The Conspire Podcast with Brandy Ange

Every indie author is doing too much. But knowing what to hand off, when to hand it off, and how to pay for it when your royalties aren't cutting it yet? That's where it gets complicated. In this episode of Conspire, we're running a full field audit of your author business — breaking down exactly what to DIY, what to delegate, and what you should never cheap out on no matter where you are in your journey. Plus, how to fund your outsourcing before your book income can carry it. Because building an author business doesn't have to mean doing it all alone — it just means being strategic about when you ask for backup.   Links: Conspire Con  Conspire Planner  Publisher Rocket Worksheet PDF Reedsy Publishing Services Directory  Fiverr   Rover  

Consider this episode classified information — because if you've ever seen another author's income numbers and immediately felt like you were failing, this is your debrief. We're pulling back the curtain on what authors — indie and traditional — actually earn, why the statistics look scarier than they are, and how to find yourself in the real picture. Plus, we're breaking down the revenue streams that serious authors are building right now, from the non-negotiables to the expansion plays that might genuinely surprise you. Consider this your permission slip to stop spiraling and start strategizing. 📚 SOURCES & RESEARCH NOTES Authors Guild 2023 Author Income Survey — 5,699 respondents, the largest U.S. author income study to date. Median book income all authors: $2,000/year. Full-time author median total writing income: $20,000/year. Romance author median: $31,725. Mystery/thriller: $10,000. Literary fiction: $5,000. Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) 2025 Indie Author Income Survey — Median indie income: $13,500 (up 6% YOY). Traditional median: $6,000–$8,000 and declining. Mean vs. median distortion: $82,600 mean vs. $12,749 median due to $11M top earner. Written Word Media 2025 Indie Author Survey — 1,346 respondents. 20x email list income correlation. Amazon as top revenue source declining from 91% (2023) to 83% (2025). 38% fully in KU, 30% fully wide. Audio Publishers Association 2024 / Author's Republic 2026 Report — U.S. audiobook revenue $2.22B in 2024, +13% YOY. Projected $13.3B by 2030. AI narration grew 36% YOY, now 23% of new releases. Note on survey methodology: The ALLi survey skews toward serious, active indie authors — meaning its median likely overrepresents committed career authors compared to the broader population. The Authors Guild survey is broader and includes all publishing types. Both are self-reported. Use in context.   Links: Conspire Con  Conspire Planner  Publisher Rocket Worksheet PDF

Writing routines aren't one-size-fits-all — and the science of why is genuinely fascinating. If you've been struggling with writer's block, inconsistent output, or a creative process that just doesn't seem to fit your life anymore, this episode might be exactly what you've been looking for. In this episode of Conspire, we're going full field operative on the psychology of creative productivity and what it really takes to build a writing routine for authors that actually works. Discover your writer motivation type, learn what your brain actually needs to do its best creative work, and walk away with a practical framework to run your own experiments and create a custom writing practice — backed by real psychology, real research, and one very personal case study. Psychology sources cited in this episode: Deci, E.L. & Ryan, R.M. — Self-Determination Theory (autonomy, competence, relatedness as the three core psychological needs driving sustainable motivation) Pink, D. — Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us (autonomy, mastery, and purpose as the architecture of intrinsic motivation) Csikszentmihalyi, M. — Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (flow state, the conditions that produce it, and its relationship to creative work) Kellogg, R.T. — The Psychology of Writing (background noise, encoding specificity, environment as retrieval cue, and the cognitive demands of composing) McEwen, B.S. — research on allostatic load (the cumulative neurological and physiological toll of chronic stress, and how it changes what conditions feel safe and generative) Baumeister, R.F. et al. — research on decision fatigue and ego depletion (the finite nature of cognitive resources and how pre-task decisions deplete creative capacity) Fogg, B.J. — Tiny Habits (habit formation, behavioral conditioning, and the role of small consistent triggers in building durable routines) Ariely, D. & Wertenbroch, K. — research on temptation bundling and self-control strategies (pairing desired rewards with target behaviors to build motivation) Kaplan, S. — Attention Restoration Theory (diffuse thinking, the restorative function of low-demand environmental stimulation, and the cognitive value of mental rest breaks) Links: Conspire Con  Conspire Planner  Publisher Rocket Conspire Podcast S1E6 Mission Possible: Energy Management for Authors Worksheet PDF

