What does it feel like to be invisible as a writer, and what actually gets you noticed?

Riley Sager went from three books that barely sold to writing Final Girls, a breakout thriller that changed everything, including a pen name strategy that reset his career overnight. In this conversation, we dig into the creative side (character, outlining, twists) and the part most writers avoid (publishing as a business).

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How Riley went from obscurity to bestseller, and what triggered the shift

Why he outlines heavily (and when he doesn’t)

How to design plot twists with emotional resonance, not cheap shock

The real revision cycle behind a published thriller

What he wishes he’d known about publishing, marketing, and asking questions

How to keep writing through imposter syndrome and perfectionism

If you’re early in your author journey and trying to build momentum, this is the behind-the-scenes blueprint.