The Wordslinger Podcast

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Aug 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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September 11, 202627 min

Theo of Golden Proves You Don’t Need Action to Create Drama

A WORDSLINGER STORY CUT Can a novel keep you turning pages without explosions, car chases, monsters, or constant high-stakes action? Theo of Golden by Allen Levi proves that it can. In this Wordslinger Story Cut, I take a storyteller’s look at one of my new favorite novels and examine why such a quiet, heartfelt story works so well. Theo arrives in the small town of Golden, Georgia, and begins purchasing hand-drawn portraits of local people, returning those portraits to their subjects and asking one simple thing in return: Tell me your story. That deceptively simple device becomes the engine for an entire novel. We’ll look at how attention itself can become dramatic action, how secondary characters can briefly take center stage without derailing the main story, how repetition can create anticipation instead of boredom, and how a carefully constructed mystery can keep readers moving forward even when the stakes are almost entirely emotional. I also dig into one of the book’s potential weaknesses: Theo’s unusual ability to get strangers to reveal some of the deepest wounds of their lives. Is it realistic? Is it too sentimental? Or does the novel earn our willing suspension of disbelief through the strength of its characters and its underlying message about human connection? And finally, we talk about one of my favorite storytelling techniques: the kind of ending that makes you look backward through the entire story and realize the clues were sitting there all along. If you love great novels, movies, television, streaming shows, and conversations about what makes stories actually work, this episode is for you. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS TIMECODES: 00:00 Welcome to Wordslinger Story Cuts 00:25 Why Theo of Golden is worth talking about 01:16 From self-published novel to bestseller 02:11 The portrait device that drives the story 04:47 How attention becomes dramatic action 05:55 Why Theo’s encounters work emotionally 08:56 The realism problem: Would people really open up this much? 10:24 Kindness, connection, and what Theo gets in return 12:08 Willing suspension of disbelief 12:57 Repetition, predictability, and the novel’s unusual structure 15:00 How the portraits create a portrait of an entire community 15:57 Writing memorable secondary characters 17:38 How repetition and escalation keep readers engaged 18:52 The mystery of Theo 20:02 How to make a twist feel satisfying 21:48 Leaving breadcrumbs without giving away the ending 24:35 My rating for Theo of Golden 25:51 The biggest storytelling lesson from the novel If you’re a writer, storyteller, or creator who wants to better understand why some stories grab us and refuse to let go, subscribe to the Wordslinger channel. This is where we talk honestly about writing, storytelling, publishing, creative careers, and the craft and business of building a life around your 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.

September 10, 202646 min

Writers: You’re Running a Business Whether You Like It or Not

A WORDSLINGER PODCAST If you want people to read your books, buy your books, and help you build a sustainable writing career, then you’re already in business—whether you like that idea or not. In this episode of the Wordslinger Podcast, I talk about why writers need to start thinking like entrepreneurs, what marketing really means, and why building your own platform matters more than chasing individual book sales. We get into mailing lists, reader ownership, Amazon exclusivity versus wide distribution, advertising, lead magnets, local marketing, the power of asking, and why your long-term goal should be to build an audience you can actually reach without depending entirely on Amazon, Facebook, YouTube, or anyone else’s algorithm. If you’ve ever said, “I just want to write,” but you also want readers, income, and a real career from your work, this episode is for you. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS Subscribe to the Wordslinger Show for practical, experience-based guidance on writing, publishing, book marketing, indie publishing, storytelling, and building a creative career that lasts. TIMECODES: 00:00 Welcome to the Wordslinger Podcast 01:15 Indie publishing, traditional publishing, and marketing 02:21 What marketing really means for writers 03:21 Building a deep and wide author platform 04:36 Why you need to own your audience 05:54 Social media is not your platform 06:42 Why email is still the foundation 07:48 Building 1,000 true fans 09:05 Why writers need their own sales platform 11:14 KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited explained 12:59 The downside of Amazon exclusivity 13:56 Are Amazon ads still worth it? 14:52 Why I use ads to build my mailing list 16:03 Lead magnets and free books 16:56 Building and expanding your reader base 18:03 Lookalike audiences and finding more readers 18:41 Asking is a superpower 19:15 Why giving people a “because” works 20:24 Marketing, business, and the writer mindset 21:30 Why writers need to treat writing like a business 22:08 If you want readers and money, you have a business 22:57 The myth that self-publishing ruins traditional publishing chances 24:34 Embrace your inner capitalist 25:43 How indie publishing changed the industry 28:06 AI, low-quality books, and standing out 29:14 Three things every indie author needs to do 30:10 Why building a platform beats chasing one sale 32:59 Nobody owes you a reader 33:47 The Wordslinger Show and what’s coming next 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 ProWriting Aid: 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.

