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The Bestseller Experiment

Join author and screenwriter Mark Stay with coach and entrepreneur Mark Desvaux, as they discover the secrets to writing a bestseller and challenge themselves and you to write, market and self-published a bestselling book in just one year. Each week, they are guided by and interview million-selling, chart-topping authors, publishers on the inside, editors, agents, social media specialists, and many more big names who play a part in the bestseller process. From the writing to marketing, plotting to publishing, learn the secrets to help you write your way to the top of the charts.
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The Bestseller Experiment
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Now displaying: October, 2022
EP412: Ed McDonald — “Do Everything Now" 0
Oct 31, 2022

Ed McDonald returns to the podcast with a new fantasy series, The Redwinter Chronicles, and we discuss how the fantasy genre has changed in the short time since we last spoke. Ed also discusses a life-threatening illness that has given him a new perspective on his writing.

And in the extended version for Patreons and Academates, the two Marks discuss false starts, deleting work and starting over, ideas versus theme, and much more!

EP411: Deep Dive — Writing and Directing Independent Film with Danny Stack and Tim Clague 0
Oct 28, 2022
Danny Stack and Tim Clague are award-winning screenwriters and directors who have never waited for permission from the industry to make their movies. As Future TX, their new family science fiction adventure feature film, hits Odeon cinemas in the UK, Danny and Tim reveal how they’ve made and released two independent feature films. They offer great tips for screenwriters, insight into the film industry, and why now may be the best time to write and make your movie.
EP410: Jenny Ashcroft — “Self-Perpetuating Support." 0
Oct 24, 2022
Jenny Ashcroft has always been fascinated with the past and how extraordinary events can change the lives of ordinary people. With her new novel, The Echoes of Love, Jenny takes us to Crete in 1936, and she reveals her best resources for researching and writing historical fiction. And Jenny talks about finding your writing peers and supporting one another (and why your family probably won’t understand what you’re doing!).
And in the extended version for Patreons and Academates, the two Marks discuss the relationship between authors, agents and publishers, writing for the fun of it, how research can unearth unexpected nuggets and much more!
EP409: Sixth Birthday Special — How to Make a Podcast 0
Oct 17, 2022

The two Marks celebrate six years of the podcast by giving their listeners a peek behind the scenes to see how a weekly podcast is made, and our editors Dave and JD offer tips for anyone who’s thinking of starting their own podcast, and they spill the beans on what doesn’t make it into the show.

EP408: Deep Dive — ADHD and Writers with Kim Raine 0
Oct 12, 2022
Kim Raine is a High-Performance ADHD Coach, and the founder of ADHD Brains In Business, and she's the author of the Amazon bestseller Square Pegs: A book of Self-discovery for women with ADHD. Kim answers our listener questions on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and how it affects creatives and offers strategies on how to work with your brain rather than against it.
 
Deep Dives are normally exclusive for our Patrons and Academates, but we’ve made this one available to all.
EP407: CL Taylor — “Trust Your Gut" 0
Oct 10, 2022
We welcome Sunday Times bestselling author CL Taylor back to the podcast with her new novel The Guilty Couple. In an interview packed with amazing advice, she takes us step-by-step through her creative process, from first idea to finished novel.
 
And in the extended version for Patreons and Academates, the two Marks discuss wants, needs and flaws, fear of the first page, tips for using notebooks and much more!
EP406: Scott Turow — “Plot is a Species of Character." 0
Oct 3, 2022
Scott Turow is a master of suspense fiction. He returns with his new thriller, Suspect, and tells us about the challenges of taking a minor character from a previous novel and putting them front and centre of their own story. He also describes how he uses plot to test and reveal his characters. Scott also takes us through his extraordinary career, from writing Presumed Innocent on his commute, to fighting for the rights of authors as President of the Authors Guild.
 
And in the extended version for Patreons and Academates, the two Marks discuss plot as a species of character, political writing, social media, being different to our parents, working with editors, and why authors need to value themselves more than they do, and much more!
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