Best Dave Goetz and Melissa Parks Podcasts (2024)

1
Amy Davies on How to Build a Following on LinkedIn that Translates to New Opportunities 50:00

8d ago50:00

50:00

In this episode, Amy Davies, a LinkedIn powerhouse, author of A Spark in the Dark, and CEO of First 30, shares actionable tips for turning your LinkedIn activity into new opportunities. Discover the best times to post, what content resonates with audiences, and how to boost engagement. If you're looking to elevate your LinkedIn strategy, this is yo…

1
How to Write about Difficult Topics in Memoirs 39:38

1M ago39:38

39:38

Writing a memoir likely will dredge up some difficult memories. For some writers, the pain of these memories might slow down the process of writing, like it did for Cheryl Landes, author of The Best I Can Do. It took Cheryl nearly two decades to complete her memoir. In this episode, Cheryl offers advice for structuring a memoir after years of being…

1
How to Develop a Creative Idea for Your Nonfiction Book 50:15

2M ago50:15

50:15

If you want to write a book that influences the world, you need to start with a creative idea. Great ideas form the essence of great books. And yet idea development is one of the biggest struggles of writers. In this episode, Dave and Melissa talk about what an idea really is, how to sharpen your idea, and how to develop an idea, so that readers re…

1
Octavia Goredema on Finding Support throughout the Book Writing Journey 45:53

2M ago45:53

45:53

The book publishing journey doesn’t always start with writing the book. It often starts with a book proposal, especially if you want to pursue traditional publishing. But how do you get a book proposal in the hands of a publishing house? You might need a literary agent. Octavia Goredema, author of PREP, PUSH, PIVOT: Essential Career Strategies for …

1
Becky Robinson on How to Cultivate Online Followers 45:11

2M ago45:11

45:11

The ever-evolving digital landscape can be daunting, leaving authors unsure of where to focus their efforts. Becky Robinson, founder and CEO of Weaving Influence, shares insights from her book Reach and discusses the four commitments to cultivating online followers. From practical tips to words of encouragement, this conversation is a must-listen f…

1
Virginia Frischkorn on Hosting Successful Book Launch Events 40:12

4M ago40:12

40:12

One of the most memorable days for an author—especially a first-time author—is their book launch party. It’s a celebration of the hours, days, months—maybe even years—you’ve devoted to writing your book. A book launch event, however, is more than a party. It’s a strategic move where your word-of-mouth marketing begins. So just as with your book, it…

1
Jordan Rosenfeld on Storytelling Techniques to Use in Nonfiction Writing 35:57

4M ago35:57

35:57

In the realm of nonfiction writing, facts and information reign supreme. They are critical to educating and persuading your audience. To do this, however, your writing must have emotional resonance. Storytelling is an elemental way to emotionally engage and connect with your reader. But nonfiction writers often feel insecure when it comes to creati…

1
7 Tips for Producing a Family History Documentary 46:22

5M ago46:22

46:22

There’s a story behind every successful family business and enterprise. Some families will write a book. But some families might find a documentary is the best way to capture the family story. In this episode, Dave and Melissa will help you explore why a documentary might be a better vehicle than a book. They also offer 7 tips on how to create a co…

1
Author and Book Coach Stacy Ennis on Systems for Book Writing and Landing a TEDx Talk 50:48

6M ago50:48

50:48

If you’re stuck in the book writing process, you’ll want to tune into this episode. Bestselling author, speaker, ghostwriter, and book coach Stacy Ennis offers practical systems for developing your voice, focusing your book idea, and how to land a coveted spot as a TEDx speaker. Great Moments in the Episode 2:35 – 9:58 Strategies for packaging nonf…

1
Author Ryan Frederick on Successful Platform Building 47:36

7M ago47:36

47:36

You have a great idea and you’ve written a terrific book, but that’s only the first step in the book writing journey. How do you sell the book and use it to extend your thought-leadership platform and your business? Ryan Frederick, author of “Right Place, Right Time: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Home for the Second Half of Life,” shares how he …

