I’ve known John Warner since my days as an acquisitions editor at F+W Media. He is among the most decent, classy, and talented authors I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. I acquired and edited three of his humor books at F+W (though only two were published—long story), and we partnered on a short-lived […]
In the newest edition of Writer’s Market (and Writer’s Market Deluxe), there’s a featured interview with me, where I discuss the future of publishing, websites and blogging, and Twitter strategy. Here’s a brief snippet: Your personal website is impressive, incorporating your blogging, tweets, an e-mail newsletter sign up and more. What do you see as the […]
Author Darien Hsu Gee discusses writing and publishing across multiple genres, going back for her MFA at age 50, and having faith in her creative process.
Book promotion newsletters are a dynamic component of the overall book industry, but their focus—and results—can vary dramatically.
Whether you’re an audiobook producer, a publisher or an author, here’s a breakdown of the rights needed to bring an audiobook to market.
Literary agents Priya Doraswamy and Carly Watters discuss foreign rights, translation logistics, a book’s chances abroad, and much more.
The biggest bookseller in the United States has suffered a slow decline over the last 10 years. Can the business be turned around?
If you need to request permissions from an author or publisher, here are general guidelines, plus a sample letter you can customize.
This class is now over and is unavailable for purchase. Sign up to receive announcements about upcoming classes. How to Write and Revise a Powerful and Engaging Memoir by Understanding Story Structure Where should your memoir begin? How should it end? What’s an “inciting incident” or a “climax” when you’re looking at real life? Or maybe […]
This class is now over and is unavailable for purchase. Sign up to receive announcements about upcoming classes. Learn how to stay out of legal trouble when using other people’s work Is it OK to use that song lyric in your memoir or novel? Will that one line really get you into trouble? What about chapter […]
However you decide to publish, it’s unwise to rely on someone else to build your career, or to be responsible for growing your readership.
This class is now over and is unavailable for purchase. Sign up to receive announcements about upcoming classes. Learn how to efficiently research and assemble a quality list of agents and publishers who are right for your book. You have a polished manuscript or book proposal, and you’re ready to start pitching agents and publishers. But […]
Learn to develop the right strategies and tactics for book marketing that fit your path to publication, your personality, and your resources Whether you’re traditionally published or self-published, every author must give some thought to book marketing. But given how fast tools and techniques change, and how hard it is to attract attention (especially during […]
Every author must have a frank conversation with their publisher about book marketing—the earlier the better. Here’s how to approach the conversation.
How authors can blog successfully for long-term platform and book marketing efforts, with tips for online writing, strong headlines, and good SEO.
Small presses are their own ecosystem. To understand the landscape, study the review sites, awards, and distributors catering specifically to that market.
This class is now over and is unavailable for purchase. Sign up to receive announcements about upcoming classes. Learn how to approach librarians, and what they look for when buying ebooks and audio books Want to get your eBook or audiobook onto the virtual “shelves” of libraries nation or worldwide? Are there other ways to get […]
You’ve got something that corporate brands don’t—yourself. Nurture a relationship with your readers, and they’ll do the marketing for you.
Unless you’re a celebrity, your expertise in a field may not be enough to interest publishers. A partner can increase your book’s credibility and reach.
In this Q&A, literary agents Jim McCarthy and Paula Munier discuss the priorities and responsibilities—to yourself and to others—of being a working writer.
Sorry, this class has ended and the recording is only available to registrants. If you’d like to know when this class is offered again, sign up here. Learn to navigate the service landscape and avoid spending what you can’t earn back Many thousands of authors self-publish every year, often with the help of a publishing […]
In this interview, Bob Eckstein discusses art vs. commerce, newspaper/magazine cartoons vs. TV as communication delivery systems, the influence of just the right validation, and much more.
Skip the book signing; there’s greater reward in identifying and connecting with the audience that already shares a passion for your topic.
Ensure that your work continues to generate earnings for you and your heirs by staying on top of contracts, royalties, licensing, and available formats.
