Best Thomas Umstattd Jr Podcasts (2024)

1
How to Deliver Your Book Baby 21:24

1h ago21:24

21:24

Authors often refer to their books as "babies." As I've worked in the publishing world with authors and now that we are awaiting the birth of our fourth child, I'm starting to see a lot of similarities between birthing a book baby and a human baby. We can learn a lot about delivering a book baby by looking at the process of delivering a real baby. …

1
How to use research to market your novel 44:57

6d ago44:57

44:57

Novelists often struggle with what to write or say in their email newsletters, blogs, and podcasts. Unpublished novelists often feel like they have nothing to talk about, and published authors know readers tire of constant book promotion emails. So, what should novelists write about? Writing a novel is a bit like woodworking. When you craft somethi…

1
How to Create an Online Course 35:30

7d ago35:30

35:30

Have you ever wondered if a course would be a better way to present the material in your book? Have your readers asked you to develop your book into an online course? You probably know that online courses tend to sell at higher price points than books, but you also know they are a lot of work. Will it be worth it for you? For your readers? I’ve bee…

1
How to Write Powerful Christian Stories 48:34

16d ago48:34

48:34

Stories communicate truth in ways that facts and statistics cannot. They touch places in our souls that sermons cannot reach. When you open your Bible, the very first thing you find is not the Ten Commandments but a story. Even biblical instruction is often couched in a story because a story is a powerful tool for communicating truth. God knows tha…

1
How writing short stories can make you a better novelist 42:51

6d ago42:51

42:51

You probably know that offering a reader magnet on your website is imperative to growing your email list, tantalizing readers with a sample of your writing, and eventually getting them to buy your book. If you write novels, your reader magnet should be a short story, but if you don’t know how to write a great one, you’ll miss out on the many advant…

1
Web Hosting for Frugal Authors 19:36

28d ago19:36

19:36

Your website is one of your most critical book marketing assets. It’s where you manage your online reputation, grow your email list, and sell books. But before you build a website, you need web hosting. You have thousands of web hosting options, which can feel a bit overwhelming. How do you know what kind of host you need for your website? In this …

1
45 | Season 3 Finale! What We Can't Stop Thinking About + WOS Manifesto + Hilarious Outtakes 1:07:28

16d ago1:07:28

1:07:28

Please take our Survey and be entered to win a FREE coaching call or a $100 coupon for The Course or The Course Lite! Wow! What an incredible season it has been. As we wrap up Season 3, we reflect on Episodes 30-44 and share our top takeaways (a.k.a. what we cannot stop thinking about) and our Writing Off Social Manifesto (a little behind-the-scene…

1
44 | How to Grow Your Platform and Sell Your Books with Podcasting w/Kim Stewart 38:20

21d ago38:20

38:20

Please take our Survey and be entered to win a FREE coaching call or a $100 coupon for The Course or The Course Lite! You enjoy listening to podcasts but have you ever considered hosting one? Wherever you are in your book writing journey, podcasting is an an incredible way to build your audience, refine your message, and connect with fellow authors…

1
How to Avoid Book Marketing Overwhelm 30:48

27d ago30:48

30:48

Feeling overwhelmed by book marketing can lead authors to look for shortcuts. Shortcuts lead to expensive complications. Expensive complications lead to dead ends. Dead ends lead to suffering. Yoda would call this “The path to the dark side.” Does this sound familiar? How do you escape this overwhelming cycle? There are ten different stressors that…

1
43 | How to Grow Your Email List with Podcast Guesting w/Laurie Christine 38:05

28d ago38:05

38:05

Your email list is the most powerful and effective tool for nurturing your audience, earning authority on your topic, and selling your books. Today author and podcast host Laurie Christine shares how she added over 500 people to her list by guesting on one podcast. Listen in! For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/43…

1
The Savvy Authors Guide to Passwords 18:52

1M ago18:52

18:52

Being an author requires you to have hundreds of online accounts for different software and services. Websites such as Amazon, ConvertKit, Publisher Rocket, Patreon, K-lytics, Bookvault, AuthorMedia.social, AuthorsXP, BookBub, Kickstarter, Teachable, Bluehost, WordPress, Grammarly, and Plottr (to name a few) all require a username and password. Som…

1
42 | 5 Ways to Support Your Friend's Book Launch Without Social Media 21:10

1M ago21:10

21:10

Your friend has written a book and you are excited to be part of her launch team. Except you don’t use social media. Can you still make a difference? Why yes, yes you can! This week we’re sharing 5 creative and effective ways to support your fellow author friends without using social media. Listen in! P.S.- Mary K. will share 2 more out-of-the-box …

1
Faith and Love: Tips for Writing Authentic Christian Romance 41:09

2M ago41:09

41:09

Discover what makes a romance novel appeal to a Christian readership and how you can write Christian romance books your readers will love. Support the Show.

