it, they should really review the Week special episodes came in July Absolutely Yeah
• 14:08
  Tina Strachan: That's what they're they're there for Look you know I Yeah so we've got two special eps uh all about school author visits and not just for Book Week and for You know also there's uh people who write you know for adults as well who definitely do go to schools to the high schools to talk kids about writing and about you know covering themes in their books And so you know if you haven't done before it can be a little bit nervewracking and there's lots of things to you know think about And those episodes we ask oh how many Uh have seven authors in the end that we picked their brains on who gave us lots of their time and all their best tips for how to prepare uh for the visits and how to be ready on the day and what to do with nerves and what happens if there's a disaster And yeah some really beautiful tips and advice for anyone who is keen for or gearing up for their next uh school visit And
• 15:02
  video1035058110: your your number one top tip
• 15:04
  Tina Strachan: Oh uh number one tip is uh be interactive Kids I I've uh not done high school I've only done primary school but my top tip is to be interactive Always ask the kids lots of questions um and get them involved uh cause they you know they love talking about themselves Uh so yeah get them involved I start I actually start my presentations with a bit of game like sort of just going straight into My name's Hannah and I'm an author and blah blah blah blah I I play a would you rather which I don't know if you You know you know it's the would you rather would you rather this or would you rather that which the kids love that sort of game And you know it's like would you rather clean up elephant poo or wombat poo And you know that's how I start it Uh and that just kinda gets puts them at ease and they really enjoy that And always have a list of uh silly jokes that you know the kids will love because you never know when you might need a silly joke Um especially if there's like some kind of holdup where there's tech failures or something and you're waiting for the IT guy to fix the screen and you're just kinda standing there looking just everyone staring at you Uh pull out some of your funny jokes It's just Yeah it's just good to have them on hand
• 16:16
  video1035058110: No lucky you've always poo jokes up your sleeve
• 16:19
  Madeleine Cleary: Tina
• 16:20
  Tina Strachan: lots of poo stories to
• 16:21
  video1035058110: about yeah
• 16:22
  Tina Strachan: Animal poo for those who aren't aware of of the animal books that I write about
• 16:29
  video1035058110: Oh no I mean we've we poo Just to well on the podcast We certainly have That's been that's featured in our many of our 100 I would say
• 16:36
  Tina Strachan: So a highlight I have to say
• 16:40
  video1035058110: you're gonna very busy T Tina then obviously Book Week and then in couple three I think it is it'll be less than when this episode, um goes to air you will be coming down to and we will be at
• 16:53
  Madeleine Cleary: the Emerging Writers Festival on Saturday 12th
• 16:56
  video1035058110: of September which is really really super exciting got lots fun things planned
• 17:02
  Madeleine Cleary: for that session Tony Jordan
• 17:04
  video1035058110: going to be our agony aunt
• 17:06
  Madeleine Cleary: Um and now Tash
• 17:08
  video1035058110: how can our listeners uh submit questions to that
• 17:15
  Natasha Rai: So super easy It's anonymous
• 17:18
  video1035058110: you can be as free you want with questions The spicier better Um if you go to Emerging Festival website uh you can filter through the calendar and the 12th uh September and you'll see our event and when click on it a link the form online
• 17:37
  Natasha Rai: You
• 17:37
  video1035058110: also in our bio Is that true It true I updated Yep Thank you You can also it on Instagram Just click through submit your question and we will definitely try and get to on the on with Tony Jordan I'll in the show to this episode well so definitely submit your questions How juicy should be D Tina
• 18:02
  Tina Strachan: Oh the juicier the better I think Uh
• 18:04
  video1035058110: I think Uh
• 18:05
  Tina Strachan: and we've got a couple of good ones so far to start the juicy uh conversations And look they're all anonymous so you know whatever you want to ask um Tony's ready to answer the questions as are we Uh ask us anything ask Tony anything Yeah we're keen cause you know And just remember lots of people probably want to know the answer to these questions too So um yeah definitely don't be shy
