The Wordslinger Podcast

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Oct 2026

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From award-winning and bestselling author J. Kevin Tumlinson, this weekly podcast explores the stories that shape us into who we are, and shape the world into what it can become. There are interviews with authors and non-authors, deep dives into useful ideas, and solo-slinger episodes that are authentic and real, aimed at giving you the best, most honest advice about life as a writer, creator, and creative entrereneur. Every episode is a story. It's all about the story here.

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October 15, 202635 min

Should You REALLY Become a Full-Time Writer?

A WORDSLINGER PODCAST Should you REALLY become a full-time writer? For many authors, quitting the day job to write books for a living is the ultimate dream. But what if becoming a full-time author isn't actually the best thing for your writing career? I've written more than 90 books, spent years working full-time jobs while building my author career, and experienced the freedom—and unexpected challenges—of writing full-time. Here's something that might surprise you: Sometimes I was MORE productive as a writer when I had a day job. In this episode of the Wordslinger Podcast, we're talking about what it really takes to become a full-time author, why having unlimited writing time isn't always an advantage, and how to know whether you're actually ready to quit your job and write for a living. We'll explore the financial realities of making a living as an author, the hidden costs of leaving traditional employment, how isolation and relationships can affect your writing life, and why discipline matters more than having hours of free time. I'll also share my personal experience with creative burnout, how it nearly derailed my writing career, and what I've learned about finding a sustainable balance between writing, work, and life. Whether you're an aspiring novelist, a self-published author working toward financial independence, or a creative entrepreneur trying to turn your passion into a career, this conversation might change how you think about success. Because maybe the real goal isn't becoming a full-time writer. Maybe it's having the freedom to choose how you spend your time. Are you working toward becoming a full-time author? Or have you found that keeping your day job actually helps your writing? Tell me in the comments. I'd love to hear how you're making it work. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at https://knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS SUBSCRIBE TO WORDSLINGER! If you're serious about writing better books, building a successful author career, and navigating the ever-changing world of publishing, you're in the right place. Subscribe to Wordslinger for practical, honest advice on writing, self-publishing, book marketing, and the creative life, from a fellow writer who's been there. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss an episode! EPISODE CHAPTERS: 00:00 – Welcome to Wordslinger 01:52 – When Life Gets in the Way of Writing 05:19 – Should You Really Become a Full-Time Writer? 06:41 – The Hidden Danger of Having Unlimited Writing Time 08:20 – Rapid-Fire News Flash with Dale Roberts 10:42 – The Dream vs. the Reality of Writing Full-Time 12:50 – Finding Time to Write While Working a Day Job 16:34 – How Do You Know You're Ready to Quit Your Job? 17:03 – Can Your Writing Income Replace Your Salary and Benefits? 18:03 – The Loneliness of Being a Full-Time Author 20:01 – Writing, Health, and Unexpected Responsibilities 21:39 – Managing Relationships When You Work from Home 23:19 – Why Discipline Matters More Than Free Time 25:32 – How a Day Job Can Actually Make You More Productive 26:55 – Setting Goals and Avoiding Burnout 29:16 – Financial Freedom and Rethinking Your Day Job 32:10 – Why Having Options Is the Real Goal 33:36 – Is Full-Time Writing Right for You? RAPID-FIRE NEWS FLASH WITH DALE ROBERTS 08:20 – ACX Reports Early Results from Audible's New Royalty Model ACX reports that audiobook creators collectively earned more in royalties during the first months of Audible's new royalty model, though questions remain about how the changes affect individual authors. https://acx.com 08:49 – Audible Plans International Expansion Audible announces plans to expand into five additional countries in 2027, while new research highlights how audiobooks can help readers discover authors and purchase their other books. Publishers Weekly: Frankfurt Book Fair 2026, Audible Wants to Turn Every Book into an Audiobook https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/Frankfurt-Book-Fair/article/101500- 09:17 – Spotify Offers 1,000 Free Audiobook Redemption Codes Spotify for Authors now allows eligible account holders to generate up to 1,000 free audiobook redemption codes per title, opening new opportunities for review copies, giveaways, and audiobook promotion. https://authors.spotify.com/blog/redemption-codes For more self-publishing news, tips, and updates, subscribe to Self-Publishing with Dale: https://youtube.com/@SelfPubWithDale FIND KEVIN: Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com Wordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.com SERVICES FOR AUTHORS: Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5 Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at Author Anchor: https://authoranchor.com #WritingAdvice #FullTimeWriter #SelfPublishing #AuthorLife #WritingCareer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 12, 20267 min

