WriterCon

Bestselling author William Bernhardt (The Last Chance Lawyer) discusses the latest news from the publishing world, offers writing tips, and interviews Dave Chesson, the "Kindlepreneur" who offers educational classes, books, and the invaluable program KDP Rocket to help writers promote their work.Chapter 1: IntroductionChapter 2: Newsa) For the first time, Amazon Studios has purchased the media rights to a book published by Amazon Publishing, creating synergy that could make Amazon an even more desirable publishing choice.b) Stephen King becomes the first author to have his own Amazon skill (program), allowing people to find a King book through their home Alexa device. This will likely be the first of many such skills created by authors to market their books and audiobooks.Chapter 3: Writing TipsThe publishing world has been beset with scandal. Journalist Jill Abramson has been accused of plagiarism, and novelist Dan Mallory has been accused of borrowing the plot elements of his new novel from the work of others. Writers must be cautious not to use the words of others without giving proper attribution, and must be careful to distinguish their stories from previous ones, even though they may share the same genre or plot archetypes. Bernhardt offers tips to help writers ensure their work is distinctive rather than imitative.Chapter 4: Interview with Dave ChessonKDP Rocket has become an indispensable tool for the modern writer, allowing them to search for the best keywords to use in their advertising. Chesson also discusses his books, blog, and classes designed to help writers find success.Chapter 5: Parting WordsWilliam Bernhardt's new novel, The Last Chance Lawyer, is now available for pre-order at a reduced price on most online bookselling sites. He also has sworn to not use the word "forefront" again for at least the next five podcasts. He can be contacted at: wb@williambernhardt.com. Please spread the word about this podcast and post reviews on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the writing world, offers writing tips, and interviews Shawn Coyne, writer, editor, and creator of The Story Grid.News:1) Steven Spielberg options a story first published on Reddit.2) Wattpad announces the creation of Wattpad Books, a book publishing division to promote its authors and stories in print.3) Otto Pendler announces the creation of a new mystery imprint.4) Amazon's press release reveals that thousands of self-published authors are making more than $50,000 a year.In the interview, Shawn Coyne discusses The Story Grid, guidelines and checklists he created after years of editing for major New York publishers. Authors can use the Grid to diagnose their work-in-progress and make sure it contains all the essential ingredients. Coyne also discusses what makes a book stand out to readers, the advantages of outlining, and the truth about writer's block.Please post reviews and ratings wherever you get your podcast. You can email William Bernhardt at wb@williambernhardt.com and learn more about his work at www.williambernhardt.com.

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books, then interviews RJ Johnson, author of science fiction, fantasy, and mystery novels, and an independent publishing pioneer.News: 1) Amazon Advertising becomes a $125 billion business by using the data collected from its customers to sell targeted marketing to advertisers. Are you using Amazon Ads yet?2) An Australian university has developed a new font--Sans Forgetica--which increases retention of what is read.3) American poet Mary Oliver, inspiration for many writers and author of the famous poem "Wild Geese," has passed.Interview:RJ Johnson was at the forefront of the independent publishing movement, skillfully using Amazon KDP, Bookbub, and other forms of marketing and advertising to build a following for his science fiction and fantasy novels. He offers wisdom and advice to writers and discusses the challenges of crossing and mixing genres.Please like or review this podcast. Send email to: wb@williambernhardt.com. For more information about the Red Sneaker books on writing, or William Bernhardt's writing retreats and annual conference, visit: www.williambernhardt.com

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the worlds of books and publishing, then interviews marketing expert Jim Kukral about smarter-author marketing techniques.News:1) Copyright issues: Because of the current American copyright law, many classic works entered the public domain on January 1, 2019. Authors are currently afforded 95 years of protection for their intellectual property. Are you building an income-earning estate for your heirs?2) Morality clauses: In the wake of so many public careers being crushed by inappropriate words or actions, the Big Five publishers are adding morality clauses to their contracts with authors. Be careful what you say and do!3) Author Earnings: According to a new study by the Authors Guild, author earnings have decreased by about 42% since 2009, requiring most "full-time" authors to hold additional income-generating jobs. Bernhardt discusses the ramifications of this for serious Red Sneaker Writers.Interview: Jim Kukral is an expert in online marketing. He founded the Author Marketing Club, and more recently launched SmarterAuthors, a personalized program designed to help authors launch their titles or to improve sales for existing titles. He discusses the importance of the title, the cover, the book description, key words, reviews, genre choice, online advertising, "social proof," and other key factors in successful marketing for authors.For more inför about Kukral's program, visit: www.smarter authors.comWilliam Bernhardt has added two intensive small-group writing retreats for 2019. Find more information about them at: https://www.williambernhardt.com/writing-retreatsIf you're enjoying this podcast, please rate it or leave a review wherever you find your podcasts. You can email the host at wb@williambernhardt.com.