• 18:28
  video1035058110: Yeah and you're podcast fan and you're there on day come and say hello well afterwards We're excited
• 18:33
  Madeleine Cleary: All right
• 18:35
  video1035058110: Um Very
• 18:36
  Madeleine Cleary: Um speaking our listeners
• 18:39
  video1035058110: um given it is
• 18:40
  Madeleine Cleary: our 100th episode today is just
• 18:43
  video1035058110: I still can't believe it when say um we have gone our
• 18:47
  Madeleine Cleary: our Patreon supporters
• 18:49
  video1035058110: our amazing amazing Patreon supporters asked them to tell us and our their favorite episodes Uh and I we'd chat about it So
• 18:58
  Madeleine Cleary: I'm
• 18:59
  video1035058110: gonna run Cause I obviously we could go and reflect on it but it's so interesting think hear listeners and their For sure favorite moments Um so Anne
• 19:07
  Madeleine Cleary: Farrell hello
• 19:07
  video1035058110: Anne uh has said one her favorite episodes was the episode Jack Heath Um and Tash I
• 19:14
  Madeleine Cleary: I think you
• 19:14
  video1035058110: that interview didn't you I did Yes Um and particularly how he saying for 20plus years he's obviously in the industry 20plus years it's and always been in peril And somehow we all still keep going And quite reassuring isn't Exactly I I've That was what definitely something that made me better when said that and he's so great got so energy and he's so generous At that po- that
• 19:45
  Natasha Rai: episode is filled with such good advice
• 19:49
  video1035058110: Some things that I I would I don't I feel comfortable with writer it doesn't work my style so
• 19:56
  Natasha Rai: good tips memory.
• 19:57
  video1035058110: Mmhmm Yeah for sure I agree And she also mentioned Talks super helpful well Tina Um and even j uh so our episode with Ali Parker and MupotsaRussell we did a episode on
• 20:11
  Madeleine Cleary: um second books
• 20:13
  video1035058110: Like I'm really on second books I just think it's such a so think there's whole I everyone's so focused on debut right And then if your debut really well pressure to write uh something gonna be equally successful but
• 20:27
  Madeleine Cleary: also you feel
• 20:28
  video1035058110: debut hasn't been successful, there's pressure to release something that's gonna grip everyone's attention well there a there is a thing And I mean Tash and I we're in in m midst of it the moment we with second books Yeah And also you're writing quite different uh can a form pressure in itself Mm mm We haven't really about what we're writing as well we'll leave to subsequent episodes But um Yes yeah there's there a of anxiety it I I think what said is that um he it wasn't that he was less anxious about his second It just that he knew what he be anxious about Mmhmm That's so true knew
• 21:11
  Tina Strachan: what was coming
• 21:12
  video1035058110: Mm That's right right So the there's still level of but you know you you're you can't control so many things and learn that when go through your debut but you there are things can control and they're things that you need to worry about
• 21:26
  Madeleine Cleary: So
• 21:26
  video1035058110: Mm I quite like that.
• 21:28
  video1035058110: Okay um we'll go Christine Newell, who's a very friend of our podcast and us as well Yeah We Christine
• 21:35
  Madeleine Cleary: Um so Christine of
• 21:37
  video1035058110: she reflected Tina your interview with Jane Tara Mm was such popular People so
• 21:43
  Madeleine Cleary: many people said that to
• 21:45
  video1035058110: they love Yeah the with Jane Tara
• 21:47
  Tina Strachan: Yes yes A as as do I and yeah I was fortunate enough to interview Jane and um yeah I mean she's apart from just being a lovely person to chat to and we could have chatted for ages but yeah she really shared her her I guess her sort of um
• 22:06
  video1035058110: her
• 22:06
  Tina Strachan: routines and some of her practices and that um she you know she l she talks about manifesting and um sort of just manifesting the life I guess that you want to
• 22:19
  video1035058110: live
• 22:20
  Tina Strachan: and you know how being an author sort of fits into that and how she just the journeys that she's been on And um yeah a lot of it's um I guess just sort of
• 22:33
  video1035058110: yeah
• 22:33
