This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca reflect on The Self Publishing Show Live 2026 and discuss what happens after the excitement of a conference ends. They explore the importance of reviewing progress at the halfway point of the year, assessing business goals, and deciding what to focus on for the remainder of 2026. The conversation covers productivity, TikTok marketing, author accountability, using data to make better decisions, and feedback from SPS Live attendees. James also shares plans being considered for future SPS Live events, including more hands-on workshops and potentially expanding the conference format.

Key Talking Points

Why a mid-year business review is essential for authors
Assessing goals, progress, and priorities for the second half of the year
Using data and metrics to make smarter publishing decisions
TikTok marketing and deciding where to focus your time
The challenge of balancing creativity with business planning
SPS Live attendee feedback and highlights from the event
The possibility of adding a third day to SPS Live
Ideas for future hands-on workshop and implementation sessions
The value of accountability and sharing plans with other authors
Avoiding overwhelm by focusing on a small number of key objectives
Homework: James & Cissy's Mid-Year Author Check-In Questions:

What number are you proudest of from the first half of 2026?
What did you stop doing, and was it the right decision?
What is your Q3 pivot — what are you going to do differently?

Links & Resources Mentioned

ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com
SPS Live Digital Ticket & Replay Access: https://learnselfpublishing.com/digital
Cissy Mecca Romance: https://meccaromance.com
Two Authors' Podcast: https://youtu.be/QhYcucRQeBw?si=yPfqRHW_P4INK1RI