Writing with Fences

A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT Think you don't have enough time to write? What if the very thing holding you back is actually making you a better, more productive writer? Building a writing career while juggling a full-time job, family responsibilities, and everyday life can feel impossible. But here's something I discovered after years of squeezing writing into lunch breaks, early mornings, and spare moments: I was sometimes MORE productive when I had less time to write! In this episode of the Wordslinger 10-Shot, I'm sharing my advice for writers struggling to find time for their craft. We'll talk about embracing limitations, using deadlines to your advantage, building consistent writing habits, and why becoming a full-time author might not solve all your productivity problems. Whether you're an aspiring novelist, an indie author working a day job, or a creative entrepreneur trying to balance your passion with your responsibilities, there's a lesson here: You don't need unlimited time to build a successful writing career. You need persistence, consistency, and a willingness to write even when life gets in the way. What's your biggest obstacle to finding time to write? Tell me in the comments! And if you've figured out how to keep writing despite a busy schedule, share your success story. You might inspire another writer who's struggling. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at https://knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS SUBSCRIBE TO WORDSLINGER! If you're serious about becoming a better writer, publishing your books, and building a sustainable author career, you've found your people! Subscribe to Wordslinger for practical, experience-based advice on writing, self-publishing, book marketing, and making a living as a creative. No gimmicks, no shortcuts. Just honest guidance from a fellow writer who's been there. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Writing with Fences: Finding Time to Write 01:04 – When Two Hours a Week Was the Goal 01:44 – Why I Wrote More While Working a Full-Time Job 02:39 – Embrace the Deadline: Turn Obstacles into Advantages 03:33 – The Power of Small, Consistent Writing Sessions 04:14 – The Reality of Being a Full-Time Author 05:00 – Why Passion Matters More Than Money 05:58 – Even One Word Counts: Finding Time When Life Gets Hard 06:38 – Persistence, Consistency, and Your Writing Success 06:57 – Share Your Writing Challenges and Success Stories FIND KEVIN: Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com Wordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.com SERVICES FOR AUTHORS: Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5 Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor: https://authoranchor.com #WritingTips #WritingMotivation #AuthorLife #SelfPublishing #Wordslinger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 8, 202637 min

