The Bestseller Experiment

This week's Deep Dive is a discussion with Julian Barr about Beta Readers. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

Warren Adler is best known for his classic bestseller The War of the Roses and has had the most incredible career as a writer of novels, stage plays, poems, essays and short stories. He was also an eBook pioneer and paved the way for countless indie authors. Warren's first novel was published when he was 46, and his story is one of dreams and determination. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

This week's Deep Dive is a discussion with Sam Missingham. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

The highlights from our live show with Children's Literary Agent Amber Caravéo! Amber was formerly a commissioning editor at Random House Children's Books and Editorial Director at Orion Children's Books and is co-founder of Skylark Literary - an agency specialising in children's authors. Amber has worked some incredible children's authors including Liz Kessler, Caroline Lawrence, Holly Black and the Rainbow Magic series. We were delighted to welcome her to the Youtube Live show that we host exclusively for our Patreon Chart Topper supporters. To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

Mr. Stay spoke to a pair of his TV writing heroes at the MCM Comic Con in London recently. Rob Grant is the co-creator of the classic science fiction comedy Red Dwarf, and Andrew Marshall is best-known for the BBC comedy Two Point Four Children. Together they have created a fantastic BBC radio comedy series and accompanying novel The Quanderhorn Xperimentations. They talked about its creation, how they work together and with the cast, and we also get a mini-comedy writing masterclass and an exclusive excerpt from the audiobook (with thanks to Orion Audio). In this episode you will discover… Tips on writing with a partner and why visualisation is so important Why it can be important to have your concept clear before you write How situation, character and comedy come together for the perfect sitcom And why writing is like looking for a perfect table The Quanderhorn Xperimentaitons will start on BBC Radio Show 4 on Monday 25th June at 11:30 am, or you can listen via the BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b8cx2z

Crowdfunding is an increasingly common and way for authors to make their project come to life. But how to do this if you're queasy about asking for money? Jimmy is the Head of Crowdfunding at Unbound Books and he talked us through to dos and don'ts of raising money for creative projects. In this episode you will discover… Effective strategies for making your crowdfunding campaign work What motivates people to pledge and why the personal touch works so well Why you shouldn't rely on social media alone, and how to use it more effectively And how to build your crowd, realise your value, and what do when people say no... To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

In one of our Industry Insider Deep Dives we talk to Jessica Purdue from the Orion Publishing Group's Rights department about TV/Film rights, royalties, licences, renewals, translations, co-editions and all sorts of other fascinating ways for authors to make money from their work. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

Gareth L Powell is one of the most generous authors on social media and a font of writing wisdom. He's also the award-winning author of the Ack-Ack Macaque trilogy, his short stories have appeared in Interzone, Clarkesworld, and The Year's Best Science Fiction, and he has written for The Guardian, The Irish Times, 2000AD and SFX. With his new book Embers of War he has returned to his love of space opera. We discussed apes, outlining, and answered a few listener questions... In this episode you will discover… An outlining method that will help you work through the muddy middle What you can offer to your Patreon and Kofi supporters to create a community and generate revenue How to deal with characters who insist on hanging around in your story And how a short story about a monkey became an award-winning trilogy... To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

This week's topic of adaptation came from one of our Patreon supporters and listeners Julian Barr, who joined me to discuss the various methods for adapting from one medium to another, including radio, epic poems, novels, TV and feature films. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

In this Deep Dive we take a look at one of the hardest parts of being a writer: coping with criticism. It can come in many forms: from writing groups, reviews, social media and more. We look at strategies on how to deal with criticism and how you can make it work for you. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

Julie Wassmer is an EastEnder who has written for EastEnders and she's now bumping off the locals in her wonderful series of novels The Whitstable Pearl Mysteries. I met Julie by the seaside on a beautiful summer's day at Whitstable and we chatted about the town, its strong sense of community, and how it has influenced her writing. Julie's new book, Disappearence at Oare, is out now! In this episode you will discover… - Why location is so important to a novel - How to keep a series character fresh - And why you should live in fear of a cup of tea and a bacon sandwich To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

Sharon Bolton (aka SJ Bolton) is the bestselling and award-winning thriller author of the Lacey Flint series and her writing continues the tradition of gothic mystery, mixed with the pace of page-turning modern crime thrillers. It was great fun to discuss her new novel, The Craftsman, we played backlist bingo, and we answered listener questions. In this episode you will discover… - Tips for historical research and how you can turn local history into thrilling fiction - How you can keep readers on the hook with delayed gratification - How your short stories can interlock with your novels and create a greater universe - And why you have to write the books you love to read To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

This week we go to the movies with writer/director Deborah Haywood whose debut feature film Pin Cushion will be released in cinemas in July… Deborah is BIFA-nominated and was one of Screen International's Stars of Tomorrow and she's an incredible writer who deftly combines the deeply personal with the magical. In this episode you will discover… How an obsession with being a writer can get you on a movie set How writing without compromise and self-censorship can pay off How the screenplay development process works for independent filmmakers And strategies for dealing with notes (involving a hot bath, long walks and chocolate) To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

