The Profitable Writer

One of the most consistent themes I hear from writers is that many struggle with the business side of things. They become writers because they love the craft, the storytelling, or simply creating content. But the need for clear business thinking and processes often comes as a surprise. That’s why I’m excited to share this conversation with J.D. Barker, who’s here to help us understand how to navigate the business of being a writer. J.D. Barker is a New York Times and international bestselling American author whose work has been broadly described as suspense thrillers, often incorporating elements of horror, crime, mystery, science fiction, and the supernatural. He is the bestselling author of Dracul, The Fourth Monkey, and Something I Keep Upstairs, his newest novel inspired by a real-life haunted house. He brings decades of experience as an author, coauthor, and creative entrepreneur. J.D. is also the co-host of the excellent podcast for writers, Writers, Ink. In this conversation, J.D. shares his insights about building an author platform, developing income streams, his collaboration with James Patterson, mindset shifts you need as an author, the value of traditional publishing, how ghostwriting can help build your own writing business, and much more. Make sure to check out J.D.’s site, https://jdbarker.com/ as well as the Writers, Ink podcast at https://writersinkpodcast.com/.

I’ve always operated on the assumption that most of my listeners are introverts. If you don’t think of yourself as an introvert, that doesn’t make you less of a writer, of course. But I do believe most writers feel they get their energy from being alone, and that most of the time, being around people drains them. I certainly relate to that! Which is probably why I’m a full-time writer instead of some other job that requires me to spend time with people all day. One of the dilemmas you have to face as an introverted writer is knowing how to navigate conferences. While we recognize the immense value of conferences and events for learning our craft and building relationships, we also have to figure out how to be involved without completely draining ourselves. That’s why I’m excited to bring you this conversation with Ami McConnell, who runs WriterFest, a conference for writers in Nashville each November. Ami joins me to chat about what makes WriterFest unique, how to get the most out of it, how to navigate events as an introvert, and much more. Although WriterFest has already happened in 2025, I want to give you a heads up to make plans and attend WriterFest in 2026. Make sure to get on the mailing list for WriterFest so you’re notified about updates. You can do so by visiting https://writerfestnashville.com. Before we get into the conversation, let me tell you a bit about Ami, who in addition to being the Founder and President of WriterFest Nashville, is also the Founder and President of Ami McConnell Literary Agency. Ami is an author, writer, and editor with over twenty years of experience in-house at major trade book publishers. Having edited numerous New York Times bestsellers and award winners, she now works with authors of all stripes to create bestselling books. She’s a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller who has collaborated with singers, songwriters, psychologists, doctors, therapists, film and TV actors, and artists. Ami also serves on the board of Women’s National Book Association/Nashville Chapter and lives in the Nashville area with her family. You can find out more about Ami by visiting her website, https://amimcconnell.com, and the WriterFest site at https://writerfestnashville.com.

I’m excited to bring you this conversation with Chelle Honiker, publisher of Indie Author Magazine. She has a real passion for serving and empowering authors, and in her role as publisher, she helps authors navigate the business of storytelling with confidence, strategy, and community. I’ve been a subscriber to the magazine for a couple of years now. If you’re looking for a fantastic resource to help you navigate the often-complicated world of being an indie author, look no further! Indie Author magazine will give you an incredible bang for your buck! I highly recommend the print version, which I am thrilled to receive myself. In this conversation, Chelle and I dive into her journey of starting this incredible publication, how each issue comes together, why it’s so awesome to be an indie author, and so much more. If you’ve been sitting on a great idea for a while and have been afraid to take action, this conversation with Chelle is going to inspire you to finally get moving toward your dreams! And of course, I want to encourage you to subscribe to Indie Author magazine. You can do so by visiting https://indieauthormagazine.com/

If you think back to the early days of your writing journey, no matter if you’re at the beginning or you’ve been doing it a while, I’ll bet you were filled with joy and wonder at the power of writing. But somewhere along the way, you probably lost the spark a bit. You grew up, life got hard, and you felt overwhelmed with responsibilities in your family and career. It’s a common story most of us have experienced, especially if we do this full-time. It’s hard not to let the task of writing and business totally consume our thoughts and habits. We have to be intentional about injecting a sense of fun, wonder, and curiosity into our lives again. My guest today is here to help us do exactly that. Mike Brennan is an author and artist who tells stories on pages and stages. He’s a passionate advocate for reigniting the lost art of fun and creativity in our lives. He does this by the transformative power of play, fun, and creativity in both his storytelling and his work with clients. Mike is the author of several books on creativity, including Creative Power: 30 Days of Creative Affirmations, Make Fun a Habit: The Creative PLAYbook for Making Life and Work Fun Again, and the Daily Creative Habit Creative Journal. This call was from a session in our Profitable Writer membership last year. Mike helped our group explore our creative side and work toward building meaningful creative habits into our life and writing. I think you’ll enjoy this session as well. And of course, I always encourage you to check out our membership at https://theprofitablewriter.com. In addition, make sure to check out all of Mike Brennan’s books and offerings at https://www.mikebrennan.me.

