Become a Writer Today : Recent Episodes

Bryan Collins

Do you want to share your story, earn more money and make an impact with your writing? You're in the right place. On the Become a Writer Today podcast, Bryan Collins interviews creatives and best-selling authors. He profiles their writing processes, so you can learn about everything from writing your book to building a profitable creative business. Subscribe today!

In this episode of the Become a Writer Today podcast, my guest is Amy Yamada, a former marketing director and AI expert.

During the interview, Amy shares her innovative approach to using AI to develop authentic messaging and form deep connections with audiences.

Amy and her use of ChatGPT to help content creators scale their businesses is a one-of-a-kind approach. No one else is teaching what she does. Amy's method allows busy content creators to generate more content while preserving their authentic voice and speaking directly to their audience.

Here are my top 3 takeaways from our discussion:

Authenticity is Key: Amy uses an innovative approach called the "heart speech model" to infuse her voice into AI-generated content, ensuring that her communication is not only efficient but also authentic and resonates with her audience.
Utilizing AI for Relationship Building: Amy highlights how entrepreneurs, including writers, can leverage AI for various forms of communication, such as marketing emails, social media posts, and even difficult conversations with clients or team members while maintaining their authentic voice.
Future of AI in Content Creation: Amy shared insights on the growing role of AI in content creation and how it's important to balance efficiency with maintaining a human touch in the content we generate. We also discussed the potential of AI in serving as a research assistant and helping with content organization.

If you're interested in learning more about Amy's unique approach to using AI in writing, check out the full podcast episode. Don't miss out on these valuable insights!

Resources:Amy's Website

Support the show

If you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

In our latest episode of the Become A Writer Today podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Amanda Hand, an experienced content strategist and SEO team lead. We delved into the world of content strategy and discovered some valuable insights into this fascinating field.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

Client Goals and Data: Content strategy goes beyond writing and editing. As a content strategist, understanding client goals and aligning them with data is crucial. Become a data nerd, master tools like Google Analytics, and marry creativity with data-driven strategy.
User Behavior Analysis: Dive deep into user data to understand what drives decision-making and meet users' needs. Learn to follow the user's journey from the first website visit to the final conversion goal. This understanding will help shape effective content strategies.
Continual Learning and Skill Development: Embrace the ever-evolving nature of the content strategy field. Take advantage of free courses, such as Google Analytics, to acquire new skills and stay up-to-date with the latest trends. Adaptability and curiosity are essential in this exciting industry.

If you want to learn more about content strategy and how to transition from content writing to strategy, this episode is a must-listen.

Resources:

Regex SEO

Support the show

If you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

In today's episode, we delve into the world of Irish literature and explore the works of some of the best Irish authors you must read.

From the celebrated CS Lewis, who straddled the line between British and Irish, to the incomparable James Joyce and his masterpiece "Ulysses," we'll take you through a journey of influential writers who have shaped modern literature.

Join us as we uncover the rich literary heritage of Ireland and provide insights into these renowned authors.

So, whether you're searching for your next book club read or simply looking to expand your literary horizons, this episode is for you.

Stay tuned as we explore the works of Oscar Wilde, Maeve Binchy, Bram Stoker, Roddy Doyle, John Banville, Brendan Behan, and Samuel Beckett. Let's dive into the fascinating world of Irish literature.

Support the show

If you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

I am thrilled to share that in the latest episode of the "Become a Writer Today" podcast, I've profiled 15 of the best horror authors, both alive and dead. If you're a fan of horror or looking to explore the genre, this episode is a must-listen!

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1️⃣ Stephen King: Known as the master of horror, Stephen King's entry point into the genre is his debut novel "Carrie." Don't miss his other iconic works like "Pet Sematary," "The Shining," and "The Stand."

2️⃣ Bram Stoker: If you're into vampires, you can't miss Bram Stoker's original masterpiece, "Dracula." Explore his other chilling works like "Dracula's Guest" and "The Jewel of the 7 Stars."

3️⃣ Anne Rice: Alongside Stephen King and Clive Barker, Anne Rice is a favorite horror author. Start with her captivating "Interview with a Vampire" and delve into the mesmerizing Vampire Chronicles series.

Tune in to the episode for more spine-chilling authors and their notable works! Don't forget to leave a review on iTunes and share the podcast with fellow horror enthusiasts. Happy reading, and may your nights be filled with terrifying tales! 🧛‍♂️💀📚

Support the show

If you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

In this week's episode of the "Become a Writer Today" podcast, we're diving into the world of copywriting books that every aspiring writer must read! 📖✍️ Join me, Bryan Collins, as I share some invaluable insights and recommendations on the best copywriting resources out there.

Key takeaways from this episode:

🔸 Dive into "The Robert Collier Letter Book," a classic written in the 1930s that offers timeless advice on writing high-performing copy, including real examples that have stood the test of time.

🔸 Explore the autobiographical gem, "Confessions of an Advertising Man" by David Ogilvy, and gain a deeper understanding of the mindset and psychology behind successful copywriting.

🔸 Uncover the power of long-form sales page writing with "The Ultimate Sales Letter" by Dan Kennedy, which provides detailed guidance and examples on constructing persuasive and effective sales pages.

Tune in to the full episode on the "Become a Writer Today" podcast to discover more captivating copywriting books that will enhance your writing journey! 🎧✨

Support the show

If you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

I had the opportunity to go behind the headlines with Isaac Saul, the creator of Tangle, on my latest episode of the Become a Writer Today podcast. In this episode, we dive deep into Isaac's journey of running and monetizing a media newsletter while striving for balanced reporting in today's politically divided climate.

Here are three key takeaways from our conversation:

Building Trust through Balanced Reporting: Isaac's upbringing in a politically divided community inspired him to create a publication that both liberals and conservatives trust. With Tangle, he offers accurate, thorough, and balanced information by summarizing controversial political stories using neutral language and including arguments from both sides. This approach has earned them a diverse readership and positioned Tangle as a trusted source for fair news.

The Power of Organic Growth and Mailing Lists: Tangle's success began with a daily newsletter on Substack. Their mailing list grew organically, and they tapped into the power of surveys to identify their readers' demographics and preferences. By understanding their audience and building relationships with them, Tangle attracted a loyal readership. They aim to expand further, especially among younger audiences, by branching out to platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

Strategy, Research, and a Growing Team: Behind Tangle's impactful content lies a strategic process. Isaac and his team carefully select and research the main story, finding arguments from various perspectives. Extensive research, including reading news articles, listening to podcasts, and watching political commentators, helps them curate fresh and diverse takes. The team's hard work has paid off, growing Tangle from a one-person operation to a full-time team with four employees and an extended network of part-time editors and interns.

Resources:

Tangle News

Support the show

If you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

I recently had the pleasure of discussing 27 must-read classic literature books on the Become a Writer Today podcast. These books have stood the test of time and offer timeless wisdom and insights into the human condition.

Whether you're a seasoned reader or just starting your literary journey, these classics are an essential addition to your bookshelf.

🔹 Classic Literature: Dive into the world of the classics and explore timeless themes and masterful storytelling. From epic adventures to thought-provoking social commentaries, these books offer a rich and diverse reading experience.

🔹 Coming of Age Tales: Many of the classic literature books discussed on the podcast explore the coming-of-age journey. These stories allow us to reflect on our own growth, self-discovery, and challenges as we navigate life's complexities.

🔹 Understanding Society: Classic literature gives us a window into different cultures and historical periods, offering a deeper understanding of society and human nature. Through these books, we can explore themes of love, power, identity, and social injustice.

So, whether you're seeking to expand your literary horizons or simply looking for a captivating read, make sure to check out these must-read classic literature books. They are a treasure trove of inspiration and storytelling that will leave a lasting impact on your reading journey.

Support the show

If you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

My guest today is Eddie Shleyner. He is the Founder of VeryGoodCopy, a popular newsletter I subscribe to. He's also the former Copy Chief at G2.com, an excellent resource for finding software and other services.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

How Eddie got into copywriting
Social media management
The role of AI in copywriting
Direct response campaigns
How to create an effective landing page

Resources:

Eddie's website

Support the show

If you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

Could Instagram or TikTok help you generate reviews and sell copies of your new book?

One author who offers a resounding yes to that question is Doug Evans. He's behind The Sprout Book: Tap into the Power of the Planet's Most Nutritious Food. The Sprout Book is hugely popular and was an Amazon Best Seller.

Doug has grown social media accounts on TikTok and Instagram, with many of his posts going viral and attracting thousands or hundreds of thousands of likes. Doug used his social media accounts to generate reviews for The Sprout Book and sell more copies.

I wanted to catch up with Doug to determine what types of content authors should create on social media and how they can get started if they procrastinate.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

Which networks are the best these days
The art of creating short-form content
Doug's content creation process for social media

Resources:

The Sprout Book Website

Doug Evans on TikTok

Support the show

If you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

My guest today is Hiten Vyas. He is the founder of Writing Tips Oasis, a fantastic resource for writers.

Writing Tips Oasis started in 2014 to help writers across India ride on the wave of digital publishing that was about to take over the country. The site used to be called e-Books India and published regular articles that helped writers improve their writing and to learn how to market and sell their ebooks and books.

However, by the very nature of the Internet, the materials quickly reached writers, authors, freelancers, and independent publishers from across the world—the brand e-Books India needed to be more expansive, so Hiten rebranded.

Writing Tips Oasis provides tips, advice, and guidance for published authors, freelance writers, business writers, journalists, and poets.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

Hiten's entrepreneurial journey
How to generate a sustainable income from writing
The free novel writing course available on Writing Tips Oasis

Resources:

The Writing Tips Oasis website

Sign up for Novice to Novel – A Free Novel Writing Course

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

Welcome to another episode of the Become a Writer Today podcast. Today we have an exciting lineup for all you aspiring writers out there. In this episode, we'll dive into the world of motivational books.

We'll explore eleven must-read titles that will inspire and ignite your personal and professional creativity.

Get ready to discover some old classics that have stood the test of time and some contemporary gems that will challenge your mindset. From Dale Carnegie's timeless masterpiece to James Clear's revolutionary "Atomic Habits," we've covered everything.

So please sit back, relax, and let's dive into the world of motivation and inspiration.

But before we start, I'd like to remind you to leave a review for our show on iTunes and share it with your fellow writers. Your support helps us reach more people who can benefit from our content. Also, remember to check out our companion YouTube channel for even more writing advice.

So, without further ado, let's jump into the captivating world of motivational books and become the best writers we can be!

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

In this episode of the Become a Writer Today podcast, my guest is an entrepreneur and author, David Jenyns, who specializes in helping business owners, entrepreneurs, and creatives like you scale their businesses through the power of systems.

David introduces his book SYSTEMology, which outlines seven stages of implementing systems and processes in a business, from defining to optimizing.

He emphasizes the importance of mapping out client flows and using automation to improve efficiency.

David also shares his experience in writing and promoting his own book, as well as the benefits of delegating tasks and hiring part-time help or offshoring for solopreneurs with a tight budget.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

The importance of lead generation and onboarding
The need for business owners to delegate tasks
Building a business that doesn't solely rely on the owner's skills

Resources:

David's Website

SYSTEMology on Amazon

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

SYSTEMology: Create time, reduce errors and scale your profits with proven business systems

In this episode, I consider some of the best books on creativity. Many aspiring writers and artists feel they don’t have what it takes to express themselves. I felt the same way for years.

The funny thing is that all creatives have felt this at some point during their careers. It’s a common theme found in many of the best books about creativity. Other themes include procrastination, fear of failure, and even a fear of success!

I’ve read dozens of creativity books over the years. This guide profiles the best creativity books for modern writers and artists, so you can start writing, creating, and publishing your best works.

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

In this week's podcast, we're diving into the thrilling world of Stephen King and exploring some of his most captivating best-selling novels. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just discovering King's work, these books are guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.

So buckle up and get lost in Stephen King's world of spine-tingling suspense, heart-pounding thrills, and unforgettable characters. Discover why his books have become cultural touchstones and made King a literary legend.

Until next time, keep listening and let your imagination soar!

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

Do you want to learn how to become a prolific screenwriter?

I love catching up with screenwriters. I don't write screenplays myself, but it's a fascinating genre because many principles apply to other types of writing.

My guest today is Brock Swinson. He's the interviewer for Creative Screenwriting magazine and the author of Ink by the Barrel, whichillustrates Brock's prolific writing principles.

In the interview, Brock shares his secrets for breaking into the screenwriting industry and how to overcome the most significant challenge most writers face.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

Screenwriting principles
Productivity hacks and the intersection between creativity and productivity
The importance of finding your voice and organizing your ideas
Balancing writing with editing and marketing
The benefits of becoming a Patreon

Resources:

Creative Principles Podcast

Creative Screenwriting

Brock's Website

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

Would you like to break into freelance writing? And if so, how do you pitch the editors of big-name publications?

I was a freelance writer and journalist before I set up Become a Writer Today. It was a challenging profession. I studied journalism in college for a few years, and when I graduated, I struggled to find any work at all.

It was only when I specialized in a particular niche that I was able to start finding regular commissions. And even then, I found it quite difficult to pay the bills as a freelance writer.

If you're looking to get into freelance writing, my tip is to spend some time each week or every other week pitching for new clients and finding additional work, even if you have enough work in the queue.

This week's interviewee, Rebecca Weber, has written for several prestigious publications, including CNN, Forbes, and The Guardian. She's an expert at pitching high-profile editors.

In this week's interview, she goes through her five-step process, which you should use to pitch an editor for a publication. I wish I'd known about this five-step process as a freelance journalist. It would have saved me a lot of time and heartache.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

The importance of researching before you pitch
Considering your unique angle
Keeping abreast of trends

Resources:

Rebecca's Website

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

Many people say they have a book inside them, but few actually take the time to write it. Writing a book is a great way to build a personal brand and authority and make a name for yourself. But it takes a lot of work to write a book. So why even do it?

This week, I caught up with Anna David, a New York Times best-selling author of not one but eight different books.

She also runs a company, Legacy Launch Pad Publishing. Her company helps people build authority and, in some cases, reach The New York Times bestseller list.

Anna made the point that whether you're writing a book or working with a ghostwriter, asking yourself a few questions before starting on page one is helpful. For example:

What is my book about?
Who is my book for?
And what does success look like?

That's an exercise I undertook a couple of years ago when I started writing and self-publishing books. Once I understood what the book was about, it immediately gave me some constraints to work within.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

The process of identifying what success looks like for you.
The importance of understanding your ideal reader.
How to motivate yourself to finish that book!

Resources:

Anna's website

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

My guest today is Josh Spector, a writer, podcaster, and consultant. He also runs an engaging newsletter over at fortheinterested.com.

Josh has been publishing the For The Interested Newsletter for almost seven years. It exists to help creative entrepreneurs grow their audience and business.

Around a year ago, Josh launched the podcast I Want to Know. It's a three-question podcast. Guests come on and ask three questions about things they're struggling with, trying to figure out how to grow their audience or business.

Josh also operates as a consultant, offering clarity calls where he takes people through his framework to help them develop their strategy for audience growth.

In Josh's words, "In order to build an audience, you have to provide value."

"You want to help a specific person who's at point A get to point B. And your content, your product, your social posts, your services, whatever you're doing — free or paid — is the bridge that gets them from point A to point B."

In this episode, we discuss:

Providing value for your audience
Getting the total value out of the content you create
Leveraging social media

Resources:

For The Interested Newsletter

Josh's Website

I Want To Know Podcast

Skill Sessions

Josh on Twitter

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

What should writers, bloggers, and authors know about email marketing automation?

Email marketing automation can be overwhelming. When I started figuring out what to send to readers and subscribers, I ended up with a smorgasbord of forms, segments, and rules to follow and check.

It took me quite some time and a lot of hair-pulling to get it right.

I'm currently using the email marketing software ConvertKit, which is easy to use and was initially built with bloggers and writers in mind.

People with lists of all sizes use ConvertKit to send the right message to their readers, segment their list, and sell their latest books, courses, and offers.

Email marketing automation can still be tricky to get your head around. So, if you're struggling, you may enjoy this week's interview with Matt Treacey. He teaches authors and writers how to monetize their lists more effectively through the power of marketing or email marketing automation.

In this episode, we discuss:

Email marketing automation as a powerful way to build a narrative for authors
Nurturing the relationship with your readers or audience
Matt's helpful strategies and tips for email marketing automation

Resources:Matt's website

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

AI tools like ChatGPT are all the rage these days. While they won't write everything effectively for you, they can be a real time saver if used correctly. So rather than opening up Microsoft Word or Google Docs and wondering how you will write some compelling copy for your customers or clients, you can use a tool like ChatGPT.

It'll generate headlines for you. It could help you turn product features into benefits and give you a good angle or an introduction for your emails, your sales page, or even your blog post about your latest product or service.

Not only that, but these tools take away some of the mystery surrounding copywriting. In other words, they make it easier for everybody to express themselves. And if you're a writer working online, copywriting is a valuable skill because it will help you sell your products, services, books, articles, and, of course, your ideas.

In this week's interview, I caught up with the expert copywriter, Neville Medhora. He runs swipefile.com, a fantastic website if you want to browse new and old copy that has stood the test of time.

He also runs copywritingcourse.com, where you can get your copy workshops from Neville and his team.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Neville got started way back in 1998
How Neville built a successful finance blog
Neville's approach to using AI tools to write copy
The art of using a swipe file
How to grow your platform as a writer

Resources:

Swipefile

Copy Writing Course

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

This week, I caught up with a highly successful Amazon indie author. His name is Marc Reklau. He's from Germany but lives in Budapest, Hungary.

Marc got into the self-publishing game about ten years ago, when selling books on platforms like Amazon was much easier. He writes about personal development, self-help and covers topics like productivity, happiness, habits, and money.

He also uses Amazon ads prolifically to sell copies of his non-fiction books. Believe it or not, he's had a huge success selling books translated into different languages, specifically Spanish.

I was fascinated to hear about Marc's approach – firstly, to writing his books and, secondly, to promoting them via Amazon ads.

In this episode, we discuss:

Marc's process for promoting his work
Translating your books into different languages
Marc's insights into self-publishing

Resources:Marc's website

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

When writing for YouTube, many top channel creators say the headline for a video and the thumbnail are the two most important things creators must consider.

So, what can you do if you need help writing your headline and figuring out a complementary thumbnail? What other channels do you consider if you want to start a YouTube channel that complements your blog, book, or writing?

This week's interviewee is Jake Thomas. He's developed a fantastic product, which I recommend you check out. It's called Creator Hooks and Creator Hooks Pro.

Creator Hooks is a free newsletter where Jake debunks or analyzes top YouTube videos, including their headlines, the thumbnails, and what made them go viral.

Creator Hooks Pro is like a swipe file where you can get in-depth insights into these videos. It's a real time saver for writing headlines and gives me ideas for other videos.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Jake came up with Creator Hooks
The best way to use it
What's working on YouTube today

Even if you're not currently running a YouTube channel, the principles behind headlines, thumbnails, imagery, and so on come straight from the world of copywriting. You can apply them to other types of writing, including — yes, you guessed it — blog posts, newsletters, Twitter threads, social media, and so on.

Resources:Creator Hooks

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

There's never been a better time to be a writer. We have so many different ways of finding readers and getting our work in front of them. You can self-publish a book, which is fantastic because you don't have to rely on gatekeepers.

But let's face it. Self-publishing takes a little bit of time, and you have to invest in a book cover. You've also got to spend money on advertising now, and so on.

But what if there's a different way? Enter serialization. Famous authors, from Charles Dickens to Agatha Christie, have all serialized their works. The good news is, it's easier than ever to do it today.

Perhaps, the best place to serialize your book is on Substack. I've interviewed several top Substack publication owners over the past few years. But this week's interview is a good one. It's with Sarah Fay, a creative writing professor at Northwestern in the United States. She's also an author at HarperCollins.

In this episode, we discuss:

Sarah's two different Substack publications
Her exact process for serialization
Key things to do before you serialize your book or work

Whatever stage your current writing project is at, serialization is a great way to practice your work in public and connect with your readers.

Resources:

Writers at Work with Sarah Fay

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

If you're writing or creating content online, then Web3 could be the future.

Years ago, many people were sceptical about blogging and didn't see it as a viable way for writers to earn a living. Then it was self-publishing, sometimes considered a bit scammy and not a great way for authors to sell their books directly to their fans.

That's the place Web3 is at today. Many people look at the technologies surrounding Web3 — I'm talking about cryptocurrency, the blockchain, and NFTs — with much scepticism.

In some cases, they are right. However, Web3 could be how content creators work online to build a relationship directly with their followers and fans. And if you're a writer, it could represent the future of how you write or create something that your readers like to collect or want to own.

In this week's interview, I met one of the NFT space's best-known content creators. His name is Zeneca. I asked him how he researches, creates, and writes content in such a new and emerging space.

If you feel like you've missed out, or it's too late to get involved in such a technical space, then fear not because Zeneca has a number of takeaways that will help you get started.

In this episode, we discuss:

how Zeneca got started on Twitter before iterating into different platforms
how technologies within Web3 are constantly adapting and changing
using both Web3 and Web2 tools to build a relationship with an audience

Resources:

One37, Zeneca

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

ChatGPT is fast becoming the biggest trend of 2023. But what does that mean for writers?

Like many, I've been using ChatGPT intermittently over the past few weeks and months for various parts of the writing process. I don't describe myself as an advanced ChatGPT user, but I use it for some administrative aspects of running a blog and content websites.

For example, I use it to generate iterations of headlines, write SEO meta descriptions, create ideas for FAQs that I put at the bottom of articles, and even develop article outlines.

However, I do not use ChatGPT or AI tools to write an entire article because, let's face it, the results can be mixed. I still like to insert some personality and research into the pieces I might write.

AI tools can be a real time saver. I even used an AI tool to help develop a headline for this week's podcast episode. So, if you're listening to this, you must have found the headline at least slightly engaging.

That said, many writers and creatives from other professions, particularly artists, are worried about how AI will potentially replace them.

In this week's interview, I caught up with the Canadian AI author, Tim Boucher. He describes how he uses multiple AI tools to produce short-form fiction.

One key thing Tim said struck me. He's not using AI to produce his short stories and novels faster or more efficiently. If anything, he's using AI to experiment and explore different creative approaches.

In this episode, we discuss:

the tools Tim is using
his writing prompts
how AI is helping him experiment

Resources:

Tim's website

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

There are endless ways writers and authors can connect with readers. An author website, TikTok, YouTube, personal newsletters, Substack, the list goes on. But how do you identify which is the right discovery platform for you?

This week I was fascinated to catch up with a content creator who has succeeded multiple times across different platforms. He has a popular personal newsletter and writes about Web3 and cryptocurrency. He's also a well-known book talker.

I'm talking about Nat Eliason, who creates content on various discovery platforms.

Now, my key takeaway from talking to Nat is that it's still crucial to connect directly with your readers. And for writers, that hasn't changed.

In this episode, we discuss:

the best way to connect with your readers
how Nat gets subscribers organically within the Substack app
writing a cryptocurrency book
personal knowledge management

Resources:

Nat's website

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

In this week's episode, I interview a creative writing instructor who works in a local county prison to instruct inmates on the practice of journaling.

Tina Welling is a big believer in the therapeutic power of this practice. She's also a big believer in the link between creativity and nature. Those are two themes that she addresses in her recent books. I'm going to cover both in this week's podcast episode.

I was particularly fascinated to catch up with a writing instructor focusing on journaling because journaling is a fantastic practice for anybody, particularly for writers.

It helps you get into the habit of writing regularly.
You don't have to ask permission from anybody to journal.
It enables you to express yourself through the written word.
And it will give you source material that you could use later on.

Best of all, you can't get journaling wrong. After all, when you write an entry, usually — unless you decide to do something with it later — it's for you and you alone.

In this week's episode, Tina Welling explains how she teaches prison inmates how to journal. She also talks about the link between journaling and therapy.

Resources:

Tina's website.

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

What are the skills you need to write successfully online today?

In this week's episode, I caught up with Dickie Bush. Now, you may already know Dickie Bush because he has nearly 330,000 followers on Twitter. He's the co-founder of Typeshare, a fantastic online writing tool. And he also runs Ship 30 for 30, an online writing course I took a year ago.

I was really excited to catch up with Dickie because he's an expert in writing online, specifically on Twitter. One of my key takeaways from talking to Dickie is how he looks at the creative process.

In this episode, we discuss:

how he transitioned from working as a trader at BlackRock
choosing your subject matter
how to supplement your subject with information and data
how he co-formed Typeshare

Dickie is getting ready to launch a new cohort of Ship 30 for 30. I have added the link below so you can sign up.

It really is an excellent course. If you haven't written much online and perhaps lack confidence about publishing your work on Twitter or other platforms, or you want to see how an expert does it and learn about their tactics and strategies, then I would encourage you to take this particular course.

Resources:

Ship 30 for 30 Course

Typeshare

Dickie's website

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

My guest this week is a prolific horror author. His name is Chris Coppel. He's the author of more than a dozen books in this genre.

Chris also has a famous father who wrote a screenplay for a film that I guarantee you'll know, which has had a huge cultural impact.

I was fascinated to catch up with Chris.

In this episode, we discuss:

how Chris approaches writing horror
how to sustain interest in one genre
why you should write what you love to read
and his famous dad

Resources:

Chris's website

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

Can affiliate marketing help you earn more money as a writer working online? The answer is yes; affiliate marketing is a fantastic way to grow your income as a writer.

You can create content about the products, services, or tools you use daily. The difference is that you would do this on a niche website about a specific topic or concept rather than about you.

In other words, it's different from writing about something personal or what's happening in your day. That's a mistake that new bloggers often make. They wonder why they're not earning money online because they simply write about their day.

There are a few caveats to affiliate marketing. Firstly, it can be competitive. And secondly, it's usually a good idea only to pick products, services, and tools you use, recommend, and trust yourself.

In other words, you're going to create content about something you rely on and are happy to recommend to others.

