Interview with Kat Caldwell

Emma Dhesi  00:00

Hello, and welcome to today’s episode, and today I’m speaking to a writer and writing coach Kat Caldwell, who believes very strongly that each person on earth has a story to tell. Kat herself is a storyteller in her own right, having written and historical novel stepping across the desert, and a magical realism novel and audience with the king. In between coaching clients interviewing creatives for the pencils and pod sticks podcast, and writing her next novel, you can find cat travelling the world studying another language, reading a good book, or volunteering at her local church with a cup of cold brew close by. So let’s find out a little bit more about cat and how she became a writer. Welcome to the turning readers into writers Podcast, where we teach beginner writers how to find the time and the confidence to write their first novel. I’m your host, Emma Desi. And I’m very excited that you’re here. Thank you for joining me today. Because if you’ve been longing to write your novel for forever, then this is the place to be Think of this as your weekly dose of encouragement of hand holding and general cheerleading, as you figure out how you’re going to write your first novel. Trust me, as a mom of three young kids, I know how tricky it can be to tuck some time aside for yourself on a regular basis. And even when you do find that spare five minutes, you can feel so overwhelmed that no writing gets done. Trust me, I have been there. But this podcast is going to help you in practical ways. Because once a week, I’ll be delivering an episode that gives you steps to building a writing routine, encouragement to build your confidence and cheerleading until you reach the end. Okay, let’s start. Well, hello, Kat, thank you so so much for joining me today. I’m thrilled to have you here. 

Kat Caldwell  02:09

Thank you. 

Emma Dhesi  02:11

I wonder if you wouldn’t mind just sort of telling us a little bit about yourself and how you got you became a writer. And I know that you you’ve told me before that your childhood experiences had a quite a profound impact on how you grew up. And then were quite pivotal in you taking that step towards being a writer. So wanted to get on that. 

Kat Caldwell  02:34

Sure, absolutely. I grew up in the 80s and 80s kid in Wisconsin, very rural. But at 12 years old, I found out that the man who I called father was not my father, he was not my biological father. And that opened up a whole… 

Kat Caldwell  02:55

World for me. At the same time, I was hiding that I was being abused by a family member. And so my whole world was just it was pretty chaotic, I think in my head. So ever since probably that moment, I’ve kept a journal. Now some of them I have thrown away because I didn’t want people to know, you know what was going on. But I’ve always found that outlet of writing to be something of a therapy to be therapeutic and kind of my confidant. And so I really felt like, you know, I had to keep the fact that my parents were not really my parents, my mother was what my father was not a secret. They didn’t want anybody to know, my brother and sister were the biological kids of this man. He’s no longer in our family. And so I had to keep all these things, I wasn’t allowed to talk about anything to anybody, even to my friends, I just felt really trapped. And so writing was definitely a way for me to get out the anger that was in there, the confusion. And so it really started with journaling. But even before that, I really loved books, and I really loved writing. So I think the thing that the two kind of converged to get together. And my first book, which is not really on the market anymore, was really my biggest therapy of trying to get out this idea of like, how do you find your identity if you don’t even know you know, where you come from, or who your father is, and all these things. I can’t say that was a very well written book, but it helps me a lot. I’m glad the publisher sort of collapsed because I think it was the writing was a bit immature. But it was a fiction story, you know, trying to like get my story out without without telling people what it was because everything still was a secret at 20 years old where I wasn’t allowed to tell anybody So that definitely influenced me in my writing my journaling and and then, in my pursuit later on as I, as I really definitely decided I was going to pursue writing as a career route. Well, that’s interesting. I’ve spoken to a few writers actually. And, and it is amazing how, particularly those of us that write about quite dark subjects. It’s amazing how many of those stories have emerged from journals. And so as you kind of alluded to there, even though it’s not the therapy itself, and sometimes we come to, after we’ve been through that difficult situation, it’s amazing just how how I putting it down on paper, having it on in a journal can be and then fictionalised and it can just be such a release. It’s almost like saying goodbye to it in a way. Yes. Yes, I, I really love the idea of brain dumping. It’s a new thing, that new term I’ve heard, but I wish I had known about it as a kid where it’s you dump it all down, and then you tear it up, and you throw it away, but you get it out of your head. So I mean, I guess I did that a little bit when I threw away some journals. 

Emma Dhesi  06:12

That’s true. Absolutely. Yeah. It kind of follows that idea that you know, a problem shared is a problem. How do you know once you get out into the world that reduces its power over you true? 

