The Career Author Summit RecapAfter a fantastic weekend (and week-long) at The Career Author Summit, the guys are here to share a recap of the event as well as the most pertinent takeaways from all of the presentations. J. and Zach also share some details about the forced pivot to a virtual event and how they’re thinking about the future of live events. The Career Author Podcast is a podcast where co-authors J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon share their struggles and successes as full-time authors,...

Peer-to-Peer FeedbackAlthough we value our fellow authors, giving and receiving feedback with them can be fraught with problems. It can be difficult not to respond emotionally when a peer criticizes our creative work. And yet without feedback, we become stagnant and don’t grow. J. and Zach discuss why feedback is important as well as the etiquette involved. After an introduction from a recent episode of the Tim Ferriss Podcast with guest Brian Koppleman, the career authors provide guidance on...

The Editing ProcessFinishing the first draft of a novel is an amazing accomplishment. If you’ve done that, then you’ve done something that most people will never have the discipline or drive to do. But you can’t sit back and relax too long because the real work begins when your draft is complete. Between the two of them, Zach and J. have published dozens of books. They’ve gone through the process of self-editing and working with professional editors with every project. Listen as they take a...

Recording an AudiobookAudio is hot. We hear this everywhere and all the time. But what does it take to sit down and record an audiobook? Authors can struggle with writing and publishing a book so the thought of now narrating and producing an audiobook for it can seem daunting. J. took on the responsibility of narrating, editing, and mastering Three Story Method and now he’s going to share the details of what’s involved in a DIY audiobook narration project. Both Zach and J. have had many years...

The Healthy Career AuthorWriting is a solitary activity. We sit at our desks alone for hours at a time, typing away, often letting our posture slip and forgetting to stand and take breaks. It can be easy to get lost in our fictional worlds and let our health slip away. Both Zach and J. have both made their health a priority over the last several years, and each has a unique story and experience to share. Join them on this episode as they dive into the things they’ve done to do better for...

The Mentorship Model for AuthorsNothing can be more empowering for an author than having the ear of a trusted mentor. Whether you get wisdom and guidance from other writers or from books and podcasts, mentorship can help authors to get beyond learning plateaus. J. has had mentors his entire life and recognizes that the most important advances in his career are a direct result of the advice given by his mentors. The guys go on to discuss why mentors are important and how you can begin building...

How Video Games Can Make You a Better StorytellerIf you’ve been a listener of this podcast for any period of time, then you know it’s no secret that Zach loves video games. He grew up in arcades and with an NES controller in his hands. But are they just a way for him to pass the time, or have they actually helped him improve his craft? In answering one of his most asked questions, Zach brings non-gamer J. Thorn along for an entire episode dedicated to how video games have influenced his...

SPECIAL BONUS EPISODE! Live Q & A! Recorded live on April 5, 2020 with Zoom. Podcast sponsored by Kobo Writing Life - https://writinglife.kobobooks.com  Get exclusive bonus content by supporting The Career Author Podcast on Patreon at www.patreon.com/thecareerauthor Want to work with us? Get the details at https://thecareerauthor.com/services/ Links: The Career Author YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/thecareerauthor Three Story Method -...

A Nonfiction Book Launch Wide: The First 30 DaysLaunching a book wide is a new challenge for J. and Zach, especially a nonfiction book. With differences in strategy, pricing, format, and distribution, it can be difficult to decide what to do and what not to do. After the first 30 days of “Three Story Method,” the guys discuss their plan, results and what they would do differently. They discuss the nuances of ebook, paperback, audio, and workbook as well as the ways in which promotion is...

How to Efficiently Work From HomeWith many people forced to stay indoors as we fight through the COVID-19 pandemic, many writers are finding themselves with more time to write. Some are even getting to write full-time as their day jobs temporarily shut down. Writing full-time and working at home possesses many challenges that people don’t think about. Today, Zach and J. talk about some of those challenges and give tips on how you can avoid the pitfalls of time mismanagement and...

Digital Minimalism: A Year Later Last year, Zach and J. recorded an episode discussing Digital Minimalism inspired by the bestselling book of the same name by Cal Newport. After reading that book, both Zach and J. greatly reduced the time they spend on devices. Zach even completely left social media, a move controversial to many authors. How have the guys fared over the past year as full-time creatives with little to no social media presence, and how has it impacted their day-to-day...

Special Guest J.D. Barker In this special episode, Zach and J. welcome international bestselling author J.D. Barker! J.D. co-hosts the Writers, Ink Podcast with J. but he does so much more. Barker has cowritten with one of Bram Stoker’s descendants as well as with James Patterson. He is a master of horror and suspense and we get to know him better in this conversation. In the opening, the guys discuss the global situation right now including tornados and pandemics. About J.D. Barker: J.D....

The Three Story Method The Three Story Method is available now! Zach and J. go deep on their methodology in this episode, discussing how it evolved and why now is the right time to share it with other authors. In addition, the two career authors discuss the primary objections to using any story framework or methodology, the rule of three, the six elements, and the core concept of the Three Story Method. Three Story Method has been published wide, on all major platforms for both ebook and...

