Writers, Ink: Your backstage pass to the world's most prolific authors Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 305 - From social media to plotting - what it takes to be a modern author with bestseller, JT Ellison.
6 snips
Jul 29, 2025 JT Ellison, a New York Times bestselling author with over 30 psychological thrillers, shares her insights on the modern writing landscape. She discusses the pressures of social media and how it shapes an author's journey. The conversation touches on the balance between promotion and creativity, along with the nuances of writing series versus standalone novels. Ellison reflects on the emotional aspects of storytelling, exploring how personal experiences influence her craft, and the therapeutic nature of writing darker themes.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Writing Out of Order with 40 Scenes
- J.T. Ellison writes out of order using 40 scenes that can be dialogue, setting, or visuals.
- This approach helps her start writing with a flexible story framework but requires lots of rewriting.
Social Media's Role in Publishing
- Social media became essential for book marketing, though initially it was ineffective for sales.
- Authors must pick one platform to focus on due to algorithm penalties for repetitive posting.
Dream Turned Dark Thriller
- J.T. Ellison dreamed a story set in Brockville which initially was a romance.
- She later rewrote it as a dark thriller inspired by personal grief and her dying cat's spirit.