This week, I caught up with a niche website expert specializing in affiliate marketing and in-affiliate content. Jamie I.F. of increasing.com runs over ten different websites across many niches.

He publishes monthly income reports on his website about what's working and not working. He earns five figures a month from his portfolio from affiliate marketing, display advertising, and other monetization methods.

In this episode, we discuss:

Janie's framework for affiliate marketing
Building affiliate websites
How to capture the attention of your readers

Resources:

Jamie's website

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

Many people say they need a good idea before they can sit down to write their book. But rather than trying to pick one good idea, generating multiple ideas that you can iterate, test, and work on is much more helpful.

You could test them by writing short stories, blog posts, articles, or even creating other types of content.

Then you can use all of this real-world information to decide if it's something that your ideal audience is interested in and if it's also something that you want to write about at length.

This week, I caught up with a creativity expert. Her name is Robin Landa. She is the author of The New Art of Ideas. She's also a distinguished professor who has written and lectured on creativity for years.

In this episode, we discuss:

the Three G Method
mentoring aspiring non-fiction writers
practical advice for non-fiction writers
her specific and impressive writing routine

Resources:

Robin's website

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

I'm a big fan of dystopian fiction. George Orwell's 1984 is one of my favorite books of all time, much like many readers. So, I wanted to talk to a dystopian fiction author who understands the conventions of their genre to learn more about their writing process and what it takes to write a book like this.

I recently caught up with Aaron Gransby, who is a former journalist. A bit like me. However, he's a lot more experienced in the area. He's currently a magazine publisher, and he's written a new dystopian thriller.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why Aaron chose this type of genre for his book
What the conventions are
How he approached writing his book
Using beta readers for their valuable feedback
And some fantastic takeaways about how to use deadlines

Resources:

Aaron's website

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

Do you want to break into the publishing industry?

Many authors have questions about how to traditionally publish a book and how to find a literary agent who can help with that process. This week, I caught up with Jeff Herman, who's been working in the industry for 25-plus years.

He runs a literary agency in the United States and has published over 1,000 different books. So, he has a wide variety of experience across different genres or niches.

In this episode, we discuss:

how to land a literary agent
and what you should put in your pitch
the benefits of creating a back catalog of book

Resources:

Jeff's website

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

Have you created a strategy for your newsletter?

A newsletter is the best way to communicate directly to your readers without relying on Twitter to surface your posts or Google to rank your articles. When you have a newsletter, you don't have to worry about crazy algorithm changes or something happening to posts that you've optimized for search.

I've started several newsletters over the years. Of course, my biggest newsletter is the Become a Writer Today Email List. I'd love it if you could join it. I'll give you a free book of writing prompts if you do. Sign up here.

Once a week, I send weekly updates about the latest writing articles and also writing advice to members of this newsletter. Now that's my strategy; your strategy may differ.

This week I caught up with an expert in newsletter strategy. Her name is Anna Codrea-Rado. She ran one of the most successful Substack newsletters. It's called The Professional Freelancer, which Anna has recently rebranded.

When she's not writing newsletters, Anna advocates for freelance writers in an increasingly challenging industry. She also helps businesses figure out what their newsletter strategy should look like.

I was excited to catch up with Anna because I love hearing about how different creatives and writers use newsletters to communicate directly with their readers.

Anna says, "You need to have a really clear tagline for your newsletter, you need to be really clear on what the problem your newsletter is solving." "Random stuff is not going to cut it."In this episode, we discuss:

personal or creative vs. professional newsletters
how often to send newsletters to readers
what to include in your newsletter
and how Anna's newsletter strategy has evolved

Resources:

Anna's website

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

One of the most impactful books I've read about productivity and time management is the best seller, Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman. The book proposes that the average human lifespan is just 4,000 weeks long, which is a blip in the grand scheme of things.

Oliver also writes about how we're just 35 lifetimes separated from the ancient Egyptians.

He uses these types of numbers to put in a framework what it means to try and get more things done and why this is a fool's errand.

I'm a former productivity nerd. I still like testing the latest productivity software and dipping in and out of the occasional book about productivity. I even wrote a column for Forbes several years ago, all about this exact topic.

These days, I think less about productivity and getting more done than I think about the right things or creative projects to work on.

In this book, Oliver proposes many different questions and ways that all types of people — including creatives and writers — can figure out what they want to work on and what they should just let slip.

It's a thought-provoking book if you've ever wondered how you're spending your time or if you've been obsessed with productivity, efficiency, and getting things done.

It's also a fantastically written non-fiction book that resonates with people from all industries.

In this episode, we discuss:

Whether you should commit to a writing or research system
The Zettelkasten method
Oliver's approach to research
Using a newsletter to interact with your audience
Working as a columnist for a busy newspaper
Olivers next project

Resources:

Oliver's Website

What Is The Best Zettelkasten Software?

11 Creative Rules For Creator Economy Workers

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

I'm a big science fiction reader. I also like to watch a lot of science fiction on television. But I have little interest in writing science fiction because it's the type of genre that I like to read when I want to switch off.

The best science fiction or speculative fiction books always have a big idea behind them. They have topics they want to tackle and often explain how these things may change our world for the better or worse.

I love learning from speculative science fiction authors because it's great to hear how they approach big ideas and turn them into a piece of work that readers can enjoy.

That's what this week's guest has done. His name is Gary Bengier, and he is the author of the award-winning speculative fiction or cross-fiction book, Unfettered Journey.

I was fascinated to catch up with Gary because he had another career before he became a science fiction author. He was the CFO for eBay back in the late 1990s. It's fascinating to talk to somebody who had a corporate career but secretly wanted to become a writer and an author.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Gary funded his dream career
Lessons from the corporate world
The importance of measuring your output as a writer
Practical tips for hitting deadlines

Resources:

Gary's Website

What Is Hard Science Fiction? Top 10 Examples

Best Science Fiction Authors of All Time: 9 Writers To Read

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

It's good that you want to become a successful writer, but what tips should you know if you're a beginner?

In this episode, I will share 35 tips to help you become a better writer. These are the tips I wish I'd known when I started my writing career before earning a living from writing online.

These tips have helped me; they've helped successful authors and can help you too.

Resources:

The Become a Writer Today Website

35 Effective Writing Tips For Taking Charge Of Your Prose

How to Get A Job In Writing: 9 Top Tips

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

Do you need a book coach? If so, what should you expect from a book coach, and how can they help you become a successful author?

Writing can be a lonely process. Sometimes you'll come up with an idea for a book and wonder, is it any good? You might ask a friend or a family member, or a colleague. The result can be conflicting feedback, and it can be difficult to know if this type of feedback is worth listening to.

This is where a book coach can help.

This week, I caught up with Jennie Nash. She is a professional book coach. She also teaches other writers and authors how to become book coaches.

In this episode, we discuss:

What to expect from a book coach
How a book coach fits into the writing process
How a book coach facilitates critical analysis
An example of a successful author working with a book coach

Resources:

Jennie's Website

The 5 Biggest Myths About Writing a Book – Debunked

Writing Your First Book: 10 Painful Truths

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

Balancing writing fiction and nonfiction, can you do it? What about writing across genres? Should you pick one genre or take on multiple genres for your books?

A couple of years ago, I worked with a marketing executive for Become a Writer Today, and he asked me what I liked to write.

I explained that I wrote a series of books about the craft of writing, a couple of books about creativity, and some short stories back in the day.

I'd also recently written a book called I Can't Believe I'm a Dad.

I asked him which of these projects he could help me promote. He said, "the writing books" because they connected to my business.

When I asked about I Can't Believe I'm a Dad, a passion project I wrote that I really wanted people to read, he said, "Bryan, you need to stay in your lane. You need to pick one genre and stick to it."

What he said struck a chord with me. At first, I wondered if he was right.

But here's the thing about writing and creative work — while it's OK to write something that pays the bills, sometimes you need to write something because it's a story you want to tell or a message you want to get out into the world.

So if you're writing something outside of your genre or niche, don't necessarily worry about sales or the result. Write it because you love it and because you enjoy the process.

The divergence between creative and nonfiction work is a theme for this week's podcast episode. I recently caught up with Jessie Kwak. She's a science fiction author. She also writes supernatural thrillers and is a ghostwriter and former copywriter.

In this episode, we discuss:

How copywriting helped Jessie get a break in professional writing
Her career as a ghostwriter
Why Jessie chose to write fiction and nonfiction
How she balances two completely different types of writing
What her typical daily writing routine looks like
The challenges that freelance writers face when they go out on their own for the first time

Resources:Website: http://www.jessiekwak.com/

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

Deadlines, should you be afraid of them? How much do you plan your books or even your series of books? In my early twenties, I learned one important lesson - the importance of deadlines.

Deadlines can help you write book chapters, sections of your book, and even your entire book on time. They can also help you work with editors and then ship it so you can start earning book royalties.

If you need help setting deadlines for your book, I recommend that you break it down into smaller milestones. So, rather than saying I'm going to write a book in six months, tell yourself I'm going to write act one in one month, and put that date in your Google Calendar.

More experienced authors will use this approach to map out an entire series, and that's something that this week's guest did.

His name is Mark Pawlosky. He's an experienced journalist who worked for CNBC and the Wall Street Journal.

In this episode, we discuss:

The importance of deadlines
Mark's approach to planning out an entire series
Turning a book into an audio

Resources:

Website

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

Over the years, I've interviewed nearly 200 guests for the Become a Writer Today podcast. These days, I get pitched a lot from potential interviewees.

If you're thinking of pitching another show to appear as a podcast guest, ask yourself if your message or book is relevant to their audience. There's no point appearing on a podcast simply because it's popular.

A good podcast guest also has an actionable piece of advice to share. They'll prepare in advance and have a compelling story their audience can relate to.

Guest podcasting is a fantastic way to sell your book if you get all of this right. Readers often engage with an article for a limited period, say 60 or 90 seconds. On the other hand, a podcast listener usually stays engaged for much longer, perhaps 20 or 30 minutes.

That's a long time to hold somebody's attention.

And if you've listened to a podcast for that long, you're much more likely to buy copies of that person's book, join their email list, or perhaps purchase one of their courses.

This week's interviewee has interviewed many more podcast guests than I have. In fact, he's published over 1,000 podcast episodes since he launched the Create Your Own Life podcast in 2014.

He's also published a new book based on lessons from his interviewees called Unremarkable to Extraordinary.

His name is Jeremy Slate.

In this episode, we discuss:

Using guest podcasting to sell more copies of your book
How to get a spot on somebody else's podcast
How to be a good podcast guest
If it's too late to start a podcast

Resources:

Jeremy's Websites:

Command Your Brand

JeremyRyanSlate.com

Jeremy's Socials:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

YouTube

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

Turning events from everyday life into stories is critical for nonfiction writing. It's also vital if you want to become a columnist, and it's even a practice that can help with your fiction.

Years ago, I had a dream of becoming a columnist. I sent off dozens of job applications. Eventually, I got a response: "Bryan, you could only become a columnist if you're somebody who people know and feel that their writing is worth reading." In other words, I didn't have any name recognition because I was a new writer.

Thankfully, these days, it's much easier to become a columnist. In fact, many traditional newspaper columnists are leaving the conventional print world to build relationships directly with their readers on Substack and other platforms like Ghost.

Nevertheless, you still need anecdotes and stories that you can turn into column entries because a good column is about more than an idea or writing about whatever is on your mind.

And that's the key takeaway from this week's interviewee, Matthew Dicks, a professional storyteller, and columnist for not one but three different publications.

In this episode, we discuss:

How to turn life events into pieces for fiction or nonfiction
Matthews's simple storytelling exercise, Homework for Life
What it takes to maintain a daily writing routine

Resources:

Matthew's book on Amazon

You'll find him on social media here:

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

Someday Is Today: 22 Simple, Actionable Ways to Propel Your Creative Life

How can you write if you’re experiencing chronic pain?

Chronic pain is terrible if you’re a writer because it can prevent you from producing your word count for the day.

I know because I’ve experienced migraines on and off over the years. They usually occur when I’m stressed, dehydrated, or tired. When I experience a migraine, I find it exceptionally difficult to look at a computer screen or a phone.

I tried to push through the pain at one point, but this didn’t work for me. So now, when I experience a migraine, I immediately go for a rest, even if that means calling it a day. I have to accept that I need to deal with the migraine and not try and push through it because it’ll just make things worse.

That got me thinking, how can I still move a creative project forward if I’m experiencing chronic pain? My answer is somewhat similar to the solution that this week’s guest found.

His name is Oliver Mol, and he has a truly impactful story about writing with chronic pain, what it did for his creative process, and how he overcame it.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Oliver turned his experience into a piece of narrative nonfiction
What his creative writing process looks like today
Using fractional or atomic writing to get the job done

Resources:

Train Lord Book Link

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

How niche should you go with your books?

This week's interviewee is Dr. Guy Windsor. He's well known as a martial arts instructor who teaches people the art of sword fighting, but he's also a well-known author in this particular genre or niche. In fact, he's published over 30 books on the subject, and he's created courses too.

I first came across Guy Windsor's work in 2015 when he appeared on The Creative Penn Podcast hosted by Joanna Penn, but he's been writing about martial arts and sword fighting and teaching all of the ideas in his books for over 20 years.

So, I was fascinated to catch up with somebody who is, firstly, able to sustain an interest in such a niche or specific topic for so long and, secondly, in somebody who was writing about a topic that would have a really specific market.

In this episode, we discuss:

Combining your real-world interests with your writing interests
Using Amazon as a lead generation tool
How to format and translate your books appropriately
The importance of discipline and motivation in your craft

Resources:

Website: Sword School

Support the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me on Twitter @BryanJCollins

Thanks for listening!

How can search engine optimization help you write?

If you’re starting a blog, a content publishing website, or writing online, there are two things that you need to do, spend time actually writing and then figure out how people will find and read your work.

You can do this in many different ways, from social media marketing to paid advertising, using your email list, and using search engine optimization.

Every writer working online today could benefit from search engine optimization simply because you can use relatively affordable and even free tools to figure out what your readers are searching for. Then you can use this information to create and write articles on content that ranks.

This week, I have an exciting guest. His name is Kevin Indig. He runs a popular newsletter that’s all about search engine optimization. He also likes to experiment with the latest SEO tools and has a research and writing process that any writer will recognize.

In this episode, we discuss:

How to approach SEO
How SEO enables writers to become more creative
How writers can find an audience

Resources:

Website

LinkedIn

Twitter: @kevin_indig

Support the show

What does it take to succeed on Substack today? And if you're thinking of starting your Substack newsletter, are you too late to the party?

Over the past few years, I've interviewed several popular Substack newsletter owners. I even interviewed the co-founder of Substack, Hamish McKenzie.

Substack has gotten a lot more popular since I first featured it on the Become a Writer Today Show. Now it's used by journalists, writers, fiction writers, novelists, bloggers, and all types of creatives worldwide. In fact, it's so popular that it can seem difficult if you're using Substack for the first time to build a popular newsletter.

This week, I caught up with a Substack fellow, her name is Elle Griffin, and she runs the popular Substack newsletter, The Novelist. It has excellent advice and a great take on book writing and becoming an author versus writing a Substack newsletter. Elle also used her newsletter to serialize a book of fiction that she wrote during the pandemic.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why you should consider a newsletter over a book
How Substack has evolved
The inbuilt discovery in the platform to attract subscribers
The future of publishing for creators and writers
Elle's take on Web 3.0 platforms

Resources:

Newsletter

Support the show

What should you do if you want to write across genres? And how can you sustain a rewarding and lasting creative career? Perhaps writing across genres is the way to do it.

I spend a lot of time thinking about what genre to write in. Like many readers, I like to consume lots of different genres. What you read usually informs what you write, so if you find yourself reading multiple genres, that may explain why you want to write across more than one genre. And it can be rewarding to do so because you learn what readers expect from different genres and enjoy different kinds of stories.

Of course, the key challenge with writing across genres is that readers from genre A may not necessarily follow you to genre B.

From a purely pragmatic and business decision, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to try writing across different genres because you could potentially split your audience, and you’ll have to work a little harder to promote your books. But, from a creative process, writing across genres is a lot more rewarding. Plus, it’s fun too.

So, I’m still interested in tackling new genres and approaching various forms of storytelling, and I always love catching up with authors who have successfully done this.

One of those authors is Mark Leslie Lefebvre. He’s an author, professional speaker, and bookseller, and he’s written everything from paranormal romance to horror to thrillers to nonfiction and so on.

He’s got over a quarter of a century of experience in the bookselling industry.

In this episode, we discuss:

That it’s actually okay to write across genres
You can still earn a living from writing across genres
How to be patient and find your readers
Using email to reach readers and other marketing activities
Collaborating with both fiction and nonfiction authors

Resources:

Website

Support the show

Have you ever considered taking one of your old nonfiction books and rewriting it? It can take months to come up with the first draft, edit it, and turn it into something you're happy to send to an editor. Then when you get feedback, you'll probably spend more time fixing it. That's to say nothing of sending a book to beta readers who may have additional queries and clarifications for you.

So, by the time you've finished the process, you're likely ready to move on.

But what if the time comes when the ideas in the book have changed, and there are new concepts, more information, or perhaps better stories that could help your readers?

Several years ago, I invited Mike Michalowicz on the Become a Writer Today Podcast. His nonfiction business books are fantastic. I particularly got a lot of help from Clockwork and his other book, Profit First.

Clockwork is all about how to accomplish more without necessarily burning yourself out. Profit First is all about how to organize finances in a small business.

Mike spent a lot of time working with the ideas inside of Clockwork, teaching them to students, and delivering them through public speaking. He realized there were ideas that he wanted to retell and share differently. So, he set out to rewrite Clockwork and recently published a new edition.

Mike came back to the show to explain how the rewriting process went.

In this episode, we discuss:

tips for rewriting a nonfiction book
identifying your core competencies
how Mike uses outsourcing, and why

Resources:

Mike's Website

Support the show

Some nonfiction books are harder to write than others. If you're an expert in a topic, sometimes you can just bang out a couple of thousand words, repeat for a few days, weeks, and months, and publish your nonfiction book. In fact, many successful nonfiction authors have built careers by publishing short nonfiction books that cover a specific topic and then publishing these books frequently.

Now, this writing workflow doesn't work for every genre or niche. What if you're writing something that's more technical and involves more research or drawing on your expertise in a field? What if you're writing a psychology book, for example?

My guest this week is a professional psychotherapist working in London. His new book, Other People: Something You Should Know, is a must-read for anybody interested in learning more about mental health and its triggers.

For this particular book, Jonathan drew on his professional expertise and the years he spent reading the latest literature and academic papers and working with his clients or patients.

In this episode, we discuss:

Jonathan's writing journey, which started in mergers and acquisitions
How Jonathan approaches his research for books
How every author needs a system for research
Jonathan's goals for this particular book
The merits of journaling, meditation, and therapy

Resources:Website:http://jonathancoppin.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-coppin-27058a3b/?originalSubdomain=uk

Support the show

Writers sometimes forget that those who don't practice the craft daily find it exceptionally difficult to communicate in the written word, but if you are listening to this podcast episode, you already understand how to communicate in the written word.

Chances are, you know how to hit writing deadlines. You know how to research articles and how to publish them. So, rather than just doing it for someone else and letting them reap all of the rewards, and you get paid 5 cents or 10 cents per word, why not build something for yourself that can become much more valuable?

These days, here's what my writing day looks like. I usually get up and write an article for one of my content sites about a topic I'm interested in.

When I've written the article, I'll either edit it myself using some software like Grammarly or I'll give it over to another editor on the team who will fix any mistakes for me, then I'll publish it on the site. So I still feel like I'm writing regularly.

Then, I'll typically spend the afternoon assigning articles or researching articles that I want to brief to the freelance writers for the sites I run. This way, I can scale up content production for the site, but I can also continue to learn more about the topics in question because I'm researching them.

The benefit to doing all this is that writing for myself and a site that I own is ultimately more valuable and more profitable than writing for a client or somebody else's site. Freelance writing is fantastic because it can get you experience and your name out there, but when you build something you own, you can earn more and still accomplish your creative goals.

In this episode, we discuss:

Freelance writing vs. creating your own content website
What precisely a niche content website is
How to build and develop content websites
Buying and selling content websites for profit

Resources:Become a Writer Today Source Links for Further Information:

https://becomeawritertoday.com/become-a-freelance-writter

https://podcast.becomeawritertoday.com/1055644/8554444-turn-your-hobby-into-a-saleable-niche-website-with-mushfiq

https://podcast.becomeawritertoday.com/1055644/3579640-how-to-build-a-niche-website-that-earns-six-figures-a-year-with-jon-dykstra

John Dykstra's Blog fatstacksblog.com

Website Flipping thewebsiteflip.com

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What are your limiting mindsets around money and freelancing?

Like many writers, I’ve had some limiting beliefs around money, which have held me back over the years. I guess I was telling myself I don’t deserve to get paid to write.

Later on, when I started getting paid as a copywriter for a British software company, I said things like, “I should be content with what I have because lots of other people I know are worse off.”

Even later, in my 30s, I used to say things like, “It’s really hard for writers to make money or to earn a living today because perhaps it’s harder to sell books or people don’t read as much as they used to.”

I still encounter these types of limiting beliefs around money from time to time, so I haven’t unwound them all.

Do any of these strike a chord with you? In that case, I’d encourage you to dig a little deeper into why you think you don’t deserve to earn money for creative work or feel like you should be content with what you already have. Or perhaps even limiting beliefs like, “I’m just not good with money,” because the thing is, you can get paid for creative work and still pay the bills.

This week’s interviewee is Austin Church. He’s a brand consultant, and part of his work is helping freelancers or new freelancers overcome these types of limiting beliefs.

In this episode, we discuss:

The different strategies Austin offers to overcome limiting mindsets
Tips on branding for writers and creatives
Imagining and realizing your brand
Diversifying your personal brand vs. your professional identity

Resources:

Website: https://freelancecake.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austinlchurch/

Support the show

Years ago, I worked as a freelance writer producing my content exclusively. These days, I still write articles for the websites I run, but I also employ several writers to create content for me on topics outside my areas of expertise.

To scale a content website, you need to publish more articles and blog posts, and it's impossible to write them all yourself.

When you dive into a niche, you'll quickly find many untapped keywords, topics, and ideas on which you should publish content to scale up your traffic and hopefully increase your revenue.

Your options include hiring freelance writers using a service like Upwork or perhaps advertising on the ProBlogger Jobs board, or outsourcing to a content agency.

One agency that I've used for my content websites is called wordagents.com.

For context, at the time of recording this interview, you could order 1,000 words, about the length of a standard article, for $114 and 10,000 words for $810. The more you order, the greater the discount.

If you're running a website and need content on topics you're not an expert in, I'd encourage you to consider using an agency like WordAgents.

I wanted to understand a little more about how they produce content and help writers understand what it's like working for a company like WordAgents.

So this week, I caught up with David Petterson. He's based in Boston and is the Chief Operating Officer of WordAgents.

In this episode, we discuss:

How WordAgents produce content
How many writers WordAgents employ
What it's like to work for a company like WordAgents
The role of AI in content publishing
The value of a writing portfolio vs. academic qualification
WordAgents' new money-back guarantee if they don't produce your content in 7 days (per 10,000 words)

Resources:

Website: WordAgents

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I've spent a lot of time thinking about the future of content publishing online.

When you run a content website, you must understand a couple of strategies to build an audience.

If you're focused on attracting traffic from Google, you need to figure out search engine optimization. Alternatively, if you're looking for traffic from Facebook, you need to understand social media marketing and paid advertising. And if you want to build a relationship with your audience, you need a way of connecting with them over email.

With some of those methods, you're not always in control of that relationship. And in fact, I know many creators that run content publishing businesses and have seen their sites plummet in traffic and value after a Google algorithm update.

In other words, you're at the mercy of Google for how your website will perform over time. There are similar issues with Facebook, Twitter and Amazon.

As a content creator, you must play within the walled garden of whatever platform you use.

Web 3.0 could change all of that.

One way you can own a relationship directly with your audience, readers, and fans is by creating a non-fungible token or NFT.

This week's guest may help you understand how creators can use NFTs in the future. His name is Julien Genestoux, and he's the founder of Unlock Protocol.

Even if you're not quite ready to create your first NFT or even to purchase an NFT, it's worth figuring out what this technology can do because I guarantee in a few years, we will use NFTs in some way on the online platforms that we take for granted.

In this episode, we discuss:

What Unlock Protocol is
Using NFTs for your online business
The advantages of Web 3.0 tools
Membership NFTs
Carbon neutral blockchains

Resources:

Unlock Protocol

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Over the years, I've produced, recorded, and outsourced various audiobooks based on works I've written.

For my first book, I narrated it myself using a microphone at home. Later, I commissioned a narrator, also known as an ACX, and asked them to rework the entire audiobook.

They did a better job than I did.

For subsequent books, I outsourced production by hiring narrators, and I paid between $1,000 and $2,000 for a finished audiobook.

More recently, when I wrote my parenting memoir, I Can't Believe I'm a Dad!, I decided I wanted to narrate this book myself, so I rented a studio nearby.

Each chapter ranged between 1,500 and 2,000 words and took about half an hour to narrate. I'd have to stop and rerecord a sentence for pickups or get the right tone, speed, and pace. The radio producer often asked me to go back and rerecord certain sections.

After several hours of recording, my voice would crack and dry up, which would be it for the day.

The whole process took a lot longer than I thought. But you don't have to go and rent an audio studio for your audiobook; there are multiple services available to help you break down the process. One excellent service to consider is Findaway Voices.

I use Findaway Voices to distribute the audio files I recorded for I Can't Believe I'm a Dad!

It enables authors to go wide with their audiobooks. Even if you don't have an audiobook that you've narrated yourself, you can use their newly launched marketplace to source a narrator who can record your audiobook for you.

This week, I caught up with Scott Curry of Findaway Voices. He's also a self-published author.

