This episode is a milestone; the Written Word Media Podcast just hit 10,000 downloads. To celebrate, Ricci Wolman and Ferol Vernon are answering three of the most common questions listeners have sent in: what DRM actually is and whether you need it, when the best time to launch a book really is, and how to get more KENP reads if you're in Kindle Unlimited.What you’ll learn:What DRM (Digital Rights Management) is, the difference between hard DRM, soft DRM, and no DRM, and Amazon's new policy change that lets you update your settings midstreamWhy ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors) recommends against DRM for most indie authors, and the key philosophical question to ask yourself before decidingWhy hard DRM is largely an illusion of protection (and what that means for your decision)What WWM's data from thousands of book launches actually shows about the best day and season to launch, and why the answer is probably not what you're hoping forThe one exception to the "any day works" rule (genre-specific seasonality)Why your marketing plan matters 100x more than your launch dateHow running a promo (including a FreeBooksy free promo) drives KENP reads, not just downloadsWhy there's a lag between a promotion and when you see the KU reads hit your dashboardHow WWM's promo emails call out "free on Kindle Unlimited" to prime KU readers before they hit the Amazon pagePlus: listener questions are how WWM products get built. Subscriber Surge Giveaways exist because authors asked for help building their email lists.Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Your email list is your most valuable asset as an author, but how do you actually grow it beyond people who already know you? The answer is a lead magnet: free content you offer in exchange for an email address. In this episode, Ricci Wolman and Ferol Vernon break down the full system: what to give away, where to host it, how to deliver it, and how to drive traffic.What you’ll learn:The difference between a lead magnet and a reader magnet, and why you need both (one reaches strangers, one converts existing readers)What to give away: chapter, novella, or full book, and why novellas hit the sweet spot for most authorsThe KDP Select caveat: why giving away a full book can violate exclusivity terms and what to do insteadThe 4 components of a working lead magnet system: content, landing page, delivery, and trafficThe best tool for author-specific lead magnet delivery, and why BookFunnel handles customer service so you don't have toHow to use Meta ads (Facebook and Instagram) to drive lead magnet sign-ups starting at $5/dayFree traffic options: newsletter swaps and group promos, plus their real limitationsThe biggest mistake authors make after running a successful lead magnet campaign (and it's not the ad)What your landing page actually needs to say (spoiler: very little — keep it simple)A preview of WWM's new Reader Reach Lead Magnet product (coming soon!)Also: the Pacific Northwest trip recap, three new national parks checked off, and Ricci's first marmot sighting.Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Amazon A+ content is free, it's available to every KDP author regardless of exclusivity, and it can increase your conversion rate by up to 20%. Most bestselling books on Amazon already have it. If yours doesn't, this episode will change that. Ricci Wolman and Ferol Vernon walk through exactly what A+ content is, why it matters, and how to set it up, step by step, in under 30 minutes.Also: Ricci's solo owl has become a family. There is a mated pair and a fledgling. The owl vsaga continues. 🦉What you’ll learn:What Amazon A+ content actually is, and why it shows up in the middle of every New York Times bestseller's pageWhy A+ content is worth your time: Amazon's own data cites 8–20% conversion lift, and a higher conversion rate makes every future ad dollar go furtherHow A+ content feeds the Amazon AI (Rufus), and why the images, colors, and alt text you upload are being read as metadataWhere to find A+ content inside your KDP account (it's not where you'd expect)The three-module template that 80% of traditional publishers use: hero banner, three image blocks, and a comparison chartWords before pictures: how to write the copy for your modules (20 words max per block) and use Gemini to brainstorm if you're stuckHow to create the image assets in Canva (plus a WWM template with correct dimensions, or use Gemini's image tool as an alternativeThe content rules you must follow: editorial reviews only, no customer reviews, no price mentions, no hyperbole unless namedHow to apply one set of A+ content across an entire series, so one setup covers every bookApproval timeline (up to 7 days, often faster) and what to do if you're still stuckShow notes include a step-by-step blog post with screenshots, Canva templates with correct image dimensions, and module names, so you can follow along even without the video.Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Nearly every author thinks their book would make a great movie. But how does a book actually get from the page to the screen, and what do you need to know before you sign anything? In this episode, Ferol sits down with Maggie Marr, entertainment attorney, former ICM motion picture literary agent, and author of over 20 books, for a frank inside look at how Hollywood works and how indie authors can position themselves to get there.In this episode, you’ll learn:How development executives find books, and why your reader platform matters more than your publisherWhat an option agreement actually means, what it costs, and what you give up during the option periodWhether indie authors are at a disadvantage with Hollywood (the answer may surprise you)Rightscenter: the free tool authors can use to make their film and TV rights discoverable to studios and streamersThe red flags that identify a scam "Hollywood inquiry", including the long con Maggie has seen play out in real timeWhat a realistic film and TV deal looks like: purchase prices from $11K to $2M, EP credits, per-episode royalties, and why back-end participation is almost never worth waiting forHow to get creative control as an author, and why asking for final cut is a deal-killerThe contract clauses that haunt authors: perpetual attachments, shopping agreement traps, and development materials that survive an expired optionWhat genres are hot in Hollywood right now: domestic thrillers, romanticy, and the emerging dystopian waveThe three-item punch list every author should complete before lightning strikesMaggie also discusses her book Books To Film & TV: What Every Author Needs To Know, a practical guide to how books move into the film and TV space.Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Spotify has over 600 million users, and most of them don't yet know they have access to audiobooks. In this episode, Ferol sits down with Will Dages, Head of Product at Spotify, to break down everything indie authors need to know about getting their audiobook discovered, promoted, and created on Spotify's platform.In this episode, you’ll learn:How Spotify's audiobook model works: the 15-hour monthly listening allotment, the pro-rata payout pool, and how a la carte sales compareHow Spotify uses taste signals from music and podcast listening to surface audiobooks to readers who've never tried the formatWhy do short books and children's content now have a competitive advantage on Spotify that they don't have on credit-based modelsThe metadata practices that actually improve discoverability, and the keyword-stuffing mistake that actively hurts youThe free tools inside Spotify for Authors: promo cards, 100 redemption codes per book, and weekly demographic listening reportsSpotify's new AI narration tool (in partnership with ElevenLabs): free for up to five books, ten curated voices, custom pronunciationsHow human narrators vs. AI narration differ, and why Will believes AI opens the door rather than closes itPage Match: the feature that syncs your physical book with the Spotify audiobook, and the 55% reading uplift and 2x completion rate it's already drivingThe Bookshop.org integration: how Spotify is now linking physical book purchases directly from audiobook pagesFollow Along: the new feature that displays visual content (images, text threads) synced to the audioWill's closing advice for every author: it's never too late to get into audiobooks. The market is still in massive growth mode.Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Every indie author eventually needs help: a cover designer, an editor, a website builder, a marketing assistant. But hiring the wrong freelancer (or being a difficult client yourself) can cost you time, money, and a cover you hate. In this episode, Ricci Wolman sits down with Maari Casey, CEO of Uncompany, to break down exactly how to find, hire, brief, and manage freelancers, from the first Google search to the signed contract to navigating a missed deadline.What you’ll learn:How to write a scope of work tight enough to find the right freelancer, and the one "start at the end" trick that cuts the guessworkWhere to find freelancers: Reedsy (built for authors), Fiverr, Upwork, and curated agencies, and when each makes senseHow to set your budget and why you should always go in a little lower than your real numberWhat the standard revision rounds look like for design vs. editing, and why two to three is the magic numberThe three questions to ask in every freelancer interview (and the red flags that should end the conversation)What should be in every contract: payment terms, revision rounds, timeline, and the ownership clause that authors always forgetHow to give feedback when the first draft is nothing like what you wanted (without blowing up the relationship)Why telling your designer what you hate is more useful than showing them what you loveThe one thing clients do that makes good freelancers not want to work with them againHow to handle a missed deadline or a freelancer who goes silentMaari also shares the Uncompany blog's free templates for scopes, briefs, and conflict management, built specifically for people navigating freelance relationships.Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Is the indie author market actually as tough as the forums make it sound? Written Word Media surveyed nearly 600 authors at the midpoint of 2026, and the data tells a more nuanced story than the doom-and-gloom. In this episode, Ricci and Ferol break down the survey findings and identify the five things that optimistic, growing authors are doing differently.What you’ll learn:The headline sentiment data: how many authors report growing vs. declining businesses halfway through 2026Why the authors whose businesses are thriving are writing more (not less) and the psychological reason that strategy worksWhy author newsletters are still the top owned-channel investment among the optimistic group (and how Written Word Media's Subscriber Surge Giveaways can help you build yours)Which paid ad platforms are still delivering (Amazon ads and Meta), and why the optimistic authors haven't abandoned themThe catalog monetization plays winning authors are making: box sets, translations (AI-assisted), and human-narrated audiobooksHow growing authors are using AI as a workflow tool, and how that attitude differs sharply from authors who are strugglingWhy KDP Select vs. wide turns out to be statistically irrelevant to business optimism (46% vs. 47%)What changed between the end-of-year survey and the mid-year survey: algorithm anxiety is way up, and AI went from background noise to center stageAlso covered: Ricci's quote-on-the-wall take on optimism vs. pessimism, and why data says there's a real reason for both.Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

