Every author needs a mailing list. But where do you start on building one? When you should start one? What should you focus on when building a list? How often should you send broadcasts? And of course, what do you send to your list? J. and Zach tackle all those questions and more list building[…]
Morning routines are crucial to productivity and getting your day started off right. It’s scientifically proven, and the most successful people in the world all have morning routines. On this episode, J. and Zach discuss what goes into their morning routines, and their ‘why’ related to each task. Listen to discover: How Zach and J.[…]
J. and Zach have been working on a lot of stuff behind the scenes. On this episode, they make some announcements on some of the big things they have planned for authors and listeners of The Career Author, as well as for the readers of their fiction. They also discuss terrible creative advice, the importance[…]
Authors on a Train 2018 is officially over. The trip started with J. and Zach meeting six other authors in Chicago, jumping on the Amtrak train, and heading down to New Orleans for the week. On their last morning together in New Orleans, Zach and J. sat down with a microphone between them and shared[…]
On this very special episode of The Career Author Podcast, Zach and J. answer questions from their Authors on a Train 2018 attendees in an open round table discussion. You will discover: How the guys approach book launches + how their launch strategy differs for a book one vs. later books in the series Why[…]
Do you really need to have a presence on social media to succeed as an author? If so, which platforms should you be on? J. and Zach discuss the role of social media for authors and more: The challenges of staying professional when you’re facing a difficult emotional time The fascinating science around decluttering Some[…]
Zach flies solo on the show today, talks about some of the big things he did to get his personal finances healthy to prepare for the jump to becoming a career author, and offers some powerful money tips for authors. You’ll discover: The special author service Zach is now providing to listeners of The Career Author[…]
A lot of aspiring authors dream about writing as their full-time career. But can you reach that point if it’s only a dream? J. and Zach discuss their different outlooks on the importance of goals and goal setting on this week’s show. You’ll discover: Zach’s exciting new service for authors A simple way to reduce[…]
One of the most common questions we are asked is, “Should I have a podcast?” So we tackle that topic today with a candid discussion about podcasting 101 for authors. You will discover: Zach’s recent success with meditation Some practical tips for increasing your visibility and sales on Kobo + why you want to publish[…]
J. and Zach just got back from Pittsburgh and their Night of the Writing Dead writers retreat and worldbuilding summit. Today, they talk about the event, some of the takeaways for authors, and more: J. expands his author services An easy way to get more out of your time The importance of tracking your daily[…]
Being professional and treating your product (aka book) the best chance to succeed is a big part of what makes a career author. Today, J. and Zach discuss the importance of why you need a professional editor and more: The danger of using too many saidisms in your work Why repetition is important if you[…]
As an author, it’s important to protect your creative energy in order to produce the best book possible. Today, J. and Zach discuss the importance of setting up boundaries and barriers. You’ll discover how to protect your creative energy and more: Why creating a designated workspace for your writing is an essential step for every[…]
For many authors, worldbuilding is the most fun part of the process. J. and Zach are back together in person this week and have a face to face discussion about their story worldbuilding processes. You will discover: How Molten Universe Media has used Amazon ads (AMS) to boost their sales The various types of AMS[…]
Things seem to change every single day in self-publishing. Today, J. and Zach talk about some of the best publishing tools available today, some recent changes with paperbacks over at Amazon, and more: The success of the new Halloween movie The ever-changing nature of self publishing and why it’s important to pay attention to developments[…]
Zach and J. go deep on craft today and talk about The Editor’s Six Core Questions. You’ll discover the basics of how to edit a novel and more: How recent changes to J.’s morning routine have helped him tap into the deepest parts of his creativity and increased his motivation How to train your brain[…]
Today on the show, Zach and J. share a story about something that recently happened to them, and how they turned lemons into lemonade. It leads to a conversation about internet etiquette for authors. You’ll discover best practices for interacting with people in your author career and more: The science of coffee J.’s top tip[…]
J. and Zach talk about selling at conventions, the advantages and disadvantages whether or not author book signings are worth it, and more: The importance of honesty, discipline, and trust in yourself to finish everything that needs to get done Why goal setting can be psychologically damaging and a little bit about what the guys[…]