September 9, 202615 min

You Don’t Need to Buy ISBNs

A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT Do indie authors really need to buy their own ISBNs? For most self-published authors, the answer is probably no. In this episode, J. Kevin Tumlinson breaks down the real differences between purchasing your own ISBN and using a free ISBN from services such as Draft2Digital or Amazon. We’ll look at what “publisher of record” actually means, whether an ISBN affects copyright or ownership, how ISBNs work across paperback, hardcover, ebook, and audiobook editions, and when paying for your own ISBN might actually make sense. If you’re building an indie publishing career, trying to control costs, or wondering whether owning your ISBN gives you some hidden advantage, this episode will help you make a smarter decision. 00:00 Should indie authors buy their own ISBNs? 01:02 What “publisher of record” actually means 01:52 ISBNs, Bowker, and the cost of buying your own 02:48 Why every format needs its own ISBN 03:56 Moving your ISBN between distributors 05:19 ISBNs, bookstores, libraries, and wide distribution 06:30 Using free ISBNs with Draft2Digital 07:15 Metadata and long-term catalog control 08:13 The cost of owning your ISBNs 09:03 Do you even need an ISBN? 09:47 What an ISBN actually does 10:22 What happens if you switch ISBNs later 11:20 Why Kevin recommends free ISBNs for most authors 12:06 A warning about platform-specific free ISBNs 13:04 Kevin’s recommendation for indie authors 14:49 Final thoughts and questions about ISBNs Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS If you’re a writer trying to build a career, publish smarter, improve your craft, and navigate the business of being an author, subscribe to the Wordslinger channel. This is where writers come for practical, experience-driven guidance on writing, publishing, marketing, and building a sustainable creative 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 Subscribe, leave a comment with your own experience using free or paid ISBNs, and share this episode with another writer who may be spending money they don’t need to spend. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 8, 202612 min

Amazon, Kobo, D2D: Here’s How I Distribute My Books

A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT What’s the best way for an indie author to distribute their books? In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, I break down the book distribution strategy I actually use—including why I go direct to Amazon and Kobo, use Draft2Digital to reach Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, libraries, and thousands of other outlets, and maintain my own direct storefront. We’ll also talk about KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited, the tradeoffs of Amazon exclusivity, the advantages of going wide, why I prefer having access to readers across multiple platforms, and how indie authors can build a simple distribution system without making things unnecessarily complicated. There are plenty of ways to distribute a book. This isn’t the only way. It’s the system that works for me after years of publishing books and working professionally in the indie publishing industry. If you’re an author trying to decide between Amazon exclusivity, wide distribution, Draft2Digital, Kobo, direct sales, or some combination of all of them, this episode should help you think through your options. 00:00 How I distribute my books 00:59 Why indie authors need a distribution strategy 01:57 Using Draft2Digital to go wide 03:01 Why I use D2D for some retailers but not others 03:49 Why I distribute directly to Kobo 04:58 Libraries, OverDrive, and wider distribution 06:03 KDP vs. KDP Select 06:44 Kindle Unlimited and Amazon exclusivity 07:40 The upside and downside of Kindle Unlimited 09:33 Other distribution options and Draft2Digital fees 10:59 My complete book distribution setup 11:59 Selling books directly through your own storefront Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS If you’re a writer looking for practical, experience-based guidance on writing, publishing, marketing, building an author career, and navigating the creative life, subscribe to the Wordslinger channel. This is where writers come to get useful advice for every stage of the writing and publishing journey. Subscribe and join the conversation: https://youtube.com/@wordslingershow 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 ProWriting Aid: 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.

September 7, 202610 min

AI Isn’t Why Your Books Aren’t Selling

A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT Is AI really the reason your books aren’t selling? Writers have plenty of legitimate reasons to be concerned about artificial intelligence, AI-generated books, changing algorithms, publishing platforms, and an increasingly crowded marketplace. But blaming AI for a struggling writing career won’t help you build a better one. In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, J. Kevin Tumlinson talks about why writers should stop thinking in terms of competition and start building something far more valuable: a direct relationship with their readers. Instead of depending entirely on Amazon, advertising platforms, algorithms, or whatever marketing tactic happens to be working this month, writers can build their own ecosystem through mailing lists, direct sales, strong reader relationships, and a platform they control. AI may be an obstacle. But the obstacle can become the way forward. If you’re an author, indie publisher, creator, or creative entrepreneur trying to build a sustainable career around your work, this episode is about focusing your energy on the things you can actually control. 00:00 Welcome to the Wordslinger 10-Shot 00:41 Is AI responsible for writers struggling? 01:29 Writers aren’t really competing with each other 02:31 Marketing is much bigger than advertising 03:22 Why marketing strategies stop working 03:51 Stop blaming AI for your lack of success 04:35 Quality, craft, and finding the marketing that fits you 05:43 Build your own reader ecosystem 06:44 Protect yourself from platform dependence 07:27 Build your mailing list and direct reader relationships 08:07 The obstacle is the way: turning AI into an advantage 09:16 Final thoughts and the challenge for writers Join Kevin’s mailing list and get a free book: https://kevintumlinson.com/joinme Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS If you’re serious about writing better books, finding readers, navigating publishing, and building a sustainable creative career, subscribe to Wordslinger. This channel is dedicated to practical, experience-driven guidance for writers at every stage of the writing and publishing journey. Subscribe, leave a comment, and tell me: Has AI changed the way you approach your writing or publishing career? And what are you doing to build a relationship with readers that you control? 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.