06:24

Like that? 

Emma Dhesi  06:24

And so does your did those early experiences? Do they still influence your fiction writing? No? Or do you feel that you’ve been able to sort of move past that and look at other subject matter? No. 

Kat Caldwell  06:37

Um, yeah, I think they influence the idea that I am so curious about relationships between people. And that is, that’s pretty much the core focus of any of my books I am I have a historical I have a fantasy and I, I’m just finishing a contemporary and so I’m not really into a genre as much as just I just want to study these characters. I’m fascinated by humans, you know, by the fact that you can keep secrets or you know, like, we know things. And yet we, our actions do not follow what we know to be true of history, you know, and all these things. So I think it’s still influenced, I think I still want my characters to be as true to life as possible. I do enjoy a good chick foot, it’s like every once in a while, and which are chiclet, I guess, in which, you know, it’s just fun. But I do want my characters to have real issues and real problems, because growing up, I just saw just this idea of, as long as you put a facade out there, then your life is okay. And then the kids around me being like, life is not okay. Like, I don’t know, what’s going on here. And I, and I assume that hasn’t changed? No, I mean, we are humans. We’re all in this Pinterest era where, you know, an Instagram and filters. So I assume that the teenagers and the 20 year olds are still like, oh, why does reality not match what I see on my truck? Yeah, so I think it has I mean, I am not as as angry I guess, as a writer anymore. And I definitely cleaned up my the first one that I did publish, I call it my first one, because the other one does, to me, it doesn’t really count. I cleaned up a lot of the anger as I went through therapy. And I think that therapy has released me from possibly making this sketch of men as you know, in the worst light possible. 

Emma Dhesi  08:44

So tell us a little bit about your writing. And so you, I’m always interested in people’s routines and how you feel it’s kind of the writing life in amongst everything else. So presumably, you know, there’s other work commitments, family commitments of one description or another, you’ve got social life, all these things? How do you make the time in your life to fulfil this passion of yours? 

Kat Caldwell  09:11

Yeah, that is something that I struggled with for years. Honestly, when I decided to really pursue it. I was living in France, my husband’s company had moved us over Spain, and then France, and I had three kids. And it was really difficult. I studied a lot of habits, you know, books and podcasts and all these things. And I came to the conclusion A few years later, after lots of frustration is all the advice is really great. You just have to look at your own life and then look at that advice and put it together. So after years of trying to wake up at 5am with a newborn and all this, I scrapped that and I I know, I know why. Why do we do this? I I now when I am writing, I put five days a week 1500 Words, and I really am satisfied by my, my pencil and paper agenda where I put a little box. You know, if I get to check it off, I will feel really accomplished, you know, there, of course are days that I don’t always make those five days. And that is always still working through. Okay, did I do enough? You know, should I should I have made more time, I am still a full time mom, my husband works crazy hours, you know, so I basically have five and a half hours to get everything done. My kids are older. So thankfully, they, you know, will leave me alone for longer stretches. But I have really pared it down. Yes, I would love to be able to go away for a weekend and write all weekend long. That’s just not the reality. And so 1500 words, there are days that I can get more done. There are days that I don’t quite make it. I do though count. If I am journaling, if I really feel like I just need to focus on maybe self care, and I journal I count that you know what it was writing, it was part of my art. I do believe that you still have to practice other forms of writing, not just your book, because it keeps you sort of sharp. So, so yeah, it’s 1500 words for me, I if I’m really on a roll, I can get that done in less than two hours. Sometimes it takes longer to be up to think. But I also tell people, I include research, you know, so if I have to research then it’s not 1500 words, it is an hour of research, I’m going to read, you know what happened and take notes. And that’s still part of my work. And that’s something that I didn’t used to accept. But it’s true. It is it is part of our work. And it is part of the book, because your book would not be what it is if you don’t do your research. So I have learned over the years to be kinder to myself. 

Emma Dhesi  12:03

And I think that is a big part of it isn’t it is knowing that we can’t crank out a book every month, like some writers seem to be able to. But if we are just persistent, and we just keep going and we do a little bit every week, we’ll get there eventually. And the story will the marriage. Yes, yeah, I think that’s that’s a really good message to put out there is just keep going, keep going. Just keep going. 

