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Dakota Krout is a pioneering LitRPG author and visionary founder of Mountaindale Press, one of the leading publishing houses specializing in LitRPG, GameLit, and cultivation fiction. With a unique background combining computer science expertise and military communications experience, Dakota brings systematic, logical thinking to both his world-building and his publishing empire. His methodical approach to creating intricate magic systems and character progression has made him a standout voice in the rapidly growing gaming-inspired fiction genre, while his publishing house has become a launching pad for numerous successful authors in these specialized niches.
In this episode:
- Demystifying LitRPG and GameLit: What these explosive genres are and why they're dominating
- The systematic approach to building believable magic systems and character progression mechanics
- From author to publisher: The complete journey of founding and scaling Mountaindale Press
- Inside publishing metrics: What success looks like and the standards authors must meet
- Niche genre marketing strategies that build devoted readerbases in specialized communities
- The power of community engagement in genre fiction and reader retention
- Computer science principles applied to creative writing and world-building
- Military precision meets creative storytelling: How systematic thinking enhances fiction
- Building a publishing empire while maintaining quality and author relationships
Resources mentioned:
- Dragon Con - https://www.dragoncon.org/
- LitRPG and GameLit online communities
- Mountaindale Press publishing criteria and submission guidelines: https://www.mountaindalepress.store/
- Genre-specific marketing platforms and communities
- Convention networking and industry connection strategies
Book recommendations:
- "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie: https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034
- "Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity" by Peter Attia: https://www.amazon.com/Outlive-Longevity-Peter-Attia-MD/dp/0593236599
- "Something, Anything, and Everything" series by Dakota Krout: https://www.amazon.com/Anything-Full-Murderhobo-Dakota-Krout/dp/163766074X
Connect with Dakota Krout:
- Mountaindale Press website: https://www.mountaindalepress.store/
- Dakota's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DakotaKrout/
- Mountaindale Press Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MountaindalePress/
- Discord community: Mountaindale Press server
Connect with Teddy Smith:
- @teddyagsmith
- Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
- Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
- Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
- Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
- Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/
Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/
Chapters
1. Introduction & Welcome to Dakota Krout, International Bestselling Author (00:00:00)
2. What Are LitRPG & GameLit Genres? Epic Fantasy Meets Video Game Rules (00:00:44)
3. How Dakota's Computer Science Background Shaped His Writing (00:03:12)
4. System-First Series Creation: Building Magic Systems Before Characters (00:05:25)
5. The Psychology Behind Character Development in LitRPG (00:08:04)
6. Why Readers Correct Authors' Math Years Later (The 0.01 Problem) (00:09:59)
7. Copyright Considerations: Can You Use Existing Game Systems? (00:11:31)
8. From Books to Board Games: The Adaptation Challenge (00:14:14)
9. Career Advice: Double Down on What Works, Don't Scatter (00:16:04)
10. Mountain Dale Press: From $40K Learning Investment to Publishing House (00:18:50)
11. Mountain Dale's Selective Process: 1.25% Acceptance Rate (00:21:05)
12. Success Stats: 85% of Authors Earn Six Figures, Three Earn Seven (00:24:04)
13. What Adjacent Fantasy Authors Need to Know About LitRPG (00:27:31)
14. Clear Magic System Requirements: Tier 0-9 Progression Example (00:29:07)
15. Marketing Strategy: Join Communities Before You Pitch (00:32:05)
16. Current Trends: Deck Builders & "Cranberry Juice" Versatility (00:34:39)
17. The Importance of Author Networking in LitRPG Community (00:37:28)
18. Upcoming Projects: "Chance Encounter" & Website-Exclusive Launch (00:38:59)
19. Where to Connect with Dakota & Mountain Dale Press (00:41:38)
20. Book Recommendation: "How to Win Friends and Influence People" (00:42:40)
133 episodes