I talk to a lot of writers who are just getting started in their 40s and 50s. That was certainly the case for me. I was a college professor for many years, then made the transition to ghostwriting and author coaching in my mid-40s. I can name dozens of other writers who have made similar transitions to a writing career mid-life. It’s tempting to feel like you’re getting a late start, but I believe the opposite is actually true: you have a head start because you have a wealth of knowledge from your previous career that you can apply to your writing. That’s certainly the case with my guest today, Patrick O’Donnell. He’s built a very successful career writing fiction, and I know you’ll be inspired by his journey. Let me tell you a bit about him. Sgt. Patrick O’Donnell worked in one of the nation’s largest police departments for 25 years. He has been in charge of thousands of crime scenes and investigations, including homicides, sexual assaults, and robberies. Now as an author, he helps people write the best crime-related novel or screenplay possible. Patrick is the product of two young Irish immigrants. He was born and spent his early childhood in the great city of Chicago. He lives with his wife, kids, and three dogs. Patrick has published self-help books under different pen names and made Amazon’s bestseller lists. His hobbies include physical fitness, travel, and riding motorcycles. In our conversation, Patrick and I discuss how he became interested in writing after a long career in law enforcement, his experience working with a co-writer, how he develops stories, how he uses podcasting in his business, how he markets and promotes his books, and much more. You can connect with Patrick and find out more about his resources and books at https://copsandwriters.com.

Nearly three years ago, in October 2022, the book The Faith of Elvis was published. I had the honor of writing it for Billy Stanley, Elvis’s stepbrother and the author of the book. Billy grew up with Elvis and spent 17 years by his side, working for Elvis, sharing his life, and being a core part of his entourage. Very few people knew Elvis as well as Billy and his brothers. We had an absolutely fantastic time putting the book together. In honor of the book’s two-year anniversary last Fall, I hosted a Q&A session with Billy where he answered lots of burning questions about Elvis from people who read the book or loved Elvis. A few of the questions Billy answers include: - Did Elvis do his own Bible study on Sundays since it was hard for him to attend church like a regular person? - Was Elvis a Republican or Democrat? - How did Elvis handle the appearance of ghosts at Graceland? - Was there a movie he made he didn’t like? … and many more! If you haven’t read the book, I highly encourage to check it out. It’s heartfelt, inspiring, funny, and will make you want to learn more about the one-of-a-kind human and amazing musical talent who was Elvis Presley. Hope you enjoy this Q&A session!

It goes without saying that there are two main words in the title of this podcast: Profitable and Writer. Chances are pretty high that, like me, you became a writer because you wanted to express yourself or tell stories. Or perhaps you were drawn to other elements of writing like publishing, editing, or research. But we do ourselves a huge disservice when we neglect the other component, which is the Profitable part. Profit isn’t just about making more money. It’s also about keeping more of the money we make. That’s why I’m thrilled to share this conversation with Danielle Hayden from Kickstart Accounting. Danielle is a genius when it comes to accounting and entrepreneurship—so much so that I entrust Kickstart Accounting with my own bookkeeping. Let me tell you a bit about her. Danielle is the Co-Founder and CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc. a bookkeeping and accounting firm that is on a mission to coach six figure (+ beyond) entrepreneurs so they can better understand their numbers through bookkeeping, financial analysis, and support in order to grow profitable, sustainable and enjoyable businesses. With over 15 years of experience in the world of finance, Danielle has worked her way from accounting firm intern to the Co-Founder of Kickstart Accounting. She understands how complex business finances can be, and she knows that entrepreneurs need more than just a bookkeeper; they need real financial analysis and support in order to get the confidence required to create the sustainable wealth they deserve.  She is also the host of the Business By the Books podcast. When Danielle isn't in her money mindset work, you can find her hiking or spending time with her family. In this conversation, Danielle and I focus on topics related to healthy business spending, what to pay yourself as a business owner, and other accounting and business essentials. Before we dive into this conversation, let me be direct: I know a lot of writers who ignore accounting and business basics because they don’t understand it, or they’re not sure what to do next. I can tell you from firsthand experience that when you engage with a great bookkeeping firm like I’ve found with Kickstart, it makes your life so much easier. I’ve been extremely happy with their services the last few years, and I encourage you to check them out. You can find out more about Danielle and Kickstart Accounting by visiting their site, https://kickstartaccountinginc.com.

