WriterCon

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books, offers writing tips, and interviews J.A. Ludwig, author of the high fantasy novel Bloodfall Arena.Chapter 1: IntroductionWe have power again! I'm back in the recording studio!Chapter 2: Newsa) Amazon allows publishers and authors input on their series pages.b) ACX claims production delays are due to large numbers of low-quality submissions.c) Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is for sale.d) Kindle Owners Lending Library is ending.e) UK publishers are putting major authors into Kindle Unlimited.f) Penguin Random House parent company buys Quad printing operations.g) According to a new study, literary fiction and popular fiction affect the brain differently.Chapter 3: Writing TipsBernhardt discusses the challenges of adding diversity and inclusion to your writing and how to do it the right way—to improve your book, rather than simply making token gestures.Chapter 4: InterviewBernhardt interviews J.A. Ludwig, author of the Blood Magic high fantasy series, which leads with the novel Bloodfall Arena. She discusses her path to becoming a writer and what she has learned along the way.Chapter 5: Parting WordsPlease rate this podcast or leave a review!Join William Bernhardt for his five-day online writing workshop. Get direct feedback on your manuscript. Get the answers you need to succeed. For more info, visit: https://www.williambernhardt.com/writing-retreats

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the book world, offers writing tips, and interviews David Gaughran, book marketing expert and author of Let's Get Digital.Chapter 1: IntroductionA complete power outage is no excuse to slack off.Chapter 2: Newsa) A debut author scores a $2 million deal with Doubleday.b) Book sales are soaring. Readers are buying 30% more eBooks.c) Experts warn that holiday shoppers will start early and buy more than half online.d) Molly Stern starts Zando, a publishing house the will focus on high-profile partners and promoters—not bookstores.e) Mike Shatzhin says publishers must shift their focus from bookstores to direct sales.f) A British six-year-old publishes a book: My Mummy is Autistic.Chapter 3: Writing TipsLara Bernhardt (The Wantland Files) discusses techniques for getting readers emotionally involved in your book.Chapter 4: InterviewDavid Gaughran discusses all the new tips and data in the new edition of Let's Get Digital, his guide to publishing and marketing eBooks.Chapter 5: Parting WordsJudge and Jury, William Bernhardt's fifth book in the Daniel Pike series, is now on sale. The next, Final Verdict, will be available in January.

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books and interviews Pierce Gaynor, CEO of Fictional, an online AI prose editor for writers and publishers.Chapter 1: IntroductionBernhardt offers an online five-day writing workshop in December.Big response to new tech programs for writers—including FixionalChapter 2: Newsa) Writer is an online service that checks your manuscript for potentially offensive or otherwise problematic prose.b) Joseph Esposito explains why Penguin Random House wants Simon & Schuster.c) A new publishing startup, BookClub, helps authors create their own book clubs.d) Amazon launches a similar book-club-creation service.e) Barnes & Noble computer records were hacked.f) Children's book sales are up.g) Five years later, it appears the New York Times prediction about the demise of eBooks was incorrect.Chapter 3: InterviewBernhardt interviews Pierce Gaynor about his new online AI editing service, Fixional.Chapter 4: Parting WordsIt is not too late to register for Bernhardt's December small-group retreat. Visit: https://www.williambernhardt.com/writing-retreatsKeep writing!

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books, offers writing tips, and interviews Steven James, author of the Bowers Files thrillers and Story Trumps Structure.Chapter 1: IntroductionBernhardt's first online small-group writing workshop is filling fast. Visit www.williambernhardt.com for more information. Chapter 2: Newsa) Fixional offers AI-driven editing and revision services for authors and publishers.b) Plotrr allows authors to outline and create timelines for their books.c) Lately is an AI-driven service that helps you prepare and spread your social media posts.d) Trinity Audio provide a text-to-speech service to create audio versions of books, stories, and articles.Chapter 3: Writing TipsTech is great, especially if it helps you sit down and get the work done, but no AI will ever replace your human creativity. That's what makes you a writer.Chapter 4: InterviewSteven James is the author more more than thirty books, including thrillers, the SF novel Synapse, and Story Trumps Structure, a writing guide. He shares his thoughts on whether character arc is necessary for series characters, the importance of revision, and much more.Chapter 5: Parting WordsYou can support this podcast by joining William Bernhardt's Patreon page: www.patron.com/willbernIf you're enjoying this podcast, please leave a positive review wherever you get podcasts!