  Tina Strachan: imagining situations for those situations I've been talking about before with school visits and how to sort of get yourself into a better frame of mind for those sorts of things all the way up to just fully believing in yourself and your writing and your career and you know working out what you really want like what would your perfect day be and then taking those steps to work towards that which um was really beautiful
• 22:57
  video1035058110: Mm And I remember from that episode uh she about meditation well and the importance meditation Mm And that you feel too busy meditate you meditate double the time you should Something like Yeah which I thought was great Did you on Tina Uh uh you meditate No
• 23:15
  Tina Strachan: I do not I know She said that to me Yeah it was if you're you know they say that you should meditate for an hour unless you're really busy and then you should meditate
• 23:22
  video1035058110: two
• 23:23
  Tina Strachan: And um I love that because we know that's true even even if it's not meditation as such but like what you did the other weekend Madeleine with take Even though you're super busy took yourself off and made yourself go to the footy and and do those things That's your f kind of of yeah meditation and and like nervous system resetting y getting you know yourself kind of back in that space instead of trying to push through for another two hours and probably getting nowhere Sometimes you do just have to take yourself off and do that and then you're more productive when you come back So yeah look no I don't I don't really but I do I actually do try to you know practice a little bit of mindfulness every day Um
• 24:03
  video1035058110: a and
• 24:03
  Tina Strachan: it's helpful whether it's like five minutes or half an hour I I do try and fit that in sort of at the end of my writing like when my and my kind of creativity period is starting to wane I sort of just yeah take a moment and then like a circuit breaker for the rest of the day you know
• 24:20
  Madeleine Cleary: I Do
• 24:20
  video1035058110: do Tash c imagine
• 24:22
  Madeleine Cleary: you would
• 24:23
  video1035058110: I don't meditate um but
• 24:26
  Natasha Rai: def I know
• 24:27
  video1035058110: check in I remind myself be present several a Mm Mm
• 24:33
  Tina Strachan: I I hear that's a very good method and um yes it was even just morning middle of the day if you can and and just before bed to sort of just
• 24:43
  video1035058110: yeah Mm
• 24:43
  Tina Strachan: stop for a minute even if it's a cup of tea in the morning and some breath in the in the evening to get back into that space
• 24:51
  video1035058110: I I've taken touching trees I
• 24:54
  Natasha Rai: go every time I go out
• 24:56
  video1035058110: Oh I love that so much.
• 24:58
  video1035058110: Well when come stay
• 24:59
  Madeleine Cleary: that so much Well when you come and stay with there lot trees
• 25:01
  video1035058110: here so what we can
• 25:04
  Madeleine Cleary: do Oh gosh We can go into
• 25:07
  video1035058110: forest we'll go on walk we'll touch trees and then we'll meditate Okay In the forest Yeah Okay?
• 25:16
  video1035058110: Mmhmm I
• 25:16
  Madeleine Cleary: that some girlfriends
• 25:17
  video1035058110: recently actually We
• 25:19
  Tina Strachan: Forest bathing
• 25:20
  video1035058110: Forest bathing We We this beautiful garden in in the Dandenong Ranges near where I live and we went this garden sat down in silence on bench and had the sun bathing and it so lovely and could just hear the through the mountain ash trees And put on some meditation music, and sat there 15 in silence just the of Beautiful And it was actually nice to do that friends don't why I find
• 25:47
  Madeleine Cleary: it more difficult to do it on
• 25:48
  video1035058110: because my thoughts race but
• 25:50
  Madeleine Cleary: knowing
• 25:51
  video1035058110: I've got my best friends there me and we're quiet and having a moment together was really nice Mm
• 25:57
  Tina Strachan: I'm up for it
• 25:58
  video1035058110: Yep, in I was say we can maybe record
• 26:02
  Madeleine Cleary: the podcast
• 26:03
  video1035058110: no we to be heck phrasing Silent for 15 minutes Yeah it wouldn't really work well would let's do All We'll we'll do some meditation guys are here um and practice some manifesting and can manifest as well before our um EWF our Emerging Writers Festival as well Yeah Vision boards all sorts of things so that was episode Um and Christine a also loved and we just mentioned before our episode on tax and business and money so I'm glad was helpful Um and it's something that I think we all to be aware don't Even though we're creatives the business Mm is important Yes Okay Now DJ Taylor Di who is author of Anna's War and I Di's message to
