Image: a pile of cash atop a stack of books
One successful self-publishing author discusses the importance of multiple formats, licensing, thinking like a publisher, and much more ...
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/ Guest Post, Self-Publishing
Image: six-sided die with the number four positioned at the top
It’s hard work and there’s no magic formula to boost sales, but you’ll also find a passionate audience and a ...
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/ Guest Post, Marketing & Promotion
cupped hands holding small icon of a house
Imprints aren't just for big publishers; any self-publishing author can invent an imprint under which to operate. In this guest ...
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/ Guest Post, Self-Publishing
Elliott Hartinger Klein Mooser authors
A Q&A on children's self-publishing with authors Zetta Elliott, who has released several books under her own imprint, including picture ...
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/ Author Q&A, Self-Publishing
self-publishing
For every new venture, there is a learning curve. When it comes to self-publishing your book, however, that curve can ...
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biographies of ordinary people by nicole dieker
A self-published author breaks down her expenses and resulting sales after promoting on social media and email, paying for reviews, ...
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literary publishing
I'm writing monthly for the IngramSpark blog, which is focused on the concerns of self-publishing authors and small presses ...
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Self Publishing Checklist
This printable and interactive checklist guides your self-publishing project to completion, to ensure you don't miss any important steps and ...
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Writer's Digest October 2014
Read my feature article for Writer's Digest magazine that explores the intersection of literary agents and self-publishing ...
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Into the Nanten
How an indie author turned a story concept into a full-fledged multimedia universe, including a live blog, illustrated journal, merchandise, ...
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literary fiction
Should literary writers consider self-publishing? How it might affect their long-term careers? Two agents weigh in ...
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Writer Unboxed
Learn about the likelihood of securing a traditional book deal after self-publishing ...
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Writing on the Ether: Self-Publishing's Parallel Disruptions
It comes as news to no one in the industry! the industry! that self-publishing is controversial. We may tend, however, ...
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Ether (+Bowker): Turning Corners on Self-Publishing and Amazon?
Here at the 2013 Frankfurt Book Fair this week, if we're not actually walking past a couple of smoothly contoured ...
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/ agents, Amazon, Writing on the Ether
Frankfurt CONTEC
Is it possible that all the changes happening in publishing can be encapsulated by a conversation about self-publishing? ...
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WRITING ON THE ETHER: Which Has More Impact? The Chicken or Self-Publishing?
Porter Anderson's Writing on the Ether at JaneFriedman.com looks at two mutually influential market forces about which we have incomplete ...
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Amazon White Glove program
There are no “rules” for agent-assisted self-publishing, but the biggest drawbacks are usually loss of control and loss of royalties ...
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CJ Lyons
CJ Lyons (@cjlyonswriter) is an award-winning, critically acclaimed New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She practiced pediatrics and pediatric emergency medicine for 17 years before ...
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Commodity Publishing and The Future of Fiction
Many years ago, when I started working for Writer’s Digest, I was put on the self-publishing beat. I started by ...
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Replacement Child by Judy Mandel
Today's guest post is by Judy L. Mandel, author of the Replacement Child, forthcoming from Seal Press in March 2013 ...
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The Birds Tree by ploop26 / DeviantArt
Today's guest post is by Ed Cyzewski. You may recall him from his previous post here, When Self-Publishing Is More ...
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Video: Changes in Publishing & Self-Publishing
Some of you may have heard about the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), a new organization supporting self-published authors. I'm ...
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Broken pencil
The turning point of my long-term publishing plans came when I realized I have very little in common with author ...
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Image: doodles of potential website home page layouts.
A little planning and reflection will help your website be a project you sustain, rather than discard like a half-baked ...
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Image: Sitting in front of a laptop computer, a smiling woman wearing earbuds gives two thumbs up to the computer screen.
When self-publishing be sure to determine a distribution strategy, avoid gotchas when using POD, and get pricing and metadata right ...
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Photo of author Elisa Lorello with the quote: "ChatGPT has fueled my love for writing and being a writer, which is really saying something given how much I already loved both. I see what AI generates and it makes me want to write better, more creatively, and more productively."
Author Elisa Lorello’s exploratory dive into ChatGPT led her to discover its usefulness—rather than threat—to fiction and nonfiction writers ...
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/ Author Q&A, Guest Post
Words from a magnetic poetry set are jumbled on a white background.
Having a gut-punch reaction to being edited is part of the cost of doing business for writers. Here’s advice on ...
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/ Guest Post, Writing Advice
From underwater a lone hand emerges, holding a sparkler.
When her indie publisher goes AWOL, an author finds the community and resources she needs to pick up the pieces ...
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/ Getting Published, Guest Post
A laptop computer, coffee cup, paper and writing implements are arranged on a wooden table.
There is no formalized career path for freelance editors. From the hosts of the Independent Editor Podcast, here are tips ...