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the writing world, followed by an interview with James Scott Bell, author of bestselling thrillers and many books on writing, including Plot and Structure and Write Your Novel From the Middle.News:1) Kindle Direct Publishing adds or improves two features: Image Handling and Tables of Contents in your eBooks;2) The publishing industry experiences book shortages that curtail sales during the holiday season; and3) End-of-the-Year Report. Books sales rose in 2018, largely due to an increase in the sales of political nonfiction. Independent bookstore sales increased a bit. More than 1000 authors made over $100,000 self-publishing their work. And more.In the interview, Bell discusses how he structures his writing day, setting writing targets and tracking his productivity. He talks about creating an action plan to develop a writing career and keep it on track. He explains "the mirror moment," a mid-point scene in which the protagonist undergoes a moment of self-examination that leads to a transformative character arc, enriching the novel.James Scott Bell will be the keynote speaker at WriterCon 2019 in Oklahoma City over Labor Day weekend. Register now to take advantage of the Early Bird special. Just enter the promo code EARLYBIRD when you register at writercon.org.The support this podcast, visit: www.patreon.com/willbernEmail William Bernhardt at wb@williambernhardt.com, or visit his website: www.williambernhardt.com

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the worlds of books and publishing, then interviews Jennifer Lynn Barnes, a young adult author and expert on the psychology of fiction.News Items:1) Controversy surrounding a poet accused of plagiarizing portions of a Pushcart-nominated poem--and why you must be careful that the words you publish are your own.2) Findaway Voices, which helps authors produce their own audiobooks, improves its royalty rates.3) The two leading book wholesalers may soon become one. Ingram contemplates the purchase of Baker & Taylor.4) Controversy fuels books sales. In the midst of the furor over the current presidential administration, political book sales are at an all-time high. Could you stimulate sales by courting controversy in your next novel?Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a multi-published young adult author (Little White Lies), a Fulbright scholar, and a Ph.D. in Psychology with degrees from Cambridge and Yale. Her work on the psychology of fiction has led to some fascinating and useful insights into why people read fiction and how to make your own fiction more appealing to readers. She discusses specific tropes that people love to find in fiction. She also advocates that writers develop an "Id List," specific plot lines, plot devices, settings, and other elements that make writing more joyful. If those items bring you joy they will likely do the same for readers, which will increase the appeal of your books.Jennifer Lynn Barnes is one of many experts invited (not invented, oops) to speak at WriterCon 2019. For more information about this annual writers conference, visit writercon.org. Register before the end of 2018 and use the promo code EARLYBIRD for a $50 discount.Please rate or post a review of this podcast!For more information about William Bernhardt, visit: www.williambernhardt.com

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the worlds of publishing and books, then interviews the amazing Genese Davis, author of thrillers (The Holder's Dominion), film-related books, games, podcasts, science fiction, and much more.News Items:1) We lost William Goldman, screenplay writer and novelist, whose book Adventures in the Screen Trade changed the way many people viewed storytelling. Goldman said, "Writing is structure," and always emphasized the importance of laying out the essential elements to compose a spellbinding story.2) Wattpad is huge and expanding into film adaptions based upon Wattpad stories. This webpage has been used by many authors to post their work, to get feedback on drafts, and to increase their visibility, which in some cases has led to deals in traditional publishing and film/tv adaptations.3) Draft2Digital has partnered with Findaway Voices to give independent authors a new avenue for producing and distributing audiobooks. Digital audiobooks are the fastest-growing segment of the current book market. In the interview, Genese Davis discusses writing, the importance of maintaining focus, and marketing approaches that lead to sales and success. She also talks about the importance of speaking the truth, of emotional honesty, both in the promotion of your books and the books themselves. Davis has appeared on more than 500 convention panels in the last five years, which gives her enormous insight into what's happening in today's publishing world. Links:WriterCon 2019, the annual writers convention co-sponsored by the Red Sneaker Writers Center: www.writercon.org.Genese Davis: www.genesedavis.comWilliam Bernhardt Email: wb@williambernhardt.com, Webpage: www.williambernhardt.com

