#183. From Screenwriter to Award-Winning Memoirist: Michael Jamin's Indie Publishing Journey

Curious about what it’s like to make the switch from writing for TV to writing books? Or maybe you want to learn writing tips from a screenwriter with decades of experience?

Either way, you’re going to love this episode with Michael Jamin. Michael is a TV writer turned author who just published his collection of personal essays, A Paper Orchestra, in 2023. Since then, his book has won a Reedsy Discovery Editor’s Choice Award and has been named one of Vulture’s “Best Comedy Books of 2024.”

Michael’s many credits include writing for King of the Hill, Beavis and Butt-Head, Just Shoot Me, Wilfred, Maron, Rules of Engagement, Out of Practice, Brickleberry, and Tacoma FD. And in this episode, he’s sharing what it was like making the switch from writing for TV to writing his first book.

In the episode, you’ll hear us talk about things like:

• [03:53] What it was like making the switch from writing for TV to writing his debut memoir—including how Michael’s background in TV both helped and hindered his memoir-writing
• [12:13] The two main reasons Michael’s book died on submission—despite having an agent who loved his book (spoiler alert: it came down to not having a platform and his manuscript lacking a throughline)
• [14:52] Why Michael decided to self-publish, plus what he learned while researching the differences between traditional and indie publishing
• [18:08] How Michael built his audience on Instagram to almost 200k followers by being authentic and sharing his knowledge
• [24:17] Michael's two cents on writing comedy, including some of the most common mistakes writers make when trying to write comedy

Even if you can’t relate to Michael’s TV background, you’ll still get a ton of value from this episode. He knows what it’s like to struggle through your first book—and he’s a great example of what happens if you don’t give up!

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• A Paper Orchestra by Michael Jamin
• Michael Jamin’s Website & Instagram
• How my self-published book became one of Vulture's "Best Comedy Books of 2024"
• What The Hell Is Michael Jamin Talking About?
• Unwritten by Michael Jamin

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