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The Dark Side of Amazon, Kung Fu Chickens, and Our Grand Finale.
Season 17
Published 1 month ago
Description
Our final show before we go dark for the 3-Month Writing Challenge is an absolute banger! After over 400 interviews and six years of virtually never taking a Friday night off, we are officially putting the microphones on standby to write a novel in 90 days. To send us off in style, we are joined by the incredible sci-fi and fantasy authors Dominique Mondesir and Gabriel Rathweg, hosts of The Story Forge podcast.
This episode goes deep into the gritty reality of being a working author today. Dom and Gabe pull no punches as we discuss the "dark side" of Amazon's algorithms, the harsh mathematical realities of traditional publishing advances versus indie royalties, and how to actually stand out in a ridiculously saturated market.
Plus, we debut our brand new game, Blurb or Absurd, testing the guys on whether they can spot a real sci-fi/fantasy plot from a completely fake one (Spoiler: Kung Fu chickens and coffee-brewing Orcs are involved).
If you are joining us for the writing challenge or just want an unfiltered look at the publishing industry, this is a must-listen.
Support the show & join the 3-Month Challenge: ✍️ Write your novel with us in just 12 weeks: Join the Challenge on Substack
Connect with Dominique & Gabriel:
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-writing-community-chat-show--5445493/support.
Connect With The Community
🏆 Ranked #3 Writing Podcast in the UK (2025) The WCCS is more than a show; it’s a masterclass in the craft and business of storytelling. Join 380+ interviews with NYT Bestsellers, Indie Icons, and Celebrities.
This episode goes deep into the gritty reality of being a working author today. Dom and Gabe pull no punches as we discuss the "dark side" of Amazon's algorithms, the harsh mathematical realities of traditional publishing advances versus indie royalties, and how to actually stand out in a ridiculously saturated market.
Plus, we debut our brand new game, Blurb or Absurd, testing the guys on whether they can spot a real sci-fi/fantasy plot from a completely fake one (Spoiler: Kung Fu chickens and coffee-brewing Orcs are involved).
If you are joining us for the writing challenge or just want an unfiltered look at the publishing industry, this is a must-listen.
Support the show & join the 3-Month Challenge: ✍️ Write your novel with us in just 12 weeks: Join the Challenge on Substack
Connect with Dominique & Gabriel:
- Subscribe to The Story Forge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DGstoryforge/streams
- Dominique's Website & Books: https://dominiquemondesir.com
- Gabriel's Books: Search "Gabriel Rathweg" on Amazon
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-writing-community-chat-show--5445493/support.
Connect With The Community
🏆 Ranked #3 Writing Podcast in the UK (2025) The WCCS is more than a show; it’s a masterclass in the craft and business of storytelling. Join 380+ interviews with NYT Bestsellers, Indie Icons, and Celebrities.
- 📺 Watch the Full Shows: The Writing Community Chat Show | 360+ Author Interviews, Writing Tips & Creative Chaos.
- ✍️ The Stories Behind the Stories And Great Writing Articles: WRITE, CONNECT, GROW, With The Writing Community Chat Show. | 📚The WCCS | Substack
- 🚀 Support the Mission With Tips And Donations: PayPal.Me