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The Written Word Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Written Word Media
A podcast for authors who want to build successful writing careers. Each episode explores the business and craft of being an author, with practical strategies for selling more books, growing your audience, and navigating the publishing world.
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- 1 weeks ago35 min
How to Get Your Audiobook Discovered on Spotify (And What's Coming Next)
Spotify has over 600 million users, and most of them don't yet know they have access to audiobooks. In this episode, Ferol sits down with Will Dages, Head of Product at Spotify, to break down everything indie authors need to know about getting their audiobook discovered, promoted, and created on Spotify's platform.In this episode, you’ll learn:How Spotify's audiobook model works: the 15-hour monthly listening allotment, the pro-rata payout pool, and how a la carte sales compareHow Spotify uses taste signals from music and podcast listening to surface audiobooks to readers who've never tried the formatWhy do short books and children's content now have a competitive advantage on Spotify that they don't have on credit-based modelsThe metadata practices that actually improve discoverability, and the keyword-stuffing mistake that actively hurts youThe free tools inside Spotify for Authors: promo cards, 100 redemption codes per book, and weekly demographic listening reportsSpotify's new AI narration tool (in partnership with ElevenLabs): free for up to five books, ten curated voices, custom pronunciationsHow human narrators vs. AI narration differ, and why Will believes AI opens the door rather than closes itPage Match: the feature that syncs your physical book with the Spotify audiobook, and the 55% reading uplift and 2x completion rate it's already drivingThe Bookshop.org integration: how Spotify is now linking physical book purchases directly from audiobook pagesFollow Along: the new feature that displays visual content (images, text threads) synced to the audioWill's closing advice for every author: it's never too late to get into audiobooks. The market is still in massive growth mode.Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 3 weeks ago40 min
The Author's Guide to Hiring Freelancers (Cover Designers, Editors, and More) with Maari Casey
Every indie author eventually needs help: a cover designer, an editor, a website builder, a marketing assistant. But hiring the wrong freelancer (or being a difficult client yourself) can cost you time, money, and a cover you hate. In this episode, Ricci Wolman sits down with Maari Casey, CEO of Uncompany, to break down exactly how to find, hire, brief, and manage freelancers, from the first Google search to the signed contract to navigating a missed deadline.What you’ll learn:How to write a scope of work tight enough to find the right freelancer, and the one "start at the end" trick that cuts the guessworkWhere to find freelancers: Reedsy (built for authors), Fiverr, Upwork, and curated agencies, and when each makes senseHow to set your budget and why you should always go in a little lower than your real numberWhat the standard revision rounds look like for design vs. editing, and why two to three is the magic numberThe three questions to ask in every freelancer interview (and the red flags that should end the conversation)What should be in every contract: payment terms, revision rounds, timeline, and the ownership clause that authors always forgetHow to give feedback when the first draft is nothing like what you wanted (without blowing up the relationship)Why telling your designer what you hate is more useful than showing them what you loveThe one thing clients do that makes good freelancers not want to work with them againHow to handle a missed deadline or a freelancer who goes silentMaari also shares the Uncompany blog's free templates for scopes, briefs, and conflict management, built specifically for people navigating freelance relationships.Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
- Jun 23, 202629 min
How Authors are Growing in 2026 (Mid-Year Survey Results)
Is the indie author market actually as tough as the forums make it sound? Written Word Media surveyed nearly 600 authors at the midpoint of 2026, and the data tells a more nuanced story than the doom-and-gloom. In this episode, Ricci and Ferol break down the survey findings and identify the five things that optimistic, growing authors are doing differently.What you’ll learn:The headline sentiment data: how many authors report growing vs. declining businesses halfway through 2026Why the authors whose businesses are thriving are writing more (not less) and the psychological reason that strategy worksWhy author newsletters are still the top owned-channel investment among the optimistic group (and how Written Word Media's Subscriber Surge Giveaways can help you build yours)Which paid ad platforms are still delivering (Amazon ads and Meta), and why the optimistic authors haven't abandoned themThe catalog monetization plays winning authors are making: box sets, translations (AI-assisted), and human-narrated audiobooksHow growing authors are using AI as a workflow tool, and how that attitude differs sharply from authors who are strugglingWhy KDP Select vs. wide turns out to be statistically irrelevant to business optimism (46% vs. 47%)What changed between the end-of-year survey and the mid-year survey: algorithm anxiety is way up, and AI went from background noise to center stageAlso covered: Ricci's quote-on-the-wall take on optimism vs. pessimism, and why data says there's a real reason for both.Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
- Jun 9, 202638 min
Social Media for Authors with Jim Tobin: An Insider's Playbook from a Social Media Pioneer
What does a CEO who's run social media campaigns for Nike, IKEA, Samsung, and Crocs think authors should be doing on social right now? In this episode, Ferol sits down with Jim Tobin, CEO of Ignite Social Media, founder of influencer marketing agency Carusele, and a two-time published author, for a frank, tactical conversation about what's actually working in social media today and how indie authors can apply it.What you’ll learn:Why social discovery has overtaken Google search, and what that means for how readers find books in 2026The three-second hook rule: how to stop the scroll before the algorithm even decides to show your contentWhy negative hooks outperform positive hooks (and how to use this without being clickbait)The Organish® strategy: how to put $5–$25 behind your content to reach 5–20x more people, and why this beats influencer outreach on a small budgetThe carousel comeback: why image carousels are now outperforming Reels on Instagram and LinkedInHow to approach BookTok influencers with zero budget, and what to say (and not say) when you do have a few hundred dollarsWhy lo-fi, behind-the-scenes content is beating polished production right nowHow to think about pre-launch vs. post-launch content, and why "mystery posts" are a waste of your audience's attentionThe 30-minutes-a-week social strategy: where to spend your time if that's all you have•Stampede Social: the tool that lets you DM a link to anyone who comments a keyword on your postThe biggest mistake Jim sees on social, and it's not what you thinkJim also covers TikTok Shops, cross-platform content strategy, using trending audio, and how to connect your social presence to your email list.Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
