Between Drafts

Grab a copy of Husk Join Nathan's author newsletter Join Nat's author newsletter Nathan and Nat dive deep into the intricacies of book cover design and the evolving publishing landscape. They share their personal experiences working with different designers and publishing houses, from DIY approaches to traditional publishing partnerships. Nathan details his current journey working with an art dire...

Grab a copy of Husk Join Nathan's author newsletter Join Nat's author newsletter Nathan shares his experience working with Michael Braff, a seasoned editor known for his work on the Red Rising series. He walks through his methodical approach to finding the right editor, what the actual editing process entails, and the substantial investment of both time and money ($7,000) required for high...

Grab a copy of Husk Join Nathan's author newsletter Join Nat's author newsletter Nathan and Nat tackle one of the biggest challenges facing aspiring authors: how to financially sustain yourself while pursuing a writing career. They explore various strategies writers use to make ends meet before their books become profitable, drawing from their own experiences and those of successful author...

Grab a copy of Husk Join Nathan's author newsletter Join Nat's author newsletter Dive into a mind-bending exploration of memory, time, and identity with Blake Crouch's "Recursion." Nat and Nathan dissect this thrilling sci-fi novel that pushes the boundaries of what's possible when memories become more than just recollections. They examine how Crouch masterfully expands t...

Grab a copy of Husk Join Nathan's author newsletter Join Nat's author newsletter Nat takes us behind the scenes of launching his new novel "Husk," sharing detailed insights about the realities of self-publishing. From navigating Amazon's complex ranking system to experimenting with different sales channels, Nat breaks down the numbers and strategies that went into his launch week, which saw over 5...

Grab a copy of Husk Join Nathan's author newsletter Join Nat's author newsletter With Nat's sci-fi novel "Husk" just days from release, Nathan and Nat explore the strategic decisions and emotional rollercoaster of bringing a book into the world. From choosing the right Amazon categories to maximize visibility, to the delicate balance of pricing and promotion strategies, the e...

Grab a copy of Husk Join Nathan's author newsletter Join Nat's author newsletter Nathan and Nat dive deep into Christopher Ruocchio's epic science fantasy novel "Empire of Silence." They explore the book's unique blend of science fiction and fantasy elements, comparing it to works like "Dune" and "Name of the Wind." The hosts discuss how the novel'...

Grab a copy of Husk Join Nathan's author newsletter Join Nat's author newsletter Nathan discusses his decision to launch a paid version of his newsletter Worldbuilders, drawing inspiration from George Saunders' Story Club. He shares his vision for creating valuable content focused on long-form literature analysis and storytelling, including monthly workshops featuring guest experts fro...

Grab a copy of Husk Join Nathan's author newsletter Join Nat's author newsletter Nat shares his experience receiving the first paperback copies of his upcoming sci-fi novel, Husk, and discusses his strategic approach to pricing across different formats - from hardcover to ebook to audiobook. The conversation explores how Amazon's various platforms, including Kindle Unlimited, shape mod...

Nat and Nathan discuss strategies for building an audience as authors, focusing on the importance of understanding the difference between attracting writers and readers. They explore content strategies, the significance of engagement, and the role of social media in audience building. The conversation also delves into the effectiveness of short-form video content, leveraging reviews for book succe...

Get the full notes and bonuses for this episode https://betweendraftspod.com/episodes/16 In this episode, Nathan and Nat dive into their respective book launch strategies, with Nat utilizing a bundled pre-order strategy through Shopify while Nathan plans to focus exclusively on Amazon to maximize algorithmic potential. They also explore the complexities of audiobook production, with Nat sharing hi...

Nat and Nathan dive deep into the nitty-gritty financial details of book publishing, from manuscript development to audiobook production. The duo shares their personal experiences with their respective projects - Nathan's progress with his novel and novella, and Nat's journey launching "Husk." A fascinating discussion unfolds around audiobook economics and distribution, revealing...

Preorder your copy of Husk: huskbook.com In this episode of Between Drafts, Nat shares his comprehensive strategy for launching his debut sci-fi novel "Husk." With just two months until release, Nat breaks down his three-pronged approach to building buzz and reaching readers through Bookstagram/BookTok influencers, podcast appearances, and newsletter partnerships. He discusses the unique...

