SFFMP 118: Writing Longer Books, Pricing Higher, Web Serials, and Generating Multiple Streams of Income to Go Full Time
Drew Hayes, superhero/litRPG/urban fantasy author, joined us for this week’s show. He got his start with web serials before Wattpad was ever a thing, and he grew a fanbase so that when he launched his first ebook a few years ago, it did great right out of the blocks. Since then, he’s started several series, including urban fantasy with a small press, and gone full time as an author.
Here are some of the details of what we talked about tonight:
- How Drew started publishing his work on the web and wrote the first year of his Super Powereds story before ever creating an ebook.
- Are web serials still popular, and would it be worth starting one as a new author coming in now?
- Can a podcast be useful for growing a fan base?
- Writing longer books (of 200,000 words or more) and pricing a little higher — will the market accept that?
- Succeeding as a full-time author on about three releases a year.
- Why Drew decided to sign with a small press after he’d had success as a self-published author.
- How long books can be great for the audio format, since some listeners buy the longest books they can get for their monthly credit at Audible.
- How Drew uses Patreon to bring in extra income and also keep in touch with his fans.
- Why he’s stuck with going wide and hasn’t joined Amazon KDP Select for more than a brief trial.
- His thoughts on advertising (he hasn’t done much of it!) and what’s working for others he knows who do more.
- His interesting launch strategy to get a lot of reviews on release day…
Drew’s blog post on the basics of advances.
You can visit Drew on his site, check out the Authors & Dragons podcast, or find his books in any of the online stores including Amazon. You can also check out his Patreon campaign or the new book he has coming out later in February: Forging Hephaestus (Villains’ Code Book 1).
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You guys are NOT the PBS of the podcasting world! You’re way too funny to listen to for that! I’d say you’re more like the “Mystery Science Theater 300” or something. 😉
Anyway, great guest! The Paetron aspect was interesting to hear about, as was the web serial.
Thanks, Kitty! Glad we’re not too PBSy. 🙂
Could you fix the mp3 link so I can download on my phone? Thanks. Love these last few episodes, can’t wait to listen to this one on my commute.
Got it updated, Scott!
Do you use Litsy? That is an instagram like app for books. (So you post pictures of books your are reading and reviews etc.)
Yes, the mp3 link doesn’t work.
Love the show.
Ethan
Sorry about that, guys! Finger fumble somewhere. It should be working now!
Hi all, just wanted to say, I just found this podcast and never had listened to a podcast before but I’ve also subscribed. Great info for a first time (soon to be published) author. “The Lost Angels”
I’m glad you’re finding the show useful, Nick. Thanks for listening and coming by!