The Writing Biz

The Writing Biz podcast helps writers think like entrepreneurs, offering practical strategies for platform building, revenue growth, marketing systems, and mindset development to create sustainable, professional writing businesses.

The Writing Biz is a business podcast hosted by Laura Williams, with 35 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Laura Williams hosts The Writing Biz, a business show with 35 episodes published.

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  Episode #35

  Let's talk forensics, murder, and writing a thriller!

  Oct 2, 202645 minS1

  Former pathologist Deven Greene reveals how real forensics, murder cases, and dark science power thrillers readers can't put down. If you're writing a thriller or wondering how to write a murder mystery without info-dumping, this is your playbook. In this episode of The Writing Biz Podcast, Deven shares how she turns 20+ years as a pathologist into page-turning suspense. You'll learn her simple research system for thriller writing, how to weave in medical detail without boring readers, and what happened when real life copied her fiction — from secret bioterror labs to genetic engineering headlines. She also breaks down writing dark topics like rhino poaching and black-market organs, plus her switch from small press to self-publishing. Perfect for anyone learning how to write a thriller novel, how to write suspense that feels real, and how to sell more books with true-crime credibility. Rhino Horn Underground: A Thriller https://amzn.to/4d6oP8R The Organ Broker https://amzn.to/4z6nEPr Happy Sun Farm https://amzn.to/46Ii49N Timestamps 00:00 - Meet Deven Greene: pathologist turned thriller author 00:43 - How she starts research without rabbit holes 02:00 - Her tools: internet, library books, ChatGPT and on-location visits 09:47 - Adding real science without info-dumping 15:22 - How graphic should your murder scenes be? 17:01 - When real life rewrote her plot: rhino horn trade 21:23 - When fiction came true: genetic engineering & secret lab 26:03 - Handling dark topics like black-market organs 29:55 - Police Writers Academy and getting expert help 32:38 - The forensic psychiatrist story you have to hear 40:39 - Small press to self-publishing: what changed 43:30 - Where to find Deven's books

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  Episode #34

  Don't get scammed. How to protect your book.

  Sep 29, 202631 minS1

  Don't get scammed out of your own book. Publishing pro Michele DeFilippo (50+ years, 1106 Design) shows writers how to protect your rights, own your ISBNs, and budget for a market-quality book in the age of AI. If you're self-publishing your first book, you'll learn why free ISBNs make someone else the publisher, when to register your copyright for max protection, what AI text means for ownership, and how to save for pro editing and cover design — so you stay the publisher and keep the profits. In this episode: Free vs. owned ISBNs: who gets paid and why Copyright timing: register within 3 months of release AI for Authors: what you can and can't copyright Budgeting for Self-Publishing the pro way Guest: Michele DeFilippo, 1106 Design — helping authors publish like pros. Get her free guide "Publish Like the Pros" at 1106design.com More from The Writing Biz Podcast — helping writers think like entrepreneurs with platform, revenue, and marketing systems. Subscribe for weekly author-business strategies. TRANSCRIPT & MORE: https://thewritingbiz.com/how-to-protect-your-book #SelfPublishing #ISBN #Copyright #AIforAuthors #WritingBiz. Timestamps 00:00 Intro — Meet Michele DeFilippo 01:45 The ISBN trap: free vs. owned 06:15 Copyright registration + AI challenges 19:45 Avoid DIY pitfalls — be the publisher 25:45 Budgeting for market-quality design 29:30 Fund smart — no rent money + crowdfunding 34:15 Spot deceptive publishing services 37:00 Why human help wins in an AI world 42:45 1106 Design + free guide WEBSITE: 1106 Design FREE! Publish Like Pros https://1106design.com/blog/

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  Episode #33

  50 Scam Emails a Day: An Author's AI Survival Guide

  Sep 25, 202637 minS1

  Getting 50 scam emails a day? Author and voice actor Aaron Ryan does — and he's learned how to survive it. In this episode of The Writing Biz Podcast , Aaron breaks down how AI is flooding publishing with low-effort books, eroding income for voice actors, and fueling daily scams targeting indie authors. You'll learn his exact red flags (gmail addresses, flattery, $7,500 film offers), why you should never reply, and how to prove you're human in a market full of AI slop. Whether you're in self publishing, indie publishing, or building your author business, this is your practical checklist to protect your work, plus a look inside Aaron's Dissonance saga and his new Jekyll & Hyde retelling, The Darkness Within. #SelfPublishing #AISlop #VoiceActing #IndiePublishing #Authortube Connect with Aaron at https://authoraaronryan.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 - 50 scam emails a day: Aaron's AI survival intro 03:20 - How AI slop is burying human authors 08:45 - Assistive vs generative AI: where to draw the line 14:10 - Beyond algorithms: marketing your human voice 19:30 - Power of imperfection: proving you're human 24:50 - Scam alert: red flags + why you never reply FOLLOW THE WRITINGBIZ: Website: https://thewritingbiz.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/@thewritingbizpodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/onthewritingbiz.bsky.socialFacebook: https://facebook.com/onthewritingbizX: https://x.com/OnTheWritingBiz