In this episode, we discuss:

Using the platform if you're bringing your own audio
Using the marketplace to source a narrator

Scott also describes his writing process and how he thinks about audio production today. I think you'll love his tip about auditioning himself for his audiobook and why he didn't get the job!

Resources:

Findaway Voices

Scott Curry as an Independent Author

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How can you balance the analytical act of editing with the creative act of writing?

I spend a lot of time thinking about editing and considering the best ways to take a draft and turn it into something publishable.

That's probably because I spend some of the working days editing the work of other writers and because I've worked as a sub-editor for several newspapers over the years.

I learned from editors far more talented than I am about how to take an early draft and turn it into something you can publish in a professional publication.

This week, I caught up with a talented developmental editor. Her name is Tiffany Yates Martin. She runs FoxPrint Editorial and is also the author of Intuitive Editing: A Creative and Practical Guide to Revising Your Writing.

Tiffany has spent nearly thirty years as an editor in the publishing industry, working with the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today, to name a few.

In the interview, I explained to Tiffany how I currently approach editing or self-editing first drafts of manuscripts and narrative nonfiction. She gave me a few practical tips to help me improve next time.

We also discussed how to separate every editor's analytical approach. As an editor, it's your job to figure out what to take out, what to clarify, what to condense, what to improve on, and how to balance all of that with the creative act of writing.

I started to explain how I sometimes consider using a template like Blake Snyder's Beat Sheet or the three-act structure when preparing a manuscript to write. Tiffany offered a different approach that could help me embrace the creative act of writing with the analytical act of editing.

In this episode, we discuss:

The craft of self-editing
The importance of soliciting feedback
The best ways to get feedback from other readers

Resources:Visit Tiffany at:www.foxprinteditorial.com
or
www.phoebefoxauthor.com

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Meditation, mindfulness, and creativity, how do they work hand in hand?

I like to meditate twice a day. It's a practice that took 8 or 9 years to develop. I first learned meditation using the app Headspace and took guided meditation courses. Then, I started taking some in-person meditation courses. I even went away on a meditative retreat.

Because I spend so much time working alone, I find meditation helpful for mental health and learning how to focus and gain a bit of perspective.

These days, I also use the meditation app Waking Up, which Sam Harris created. Sam interviews guests and experts about the topic of meditation and the different types of meditative practices that are out there. It's a good way of understanding how you can fit meditative and mindfulness practice into your writing, creativity, and overall life.

This week, I caught up with Albert Flynn DeSilver, an award-winning, internationally published writer, speaker, and workshop leader. He's also a former Poet Laureate and has written several books, including a memoir and a book about writing, creativity, and meditation called Writing as a Path to Awakening.

Albert hosts workshops whereby he teaches attendees how to develop a meditative practice and build a writing habit.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Albert got into writing
His fascinating writing journey to date
Becoming Marin County's first poet laureate
How meditation can help a writer
How he brings meditation and writing together in workshops

Albert would love to offer listeners to the episode a 30-minute FREE writing and coaching session on any aspect of writing, editing, or publishing. Please book a call at https://calendly.com/albertflynndesilver/30min or contact him via www.albertflynndesilver.com.

Resources:

Website: www.albertflynndesilver.com

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What should writers and content publishers know about using AI as part of their creative workflow?

Over the past year or two, I’ve tested various content marketing tools, software, and so on. One tool that I use extensively is MarketMuse.

About a year ago, the traffic on my main website, Become a Writer Today, dipped by 10 to 20 percent after a Google algorithm update. I was pretty stressed about the whole thing because I had just left my permanent job and relied on the site to pay the bills.

When I dug into the traffic dip, I found a few issues. One was that competitors were reverse-engineering some of my top-performing content. But I had also missed opportunities to publish supporting content that would help and engage readers.

It isn’t easy to figure out all of this yourself, and that’s where AI and content marketing tools like MarketMuse can help.

Using MarketMuse, I analyzed all the top-performing content on my site and figured out what content was outdated and needed an overhaul to ensure a consistent journey for readers.

I could have done some of this manually, but it would have taken me several months. An AI-powered tool like MarketMuse dramatically sped up the process. And as a result, traffic for the site corrected itself within a month or two and then grew.

Whether or not you’re running a content website, consider how you can use AI as part of your writing workflow. Learn how an AI tool can help you write better headlines, SEO meta descriptions, and supporting copy for social media.

And don’t worry, they’re not going to take the creativity out of writing because skills like understanding what readers want, storytelling, and driving engagement are something only writers can do.

In this episode, I meet Jeff Coyle, the co-founder, and chief product officer for MarketMuse.

MarketMuse primarily helps content marketers build topical authority by figuring out gaps in their content, but it’s also great for small content publishers and bloggers who want to take their site to the next level.

In this episode, we discuss:

How MarketMuse came about
How to create an effective content workflow
How MarketMuse can help content writers add more value to clients and land paid work
Where you can access free advice and support now

Resources:

Website: https://www.marketmuse.com/

Support the show

How can you earn a living from your passion for the written word?

When I started as a writer, it seemed exceptionally difficult to earn a good living from the written word. That's probably because I was trying to make a living as a journalist in Ireland, and as a pretty small country, there were few opportunities. But I quickly discovered that my experiences weren't unique. It's pretty tricky to earn a living from the written word. Or at least it was up until a few years ago.

Now there are a variety of platforms and online tools that make it easier for writers to connect with readers and their audience. You can start a blog, you can build a following on Twitter, you can self-publish a book, and then you can create a companion course.

There are a plethora of opportunities for writers today. It depends on where your passion lies, but finding time for all these projects and balancing creative work with earning a living can be challenging.

In this week's podcast, I caught up with Adam Davidson. He's the founder of Planet Money and a former writer for publications like The New Yorker.

He's also the author of the rather excellent book, The Passion Economy: The New Rules for Thriving in the 21st Century, which I recommend you check out. In the book, Adam profiles eight rules that people who are passionate about something can use and apply to earn a good living from whatever takes their interest, including writers.

In this episode, we discuss:

His next creative project and how it's more of a passion project
The tension between doing something that pays the bills and doing something to build a business
Creating something just for you that you want to release out into the world
And what this scenario looks like for Adam

Resources:

Adam on Twitter

Planet Money

Adam on NPR

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How can interviews help you if you are writing a non-fiction book?

I spent a lot of time interviewing guests for this podcast and as a freelance journalist. Interviews can seem like they're pretty straightforward to do. But it can take almost as long to prepare for an interview, particularly if you don't know the topic well.

Even if you're knowledgeable about a topic, it's still helpful to figure out an angle for your interview because it gives a strong structure.

I have learned to use interviews in my non-fiction because they help add a third-party voice. If you're writing a non-fiction book about a particular topic, interviewing an expert in your niche adds credibility.

One series of books that's made a significant impact on me is the Market Wizards series by Jack Schwager. He profiles day traders, investors, and various types of financial entrepreneurs who have made money in the markets.

Now, I don't day trade, but I particularly like these books because they give a good insight into a different type of career. They also reveal commonalities between writers who spend a lot of time alone in a room writing and day traders who can do the same except in front of their terminals or computer screens.

Jack uses interviews to craft a compelling argument throughout the chapters. The Market Wizards series extends over five books, and he's spent 30 years working on this particular series.

So when I caught up with Jack, I had a stack of questions for him.

I hope you enjoy my catch-up with Jack about his Market Wizards series of books. I recommend them even if you're not interested in day trading. They offer excellent advice about risk management and starting your own business, and they are a great read.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Jack gets ready to interview day traders, investors, and people who found success in the markets
How Jack had sustained his interest in a topic for over 30 years
How difficult it is to find new angles and ways to talk about the same ideas or topics

Resources:

Website:https://jackschwager.com/

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How important is solitude for the creative process, and how can you balance finding solitude for your creative work with everything else that's going on in your busy life?

In this week's episode, I catch up with Bryan Crosson. He's the author of the Lonesome Thread, and his book is all about creativity, solitude for creatives, and why it's so important.

In his book, Bryan draws on his experiences when he was serving in Afghanistan, and he relates that to creative work and writing. The book particularly resonated with me because I believe in having time and space for writing and creative work each day.

These days, I have enough time to write full time, but when I first started Become a Writer Today and taking writing a bit more seriously, I used to get up early in the morning and write for an hour or more before the kids got up.

I particularly liked writing early in the morning because it was quiet, and I didn't have to check email or worry about work meetings or phone calls, or daily life, and that's a theme that Bryan, this week's interviewee, also talks about. In fact, his mantra is if you win the morning, you can win the day.

Now I try to write for an hour or two in the morning before moving on with the rest of the tasks related to the business.

I'm telling you this because even if you have a full-time job, you can still consider how you can find a little bit of time for writing in the morning or writing in the evening after work. And writers who work full time still have to balance writing with all of the other things they have to do to earn a living.

In this episode, we discuss:

Bryan's role as an adviser in Afghanistan
The evolution of his creative journey
Writing a book in lockdown
Bryan's creative process as a sporadic writer
How to deal with boredom as a creative
Meditation and his many other interests and hobbies

Resources:

Website: https://www.lonesomethread.com/

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How can you write creative non-fiction? And what makes it stand out?

I am fascinated by creative non-fiction. It is a type of writing where the writer or author injects something of themself from their personal life or a little bit of creativity into the work.

In other words, it's not simply researching a topic and turning it into another dry business book.

Writing creative non-fiction can be a challenge. In addition to selecting an intriguing idea, you need to find the best way to express that idea and tell compelling stories that will captivate the reader's attention.

This week's guest is a specialist in writing creative non-fiction. Her name is Susan Scott.

Susan has written three books over her career and is a New York Times best-selling author.

In this episode, we discuss:

Her 22 years plus writing journey
How to approach creative non-fiction
How creative non-fiction and non-fiction differ
Susans' research and writing process
And her influences and inspiration

Resources:

Website: http://thefiercelovebook.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-scott-1b63388/

Facebook: Susan Scott

Twitter: fierce_inc

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How can you collaborate with other writers and authors? And what should you know before you decide to write an article, essay, or book with someone else?

This week's interview is all about collaborative writing, and I caught up with two authors from Nebraska, Becky Breed, and Lucy Adkins, to discuss the process. They are collaborative authors who have known each other for over 20 years.

Collaborative writing involves embarking on a creative project, whether big like a book or small like an essay, and writing everything from the first to final draft together. You will both work through the topic, ideas, and edits and decide what the final piece looks like.

This seems a challenging process to me, but many authors have great success with collaborative writing projects.

In this episode, we discuss:

how they got started together
the advantages of collaboration
where to look to find a suitable collaborator

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In this episode, I caught up with Sharlene Anders, better known as Shallalla who is a creativity coach based in Germany.

Shallalla turns the tables during our conversation and asks me questions about my creative work and what I do when I feel like a project doesn’t have any meaning.

Like all authors, I enjoy the process of writing. But when I was writing my parenting book, I would turn on the news and be faced with grim stories about the virus, lockdowns, and other world issues.

It left me feeling depressed, isolated, and lonely because I couldn’t see anybody outside my immediate family circle due to the country being in lockdown. There were times when I wrote the book when I would say to myself, “What’s the point in writing this book about parenting when there’s so much more going on in the world? Am I just wasting my time? Shouldn’t I be doing something with more purpose or something that adds more value to everything I’m reading and listening about?”

Shallalla explained that It’s a pretty common experience that many creatives went through during the lockdown and the past few years. She offers several strategies that creatives can use when they feel like their work doesn’t have any meaning and they feel creatively blocked.

In this episode, we discuss:

How to reframe loneliness
Understanding how meaning comes and goes
The benefits of journalling
Techniques for getting into a flow state
Dealing with money beliefs
Building an audience

Resources

The Van Gough Blues by Eric Maisel
I am Shallalla
Shallalla on YouTube

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The Van Gogh Blues: The Creative Person s Path Through Depression

If you're a regular listener to this podcast, you know I stick to a format where I interview an expert on a particular topic. I talk to them about their background and ask them about their writing process and journey.

I like the interview format, but there are other formats that you can use for podcasts like the one popularized by Serial, where you script out an episode in advance and tell a story within the episode. That takes a lot more work, but it's an excellent format for writers.

I wanted to get in touch with a podcaster who does just that, which led me to talk to Jack Rhysider. He's the host of Darknet Diaries, an award-winning podcast all about the world of hacking and security. Publications like The Guardian and The New York Times have featured the podcast.

Jack has been podcasting for over three years, and he says there is real value in consistency and turning up. He describes some of the growing pains he had at the start of his podcast when he found a competitor talking about the same topic.

Jack also talks about how you should go where your community is, and he's built a fantastic community on Discord and Reddit. He finds his community often come to him with story ideas and feedback about the show, and word of mouth has helped him grow the podcast.

Jack also offers some advice about the storytelling process and recommends a book that has helped him.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Jack finds someone willing to talk about being hacked
Jack's research process
Using Discord and Reddit to engage with the audience
Using storying telling when scripting an episode
Is it too late to start a podcast?
Techniques for growing a podcast

Resources:

Out on the Wire by Jessica Abel
LimeLink
Darknet Diaries
Twitter

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Steve Krug is the author of the book Don’t Make Me Think. He’s rewritten the book three times, and so far, it’s sold over 600,000 copies.

During the interview, I got into why he decided to rewrite the book several times and how the book helped him build a business around writing technical non-fiction for his audience.

Steve also talks to me about what he’s up to these days and gives some valuable tips for overcoming the creative process and problems in the creative process like procrastination and writer’s block.

Listening to Steve is reassuring as it shows that writers of all levels have issues with procrastination and motivation.

Steve also talks about some of the books that have significantly influenced him.

In this episode, we discuss:

The best approach for setting up a new website today
How Steve came to write his book
What Steve is writing today
Using the Getting Things Done methodology
How procrastination has been an ongoing problem for Steve

Resources:

Don't Make Me Think
Sensible
Getting Things Done
Steve on Twitter

Support the show

Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability (3rd Edition) (Voices That Matter)

Getting Things Done

As a writer, you may be concerned that AI writing tools will replace you. The answer is no, at least not just yet.

I've tested multiple tools, and while they're helpful and save time, they won't help if you are writing something complex or requiring creativity or in-depth research.

What they can do is help overcome problems like writer's block. They can help you figure out topics you need to cover in your articles and content. They can also help you develop headlines, meta descriptions, and other elements that you should include to help your content rank.
Now, I wanted to catch up with someone who is an expert on the topic, and so in this episode, I talked to James Scherer, the VP of Growth at Codeless.

In the first half of the interview, we talk about James's SEO approach and recommendations for somebody who is starting a site from scratch and his approach to link building.

In the second half of the interview, we get into AI, and James provides some practical tips which will help you get started using AI as part of your writing or content publishing workflow.

In this episode, we discuss:

Is it too late to start content marketing
How to speed up results from content marketing
How to start a content site from scratch
When should you introduce AI tools into your content marketing
Tips for trying AI software for the first time

Resources:

becomeawritertoday.com/try-grammarly-today
LinkedIn
Codeless

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Jessica Artemisia Mathieu is a sci-fi, fantasy author and digital marketing agency owner. She's also the creator of The Sovereigntii, which uses NFTs on blockchain as a new form of storytelling, community, and income.

Jessica is one of the few writers I've talked to so far who's successfully using NFT as part of her writing career. I wanted to find out how she's doing it and how writers can get involved today.

My key takeaway from talking to Jessica is that we're still incredibly early, so if you find some of the language, terminology, and steps to buying NFTs confusing, don't worry, you're not alone.

But now's a good time to learn about the space because NFTs are here to stay for creatives. And it'll be interesting to see how writers and authors use NFTs in future years to connect with their fans and readers.

In this episode, we discuss:

How to create an NFT based on a piece of writing
How NFTs are opening the door for artists worldwide
Are NFTs expensive and what are the alternatives?
Why do NFT creators use pseudonyms?
Keeping yourself safe in the NFT space

Resources

HEN
jessartemisia.com

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Dr. Joan Smoller is a creative non-fiction writer, a writing coach, a former lecturer at NYU, and author of three books.

She’s also written for multiple high-profile publications in the United States, including the New York Times. In this interview, she talks about the power of non-fiction, how writers could use it to inspire social change and what non-fiction has done for her over the years.

Joan demonstrates that a writing career can be diverse. She has taught, instructed, edited, has prepared multimillion-dollar grant proposals, has written about topics like skin cancer, and has run a successful writing program. In other words, the genre or subject that you’re writing about today doesn’t necessarily have to be the genre or topic that you will pursue tomorrow.

Joan talks about advice she gives her students: the importance of writing every day and the value of freewriting. I was delighted when Joan mentioned free writing because I’ve used it on and off over the years.

If you’re not familiar with freewriting, Joan describes how to apply it, and she also gives some tips which can help you get over a fear of self-judgment. Joan has some great advice to help you get over the fear of self-judgment and what other people think.

In this episode, we discuss:

How writing can be a lifesaver
Choosing to write about specific genres
How writing has changed over the years
Common mental hurdles that writers have to overcome
The benefits of freewriting
What to do in order to get your non-fiction to succeed
Writing about difficult topics
Overcoming the fear of self-judgement

Resources

Resume Doc
rsmejsr@gmail.com

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Jay Clouse is the host of the popular podcast, Creative Elements. A couple of months ago, I took one of Jay's podcasting courses, which changed how I think about podcasting and creative work.

In this episode, Jay and I discuss the value of consistency. He's interviewed several top performers, like Seth Godin, and turning up and doing consistent work is often the key to their success.

Jay also says that it's not too late to start a podcast, write a book, or whatever your creative goals are. Jay has talked to podcasters who started their shows as late as 2007, proving that if you're passionate about a topic and understand your niche, you can connect with an audience.

I also asked Jay how he's promoted and built his podcast over the years, and he offers some actionable tips. We finish the interview talking about NFTs or non-fungible tokens. So if that's something you're interested in, stay tuned until the end of the podcast.

In this episode, we discuss:

The techniques he's used for getting high profile guests on his podcast
How long it takes Jay to edit a podcast episode
How Jay balances all of his work projects
Why it's not too late to start a podcast
How to monetize your podcast
Why all creatives should consider NFTs

Resources:

Creative Elements
@jayclouse on Twitter

Support the show (https://becomeawritertoday.com/try-grammarly-today)

Amardeep Parmar is a content creator and a prolific Medium writer.

Within around two years, he built up approximately 60,000 followers. One of his articles went viral, he's got millions of views, and he's featured in top-tier publications online like Wired and Morning Brew.

Amar's experience shows that if you feel like it's too late to start online writing or it's too hard to build an online portfolio and stand apart, you can still do it. It is possible to start writing today and have readers and followers tomorrow.

Amar talks about balancing creativity with a scientific approach to the writing process. And he describes how he picks his topics, plans and edits them, and then prepares them for publication.

Amar also talks about why he set up his podcast and describes how he turns content from the podcast into articles.

In this episode we discuss:

Amar's viral Medium article
The writing process
Tools that Amar uses when writing
Planning out future articles
Repurposing podcast content
How Amar balances all of his projects

Resources:

mindfuldriven.com

Support the show (https://becomeawritertoday.com/try-grammarly-today)

Debbie Gartner is known as The Flooring Girl.

Her website is all about home improvements, but the emails she sends to her list are all about SEO, creating content, and affiliate marketing.

I wanted to find out how somebody can run two different business models and earn a living.

Debbie is very open and transparent about what works in her business and what she earns from it. She produces monthly income reports where you can see the types of digital courses that people are interested in and she provides inspiration for the types of digital products you can create.

Debbie started The Flooring Girl as a side project and it turned into a business when she found herself in debt. She also honed her SEO skills and began coaching clients in SEO and then transitioned to teaching what she knows about SEO into digital courses and other products.

Debbie confesses in the interview that she doesn’t like to write which is interesting considering she’s built a successful content business. She also describes her process for creating all of her digital products.

In this episode, we discuss:

Using an email list to generate income and promote products
Finding the right products to promote as an affiliate
Choose one thing and implement it well
Stop going after the next shiny object
Which digital products work well

Resources:

The Flooring Girl
SEO Course

Support the show (https://becomeawritertoday.com/try-grammarly-today)

Dan Clarke is the founder of Brain.fm, a service designed to help you focus on your task. It was popularized in 2016 via an AppSumo deal but has gone through many iterations since then.

Brain.fm helps you manage distractions which can be a real challenge for writers. Distractions can take you away from your flow state and affect your writing.
Dan Clark talked with me about how Brain.fm evolved and how writers and creatives can use it. Dan also states that it pays to understand what time of the day you’re creative, what time you’re productive, and what times you should step back from your work, switch off, and even do nothing.

He talks about finding a balance between being bored and hyper-energetic and how that sweet spot can help you get into a creative groove.

This interview is a more extended episode than usual because Dan has given a free preview of Brain.fm, which you can listen to at the end of this episode around the 25- or 30-minute mark.

In this episode, we discuss:

What is Brain.fm and how does it work?
What are binaural beats?
How the music is created
The most effective way of listening to Brain.fm
How writers can use Brain.fm
How the product is changing and adapting

Resources:

Brain.fm

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

The internet thrives on great content. Somebody has to write it, and while some people say AI could replace writers, that’s not going to happen anytime soon.

That's a topic I talk about in this week’s interview with the expert content marketer, Pam Didner. Smart content marketers write books, articles, or publish content that aligns with a product or service that they create. Non-fiction authors like Pam will write a book about a topic which potential clients find interesting so they may then hire the author.

Pam also talks about writing for the sake of writing, which can be fun but it’s not necessarily something you do with commercial intent.

I’ve interviewed a number of non-fiction writers for the Become a Writer Today Podcast, and if you like this interview with Pam, check out my chat with Neal Schaffer.

In this episode, we discuss:

How to make your content stand out
Will AI change how content marketers do their job
Key analytics and stats to look out for
How writing a book can boost your career

Resources:

Pam Didner
Neal Schaffer Interview
The Modern AI Marketer
Effective Sales Enablement
Global Content Marketing

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Effective Sales Enablement: Achieve sales growth through collaborative sales and marketing

The Modern AI Marketer: How to Leverage Artificial Intelligence in Digital Marketing to Get Ahead

Global Content Marketing: How to Create Great Content, Reach More Customers, and Build a Worldwide Marketing Strategy that Works

Matty Dalrymple has been the host of The Indy Author Podcast since 2016 and published her first book in 2013.

She's the author of the Ann Kinnear suspense novels and suspense shorts and the Lizzy Ballard thrillers. In this episode of the podcast, I ask Matty why she decided to set up her podcast and if it’s too late for aspiring podcasters today.

We also get a little bit into the workflow of podcasting and the various software and hardware that she uses.

Matty also describes how podcasting has shaped her writing and why she believes it’s a fantastic format for creatives.

In this episode, we discuss:

What encouraged Matty to start her own Podcast
Matty's personal podcast highlights
Forward planning podcast episodes
The process for finding new guests
How many hours a week to spend preparing and promoting your podcast
Matty's podcast set up
Reviewing podcast metrics

Resources:

The Indy Author
Matty Dalrymple

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Jon Tromans is a fellow podcaster. His podcast is called Not Another Marketing Podcast, and he uses content marketing to build his business and provide consultancy services to his clients.

It can be challenging to balance creative work, like writing a book or writing stories, with content marketing, so I wanted to talk to Jon about his productivity tips for creatives.

Jon explains that if you want to build a lasting business, you need to experiment with different formats like blogging and podcasting.

In this interview, he gets into some of the tactics that have worked for him. He explains his definition of content marketing, and he also talks about how he structures his day so he has time for creative work and building his business.

The content that you create encourages your audience to act. So, if you’re a blogger, they’re joining your email list or buying one of your digital products. If you’re an author, they’re buying your book. If you’re a podcaster, they’re subscribing to your show and leaving a review.

Whatever content you create and publish online leads your fans and followers further down into your world and helps you build a lasting creative business.

In this episode, we discuss:

What is content marketing?
How a podcast can help to grow your business
Productivity tips for creatives
Keeping good documentation of your processes
Tools for creating content
Talk to people in your niche and ask what content they want to see

Resources:

Not Another Marketing Podcast
Jon Tromans
LinkedIn
Twitter

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Treasa Edmond has been an accomplished ghostwriter for over 15 years. She's written across many different genres and, in this interview, she talks about how much ghostwriters can earn, how to get started, and the types of questions you should ask clients before you decide to work with them.

You'll learn a lot from this interview, especially if you are a freelancer who struggles to find clients and never really negotiate a proper contract. Treasa covers both of these topics in this interview.

Treasa also describes how she structures her day, spending several hours in the morning writing up to 5,000 words and then using the afternoon to work on the administrative work that keeps the lights on in her business.

In this episode, we discuss:

Writing articles and books in the client's voice
How many ghostwriting projects Treasa takes on each month
The five structures for writing a non-fiction book
Proofreading and editing
Getting started as a ghostwriter
Finding your clients
How to balance working on one project while looking for your next one

Resources:

Show Your Work - Austin Kleon
The Writing Mindset

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Mariah Sinclair is an Arizona-based book cover designer who recently set up and sold a book cover directory. I wanted to know what a book cover directory is, how authors can use them, and how her sale went.

I also asked Mariah to critique a book cover for one of my earlier books that didn’t sell well. Mariah gave me some interesting insights that I could use if I decided to relaunch the book at some point.

Book covers are an investment in your craft. I’ve spent anywhere from $100 or $200 to over $1,000 on book cover designs.

I also worked with professional designers while working for a software company, and one thing I’ve learned is that design is a different discipline from writing. It’s still creative work, so if you’re going to work with a book cover designer, it pays to understand the language of design.

In this episode we discuss:

How long it can take to design a book cover
How a good book cover can sell more copies of a book
Mariah critiques one of Bryans's book covers
Cliché book covers
What different fonts represent
How much should you spend on a book cover?
When should you start looking for someone to design your book cover?

Resources:

Mariah Sinclair

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

If you've not heard of it before, the Zettelkasten Method is a way that will help you collect and organize your research, thoughts, and ideas, and any information you come across in a structured manner or a single system.

