The Writing Biz

Tired of pitching your book and hearing silence? Hollywood publicist turned LA Times reviewer and author Gary Goldstein (K-9 Custody, The Last Birthday Party) breaks down how to think like a journalist, find niche angles, and follow up like a pro to land coverage without a PR firm.

In this episode, Gary shares why self-marketing is a core author skill, how to pitch the right person the right way, how to turn one book into multiple niche stories, and the organized follow-up system that turns no-reply into yes. You will also learn what makes a strong subject line, why to skip AI pitches, and how to balance writing time with promotion.

Perfect for self-published and traditionally published authors who want practical book marketing and publicity strategies that get noticed.

#BookMarketing #BookPublicity #AuthorMarketing #SelfPublishing #writingcommunity

MY GUEST:

Gary Goldstein, author, screenwriter and LA Times reviewer

http://www.GaryGoldsteinLA.com

GARY GOLDSTEIN'S BOOKS:

Canine Custody

https://amzn.to/4sdOEdw

The Mother I Never Had

https://amzn.to/4hSDirR

The Last Birthday Party

https://amzn.to/4zvOBvS

FOLLOW THE WRITING BIZ:

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BlueSky

Facebook

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Intro: Become your own best publicist

01:02 - Gary's dual view: publicist and LA Times reviewer

01:17 - Why book publicity is so crowded now

03:00 - Pitching protocol: who to pitch and how

06:25 - Why authors must embrace self-marketing

09:42 - Take ego out of marketing

12:08 - Find niche angles that get coverage (K-9 Custody example)

18:30 - Follow-up system that turns silence into yes

25:19 - Manage expectations and value small wins

27:38 - Subject lines that get opened (skip the AI pitch)

30:00 - Workflow: balance writing and marketing time

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Yes is the destination, no is how you get there. Andrea Waltz, co-author of Go for No!, joins The Writing Biz Podcast to show writers how to overcome rejection and turn every no into momentum.

If fear of rejection is keeping you from pitching agents, publishers, bookstores, or readers, this conversation reframes rejection as proof you are in the game. Andrea breaks down the failure quota, setting a no-goal to gamify pitching, remove the emotional sting, and keep you submitting. She also shares the 10-year overnight story behind Go for No!, from self-publishing in 2000 and hearing crickets after sending 500 copies, to redesigning the cover, refining the message, and building a full business with courses, sequels, and speaking around one book.

You will learn how to handle silence as rejection, why follow-up closes sales, how to fix messaging around audience needs, and how to use your book as a calling card for a sustainable writing business. Perfect for authors working on success mindset, growth mindset, and book marketing systems that survive algorithm changes. 

#GoForNo #OvercomeRejection #WritingBusiness

Timestamps:

00:00 - Meet Andrea Waltz and Go for No! 

01:03 - Reframing no to silence imposter syndrome 03:00 - What is a failure quota or no-goal 

06:34 - How to apply your no-goal and follow up 

09:47 - The 10-year journey to a bestseller 

14:00 - Focus, coachability, and fueling perseverance 

16:05 - Turning one book into courses and speaking 

18:27 - Andrea's writer origin and partnership story 

26:46 - Fixing audience and messaging struggles 

32:00 - Social media, algorithms, and owning your list

FOLLOW THE WRITING BIZ:Website: https://thewritingbiz.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/@thewritingbizpodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/onthewritingbiz.bsky.socialFacebook: https://facebook.com/onthewritingbizX: https://x.com/onthewritingbiz