This One Habit made me a Successful Writer

A WORDSLINGER PODCAST This One Habit Made Me a Successful Writer What's the secret to writing more books, building an audience, and making a living as an author? It's not talent, luck, or the latest writing software. It's consistency. After publishing more than 90 books and selling millions of copies worldwide, I've learned that showing up and doing the work, day after day, is one of the most powerful habits a writer can develop. In this episode of the Wordslinger Podcast, I'm sharing how my daily 2,000-word writing goal helps me finish novels, why small efforts add up to big results, and how that same approach can transform your book marketing. We'll also talk about building your author mailing list, using Substack and BookFunnel to connect with readers, finding your ideal audience, and promoting your books without feeling like a salesperson. Whether you're writing your first novel or building a full-time author career, there's something here you can put to work today. PLUS: Dale Roberts joins us with his Rapid-Fire Newsflash, covering potential changes to Amazon KDP's perma-free pricing, new audiobook advertising tools from ACX, Spotify's massive audiobook expansion, and free publishing education from IngramSpark. You don't have to do everything. You just have to keep doing something. What's the one habit that's made the biggest difference in your writing career? Tell me in the comments! SUBSCRIBE to Wordslinger for practical, experience-tested advice on writing better books, publishing independently, marketing your work, and building a sustainable creative career. If you're serious about your writing and publishing journey, you're in the right place. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at https://knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS CHAPTERS: 00:00 Welcome to the Wordslinger Podcast 01:33 AI, writing tools, and the author business 05:48 Dale Roberts' Rapid-Fire Publishing Newsflash 05:48 Amazon KDP and the future of perma-free books 06:15 New ACX audiobook advertising and promotion tools 06:49 Spotify expands audiobooks to 180+ markets 07:13 Free publishing courses from IngramSpark Academy 07:55 Why writers should consider Substack 13:13 BookFunnel promotions and author collaborations 15:31 Simple ways to grow your author mailing list 17:20 Why I advertise my mailing list instead of my books 18:14 Finding and targeting your ideal reader 21:42 Using your mailing list to sell more books 24:27 The secret weapon of successful writers: consistency 25:14 Why I write 2,000 words every day 27:28 Small daily word counts lead to finished novels 30:24 Using Scrivener to track writing goals 31:11 My looping and self-editing process 32:03 How to finish a novel one day at a time 32:54 Consistent book marketing without being salesy 35:43 Your favorite writing tools and habits 36:47 Final thoughts RAPID-FIRE NEWSFLASH WITH DALE ROBERTS 05:48 — Is Amazon KDP changing its perma-free pricing policies? The Self Publishing Show, Episode 467: Amazon KDP Is Changing — Are You Ready? https://youtu.be/04kAmWZkBTE?si=JrmBSe_2ONqhFmmP 06:15 — ACX introduces new tools for audiobook promotion and Amazon advertising. https://www.acx.com/mp/blog/promote-your-audiobook 06:49 — Spotify announces plans to expand audiobook availability to more than 180 markets. Publishers Weekly: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/Frankfurt-Book-Fair/article/101440-frankfurt-book-fair-2026-spotify-expands-audiobooks-to-180-markets.html 07:13 — IngramSpark Academy offers free self-publishing courses, plus a limited-time promotional challenge. Free publishing courses: https://www.ingramspark.com/self-publishing-courses IngramSpark Academy Challenge: https://www.ingramspark.com/academy-promo Get more self-publishing news and advice from Dale Roberts: https://www.youtube.com/@selfpubwithdale FIND KEVIN: Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com Wordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.com SERVICES FOR AUTHORS: Polish your writing and get your manuscript ready for publishing with ProWritingAid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5 Publish your books to major online retailers, in print and ebook, with support from Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books, manage your author business, and more with AuthorAnchor: https://authoranchor.com #WritingTips #SelfPublishing #AuthorSuccess #WritingHabits #BookMarketing #IndieAuthors #WordslingerPodcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 7, 202614 min

Should Authors Use Substack?

A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT Should authors use Substack? I’ve been using Substack for several years now, and I’ve come to see it as something more useful than just another social media platform. For writers, it can be a blog, newsletter, community, podcast platform, and—most importantly—a way to build an audience you actually own. In this episode, I break down how I use Substack as an author, how recommendations and Notes can help grow your readership, how often I think writers should post, what kinds of content work, and how Substack can ultimately help you build an email list and sell more books. You don’t need to master everything on day one. Start publishing, participate in the community, experiment with your content, and figure out what your readers respond to. And remember: unlike your followers on most social platforms, your email list can go with you. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS TIMECODES: 00:00 Why I’m talking about Substack 00:59 What Substack actually is 02:31 Blogs, newsletters, Notes, video, and podcasts 03:28 How Substack helps grow your mailing list 04:51 Recommendations and sharing audiences with other writers 05:44 How often should authors post? 07:06 What should writers publish on Substack? 08:37 Writing for your readers—and for yourself 09:28 Fiction, paid subscriptions, and monetization 10:27 Podcasts, livestreams, and video 10:54 Why owning your mailing list matters 11:28 The posting schedule I recommend 12:12 My concern about Substack and AI 13:07 Can Substack actually help sell books? If you’re a writer trying to navigate writing, publishing, book marketing, building an audience, and making a living from your work, subscribe to the Wordslinger channel. This is where we talk about the practical side of becoming a better writer, reaching more readers, and building a sustainable author career. FIND KEVIN: Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com Wordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.com SERVICES FOR AUTHORS: Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5 Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor: https://authoranchor.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 6, 202616 min

You Should Use AI to Write Your Book (sort of)

