If a book has no reviews, does anyone read it? Social media has changed the world of book reviews and discoverability. In this episode, Russ & Tim chat with prolific writer, editor, and reviewer Alana Joli Abbott about the world of book reviews, how self-published authors can get in the game, and why it's important to step outside your reading comfort zone.

No fear? Then your character may not have much depth. Fear drives characters to make choices, good or bad, as they confront the ghosts they've been avoiding. In this episode, Russ and Tim explore how fear shapes a character’s behavior and decisions throughout a story.

What does it take to become a full-time writer? Russ and Tim chat with horror author Nick Roberts about the ins and outs of the profession. From maintaining a disciplined routine and working with traditional publishers, to the nitty-gritty details of establishing a writing business.

Want a good twist for your story? Earn it. This episode Russ & Tim explore the various types of twists found in fiction and why it's important to earn them with setups and payoffs.

How do you find inspiration? Where can it be found? Once you find it how do you maintain it? This episode Russ & Tim dive into their sources of inspiration and how they maintain it, or not, throughout their writing.

It's one thing to self-publish, but what does it take to start your own publishing imprint? In this episode, Russ and Tim sit down with fantasy author Scott Colby to discuss why and how he created an imprint for his Deviant Magic series, as well as the pros, cons, and lessons learned along the way.

An editor is essential if you want to take your manuscript from a draft to a polished and professional book, but how do you know what kind of edit you need and where to find the right working partner? In this episode, Russ and Tim break down the different types of editors, where to find them, and share their own experiences, mistakes, and tips to ensure your manuscript shines.

Backstory is essential to establishing who your characters are and the decisions they'll make in your story, but how much is too much? In this REPLAY episode from 2024, Russ and Tim discuss backstory, how they approached it for their first novels, and how they plan on using it in their new works.