Learn the strategy to move from commodity work into a high-fee ghostwriter for CEOs and entrepreneurs.Many writers get stuck in a cycle of low-rate work, but the path to building a sustainable career relies on changing how you position your services. Dr. Marcia Layton Turner joins the podcast to explain how to move away from basic freelance writing and start commanding premium rates.She breaks down the specific shift required to become a trusted ghostwriter for CEOs and entrepreneurs. By positioning yourself as a strategic publishing partner rather than just a writer, you can secure high paying clients who value the ROI of a professional business book.#Ghostwriter #Ghostwriting #freelancewriting MY GUEST: Marcia Turner-Layton, ghostwriter

https://marcialaytonturner.com/ https://www.facebook.com/marcialaytonturner

https://www.youtube.com/@Dr.MarciaLaytonTurner https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcialaytonturner/ RESORCES MENTIONED:Association of Ghostwriters: Professional association founded by Marcia providing education, community, and business resources for ghostwriters https://associationofghostwriters.orgEditorial Freelancers Association (EFA): Referenced for freelance rate surveys and industry benchmark data. https://www.the-efa.org/ Gotham Ghostwriters: Premier ghostwriting agency referenced for industry market rate reports and freelance opportunities. https://gothamghostwriters.com/ Kevin Anderson & Associates: Leading ghostwriting firm mentioned as a potential agency partner for qualified writers. https://www.ka-writing.com/ Advantage / Forbes Books: Publisher highlighted for regular freelance ghostwriter job postings. https://advantagebooks.com/ American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA): Professional writers' organization where the idea for the Association of Ghostwriters originated. https://www.asja.org/ FOLLOW USWebsiteYouTubeBlueSkyFacebook

Nobody buys your book because YOU need them to.

Editor and ghostwriter Ally Machate joins The Writing Biz Podcast to show why your business book has to work as a lever for clients, speaking, and authority — not just royalties. If you're self publishing a business book, planning your book launch, or wondering how to market your book after publish day, this is your marketability check.

In this episode: why business growth beats book sales as the goal, the good book wrong book trap, marketability vs marketing, the 3 must-haves baked into the draft (goal, readers, promise), nonfiction titles and searchability, Big 5 blind spots, why you must deliver real value instead of a long commercial, and launch week non-negotiables — seeding the right readers and stacking reviews in the first 30-90 days.

See below for Ally's special offer for the audience of The Writing Biz!

#BusinessBook #BookMarketing #SelfPublishing

MY GUEST:

Ally Machate, founder of The Writer's Ally

https://www.thewritersally.com

FREE WEBINAR FOR THE WRITING BIZ AUDIENCE!!

“Don’t Write the Wrong Book!”Before you invest time, money, or momentum in a book, make sure you’re writing the right one…the one that will build your business, credibility, and client list.

This free, 25-minute on-demand webinar will help you avoid that.

https://www.offers.thewritersally.com/thewritingbiz

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Why nobody buys your book because you need them to

02:15 Your book is a lever, not the business

06:30 Good book, wrong book trap

11:00 Marketability vs marketing

15:30 The 3 things every marketable business book needs

20:15 Nonfiction titles, subtitles and searchability

25:00 Big 5 blind spots indie authors repeat

29:30 Deliver value, not a long commercial

33:45 Launch week: seeding + reviews in the first 90 days

38:00 Your book is a tool, not the projectFOLLOW THE WRITING BIZ:

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Write series that sell? Michelle Miles shows how to build a sustainable author business without chasing trends.

In this episode of The Writing Biz Podcast, prolific indie author Michelle Miles breaks down how she turned fairy-tale retellings and paranormal romance into long-term backlist income. You'll learn why writing in series sells more books, how to think like a CEO not just a writer, her direct sales storefront strategy at michellemilesbooks.com, and how she automates admin to protect writing time while working a full-time job.

GUEST:

Michelle Miles, Author

Direct Store: http://www.michellemilesbooks.com

Website and Blog: http://www.michellemiles.net

Newsletter Sign Up: https://viplist.michellemiles.net/enchanted

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichelleMilesAuthor

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/MichelleMilesAuthor

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@michellemilesauthor

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/michellemiles.bsky.social

Twitter: https://x.com/MichelleMiles

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/MilesOfRomance/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleMilesBooks

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Meet Michelle Miles: prolific indie author

 01:12 - Strategy vs reaction in long-term planning 

04:52 - Biggest challenge: writer to CEO mindset shift 

06:53 - Don't launch your store too soon 11:00 - Mind shift to direct sales 

12:00 - What can you give readers Amazon can't? 

