Comfort Zone → Visibility #AuthorStrategy #AuthorPlatform

The Author Platform Do you have questions about your author platform? Check out this Pinterest board for answers → pinterest.com/virtualauthors… #AuthorPlatform

inconsistent lately, this is your reminder: simple, steady, niche content still wins. Book a Free Discovery Call > thebookmarketer.pro #BookMarketing #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthors #BookLaunch #AuthorSupport #BookPromotion #AuthorPlatform #PublishingTips #BookMarketingTips

The Pulp Fiction Strategy for Modern Authors What if the old pulp fiction model is exactly what modern authors need right now? In this episode of the Wordslinger 10-Shot, Kevin talks about using short stories as both a creative reset and a smart publishing strategy. If you’re feeling burned out on your novel, stuck in a long rewrite, or just craving a fresh creative project, short fiction can help refill the bucket while still moving your author business forward. Short stories can become ebooks, direct sales products, Substack exclusives, audiobooks, reader magnets, annual collections, anthology opportunities, and more. It’s not just about writing something shorter. It’s about creating more entry points for readers, building your catalog, strengthening your platform, and staying creatively energized. This is a practical strategy for writers, indie authors, creatives, and creative entrepreneurs who want to keep producing without burning out. If you’re serious about your writing and publishing journey, subscribe to this channel. Wordslinger is where writers come for clear, useful, real-world guidance on writing better books, building an author platform, publishing smarter, and creating a sustainable creative life. Mentioned in this episode: Preorder ECHO: rfr.bz/t1cb29e Wordslinger Podcast: rfr.bz/t3809bb Find Kevin and his books: rfr.bz/t8273a0 Join Kevin on Substack: rfr.bz/tc5aa0b ProWritingAid: rfr.bz/td3ea82 Draft2Digital: rfr.bz/t360385 AuthorAnchor: rfr.bz/t0e753a Key moments: 00:00 — Welcome and the preorder announcement for ECHO 01:19 — Creative burnout, brain fry, and stepping back from the novel 02:10 — Refilling the creative bucket 03:36 — Why Kevin started writing a short story 04:06 — The short fiction strategy begins 04:45 — Direct sales, Substack, and reader-friendly pricing 05:20 — Why Kevin refuses to train readers to wait for discounts 06:20 — Loyalty discounts and rewarding newsletter subscribers 08:08 — Short stories as fast creative products 09:36 — Why stepping away from a novel can restore excitement 10:19 — The long-form/short-form writing rhythm 12:38 — Short fiction as a powerful income tool 13:20 — What modern authors can learn from the pulp fiction era 14:13 — Short story markets, magazines, contests, and anthologies 15:04 — Publishing short fiction as ebooks 15:50 — Budget-friendly covers and formatting options 16:37 — Wide distribution versus direct publishing 18:10 — How AuthorAnchor can help authors with support tasks 19:01 — Selling short fiction through your own storefront 20:10 — Using Substack as a paid fiction library 20:48 — Recording short audiobooks yourself 21:58 — Bundling short stories into annual collections 23:32 — Collections, anthologies, and working with other authors 25:20 — Why short fiction fits the current publishing era 26:22 — Reader loyalty, AI pushback, and owning your platform 29:04 — Why shorter fiction may matter more in the attention economy 31:25 — Competing with every other form of media 32:28 — Questions, comments, and building a writer community What do you think? Are short stories part of your writing or publishing strategy? Leave a comment and let’s talk about it. Subscribe for more practical writing and publishing guidance from Kevin Tumlinson and the Wordslinger Podcast. #WritingAdvice #IndieAuthor #SelfPublishing #ShortStories #CreativeEntrepreneur #AuthorPlatform #WritingTips #PublishingTips #WordslingerPodcast #KevinTumlinson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀. 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆!

inconsistent lately, this is your reminder: simple, steady, niche content still wins. Book a Free Discovery Call > thebookmarketer.pro #BookMarketing #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthors #BookLaunch #AuthorSupport #BookPromotion #AuthorPlatform #PublishingTips #BookMarketingTips

Full episode: youtu.be/BupQXJg0nPc Want more readers and book sales? Stop relying on social media alone. Learn why email marketing and podcast guesting are essential for author visibility and long-term success. #AuthorPlatform #EmailMarketing #BookSales #SelfPublishing

#readerengagement #selfpublishing #tipsforauthors #BookMarketing #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthors #BookLaunch #AuthorSupport #BookPromotion #AuthorPlatform #PublishingTips #BookMarketingTips #IndieAuthorCommunity #WriteAndSell

