Writers, Ink: Your backstage pass to the world's most prolific authors

In this episode, J, J.D., and Zach talk about setting parameters for writing excellence using Story Rubric and Nonfic Rubric.

Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.

Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.

J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/

J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/

Zach Bohannon - https://zachbohannon.com/

Story Rubric - http://storyrubric.com

Nonfict Rubric - http://nonficrubric.com

Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life - https://kobowritinglife.com/

Music by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep

Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.com

Contact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/

*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lisa Gardner is no stranger to taking calculated risks as a writer. From leaving high-paying jobs to constantly letting go of agents and switching publishers, she has always lived by the phrase: “If you really want to write, you’re going to write." Lisa is a #1 New York Times bestselling thriller author who has sold millions of books worldwide. Among many outstanding works, she is well known for her debut novel, The Perfect Husband, a twisted story of love and suspense. Her latest publication, Before She Disappeared, is available tomorrow.

From Amazon.com:

New York Times #1 bestselling crime novelist Lisa Gardner began her career in food service, but after catching her hair on fire numerous times, she took the hint and focused on writing instead. A self-described research junkie, she has parlayed her interest in police procedure, criminal minds and twisted plots into a streak of bestselling suspense novels. Her 2010 novel, THE NEIGHBOR, won Best Thriller from the International Thriller Writers. Most recently, she was honored with the Silver Bullet Award for her work with at-risk kids and homeless animals. Lisa loves to hike, travel the world, and yes, read, read, read!

Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.

Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

-How to kill a friend and maim a buddy

-Why Lisa gets inspired by true stories

-Why writing is a personality, not an art

-The differences between calculated risks and impulsiveness

-How to find your unique writing process

Links:

J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/

J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/

Lisa Gardner - https://www.lisagardner.com/

The Perfect Husband by Lisa Gardner - https://mybook.to/PerfectHusband

Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner - https://mybook.to/SheDisappeared

Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life - https://kobowritinglife.com/

Music by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep

Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.com

Contact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/

*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As a mother of small children and a vivid lucid dreamer, H.M. Gooden needs to wake up early. Regardless, she knows early writing can be beneficial to many because morning-writers tend to self-edit less, their dreams and ideas are still fresh, and they can easily dictate while brewing coffee or making a commute. H.M. published her first book, Dream of Darkness, in 2017 and has published almost twenty more stories since. Her upcoming novel, A Destiny Found, releases later this month.

From Amazon.com:

In October of 2017, her love of writing and the characters in the world she created burst into public view in her first book, Dream of Darkness, which follows the adventures of a group of girls fighting evil with abilities that H. M. Gooden would love to have. When not writing fantasy, H. M. Gooden writes non-fiction pieces exploring the emotions and situations that arise in her day job as a rural family doc. As a result, 4 am has never been busier, but she wouldn't have it any other way.

Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.

Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.

J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/

J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/

H.M. Gooden - https://www.hmgoodenauthor.com/

Dream of Darkness by H.M. Gooden - https://mybook.to/DreamDarkness

A Destiny Found by H.M. Gooden - https://mybook.to/DestinyFound

Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life - https://kobowritinglife.com/

Music by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep

Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.com

Contact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/

*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

ThrillerFest Co-Executive Director Jeff Ayers is dedicated to exposing authors to useful but commonly avoided marketing techniques. Through ThrillerFest, Jeff and others like him teach underappreciated skills like pitching a book to an agent, writing a query letter, and reflecting on edits and feedback. Jeff is an accomplished author who has published both fiction and non-fiction works. He is well known for his Star Trek companion, Voyages of Imagination, writing book reviews under The Associated Press, and for his contributions to the International Thriller Writers. To contact Jeff, write to [email protected].

Guest Bio:

Jeff Ayers is the author of several works of fiction and non-fiction, including Voyages of Imagination: The Star Trek Fiction Companion, in which he covered over 550 novels and interviewed 350 authors to cover the history of the Star Trek publishing landscape. He wrote the upcoming Sigma Guide for author James Rollins and his agent is currently shopping to various publishers a mystery, a conspiracy thriller, and a non-fiction project. He is a freelance book reviewer for The Associated Press, a retired public research librarian, and the Co-Executive Director of Thrillerfest for the International Thriller Writers. He co-hosts a podcast with John Raab of Suspense Magazine called Beyond the Cover, and earlier this month produced the Night of a Thousand Authors for the Atria Mystery Bus.

Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.

Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.

J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/

J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/

Runes, Ravens, & Revenants (J.’s 2021 short story experiment). Offer expires on January 8, 2021 - https://jthorn.net/2021shortstories/

Jeff Ayers - [email protected]

Voyages of Imagination: The Star Trek Fiction Companion by Jeff Ayers - https://mybook.to/voyages

ThrillerFest - https://thrillerfest.com

Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life - https://kobowritinglife.com/

Music by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep

Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.com

Contact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/

*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Zach returns alongside J and J.D. to recap 2020 and discuss how such a chaotic year has affected the writing industry.

Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.

Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.