15:40 - Building social without chasing algorithms 

20:43 - Business systems that automate admin 

26:35 - Balancing writing, business and a day job 

29:50 - Learn craft before you publish 

31:32 - Why series are crucial for sustainability 

34:26 - Repackaging older series for new sales

10 years indie and still thriving? Cody Sisco shows how to build a writing career without publishers.

In this episode of The Writing Biz Podcast, queer sci-fi author Cody Sisco breaks down his decade-long indie author journey with the Resonant Earth series — from early book marketing mistakes to a creative engine that keeps books coming. You'll learn how indie author book marketing actually works, how to use Kickstarter for authors to fund deluxe editions, how he quit corporate consulting to become a full time author with portfolio income, and how he uses AI for authors to run his entire business.

Perfect for anyone searching self publishing, how to self publish a book, and how to turn writing into a sustainable indie career.

Find Cody at codysisco.com

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Meet Cody Sisco: 10 years as an indie author

01:03 - The biggest myth about long-term indie success

05:40 - Build your creative engine first 

07:53 - Finding your first readers in person 

11:07 - Kickstarter for authors that actually works 

16:54 - How Made in LA built community 

20:12 - Quitting corporate to write full-time 

22:21 - Portfolio income beyond book sales 

27:53 - Productivity systems that save time 

30:00 - Using AI to run your author business 

39:37 - The #1 habit for lasting success 43:04 - Inside Resonant Earth and Toxic Medicine 

45:19 - Where to find Cody

FULL TRANSCRIPT AND MORE: https://thewritingbiz.com/build-a-writing-career-without-publishersFOLLOW THE WRITING BIZ:Website: https://thewritingbiz.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/@ThewritingbizpodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/onthewritingbiz.bsky.socialFacebook: https://facebook.com/onthewritingbizX: https://x.com/OnTheWritingBiz

Former pathologist Deven Greene reveals how real forensics, murder cases, and dark science power thrillers readers can't put down. If you're writing a thriller or wondering how to write a murder mystery without info-dumping, this is your playbook.

In this episode of The Writing Biz Podcast, Deven shares how she turns 20+ years as a pathologist into page-turning suspense. You'll learn her simple research system for thriller writing, how to weave in medical detail without boring readers, and what happened when real life copied her fiction — from secret bioterror labs to genetic engineering headlines. She also breaks down writing dark topics like rhino poaching and black-market organs, plus her switch from small press to self-publishing.

Perfect for anyone learning how to write a thriller novel, how to write suspense that feels real, and how to sell more books with true-crime credibility.

Rhino Horn Underground: A Thriller

https://amzn.to/4d6oP8R 

The Organ Broker

https://amzn.to/4z6nEPr 

Happy Sun Farm

https://amzn.to/46Ii49N 

Timestamps

00:00 - Meet Deven Greene: pathologist turned thriller author

00:43 - How she starts research without rabbit holes

02:00 - Her tools: internet, library books, ChatGPT and on-location visits

09:47 - Adding real science without info-dumping

15:22 - How graphic should your murder scenes be?

17:01 - When real life rewrote her plot: rhino horn trade

21:23 - When fiction came true: genetic engineering & secret lab

26:03 - Handling dark topics like black-market organs

29:55 - Police Writers Academy and getting expert help

32:38 - The forensic psychiatrist story you have to hear

40:39 - Small press to self-publishing: what changed

43:30 - Where to find Deven's books

Don't get scammed out of your own book. Publishing pro Michele DeFilippo (50+ years, 1106 Design) shows writers how to protect your rights, own your ISBNs, and budget for a market-quality book in the age of AI.

If you're self-publishing your first book, you'll learn why free ISBNs make someone else the publisher, when to register  your copyright for max protection, what AI text means for ownership, and how to save for pro editing and cover design — so you stay the publisher and keep the profits.

In this episode:

• Free vs. owned ISBNs: who gets paid and why

• Copyright timing: register within 3 months of release

• AI for Authors: what you can and can't copyright

• Budgeting for Self-Publishing the pro way

Guest: Michele DeFilippo, 1106 Design — helping authors publish like pros. Get her free guide "Publish Like the Pros" at 1106design.com

More from The Writing Biz Podcast — helping writers think like entrepreneurs with platform, revenue, and marketing systems. Subscribe for weekly author-business strategies.

