The Wordslinger Podcast

By It's all about the story here.Business Entrepreneurship Arts

The Wordslinger Podcast episodes

September 04 Marvel Ruined What Made Endgame Matter (Avengers Endgame: Encore)
A WORDSLINGER STORY CUT
Marvel spent more than a decade building toward Avengers: Endgame—and when it finally arrived, the movie gave its characters real consequences, real sacrifice, and real endings. So why does it feel like Marvel has spent the years since then undoing the very things that made Endgame matter?
With Avengers: Endgame Encore bringing the film back to theaters and Avengers: Doomsday on the horizon, Kevin Tumlinson takes another look at Endgame from a storyteller’s perspective: what Marvel got right, where the movie stumbled, and what writers and filmmakers can learn from one of the biggest franchise finales ever made.
We’ll look at the incredible decade-long setup that made the Avengers work, the importance of the five-year Blip, why consequences give stories weight, what went wrong with Thor and Hulk, the incredibly convenient rat that saved the universe, and why time travel and the multiverse may have done more damage to Marvel storytelling than good.
Most importantly: When you give a beloved character a satisfying ending, should you ever open that door again?
Because if death can always be undone, timelines can always be rewritten, and another version of any character can simply walk in from another universe... what happens to the stakes?
And what can Avengers: Doomsday learn from Endgame before it’s too late?
Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com
GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS
TIMECODES:
00:00 Welcome to Wordslinger Story Cuts
00:53 Avengers: Endgame Encore and why Endgame still matters
03:06 How Marvel spent 10 years earning the payoff
06:33 The importance of developing characters before the crisis
10:51 The Snap and the power of a great cliffhanger
11:52 Why the five-year Blip made Endgame stronger
14:28 Where Endgame went wrong with Thor
16:48 What happened to Hulk?
18:38 Hawkeye, Black Widow, and character sacrifice
19:31 The rat that accidentally saved the universe
20:36 Did time travel weaken Endgame?
22:03 What Endgame Encore could reveal
23:02 Why the multiverse makes death meaningless
24:27 Why satisfying character endings should stay ended
26:15 The Avengers story Marvel should have told
29:05 What writers can learn from Marvel’s shared universe
31:15 Marvel needs a new generation, not the old one
32:29 Final thoughts on Endgame Encore and Doomsday
If you love great stories—or you’re a writer learning how to build better characters, stronger worlds, satisfying endings, and stories readers can’t put down—subscribe to the channel. Wordslinger is where writers and storytellers come for practical guidance on writing, publishing, storytelling, and building a creative career.
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Kevin’s books:
https://kevintumlinson.com/books
The Dave Cullen Show and Computing Forever on YouTube
FIND KEVIN:
Find Kevin and his books:
https://kevintumlinson.com
Join Kevin on Substack:
https://kevintumlinson.substack.com
Wordslinger Podcast home page:
https://wordslingerpodcast.com
SERVICES FOR AUTHORS:
Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid:
https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5
Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital:
https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger
Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor:
https://authoranchor.com

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34 min
September 03 The JAWS Trick That Makes Characters More Powerful
A WORDSLINGER PODCAST
What can JAWS teach you about writing better characters? More than you might think.
In this episode of the Wordslinger Podcast, Kevin Tumlinson sits down with Donn King for another Kevin on Craft conversation, this time exploring what makes fictional characters feel real—and why writers may be describing far more than they need to.
Just as Steven Spielberg discovered that the unseen shark in JAWS could be more frightening than the mechanical shark itself, writers can harness the reader’s imagination to make characters more vivid, personal, and powerful. Kevin and Donn dig into character creation, discovery writing, physical description, character consistency, planting details during revision, and what happens when fictional people begin making decisions the writer never planned.
You’ll discover why Kevin rarely gives detailed physical descriptions of his characters, how readers unconsciously fill in missing details, why characterization should drive description, and how seemingly brilliant setups and payoffs are often created after the first draft is finished.
They also explore what happens when characters become so developed that they seem to take on lives of their own—and why character may ultimately be the engine that drives the strongest stories.
If you’re a writer, author, storyteller, creator, or creative entrepreneur looking to strengthen your craft and build stories readers actually care about, subscribe to the Wordslinger channel. This is where writers come for practical, experienced guidance on writing, publishing, storytelling, creativity, and building a sustainable creative career.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Why character is the foundation of story
04:52 Kevin on Craft begins
11:39 Why characters can take over the story
15:08 When fictional characters start making their own decisions
17:25 Imaginary friends, tulpas, and creating people who feel real
22:08 How writers visualize characters
24:08 Why Kevin rarely describes what his characters look like
26:41 Letting the reader create the character
28:34 When physical description actually matters
30:58 The JAWS trick: let the audience imagine it
33:36 Why movie adaptations can clash with the reader’s imagination
38:48 The dirty secret of planting details after the fact
40:21 Why revision makes discovery writers look brilliant
45:03 Keeping characters consistent across a long series
51:48 What Kevin wishes he’d known about writing characters
53:27 Using appearance to reveal character
57:55 Character growth across a series
59:32 How do you write a character smarter than you?
Donn King also hosts The Alignment Show and can be found on Substack and YouTube. Those platforms are mentioned in the episode, though specific URLs were not provided in the recording.
Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com
GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS
FIND KEVIN:
Find Kevin and his books:
https://kevintumlinson.com
Join Kevin on Substack:
https://kevintumlinson.substack.com
Wordslinger Podcast home page:
https://wordslingerpodcast.com
SERVICES FOR AUTHORS:
Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWriting Aid:
https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5
Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital:
https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger
Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor:
https://authoranchor.com