It has its origins in the mid part of the 20th century. The German scholar Niklas Luhmann is the man behind it, and he used the Zettelkasten Method to write over 70 books and more than 400 different articles.

His Zettelkasten method was a paper-based system. When Niklas read or came across an interesting piece of research, he wrote a single idea down on an index card and filed it in a cabinet. He also referenced where he found the idea on the index card and interlinked each index card using a numbering system.

Today, you can replicate much of what Niklas Luhmann did using digital tools and software. But you don't necessarily need to have fancy software to build your version of the Zettelkasten Method.

Resources:

Digital Zettelkasten by David Kadavy
The Zettelkasten Method Means You’ll Never Run Out of Ideas Again - Sascha Fast

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Digital Zettelkasten: Principles, Methods, & Examples

In this episode, I talk to Geoff Kullman about his writing journey and how he became an instructor in the art of copywriting.

Geoff also helps authors turn their ideas and non-fiction books into emails, landing pages, and other digital assets, which help them earn more money.

Geoff taught me that there are different types of copywriting. If you’re uncomfortable with the idea of using words to sell, then take heart because copywriting can help you convince your audience to make a decision that’s in their best interest.

It can also help you earn a better living as a writer and as a creative, and then you can use that money to invest back into your craft and improve the quality of your work.

In this episode we discuss:

Working as a freelancer
Finding your niche
Recommended copywriting books
Creating an email campaign to sell your book
Map out an email campaign before you write your first email
Using bonuses and incentives in a campaign
How to balance different businesses and interests

Resources:

Geoff Kullman
The Psychology of Copywriting

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

NFTs are a topic that has been in the news a lot lately. I recently went down the NFT rabbit hole by reading up on the subject, joining Discord channels, watching videos on YouTube, and reading articles.

One person who knows more than me is this week’s guest, Shane Neeley. He wrote a fantastic article about how writers and authors can use NFTs to sell some of their books and increase their income.

The other thing we got into in this week’s interview is using AI writing software. I was fascinated to hear how Shane has tested AI writing software like jarvis.ai, Writesonic, and Wordtune. These apps are great for writing headlines or an introduction to a blog post, but if you want to rely on AI to write an entire article, it’s just not possible yet.

In this episode, we discuss:

How a writer could use AI
Where writing technology will go over the next few years
Using AI tools when you have no knowledge or experience
How Shane used an NFT based on his book
How easy is it to create an NFT?

Resources:

OpenSea
Shane Neeley
Stoneage Code
Chimpsarehungry
What are NFTs?

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

The self-publishing landscape has changed quite a bit since I self-published my first book in 2014. It was easy to sell your book using Amazon ads back then. These days, you've got to invest a lot more time and money and learn the basics of Amazon advertising.

That's on top of learning how to commission a book cover, finding an editor, and the rest!

But what if you don't want to do all of that? An alternative is to work with a small indie press. Maria Dismondy is the founder of Cardinal Rule Press. She's also an author and has published over ten children's books, and a podcaster who podcasts regularly on the topic of publishing.

During our chat, she explained her writing journey, why she started writing children's books, and how she set up her publishing company.

In this episode we discuss:
* Writing for children * How long it took Maria to set up a publishing company * Focusing on characters with disabilities * The process of working with a small press * A typical working day for Maria * Deciding which books to publish each year

Resources:
* Cardinal Rules Press * Maria Dismondy * Kindness is a Kite String

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Kindness is a Kite String: The Uplifting Power of Empathy

Amy S. Peele is a successful indie author who’s written across several genres, including medical mysteries and, more recently, rom-com.

Amy says that when you start writing in a new genre, it’s natural to feel a sense of imposter syndrome. After all, this is something that you haven’t written in before. But, with a little bit of practice and some know-how about the genre, you can easily overcome this natural part of the creative process.

Amy proves that it is possible to build a writing career on the side of a busy job. Amy is a registered nurse and a retired organ transplant expert, and she uses many of her insights and anecdotes from when she worked in that field for her medical mystery books.

Maybe stories from your career could be fodder for a future book?

In this episode, we discuss:

The key to switching genres
The conventions of a good rom-com
Taking improv classes to improve your writing
Outlining stories vs. freewriting
Breaking down mental blocks
Having a tribe that you can share with

Resources:

Amy S. Peele
Amy's Books

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Katja Kaine is the founder of The Novel Factory, a piece of software that makes it easier to write compelling stories.

Katja developed the software and now uses real-world feedback from readers to improve the product.

Katja talks about how she balances creative work and writing with running a business. She told me she writes for between two and three hours in the morning before she starts work on her business.

The remainder of her day involves working in her Novel Factory business. She handles all of the support messages from customers, plans the latest features, and manages her team of developers.

It's great to hear from a creative who balances working on their craft and telling compelling stories with working on their business and doing something to help other writers and other authors get their published works out into the world.

To get 20% off The Novel Factory, use the discount code: BECOMEAWRITERTODAY

In this episode, we discuss.

Why Katja designed The Novel Factory
The evolution of The Novel factory
Who is Katja's ideal customer?
How The Novel Factory works
Switching from creative work to running a business
Traditional publishing vs. self-publishing

Resources.

The Novel Factory
Katja Kaine

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

If you've never tried affiliate marketing before, it can be an excellent way to earn some passive income.

I've been using affiliate marketing for some time, and I've also promoted some courses directly as an affiliate. How it works is, when there's a big course launch, you get invited to recommend it to your audience by an affiliate manager.

Matt McWilliams is one of the most well-known affiliate managers online today.

I met Matt several years ago online when he invited me into the affiliate program for Michael Hyatt's Five Days to Your Best Year Ever course. Since then, I've taken part in other affiliate launches with Matt, like Self-Publishing School.

In this episode, I want to help you understand how affiliate marketing can help you earn more money as a writer and build an ecosystem of products and services that you can promote.

I finally had the chance to catch up with Matt for this podcast episode. I asked him about his journey into affiliate marketing and how writers and creators can use affiliate marketing to promote goods and services.

In this episode, we discuss:

Strategies to learn as a beginner
How to get into affiliate marketing
How to make affiliate marketing serve your audience
What do successful affiliates do that others don't?
How to increase conversions
Should you use Facebook advertising?

Resources:

Matt McWilliams
Michael Hyatt
Self-Publishing School

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Julie Broad is the author of Self-Publish & Succeed and she is an expert when it comes to book launches.

If you've written a book and have been thinking about its launch, there are several strategies that you can try.

On her YouTube channel, Book Launchers, Julie offers practical advice about how to launch your book on Amazon, get reviews, and sell more books.

I caught up with Julie to get some first-hand advice on launching a book.

In this episode, we discuss.

Why are there so many boring self-published, non-fiction books
What it takes for a book to succeed on Amazon
Good strategies for launching a book
Where should you sell your book other than Amazon
Other tactics for selling a book
How to find a good editor
Hiring a developmental editor
Using YouTube as a promotion tool

Resources.

Book Launcher
More than Cashflow
The New Brand You
Self Publish and Succeed
Booklaunchers.com

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

More Than Cashflow: The Real Risks & Rewards of Profitable Real Estate Investing

Self-Publish & Succeed: The No Boring Books Way to Writing a Non-Fiction Book that Sells

The New Brand You: Your New Image Makes the Sale for You

Many of you who listen to Become a Writer Today want to write a book and take action and do it.

Others say they want to write a book or have a book inside of them, but somehow, that goal or that intention never actually happens.

The best way to start writing your book is to think about your intention.

Do you want to be more creative, build a business, make an impact or share your stories?

Or is it simply something that you want to tick off your bucket list?

Travis Bell is known as The Bucket List Guy, and he has built a popular business around public speaking and teaching other people how to tick items off their bucket list. He’s also the author of the Bucketlist Blueprint.

Travis describes how his focus has helped him become an author, build a profitable public speaking business, travel the world, and serve his audience.

In this episode, we discuss.

Where the name The Bucket List Guy came from.
How to get started writing your book
Using a book to build a business
Motivational books to read
How Travis structures his day
How Travis built his business

Resources.

The Bucket List Guy
The Bucketlist Blueprint
Bucket List Life Podcast
Bucket List Guy Coaching
Travis on Instagram
Travis TEDx

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

As the founder of Filthy Rich Writer, Nicki Krawczyk teaches other people how to become profitable copywriters.

In our chat, Nicki talks about how you can become a copywriter, the skills you need to land clients, how to pitch your first client, and how to set your rates so you can get paid well for doing it.

I also asked Nicki what courses copywriters should take and which books they should read.

Nicki has her own courses, and she details some of the lessons and how she helps her students.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Nicki got into copywriting
How a good copywriter understands their target market
Copywriting is half creativity and half strategy
What you should include in a copywriting pitch
Who to pitch to and what should you charge?
How to change your writing to that of a copywriter
How much can a copywriter earn?

Resources:

Filthy Rich Writer
Build Your Copywriting Business Podcast
Free Video Training
Filthy Rich Writer on Facebook
Filthy Rich Writer on Instagram

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

My guest in this podcast episode is Geoffrey Bunting, a book cover designer based in the UK.

He’s worked for publications like HarperCollins and National Geographic. In this episode of the podcast, we get into how you can get ready to work with your book cover designer, how much you should expect to pay, and how to figure out the types of book covers that will work in your niche.

In the second half of the interview, we also talked about Geoffrey’s other type of work, designing and laying out books.

I asked Geoffrey what he thinks about the layout software Vellum, and he has some interesting insights on software versus working with a professional book designer.

In this episode we discuss:

Is there more work for book designers due to self-publishing
How to market yourself as a book designer
Why non-fiction is easier to design for
Deciding on the type of cover
Should you have different covers for different countries
How much you should expect to pay for a professional book cover
The process for designing a book
Designing for print vs Kindle

Resources:

Vellum
InDesign
Geoffrey Bunting

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Frank Scalise is a crime writer who also writes under the pen name Frank Zafiro.

His books include the River City series and he has also written several fantasy books.

Frank has been writing since he was 13 years old. After entering the police force, he wrote before or after shift work. In 2013, Frank did what many writers dream of: he retired from the police force to write full time.

During our chat, Frank told me that if you collaborate with somebody else, you can accomplish a lot more, and to prove it, Frank has written over 30 books.

If you’re interested in collaborating with other writers, listen to the middle of the interview when Frank explains how he finds collaborators. He talks about what to expect from the collaborative process and how it’s helped him write more books.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Frank balanced work with writing
Writing what you know
The secret to writing over 30 books
Outlining a plot vs writing as you go
A typical day's writing
Working with editors
Finding collaborators
The collaboration process
Publication plans

Resources:

BookFunnel
Frank Zafiro Website
Wrong Place, Write Crime
Frank Zafiro's Books

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Sandy Forster is the author of the international bestseller How to Be Wildly Wealthy Fast. Not only is she a published author, but she has built a successful business around her book.

When I recently caught up with Sandy, one of the key takeaways from the interview was how she got really clear on her ideal reader and who she wanted to help.

Sandy admitted that she had some limiting beliefs about money earlier in her life, just after she got divorced, but she found a way to work through those beliefs.

She’s now earning money from her book, which has sold over a staggering quarter of a million copies since it was first published. As well as the book, she earns money from her coaching, courses, and public speaking.

In this episode we discuss:
* How Sandy discovered the Law of Attraction and turned her finances around. * How long it took to write the book * Tips for promoting your work * Sandy's experience when she climbed Mount Everest * Finding time to work on your business * Dealing with sabotage when building a writing career

Resources:
* Facebook * Facebook Group * Instagram * About Sandy * Website * How to Be Wildly Wealthy Fast

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

How to Be Wildly Wealthy FAST: A Powerful Step-by-Step Guide to Attract Prosperity and Abundance into Your Life Today!

The Final Flight is James Blatch's first book, and during our chat, I asked him how he's planning on selling copies because it's easier to sell books when you have a back catalog.

So what should a new author do when they're about to release their first book? James talks about using advertising to sell copies of his book, so I asked him if advertising could help me sell the parenting memoir that I've written?

James also talks about the different businesses that he runs aside from Self Publishing Formula, in particular, Fuse Books and Hello Books, and how they can help authors find more readers and get more copies of their work into the world.

In this episode, we discuss.

How Final Flight was originally written for the NaNoWriMo competition
Finding the time to write a book while working on a business
Identifying where your market is
Learning from your writing process and making changes
Using advertising to promote your book and build an audience
Building an email list
The importance of checking and re-checking for errors

Resources.

James Blatch
Hello Books
Fuse Books
Self Publishing Formula
The Final Flight
NaNoWriMo

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

THE FINAL FLIGHT: a Cold War military aviation thriller

Steph Smith is a growth marketer, writer, and the author of Doing Content Right.

Steph has a fascinating take on how to launch a book. In fact, she has an altogether different approach to most authors.

As her book is about creating content for businesses, she promoted it first on Twitter, where she first validated the idea with her audience.

In this interview, she talks about how she did that before she launched the book on Product Hunt.

It's the first time I've heard of an author launching their book on Product Hunt, and I was fascinated.

Steph believes that when you launch a book, you should go where your audience is and build a community around your book.

In this episode, we discuss:

Using a Twitter following to grow interested in your book
Why Steph chose Product Hunt to launch her book
How Steph wrote the book in 49 days
What to do if your non-fiction book starts to date
Why there are more opportunities than ever before for content creators
Steph's favorite keyword tool and is SEO the best way to grow a newsletter?

Resources:

Doing Content Right
Doing Time Right
Steph Smith on Twitter
Product Hunt
The Hustle
Chatr
Udemy
Ahrefs

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Ann Kroeker is a writing coach, published author, and professional speaker.

She works with clients who want to find agents and publish books the traditional way and also helps her clients figure out if self-publishing is the correct route for them.

In this interview, we talk about some of the merits of self-publishing versus traditional publishing. One of the biggest challenges of self-publishing is you have to market and promote the book yourself. For that, you need a platform, and Ann helps her clients build an online platform.

She helps them work out what channel is right for them, whether Facebook, Twitter, podcasting, or blogging. She also explains the difference between writing a blog post and writing an article. I asked Ann if it is too late to start a blog or build a platform online by publishing articles, and you may be surprised by her answer.

We also talk about the merits of podcasting for writers, particularly for non-fiction writers.

In this episode we discuss:

How Ann focuses on non-fiction writing
How podcasting works for non-fiction authors
Repurposing content
How to decide whether or not to self-publish
How to build a platform
How Ann organizes her typical day

Resources:

Ann Kroeker Website
Ann's Everything Page
Three Day Challenge

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Alex Strathdee is the founder of Advanced Amazon Ads as well as a best-selling Amazon author.

I've used Amazon ads since 2016 to sell non-fiction books. Back when I started using Amazon ads, it was straightforward to get them working. Over the years, Amazon ads have become far more competitive. It's impossible to get the same return for the same budget, and the platform has changed.

I wanted to talk to somebody who could talk me through what type of Amazon ad campaigns are working and how to use them to sell more copies of my back catalog.

Alex also talks about the platform's future, and if you want to sell more copies of your book, Amazon ads work particularly well for non-fiction.

In this episode, we discuss:

The number one thing that Amazon Ad novices should do
Amazon Ads don't have to be expensive. Start with the basics
How to track your spend and sales
What kind of budget gets good results
Are Amazon Ads more profitable for fiction or non-fiction?

Resources:

Traffic Secrets
Advanced Amazon Ads
Free copy of the new book available soon

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Filling Your Websites and Funnels with Your Dream Customers

My guest on this episode of the podcast is Allen Klein. He's spent his career writing spirituality and personal development books.

To date, he's written over 31 books, including The Healing Power of Humor, and his most recent title is The Awe Factor which spiritualityandpractice.com dubbed one of the best spiritual books of 2020.

I wanted to understand what goes into a good spirituality book and how authors can take a simple idea like awe and turn it into a book. Allen explains how he draws on stories from his personal life, stories that people tell him, and those he comes across online.

Allen talks about spending over a week in a library using microfiche film to extract an article from the New York Times, whereas, today, it's just a Google search away, or you can download an app.

He also talks about how he promotes his books using a service called Help a Reporter Out (HARO). If you write any non-fiction, I recommend checking it out.

In this episode we discuss.

Why Allen describes himself as a jolly-ologist
Where Allen got the inspiration for his awe stories
How looking for awe in your life is similar to meditation
How humor helps Allen to deal with life
When to include stories in self-help books versus science-based research
Capturing stories ready to write down later

Resources.

Spriritualityandpractice.com
HARO
The Awe Factor
The Healing Power of Humor
The Joy of Simplicity
Secrets Kids Know
You Can't Ruin My Day
Embracing Life After Loss
Allen Klein Amazon Page
Allen Klein Website

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

The Healing Power of Humor: Techniques for Getting Through Loss, Setbacks, Upsets, Disappointments, Difficulties, Trials, Tribulations, and All That Not-So-Funny Stuff

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The Awe Factor: How a Little Bit of Wonder Can Make a Big Difference in Your Life (Inspirational Gift for Friends, Personal Growth Guide)

You Can't Ruin My Day: 52 Wake-Up Calls to Turn Any Situation Around

Secrets Kids Know...That Adults Oughta Learn: Enriching Your Life by Viewing It Through The Eyes of a Child

Mark McGuinness is an award-winning poet, author, and creative coach. He also hosts his own podcast, The 21st Century Creative.

In this podcast episode, Mark explains how he worked with Brian Clark of Copyblogger and how the copywriting lessons he learned have stayed with him ever since.

We also talked about how the pandemic has impacted creatives. Mark describes some of the steps he's taking to break out of his self-imposed "introvert's paradise," which he set up during lockdown.

Mark also talks about the importance of looking on your computer for that messy creative project that you've been putting off. That messy creative project could be the one that pays dividends for you over the long term.

In this episode, we discuss:

Finding a balance between writing with traditional and digital tools
What happens to a poem after it's been written
What a creative career looks like
Deciding which projects to work on
Finding a rhythm to your creativity

Resources:

The 21st Century Creative
Copyblogger
Lateralaction
Mark McGuinness

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

James Morgan-Jones found his love of writing at around 12 years of age.

He's now the author of The Glasswater Quintet, and in this episode he talks about his approach to writing a book series and how the first book in the series came about when he was studying for his MA.

James is also a poet and a playwright and I was fascinated to hear about how his poetry, screenplays, and his background as an actor have informed how he writes his books.

In this episode, we discuss:

Tips for writing dialogue
Do you need an MA to write a book
Write about what you know
James explains how he hadn't planned to write a series
The writing process
How to approach writing poetry

Resources:

The Glasswater Quintet
James Morgan Jones

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

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Caitlin Berve recently published a collection of modern fairy tales called When Magic Calls. She's also written two other anthologies and has another one in the works.

While she's not writing, Caitlin runs her own writing business and coaches other writers on how they can improve their books and their craft. In addition to all that, she also edits memoir and fiction.

I recently had the chance to catch up with Caitlin and was fascinated to hear how she balances both her writing business and creative work.

I also found out that Caitlin took an MFA in creative writing. Many new writers wonder if they need to take an MFA before they can write a book, so I put that question to Caitlyn, and I think you'll find her answer says a lot about what it takes to become a successful writer today.

In this episode we discuss:

How Caitlin manages her time
Mistakes that memoir writers make
Types of memoirs
Finding an editor for your book
Advice on joining a critique group
Finding the balance between client work and writing
How to use a setting as more than a backdrop
Tips for selling more books

Resources:

Caitlin Berve
When Magic Calls
Write Characters Your Readers Won't Forget
Bird by Bird

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

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Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Charlene Wang is a product manager at Google. In other words, she's got a hectic, demanding day job, and yet she found time to write and publish her new book, Model Breakers. Charlene also runs a popular newsletter on Substack called LivingOS.

Last year, Charlene set herself a goal of writing 200 articles in 200 days, and so far, she's exceeded that goal. It's fantastic to hear about a writer who's built a side hustle while working a day job.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us work from home and no longer commute, which allows us more free time. Charlene eliminated her commute, and she had the extra time during her mornings and evenings to write.

Charlene also discusses how online tools can help with writing and how she got into writing newsletters.

In this episode we discuss:

The types of topics Charlene covered in her 200 days of writing
Where the idea for LivingOS came from
Which articles were most popular with readers
How to build an email list
The process for using apps when writing
How is writing a book different from writing a book
How to launch and promote a book

Resources:

Model Breakers
LivingOS
LivingOS - Substack
Notion
Roam Research
Otter.ai

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Model Breakers: Breaking Through Stereotypes and Embracing Your Authenticity

My guest this week is retired clinical psychologist Pam Munter.

Pam's written four books and had more than 150 personal essays published over the years. Her latest book is Fading Fame: Women of a Certain Age in Hollywood, a collection of ten short stories and two plays about the troubled lives of strong and talented women who survived #MeToo. Pam also writes a lot of non-fiction and memoirs.

In our interview, she talks about her approach to writing short stories, plays, and personal essays and talks about her life as a stage performer and a clinical psychologist.

Pam also has a fascinating insight into the creative process, which is worth listening to in the middle of the interview.

If you feel that writing is a bit of a lonely profession, this is a conversation you want to hear.

In this episode, we discuss:

How to balance writing with a professional career
Dealing with feedback
Outlining stories in advance vs free writing
Should writers attach value to their work?
How long Pam spends writing each day
Tips on getting published in journals

Resources:

Pam Munter
Fading Fame: Women of a Certain Age in Hollywood
As Alone as I Want to Be
When Teens Were Keen: Freddie Stewart and The Teen Agers of Monogram
Almost Famous
The Art of the Personal Essay
The Best American Essays of the Century
Duotrope

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

When Teens Were Keen: Freddie Stewart and the Teen Agers of Monogram

The Art of the Personal Essay: An Anthology from the Classical Era to the Present

The Best American Essays of the Century (The Best American Series)

Almost Famous: An Autobiography

Fading Fame: Women of a Certain Age in Hollywood

As Alone As I Want To Be

In this episode, I catch up with Brian Finney to understand how he transitioned from writing non-fiction to writing fiction and how he manages his day.

Many writers work on the side while working a demanding day job. Brian has gone the other way. He’s now a professor emeritus at California State University, which means he doesn’t lecture at the university, so he has time to write his psychological thrillers during the week.

I was interested in how somebody would approach having a massive chunk of free time to write. I dug into Brian’s writing process to figure out how much time he spends writing and how he gets himself into a state of flow.

In this episode, we discuss:

Brian's writing process
Current events and conspiracy theories that drive Brian's stories
Writing tools
Reactions from Brian's former students
How Brian promotes his books
Advice on finding time to write
Techniques and strategies for getting into the flow

Resources:

Brian Finney Website
Money Matters
Dangerous Conjectures

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Many writers like to work within one genre or niche. They write thriller books or police procedurals, or mystery books.

Other writers find working within one genre or niche confining, and they like to try different types of writing to see where it takes them.

In this episode, I recently had the chance to catch up with Jenn Ashton, and she’s done just that. She’s published poetry, children’s books, journalism, historical research, technical manuals, and she’s also an accomplished visual artist.

I had many questions for Jenn about her creative ventures and whether other projects like painting can improve your writing.

In this episode, we discuss:

Balancing different creative outlets
Getting into a creative flow
Sharing stories with a beta group before publishing
Giving helpful feedback to a friend
How to earn a living while following your creative dream
The benefit of entering writing competitions
Advice for writers looking to get published

Resources:

People Like Frank
NaNoWriMo
Submittable
Jennifer Ashton
Jennifer Ashton Art

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

People Like Frank: And other stories from the edge of normal

This week, I got to catch up with somebody I've wanted to talk to for a long time.

David Farland is the author of over 50 books, including The Runelords series. He's worked with top fantasy and science fiction authors like Brandon Sanderson and Stephenie Meyer, and he's also written Million Dollar Outlines.

In this interview, we talk about Robert Heinlein's Rules for Writers. Several years ago, I came across these rules after being frustrated writing and rewriting the same short stories repeatedly.

We chat about hybrid publishing, self-publishing, and traditional publishing and how to decide which approach is right for your book. I also got David's take on marketing and how a back catalog can help you earn a good living as an author.

David also explains the importance of having an e-mail list and how it can help you earn a healthy living from writing.

In this episode, we discuss:

How David's writing process has changed over the years
Advice for new writers
What makes a story compelling
Common mistakes authors make
Choosing a genre to write in
What makes authors stand out
How to market your books

Resources:

Apex Writers
Writers of the Future
My Story Doctor

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

In this episode, I chat with therapist Charley Wininger.

He's the author of the new book, Listening to Ecstasy: The Transformative Power of MDMA. Writing about the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic substances is pretty controversial, depending on where you live in the world.

It's a topic that I'd like to write about, but I'm not quite there yet, so I was fascinated to hear from an author who's not afraid to write about something controversial.

Charley started writing in his mid-60s. He's now 72, and it took him seven years to write the book. If you ever feel like you've missed your chance to write a book, take heart from his experiences.

I ask Charley about the correlation between psychedelics, meditation and flow state, and the creative process. He also describes his writing process and how he got around some issues like writer's block.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Charley wrote his memoir
Why the book took 6 years to write
Advice given to Charley about writing
The comparison between meditation and psychedelics
Charley's memories of Andy Kaufman
Reactions to the book
Strategies for selling the book

Resources:

Charley Winiger
Charley on Instagram
Charley on YouTube
Listening to Ecstasy: The Transformative Power of MDMA - Charley Winiger
Waking Up - Sam Harris

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion by Sam Harris Reprint edition (Textbook ONLY, Paperback)

Listening to Ecstasy: The Transformative Power of MDMA

Meredith Heller is the author of Write a Poem, Save Your Life: A Guide for Teens, Teachers, and Writers of All Ages. It's an instructional book for anybody who wants to write or teach writing poetry. If you want to learn more about writing poetry, it's a title I recommend.

In this episode, Meredith told me how she combines her career as a working poet with that of a massage therapist and teacher.