• 26:50
  Madeleine Cleary: I think this
• 26:51
  video1035058110: quite nicely She says Informative often raw always honest All podcasts hit the for emerging and newly printed authors Do I have favorite episode All of them Di Aw Di You're Which is so lovely Now to finish I thought instead of doing top this we'd something different for 100 episodes Um I'm really to know been doing now obviously for
• 27:18
  Madeleine Cleary: two
• 27:19
  video1035058110: done so many amazing author interviews What have learnt or do you feel sage or
• 27:27
  Madeleine Cleary: feel like you
• 27:28
  video1035058110: know more or you still have questions Um tell your thoughts Tash I'll start with you Okay I
• 27:36
  Natasha Rai: don't
• 27:37
  video1035058110: think I've Well I I know I've learnt more think I more Um but I think what for me I've noticed think what I thinking about when you sent us this question
• 27:51
  Natasha Rai: noticed two things
• 27:53
  video1035058110: the absolute beauty and generosity the writing community in this country Like I feel like I'm cry cause it I'm I'm so touched this community people
• 28:03
  Natasha Rai: because
• 28:04
  video1035058110: everyone from emerging writers to established writers everyone is so generous Like if you go to a- know, most pe most writers if you go to them at an event or a launch or a festival they're just so willing to have a chat Mm And it doesn't have be writing but that absolute warmth and kindness and interest especially when say you're a writer.
• 28:27
  video1035058110: It's just really impressed upon me over
• 28:29
  Natasha Rai: the um two years
• 28:32
  video1035058110: just how we are And no and no matter how far you your journey for of publication you've we've got this amazing resource and these amazing people us So that's the first thing The second thing is we it perseverance you know when you are submitting and you're trying to you know get noticed and I've realized not only is perseverance every time you submit you're saying the world and yourself I me and I my work Mm And that is has
• 29:05
  Natasha Rai: an value to me regardless
• 29:08
  video1035058110: happens out there and I just thought that incredible because that's keeps going
• 29:14
  Natasha Rai: Not just the perseverance and
• 29:15
  video1035058110: the resilience they're very but that essential belief
• 29:19
  Natasha Rai: in yourself and in work and really
• 29:22
  video1035058110: come home me in last couple of years talking all these wonderful and listening to
• 29:26
  Natasha Rai: and Tina
• 29:27
  video1035058110: um talking to your authors Mmhmm Oh my gosh how are we match that Tina
• 29:34
  Madeleine Cleary: Should
• 29:35
  video1035058110: should've ended with Tash my goodness she That was amazing
• 29:39
  Tina Strachan: so well,'cause I actually pretty much had the same the same points down.
• 29:45
  Tina Strachan: So I guess I don't have to say No.
• 29:47
  Tina Strachan: No, I do I, I Truly one of my points was, uh, persistence, you know, is definitely key.
• 29:55
  Tina Strachan: And, um, that
• 30:00
  video1035058110: you
• 30:00
  Tina Strachan: e- especially persistence through rejections and everything else that this industry can throw at you.
• 30:07
  Tina Strachan: Um, putting yourself out there, which is quite vulnerable thing to do, and then, um, if that doesn't work out in that instance, just still feeling all the feelings, but not stopping the writing.
• 30:22
  Tina Strachan: Um, and just overarchingly writing because it's what you love to do, regardless of being published, and I think that's probably the biggest take home, um, is, you know, I use I wrote for a very long time with zero thought of being published ever.
• 30:41
  Tina Strachan: Did not occur to me.
• 30:42
  Tina Strachan: I just did it for most of my life just'cause I just enjoyed doing it, I think most writers do that.
• 30:50
  Tina Strachan: Um, so I guess it's just always remembering that and keeping on going and, um, yeah, and not letting the fact of it actually being published, you know, end that for you at all if that's what you enjoy doing.
• 31:03
  Tina Strachan: Um, so very similar to your thoughts, Tash.