As human beings, we are wired to crave stories. I’ll bet a day doesn’t go by when you don’t dive into stories in some fashion, whether it’s movies, TV shows, novels, audiobooks, or talking to your family about the crazy things that happened to you that day. We crave stories so much that even at night, when we’re asleep, our brains continue to concoct stories for us! Many writers give life and breath to their storytelling dreams by writing fiction. Whether you are a fiction veteran and have published your own books, or whether you have always wanted to write fiction but weren’t sure where to begin, you’ll love my conversation today with Jim Woods. Jim is a great friend who has been a creative inspiration to me for many years. I don’t remember how we first met, but it was well over ten years ago when we connected in some online writing circles. Jim has been a constant encourager to both me and lots of other writers. He is also one of the most superb writers and storytellers I know. Jim is a writing and story coach, and the author of many books, including his new western series, which includes Standoff at Sundown, Red Rock Justice, and Red Rock Vengeance, which just came out a few days ago. In this conversation, Jim and I talk at length about how to get started writing fiction. The topics range from his process of writing a novel, daily writing goals, his thoughts on story templates like the Hero’s Journey and Save the Cat, the purpose of scenes, first steps in writing fiction, and more. You can connect with Jim at his site: https://jimwoodswrites.com.

When I started podcasting over ten years ago, one of my major motivations was getting to have interesting conversations with interesting people who were doing interesting things. That sentence sounds a little convoluted on purpose but it still rings true: I love getting to sit down with people who are doing meaningful work and talk about the themes and threads running through it—and what you and I can learn. That’s certainly true of today’s conversation with Catherine Bramkamp. Catharine is the author of Out Loud: A Writing Adventure for Women. Even though it’s specifically a book for women, I found a lot of value in it as a writer. Catharine has written nearly 30 books in total, including fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. She is a world traveler in addition to being a writing coach and workshop facilitator. She lives in Nevada City, CA, and to the great relief of her children, she is not currently writing a memoir. On today’s episode, Catharine and I talk about a few themes from her book, Out Loud, including how the Muse keeps appointments, the value of journaling, and how to function as a writer when you’re socially challenged. You can find out more about Catharine and her books by visiting her site, https://catharine-bramkamp.com.

One of the realities that binds us all together as human beings is that we experience pain. It doesn’t matter what culture you’re from, how old you are, or what your life experience is … you deal with suffering on a daily basis. My guest today is here to help us understand that our pain and suffering can be a useful tool for writing. In fact, if we are willing to face our pain in life and use it as a pathway to sharing our story, it’s a powerful way to serve others. Jim Barnard is a pastor, author, speaker, and the founder of Tiller Coaching. He offers coaching to those who are suffering the reality of the expectation gap, where disappointment, dissatisfaction, and distress can cause real damage. Jim is the author of The Suffering Guy, a book that details his wife’s rare chronic illness that set in three months after their marriage and has led them on a challenging journey ever since. Told from Jim's point of view, the book details the real struggle to find hope amid suffering. This is a very raw and real conversation, somewhat different than the usual topics on this podcast. I hope you find comfort and guidance as Jim shares his story and we explore how our pain can be a pathway to writing that changes people’s lives. You can find out more Jim, his book, and his work by visiting https://tillercoaching.org and https://thesufferingguy.com.

What label would you use to describe what you do? Would it be writer, editor, designer, author, creative, artist, ghostwriter, publisher, entrepreneur, or maybe something else? Most of us would gravitate toward one or more of those terms. But I’ve never heard anyone in the writing and publishing world use the term “sales professional” or perhaps “salesperson” to describe what they do. Which is a bit funny if you think about it, since if you have a business, you are definitely in sales! That’s why I’m excited to feature this conversation with Phil Whitebloom, who is here to help us handle objections better and close more sales—no matter how you make your living as a writer. Phil has been a sales professional for more than 40 years. His employers and customers have included Sony, the White House, the Department of Defense, NASA, professional sports teams, universities, Fortune 500 companies, communication giants, small and medium-sized businesses, and startups. Phil is also the co-host of the “Been There, Sold That” podcast with Brianna Hendley. I have gotten to know Phil over the last couple of years since we have both been members of Honorée Corder’s Empire Builders Mastermind. During that time, I’ve come to know Phil as not only a great conversationalist and consummate expert in sales, but a genuinely kind and thoughtful human being as well. In this conversation, we dive into some themes from Phil’s excellent book, Handling Objections: Clues for Closing the Sale. You’ll learn how to start embracing idea of selling by shifting your mindset, how to address some common objections to pricing, lots of practical tips on sales, and much more. You’ll want to grab a pen and paper to take plenty of notes because Phil is such a wealth of knowledge! You can find out more about Phil’s book, Handling Objections, his podcast, and services by visiting his website, https://beentherecs.com.

