Self-Publishing Foundations for Long-Term Success with David Wogahn. $25 webinar. Wednesday, May 15, 2024. 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Eastern.
Important reminders All registrants automatically receive access to the class recordings. Each class recording will be ready within one week ...
Self-Publishing Foundations for Long-Term Success with David Wogahn. $25 webinar. Wednesday, May 15, 2024. 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Eastern.
ONLINE CLASS Self-Publishing Foundations for Long-Term Success Learn to prepare for the self-publishing process so your book stays relevant, and ...
Image: an open laptop with a blank white screen sits on a step, flanked by decorative hourglasses.
An author who self-published before the current tools existed offers some thoughts on the mindset required to succeed in this ...
/ Guest Post, Self-Publishing
Image: On white paper is a simple drawing in permanent marker of a road forking into two paths. At the end of each path is a stack of coins, but one stack is twice as tall as the other.
An independent author wonders why two publishing services companies sell their clients’ books at different prices than Amazon ...
/ Guest Post, Self-Publishing
Screenshot of Fire and Fury, an AI-generated book about the Maui fires by Dr Miles Stones, for sale on Barnes & Noble's website.
Self-publishing authors may end up as collateral damage in the rising tide of AI-generated books appearing at major online retailers ...
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 ...
/ 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 ...
/ 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 ...
/ 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 ...
/ 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 ...
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, ...
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 ...
Writer's Digest October 2014
Read my feature article for Writer's Digest magazine that explores the intersection of literary agents and self-publishing ...
Into the Nanten
How an indie author turned a story concept into a full-fledged multimedia universe, including a live blog, illustrated journal, merchandise, ...
literary fiction
Should literary writers consider self-publishing? How it might affect their long-term careers? Two agents weigh in ...
Writer Unboxed
Learn about the likelihood of securing a traditional book deal after self-publishing ...
Children's books
Two literary agents offer their thoughts on the self-publishing of children's books and what the future of the picture book ...
Frankfurt CONTEC
Is it possible that all the changes happening in publishing can be encapsulated by a conversation about self-publishing? ...
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 ...
CJ Lyons
CJ Lyons (@cjlyonswriter) is an award-winning, critically acclaimed New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She practiced pediatrics and ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Broken pencil
The turning point of my long-term publishing plans came when I realized I have very little in common with author ...
Covers of Jami Fairleigh's The Elemental Artist series, in a row. On the left, Book One: Oil and Dust; in the center, Book Two: Graphite and Turbulence; on the right, Book Three: Charcoal and Smoke.
The self-publishing author of cozy post-apocalypic fantasy was crowned 2023 Indie Author of the Year by the Indie Author Project ...
/ Author Q&A, Self-Publishing
Image: a hiker wearing a backpack climbs over the locked gate of a fence in a rural area.
Kicking off your publishing career with a small press is a great way to get to know the industry, build ...
/ Getting Published, Guest Post
Image: a red flag against a blue sky
If you’re an author seeking a hybrid publisher or self-publishing assistance, it’s important to know what to look out for ...
/ Guest Post, Self-Publishing
Image: the hand of an unseen person begins to pull back the heavy, red curtain of a theatrical stage as if they're about to emerge from the darkness.
Ghostwriters, whose literary contributions have often been made in secret, are creating more community and visibility for their work ...
Image: an illustration of a row of people whose faces are seen from the side. From their heads emanate a series of white cartoon-style thought bubbles, which morph into a flock of sheep.
It doesn’t bode well for the publishing industry’s future when acquisition decisions are based solely on an author’s past sales ...
Image: a photo of an open book in which are printed the words: "Wish for it, hope for it, dream of it, but by all means do it."
Creative planning is the act of mapping out where you are, where you want to go, and how you are ...
/ Guest Post, Work-Life
Image: a person's hands holding forth a pretty gift box made of foil-stamped paper and bow-tied with iridescent ribbon.
Literary citizenship—freely sharing your knowledge with those in need—can reap substantial rewards for authors and editors ...
Image: a hand holding a die-cut sticker of the word "Hello!" in handwritten script with a graphic of a smiley face beneath.
When soliciting blurbs or appearances on podcasts, its important to convey—in just a few lines—what you and your writing are ...
/ Author Platform, Guest Post
Image: a gray-haired woman sits typing at a laptop computer.
An experienced author of advanced age considers the value of tackling a memoir with resonant themes but a challenging road ...
/ Ask the Editor, Memoir Craft
Image: two white sheets of paper peek out from a brown mailing envelope which is stamped "TOP SECRET" in red ink.
A writer claiming to have solved a well-known true crime case faces credibility hurdles when pitching his manuscript ...
/ Ask the Editor
Image: an illustration by K. Woodman-Maynard of herself seated at her desk, painting spreads of her graphic novel, with her cat curled asleep beside her.
While artists don’t necessarily need an agent to get into comics, these tips will help graphic novelists seeking traditional publication ...
Image: the rotary lock dial and handle of a large safe.
Owning and protecting your publishing source files is one of the most important things a writer can do to protect their writing ...
/ Guest Post, Self-Publishing
Image: a bee with a full pollen sack flying over a primrose
The average visitor spends on average 54 seconds on a webpage. Here are some tips to help turn visitors into ...
/ Author Websites, Guest Post
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 ...
/ Author Websites, Guest Post
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 ...
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 ...
/ 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 ...
/ Guest Post, Improve Your Writing
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 ...
/ 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 ...
/ Freelancing, 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 ...
/ Guest Post, Improve Your Writing
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 ...
/ 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 ...
/ Literary Agents, Queries & Synopses
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 ...
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 ...
/ 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 ...
/ Guest Post, Working with Editors