Kat Caldwell  12:28

You know, in sometimes it takes three years. I mean, this contemporary novel I actually wrote seven years ago. And then I set it aside because a another baby came. And then I got the idea of my historical novel and worked on that. And then I revisited this one. And so, of course it needed a whole overhaul, you know, but you know, don’t give up on the things that you had. Maybe it just wasn’t the right moment for them.

 Emma Dhesi  12:54

Yeah. Yeah, that you’ve gone away from a project and then come back to it and still being passionate about it. So it’s obviously it was a good Yeah, idea. Yeah. 

Kat Caldwell  13:04

Yes. Yes. You know, give your characters another chance. I can’t say that. They were perfect. I definitely need to get them give them more depth. But yeah, I mean, it was a whole book just on my computer. It’s like, Well, why won’t why not go back. But I also think I got more confidence because I finished two other books. And I think the more you write, the more you finish, the more confidence you get a bit, you know, like, Okay, I got a little more hang of this, I’m going to go back to these characters and flesh them out a little bit more. 

Emma Dhesi  13:35

Yeah, no, I think I think yes, I’ve touched on something there that I always feel that it’s important to finish that first draft, especially if it’s your very, very first book, your first manuscript that I’m writing that first draft can without meaning to say too dramatic about it can literally change your life. Yeah, you view yourself, especially if you’re somebody who has wanted to write for a long time and has been putting it off and thinking or can’t do it or don’t have it in me. And then once you write that first draft, then you know you do have it in you. And you’re better placed to make that decision about Yes, I want to pursue this I really love it makes me feel great. Or actually, I’m really glad I’ve done this. And now I know it’s not for me, and I can move on to the next thing that yes, I want to try. But I totally 

Kat Caldwell  14:22

Yes, I totally agree of it. And I think we we need to remember that the great writers, anybody who’s your favourite writer, you are not reading their first draft. It’s just not it’s probably the 10th draft. And if it’s anybody who hasn’t, at least who hasn’t self published, they were working with an editor at the same time and I totally believe that self published writers should work with editors as much as they possibly can. But you know, the great classics they were working with, partners their editors on on making sure that their care actors that are in their head or as deep on paper? 

Emma Dhesi  15:03

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I read with envy about, you know, in the olden days and 50s and 60s were an agent would take you on and mould you as a new young person and shape your career and help you grow. Whereas no feels like as a young writer, a new writer, you’ve got to have a fully polished manuscript almost before you even take it to an agent. It’s just like, it’s very changed days. Yeah, yes. It doesn’t feel very fair, does it? I think we’re probably losing a lot of great writers. Because of it. Yeah, in fact, it was a it was even as vile macdiarmid Actually, I was listening to an interview with her recently, and she very prolific claim writer, who’s not that much older than me. But um, but she said, Even then, in the 80s, she was writing in the 80s. And she was moulded and shaped and groomed by this agent, and then she didn’t even though you know, 20 years later, gosh, no, 40 years later, I know what happened? 

Kat Caldwell  16:00

No. I mean, I don’t think any great artist doesn’t study their craft, or doesn’t get help from a master. You know, I mean, nobody just does it alone. And I think the idea that we expect indie authors to just put out a book all by themselves, and we put that on ourselves, you know, like I should, if I were a great writer, I would I would write a great first draft. Well, not really, like I mean, we’re putting the pressure on ourselves that nobody else ever did. You know, it’s 

Emma Dhesi  16:31

no talking of kind of having mentors and stuff. And who are writers that you have admired or who have you turned to to help you with, learn your craft or even learn the business side as well? 

