How to Spot Toxic Feedback: 7 Signs That the Writing Advice You’re Getting May Do More Harm Than Good
If you recognize the following characteristics in the critiques of your work, it may not just be inept—it may, in fact, be toxic.
Search Results for: traditional publishing
How to Optimize Your Amazon Author Central Pages (Don’t Forget the International Pages)
Every author, regardless of when or what they’ve published, has an Author Central page. But many authors have not claimed theirs—which is a big mistake.
The Second Act Novelist: 6 Ways to Prepare
If fiction writing is something you’d like to pursue in your retirement years, follow these steps to help you prepare for the business of authorship.
5 On: Debra Eckerling
Debra Eckerling (@WriteOnOnline), founder of the writers’ support group Write On!, discusses common writer challenges, the value of blogs, what it means to take writing to the next level, tragic networking mistakes, and more in this 5 On interview.
9 Statistics Writers Should Know About Amazon
Did you know Amazon’s print book sales grew by 15% in 2016—and the gain was primarily driven by Amazon’s own discounting on print?
Should You Submit Your Work to Agents or Editors?
Is it better to look for a literary agent first, or to approach editors and publishers? Much depends on the commercial potential of your work.
Building a Platform to Land a Book Deal: Why It Often Fails
If you’re preparing to pitch your nonfiction work to agents or publishers, you may have heard about the necessity of platform. What if you don’t have one?
The Best Literary Fiction Blogs & Websites
A list of the best blogs and websites focused on literary fiction and culture
A Self-Published Poet’s Path to Her First Book Deal
How a self-publishing poet achieved visibility for her book—and landed a book deal with traditional publisher Andrews McMeel.
Getting Ready to Launch a Book? Start with These 5 Questions
Social media and marketing expert Andrea Dunlop lists five questions you should ask yourself when starting to plan your book launch.
Using Twitter to Make Powerful Connections as a Creative Professional
Author Daniel Parsons offers five tips for improving your Twitter interactions as a creative professional.
6 Ways to Vet Freelance Editors
Author and freelance editor Maya Rock offers six pointers for vetting a freelance editor.
3 Myths About the MFA in Creative Writing
Most writers want an MFA for one of three reasons: They want to teach writing, they want to get published, or they want to make room in their life for writing. It turns out these reasons for doing an MFA are actually based on myths.
How to Finish Your Book in Three Drafts
Stuart Horwitz explains how you can complete your book in three drafts: the messy draft, the method draft, and the polished draft.
An Alternative to ACX for Audiobook Production and Distribution
If you’re looking for an alternative to ACX and more control over your audiobook production and distribution, then ListenUp Audiobooks is worth a look.
Starting an Email Newsletter: Why to Do It and Which Service to Use
Author Kirsten Oliphant explains how to get started forming a list of email subscribers, including how to choose an email service provider.
Become a Ghost-writer
Learn how to write books for others, win projects and make moneyThis online self-study course is appropriate for professional, experienced writers. Be sure to read Roz’s post on becoming a ghostwriter to gain a better understanding of what a ghostwriter does and the required qualifications.Many of the books that you see on the bestseller charts and the bookshop shelves […]
How to Save Money and Do Online Book Publicity Yourself
Author and publicist Fauzia Burke offers tips and resources for doing your own internet book publicity.
A New Platform for Serialized Work: Tapas Media
For years, serialization has been discussed as a significant area of opportunity for reading and publishing in the digital age. (And note to the sticklers out there: I’m using the terms serial and serialization interchangeably to refer to any situation where content is parceled out in small bites and delivered on a specific schedule, whether the […]
Best Books on Writing
My favorite books on getting published Writer’s Market Published since 1921, this is the ultimate directory for finding publishers, literary agents, book competitions, and conferences. Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript, 3rd edition This is an indispensable visual guide for understanding how to format your work for submission to an agent or publisher. How to Write […]
5 On: Philip B. Persinger
Philip B. Persinger discusses his attraction to sonnets, the broad art of writing and selling a play, why he published his latest novel with Amazon, and more.
5 On: Barry Eisler
Author Barry Eisler discusses the pros and cons (where they exist) of legacy, Amazon, and self-publishing; research and editing; selling book rights; and more.
How to Find and Work With a Book Publicist—Successfully
What every author needs to know before they hire a publicist, and how to work with one successfully.
Selling Your Books Internationally
Helen Sedwick and Orna Ross discuss selling international rights to your book.
Author Collectives and Co-ops: What They Are and How to Start One
Writers’ collectives can help independent authors gain an advantage in quality, cost control, and marketing.
5 On: April Eberhardt
Literary agent and publishing consultant April Eberhardt discusses effective book promotion, what makes writing exceptional from a publishing perspective, her preference for representing women’s fiction, and more in this 5 On interview.
Can You Promote a Book without Making Yourself Miserable?
Author Ed Cyzewski offers insight into building authentic, sustainable practices in book marketing and promotion.
The Business Model of Literary Journals (or Lack Thereof)
Are literary journals justified in charging reading fees?