Meredith explains how having a job can inform your craft and can give you source material for your art.

She is also a prolific journaler and had over 80 different journals that she used for material.

In this episode, we discuss.

How Meredith combined her poetry with the work of her students in the book
Meredith's techniques for getting her students to write about difficult topics
The process for writing poetry
Is poetry making a comeback?
The key to writing while having a career

Resources.

Write a Poem, Save Your Life: A Guide for Teens, Teachers, and Writers of All Ages
Meredith Heller

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Write a Poem, Save Your Life: A Guide for Teens, Teachers, and Writers of All Ages

Colin Dayan is the Robert Penn Warren Professor in the Humanities at Vanderbilt University.

She’s written extensively about Haiti and Guantanamo Bay and has written not one but two memoirs.

Colin chatted to me about her memoirs and how, if you spend a lot of time engaged in one type of writing to pay the bills as Colin did with academic writing and research, you should still go ahead and try on a completely different form of writing.

After all, who knows where you’ll end up in 10 or 15 years, and by exploring different genres and formats, you could build a writing career that lasts a lifetime.

I asked Colin about her research process, and we dig into how she approaches researching memoir versus writing something for an academic and formal audience.

In this episode, we discuss:

Choosing topics for a book
How to approach writing a personal essay
The reaction of those featured in Colin's books
Colin's tips for writing a memoir
Picking a theme to structure your memoir around

Resources:

Colin Dayan
Marion Roach Smith episode

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Terry McDougall is an executive and career coach and the author of the new book, Winning the Game of Work.

In this episode of the podcast, I spoke to Terry about her fascinating idea of seeing work as a type of game. She considers her book as part of her calling card, and she had some fantastic insights into how the book is potentially helping her find more clients for her coaching practice.

If you have an interesting work story and you want to go out on your own as a consultant or coach, then writing a non-fiction book is a way to help you grow your business or your practice.

In this episode, we discuss:

How to treat work as a game
Strategies to help you succeed at work
Books that laid the foundation for Terry's writing
How long it took to write the book
What Terry would do differently
Terry's writing process on an average day

Resources:

What Color is Your Parachute - Richard N. Bolles
Winning the Game of Work - Terry McDougall
Marketing Mambo Podcast
Terry B. McDougall Website

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Winning the Game of Work: Career Happiness and Success on Your Own Terms

Recently I caught up with podcaster, blogger, and author Amy Isaman.

Amy taught creative writing for years until she finally answered her calling and wrote her first book in her 40's.

She's written both mystery books and historical fiction, and she believes that writers should try writing in different genres. After all, readers don't confine themselves to one genre.

She puts a case forward for writers to flex their creative muscles and pick a genre they've not written in before, whether that's a thriller, mysteries, or science fiction.

In this episode, we discuss:

Turning your first book into a series
Outlining your writing in advance
Amy explains her editing process
Using beta readers
Starting a blog

Resources:

Amy Isaman
Amy Isaman at Amazon
Amy Isaman on Instagram
Sara Oliver Design

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

My guest in this episode is Roger Reuff. He developed the concept of the story having a soul. He wrote a book about it and has a course of the same name at soulofyourstory.com.

Roger is multi-talented and has written several books and screenplays, one of which made into onto big screen, The Big Kahuna starring Kevin Spacey and Danny DeVito.

Roger starts our interview with an overview of who he is and how he came up with his idea for finding the soul of a story.

In this episode we discuss:

What writers should ask themself before they start on a book
Roger's three main approaches to writing
How Roger formats his writing
How he developed the concept of the Soul of your Story

Resources:

Soul of Your Story
Soul of Your Story Webinar

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

My guest this week is the author of the Sky Fall series of books, Joseph Bendoski. Joseph's background is in screenwriting which he eventually left behind as he found the conventions of that particular genre too restrictive.

When he switched to writing novels, he found it a more freeing format. He was initially undecided whether to write fiction or non-fiction. He made his decision after looking at the book sales for Malcolm Gladwell and George R. R. Martin of Game of Thrones. George R.R. Martin had sold over 80 million books, whereas Malcolm Gladwell's sales were around 8 or 9 million.

Joseph's key takeaway from that was that if you want to write a story that readers will read and enjoy, perhaps fiction is the way to go.

In this episode, we also chat about marketing strategies and insights for getting your writing in front of more people.

In this episode we discuss:

The restrictions that come with script writing
How scriptwriting informed Joseph's novel writing
The decision behind writing a series
Using online advertising including Facebook Ads
Joseph's writing routine
The steps prior to publication

Resources:

Joseph Bendoski on Amazon
The Art of Dramatic Writing - Lajos Egri
12 Shots: 12 Crimes…12. Authors
Start Writing

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

The Art Of Dramatic Writing: Its Basis In The Creative Interpretation Of Human Motives

12 Shots: 12 Crimes... 12 Authors... 12 Stories

Writing can be a lonely business. Sitting alone for several hours, just you and your words.

This is when a writing community or collaboration can be of real benefit.

In this episode, I chat with Niki Hardy from Hope Writers and the author of Breathe Again. How to Live Well When Life Falls Apart.Niki talks to me about how she found the encouragement that she needed from Hope Writers. She believes that without their support, her book would never have been published.
In this episode we discuss:

What members get from Hope Writers when they join
Why Niki wrote her book
Niki's writing process.
How Hope Writers differs from other communities
Using newsletters to promote your writing

Resources:

Hope Writers
Breathe Again
Niki Hardy

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Breathe Again: How to Live Well When Life Falls Apart

Will building your personal brand help you to sell more books and courses or find you more clients as a writer?

Personal branding is something that content creators should consider. I learned the hard way that building a brand isn't about spending hundreds of dollars on a fancy logo but is more about associating yourself with a specific topic or creating a name for yourself within a niche.

In this episode, I chat with Pamela Wilson, who you may know from Copyblogger and her own business, Big Brand System. Pamela gives some insight into what it means to build a personal brand today.

I was particularly interested in how personal branding can help you create digital products and services that others will want to buy.

In this episode we discuss:

Does guest posting still work
The definition of personal branding
Creating a content strategy
Setting up a pre-offer
Building an audience
The value in creating a good lead magnet
What to focus on as your online business grows

Resources

Copyblogger
Big Brand System

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Simon King is the author of over 30 books across five different series, including the Sam Rader series, the non-fiction Prison Days series, and the MAX series.

Before he became an author, Simon worked in a maximum-security prison in Australia, and he only published his first book in 2018.

In this episode, Simon explains how he went from working a demanding day job, working nights and shifts, to publishing up to 12 books a year over three years.

Simon also believes that it’s essential to set a clear target for how much you want to write every day. He set a target to write 3,000 words every day no matter what, and he explains what that did for his writing career.

In this episode we discuss:

How his job as a prison officer helped with his writing
Having an ideal reader in mind
Starting with the end
Moving from writing non-fiction to fiction
Strategies Simon uses to promote his books
Deciding on the length of a book

Resources:

Books by Simon King

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Could you write a memoir?

I used to think that you couldn’t write a memoir until you were old and at the end of your life. Your memoir would be one big book that would describe everything that happened from when you were born until the present moment.

But, you can write a memoir about a particular theme, topic, or a single event in your life.

Marion Roach Smith is a memoir coach, and she runs a course in the art of memoir writing. In this episode, we talk about what makes a good memoir and how you can start writing one.

Marion also discusses how it feels to write something outside of your comfort zone and how you might have to deal with critics who tell you not to write outside your niche.

In this episode we discuss:

The conventions of a good memoir book
Are you the protagonist in a memoir?
How a three-act structure works for a memoir
Tips for remembering things from the past
Dealing with reactions from other people
Deciding what to keep in a memoir and what to take out

Resources:

Marion Roach Smith

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Cary Bergeron is the founder of the book promotion service Crave Books. In this episode, we get into what it takes to sell a book today and how a book promotion service can get you in front of more readers.

Cary talks about three fantastic insights if you’re getting ready to publish your first book:

Does it have a good cover?
Does it have reviews?
Does it have a good description?

It would help if you got all three to convince somebody on Amazon, Kobo, or Google, or wherever they’re buying your book to hit the Buy button.

In this episode, we discuss:

Cary's background and how he's written so many books
How to get the best use out of a book promotion service
Getting the best value from your first promotion
The budget needed to get a campaign off the ground
Getting your first book reviews

Resources:

Crave Books
Facebook Group

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

If you're working as a freelance writer and want to earn a full-time wage, I recommend copywriting. Copywriting is essentially writing words that sell products and services.

It's a great discipline to help you figure out how to condense your ideas into articles, e-mails, and stories that you will publish online.

In this episode of the podcast, I chat with Aly Goulet. She specializes in the B2B and SaaS industries. She talks about the importance of side projects and how and why she is building a WordPress app.

This project might seem like it's got nothing to do with copywriting, but Aly explains how she will use it to help develop her copywriting business.

In this episode, we discuss:

How to start a career as a freelance writer with no experience
How to find your first client as a copywriter
Setting your hourly rate
Is it ever ok to write for free?
Tips for copywriters to increase their rates
What makes good email copy
Getting started with an email campaign
Sending cold pitches to clients

Resources:

Everybody Writes by Ann Handley.
David Ogilvy
Breakthrough Advertising by Eugene Schwartz
Problogger
Upwork
The Copywriter Club
Copy on Cue
Freelancingflow

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

This episode of the podcast has a very special guest. Bernard Huang is the co-founder of the popular content tool Clearscope.

In our conversation, Bernard explains how Clearscope works and how it can help you grow your website and help you find more readers for your non-fiction articles.

You'll also find some practical tips on building a niche website, learning about content optimization tools, and increasing traffic to your website.

Bernard also tells the fascinating story behind how he founded Clearscope. There are many parallels between Bernard’s experience with Clearscope and how writers find working on their first book or their first creative project.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Bernard started Clearscope
How Clearscope encourages creatives to think differently about what is on their webpages
Is Google forcing web pages to be too prescriptive?
The future of search results is video
What steps you should take if your traffic has dipped
How often should you update your website content

Resources:

Bernard Huang on Twitter
Clearscope

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

In 2016, Dorit published the award-winning memoir, Accidental Soldier about her time in service with the Israeli Defense Forces.

Here, Dorit talks about how she balances doing something with clear commercial intent with doing something creative, like writing memoirs about her time in active service.

If you find time to do both every day, then you will advance your career, you’ll get paid, and you’ll also improve at your craft. Who doesn’t want those things?

I kicked off the interview by asking Dorit to describe how her time in active service informed her memoir, Accidental Soldier.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why Dorit had to do compulsory service in the Israeli Defense Force
How long it took her to write her book
How to promote a memoir that’s so specific to personal experiences
Establish who you are writing for
What is SEO writing?
Balancing creativity with SEO copywriting
Writing for a consumer audience.
How to balance working as a copywriter with writing a personal memoir

Resources:

Dorit Sasson
Accidental Soldier

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Social media is an excellent way of finding readers and finding clients if you’re a freelance writer. And, if you create content for social media platforms like Quora, you can build up a library of content that you can use and refer to over time.

But, how exactly should you spend time on social media, what tools should you use, and how can you do it?

Neal Schaffer has the answer to these questions and more. He is an expert in influencer marketing and has written more than five books, including his latest which focuses on influencer marketing called The Age of Influence.

Although Neal consults with B2B clients, the book is also relevant for anybody who wants to use social media to become an influencer.

He explains how creatives can find the right network during our conversation, how to repurpose content and build an audience on social media. He also talks about finding a balance between creating content and being active on these platforms.

In this episode, we discuss:

The definition of an influencer
Deciding on the right platform for you
Managing your time on social media
The benefits of using scheduling tools
Why write a book if everyone is on social media?

Resources:

The Age of Influence
Neal Schaffer
Quora
SmarterQueue
Neal's podcast
Agorapulse
Buffer

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

The Age of Influence: The Power of Influencers to Elevate Your Brand

I recently read Mind Management, Not Time Management by David Kadvy.

It made a big impact on me because David has thought a lot about popular productivity methods like Getting Things Done and considered how they can apply to writers and creatives.

He breaks down how creatives can organize their day so they’re at their best when it’s time to write or work on a project and how they can also find time for all the administrative stuff that could come with running a writing business.

I was interested to know more about his writing process. He also has a very specific early morning writing routine he describes in this week’s interview.

I started by asking David about the key ideas in his book and how he came to write it in the first place.

In this episode, we discuss:

Getting your mind ready to write
Review what you're going to write the next day
David's morning routine
Using The Zettelkasten Method
How many hours a day David spends in a creative state
Deciding how many books to write each year

Resources:

David's Amazon store
David Kadvy
The Zettelkasten Method
The Zettelkasten Method Means You'll Never Run Out of Ideas Again with Sascha Fast

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

I've read a few books about productivity and work that have radically changed how I think about finding time to work and creative projects.

One of those books is Getting Things Done by David Allen, and it made a significant impact on how I think about work.

In this week's interview, David discusses how your mind is for having ideas, not for holding onto them, and writers and creatives must have a system for capturing all of their ideas.

I started the interview by asking him how GTD has changed since he first came up with the concept over 20 years ago.

In this episode, we discuss:

How GTD has evolved over the years
Strategies for managing inboxes
Practicing weekly reviews
Managing your priorities
The books key role in the development of GTD courses
How the book was received in different languages around the world

Resources:

Getting Things Done - Website
Getting Things Done - Book
Making it all Work - Book

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and Business of Life

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity [Paperback] [Apr 22, 2015] David Allen

In this episode, I catch up with TEDx speaker and author Dai Manuel.

Dai brings to his work his personal story of the challenges he overcame to become a wellness coach and run a multimillion-dollar business.

Dai explains how, when he started to bring more vulnerability into his writing, everything changed for him. His coaching clients increased, and he secured more public speaking gigs, including TEDx.

I was interested in finding out from Dai what it was like to give a TEDx talk, and I was fascinated to discover the amount of work and editing that goes into it.

Dai reveals how he worked with a team of editors and public speaking coaches who helped him perfect his talk and how much he learned from the whole process.

In this episode we discuss:

Dai explains what the five F's are
Identifying what to work on when you have a busy life
Overcoming the fear of being judged
Educating and inspiring others through story
Behind the scenes of a Tedx talk

Resources:

Why Vulnerability is a Human Thing - TEDx
Dai Manuel

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

In this episode, we focus on email marketing, and my guest is email marketing expert Keith Monaghan.

He knows his stuff as he previously worked as a market researcher and email marketer for companies like Nike, Specialized Bicycles, Trek, and NBC Television.

He's the author of the new book, Easy Email Marketing: 10 Simple Steps for Creating and Sending Marketing E-Mail Your Customers Will Love.

I asked Keith to walk through all the steps needed to create a successful campaign. From setting up an email list through to what to send. He also explains what to look out for and how to engage with readers more frequently.

In this episode, we discuss:

People are using email more than ever
The steps to creating a successful email campaign
Keith's recommended email tools
How to get the tone of your emails right
How to write a good subject line
Do a final check before sending your email

Resources:

Fat Stacks Offer
Keith Monaghan
ConvertKit Review
Easy E-mail Marketing: 10 Simple Steps for Creating and Sending Marketing E-Mail Your Customers Will Love - Keith Monaghan
Revue
MoonMail
TinyLetter
ActiveCampaign
SubStack
Interview with Daniel Pink

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Easy Email Marketing: 10 simple steps for creating and sending marketing email your customers will love.

Was your first book a bit of a passion project? If you're going to commit to writing in the long term and want to earn a living wage from it, you need a plan.

That's one of the topics I address in this week's interview with Orna Ross. She is the Alliance of Independent Authors director, and she also coaches students on creative planning.

I wanted to know more about her creative planning process and how writers can benefit from it. I started our conversation by asking her to describe her background and how she first broke into self-publishing.

If you have questions, suggestions, or feedback for the show, please tweet me at @bryanjcollins.

I'd love to hear about your writing projects and what writing podcasts you're listening to at the moment.

In this episode, we discuss:

Are there more opportunities to self publish today
How creative planning works
Tips for what you should and shouldn't be doing
How to decided what to work on next
Taking time out for creative play
Can business be fun and creative?
Shifting from a hobby to a business

Resources:

Alliance of Independent Authors
Creative Self Publishing by Orna Ross
Self Publishing Advice
OrnaRoss.com

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Would you like to start a content website about your hobby that you could sell for many multiples? My guest this week explains how to do just that.

Mushfiq has bought and sold over 150 websites since he started his career as a content creator and website builder back in 2008. In other words, he’s an expert on the topic.

But what if you have no money and no budget for buying a content website? Mushfiq explains the steps he would take if he were starting from scratch today. He reveals how he buys, builds, and later sells his content websites.

I also asked him what his working life looks like and his approach to working and collaborating with other writers to build his sites a little bit faster.

In this episode we discuss:

How Mushfiq first got started buying and selling websites
His target criteria for buying a content website
Using freelance writers and specialists to grow your content
The primary monetization methods
Knowing the right time to flip a website

Resources:

The Website Flip
Motion Invest
Flippa
ODYS
EasyWins

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Michelle Cox is the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series author, a mystery romance set in 1930s Chicago.

Described as Downtown Abbey meets Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, the books have won multiple awards, and publications like PopSugar, Elle, BuzzFeed, Redbook, and Bustle have praised it as a top read.

In this episode, Michelle describes her writing process for mysteries and explains where the idea came for a mystery romance set in 1930s Chicago.

Michelle also describes how beta readers help her improve her mystery books, where she finds them, what she asks them, and how she decides who to listen to and who to ignore.

In this episode we discuss:

Where Michelle got the idea from for her series
Michelle's writing process
Doing character research
How to find her beta readers
What to do with the feedback from beta readers
Marketing strategies

Resources:

Book Funnel
SurveyMonkey
She Writes Press
Clubhouse
Michelle Cox

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Chicago-based scriptwriter Daniel Joshua Rubin is the author of 27 Essential Principles of Story.

This book stands out because Daniel uses modern examples like South Park and Breaking Bad to describe how storytelling principles work. Then, he explains how writers can apply the principles to writing screenplays, novels, etc.

Daniel describes what it means to live a writing life and how sometimes you need to separate your identity from being a successful writer.

Towards the end of our conversation, we went off-topic and talked about how investing, and the stock market has something in common with a good plot.

In this episode we discuss:

Deciding on the number of principles
Using popular media to convey the principles
Should you outline a story first
Daniel's writing process
How long it takes to write a script

Resources:

story27.com
Day One
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - Junot Díaz
The War of Art - Steven Pressfield

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

Carol and Matthew Newell run the Family Hope Center. It's an organization that has so far supported over 20,000 families dealing with special needs children.

Carol and Matthew took some of the ideas they've refined throughout their careers and turned them into a book.

One of the key challenges they faced is having spent their entire careers as experts in their field, they found it hard to convey the knowledge they take for granted.

I've experienced reading books written by clinicians, and I appreciate that the books could often be challenging to read. I was struck by how accessible their new book, Healing Your Child's Brain, is.

I wanted to understand how they turned their expertise into something that parents can understand. It was interesting to hear how they didn't write the book to generate an income. Instead, they're doing it because of the message they want to share with parents.

In this episode we discuss:

Their background and how they came to start The Family Hope Centre
How society forces people to be labeled disabled
The importance of making information easy for parents to understand.
What is a neuroparent and how to become one
The reasons behind them writing the book
How they are getting the book into the hands of as many parents as possible

Resources

The Family Hope Centre
Healing Your Child's Brain
The Family Hope Centre on Instagram
The Family Hope Centre on Facebook

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Healing Your Child's Brain: A Proven Approach to Helping Your Child Thrive

I recently read a collection of personal essays by my guest today, the Irish Times journalist Patrick Freyne. It’s called OK, Let’s Do Your Stupid Idea.

In the book, Patrick reflects on the jobs he’s had, his time in a band, and a friend who unexpectedly passed away. He didn’t necessarily set out to write a book, but one of his personal essays gained traction with a popular writing publication in Ireland.

I had the chance to catch up with Patrick and ask him about his writing process and how he put together a collection of personal essays.

I started by asking Patrick all about this book, OK, Let’s Do Your Stupid Idea.

In this episode we discuss:

How Patrick relied on his memory when writing the essays
Patrick explains his writing process
Patrick's love of short stories
Having a criteria for what goes in the book
How Patrick promoted the book

Resources:

OK, Let's Do Your Stupid Idea
Irish Times

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

OK Lets Do Your Stupid Idea

In this episode, I interview author, biographer, and ghostwriter Ruby Peru.

She's written an astonishing 19 books to date, and she spoke to me about how she balances working on her craft whilst working on books for her clients.

She also has to juggle this with finding her next client, which can be a painful lesson to learn as a freelancer. It's great to get the paycheque at the end of your commission, but then you have to find your next client.

I wanted to know what got Ruby into writing memoir, non-fiction and ghostwriting, and she also talks about how she is in the process of building up her publishing company.

In this episode we discuss:

Are there any rules to follow when writing a memoir
The difference between self-help books and memoirs
The process for writing a memoir
Ruby explains her editing process
Setting expectations at the start of the project
How it feels to ghostwrite a book and see someone else's name on the front page
Ruby's promotion strategies

Resources:

Ruby Peru
Pangloss Press
Business Cards and Shoe Leather
Scrivener
BookBub
Bits of String too Small to Save

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

People consume books differently from how they did in the past. They like to read books on their phone or tablet. And they also want to listen to books in the car, at the gym, and on the go. And this is where audiobooks come into their own.

I've recorded several audiobooks as it's a fantastic way to increase sales. I'd certainly encourage you to consider turning your books into audiobooks.

In this episode, I speak with Al Black of Voquent Media. He's an expert when it comes to creating audiobooks as it's his service that helps authors find professional narrators, audio engineers, and so on to get their audiobooks ready for publication.

In this episode, we discuss:

Where should a writer start when turning their book into an audiobook
How to pick a specific narrator
How much should you budget for an audiobook
What happens after you've chosen your narrator
Knowing when you're ready to publish the audiobook
Mic recommendations for recording your own audio

Resources:

ACX
Voquent
Whispersync

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

My guest on this episode of the podcast is Jeff Leisawitz.

His book, Not Fing Around,* was written with creative people in mind. It encourages the reader to get their creative dreams off the ground.

He's also a life coach whose work is focused purely on creatives and helping them to achieve their creative goals.

As it says on his website: "Jeff burns with a mission— to inspire and teach writers, artists, songwriters, musicians, filmmakers, solopreneurs, arts organizations (and every other human with a heartbeat) to amp up their vision, tap into their potential and shine in the world."

In this episode we discuss:
* The type of people who come to Jeff for coaching * How Jeff works with his clients * What are creatives afraid of? * Using NLP to help people overcome blocks * A simple technique that you can use today * How Jeff promotes and sells his book

Resources:
Not fcking around * NLP * Insight Timer * Jeff Leisawitz

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Not F*ing Around: The No Bullsh*t Guide for Getting Your Creative Dreams Off the Ground

Alinka Rutkowska is the CEO of Leaders Press, a company that helps non-fiction authors, specifically in the business genre, hit the USA Today and Wall Street Journal Best Seller List.

In this interview, Alinka highlighted the importance of having an email list.

While it's true that Amazon and Facebook ads can help you sell books, it's an email list that is the most effective way to keep in touch with your readers and let them know when your work is live.

Alinka also discusses how to generate interest in your email list by giving away something for free and using that to build a relationship with your readers.

Click the link in the resources below to access Alinka's latest webinar.

In this episode, we discuss:

Using your book as an authority builder
Why would someone outsource their book?
Building your email list using lead magnets
What it takes to make the Wall Street Journal or USA Today Best-Seller List
Finding authors to create anthologies
Using bonuses as part of a launch strategy

Resources:

ConvertKit
Outsource Your Book
Leaders Press
How to Get on the USA Today Best-Seller List Webinar
How to Make Money as an Author

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Outsource Your Book: Your Guide to Getting Your Business Book Ghostwritten, Published and Launched

What could you accomplish if you wrote 300 words a day every day for 30 days?

Nicolas Cole and his business partner, Dickie Bush, put together the "Ship 30 for 30" challenge where they encourage writers to do just that. It's an excellent challenge if you want to tap into the power of small daily wins for your writing.

Nicolas is the author of several books, including The Art and Business of Online Writing. I started our conversation by asking Nicolas to explain his rather interesting backstory, because, like me, he was a gamer back in the day.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Nicolas transitioned from gamer to writer
His advice for new writers wanting to be read
Making money from your writing by selling it as a service
Balancing running a business with writing
Success stories from writers using the "30 for 30" challenge

Resources:

Quora
Medium
Wattpad
Nicolas Cole
Nicolas on Twitter
Nicolas on Quora

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

James Breakwell is a professional comedy writer.

He's the father of four girls who were the inspiration behind his popular Twitter account, which eventually went viral. And on the back of that, he produced a series of parenting books, but they're not you're usual parenting books.

In this episode, James and I chat about what makes his parenting books different from the others out there. We also talk about his latest book, How to Be a Man (Whatever That Means).

In this episode, we discuss:

How James built a following on Twitter before writing his first book
Using his family and friends as the subject of his tweets and books
The next step after building a following on Twitter
James's writing process
Working on his next projects

Resources:

James on Twitter
Sendy
ConvertKit
ExplodingUnicorn.com

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

I know many authors who've thought about it, but few who have done it... written a children's book.

As the parent of three children, it's certainly something that I have considered. One man who has leapt into children's fiction is John Mashni. He's recently written and published CinderToot, which is a take on the tale of Cinderella.

Having read the book, I surprised myself by laughing out loud as it's hilarious, and the illustrations that accompany it are superb.

In this episode, John, who runs his own legal practice, explains why he chose to write a children's book in the first place and how writing it taught him some valuable parenting lessons.

In this episode, we discuss:

The premise of the book and why John decided to write it
What to include in a children's book
How long the editing and illustrations took
Describing illustrations to an illustrator
How John is marketing the book
Can anyone write a children's book?

