The Bestseller Experiment

Ben Aaronovitch started writing for Dr Who and became the author of the bestselling Peter Grant series that started with Rivers Of London in 2011 and has been hugely successful, regularly hitting the Sunday Times bestsellers top ten. We were delighted to get Ben for a conversation full of fireworks. In this episode you will discover: When an outline is not an outline Top procrastination tips that will help your productivity Why sniffing a camel will help your research And how many drafts is too many Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

Mark Dawson had been published by a mainstream publisher, but to little success. A friend introduced him to Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and now, over two million downloads later, he is one of the UK’s most successful indie authors. In this episode you will discover… - Why you need a mailing list. - A daily routine that balances creativity and business. - The power of an online ad campaign - The big changes coming in self-publishing! Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

Self-publishing an eBook? You’re almost certainly going to be publishing on Kindle. We were delighted to speak to Kindle’s head of Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Darren Hardy, at Amazon’s recent Amazon Academy Conference in London to get the low-down. In this episode you will discover: - Where to find essential resources to guide you through the process of self-publishing on Kindle. -The common best practices for authors starting out. -The key elements that will make your book more visible on Amazon. -The big changes coming in self-publishing! Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

Joe is the bestselling author of Heart-Shaped Box, Horns, NOS4A2, Locke & Key and most recently the New York Times #1 epic blockbuster The Fireman. Joe, son of Stephen King, is powerhouse storyteller from an incredible family of writers. He is also an endless well of writing advice, so be ready to take notes… lots of notes… In this episode you will discover: - The power of two: two writers and a two-word sentence - How the secret to the Beatles’ success can be applied to your writing - Joe’s rule when tackling second drafts, and his first paragraph trick. - Joe’s top tip that he got from his track coach at school - How rewriting someone else’s work, and the game Go, can benefit your writing. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

Sarah Pinborough has had over twenty novels published and written for TV and film. Sarah’s new thriller Behind Her Eyes is getting incredible buzz after a heated auction. Sarah is always funny, insightful and often eye-wateringly honest. Brace yourselves for one of our most entertaining author chats yet… WARNING: Contains strong adult language! In this episode you will discover: - Why you should get networking. - The importance of thinking time. - How to cope with an editor’s notes. - The common mistakes made by men writing women. - And the benefit of being charming. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

The second part of our interview with bestselling Indie author Shannon Mayer who recently hit #2 in the main Amazon.com charts outselling Stephen Kings and other great. We talk about her new deal with Amazon, hybrid authors, the importance of an author’s intent, being business-like and collaboration. In this episode you will discover: - The importance of setting your goals as a writer, and making them big! - The simple secret of Shannon’s success and how you can apply it to your writing. - How to cope with imposter syndrome. - And a great tip for collaborating with another author. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com .

'How do I get an agent?' is one of the most common questions asked by new writers, so we asked Federica Leonardis, founder of Martin Leonardis Literary Management, and her debut novelist Sonya Lalli. In this episode you will discover:  The common mistakes made by writers looking for an agent. The worst submission letter in the history of submission letters. How you can cope with waiting for a reply, and how not to take rejection personally And… how you can get an agent! Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

  Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

John Connolly has won pretty much every crime award going, and his books are regular Sunday Times bestsellers. He doesn’t do workshops, doesn’t suffer fools, and told the massive issue with leaving a book half-finished. John's words are dripping in wisdom and we loved him. In this episode you will discover: - The importance of empathy and character in your writing. - Why every book is a failure, and that’s okay… - Why you should be wary of the siren call of the new idea. - And how you can write your way out of writer’s block. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

How do you research your books? Michelle Paver has written eighteen novels, including the bestselling Chronicles Of Ancient Darkness. She’s encountered killer whales, wolves, polar bears and a runaway Yak, all in the name of research. In this episode you will discover: The key to giving readers the chills. How research can enrich your writing. How to avoid getting bogged down in research. And why you should always keep your old manuscripts! Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com