1
How Connor Boyack Sold Millions of Books Directly to Readers Without Using Amazon 48:56

1M ago48:56

48:56

Can you make a living as an author without selling through Amazon? Many authors wonder. Amazon is the sole revenue source for many indie authors, but Amazon’s algorithms can disable your KDP accounts and cut off your income without any human reviewing the action. Authors find themselves pleading with a computer to reactivate their accounts while th…

1
41 | How To Grow Your Platform + Sell Your Books with Live Events w/Laura Richmond 41:43

2M ago41:43

41:43

In today's episode, we delve into the power of live events as a growth and marketing strategy for authors. Laura Richmond, a traditionally published author, shares insights on why live events are effective, how to find events that align with your ideal reader, tips for maximizing your impact at these events, common pitfalls to avoid, and encouragem…

1
Are Pen Names Going Away? 19:25

2M ago19:25

19:25

With the rise of AI authors, how do you prove you are a human author? Most authors prove their humanity with their names and photos. Your identity protects you from being called a bot writer. But what if you use a pen name? Will AI bring the age of pen names to an end? While pen names are going out of style, there are some reasons you might still c…

1
40 | Are Your Words Adding to The Noise? 3 Questions to Ask Yourself 40:04

2M ago40:04

40:04

In a world clamoring with information overload, you may feel like your words are just adding to the noise. How do you know when to stay silent…or when to speak up anyway? If you sense the world is drowning in words and you hesitate to add yours to the mix, today we offer three questions to ask yourself so that you can discern whether to hit publish…

1
Why Your Book is Still Unfinished (Hint: It’s Your Phone’s Fault) 17:51

2M ago17:51

17:51

I remember watching Steve Jobs's keynote presentation for the original iPhone. This magical new device, he said, would revolutionize our productivity. And at first, it did. But then, along came apps. Soon, user experiences were scientifically optimized to be as addictive as possible. An author's productive output is inversely correlated with time s…

1
39 | Why I Left Social Media As a Writer and What I Do Instead w/Gabe Cox Pt.2 28:30

3M ago28:30

28:30

Today, we’re continuing our conversation with Gabe Cox as she shares how her business has grown since leaving social media and what she’s doing to make it happen, as well as the response she gets from other entrepreneurs in the online space when she tells them she’s not on social media, Finally, she offers encouragement and practical steps you can …

1
Printing the Future: Quality Offset Print-on-Demand with BookVAULT 38:38

2M ago38:38

38:38

Authors around the world are trying to reduce their reliance on Amazon. However, most of us still use and like Amazon. In fact, many authors earn most of their money from Amazon. But any company with a 90% market share can't be fully trusted. One way indie authors can reduce their reliance on Amazon is by selling directly from their own author webs…

1
38 | Why I Left Social Media as a Writer and What I Do Instead w/Gabe Cox Pt.1 28:35

2M ago28:35

28:35

Any writer considering leaving social media will wrestle with fears and questions: How will you stay in the loop? How will you connect with other writers or with your readers? How will you sell your books? What if it doesn’t work? Today’s guest chose to face her fears and grappled with each of those questions. Join us as she shares how she overcame…

1
Crafting a Career: How to Become a Professional Author with Angela Hunt 42:25

3M ago42:25

42:25

Some authors just want to get their book "out there." They don't plan on writing additional books or becoming professionals. But others want to make writing a career and maybe pay the bills with income earned from their writing. If you want to have a career as a professional writer, you have to do at least two things. First, you must become an amaz…

1
The Powerful Nonfiction Pitching Recipe That Works for Both Fiction and Nonfiction 25:31

2M ago25:31

25:31

One key to becoming a bestselling author is the selling. And one element of sales is the sales pitch. Some authors think pitches are only to be used for pitching agents at writers conferences, but you can actually use a sales pitch whenever you talk about your book. Your sales pitch convinces readers to care about and read your book. The stronger y…

1
37 | What's Working for Writers in 2024 w/Thomas Umstattd Jr., Pt2 28:10

3M ago28:10

28:10

Last week in EP36, podcast host and industry expert, Thomas Umstattd, Jr, unequivocally affirmed that social media is no longer working for authors. Today, in Part 2, Thomas shares three things you can do instead of social media, what marketing strategies are working well for indie authors in 2024, and where he sees the publishing industry headed i…

1
36 | The Rise and Fall of Social Media for Writers w/Thomas Umstattd Jr., Pt1 38:51