TRANSCRIPT & MORE: https://thewritingbiz.com/how-to-protect-your-book 

#SelfPublishing #ISBN #Copyright #AIforAuthors #WritingBiz.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro — Meet Michele DeFilippo 

01:45 The ISBN trap: free vs. owned 

06:15 Copyright registration + AI challenges

19:45 Avoid DIY pitfalls — be the publisher 

25:45 Budgeting for market-quality design 

29:30 Fund smart — no rent money + crowdfunding 

34:15 Spot deceptive publishing services 

37:00 Why human help wins in an AI world 

42:45 1106 Design + free guide

WEBSITE: 1106 Design

FREE! Publish Like Pros https://1106design.com/blog/

Getting 50 scam emails a day? Author and voice actor Aaron Ryan does — and he's learned how to survive it.

In this episode of The Writing Biz Podcast, Aaron breaks down how AI is flooding publishing with low-effort books, eroding income for voice actors, and fueling daily scams targeting indie authors. You'll learn his exact red flags (gmail addresses, flattery, $7,500 film offers), why you should never reply, and how to prove you're human in a market full of AI slop.

Whether you're in self publishing, indie publishing, or building your author business, this is your practical checklist to protect your work, plus a look inside Aaron's Dissonance saga and his new Jekyll & Hyde retelling, The Darkness Within.

#SelfPublishing #AISlop #VoiceActing #IndiePublishing #Authortube

Connect with Aaron at https://authoraaronryan.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 - 50 scam emails a day: Aaron's AI survival intro 

03:20 - How AI slop is burying human authors 

08:45 - Assistive vs generative AI: where to draw the line 

14:10 - Beyond algorithms: marketing your human voice 

19:30 - Power of imperfection: proving you're human 

24:50 - Scam alert: red flags + why you never reply 

FOLLOW THE WRITINGBIZ:Website: https://thewritingbiz.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/@thewritingbizpodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/onthewritingbiz.bsky.socialFacebook: https://facebook.com/onthewritingbizX: https://x.com/OnTheWritingBiz

Dreaming of the big screen? Novelist and screenwriter Richard Moon breaks down how to write books that Hollywood wants to adapt.

In this episode of The Writing Biz Podcast, Richard Moon shares why great books make terrible movies, the structural differences between novels and screenplays, and what makes a story truly cinematic. We dig into book to film adaptation lessons from Jaws, Game of Thrones, Fight Club, and Lord of the Rings — including interiority vs visuals, pacing, dialogue, budget, and why author control can hurt your adaptation.

If you're a fiction author who wants to write more visually, sell film rights, or understand how screenwriters think, this is your playbook for writing books to sell as screenplays.

#BookToFilm #Screenwriting #NovelWriting

Connect with Richard Moon and check out his novel To Conquer Death: 

https://richardmoonbooks.com/to-conquer-death/ 

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro: Meet screenwriter and novelist Richard Moon 

00:39 - Novel vs screenplay: structure differences every author must know 

03:59 - Dialogue and time: why long conversations stall on screen 06:07 - What makes a novel cinematic? 

08:41 - Collaboration vs solitude: screenwriting team vs novelist alone

12:08 - Drift in adaptation and author control 

14:25 - Jaws: why this book-to-film worked 

17:17 - Game of Thrones: what went wrong after the books ran out 

20:49 - Worldbuilding and budget: Lord of the Rings lesson 

26:06 - Richard's shift from screenwriting to novels 

29:44 - Translating imagery and detail for the page vs camera 

31:45 - Richard's career path + To Conquer Death 

38:15 - Historical accuracy vs good storytelling in film 

42:04 - Where to find Richard Moon 

42:50 - Voyage Media adaptation resource + what's next

FOLLOW THE WRITING BIZ:Website: https://thewritingbiz.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/@thewritingbizpodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/onthewritingbiz.bsky.socialFacebook: https://facebook.com/onthewritingbizX: https://x.com/OnTheWritingBiz