A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT Should writers use AI to write their books? My answer is yes—but probably not in the way you think. I don’t use AI to write the actual prose of my novels. That’s the part I love. But while working on a research-heavy historical novel, I’ve found some incredibly useful ways to make AI part of my writing process without handing over the creative work. In this episode, I break down how I’m using AI as a research assistant, organizational tool, outlining partner, fact-checking aid, and even a way to immerse myself in the story before I sit down to write. I’ll show you how I’ve used tools like ChatGPT, Google’s NotebookLM, Plaud, and Castmagic to organize years of history, build timelines, process interviews, create story overviews, and keep an entire novel fresh in my head. The key is simple: Let AI help you do the work. Don’t let it replace the work that makes you a writer. If you’re a writer trying to figure out where AI fits into your creative process—or whether it belongs there at all—this one’s for you. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS TIMECODES: 00:00 You should use AI to write your book… sort of 00:41 Why I don’t use AI to write my prose 02:17 How I’m using AI on a historical novel 02:59 Managing massive amounts of research 03:48 Using ChatGPT to build and update timelines 04:35 Turning research into a workable novel outline 05:49 Using NotebookLM to turn research into podcasts 06:55 Listening to your own story over and over 07:41 Using AI-generated video overviews 08:30 Learning modalities and why they matter for writers 09:30 Using audio while traveling through story locations 10:18 Plaud, transcription, interviews, and Castmagic 10:59 AI as an assistant—not the author 11:42 My rules for writers using AI 12:28 Using AI for editing, continuity, and research 13:07 Why you still need to verify everything 14:04 Use AI to support the way you learn 14:50 How are YOU using AI as a writer? 15:35 Writers helping writers If you’re serious about becoming a better writer, building a publishing career, and navigating the constantly changing world of books and creativity, subscribe to the channel. Wordslinger is where writers come for practical, experience-based guidance on writing, publishing, marketing, creativity, and building a sustainable career around their work. FIND KEVIN: Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com Wordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.com SERVICES FOR AUTHORS: Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5 Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor: https://authoranchor.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 5, 202617 min

My Biggest Failures as a Writer

A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT Every successful writing career is built on mistakes. I’ve made plenty of them. In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, I share some of my biggest failures as a writer—from falling for a literary agent scam and spending thousands on things that didn’t move my career forward, to signing a publishing contract without proper representation and eventually burning myself out trying to keep up an impossible pace. The point isn’t to avoid failure entirely. You can’t. The goal is to learn from it, recognize the warning signs earlier, and make better decisions the next time around. If you’re building a career as a writer, author, creator, or creative entrepreneur, learn from my mistakes—and then go make some new, brilliant failures of your own. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS TIMECODES: 00:00 Why I talk about my accomplishments 00:46 My biggest failures as a writer 01:25 Falling for a literary agent scam 02:28 Paying for expensive book reviews 04:44 How to recognize publishing scams 05:08 My traditional publishing contract mistake 06:50 Why I walked away from the publishing deal 07:34 Making six figures—and burning myself out 09:33 The danger of pushing too hard 10:24 Why writers should have contracts reviewed 11:21 The biggest red flag with literary agents 12:01 Advice about writing contests and competitions 14:18 Why I talk openly about failure 15:03 Experience, confidence, and taking criticism 16:05 Why failure is part of success 16:46 Go fail fabulously Subscribe to the channel for practical, experience-based guidance on writing, publishing, book marketing, author careers, and the business of being a writer. If you’re trying to build a sustainable writing career, this is the place to learn what works, what doesn’t, and what nobody tells you until you’ve been doing this for years. And tell me in the comments: What’s one mistake or failure in your writing career that taught you something valuable? FIND KEVIN: Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com Wordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.com SERVICES FOR AUTHORS: Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5 Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books—and more—at AuthorAnchor: https://authoranchor.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 1, 20261 hr 13 min

