Explore every episode of the podcast Indie Writers Club
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 065 - Building a Direct Empire (with AP Beswick) | 28 Nov 2025 | 00:55:28 | |
We are joined by the multi-talented Adam Beswick (AP Beswick) to talk empire building. Adam has used TikTok to build a loyal following of readers and he now focuses on selling direct to them, using TikTok Shop and TikTok Lives. He's an evangelist for the platform and he has a fantastic mindset. It's a great chat!
USEFUL LINKS: Get 15% of annual plans at our sponsor ProWritingAid by using code IWC15 Join our Patreon for exclusive access including Live Q&As with James & Cara and your chance to discuss your writing career. | |||
| 064 - Drafting a Novel | 21 Nov 2025 | 00:41:22 | |
It's NovelNovember and we're both drafting a new novel! USEFUL LINKS: Get 15% of annual plans at our sponsor ProWritingAid by using code IWC15 Join our Patreon for exclusive access including Live Q&As with James & Cara and your chance to discuss your writing career. | |||
| 055 - Are Facebook Ads Back? | 19 Sep 2025 | 00:37:19 | |
In episode 55, James reports from the Floridian beach where he's attending the annual NINC conference. He and Cara also report some encouraging signs from their Facebook Ads campaigns. USEFUL LINKS: Join our Patreon for exclusive access including Live Q&As with James & Cara and your chance to discuss your writing career. https://www.indiewritersclub.com/support
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| 054 - Becoming a Full Time Author | 12 Sep 2025 | 00:50:21 | |
Making the switch from hobbyist to full-time author is a dream for many. But it comes with its own challenges. From two of us who have become full time self-employed, we go through some of the pitfalls and areas to think about. USEFUL LINKS: Self Publishing Launchpad is open for enrolment: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/launchpad Join our Patreon for exclusive access including Live Q&As with James & Cara and your chance to discuss your writing career. | |||
| 053 - Audio Books for Authors - Part 2 | 05 Sep 2025 | 00:47:52 | |
It's part 2 of our discussion about generating income from audio versions of your books. We talk about the AI options among other things, and James has a mini rant about the opposition many authors still face, because they use the latest technology which is available to all. USEFUL LINKS: Join our Patreon for exclusive access including Live Q&As with James & Cara and your chance to discuss your writing career.
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| 052 - Audio Books for Authors - Part 1 | 29 Aug 2025 | 00:34:12 | |
We take a two episode dive into audio books. In the first part we discuss the options facing indies, such as wide or exclusive, self produce or collaborate etc. USEFUL LINKS: Join our Patreon for exclusive access including Live Q&As with James & Cara and your chance to discuss your writing career. https://www.indiewritersclub.com/support Self Publishing Launchpad Waitlist: | |||
| 051 - How to Plot Your Next Novel | 22 Aug 2025 | 00:44:32 | |
There's no correct way to plot, but here are our suggestions. Mentioned in the pod were my 5 points to note during plotting - see below the links. USEFUL LINKS: Join our Patreon for exclusive access including Live Q&As with James & Cara and your chance to discuss your writing career. https://www.indiewritersclub.com/support
Novel November - a new way to write a novel in November https://prowritingaid.com/novel-november Five Plotting Points to help Guide You: 1. Conflict and stakes Identify the main conflict that drives your story forward Ensure the stakes are high enough to keep readers engaged Consider both external conflicts (between characters or characters and their environment) and internal conflicts (within the characters themselves) 2. Character arcs Develop your main characters' journeys throughout the story Ensure each main character has a clear goal, motivation, and potential for change Consider how the plot events will affect and change your characters 3. Pacing and structure Decide on the right structure for your story (e.g., three-act structure, hero's journey) Balance action, dialogue, and description to maintain a good pace Consider the timing of key events, revelations, and twists to keep readers engaged 4. Causality and coherence Ensure that plot events have a cause-and-effect relationship Avoid coincidences or deus ex machina solutions Make sure all subplots and character arcs are coherently tied to the main plot 5. Theme and message DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THEME IN FIRST DRAFT Consider the overarching theme or message you want to convey through your story Ensure that your plot, character arcs, and conflicts all reinforce this central theme Avoid being too heavy-handed or preachy in your message delivery | |||
| 050 - News Round Up | 15 Aug 2025 | 00:47:44 | |
Episode 50 is a good time to take stock of the industry and discuss the latest developments that can affect our indie world. | |||
| 049 - Your First Two Years as an Indie Author | 08 Aug 2025 | 00:47:10 | |
