The Bestseller Experiment

The two Marks are recording in the same room! Will universes collide? Will they reveal any more about their damn book? They talk about research, reconnoitring locations, and more in the first of a two-parter... In this episode you will discover: - Tips for speaking to experts for research - The importance of a critical path and the consequences of missing deadlines - The benefits of actually going to a place for research, over just looking on Google Earth - The importance of keeping the tone even, resisting cheap gags and gaining the confidence to cut material - What you should never say to an author, and why changing the name of a character can be a bad idea… Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

Katherine May is an award-winning writer, blogger and the programme director of creative writing at Canterbury, Christ Church University. She is an extraordinary talent, makes a mean gin cocktail, and has an incredible series of books coming in the next year… In this episode you will discover: - The pros and cons of writing under a pseudonym - The importance of celebrating milestones - Top tips for tackling procrastination - And how a nice, long walk can not only improve your writing, but change your life Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

Martina Cole is the undisputed queen of British crime fiction. She's sold over 14 million books and her novels regularly top the Sunday Times bestsellers. She's come a long way from being told 'Women don't write these kinds of books.' We were delighted to speak on the eve of publication of her new paperback Betrayal. In this episode you will discover: - How writing for yourself and not an audience can help you break out - Why you should think twice about burning your old manuscripts - Why it's okay to steer away from your outline - And a top tip for editing! Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

Jennifer Niven is a phenomenally successful YA novelist. All The Bright Places was a Goodreads Choice Award winner and is now being adapted for film starring Elle Fanning. We spoke to Jennifer not long after her tour of Australia and New Zealand… In this episode you will discover: - How bravery and honesty can only improve your writing - How your characters can teach you about the story - How to storyboard your book with a music mood board - And a great solution for parents trying to write with kids running around the house! Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

We've done it, we've finished our first draft! After months of writing — and that outline — we discuss what it means to reach this milestone, and what we can expect from the next draft, and we reveal more about our novel… including its working title! In this episode you will discover: - Why it's okay for your first draft to be imperfect - The importance of a deadline - Rewrite techniques - And we have a special request for our listeners Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

Deon is a bestselling thriller writer from South Africa whose books have been translated into 20 languages, but with his latest book Fever. he has written a post-apocalyptic epic with a big heart.. In this episode you will discover: - Why struggle is a positive not a negative - Why genre shouldn't matter when you're writing - Why finishing your first draft is so important - And why your brother telling you you're rubbish should not hold you back from success! Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

Laura Barnett's 2015 debut The Versions Of Us was a smash hit, a number one bestseller, and translated into 23 languages. Now she faces that difficult second album syndrome, but Laura has come up with an ingenious solution and a unique piece of fiction. In this episode you will discover: - How music can inspire your writing - The balance between respecting the reader and writing for yourself - How the first fifteen minutes of your day can be the most creative - How collaboration with an artist in another medium can unlock untapped talents Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

A children's fiction special. We talk with Karen Ball who has published some of the bestselling children's series of the last twenty years, including the Beast Quest which has sold over 11m copies. Recently featured as a 2017 Rising Star in the Bookseller, Karen is the former Little, Brown for Young Readers publisher. She is now a consultant at Speckled Pen (working with OUP, Hachette Children's and Parragon) as well as an expert in intellectual property. In this episode you will discover: - How children's series are commissioned - The importance of plot in children's books - How to start planning your career as a writer - The importance of respecting your readers Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

How do you touch the heart of your readers? We get emotional over tea and cake with bestselling author Erica James. Erica has sold over 5 million copies of over twenty books, is winner of the Romantic Novel of the Year Award, and she never fails to break her readers' hearts. We discover how she does it… In this episode you will discover: - Why it's so important to write from the heart - How talking to strangers can make you characters more interesting - The importance of trusting your instincts - How to know when your book isn't working and how to fix it Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

In the second part of our interview with Susan Kaye Quinn, we talk about how to launch your book, pre-orders, fan-service, promoting your books, the dark art of blurbs, the power of tropes and mythology. In this episode you will discover: -The ideal model for debut pre-orders. - How long you should promote your book for. - How to make your blurbs work harder. - And how to use tropes to satisfy your readers. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com