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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 ago36 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.
- 3 weeks ago41 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.
- Mar 31, 202626 min
How to Get Your Book Featured in Local Media (Without a Publicist)
Getting local press coverage can feel like shouting into a void, but what if you knew exactly what editors were looking for?In this episode, Ricci sits down with Rory Gillis, owner of Triangle Media Partners and publisher of several regional magazines including Chapel Hill Magazine, Durham Magazine, Heart of NC Weddings, and The Triangle Weekender. Rory pulls back the curtain on how local publications actually decide what to cover and gives indie authors a clear, actionable roadmap for getting featured.In this episode, you'll learn:How local editors source stories and what makes a pitch rise to the top of a very full inboxWhy editorial themes and calendars are your secret weapon — and how to find them on any publication's websiteWhat to include in your pitch package to make an editor's job as easy as possibleWhy your book launch isn't the only hook — and how to pitch a book that came out years agoThe power of the byline: how pitching yourself as a columnist can open the door to book coverageWhy "polite persistence" is not annoying — it's expected (and sometimes pays off two years later!)The no-nos that instantly tank your pitch, straight from the editors themselvesWhat one author did to get featured that Rory still remembers years laterRory's step-by-step action item checklist for authors ready to pursue local pressWhether you're in a major metro or a small town, your local media landscape is full of opportunities. This episode will help you find them and pitch them the right way.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.
- Mar 17, 202629 min
The Amazon A10 Update: 3 Things Every Indie Author Needs to Know
Amazon just changed the rules — again. The A10 algorithm update is here, and if you've been running your book marketing the same way you were a year ago, it's time to take a second look.In this episode, Ricci and Ferol break down exactly what changed with the Amazon A10 update — drawing on an actual academic paper about the technology powering it — and translate it into three clear, actionable things indie authors need to do differently. From how Amazon now reads your book page (literally, including your cover), to why external traffic suddenly matters way more than Amazon ads, to why spreading your marketing over several days beats a single-day spike. This episode is your practical guide to navigating the new landscape.What you’ll learn:Why keyword stuffing your book description is now actively hurting youHow Amazon's AI can literally "see" your book cover and why cover-genre alignment is now algorithmic, not just stylisticWhy A+ content and dwell time are suddenly critical ranking factorsHow external traffic (email, social, promo sites) now outweighs Amazon adsWhy consistent sales over multiple days beat a one-day spikeHow series authors are benefiting from the new algorithm and how standalone authors can adaptWant 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.
- Mar 3, 202633 min
KU vs Wide: What the Data Actually Says (No Ideology Allowed)
KU or wide? It's the great debate of indie publishing — and it usually generates more opinions than answers.In this episode, Ricci and Ferol cut through the noise and break down exactly how both paths work, backed by real data from Written Word Media's 2025 author survey. They walk through the mechanics of KDP Select, how Kindle Unlimited page reads and payouts actually work, what the January 2026 global fund number ($62.2 million) means for exclusive authors, and what going wide really looks like in practice — from managing multiple platforms to choosing between distributors. Spoiler: 38% of authors are all-in on Amazon, 30% are fully wide, and 32% are somewhere in between. There's no universal right answer, but there is a smarter way to figure out what works for you.What you'll learn:How KDP and KDP Select actually work — and why it's really just a 90-day commitmentThe real trade-offs of Kindle Unlimited, including page read payouts (KENP), countdown deals, and free promo daysWhy the KDP Select global fund has grown from $2.5M (2014) to $62.2M (January 2026)What "going wide" actually looks like and how to manage multiple platformsDraft2Digital vs. PublishDrive — which distributor model makes sense for your businessWhat our 2025 author survey data says about what authors are actually choosingWant 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.
- Feb 17, 202631 min
From First Book to Sustainable Sales
Your first book didn't become a bestseller overnight? You're actually right on track. In this episode, Ricci and Ferol break down one of the most important patterns we see year after year in our reader surveys: authors with bigger catalogs earn significantly more money. But it's not just about writing more books—it's about understanding how your backlist creates sustainable income. Whether you're a one-book author wondering what's next or a seasoned writer looking to understand the business better, this episode will help you think strategically about your author career and the power of your growing catalog.What you'll learn:Why readers who love your work can't spend more if you only have one bookHow catalog size directly impacts your marketing effectivenessThe real math behind lifetime customer valueAlternative products beyond just writing more books (audiobooks, translations, merchandise, and more)How to decide if you're building a hobby or a business—and why both are valid choicesWant 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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