WriterCon

Bestselling writer William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books, offers writing tips, and interviews Jane Friedman about her new book, The Business of Being a Writer.News:1) Tor introduces a new horror imprint.2) Scribd offers new short-form works to its subscribers.3) WattPad makes a deal with Sony to develop its stories into film.Writing Tips1) This may be the best time to publish your poetry--and start on Instagram.InterviewJane Friedman has been in the publishing world for more than twenty years, advising both writers and publishers. She is the co-founder of The Hot Sheet, an industry newsletter, and her new book is titled The Business of Being a Writer, in which she discusses how an author can integrate the creative and the business aspects to make both successful.William Bernhardt will be leading a small-group writing retreat in Eureka Springs AR in July. For more information, visit: william.bernhardt.comStart planning to attend WriterCon, the annual Red Sneaker writers conference in Oklahoma City. This year's conference will have the largest and most comprehensive lineup of guests and offerings yet, including three days of sessions, masterclasses, private consultations with authors and editors, private dining opportunities, contests, and much more. For information, visit writercon.org

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news of interest to writers, offers writing tips to make your work more appealing to movie/tv scouts, and interviews Danielle Norman, a romance writer who explains how she used dictation to increase her productivity and find her voice.News:1) Barnes & Noble opens a new "bookstore of the future."2) Amazon release a less expensive Kindle, increasing the viability of Kindle ads.3) Amazon explains that its "most favored nation" policy requiring competitive pricing still applies to KDP authors.4) The Second Circuit rules that digital files (like audiobooks) may not be resold.5) Bernhardt explains why Amazon is arguably the best place for a new or unknown author to build a following.Writing Tips:Bernhardt talks about TaleFlick, a new online platform that allows writers to get their work in front of movie/tv scouts, then discusses the elements that makes stories more appealing to those producing stories for visual media.Interview with Danielle Norman:This wildly successful romance author explains how, although she had never written before, she started dictating her early drafts and found a multi-book contract with Simin & Schuster in seven month. She says that dictation not only allowed her to increase her productivity but to find her voice. She provides details on how you can do the same.Want to join William Bernhardt's Patreon mentoring program? www.patreon.com/willbernThinking about attending WriterCon over Labor Day weekend? www.writercon.orgPlease post reviews and like this program at your favorite podcatcher. Email William Bernhardt at: wb@williambeernhardt.com

Bestselling writer William Bernhardt (The Last Chance Lawyer) discusses the latest news from the world of books, then interviews Victoria Gerken of Podium Publishing, a pioneering audiobook specialty house.The Last Chance Lawyer, William's Bernhardt's new novel, the first in a series of legal thrillers featuring attorney Daniel Pike, is now on sale in ebook, paperback, large print, and audiobook editions. Bernhardt explains his overall plan for the series.News:1) A new report suggests that a large quantity of Amazon book reviews are "fake." But what constitutes fakeness?2) Publishers are reportedly losing millions by ignoring the exponential growth of voice-first technology (voice-activated devices like Amazon's Alexa).3) A new study explains when readers buy ebooks, when they buy print, in what quantities and in what circumstances.Interview: Victoria Gerken, author liaison with Podium Publishing, discusses the current surge in audiobook sales. She relates how Podium found Andy Weir's breakout novel The Martian while it was still a free giveaway on Weir's webpage and helped turn it into a bestseller. She also discusses what works in audio, what doesn't, and how authors can best take advantage of this increased interest in the spoken word.For more information about The Last Chance Lawyer, the Red Sneaker books on writing, or this podcast, visit: www.williambernhardt.com

