BookTrib is proud to present to our readers the Writers, Ink podcast, a show about the business of writing. Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.
Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business — editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.
Check back every Monday for a new episode!
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Bestselling author Andy Weir has made a special effort to make the characters in his latest release, Project Hail Mary (Ballantine), as rounded out as possible. By working off of past criticism — like the need to avoid writing characters based on his own personality and focus on relatability while including reasonable flaws — he has increased the depth of his characters and consequently strengthened his story arc. Andy has been writing for over seven years and is best known for his debut novel, The Martian, which topped the New York Times bestseller list and was adapted into a hit film starring Matt Damon. To order Project Hail Mary, follow the link below.
From Amazon.com:
Andy Weir built a two-decade career as a software engineer until the success of his first published novel, The Martian, allowed him to live out his dream of writing full-time. He is a lifelong space nerd and a devoted hobbyist of such subjects as relativistic physics, orbital mechanics, and the history of manned spaceflight. He also mixes a mean cocktail.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Andy’s writing process
- Why you should avoid self-based characters
- How to write a flawed character that is still likeable
- How to balance plot depth and character depth
- When to write a short story vs. a long-form piece
LINKS
Show Credits
Host: J. D. Barker
Host: J. Thorn
Host: Zach Bohannon
Music: Nicorus
Voice Over: Rick Ganley (recorded at Mill Pond Studio)
In This Episode
Andy Weir
Project Hail Mary
Story Rubric
Nonfic Rubric
The Career Author Summit 2021
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Kobo Writing Life
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