3M ago38:51

38:51

In the early days of social media, a writer could speak directly to her reader and even go viral. Today, however, neither of those things are possible. In the first of a 2-part conversation, Thomas Umstaddt Jr. explains the rise and fall of social media and why the publishing industry still clings to a metric that is no longer valid. Click here for…

1
From Tech Timid to Tech Savvy: How to Master Any Technology 36:30

3M ago36:30

36:30

My first DOS computer had no mouse. Its screen had two colors: green and white. Today, computers have mice and complex graphics, and there is no need to be a computer programmer in order to use a computer. Technology gets easier to use each year. Even though it's easier than it used to be, sometimes you still need help. Many authors find that the b…

1
The Thriving Author: How to Market Books When You Have Money to Invest 25:09

3M ago25:09

25:09

A few months ago, we released an episode called The Starving Author: How to Market Books When You Have No Money. After the episode aired, several authors asked me a similar question: “What do we do if we do have money to spend?” You see, not all authors are starving. Some writers have spent years saving money, and they want to know how to get the b…

1
35 | How To Manage Information Overload 33:15

3M ago33:15

33:15

As a writer, you are inundated with information on improving your craft and building your business. Whether through a writing group or a mastermind, a course or industry-related newsletters, books, or even podcasts, information overload is real and its effects on your ability to focus and create can be profound. In this week’s episode, we discuss i…

1
34 | Social Media's Role in the Christian Publishing Industry w/Will Anderson, Pt. 2 27:28

3M ago27:28

27:28

If you are writing a book proposal and do NOT have a social media presence, you may be tempted to neglect the mention of "platform" altogether. But even without impressive numbers, you can still show an editor that you are on a growth trajectory. Today Will Parker Anderson, Senior Book Editor at Waterbrook and Multnomah (the Christian imprint of Pe…

1
How to write dialogue 36:22

4M ago36:22

36:22

If you've ever transcribed a conversation between two people, you know the resulting text is a bunch of incomprehensible, run-on sentences and fragments. Natural conversation does not translate well onto the written page. When we write novels, we need to realize that good, written dialogue does not imitate the way real people talk. We also don't wa…

1
33 | Social Media's Role in the Christian Publishing Industry w/Will Anderson, Pt. 1 34:03

4M ago34:03

34:03

How has social media changed the landscape of the publishing industry and what does that mean for you? This week we’re continuing our series of conversations with industry experts by talking to Will Anderson, Senior Editor at Waterbrook and Multnomah and founder of The Writer’s Circle. This is Part 1 of a 2-part conversation. For show notes, go to …

1
Speak, Engage, and Inspire: Secrets of Entertaining & Educational Webinars that Sell 24:26

4M ago24:26

24:26

Author Media has a list of over 10,000 subscribers, and around half of them open our emails, which means our open rates hover around 50%. That’s a high open rate! It’s partly because new subscribers join our email list through webinars I present for writers and authors. By the end of each webinar, attendees know enough to want to open emails from A…

1
32 | Why Author Platform is Broken and What to Do About It w/Mary DeMuth, Pt.2 20:41

4M ago20:41

20:41

Last week in Part 1/EP31, author and literary agent, Mary DeMuth candidly discussed her frustrations surrounding social media. Today, we’re continuing our conversation, as Mary openly shares what she considers a viable email list and open rate numbers, what other metrics outside of social medial are attractive to her as a literary agent, and what s…

1
2024 Laptop Buying Guide for Authors 21:45

4M ago21:45

21:45

An Uber driver's most valuable asset is his car. A photographer's camera is critical. An Uber driver with a broken car can't make money, and a photographer with a cheap camera will slowly starve. What is the critical tool for an author? What tool will help you earn money and keep you from starving? Your laptop! You write, edit, and promote your boo…

1
31 | Why Author Platform is Broken and What to Do About It w/Mary DeMuth, Pt.1 28:18

4M ago28:18

28:18

By now you know we firmly believe that writers can choose to leave the life-sucking toxicity of social media platforms and find alternative pathways to grow and nurture their audience. But how does that sentiment stack up against the realities of publishing? To answer that question, we’ve lined up a series of conversations with a variety of industr…

1
30 | 4 Focus Killers and What You Can Do About Them 43:22

5M ago43:22

43:22

We are BACK for Season 3! Does concentration feel like an uphill battle for you? Do you regularly suffer with brain fog or the inability to pay attention? If that’s you, take heart: this is not a personal failure on your part. Turns out, there is much you can do to reclaim your focus if you’re willing to fight for it. Click here for show notes.…

1
How to Sell More Books With Amazon Ads 44:37

4M ago44:37

44:37

When readers browse Amazon, they have already decided to purchase a book. The only question is: Which book will they choose? What if there was a way to reach readers at this pivotal moment and persuade them to pick your book from the list they're considering? There is! It is called Amazon Advertising, and it has become one of the most popular forms…