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1 hr 13 min
September 02 MONEY
A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT
Writers spend a surprising amount of money trying to build a writing career—but how much of that spending is actually helping the business?
In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, Kevin shares the simple question he’s using to audit every expense in his own creative business: Does this help me make money, or increase my ability to make money? From AI tools and virtual assistants to software subscriptions, podcast production, and annual plans, it’s a practical way to decide what stays, what goes, and what’s actually worth the investment.
If you’re treating your writing, publishing, YouTube channel, podcast, or creative work like a business, this is a financial habit worth adopting.
Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at http://knoveltonbooks.com
GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS
Subscribe to the Wordslinger channel for practical, experience-driven guidance on writing, publishing, building an author career, and navigating the business of being a creative professional.
TIMECODES
00:00 Why writers need to talk about money
00:43 The question to ask about every business expense
01:54 Does the expense increase your ability to earn?
03:07 Why Kevin pays for multiple AI tools
04:05 When hiring a virtual assistant makes financial sense
04:57 Buying back your time as a writer
06:02 When an expense actually helps you write more
07:15 Separating personal and business expenses
08:20 The hidden costs of running a creative business
08:55 When a monthly subscription is worth keeping
09:41 Monthly vs. annual plans—and buying outright
10:31 The bottom-line test for every expense
FIND KEVIN:
Find Kevin and his books:
https://kevintumlinson.com
Join Kevin on Substack:
https://kevintumlinson.substack.com
Wordslinger Podcast home page:
https://wordslingerpodcast.com
SERVICES FOR AUTHORS:
Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWriting Aid:
https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5
Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital:
https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger
Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor:
https://authoranchor.com
#Writing #Writers #AuthorBusiness #SelfPublishing #CreativeEntrepreneur #WritingCareer #IndieAuthors #Publishing #Wordslinger

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13 min
September 01 Nobody Tells Writers How to Do This
Take a look at the transcript for this Wordslinger episode. I need a YouTube video description that will attract and engage with writers, creatives, and creative entrepreneurs for episodes that are Wordslinger 10-Shots or Wordslinger Podcast. For Wordslinger Story Cuts, make the description attract and engage people who are interested in good stories, television and streaming shows, movies, and novels.
In all cases the description should use YouTube engagement best practices, and include any links I mentioned in the video. Do not use Markdown or formatting. As the first line of all descriptions, in all-caps, label the episode as whatever segment it is: A Wordslinger Podcast, A Wordslinger 10-Shot, A Wordslinger Story Cut
Include this CTA directly after the video description:

Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com
GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS

Include mentions to visit these sites:

FIND KEVIN:
- Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com
- Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com
- Wordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.com

SERVICES FOR AUTHORS:
- Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWriting Aid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5
- Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger
- Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor: https://authoranchor.com

It should also include a call to action to subscribe to the channel, aimed at telling writers that this is the place for the best guidance on their writing and publishing journey. Include timecodes for key concepts.

