The Novel Writing Podcast

If you've ever dreamed for a peek behind the traditional publishing curtain, now's your chance.Mark Gottlieb, renowned literary agent with Trident Media Group, shares his industry expertise around querying, pitching, best practices, and common mistakes authors make when trying to go traditional.As of this interview in July 2026, Trident Media Group is actively seeking new and established authors to represent, and you can find their submission guidelines on their website.https://www.tridentmediagroup.com/https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/https://www.instagram.com/markgottliebliteraryagent/https://www.facebook.com/MarkGottliebLiteraryAgentSend us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Do you read in your genre, widely, or not at all? The advice to read in your genre is often met with fear around accidentally stealing story ideas.Turns out reading is incredibly important for writers, both in AND out of the genre you write, and this episode covers why. Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Book marketing expert and host of The Novel Marketing Podcast, Thomas Umstattd Jr., joins us to share his wisdom on what it takes to successfully market your book in today's world, where social media "hasn't worked" for ten years, all without losing your mind.Connect with Thomas at authormedia.comSend us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

What's the big deal about writing groups?  Finding "your people" can be not only a life-changing moment, but a career-changing one too.  This episode covers four reasons why it's important to find a writer's group or community that shares your worldview, and get plugged in with other writers at or just ahead of your level. NEW SUBSTACK LAUNCHED! For episode transcripts (scripts) and premium access to unedited interview recordings, visit https://colleenmitchellwrites.substack.com/Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Have you longed for a multi-cast audio version of your book but choked at the price tag? Phil Marshall, founder and CEO of Spoken Press, joins the show to unpack the magic of AI narration and how Spoken is doing it ethically. With how expensive audio production can get, having a budget-friendly but high-quality solution like Spoken is a no-brainer.Regardless of your stance on AI, please give this episode a listen! Create an account on Spoken for free: https://www.spoken.press/ Pricing: https://www.spoken.press/pricing Ethical AI Statement: https://www.spoken.press/ethicalai Inquiries: [email protected] Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Caitlin Shetterly, who first was a guest in episode 136, is back to share her experience writing a character with breast cancer... only for Caitlin herself to develop the exact same type of cancer in the exact same breast. Her journey through recovery and learning how to write while on cancer drugs is a testament to human resilience and how to determine which pieces of writing advice work for the different (and sometimes scary) stages of life.Find Caitlin's books and connect with her at https://caitlinshetterly.com/ or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/caitlinshetterly/ SERIES NOW COMPLETE! Binge The Chronicles of Talahm (or just learn more): Curios (eBooks)Main Website (signed paperbacks)Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Have you ever heard the advice to not publish your first book? Did it ruffle your feathers? It doesn't mean what you think it means. In this episode we break down this advice to understand the motivation behind it.SERIES NOW COMPLETE! Binge The Chronicles of Talahm (or just learn more): Curios (eBooks)Main Website (signed paperbacks)Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Have you ever read a book that feels like it was supposed to be written in 3rd person omniscient (like many regency romances or books in the style of Jane Austen), but you couldn't keep track of who was actually telling the story?The author might have mistaken head hopping for omniscient.It's pretty easy to do nowadays with the emphasis on showing over telling, but true omniscient POVs don't risk the readers feeling like they're in a pinball machine.This episode discusses the differences between 3rd omniscient, 3rd close, and head hopping using the opening of chapter 2 from Pride & Prejudice.Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Cathryn deVries "accidentally" became a writer through chronicling her family's Dungeons & Dragons campaign.The process helped her work through old emotional wounds, but then she had to deal with imposter syndrome over whether the story really was *hers* if it came from a campaign her daughter dreamed up.Listen in to find out how Cathryn went from "Am I really an author?" to fully stepping into that identity.Connect with Cathryn:https://eclectaperennial.com/ https://www.instagram.com/_eclecta_perennial_books/Listen to the companion episode with Cathryn on The Christian Readers Podcast: https://thechristianreaderspodcast.buzzsprout.com/2529164/episodes/19030167-author-interview-with-cathryn-devries-son-of-osiviriusSend us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Getting critiques on our writing is a core part of improving, but what if you didn't have to wait until you finish the first draft?Enter short-cycle feedback. This episode is all about why writers ought to share their work before writing THE END and use that critique to make the entire book stronger while you're still working on the first draft. (Even if it's still garbage.)*Something I didn't mention in the episode is that writing conferences are FANTASTIC places to make friends with other authors who can swap critiques with you. Many cons have online options now too, so you can still network while in your pajamas on your couch.*Links:RealmSphere a community for Christian spec-fic writers: https://realm-makers.mn.co/Episode 117: How to Recruit Alphas, Betas, & Critters: https://thenovelwritingpodcast.buzzsprout.com/2133745/episodes/14437655-how-to-recruit-alphas-betas-crittersSend us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Dictating is one of many tools writers can slot into their writing toolbelts, but many who try dictation don't stick with it long enough to see real results.I took Seth Ring's challenge to commit at least 20 hours to learning how to dictate, and this is what I learned by dictating 70,000 words in about 38 hours.Learn more about AI transcription with Book Scribe: https://bookscribe.ai/Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Publisher Rocket creator Dave Chesson walks through how to use features like keyword search, competition analyzer, category search, and reverse ASIN lookup. For Publisher Rocket and other self-publishing tools by Kindlepreneur, visit https://kindlepreneur.com/tools/Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

