Wood on Words

Breakdown of 2017 publishing income by channel and comparison to 2017.

My thoughts relating to the starving artist cliche and a particular ranty post that's been making the rounds of social media.

Discussing a major problem I've encountered with KDP relating to Kindle Unlimited.

Discussing the strategies I used that helped my book, Loch, hit the USA Today bestseller list!

Urban Fantasy and Horror author Alan Baxter discusses cultivating relationships with other authors.

How do you keep readers interested over the course of a lengthy series?

A current happeniung in publishing sparks a discussion about book covers.

Discussing the income reports shared by a pair of traditionally published authors.

Analyzing the most recent Author Earnings Report.

Summarizing the thoughts of a variety of indie authors on the realities of the current market and the challenges we face.

What are the implications of readers waiting for a series to be completed before giving it a try?

This week I chat with William Meikle, author of a host of titles in the horror and speculative fiction. We discuss the craft of writing horror, short stories vs longer works, and how publishing through indie presses can fit into your professional goals. We also talk about his fascinating new book, The Ghost Club.

What role can writing longhand play in writing fiction? What are the potential benefits and pitfalls?

Joanna Penn (aka author JF Penn) discusses the indie writing and publishing life and the importance of determination, commitment, and patience.

Terry Mixon discusses writing in the science fiction genre and the benefits of collaboration.

Chatting with Paul E. Cooley, Parsec Award-winning podcaster and hybrid author of dark fiction and science fiction.

It's easy to criticize Dan Brown, but what is he doing right? What can authors potentially learn from the way Brown hooks his readers?

What are the challenges an author faces when trying to write characters from diverse and marginalized groups? What steps should we take? How can a sensitivity reader help?

We discuss how to start a publishing career on a limited budget. What corners can and should we cut?

Bestselling author Brian D. Anderson talks fantasy writing, indie work habits, and success in the audiobook market.