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the worlds of books and publishing, then interviews Joanna Penn, founder of The Creative Penn and host of The Creative Penn podcast.News Items: 1) Amazon appears to be diminishing the influence of the "Also Bought" book page feature in favor of paid advertising. Is it time for you to take the plunge into the world of Amazon ads?2) Big Five New York publishers are consolidating and eliminating many of their imprints. Is this a recognition that the book world has changed and brick-and-mortar stores are no longer the primary place where books are sold?3) We mourn the passing of Stan Lee, creative genius of Marvel Comics. What lessons can Red Sneaker Writers take from his fascinating life?In the interview, Joanna Penn explains content-based marketing and how writers--including fiction writers--can create promotional material that engages writers and increases the sales of their books. She discusses specifically what works--and what doesn't.For more information about the New Orleans Writers Retreat, visit: https://www.williambernhardt.com/writing-retreatsAbout WriterCon 2019--Did I say we were offering a 50% discount? Oops. I mean a $50-off discount, if you register before the end of 2018. For more information, visit: https://writercon.orgLinks:The Creative Penn: https://www.thecreativepenn.comWilliam Bernhardt: https://www.williambernhardt.comEmail: wb@williambernhardt.com

Bestselling author William Bernhardt provides a roundup of the latest news of interest to writers, followed by an interview with literary scouting agent for Franklin & Siegel, Erin Hennicke.In the news roundup, Bernhardt discusses:1) the results from PBS's Great American Read, and what writers can learn by studying the list of books selected by readers;2) the pricing scheme for John Grisham's latest novel, which suggests that the Big Five New York publishers are trying to drive readers away from digital books and back to print;3) the first American dwarsliggers, horizontal books about the size of a cellphone and no thicker than your thumb, designed to simulate the experience of reading on a phone but in a print format; and 4) a new Chinese bot that translated a 300-page English novel in thirty seconds with a 95% accuracy rate, requiring only a week of subsequent work by a translator, and the ramifications this innovation may have for writing enterpreneurs.In the interview segment, Bernhardt talks with Erin Hennicke, who is the Director of TV/Film for the largest literary scouting agency in New York, Franklin & Siegel. Hennicke explains what she looks for when she considers books and stories for adaptations, and how you can make your book more attractive to Hollywood. Hennicke will speak and hear pitch at the next Red Sneaker writers conference, now called WriterCon 2019. Early bird discounts are now available for early registrants at www.writercon.org. Bernhardt will also host a small-group seminar in New Orleans December 9-13. For more information, visit: https://www.williambernhardt.com/writing-retreats.

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books, followed by an interview with Kevin Tumlinson, author and Director of Marketing for Draft2Digital. In the News segment, Bernhardt discusses:1) Announcements from Draft2Digital that in addition to helping authors self-publish eBooks, they are expanding into providing print editions for clients. They are also adding a "shared words" feature for various fan fiction franchises.2) Bernhardt visits an Amazon brick-and-mortar store in New York City.3) Barnes & Noble is entertaining buyers.Bernhardt interviews Kevin Tumlinson, who discusses his own writing, his podcast Wordslinger, and his work with Draft2Digital. Tumlinson has written many books, including 30 Day-Author: Develop a Daily Writing Habit and Write Your Book in 30 Days (or Less), which he says does not necessarily compromise the quality of the work, but simply requires diligence, professionalism, and experience. Tumlinson also discusses the services Draft2Digital provides authors, formatting and distribution and more, charging nothing up front, but only taking a 10% cut of profits that arise. For more information, visit: draft2digital.com.