J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/

J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/

Zach Bohannon - https://zachbohannon.com/

Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life - https://kobowritinglife.com/

Music by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep

Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.com

Contact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/

*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Author and attorney Jonathan Kirsch is a master of many trades. As a columnist for the Los Angeles Times and bestseller of many biographies and historical pieces, he utilizes a disciplined writing routine to create the best stories possible. When he isn’t writing, Jonathan works as an attorney and member of the Independent Book Publishers Association. With over thirty years of experience in the field, he understands the importance of an LLC to an independent author better than anyone else and offers a wealth of meaningful business advice during this episode. To learn more about Kirsch, follow the links below.

From JonathanKirsch.com:

Jonathan Kirsch’s latest book is The Short, Strange Life of Herschel Grynszpan: A Boy Avenger, a Nazi Diplomat and a Murder in Paris (W. W. Norton/Liveright). “A lively and suspenseful tale,” according to Publishers Weekly. “Kirsch has eloquently provided a dramatic real-life mystery with broad appeal,” writes Mark Levine in Booklist. “It’s a remarkable story Kirsch tells here, deeply researched and compelling drawn,” writes Scott Martelle in the Washington Post. And Michael Berenbaum writes in The Jewish Journal: “Kirsch tells a powerful story with the skill of a novelist and the precision of a historian.”

Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.

Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Why to force yourself to write 200 words a day

When to consider making an LLC

How an LLC protects personal assets

Why you need to keep track of business expenses

Why you should license your work to yourself

Links:

J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/

J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/

Jonathan Kirsch - http://www.jonathankirsch.com/

Law Offices of Jonathan Kirsch - http://www.jonathankirsch.com/law.html

The Short, Strange Life of Herschel Grynszpan by Jonathan Kirsch - https://mybook.to/herschel

Speak Up For Small Business! - https://www.facebook.com/business/apple-ios-14-speak-up-for-small-business

Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life - https://kobowritinglife.com/

Music by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep

Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.com

Contact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/

*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Solopreneur Eddie Generous has no problem finding success on his own. Using discipline, self-motivation, and market sense, he has grown substantially as a publisher, podcaster, and author. Eddie is the creator of Unnerving Magazine, which filters through hundreds of open submissions to bring the best spine-chilling horror back to the masses. He also runs a podcast bearing the same name and has published multiple books, including Savage Beasts of the Arctic Circle and Plantation Pan. His latest publication, Dusk, is available below.

From Amazon.com:

Eddie Generous is an author of Savage Beasts of the Arctic Circle, RAWR, Trouble at Camp Still Waters, Great Big Teeth, and Radio Run (all from Severed Press), Plantation Pan (from Omnium Gatherum), and several collections. He is the founder/editor/publisher/artist behind Unnerving and Unnerving Magazine, and the host of the Unnerving Podcast. He lives on the Pacific Coast of Canada with his wife and their cat overlords.

Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.

Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.

J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/

J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/

Eddie Generous - https://www.jiffypopandhorror.com/

Unnerving Magazine - https://www.unnervingbooks.com/

Dusk by Eddie Generous - https://mybook.to/dusk/

Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life - https://kobowritinglife.com/

Music by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep

Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.com

Contact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/

*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kathleen Sweeney has helped authors create professional covers and ads on BookBrush for the past two years. One of the most innovative new author tools, BookBrush features easy-to-design standard covers, instant mockups, box set covers, 3D covers, and even animated covers. As the Customer Service Manager and Marketing Lead at BookBrush, Kathleen hosts frequent information sessions and works closely with authors to help them create the best cover or ad possible. To learn more about BookBrush or Kathleen, visit bookbrush.com.

From BookBrush.com:

Kathleen loves creating images. She brings over 17 years of client service experience, business assurance, strategy and problem solving to Book Brush. She is happy to help!

Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.

Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.

J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/

J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/

Kathleen Sweeney - [email protected]

BookBrush - https://bookbrush.com/

Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life - https://kobowritinglife.com/

Music by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep

Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.com

Contact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/

*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, J. and J.D. welcome indie mastermind Zach Bohannon to the show to discuss the growing similarities between indie and traditional publishing.

Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.

Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.

• What’s the deal with Audiblegate?
• The benefits of being a “hybrid” author
• Why traditional publishers are starting to value eBooks
• Why indies are becoming more tolerant of traditional deals
• The importance of a mailing list when pursuing a trad deal
• The role of subscription-based services in the future of publishing

J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/

J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/

Zach Bohannon - https://zachbohannon.com/

Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life - https://kobowritinglife.com/

Music by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep

Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.com

Contact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/

*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SPECIAL EPISODE: J.D. and J. are live with author Susan May to discuss #audiblegate, a breaking news story about the ongoing controversy surrounding Audible’s audio book return policy.

The Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/fairdealwithaudible

Susan May’s blog post - https://www.susanmaywriter.net/single-post/audiblegate-the-incredible-story-of-missing-sales

From the Authors Guild - https://www.authorsguild.org/industry-advocacy/sign-our-letter-and-tell-audible-to-stop-charging-authors-for-returns/

From the Alliance of Independent Authors - https://www.allianceindependentauthors.org/media-releases/

J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/

J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/

Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life - https://kobowritinglife.com/

Music by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep

Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.com

Contact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/

*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.