Month: November 2021

Q&A Episode – November 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’ve been writing some short stories lately as a way to sharpen my skills with story structures. I’m thinking some of them might work well as full-length novels. I like that the short story provides a solid outline to develop a longer character in a more involved plot line. My question for you is, have you ever taken a short story and expanded it into a novel? And what was your experience?
• How do you weigh administrative costs vs potential returns? You are each building things outside of just writing books (Zach just started a Discord, J’s doing NFTs, and JD is has real estate investments). Knowing that with each of these things there is a cost of time and effort, how do you decide if something is worth it? Also, how do you think about the term limit on that investment (discord groups or NFTs could potentially go on forever)? Does that weigh into your decision-making?
• Hey J, Zach, and JD… how do you view the holiday season–a time to get away from writing, or a time to double-down when everyone else is busy?
• When should you start shopping for a book cover-before, in the middle, or after you’re finished writing your manuscript?
• What are your go-to’s for podcasts and blogs?
• Perhaps you could each answer this. Ignore cover, blurb, title, marketing etc. What one writing skill would you like to improve for your own writing, and how could you gain that skill?

Links:

J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/

J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/

Zach Bohannon – https://zachbohannon.com/

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/contact/ 

*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

Finding Co-Writing Chemistry with Gary Grossman and Ed Fuller

Bestsellers Gary Grossman and Ed Fuller know the importance of good co-writing chemistry. In their award-winning thriller series, Red Hotel, Gary combines his knowledge of the entertainment industry with Ed’s captivating true stories to create novels that feel fascinatingly real. Gary has worked with popular media for many years and has produced for over 27 cable networks, while Ed served as president of Marriott for several decades and served as a captain in the U.S. army. To order their latest novel, Red Deception, follow the link below.

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:

• How Gary met Ed
• The specifics of their collaboration process
• Why you should utilize real stories in your writing
• How to handle disagreements with your co-writer
• The fiction writing process vs. the nonfiction writing process

Links:

J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/

J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/

Zach Bohannon – https://zachbohannon.com/

Gary Grossman – https://www.garygrossman.com/

Ed Fuller – https://edwinfuller.com/

Red Deception – https://mybook.to/RedDeception

Written Word Media 2021 Survey – https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/the-state-of-indie-authorship-in-2021/ 

Creatokia – https://www.creatokia.com/en 

Story Rubric – http://storyrubric.com  

Nonfic Rubric – http://nonficrubric.com  

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/contact/ 

*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

Led Zeppelin: The Biography with NYT Bestseller Bob Spitz

In his latest book, Led Zeppelin: The Biography, legendary biographer and journalist Bob Spitz documents the secret life of one of rock and roll’s biggest bands. Through his excellent use of storytelling combined with credibly sourced information, he’s able to write nonfiction that’s both gripping and true. Bob is a bestselling author well known for retelling the lives of many popular figures, including Ronald Reagan and The Beatles. To order Led Zeppelin: The Biography, follow the link below.

From BobSpitz.com:

Bob Spitz is the award-winning author of the biographies Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child and The Beatles, both New York Times bestsellers, as well as six other nonfiction books and a screenplay. He has represented Bruce Springsteen and Elton John in several capacities. His articles appear regularly in magazines and newspapers.

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 it’s like touring with Bruce Springsteen and Elton John
• The importance of drawing your own conclusions
• The process of writing a biography
• Why main characters are the most unreliable narrators
• The importance of correct, transparent sourcing

Links:

J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/

J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/

Zach Bohannon – https://zachbohannon.com/

Bob Spitz – https://bobspitz.com/

Led Zeppelin: The Biography – https://mybook.to/LedZeppelinBio

Story Rubric – http://storyrubric.com  

Nonfic Rubric – http://nonficrubric.com  

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/contact/ 

*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

Special Episode: WOOL Update with NYT Bestseller Hugh Howey

Join returning guest Hugh Howey in this special episode as he shares an update on the WOOL adaptation from bestselling serial to streaming sensation.

Hugh is a NYT bestselling author who has published his work in over 40 countries and has won critical acclaim for his three serialized works: Wool, Silo, and Sand. For news on the Wool show, visit Hugh’s website using the link below.