September 4, 202633 min

Marvel Ruined What Made Endgame Matter (Avengers Endgame: Encore)

A WORDSLINGER STORY CUT Marvel spent more than a decade building toward Avengers: Endgame—and when it finally arrived, the movie gave its characters real consequences, real sacrifice, and real endings. So why does it feel like Marvel has spent the years since then undoing the very things that made Endgame matter? With Avengers: Endgame Encore bringing the film back to theaters and Avengers: Doomsday on the horizon, Kevin Tumlinson takes another look at Endgame from a storyteller’s perspective: what Marvel got right, where the movie stumbled, and what writers and filmmakers can learn from one of the biggest franchise finales ever made. We’ll look at the incredible decade-long setup that made the Avengers work, the importance of the five-year Blip, why consequences give stories weight, what went wrong with Thor and Hulk, the incredibly convenient rat that saved the universe, and why time travel and the multiverse may have done more damage to Marvel storytelling than good. Most importantly: When you give a beloved character a satisfying ending, should you ever open that door again? Because if death can always be undone, timelines can always be rewritten, and another version of any character can simply walk in from another universe... what happens to the stakes? And what can Avengers: Doomsday learn from Endgame before it’s too late? Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS TIMECODES: 00:00 Welcome to Wordslinger Story Cuts 00:53 Avengers: Endgame Encore and why Endgame still matters 03:06 How Marvel spent 10 years earning the payoff 06:33 The importance of developing characters before the crisis 10:51 The Snap and the power of a great cliffhanger 11:52 Why the five-year Blip made Endgame stronger 14:28 Where Endgame went wrong with Thor 16:48 What happened to Hulk? 18:38 Hawkeye, Black Widow, and character sacrifice 19:31 The rat that accidentally saved the universe 20:36 Did time travel weaken Endgame? 22:03 What Endgame Encore could reveal 23:02 Why the multiverse makes death meaningless 24:27 Why satisfying character endings should stay ended 26:15 The Avengers story Marvel should have told 29:05 What writers can learn from Marvel’s shared universe 31:15 Marvel needs a new generation, not the old one 32:29 Final thoughts on Endgame Encore and Doomsday If you love great stories—or you’re a writer learning how to build better characters, stronger worlds, satisfying endings, and stories readers can’t put down—subscribe to the channel. Wordslinger is where writers and storytellers come for practical guidance on writing, publishing, storytelling, and building a creative career. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Kevin’s books: https://kevintumlinson.com/books The Dave Cullen Show and Computing Forever on YouTube 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.

September 3, 20261 hr 12 min

The JAWS Trick That Makes Characters More Powerful

A WORDSLINGER PODCAST What can JAWS teach you about writing better characters? More than you might think. In this episode of the Wordslinger Podcast, Kevin Tumlinson sits down with Donn King for another Kevin on Craft conversation, this time exploring what makes fictional characters feel real—and why writers may be describing far more than they need to. Just as Steven Spielberg discovered that the unseen shark in JAWS could be more frightening than the mechanical shark itself, writers can harness the reader’s imagination to make characters more vivid, personal, and powerful. Kevin and Donn dig into character creation, discovery writing, physical description, character consistency, planting details during revision, and what happens when fictional people begin making decisions the writer never planned. You’ll discover why Kevin rarely gives detailed physical descriptions of his characters, how readers unconsciously fill in missing details, why characterization should drive description, and how seemingly brilliant setups and payoffs are often created after the first draft is finished. They also explore what happens when characters become so developed that they seem to take on lives of their own—and why character may ultimately be the engine that drives the strongest stories. If you’re a writer, author, storyteller, creator, or creative entrepreneur looking to strengthen your craft and build stories readers actually care about, subscribe to the Wordslinger channel. This is where writers come for practical, experienced guidance on writing, publishing, storytelling, creativity, and building a sustainable creative career. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Why character is the foundation of story 04:52 Kevin on Craft begins 11:39 Why characters can take over the story 15:08 When fictional characters start making their own decisions 17:25 Imaginary friends, tulpas, and creating people who feel real 22:08 How writers visualize characters 24:08 Why Kevin rarely describes what his characters look like 26:41 Letting the reader create the character 28:34 When physical description actually matters 30:58 The JAWS trick: let the audience imagine it 33:36 Why movie adaptations can clash with the reader’s imagination 38:48 The dirty secret of planting details after the fact 40:21 Why revision makes discovery writers look brilliant 45:03 Keeping characters consistent across a long series 51:48 What Kevin wishes he’d known about writing characters 53:27 Using appearance to reveal character 57:55 Character growth across a series 59:32 How do you write a character smarter than you? Donn King also hosts The Alignment Show and can be found on Substack and YouTube. Those platforms are mentioned in the episode, though specific URLs were not provided in the recording. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS 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 ProWriting Aid: 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.