Let's talk about the author platform you need to build. This episode covers those crucial foundation months as you start out. | |||
| 048 - Are Facebook Ads Still Number One for Authors? | 01 Aug 2025 | 00:40:44 | |
Welcome to episode 48 of the Indie Writers Club. This week Cara (spicy romance, romance) and James Blatch (thrillers) discuss Facebook (Meta) Ads. For years they have reigned supreme as the goto resource to drive readers to Amazon. But are they still working for writers? | |||
| 047 - How to Translate Your Books and Sell in Foreign Markets | 25 Jul 2025 | 00:59:43 | |
In this episode we deep dive into the process and strategy for launching your English language books into global markets. We recommend scribeshadow.com (they are not a sponsor, this is a genuine recommendation). You can use our referral code IWC50 for 50% off your first month. You download a free PDF that contains the key points from the discussion and it has a couple of useful appendices on Amazon categories in German and Dutch and a guide to pricing in Brazil and Mexico. Head here to grab your copy: indiewritersclub.com/translations | |||
| 046 - The Dark Side of AI | 18 Jul 2025 | 00:35:24 | |
I'll confess, I love using AI for various parts of my marketing and editing, but even as an advocate of what AI can do for us writers, even I know there is a dark side. I experienced that recently with an email and in this episode we talk about how scammers are always one-step ahead. USEFUL LINKS: Join our Patreon for exclusive access including Live Q&As with James & Cara and your chance to discuss your writing career. | |||
| 063 - Influencing the Influencers | 14 Nov 2025 | 00:35:35 | |
This week Cara & James touch on the subject of influencers and how to use them. James also talks about the coming AI storm for ads, he reports on AuthorNation and rants about the cost of living! USEFUL LINKS: Get 15% of annual plans at our sponsor ProWritingAid by using code IWC15 Join our Patreon for exclusive access including Live Q&As with James & Cara and your chance to discuss your writing career. | |||
| 045 - How to Use an AI Manuscript Critique | 11 Jul 2025 | 00:48:04 | |
In this episode of the Indie Writers Club, James and Cara discuss various aspects of writing, the use of AI in manuscript critiques, and the impact of translations on indie publishing. They explore the benefits of using tools like ProWritingAid, the importance of character development, and the themes that resonate within their stories. The conversation also touches on the supportive nature of the indie writing community and the exciting potential of expanding into foreign markets through translations. USEFUL LINKS: Join our Patreon for exclusive access including Live Q&As with James & Cara and your chance to discuss your writing career. https://www.indiewritersclub.com/support | |||
| 044 - Writers Retreat and Conference Report | 04 Jul 2025 | 00:39:11 | |
In this episode, Cara and James reflect on their recent experiences at the first IWC Writers' Retreat and the SPS Live conference. Check out Julia's videos from our retreat: https://www.youtube.com/@suzybussell | |||
| 043 - How to Survive the Editing Process | 27 Jun 2025 | 00:48:54 | |
It's the Indie Writers Club with Cara & James! This week we talk editing/revising/rewriting, whatever you call it. Some of us love it (me) some hate it (Cara) but we all have to do it! | |||
| 042 - Create the Perfect Writing Environment | 20 Jun 2025 | 00:50:46 | |
Do you listen to music? Work on a sofa? Write at 5am or midnight? In this episode we discuss the various ways we can create an atmosphere conducive to creativity and productivity. | |||
| 041 - It's time to work less to achieve more... | 13 Jun 2025 | 00:51:19 | |
It might sound counter intuitive, but in this episode we'll use Cal Newport's guide to productivity to show that working less and working better is the future. It will take a mindset change to shake off the notion that we 'need to be busy' in order to be productive. _______________________________________ Join our Patreon to get closer to the Show: indiewritersclub.com/support _______________________________________ Episode Links: Please check out Cal's two books on productivity: Deep Work: https://mybook.to/deepwork-cal-newport Slow Productivity: https://mybook.to/slow-productivity
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| 040 - The Amazon Algorithm Change You NEED to Know About | 06 Jun 2025 | 00:44:02 | |
Episode 040 of The Indie Writers Club! | |||
| 039 - How Many Authors Now Use AI? | 30 May 2025 | 00:48:15 | |
In this week's episode James & Cara review BookBub's author survey on attitudes to AI. You can read the survey using the link below. | |||
| 038 - GLADIATOR II: What a Mess! | 23 May 2025 | 00:53:37 | |
In this episode we review and dissect Ridley's Scott's sequel to the incredible film Gladiator. Spoiler alert, we did not use the expression 'incredible' to describe it... | |||
| 037 - How to Get Your Book Made into a Hollywood Film! | 16 May 2025 | 00:56:29 | |