1
Anne Janzer on Joyful and Successful Book Marketing 44:49

7M ago44:49

44:49

When most writers think about the book journey, they’re focused on writing and then publishing. But what about book marketing? In this episode, Anne Janzer, a thought leader in the marketing industry, explores the ever-evolving book marketing landscape. Discover Anne's philosophy of “servant-authorship” and the power of building focused audiences. …

1
What Form Should Your Content Take? 53:14

8M ago53:14

53:14

In this episode, Dave and Melissa are back together to tackle a pressing question: What's the optimal format for your ideas? Is it really a book? Or are there alternatives that are a better fit for you? Our world is ripe with content formats for you to package your ideas, from videos, blog posts, podcasts to eBooks, and even paid subscription newsl…

1
Author Kristin Keffeler on Writing a Nonfiction Book that Connects with Your Ideal Audience 49:11

8M ago49:11

49:11

If you have done research and want to know how to turn that research into a book, this podcast episode is for you. Author of The Myth of the Silver Spoon, Kristen Keffeler, discusses her journey turning her research into a nonfiction book that was picked up by a traditional publisher. Kristin explains the importance of narrowing your audience, shar…

1
Lisa Tener on Writing a Book Proposal that Lands You a Deal 42:09

9M ago42:09

42:09

You want a traditional book deal? First you need a stand-out book proposal. But for many first-time authors, creating a book proposal is a mystery. What do you include? What don’t you include? What are agents really looking for? In this episode author and book proposal coach Lisa Tener provides insider knowledge of what it takes to create a proposa…

1
Vikrant Shauruya on Becoming a Nonfiction Bestselling Author 40:06

9M ago40:06

40:06

In this podcast, Dave and Melissa interview Vikrant Shauruya, founder of Authors on a Mission, on how to market and sell your nonfiction book. Vikrant discusses what a “bestselling book” actually is, and why a successful book is built on a well-written book. Great Moments in the Episode 05:15 – 07:57 Expectations for sales of first book. 8:04 – 09:…

1
Author Josh Rutherford on Applying Screenwriting Principles to a Fantasy Book Series 41:14

10M ago41:14

41:14

Our interview with Josh Rutherford, author of The Fourpointe Chronicles, provides aspiring fantasy novelists valuable insights on how to create a believable fantasy world, how to develop characters over a series of books, and how to apply screenwriting techniques to novel writing. Josh also encourages new writers to get started, even when you don’t…

1
Cristen Iris on How to Move your Story Forward with Scenes 47:57

10M ago47:57

47:57

The best television shows and movies have memorable scenes. In those scenes, characters are forced to make choices that move the story forward. This is the essence of screenwriting. And, according to ghostwriter Cristen Iris, it’s also the essence of great memoirs and fiction. In this episode we chat with Cristen about how the basic principles of s…

1
Author Paula Munier on How to Create the Perfect Plot 45:52

11M ago45:52

45:52

How do you keep your reader reading till the wee hours of the morning—because they have to figure out how the story ends? You must create a narrative arc that, scene by scene, plot point by plot point, keeps the reader questioning. Paula Munier, author of Plot Perfect: Building Unforgettable Stories Scene by Scene, offers a plot-building strategy t…

1
What Is a Developmental Edit? And Why It Matters to the Success of Your Book 43:58

11M ago43:58

43:58

A developmental edit for your book project is as essential as eating right and working out if you want to be fit. You always need a developmental edit, no matter your experience as a writer. The most sophisicated writers expect it. Developmental editing is not about tearing down your work or diminishing your voice as a writer. It's a collaborative …

1
Lisa Cron on the Misbelief of Your Protagonist and Why It Matters to Your Story 45:35

1y ago45:35

45:35

Lisa Cron is no fan of how the writing world teaches writers to craft stories. She has several beefs with the standard ways novel writing is taught, including starting your project with "plotting." In this episode, Lisa offers a fresh, practical perspective on the key to writing a compelling story. Lisa has written three books on story, including W…