Kat Caldwell  16:44

That’s an interesting question. I have read almost forgot I am a multi genre reader. I adore classics, because I do actually like the description. I do. Like, how Jane Austen goes on and on about, you know, describing the room, which everyone tells you not to do anymore? No, I do love them. I know that you’ve asked me all that people’s names are going out of my head. One of my favourite books is the poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver. I do like how she writes, she also is very descriptive. But the poisonwood Bible made such an impression on me. I was probably in my early 20s. And she wrote from five different voices, five different characters who are all very different. And you could tell who was speaking each chapter, even if you didn’t, you know, read that each chapter was named by the name of the person and that, that was just fascinating to me that she could keep up with each character like that. And that made, you know, sort of a turning point in my writing. I mean, for a while, I thought, well, I would never be able to do that. But I came back around of like, Okay, how do you learn how to do that. I also read quite a few autobiographies or biographies. And the boys in the boat was a great one under Scarlet sky is one that I just read. And it also I guess, has a lot of description. It fascinates me to read people the way that they write, and then try to think, how would I use that just as an exercise? What do I love about it? Under Scarlet sky, I just love the way that they described the writers describing Milan at the end of World War Two, and you can just see it, you know, so trying to say like, what was it about it that made it made me see the mountains or see Milan, you know, what, what vocabulary did he use? And that makes me want to pursue, you know, learning new words, or how would I use them without sounding pretentious. But I’ve, I’ve interviewed quite a few indie authors on my podcast, and they each have just a different way of viewing the world. And so I love listening to their interviews and listening in and then reading their books and reading their blogs and just seeing, realising, especially as I get older and older, that there’s there’s nothing wrong with the way people see or write the world. It’s just different. And if we can just be very curious and very open. David Rawlings, who’s a writer in Australia, he talks about this too, and Vesper stamper, I find her to be fascinating. She’s an illustrator and writer and she illustrates her own books. The idea of curiosity with those two, just keeps going if you’re just curious about how people see the world even if you don’t maybe agree with the point of view, they’re they’re writing in their book, but where did they come from? What are they trying to tell you? You know? how might it be to be in their shoes? And those are the kind of authors that I really, I always admire, and I feel like I need to get to their, their area. Yes. Like, okay, if I could just get there. I’m David Rawlings is interesting, because he’s the first writer I’ve heard talk about a writer should have just sort of a motto or a theme. And just knowing that, he, he’s always going to take a story and have a full I guess, you would call them morals at the end. But But really, it’s not just a story. It’s about like really looking into life a little bit deeper through his characters. So I found that fascinating as well. And, and he definitely pulls it off in his books.

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Emma Dhesi  20:58

So you see, we’ll see again, what he has, and he likes to have a sort of motto or he 

Kat Caldwell  21:02

has a motto. And he I could look it up for you. I think it’s taking readers deeper into books that take you deeper into life or something. 

Emma Dhesi  21:13

David tries to do with each of his right. So he said, 

Kat Caldwell  21:16

This is who I am as a as a author, and this is what you will get from my books. And so I had never heard that before. And I thought, well, that’s very interesting, which made me go back and think, oh, who am I as a as a writer, so I really study characters a lot. I really like to study people. Okay, well, that’s okay. But I had never thought of that before, like processing my own art in that in that way. 

Emma Dhesi  21:41

No, I guess maybe, yeah, that’s sort of part and parcel of that journey towards and finding your voice, and even kind of branding against just extrapolated to a more marketing or business trip. Auntie Jane. Sure. So that’s lovely. So some really nice and quite varied storytellers there. And what about sort of the craft side of it? Who do you turn to when you’re looking to just work on an aspect of storytelling? 

Kat Caldwell  22:09

Oh, goodness. So I have a mountain of books of story prompts. I particularly I have one editor in England. And she is a fabulous editor who is not afraid to tell me when I need to clean things up or go deeper with a character. I think it’s really important to find somebody who you jive with, most editors are not afraid to tell you that but I think just personality wise, it’s good to I think she was probably the third editor I looked into. So as you get to that, that you know, the finish and you need an editor don’t just go with the first one. You know, if you if you just don’t really like what they say to you, the way they say it is fine. Another one. I, I have started to branch out a bit in looking towards mentors and other arts and seeing what they do. I’m I’m reading Twyla Tharp’s book, just on creativity, she’s a choreographer, and realising that I should study more masters of other arts. And that’s a new thing this year, especially during quarantine as we all tried to figure out something to occupy ourselves with. But it makes sense to me, because I think just I can learn a lot from other writers with you know, how they did things, their habits, and how they develop their skills, and I have their writing prompts, and I use those as well. Or I try to imitate, you know, just as an exercise how they describe something and how I could describe the the world around me using, you know, try to follow in their ways, their footsteps. But I am branching out and looking at choreographers, musicians, and really the greats and seeing how did they see the world getting into their autobiographies, their, you know, what they left the world with, and trying to branch out a little

 Emma Dhesi  24:06

bit there. Yeah, yeah. What kind of talking of them looking at other art forms? You know, you host a post podcast and you mentioned this before. Tell us a little bit about that. Because I think you you’re keen to talk to creatives of all different types, not just fiction writers. 