In this special episode, James is joined by Hollywood scriptwriter Tom Donnelly. They discuss the chances of getting your book optioned and how to create a story that will grip your reader. | |||
| 036 - Indie News Round Up | 09 May 2025 | 00:42:18 | |
In this episode of the Indie Writers Club, James reports back from the Global Publishing Summit in Seville, they discuss the launch of a men only publishing house and they discuss James' venture into AI translations. | |||
| 062 - News from AuthorNation Vegas | 07 Nov 2025 | 00:36:34 | |
In this week's episode, James reports from AuthorNation, indie publishing's largest conference. The talk is of new technology, a recent slump in ads effectiveness and the possibility of more seismic changes to come! USEFUL LINKS: Get 15% of annual plans at our sponsor ProWritingAid by using code IWC15 Join our Patreon for exclusive access including Live Q&As with James & Cara and your chance to discuss your writing career. https://www.indiewritersclub.com/support
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| 035 - Character First Writing | 02 May 2025 | 00:38:10 | |
In this episode of the Indie Writers Club, James & Cara revisit the topic of Character. Story versus character is a debate we had in an earlier episode and we decided that the perfect outcome is when your characters lead the story and when the story changes your characters. As Sharon Horgan says...people remember the characters long after they've forgotten the story. LINKS Join our Patreon: https://www.indiewritersclub.com/support How to deal with bad reviews: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdFmF5rr/ | |||
| 034 - Selling Your Backlist | 25 Apr 2025 | 00:33:05 | |
James reports from an author mastermind event in Aruba (not in Mexico, it turns out). They discuss various tips and ideas especially around selling your existing titles. Also - try out the Google Animation tool on your covers: https://aistudio.google.com/generate-video | |||
| 033 - Self Publishing News & Trends | 18 Apr 2025 | 00:51:10 | |
In this episode James & Cara discuss the week's developments in the indie world and James starts an experiment to see if AI translation service Scribeshadow can do a good enough job on his novels to launch them in France with no human intervention. | |||
| 032 - Writing in a Series for Optimal Sales | 11 Apr 2025 | 00:44:06 | |
In this episode James & Cara discuss the latest developments in the world of publishing and they discuss how to write in a series or serial to maximise book sales. Support the Show and get exclusive benefits by joining our Patreon: https://www.indiewritersclub.com/support | |||
| 031 - Patreon Launch | 04 Apr 2025 | 00:46:31 | |
It's your chance to become a part of the IWC and help us stay on air. Head to indiewritersclub.com/support to sign up. | |||
| 030 - Did Meta Steal Your Book? | 28 Mar 2025 | 00:56:26 | |
We discuss the use by Meta of pirated versions of books to build their AI. And we talk about our own action points from the fabulous Ireland's Publishing Show. Guardian Article in response to Bill Bryson comments: Sunday Times article in response to Bill Bryson comments ($): https://www.thetimes.com/article/bbf57595-f4e3-412c-a96d-9012f1b4a9b8 | |||
| 029 - Does AI Hate Your Novel? | 21 Mar 2025 | 00:35:50 | |
In this episode Cara and James road test a new AI manuscript analysis tool from seasoned experts, ProWritingAid. The results were...unexpected. Try out the tool yourself: indiewritersclub.com/pwa | |||
| 028 - Self Publishing's Public Image | 14 Mar 2025 | 00:52:26 | |
In this episode of the Indie Writers Club, James & Cara discuss Bill Bryson's reported attack on self publishing and the wider perception of our industry. Links: One place left in the IWC Cambridge Writers Retreat: indiewritersclub.com/retreat | |||
| 027 - Book Launch Strategies | 07 Mar 2025 | 00:45:24 | |
In this episode of the Indie Writers Club, Cara and James discuss the tips and tricks for gaining maximum visibility for your book launch. | |||
| 026 - Do Facebook Ads Still Work? | 28 Feb 2025 | 00:33:28 | |
Indie authors have used Facebook (Meta) ads since day one, but we need to be honest with ourselves - are they still performing? | |||
| 061 - Author Scams & Ghost Writing | 31 Oct 2025 | 00:39:40 | |
This week we delve into the intriguing world of ghost writing. You might know Cara is/has been, a professional ghost writer and she spills the beans on this industry that takes place largely in the shadows. | |||
| 025 - Translate Your Novel into German | 21 Feb 2025 | 00:38:21 | |
Welcome to the Indie Writers Club, a place to chat about all things self publishing. | |||
| 024 - Can You Copyright An AI Novel? | 14 Feb 2025 | 01:00:16 | |
Join Cara & James as they discuss the latest developments in the ongoing saga of AI and copyright legalities. | |||
| 023 How to Develop Your Main Character | 07 Feb 2025 | 01:12:34 | |
They come for the story but stay for the characters... That's how important character development is. In this episode we explore why character is crucial, when it's good, when it's not so good and some practical tips on getting your development to help your plot.