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13 min
August 31 100 Years of Research, ONE Novel
A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT
How do you take more than 100 years of history, documents, photographs, handwritten notes, newspaper clippings, and real-life events—and turn all of it into ONE compelling novel?
In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, Kevin shares the process he’s using to research a new historical fiction project, including the most important decision he made early on: Don’t try to tell all the history. Find the human story that everything else can hang from.
Kevin talks about choosing the right character as the emotional center of a historical novel, deciding what research actually belongs in the story, and using AI as a research assistant to transcribe old documents, organize information, build timelines, and identify connections across more than a century of events.
AI can make research dramatically faster—but it doesn’t replace the writer. You still have to understand the material, verify the facts, make creative decisions, and ultimately turn all that information into a story readers actually care about.
If you’re writing historical fiction, creative nonfiction, researching a novel, or simply drowning in notes and wondering how any of it becomes a book, this episode is for you.
Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com
GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS
Subscribe to the Wordslinger Show for practical, experience-driven guidance on writing, publishing, storytelling, creativity, and building a sustainable career as a writer. If you’re serious about your writing and publishing journey, you’re in the right place.
TIMECODES
00:00 More than 100 years of history—and one novel
00:47 Finding the story inside all the research
01:44 Why writing the complete history doesn’t work
02:18 Finding the human character who carries the story
03:06 The first rule of writing historical fiction
04:16 How to turn enormous amounts of research into one story
05:21 Using AI to transcribe documents and build a timeline
06:22 Why writers still have to verify AI research
07:32 Where historical accuracy ends and fiction begins
08:57 The writer’s real job: conveying the emotion
09:50 Final thoughts on research, AI, and historical fiction
FIND KEVIN:
Find Kevin and his books:
https://kevintumlinson.com
Join Kevin on Substack:
https://kevintumlinson.substack.com
Wordslinger Podcast home page:
https://wordslingerpodcast.com
Visit the Wordslinger Show on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/@wordslingershow
SERVICES FOR AUTHORS:
Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWriting Aid:
https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5
Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital:
https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger
Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor:
https://authoranchor.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
11 min
August 28 Star Trek Forgot the #1 Rule of Writing Characters
A WORDSLINGER STORY CUT
What obligations does a writer have when stepping into an established universe—or writing characters an audience already knows and loves?
In this Story Cut, I take a critical look at Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and the broader modern Star Trek catalog through the lens of character, continuity, and audience expectations. Strange New Worlds has never been afraid to experiment, but when does experimentation stop serving the story and start forcing established characters to serve the gimmick?
Spock is one of the best examples. We know this character. We know his history, values, personality, relationships, and behavior across decades of storytelling. That creates a constraint for anyone writing him—but that constraint can also be one of a storyteller’s greatest strengths.
And this isn't just a Star Trek problem.
The same principle applies when authors write long-running novel series, inherit someone else's intellectual property, adapt existing characters, or write historical fiction about real people and events. Once an audience knows a character, you aren't starting from zero anymore.
Character creates expectations. Expectations create trust. And breaking that trust without earning it can cost you the audience.
So how much freedom should writers have with established characters? When does character development become character betrayal? And does respecting canon restrict creativity—or actually make better storytelling possible?
Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com
GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS
TIMECODES:
00:00 What do writers owe established characters?
01:04 Why Strange New Worlds initially worked for me
03:07 The gimmick must serve the character
04:35 Spock, character consistency, and audience trust
05:31 Why the Lower Decks crossover worked
06:17 When experimentation starts overpowering the story
08:41 Character is a constraint—and that's a good thing
11:56 What this means for novelists and historical fiction
13:29 Why inherited franchises can lose their audience
14:25 Surprise vs. breaking audience expectations
15:09 What should writers owe continuity and canon?
If you're a writer looking for practical, experience-based guidance on writing, publishing, storytelling, building an author career, and navigating the creative life, subscribe to the Wordslinger channel. This is where we talk honestly about the craft and business of being a writer—and use books, movies, television, and pop culture to figure out what makes stories work.
FIND KEVIN:
Find Kevin and his books:
https://kevintumlinson.com
Join Kevin on Substack:
https://kevintumlinson.substack.com
Wordslinger Podcast home page:
https://wordslingerpodcast.com
SERVICES FOR AUTHORS:
Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWriting Aid:
https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5
Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital:
https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger
Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor:
https://authoranchor.com
#StarTrek #StrangeNewWorlds #Storytelling