- May 26, 202636 min
How to Use Podcasts to Grow Your Author Business (Lessons from One Year of Podcasting)
Podcasts build the kind of trust with listeners that almost no other marketing channel can match, and authors are uniquely positioned to leverage that. In this episode, Ricci Wolman and Ferol Vernon draw on nearly a year of hosting the Written Word Media Podcast to break down how authors can use podcasting as a genuine reader-building tool, whether that means guesting on other shows or launching their own.What you’ll learn:The psychology behind why podcast listeners trust hosts so deeply, and why that trust transfers directly to book sales (parasocial relationships explained)Why an imperfect, stumbling podcast appearance is often more powerful than a polished blog postHow to find the right shows to pitch as a guest, and the filter every author needs to apply before reaching outExactly what to include in your guest pitch email to get a "yes" from a host (hint: it's not "I'd love to talk about my book")How to prep for a guest appearance: questions in advance, bio tips, gear basics, and the sign-off strategy that turns listeners into readersHow to decide whether to start your own podcast, and the commitment level that separates the 5% who stick with it from everyone elseThe frequency mistake Ricci and Ferol almost made (and what their launch producer talked them out of)Why podcasting, like publishing a book, is a long game, and what realistic traction timelines actually look likeAlso in this episode: Ricci's woodland owl update. 🦉 She's seen it three times now (a photo may or may not appear in the show notes).Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
- May 12, 202641 min
What Authors Can Learn from Dale Roberts’ YouTube Playbook
YouTube isn't just for cooking tutorials and gaming walkthroughs; it might be one of the most powerful book marketing tools authors aren't using. In this episode, Ferol sits down with Dale Roberts, host of Self-Publishing with Dale and one of the most-watched voices in the indie author space, to break down exactly how authors can build a YouTube presence that actually connects with readers and sells books.In this episode, you'll learn:The separate-profile research hack that lets YouTube train its own algorithm to show you exactly what your ideal readers are watchingThe three types of YouTube content (long form, Shorts, and live video), and why you should try all three before committing to oneWhy fiction authors don't have to talk about writing craft, and the smarter content angle most are missingThe "seeding" strategy: how many videos to have ready before you ever go publicThe single biggest mistake Dale sees authors make on YouTube (hint: it's not gear or lighting)What gear actually matters, and the one purchase to prioritize if you have a limited budgetA surprising new YouTube feature that's showing up in the Shorts shelf without recording a single videoHow pen name authors can build a YouTube presence without revealing their real identityWhat's changed on YouTube in the last year or two, and why human creators have an edge right nowDale also shares the story of building four fully monetized YouTube channels over 10 years, starting completely by accident in 2016.Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
- Apr 28, 202638 min
Your Book Is Invisible to AI (Here's How to Fix It)
Readers are increasingly using AI to find their next book, and if your title isn't showing up in ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude, you're missing a growing discovery channel. In this episode, Ricci and Ferol break down exactly how the three major AI engines find and recommend books, why most indie authors are invisible to them right now, and what you can do about it.What you’ll learn:The difference between SEO and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), and why it matters for book discoverabilityWhy Gemini is the most actionable AI engine for authors, and the one Google Play trick that KDP Select authors can use without violating termsThe critical 10% preview rule: how to get your KU book into the Google Books ecosystem without losing your Amazon exclusivityWhy ChatGPT and Claude favor books that look traditionally published, and how indie authors can mimic that signalThe FAQ strategy: one simple addition to your book page that makes it dramatically easier for AI to recommend your titleHow Reddit and YouTube factor into AI book discovery, and how to approach both without getting banned or ignoredA difficulty-ranked to-do list: from easy wins you can do today to advanced moves worth investing inWant to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
- Apr 14, 202641 min
From Page to Stage with Jess Ekstrom: How to Get Paid as an Author Speaker
Most authors never consider the speaking stage, but according to Jess Ekstrom, it might be the most powerful income stream they're missing.In this episode, Ricci sits down with Jess Ekstrom, Forbes Top Motivational Speaker, founder of Headbands of Hope, and creator of Mic Drop Workshop, to break down exactly how authors (yes, even fiction authors!) can turn their stories and expertise into paid keynote speaking careers.In this episode, you'll learn:Why the "you're either a speaker OR an author" myth is dead wrong, and how doing both makes you better at eachHow fiction authors can build keynote careers even when they're not speaking to other authorsThe "transformation promise" framework, the one question that unlocks your entire speaking pitchHow to find speaking gigs and build inbound opportunities through LinkedIn and social mediaWhat speaking actually pays, from beginner rates ($500–$5K) to seasoned speakers ($35K+)The halo effect: how speaking can drive book sales (80% of Jess's first book sales came from stages)Why community is the secret weapon for building a sustainable speaking careerJess also shares details on her new book, Making It Without Losing It (out May 2026), and the upcoming Mic Drop Workshop Boot Camp starting April 20th.Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
About The Written Word Podcast
A podcast for authors who want to build successful writing careers. Each episode explores the business and craft of being an author, with practical strategies for selling more books, growing your audience, and navigating the publishing world.
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