Kat Caldwell  24:23

Yes, absolutely. So I started the podcast last September 2019. I can’t believe it’s the year so it’s called pencils and lipstick. At first it was just going to be pencils or something. But I realised You know, my brother’s a photographer, my sister in law’s a muralist. And I am quite fascinated by the fact that people can, you know, take clay and make something beautiful or my sister in law can look at a blank wall that’s giant and actually not get confused on what to paint. Like, I just find that that mind, the mind of the artist, fascinating. And so I wanted to expand it to other people. So I’ve had a lot of writers on because I do want to support as many writers as possible. But I’ve had painters I’ve had people who really dip into making handmade soaps and working with their hands. They’re a Master candlemaker. She calls herself. Another one. I’ve had bakers, musicians. I am hoping to get a dancer on soon. Because they’re little, they don’t like to be interviewed

 Emma Dhesi  25:35

by their writers, my goodness, yeah. Hi, guys. 

Kat Caldwell  25:40

So any, anything that you consider creative, I would love to talk to people about, you know, what was your journey? How did you become bold enough to to go out into the world and say, This is my creativity. And I want to show it to you, because I think all of us struggle at some point in thinking that nobody cares, or that it’s not a real job, or you know, that I should be doing something else. And I just don’t think that’s true. I think we’re all created differently. And some of us have art, creativity, artistic talents. And to keep those inside I think is just a shame. I mean, looking historically, artists were always revered. And now we’re just sort of like, Oh, go do your real job, and then go do that as a hobby. And even if it is a hobby, you should be allowed to speak of it, and to call yourself a master of the art, you know, if you pursue it. So it’s really a place. Yeah, and be proud of it. So it’s a place for people to tell their story. And then to encourage those who wish to do that as well. To encourage them to go for it. 

Emma Dhesi  26:47

Well, that’s a kind of fits in really nicely with the idea, I know that you and you feel very strongly that mindset is important aspects of a previous life. And I actually I believe that as well. And particularly with writing a kind of thing, if you get your mindset straight, you’re 50% of the way there. So what would you suggest suggesting a new beginner writers out there, if they’re, you know, doubting their abilities, if they’re having that comparison itis that we hear about? They don’t think they’ve got it in them. And maybe, you know, we do hear people do tell us that the family members or friends tell them it’s a waste of time, and we shouldn’t be doing it. And so they’re embarrassed about it. What words of advice or encouragement would you have for those raises to help them push past that and, and own it? Yeah. 

Kat Caldwell  27:38

But first, I would say almost every writer artist has that experience, unfortunately. And I think now you can find some encouragement, through podcasts, and through other people’s blogs, I would encourage you to find them. There are quite a few artists now who have their podcasts, and they just want to show that creativity is a real thing. It is a real job. I think all of us go through that idea of somebody and it’s usually somebody very close to us, claiming that they’re just looking out for us, and they want us, you know, to be happy or to be successful. I think in the end, you have to realise that you can have all the money in the world, if you’re not doing what you were created to do, you’re not going to be contented, you’re not going to be happy. And I really think a lot of people who are not happy but make quite a bit of money. It’s they’re just not doing what they’re supposed to be doing with their life. You know, if you were created to sculpt or to write or to sing, and you’re not doing it, there’s a part of you that’s not being used. And so I would say it is difficult, but everyday to just take one step towards your creativity and just feel like this fulfils me. And to start being bold enough to tell the people I understand how you feel. I understand that you love me assume always the best of the other person. But this fulfils me, it makes me happy and it makes me content and I would love it if he would support me in it. You won’t always find that but you can find other groups on Facebook, it’s not the greatest place but you can find it other podcasts people who are pursuing it. And I would say not to give up. I mean, I I am much older than than the person I was I’m turning 40 and it took me a long time to get that confidence up to pursue it. I think a lot of us do take that. Those decades to get there. We pursue other things. You know, I was a translator as a waitress I was secretary, you know, I need a career. But really in the end of it, whatever fulfils you is what what you should follow. And you’re just not gonna you’re just gonna be happier. It’s okay if you don’t have three iPads, if you’re happy. 

Emma Dhesi  29:58

Absolutely, absolutely. You mentioned there that finding a community can be a really integral part of finding your creative self. And I know that you have a an online community as well. I wonder if you could share a little bit about that with us? 