Get the full notes and bonuses for this episode https://betweendraftspod.com/episodes/13 Nat and Nathan dive deep into the world of novella writing and author growth strategies. They discuss their experiences writing novellas as companion pieces to their full-length novels, exploring how these shorter works can serve as entry points for new readers while expanding their fictional universes. They a...

Preorder Nat's Sci-fi thriller, Husk ! Nat takes us behind the scenes of launching preorders for his sci-fi novel "Husk." Nat shares his unconventional approach to book pre-orders, choosing to sell directly through Shopify rather than Amazon - a decision that's already yielding fascinating results. Get an insider's look at the realities of book marketing in 2024, including th...

Get the full notes and bonuses for this episode https://betweendraftspod.com/episodes/11 In this mailbag episode of Between Drafts, Nathan and Nat tackle listener questions about cover art strategy, exploring the delicate balance between artistic vision and market appeal, and share their experiences with various writing tools and technologies that help bring their stories to life. The conversation...

Get the full notes and bonuses for this episode https://betweendraftspod.com/episodes/10 Fresh off submitting the final manuscript of Husk, Nat breaks down the steps between completion and publication, from locking in the cover art to editing to planning marketing strategies and the audiobook production. Nat compares his experience with "Crypto Confidential" at Penguin Random House to his current...

Get the full notes and bonuses for this episode https://betweendraftspod.com/episodes/9 Nathan and Nat dive deep into the challenging process of incorporating feedback during the writing and editing process. They explore how to effectively evaluate and implement reader feedback while maintaining the core vision for your work, drawing from their experiences writing their respective novels. How do y...

Get the full notes and bonuses for this episode https://betweendraftspod.com/episodes/8 Nathan shares his experience hiring a developmental editor for his novel, a process that's often opaque to aspiring authors. He details how he found and evaluated potential editors, from scouring book acknowledgments to leveraging AI tools, and breaks down the surprising costs and timelines involved in working...

Get the full notes and bonuses for this episode https://betweendraftspod.com/episodes/7 Nat & Nathan dive into their favorite reads from 2024, discussing everything from recent releases to timeless classics. TIMESTAMPS [00:34] Nathan's literary agent querying update [02:02] Nat's manuscript progress and editing timeline [03:18] The Will of the Many [06:47] Lightbringer [09:16] Ryan C. Cahill's...

Get the full notes and bonuses for this episode https://betweendraftspod.com/episodes/6 Nat and Nathan dive deep into the intense process of writing a novel draft in just one month. Drawing from Nat's recent experience writing his novel "Husk" at a pace of 5,000 words per day, they explore the practical challenges, strategies, and trade-offs of rapid drafting. The conversation covers everything fr...

Get the full notes and bonuses for this episode https://betweendraftspod.com/episodes/5 Nat and Nathan dive into the latest developments in their respective publishing journeys. They discuss how Nat's crypto book is seeing renewed success during the current bull market, and Nathan shares promising early results from querying his fantasy novel to literary agents. The heart of the episode focuse...

Get the full notes and bonuses for this episode betweendraftspod.com/episodes/4 In this episode, Nathan and Nat share their processes for getting feedback and editing their drafts. From outlining a "top-down" hierarchy that nails the high-level story before sweating the small stuff, to strategies for soliciting targeted feedback, this conversation is a masterclass on self-editing for any...

Get all the notes and bonuses from this episode . Nathan shares his journey querying agents for his debut novel, the brutality of getting rejected 90+ times, and the lessons learned along the way. Most importantly, he shares what he's going to do differently with his new novel, and why he thinks he has a much higher chance of success now than he did before. [0:00] Getting an Agent for a Novel [1:3...

Get all the notes and bonuses from this episode . Ever dreamed of landing a life-changing book deal? Join Nathan and Nat as they discuss Nat's journey securing a $275,000 book deal with Penguin Random House for Crypto Confidential. You'll learn the essential ingredients for a nonfiction book proposal that grabs publishers' attention, the art of building an audience as an author, and insider tips o...