You’ve written that novel, but now you need a book cover. Do you make it yourself? Do you find a graphic artist? How do you even find a good cover artist, and what should you be looking for? J. and Zach share how to find a book cover artist and more in this week’s episode[…]
J. recently visited Findaway Voices to see some of the cool things they are doing in the world of audiobooks. Today, Zach and J. discuss some of the stuff they showed J. and how we see the future of audiobooks and more: The growing library of content on The Career Author Podcast Patreon page An easy way[…]
Do you think it’s possible to tell a complete story in fifteen seconds with no dialogue? Today, Zach and J. break down a fifteen second Clorox commercial to facilitate a discussion about story structure and the many facets of great storytelling. You’ll discover: The sense of accomplishment you feel when you finish a series The[…]
What do the guys do at night to rest or to fill their respective creative wells? Zach and J. discuss their night rituals and more: The podcast hits 30 episodes Exciting times at metal shows One of the fathers of indie publishing signs a deal for a TV adaptation and what it means for other[…]
Zach and J. discuss the struggles of decision making for indie authors and more: How quickly you can fall out of routine Findaway Voices continues to innovate in the world of audiobooks How the guys choose their Amazon keywords and offer some advice for improving your own Amazon page with keywords and metadata Why the[…]
Zach and J. have spent most of their time as collaborators working on trilogies, but now they’ve decided to move away from that. On this episode, they discuss what they’ve learned by writing and self publishing trilogies, why they are ready to try a longer series, and more: A fascinating new show J. is watching[…]
J. hit the jackpot and got accepted for a BookBub ad. But how did it go? On today’s episode, J. offers a detailed Bookbub breakdown and more: Working on the holidays The importance of learning to switch your focus from the macro to the micro when plotting or revising a story J. explains how you[…]
In this special episode of The Career Author Podcast, Zach and J. are together in the same room once again. This time, they discuss the good and the bad from their most recent meeting, how to plan a book series of your own, and more: Sad farewells to one of the best drummers in the[…]
All authors think about what it would be like to see their book on the big screen or on a television set. But what are the opportunity costs of adaptation? Take a deep dive into this question and more with J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon. You will learn: J.’s recent experience teaching Rachel Herron about[…]
One of the most controversial and most discussed topics in the publishing world is what the future holds for bookstores, as well as physical books. J. and Zach discuss the future of bookstores and more: Some of the issues with running a news segment on The Career Author Podcast The importance of developing systems to increase[…]
You’ve heard all the advice on how to build a mailing list, but what do you do once you’ve got a reader’s email? On this week’s episode, J. and Zach talk about mailing lists for authors and more: The impressive success of one author’s sleazy tactics to gain Amazon reviews Book stuffing and other Kindle[…]
On this week’s episode, J. and Zach talk about some of the reasons they host events, what goes into hosting an event for authors, and more: Upcoming features on the Patreon The ongoing controversy of the Audible unlimited romance subscription program’s terrible royalty rates Amazon quietly bans ARC reviews? Or are authors overreacting to a[…]
There are more ways to collaborate on a book than writing a novel with another author. Join Zach and J. this week as they discuss multi-author box sets, other collaborative writing opportunities, and more: How a new perspective on your story can help you build a stronger outline Common myths about traditional publishing and why[…]
On this week’s episode, Zach and J. discuss how they do genre research on both a story and a marketing level, along with some other interesting topics: Why authors should stop worrying so much about the GDPR Amazon closes Kindle Worlds + what it means for the authors involved Some perspective on KU scams and[…]
On this week’s episode, Zach and J. reflect on some of their big takeaways from the great talks at Sell More Books Show Summit 2018, which was last weekend in Chicago. Listen to learn: Why cargo shorts are great The importance of face-to-face gatherings with likeminded people and how much the guys loved the Sell[…]
Are you ready to raise the stakes? On this week’s episode, Zach and J. discuss how crisis makes or breaks a story and more: Some clarifications about last week’s podcast The importance of finding your own ideal writing process The difference between pantsing and first draft publishing, and how the Story Grid can help pantsers[…]
On this week’s episode, Zach and J. discuss the Pete Rose effect, the danger of basing your expectations on outliers, and more: Zach’s one year anniversary of becoming a full-time writer A fun new approach to choosing bonus episodes on the Patreon Amazon launches Prime Reading in China with over 500 Kindle titles The Indie[…]
On this week’s episode, Zach and J. flip the script on their Choose Your News segment, putting J. in the driver’s seat and having him read headlines to Zach. They discuss Amazon Internet, productivity tools for authors, and more: The Career Author Podcast hits 50 patrons on Patreon Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers is[…]