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| 022 - The 22 Rules of Storytelling | 31 Jan 2025 | 00:48:55 | |
The 22 rules of storytelling from Emma Coats, a former Pixar writer, have been doing the rounds for years and for good reason. Although Emma herself now describes them as guidelines, rather than rules, they are seen as the foundation on which the best novels are built. | |||
| 021 - How to Deal with Bad Reviews | 24 Jan 2025 | 00:48:55 | |
We all get One Star reviews. But when should we take them seriously and when can they be safely ignored? In this episode we talk about our own hurtful reviews and talk about coping strategies. | |||
| 020 - Everyday Wisdom to Guide Your Decisions | 17 Jan 2025 | 00:51:20 | |
In this episode of the Indie Writers Club, Cara Clare and James Blatch discuss various topics including the potential ban of TikTok in the US, the importance of diversifying social media presence, and the planning of an indie writers retreat. They delve into productivity techniques known as 'razors', exploring how these principles can simplify decision-making and enhance productivity for writers. The conversation emphasises the need for authors to adapt to changes in the digital landscape while maintaining a focus on their craft. In this conversation, James and Cara Clare explore various cognitive biases and decision-making frameworks that impact authors and their publishing journeys. They discuss the importance of understanding how perceptions can be influenced, the significance of prioritizing tasks effectively, and the challenges of self-assessment in creative fields. The dialogue also touches on the dynamics of risk management, accountability, and the need for simplicity in complex systems, providing valuable insights for writers and entrepreneurs alike. | |||
| 019 - How Much Did We Earn in 2024? | 10 Jan 2025 | 00:50:10 | |
In this episode of the Indie Writers Club, James & Cara discuss their ad spend and book revenue for 2024. | |||
| 018 - Self Publishing in 2025 | 03 Jan 2025 | 00:50:05 | |
Happy New Year from the Indie Writers Club. | |||
| 017 - Christmas Special from the Pub | 25 Dec 2024 | 00:18:33 | |
James & Cara are down the pub with a couple of author friends to reflect on 2024. | |||
| 016 - Get Your Writing Done! | 20 Dec 2024 | 00:49:42 | |
James returns. Cara chats to Sacha Black about productivity tips. | |||
| 060 - How to Create an INCREDIBLE AI Assistant | 24 Oct 2025 | 00:55:25 | |
This week we have a bona fide guest! Cissy Mecca is a close friend and fellow author whose work I'm constantly admiring—she's brilliant at finding innovative ways to streamline our publishing workflow. (And she's an incredible writer, too.) We recently stayed together in Florence, and I was fascinated watching her receive her daily structure from her assistant "Pedro." Turns out Pedro isn't a person at all, but an AI she's trained to organize her entire work life, freeing her up to focus on the creativity she loves. I've already started training my own AI, Princess Leia, and I'm loving it. _____________________________________________________________________ USEFUL LINKS: Get 15% of annual plans at our sponsor ProWritingAid by using code IWC15 Join our Patreon for exclusive access including Live Q&As with James & Cara and your chance to discuss your writing career. | |||
| 015 - What's Up With Facebook Ads? | 06 Dec 2024 | 00:54:36 | |
In this episode James & Cara discuss the latest tips and tricks with Meta Ads (Facebook & Instagram). | |||
| 014 Big News Episode | 29 Nov 2024 | 00:48:20 | |
There's so much news about in indie publishing, James & Cara take time to digest and analyse: | |||
| 013 - Is it legal for AI to learn from our books? | 22 Nov 2024 | 01:02:46 | |
James is back from AuthorNation in Las Vegas. During this week's Indie Writers Club episode James discusses the legal presentation from Alicia Wright regarding the law, ethics and AI. | |||
| 012 - That First Draft Mountain | 15 Nov 2024 | 00:34:51 | |
Get episode alerts at indiewritersclub.com | |||