Kat Caldwell  30:15

Yeah, it’s something new that I’ve that I started in August. It is a group of writers, some of them, most of them are new writers working on their first book. And it’s a place where I spent so I published my first one, I hit the button, you know, that Publish button on in November of 2017. And then as many indie writers, as happens, you say, Well, nobody knows my book is there. What did I miss. And I was very much against social media, I didn’t understand email marketing, I just didn’t get I just wanted to write a book. And I just wanted to put it out. And I wanted that to be the end. And unfortunately, that’s not how things are anymore. And so I spent two years, probably two and a half years. And that’s part of the reason why I started the podcast is I read 50 business books in 2018. Realising that most of them were not for creative businesses, most of them were for other businesses, but trying to learn, I listened to probably hundreds of hours of podcasts on what what am I supposed to be doing? And where am I supposed to be going? And what is branding? And who am I as an author? And why can’t people just buy my book, and we not do any of this work? When I started the podcast, you know, I can learn from other people where they are, how did they get there? You know, are you making money from this? I want to make money too. And I want people to read my book. How do you get people to review your book, you know, and all these questions that I had. And so that, I mean, it’s been three years now, since I hit that Publish button and then spent all that time and I realised most people don’t have that time. I’m blessed to be a stay at home mom, other than a writer. And, yes, that’s still a crazy job. But you know, those five hours a day, I was just trying to figure out what to do next. And a lot of people don’t have that time, or they just feel lost. And I’ve heard a lot of writers just give up. And so I bring in at least two masterminds a month, we do lives. Just in two days, we’ll be doing a live on what your lead magnet is for email marketing, we’re really focusing on email marketing this month, because that confused me to no end. For a long time. Why should I start before anybody? Before I even have a book? I don’t understand this, where should I go? So we focus on different things, all the marketing you have to do I bring in masterminds this, this month, we’re going to have a mastermind with another author about book launching, and another artist about habits and how he has kept up the habit of drawing every day for eight years. So he does a lot of mindset. And so it is a paid membership. But it’s $47 a month you get live with me, you get to chat with me whenever you want. My hope is that we will grow as a community, we will be the beta readers for our book launches, we will support each other I think that’s what what people need more than anything. You know, when your book is done? Where do you find an editor. So I have three different editors coming in, in 2021. And then when your book is launched, you know, the more people who talk about your book, the better, you know, if they can read it, they can share it on their newsletter, and just sort of that spiderweb effect of trying to get your book launched as fast as possible. Because it’s not something I understood with my first one, I just didn’t get it. And I want to help as many writers as possible, get it and get their book into the hands of the people that should have it sounds amazing. 

Emma Dhesi  33:49

sounds like a fantastic group was the group called 

Kat Caldwell  33:52

it’s called the creative writing community. The pencils and lipstick Creative Writing community, it’s on Facebook. You can also find it on my website, KatCaldwell.com and you can go through the free mini course first if you want. So I have a free mini course on my website starts like that. So that’s just a little five day mini course because I think a lot of people have a hard time. Just starting, you know, the mindset. I think just like you and I were talking about, like, it’s hard to think that you’re even worthy of writing this book, who am I to write this book? You know, I can’t ever finish this. So we go through mindset, it’s a five day emails, one email a day you get worksheets, and the first thing we tackle is mindset. Yes, absolutely. You should write your book. It doesn’t matter if it’s a romance story. You know, that’s been written before. They’ve all been written before technically, but you’re a different person. You have a different point of view. Your story is different than anyone else’s. And by golly, I want to write I want to read another romance book. So please But, I mean, we’re always looking for more. And I even tell people, you know, as much as there are people who love classics, there’s a whole swath of, of people in the world who aren’t going to go back and read books from the 80s. They’re just not going to do it. But they might read your book, maybe they are your ideal reader. So if you don’t write it, they can’t read it. So we tackle mindset content, high, low content, how to really decide what your book is about. titles, how important they are, but covers how important they are your ideal reader, so you should write not to everybody, which is something that’s very hard to grasp, at first, but you should be writing only to specific people. And then we go into habits and characters. And then, and that’s all free. And I do live. That’s a free Facebook group, it’s start writing your book in five days. So you can sign up on my website as well. 

Emma Dhesi  35:57

All right, I’ll link to all of these in the show notes. Yes. And don’t worry, everybody, I’ll have that for you.