Bestselling author William Bernhardt (The Last Chance Lawyer) discusses the latest news that writers need to know, offers writing tips, and interviews David Gaughran, author of BookBub Ads Expert and the blog Let's Get Digital.News:1) Barnes & Noble earnings are flat, Amazon closes pop-up stores, Draft2Digital adds Google Play, PublishDrive adds Amazon Ads, Reedsy adds the Discovery program, and BookBub adds Chirp, a service to help writers promote audiobooks.2) A plagiarism scandal erupts in the world of romance fiction. Is Amazon to blame?3) Quillbot is a web-based program that offers to improve your writing. Can artificial intelligence give you sizzling style?Writing Tips1) A Twitter-storm arises and a forthcoming debut young adult author accused of racial insensitivity withdraws her book. Given the hyperactive online ecosystem in today's world, how can a writer avoid problems like this? And how should you deal with it if it arises?Interview:David Gaughran is an Irish author of fiction and nonfiction and an expert on online book marketing. He discusses his new work, BoobBub Ads Expert and how you can use BookBub, Amazon Ads, and other online opportunities to effectively increase the sales of your books.William Bernhardt's new novel, The Last Chance Lawyer, can now be pre-ordered online in ebook, print, and audio. This is the first novel is a new series of legal thrillers featuring lawyer Daniel Pike. The book will be released March 19, 2019.David Gaughran will be one of the featured presenters this year at WriterCon 2019, an annual writers conference in Oklahoma City held over Labor Day weekend. For more information, visit writer con.org.

Bestselling author William Bernhardt (The Last Chance Lawyer) discusses the latest news from the publishing world, offers writing tips, and interviews Dave Chesson, the "Kindlepreneur" who offers educational classes, books, and the invaluable program KDP Rocket to help writers promote their work.Chapter 1: IntroductionChapter 2: Newsa) For the first time, Amazon Studios has purchased the media rights to a book published by Amazon Publishing, creating synergy that could make Amazon an even more desirable publishing choice.b) Stephen King becomes the first author to have his own Amazon skill (program), allowing people to find a King book through their home Alexa device. This will likely be the first of many such skills created by authors to market their books and audiobooks.Chapter 3: Writing TipsThe publishing world has been beset with scandal. Journalist Jill Abramson has been accused of plagiarism, and novelist Dan Mallory has been accused of borrowing the plot elements of his new novel from the work of others. Writers must be cautious not to use the words of others without giving proper attribution, and must be careful to distinguish their stories from previous ones, even though they may share the same genre or plot archetypes. Bernhardt offers tips to help writers ensure their work is distinctive rather than imitative.Chapter 4: Interview with Dave ChessonKDP Rocket has become an indispensable tool for the modern writer, allowing them to search for the best keywords to use in their advertising. Chesson also discusses his books, blog, and classes designed to help writers find success.Chapter 5: Parting WordsWilliam Bernhardt's new novel, The Last Chance Lawyer, is now available for pre-order at a reduced price on most online bookselling sites. He also has sworn to not use the word "forefront" again for at least the next five podcasts. He can be contacted at: wb@williambernhardt.com. Please spread the word about this podcast and post reviews on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the writing world, offers writing tips, and interviews Shawn Coyne, writer, editor, and creator of The Story Grid.News:1) Steven Spielberg options a story first published on Reddit.2) Wattpad announces the creation of Wattpad Books, a book publishing division to promote its authors and stories in print.3) Otto Pendler announces the creation of a new mystery imprint.4) Amazon's press release reveals that thousands of self-published authors are making more than $50,000 a year.In the interview, Shawn Coyne discusses The Story Grid, guidelines and checklists he created after years of editing for major New York publishers. Authors can use the Grid to diagnose their work-in-progress and make sure it contains all the essential ingredients. Coyne also discusses what makes a book stand out to readers, the advantages of outlining, and the truth about writer's block.Please post reviews and ratings wherever you get your podcast. You can email William Bernhardt at wb@williambernhardt.com and learn more about his work at www.williambernhardt.com.

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books, then interviews RJ Johnson, author of science fiction, fantasy, and mystery novels, and an independent publishing pioneer.News: 1) Amazon Advertising becomes a $125 billion business by using the data collected from its customers to sell targeted marketing to advertisers. Are you using Amazon Ads yet?2) An Australian university has developed a new font--Sans Forgetica--which increases retention of what is read.3) American poet Mary Oliver, inspiration for many writers and author of the famous poem "Wild Geese," has passed.Interview:RJ Johnson was at the forefront of the independent publishing movement, skillfully using Amazon KDP, Bookbub, and other forms of marketing and advertising to build a following for his science fiction and fantasy novels. He offers wisdom and advice to writers and discusses the challenges of crossing and mixing genres.Please like or review this podcast. Send email to: wb@williambernhardt.com. For more information about the Red Sneaker books on writing, or William Bernhardt's writing retreats and annual conference, visit: www.williambernhardt.com