Another special YouTube Live episode featuring Orion editor Ben Willis with contributions from our wonderful Patreon supporters! Ben worked in book publicity for Transworld and Headline before joining Orion, where he now works as a commissioning editor for Orion Fiction. If you want to get involved with our live shows, become a chart topper patron here: https://www.patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment In this episode you will discover… - Some top tips for your book's metadata to make it more visible online - We talk style, language, character perspectives, voices and tenses that you can use to make your work stand out - What publishers look for in indie authors - And is there such a thing as too much editing…? To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

We've already had a Deep Dive on writing compelling characters, but I want to focus on that moment when you first introduce them. How can you make an impact? How can you avoid cliches? I'll discuss seven principles that will help your writing. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

Win Kelly Charles is a bestselling indie author who has publicly declared that she's stepping away from Facebook after the Cambridge Analytica scandal. We talked about Win's decision, how it affects her reach as an author, and her inspirational writing journey as someone born with cerebral palsy. In this episode you will discover… - How you can write a bestseller with an iPhone - Why you're not alone in struggling to reach readers on Facebook - And should you delete Facebook? To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

Writing short stories is hard! Cramming great character and story into just a few thousand words is a skill few writers master, but here are some tips to help you get started... Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

Isabel Ashdown is the author of bestselling thrillers Little Sister and Beautiful Liars. She walked away from a successful career to focus on her writing and it all stepped up a gear when she entered a competition in a newspaper... In this episode you will discover… - Isabel's working method with her editor Sam Eades (and we hear from Sam, too!) - Some top tips for growing your social media and newsletter numbers - The power of epilogues - And is it better for your thriller to have a twist, have everything tied up, or have an open ending? To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

CLICHES AND TROPES - how to identify cliches in your writing and tropes in your storytelling, and strategies for making your work stronger. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

Ed McDonald broke onto the fantasy scene with his incredible debut Blackwing in 2017 and has had an amazing year. He's living the dream! Then a few weeks ago he wrote a very honest blog titled 'Dear Debut Authors of 2018' in which he asked the question, "What next?" In this episode you will discover… How to prepare for and navigate the first year of the publication of your book Sales anxiety and why you need to treat your writing as a business and a career How much should you act on reader feedback for your second book? Top tips from Ed for writing fight scenes (he's handy with a sword in real life, too!) And here's Ed's original blog: https://edmcdonaldwriting.com/2018/03/10/dear-debut-authors-of-2018/ To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

In this week's Deep Dive Mark Stay is joined by Paul Hussey and they take a deep dive into the production of your publication. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

Michael J Ward is a writer and gamer who has taken choose-your-own-adventure books to the next level. With compelling characters and engaging stories his DestinyQuest books are written in a unique way and he gives us an insight into his process which writers of all genres will find invaluable. In this episode you will discover… How the techniques of games writing can be applied to your writing The importance of identifying the turning points for your story Why your characters' choices really need to matter And how publishing through crowdfunding can enable you to write without compromise To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

In this week's Deep Dive Mark Stay is joined by Andy Bowden and they take a deep dive into the production of your publication. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

Editor Emad Akhtar has worked with authors like Michael Connelly, Ian Rankin and Justin Cronin and was kind enough to join our live show and answer our listeners' questions! In this episode you will discover… Common pacing issues with first drafts Why your most difficult scenes might be a reward for readers Why editors can be like movie producers, and what questions you should be asking editors Why you shouldn't just slavishly follow an editor's notes And why you should consider supply and demand with exposition To support the show go to bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

This week's Deep Dive is short n sweet and crammed with tips on making your chapters work as hard as possible. We'll look at the purpose of the chapter, how it fits into the larger story, and what tools you can use when editing to ensure that your chapter earns its place in the story. Hear more at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

We speak to Cavan Scott, an extraordinary writer who writes on licence, meaning that he is hired to write for licenced intellectual properties such as Star Wars and Doctor Who. If you've ever written fan fiction and dream of writing for a big franchise then you'll find plenty of inspiration in this week's episode. In this episode you will discover… How the world of tie-in and licensed fiction works How to work to a brief or with a series bible How copyright and public domain works How good old-fashioned determination and persistence pays off with an extraordinary career To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

Audiobooks with Paul Stark Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

We speak to Roz Morris, a writer whose books have sold over 4 million copies, but until recently you won't have seen her name on the covers because she is a ghost writer. Roz has written for members of the SAS, rockstar bodyguards, children's fantasy authors and more. In this episode you will discover… - How ghostwriters work with their authors - Why the story is in the struggle - How you can apply story structure to memoir and biography - A method of turning notes into a story with scraps of paper and a box! To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