Kat Caldwell  36:03

I know, we’re always like driving in our car trying to write on the podcast. So yeah, I’m sure the links will be there. But you know, so you can always try and see the group on the free group is not as active. As you know, it’s Facebook 

Emma Dhesi  36:20

feed. And you know, the fact that paid content when you make that commitment and investment in yourself repeat content, you’re investing and so you’re much more likely to show up and get involved and get your money’s worth putting Yes, yeah, 

Kat Caldwell  36:34

yes. And you know what, I debated doing it for free, because I honestly just want writers to know that they you know, that there is help out there. But you’re right. A lot of people were not really being active when it was free. So I think just like anything, I’m I too am guilty of downloading free courses and never touching them. Yeah. 

Emma Dhesi  36:58

I think I’ve heard it said recently, and it’s maybe a Tony Robbins thing, you know, but the transformation happens when you make the investment. And because that true, you’ve not only financially but you’ve mentally made the investment as well. Sure. That’s true. What I love about your content, though, is that it’s quite, there’s a lot of it is very business orientated. And when I look around, and certainly when I was starting out, and I would look around and what’s out there for beginners, a lot of it is about the craft, a lot of it is about getting the first draft with it, which is what I focus on, but actually as an as, particularly if you want to be indie, but even if you want a traditional deal, you have to be so much more business aware now. So having somebody I mean, even despite the mini course, I mean, that’s a, that’s a jam, they’re just opening your eyes to what you do need to think about as a writer, it’s not solely about the work. It’s predominantly about that. But it’s not just that anymore. And we need to be at the very least aware of all the other things that go on. So I think that’s fantastic. A wonderful offering. 

Kat Caldwell  38:01

Thank you. Yeah, I think it’s it’s unfortunate sometimes in our heads, because the last thing we want to do is worry about LinkedIn. And I’m with you, I was there for a very long time. But the truth is, the more you brand yourself as an author, and I didn’t get that, but you You are a personal brand. You know, JK Rowling’s is a brand, then there’s Harry Potter. So there are two things that she has going for. But you are your brand, whatever your author name is, whether it’s a pen name, or yourself, people want to know about you, they want to know about your life, they want to see you they are not going to see your next book, most of us do not go looking, you know, I mean, Stephen King, and you know, whoever else, they’re all prominent on the Amazon line, or the Barnes and Noble line, if they’re actually open, you know, thinking back to normalcy in life. You know, it’s hard otherwise, to find that one book, you read that one time, and where are they? Well, if you’re on their newsletter, you’re following them and you’re excited by what they’re doing. And you see more of their life and their writing process. So just realising that you’re, you need to find the fans, and you need to find the fans by putting yourself out there. And it’s a difficult thing I think, for writers to comprehend because we don’t want to 

Emma Dhesi  39:25

just want to write the book. Yeah, what else do the other stuff just 

Kat Caldwell  39:28

find my book guys, you know, but yeah, and then to find the support through different authors. And there are great ways to to collaborate with other authors, which I think is fabulous, supporting one another. 

Emma Dhesi  39:42

what can i i’m just conscious of time. I just want to say thank you so so much for joining me today. I’ve really enjoyed talking to you. Can you just remind people where they can find you online? 

Kat Caldwell  39:53

Yes, it’s cat caldwell.com and cat with a K and called officee And on Facebook is cat Caldwell author Instagram cat Caldwell dot author. And apparently there’s lots of cat calls out there. You never knew that before social media. So I think the best place is my website you can find all my lead magnets there. You know, if you want to know what a lead magnet is, you can definitely DM me and I will gladly tell you what that is, or any business. I’m always open honestly, for people to ask me questions, whether it’s instagram, facebook, or you just get on my newsletter and you you literally hit reply to the email. I don’t profess to know everything. But I am somebody who researches a lot and have researched over the last two years. So yeah, they can find me on cat caldwell.com all the books are there. All the groups and everything.

 Emma Dhesi  40:47

Fantastic. Now I realised we didn’t actually name your books, but you wanted to just tell us the last one that was out and where we can find it.

 Kat Caldwell  40:56

Yeah, absolutely. The last one was a magical realm fantasy, you always need to find out the genres and all the sub genres of everybody. So it’s called an audience with the king that started out as a short story and quickly became a full book. You can find it on Amazon, you can find him Barnes and Noble on Kobo. And pretty much anywhere you find.

 Emma Dhesi  41:18

Fantastic. Cat. Thank you once again, and take care.

 Kat Caldwell  41:22

Thank you. Thank you for having me.

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