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17 min
August 27 The Business of Being a Bestselling Author — with J.D. Barker
A WORDSLINGER PODCAST
What does it actually take to build a bestselling author career—and turn writing into a sustainable business?
In this episode of the Wordslinger Podcast, I sit down with New York Times bestselling author J.D. Barker to talk about the business behind the books. J.D. has worked with James Patterson, built a career spanning traditional and independent publishing, developed an unusual partnership with Simon & Schuster, co-authored numerous books, and had multiple projects optioned for film and television.
We get into the realities of traditional versus indie publishing, why J.D. believes writers need to think like business owners, what James Patterson has taught him about building a scalable author career, how Hollywood book options really work, and why branding matters far more than many authors realize.
J.D. also shares his strategy for producing as many as 10–12 books per year through co-authoring, how he has streamlined his publishing operation to support that output, and the quality he believes matters most if you want to build a long-term writing career: tenacity.
If you're a writer, author, creator, or creative entrepreneur trying to build a career around your work instead of simply publishing one book at a time, there's a lot to learn from this conversation.
J.D.'s newest novel, The First Scarlet Door, releases September 22.
Subscribe to the channel for practical, experience-driven guidance on writing, publishing, marketing, creativity, and building a career as an author. If you're serious about your writing and publishing journey, this is the place to be.
TIMECODES:
00:00 Welcome to the Wordslinger Podcast
03:51 J.D. Barker joins the show
06:02 Sylvester Stallone and The Fourth Monkey
08:33 How Hollywood book options actually work
11:34 Can authors make money from options alone?
14:09 The First Scarlet Door
15:55 J.D.'s journey from indie to traditional publishing
18:38 Building a new publishing model with Simon & Schuster
20:35 Is traditional publishing changing?
22:14 Should new writers pursue traditional publishing first?
23:43 The danger of publishing a book before it's ready
24:39 Why authors must treat writing like a business
26:22 Building an author career over time
28:14 What publishing can learn from other industries
29:12 Why author branding matters
32:03 J.D.'s co-authoring strategy
33:14 Scaling to 10–12 books per year
35:44 What James Patterson taught J.D. Barker
36:55 The real secret to J.D.'s success
Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com
GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS
FIND KEVIN:
Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com
Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com
Wordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.com
SERVICES FOR AUTHORS:
Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWriting Aid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5
Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger
Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor: https://authoranchor.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
39 min
August 26 The SECRET to Original Writing
A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT
What if the secret to original writing is to stop trying so hard to be original?
Writers and creators often feel pressure to make everything completely unique—from book covers and story ideas to marketing and branding. But readers don’t necessarily want something they’ve never seen before. They’re often looking for something familiar enough to recognize, but different enough to feel fresh.
In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, Kevin explores the idea of being “original within constraints”—using genre expectations, familiar storytelling structures, and creative boundaries as a framework for doing something uniquely your own.
You’ll learn why making your book look too different from others in its genre can actually hurt its chances, why “same but different” is such a powerful principle for writers, and how creative constraints can lead to some of your most original work.
If you’re a writer, creator, or creative entrepreneur trying to stand out without confusing or alienating your audience, this episode is for you.
What constraints have actually made you more creative? Tell me in the comments.
Subscribe to Wordslinger for practical, experience-driven guidance on writing, publishing, creativity, marketing, and building a sustainable career as a writer.
Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com
GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS
TIMECODES:
00:00 Stop trying to be original
00:43 The problem with chasing originality
01:24 Why book covers shouldn’t be too different
02:13 Readers want “same but different”
03:13 Originality within constraints
03:49 Using genre expectations creatively
05:02 Experimenting inside the boundaries of genre
05:58 Science fiction, fantasy, and The Worthing Saga
08:00 What expectations are you trying to meet?
08:48 How constraints create originality
09:28 Why boundaries can make you more creative
FIND KEVIN:
Find Kevin and his books:
https://kevintumlinson.com
Join Kevin on Substack:
https://kevintumlinson.substack.com
Wordslinger Podcast home page:
https://wordslingerpodcast.com
SERVICES FOR AUTHORS:
Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWriting Aid:
https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5
Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital:
https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger
Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor:
https://authoranchor.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
11 min
August 25 You Don’t Need Permission to Be a Writer
A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT
You don’t need an agent, a publisher, an editor, or anyone else to give you permission to be a writer.
