Become a Writer Today
Become a Writer Today is a podcast hosted by Bryan Collins for aspiring and working writers. In each episode, Collins interviews creatives and best-selling authors about their writing processes and creative routines. Guests share practical advice on writing a book, earning more from your work, and building a profitable creative business. The show aims to help listeners share their stories, make an impact, and turn writing into a sustainable career.
Episodes
AI Dissects My Business
I plugged 140,000 words from my daily newsletter into Google Notebook LLM. It turned what I write into a podcast and took apart my business model. The results were... surprising.Need help using AI for your business?Head over to bryancollins.comAnd check out Promptwritingstudio.comSupport the showIf you enjoyed the show please leave a review on Apple. And if you have any questions you can find me o
Amy Yamada Reveals How AI Can Transform Your Writing and Connect Deeply with Audiences
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
How to Become a Content Strategist With Amanda Hand
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
13 Best Irish Authors You Must Read
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
15 Best Horror Authors: Alive and Dead
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 ge
Best Copywriting Books You Must Read
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 writ
Behind the Headlines with Isaac Saul of Tangle: Running and Monetizing a Media Newsletter
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 thr
27 Must-Read Classic Literature Books
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 wor
Skyrocket Your Email List Using Copywriting Game With Eddie Shleyner
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 copywritingSocial media managementThe role of AI in copywritingDirect response campaignsHow to create an effective landing
How Doug Evans is Using Reels to Get 1000s of Book Reviews
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 post
From Passion to Paycheck: The Journey of Writing Blogger Hiten Vyas
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 learn how to market and sell thei
11+ Motivational Books You Must Read
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
Create Time, Reduce Errors and Scale Your Profits, with With David Jenyns
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 empha
The Ultimate Guide to the Best Books on Creativity
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 failur
16 Best Selling Stephen King Books
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
How to Break Into Screenwriting With Brock Swinson
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, which illustrates Brock's prolific
How to Write Pitches Editors Love With Rebecca L. Weber
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 ab
Building Your Brand: How to Establish Authority in Your Genre With Anna David
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 L
The Art of Audience Growth: A Deep Dive with a Content Creation Expert Josh Spector
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
Unlocking the Power of Email Marketing: Matt Treacey Teaches Authors and Writers to Monetize Their Lists
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 softwar
The Art of Swipe Files And Using AI to Copywrite With Neville Medhora
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 prod
Insider Tips for Making a 6-Figure Living as an Amazon Indie Author With Marc Reklau
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 Am
Jake Thomas of Creator Hooks Talks Headlines and Thumbnails
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 int
How to Serialize Your Book, Novel, or Memoir with Sarah Fay
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 advertisin
The Creative Process of Web 3.0 Influencer: Zeneca
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 a
Exploring the Limitless Potential of AI For Fiction Writers With Tim Boucher
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 ite
From BookTok to Writing About Blockchain: How to Stay Ahead of the Curve with Creator Nat Eliason
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 abo
Unlocking Creativity: How Journaling Can Transform Lives Behind Bars
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 th
Mastering the Art of Online Writing: Tips from Dickie Bush
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
Behind the Screams: Writing Horror with Chris Coppel
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 horrorhow to sustain interes
Maximizing Your Writing Income: Using Affiliate Websites to Earn More With Jamie IF
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 fro
The Science of Creativity: Insights from Leading Academic Robin Landa
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'
Writing from the Edge With Dystopian Thriller Author Aaron Gransby
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.
Breaking into the Publishing Industry: Insights from a Literary Agent Jeff Herman
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 vari
Why Newsletters are a Better Tool For Writers Than Social Media, with Anna Codrea-Rado.
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
How Writers and Creatives Can Master Productivity with Oliver Burkeman
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
Writing Speculative Fiction with Gary Bengier, For All Sci Fi Enthusiasts
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 ma
Writing Tips for Beginners
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.Res
Is a Book Coach The Key To Your Success as a Writer? With Jennie Nash
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
Balancing Creative Writing, Business and Ghost Writing With Jessie Kwak
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 s
Get Your Book Out There! How Deadlines Can Help Writers With Mark Pawlosky
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 h
Sell More Copies of Your Book Through Guest Podcasting With Jeremy Slate
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 gues
How To Turn Events From Everyday Life Into Stories With Matthew Dicks
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 peopl
Combat Chronic Pain To Deliver That Creative Project With Oliver Mol
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 phon
Successfully Writing In A Narrow Niche With Dr. Guy Windsor
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
Using SEO For Your Writing With Kevin Indig
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 optimiz
Don't Write A Book. Start a Newsletter Instead Says Elle Griffin.
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. N
Building a Successful Indie Career With Mark Leslie Lefebvre
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 e
Why You Should Rewrite Your Old NonFiction Book With Michael Michalowicz
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 f
How to Write a Psychology Book With Psychotherapist Jonathan Coppin
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.
Why I Stopped Working as Freelance Writer (And You Should Too)
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 fo
How Writers Can Overcome Limiting Money Beliefs With Austin L. Church
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 peo
Is WordAgents The Right SEO Content Service For You? With David Peterson
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&apos
Creators! Reach Your True Audience Using NFTs with Julien Genestoux
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
Go Wide With Your Audiobook Says Scott Curry of Findaway Voices
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 betwee
The Craft of Self-Editing with Tiffany Yates Martin
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 lea
Evolve Your Creative Writing Process Through Meditation with Albert Flynn DeSilver
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 med
Using AI to Write Content That Ranks With Jeff Coyle of MarketMuse
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 th
How Passionate Creatives Can Earn a Good Living From Their Interests with Adam Davidson
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 pre
How to Use Expert Interviews For Your Book with Market Wizards Author Jack Schwager
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
Why Solitude is So Important for Creatives with Bryan Crosson, Author of The Lonesome Thread.
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
How to Become a Successful Creative Non-Fiction Writer with Susan Scott
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
The Collaborative Writing Process with Becky Breed & Lucy Adkins
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.Collabo
How to Find Your Creative State Even When a Project Loses Its Meaning with Sharlene Anders
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
Growing and Promoting a Podcast and Should you Script the Episodes? With Jack Rhysider
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 s
How to Write Technical Topics in a Fun and Accessible Way with Steve Krug
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
How Writers and Content Publishers Can Use AI Content Generation with James Scherer
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 topi
NFTS for Writers or Are They a Scam? With Jessica Artemisia
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
Why Non-fiction Writing Is So Powerful with Dr. Joan Smoller
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. Joan demonstrates th
What Is Creative Independence and How Can You Find It? With Jay Clouse
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
How to Go Viral on Medium with Amardeep Parmar
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
It’s Not Too Late to Earn Money from Blogging with Debbie Gartner
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 inc
Managing Distractions as a Writer with Dan Clarke
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 h
Using Content Marketing to Build Your Business or Personal Brand with Pam Didner
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 autho
Should Writers Start a Podcast? With Matty Dalrymple
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
Content Marketing for Creators. How to Get Started with Jon Tromans
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
Getting Started as a Ghostwriter with Treasa Edmond
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 cl
What Are the Conventions of a Book Cover and Which Should You Use? With Mariah Sinclair
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 s
The Zettelkasten Method - My Exact Process
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
What Every Author Should Know About Copywriting with Geoff Kullman
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,