We speak to Richard Morgan about his novel Altered Carbon and its long journey through development hell before it went on the become the biggest show on Netflix. And we look back on his incredible career, which includes fantasy fiction and comic books, and we look forward to his long-awaited forthcoming novel Thin Air. In this episode you will discover… The perils of selling the TV and film rights to your writing Tips on completing trilogies and writing satisfying endings How adversity should strengthen your characters and not weaken them The key differences between TV and film storytelling To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

In the latest of an occasional series of reports from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conference, we speak to bestselling children's author and illustrator Alex T Smith… and Mr. D makes a big declaration! In this episode you will discover… How themes help with story ideas for series characters How your personality will make your book unique How the most unexpected influences can enhance your writing Why it might pay dividends to dig out your old sketches and writing To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out bestsellerexperiment.com/support Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

A special episode where Mr. Stay catches up with Sam Eades on the Gingerbread writing competition launched in episode 50, and speaks to the shortlisted authors, and we discover what it was about their writing that got them shortlisted... In this episode you will discover… How targets and deadlines are essential for any writer How writing for competitions with a theme can help you dig deeper How to find the courage to tell your own story And editor Sam Eades introduces us to the mysterious story triangle! To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

Braving snowmageddon, our monthly live show was recorded in London and Vancouver, with our audience of Patreon supporters. Featured listener questions include the secrets of metadata, author blogging, outlining, and crowdfunding. And there's an update on Mark Stay's book The End of Magic, which you can support here: bestsellerexperiment.com/endofmagic. To join us as an audience member at our next live recording, become a supporter today at: bestsellerexperiment.com/support In this episode you will discover… The dark secrets of metadata and how you can make it work for your books How you can make a blog work harder Tips for when you're stuck on your outline Why you should celebrate weaknesses The pros and cons of present tense versus past tense We discover what "brain tabs" are, and we discuss top tips for avoiding distractions while writing To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

Mr. Stay has a new book coming! And it's being published by Unbound Books who use a crowdfunding model. We discuss how it all works and how you, dear listener, can get involved at https://unbound.com/books/end-of-magic/ In this episode you will discover… How crowdfunding works in publishing Strategies for effective crowdfunding The discount code exclusive to our listeners And updates from our listeners, including one who has just secured a book deal with a major publisher! To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

We speak to the completely charming Catriona Innes, Senior Editor of Cosmopolitan, the UK's best selling glossy magazine. Working on the features desk she writes, edits and commissions the long reads, fitness and career sections of Cosmopolitan, as well as heading up the books content. She's currently working on Hearst's inaugural books prize, Big Book, as well as writing her first fiction novel. In this episode you will discover… How books get those big magazine features Top tips for interviews (we took lots of notes) and how you can apply them to your writing The secrets of undercover and investigative journalism The benefits of setting up a writers' group And how you can get involved with the Big Book Festival and Prize To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

We speak to Cass Green, bestselling author of The Woman Next Door and In a Cottage In a Wood who told us how a quick swim led to a change in direction for her career... In this episode you will discover… How writing for children can help writing for adults Strategies for writing for a living The "Therefore, but…" rule for outlining What a writer-in-residence actually does! To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

We speak to Jen Williams, writer of charismatic characters and founder of the Super Relaxed Fantasy Club. To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

Behold, the highlights of this month's YouTube Live show for our Patreon supporters In this episode you will discover… How to make your characters feel relevant to as many readers as possible How visual flowcharts can help outline your story Liz's tips for coping with writers' block and artists' block and the value of "faffing time" The common traits of bestselling children's authors And how The Sopranos influenced Liz! To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

In the first of an occasional series of reports from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conference, we speak to bestselling children's author and illustrator Liz Pichon about the secrets of the success of her multi-million copy Tom Gates books... In this episode you will discover… How to make your characters feel relevant to as many readers as possible How visual flowcharts can help outline your story Liz's tips for coping with writers' block and artists' block and the value of "faffing time" The common traits of bestselling children's authors And how The Sopranos influenced Liz! To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality Read more at http://bestsellerexperiment.libsyn.com/#slCgMdVjuTzcFdSt.99

Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

We caught up with fantasy bestselling author and super nice dude Brandon Sanderson and in a jam-packed episode he answered our listeners' questions and let us in on some of his inspirational top tips for productive writing... In this episode you will discover… The secret to Brandon's productivity How you can stay excited about the project you're working on Why there's no "should" in writing And when you need to shove your artist in the closet To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality

Here are some clips of what is happening over on the Deep Dive at http://bestsellerexperiment.com/support

We talk to novelist Lara Dearman about her debut book The Devil's Claw and the importance of place, location, myths and folklore in her fiction and much more. In this episode you will discover… How a community college course can spark a career in writing Strategies for writing when you're a full-time parent Tips for choosing an agent and a publisher The importance of accuracy when writing a real location How Enid Blyton inspired Lara's crime fiction To hear more of this episode in our deep dive, check out patreon.com/bestsellerexperiment Our novel Back To Reality is out now bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality