The Writing Biz

Laura Williams
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Weekly

The Writing Biz podcast helps writers think like entrepreneurs, offering practical strategies for platform building, revenue growth, marketing systems, and mindset development to create sustainable, professional writing businesses.

  1. 13h ago

    He Turned Bigfoot Hunting Into a Book Business: Halloween Edition

    He Turned Bigfoot Hunting Into a Book Business with Dr. Dean Russell. Most writers are told to write a bigger book. Dean did the opposite and built sales with short, focused books in ultra-specific niches. In this episode of The Writing Biz Podcast, Dean breaks down how he applies project management to research and writing, defines a clear outcome before chapter one, and structures short books that readers actually finish. You will learn why shorter books outsell long ones, how to split one broad idea into multiple small books that stack sales, his iterative editing process and what to demand from a copy editor, plus how to turn Kindle, audiobook, and direct sales into a repeatable system. If you are writing a book in a strange or crowded niche and want to sell more copies without waiting on publishers, this is your playbook for turning weird ideas into a real author business. Subscribe for weekly strategies on platform, marketing, and revenue for writers who think like entrepreneurs. #WritingABook #SelfPublishing #BookMarketing Timestamps: 00:00 - Project Management Meets the Paranormal 02:15 - From Led Zeppelin to Ghost Hunting 06:10 - Reproducible Results and Real Ghost Hunts 09:20 - Personal Stories and Skeptical Inquiry 15:30 - Hospice Visitations and New Book Ideas 21:00 - Staying Out of Research Rabbit Holes 27:45 - Short Books, Editing and Structure That Sells 36:20 - Future of Books and Direct Sales TRANSCRIPT & MORE: https://https://urls.thewritingbiz.com/43 GUEST:  Dr. Dean Russell https://www.drdeanrussell.com/ FOLLOW THE WRITING BIZ Website YouTube BlueSky Facebook X

  2. 3d ago

    Author Guy Morris: No one can sell your book better than you!

    No one can sell your book better than you! Guy Morris, founder of the Author Event Network shows how to sell books in person at festivals and keep the profit. Most authors lose money on book marketing that pays pennies in royalties. Guy flips it with direct sales — shared booths, high-traffic community events, and a one-line hook that stops buyers. Learn how the Network works, what a seat costs, why festivals beat book signings, and how to pitch, handle payments, and cross-promote like a pro. GUEST: Guy Morris, Author Event Network FULL TRANSCRIPT & MORE: https://thewritingbiz.com/author-guy-morris-no-one-can-sell-your-book-better-than-you/ #howtosellbooks #bookmarketing #directsales FOLLOW THE WRITING BIZWebsite: https://thewritingbiz.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thewritingbizpodcast BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/onthewritingbiz.bsky.social Facebook: https://facebook.com/onthewritingbizX: https://x.com/onthewritingbiz

  3. Oct 23

    Be Your Own Publicist: Book Marketing That Gets You Noticed

    Tired of pitching your book and hearing silence? Hollywood publicist turned LA Times reviewer and author Gary Goldstein (K-9 Custody, The Last Birthday Party) breaks down how to think like a journalist, find niche angles, and follow up like a pro to land coverage without a PR firm. In this episode, Gary shares why self-marketing is a core author skill, how to pitch the right person the right way, how to turn one book into multiple niche stories, and the organized follow-up system that turns no-reply into yes. You will also learn what makes a strong subject line, why to skip AI pitches, and how to balance writing time with promotion. Perfect for self-published and traditionally published authors who want practical book marketing and publicity strategies that get noticed. #BookMarketing #BookPublicity #AuthorMarketing #SelfPublishing #writingcommunity MY GUEST: Gary Goldstein, author, screenwriter and LA Times reviewer http://www.GaryGoldsteinLA.com GARY GOLDSTEIN'S BOOKS: Canine Custody https://amzn.to/4sdOEdw The Mother I Never Had https://amzn.to/4hSDirR The Last Birthday Party https://amzn.to/4zvOBvS FOLLOW THE WRITING BIZ: Website YouTube BlueSky Facebook TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Intro: Become your own best publicist 01:02 - Gary's dual view: publicist and LA Times reviewer 01:17 - Why book publicity is so crowded now 03:00 - Pitching protocol: who to pitch and how 06:25 - Why authors must embrace self-marketing 09:42 - Take ego out of marketing 12:08 - Find niche angles that get coverage (K-9 Custody example) 18:30 - Follow-up system that turns silence into yes 25:19 - Manage expectations and value small wins 27:38 - Subject lines that get opened (skip the AI pitch) 30:00 - Workflow: balance writing and marketing time SUBSCRIBE to my weekly newsletter. Be the first to know about new episodes! https://thewritingbiz.com/subscribe-to-the-writing-biz-today/ I am a member of the Amazon Associates program.