Most authors step into their business without ever getting the briefing — bleeding time and money without knowing why. Not because they aren't working hard enough. Because nobody ever handed them the blueprint. This episode is that blueprint. We're declassifying the real cost of running an author business — what it actually takes in time, what it actually takes in money, and the planning framework that puts every resource exactly where it needs to go. No more guessing. No more gaps. Just a business that finally works as hard as you do. Sources Referenced Gail Matthews, Dominican University — Written Goals Study Kahneman & Tversky (1979) — Planning Fallacy Peter Gollwitzer — Implementation Intentions Richard Thaler — Mental Accounting (Nobel Prize 2017) Deci & Ryan — Self-Determination Theory ALLi Indie Author Industry Report — production delay data Authors Guild 2023 Author Income Survey Reedsy Author Income Survey — cover and editing ROI data   Links: Conspire Con  Conspire Planner  Publisher Rocket Conspire Podcast S1E6 Mission Possible: Energy Management for Authors Worksheet PDF

The authors who last aren't always the ones who publish the most. They're the ones who figured out their game and played it on purpose. This season finale covers publishing strategy, backlist marketing, sustainable writing pace, and how to build an author career that enhances your life instead of consuming it.   Links: Conspire Con  Conspire Planner  Publisher Rocket Conspire Planner Video Sneak Peek Worksheet PDF

Ready to turn casual readers into raving superfans? Let's talk reader appreciation strategies that actually work—and no, I'm not talking about another generic giveaway. We're diving deep into the psychology behind the 'give, give, ask' method (backed by decades of research), then I'm sharing over 20 creative ways to surprise and delight your readers. Whether you're rewarding newsletter subscribers, Patreon supporters, or your street team, you'll walk away with actionable tactics for every budget. These aren't your typical bookmarks and bookplates—we're thinking way outside the box. Time to show your readers some love—spy-style.   Links: Conspire Con  Conspire Planner  Publisher Rocket Reader Appreciation Brainstorming Guide PDF

Your author ads aren't working—but should you tweak them or kill them? This episode gives you the M.I.S.S.I.O.N. Formula: a simple checklist to evaluate underperforming ad campaigns, avoid the sunk cost fallacy, and make smart pivot-or-quit decisions that save your marketing budget. Includes real examples and a downloadable decision matrix.   Links: Publisher Rocket Conspire Con Conspire Planner Decision Matrix Worksheet PDF

You're doing the things. Posting, emailing, showing up — and the sales just... aren't there. Not in the way that matches how hard you're working. That gap between effort and result isn't just frustrating, it's demoralizing. And the worst part? Most marketing advice will just tell you to do more. In this episode, we're scrapping that and building something smarter — a system for figuring out what's actually worth your time, so you can stop throwing everything at the wall and start seeing your work pay off.   Links:  Book Funnel Publisher Rocket Conspire Con Conspire Planner Worksheet & Tactic Arsenal PDFs

You know what to write. You want to write it. But you can't make yourself start. Waiting to "feel motivated" is the trap that keeps manuscripts unfinished. In this mission briefing, discover why motivation isn't a feeling—it's a choice—and learn the evidence-based psychological tactics that actually work when you struggle with task initiation. Plus: how to strategically recruit your support network (accountability partners, critique partners, beta readers) and why they're essential but can't write the book for you. Whether you're dealing with writer's block, perfectionism, or executive dysfunction, this episode gives you the tactical interventions to stay mission-focused—and the wisdom to know when pushing through becomes standing down. If you can't open the document even though you desperately want to write, this intel gets you back in the field.   Links: Conspire Con  Conspire Planner  Publisher Rocket Worksheet Packet PDF

Think you know what assets you have for your author business? Think again, agent. In this deep-cover mission, we're going beyond your obvious writing skills to uncover the hidden arsenal you've been sitting on your entire life. That random job from five years ago? Your weird hobby obsession? Your personality quirks that drive you crazy? They're not just random life experiences—they're your secret weapons waiting to be deployed. We'll walk you through a complete intelligence audit of your skills, connections, resources, and even your Enneagram superpowers to reveal the author assets hiding in plain sight. By the end of this episode, you'll see your entire life differently—and discover why what makes you "different" might just be what makes you unstoppable. Your mission: Stop underestimating your own potential and start weaponizing everything you already are.   Links: Conspire Con  Conspire Planner  Publisher Rocket Worksheet PDF Lizzie Bennet Diaries  Emma Approved