The Three Story Method Influencer Series: Story In the fourth of this special 5-part series, Zach and J. examine Story by Robert McKee. They discuss how his ideas changed the way Hollywood approached modern storytelling. In addition, Zach asks J. how he incorporated elements of Story in Three Story Method and the ways they impact novel writing. Although not strictly a methodology like the Hero’s Journey or Virgin’s Promise, McKee’s seminal work explores critical elements of storytelling such...

The Three Story Method Influencer Series: The Virgin’s Promise In the third of this special 5-part series, Zach and J. examine the Virgin’s Promise developed by Kim Hudson. They discuss how these ideas will change modern storytelling. In addition, Zach asks J. how he incorporated the Virgin’s Promise in Three Story Method and the ways they impact novel writing. The Virgin’s Promise provides an alternative to the monomyth, a non-linear story archetype that accentuates the duality of feminine...

The Three Story Method Influencer Series: The Hero’s Journey In the second of this special 5-part series, Zach and J. examine the Hero’s Journey as created by Joseph Cambpell and recreated by Christopher Vogler. They discuss how these ideas have influenced modern storytelling. In addition, Zach asks J. how he incorporated the Hero’s Journey in Three Story Method and the ways they impact novel writing. While some may believe that we’re transitioning out of the monomyth era, it’s still...

The Three Story Method Influencer Series: Aristotle In the first of this special 5-part series, Zach and J. examine Poetics by Aristotle and how those ideas have influenced modern storytelling. In addition, Zach asks J. how he incorporated Aristotle’s ideas in Three Story Method and the ways they apply to novelists. From Wikipedia: Aristotle's Poetics (Greek: Περὶ ποιητικῆς; Latin: De Poetica;[1] c. 335 BC[2]) is the earliest surviving work of dramatic theory and first extant philosophical...

Receiving Feedback and Criticism Authors thrive on sharing their creations with the world. But by putting your work out there, you open yourself up to feedback and criticism, whether fair or unfair. It can be difficult to navigate how to handle feedback, especially the negative kind. Your editor thinks that your character’s actions aren’t consistent with their personality. A beta reader didn’t like the ending of your upcoming novel. Someone left a nasty one-star review on your book. A...

Accounting for Authors Accounting for authors is something we’re asked about all the time. Special shout out to John Box for suggesting the conversation. “How do self-published authors handle their income? Both part-time and full-timers? Are authors setting up LLC's or the like? Is this something that we can do on our own? Or is there a respectable service out there that can help us?” These are all great questions. Listen in as we talk about what we do on the financial side of being a career...

Authors on a Train California 2020 In this special episode coming to you live from J.’s aunt’s kitchen in San Francisco, it’s the Authors on a Train California 2020 round table conversation! After riding the Coastal Starlight train from Los Angeles to Oakland, California, the guys shared a mansion with 12 other amazing writers for 3 days of living together and geeking out on writing. The attendees gathered around the dining room table to talk about the experience with big takeaways on the...

Launching an Author Career in 2020 The publishing industry went through a wave of unprecedented changes in the last decade with the evolution of self-publishing. The rise of the eReader along with technological advancements in the digital distribution of books knocked down doors previously held closed tight by the major publishers. But with the “golden age” of independent publishing long gone, more competition in the market, and the increased difficulty to be discovered by readers, we ask the...

The State of Independent Publishing in 2020 It’s time to discuss the state of independent publishing in 2020. In their third annual installment of the “looking ahead” episode, J. and Zach examine the trends that occurred over the past year while trying to determine what they’ll be this year. As the industry continues to evolve and change, The Career Authors hope to deliver timely and useful advice at the dawn of a new decade. The Career Author Podcast is a podcast where co-authors J. Thorn...

Reflections on 2019 It’s hard to believe that 2020 is almost upon us. In this reflective episode, Zach and J. look back at 2019 and discuss some of their personal successes and struggles while also talking about what went right—and wrong—with Molten Universe Media. The Career Author Podcast is a podcast where co-authors J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon share their struggles and successes as full-time authors, advice for improving your writing craft, and honest discussions of what it takes to build...

Star Wars. Harry Potter. Pokemon. Mickey Mouse. These are some of the most recognizable franchises in the world. But why? What makes Star Wars so much more beloved than any other science fiction and fantasy space property? The Career Author Podcast is a podcast where co-authors J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon share their struggles and successes as full-time authors, advice for improving your writing craft, and honest discussions of what it takes to build a successful career as an author. In this...

Beating Resistance is a daily challenge. For most creatives, we must battle doubt and insecurity at every step of the way. In The War of Art, Steven Pressfield defines the universal force that tries to keep us from our full potential. Thanks to Kim for sending in a topic suggestion that we’ve turned into “Beating Resistance.” What is Resistance? How does it show up? What can you do about it? Join the Career Authors in a candid conversation about this pervasive and powerful force. The Career...