The Novel Writing Podcast
Writing a novel doesn't have to take decades. Author and book coach Colleen Mitchell provides authors with bite-sized mindset tips, encouragement, inspiration, and tips for the writing process. So grab a cup, cozy up, and let's get to writing! The Novel Writing Podcast is a production of Colleen Mitchell Writes, LLC.
Episodes
Indie author ZS Diamanti (Zac) shares his journey with organic marketing through social media, his newsletter, and using the momentum from his readers to run successful Kickstarters.
Whether you're an old hat author or a brand new writer, Zac's advice will resonate with you.
You can find Zac online at FreeFantasyFiction.com
Link to unboxing video: https://www.instagram.com/p/DN5-FEAj8Kd/
TikTok sensation Age of Scorpius by Audra Winter absolutely tanked upon release despite accumulating 7,000 pre-orders.
So what happened?
Today's episode is a case study on what Audra did right, what she did wrong, and what lessons we as writers can learn from this still-unfolding saga.
Disclaimer: this episode is NOT for Audra, her friends, family, or production team.
Do not doxx her or leav...
AI is the hot-button topic for authors nowadays.
Lawyer Samantha Bradshaw discusses how authors can protect their work in the age of AI, especially now that large language models (LLMs) have been given the legal go-ahead to train on copyrighted work.
If you have AI concerns, this episode is for you.
Court case mentioned in this episode:
What are tropes? Do we need them, and if so, how do we use them?
Tropes are popular in marketing books right now, but the reality is we all use tropes in our writing whether we realize it or not.
Listen in for an overview of tropes, whether you need to use them intentionally in your writing, how to use them in marketing, and what to avoid.
I also list examples of books and films with various tropes acros...
Ever thought of submitting your novel to a review magazine?
Clean Fiction Magazine reviews both Christian and secular novels for free!
Check out this interview with Amy Lynn McConahy, author and publisher of Clean Fiction Magazine.
What to do next…
- Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
- Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE (Full Playlist Coming in...
Are you falling into any of these common mistakes with naming characters?
From too many names starting with the same letter, to your MC "Bob Smith" accidentally becoming an NPC, this episode will help you identify whether you need to change up some character names.
What to do next…
How do authors find reputable freelancers?
We've all heard the horror stories (or experienced them ourselves) about being ripped off or ghosted, the work not being acceptable, or that the "freelancer" fabricated their qualifications.
Fortunately, it IS possible to find (and verify) reputable freelancers.
Collin Smith, a freelance graphic designer for indies, joins me to talk about just tha...
These are the top 4 lessons I learned going to the Realm Makers Conference in July 2025.
Realm Makers is a conference and community for Christian Speculative Fiction writers which has been going for more than ten years.
Learn more about Realm Makers at https://www.realmmakers.com/
What to do next…
What's the deal with author newsletters? Do you really need one before you release your book?
The answer is ABSOLUTELY YES. Author newsletters are data-backed as the number 1 way to reach your audience.
Listen in for 3 major reasons to start your author newsletter today, even if you only email once a month.
What to do next…
What are the self-publishing options available to indie authors?
This is the third and last of three episodes unpacking the variety of ways authors can set themselves up for success with indie publishing.
This episode dives into the differences between direct and indirect sales.
Your author business will ultimately consist of a system that integrates most if not all the platforms and formats. Start simple...
What are the self-publishing options available to indie authors?
This is the second of three episodes unpacking the variety of ways authors can set themselves up for success with indie publishing.
This episode dives into the eBook and digital delivery platforms of Amazon, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, Lulu, Curios, and BookFunnel.
What to do next…
What are the self-publishing options available to indie authors?
This is the first of three episodes unpacking the variety of ways authors can set themselves up for success with indie publishing.
This episode dives into the Print on Demand platforms of Amazon, IngramSpark, BookVault, and Lulu and what each platform is best at doing.
What to do next…
www.curios.com/Joincolleenmitchellwrites
How do you control direct eBook sales as an indie author?
The big platforms take a dramatic cut of your profits, don't provide reader contact information, and can kick authors off if they think you're violating the rules... even if you aren't.
So what's an indie to do?
Selling direct doesn't have to involve building your own webs...
SAID IS DEAD. Or is it? Do you even need to use dialogue tags?
Action tags are the kings of showing over telling in dialogue, and when used correctly can deliver a far weightier emotional punch than dialogue tags.
Listen in for more of why these two are different, and why there's a clear winner!
Read my prequel novella, The Orphan's Gambit, for FREE by clicking here.
What to do next...
Struggling with a slow pace or a saggy middle?
Story structure may be the answer. But what is story structure?
In short, it's the skeleton of your book that lays out where major beats take place.
But it's not a formula!
Listen in to learn more about Story Structure at a high level.
What to do next…
- Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate ...
If your story feels weak, you may have a problem with your characters' goals, motivation, and conflict.
Digging deeper into "GMC" will help strengthen the plot because GMC is what drives a story forward.
Learn more about GMC in The Trope Thesaurus, by Jennifer Hilt.
What to do next…
Suspense thriller author JD Barker shares why it's important to think differently as an author, and how to build a stand-out author brand in today's publishing landscape.
Connect with JD at jdbarker.com
What to do next…
- Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
- Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE (Full Playlist Coming in October)
- Work with members of the Tall...
We've got an announcement!
This coming October, the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge is becoming FREE again!
Listen in for the full details on this change, and what to expect from us going forward.
What to do next…
- Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link
- Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE (Full Playlist Coming in October)
- Work with members of t...
If you build it (write it) they will come, right?
Not so fast.
Publishing is just like any other industry.... If you want to be make money, you have to market your book.
There's a pervasive myth among new authors that they can write a book, slap it on Amazon, and start making the big bucks overnight.
But that's never the case, unless you have a strong, healthy platform and an audience...
There are many pieces in the self-publishing puzzle, but what are the pros and cons of DIY-ing them?
Doing it yourself saves money (and time) but in many cases, the risks outweigh the benefits.
This is a deeper dive into DIY and self-publishing, and goes to show there's more to the puzzle than we might think at first glance.
What to do next…
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