If you’re like me, you probably have a shelf full of books on the craft of writing and storytelling. Yes, I admit it, I’m a junkie for books that dissect and analyze how to tell better stories. Whether you write blog posts, books, material for clients, and of course, novels, you can always learn to become a better storyteller. Today we’re going all the way back to one of the most important sources for learning how to tell stories better: the original teacher of story, Aristotle himself. My guest is Doug Vigliotti, author of Aristotle for Novelists: 14 Timeless Principles on the Art of Story. He the author of three additional books, including Tom Collins: A ‘Slightly Crooked’ Novel, which is available to listen to on, Slightly Crooked: Good Stories, Told Well, a podcast that also features his raw and unorthodox poem collection mini heartbreaks (or, little poems about life). Doug is also the host of Books for Men, a weekly podcast to inspire more men to read. He lives in New Haven, Connecticut. Aristotle for Novelists is, of course, based on Aristotle’s classic work, Poetics, which lays out the timeless rules of drama. Doug has done every writer a huge favor by distilling these principles down into an easy-to-understand format for every storyteller. In our conversation, we talk about how these principles apply to nonfiction writers, the six components of story, the three big questions a writer must answer in order to write their story, and much more. This was a fun conversation filled with creative tips for every kind of writer. Make sure to check out Doug’s books, podcasts, and more at https://douglasvigliotti.com/. Doug has generously agreed to give away a copy of Aristotle for Novelists. You can enter the drawing by visiting https://douglasvigliotti.com/kent.

I don’t know about you, but many times I’ve had this experience when listening to interviews on podcasts: I love what the guest is talking about, and it’s cool to hear about all their wins and successes. But then I relate what they are saying to my own experiences, which by comparison don’t seem so successful. There’s a clear reason we feel this way sometimes when listening to interviews. It’s because in public settings, people generally only share their wins, their successes, the things that make them look good. Everybody has good AND challenging times in their business. But we don’t often hear about the challenging times. That’s why we’re turning the tables a bit today. My good friend and fellow ghostwriter, Alice Sullivan, actually suggested the topic of this episode. We had talked before about how we handled it when client work goes wrong for various reasons. She thought it would be fun to make an episode about it, and I completely agreed. So in that spirit, what you’re about to hear is two ghostwriters sharing crazy stories about what happens when things go off the rails with clients, and how we have handled it. These situations include clients who take a long time to pay (or don’t pay at all), getting fired from jobs, dealing with a client’s personal crisis, clients who hate what you’ve written, how to deal with tricky situations with publishers, and much more. Just to be clear, in my experience these kinds of crazy situations have been pretty rare. Most the clients I’ve worked with have been amazing and delightful, and it was a pleasure to work on their books. But just like in real life, sometimes things don’t go according to plan. I hope this episode will not only be a fun listen, but will also give you some strategies for handling future tricky situations with clients. Before we get into the conversation, let me tell you a bit about Alice Sullivan. She is a #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling ghostwriter, New York Times bestselling editor (11 times over), collaborator, and speaker. A natural-born storyteller, she has written nearly 70 books and edited over 1,300 titles since 2001. In addition to her NYT and WSJ bestsellers, other books have achieved Amazon bestseller status and won several awards, such as Readers’ Favorite, Living Now Book Award, and Nashville’s Best Local Children’s Book Award. Alice has written for Forbes, Hay House, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Abingdon Press, Made for Grace Publishing, and many more publishers and outlets. Alice specializes in memoir, self-help, personal growth, and leadership because she loves personal stories and practical advice. Her favorite projects challenge her point of view, expand her knowledge, and add meaning to her life. Alice is not just a consummate storyteller and writer. She's also one of the most kind and down-to-earth people I know. Make sure to connect with her at https://alicesullivan.com.