If you don’t market your book, don’t expect anyone to read it.

That sounds harsh, right? The problem is, most writers assume that good writing is enough to garner reader attention. They pour countless hours into creating content, but give little thought to packaging and marketing it. Readers won’t come to a book if they don’t even know it exists.

If we’re being real, few of us know how to market something in the first place.

That’s why today’s conversation with literary agent Don Gates is so crucial. Don comes to his work with a pastoral mindset, along with some serious marketing muscle. He shares with senior editor Will Parker Anderson how to find your audience while refusing to compromise your convictions along the way.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The basics of what a literary agent does

• Why writers even need agents

• How to successfully market your ideas

• How to build a platform with integrity

Stick with us through this whole episode, because at the very end, Don gives some sobering advice to writers that you should definitely hear.

EPISODE LINKS

Subscribe to Will’s weekly newsletter: willparker.me

Please rate this podcast: Apple | Spotify

Will’s Instagram: @willparkeranderson

Will’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willparkeranderson/

Don’s website: the-gates-group.com

Ever feel like social media is draining your soul? But you can’t let it go because you’re trying to build a platform to appease publishers? It’s a common conundrum.

A lot of writers invest hours posting on social, with limited results. It’s discouraging and draining. On the other hand, writers who ditch social feel left out一like they’ve committed career suicide.

Is there a way to build an author platform without being a victim to the merciless algorithm?

Today’s guests, Sandy Cooper and Mary Tiller, share their story about struggling to get noticed on social media. Ultimately, when they recognized it was distracting them from their calling一things like family, writing, and stewarding time well一they both did something very countercultural: They walked away from social media altogether.

Along the way, they discovered dozens of other writers experiencing the same disillusionment, who lacked an alternative approach to building a readership. So they pioneered a movement called Writing Off Social.

In this episode, Sandy and Mary share with Will Parker Anderson:

• Effective ways to build a platform without social media

• How to evaluate if social is helping or hindering your happiness

• Encouragement that your writing matters, even when publishers dismiss you

By the end of this episode, you will have a treasure trove of new ideas for building your platform. This is not a hit piece on social media一it’s a thoughtful conversation that will provoke honest self reflection, and nudge your mind, body, and soul toward health.

EPISODE LINKS

Subscribe to Will’s weekly newsletter: willparker.me

Please rate this podcast: Apple | Spotify

Will’s Instagram: @willparkeranderson

Will’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willparkeranderson/

Mary and Sandy’s website: https://writingoffsocial.com/

Why is it so hard to make time to write? With good intentions, we set out to create a regular rhythm, only to get distracted or discouraged, and it fades away.

If you struggle to write regularly, it’s probably because you haven’t discovered the secret to forming a lasting habit. No shame一it’s easier said than done.

Today’s guest, Justin Whitmel Earley, is uniquely qualified to help us. Professionally, Justin is the author of three incredible books, which he managed to write while working as a full-time corporate lawyer. Personally, he’s a husband, popular speaker, and father to three boys. Needless to say, he’s overqualified to instruct us how to cultivate the writing life in the midst of life’s chaos.

Justin shares with Will Parker Anderson about the following:

• How to make time to write, even when it feels impossible

• 3 key strategies that will improve your craft

• Why risk is crucial to the writing life

By the end of this episode, you will have practical steps to help you write more regularly. Away with good intentions (and the guilt we feel when we flake on them).

Together, let’s learn to steward our craft in a way that’s life-giving, even when our schedules feel maxed out.

EPISODE LINKS

Subscribe to Will’s weekly newsletter: willparker.me

Please rate this podcast: Apple | Spotify

Will’s Instagram: @willparkeranderson

Will’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willparkeranderson/

Justin’s Books:

The Common Rule

Habits of the Household

Made for People