For years, I waited for someone else to tell me it was okay to take writing seriously. I chased opportunities, worked jobs, paid bills, and kept telling myself that someday I’d finally have enough time to write.
But someday doesn’t show up on its own.
In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, we’re talking about what it really means to give yourself permission to write, why so many aspiring authors get stuck waiting for validation, and the difference between wanting to be a writer and simply liking the idea of having written a book.
We’ll also talk about making writing part of your actual life, Stephen King’s “open-door” approach to writing, why indie publishing has changed who gets to call themselves an author, and why the story that keeps nagging at you may be yours to tell.
If you’ve been waiting for someone to tell you that you’re allowed to write the book, consider this your permission.
Now go do the work.
Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com
GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS
TIMECODES:
00:00 You don’t need permission to be a writer
00:51 Waiting for someone to validate your writing
01:37 Why “I’ll write someday” doesn’t work
02:22 Stephen King’s open-door approach to writing
03:02 You don’t need an agent or publisher’s blessing
03:28 What indie publishing changed for writers
04:17 Do you want to write—or just have written?
05:30 Why some stories won’t leave you alone
06:44 Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic and where ideas come from
07:41 What happens when you don’t pursue an idea
08:31 AI, authorship, and actually doing the creative work
09:11 Your official permission to write
09:34 Discipline, habits, and making consistent progress
10:16 What keeps you writing?
If you’re a writer, aspiring author, indie publisher, or creative entrepreneur trying to build a sustainable creative life, subscribe to Wordslinger. This channel is here to give you practical, experience-tested guidance on writing better books, publishing intelligently, building your author career, and doing the work that moves you forward.
FIND KEVIN:
Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com
Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com
Wordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.com
SERVICES FOR AUTHORS:
Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5
Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger
Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books and more at AuthorAnchor: https://authoranchor.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
11 min
August 24 The Edit Stack - SPEND NOTHING
A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT
What if you could build a powerful editing process for your novel without spending thousands of dollars on professional editing?
In this episode, I break down what I call my “Edit Stack”—the layered system I use to catch typos, grammar problems, continuity issues, awkward passages, and other mistakes before a book goes out into the world.
The key is not relying on one tool, one editor, or one pass. I use multiple layers: built-in spellcheck, ProWritingAid, AI-assisted proofreading, repeated manuscript passes, trusted human readers, and good old-fashioned human judgment.
I’ll show you how I use each layer, why I never blindly accept an AI or editor suggestion, how my street team helps me catch errors I missed, and why reading your work aloud can reveal problems your brain simply refuses to see on the page.
And here’s the bigger point: even traditionally published books from bestselling authors still contain mistakes. Perfection may not be possible. But a smart editing system can get your manuscript remarkably clean—and indie authors have the advantage of being able to fix errors quickly after publication.
If you’re a writer trying to produce cleaner, more professional books without draining your publishing budget, build yourself an edit stack.
Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com
GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS
TIMECODES:
00:00 What is an Edit Stack?
00:46 Layer 1: Spellcheck and ProWritingAid
01:54 Layer 2: Using AI to proofread your writing
02:46 Additional proofreading layers
03:16 Grammarly and optional editing tools
04:22 Using ARC readers and a street team
04:56 How I collect and evaluate reader corrections
06:29 Proofreading vs. developmental editing
07:03 Trusted readers vs. developmental editors
07:47 Why reading your manuscript aloud works
09:00 Creating distance from your writing
09:51 Why I rewrite the previous day’s work
10:47 Why you’ll probably never catch every typo
11:59 The indie author advantage
13:09 Updating ebooks and print editions strategically
13:43 The complete J. Kevin Tumlinson Edit Stack
FIND KEVIN:
Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com
Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com
Wordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.com
SERVICES FOR AUTHORS:
Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWriting Aid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5
Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger
Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor: https://authoranchor.com
If you’re a writer, author, creator, or creative entrepreneur trying to build a sustainable career around your work, subscribe to the Wordslinger channel. This is where we talk honestly about writing better books, publishing them professionally, reaching more readers, building your author business, and creating a career that lasts.
Subscribe, leave a comment with your writing or publishing questions, and tell me what you use in your own editing stack.

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17 min

About The Wordslinger Podcast

From the publisher's feed

From award-winning and bestselling author J. Kevin Tumlinson, this weekly podcast explores the stories that shape us into who we are, and shape the world into what it can become. There are interviews…