1
Cristen Iris on Thinking Like a Filmmaker When Writing Your Memoir 49:01

1y ago49:01

49:01

Ultimately, your memoir is not about you. It's about the reader. And what the reader takes away from spending hours, even days reading your book. In this practical episode, Cristen Iris gives memoir writers a clear path to writing a memoir that gets read. Cristen is an award-winning ghostwriter, developmental editor, and publishing consultant who s…

1
Emily Enger on Good Enough Book Marketing for Fiction and Creative Writers 52:02

1y ago52:02

52:02

Most writers simply want to write and publish. And not have to deal with the hassle of social media and selling their book. In this episode with book marketing coach Emily Enger, she introduces the concept of "good enough" book marketing. She says that writers should focus on the writing first and foremost, putting "your perfectionism marbles in th…

1
View Your Time Set Aside for Writing as Sacred 39:58

1y ago39:58

39:58

The word sacred is not too lofty of a word to describe your time set aside to write. In this episode, Melissa and Dave co-opt a religious term and apply it to the time set apart to write. Great Moments in the Episode (1:49) Dave's progress: his daughter is picking up the sport of lacrosse in high school. (4:39) Melissa's progress: she launched her …

1
Rosanne Bane on How to Overcome Writer’s Block 55:41

1y ago55:41

55:41

In this extensive interview, Rosanne Bane helps writer's unlock their resistance to write. Author of "Around the Writer's Block," she explains the science behind our procrastination and excuses, and provides practical tips to get back on track. Great Moments in the Episode (3.30) The story of a woman in France in 1906 with a brain injury and how he…

1
Bryan Cohen on How to Sell Your Self Published Book with Amazon Ads 44:58

1+ y ago44:58

44:58

Bryan Cohen is Da Guru when it comes to selling your book with Amazon ads. In this practical interview, Bryan gives us the inside scoop on how self-published authors can use Amazon ads to promote their books and other products and services. Bryan, the founder of "Author Ad School," is a USA Today bestselling author. He is also CEO of "Best Page For…

1
Novelist Jaimie Engel on Becoming a Romcom Screenwriter 40:46

1+ y ago40:46

40:46

In this interview with youth fantasy fiction and non-fiction writer Jaimie Engle, she describes her journey to become a RomCom screenplay writer. Great Moments in this Episode (4:30) How Jaime made a surprise connection to an attorney in the film industry during what she calls the Apocalypse (the first couple years of Covid) (6:00) Her decision to …

1
First-Time Novelist Linda Fifer on Losing Her First Draft and Her Persistence to Complete the Project 31:51

1+ y ago31:51

31:51

At one point in writing her debut novel, The Road between Two Skies, Linda Fifer lost the entire manuscript. Her husband had misplaced it, and there was no digital copy. In our interview with Linda, she discusses how she reconstructed her story and how she persisted for years before she was able to complete and then self-publish the novel. The stor…

1
Getting Real about the Costs of Publishing Your Book 55:20

1+ y ago55:20

55:20

It's a big expense to publish your book. And most likely the sales from it won't cover the publishing costs. At least for most writers. We all have fantasies about landing a big publisher and selling millions, but the super majority of books sell around 250 copies. At least that's what Google says. If that's true, there's no way to recoup the costs…

1
Novelist and Memoirist Donna Freitas on Identifying the ”Why” of Your Book 48:54

1+ y ago48:54

48:54

Until you know the "why" of your book, you may struggle to structure it. So believes Donna Freitas, Brooklyn-based author of fiction and nonfiction. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The LA Times, among other places. She is currently on faculty at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s MFA in Creative Writing.…

1
Writers Don’t Storytell, They Storyshow 39:52

1+ y ago39:52

39:52

"Show, don't tell" - that is the most basic advice given at every writer's workshop or conference. As a writer, you must show what is happening, not merely tell what happened. Writers do not have the luxury of sound to assist with narrating the story. Nor do writers have video or motion graphics. Or even images to illustrate their stories. Writers …

