The Bestseller Experiment

Lucy Vine is a freelance journalist who has written for pretty much every magazine going. Inspired by one of Lucy's articles, editor Katie Seaman commissioned Lucy to write Hot Mess, a full-length novel, in an incredibly short space of time and, between them, have discovered a brilliantly efficient way of working together. In this episode you will discover: - How you can use a weekly deadline to increase your word count - Why you should look for gaps in the market - How you and an editor can work together on outlines and story before the edit begins - And even with an outline there's room for new ideas Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

We welcome back Shannon Mayer for the third and final part of our epic interview with her and we finally tackle something that can put the fear of death into many authors… Marketing. In this episode you will discover: - The one piece of marketing that makes the biggest difference to your sales - Why writing on your vacation is okay - How you can grapple with the scary technical stuff - And why interacting with your readers is so important Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

Is there such as thing as a positive rejection? This week we chat with award-winning author, Liz Fenwick about the importance of persistency on the journey to being published, why your book's location matters, the world of literary consultancies and how to silence your inner critic. In this episode you will discover… - How literary consultancies work - What you can learn from positive rejections - When to listen to your inner critic and how to banish the crows of doubt circling above - Why it's so important to complete your novel

Licking the wounds from their encounter with Ben Aaronovitch last week, the two Marks regroup, look at where they've gone wrong, and wonder if they can go on… In this episode you will discover… - Why taking a break from your main project might be a good idea - How to use your outline in a rewrite - Top tips for building your brand image and self-promotion - And Mr. Stay has been through the Kindle Direct Publishing process and reports on his findings Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

Ben Aaronovitch started writing for Dr Who and became the author of the bestselling Peter Grant series that started with Rivers Of London in 2011 and has been hugely successful, regularly hitting the Sunday Times bestsellers top ten. We were delighted to get Ben for a conversation full of fireworks. In this episode you will discover: When an outline is not an outline Top procrastination tips that will help your productivity Why sniffing a camel will help your research And how many drafts is too many Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

Mark Dawson had been published by a mainstream publisher, but to little success. A friend introduced him to Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and now, over two million downloads later, he is one of the UK's most successful indie authors. In this episode you will discover… - Why you need a mailing list. - A daily routine that balances creativity and business. - The power of an online ad campaign - The big changes coming in self-publishing! Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

Self-publishing an eBook? You're almost certainly going to be publishing on Kindle. We were delighted to speak to Kindle's head of Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Darren Hardy, at Amazon's recent Amazon Academy Conference in London to get the low-down. In this episode you will discover: - Where to find essential resources to guide you through the process of self-publishing on Kindle. -The common best practices for authors starting out. -The key elements that will make your book more visible on Amazon. -The big changes coming in self-publishing! Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

Joe is the bestselling author of Heart-Shaped Box, Horns, NOS4A2, Locke & Key and most recently the New York Times #1 epic blockbuster The Fireman. Joe, son of Stephen King, is powerhouse storyteller from an incredible family of writers. He is also an endless well of writing advice, so be ready to take notes… lots of notes… In this episode you will discover: - The power of two: two writers and a two-word sentence - How the secret to the Beatles' success can be applied to your writing - Joe's rule when tackling second drafts, and his first paragraph trick. - Joe's top tip that he got from his track coach at school - How rewriting someone else's work, and the game Go, can benefit your writing. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

Sarah Pinborough has had over twenty novels published and written for TV and film. Sarah's new thriller Behind Her Eyes is getting incredible buzz after a heated auction. Sarah is always funny, insightful and often eye-wateringly honest. Brace yourselves for one of our most entertaining author chats yet… WARNING: Contains strong adult language! In this episode you will discover: - Why you should get networking. - The importance of thinking time. - How to cope with an editor's notes. - The common mistakes made by men writing women. - And the benefit of being charming. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

The second part of our interview with bestselling Indie author Shannon Mayer who recently hit #2 in the main Amazon.com charts outselling Stephen Kings and other great. We talk about her new deal with Amazon, hybrid authors, the importance of an author's intent, being business-like and collaboration. In this episode you will discover: - The importance of setting your goals as a writer, and making them big! - The simple secret of Shannon's success and how you can apply it to your writing. - How to cope with imposter syndrome. - And a great tip for collaborating with another author. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com .

'How do I get an agent?' is one of the most common questions asked by new writers, so we asked Federica Leonardis, founder of Martin Leonardis Literary Management, and her debut novelist Sonya Lalli. In this episode you will discover: The common mistakes made by writers looking for an agent. The worst submission letter in the history of submission letters. How you can cope with waiting for a reply, and how not to take rejection personally And… how you can get an agent! Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

John Connolly has won pretty much every crime award going, and his books are regular Sunday Times bestsellers. He doesn't do workshops, doesn't suffer fools, and told the massive issue with leaving a book half-finished. John's words are dripping in wisdom and we loved him. In this episode you will discover: - The importance of empathy and character in your writing. - Why every book is a failure, and that's okay… - Why you should be wary of the siren call of the new idea. - And how you can write your way out of writer's block. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

