531 episodes

Join author and screenwriter Mark Stay with coach and entrepreneur Mark Desvaux, as they discover the secrets to writing a bestseller and challenge themselves and you to write, market and self-published a bestselling book in just one year. Each week, they are guided by and interview million-selling, chart-topping authors, publishers on the inside, editors, agents, social media specialists, and many more big names who play a part in the bestseller process. From the writing to marketing, plotting to publishing, learn the secrets to help you write your way to the top of the charts.

The Bestseller Experiment Bestseller Experiment

    • Arts
    • 4.9 • 57 Ratings

Join author and screenwriter Mark Stay with coach and entrepreneur Mark Desvaux, as they discover the secrets to writing a bestseller and challenge themselves and you to write, market and self-published a bestselling book in just one year. Each week, they are guided by and interview million-selling, chart-topping authors, publishers on the inside, editors, agents, social media specialists, and many more big names who play a part in the bestseller process. From the writing to marketing, plotting to publishing, learn the secrets to help you write your way to the top of the charts.

    EP498: Karen Storey - “How to Become a Short Story Superstar”

    EP498: Karen Storey - “How to Become a Short Story Superstar”

    Karen Storey's name has become synonymous with success in short story writing. With an impressive one-in-three win rate out of over 40 competitions last year, Karen exemplifies what it means to blend passion with strategy in writing. In this episode, Karen shares the secrets of her success, including the importance of great endings. In a final twist, we surprise Karen with the Bestseller Academy All-Star Award for her outstanding achievements.

    • 52 min
    EP497: Ben Aaronovitch and the Great Bollocking…

    EP497: Ben Aaronovitch and the Great Bollocking…

    Ben Aaronovitch started writing for Doctor Who and became the author of the bestselling Peter Grant series that started with Rivers Of London in 2011 and has been hugely successful, regularly hitting the Sunday Times bestsellers top ten. We were delighted to get Ben for a conversation full of fireworks.

    • 55 min
    EP495: Jacqueline O'Mahony - “Sheer Determination Beats Everything”

    EP495: Jacqueline O'Mahony - “Sheer Determination Beats Everything”

    Jacqueline O’Mahony was named Young Irish Writer of the Year by the Irish Examiner when she was fourteen. After a BA, MA and PhD she worked at Condé Nast, Vogue and Associated Newspapers as an arts editor. Her debut novel, A River in the Trees, was nominated for the Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award and the Not the Booker Prize in 2020. Her latest book Sing, Wild Bird, Sing is set during the Irish Famine, and is a story about the indomitable will to survive—and to flourish—against nearly impossible odds. It sold over 40,000 copies in its first 5 days and has over 17,000 reviews on Amazon.

    • 48 min
    EP495: Joe Abercrombie - “The Best Writing Advice Ever”

    EP495: Joe Abercrombie - “The Best Writing Advice Ever”

    Joe burst onto the fantasy scene in 2003 with his debut The Blade Itself. His books have climbed high up the Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller, and he had some unusual advice for writers when we spoke to him at GollanczFest.

    Joe is best known for the First Law Trilogy – The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged and Last Argument of Kings – and the stand-alone novels in the same world – Best Served Cold, The Heroes, and Red Country.
    He has also written the Shattered Sea trilogy for young (and old) adults – Half a King, Half the World, and Half a War.
    The world of the First Law collides with the industrial age in a new trilogy – The Age of Madness – which began in September 2019 with A Little Hatred, continued a year later with The Trouble With Peace and concludes in September 2021 with The Wisdom of Crowds.

    • 47 min
    EP494: Rachel Lynch - “Speed Drafts, PTSD & The Rich”

    EP494: Rachel Lynch - “Speed Drafts, PTSD & The Rich”

    In this episode, we dive into the world of Rachel Lynch.  Rachel Lynch is a renowned crime fiction author whose work has captivated over a million readers. Rachel is best known for her gripping Kelly Porter series of 12 books, set against the picturesque backdrop of the Lake District. She began writing full time in 2016 and Canelo signed her first three novels in 2018. The Rich is Rachel’s latest book and first standalone psychological thriller.

    • 40 min
    EP493: Bryan Cranston on... Writing, Breaking Bad and Donald Trump

    EP493: Bryan Cranston on... Writing, Breaking Bad and Donald Trump

    Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston tells us about his life and new bestselling memoir, A Life In Parts. Oscar-nominated, with two Golden Globes, two Tony Awards and 6 time Emmy winner, he’s best known for roles in Malcolm in the Middle, Seinfeld and most famously, Walter White. Few people know that he is also an accomplished writer having written a number of screenplays, plays, and his autobiography. We began our conversation by asking to speak to Bryan Cranston the writer…

    • 59 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
57 Ratings

57 Ratings

CatrinBlair ,

Super helpful

Among my top five writing and publishing podcast plus I like the way the two Marks giggle!

Athena intheDAKS ,

Inspirational

I have been going through the episodes from the beginning and find this an essential resource. It’s also great fun.

Alexstrath1 ,

Mark & Mark are your gurus

Mark and Mark treat the publishing journey as it should be - an experiment to try everything you can and learn from those who have made it work. Thank you!

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