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**Don’t Write That Book**

The “Don’t Write That Book” podcast serves as your guide to crafting your bestseller and embracing your role as an author. Your hosts, Mike Michalowicz and AJ Harper, act as your personal experts, steering you through the intricacies of writing and publishing. Mike and AJ demystify all aspects of creating and releasing your book, offering insights drawn from their own journeys. This podcast will be your safeguard against writing THAT book.

Latest Episodes:

The Craft of Becoming an Author: A Deep Dive Interview with Brian Herriot Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

Surprise! We have a very special bonus episode for you today. In this bonus episode, we interview debut Author Brian Herriot on crafting Time Freedom. The trio discuss creating a legacy that lasts and the commitment that comes with writing a book.

Tune in to catch a complete breakdown of how Brian started with an idea and ended with a bestseller and continued marketing after launch. This is an episode you do not want to miss!

Be sure to visit https://dwtbpodcast.com for more information and add your name to start receiving their newsletter. If you’d like to support this show, rate, subscribe, and leave a review on your podcast app.

When to Give Away Free Copies of Your Book Oct 15, 2026

Show notes

Most authors have had this experience: someone approaches you and asks for a free copy of your book. And that request can hurt, since the best way to support an author is by buying a copy. But sometimes giving away copies is in your best interest. Mike and AJ dive into this week's topic and break down when to give away copies and when not to.

Books/Resources Mentioned:

Simplified

AJ's writing sprint community

Buoyant, by Susie deVille

Connect with AJ & Mike:

AJ Harper, website

Write A Must-Read

Free resources

AJ’s Socials:

Facebook

Mike Michalowicz, website

All books

Mike’s Socials:

What to Do When You (or Someone Else) Blows Up Your Book Oct 08, 2026

Show notes

AJ and Mike discuss how to handle your book blowing up in your face this week. In this episode, your favorite author co-hosts break down the devastating but necessary process of realizing a part of, or your whole book, simply isn’t working. Mike and AJ share their personal experiences and stories behind their own books and concepts “blowing up” and how they survived it.

Books/Resources Mentioned:

Simplified

AJ’s Writing Sprints

AJ's all-day Writing Sprint Marathon (registration)

Uncertain, TX on Substack (special for DWTB listeners!)

Scar Tissue, by Melissa Dugolecki

Connect with AJ & Mike:

AJ Harper, website

Write A Must-Read

Free resources

AJ’s Socials:

Facebook

Mike Michalowicz, website

All books

Mike’s Socials:

Is Prescriptive Nonfiction Dead Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

In this week’s episode, Mike and AJ discuss the controversy sparked by Tim Ferriss's article, "Has AI Already Killed How-To Nonfiction?" The two debate whether AI summaries have made prescriptive nonfiction obsolete or whether the use of AI everywhere has made humans more desperate for human-made content.

Books/Resources Mentioned:

Simplified

Tim Ferriss Article

AJ's Rebuttal to Tim

Take Breaks, Work Better by John Briggs

AJ's all-day Writing Sprint Marathon (registration)

Connect with AJ & Mike:

AJ Harper, website

Write A Must-Read

Free resources

AJ’s Socials:

Facebook

LinkedIn

Mike Michalowicz, website

All books

Mike’s Socials:

LinkedIn

Don’t Sleep on Panel Discussions as a Marketing Tool Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Mike and AJ discuss panel discussions and why too many authors are not utilizing them. Panels are easier than solo talks and are often easier to get, but have been overlooked lately. They both share their experiences with them and why the invitation to discuss benefited their books more than simply talking about them.

Books/Resources Mentioned:

Simplified

Big Freakin' Change, by Cara Poppett

Connect with AJ & Mike:

AJ Harper, website

Write A Must-Read

Free resources

AJ’s Socials:

Facebook

Mike Michalowicz, website

All books

Mike’s Socials:

Get Pre-orders Way Before Your Pub Date Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

This week’s episode covers all about pre-orders and when you can start getting orders in. Well, turns out you don’t need to wait for a pre-order link. Mike and AJ discuss their own experiences with taking orders before their books were even linked and other methods to start orders as early as possible.

Books/Resources Mentioned:

Simplified

AJ's writing sprint community

Check, Please!

The Disregulated Kid, by Roseann Copanna-Hodge

Connect with AJ & Mike:

AJ Harper, website

Write A Must-Read

Free resources

AJ’s Socials:

Facebook

Mike Michalowicz, website

All books

Mike’s Socials:

How to Write on an Airplane Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

In this week’s episode, Mike and AJ discuss adapting your writing to the environment you are in. Mike has extensive experience with writing on planes and even found that he sometimes writes best on planes. Mike and AJ all discuss their creative differences and how finding yours is extraordinarily important for becoming a bestselling author.

Books/Resources Mentioned:

Page Two Simplified

Connect with AJ & Mike:

AJ Harper, website

Write A Must-Read

Free resources

AJ’s Socials:

Facebook

Mike Michalowicz, website

All books

Mike’s Socials:

When Your Publisher Bullies You Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

What do you do when you get your dream traditional publisher, an offer of a lifetime, and then everything goes sour? Your publisher begins to bully you, completely bulldozes your story, and you… Well, sadly, this happens from time to time. But AJ and Mike know exactly how to handle this!

Books/Resources Mentioned:

Simplified

AJ's Writing Sprint Community

Connect with AJ & Mike:

AJ Harper, website

Write A Must-Read

Free resources

AJ’s Socials:

Facebook

Mike Michalowicz, website

All books

Mike’s Socials:

Should You Put Your Book on Pause? Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

Sometimes writing just stops- not writer’s block, but simply stuck. Life is busy, more urgent matters take precedence, and your body is exhausted. So what do you do? You pause on your book. But how do you decide when life is too much to do that? AJ and Mike cover just that in this latest episode and their own experiences, sharing their best strategies to get through the muck.

Books/Resources Mentioned:

Simplified

Connect with AJ & Mike:

AJ Harper, website

Write A Must-Read

Free resources

AJ’s Socials:

Facebook

Mike Michalowicz, website

All books

Mike’s Socials:

How to Choose Between Publishers Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

When your publishing offers come in all at once, it can be hard to decide. Even the difference between two traditional publishing houses can be starkly different. In today’s episode, we tell you how to notice all of those little differences and what can be a make or break for your book’s life.