A Successful Thriller Writer Shares The Keys to Making Money

by Chuck Barrett

Simply put, I started as a non-paid writer.

By that I mean that it took 12 years before my first novel was published.

In all fairness though, it wasn’t a complete novel sitting around gathering dust for 12 years, it was my first novel and a tremendous learning experience. I even shelved it for seven years during that 12-year period while I took time to learn the craft of writing.

I went to writers’ conferences and writers’ groups and read plenty of “How-to” books on novel writing. When I finally picked that first attempt up and blew the dust off, I knew my first writing was … well, sophomoric at best.

Perseverance Pays Off When Writing

Using the same basic story outline, I tossed the old material and started over. I did this five times! Each time, the novel got better and better.

Finally, at long last, the critiques from other writers were very good. I got up the nerve to ask a NY Times bestselling author (of my genre) if he would read it. He did, he liked it, and even gave me my first cover blurb.

That first novel, The Savannah Project, was released in 2010. From that point on, it has been a paid writing career. Every writer has to stave off disappointment and disillusionment in order to be successful. Perseverance pays off.

How I Decided What My Writing Niche Would Be

I’m not sure there was every any doubt in my mind as to what I would write. When I made the decision that I had stories to tell, it only seemed appropriate that I write what I loved to read most…thrillers.

As a child I was enthralled with James Bond and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. As an adult reader, I cut my teeth on Tom Clancy. So, why would I consider anything but that same genre?

My desire to write grew from reading this genre and always thinking, what if this or that had also happened? How would that change the story or the outcome? These questions drove my desire to write.

Later, I infused the action & adventure genre into my writing while still maintaining the basic premise of the political thriller. I felt (and still feel) that a thriller, by definition, should keep the reader on the edge of their seat from start to finish. None of this give the reader a chance to breathe nonsense, the reader can catch their breath after THE END.

I want the reader to put that book down when they have finished and go, “Wow! I’m exhausted.”

The Two Things a Writer Needs to Make a Good First Impression

My mindset is that old adage, you only get one chance to make a first impression. By that I mean that when readers see your work or look you up on the internet, that first impression needs to get their attention in a positive way.

I strongly believe that the two most important first steps for authors are:

1) A professional and striking website that’s easy to navigate. This is the author’s first chance to WOW. Your landing page must be impressive. Your website is your window to the public. What they think of your website will say a lot about how they think about you. Spend the money. Have it done by professional website gurus and graphic designers.

2) Stunning book covers. Don’t skimp on book covers. Let me say that again…don’t skimp on book covers! We’ve all heard don’t judge a book by its cover. Well, fact of the matter is, all readers judge the book by the cover. If your book cover is sloppy and doesn’t catch the readers’ attention, THEY WILL NOT PULL IT OFF THE SHELF. If that happens, you’ve lost the sale. Do it right. The Big 5 publishers have spent millions of research dollars determining what readers want and don’t want, so why should you try to reinvent the wheel?

How to Keep Sales Going Between Book Releases

Marketing your product(s) is a never-ending venture. Of course, the best way to get business going again is to release a new book. But, unless you have books stockpiled awaiting this lull in sales, you have to turn to other methods.

Giveaways, reduced price sales, specials, BookBub features…there are so many options out there, you just have to look around and find what works best for you and your budget. During a lull, typically, you have to spend some money to get things moving again.

There is a lot of competition out there so be creative. For instance, if you have a series, consider a reduced-price box set around holidays, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, and even promote box sets for birthdays.

I’ve always found that when I do events and have actual face-time with readers, I notice a boost in sales.

The Most Lucrative Time for Book Sales

New book releases are always fun and the months preceding, and especially following, are always the most lucrative.

Preceding a new book release, and I mean starting a good six or more months ahead of release date, I start generating revenue from the old books and from the new book.

Of course, the only real revenue from an upcoming release is the advance, but it’s always nice to see that pump up the checkbook balance.

As I lead into the release date, I start ramping up the hype on older books in that series, trying to encourage new readers to jump out and read the earlier books because they don’t want to miss the new one and convincing them they need to buy it on release day.

I have had decent results, but nothing beats the income from the first few months after a new release.