5 On: Dana Kaye
Publicist Dana Kaye discusses why not to pretend to be a publicist, the question of gender bias in publishing and publicity, marketing mistakes and misconceptions, and more.
5 Observations on the Evolution of Author Business Models
As publishing becomes increasingly digital-driven, how are the business models for authorship changing?
5 On: Sandra Gulland
Sandra Gulland discusses the delicate process of blending of fact and fiction, the allure of unhappy endings, the publishing industry then vs. now, preparation for public readings/signings, and more.
5 On: Craig Lancaster
Craig Lancaster talks about his surprise success, what he learned from his most memorable rejection, why he gets so personal on social media, and more.
How a Book Becomes a Movie
What authors need to know about the process of getting a book adapted to the big screen.
A Conversation With the SELF-e Team: Exploring Payment for Authors
SELF-e offers self-published authors a way to distribute ebooks to libraries, but without any pay. The team behind SELF-e addresses the money issue.
How to Write a Powerful Book Proposal That Sells
This is a comprehensive self-study course on producing nonfiction book proposals in the digital age. The focus is not just on writing a book proposal that will sell the idea, but that will also sell the book when it finally makes its way to market.In this course, you will:Learn how to draft a complete book […]
Interview with Jane: Art of Commerce Series
Jane discusses building a digital presence, querying 15 years ago vs. now, agents vs. self-publishing, crowdfunding, and the future of publishing.
The Age-Old Cynicism Surrounding the Dream of Book Writing
More than 90% of young people say they want to write a book some day. So why does that inspire such cynicism among adults?
How to Evaluate Hybrid Publishers
“Hybrid publishers” are services that don’t fit the definition of traditional publisher or self-publishing service. It can be hard to determine their value.
5 On: Robert Kroese
Robert Kroese reveals the process that allows him to write up to three books per year, and how authors can increase their sales potential.
Book Marketing Must Center (Mostly) on the Author: Q&A with Scott Berkun
Full-time author and speaker Scott Berkun discusses his book marketing experiences as both a traditionally published author and self-published author.
5 On: Kathleen M. Rodgers
Author Kathleen M. Rodgers discusses her approach to writing and reading, her self-promotion philosophy, and why she won’t self-publish.
How to Create Picture Ebooks for Kids
Amazon’s Kids’ Book Creator allows the average Joe to create illustrated children’s books for the Kindle and upload them directly to Amazon.
Why Authors Walk Away From Good, Big 5 Publishers
UK author Harry Bingham describes the four stages of his career, and why he’s decided to self-publish after good experiences with traditional houses.
5 On: Leora Skolkin-Smith
Note from Jane: Today, I’m pleased to announce the series 5 On by author Kristen Tsetsi. 5 On asks established, traditionally published authors and experienced self-published authors five questions about writing and five questions about their experiences with the publishing industry. The series is designed to educate and encourage newer writers looking for guidance and, frankly, hope. […]
Books
The Business of Being a Writer My newest book, published by The University of Chicago Press, offers the business education writers need but so rarely receive. It is meant for early-career writers looking to develop a realistic set of expectations about making money from their work or for working writers who want a better understanding […]
Advice for Undergrad Students Pursuing a Creative Writing Degree
Even though I’ve been actively teaching in the university setting for more than 10 years, I’ve nearly always been in front of non-writing majors. (Right now, at the University of Virginia, I teach media studies majors.) However, my undergraduate degree is a BFA in creative writing, and recently the AWP approached me to write an essay […]
The Long-Term View: 3 Exciting Mind Shifts for Author Entrepreneurs
Note from Jane: Today’s guest post is from Joanna Penn (@thecreativepenn), and is based on her new book, Business for Authors: How to Be an Author Entrepreneur, out now in ebook, print and audio. During the last five years, I have seen a major shift in the publishing arena because of emergent technology and a changing […]
How to Use NoiseTrade Books as a Strategic Marketing Tool
Note from Jane: I am very grateful to Ed Cyzewski (@edcyzewski) for today’s guest post, where he shares valuable insights about book marketing via NoiseTrade (not to mention email newsletters and ebook giveaways). If you’d like to share insights from your book marketing experiments in a guest post, please contact me. First, a Bit of Background In […]
Self-Hosting Your Author Website: Why and How to Do It
When it comes to establishing your author website, one of the more confusing topics is self-hosting: what it means, why it’s advantageous, and when you should do it. What Is Self-Hosting? Sometimes it’s easiest to describe what self-hosting is not. If your website has “wordpress.com” or “blogspot.com” (or the name of another service you use) in […]
What Is a Developmental Editor and What Can You Expect?
Today’s guest post is excerpted from Perfect Bound: How to Navigate the Book Publishing Process Like a Pro by Katherine Pickett (@KPickett_Editor). What Is a Developmental Editor? Developmental editors (DEs) are concerned with the structure and content of your book. If your manuscript lacks focus, your DE will help you find the right direction—the “right” […]