The Wordslinger Podcast

From award-winning and bestselling author J. Kevin Tumlinson, this weekly podcast explores the stories that shape us into who we are, and shape the world into what it can become. There are interviews with authors and non-authors, deep dives into useful ideas, and solo-slinger episodes that are authentic and real, aimed at giving you the best, most honest advice about life as a writer, creator, and creative entrereneur. Every episode is a story. It's all about the story here.

The Wordslinger Podcast is a arts podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 311 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts The Wordslinger Podcast, a arts show with 311 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #308

  I Tested “AI Slop.” The Results Surprised Me

  Aug 18, 202610 min

  People love throwing around the phrase “AI slop.” But does using AI actually hurt your content—or are creators reacting to something that audiences barely notice? I decided to stop guessing and test it. For several weeks, I ran YouTube A/B/C tests comparing AI-generated thumbnails against thumbnails built from traditional photos and graphics. And the results were not what the loudest AI critics might expect. In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, I break down what happened, what the numbers actually showed, and why I think creators need a better definition of “AI slop.” I also talk about where I personally draw the line with AI. I do not use AI to write my books . I love writing too much for that. But I do use AI as a business tool for things like editing assistance, titles, descriptions, thumbnails, and other tasks that can save me time and energy. The question isn’t simply, “Did AI touch this?” The better question might be: Did the tool augment the creator—or replace the creator? If you're a writer, creator, publisher, or creative entrepreneur trying to figure out where AI fits into your work, this conversation is for you. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at http://knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS ⏱️ TIMECODES 00:00 — Welcome to the Wordslinger 10-Shot 01:14 — Why I wanted to talk about “AI slop” 01:52 — The backlash writers get for using AI 02:58 — I do NOT use AI to write my books 03:24 — Where I actually use AI in my business 04:43 — I put AI thumbnails through an A/B/C test 05:39 — The surprising results 06:36 — AI as augmentation instead of replacement 07:17 — “Why don't you just hire someone?” 08:04 — What “AI slop” should actually mean 09:09 — The test results are in: Did AI win? SUBSCRIBE TO WORDSLINGER If you're building a life and career around writing, publishing, storytelling, and creative entrepreneurship, subscribe to the Wordslinger channel . This is where writers come for practical, experience-based guidance on becoming better writers, publishing smarter, building an audience, navigating new technology, and creating a sustainable career around their work. You can also explore the Wordslinger Podcast, Wordslinger 10-Shots, and Wordslinger Story Cuts playlists at: https://youtube.com/wordslingerpodcast FIND KEVIN Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com Wordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.com SERVICES FOR AUTHORS Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5 Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor: https://authoranchor.com #Writing #Authors #AIForWriters #ArtificialIntelligence #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthors #CreativeEntrepreneur #Publishing #WritingCommunity #Wordslinger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #307

  I Can’t Afford to Self-Publish” — Wordslinger 10-Sh0t

  Aug 17, 202620 min

  “I can’t afford to self-publish.” I hear this from writers all the time—and I think it’s based on one of the biggest misconceptions about indie publishing. You can self-publish a book for $0 . In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, I break down the real costs of independent publishing, including editing, formatting, cover design, distribution, and marketing—and show you where you can spend money, where you can save it, and where you may not need to spend anything at all. We’ll also talk about the important difference between legitimate indie publishing and expensive “publishing services” that charge authors thousands of dollars while taking control of their work. Because here’s the bigger point: You don’t need a huge budget to become an indie author. But if you want to build a sustainable writing career, you do need to start thinking like a publisher—and like a business owner. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS ☕ IN THIS EPISODE 00:00 — “I can’t afford to self-publish” 01:17 — Indie publishing vs. vanity publishing 02:19 — When publishing services become a scam 03:22 — Do you really need to pay for professional editing? 04:23 — Free and inexpensive book formatting options 05:52 — Scrivener, Vellum, and other formatting tools 06:24 — Draft2Digital and low-cost publishing tools 08:28 — Creating a book cover on a budget 10:33 — How little self-publishing can actually cost 11:11 — Free ebook and print distribution 11:58 — Can you really publish for $0–$100? 12:39 — Marketing your books without spending money 13:22 — Building your author platform for free 14:41 — The real cost of indie publishing 15:17 — Why writers need to think like business owners 16:41 — The huge advantage of ebooks and print-on-demand 17:38 — Traditional publishing won’t eliminate your expenses 19:34 — Give your book every chance to succeed SUBSCRIBE TO WORDSLINGER If you’re a writer trying to build a career—not just finish a manuscript—subscribe to Wordslinger. This is where we talk honestly about writing, publishing, book marketing, author business, creativity, technology, and what it actually takes to make a living with your words. Whether you’re indie publishing, traditionally publishing, or still figuring out which road to take, you’ll find practical guidance here for every stage of your writing and publishing journey. FIND KEVIN Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com Wordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.com SERVICES FOR AUTHORS Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5 Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books—and more—at AuthorAnchor: https://authoranchor.com TOOLS & RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Draft2Digital Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) Kobo Barnes & Noble Google Play Books Apple Books Canva Calibre LaTeX Scrivener Vellum Fiverr Substack YOUR TURN: What do you do to keep the cost of indie publishing down? What free or inexpensive tools have saved you money? Drop them in the comments—other writers may discover exactly the resource they need. #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthor #WritingAdvice #BookPublishing #AuthorBusiness #BookMarketing #WritingCommunity #Wordslinger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #306