Resources:

CinderToot
How to Write a Children's Book Free Course
John Mashni on Medium

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Have you ever used prompts or constraints to inspire your creativity?

Herbert Lui is a well-known freelancer. He’s written for top publications like Lifehacker and Fast Company, and I also know him as the guy who introduced me to the Zettelkasten method, which changed how I research and write books.

Herbert also runs his own business, helping companies set up blogs and build a name online.

In this episode, I ask Herbert what it’s like to write for companies like Lifehacker and Fast Company and how new writers can get gigs writing for publications like these. He also explains why quantity should be your number one priority as a creative and how to balance quantity with quality.

I also ask Herbert to tell me more about his new book, There Is No Right Way to Do This.

In this episode, we discuss:

What Herbert's latest book is about
Tips for starting writing again
The types of constraints that authors use
Using the three-act structure when writing a book
How a new writer can start writing for big publications

Resources

Oblique Strategies
Figma
Zettelkasten Method
Notion
Day One
Roam Research
Herbert Lui
Herbert Lui on Medium
Wonder Shuttle

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Fantasy and non-fiction author, Richie Billing, has written several fantasy books and collaborated with other authors.

In this episode, I chat with Richie about his writing process for fantasy, world-building, and collaborating with other authors across the genre.

Richie's day job is in digital marketing, and so it stands to reason that he would use this to his advantage when it comes to selling his books.

He discusses the current digital marketing trends for authors, the benefits of building an e-mail list, and how to use Facebook ads to sell books.

In this episode we discuss:

Building the fantasy world before writing anything
What aspects fantasy novels should include
Richie's process for world-building
Collaborating with other authors
Using Facebook ads to sell books

Resources:

The Art of Dramatic Writing by Lajos Egri
Pariah's Lament by Richard Billing
Neil Patel
Richie Billing

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

None

The Art Of Dramatic Writing: Its Basis In The Creative Interpretation Of Human Motives

Can you build a long and successful career as a writer?

My guest on this episode is Linguistics professor Julie Tetel Andresen. Not only has she published more than 35 books, but she also writes in many different genres, including romance, police procedurals, and crime thrillers.

I encourage you to listen until the end of the episode, as Julie reveals the importance of a backlist and why it's almost as important as the book you are currently working on.

But before that, I was interested in discovering more about Julie's take on sustaining a rewarding writing career that lasts a lifetime.

In this episode, we discuss:

What it means to get into your writing shape
How to balance writing with a career and family
Why romance is a very expansive genre
Julie's process for writing a book
How a good editor can make all the difference
How Julie markets her writing

Resources:

Reedsy
Julie Tetel Andresen

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Have you ever considered writing fiction for young adults?

In this episode, I chat to Zara Miller, whose first book, I Am Cecilia, is about to be published. It’s a romance aimed at young adults.

We talk about her process for writing young adult fiction and romance, and she explains how she also writes fanfiction set in the Riverdale universe, which she says helps her decompress.

Zara also talks about what drew her to write young adult fiction and how she landed a book publishing contract.

In this episode we discuss:

Where the idea came from for a young adult book
The benefits of having a strong LinkedIn profile
What is an 'episodic' writer
Tips for getting the writing process started
Letting off steam through writing fanfiction

Resources

Zara Miller on LinkedIn
The Teen Magazine

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Journaling is very popular right now, but could you produce a book from your journal entries?

I'm writing a parenting book at the moment, and journaling is the approach that I'm using. I wrote journal entries about the sorts of things that my kids got up to, then, when I was ready to write the book, I reorganized the entries and turned them into chapters.

Taking this approach works because if you write 300 words in your journal today, chances are tomorrow you'll feel a bit more comfortable about the topic and go past 300 words, and you might write 400 or even 500. If you do that for a week, you'll rack up a couple of thousand words. If you do it for the year, you'll undoubtedly have more than enough for your book or several books.

In this episode, I chat with Tom Kreffer. He's the author of Dear Dory: Journal of a Soon to Be First Time Dad, which he initially wrote as a series of journal entries when his partner was expecting their first child, before turning it into a book.

In this episode we discuss:

At what point Tom realized his personal journal could be a book
Using humor in the book
The pros and cons of parenting books for dads
Lessons that Tom has learned from writing the book
When did Tom find the time to write when working full time
Tactics for promoting the book

Resources:

Day One
Scrivener
David Sedaris - Masterclass
Braintoss
Evernote
Tom Kreffer

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Have you ever considered offering something in addition to your book? I've discovered several non-fiction authors who provide coaching, organize events, or facilitate courses that elaborate on their book's ideas.

Doing this helps spread your message more widely because not everybody enjoys learning via the written word. It also enables you to earn more from your writing, which you could invest in your business or live off while writing another book.

It can also help you clarify your ideas and reposition you in a way that enables more people to engage with you.

My guest in this episode has done precisely this. Dr. Trevor Blattner runs a dental practice, and his new book, Redefining the Top 1%, is out now.

He's also the hosts a podcast and offers coaching and consulting based on the seven behaviors that drive shepherd leadership, which he explains in his book.

In this episode we discuss:

What inspired Trevor to write the book
Explaining the relevance of the seven principles written about in the book
Redefining goal setting
Trevor's process for writing the book
The importance of accountability
The value of having an editor

Resources

Redefining the Top 1%: The Seven Behaviors that Drive Shepherd Leadership - Dr Trevor Blattner
Redefining the Top 1% Podcast
Dr. Trevor Blattner

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Redefining the Top 1%: 7 Behaviors that Drive Shepherd Leadership

You may think that as you're the book's author, then you're the best person to edit it, but finding and working with a good editor can help improve the writing that you produce.

Not only will editors find and fix errors in your manuscript that you might have missed when you were writing them, but it can also be like having access to your own coach or mentor. Editors are trained professionals who can help you improve your craft and help you spot issues you've missed.

A good editor can offer advice specific to the types of problems you have with writing that you won't necessarily find in a book about writing.

I caught up with the founder of NY Book Editor, Natasa Lekic. Her company has been in the business of helping authors for over eight years, and they have several high-profile success stories, some of which she talks about in this week's interview.

In this episode we discuss:

Why Natasa started NY Book Editor
Who is NY Book Editor's target market?
What is a good editorial fit?
How long the editorial process takes
At what point should you enlist the help of an editor?
How much does an editor cost?

Resources:

NY Book Editors
Story by Robert McKee
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting

An Ember in the Ashes

Lilac Girls: A Novel (Woolsey-Ferriday)

Like many authors, you probably have a dream of writing and publishing your first book. Chances are, you've also got to work to pay the bills and write the book when you have some time to spare.

At least that's what I had to do. I used to get up at 5 or 6 am and spend the first-hour writing before the kids woke up and my working day started. But, I believe that if you spend 30 - 60 minutes per day on your writing project, you can make great progress.

My guest in this episode is Conor Bredin, and he did just that. He wrote and self-published his first novel, The Longest Night, while working as a primary school teacher.

I wanted to understand what his writing routine looked like, how he balanced writing with a day job, and what steps he took to ensure that he got to a point where he was happy to publish.

In this episode we discuss:

Making writing your priority
Planning your day to make time for your writing
Using tools and software to enhance your writing
How Conor structures his writing
The different types of editing processes
How Conor markets his work

Resources:

Conor Bredin
The Longest Night
The Story of a Storyteller Podcast
NaNoWriMo
Robert McKee - Story
Shawn Coyne - The Story Grid
Snowflake Pro
Scrivener
Book Funnel
StoryOrigin
The Anatomy of Story - John Truby

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller

Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting

The Story Grid: What Good Editors Know

The Longest Night: A Supernatural Thriller

Have you ever felt the urge to perform your work in front of people? Or do you already love performing your work to others?

My guest in this episode of the podcast is Dallas based poet and performer, Tyran Saffold. He spends a lot of time reading and reciting his work and he also runs a spoken word magazine, has a YouTube channel and his own podcast.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Tyran and I wanted to know how he gets himself and his pieces ready for a recital and what it is he loves about performing his work to others

In this episode we discuss:

Defining the spoken word
How Tyran got into spoken word
Genres and topics that interest Tyran
How Tyran gets a piece ready to perform
Is it possible to earn money from poetry

Resources:

Gods_ink_Spokenword
Tyran Saffold Jr
The Words I Never Said Podcast
The Ink Magazine
GodsInk1

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Platforms like Medium make it easier than ever to earn a living from writing.

My guest on this episode of the podcast is Michael Thompson, a career coach and writer from the United States who emigrated to Barcelona, in Spain.

He's also the editor of a popular publication on Medium called Entrepreneur's Handbook and has written dozens of articles that have gone viral on Medium.

Mike and I chatted about how he found himself moving to Barcelona from the US and how that move set off a chain of events that uncovered a love for writing.

We also chat about how he got started with Medium and turned his writing into a full-time profession.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Mike losing $250,000 ultimately led to him becoming a writer
Why a good title is as important as a good article
Having options so that not all of your writing is just Medium
The number one mistake writers make when submitting an article to a Medium publication

Resources:

ConvertKit
mikethompsonblog.com
Substack
Michael Thompson on Medium
Make Money on Medium

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Could you write about your family? And if so, how would you decide what to include and what to take out?

I've just finished writing a book about my experiences of being a dad to three children, and I've had to make some decisions about what to leave in and what to take out. After all, I want to be fair to the children.

And although my editor has given me some good advice, ultimately the best person to look over it and give their opinion will be my wife!

It was whilst researching the book that I came across former school principal Dr Paul Reeves. His book is very cleverly titled A Principal's Family Principles. His book is full of stories of his own family and his experiences as a high school principal.

I was interested to know why he decided to write a parenting book, how he got it into the hands of other dads and what it's like to write in this particular type of genre.

In this episode we discuss:

Where the idea for the book came from
How to decide what to leave in and what to take out
Paul's take on bullying
Which chapters especially resonated with the readers

Resources:

Dr. Paul's Radio Show
A Principles Family Principles
Paul Reeves.com
This is Working - Bryan Collins

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

This Is Working: Focus on What Matters and Get the Results You Deserve

Have you ever tried to write a short story? I've often felt that short stories are a great way to try out different styles and genres without the commitment of writing a novel.

They are also a valuable way of moving your writing away from blogging or journalism.

Frank Burton is a podcaster and author. Not only has he produced several novels, but he's also a prolific short story writer.

I was interested to know more about his short story writing process and how he comes up with so many different ideas for short stories across genres.

In this episode we discuss:

How Frank got into writing short stories
How long it takes to write a short story
Influences and favourite writers
Are there any rules about how long a short story should be?
Can anyone write a short story?
Dealing with mental health during the lockdown

Resources:

Ragbag Storytelling Podcast
Scrivener
Frank Burton

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

What does SEO look like for creatives today?

It's a great strategy for building traction for a business or a book, how can you do that without throwing money at Facebook or Google ads?

My guest in this episode is the Founder of Lolly Co, Daniel Cooper. His new book, Upgrade, shows business owners how to use key strategies and techniques to grow their business, including producing engaging content.

Content can come in many forms, from blogging, writing guest articles, newsletters - in fact, anything where some type of creative writing is involved.

But it's not just about producing volumes of content for the sake of it. It's learning how to craft exciting and useful content that will ultimately get you seen.

In today's episode we discuss:

Writing content that engages the reader
The benefits of creating a newsletter
Using the right tools when crafting your content
Where to place your content so that you retain full control over it

Resources:

Ahrefs
Clearscope
Marketmuse
Dashword
HARO
UpGrade the book
Lolly.co

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

You may find yourself wanting to write a book based on your life experiences, but where and how do you start? And once you've written it, how do you then get that book published?

My guest in this episode is Amanda Cosgrove. After putting her son through drama school, she felt compelled to share her story with other parents who are about to embark on the same journey.

Amanda runs a dance and drama school in Wales, so she already had a fair bit of background knowledge in this area, and yet, like many parents, she had no experience of the higher education process.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why Amanda wanted to write a book in the first place
Who was Amanda writing for?
How to deal with rejection
Writing a non-fiction series

Resources:

Amanda Cosgrove

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

How many times have you been in the full flow of writing or editing, only to be distracted by the doorbell or a phone notification or 101 other things? And how long does it take you to then get back into that flow?

My guest on this episode is psychologist and author Phil Dobson. He's an expert in teaching people how to tap into their creativity, manage their distractions, and build resilience.

Phil also explains how we can work smarter, not harder, and the importance of having a solid early morning or evening routine.

You can learn more about working on your creativity and how to work smarter not harder in Phil's online course, The Working Smarter Programme.

In this episode, we discuss:

Three steps to better creativity
Using The Disney Technique to realise and tap into your potential
What happens when you allow yourself to stop, step back and give your brain some space
Your relationship with your mobile phone
Prioritizing your personal and work-life

Resources:

BrainWorkshops
The Pomodoro Technique
Freedom
The Brain Book
The Working Smarter Programme

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

My guest in this episode is experienced freelance writer Zulie Rane. She is not only a popular freelance writer on Medium, but she also writes for B2B and B2C clients and is also a ghostwriter, all of which provide her with multiple income streams.

An excellent place to start your freelance writing career is by posting articles on Medium, and this is something that I discuss in more detail with Adrien Drew in a previous episode.

I wanted to know what advice Zulie had for freelance writers who are just starting. Medium is something we talk about, along with other ways that freelance writers can get started.

In this episode, we discuss:

The importance of having multiple income streams as a writer
Ways to get yourself noticed as a freelancer
Write what you know about
What to charge for your work
Should a writer ever work for free
The world of ghostwriting

Resources:

Medium
ConvertKit
Clearvoice
Upwork
Zulie Writes

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Have you ever considered entering a writing award?

I used to enter writing competitions to deal with procrastination and writer's block. And although I didn't win anything, it forced me to finish off pieces of writing, and I also benefitted from the feedback I got from the judges.

My guest on this episode knows all about writing awards. Paula Sheridan is an award-winning historical fiction novelist and founder of the Page Turner Awards.

The awards are now in their second year and include categories for fiction, non-fiction, screenwriting and other categories that we discuss in the interview.

I wanted to know why she launched the awards in the first place, and can an award change a writers life?

The awards are open for submission now at The Page Turner Awards.

In this episode we discuss:

Why Paula founded the Page Turner Awards
What makes a good submission for an award
Do awards sell books?
Paula's advice for entering The Page Turner Award

Resources:

The Page Turner Awards
Campfire
ProWriting Aid
Scrivener

Become a Patreon, support the show and get exclusive content:
Patreon - Become A Writer Today

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

In the episode, I have an interesting catch up with Christina Kaye of Write Your Best Book.

I was a guest on Christina's podcast last year, so it was good to switch roles and ask her the questions.

Christina has self-published and traditionally published a number of books, most of which fall into the suspense genre. She also coaches new authors about how to overcome some common mistakes that new authors and writers make so that they can publish their best book.

In this episode we discuss:

How and why Christina set up Write Your Best Book
How Christina came close to giving up writing altogether
Why you should write what you love to read
How Christina uses advertising on Google and Facebook
The mistakes that new authors make
How to use TikTok to promote yourself as a writer
An authors mindset

Resources:Write Your Best Book
Scrivener
Reedsy
Tips on Becoming an Author
Bryan Collins on Write Your Best Book Podcast

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Brett Godfrey is a multitalented author of the thriller Black Sunrise.
He's worked as a lawyer, an engineer, and a pilot, which has given him some hair raising experiences.

In this episode, we discuss those experiences and how Brett draws on them to help write his thriller books. He also talks about his writing process and how he spent many years developing the premise for Black Sunrise until he was happy to publish it, and he also touches upon his approach to self-censorship.

In this episode we discuss:

Why you should hire both a developmental editor and a copy editor
Going back through your manuscript to hone and refine the story
Drawing on your own personal experiences
Referring to old diaries and journals for inspiration
Using vivid language to express emotions
Staying faithful to a character
Learning to turn off your inner censor and let the writing flow

Resources:
brettgodfrey.com
Black Sunrise

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Black Sunrise

Goodbye, 2020.

Like many, I felt a sense of relief saying those words on New Year's Day.

I put off recording this review for a week or two.

The days of 2020 bled into each other, with nothing notable to punctuate the weeks and months, beyond grim news about the virus or elections.

But here we are, with a vaccine in sight. When we’ll get it and if life will return to normality in 2021, is a bigger question.

So in this annual review, I'll cover what did and didn't go well during 2020 and what's in store for 2021.

Resources
Read my Annual Review (plus check out my Substack newsletter)

How to Build a Niche Website That Earns Six Figures A Year with Jon Dykstra

The Zettelkasten Method with Sascha Fast

The Best Journals to Buy In 2021

Masterclass Review

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Almost all writers need to jump-start their writing occasionally and using prompts on a daily basis can really help with that.

Personally, I think that daily writing prompts are so useful I wrote a book full of them.

If you'd like to try using prompts, and like the idea of them popping up on your phone, there is a fantastic prompt app available called Daily Prompt, and I recently had the chance to catch up with its co-creator Ryan Lindsey.

I wanted to understand how he came up with idea for creating such an app in the first place and how writers are using prompts to drive their writing habits.

In this interview we discuss:

The idea behind The Daily Prompt
How they come up with ideas for prompts
The community of writers that's developed within the app
Gamification within the app to encourage daily writing
The introduction of competitions in the app
Keeping all the writing that's done in the app safe and secure

Resources:

The Daily Prompt
Deviant Art
Day One
the.fitness.hippie

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

This episode is a little bit different in that I'm not interviewing anybody. Instead, I'm going to give you some insights which will help you with your creative writing projects.

Experience shows that it's important to write. But why?

It's a question that I answer in this week's podcast episode and, I'm not going to give you just one reason, I'm giving you seven.

Resources:
The Savvy Writer's Guide to Productivity

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

The Savvy Writer's Guide to Productivity: How to Work Less, Finish Writing Your Story or Book, and Find the Success You Deserve (Become a Writer Today)

Medium is the number one platform for non-fiction writers who want to find readers, share their message and earn a little for doing it. Members of the partner program regularly earn four and five figures a month.

But what if you’re just starting out and don’t have and subscribers, much less a portfolio?

Is it too late to start writing on Medium?

Adrian Drew is the editor and owner of one of Medium’s top publications Mind Cafe. His publication focuses on personal development and receives over 200 submissions a week.

In this interview, Adrian explains:

How to get started writing and earning on Medium, even if you have no followers

What editors of top Medium publications usually look for
How much you can expect to earn as member of the Medium partner program
What types of images and tags to use
How to drive traffic to and attract readers of your articles

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Attention Writers!
What's the best grammar checker of 2020? Find out in this review and claim a discount.

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Earlier this year, I came across a strategy that dramatically changed how I research and write articles and books.

It’s called the Zettelkasten or Slipbox. This form of research and note-taking was popularised, at least in Germany, by sociologist and author Niklas Lumen.

(Fun fact: Lumen used the Slipbox or Zettelkasten method of research to write and publish over 70 books).

Basically, it involves writing a web of thought around your ideas, research, and readings. I write five to ten entries a day in my personal Slipbox, which is a little like journaling.

Fear not: creating a Slipbox is relatively easy providing you follow a few simple rules.

Create a single entry per idea

Link your entries to each other
Use descriptive headings
Categorize your entries

There’s a little bit more to it than that.

So, in this week’s interview, Sascha Fast explains:

What a Slipbox is and how to use one for writing
How to get started creating your Slipbox
Why a Slipbox is ideal for non-fiction writers
How he’s using a Slipbox to research 70-YES 70!- books
The tools you need to create one

Resources

Evernote

Day One

Ulysses

Archive

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You may already know that there are dozens of different writing apps which you can choose for your writing projects, but which one is the best?

That's a question I answer in this week's podcast episode where I discuss 10 of the best writing apps that I use, and take a look at the pros and cons of each.

This should help you find the right one for your freelance writing projects, stories, or book.

In this episode I talk about:

The 10 writing apps that I like to use
The pros and cons of each
The benefits of using a writing app
Which writing app suits which writing project

And much more.

Resources:

iA Writer
Scrivener
LivingWriter
Google Docs
Day One
Dragon Dictate
Rev
Evernote
Grammarly
ProWriting Aid

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Around eight or nine years ago that I first came across the Pomodora Technique and it changed the way that I write.

Francesco Cirillo developed the technique help businesses and individuals improve and increase their productivity in a simple, fast and gentle way.

Before you listen to the podcast, take some time to think about how you structure your day.

In this episode we talk about:

The difference between the Pomodoro core process and the Pomodoro technique
Seeing time as a predator and using it to your advantage
The importance of taking regular breaks
Mistakes to watch out for when you start to use the technique

And much more.

Resources

Pomodoro

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Productivity is something that's fascinated me over the years in fact, it's how I started Become a Writer Today.

It also led me to stay in touch with my guest Arthur Worsley, who I first met at a mastermind a couple of years ago.

He's an expert when it comes to productivity. His blog, Faster to Master (now called The Art of Living), was created to show people how easy it is to stop working harder and accomplish more.

One of the big arguments against productivity is, you never get to the bottom of your to-do list, and this is one of the questions I put to Arthur.

You'll find his reply insightful, whatever stage you're at with your writing or creative work.

In this episode I talk to Arthur about:

What causes procrastination and how to overcome it
Arthur's writing process for turning ideas into articles
Tools and resources that he uses to structure his day
His morning routine and how he prepares to write each day
The importance of putting life, not work, first

ResourcesThe Art of Living
Stop Working Harder

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You may have heard the cliché about the penniless starving artist.

That is true to some degree however, it's easier than ever before to earn a living as a writer or creative, thanks to the tools and software currently available.

But where and how do you turn your passion for writing into profit?

Michelle Vandepas is the co-owner and co-founder of GracePoint publishing, and not only is she an expert in self-publishing, but she also helps many authors turn their books into published works.

In this episode, I talk to Michelle about:

Why you need to market your book, not just write it and hope it sells
Is writing a book the right thing for you to do to achieve your business goals?
Using your book as a business card
How to decide whether to self-publish or go to a publisher
Do you need an ISBN number?

And much more.

Resources

Grace Point Publishing

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Have you got a burning desire to become a freelance writer? Or are you already are a freelance writer and you want to take your career to the next level?

Whichever it is, this podcast is for you.

Jessica Lawlor is the editor of The Write Life, and on Monday 14th September they launched their writers bundle. It's a package of courses designed to accelerate your freelance career. From how much to charge, how to find clients and so much more.

If you want to take advantage of it, it's available for 3 days.

I got to together with Jessica to not only discuss the bundle, which I've also contributed to, but how she manages a busy website like The Write Life.

In this episode I talk to Jessica about:

The Write Life bundle
Opportunities for freelance writers
How she manages the workflow for a busy website
How she creates traffic to her site
The type of content she enjoys writing

Resources

thewritersbundle2020
The Write Life
Jessica Lawlor Newsletter

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Would you like to write narrative non-fiction? It's a challenging genre that fascinates me.

Jeremy Dronfield is the author of the Sunday Times best-seller The Boy Who Followed His Father Into Auschwitz.

In this interview, he explains:
What looking at the past teaches us about today

The process of writing narrative non-fiction and how to find your subject
How to write a great pitch letter that publishers notice
His research process
Dealing with dark subject matter

And lots more!

Attention writers!
Would you like to learn from top authors like Malcom Gladwell and James Patterson? Check out my Masterclass review.

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Personal development is a huge topic online today, particularly on platforms like Medium.

Although it’s a topic most people have an opinion about, it’s quite hard to stand out.

Unless your name is Darius Foroux.

Living in the Netherlands, he’s one of Medium’s top writers covering topics like wealth, buildings, habits and decision-making. He’s also an author and instructor, selling popular online courses about writing, careers and more via his website.

In this interview, Darius explains:

How he managed to write 7 books in six years

Why he focuses on one project at a time
How he grew his blog into one of top personal development websites online
His process for researching, writing and publishing non-fiction articles
What he does when readers suggest editorial changes (including trolls)

And lots more

If you enjoyed this podcast episode, please leave a rating on the iTunes Store.

Resources

Ulysses

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Attention Writers!
What's the best grammar checker of 2020? Find out in this review and claim a discount.

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Living Writer is a new writing app for authors and novelists. It contains a number of templates and other tools that will help you plot and write a book faster. I'm currently testing it for a new book of nonfiction I'm working on.

It's also free to try for a month. I recently caught up with the founders Dominic Chase and Casey Kerbs and asked them how it can help writers become authors.

ResourcesThe Best Writing Apps of 2020

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Attention Writers!
What's the best grammar checker of 2020? Find out in this review and claim a discount.

If so, Hope*Writers is opening its doors later this month. Find out more at https://becomeawritertoday.com/hopewriters

You'll get a free bonus ;)

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Welcome to Hell World is one of the most popular newsletters on Substack today. It's run by journalist, author and poet Luke O'Neil.

His newsletter combines a commentary a US current affairs with poetry and insights from Luke's life. Luke's writings aren't for everyone and he's not afraid to say it. A blurb on his new book reads: "The Left’s new low." —Tucker Carlson

Check out this week's interview.

ResourcesWelcome to Hell World

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Writing words that sell. That's your primary job as a copywriter.

But, there's a bit more to it than that. Jack Stafford set up his copywriting agency The Copywriter Collective back in 2002.

His copywriting agency employs copywriters and works with clients around the world. In this week's interview, he explains what a copywriter does, how to find a job as a copywriter and how to get paid.
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Attention Writers!

What's the best grammar checker of 2020? Find out in this review and claim a discount.

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When I started my new newsletter 100% Unfinished, I studied how the experts do it.

One person who knows a lot about profitable newsletters is Terry Godier

In this episode, we cover:

Why every nonfiction writer should start a newsletter
How can writers earn a live from a newsletter
What newsletters are so popular this year
What makes a good newsletter
What newsletter promotion strategies he recommends

Terry previously ran two paid newsletters. Since recording this interview, he has migrated his newsletters to his site Terry Godier

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Writing a book isn't often enough to earn a full-time living. Many successful non-fiction authors earn a living through public speaking and coaching. A book acts as a calling or business card.