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the book world, offers writing tips, and interviews Betsey Kulakowski, author of The Veritas Codex series.Chapter 1: IntroductionWriterCon 2020 was a success, and WriterCon 2021 will stream again!Chapter 2: Newsa) Simon & Schuster may be purchased by Random Houseb) Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt discusses the need to make bookstores a destination.c) David Burleigh from OverDrive discusses the surge in library use of digital books.d) Marlowe, an AI program, will analyze your book for $89.Chapter 3: Writing TipsEditing is essential to producing a first-rate book. Bernhardt discusses the differences and purposes of developmental edits, copy edits, beta readers, and proofreading.Chapter 4: Interview with Betsey KulakowskiBernhardt interviews the author of The Veritas Codex, the first book is a new series featuring a television journalist who explores strange and explained mysteries.Chapter 5: Parting WordsWriters looking for direct feedback on their manuscripts should consider Bernhardt's upcoming small-group workshops, one online in December, one in person in 2021. Bernhardt reads manuscripts and daily work, discusses relevant topics, and provides direct critique and editing. For more information, visit www.williambernhardt.com and click on "Red Sneaker Writers."Until next time, keep writing, and remember, you cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books, offers writing tips, and interviews Alexandra Ott, author of Rules for Thieves (Simon & Schuster) and other middle-grade and young adult novels.Chapter 1We're recording before a live audience at WriterCon, the annual writers conference co-hosted by William Bernhardt, which this year added a streaming option so writers and aspiring writers could watch the entire three-day conference from home.Chapter 2: Newsa) A recent Ingram webinar discusses profound changes in how books are marketed. Publishers are paying less attention to bookstore placement and focusing more on online sales.b) Spotify, the hugely successful music streaming service, appears to be preparing to enter the audiobook world.c) Audible announces a subscription plan—the audiobook equivalent of Kindle Unlimited.Chapter 3:Bernhardt invites people in the WriterCon audience to share what they've learned at the conference, including Amy Le, Daniel Short, and Lara Bernhardt (The Wantland Files).Chapter 4: Interview with Alexandra OttBernhardt interviews Alexandra Ott, author of Rules for Thieves and other books for young readers about her career, how she broke into publishing, what captivates young readers, the differences between middle-grade and young adult novels, and much more.Chapter 5: Parting WordsBernhardt promises that there will be another WriterCon next year, Labor Day weekend, and you are invited to attend. More details to follow!

Chapter 1: IntroductionLast chance to register for WriterCon, the writers’ conference that has not been cancelled and will not be cancelled. You can attend live, stream the three-day conference, or watch online at your convenience during the two weeks following the conference. Visit the website, look at the schedule, and see if this opportunity might be just what you need to advance your writing career: writercon.orgWilliam Bernhardt’s new novel Judge and Jury, the fifth book in the Daniel Pike series, will be released August 25, 2020. Check it out!Chapter 2: Newsa)Quarterly sales reports indicate that for traditional publishers, sales are down, but in some cases, earnings are up, due to improved sales of eBooks and digital audiobooks.b)Digital revenue for The New York Times exceeds print revenue for the first time.c)Digital sales to libraries are surging.d)Even traditional publishers are using the Amazon 100 list to spot market trends as they arise—and you can too.e)Descript adds an AI digital voice—your voice—as a means to edit your audio recording. After training, the program can generate a voice to match the text you type.Chapter 3: Writing TipsAttendees at the Central Region Oklahoma Writers retreat offer their tips: Abby Robertson, editor at Wild Rose Press and author of more than 20 novels, plus authors Mary Jo Springer and Debbie Rogers.Chapter 4: InterviewWilliam Bernhardt interviews Christopher Vogler, keynote speaker at this year’s WriterCon, and acclaimed author of the seminal work on writing, The Writer’s Journey, recently reissued in a 25th Anniversary edition.Chapter 5: Parting ThoughtsThink about reading Judge and Jury, the fifth book in the Daniel Pike series.And consider attending WriterCon 2020, either in person or virtually: www.writercon.org