  Your First Draft Is Supposed to Be Bad

  Aug 13, 202651 min

  Kevin on Kraft: EPISODE 1! **Kevin on Kraft** is an occasional conversation between writers Kevin Tumlinson and Donn King about the craft, process, and strange magic of writing. **Your first draft is supposed to be bad.** Seriously. One of the biggest mistakes writers make is expecting the first draft to look anything like the finished book. That pressure to get everything right—to nail the characters, plot, dialogue, pacing, and prose on the first try—can make finishing the book exponentially harder. In this first episode of **Kevin on Kraft**, Donn King and I dig into how stories actually get written: discovery writing, plotting versus pantsing, developing characters as you go, getting unstuck when the story stalls, and why sometimes the best solution to writer’s block is to **blow up the spaceship** and see what happens. We also get into where ideas come from, why originality may be overrated, how writers can borrow familiar storytelling patterns without copying, and one of my favorite principles of storytelling: **Same—but different.** If you're writing your first novel, your seventieth, or you're simply trying to make a living doing creative work, this conversation is a reminder that you don't have to know everything before you begin. You just have to begin. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS ☕ **IN THIS EPISODE** 00:00 — Welcome to Kevin on Kraft 05:20 — Why we're talking about writing craft 09:25 — Kevin's path through writing and publishing 13:17 — Why persistence matters for creative careers 15:20 — Everyone is creative—even if they don't think they are 16:37 — How Kevin builds stories from a title 22:26 — What actually makes a story a story? 25:55 — Plotters, pantsers, and discovery writers 30:50 — Why trying to write a perfect first draft is a mistake 32:23 — What to do when your story gets stuck 32:49 — The “looping” technique for getting your momentum back 33:56 — Sometimes you should just blow up the spaceship 36:45 — Using rewriting to change the past 39:47 — How to create plot twists that make you look like a genius 40:30 — Kevin's “Ash Bin” trick for deleted scenes 43:16 — Inspiration, homage, and when it becomes copying 46:02 — Why every story uses the same ingredients 46:32 — The secret is “same but different” 47:30 — What's next for Kevin on Kraft? ️ **FIND DONN KING** Donn King's website: https://donnking.com Donn King on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/daking2742 The Alignment Show: https://thealignmentshow.com King's Chronicles on Substack: https://kingschronicles.substack.com ✍️ **FIND Kevin** Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com Wordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.com ️ **SERVICES FOR AUTHORS** **Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid:** https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5 **Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital:** https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger **Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books—and more—at AuthorAnchor:** https://authoranchor.com **SUBSCRIBE TO WORDSLINGER** If you're serious about writing better books, building a publishing career, growing your audience, and making a living from your creativity, **subscribe to the Wordslinger channel**. This is where writers come for practical, experience-driven guidance on writing, publishing, marketing, creativity, and building a sustainable career around the work you love. And leave a comment: **Are you a plotter, a pantser, or somewhere in between? And what do you do when your story gets stuck?** #WritingAdvice #WritingTips #Authors #Writers #WritingCraft #FirstDraft #NovelWriting #CreativeWriting #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthors #Wordslinger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #305