Full episode: youtu.be/BupQXJg0nPc Judith Briles and Kat Neff reveal smart author marketing strategies that help build your brand, attract readers, strengthen bookstore relationships, and boost book sales. #AuthorPlatform #BookMarketing #SelfPublishing #AuthorBranding

thebookmarketer.pro #BookMarketing #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthors #BookLaunch #AuthorSupport #BookPromotion #AuthorPlatform #PublishingTips #BookMarketingTips #IndieAuthorCommunity #WriteAndSell

Quick question: when someone Googles your author name right now, what shows up? If it's just your Amazon page... that's not your website. That's Amazon's website with your name on it. Think about what Amazon actually gives you: ❌ They recommend your competitors right next to your book ❌ They own the customer relationship ❌ You don't get the buyer's email ❌ They can change royalty rates whenever they want Now think about what YOUR website gives you: ✅ You own everything. No algorithm. No surprise policy changes. ✅ You build an email list that nobody can take away ✅ Blog posts rank in Google and bring readers for years ✅ Sell direct and keep 90% of every sale instead of 35-70% I just published a complete guide to building an author website that actually works for you. Step by step. Free tools. No tech background required. 👉 myindieauthorsite.com/how-to… #indieauthor #authorwebsite #selfpublishing #authorplatform #writingcommunity

I just published something I've been working on for a while. A complete guide to building an author website. Not the generic "pick a template and go" advice. The real playbook. Here's what it covers: 📄 The pages every author website actually needs 🎨 How to match your design to your genre (colors matter more than you think) 📧 Why your email list is the only audience you truly own 🔧 7 free WordPress tools that replace $500/month in software 💰 How to sell books directly from your site and keep 90% of every sale I wrote this because most indie authors either skip building a website entirely, or they build one that doesn't work for them. No email capture. No strategy. Just a static page that sits there doing nothing. Your website should be finding you readers while you sleep. This guide shows you how. 👉 myindieauthorsite.com/how-to… #indieauthor #authorwebsite #selfpublishing #authorplatform #writingcommunity

building a book marketing plan that feels doable, book a free discovery call. Book a Free Discovery Call > thebookmarketer.pro #BookMarketing #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthors #BookLaunch #AuthorSupport #BookPromotion #AuthorPlatform #PublishingTips #BookMarketingTips

Why Bad AI Writing Might Make You a Better Writer Can bad AI writing actually make you a better writer? In this episode of the Wordslinger Podcast, Kevin talks through what he’s working on right now as an author, including the launch of his new Alex Kayne thriller, *Echo*, the messy reality of book promotion, rebuilding his author platform, updating his book links, and experimenting with AI as a writing-adjacent tool. But the big idea here is this: AI may be useful for writers precisely because it often gets the writing wrong. Kevin shares how using AI for critique, structural feedback, and scene ideas can sometimes produce weak, soulless results—but those results can challenge a real writer to think harder, write better, and bring more humanity to the page. AI can be training wheels. It can be a sparring partner. It can even be a bad example. But it should not replace the one thing that matters most: the writer doing the writing. If you’re a novelist, indie author, creative entrepreneur, or creator trying to build a stronger writing life, this episode is about practical book promotion, author platforms, direct sales, AI, and the discipline of protecting your creative work. Subscribe to the channel for honest, practical guidance on writing, publishing, book marketing, author business, creative discipline, and building a long-term career as a working writer. ⏱️ Timecodes 00:00 — What I’m working on this week 00:24 — Introducing *Echo*, the new Alex Kayne thriller 01:04 — The challenge of practical book promotion 02:17 — Why your author platform still matters 03:54 — The frustrating reality of print preorders 06:26 — Podcasting, YouTube, and reader interaction 07:23 — Rebuilding my book links and direct sales setup 10:04 — Using BookFunnel universal book links 13:03 — The rule: never let platform work stop the writing 14:31 — Refreshing book covers and promotion graphics 15:49 — When an author should hire a virtual assistant 17:28 — The right time to get help with your author business 19:09 — Returning to unfinished books and old projects 20:47 — Feeding feedback into AI tools 21:37 — Why I don’t use AI to write my books 22:12 — AI as grammar check, critique tool, and developmental editor 23:02 — Why bad AI writing can make you better 24:10 — The caveat: writers still need real skills 25:28 — AI as training wheels for writers 26:28 — Why you can’t outsource the writing and still call it writing 27:47 — AI books, copyright questions, and the future of publishing 29:50 — AI slop vs. human storytelling 30:41 — Making art instead of feeding the machine 31:39 — Final thoughts and invitation to comment Links mentioned: Wordslinger Podcast home page: rfr.bz/tad23a7 ProWritingAid: rfr.bz/t5732b8 Draft2Digital: rfr.bz/tadbf0d AuthorAnchor: rfr.bz/tf479cb Find Kevin and his books: rfr.bz/td0d5b3 Join Kevin on Substack: rfr.bz/tf92c61 Question for you: How are you using AI in your writing life? Is it helping you think more clearly, or are you worried it’s getting in the way of the real work? Leave a comment and let’s talk about it. #WritingCommunity #IndieAuthors #AIWriting #CreativeWriting #SelfPublishing #BookMarketing #AuthorPlatform #WritingTips #WordslingerPodcast #KevinTumlinson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱. 𝗛𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗻!

