Question and Answer Episode - May 2022

In this monthly q & a session, the guys answer listener questions.

J.K. Rowling was nearly homeless when she wrote the first Harry Potter book. Stephen King penned CARRIE on a small desk wedged between a washer and dryer. James Patterson worked in advertising and famously wrote the Toys “R” Us theme song long before becoming an author.

Join New York Times best-seller, J.D. Barker, and indie powerhouses J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon as they pull back the curtain on some of the world's most prolific authors. Where did they start? What is their process? The biggest names in publishing all have origin stories, all have a process, all have tips and secrets... What does it take to consistently top the bestseller lists? Get your notepad out. School's in session. This, is Writers, Ink.

Questions asked:

• This is a difficult question - I've been pondering this for some time. I suspect you might be unable to answer this. There are a series of TV films starring Tom Selleck based on Robert B Parker novels called the Jesse Stone series. If you could use one word to describe the atmosphere in the films it would be melancholy. It's mostly achieved by music photography and Tom Selleck's slow drawl dialogue. How can one achieve this melancholy feeling in writing?
• How do you reconcile multiple streams of income (in multiple author services) and the simplicity of offering ONE thing on your website for clients? I know that in order to build clientele, we need to focus our efforts, time, and attention (and maybe even marketing) on one service so as not to overwhelm the potential client with too many options. But, I receive (small amounts of) income from various author services I perform--editing, coaching, audiobook narration. How can I keep my website, newsletters, and "elevator pitches" simple enough and still allow clients to know what they can hire me to do? For instance, I thought of putting up my signature offer on a featured website page, and then list "other author services" with a link to a different page so it doesn't clutter up the featured page.
• If you could go back in time and change one decision you made in your writing career what would it be and why? If you wouldn't change a thing...why not
• I'm appreciating more and more the benefits of hybrid publishing through traditional and self. While I start my query process, I'm curious to best practices. How many agents should you submit queries to at one time? If you have two novels in different genres, should you submit both and see which one is picked up or focus on one? Also, where are the best places to meet agents? I write in the fantasy and superhero fiction genres. Where would I find agents that represent my genres? Does a personal meeting help the process of query acceptance?
• Sounds like JD has "won" the treadmill that most authors hit in terms of making enough money to retire on without having to work with all his investments. What keeps him writing?
• I think Steven King said that 1 million words published is an achievement to make you a great writer. Do you think that number is correct? if not what is the number? Or does it mean you need to have an editor and ensure you have deliberate practice in order for the million words to count?

J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/

J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/

Zach Bohannon - https://zachbohannon.com/

Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life - https://kobowritinglife.com/

Music by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep

Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.com

Contact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/

*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.