The Self Publishing Show

James Blatch
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Join James Blatch has he navigates the fast changing world of indie publishing. With the biggest guests in the industry and tips on how to stay ahead of the crowd.

  1. 18 hr ago

    SPS-459: Your Book As An AI Movie (Part 2)

    This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca conclude their two-part conversation with Michael Evans, founder of Creatorwood. They delve deeper into how AI is transforming books into cinematic experiences, discussing the practical realities of creating feature-length films, the current limitations of AI video, and how authors can use visual storytelling to reach new audiences. Michael also shares his vision for the future of AI-powered entertainment and how authors can position their intellectual property for the next wave of publishing innovation. At the start of the episode, James also announces that SPS Live 2027 tickets will be launching soon and reminds listeners about the exclusive Creatorwood giveaway, with 1,000 free viewings of the AI feature film adaptation of David Viergutz's Scare Mail. Key Talking Points Part 2 of the interview with Michael Evans, founder of Creatorwood Turning books into feature-length AI-generated films The opportunities and limitations of AI filmmaking today Choosing which stories are best suited to visual adaptation Building new revenue streams from your intellectual property The future of AI-powered entertainment for authors Why story remains more important than technology Creatorwood's vision for connecting authors directly with audiences Announcement of SPS Live 2027 dates and ticket launch Creatorwood giveaway: 1,000 free viewings of Scare Mail Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid – https://prowritingaid.com Creatorwood: https://www.creatorwood.tv/homepage Free Scare Mail viewing giveaway: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/creatorwood

    SPS-459: Your Book As An AI Movie (Part 2)

  2. 30 Jul

    SPS-458: Your Book As An AI Movie (Part 1)

    This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca are joined by Michael Evans, founder of Creatorwood, for Part 1 of a two-part discussion about using AI to turn books into trailers, short films and feature-length adaptations. They also discuss developmental editing, author voice and improving your craft. Part 2 arrives next Friday, when the giveaway link will be shared. Creatorwood is offering 1,000 free viewings of its adaptation of David Viergutz's Scare Mail, with Patreon subscribers receiving early access. Key Talking Points: How Creatorwood turns books into films AI video opportunities for authors Book trailers and short-form marketing Developmental editing and author voice Part 2 and the Scare Mail giveaway Links & Resources Mentioned: ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com Creatorwood: https://www.creatorwood.tv/homepage

    SPS-458: Your Book As An AI Movie (Part 1)

  3. 23 Jul

    SPS-457: Craft is King (Again)

    This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca argue that as AI makes it easier than ever to produce competent books, craft is becoming an author's greatest competitive advantage. They explore why developing a distinctive voice, creating emotionally resonant stories, and continually refining your writing matter more than ever. Alongside the discussion on craft, they also cover the latest AI developments, compare tools like Claude, ChatGPT and Fable, and share practical advice on using technology without losing the human qualities that make readers fall in love with books. Key Talking Points Why craft is making a comeback in the age of AI How a distinctive author voice sets your books apart from AI-generated content What "voice" really means—and practical ways to develop your own Why emotionally resonant writing creates the word-of-mouth every author wants The difference between writing quickly, writing slowly, and writing well How editors and writing coaches should strengthen your unique style, not standardise it Understanding that improving craft looks different for every writer The influence of TikTok and shareable reading moments on modern storytelling The latest updates from Fable, Claude and other AI tools Choosing the right AI subscription and building an effective workflow Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com Claude AI: https://claude.ai ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com Google Gemini: https://gemini.google.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com Anthropic: https://www.anthropic.com

    SPS-457: Craft is King (Again)

  4. 16 Jul

    SPS-456: The Robot Read My Backlist

    This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca dive into the next wave of AI tools for authors, focusing on Fable and the rise of agentic AI. They explore how these new tools can ingest an author's entire backlist, create series bibles, analyse metadata, support developmental editing, and become long-term business assistants rather than simple chatbots. Along the way, they share updates on their own writing projects, discuss practical AI workflows, and look at how tools like ChatGPT's new Sites feature are rapidly changing what authors can build without coding. Key Talking Points What is Fable and how does it differ from traditional AI chatbots? Agentic AI and why it's a game-changer for author businesses Building a series bible from an entire backlist Using AI for developmental editing and metadata optimisation Why authors should ingest their content while pricing remains low James shares how AI is helping him plot Book 5 without writing it for him Practical examples of AI organising story structure and chapter planning The real costs of AI-powered publishing workflows Creating AI "decision filters" to avoid shiny object syndrome and stay focused Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com Claude Fable 5: claude.ai - just open claude.ai (or the desktop/mobile app) and pick it from the model dropdown. Patreon: learnselfpublishing.com/support — where listeners can sign up for the Indie Writers Club Patreon (tiers: Quirky Friend $5/mo, Reliable Narrator $10/mo, Main Character $15/mo). https://youtu.be/Dd7FixvoKBw?si=dGSQ65NIC9Y7EkEK  https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/fable-download

    SPS-456: The Robot Read My Backlist

  5. 9 Jul

    SPS-455: Lessons From Rock 'n' Roll

    Episode Summary This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca welcome author and former music industry executive Jack Williamson to discuss what authors can learn from the entertainment industry. Jack shares how a career spanning 17 years in music, followed by psychotherapy, inspired his transition into writing fiction, and why storytelling, branding, and understanding genre expectations are essential for building an author career. The conversation explores lessons from the music business, creating immersive reader experiences, writing authentic romance, and how authors can think more like entertainers when launching books. Key Talking Points Jack Williamson's journey from the music industry to indie publishing What authors can learn from the music business about building an audience Why storytelling is at the heart of every successful creative career Writing authentic romance inspired by real-life experiences The importance of understanding genre expectations and reader promise Building a book launch that extends beyond the novel itself Using original music and multimedia to enhance the reader experience Branding lessons authors can borrow from musicians and performers The value of treating your author career as a long-term creative business SPS banter covering football, conferences, and the indie author community Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com