Christopher Connors is the author of Emotional Intelligence for the Modern Leader. He earns an income through writing and also coaching and public speaking.

In this interview, he explains:

What it means to be emotionally intelligent
What to do when your motivation flags
His ideal early morning writing routine
Why he writes leadership books… and how they help him grow his speaking business

And lots more

Resources

How the Hell Has Danielle Steel Managed to Write 179 Books?

Emotional Intelligence for the Modern Leader: A Guide to Cultivating Effective Leadership and Organizations

Attention Writers!

What's the best grammar checker of 2020. Find out in this review and claim a discount.

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Emotional Intelligence for the Modern Leader: A Guide to Cultivating Effective Leadership and Organizations

A few weeks ago, my editor from Forbes rang me.

"Bryan," he said. "We reviewed your contract and, well, we're ending your column at the end of the month."

Now, I've spent the past two years writing for Forbes about topics like careers, leadership, creativity and more.

Some would say losing a big writing gig like Forbes is a disaster.

But, I say otherwise.

ResourcesFreelance writing jobs - My 2020 guide
Getting paid to write - a round up of my best posts
My newsletter

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John Vorhaus is the author of one of the best books on comedy writing: The Comic Toolbox. He's also a scriptwriter, artist and writing instructor.

In this week's interview, he explains:

How to write comedy if you're not funny
What comedy is a little like drama
How to balance your art with business
What he did after facing a bout of writer's block

And lots more

ResourcesThe Comic Toolbox
A White Belt in Art

Doctor's Without Borders

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What's the best grammar checker of 2020? Find out in this review and claim a discount.

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The Comic Toolbox How to Be Funny Even If You're Not

A White Belt in Art

Would you spend a career writing leadership books? And if so what would that look like?

Glenn Parker has written and published over a dozen books in this genre. He's also co-author of Positive Influence: The Leader Who Helps People Become Their Best Selfwith his son Michael.

This book demonstrates the various ways leaders have positively influenced the lives and careers of many successful people.

In this interview, Glenn explains:

The four primary types of leaders... and how to identify your preferred style
His ideal writing routine
How he built and sustained a career writing leadership books
Where he finds leadership book ideas
His non-fiction writing research process

And lots more

podcast #doing

Attention Writers!

What's the best grammar checker of 2020. Find out in this review and claim a discount.

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Would you like to get into sports writing?

Canadian sports journalist Alex Hutchinson is the author of New York Times best-selling Endure: Mind, Body and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance

But he wasn't always a writer.

In his early twenties, Hutchinson competed with the Canadian Athletics Team while training as a physicist. As his running career came to an end around 2006, he transitioned into sports journalism.

The book blends Hutchinson's passion for running with his scientific training in an attempt to probe the link between the human body and mind in top athletes.

In this interview, Alex explains:

How top performers push past discomfort to accomplish more
Why he decided to write a sports science book
How he got into sports writing
The link between an introverted activity like writing and physical training
Why sports mantras work and how anyone can use them

And lots more.

I started by asking Alex to describe how he transitioned from a career as a physicists to becoming a sports writer.

Resources:
Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance

I've collected lots of terrible writing advice over the years, from talks, seminars, courses, and books. It's easy to find good writing advice for self-publishing, writing a book, or earning more money as a freelance or non-fiction writer.

But what about terrible writing advice? What type of advice should you avoid if you want to become a successful author or profitable writer?

This guide to terrible writing advice also includes some practical tips from one of my favourite writers: Ernest Hemingway.

Let's dive in.

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Evernote is a tool for capturing and arranging your information and ideas. It serves as a digital file cabinet, personal notebook and project management tool.

Bethany Stephens is the founder of Soapbox Influence, a marketing agency based in Bentonville Arkansaw. Her company employs 15 people and works with Fortune 500 brands, including NBC Universal.

Stephens is also a writer and blogger who considers Evernote a key part of her creative workflow. In this interview, Beth explains:

How she uses Evernote to capture ideas and write
Why every writer and creative should capture ideas regularly
What her tagging and filing system looks like
Why she also uses Evernote for task and project management

And lots more.

I started by asking Beth to describe what her business does and why her team rely on Evernote so much.

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Could you start a creative business in two hours a day? That's how I launched Become a Writer Today. I got up early in the mornings to write, create courses and figure out what readers wanted.

I'm hardly unique.

Dane Maxwell believes anyone can do it.

He is the author of Start From Zero: Build Your Own Business and Experience True Freedom and the founder of several software-as-a-service businesses.

In this interview, Dane explains:

How to build your creative business in two hours a day
What to outsource if you want to increase profits fast
How to balance your ideas with what readers, students or clients will pay for
Why he likes James Patterson's writing routine

And lots more.

I start by asking Dane how to build a business in two hours a day.

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Start From Zero: Build Your Own Business & Experience True Freedom

Would you like to write an allegory?

An allegory is basically a story that reveals a hidden meaning or moral. One great example is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. An allegory is necessarily as long as a novel, but it should leave the reader with an understanding of a key concept or idea.

An allegory is a little like self-help, except in the vein of a story.

Jordan Gross is author of the allegory The Journey to Cloud Nine and a TEDx speaker. He's also a prolific non-fiction Medium writer.

In this interview, Gross explains:

The problems with traditional self-help books today
Why he veered away from this genre
How to write an allegory
What it took to land a TEDx speaking gig
How he's selling copies of his new book through public speaking

And lots more.

I started by asking Jordan why he decided to write the allegory The Journey to Cloud Nine in the first place

Resources
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

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None

What is HitRecord?

HitRecord is a creative platform where writers can collaborate with illustrators, graphic designers other creatives across disciplines on short films, animations, scripts and more.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Jared Geller founded the company in 2004. It claims over 900,000 users and employs 40 people in Los Angeles.

I recently interviewed Jared and in this interview, he explains:

How writers can use a platform like HitRecord
Why every creative project needs a leader
What it takes to start a creative project on HitRecord
Why successful creatives collaborate

And lots more.

I started by asking him how creatives can use HitRECORD.

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Will it make our boat go faster? That's a question Great Britain's 2000 Olympic rowing team asked itself every day prior to winning gold in Australia.

For a writer, your boat might represent writing a memoir and publishing it, landing a new client or launching a course. So when faced with a decision about to do more or less of, frame it around the boat question.

This is an idea Irishman Brian Pennie speaks about regularly. The author of Bonus Time, Pennie is also a PhD student of neuroscience, lecturer and a recovering heroin addict.

In this interview he explains:

How he overcame his heroin addiction
Why he decided to write a memoir about his painful personal story
How to make decisions faster
What his writing process looks like
And lots more.

I started by asking Brian how he overcame heroin and started writing a memoir.

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Do you want to go from blog to book?

Nina Amir is the author of titles like How to Blog a Book and The Author Training Manual. Amir coaches clients and students through this iterative creative process.

Formerly a journalist like me, Amir has been blogging since 2006 and runs not one but four different sites including Write Nonfiction Now!, How to Blog a Book.

In this interview, Nina explains:

How to go from blog to book
Why bloggers have all they need to become nonfiction authors
What to do before you write a single blog post
How to conquer problems like overwhelm and not having time to write

And lots more.

I started by asking Nina why she left her journalism career behind and if she'd ever go back.

Resources:
Poor Brother, Rich Brother
The Art of Writing a Non-Fiction Book
The Power of Creativity
This Is Working

Attention writers
Grammarly is one of my favourite proofreading tools. Now, claim a 20% discount with this Grammarly coupon---

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This Is Working: Focus on What Matters and Get the Results You Deserve

The Power of Creativity : A Three-Part Series for Writers, Artists, Musicians and Anyone In Search of Great Ideas

Poor Brother, Rich Brother

The Art of Writing a Non-Fiction Book: An Easy Guide to Researching, Creating, Editing, and Self-Publishing Your First Book (Become a Writer Today 3)

During the early 2000s, Canadian-lawyer Jon Dykstra faced a unique challenge. His employer wanted him to attract more clients through blogging and content marketing. So, Dykstra began writing about legal topics that interested clients, based on their search queries.

Today, he regularly earns over $40,000 a month from online publishing.

In this interview, Jon explains:

What is a niche website and why they're so profitable
Why niche sites are ideal business opportunities for writers
Where to get niche website ideas
What Jon would do if he had just one hour a week to work

And lots more

I started by asking Jon how he transitioned from a career as a lawyer to becoming an online publisher, running nine profitable niche sites.

Resources:
Fat Stacks Blog

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COVID-19 is an unprecedented and worrying event. The closet comparison is the 1918 Spanish flu.

I'm handling this crisis in a several different ways.

Apart from following advice to wash my hands my frequently and practice social distancing, I've started meditating for twenty minutes twice a day.

It helps me decompress after reading or listening to bleak news updates. It can also help with finding more creative ideas and mastering the art of focus.

If you want to get started, check out...

How to Learn to Meditate Effectively: An Insider’s Guide

I'm lucky enough to work from home full-time anyway, but many new writers could find this transition a little jarring.

I recently wrote these two articles that might help.

About To Work From Home? Here's What To Expect
Want To Work From Home? Master These 3 Skills

This podcast also delves deeper into the topic.

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Are you looking for profitable side hustle ideas? It’s not a good idea to depend on one income source. If you’re working a fulltime job, you could lose it and find yourself scrambling to pay the bills.

That happened to me back in 2008 when I was a freelance journalist dependent on one client. It happened again in 2012 when a charity I was working for let me go.

Even if you don’t depend on your employer, profitable creatives avoid trading all their time for money. They create assets that help them focus on what they love making without worrying about paying the bills.

You can too.

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

The biggest and most successful personal brands put their audiences first every time. And they get paid well for doing it. That applies to writers too.

In this short episode, I explain how to get personal branding right.

Attention writers

Masterclass is one of my the best places to learn from creative writers and entrepreneurs today, including the likes of Neil Gaiman and David Lynch. If you want to claim a free book from a Masterclass instructor, read this Masterclass review.

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Do you have a business disaster recovery plan?

Florida Keys-based ceramicist and painter Sally Binard’s home and livelihood were destroyed by Hurricane Irma in September 2017. With her studio and home in ruins, Sally had to start rebuilding her creative business.

Her experiences reveal how many creative people can get ready for the worst... and rebuild after it's over.

In this interview, we cover:

How advice from Jack White changed Binard's art
Why creative entrepreneurs can achieve more with less
How to prepare a business disaster recovery plan
The differences in her creative process compared to writers
How she balances running a business with the creative process
And lots more.

Binard is also a former marine biologist. So, I started by asking her why she decided to move away from that career and start a creative business in the first place.

Attention writers

Masterclass is one of the best places to learn from creative writers and entrepreneurs today, including the likes of Neil Gaiman and David Lynch. If you want to claim a free book from a Masterclass instructor, read this Masterclass review

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Let's say goodbye to the myth of the starving artist.

Every writer and creative professional deserves to get paid... and there's no reason why you can't.

In this week's mini-episode, I cover 5 great ways writers can get paid for their hard creative work, list the pros and cons and offer some ways to get started faster.

Resources from the episode

AWAI.com
How to Write a Book
Where to Find Writing Jobs
The Best Online Writing Courses

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

What was the first children's book you ever read? Mine was The BFG by Roald Dahl. Thinking of that book could help you tell better stories and even connect with readers today.

That's an approach branding consultant and children's book author Leah Komaiko recommends.

In this interview, Leah explains:

How she got started writing children's books
Why the first children's book you ever read is so important
What effective copywriting looks and sounds like
Why I (and you) should re-read the first children's book you remember...and what it could mean for your creative work

And lots more.

I start by asking Leah to describe how she transitioned from writing children's books to advising Fortune 100 clients about storytelling.

Resources

Story by Robert McKee

The BFG by Roald Dahl

Quote "I discovered, in writing kids' books, that there's a very strong connection between what makes a great kids' book and what makes it a very powerful brand."

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Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting

BFG

Being able to earn money from your writing is an amazing feeling!

I'm sure we all wish that earning an income as a writer was as simple as writing something, thousands of people seeing it, and then money is deposited into your bank account.

Unfortunately, earning a good living as a writer online today isn't that simple.

When you’re first starting out as a writer, everything is smooth sailing you can focus all of your energy just on writing.

You’re having a great time, but you’re probably not earning as much as you wish you could.

Once that frustration kicks in, you look for ways to turn your passion for the written word into a business.

But once you start to make this transition, one difficult task presents itself in many different ways…

Fear not:

In this podcast episode, I cover 3 strategies that will help you become a more efficient writer.

This is based on my new course The Efficient Writer.

Join now

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The internet is a noisy place for writers. If you want to build a relationship with readers and earn more from your creative work, consider starting a newsletter. Substack is an example of a popular service that you can try.

I recently interviewed co-founder and COO Hamish McKenzie. In this interview, he explains:

Why newsletters are a great way of earning more money as w writer
Why your first newsletter starts with an ideal reader
How to build a relationship with readers and fans
What it takes to grow a newsletter that people will pay for

And lots more.

I started by asking McKenzie to explain what Substack is and why he set it up in 2017.

Resources:
The Blank Page with Bryan Collins
Substack
The GaryVee Content Model
1000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly

Attention writers

Grammarly is one of my favourite proofreading tools. Now, claim a 20% discount with this Grammarly coupon

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January is one of my favourite times of the year. Much like a blank page, it's a fresh start rich with possibility.

A key part of any new year involves putting the past to one side. The best way to do that is by writing an annual review, a practice I follow every year.

In this annual review podcast and article, I'll explain what I did and wrote during 2019. I'll also cover what did and didn't work.

Strap in.

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Malaysian-Indian entrepreneur Vishen Lakhiani is writing three books at once and is the founder of Mindvalley (Mindvalley.com), a personal development online education company.

He's also the author of New York Times best-seller The Code of the Extraordinary Mind and is about to publish a new book The Buddha and the Badass.

He explains:

Why he's writing 3, yes 3, books at once
How meditation helps him become more productive and creative
Why typical approaches to setting goals don't work
How he finds time for writing so many books and running a business with over 200 employees

And lots more.

I started by asking Vishen to describe why he set up Mindvalley in 2004.

Resources:
How to set writing goals
6-Phase Meditation Quest?
The Best Online Writing Courses

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168 hours.

Every writer, no matter what stage they're at in their careers, gets the same amount of time each week to waste or spend.
So how can you accomplish more with what you have?

Nir Eyal is the author of Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. He's also an angel investor, productivity consultant, and former university lecturer.

He explains:

How time-boxing and constraints can help writers become more productive
Why he spent five years writing Indistractable
The problem with many popular productivity books today
What his ideal writing routine looks like
And lots more.

I started by asking Nir to explain one of the core ideas in his book: time-boxing.

Resources:
Nir's scheduling tool Indistractable
How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life

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Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant co-founded Sterling & Stone and the authors of a touchstone non-fiction book Write. Publish. Repeat. They've just released the follow up to that book The Fiction Formula and are co-hosts of the Story Studio podcast.

In this interview, Johnny and Sean explain:

Why they stopped creating courses and hosting in-person events for authors
How they're going to publish 150 books in 2020 (yes, 150!)
What it takes to generate thousands of dollars a month in revenue each month on Amazon
Where new indie authors should start if they want to self-publish quickly
How the Flywheel Effect (a concept from the business world) informs their creative process

And lots more.

I start by asking the pair why they decided to write a follow up to Write. Publish. Repeat.

Resources

The Fiction Formula

Write. Publish. Repeat. The No Luck Required Guide to Self-Publishing Success

The Flywheel Effect by Jim Collins

Attention writers

Grammarly is one of my favourite proofreading tools. Now, claim a 20% discount with this Grammarly coupon

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Dr. Megan Jones is chief science officer at Headspace, the company behind the popular meditation app of the same name. Meditation offers several benefits for entrepreneurs, leaders and creatives. In this interview, she explains:

How meditation enables creative thinking
How to get started meditating even if you have no time
What happens when you practice for just three weeks
The type of meditation creatives should start with

And lots more.

I started by asking to explain how meditation can help someone become more productive.

Resources
Headspace.com
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
Become a Better Writer by Free Writing

Attention writersAre you looking for a job? Check out my list of the best writing jobs

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Do you want to become a more creative writer?

Dr. Roger Firestien is a creativity consultant and senior faculty member at the Internal Center for Studies in Creativity at Buffalo State College in the United States. He's also the author of Create In A Flash: A Leader's Recipe for Breakthrough Innovation.

In this interview, Roger explains:

How creativity works for writers
Why it's important to force connections between different ideas
What do to when you feel blocked and uninspired
What his writing routine looks like

And lots more.

I started by asking Roger about his new book Create In A Flash: A Leader's Recipe for Breakthrough Innovation

Resources
Create in a Flash by Roger Firestein

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What does it take to become a great leader? There are many great books on this topic. One book I read recently is Outward Bound Lessons to Live a Life of Leadership by Mark Brown.

From Ohio, Brown has worked with the learning and leadership organization Outward Bound for over twenty years and has served as a transformational coach in many industries.

In this podcast episode, he explains:

Why he wrote a book about leadership
How to apply the 70/20/10 leadership model
Why interviewing other leaders and coaches formed key parts of his book
How he broke his book up into three acts

And lots more

I started by asking Mark to explain what the organization Outward Bound is and how it helps aspiring leaders.

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You don't have to write a novel or a 60,000-word magnum opus to become an author. Successful recipe books can earn authors a healthy paycheque and build a brand in a way that's just not possible through other forms of media.

Sean McCormack is the head vet for Tails, a pet food company that provides personalised dog food in the United Kingdom and France. He's also the co-author of The Happy Dog CookBook, a recipe book for dogs.

In this interview McCormack explains:

Why he co-wrote a recipe book for dog
The value of writing ideas down in a book as opposed to an interview or video
What it took to produce the first draft in just a few weeks
How he road-tested the recipes inside of The Happy Dog CookBook
How a business can build its brand through publishing a book

And lots more

I start by asking Sean to explain what Tails do and why they decided to publish a cookbook for dogs with Sean.

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One of my goals on Become a Writer Today is to help you earn more money from writing.

Creating courses and offering coaching is a great way of getting paid. You can easily turn a non-fiction book into a course.

Selling courses and coaching packages is a little bit trickier though. Believe me, I've made a lot of mistakes!

Many writers feel uncomfortable with asking for the sale. I know I did when I first started selling courses online.

Laura Philips is a British entrepreneur who runs Love to Launch. Her business coaches students and clients how to create, launch and sell online courses, products and services.

In this interview, she explains:

How to launch a product or service to it feels effortless
How to align your creative passion with what readers and customers want
What a non-fiction writer should consider before their next launch
How to avoid overwhelm and still find time for your creative work... or time off

And lots more

I started by asking Laura to describe how she helps online entrepreneurs launch courses, products and services.

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PaperTrue provides copyediting and proofreading services to writers, entrepreneurs and academics. Based in India, the company employs over 100 editors and works with writers, academics, entrepreneurs and executives around the world.

In this interview, CEO Neha Vaidya explains:

Why every writer should work with an editor
How to prepare your story, screenplay or book for an editor
How much editing and proofreading costs
What to expect from your editor

And lots more

I started by asking Neha to explain a little more about how PaperTrue helps writers.

Further reading
This Is Working

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Michal Korzonek is the co-founder of Journal Smarter. Living in the UK with his partner and co-founder Silvia Barros, he teaches clients and students how to use journaling for cultivating habits and focusing on their goals.

In this interview, he explains:

How writers and creatives can use journaling to find more ideas
How to cultivate a journaling habit if you don't have one
The tools he uses...and why analogue is sometimes best
How journaling encourages creative and clear thinking

Further reading

How to Start a Journaling Habit Today
Journal Writing for Intelligent People: The Ultimate Guide

And lots more

I started by asking Michal what he wants to achieve with Journal Smarter.

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Daniel Bordovsky is a Czech-born independent musician and composer. His instrumental music has been featured in over 2,000 projects including the US National Parks project. He also recently collaborated with entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk.

This year, Bordovsky is on track to earn over $300,000, up from $50,000 when he began working independently two years ago.

Although not a writer, in the traditional sense, his approach to creative work should inform anyone who wants to earn a living from stories, books and other creative projects.

Why every creative should give away their best work for free, at least at first
What it takes to build a network with influencers online
How he balances business with creative projects
The importance of finding time for your art

And lots more

Attention writers!

Would you like a free book from a Masterclass teacher? Check out my Masterclass review for more details.

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Joshua Jay is an award-winning magician and the author of popular books like several popular books including Magic: The Complete Course. He's also the founder of Vanishing Inc. one the largest magic retailers in the United States.

I recently caught up with Jay, and in this interview, he explains:

How writing and publishing books helped grow his business
The role of suspense and surprise in any creative work
How he balances business and creative projects
Why we should prepare for the next recession today (and how to do it)

And lots more

Attention writers!

What's the best grammar checker of 2019? Find out in my guide and get a discount on your tool of choice.

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How can you unlock creative thinking? What would it take to think like Leonardo da Vinci?

One man with answers to those questions is New York Time best-selling author Michael Gelb.

Michael is the author of over a dozen books about creativity, innovation and leadership, including the best-seller How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci.

His latest book is called The Healing Organization: Awakening the Conscience of Business to Help Save the World.

Prior to its release, I caught up with Michael. In this interview, he explains:

Why every creative and business owner should give something back
How you can think like Leonard da Vinci
Where he gets ideas for his books
How you can unlock creative thinking
How side-pursuits, like Tai-Chi and Qigong inform his creative process

And lots more

Attention writers!

What's the best grammar checker tool you can use? Find out in my guide and get a discount on your tool of choice.

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Louise Dean is a British novelist, the author of four published works including Becoming Strangers, This Human Season, The Idea of Love and The Old Romantic.

Becoming Strangers was long-listed for the Man Booker prize while The Old Romanic was an Oprah book of the week. Dean also teaches aspiring novelist how to write fiction and secure book deals via the Novelry.

In this interview, she explains:

The one skill every writer must learn (this applies to fiction and non-fiction)
Why 90 days is the perfect amount of time for first drafts
How she approaches writing and business
What it's like when your works becomes an Oprah book of the week
Her radical approach to fighting writer's block

And much more.

Attention Writers!Would you improve your writing skills? This article explains to top online writing courses available online today and includes details about Louise Dean's course.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/message

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Pascal Gambardella, who holds a PhD, is an author and lecturer specialising in creative thinking. Over the years, he has taught students how to become more prolific and how to overcome problems like writer's block.

In this interview, Pascal explains:

How he encourages prolific writing
The questions you should ask yourself at the start of any writing project
Why every writer should trigger a creative state and how to do it
What his writing routine looks like

And lots more

Resources

How to Write a Journal

Attention writers!What's the best grammar checker of 2019? Find out in my guide and get a discount on your tool of choice.

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Timothy Sykes is a blogger, a millionaire day trader, teacher and now philanthropist through his charity Karmagawa.

Sykes teaches students how to trade penny stocks. He has built a business around his controversial approach using blogging, content and social media marketing.

Sykes is also the author of An American Hedge Fund: How I Made $2 Million as a Stock Operator & Created a Hedge Fund.

In this interview, Sykes explains:

How he uses content marketing to build his business and promote his charity
What it takes to stand out on social media today
How he deals with online critics
Why storytelling is every entrepreneur and creative professional's secret weapon

And lots more

Attention writers!What's the best grammar checker of 2019? Find out in my guide and get a discount on your tool of choice.

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Not every author writes a book to earn more money. Some authors have a message they want to share with the world.

Scott Moorehead is one such writer.

He is the co-author of Build A Culture of Good: Unleash Results by Letting Your Employees Bring Their Soul to Work.

In this book, Moorehead and his co-authors Ryan McCarty and Marshall Goldsmith make a case for promoting philanthropy in the workplace.

In this interview Moorehead explains

Why he choose to write a book about philanthropy in the first place
How he came up with the big idea behind this book
His take on most business books today
The reason why he cut the last six chapters from his book

I started by asking Scott to give some background information about his business before getting into his reasons for writing Build a Culture of Good.

And lots more.

Further Reading

The Runner’s Guide to Better Writing

Attention writers!
What's the best grammar checker of 2019? Find out in my guide and get a discount on your tool of choice.

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Build A Culture of Good: Unleash Results by Letting Your Employees Bring Their Soul to Work

Max Marlow studied screenwriting in Goldsmiths in London, graduating in 2017. He wrote several 30-page scripts only to face rejection from film and television agents who wouldn't accept unsolicited materials. Then, Marlow started sharing his writings on Instagram.

In this interview, he explains:

Why every writer can use Instagram to connect with readers
How he uses Instagram photos as a means of conquering writer's block
What it takes to tell stories on this social media network
How he ended up being mentored by Han Solo director Ron Howard

And lots more

Resources

The Best Online Writing Courses

Attention writers!
What's the best grammar checker tool you can use? Find out in my guide and get a discount on your tool of choice.

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Abidemi Sanusi is a former human rights worker and now writer. Her book, Eyo, was shortlisted for the 2010 Commonwealth Writers' Prize. Based in London, she's also an SEO consultant and coach. In this podcast episode she explains:

Why every writer should learn to write for the web
How to balance writing fiction and nonfiction
What's working in SEO today for writers and authors
How she balances creative and analytical work
Why she still writes fiction

And lots more

Attention writers!

What's the best grammar checker of 2019? Find out in my guide and get a discount on your tool of choice.

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Canadian writer Scott Young learnt the entire MIT computer science curriculum in just one year, travelled around the world for 12-months without speaking english and has taught himself creative skills like drawing portraits.

In his new book, Ultralearning: Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition, and Accelerate Your Career, he's condensed what he and others have discovered about learning hard skills fast.

I recently caught up with Scott and in this interview, he reveals:

Why he decided to write a book about ultra-learning
How he approaches writing, research and self-editing
What new writers should do if they want to acquire skills like copywriting
The essential role of critical feedback for writers
What his writing and ideal early morning routine looks like

And lots more

Attention writers!
What's the best grammar checker of 2019? Find out in my guide and get a discount on your tool of choice.

