Write What You Know with James Blatch First-time author James Blatch is already a perfect example of the “write what you know” mentality. While drafting his debut novel, The Last Flight, he has employed his genuine love of aircraft and his father’s personal experiences as a pilot to create both…
Using StoryOrigin to Grow Your Platform with Evan Gow Entrepreneur Evan Gow is the mastermind behind StoryOrigin. Fueled by a love of technology and writing, he created an all-in-one platform for authors to connect, team up for group promos, build and swap mailing lists, upload reader magnets, and more. With…
Pushing Your Writing Limits with Jon Land Jon Land has been pushing his writing limits for years. By forcing himself to take ownership of his work, refusing to write what he knows, and giving every project his all, he has greatly expanded his writing skill set and has overcome the…
Educating Authors with Bryan Cohen Bryan Cohen is well-trained in the art of educating authors. With his forward-focused approach to teaching and emphasis on keeping students motivated, he has helped thousands of new authors understand the ins and outs of writing. In addition to teaching, Cohen has published a series…
The Business of Writing with Scott Nicholson International bestselling author Scott Nicholson knows a thing or two about the business of writing. With experience in both the traditional and independent publishing worlds as well as the overseas market, he is able to make his already thrilling reads even more appealing…
Mastering the Creative Process with David Baldacci David Baldacci has mastered the creative process. By employing what he knows about plausible plot lines, character development, and field research, he can bring his ideas together into books that feel amazingly believable. Baldacci is a bestselling author who has sold more than…
Beating Resistance with Steven Pressfield and Shawn Coyne Steven Pressfield and Shawn Coyne are strong believers in beating resistance and chasing crazy ideas. Whether it involves writing about something completely foreign to you or something too edgy for commercial readers, both agree that sticking with your most outlandish ideas will…
Transitioning Between Careers with Romona Robinson Romona Robinson knows a thing or two about successfully transitioning between careers. After working as one of Cleveland’s most respected news anchors for over thirty years, she took a leap of faith when she left her job to write full-time. Backed by passion, hard…
Author-Agent Relationships with Alec Shane Alec Shane has been fostering authentic author-agent relationships since 2012. Whether he is mediating disputes between authors and editors or selling books to publishers, Alec and others like him serve as the backbone of the writing industry. During his time at Writers House, Shane has…
Captivating Readers with James Rollins James Rollins has been captivating readers for decades. By running ideas past his critique group, traveling to story locations and speaking to locals, and sticking to a ninety-day research plan, he attains enough knowledge to create settings and storylines that feel authentic. Rollins is well-known…
Writing for an Audience with Jeffery Deaver Jeffery Deaver knows how to write for an audience. By listening to comments, critiques, and making smart compromises, Deaver crafts the story he wants while appealing to his readers. As an international bestseller, winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Novel of the Year,…
Fostering Positive Change with Kathy Reichs Kathy Reichs is a master of fostering positive change in her life. Whether she’s balancing forensics cases with teaching at university or completely reinventing a series, Reichs never misses an opportunity to better her writing through growth-oriented experiences. She is well known for her…
Crafting Cinematic Scenes with Blake Crouch Blake Crouch excels at crafting cinematic scenes. Through the manipulation of memory and reality along with the infusion of self-experience, Crouch creates scenes that feel both surreal and believable. He is well known for his bestselling Wayward Pines Trilogy, which became a top-rated TV…
Tapping Into Your Reader’s Emotions with Chuck Palahniuk Chuck Palahniuk is a master at tapping into his readers’ emotions. Whether through sympathetic attachment, comedic relief, or intense realism, Palahniuk manipulates emotion to create breathtaking novels that engage his readers throughout the entire story. He is most well-known for his debut…
Becoming a Successful Author as a Stay-at-Home Mom with Mercedes Yardley Mercedes Yardley knows how to become a successful author as a stay-at-home mom. With a husband working and a child requiring special needs, Yardley took up writing as an emotional outlet, and her thrilling style soon became recognized. She…
Taking Advantage of Opportunity with Meg Gardiner Meg Gardiner knows how to take advantage of opportunity. After reading Stephen King’s column in Entertainment Weekly, Meg saw her name in his recommendation and her career has soared since but not without hard work and strong writing. Gardiner’s newest book in the…
Creating a Magazine and Brand with Richard Chizmar Greatly influenced by his DIY attitude, Richard Chizmar built a successful magazine and brand from scratch. Chizmar is a bestselling author and founder of Cemetery Dance magazine. He has written various novels, screenplays, and teleplays, including Gwendy’s Button Box, a bestselling novella,…
Thriving with Asperger Syndrome and a Manuscript Update Despite being diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome as a young man, J.D. continues to thrive while challenging all stereotypes and stigmas. In fact, Barker has become an international bestselling author and millionaire. The emphasis AS puts on structure has given him a unique…
The Importance of Passion and Perseverance with James Patterson James Patterson knows the importance of passion and perseverance when it comes to a career as a writer. He is the bestselling author with 147 published novels, 114 of which made the New York Times bestsellers list, and he holds the…
Designing a Career as an Authorpreneur with Joanna Penn Joanna Penn spent the last ten years designing a career as an authorpreneur. As a self-published author, business owner, and podcaster, she thrives on self-investment and brand recognition. Penn is most known for her international and award-winning podcast, The Creative Penn.…
Authentic Business Mindset with Chris Brogan Chris Brogan has discovered an authentic business mindset. With his strong work ethic and low-stakes attitude, Brogan reaches his fullest potential as both an author and marketing consultant. He is known around the world for Trust Agents, a masterfully written guide to building a…
Work-Life Balance with Paul Tremblay Paul Tremblay has mastered work-life balance as an educator and published author. Through his day-to-day outlook and strong drive for self-advocating, Tremblay always finds what’s best for his career. His best-known novels include The Cabin at the End of the World and A Head Full…
Writing Historical Horror with Alma Katsu Alma Katsu is an expert at writing historical horror. Armed with her chilling writing style and an extensive knowledge of historical events, she adds a unique supernatural twist to the past. Alma is best known for her novels The Taker and The Hunger, the…
Storytelling and the Creative Process with Josh Malerman Josh Malerman has a unique approach to storytelling and the creative process. During the process of selling the rights to the Bird Box movie, Malerman learned the ins-and-outs of the entertainment industry. He even started his own production company. Josh toured the…
Traditional and Independent Publishing with Hugh Howey Few authors have had as much success in both the traditional and independent publishing world as Hugh Howey. Since the launch of WOOL, Howey is an innovator with a unique voice. He is a brilliant fiction writer who, with the help of his…
A Pivot on Pursuing a Traditional Publishing Deal with J. Thorn Although just beginning the process, the guys introduce a pivot on pursuing a traditional publishing deal. J.D. looked through THE LAST TOWER and realized that the manuscript could be improved, but not without significant work to get it to…
Pursuing a Traditional Publishing Deal with J. Thorn J. Thorn has published more than two million words of fiction and is an official member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, the Horror Writers Association, and the Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers. Thorn is a full-time writer,…
What it Takes to be an International Bestselling Author with J.D. Barker J.D. Barker (Jonathan Dylan Barker) is an international bestselling American author whose work has been broadly described as suspense thrillers, often incorporating elements of horror, crime, mystery, science fiction, and the supernatural. In episode 1 of Writers, Ink,…
A New Podcast for Writers J.D. and J. met at Thrillerfest in New York City and developed an instant connection around the love of dark fiction, podcasting, introversion, and helping other authors navigate the business of writing. Both Barker and Thorn have an extensive background in author education and mentoring,…