1
Writing Conflict: How to Keep Your Protagonist on Their Toes 1:05:24

5M ago1:05:24

1:05:24

Most humans try to avoid conflict as much as possible, but novelists love conflict. Without conflict, a novelist has no story. Conflict keeps your novel moving forward and your readers turning pages. As Vladimir Nabokov once said, "The writer's job is to get the main character up a tree, and then once they are up there, throw rocks at them." But ho…

1
AI for Authors in 2024 - The Good, Bad, and Ugly 33:56

5M ago33:56

33:56

The tools we use for writing have evolved over the centuries, from quill and inkpot to the printing press, to the word processor to AI. Recent developments in AI tools for writers have sparked everything from laughable images to controversy and fear. Is AI evil? Is it safe? In this week’s episode, we’ll discuss what you need to know about AI in our…

1
Pros and Cons of Pre-Orders 16:35

5M ago16:35

16:35

Almost every traditionally published book goes up for preorder before it comes out. However, the advice surrounding preorders can be confusing for indie authors. Some indies say preorders are critical. Others say having a preorder for your book can hurt sales. Who is right? Should you set up a preorder for your book? Are preorders a good idea or a …

1
Marketing 101: Place 30:02

5M ago30:02

30:02

You’ve heard me talk about the Five Ps of Marketing, and in this week’s episode, we tackle the third P: Place. In other words, where should you sell your book? Many authors struggle to find the right place to sell their books. Whether you're an indie or traditional author, you must discover the best places to sell. So, how can you unlock the power …

1
How to use Reedsy to Independently Publish Your Book 43:04

6M ago43:04

43:04

The term "self-publishing" doesn't mean that you sit in a cabin in the woods all by yourself and emerge with a published book as if you'd done it all singlehandedly. It's rare to find one person who has all the skills required to turn an idea into a physical book. We need cover designers, formatters, web designers, assistants, and more. You might b…

1
Platform Overrated? 46:22

6M ago46:22

46:22

You’re probably tired of hearing that you need a large platform to be a successful author. Some industry professionals believe having a large platform is equivalent to having a large social media following. If you’ve been listening to the Christian Publishing Show or Novel Marketing, you know that having a social media following doesn’t necessarily…

1
Book Launch Secrets 49:42

6M ago49:42

49:42

This year marks the end of an era. The Book Launch Blueprint is entering its seventh and final year. Since we began offering it in 2018, it has been one of our most popular courses. Launching a book is one strategy that works well for indie and traditional as well as fiction and nonfiction. But why is a book launch so important? In this week’s epis…

1
How to Publish on a Budget 34:48

6M ago34:48

34:48

How much money does it cost to become a professional author? Any profession will cost you when you're just getting started. If you're broke, I recommend listening to my episode titled The Starving Author: How to Market Books Without Money. Assuming you have some money, you need a spending plan. But how much money do you need to budget for the first…

1
How to Write Emails That Readers Want to Read 25:34

6M ago25:34

25:34

Email marketing is one of the most powerful tools for connecting with readers and selling books. Obviously, you want a lot of email subscribers, but it doesn't matter how many subscribers you have if they don't open and read your emails. How do you craft the kind of emails that capture your reader's attention and help you sell more books? In this w…

1
How to Build a Tribe Online And Form a Community of Readers 44:58

7M ago44:58

44:58

A few years ago, the popular buzzword in the author world was "tribe." Building a tribe of readers was seen as the key to success. Reader relationships are still important for authors, so why did the term "tribe" go out of fashion? Having a tribe of readers is still an incredible asset that will help you sell your books and raise your profile among…

1
Mistakes to Avoid at Your First Writers Conference 29:47

7M ago29:47

29:47

When authors attend writers conferences, they often have big expectations but make common mistakes that squash their goals and diminish the return on their investment in the conference. In this episode, you’ll learn 11 common mistakes authors often make and how to avoid them How to avoid missing opportunities The right time to attend your first con…

1
How to Market With No Money 25:21

7M ago25:21

25:21

Two authors recently asked me the same question: “What should I do if I have no money for book marketing?" It’s a question that requires exploration and evaluation. If you have the same question, you may be at a crossroads. You have two options if you want to write but have no money for marketing. In this week’s episode, we’ll examine the two paths…

1
When to Quit 22:30

7M ago22:30

22:30

Are you thinking about quitting publishing or writing? You started full of energy and optimism, but it has been a hard road, and you feel tired. Should you quit? My answer may surprise you. Maybe you should. Publishing is an industry where almost everyone has a financial incentive to see you keep going. People in the publishing industry don’t earn …

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Thomas Umstattd Jr Podcasts

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