Award-winning author and editor Janyre Tromp joins us for an in-depth exploration of her deep publishing experience. She’s seen it from all angles, as an editor in traditional publishing houses, and as an author who has seen the pros and cons of both traditional and self-publishing. Janyre breaks down the definitions, differences, and decision-making process for authors as they consider the publishing path that’s right for them.

In this wide-ranging discussion, you'll learn:

• Clear definitions of vanity press, hybrid publishing, self-publishing, and traditional publishing
• Why Janyre decided to try self-publishing (indie publishing) after undeniable success as a traditionally published author
• How she leverages her marketing background for maximum sales
• When to choose traditional publishing vs. self-publishing vs. other options
• The financial realities and potential of each publishing path
• Which path has become her favorite (and why)

This interview is perfect for aspiring authors, seasoned writers considering a change, or anyone curious about how things are changing…and how we can make an informed decision.

00:00 Multitasking Editor Embraces Indie

05:13 Publishing Access vs Readers

08:37 Indie Publishing Workflow Explained

12:45 Indie Publishing Services Evolve

13:37 Building Your Self-Publishing Team

19:21 Nonfiction Marketing Strategies

22:35 Self-Publishing: Learn or Delegate

23:29 Indie Authors as a Business

28:43 Effective Nonfiction Self-Publishing Tips

31:05 Publishing Requires Patience and Marketing

34:48 Indie Influence on Traditional Publishing

38:44 Hybrid Author vs Publisher

41:07 Navigating Publishing Rights & Royalties

45:39 Hiring Reputable Publishing Services

46:56 Vetting Publishers for Success

52:45 Benefits of Audiobooks for Readers

53:52 The Enduring Power of Books

57:51 Craft Your Book's Big Idea

• Free 3-Day Challenge: Craft Your Book’s Big Idea: annkroeker.com/3day
• Previous interview with Janyre about target audience: Start with Your Ideal Audience

In this episode, Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach, explores how clarifying your role in a reader’s life transforms your tone, structure, and connection on the page. Using real-world analogies and examples from Anne Bogel, Annie F. Downs, and Lisa TerKeurst, Ann shows how to choose and calibrate a voice readers trust—whether you’re a knowledgeable friend, a teacher, a tower of authority, or a fellow traveler in the field.

In This Episode You’ll Discover:

• Why defining your role makes writing more intuitive and effective
• How to spot a voice/role mismatch that’s holding your manuscript back
• The “knowledgeable friend” approach that helped Anne Bogel find her flow
• How Annie F. Downs’ “coffee with a friend” brand guides tone and content
• Lisa TerKeurst’s 4 voices for authors: Tower, Teacher, In the Field, and In the Pit
• When to avoid the “In the Pit” voice (and what to do instead)
• Practical tone tweaks: contractions, anecdotes, sentence fragments, vulnerability
• A quick exercise to test multiple voices and choose what fits
• How to align structure, examples, and word choice with your chosen role
• Ways to iterate based on reader response

0:00 - Introduction and welcome from Ann Kroeker

0:26 - Episode topic: What’s your role in your reader’s life?

0:40 - Roles professionals play and their impact

0:57 - Why writers should understand their role for better connection

1:10 - Identifying your reader-facing role: friend, expert, or fellow traveler?

1:17 - The impact of a tone-role mismatch for writers

1:35 - How tone, structure, and writing style change when role aligns

1:45 - Aligning roles for authenticity and effective voice

1:50 - Writers Anne Bogel, Annie F. Downs, and Lisa TerKeurst refine their roles

2:17 - Anne Bogel’s “friend who knows some things” approach

2:47 - Using knowledgeable friend tone: relate and inform

3:04 - Annie F. Downs’ “coffee with a friend” brand

3:33 - Using anecdotes, humor, and vulnerability as a friendly writer

3:50 - Lisa TerKeurst’s four author voices explained

4:23 - The Tower Voice (authoritative expert)

4:46 - The Teacher Voice (research-backed and vulnerable)

5:04 - The In-the-Field Voice (guiding as fellow traveler)

5:26 - The In-the-Pit Voice (venting without solutions)

5:45 - Finding your role: reflection questions for writers

6:12 - How readers see you shapes your style

6:22 - Structuring research-based writing with the Tower Voice

6:33 - Blending guidance with personal insight as a Teacher

6:40 - Using shared experience for trust in the Field Voice

7:04 - The pitfalls of writing from struggle without solutions

7:12 - Experimenting with different writer voices

7:38 - Adjusting tone and style to suit your authentic role

8:12 - Realizing and embodying your role for writing flow

8:29 - Invitation to Craft Your Book’s Big Idea challenge

8:50 - Ann Kroeker encourages and supports writers

9:02 - Closing and ongoing support for writers

• Free 3-Day Challenge: Craft Your Book’s Big Idea — annkroeker.com/3day
• Lisa TerKeurst interview (linked in episode show notes at annkroeker.com/writersrole)

To read and check out all info, head to annkroeker.com/writersrole

In this episode, Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach tackles the common "research rabbit hole" problem that plagues nonfiction writers. Learn how to balance thorough research with productive writing, using Isaac Newton's famous quote about "standing on ye sholders of giants" as inspiration for leveraging others' knowledge without getting lost in endless sources.

• Why the research rabbit hole is a distraction for nonfiction writers
• Noticing when you're researching versus procrastinating
• Practical strategies to ensure you stay focused on the research
• The importance of research for credibility and specificity in nonfiction

⌚️Timestamps:

0:00 - Welcome & Introduction

0:48 - Getting Lost in Research

1:30 - Does Detail Matter?

2:00 - Value of Specifics

3:15 - Building Trust Through Research

3:44 - Research in Memoir & Essays

4:09 - Standing on Giants’ Shoulders

4:40 - 7 Focused Research Tips

5:05 - Bracket Placeholders

5:23 - Tackling Online Distractions

5:45 - Parking Lot Document

6:00 - Staying Relevant

6:23 - Research Timers

6:48 - Organizing Research

7:16 - Research as Conversation

7:45 - Back to Writing

To read and check out all info, head to annkroeker.com/rabbithole