A Manuscript Diagnostic Tool: Story Rubric and Nonfic Rubric In this episode, J, J.D., and Zach talk about setting parameters for writing excellence using Story Rubric and Nonfic Rubric. Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The…
Taking Risks to Pursue Your Dreams with Lisa Gardner Lisa Gardner is no stranger to taking calculated risks as a writer. From leaving high-paying jobs to constantly letting go of agents and switching publishers, she has always lived by the phrase: “If you really want to write, you’re going to…
The Benefits of Writing in the Morning with H.M. Gooden As a mother of small children and a vivid lucid dreamer, H.M. Gooden needs to wake up early. Regardless, she knows early writing can be beneficial to many because morning-writers tend to self-edit less, their dreams and ideas are still…
Overlooked Marketing Tips with International Thriller Writers’ Jeff Ayers ThrillerFest Co-Executive Director Jeff Ayers is dedicated to exposing authors to useful but commonly avoided marketing techniques. Through ThrillerFest, Jeff and others like him teach underappreciated skills like pitching a book to an agent, writing a query letter, and reflecting on…
2020 Review and State of the Industry In this episode, Zach returns alongside J and J.D. to recap 2020 and discuss how such a chaotic year has affected the writing industry. Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful…
Finding Successful Routines and Understanding LLCs with Attorney Jonathan Kirsch Author and attorney Jonathan Kirsch is a master of many trades. As a columnist for the Los Angeles Times and bestseller of many biographies and historical pieces, he utilizes a disciplined writing routine to create the best stories possible. When…
How to Make It as a Solopreneur with Eddie Generous Solopreneur Eddie Generous has no problem finding success on his own. Using discipline, self-motivation, and market sense, he has grown substantially as a publisher, podcaster, and author. Eddie is the creator of Unnerving Magazine, which filters through hundreds of open…
Creating Professional Covers and Ads on BookBrush with Kathleen Sweeney Kathleen Sweeney has helped authors create professional covers and ads on BookBrush for the past two years. One of the most innovative new author tools, BookBrush features easy-to-design standard covers, instant mockups, box set covers, 3D covers, and even animated…
The Thinning Line Between Indie and Traditional Publishing In this episode, J. and J.D. welcome indie mastermind Zach Bohannon to the show to discuss the growing similarities between indie and traditional publishing. Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a…
Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 54 – #audiblegate with Susan May SPECIAL EPISODE: J.D. and J. are live with author Susan May to discuss #audiblegate, a breaking news story about the ongoing controversy surrounding Audible’s audio book return policy. The Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/fairdealwithaudible Susan May’s blog post – https://www.susanmaywriter.net/single-post/audiblegate-the-incredible-story-of-missing-sales From…
Pursuing Multiple Projects with Christopher Rice Bestselling author Christopher Rice knows how to pursue multiple projects at once. By working on each project in different physical spaces and balancing the time spent on each, he breaks up the monotony of sticking to one book, makes himself more productive, and increases…
Gaining Exposure with Publicist Mickey Mikkelson Publicist Mickey Mikkelson specializes in gaining exposure and brand recognition. Using his independent firm, Creative Edge, he teaches indie authors around the world how to market their books, foster their own reader communities, and build sustainable brands. Mickey has worked in PR for almost…
Designing the Perfect Cover with Books Covered’s Stuart Bache Stuart Bache has some tips for designing the perfect cover. As a professional cover artist, he helps traditional and indie authors around the world create covers that are visually appetizing, clearly represent the book’s genre and message, and market themselves well…
Finding Mindfulness as a Writer with Seth Godin Bestseller Seth Godin has unlocked the secrets to finding mindfulness as a writer. Through various publications, workshops, and podcasts, he sheds light on mental concepts often overlooked in pursuit of a professional career and preaches the ideas of beating resistance, accepting genre,…
Rounding Up Reviews with Chanticleer’s Kiffer Brown Since creating Chanticleer Book Reviews in 2010, Kiffer Brown has provided thousands of authors with the exceptional reviews integral to the success of any book. Her services include editorial reviews, manuscript reviews, and peer reviews, which help writers structure their story, earn community…
Keeping Bookstores Alive with Tom Holbrook Tom Holbrook has been keeping bookstores alive since 2002, when he opened RiverRun Bookstore in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. By showcasing a variety of indie books, helping aspiring writers edit and sell their work, and hosting book signings and other events for smaller authors, Tom…
Accurately Depicting Law Enforcement with Patrick O’Donnell Former cop Patrick O’Donnell is dedicated to helping writers accurately depict local PD in their books and novels. In his informational series, Cops and Writers: From The Academy to The Street, Patrick teaches authors about the fundamentals of a crime scene, the departmental…
