Q&A Episode – July 2021
In this monthly q & a session, the guys answer listener questions.
Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business – editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.
Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.
Join us on Patreon and ask your question LIVE on the podcast!
https://www.patreon.com/writersinkpodcast
Questions asked:
- I know J. has tried doing a dialogue only first draft, and I’d love to know what you think now. Will this be part of your normal process going forward? I’m trying it myself now, after a conversation with Jeff Elkins. I can definitely
- Here’s a question that J. gets to ask everyone else, and I’m going to ask you…where do you see the publishing landscape in 5 years?
- I’m struggling to find my voice for my newsletter. Any advice or will it just take practice and trial and error?
- Do you think it’s worth the effort to create free stories to offer readers, especially prospective readers, as a marketing strategy? I don’t mean just a reader magnet, but stories offered in addition to that.
- What do each of you think are 3 necessary elements of a bestseller (100K+ sales) ignoring author name, sales and marketing. They could be 3 things that stood out for you from a bestseller you have read, or 3 things you suggest one might try to include in a novel.
- What’s the best piece of advice you have received or given in regards to writing?
- What are your recommendations for getting started in ghostwriting fiction?
- If you break it down in a rough estimate: How much of your working time on any day do you spend on writing versus publishing (incl. marketing, preparing the book pages on the platforms and such)? And what’s the first thing you’d outsource?
- When do you read? Or an expanded question: How does your typical day look like regarding Writing, Business, Reading?
Links:
J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/
J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/
Zach Bohannon – https://zachbohannon.com/
The Serial Fiction Show Podcast – https://www.serialfictionshow.com/
Story Rubric – http://storyrubric.com
Nonfic Rubric – http://nonficrubric.com
The Career Author Summit 2021 – https://thecareerauthor.com/summit2021/
Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life – https://kobowritinglife.com/
Music by Nicorus – https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep
Voice Over by Rick Ganley – http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio – http://www.millpondstudio.com
Contact – https://writersinkpodcast.com/dev/contact/
*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.
Simplicity Is Key with NYT Bestseller Riley Sager
A girl, a killer, a car– the premise for bestseller Riley Sager’s latest novel, Survive the Night, feels dauntingly simple, but by focusing on solid character development and intense dialogue while omitting needless setting changes and extra characters, he allows the simple brilliance of the story’s concept to shine through. Riley, a returning guest on the podcast, is the international bestseller of Final Girls and is known for other bestselling novels like The Last Time I Lied and Lock Every Door. To purchase Survive the Night, follow the link below.
From Amazon.com:
Riley Sager is the pseudonym of a former journalist, editor and graphic designer. Now a full-time author, Riley’s first thriller, FINAL GIRLS, became a national and international bestseller that’s been translated into more than 25 languages. His subsequent novels, THE LAST TIME I LIED, LOCK EVERY DOOR and HOME BEFORE DARK, were instant New York Times bestsellers. His newest thriller, SURVIVE THE NIGHT, will be released in June. A native of Pennsylvania, Riley now lives in Princeton, New Jersey. When he’s not working on his next novel, he enjoys reading, cooking and going to the movies as much as possible. His favorite film is “Rear Window.” Or maybe “Jaws.” But probably, if he’s being honest, “Mary Poppins.”
Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business – editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.
Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- The cons of using too much nostalgia
- Why different mediums impact the feel of a story
- How to pace yourself when writing
- How to keep your readers off balance
- The importance of a good title
Links:
J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/
J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/
Zach Bohannon – https://zachbohannon.com/
J.’s Vella project – https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/product/B0994PXSP1
Riley Sager – https://www.rileysagerbooks.com/
Survive the Night – https://mybook.to/SurviveTheNight
Story Rubric – http://storyrubric.com
Nonfic Rubric – http://nonficrubric.com
The Career Author Summit 2021 – https://thecareerauthor.com/summit2021/
Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life – https://kobowritinglife.com/
Music by Nicorus – https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep
Voice Over by Rick Ganley – http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio – http://www.millpondstudio.com
Contact – https://writersinkpodcast.com/dev/contact/
*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.
Writing Comedic Horror with NYT Bestseller Grady Hendrix
NYT Bestseller Grady Hendrix is a master of voicing his comedic ideas in an unexpected genre: horror. By focusing on timing and relevancy and making sure to meticulously revise, he’s able to write jokes that are appropriately placed and contribute to the feel of the story instead of subtracting from it. Hendrix is best known for Horrorstör, a thrilling haunted house story which is currently being produced for the big screen. His newest novel, The Final Girl Support Group, releases tomorrow.
From Amazon.com:
New York Times bestselling author Grady Hendrix makes up lies and sells them to people. His novels include HORRORSTÖR about a haunted IKEA, MY BEST FRIEND’S EXORCISM, which is basically “Beaches” meets “The Exorcist”, WE SOLD OUR SOULS, a heavy metal horror epic, THE SOUTHERN BOOK CLUB’S GUIDE TO SLAYING VAMPIRES, and THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP, coming on July 13, 2021. He’s also the author of PAPERBACKS FROM HELL, an award-winning history of the horror paperback boom of the Seventies and Eighties. He wrote the screenplay for, MOHAWK, a horror flick about the War of 1812, and SATANIC PANIC about a pizza delivery woman fighting rich Satanists. You can discover more ridiculous facts about him at www.gradyhendrix.com.
Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business – editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.
Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Why it’s ok to have a fluid writing process
- Why to explore writing short stories
- Approaches to writing in stigmatized genres
- How Grady transitioned from journalism to fiction
- The importance of accepting criticism
Links:
J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/
J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/
Zach Bohannon – https://zachbohannon.com/
Grady Hendrix – http://www.gradyhendrix.com/
The Final Girl Support Group – https://mybook.to/FinalGirl
Story Rubric – http://storyrubric.com
Nonfic Rubric – http://nonficrubric.com
The Career Author Summit 2021 – https://thecareerauthor.com/summit2021/
Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life – https://kobowritinglife.com/
Music by Nicorus – https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep
Voice Over by Rick Ganley – http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio – http://www.millpondstudio.com
Contact – https://writersinkpodcast.com/dev/contact/
*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.
Overcoming Rejection with Bestseller T.J. Newman
Bestseller T.J. Newman has proven that you can write in any situation given enough dedication. Not only did she write her debut novel, Falling, on a notepad while working long hours as a flight attendant, but also pushed through over forty rejections before landing a publishing deal. Falling, Newman’s first and only novel about a perilous mid-flight decision, has won critical acclaim from the likes of James Patterson and Lee Child for its suspense and original plot. To order Falling, which hits shelves tomorrow, follow the link below.
From Amazon.com:
T.J. Newman, a former bookseller turned flight attendant, worked for Virgin America and Alaska Airlines from 2011 to 2021. She wrote much of Falling on cross-country red-eye flights while her passengers were asleep. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona.
Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business – editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.
Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- What drink J would order on a plane
- How to write during a flight
- The importance of story beats
- How to title your book
- T.J.’s unique pre-writing process
Links:
J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/
J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/
Zach Bohannon – https://zachbohannon.com/
T.J. Newman – https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/T-J-Newman/181729548
Falling – https://mybook.to/FallingBook
Story Rubric – http://storyrubric.com
Nonfic Rubric – http://nonficrubric.com
The Career Author Summit 2021 – https://thecareerauthor.com/summit2021/
Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life – https://kobowritinglife.com/
Music by Nicorus – https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep
Voice Over by Rick Ganley – http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio – http://www.millpondstudio.com
Contact – https://writersinkpodcast.com/dev/contact/
*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.