Expanding Your Income-Making Opportunities

From well before I started writing, I have enjoyed teaching, whether it be as a flight instructor in an airplane or on-the-job training while I was an air traffic controller. This love of teaching has carried over into my writing career as well, in the form of writers’ and marketing workshops, writers’ conferences, and writing and publishing courses at local colleges.

I publish my books under my own imprint and have published other authors as well. Over the course of several years, I had many people ask me to advise them on how to self-publish, so I wrote a non-fiction book about self-publishing, Publishing Unchained, which I now use as the textbook for the publishing class I teach at the colleges.

Branching out past strictly writing novels has allowed me to grow as a writer and as a publisher. In addition to teaching classes and workshops, I also consult with authors who want to start their own imprint and become their own publisher. For many authors, Publishing Unchained needs no additional input from me but, because the self-publishing process and marketing can be so intimidating, I’ve had several who wanted me to give them more personalized guidance through the process.

I was reluctant at first because of my unfounded fear of it eating in to my writing time. Now, these consultations have become another revenue-generating service I offer and tailor to each individual’s needs, whether fiction, non-fiction, memoir, etc., it doesn’t matter, the self-publishing process is virtually the same.

Advice for a Young Writer: Get Clear on Why You’re Writing

Too many times have I run across talented writers who became so disenchanted with the industry that they just gave up. Nobody ever said it would be easy and with today’s tremendous competition, it is more difficult than ever to get ahead and stay ahead. Of course, it’s a lot of hard work, and sometimes I even question whether it’s worth it or not.

In the long run, it depends on why you are writing. Is it just to make money? If it is, then perhaps this isn’t where you should put your time and energy. But if you’re writing because you want to write and feel like you must write or that you have stories to tell, then the best advice is persistence.

It’s a bumpy uphill road, but there is tremendous satisfaction when you persevere and are able to ultimately reap the rewards.

If a young writer came up to me asking for advice, the first question I’d ask is “Why do you write?” If the answer is to get published and become a NY Times bestselling author, I’d wish them luck and be on my way. If they have the desire to tell a story and to be a damn good storyteller, or they have expertise in an area that they feel compelled to share, then they are starting out with the proper goal in mind.

Certainly, getting published is a part of it, but it shouldn’t be the driving reason why someone writes.

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Chuck Barrett is the award-winning author of the Jake Pendleton series—The Savannah Project, The Toymaker, Breach of Power, and DISRUPTION, as well as his 2015 award-winning blockbuster, BLOWN, the first book in his new Gregg Kaplan series. The second in the Kaplan series, Last Chance, was released in October 2018. Chuck also teaches continuing education courses at two Fort Collins colleges: The Craft of Writing Bestselling Novels, Pump Up Your Novel, and Nuts & Bolts of Self-Publishing, at Colorado State University.

Barrett is a graduate of Auburn University and a retired air traffic controller. He also holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate, Flight Instructor Certificate, and a Dive Master rating. He and his wife, DJ Steele (also an author), currently reside in Colorado.

For more information on Chuck and his work, please see his website, or connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

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Publishing Unchained: Chuck Barrett, bestselling author of his award-winning books Last Chance, DISRUPTION, BLOWN, Breach of Power, The Toymaker, & The Savannah Project, shares his experiences with Independent Publishing and offers his advice for writers in this no-fluff, offbeat, and candid guide.

Publishing Unchained offers a glimpse at the options available for those authors wishing to self-publish or those who wish to take publishing to the next step: independent publishing. This book guides you through the benefits and pitfalls of print and eBook publishing, printing options, selecting a printing company, and more. It shows you how to treat publishing as a business and do it in a manner that aims you toward success.

Publishing Unchained is a must for those grappling with the decisions about how to break into the publishing world.

Find all buy links here.

Last Chance: Gregg Kaplan’s partner vanished without a word.

He is inexplicably kept in the dark by his employer, the CIA, and ordered to stand down or face the consequences. Refusing to follow orders, Kaplan strikes out on his own following a tip that leads him across the country to a small town in Wyoming where he finds himself in trouble once again. This time it lands him behind bars.

Relentless pacing, striking twists, and devious characters.

Find all buy links here.