What does a CEO who's run social media campaigns for Nike, IKEA, Samsung, and Crocs think authors should be doing on social right now? In this episode, Ferol sits down with Jim Tobin, CEO of Ignite Social Media, founder of influencer marketing agency Carusele, and a two-time published author, for a frank, tactical conversation about what's actually working in social media today and how indie authors can apply it.What you’ll learn:Why social discovery has overtaken Google search, and what that means for how readers find books in 2026The three-second hook rule: how to stop the scroll before the algorithm even decides to show your contentWhy negative hooks outperform positive hooks (and how to use this without being clickbait)The Organish® strategy: how to put $5–$25 behind your content to reach 5–20x more people, and why this beats influencer outreach on a small budgetThe carousel comeback: why image carousels are now outperforming Reels on Instagram and LinkedInHow to approach BookTok influencers with zero budget, and what to say (and not say) when you do have a few hundred dollarsWhy lo-fi, behind-the-scenes content is beating polished production right nowHow to think about pre-launch vs. post-launch content, and why "mystery posts" are a waste of your audience's attentionThe 30-minutes-a-week social strategy: where to spend your time if that's all you have•Stampede Social: the tool that lets you DM a link to anyone who comments a keyword on your postThe biggest mistake Jim sees on social, and it's not what you thinkJim also covers TikTok Shops, cross-platform content strategy, using trending audio, and how to connect your social presence to your email list.Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Podcasts build the kind of trust with listeners that almost no other marketing channel can match, and authors are uniquely positioned to leverage that. In this episode, Ricci Wolman and Ferol Vernon draw on nearly a year of hosting the Written Word Media Podcast to break down how authors can use podcasting as a genuine reader-building tool, whether that means guesting on other shows or launching their own.What you’ll learn:The psychology behind why podcast listeners trust hosts so deeply, and why that trust transfers directly to book sales (parasocial relationships explained)Why an imperfect, stumbling podcast appearance is often more powerful than a polished blog postHow to find the right shows to pitch as a guest, and the filter every author needs to apply before reaching outExactly what to include in your guest pitch email to get a "yes" from a host (hint: it's not "I'd love to talk about my book")How to prep for a guest appearance: questions in advance, bio tips, gear basics, and the sign-off strategy that turns listeners into readersHow to decide whether to start your own podcast, and the commitment level that separates the 5% who stick with it from everyone elseThe frequency mistake Ricci and Ferol almost made (and what their launch producer talked them out of)Why podcasting, like publishing a book, is a long game, and what realistic traction timelines actually look likeAlso in this episode: Ricci's woodland owl update. 🦉 She's seen it three times now (a photo may or may not appear in the show notes).Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

YouTube isn't just for cooking tutorials and gaming walkthroughs; it might be one of the most powerful book marketing tools authors aren't using. In this episode, Ferol sits down with Dale Roberts, host of Self-Publishing with Dale and one of the most-watched voices in the indie author space, to break down exactly how authors can build a YouTube presence that actually connects with readers and sells books.In this episode, you'll learn:The separate-profile research hack that lets YouTube train its own algorithm to show you exactly what your ideal readers are watchingThe three types of YouTube content (long form, Shorts, and live video), and why you should try all three before committing to oneWhy fiction authors don't have to talk about writing craft, and the smarter content angle most are missingThe "seeding" strategy: how many videos to have ready before you ever go publicThe single biggest mistake Dale sees authors make on YouTube (hint: it's not gear or lighting)What gear actually matters, and the one purchase to prioritize if you have a limited budgetA surprising new YouTube feature that's showing up in the Shorts shelf without recording a single videoHow pen name authors can build a YouTube presence without revealing their real identityWhat's changed on YouTube in the last year or two, and why human creators have an edge right nowDale also shares the story of building four fully monetized YouTube channels over 10 years, starting completely by accident in 2016.Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.