September 2, 202612 min

MONEY

A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT Writers spend a surprising amount of money trying to build a writing career—but how much of that spending is actually helping the business? In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, Kevin shares the simple question he’s using to audit every expense in his own creative business: Does this help me make money, or increase my ability to make money? From AI tools and virtual assistants to software subscriptions, podcast production, and annual plans, it’s a practical way to decide what stays, what goes, and what’s actually worth the investment. If you’re treating your writing, publishing, YouTube channel, podcast, or creative work like a business, this is a financial habit worth adopting. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at http://knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS Subscribe to the Wordslinger channel for practical, experience-driven guidance on writing, publishing, building an author career, and navigating the business of being a creative professional. TIMECODES 00:00 Why writers need to talk about money 00:43 The question to ask about every business expense 01:54 Does the expense increase your ability to earn? 03:07 Why Kevin pays for multiple AI tools 04:05 When hiring a virtual assistant makes financial sense 04:57 Buying back your time as a writer 06:02 When an expense actually helps you write more 07:15 Separating personal and business expenses 08:20 The hidden costs of running a creative business 08:55 When a monthly subscription is worth keeping 09:41 Monthly vs. annual plans—and buying outright 10:31 The bottom-line test for every expense 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 ProWriting Aid: 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 #Writing #Writers #AuthorBusiness #SelfPublishing #CreativeEntrepreneur #WritingCareer #IndieAuthors #Publishing #Wordslinger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 1, 202612 min

Nobody Tells Writers How to Do This

Take a look at the transcript for this Wordslinger episode. I need a YouTube video description that will attract and engage with writers, creatives, and creative entrepreneurs for episodes that are Wordslinger 10-Shots or Wordslinger Podcast. For Wordslinger Story Cuts, make the description attract and engage people who are interested in good stories, television and streaming shows, movies, and novels. In all cases the description should use YouTube engagement best practices, and include any links I mentioned in the video. Do not use Markdown or formatting. As the first line of all descriptions, in all-caps, label the episode as whatever segment it is: A Wordslinger Podcast, A Wordslinger 10-Shot, A Wordslinger Story Cut Include this CTA directly after the video description: Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS Include mentions to visit these sites: 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 ProWriting Aid: 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 It should also include a call to action to subscribe to the channel, aimed at telling writers that this is the place for the best guidance on their writing and publishing journey. Include timecodes for key concepts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

August 31, 202610 min

100 Years of Research, ONE Novel

A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT How do you take more than 100 years of history, documents, photographs, handwritten notes, newspaper clippings, and real-life events—and turn all of it into ONE compelling novel? In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, Kevin shares the process he’s using to research a new historical fiction project, including the most important decision he made early on: Don’t try to tell all the history. Find the human story that everything else can hang from. Kevin talks about choosing the right character as the emotional center of a historical novel, deciding what research actually belongs in the story, and using AI as a research assistant to transcribe old documents, organize information, build timelines, and identify connections across more than a century of events. AI can make research dramatically faster—but it doesn’t replace the writer. You still have to understand the material, verify the facts, make creative decisions, and ultimately turn all that information into a story readers actually care about. If you’re writing historical fiction, creative nonfiction, researching a novel, or simply drowning in notes and wondering how any of it becomes a book, this episode is for you. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS Subscribe to the Wordslinger Show for practical, experience-driven guidance on writing, publishing, storytelling, creativity, and building a sustainable career as a writer. If you’re serious about your writing and publishing journey, you’re in the right place. TIMECODES 00:00 More than 100 years of history—and one novel 00:47 Finding the story inside all the research 01:44 Why writing the complete history doesn’t work 02:18 Finding the human character who carries the story 03:06 The first rule of writing historical fiction 04:16 How to turn enormous amounts of research into one story 05:21 Using AI to transcribe documents and build a timeline 06:22 Why writers still have to verify AI research 07:32 Where historical accuracy ends and fiction begins 08:57 The writer’s real job: conveying the emotion 09:50 Final thoughts on research, AI, and historical fiction 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 Visit the Wordslinger Show on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@wordslingershow SERVICES FOR AUTHORS: Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWriting Aid: 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.