5 author platform goals may be to 1. increase author visibility 2. increase book visibility 3. build relationships within the writing community 4. build relationships with social media followers 5. fine tune your author website #AuthorPlatform

This ongoing discussion group is a place for authors who want to reach more readers without losing the joy of writing. Get your Zoom link to this free event here: prolificwriters.life/experts… #author #authormarketing #authorplatform #bookselling #bookwritinghelp #novelwriting

Your book needs a digital home. We design websites that sell and inspire. Showcase your book online today! 📞 1 (678) 257-7555 🌐 writercosmos.com #AuthorWebsite #OnlinePresence #AuthorPlatform

I'm realizing that building my brand is just as intentional as building my characters. They're genuinely similar processes. Both need a voice, a look, a goal and a personality. What's your brand's character? #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #AuthorPlatform #WriterBrand

Relying too much on a single platform can be risky. With services like Amazon randomly shutting down Kindle accounts, it's crucial to diversify. Owning your platform and mailing list is more important than ever. #AuthorPlatform #DirectSales #IndieAuthors

💥 NEW: How Author Visibility Drives Book Sales (And Why It Comes First) by @BadRedheadMedia geni.us/AuthorVisibility2 Let’s talk about one of the more frustrating truths about book marketing and author visibility: 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. Most writers want it to work the other way around. We talk about our book; people immediately buy it; the angels sing. I wish that were how it worked. Truly. I mean, this would make my job way easier. It’s less a philosophy and more a sequence: No visibility → no awareness → no trust → no sales. 💥 Gratitude to my exclusive advertising sponsor, the always-free @Booklinker, and the paid tool, @GeniusLink. I love both. Readers need to see us, recognize our name, and understand what we write about. Eventually, they begin to trust us (think about it: what got you here reading this?). Then, sometimes weeks or months later, they buy. Our marketing may not have been working visibly at that moment, but the earlier steps are doing their job. After more than fifteen years of helping authors with book marketing, I see this pattern all the time. The writer thinks something is broken, the marketing isn’t working, ergo the book and marketing must be invisible. Usually, it’s none of those things - patience, Grasshopper. It’s still early. Quick note, because writers often mix these up: visibility and discoverability aren’t the same thing. Visibility is when readers notice you. Discoverability is when readers go looking for something and find you (I’ll discuss this in a future post in this series in great detail). Both matter, but visibility usually comes first. The cycle looks something like this: Visibility → trust → discoverability → readers → sales. Click or see bio to read the rest. Free to subscribe; paid subs and donations welcome! #AuthorVisibility #BookMarketing #AuthorPlatform

💥 NEW: How Author Visibility Drives Book Sales (And Why It Comes First) by @BadRedheadMedia geni.us/AuthorVisibility2 Let’s talk about one of the more frustrating truths about book marketing and author visibility: 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. Most writers want it to work the other way around. We talk about our book; people immediately buy it; the angels sing. I wish that were how it worked. Truly. I mean, this would make my job way easier. It’s less a philosophy and more a sequence: No visibility → no awareness → no trust → no sales. 💥 Gratitude to my exclusive advertising sponsor, the always-free @Booklinker, and the paid tool, @GeniusLink. I love both. Readers need to see us, recognize our name, and understand what we write about. Eventually, they begin to trust us (think about it: what got you here reading this?). Then, sometimes weeks or months later, they buy. Our marketing may not have been working visibly at that moment, but the earlier steps are doing their job. After more than fifteen years of helping authors with book marketing, I see this pattern all the time. The writer thinks something is broken, the marketing isn’t working, ergo the book and marketing must be invisible. Usually, it’s none of those things - patience, Grasshopper. It’s still early. Quick note, because writers often mix these up: visibility and discoverability aren’t the same thing. Visibility is when readers notice you. Discoverability is when readers go looking for something and find you (I’ll discuss this in a future post in this series in great detail). Both matter, but visibility usually comes first. The cycle looks something like this: Visibility → trust → discoverability → readers → sales. Click or see bio to read the rest. Free to subscribe; paid subs and donations welcome! #AuthorVisibility #BookMarketing #AuthorPlatform