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/ Business for Writers, Guest Post
A boy stands with his back against a wall while his parents argue in the next room.
Memoirists can take steps throughout the writing and publishing process to minimize fallout and family strife ...
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/ Guest Post, Writing Advice
The interior of a bookstore with large plate glass windows facing onto a city street.
Marketing your book to bookstores—like marketing your book anywhere else—requires research and shoe leather ...
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/ Marketing & Promotion
Photo of Jeff Herman with the following quote: There’s an old Jewish saying, You can only dance at one wedding at a time. I think that sums up why so many writers never hear back from agents.
Jeff Herman is the author of Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents, 29th Edition ...
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/ Author Q&A
Marketing Books That Aren’t New with Dan Blank. $25 class. Thursday, February 16, 2023. 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Eastern.
ONLINE CLASS Marketing Books That Aren’t New Learn evergreen strategies to sell your older books, again and again Registration is ...
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Image: tacked to a cork bulletin board is a scrap of paper on which are two choices written, "Spend" and "Save", with empty check-boxes beside them.
If you have reason to suspect your story is not quite “there” yet, a professional edit may be what’s needed ...
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/ Ask the Editor
Headshots of Susan Chang, Julie Scheina, and Sangeeta Mehta
Three editors discuss the types and stages of editing, whether publishing industry experience matters, hiring guidelines and much more ...
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/ Business for Writers, Guest Post
Image: Book cover of Valkyrie by Kitty Thomas, with quote from the interview.
The author of dark- and paranormal romance discusses negative attitudes toward the genre, why sex scenes are the hardest to ...
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/ Author Q&A, Guest Post
Image: a woman stands in a full and slightly messy walk-in closet, holding and assessing a pair of leopard-print panties.
When editorial feedback entails rebuilding a manuscript, one writer struggles with not taking it too personally ...
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/ Ask the Editor
Image: a Little Free Library box on a post near the edge of a lake in late autumn..
It’s possible to create connections with readers by utilizing some fun and interesting ways for them to interact with your ...
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/ Guest Post, Marketing & Promotion
Image: aerial view of woman in sportswear lying on a gymnasium floor. From this angle, she appears to be hanging from a semi-circular line painted on the floor.
It takes grit to seek and implement qualified feedback, and to keep finding ways to improve a manuscript even after ...
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/ Guest Post, Writing Advice
Photo of Kern Carter, with a quotation: Studying the industry gave me an understanding of what it would take to make my manuscript a commercial success. And I know some authors might be cringing at the word “commercial,” but I didn’t sacrifice an ounce of creativity when writing Boys and Girls Screaming. In fact, it’s probably my most creative novel and the story where I had to use my imagination the most.
The Toronto-based novelist discusses his journey from self- to traditional publishing, marketing, the art and business of writing, and more ...
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/ Author Q&A, Guest Post
Identify & Find Your Ideal Readers with Dan Blank. $25 webinar. Wednesday, September 7, 2022. 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Eastern.
ONLINE CLASS Identify & Find Your Ideal Readers A step-by-step process to learn who your readers are, where to find ...
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Research Agents and Publishers Like a Pro with Jane Friedman. $25 webinar. Thursday, August 4, 2022. 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Eastern.
ONLINE CLASS Research Agents and Publishers Like a Pro Learn to efficiently research and assemble a quality list of agents ...
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Image: a roll of U.S. paper money enclosed by rubber bands, between which the eye of Abraham Lincoln gazes out.
As in any industry, business ethics are about a commitment to transparency and integrity. Here’s how writers can select a ...
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Recommended Podcasts for Writers
The following recommendations are from readers of my Electric Speed newsletter, collected in May 2022. CreateIf Writing is a fantastic ...
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I Hate Social Media—Now What? with Dan Blank. $25 webinar. Wednesday, June 15, 2022. 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Eastern.
ONLINE CLASS I Hate Social Media–Now What? How to develop word-of-mouth marketing, and get the publicity you want, with or ...
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Photo of Alan Davis with quotation: "Publication, literary fame and monetary compensation either come your way or they don’t. Either way, writing well is always the best reward."
One professor addresses common questions and criticisms about MFA programs ...
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/ Author Q&A, Guest Post
Image: a shark underwater in dim light
Brooke Warner, founder of She Writes Press, responds to a recent UK report about unethical practices in the hybrid publishing ...
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Launch Your Book Successfully with Howard Yoon. $25 webinar. Thursday, May 26, 2022. 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Eastern.
ONLINE CLASS Launch Your Book Successfully Up-to-date marketing and publicity guidance for traditionally published authors—from a literary agent Registration is ...
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Image: an indistinct figure's hands and face behind a white screen.
For horror writers, here are some ways to frighten a reader so badly that they text someone at midnight saying, ...
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/ Guest Post, Writing Advice