Chapter 1: IntroductionBestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books, offers writing tips, and interviews Nathan Bransford, agent, author, and writing coach about the best advice for writers hoping to break into the publishing world.Chapter 2: Newsa)Book sales are up during the lockdown, especially for eBooks. b)The largest US printer is being sold, leaving traditional publishers uncertain whether they’ll be able get large quantities of books printed.c)Crooked Lane Books has opened a new imprint, Alcove Press, specializing in books relating to families and friendship.d)Bonnier Books UK launches a new music imprint.e)Arcadia launches a new children’s imprintf)A new digital publisher called NeoText will publish shorter genre work.g)An Indian author offers a new software program for writers called Granthika to help novelists organize their books.Chapter 3: Writing TipsBernhardt discusses the latest Reddit uproar involving the author of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas who Googled how to dye a dress red, then wrote into his new historical novel a formula from The Legend of Zelda (which involves elements that don’t actually exist). You don’t want that to happen to you. Don’t be sloppy about your research, and don’t be dependent upon the internet. Put as much effort into the research as you do the writing.Chapter 4: InterviewBernhardt interviews writing coach Nathan Bransford on the best ways writers can help themselves, like targeting an audience before they write, and writing what will make them happiest.Chapter 5: Parting WordsCome to WriterCon 2020! The entire three-day conference will be streamed and recorded, so you can see all the 60+ sessions without leaving home. All sessions will be available online for two weeks after the conference at no additional cost. This is an unprecedented educational opportunity. Join us! www.writercon.org

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the book world, offers writing tips, and interviews Caro Begin, author and expert on writer websites.Chapter 1: IntroductionIt's our Golden Anniversary episode (sort of)!Chapter 2: Newsa) Controversy surrounds Mark Dawson purchasing a large quantity of his own novel to push it onto the Top Ten of the Sunday Times bestseller list.b) Author promotes the first-ever drive-in book event.c) B&N closes its experimental “kitchen” bookstore.d) Yet another author is “Twittered” out of her book release.e New developments at the US Copyright Office permit registration of multiple short works published online for a flat fee.f) Publishers announce new imprints for literary fiction and nonfiction promoting diversity, New Age topics, and picture books.Chapter 3: Writing TipsA four-year old poet gets a great book deal! When will you be published? Here’s the best way to make it happen.Chapter 4: Interview with Caro BeginBernhardt interviews this accomplished author and expert on author websites about her work and how Red Sneaker Writers can have the most effective websites.Chapter 5: Parting WordsWriterCon 2020 is still happening! You can attend in person or stream it from wherever you are. Visit www.writercon.org for more information.

In this special podcast episode recorded live at William Bernhardt's Writers Retreat in Eureka Springs, he discusses the latest news from the world of books, invites other attending writers to offer writing tips, and interviews Marcia Preston, author of The Butterfly House and winner of the Mark Higgins Clark Ward for suspense fiction.Chapter 1: IntroductionThis episode was recorded live at the annual Writers Retreat conducted by William Bernhardt at the Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.Chapter 2: News1) Major authors, the Authors Guild, Amazon Publishing, and Penguin Random House join forces to sue the online KISS Library charging that it allows users to download copyrighted books.2) Barnes & Noble dismisses many employee/buyers, possibly as part of a change in policy emphasizing local control over the inventory.3) Amazon forms a Counterfeit Crimes Unit to crack down on counterfeit books.4) Sales increase for books on cooking, gardening, and financial planning.5) Ingram increases its print-on-demand programs.6) Consumer spending at Amazon has grown by 50% since last year.Chapter 3: Writing TipsShelley Levisay, Dan Snell, and Thomas Miller offer writing tips they've gained from their time at Writers Retreat.Chapter 4: Interview with Marcia PrestonBernhardt interviews Marcia Preston, the award-winning author of The Butterfly House and many other books about her characters, where she finds ideas for her novels, the revision process, and her new novel, The Spiderling.Chapter 5: Parting WordsIf you'd like to take a deep dive into your work-in-progress and obtain feedback designed to make it better, consider attending Bernhardt's next Writers Retreat.WriterCon will take place over Labor Day weekend. You can attend in person, or stream the entire three-day conference. For more information, visit: www.writercon.org.