    SPS-455: Lessons From Rock 'n' Roll

  6. 2 Jul

    SPS-454: Launching a New Series

    This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca dive into the latest AI developments, including changes to Claude's subscription tiers and what they mean for authors using AI in their daily workflows. They also discuss TikTok marketing, the risks of AI-generated recommendations being manipulated, and why authors need to think critically about discoverability in an AI-driven world. Cissy shares an update on her upcoming fantasy romance launch, including cover design, budgeting, and building a comprehensive launch strategy, while James reflects on book formatting mishaps, marketing lessons, and England's World Cup campaign. Key Talking Points Claude's new subscription limits and what they mean for authors Comparing Claude, Gemini, and other AI tools for writing and business tasks How AI-generated recommendations can potentially be manipulated Why authors should stay informed as AI changes search and discoverability TikTok marketing tips and understanding how the algorithm works Cissy's upcoming Black Sails of the Border fantasy romance series Cover design investment and the cost of illustrated covers Building a launch strategy using AI alongside proven marketing methods Launch planning, advertising, newsletter swaps, and budgeting James shares a formatting mishap that surprisingly didn't affect book sales Why readers often notice story over formatting imperfections Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com Cissy Mecca: https://meccaromance.com

    SPS-454: Launching a New Series

  7. 25 Jun

    SPS-453: Three Questions Every Author Should Ask

    This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca reflect on The Self Publishing Show Live 2026 and discuss what happens after the excitement of a conference ends. They explore the importance of reviewing progress at the halfway point of the year, assessing business goals, and deciding what to focus on for the remainder of 2026. The conversation covers productivity, TikTok marketing, author accountability, using data to make better decisions, and feedback from SPS Live attendees. James also shares plans being considered for future SPS Live events, including more hands-on workshops and potentially expanding the conference format. Key Talking Points Why a mid-year business review is essential for authors Assessing goals, progress, and priorities for the second half of the year Using data and metrics to make smarter publishing decisions TikTok marketing and deciding where to focus your time The challenge of balancing creativity with business planning SPS Live attendee feedback and highlights from the event The possibility of adding a third day to SPS Live Ideas for future hands-on workshop and implementation sessions The value of accountability and sharing plans with other authors Avoiding overwhelm by focusing on a small number of key objectives Homework: James & Cissy's Mid-Year Author Check-In Questions: What number are you proudest of from the first half of 2026? What did you stop doing, and was it the right decision? What is your Q3 pivot — what are you going to do differently? Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com SPS Live Digital Ticket & Replay Access: https://learnselfpublishing.com/digital Cissy Mecca Romance: https://meccaromance.com Two Authors' Podcast: https://youtu.be/QhYcucRQeBw?si=yPfqRHW_P4INK1RI

    SPS-453: Three Questions Every Author Should Ask

  8. 18 Jun

    SPS-452: Lessons from London

    This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca reflect on SPS Live 2026 and the Cambridge Retreat, sharing their biggest takeaways from the event and the sessions that made the biggest impact. From direct sales and BookVault strategies to AI workflows, reader engagement, advertising, TikTok marketing, and writing for commercial success, the pair discuss the practical lessons authors can apply immediately to their own publishing businesses. The episode serves as a post-conference debrief, highlighting the trends, tools, and mindset shifts that are shaping the future of indie publishing.  Key Talking Points Key lessons and standout moments from SPS Live 2026 & The Cambridge Retreat Direct sales opportunities and simplifying fulfilment with BookVault Using AI to streamline author businesses and administrative workflows Building AI projects and systems rather than relying on individual chat prompts Advertising strategies and improving marketing effectiveness Why consistency beats chasing viral success on TikTok Reader engagement, newsletter performance, and audience growth Writing for commercial success and understanding reading-age expectations The importance of clear, accessible writing ("Saxon over Latin") Practical actions authors can take immediately after attending a conference How successful authors focus on implementing ideas rather than collecting them  Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com SPS Live 2026 Digital: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/spslive-digital  BookVault: https://bookvault.app Tammi Labrecque: https://newsletterninja.net Gunning Fog Index — estimates how hard a piece of writing is to read. The formula is: Fog Index=0.4×(wordssentences+100×complex wordswords)\text{Fog Index} = 0.4 \times \left( \frac{\text{words}}{\text{sentences}} + 100 \times \frac{\text{complex words}}{\text{words}} \right)Fog Index=0.4×(sentenceswords​+100×wordscomplex words​)Where: Words per sentence = total words ÷ total sentences Complex words = words with three or more syllables, usually excluding proper nouns, familiar compound words, and common suffix forms. So in plain English: Fog Index=0.4×(average sentence length+percentage of complex words)\text{Fog Index} = 0.4 \times (\text{average sentence length} + \text{percentage of complex words})Fog Index=0.4×(average sentence length+percentage of complex words)Example: If a passage has: 120 words 6 sentences 12 complex words Then: Average sentence length = 120 ÷ 6 = 20  Percentage of complex words = 12 ÷ 120 × 100 = 10 0.4×(20+10)=120.4 \times (20 + 10) = 120.4×(20+10)=12 So the Fog Index is 12, meaning the writing is roughly suited to someone with a 12th-grade / late secondary-school reading level.

    SPS-452: Lessons from London
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Join James Blatch has he navigates the fast changing world of indie publishing. With the biggest guests in the industry and tips on how to stay ahead of the crowd.

Information

  • Creator
    James Blatch
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    458
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Self Publishing Formula Ltd.
  • Show Website
    The Self Publishing Show

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