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In 2011, Garrain Jones was 40 pounds overweight and living out of his car in California. Today, he runs a seven-figure coaching business, has spoken in 32 countries and is about to release his new book Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life.

Jones's journey from the backseat of his car to the stage started with studying how successful entrepreneurs spend their day. He was surprised to find they often rise between 04.30 and 06.30.

In this interview, Jones explains:

How to Create Your Panda Power Hour
What he learnt after studying how successful entrepreneurs operate
His process for writing his book Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life

And lots more.

I started by asking Jones to tell me about how he got from living out of his car to running a seven figure coaching and speaking business.

Attention writers:
Would you like a discount for grammar checker? If so, check out my ProWritingAid review.

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Have you ever faced an insurmountable barrier?

If so, a Finnish idea may help you solve that problem. Sisu is a concept that means strength of will, determination, perseverance. It’s kind of like stoicism.

Finnish author Joanna Nylund delves into this concept in her book Sisu: The Finish Art of Courage, which was published in 2018.

I recently had the chance to catch up with Joanna and in this interview, she explains:

What exactly Sisu is and why it's so useful
How this Finish concept can help become a better entrepreneur, writer or author
Her process for writing the book Sisu: The Finnish Art of Courage
Why she uses so many visual elements in her book
How photography informs her writing and creative work

I started by asking Joanna how she went about explaining a finish concept outside of her native country.

Resources
Sisu

Attention writers:Would you like a discount for grammar checker? If so, check out my ProWritingAid review.

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Sisu: The Finnish Art of Courage

Ryan Moran is the founder of Capitalism, Freedom Fast Lane and the author of an upcoming book called 12 Months to One Million.

He has also helped over 300 entrepreneurs launch and grow seven figure businesses on places like Amazon by encouraging them to ask and answer three simple questions that guides them through these stages.

In this interview, Moran explains:

The three questions every entrepreneur (and author) should ask themselves before launching a product or selling book
Why he wrote a book even though it's not necessarily the fastest way to build a business
What his writing process looks like
Why he teaches his ideas in different media, from books to podcasts to videos
How he manages his time as an author, entrepreneur and coach

And lots more.

I started by asking Ryan about the background behind his business Capitalism.com and why he decided to write a book in the first place.

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Have you ever looked at the blank page and found yourself out of ideas?

Or perhaps you’re wondering, "Do I have writer’s block?"

Don’t worry.

Almost every writer has asked themselves how they’ll produce something from nothing.

Even famous writers are vulnerable to the paralyzing effects of writer’s block.

In this episode, I explain what writer's block is and how you can conquer it once and for all.

Resources:
How to Beat Writer’s Block: 36 Surefire Strategies for 2019 (A Definitive Guide)

Yes You Can Write! 101 Proven Writing Prompts that Will Help You Find Creative Ideas Faster for Your Journal, Blogging, Writing Your Book and More

Discover How To Conquer Writer's Block For Good In Just 7 Days

Attention writers:

Would you like a discount for a grammar checker? If so, check out my ProWritingAid review.

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Yes, You Can Write!: 101 Proven Writing Prompts that Will Help You Find Creative Ideas Faster for Your Journal, Blogging, Writing Your Book and More (Become a Writer Today 1)

Professor Michael A. Roberto teaches leadership, business strategy and managerial decision-making at Bryant University in Rhode Island as well as for the Great Courses.

He's also the author of several best-selling books.

In his latest work, Unlocking Creativity, this New York Times best-selling proposes six mindsets that can help entrepreneurs and business leaders unlock creative thinking.

Michael and I talk about:

How he tests his ideas for articles and books like Unlocking Creativity
Why he's a morning person... and how this helps his writing routine
How he balances lecturing with writing nonfiction articles and books
What students want from courses based on books

And lots more.

Attention writers:

Would you like a discount for a grammar checker? If so, check out my ProWritingAid review.

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Would you like to write nonfiction articles that get thousands if not millions of views?

If so, meet Jeff Hayden.

He's a nonfiction writer and author I've admired for some time.

Jeff has written thousands of popular articles for Inc.com over the years. He also recently published The Motivation Myth: How High Achievers Really Set Themselves Up to Win

In this interview with Jeff, we talk about:

Why goals don't always work (and what you should do instead)
What his research process for articles and books looks like
How he writes viral articles on Inc.com
His method for handling articles that get lots of views... and ones that don't

And lots more

Resources

Jeff Haden on Inc

The Motivation Myth by Jeff Haden

Attention writers:

Would you like a discount for a grammar checker? If so, check out my ProWritingAid review.

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The Motivation Myth: How High Achievers Really Set Themselves Up to Win

Do sometimes find you don't have enough time to write because you're spending hours on other parts of your business? Or perhaps you're earning a side-income from writing but you can't seem to take a profit, after expenses?

I struggled with both of these problems. So I spoke to Mike Michalowicz, author of Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine, and Clockwork: Design Your Business to Run Itself. In this interview, he explains:

How he puts paying himself first as a successful nonfiction author
Why business owners (including writers and authors) must master effective delegation
What his early morning writing routine looks like
Why writing for Mike doesn't always mean sitting at a desk and typing

And lots more

Finally, here's my take on the best grammar checker for 2019. https://becomeawritertoday.com/best-grammar-checker-2019/

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A few people online have helped me with my creative career either directly or indirectly.

Joanna Penn is one of those people.

I first started listening to the Creative Penn podcast by Joanna Penn in 2014 just before I started Become a Writer Today.

Since I started listening five years ago, Joanna’s show and books have taught me valuable lessons about creativity, self-publishing and writing books that sell.

I’ve admired Joanna’s work for years and I was finally able to interview Joanna for this Become a Writer Today podcast episode.

In this interview, Joanna explains:

How she approaches writing a nonfiction book
Why some entrepreneurs rely on ghostwriters for writing a book
What her creative process for fiction and nonfiction looks like (and why they differ)
The question every aspiring author should ask before they write their book

And lots more

Connect with Joanna at
https://www.booksandtravel.page/
https://www.thecreativepenn.com/

Check out her book How to Write Non-Fiction: Turn Your Knowledge Into Words

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How To Write Non-Fiction: Turn Your Knowledge Into Words (Books for Writers)

Are you considering quitting your job to work in your business full-time?

You may not have to burn the boats or go beyond the point of no return, just yet.

Ajit Nawalkha is the author Live Big: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Passion, Practicality and Purpose.

From Jaipur, he's also the CEO and co-founder of online education platform Mindvalley.

As a business coach, Nawalkha also helps new entrepreneurs turn their fledgeling business idea into something they can work on full-time.

In this podcast episode, he explains:

Why you shouldn't quit your job, at least not yet
His process for creating memorable business books
What the creative process looks like for non-fiction writer and entrepreneurs

And lots more

Finally, here's my take on the best grammar checker for 2019.

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Daniel Pink is the New York Times best-selling author of books like When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing and Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.

His new book When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing was one of my favourites of 2018 and it informs how I now structure my day.

In this podcast episode, Pink explains:

● His research process for writing best-selling non-fiction books like When, Drive and To Sell is Human

● The ideal time for writing, researching, attending to admin and more

● How he approaches his workday and keeps to a writing routine

● The differences between early risers and night owls

And lots more.

Finally, here's my take on the best grammar checker for 2019.

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A founder of UpWork and Rev, both online businesses, Jason Chicola shares how writers can earn an income online.

UpWork is a platform that connects freelance writers and others with clients.

After years of working directly and indirectly with freelancers, he is convinced that the gig economy is steadily growing and paying well.

In this interview, discover:

● How to succeed in a gig market

● Two ways to create a successful writing business

● Why he believes opportunities continue to grow

And lots more.

Listen Now

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Latest episode of Become a Writer Today

In a now famous essay, Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham argued for dividing a working day up into maker and manager time.

Writers and creative professionals can use the former to attend to business and the latter for deep work, like writing or coding.

But what does this look like in practice?

Enter John Romero.

Although not a writer, he's the creative talent behind games like Doom and Quake.

In this podcast episode, Romero explains:

How he structures his day for working on his business and deep creative work
The role of play for creative professionals
His approach to building a relationship with fans

And lots more

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What does it take for an author to create a seven figure business? A team of writers. A marketing department? Offices around the world?

The answers may surprise you.

Elaine Pofeldt is an independent journalist who specialises in small business,

entrepreneurship and careers.

She is the author of The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business, a look at how entrepreneurs are hitting seven-figure revenue in businesses where they are the only employees

In this podcast episode, Elaine explains:

How writers and creative entrepreneurs can create a seven-figure business
What her writing routine looks like and why physical exercise is so important
Why outsourcing and collaboration are so important if you want to scale your author business

And lots more

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The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business: Make Great Money. Work the Way You Like. Have the Life You Want.

Anthony Metivier is the author of more than a dozen best-selling non-fiction books that help people improve their memory and learn new languages. He’s also a popular blogger and a professor. I’ve known Anthony for a few years and his approach to creativity can help writers of all types create better books that readers love. In this podcast episode, Metivier explains: How to use a memory palace to research a book * Why he believes every writer should embrace mind-mapping How self-publishing non-fiction books helped him build an online business--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

January is one of my favourite times of the year. It's a time for renewal and for reflecting on what worked and didn't work during the previous year.

So in this 2018 annual review, I will share with you what worked for me during 2018, what didn't work and what I'm going to focus on during 2019.

Hopefully you can use some of my lessons to build authority this year and earn more from your writing.

Finally, here's my take on the best grammar checker for 2019.

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Alexander Niehues (aka Alex Newton) worked as a senior management consultant in the corporate world for 20 years before quitting his career to work at home in Stuttgart and founding K-lytics.

In this podcast episode, Newton explains:

How to use analytics to sell more books
Why he relies on outsourcing and contractors
What non-fiction authors can do to earn more money
The types of books that sell a lot on Amazon today

And lots more.

--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Finding a mentor can help you become more creative and find success with your writing or art. This is a chapter from The Power of Creativity, available now on Audible.thepowerofcreativitybook.com--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

James Clear is the New York Times best-selling author of Atomic Habits. He also coaches readers (and even writers) how to succeed in their personal and professional lives by reaping the rewards of smart daily decisions.

In this podcast episode, he explains:

How to use effective habits to write a book
The value of writing just one page a dayHis process for coming up with book titles like Atomic Habits
How writing two articles a week helped him build a business and write a New York Times best-selling book

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Michael Jordan credits Howard H. White with supporting him throughout his 15-year career and helping him beyond the game of basketball.He's Nike's liaison for athletes such as Michael Jordan and Charles BarkleyWhite is also the author of the popular business book Believe to Achieve.In this interview, he explains: How he wrote a popular business book * His process for setting big audacious goals What he learnt from Michael JordanAnd lots more.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Meditation is a proven practice that can help writers and creative professionals find better ideas for their work too.After I wake up early, I typically meditate each morning for 10 or twenty minutes before sitting down to write. This practice can help you find better ideas for your fiction and non-fiction too.Just ask meditation coach Marianne McGuire.In this podcast episode, she explains: The link between focusing on your breath and the blank page How new writers can conquer feeling overwhelmed* A type of meditation practice that's perfect for writersAnd lots more.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Do you want to self-publish your non-fiction book?What services do you need to pay for when publishing your first book?I think you'll agree with me that there's a lot to self-publishing a book for the first time.These are just three of the questions I faced when I started self-publishing books.In this podcast, I’ll explain how to get your book ready for Amazon... today!Want more? Check out https://becomeawritertoday.com/cost-of-self-publishing/--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Have you ever written a paragraph in your book, rewrote it, written another paragraph, and then went back and rewrote that too?And on and on and on…An hour goes by.You realise you haven't written anything at all. All you’ve done is rewrite the same part of your book.Ugh!For years, I wrote like this. I worked on my stories and ideas, and I spent hours tinkering with my sentences, moving the nouns around and looking for the right verbs. This is a terrible way to write, and in this podcast I'll explain why.Want more? Get my free self-editing checklist at https://becomeawritertoday.com/editing-checklist/--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Over the years, I've tested dozens of digital productivity tools for setting goals and managing to-do lists. Although digital tools are useful, paper-based daily planners are becoming more popular. MiGoals is an example of an Australian company that sells these type of daily planners online.Co-founder Adam Jelic and his team created a series of daily planners and journals to help writers, entrepreneurs and creatives accomplish more each day. A former soccer player, Jelic started his business as a side-hustle in 2010, while working full-time selling photocopiers.Jelic felt motivated by the regarded Australian Football League Player, the late Jim Stynes, who encouraged people to get out of their comfort zone, face their fears, and do things that matter.So Jelic set a goal of leaving his full-time job to work at MiGoals full-time and support his family. But, how did Jelic turn this goal into reality?--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

When was the last time you had to deal with criticism?If you’ve worked with an editor, you’ll know how difficult it can be to deal with criticism.Working hard on an article only to get it back covered in red ink or with a request for a major rewrite isn’t a pleasant experience.But here’s the thing:It happens to every writer, and it’s part of the job.Failure and rejection are pit-stops along your journey to becoming a better writer.I know this from personal experience.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

No matter what type of writer you are, setting a writing goal will help you succeed with your articles, stories and even books.In this episode, I will explain the different types of writing goals you can set and how you can track your goals. Recently I came across a great quote and a piece of advice by David Brooks who is an American writer who writes with the New York Times and other publications. He said: "Great creative minds think like artists but work like accountants." This is a fantastic piece of advice because yes, there's a time for exploring interesting ideas that you're intrigued by, but you also need to quantify what success for your writing looks like. Be honest with yourself. Ask: have you actually produced anything of merit?In other words, you need to be able to step back from your work and ask yourself, "Is this getting the job done?"--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Like many people, I spend way too much time thumbing through news feeds and clicking on intriguing Twitter headlines. Over the years, I've investigated various ways of reducing how long I spend staring at my feeds so I can focus more on work or unwinding come five o'clock. Today, I regularly use the app Pocket to save interesting articles I come across during the working day to my phone and read them later after I've worked through my to-do list.I wanted to discover more about how to create and write popular non-fiction articles. So I spoke to Nate Weiner, CEO of Pocket. I started by asking Nate why he created Pocket in the first place before getting into what makes for a remarkable article.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Would you like to get out of the starting blocks faster when your alarm clock sounds? If so, you need a morning ritual or routine you adhere to without question. Beethoven, for example, went for an early morning walk each day with a pocket notebook to capture ideas before composing.He did all right.In The Creative Habit, American choreographer Twyla Tharp explained, "It's Pavlovian: Follow the routine, (and) get a creative pay off."So what rituals can you follow to rise up and start the day the right way?Find out in this episode.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Writing is a lonely job. It demands spending extended periods by yourself working on articles, stories or books, often without feedback from others.Look at the work spaces of many famous writers, and you'll find them typing away in basements, coffee shops and rooms at the tops of their houses or backs of their apartments. The American poet Raymond Carver, for example, often wrote on a notepad in his car.The big question is: How can you balance the time you need by yourself to create and the accompanying feelings of loneliness?--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Lots of top writers and creative professionals nap every day. It will help you find more ideas and focus on your writing. In this episode, I explain how to nap effectively and get away with it, based on an interview with Christoper Lindholst CEO of Metronaps.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Malcolm Gladwell is one of the world's top business writers, but did you know he struggled to find success for years?In this episode, I explain how Gladwell made peace with marketing and writing and what you can learn from his approach.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

What's the best grammar checker you can use in 2018?Or are you looking for the best online proofreading software? As a writer who loves tools, I've tested some of the most popular proofreading tools and best grammar checkers for writers, bloggers and authors.In this post, I'll explain what's the best proofreading software and grammar checker software in 2018 and what you need to know about each one of these tools.I'll also review Ginger and Whitesmoke in detail.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Albert Einstein knew how to work hard, and he also knew when to take time off. He once said, "I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious."Einstein's curiosity drove him as a child, adult and older man to pursue scientific ideas and projects that are still applicable today, such as his famous Theory of Relativity. His life and approach to work, as detailed by Walter Isaacson, offers many lessons if you want to become more productive. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Author. Printer. Politician. Scientist. Postmaster. Founding father. As one of the leading thinkers and public figures of the eighteenth century, Benjamin Franklin knew a thing or two about getting things done—and playing the whistle (more on that later).He demonstrated a tremendous stability to balance competing projects, interests and jobs. So how did he accomplish so much during his lifetime, and how can you apply these mental strategies today?--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Where are you going next?”I was sick of this question.I was nearly two months into a summer backpackingtrip around Brazil, and I’d begun to loathe the backpackersaround me. They kept asking me questions – not becausethey cared about my answer, but so they could prove theirexperiences were more valid – and I was tired of it.I guess I was jealous....In this episode I narrate an extract from The Power of Creativity and explain how you can find better ideas for your creative projects.Find out more by visiting thepowerofcreativitybook.com--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

This is a follow on episode where I elaborate on my journal writing practice. It's also based on this detailed article I wrote for Better Humans on Medium: https://betterhumans.coach.me/how-to-start-a-journaling-habit-today-99d5f98fe8ccResourceshttps://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/episodes/Why-Journal-Writing-Is-Such-a-Valuable-Practice-e16buc--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Kurt Vonnegut got over his fears about becoming an author. He learnt how to write great books… and how to sell them.

He also crafted eight rules for struggling and fearful writers… but they apply to all types of writing, even if you’re crafting the copy for the back of a cereal box.

Resources
Kurt Vonnegut’s Rules for Writing

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Famous American playwright and screenwriter David Mamet offers two rules for success as an artist.Although he speaks primarily from his experiences as a dramatic writer, Mamet’s advice is useful for all kinds of creatives including painters, musicians, comedians and even bloggers on Medium.He said, “You’ve got to do one thing for your art every day, and you’ve got to do one thing for your business every day.”What does Mamet’s advice look like in practice? And is he right?--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageIf so, Hope*Writers is opening its doors later this month. Find out more at https://becomeawritertoday.com/hopewriters

You'll get a free bonus ;)

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Do you want to turn your blog into a book? If you're a non-fiction writer, this is a fantastic approach to writing a book.Last year, I set out to write a book about non-fiction writing. I decided that I wanted to turn some of the blog posts from Become a Writer Today into book chapters.So I drew together the strands of my published blog posts with the topic for my book.In this episode, I'll explain what I learned from this approach to book writing. I'll also give you some blog to book tips.But first, why should you consider turning a blog post into a book?And how do you know if this approach to book writing is for you?--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

I once wrote the first draft of a book chapter that smelt so bad, I had to open up the office window while reading it.It's a good thing my first drafts are for me alone, and yours should be too.When you sit down to write a first draft, you may lack confidence or feel uninspired by what you're about to do.When you’re writing a first draft, it's you alone wrestling with your ideas and stories, and if you pin one to the page or if procrastination pins you to the chair, nobody needs to know.Most writers, even successful ones, don't write good first drafts. They're more concerned with getting the words out of their heads and onto the blank page. They know they can fix their writing later on during a subsequent rewrite or during the editing process.You may feel like you're writing with a crayon in your mouth, and that's okay.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

New York man Robert Mapplethorpe (1946-1989) wanted to do one thing with his life: to live for art. During his teens and early twenties, he experimented with drawing, painting and sculpture.Then, in 1970 a friend gave Robert a loan of a 360 Land camera, a clunky but technically simple, silver and black device. Robert settled on the camera as his creative tool of expression because “it was more honest.”At first, Robert restricted himself to only taking pictures of his former -girlfriend and life-long creative partner the singer Patti Smith. The confines of a single muse shaped his creative vision and enabled him to hone his technique. In Just Kids, Patti writes:“He was comfortable with me and he needed time to get his technique down. The mechanics of the camera were simple, but the options were limited.”--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

I've worked at home on and off for several years as a journalist, copywriter and marketer. I've procrastinated and accomplished nothing while working outside of the office. I've also enjoyed some of my most productive days while working at home.I'm not alone.Earlier this year, social media software company Buffer found that more than 90% of employees working outside of the office would prefer to work remotely for the remainder of their careers rather than going back to the office.You might prefer working from home, so you need to take the right steps to avoid distractions and become more productive.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

I want to talk about four of the most common fears that new writers and people who set out to write a book for the first time often have. To talk about these fears I want to tell you a little bit about my writing journey.You see, when I was in my early twenties I decided I wanted to become a writer and I said I wanted to write a book but there was just one problem, I wasn’t writing anything at all. You see, I believed I wasn’t ready to write and I needed some anointed mentor in a tweed jacket to pull me aside and say “Bryan, now is your time!” and I became jealous of the success of the people around me – the journalist I went to college with and the other students in the creative writing class I was in and I felt sick by my lack of progress. So I joined an advanced creative writing and non-fiction writing workshop in Dublin and on the second evening, the instructor said that every student had to submit a short story or a personal essay.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

I knew I wanted to publish my first book, and that learning to write every day was the key to doing it.But, it wasn’t enough to know the concept.I had to figure out how to keep my deadlines and finish writing what I started.How could I write every day and balance having a job, two kids, friends and family who don’t write, and all the in-betweens?I faced my biggest challenge yet.If couldn’t face this one down, I’d never be able to call myself an author.I’d never be able to look myself in the mirror again.Find out how I created a daily writing habit.Resources:https://becomeawritertoday.com/write-every-day/--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Now, my list of writing prompts works for me... because Iwrote them. No, that’s not the sound of my over-sized egobanging off the ceiling.I’d like you to create your own list of writing prompts and add to it over time.Whether you’re writing a journal entry, a blog post or a book chapter, keeping a personal library of writing prompts will save you hours of wasted time.Use a notepad.Use a digital app like Evernote. Use the back of your hand if you have to... but build your personal library of writingprompts.Start by taking a great first line from your favourite book, writer or story. You could go on to record snippets of conversations, headlines you like and even ideas you come across in great books. Use what works and discard the rest.If you do this, you won’t have to perch yourself over the blank page and wonder if you’ve got what it takes to become a successful writer.Instead, you’ll be able to say, “Yes, I can write!”Want more? Get your free book of writing pro--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Steve Martin spent much of the 1970s becoming America’s top stand-up comedian. He toured the country with his surreal show, and he sold out arenas to thousands of screaming fans.Martin wanted more.His real goal was to break into the movie business. Martin knew it would take a single-minded focus to achieve this new, larger goal. So, he put his stand-up comedy career to one side to concentrate on acting and screenwriting.ResourcesBorn Standing Up by Steve MartinSteve Martin's Masterclass-https://becomeawritertoday.com/masterclass-review/--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

It’s exciting, isn’t it?Writing your first book and then sending the final version to your editor and later it being available (and SELLING!) on stores like Amazon.The months (or even years) of hard work are over, and now you can watch with pride as your book goes out into the world.Now, you can sit back as your ideas and stories make an impact on readers and earn you a side-income.You can finally call yourself an author.But, what if you’re not there yet? What if you’re still struggling to finish writing your first book?Then, I think you’ll agree with me that writing a book is tough work.Like really tough.But, don’t worry.In this episode, I’m going to be honest with you.I’m going to reveal seven of the most common writing mistakes aspiring authors must avoid (and how you can do it).--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Several readers and listeners recently emailed me asking: “How can I become a better writer?”The right answer to how to become a better writer (or even a good writer), depends on what level you’re at, what you write, and what becoming a better writer means for you.For example, Stephen King may think success means topping the New York Times best-seller list.(Suffice to say, Mr. King did not email me.)Success for a new writer could mean getting published in a magazine for the first time.Years ago, success for me meant writing pretty little sentences.These days my answer to how to become a better writer means helping readers (more on that in this episode).--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

"The habit of writing for my eye is good practice. It loosens the ligaments.” — Virginia WoolfDo you keep a journal? I’ve spent years writing in journals of various forms and it’s my favourite writing practice. In this short post, I explain why you should start one too.Top Tools for Journal WritingA notepad: you can’t beat the classics!Day One: a dedicated journaling app for Mac and iOS usersJourney: a diary app for AndroidThe Daly Stoic Journal by Ryan Holiday: Packed full of journaling prompts, I keep a copy on my deskThe Early Morning Pages by Julia Cameron: a guide to writing in the early hoursA password-protected file: nosey-parkers, keep out!Onenote or Evernote: both are useful if you like tagging entriesWordPress: you can password-protect your entries--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

In episode, I explain how you can find time and space for working on your non-fiction book.This is an extract from The Art of Writing a Non-Fiction Book. The full audiobook is available now on Amazon and Audible. becomeawritertodaybook.com--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

I caught up with Chandler Bolt, the author of six self-published books and the founder of Self Publishing School.In this interview, he told me about: How to self-publish a book * The one thing you must do before you write or self-publish your book How to avoid the common mistakes new writers (not authors!) make* The simple rule that helps Chandler balance writing with running a successful businessCheck out:Self-publishingschool.comhttps://self-publishingschool.com/how-to-publish-a-book/https://becomeawritertoday.com/self-publishing-chandler-bolt/--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

In this interview, David Chesson of Kindlepreneur and I talk about how to sell more books on Amazon Kindle. Dave is 31 years old and a 9 year veteran of the US Navy. He was also a military kid who has lived in all corners of the globe. But that’s not what defines him.After his family, his real passion is books, but more specifically Kindle ebooks.David blogs regularly about selling more books on Kindlepreneur.com. He's also the man behind one of my favourite tools for indie writers: KDPRocket.Check out:Kindlepreeneur.comBecomeawritertoday.com/writing-appshttps://becomeawritertoday.com/selling-books-kindle-interview-dave-chesson-kindlepreneur/--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Whether you're writing fiction, non-fiction or blogging, deadlines are important. In this episode, I explain five ways you can manage your time and ship your work. I even offer a tip from Elon Musk's playbook.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

Lots of writers and creative professionals worry about keeping focused and productive without burning out. Find out how to strike the right balance in this episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/becomeawritertoday/messageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)