How to Write Characters Who Aren’t Like You

A WORDSLINGER PODCAST How do you write a character who is smarter than you, comes from a different background, sees the world differently, or believes things you never would? In this episode of the Wordslinger Podcast, Don King joins me for another Kevin on Craft conversation about creating characters who feel like real human beings instead of extensions of the author. We talk about writing characters with knowledge and intelligence you don’t possess, avoiding stereotypes, writing across gender and cultural differences, creating villains who believe they’re the hero, and handling character growth without changing the qualities readers love. We also dig into why great characters—and great stories—can ultimately change the reader. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at https://knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS If you’re a writer trying to improve your craft, publish smarter, build an audience, and make a career from your work, subscribe to the channel. Wordslinger is here to give writers practical, experience-driven guidance for every stage of the writing and publishing journey. TIMECODES 00:00 Welcome to the Wordslinger Podcast 03:00 What’s new with Wordslinger and Kevin on Craft 05:55 Rapid-Fire News Flash with Dale Roberts 08:27 Amazon terminates an author’s KDP and ACX accounts 09:18 Smashwords ebook preorders and Ingram’s AI rollout 10:26 How AI-powered publishing scams build trust 11:06 Kevin on Craft with Don King 17:38 Why good writing should get out of the reader’s way 25:33 How do you write a character smarter than you? 26:32 The writer’s secret weapon: research, rewriting, and hindsight 29:10 Writing characters who are different from you 30:34 Writing across race and cultural differences 35:01 Gender, stereotypes, and believable characters 36:45 Writing strong female characters 40:32 Knowing what your character would actually do 43:17 Every character sees themselves as the hero 47:30 Why believable villains need believable logic 53:43 What makes a complex antagonist work 55:06 How much should a recurring character change? 55:53 A character can be the catalyst for change 58:29 How to grow a series character without changing who they are 01:02:18 Let your supporting characters carry growth arcs 01:05:07 The reader is a character in the story, too 01:08:12 Let theme emerge naturally from the story 01:10:10 What separates a cardboard story from a meaningful one? RAPID-FIRE NEWS FLASH WITH DALE ROBERTS 08:27 Ruthanne Reid: Amazon just deleted my KDP account. You need to pay attention. https://youtu.be/0nQx4lR326U?si=R9a00I1vRKH8UHvr 08:27 Dale L. Roberts: KDP Appeal Rejected? You Still Have Options https://youtu.be/mLSCoiCcOQI?si=BY_BCXF6gxUKJYmq 09:18 Draft2Digital Announces Ebook Preorder Sales Now Available at the Smashwords Store https://draft2digital.com/blog/press-releasedraft2digital-announces-ebook-preorder-sales-now-available-at-the-smashwords-store/ 09:18 Ingram Finds Success in AI Rollout https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/101218-ingram-s-ai-rollout-is-a-success.html 10:26 Writer Beware: How AI-powered publishing scams build trust before asking authors for money For more publishing news from Dale Roberts: https://youtube.com/selfpublishingwithdale FIND KEVIN Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com Wordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.com SERVICES FOR AUTHORS Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5 Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books and more at Author Anchor: https://authoranchor.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 30, 202612 min

Should Authors Use AI-Generated Book Covers?

A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT Should authors use AI-generated book covers? AI can produce some astonishingly good artwork, but that doesn’t mean the decision is simple. In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, I break down what authors should consider before using AI for a book cover—from Amazon’s disclosure requirements and copyright questions to reader backlash, professional design, and the alternatives available if you don’t want to go the AI route. I’ve designed nearly all of my own book covers over more than 20 years, and I’ve watched the tools, costs, and expectations around book design change dramatically. The goal hasn’t changed, though: You need a professional cover that fits your genre and helps do the marketing work for your book. We’ll also talk about Fiverr, 99designs, premade covers, professional designers, and some of the potential rights issues authors should watch for when hiring someone else to create their artwork. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS CHAPTERS: 00:00 — Why I Know a Thing or Two About Book Covers 01:28 — Should Authors Use AI-Generated Covers? 02:28 — What Amazon KDP Requires You to Disclose 03:11 — The Ethics and Controversy Around AI 04:10 — Why Some Authors Are Turning to AI 05:11 — Reader Backlash and Other Risks 05:49 — Can You Copyright an AI-Generated Cover? 06:59 — How I Use AI in Cover Design 07:51 — Should You Actually Use an AI Cover? 08:29 — The Risks of Cheap Cover Designers 09:31 — Using 99designs 10:06 — Premade Covers from BookCovers.com 10:46 — Draft2Digital and Cover2Book 11:34 — The Most Important Thing Your Cover Has to Do BOOK COVER RESOURCES MENTIONED: Fiverr: https://www.fiverr.com 99designs: https://99designs.com BookCovers.com: https://bookcovers.com Cover2Book: https://cover2book.com Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger If you’re a writer trying to build a career, publish better books, reach more readers, and navigate the business of being an author, subscribe to Wordslinger. This channel is here to give you practical, experienced guidance for every stage of your writing and publishing journey. FIND KEVIN: Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com Wordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.com SERVICES FOR AUTHORS: Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5 Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor: https://authoranchor.com Should authors use AI-generated book covers? Let me know what you think in the comments—and tell me how you’re handling your own cover design. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 29, 202610 min