On this week’s episode, Zach and J. discuss some of the biggest misconceptions around writing to market and more: The excitement of the first time you hit “publish” How the Story Grid is meant to be used New data that shows the connection between what types of books people read and how they read them,[…]
On this week’s episode, Zach and J. discuss some of their biggest self publishing mistakes they’ve made since they began publishing, and more importantly, how and what they’ve learned from them. You’ll learn: Exciting features coming up on Patreon What happened with the brief appearance of a third royalty option on Amazon More rank stripping[…]
On this week’s episode of The Career Author Podcast, Zach and J. discuss practical steps toward creating a healthy work life balance for authors and more: What the guys have been up to lately, including exciting new bonus episodes on Patreon J. and Zach’s recent visit to the Sell More Books Show How to turn[…]
What are Calls to Action (CTAs) and how should authors use them? On this episode, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon discuss this question and more: Zach says farewell to Toys R’ Us and the guys discuss the power of nostalgia How Toys R’ Us closing might impact other businesses and the mass closing of malls[…]
On this special episode of The Career Author Podcast, Zach and J. have a rare sit-down and face to face discussion about various aspects of the collaborative process: Exciting things coming up for Patreon subscribers How Authors on a Train showed J. and Zach the importance of in-person meetings for collaborative partnerships Why authors[…]
As an indie author, where should you sell your books? On today’s episode of The Career Author Podcast, Zach and J. discuss Amazon exclusivity vs selling wide and a variety of other topics: The Facebook algorithm changes strike down a small publisher Amazon opens more brick-and-mortar bookstores Audible’s attempt to reconcile with romance authors and[…]
Zach is back from vacation and brings today’s topic with him as he and J. talk about the importance of unplugging and more on this episode of The Career Author Podcast: The joys and sorrows of long days at Disney World Serial Box, an upcoming app for serialized fiction in both ebook and audiobook form,[…]
With Zach still on the road, J. Thorn is joined by Luke Kondor and Daniel Willcocks from Hawk & Cleaver. Together with J., they discuss the pros and cons of running a fiction podcast and more: The latest claim that print is dead, brought to you by the New York Times CEO Is there still a[…]
Story structure is one of the most important elements of writing craft, and you can learn a lot by analyzing the structure of stories you love. In this very special episode of The Career Author Podcast, J. is joined by Story Grid creator, Shawn Coyne. Discover how to break down and analyze any story beat or[…]
Should you publish audiobook versions of your work? On this episode of The Career Author Podcast, Zach and J. discuss this question and more: Audible aggressively courting traditional publishers The unveiling of a new Barnes & Noble mobile app which sounds strangely familiar How Draft2Digital is expanding their Universal Book Link tool to improve author[…]
Reader magnets can be excellent tools for indie authors trying to build their tribe. On this episode of The Career Author Podcast, Zach and J. discuss what reader magnets are, how they can benefit your author career, and more: Kobo announces a new contract with Kobo and Wal-Mart, bringing e-readers, ebooks, and audiobooks to Wal-Mart[…]
Handling negative reviews is an inevitable part of life as a career author. But what is the appropriate response? On this episode of The Career Author Podcast, Zach and J. dive into this topic and more: Barnes and Noble announces the new Barnes and Noble Press platform, which integrates their self-publishing dashboards for print and[…]
Do you want to try your hand at cowriting, maybe even build your author career around collaboration like? On this episode of The Career Author Podcast, Zach and J. discuss how to find a collaborative partner and more: New and exciting bonuses on The Career Author Podcast Patreon Amazon layoffs and the end of Createspace[…]
Do you need an author website? On the second episode of The Career Author Podcast, Zach and J. discuss this question and more: Are authors and publishers responsible for checking facts in nonfiction books before they hit shelves? The sales power a timely book can have How you should make decisions about your author career[…]
On the inaugural episode of The Career Author Podcast, Zach and J. discuss the state of independent publishing in 2018. Join them to explore some of the year’s most interesting developments for indie authors: Rank-stripping on Amazon KDP and how it has impacted one indie author in particular The risks vs. benefits of free promos[…]
Becoming a full-time writer can be overwhelming. J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, co-founders of Molten Universe Media, know this firsthand. In The Career Author Podcast, they share their unique approach to author success. Listen every week for honest discussions around topics like: Improving your writing craft Co-writing for authors Business administration for authors Book marketing[…]