Feeling burned out? Struggling with author productivity and wondering why you can't get it all done? In this episode, we're treating your weekly planning like a strategic mission. Learn sustainable productivity tactics for writers including how to conduct an energy audit, identify your peak creative hours, prioritize tasks using the three-tier system, avoid burnout, and create realistic weekly plans that actually work. Perfect for fiction authors, indie authors, and anyone building a long-term writing career. Includes free downloadable worksheets: Energy Audit Tracker and Weekly Mission Planner. Topics covered: author burnout recovery, energy management, productivity for writers, time blocking for authors, sustainable writing habits, author goal setting, and strategic planning for authors.   Links: Conspire Con  Conspire Planner  Publisher Rocket Worksheets PDF

Is your author business draining you instead of energizing you? If you're drowning in goals that feel impossible, spending hours on book marketing that goes nowhere, or feeling guilty about all the things you "should" be doing as an author—this episode is your extraction plan. We're decluttering your author career strategy, eliminating what's stealing your time and energy, and helping you recalibrate around goals that actually serve your writing life. Learn the CIA method for setting sustainable author goals, discover what to cut immediately, and get the free Mission Recalibration Worksheet to guide your reset. Stop building a business that's burning you out. It's time to work smarter, write more, and actually enjoy being an author again.   Links: Conspire Con  Conspire Planner  Publisher Rocket Worksheet PDF

Time to go undercover, agents! Learn how to research comp authors and comparable titles without falling for smoke and mirrors. Discover a four-phase intelligence system for indie authors to identify what's actually working for authors in your genre, then adapt their marketing strategies and tactics with your own unique twist. Plus, learn how to use comp research for laser-targeted Facebook ads, Amazon keywords, and reader targeting. Warning: May cause sudden clarity about your author marketing strategy.   Links: Conspire Con  Conspire Planner  Comp Case Study Worksheet PDF Conspire Blog Post Publisher Rocket

Stop playing guessing games with your author brand. In this covert operation, you'll crack the code on strategic authenticity—discovering exactly what to share (and what to keep classified) to build a magnetic author brand that attracts your ideal readers like a secret signal. Whether you're a debut author building from scratch or a seasoned writer ready to refine your focus, you'll walk away with your own mission and vision statements, plus a bulletproof system for creating content that builds community, not just followers. No fake personas required—just the strategic art of being purposefully, authentically YOU.   Links: Conspire Con: https://marturiapub.com/conspire-con/ Conspire Planner: https://marturiapub.com/conspire-planner/ Episode Blog Post: https://marturiapub.com/2025/10/23/building-your-author-brand-operation-identity/  Publisher Rocket https://publisherrocket.cartknox.com/buy-rocket?aff=441   

Struggling to find your ideal readers? Most authors waste time and money marketing to the wrong audience. In this episode, we go undercover to expose how to identify your target audience as an author and create an accurate reader avatar that drives real book sales. Learn covert audience research techniques to discover where your ideal readers actually spend time online, decode their true desires and pain points, and infiltrate their communities with author marketing that converts without triggering "salesy author" alarms. Stop guessing who your readers are—use strategic intelligence to transform your indie author marketing from scattered efforts into surgical precision that connects with readers already hungry for your books.   Links: Conspire Con: Registration is open now! https://marturiapub.com/conspire-con/ Conspire Planner: Kickstarter coming Jan 2026 https://marturiapub.com/conspire-planner/ This Episode as a Blog Post https://marturiapub.com/?p=170 Publisher Rocket https://publisherrocket.cartknox.com/buy-rocket?aff=441   

In the premiere episode of The Conspire Podcast, we expose the biggest lie in the author world: that success means becoming a bestselling millionaire. Learn to define author success on your terms, create personal metrics that combat comparison syndrome, and build a sustainable writing career that balances family and real life. Discover how to shift from sprint mentality to long-term author career planning and measure success through reader transformation, not just sales numbers. Stop chasing someone else's mission and start your own strategic author business today.   Links: Conspire Con: https://marturiapub.com/conspire-con/ Conspire Planner: https://marturiapub.com/conspire-planner/ Episode Blog Post: https://marturiapub.com/2025/10/09/intelligence-report-redefining-author-success/  Publisher Rocket: https://publisherrocket.cartknox.com/buy-rocket?aff=441