  4. Oct 20

    Yes Is the Destination. No Is How You Get There with Andrea Waltz.

    Yes is the destination, no is how you get there. Andrea Waltz, co-author of Go for No!, joins The Writing Biz Podcast to show writers how to overcome rejection and turn every no into momentum. If fear of rejection is keeping you from pitching agents, publishers, bookstores, or readers, this conversation reframes rejection as proof you are in the game. Andrea breaks down the failure quota, setting a no-goal to gamify pitching, remove the emotional sting, and keep you submitting. She also shares the 10-year overnight story behind Go for No!, from self-publishing in 2000 and hearing crickets after sending 500 copies, to redesigning the cover, refining the message, and building a full business with courses, sequels, and speaking around one book. You will learn how to handle silence as rejection, why follow-up closes sales, how to fix messaging around audience needs, and how to use your book as a calling card for a sustainable writing business. Perfect for authors working on success mindset, growth mindset, and book marketing systems that survive algorithm changes.  #GoForNo #OvercomeRejection #WritingBusiness Timestamps: 00:00 - Meet Andrea Waltz and Go for No!  01:03 - Reframing no to silence imposter syndrome 03:00 - What is a failure quota or no-goal  06:34 - How to apply your no-goal and follow up  09:47 - The 10-year journey to a bestseller  14:00 - Focus, coachability, and fueling perseverance  16:05 - Turning one book into courses and speaking  18:27 - Andrea's writer origin and partnership story  26:46 - Fixing audience and messaging struggles  32:00 - Social media, algorithms, and owning your list FOLLOW THE WRITING BIZ:Website: https://thewritingbiz.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/@thewritingbizpodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/onthewritingbiz.bsky.socialFacebook: https://facebook.com/onthewritingbizX: https://x.com/onthewritingbiz

  5. Oct 16

    How to Become a Ghostwriter: From Low-Paid Gigs to $100K Books

    Learn the strategy to move from commodity work into a high-fee ghostwriter for CEOs and entrepreneurs.Many writers get stuck in a cycle of low-rate work, but the path to building a sustainable career relies on changing how you position your services. Dr. Marcia Layton Turner joins the podcast to explain how to move away from basic freelance writing and start commanding premium rates.She breaks down the specific shift required to become a trusted ghostwriter for CEOs and entrepreneurs. By positioning yourself as a strategic publishing partner rather than just a writer, you can secure high paying clients who value the ROI of a professional business book.#Ghostwriter #Ghostwriting #freelancewriting MY GUEST: Marcia Turner-Layton, ghostwriter https://marcialaytonturner.com/ https://www.facebook.com/marcialaytonturner https://www.youtube.com/@Dr.MarciaLaytonTurner https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcialaytonturner/ RESORCES MENTIONED:Association of Ghostwriters: Professional association founded by Marcia providing education, community, and business resources for ghostwriters https://associationofghostwriters.orgEditorial Freelancers Association (EFA): Referenced for freelance rate surveys and industry benchmark data. https://www.the-efa.org/ Gotham Ghostwriters: Premier ghostwriting agency referenced for industry market rate reports and freelance opportunities. https://gothamghostwriters.com/ Kevin Anderson & Associates: Leading ghostwriting firm mentioned as a potential agency partner for qualified writers. https://www.ka-writing.com/ Advantage / Forbes Books: Publisher highlighted for regular freelance ghostwriter job postings. https://advantagebooks.com/ American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA): Professional writers' organization where the idea for the Association of Ghostwriters originated. https://www.asja.org/ FOLLOW USWebsiteYouTubeBlueSkyFacebook

