"Q&A With Kristen Martin"

November 29, 2018

Book: Be Your Own #Goals

Photos Courtesy of Kristen Martin

Author: Kristen Martin

Author Bio:

"Kristen Martin is the International Amazon Bestselling Indie Author of THE ALPHA DRIVE trilogy and SHADOW CROWN series. She is also a writing coach, a YouTuber, a podcaster, and an entrepreneur. Living in Southeast Texas, she loves all things young adult, science fiction, and fantasy.

Kristen prides herself on helping aspiring authors reach their dreams of publication through her coaching program, Valiance. She loves connecting with other writers and readers, so be sure to reach out!" (Source: amazon.com)

What has been one of your proudest moments being a writing coach?

Seeing and hearing about the progress of my clients! I've formed some incredibly deep connections with writers all around the world, and it's so rewarding knowing that my program is being utilized in the dreams of so many to become an author.

Many of them have added me to their acknowledgments, so it always brings a smile to my face to get a copy of a client's book in the mail and see my name printed in the back. Launching Valiance and becoming a writing coach is one of the best decisions I've ever made.

What advantages have you experienced from being a self-published author? Would you ever want to have your book go through a publishing company?

Creative control -- from the launch date to the cover design to the formatting to the story itself, I enjoy having full creative control of the entire process. Although I will say, it would be such a great learning experience to work with a literary agent and a publishing house--but that's not something I'm actively pursuing at the moment. The door is open, though!

What was your writing process like for The Alpha Drive Trilogy? How did your writing process change over time?

Since "The Alpha Drive" was my first book, it took a lot longer for me to write (3 years compared to 2-3 months). I used to write "whenever I had time", but now it's something I schedule into my days. Whereas "The Alpha Drive" took 3 years off and on to write and revise, I now tend to write my books over the course of 2 months during NaNoWriMo. I find that the story flows easier when I have a full month or two to dedicate to writing.

What made you get into personal development book writing? Do you plan to expand deeper into this book genre?

Reading personal development books is something I really got into about a year and a half ago. After launching my podcast, That Smart Hustle, in July 2017, I realized that I really enjoyed talking about self-help (not to mention, the podcast was being received really well!).

Long before that, I'd written one-off chapters that I'd kept in a folder, but had never done anything with. I pulled those old chapters out and started working through them, realizing that I'd been writing a personal development book without even meaning to! And that's how Be Your Own #Goals was born.

I do plan to expand deeper into this genre in the future!

You are known for helping people write their books in 2 months. What’s the fastest time period you have ever written a book?

The fastest I've ever written a first draft was in one month during NaNoWriMo, and that was for "Restitution", the third book in The Alpha Drive trilogy. Of course, it went through some rewrites and editing, so the entire writing/editing/publishing process took about a year, which is standard for me.

I've always enjoyed sharing productivity tips when it comes to writing, but whether it takes you two months or two years to write a book, the important thing is that you're dedicating time to your craft and pursuing your passion.

How have you been your own #Goals?

By practicing self-love and self-compassion. Achieving goals and hitting milestones is great, but for me, being your own #goals is about being joyful, present, and grateful . . . and that all stems from self-love.

What’s your best advice for getting through writer’s block?

To step away from your desk and go do something else! When we sit for too long, starting at a blinking cursor, we're actually stifling our creativity. Taking a walk around the block, swinging outside in my hammock, meditating, and journaling are all ways I overcome writer's block. And if that doesn't work, skipping that scene or chapter that has me "stuck" and writing the next one usually does.

If you could describe your writing style in one word, what would it be?

Unexpected -- mostly because I love to foreshadow and weave as many subplots together as I can. I tend to surprise even myself when I'm writing :)

What’s the best advice you have ever received on happiness?

"If you aren't grateful for what you already have,
what makes you think you would be happy with more?" - Roy T. Bennett

What’s the best book you have read in 2018?

Hard to choose because there are so many! If I had to pick, it'd be "Judgment Detox" by Gabby Bernstein.

You probably won't realize just how much you pass judgment on yourself and others on a daily basis (and the consequences of that) until you read this book.

Do you plan on writing more books in the future?

Absolutely :) I've got a couple in the works and ideas for plenty more!

Talk a little bit about Valiance, and why it’s so important to have a writing coach/partner during the writing process?

Valiance is my self-study coaching program for writers. It takes you through the entire book creation process, from the inception of your story idea to writing, editing, publishing, and marketing your book. It's a program I wish I'd had when I was just starting out . . . which is exactly why I created it.

Self-publishing can be quite costly -- the mistakes even more so. By having a clear roadmap with easy-to-follow steps, writers are able to realize their dream of becoming an author in a shorter period of time. Why not learn from someone who's successfully done it before? (And multiple times at that!)