Q&A: Best Writing Tools, Building an Audience, Designing a Cover, Release Strategy & More

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Mar 11, 2025

Dive into the art of cover design as the hosts reveal strategic insights into the delicate balance of market appeal and artistic vision. They share experiences with writing tools that spark creativity and discuss adapting to the landscape of self-publishing. Learn about the importance of consistent content creation to engage audiences leading up to a book launch. Plus, they explore the power of personal narrative in nonfiction, showcasing how vulnerability can resonate in an AI-dominated world, all topped off with a thrilling announcement about pre-orders!

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ADVICE

Securing Cover Designers

Book cover design is a bottleneck, so secure designers early.
Start cover design after the first or second draft to avoid delays.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Mistborn Cover Redesign

Brandon Sanderson's career improved after redesigning the Mistborn cover.
The initial cover hindered sales, highlighting cover art's importance.

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ADVICE

Matching Cover Art to Book Vibe

Match the cover art's vibe to the book's energy and tone.
Consider the overall feeling and impression the cover creates.

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Designing the Perfect Book Cover

01:31 • 13min

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The Importance of Cover Art in Book Publishing

14:13 • 2min

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Mastering Book Design and Writing Tools

15:50 • 11min

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The Power of Consistency in Content Creation

27:11 • 8min

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Navigating the Writing Process

35:31 • 8min

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The Power of Internal Conflict in Nonfiction

43:53 • 5min

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Exploring Writing Perspectives and Exciting Book Pre-Orders

49:23 • 4min

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#1452

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Crypto Confidential

Winning and Losing Millions in the New Frontier of Finance

Nathaniel Eliason

Crypto Confidential is Nathaniel Eliason's unfiltered account of his experiences in the hyperactive and highly speculative world of cryptocurrency. The book chronicles his journey from learning to code to becoming a key developer in a token valued at billions of dollars. It exposes the behind-the-scenes workings of the crypto market, including bull runs, breakdowns, scams, and the intense emotions and high stakes involved. Eliason's anecdotes are both entertaining and instructive, providing valuable insights into the warning signs of disaster in the crypto market and how to be a more educated participant.

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The Gervais Principle

Or The Office According to “The Office”

Venkatesh G. Rao

The Gervais Principle, formulated by Venkatesh G. Rao, is a theory that divides people in organizations into three groups: sociopaths, who are ruthless and power-driven; the clueless, who are unaware of the dynamics and are often manipulated; and losers, who are exploited and lack leverage. This principle offers insights into the complex power dynamics and behaviors within corporate structures, drawing inspiration from the TV show 'The Office'.

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Atomic Habits

James Clear

Atomic Habits by James Clear provides a practical and scientifically-backed guide to forming good habits and breaking bad ones. The book introduces the Four Laws of Behavior Change: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying. It also emphasizes the importance of small, incremental changes (atomic habits) that compound over time to produce significant results. Clear discusses techniques such as habit stacking, optimizing the environment to support desired habits, and focusing on continuous improvement rather than goal fixation. The book is filled with actionable strategies, real-life examples, and stories from various fields, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their habits and achieve personal growth.

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Atlas Shrugged

Ayn Rand

Published in 1957, 'Atlas Shrugged' is Ayn Rand's magnum opus and her longest novel. The story is set in a dystopian United States where increasingly burdensome laws and regulations strangle innovation and productivity. The plot follows Dagny Taggart, a railroad executive, and Hank Rearden, a steel magnate, as they struggle against 'looters' who exploit their work. A mysterious figure named John Galt leads a strike of productive individuals, persuading them to abandon their companies and disappear. The novel culminates with Galt's three-hour radio speech explaining his philosophy of Objectivism, which emphasizes rational self-interest, individual rights, and the importance of the human mind. The book explores themes of capitalism, property rights, and the failures of governmental coercion, presenting a provocative vision of a society in collapse and the potential for a new capitalist society based on Galt's principles.

#1314

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Mistborn

The Final Empire

Brandon Sanderson

In this epic fantasy, Brandon Sanderson introduces a world called Scadrial, where ash constantly falls from the sky, plants are brown, and supernatural mists cloak the landscape every night. The story follows Vin, a young half-Skaa orphan with the rare ability to become a Mistborn, and Kelsier, a charismatic thief who recruits Vin to join a group of Allomancers in a high-stakes plan to overthrow the divine despot, the Lord Ruler. The novel explores themes of rebellion, trust, and the complexities of a well-crafted magical system based on metals. The world-building is rich and detailed, with a focus on the political intrigue and the harsh realities of a dystopian society.

#2063

• Mentioned in 18 episodes

Dark Matter

A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora

Sheree Renée Thomas

This anthology, edited by Sheree Renée Thomas, features a collection of 29 fictional short stories and novel excerpts, along with five non-fiction essays. It showcases the work of various African-American writers in the science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction genres, highlighting their contributions and the diversity within these genres. The book includes works by notable authors such as W.E. B. DuBois, Octavia Butler, and Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, among others, and addresses themes of race, inequality, and societal issues through speculative fiction.

Get the full notes and bonuses for this episode https://betweendraftspod.com/episodes/11

In this mailbag episode of Between Drafts, Nathan and Nat tackle listener questions about cover art strategy, exploring the delicate balance between artistic vision and market appeal, and share their experiences with various writing tools and technologies that help bring their stories to life.

The conversation offers insights into the evolving landscape of self-publishing, from pricing strategies and pre-order campaigns to the crucial decisions around cover design and format choices. The hosts discuss how they're navigating the transition between online writing and fiction, sharing their perspectives on maintaining audience engagement while pursuing longer-form creative projects.

The episode concludes with a thoughtful discussion on crafting compelling non-fiction content in an AI-dominated world, emphasizing the importance of personal narrative and internal conflict in storytelling. And finally, Nat's exciting announcement about pre-orders opening for his upcoming book "Husk."

TIMESTAMPS

[00:53] How long it takes to make a book cover
[03:22] How Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson took off with a new cover
[04:36] Nat's cover design process for Husk
[09:39] Business book cover trends and formulas
[10:26] Hardcover vs paperback release strategy
[17:21] Writing tools we're using
[26:02] Balancing online writing with fiction writing
[30:19] Newsletter platforms: Substack vs Beehive vs ConvertKit
[36:07] Writing process: linear vs non-linear scene development
[43:42] Introducing conflict in nonfiction writing
[47:02] How we think about blogging strategy
[50:16] Husk preorder bundle announcement and logistics

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