Episode 165 / Thriller writer Amanda Traylor shares:

• The challenges of writing commercial fiction
• How she shifted from romance to thrillers with romantic subplots and why that genre is a better fit for her
• How she licensed a thriller series to a publisher then got the rights reverted
• Writing as a parent of a young child

Intro link: Greta and Megan’s kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/authorwheel/preparingtowrite

Timestamps:

[00:07:57] Marketing success isn’t guaranteed; what works for others may not work for you due to constantly changing circumstances & a degree of luck.

[00:10:48] Amanda learned that craft is just one part of success and that assumptions about the industry can be misleading.

[00:14:21] The publishing business is difficult and rejection is common, so it’s important to divorce yourself from the outcome and not take everything personally. Success is hard and similar to being an entrepreneur.

[00:16:45] Write what you want to read, but be willing to make changes to please your audience even if you don’t like them. Don’t forget that you are not your audience.

[00:20:15] Amanda started with romance but found her passion in writing mystery thrillers with a romantic subplot.

[00:26:32] Amanda signed over an international crime thriller series to a new publisher for greater potential, but took back rights after a year. Despite this, the author had a positive experience working with their developmental editors and learned a lot.

[00:33:36] Parenting during the pandemic made it impossible to write. Amanda took a year off.

[00:35:43] The speaker shares her struggle with balancing motherhood and writing but finds success in separating her time and being present in the moment. She also learned to write on the go, utilizing time during her child’s preschool commute to dictate words into her phone.

[00:38:44] Networking with fellow writers and publishing professionals is crucial for support, understanding, and career advancement.

💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

Amanda Traylor website: www.amandatraylor.com

More links: 

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast

Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/launchplan

Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians