A WORDSLINGER PODCAST If you want people to read your books, buy your books, and help you build a sustainable writing career, then you’re already in business—whether you like that idea or not. In this episode of the Wordslinger Podcast, I talk about why writers need to start thinking like entrepreneurs, what marketing really means, and why building your own platform matters more than chasing individual book sales. We get into mailing lists, reader ownership, Amazon exclusivity versus wide distribution, advertising, lead magnets, local marketing, the power of asking, and why your long-term goal should be to build an audience you can actually reach without depending entirely on Amazon, Facebook, YouTube, or anyone else’s algorithm. If you’ve ever said, “I just want to write,” but you also want readers, income, and a real career from your work, this episode is for you. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS Subscribe to the Wordslinger Show for practical, experience-based guidance on writing, publishing, book marketing, indie publishing, storytelling, and building a creative career that lasts. TIMECODES: 00:00 Welcome to the Wordslinger Podcast01:15 Indie publishing, traditional publishing, and marketing02:21 What marketing really means for writers03:21 Building a deep and wide author platform04:36 Why you need to own your audience05:54 Social media is not your platform06:42 Why email is still the foundation07:48 Building 1,000 true fans09:05 Why writers need their own sales platform11:14 KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited explained12:59 The downside of Amazon exclusivity13:56 Are Amazon ads still worth it?14:52 Why I use ads to build my mailing list16:03 Lead magnets and free books16:56 Building and expanding your reader base18:03 Lookalike audiences and finding more readers18:41 Asking is a superpower19:15 Why giving people a “because” works20:24 Marketing, business, and the writer mindset21:30 Why writers need to treat writing like a business22:08 If you want readers and money, you have a business22:57 The myth that self-publishing ruins traditional publishing chances24:34 Embrace your inner capitalist25:43 How indie publishing changed the industry28:06 AI, low-quality books, and standing out29:14 Three things every indie author needs to do30:10 Why building a platform beats chasing one sale32:59 Nobody owes you a reader33:47 The Wordslinger Show and what’s coming next FIND KEVIN: Find Kevin and his books:https://kevintumlinson.com Join Kevin on Substack:https://kevintumlinson.substack.com Wordslinger Podcast home page:https://wordslingerpodcast.com SERVICES FOR AUTHORS: Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWriting Aid:https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5 Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital:https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books and more at AuthorAnchor:https://authoranchor.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