A common piece of writing advice from prolific, full-time authors is that we need to write every day.*insert squinty-eyed Thor Ragnarok meme*But do we, really?If your life circumstances by nature prevent you from putting your butt in the writing chair at least once a day, this episode is for you.Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

We've all heard the claim... you NEED to be on social media if you want to make it as an author.Or, do you?Let's bust this pervasive myth that success requires a social media presence, even if you would rather eat nails than make a reel. Being a social media content creator in addition to being an author is not for everyone, and thankfully it's totally possible to build an author career without spending half your time battling the algorithms.Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Strengths coach Becca Syme shares why the worst possible phrase is "just do it" and how there's no universal truth for writers... except one.Becca has worked with over 6,000 individual clients and is a wealth of wisdom in helping creatives figure out how to do things better and faster, and continue to love those things even years down the line.See what's available or connect with Becca at https://betterfasteracademy.com/linksSend us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Are you tired of hearing the "show, don't tell" advice thrown around with reckless abandon? Me too. Showing and telling both have their place in fiction, but it's important not to fall into the extreme of showing everything... just like we shouldn't be telling everything. Showing and telling need to be "perfectly balanced, as all things should be," to quote Thanos.Listen in to understand what this advice really means, and how to know what parts of your story need one versus the other.Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Have you ever tabbed over to quickly research that one little detail you're stuck on, only to surface hours later from a YouTube video that has nothing to do with what you started out searching for?Welcome to the research rabbit hole.Today's episode is on how to AVOID that rabbit hole, and what to do if you find yourself losing hours of valuable writing time to Wonderland.Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

The publishing industry goes through constant changes. Greg Keogh, co-founder of direct sales platform Curios, shares his thoughts on what's happening in the publishing industry (both indie and trad) and where he sees the trends going over the next year.From Amazon DRM to subscription-based reading, listen in for what's currently changing.Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Have you ever tried to write your book's blurb and felt like throwing up instead?Blurbs don't have to be hard, but authors make them hard without meaning to. They're a different skillset from writing a book, and they're never going to look perfect with the first draft.So stop beating yourself up over having a weak or nonexistent blurb and listen in for some tips on how to craft a killer one.Learn more about writing blurbs: 5 Steps to Better Blurbs, by Julie C. GilbertSend us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Greg Keogh, co-founder of the direct sales platform Curios, comes back to share what's new in the platform and what's coming. Curios has undergone some serious improvements since episode 186. Listen in to hear more about the Curios roadmap, including:Affiliate marketing like you've never seen itPrint on demand partnership with BookVaultIn depth analyticsReview systemAnd more!Curious about the Curios Creator Fund? We ran out of time to get the update on the interview, but here it is:The fund is topped up! While it pays out lower in the beginning, there are a lot more tiers to scale up your earnings. It's now more accessible and frequent for creators to earn more than in previous rounds. The creator fund is the Curios marketing budget to encourage word of mouth and rewarding creators for their hard work creating. Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Here's part 2 of my conversation with Seth Ring on author business practices.  What is the most important thing for a new author to focus on? When should authors diversify, whether it's income streams or genre? Seth has some controversial opinions, which is part of why I love talking to him!Find Seth's work at sethring.comSend us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Dave Chesson, author and founder of Kindlepreneur, brings a high-level overview of the different tools in the Kindlepreneur suite.From the bestseller rank calculator to their formatting tool (Atticus), Kindlepreneur is a one-stop-shop for indies looking to improve marketing, craft, and rankings.Find all the Kindlepreneur tools at https://kindlepreneur.com/tools/Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