How do you research your books? Michelle Paver has written eighteen novels, including the bestselling Chronicles Of Ancient Darkness. She's encountered killer whales, wolves, polar bears and a runaway Yak, all in the name of research. In this episode you will discover: The key to giving readers the chills. How research can enrich your writing. How to avoid getting bogged down in research. And why you should always keep your old manuscripts! Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

Maria started as a screenwriter. Her book, Where'd You Go, Bernadette? spent over a year on the New York Times bestsellers. She spoke to us about the things that stop us writing truthfully. In this episode you will discover: - Why she prefers writing novels: learn to love being in control. - Find your voice: and how to cut writing classes. - The voice of self-sabotage: you need to be true and real to defeat this monster. - Writing for revenge: what makes you a stronger writer? Revenge or generosity? Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

The two Marks bring you up to date on the trials and tribulations their nascent bestseller, the processes that they're going through, and how two writers can work together without driving each other bonkers. In this episode you will discover: - How they decided on what to write about and how you can use the same template. - How to take your big ideas and themes and apply them to your story and characters. - Discover if you're a plotter or a pantser (that's a word, apparently). - What we've learned from our guests so far and how we're applying that to our story. - The dangers of relying on your outline too much. - Why it's essential to be able to hold two opposing views in your head. - Why texture can wait, and why it pays to be observant. - And why you should be thinking of where your book will sit in a bookshop. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

Robin is the author of the Murder Most Unladylike Mysteries books, a middle grade series following schoolgirl detectives Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong in a 1930s English boarding school, but Robin started out on her bestselling adventure with NaNoWriMo. In this episode you will discover… How to get through that first draft and accept that all first drafts are horrible. How you can take that first draft and make it awesome. The importance of an elevator pitch. The thing that happens to all first drafts at 33,000 words! How to use word count to structure your writing day. How to use Pinterest for your research.

Joe Abercrombie burst onto the fantasy scene in 2003 with his debut The Blade Itself. His books have climbed high up the Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller, and he had some unusual advice for writers when we spoke to him at GollanczFest.

We were delighted to welcome NaNoWriMo's Grant Faulkner back to the podcast in mid-November, where we discussed strategies for coping with the 'muddy middle'. Those second-act blues where a storyteller can get completely lost or overwhelmed. In this episode you will discover… You are not alone! Even the most experienced writers share your pain. Simple strategies to keep your writing going through even the thickest mud. How writers have used NaNoWriMo as a springboard for their careers. Everyone's story matters, and it's never too late for you to start. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

Michael Connelly is one of the most successful crime authors in the world with over 60m book sales. Having just released his new Harry Bosch thriller, he shares secrets about developing characters & writing book series - in the back of a London cab! In this episode you will discover… - The secrets to writing a series character. - How you can make an emotional connection with the reader. - How much ego you need to be a writer. - And how fifteen minutes' writing a day can make all the difference. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com

In this episode you will discover… How the problems in your life can make for great stories later on. How you can stay authentic and honest. How to cope with artistic frustration. What Bryan looks for when taking on a character, and how you can apply that to your writing. And how you can apply CAPS - the Cranston Assessment of Projects, Bryan's own system of selection - to your project to make it stand out. And how to avoid being a 'Sneaky Pete'!

In this episode you will discover… That NaNoWriMo is a community: and you can be part of it. How it can benefit your writing: it's not about critiquing, but more like a worldwide support group. Embrace the fear of the fist draft: all the books we loved started as first drafts, and NaNoWriMo gives you permission to write that rough first draft. A goal and a deadline are a creative midwife: give yourself permission to do it!

Best known for her novel Chocolat, which sold well over a million copies and was made into a movie starring Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche, Joanne has written over twenty books, including Runemarks and Gospel of Loki, which were based on Norse legend. We spoke to her at GollanczFest about writing, aspiration and sheds. In this episode you will discover… How to find your voice: it's what will make you a better writer. Prepare for success: not failure! Writing for Twitter: Joanne's shed has changed how she writes. Could it work for you? Are you an aspiring writer? Joanne has some excellent advice for you…

In this episode you will discover… How to earn a living from writing: It can be done, and Shannon shows you how. Spoiler: it involves a lot of hard work! Agents: do you need one? Training: Train yourself to learn your craft and how the industry works. Develop a work ethic: This is not a hobby and you'll need to work around the day job. Your muse is your bitch! Don't wait for creativity to show up. Editors: You need one. Yes, you do. And Shannon tells you where to find one.

In this episode you will discover… What does a commission editor do? It's not just correcting your spelling! What's changed in publishing? And how you can make the most of these opportunities. The most common mistakes by writers: And how you can avoid them. Don't cheat your reader: And how to have a longer career as a writer.

As we begin our epic quest we need to know what kind of person buys bestselling books. We turn to Hachette Book Group consumer insight expert Vics Tranter, who shares her experience and wisdom with us and we discover just who will be reading our book… and it's a bit of a shock, to be frank.

Join author and screenwriter Mark Stay with coach and entrepreneur Mark Desvaux, as they discover the secrets to writing a bestseller and challenge themselves and you to write, market and self-published a bestselling book in just one year. Each week, they are guided by and interview million-selling, chart-topping authors, publishers on the inside, editors, agents, social media specialists, and many more big names who play a part in the bestseller process. From the writing to marketing, plotting to publishing, learn the secrets to help you write your way to the top of the charts.