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the worlds of books and publishing, then interviews marketing expert Jim Kukral about smarter-author marketing techniques.News:1) Copyright issues: Because of the current American copyright law, many classic works entered the public domain on January 1, 2019. Authors are currently afforded 95 years of protection for their intellectual property. Are you building an income-earning estate for your heirs?2) Morality clauses: In the wake of so many public careers being crushed by inappropriate words or actions, the Big Five publishers are adding morality clauses to their contracts with authors. Be careful what you say and do!3) Author Earnings: According to a new study by the Authors Guild, author earnings have decreased by about 42% since 2009, requiring most "full-time" authors to hold additional income-generating jobs. Bernhardt discusses the ramifications of this for serious Red Sneaker Writers.Interview: Jim Kukral is an expert in online marketing. He founded the Author Marketing Club, and more recently launched SmarterAuthors, a personalized program designed to help authors launch their titles or to improve sales for existing titles. He discusses the importance of the title, the cover, the book description, key words, reviews, genre choice, online advertising, "social proof," and other key factors in successful marketing for authors.For more inför about Kukral's program, visit: www.smarter authors.comWilliam Bernhardt has added two intensive small-group writing retreats for 2019. Find more information about them at: https://www.williambernhardt.com/writing-retreatsIf you're enjoying this podcast, please rate it or leave a review wherever you find your podcasts. You can email the host at wb@williambernhardt.com.

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the writing world, followed by an interview with James Scott Bell, author of bestselling thrillers and many books on writing, including Plot and Structure and Write Your Novel From the Middle.News:1) Kindle Direct Publishing adds or improves two features: Image Handling and Tables of Contents in your eBooks;2) The publishing industry experiences book shortages that curtail sales during the holiday season; and3) End-of-the-Year Report. Books sales rose in 2018, largely due to an increase in the sales of political nonfiction. Independent bookstore sales increased a bit. More than 1000 authors made over $100,000 self-publishing their work. And more.In the interview, Bell discusses how he structures his writing day, setting writing targets and tracking his productivity. He talks about creating an action plan to develop a writing career and keep it on track. He explains "the mirror moment," a mid-point scene in which the protagonist undergoes a moment of self-examination that leads to a transformative character arc, enriching the novel.James Scott Bell will be the keynote speaker at WriterCon 2019 in Oklahoma City over Labor Day weekend. Register now to take advantage of the Early Bird special. Just enter the promo code EARLYBIRD when you register at writercon.org.The support this podcast, visit: www.patreon.com/willbernEmail William Bernhardt at wb@williambernhardt.com, or visit his website: www.williambernhardt.com

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the worlds of books and publishing, then interviews Jennifer Lynn Barnes, a young adult author and expert on the psychology of fiction.News Items:1) Controversy surrounding a poet accused of plagiarizing portions of a Pushcart-nominated poem--and why you must be careful that the words you publish are your own.2) Findaway Voices, which helps authors produce their own audiobooks, improves its royalty rates.3) The two leading book wholesalers may soon become one. Ingram contemplates the purchase of Baker & Taylor.4) Controversy fuels books sales. In the midst of the furor over the current presidential administration, political book sales are at an all-time high. Could you stimulate sales by courting controversy in your next novel?Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a multi-published young adult author (Little White Lies), a Fulbright scholar, and a Ph.D. in Psychology with degrees from Cambridge and Yale. Her work on the psychology of fiction has led to some fascinating and useful insights into why people read fiction and how to make your own fiction more appealing to readers. She discusses specific tropes that people love to find in fiction. She also advocates that writers develop an "Id List," specific plot lines, plot devices, settings, and other elements that make writing more joyful. If those items bring you joy they will likely do the same for readers, which will increase the appeal of your books.Jennifer Lynn Barnes is one of many experts invited (not invented, oops) to speak at WriterCon 2019. For more information about this annual writers conference, visit writercon.org. Register before the end of 2018 and use the promo code EARLYBIRD for a $50 discount.Please rate or post a review of this podcast!For more information about William Bernhardt, visit: www.williambernhardt.com