For some authors, a single book deal is validation enough. For others, it’s the beginning of a lifelong journey through en ever-changing landscape. In this Q&A, literary agents Sarah LaPolla and Kim Lionetti discuss what it takes to sustain a career beyond the first big break.
In this Q&A, Anna Schmidt discusses how she became a romance novelist, the nearly accidental way she acquired her current literary agent, her journey from successful romance novelist to self-published literary novelist, and more.
Libraries represent a valuable opportunity for a book discoverability and sales, but librarians may not know your book exists without marketing outreach.
Sharing your in-progress book cover on social media to solicit meaningful direction is like throwing a bomb into the creative process.
Is it still necessary today to encourage men to read women, or to shine a targeted light on female writers? Bill Wolfe says yes.
Whether you start writing as a child or in your golden years, it’s never too early to learn about estate planning. You may wonder which is best, a will or trust, for bequeathing your written work. Both have their advantages. Here’s what you need to know.
When I finished my biography, I studied how to get it published. Websites advised: platform, platform, platform. But I had no relevant background. Now what?
Meaningful swag offers the reader something connected to the book and something that’s memorable—but you need something that doesn’t break the budget.
I regularly read and report on marketing trends that affect traditionally published and self-published writers. Today I’m sharing the most useful articles I’ve found and shared thus far in 2018.
Author Russell Rowland discusses the big mistake he made with HarperCollins, whether the journey of writing is truly its own reward, why his Indiegogo campaign worked so well, and his experiences with publishing—from one of the Big 5 to self-publishing.
No matter how many books have been written about a topic, there is probably some important facet that has not yet been covered thoroughly or well. A key driver behind success is understanding how you fit into the existing landscape, what distinguishes your work, and why it is likely to appeal to a particular audience.
A trade distributor is a partner company who takes over the tasks and responsibilities of selling your books to trade accounts like bookstores and wholesalers.
To some degree, we get to pick and choose our publishing and publicity tasks. Sometimes we forget this and freak out because we think we have to do it all.
In many ways, it’s never been harder to get a traditional book deal. At the same time, there have never been more ways to establish a career as an author.
“If you build it, they will come” is the biggest crock of sh*t ever foisted. The second biggest is my own mental script: “If I write it, The New York Times bestseller list will come.” Nope. Wrong answer.
In 2014, I made the leap from conventional employment to a full-time freelance career. Here’s how I did it—and what I earned, down to the dollar.
Author, publisher, and book marketer Julie Smith shares what she loves to write—and read—in a mystery, how her writing obsession evolved into marketing, the mistake many authors make with their book covers, and more.
New authors have no symbolic capital. They are not (yet) known for producing quality books that seduce readers. Is it possible for self-publishing authors to create symbolic capital? Absolutely yes, and many have. In today’s increasing online world of book shopping, it is book reviews that build symbolic capital.
I have been speaking at the Midwest Writers Workshop in Muncie, Indiana, continuously since 2003. Here’s why I keep returning, year after year.
A step-by-step guide to finding literary agents, plus how to select the right agent for you and your work.
What should writers do if they feel that an agent isn’t honoring their obligations, contractual or otherwise? What’s the best way to speak up?
Any author can successfully launch their book through crowdfunding if they are willing to put in the effort. However, it may not be the right path for everyone.
I believe a successful social media strategy is driven by one’s personality and strengths, as well as the qualities of the work produced—leading to a unique approach for each writer. A
How do agents—generally considered the gatekeepers to publishing companies—approach the issue of diversity in the publishing industry?
Everything you need to know to start writing a book proposal for your nonfiction book.
This is a comprehensive, step-by-step, self-study course that teaches you how to write a compelling nonfiction book proposal, particularly in the digital era of authorship. A nonfiction book proposal is a required document if you want to land a traditional book publishing deal. It serves as a business plan for your book that proves to an agent […]