  6. Oct 13

    Nobody Buys Your Book Because You Need Them To | Ally Machate

    Nobody buys your book because YOU need them to. Editor and ghostwriter Ally Machate joins The Writing Biz Podcast to show why your business book has to work as a lever for clients, speaking, and authority — not just royalties. If you're self publishing a business book, planning your book launch, or wondering how to market your book after publish day, this is your marketability check. In this episode: why business growth beats book sales as the goal, the good book wrong book trap, marketability vs marketing, the 3 must-haves baked into the draft (goal, readers, promise), nonfiction titles and searchability, Big 5 blind spots, why you must deliver real value instead of a long commercial, and launch week non-negotiables — seeding the right readers and stacking reviews in the first 30-90 days. See below for Ally's special offer for the audience of The Writing Biz! #BusinessBook #BookMarketing #SelfPublishing MY GUEST: Ally Machate, founder of The Writer's Ally https://www.thewritersally.com FREE WEBINAR FOR THE WRITING BIZ AUDIENCE!! “Don’t Write the Wrong Book!”Before you invest time, money, or momentum in a book, make sure you’re writing the right one…the one that will build your business, credibility, and client list. This free, 25-minute on-demand webinar will help you avoid that. https://www.offers.thewritersally.com/thewritingbiz TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Why nobody buys your book because you need them to 02:15 Your book is a lever, not the business 06:30 Good book, wrong book trap 11:00 Marketability vs marketing 15:30 The 3 things every marketable business book needs 20:15 Nonfiction titles, subtitles and searchability 25:00 Big 5 blind spots indie authors repeat 29:30 Deliver value, not a long commercial 33:45 Launch week: seeding + reviews in the first 90 days 38:00 Your book is a tool, not the projectFOLLOW THE WRITING BIZ: Website YouTube BlueSky Facebook X

  7. Oct 9

    Write Series That Sell: How to Build a Sustainable Author Business

    Write series that sell? Michelle Miles shows how to build a sustainable author business without chasing trends. In this episode of The Writing Biz Podcast, prolific indie author Michelle Miles breaks down how she turned fairy-tale retellings and paranormal romance into long-term backlist income. You'll learn why writing in series sells more books, how to think like a CEO not just a writer, her direct sales storefront strategy at michellemilesbooks.com, and how she automates admin to protect writing time while working a full-time job. GUEST: Michelle Miles, Author Direct Store: http://www.michellemilesbooks.com Website and Blog: http://www.michellemiles.net Newsletter Sign Up: https://viplist.michellemiles.net/enchanted Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichelleMilesAuthor Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/MichelleMilesAuthor Threads: https://www.threads.net/@michellemilesauthor BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/michellemiles.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/MichelleMiles Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/MilesOfRomance/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleMilesBooks TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Meet Michelle Miles: prolific indie author  01:12 - Strategy vs reaction in long-term planning  04:52 - Biggest challenge: writer to CEO mindset shift  06:53 - Don't launch your store too soon 11:00 - Mind shift to direct sales  12:00 - What can you give readers Amazon can't?  15:40 - Building social without chasing algorithms  20:43 - Business systems that automate admin  26:35 - Balancing writing, business and a day job  29:50 - Learn craft before you publish  31:32 - Why series are crucial for sustainability  34:26 - Repackaging older series for new sales

    Write Series That Sell: How to Build a Sustainable Author Business

  8. Oct 6

    10 Years Indie: How to Build a Writing Career Without Publishers

    10 years indie and still thriving? Cody Sisco shows how to build a writing career without publishers. In this episode of The Writing Biz Podcast, queer sci-fi author Cody Sisco breaks down his decade-long indie author journey with the Resonant Earth series — from early book marketing mistakes to a creative engine that keeps books coming. You'll learn how indie author book marketing actually works, how to use Kickstarter for authors to fund deluxe editions, how he quit corporate consulting to become a full time author with portfolio income, and how he uses AI for authors to run his entire business. Perfect for anyone searching self publishing, how to self publish a book, and how to turn writing into a sustainable indie career. Find Cody at codysisco.com TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Meet Cody Sisco: 10 years as an indie author 01:03 - The biggest myth about long-term indie success 05:40 - Build your creative engine first  07:53 - Finding your first readers in person  11:07 - Kickstarter for authors that actually works  16:54 - How Made in LA built community  20:12 - Quitting corporate to write full-time  22:21 - Portfolio income beyond book sales  27:53 - Productivity systems that save time  30:00 - Using AI to run your author business  39:37 - The #1 habit for lasting success 43:04 - Inside Resonant Earth and Toxic Medicine  45:19 - Where to find Cody FULL TRANSCRIPT AND MORE: https://thewritingbiz.com/build-a-writing-career-without-publishersFOLLOW THE WRITING BIZ:Website: https://thewritingbiz.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/@ThewritingbizpodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/onthewritingbiz.bsky.socialFacebook: https://facebook.com/onthewritingbizX: https://x.com/OnTheWritingBiz

    10 Years Indie: How to Build a Writing Career Without Publishers
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About

The Writing Biz podcast helps writers think like entrepreneurs, offering practical strategies for platform building, revenue growth, marketing systems, and mindset development to create sustainable, professional writing businesses.

Information

  • Creator
    Laura Williams
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Laura Williams
  • Show Website
    The Writing Biz