• 31:07
  Tina Strachan: Uh, ex- uh, but I do have just one extra, um, note, I which, uh, I think I knew this anyway, but I really know it now, and especially when you go through the publishing process and coming out the other side, and it probably touches a little bit even on, know, your second books that you were talking about and, know, the pressures and things.
• 31:27
  Tina Strachan: But just, um, remembering, uh, your authenticity and being authentic to yourself in every, every kind of facet of this industry with your writing, with yourself, um, when you're putting yourself out there, when you're doing, you know, talks, when you're, um, out in the community, anything like that, media, publicity.
• 31:48
  Tina Strachan: Just whatever's authentic to you, um, I think is always going to, um, yeah, be the winner and, you know, coming on top if you're just being authentic to yourself
• 32:01
  video1035058110: Mm Love Oh well I should've first I think so could end on both of you two I yeah this uh, very similar thinking actually to to the of you Um and I asked question over weekend What's been highlight so far in your writing in your author career?
• 32:21
  video1035058110: And uh my first immediate thought it wasn't you know writing awards or anything it was finding community and think what both alluding to talking about is you s suddenly door opens and there are all these likeminded kind invested passionate willing put themselves there and mostly well doing it for profit fame for anything They're doing the love what they do and that's amazing you know two years ago barely knew each other and now so thrilled you're both my friends you know that's just so wonderful not just because the podcast I we would've been regardless friends um and because writing brought all together and that's been I think something that I didn't expect at the start of all this Mm-hmm.
• 33:19
  Tina Strachan: It's like an immediate sort of friendship, isn't it?
• 33:22
  Tina Strachan: You know, I went to an event, uh, Romancing the Stars up on the Sunshine Coast, which is hosted by Book Links, and, um, I walked into this room, and I think there was, like, 10 authors and illustrators there, and there was certainly some I hadn't met before, some that I had.
• 33:37
  Tina Strachan: But everyone, I basically went up gave a hug to and started chatting to, and then sometimes you're a couple minutes in and it's like,"Actually, have I even met you in real life yet?
• 33:45
  Tina Strachan: I think I've actually ever met you in real life.
• 33:47
  Tina Strachan: I think I've, like I know I don't even know if I've messaged you on Instagram," but it's like you of, you kind of know of each other because you're both, you know, writers and you understand what this is all about.
• 33:57
  Tina Strachan: You h- just have this immediate connection.
• 33:59
  Tina Strachan: So it's like, know, other people that you would build up
• 34:02
  video1035058110: you
• 34:03
  Tina Strachan: know, months and months or years even before you go straight up and give a hug, that all that's just, you know, out.
• 34:08
  Tina Strachan: That's gone.
• 34:09
  Tina Strachan: That's already, that's already happened.
• 34:11
  Tina Strachan: Like, you That connection's already made, and yeah, I don't know.
• 34:14
  Tina Strachan: I've, I've never had another kind of role where I've ever been able to do that
• 34:19
  video1035058110: Yes, exa- exactly, and think, you
• 34:22
  Madeleine Cleary: know, two
• 34:23
  video1035058110: three ago if you'd asked me success looked like as a writer, I probably would've listed, um, awards, and sales, all kind But now I
• 34:32
  Madeleine Cleary: feel actually it's being
• 34:34
  video1035058110: this community.
• 34:35
  video1035058110: I that's what success looks like, and think something all us have been able Let, let's say we're successful.
• 34:43
  video1035058110: Mm-hmm.
• 34:43
  Tina Strachan: Absolutely.
• 34:44
  Tina Strachan: I'm happy to do
• 34:45
  video1035058110: Absolutely.
• 34:45
  video1035058110: Yes, I agree It's the
• 34:46
  Tina Strachan: best part of it
• 34:47
  video1035058110: Yes.
• 34:48
  video1035058110: Great.
• 34:49
  video1035058110: Thank you so ladies.
• 34:51
  video1035058110: 100 episodes down, hopefully 100 more come.
• 34:54
  video1035058110: Mm-hmm.
• 34:56
  Tina Strachan: Can't wait
• 34:58
  Thank you for listening to another episode of The Book Deal Podcast.
• 35:01
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