The Novel Writing Podcast

Do you need to copyright your book?

While it's true it's "copyrighted" the moment you write it, registering with the Copyright Office provides legal protections you don't get with the automatic one.

This episode covers what those legal protections are, and the information you need to register with the US Copyright Office.

https://www.copyright.gov/

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What to do next…

• Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack
• Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen
• Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE 
• Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
• Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)
• Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

If you've ever dreamed for a peek behind the traditional publishing curtain, now's your chance.

Mark Gottlieb, renowned literary agent with Trident Media Group, shares his industry expertise around querying, pitching, best practices, and common mistakes authors make when trying to go traditional.

As of this interview in July 2026, Trident Media Group is actively seeking new and established authors to represent, and you can find their submission guidelines on their website.

https://www.tridentmediagroup.com/
https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/
https://www.instagram.com/markgottliebliteraryagent/
https://www.facebook.com/MarkGottliebLiteraryAgent

Send us Fan Mail

What to do next…

• Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack
• Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen
• Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE 
• Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
• Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)
• Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Do you read in your genre, widely, or not at all? 

The advice to read in your genre is often met with fear around accidentally stealing story ideas.

Turns out reading is incredibly important for writers, both in AND out of the genre you write, and this episode covers why. 

Send us Fan Mail

What to do next…

• Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack
• Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen
• Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE 
• Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
• Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)
• Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Book marketing expert and host of The Novel Marketing Podcast, Thomas Umstattd Jr., joins us to share his wisdom on what it takes to successfully market your book in today's world, where social media "hasn't worked" for ten years, all without losing your mind.

Connect with Thomas at authormedia.com

Send us Fan Mail

What to do next…

• Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack
• Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen
• Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE 
• Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
• Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)
• Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

What's the big deal about writing groups? 

Finding "your people" can be not only a life-changing moment, but a career-changing one too. 

This episode covers four reasons why it's important to find a writer's group or community that shares your worldview, and get plugged in with other writers at or just ahead of your level. 

NEW SUBSTACK LAUNCHED! 

For episode transcripts (scripts) and premium access to unedited interview recordings, visit https://colleenmitchellwrites.substack.com/

Send us Fan Mail

What to do next…

• Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack
• Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen
• Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE 
• Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
• Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)
• Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Have you longed for a multi-cast audio version of your book but choked at the price tag? 

Phil Marshall, founder and CEO of Spoken Press, joins the show to unpack the magic of AI narration and how Spoken is doing it ethically. 

With how expensive audio production can get, having a budget-friendly but high-quality solution like Spoken is a no-brainer.

Regardless of your stance on AI, please give this episode a listen! 

Create an account on Spoken for free: https://www.spoken.press/
Pricing: https://www.spoken.press/pricing
Ethical AI Statement: https://www.spoken.press/ethicalai 
Inquiries: [email protected] 

Send us Fan Mail

What to do next…

• Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack
• Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen
• Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE 
• Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
• Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)
• Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Caitlin Shetterly, who first was a guest in episode 136, is back to share her experience writing a character with breast cancer... only for Caitlin herself to develop the exact same type of cancer in the exact same breast. 

Her journey through recovery and learning how to write while on cancer drugs is a testament to human resilience and how to determine which pieces of writing advice work for the different (and sometimes scary) stages of life.

Find Caitlin's books and connect with her at https://caitlinshetterly.com/ or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/caitlinshetterly/ 

SERIES NOW COMPLETE! 

Binge The Chronicles of Talahm (or just learn more): 

• Curios (eBooks)
• Main Website (signed paperbacks)

Send us Fan Mail

What to do next…

• Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack
• Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen
• Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE 
• Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
• Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)
• Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Have you ever heard the advice to not publish your first book? Did it ruffle your feathers? It doesn't mean what you think it means. In this episode we break down this advice to understand the motivation behind it.

SERIES NOW COMPLETE! 

Binge The Chronicles of Talahm (or just learn more): 

• Curios (eBooks)
• Main Website (signed paperbacks)

Send us Fan Mail

What to do next…

• Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack
• Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen
• Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE 
• Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
• Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)
• Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Have you ever read a book that feels like it was supposed to be written in 3rd person omniscient (like many regency romances or books in the style of Jane Austen), but you couldn't keep track of who was actually telling the story?

The author might have mistaken head hopping for omniscient.

It's pretty easy to do nowadays with the emphasis on showing over telling, but true omniscient POVs don't risk the readers feeling like they're in a pinball machine.

This episode discusses the differences between 3rd omniscient, 3rd close, and head hopping using the opening of chapter 2 from Pride & Prejudice.

Send us Fan Mail

What to do next…

• Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack
• Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen
• Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE 
• Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
• Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)
• Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Cathryn deVries "accidentally" became a writer through chronicling her family's Dungeons & Dragons campaign.

The process helped her work through old emotional wounds, but then she had to deal with imposter syndrome over whether the story really was *hers* if it came from a campaign her daughter dreamed up.

Listen in to find out how Cathryn went from "Am I really an author?" to fully stepping into that identity.

Connect with Cathryn:

• https://eclectaperennial.com/ 
• https://www.instagram.com/_eclecta_perennial_books/

Listen to the companion episode with Cathryn on The Christian Readers Podcast: https://thechristianreaderspodcast.buzzsprout.com/2529164/episodes/19030167-author-interview-with-cathryn-devries-son-of-osivirius

Send us Fan Mail

What to do next…

• Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack
• Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen
• Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE 
• Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
• Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)
• Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts