The Novel Writing Podcast

I'm back! Listen in for an update on: - Why you haven't heard a new episode for a bit - What I've been doing for the last 3 months - My goals for 2026 - What to expect going forward This year is full of goals and ambition, so let's get rocking! Listen to The Christian Readers Podcast. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substa...

Seth Ring, a prolific fantasy and litRPG author, shares his process for dictating 10-12 books a year. Since backlist is key for the successful indie author, the faster you can build your backlist, the sooner your career will take off. Seth describes what it takes to go from typing to dictating and what to expect if you've never dictated before. Seth's Website: https://sethring.com/ Seth&...

Indie author ZS Diamanti (Zac) shares his journey with organic marketing through social media, his newsletter, and using the momentum from his readers to run successful Kickstarters. Whether you're an old hat author or a brand new writer, Zac's advice will resonate with you. You can find Zac online at FreeFantasyFiction.com Link to unboxing video: https://www.instagram.com/p/DN5-FEAj8Kd/...

TikTok sensation Age of Scorpius by Audra Winter absolutely tanked upon release despite accumulating 7,000 pre-orders. So what happened? Today's episode is a case study on what Audra did right, what she did wrong, and what lessons we as writers can learn from this still-unfolding saga. Disclaimer: this episode is NOT for Audra, her friends, family, or production team. Do not doxx her or leave...

AI is the hot-button topic for authors nowadays.  Lawyer Samantha Bradshaw discusses how authors can protect their work in the age of AI, especially now that large language models (LLMs) have been given the legal go-ahead to train on copyrighted work. If you have AI concerns, this episode is for you. Court case mentioned in this episode: JURISTnews: US federal judge issues landmark ruling on AI co...

What are tropes? Do we need them, and if so, how do we use them? Tropes are popular in marketing books right now, but the reality is we all use tropes in our writing whether we realize it or not. Listen in for an overview of tropes, whether you need to use them intentionally in your writing, how to use them in marketing, and what to avoid. I also list examples of books and films with various trope...

Ever thought of submitting your novel to a review magazine?  Clean Fiction Magazine reviews both Christian and secular novels for free! Check out this interview with Amy Lynn McConahy, author and publisher of Clean Fiction Magazine. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing C...

Are you falling into any of these common mistakes with naming characters? From too many names starting with the same letter, to your MC "Bob Smith" accidentally becoming an NPC, this episode will help you identify whether you need to change up some character names. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching w...

How do authors find reputable freelancers? We've all heard the horror stories (or experienced them ourselves) about being ripped off or ghosted, the work not being acceptable, or that the "freelancer" fabricated their qualifications. Fortunately, it IS possible to find (and verify) reputable freelancers. Collin Smith, a freelance graphic designer for indies, joins me to talk about j...

These are the top 4 lessons I learned going to the Realm Makers Conference in July 2025. Realm Makers is a conference and community for Christian Speculative Fiction writers which has been going for more than ten years. Learn more about Realm Makers at https://www.realmmakers.com/ Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coac...

What's the deal with author newsletters? Do you really need one before you release your book?  The answer is ABSOLUTELY YES. Author newsletters are data-backed as the number 1 way to reach your audience.  Listen in for 3 major reasons to start your author newsletter today, even if you only email once a month. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings...

What are the self-publishing options available to indie authors? This is the third and last of three episodes unpacking the variety of ways authors can set themselves up for success with indie publishing. This episode dives into the differences between direct and indirect sales. Your author business will ultimately consist of a system that integrates most if not all the platforms and formats. Star...

What are the self-publishing options available to indie authors? This is the second of three episodes unpacking the variety of ways authors can set themselves up for success with indie publishing. This episode dives into the eBook and digital delivery platforms of Amazon, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, Lulu, Curios, and BookFunnel. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access inter...

What are the self-publishing options available to indie authors? This is the first of three episodes unpacking the variety of ways authors can set themselves up for success with indie publishing. This episode dives into the Print on Demand platforms of Amazon, IngramSpark, BookVault, and Lulu and what each platform is best at doing. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access i...

www.curios.com/Joincolleenmitchellwrites How do you control direct eBook sales as an indie author? The big platforms take a dramatic cut of your profits, don't provide reader contact information, and can kick authors off if they think you're violating the rules... even if you aren't. So what's an indie to do? Selling direct doesn't have to involve building your own website...

SAID IS DEAD. Or is it? Do you even need to use dialogue tags? Action tags are the kings of showing over telling in dialogue, and when used correctly can deliver a far weightier emotional punch than dialogue tags. Listen in for more of why these two are different, and why there's a clear winner! Read my prequel novella, The Orphan's Gambit , for FREE by clicking here . Send us Fan Mail W...

Struggling with a slow pace or a saggy middle?  Story structure may be the answer. But what is story structure? In short, it's the skeleton of your book that lays out where major beats take place. But it's not a formula! Listen in to learn more about Story Structure at a high level. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for...

If your story feels weak, you may have a problem with your characters' goals, motivation, and conflict. Digging deeper into "GMC" will help strengthen the plot because GMC is what drives a story forward. Learn more about GMC in The Trope Thesaurus , by Jennifer Hilt. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coa...

Suspense thriller author JD Barker shares why it's important to think differently as an author, and how to build a stand-out author brand in today's publishing landscape. Connect with JD at jdbarker.com Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE  ...

We've got an announcement! This coming October, the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge is becoming FREE again! Listen in for the full details on this change, and what to expect from us going forward. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell your eB...

If you build it (write it) they will come, right? Not so fast.  Publishing is just like any other industry.... If you want to be make money, you have to market your book.  There's a pervasive myth among new authors that they can write a book, slap it on Amazon, and start making the big bucks overnight. But that's never the case, unless you have a strong, healthy platform and an audience...

There are many pieces in the self-publishing puzzle, but what are the pros and cons of DIY-ing them? Doing it yourself saves money (and time) but in many cases, the risks outweigh the benefits. This is a deeper dive into DIY and self-publishing, and goes to show there's more to the puzzle than we might think at first glance. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access inte...

E.A. Winters, indie author of 9 books, joins me to discuss her outlining process.  Developed over the last five or six years, E.A. has reached the point where her outlines are keystone to writing fast, relatively clean first drafts. She openly shares her author journey and advice that has helped her hone her outlining skills over the years. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts &...

Every indie author wants to save money on the process, but can you really DIY *everything*? If you're looking into DIY-ing everything from editing to formatting to cover design, there are some things to consider. Not all DIY is created equal, and there are some things that actually suffer from DIY-ing in the long term. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview...

There are an infinite number of tips that writers could attempt to keep in mind while writing their first drafts. Every writer's toolbox is different, but if these 3 tips work for you, they could become your go-tos for first drafts.... Especially if you want to get yours done in the next 60 days. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack...