The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

How to Crack the ‘Bestseller Code’ with Jodie Archer: Part One


Listen Later

Writer, literary scholar, publishing consultant, and co-author of the internationally acclaimed book The Bestseller Code, Jodie Archer, returns one year later to chat with me about the book’s runaway success, turning the algorithm into an innovative consulting service for writers, her own writer’s journey, and one very unexpected turn for the host of this show.

Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By

Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting.

Start getting more from your site today!

Before getting her PhD from Stanford, Ms. Archer studied English at Cambridge, worked in journalism and TV, and was an acquisitions editor for Penguin UK publishing.

At Stanford Jodie taught writing and researched both contemporary fiction and bestsellers. Upon completion of her doctoral work she was recruited by Apple where she was the lead in research on books.

The Bestseller Code is based on Jodie’s doctoral research with professor Matthew Jockers (co-founder of the cutting edge Stanford Literary Lab), an algorithm they honed for four years and refined by text mining over 20,000 contemporary novels using around 300,000 data points.

The Guardian predicted that the book would “… revolutionize the publishing industry,” because the technology could predict bestsellers 80% of the time, based on theme, plot, character, and many other signatures.

The authors were, of course, hounded by writers from all over the world for help with their manuscripts. And finally — following their breakthrough research — Jodie and Matt have founded a unique book consulting service for authors, publishers, and agents, based on the algorithm in The Bestseller Code.

Beginning December 1st, 2017, ArcherJockers.com will offer three tiers of service to authors: single manuscript analysis, series analysis, and VIP service. [This interview was recorded in anticipation of that date in mid-October.]

If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click subscribe to automatically see new interviews.

In Part One of this file Jodie Archer and I discuss:

  • How writers from around the world convinced the authors to do consulting services
  • The innovation behind the anticipated Archer Jockers’ service for novelists
  • How to find your bestselling moment with integrity
  • The power of “good” press, great agents, and selling the international rights to your book
  • Jodie’s own multi-genre writing projects
  • How yours truly took a leap of faith and became a beta tester for the service (cliffhanger pending)

Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...

Download MP3 Subscribe by RSS Subscribe in iTunes The Show Notes
  • If you’re ready to see for yourself why over 201,344 website owners trust StudioPress — the industry standard for premium WordPress themes and plugins — just go to StudioPress.com
  • Copyblogger s Certified Content Marketer training is a powerful program that helps writers attract better clients — and more of them. New students will be able to sign up for a limited time soon. Add your name to join the waitlist and to get all of the details when they re available.
  • How to Crack the ‘Bestseller Code’ with Jodie Archer & Matt Jockers: Part Two
  • How the Author of The Bestseller Code Jodie Archer Writes: Part One
  • JodieArcher.com
  • The Bestseller Code: Anatomy of the Blockbuster Novel – Jodie Archer & Matt Jockers
  • ArcherJockers.com Manuscript Consulting Services
  • How ‘Sweetbitter’ Author Stephanie Danler Writes: Part One
  • Jodie Archer on Good Reads
  • Jodie Archer on Twitter
  • Kelton Reid on Twitter
  • Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and NeuroscienceBy Kelton Reid

    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5

    4.5

    211 ratings


    More shows like The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

    View all
    The Book Review by The New York Times

    The Book Review

    3,853 Listeners

    On Being with Krista Tippett by On Being Studios

    On Being with Krista Tippett

    10,360 Listeners

    The New Yorker: Fiction by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

    The New Yorker: Fiction

    3,315 Listeners

    The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers by Joanna Penn

    The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

    614 Listeners

    Helping Writers Become Authors by K.M. Weiland

    Helping Writers Become Authors

    961 Listeners

    Otherppl with Brad Listi by Brad Listi

    Otherppl with Brad Listi

    502 Listeners

    Writing Excuses by Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler

    Writing Excuses

    1,294 Listeners

    The History of Literature by Jacke Wilson / The Podglomerate

    The History of Literature

    1,092 Listeners

    The History of Standup by Wayne Federman & Andrew Steven / The Podglomerate

    The History of Standup

    335 Listeners

    Micheaux Mission by The Podglomerate / Micheaux Mission

    Micheaux Mission

    211 Listeners

    Freelance to Founder by Millo / The Podglomerate

    Freelance to Founder

    69 Listeners

    Writer's Routine by Dan Simpson

    Writer's Routine

    299 Listeners

    Book Dreams by Eve Yohalem and Julie Sternberg / The Podglomerate

    Book Dreams

    57 Listeners

    Fiction Writing Made Easy by Savannah Gilbo

    Fiction Writing Made Easy

    1,427 Listeners

    The Shit No One Tells You About Writing by Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra

    The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

    750 Listeners

    Trail Weight by Andrew Steven / The Podglomerate

    Trail Weight

    62 Listeners

    Poured Over by Barnes & Noble

    Poured Over

    294 Listeners

    31 for 31 by Chris Boniello, Jamie Lansdowne, and Cody Mason

    31 for 31

    14 Listeners

    NPR's Book of the Day by NPR

    NPR's Book of the Day

    605 Listeners

    Essential Guide to Writing a Novel by James Thayer

    Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

    356 Listeners

    Writers on Writing by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett and Marrie Stone

    Writers on Writing

    72 Listeners

    No Write Way with V. E. Schwab by V. E. Schwab (Author)

    No Write Way with V. E. Schwab

    67 Listeners