How to Be an Anonymous Author and Still Sell Books

A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT Can you build an author career without putting your face, real name, and personal life all over the internet? Absolutely—but anonymity takes more than choosing a pen name. In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, I break down practical ways authors can market their books while protecting their identity. We’ll talk about building a brand around your pen name, keeping your author life separate from your personal life, creating ways for readers to connect with you without revealing who you are, and treating anonymity as an ongoing practice rather than a one-time setup. You can still build an audience. You can still run ads, use social media, appear on podcasts, create videos, grow an email list, and sell books. You just need to be deliberate about how you do it. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS TIMECODES: 00:00 Can an author really stay anonymous? 01:44 Build your brand around your pen name 02:43 Separate your author accounts from your personal accounts 03:45 How anonymous authors can connect with readers 04:42 Avatars, author photos, and faceless branding 05:39 Websites, domains, and anonymous email 06:43 Treat anonymity as an ongoing practice 07:25 How to market books without showing your face 08:03 Ads, interviews, TikTok, and faceless content 09:06 Why separating your personal and professional lives matters 09:54 Final thoughts for anonymous authors If you're a writer trying to build a career, publish better books, grow an audience, and navigate the business side of being an author, subscribe to the channel. Wordslinger is here to give you practical, experience-based guidance for every stage of your writing and publishing journey. FIND KEVIN: Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com Wordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.com SERVICES FOR AUTHORS: Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5 Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at Author Anchor: https://authoranchor.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 28, 202618 min

When Should an Author Hire a Virtual Assistant?

A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT What if the thing keeping you from writing more books isn’t the writing—it’s everything else that comes with being an author? In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, Kevin talks about working with a virtual assistant, or author assistant, to take some of the business of being a writer off your shoulders. Marketing, social media, video editing, graphic design, administrative work, Kickstarter campaigns, online stores, and more can potentially be delegated—giving you more time and energy for the work only you can do. But hiring help isn’t just about getting rid of tasks. Kevin breaks down how to decide whether an assistant makes financial sense, what you should expect to pay, how to choose the right person, and how to avoid some of the biggest mistakes authors make when they start outsourcing. You’ll also learn a simple way to onboard an assistant, test your communication and workflow, document repeatable processes, and gradually build a working relationship that can grow along with your author business. If the business of being an author is starting to take more time than the writing, this episode will help you figure out what you can hand off—and when. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS TIMECODES 00:00 Writing anywhere—and why authors need help 00:32 What is a virtual assistant or author assistant? 01:13 What does an author assistant cost? 03:20 What can an author assistant do? 04:04 Why Author Anchor was created 04:51 Tasks authors can delegate 06:11 How to know when you’re ready to hire help 07:14 Think in terms of return on investment 08:20 How to start working with an assistant 09:30 Why small test projects matter 10:03 Document your processes 11:08 Don’t overload your assistant 11:53 Match the assistant to the skills you actually need 12:46 One assistant doesn’t have to do everything 14:06 How to prepare for a discovery call 15:31 Interviewing and choosing an assistant 16:32 When outsourcing can help you break through 17:31 Final thoughts and author assistant advice SUBSCRIBE TO WORDSLINGER If you’re a writer trying to write better books, publish smarter, build an audience, and create a sustainable career around your work, subscribe to the Wordslinger channel. This is where writers come for practical, experience-driven guidance on the writing and publishing journey. FIND KEVIN: Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com Wordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.com SERVICES FOR AUTHORS: Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5 Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at Author Anchor: https://authoranchor.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.