What are proofreaders, and what do they do for indie authors? What should you expect if you hire these professionals?This episode covers what proofreaders do, don't do, and whether you should hire one for your novel.Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Seth Ring is back in a new two-parter to drop some truth bombs about why it's so important for authors, whether you're indie or trad, to think about the business side of writing. Are you a personal brand or a product brand? What's the most important business task you can focus on as a writer? What's the difference between a writer and an author, anyway?My favorite mic-drop from this episode is, "Without work, and without new work, your business is not going to work."Part 2 will be out in a few weeks!Find Seth's work at sethring.comSend us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

What are copyeditors or line editors, and what do they do for indie authors? What should you expect if you hire these professionals?This episode covers what copy/line editors do, don't do, and whether you should hire one for your novel.Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Do you really need a developmental editor? If you hire one, what should you expect from them? There are some cases where you can get away with not hiring dev editors, but they don't apply to every writer.For a spicy take on the necessity of dev editors, check out this video by Seth Ring: https://youtu.be/m-H_BxBM2kYSend us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Author Nation 2025 was my 3rd time at an author conference, and this year I went looking for audio narration solutions (among other things). This episode covers my thoughts on the conference, favorite sessions, and whether it's worth it (especially for new authors). Will you be going to this year's con? If so, I'll see you in November!Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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 forwardThis year is full of goals and ambition, so let's get rocking!Listen to The Christian Readers Podcast.Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SethRingWritesSeth's Video on Becoming a Full-Time Author: https://youtu.be/DLhzZme6omYSeth's AI Transcription Software: https://bookscribe.ai/Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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.comLink to unboxing video: https://www.instagram.com/p/DN5-FEAj8Kd/Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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 mean comments on her socials. This is for learning purposes only.Resources used in the production of this episode:Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Age-Scorpius-Audra-Winter/dp/B0FG32YN7R/Goodreads: https://goodreads.com/book/show/234107686Taylor Rose: Why This 2-STar Book Got 6,000 Pre-Orders (https://youtu.be/p3S156E3LR0)Taylor Rose: Indie Author's 4-month Makeover Plan: From 2 Stars to Stardom? (https://youtu.be/RjZ-7BC6Bgo)Juicy Edits: Editing BookTok's most hated indie book (The Age of Scorpius) (https://youtu.be/rs4grknQOCc)Reads with Rachel: AUDRA WINTER vs BOOKTOK (https://youtu.be/hq9o2KsQc_4)Reads with Rachel: I read AUDRA WINTERS BOOK | AGE OF SCORPIUS RANT (https://youtu.be/10iFSqhUZHQ)Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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 copyright lawSend us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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 tropes across five popular genres.Resource: Jennifer Hilt's Trope ThesaurusSend us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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 MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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 MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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 just that, and shares red flags to watch out for in our searches.Links Mentioned in This Episode:Email: [email protected]: @collinsmithcreativeWebsite: collinsmithcreative.comChristian Writers Market Guide: https://christianwritersmarketguide.com/Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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 MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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 MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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. Start simple and work your way up!Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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 MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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 MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

www.curios.com/JoincolleenmitchellwritesHow 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 or ecommerce store. It can be as simple as joining Curios, the platform made for authors to sell direct, keep 100% of sales, AND own reader contact information.Learn more about Curios and selling direct in this interview with co-founder Greg Keogh.Sign up for Curios through the affiliate link below, and we both make $$!www.curios.com/JoincolleenmitchellwritesOther Links:Schedule a meet & greet with Greg: curios.com/meetgregFollow Curios on Instagram: @joincuriosVisit the website: curios.comRead the Blog Post on how to use Curios if you're in Kindle UnlimitedSend Greg an email: [email protected] us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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 MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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 MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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 MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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.comSend us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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 MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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 ravenous for your books... neither of which happen without marketing.Send us Fan MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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 MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

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 MailWhat to do next…Read transcripts & access interview recordings on SubstackApply for Author Coaching with ColleenTake the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate LinkRead Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (The Chronicles of Talahm)Read Halie's YA fantasy series (Secrets of the Tally)Leave a review on Apple Podcasts