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  Episode #32

  Jaws to Game of Thrones: Writing Books to Sell as Screenplays

  Sep 22, 202645 minS1

  Dreaming of the big screen? Novelist and screenwriter Richard Moon breaks down how to write books that Hollywood wants to adapt. In this episode of The Writing Biz Podcast , Richard Moon shares why great books make terrible movies, the structural differences between novels and screenplays, and what makes a story truly cinematic. We dig into book to film adaptation lessons from Jaws, Game of Thrones, Fight Club, and Lord of the Rings — including interiority vs visuals, pacing, dialogue, budget, and why author control can hurt your adaptation. If you're a fiction author who wants to write more visually, sell film rights, or understand how screenwriters think, this is your playbook for writing books to sell as screenplays. #BookToFilm #Screenwriting #NovelWriting Connect with Richard Moon and check out his novel To Conquer Death: https://richardmoonbooks.com/to-conquer-death/ Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro: Meet screenwriter and novelist Richard Moon 00:39 - Novel vs screenplay: structure differences every author must know 03:59 - Dialogue and time: why long conversations stall on screen 06:07 - What makes a novel cinematic? 08:41 - Collaboration vs solitude: screenwriting team vs novelist alone 12:08 - Drift in adaptation and author control 14:25 - Jaws: why this book-to-film worked 17:17 - Game of Thrones: what went wrong after the books ran out 20:49 - Worldbuilding and budget: Lord of the Rings lesson 26:06 - Richard's shift from screenwriting to novels 29:44 - Translating imagery and detail for the page vs camera 31:45 - Richard's career path + To Conquer Death 38:15 - Historical accuracy vs good storytelling in film 42:04 - Where to find Richard Moon 42:50 - Voyage Media adaptation resource + what's next FOLLOW THE WRITING BIZ: Website: https://thewritingbiz.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/@thewritingbizpodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/onthewritingbiz.bsky.socialFacebook: https://facebook.com/onthewritingbizX: https://x.com/OnTheWritingBiz

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  Episode #31

  Your Book Won't Sell Itself: The Reader Magnet Strategy Behind 30,000 Downloads

  Sep 18, 202637 minS4

  Your book won't sell itself. If you're launching to an empty room, the fix isn't more posting — it's an email list. Olivia Zugay, founder of StoryFlow Solutions, joins The Writing Biz to break down the reader magnet strategy that actually builds a writing business: why a free novella converts readers when "sign up for updates" doesn't, how to grow a list before you ever publish, and how one client got over 30,000 downloads by giving away two books in a series. In this episode: - Why starting your email list before your book exists changes your entire launch - What actually works as a reader magnet — and what doesn't - Email subscribers vs. social media followers, and the 1% conversion problem - The myth of instant success for debut authors, and what a realistic schedule looks like - How to read your own data — including the BookBub mistake that keeps repeating - Backlist income, new releases, and planning a career you can live on Whether you're a debut novelist or three books in with little to show for it, this is the unglamorous, numbers-first version of book marketing. CHAPTERS 00:00 Why a sold-out launch starts with an email list 00:52 Why authors need an email list before they publish 03:56 The reader magnet: how a free novella gets you subscribers 07:00 Reader magnet ideas beyond a free novella 09:48 Email subscribers vs. social media followers 12:10 The myth of instant success for debut authors 13:00 Why you need 2–3 books planned, not one 14:00 The business mindset: writing is not just a passion 15:00 Social media converts at 1% — here's what that costs you 16:57 Stop trying to be on every platform 18:00 Learn to pitch your book the way readers actually buy 22:00 Seasonality: why engagement and sales dip 22:51 Collecting email addresses at in-person events 23:20 Marketing is like dating — be a little forward 24:24 The BookBub mistake: repeating a promo without the data 26:00 Case study: 30,000 downloads from two free series books 27:00 She delayed her release to build an email list and ARC team 30:00 Realistic publishing schedules: one book a year 32:00 Why standalones inside a series sell 33:00 Backlist pays the bills, new releases are bonuses 34:43 Where to find Olivia Zugay and her free resources #bookmarketing #selfpublishing #authortips #indieauthor #emailmarketing #readermagnet FOLLOW THE WRITING BIZ: Website: https://thewritingbiz.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/@thewritingbizpodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/onthewritingbiz.bsky.socialFacebook: https://facebook.com/onthewritingbizX: https://x.com/OnTheWritingBiz

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