From Amazon.com:

Hugh Howey is the author of the award-winning Molly Fyde saga and the New York Times and USA Today bestselling WOOL series. The WOOL OMNIBUS won Kindle Book Review’s 2012 Indie Book of the Year Award — it has been as high as #1 on Amazon — and 40 countries have picked up the work for translation. Ridley Scott and Steve Zaillian are adapting the work for 20th Century Fox.

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.

Links:

J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/

J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/

Zach Bohannon – https://zachbohannon.com/

Hugh Howey – https://hughhowey.com/

Story Rubric – http://storyrubric.com  

Nonfic Rubric – http://nonficrubric.com  

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/contact/ 

*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet with NYT Editor Pamela Paul

In her latest book, 100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet, Pamela Paul urges her readers to take a step back and contemplate just how much the internet has shaped society. From its influence on the very basis of social interaction to the way authors think about and write stories, she seeks to capture all the ways new tech has changed our world and “memorialize the very recent past”. Pamela is the editor of The New York Times Book Review, host of the Book Review podcast, and has written seven books in her free time. To order 100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet, follow the link below.

From Amazon.com:

Pamela Paul is the editor of The New York Times Book Review, which she joined as the children’s books editor in 2011, and oversees books coverage at The New York Times, where she hosts the weekly Book Review podcast. She is the author of seven books: ” The Starter Marriage and the Future of Matrimony” was named one of the best books of 2002 by The Washington Post; her second book, “Pornified,” was named one of the best books of 2005 by The San Francisco Chronicle. She is also the author of “Parenting, Inc.”, “By the Book: Writers on Literature and the Literary Life from The New York Times Book Review,” “My Life with Bob: Flawed Heroine Keeps Book of Books, Plot Ensues” and most recently, “How to Raise a Reader,” co-written with Maria Russo. Her first picture book for children, “Rectangle Time,” came out in February 2021.Paul’s next book, “100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet,” will be published by Crown on October 26th, 2021 (and can be preordered now!). Paul has been a contributor to Time magazine and The Economist, and a columnist for The New York Times Sunday Styles section and Worth magazine. Her work has also appeared in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, The New York Times Magazine, The Economist, Vogue, and other publications.

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 J likes interviewing other podcasters
• COVID-19’s effect on the writing process
• How to switch from op-eds to traditional book writing
• How to deal with writer’s block
• How to write while commuting

Links:

J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/

J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/

Zach Bohannon – https://zachbohannon.com/

Creator Dad Podcast – http://creatordad.life/

Pamela Paul – https://www.pamelapaul.com/

100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet – https://mybook.to/100Things

Story Rubric – http://storyrubric.com  

Nonfic Rubric – http://nonficrubric.com  

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/contact/ 

*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

Facing Your Challenges with NYT Bestseller Andrew Child

Andrew Child never backs down from a challenge. Whether it’s leaving a stable corporate job to pursue a writing career or picking up the reins of his brother’s legendary Jack Reacher series, his willingness to take risks and put himself out there have helped him become the successful writer he is today. Child has been writing full-time since 2008 and is most known for his David Trevellyan and Paul McGrath series. His latest release, Better Off Dead, is available below.

From Amazon.com:

Andrew Grant was born in Birmingham, England in May 1968. He went to school in St Albans, Hertfordshire and later attended the University of Sheffield where he studied English Literature and Drama. After graduation Andrew set up and ran a small independent theatre company which showcased a range of original material to local, regional and national audiences. Following a critically successful but financially challenging appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Andrew moved into the telecommunications industry as a ‘temporary’ solution to a short-term cash crisis. Fifteen years later, after carrying out a variety of roles including several which were covered by the UK’s Official Secrets Act, Andrew became the victim / beneficiary of a widespread redundancy programme. Freed once again from the straight jacket of corporate life, he took the opportunity to answer the question, what if … ?

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:

• How to co-write with your brother
• When to pursue an agent vs. self-publish
• Why to market a persona during conferences and events
• The benefits of a pen name
• Why remote teamwork can be effective

Links:

J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/

J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/

Zach Bohannon – https://zachbohannon.com/

Andrew Child – https://andrewgrantbooks.com/

Better Off Dead – https://mybook.to/BetterOff

Story Rubric – http://storyrubric.com  

Nonfic Rubric – http://nonficrubric.com  

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/contact/ 

*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.