1
Novelist Ann Hood on the Revision Process for Novels and Memoirs 38:47

1+ y ago38:47

38:47

Novelist and memoirist Ann Hood prefers the phrase "glorious mess" when referring to the first draft of a writing project. Ann recently published "Fly Girl: A Memoir," about her career as a life attendant in the late 1970s and 1980s. She has written 14 novels and four memoirs. In this episode, Ann discusses the revision process, quoting another wri…

1
Jennifer Bisbing on Editing for Writers Who Plan to Self Publish 35:15

1+ y ago35:15

35:15

Your readers need you to be clear. Jennifer Bisbing, book editor and author of the mystery “Under the Pines," says that if an author writes with clarity about his or her theme, readers will have greater insight and appreciation. In this interview with Jennifer, she discusses how she researched her novel, which is told through the eyes of an eight-y…

1
How to Begin to Write Your Family Story 53:51

1+ y ago53:51

53:51

Most every family story includes heroes and scoundrels, and lovable as well as colorful characters. If you've ever considered writing your family history, you've probably asked, "Where do I begin the story?" In this episode, Melissa and Dave offer seven tips to begin writing your family story. One is to select a purpose early on for the writing pro…

1
Book Publicist Julia Drake on the Three Key Ways to Promote Your Book 33:00

1+ y ago33:00

33:00

Promoting your book should begin the day you decide to write a book. That may seem like an overstatement, but the earlier you begin to think about your audience, the more success you'll have if later you decide hire a book publicist like Julia Drake, president and co-founder of Wildbound PR. In this episode, Julia identifies the three keys to book …

1
Platform-Building Expert Stephanie Chandler on Growing an Audience for Your Writing 42:32

2y ago42:32

42:32

The word platform is a synonym for "audience." To build your writing platform means to build your audience. Many new writers groan at the idea of building their audience while also trying to write a book. It seems overwhelming. In this episode, Stephanie Chandler gives writers a simple roadmap for getting started in building an audience. CEO of Non…

1
Literary Agent Soumeya Roberts on How Agents Assess Your Manuscript 40:51

2y ago40:51

40:51

Even if they are not actively soliciting new ideas, most literary agents still long for the thrill of discovering a new writer who speaks to them. In this interview with Soumeya Bendimerad Roberts, she identifies the three elements that she looks for in a manuscript - style, structure, and setting. A literary agent with HG Literary, Soumeya represe…

1
5 Ways to Build a Following for Your Writing 37:07

2y ago37:07

37:07

"Publishing is a business." That statement is as true for those who self publish as it is for those who plan to pitch a traditional publisher. Who will purchase your book? And how do you reach them? Years ago, a popular writer named Michael Hyatt coined the phrase "platform building." It's the idea that if you want to publish, you need to simultane…

1
Book Agent Miriam Altshuler on Effective Query Letters and Aspiring Authors 33:34

2y ago33:34

33:34

New York literary agent Miriam Altshuler looks for specific elements in a query letter. For starters, the query should not be longer than three paragraphs. In this delightful interview with Miriam on the wonder of books, she also offers some practical advice for first-time authors. If you're writing a memoir, for example, you need to complete the e…

1
Craft, Voice, and Concept - the Art of Memoir Writing 30:03

2y ago30:03

30:03

They say to write what you know. It’s no wonder there has been a surge in memoir writing. You know nothing better than yourself. As The Art of Memoir author, Mary Karr, said, “Anyone who’s lived can write one.” But to write a memoir that people want to read requires "craft, voice, and concept." In this episode, we interview Rob Lewis, a writer and …

1
7 Self-Editing Questions to Improve Your Manuscript 45:18

2y ago45:18

45:18

Every writer who has ever stared at a blank screen (or page) has eventually had to lay down a first sentence. And then revise that sentence. Again and again. First drafts are just that - the first of many drafts to come. In this episode, Melissa and Dave identify seven self-editing questions to help you revise your manuscript. One question has to d…