  I Sold 10 Million Books and All I Got was this AI Witch Hunt

  Aug 6, 202630 min

  I sold more than 10 million books over the course of my writing career—and somehow I’m still spending my time talking about AI witch hunts. In this episode of the Wordslinger Podcast, I dig into the growing problem of AI detection tools, false accusations, and platforms giving users new ways to report writers for supposedly creating “AI slop.” These tools are producing false positives, damaging reputations, costing writers subscribers, and potentially putting publishing contracts and careers at risk. And the deeper problem is that writers are increasingly being treated as guilty before they’ve had any opportunity to defend their work. But this episode isn’t only about AI. I also talk about what selling 10 million books has taught me about long-term success, why your career may look very different when you view it in aggregate, and why writers should spend less time obsessing over goals and more time building a reliable creative process. We’ll also explore: • Why AI detection software is dangerous for writers • How false accusations can create real financial damage • Why outrage-driven content is tempting—but creatively limiting • What 20 years of book sales taught me about success • Why consistency matters more than ambitious daily goals • How to build a writing habit without burning yourself out • Why your backlist is one of your greatest career assets • How the “same but different” principle applies to books, covers, and branding • Why writers, creators, and entrepreneurs need a unified platform Your writing career will not be built by one viral moment, one massive launch, or one perfect book. It will be built by showing up, improving your process, and creating work consistently over time. If you’re a writer looking for practical, honest guidance on writing, publishing, marketing, creative business, and building a sustainable author career, subscribe to the Wordslinger channel. This is the place for writers who want real-world advice for every stage of the writing and publishing journey. TIMECODES 00:00 – Welcome to Wordslinger 00:50 – The AI detection witch hunt 02:10 – Why AI detectors generate false positives 03:03 – Writers losing contracts over AI accusations 03:59 – The financial consequences for Substack writers 05:23 – Could AI detection become automated defamation? 06:29 – LinkedIn introduces AI-slop reporting 07:56 – How trolls weaponize reporting tools 08:54 – Why outrage content gets more views 09:59 – Refusing to become the AI witch-hunt show 10:51 – Selling 10 million books and earning $2.4 million 12:08 – What long-term success actually looks like 13:41 – How one book can suddenly change a career 14:47 – The power of a breakout book 15:16 – Why process matters more than goals 16:46 – What happens after you reach the goal 17:41 – Building consistency like a muscle 18:30 – Why starting too big leads to failure 19:05 – How to create a sustainable writing habit 20:42 – Turning consistency into finished books 21:10 – Writing lucrative commissioned fiction 21:58 – Why your backlist is where the real money lives 22:58 – Expanding and tightening the Wordslinger brand 24:01 – The “same but different” principle 25:28 – Using genre expectations in covers and branding 26:49 – Building a consistent author platform 27:43 – Why subscribing helps support the show 29:06 – Final thoughts VISIT AND CONNECT Wordslinger Podcast: https://wordslingerpodcast.com Improve your writing with ProWritingAid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5 Publish and distribute your books with Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger Get virtual assistant support through AuthorAnchor: https://authoranchor.com Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com Subscribe to the Wordslinger YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/wordslingerpodcast QUESTION FOR YOU Do you think AI detection tools protect writers—or create an even greater threat to their careers? Leave your answer in the comments. I read and respond to every comment. #WritingAdvice #IndieAuthor #SelfPublishing #AIDetection #ArtificialIntelligence #AuthorBusiness #WritingCommunity #CreativeEntrepreneur #BookPublishing #AuthorBranding #WritingProcess #WordslingerPodcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #304

  AI Witch Hunts and the New Writing Economy

  Jul 30, 202637 min

  AI detectors are accusing real writers of using artificial intelligence—and people are losing grades, contracts, opportunities, and reputations because of unreliable software. Meanwhile, writers are still wrestling with another difficult question: How do you actually build a sustainable writing career when book sales alone may not provide a dependable living? In this episode of Wordslinger, J. Kevin Tumlinson examines the growing AI-detection witch hunt, the difference between using AI as a creative tool and allowing it to replace creativity, and the unfair consequences writers face when flawed technology is treated as proof. Kevin also explores the changing economics of the writing life. A successful writing career may not look like the romantic version many of us imagined. It may require multiple income streams, smarter financial planning, a larger platform, and enough runway to keep creating without constantly worrying about the next paycheck. In this episode: 00:00 — Welcome to Wordslinger 01:11 — Why AI detection software is a scam 02:13 — Writers and students facing false accusations 03:29 — Why good writing can trigger AI detectors 04:21 — The hypocrisy of feeding writers’ work into AI 05:15 — Legitimate and accessible uses of AI 06:18 — How disabled writers can use AI as assistive technology 07:23 — Translation and language tools for authors 08:20 — When technology supports creativity 09:32 — Leonardo da Vinci, Stan Lee, and outsourced creation 11:46 — AI companies destroying rare books 14:11 — Are we responsible stewards of AI? 15:42 — How writers can actually make a living 17:13 — The fantasy versus reality of the writing life 19:22 — Building multiple streams of writing income 21:31 — Stop laying track directly in front of the train 24:29 — Creating financial runway before leaving your job 26:35 — The two financial tracks every writer needs 28:48 — Keeping writing at the center of your career 30:57 — Where to connect with Kevin Whether you are an author, freelance writer, artist, podcaster, publisher, or creative entrepreneur, the real question is not whether technology or the publishing industry will change. They will. The question is whether you can use the tools available, diversify your income, protect your creative identity, and build a career capable of surviving those changes. What do you think? Are AI detectors protecting writers—or creating a modern witch hunt? And can authors still expect to earn a living primarily from book sales? Share your thoughts in the comments. Subscribe to Wordslinger for practical, honest guidance on writing, publishing, marketing, creative business, technology, and the mindset required to build a lasting writing career. This is the place for writers who want informed, experience-driven help throughout every stage of their writing and publishing journey. VISIT AND CONNECT: Wordslinger Podcast [https://wordslingerpodcast.com](https://wordslingerpodcast.com) Improve your writing with ProWritingAid [https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5](https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5) Publish wide with Draft2Digital [https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger](https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger) Get professional support with AuthorAnchor [https://authoranchor.com](https://authoranchor.com) Find Kevin and his books [https://kevintumlinson.com](https://kevintumlinson.com) Join Kevin on Substack [https://kevintumlinson.substack.com](https://kevintumlinson.substack.com) #WritingCommunity #AuthorTube #ArtificialIntelligence #AIDetection #WritingCareer #IndieAuthors #SelfPublishing #CreativeEntrepreneur #PublishingAdvice #Wordslinger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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