Hey, writer!

The weekly question hitting our inbox more than any other these days is: what marketing things are ACTUALLY moving book sales?

We’ve all noticed that the usual social platforms that worked for years aren’t getting near the traction they used to. Over the summer we replied to this question by hosting a Substack class (yes, that’s one of the things and yes, you can still purchase the course!).

NOW, we’re offering up our second reply by hosting a class about PODCASTING. (Yep, they move the needle too.)

The biggest issue with Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc. is that they engage in pay-to-play. They take away your reach and then promptly charge you to get it back.

Thankfully, a podcast doesn't work that way. When someone subscribes to your show, each new episode you post lands in their feed automatically, and they can listen to it while in the car, cooking, walking the dog, etc. In other words, much like a strong newsletter, you get direct access to your audience's attention for half an hour a week, uninterrupted, with no hoops to jump through.

AND interest in podcasts is GROWING (just like the heavy swing toward audiobooks we’re seeing). People are busy, and they like to LISTEN.

So let’s talk about how that looks for writers. How can YOU put together and host a successful podcast, whether you have any experience or not, and how can you do it without spending TOO MUCH TIME?

The Podcast Playbook for Writers is a three-session class that takes you from "I've been thinking about starting one" to “I know how to do it.”

• Who is teaching:

  • Tyler Redwine, owner of LemonPOP Social and a podcast and radio show producer with nine years of experience and a degree in publicity

  • The Writer’s Sanctuary team: New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors of speculative fiction, cozy romance, and nonfiction resources for writers

• Here's what we'll cover:

  • Guided brainstorming for finding YOUR niche in a popular market so that you stand out

  • What your show is actually about, and how to say it in a single sentence to get listeners to hit play, subscribe, and keep tuning in for more

  • Picking a format that fits best how you work - whether that’s interview, solo, narrative, seasonal, etc.

  • The least amount of gear you can get away with, and the places it's worth spending your money

  • Recording decent audio in a regular room (no closet studio required)

  • Editing fast enough that you'll actually keep doing it

  • Getting the show on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere else without taking too much time

  • Surviving the first ninety days, when nobody's listening and the temptation to quit hits

  • How to build a rhythm you can sustain, and how your listeners will become those readers who show up to buy your next (or latest) book

  • A list of the best podcast hosting sites and digital audio workstations (DAWs) professional podcasters recommend

  • PLUS: You’ll receive a course workbook with a 90-day start-up guide!

  What you'll walk out with: A concept, a format, a gear list you can afford, and a plan!

Quick FAQ:

• The course will be hosted on Zoom.

• You are welcome to attend the live classes, but replays will be sent out daily to all registered attendees so you can take the course on your own schedule.

• Live classes are scheduled for October 5-7 from 1pm-3pm ET.