One viral video can catapult your manuscript from desk drawer to bestseller list - skipping agents, auctions, and all the polite rejections in between.

In this episode of The Tortured Writers Podcast, authors bare their souls on the agony of starting over, the sneaky “time thieves” that derail us, and how to nail those elusive character voices while surviving the sting of rejection.

Joining me is Adam Beswick, who reveals exactly how he exploded on TikTok and Instagram, built a fanbase, ditched his day job with five-figure monthly royalties, and why he’ll never look back at traditional publishing.

Plus, Bookaholic Bex is obsessed with a jaw-dropping domestic thriller debut that’ll keep you guessing until the final page.

What You’ll Learn

- Self-Publishing Superpowers: How TikTok virality turned Adam's thrillers into overnight hits, offering speed and control that traditional paths often stifle.

- Character Fire: Secrets to crafting arcs that hook readers fast - ditching bland tropes for voices that linger and plots that pulse.

- Rejection Resilience: Mindset shifts for surviving (and thriving beyond) the slush pile, with tips on when to pivot to direct-to-fan freedom.

Adam’s rise is a cheeky nudge that in writing, the boldest paths often lead to the biggest breakthroughs.

The Tortured Writers Podcast is sponsored by Cheshire Novel Prize, an international writing competition for debut writers where every entry gets feedback. Go to cheshirenovelprize.com for more details or follow on Instagram @cheshirenovelprize.

The Tortured Writers Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.