Writing Crime with the FBI’s Betsy Glick Betsy Glick can help you write the perfect crime novel. Through an accessible and free author program, Betsy and her team work to provide authors with declassified info, public documents, connections to local offices, and interviews with retired agents in an effort to…
The Advantages of Co-Writing with Tosca Lee Bestselling author Tosca Lee has taken full advantage of the co-writing process. Through writing with various partners, she’s proven that co-writing is a great way to expand your readership, revitalize your voice, and learn key new skills, and that it is an essential…
Becoming More Than Just an Author with Jessica Brody Jessica Brody knows what it means to be more than just an author. From hosting writing workshops at high schools around America and creating the Writing Mastery Academy to adapting Blake Snyder’s screenwriting guide for novelists, she has maximized her potential…
Writing on Day One with T.W. Piperbrook Bestseller T.W. Piperbrook knew little of writing on day one; coming from a corporate job, he had few connections in the industry and no idea how to market himself or adapt to his new lifestyle. Regardless, fueled by a childhood dream of becoming…
Writing Killer Hooks with Adam Croft Adam Croft can write a killer hook. By crafting taglines that ask shocking, morality-challenging questions or demand the empathy of the reader, he is able to easily and effectively draw people to his books. Adam is a wildly successful independent author with over two…
Marketing Yourself as an Author with Joe Hart Joe Hart knows how to market himself as an author. Armed with a drive to develop new connections, an acute attention to the importance of book covers and advertisements, and a watchful eye over new trends, he is able to sustain a…
Immersing Yourself in Your Story with Heather Graham Heather Graham lives to immerse herself in her stories. Whether she is speaking to former FBI agents, searching for small town legends, or taking part in a seance, she uses her encounters to intricately build and understand her characters and storylines. Heather…
The Benefits of Drafting on Paper with Tess Gerritsen Tess Gerritsen uses the benefits of drafting on paper to her advantage. By handwriting first drafts and only using technology to print out digital versions, she allows her writing to be flawed, catches these mistakes early, and ends up with final…
Writing Fresh and Believable Fiction with ITW Interim Executive Director, KJ Howe International thriller author KJ Howe has mastered the art of writing fresh and believable fiction. Armed with an extensive knowledge of her subject matter and a commitment to shedding light on underrepresented character traits, she is able to…
Unlocking the Authorpreneurial Mindset with Jim Kukral of Unskippable Jim Kukral is no stranger to the authorpreneurial mindset. For decades, he repeatedly struggled to create a stand-out book or brand, and the pressure to become a self-sustaining writer only increased when children and a mortgage were thrown into the mix.…
Optimizing and Automating Amazon Ads with Dierk Demers of Prestozon Dierk Demers knows the secrets to optimizing and automating Amazon ads using Prestozon. By developing a software to automatically schedule and create ads, provide useful analytics, and update keywords in real-time, he has helped authors around the world successfully capture…
The Science of Pen Names with Riley Sager Riley Sager understands the importance of a good pen name. By using a pseudonym to detach himself from his early writing career, bypass editing bias, and increase reader relatability, he quickly found success as a reborn author. Riley is renowned for his…
Useful Marketing and Writing Techniques with Mark Dawson Mark Dawson has developed many useful marketing and writing techniques for aspiring or developed authors. Through keeping his writing time structured and making the effort to understand Amazon’s advertising platform, he quickly found success as a self-published writer. Mark is well-known for…
Dreaming and Writing with the President of the H.W.A., John Palisano John Palisano is a master of using dreams to write. Ever since his childhood, he has struggled with frequent and vivid nightmares. However, by preserving his dreams through notes or sketches, John incorporates their wacky contents into his scenes…
Marketing on Amazon with Dave Chesson Through dissecting the website’s algorithms, understanding the relationship between keywords and sales, and applying an entrepreneurial mindset, master coder Dave Chesson has gained a solid understanding of how to market a book on Amazon. Chesson is the mastermind behind Kindlepreneur, an online blog and…
The Secrets to Writing Nonfiction with Honorée Corder Honorée Corder is a master of nonfiction writing who has shown that, through structuring writing time, conducting in-person research, gaining experience co-writing and managing projects, and making connections across different industries, writing in the genre can serve as a profitable and sustainable…
Finding Time to Write with Tim Ryan Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan has proven that, no matter how hectic life can get, anyone can find time to write. As a hard-working, travel-inclined politician and father of three, his schedule is always full. However, by taking short writing retreats and working out…
Maximizing Your Reach as an Indie Author with Lindsay Buroker Lindsay Buroker knows how to maximize her reach as an indie author. By writing under multiple pen names across multiple genres, following a rapid release model to generate interest, and running a podcast to help uphold her brand, she continues…
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,…