1
What Happens after You Sign a Book Contract 42:29

2y ago42:29

42:29

The countdown begins, after you sign a contract with a publisher. There is a deadline. And, suddenly, there is an urgency to putting a period to your writing, if you haven't yet completed the manuscript. The process shifts from creative to production. In this interview with Dr. Jamie Weiner, he discusses the process of working with a traditional pu…

1
7 Questions to Evaluate Your Book Idea 39:44

2y ago39:44

39:44

Every book that is published starts out as a raw, unformed idea in the mind of a writer. A companion of that initial idea is often an emotion: fear. Is my idea really good enough for an entire book? In this episode, Melissa and Dave identify seven questions to help writers evaluate whether their idea is book worthy. One question pertains to passion…

1
Do You Need a Writing Coach? 43:32

2y ago43:32

43:32

"Book coach" is a category that for the most part didn't exist several decades ago. There was a literary agent. And the acquisitions editor at the publishing house. Between the two of them, writers found various kinds of help with their manuscript. Today, book coaches help writers with everything from goal setting to developmental editing to buildi…

1
Interior Designer and Influencer Natalie Papier on Starting Her Book Project 33:25

2y ago33:25

33:25

Art, color, and design - these three elements define the brand of Natalie Papier, interior designer and Instagram influencer (@home_ec_op). In this wide-ranging interview, Natalie discusses the role of authenticity in her brand and how she began working on a book project. Through connections on a different project, Natalie found a book proposal edi…

1
The True Definition of Publishing for Writers 39:17

2y ago39:17

39:17

What does it mean to publish? The original, Latin definition of the word publish means "words made public." In this episode, we make the case that to develop a rich writing life means embracing a broader definition of the word "publish." Even a Christmas letter or a social post is a form of publishing. Every time you write something intended for ot…

1
Prop Stylist Robin Zachary on Paying Attention to the Little Things When Publishing a Book 38:41

2y ago38:41

38:41

It's always the little things that can make or break a project. In the publishing process especially, an author needs to pay attention to every detail until after the book has been printed. In this interview, Robin Zachary discusses the process to publish her forthcoming book, Styling Beyond Instagram: Take Your Prop Styling Skills from the Square …

1
Journalist Melinda Wenner Moyer on Researching Her Parenting Book 42:19

2y ago42:19

42:19

Parenting is not for wimps, as the saying goes. Science journalist Melinda Wenner Moyer might say that the biggest parenting challenge is "How to Raise Kids Who Aren't Assholes," the provocative title of her recent book. Melinda has written a column for Slate magazine and publishes regularly with the New York Times. In this interview, she discusses…

1
8 Insights into How Editors View Your Manuscript 37:34

2+ y ago37:34

37:34

Editors serve an audience. A magazine editor keeps his or her job only if the majority of readers renews their yearly subscription. A book editor whose acquisitions are not profitable will need to find a new job. In this episode, Melissa and Dave discuss eight specific insights into how an editor thinks. One is the hyper focus on serving readers. O…

1
Polygamist’s Daughter Anna Lebaron on How She Wrote Her Memoir 36:28

2+ y ago36:28

36:28

Anna LeBaron was born into a polygamist cult. She endured the unimaginable: abandonment, horrific living conditions, child labor, and sexual grooming. At 13, she escaped to a new life, though it took decades for her to recover. In our interview, Anna discusses the process of writing her memoir and how she used a professional editor to help her crea…

1
Jennifer Risher on her 14-Year Memoir Writing Journey 47:51

2+ y ago47:51

47:51

There's a ancient saying that money is not so much the problem; it's the love of money that causes the trouble. There's another truth about the topic: It's really hard to write about money - specifically, your money. And yet, that is exactly what Jennifer Risher does in "We Need to Talk: A Memoir about Wealth." She and her husband became what only …

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Dave Goetz And Melissa Parks Podcasts

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