What does it mean to "engage" with a community? And what's the benefit?

As a teenager, I looked on my mother’s files with disdain and, later, with pity. How sad, I thought, to just move papers about and never really do the things you want to do. How tragic, to lock up a life in a box.

In this interview, author E. E. King (Elizabeth Eve King) explains her approaches to writing, humor, marketing, and publishing.

When we talk about plot as separate from the characters, the symbols, the locales, the dialogue, and the philosophical introspection, what we are doing is privileging events over everything else. But nothing exists in a vacuum.

If you can't portray someone you know personally in a positive fashion, you will probably lose this friend and/or be sued for libel.

Consider the story or message you wish to share, rather than focusing on the container.

More writing does not necessarily equal better-quality writing, nor does faster writing lead to faster achievement of your goals.

In this interview, author Carol Hoenig explains what makes an author attractive to the media.

My website (JaneFriedman.com) has been named a 101 Best Website for Writers by Writer's Digest.

In this latest podcast interview, I discuss understanding your business as an author and expanding your personal brand beyond just book sales.

Robert Kroese reveals the process that allows him to write up to three books per year, and how authors can increase their sales potential.

I'm a proud contributor to an anthology releasing this week from University of Chicago Press, The Little Magazine in Contemporary America, edited by Ian Morris and Joanne Diaz.

Rejection is rarely personal—but it still hurts. So what do you do?

Learn how to improve the description of your book, and improve its metadata, when using Amazon KDP.

What is crowdfunded publishing? Learn about the two types of models now prevalent, plus the major services you can choose from.

In this 5On interview, author Anne Perry discusses (among other things): what plot is not what to look for when

If you need a place to start, then focus on talking about or posting about others you admire.

A group of literary authors have launched a limited edition box set of novels. How did they make the collaboration work?

Working with a small press is an option many authors never consider. It’s the shadowy middle ground between self-pub and a Big Five contract.

It's nearly spring, and that means conference season is about to go into full swing! Here's a list of online & offline events I'm involved in.

A traditionally published children's author discusses how she's launched a successful indie publishing effort in less than two years.

BookBaby founder Brian Felsen discusses the push against the gatekeeper and the prevailing belief that not being on top is synonymous with being a "loser."

A specific and daily moment of self-reflection can revolutionize your writing by offering you a clear picture of your mental state, anxieties, and fears.

Writers flounder trying to figure out how to make their idea compelling enough to sustain a great novel. Here's how to go from ordinary to extraordinary.

To inspire other people to engage in something that you're concerned about, you have to avoid getting caught in the trap of writing with an agenda.

You can find marketing inspiration in what others have done, but also know that the less advertised “strategies” might actually be the ones worth pursuing.

Two literary agents offer their thoughts on the self-publishing of children's books and what the future of the picture book might look like.

Build a bio that's not only better than most you have read, but also compelling enough to attract the fans & clients you'd like to have in the first place.

Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.

by Aurélien Bellanger Today's interview is by contributing writer Kristen Tsetsi (@ktsetsi), who does every-other-Wednesday interviews for the 5 On

Full-time author and speaker Scott Berkun discusses his book marketing experiences as both a traditionally published author and self-published author.

Author Kathleen M. Rodgers discusses her approach to writing and reading, her self-promotion philosophy, and why she won't self-publish.

Amazon's Kids' Book Creator allows the average Joe to create illustrated children's books for the Kindle and upload them directly to Amazon.

In this interview, James C. Moore discusses journalistic vs. creative writing, finding time to write when time is hard to come by, and what being a New York Times best-selling author doesn't mean.

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.

Do you have a project that confuses you, or feels dangerous? That's what you should write says Mark Wisniewski.

Most novels have some amount of back story—because they rarely start from the beginning of a character’s life. However, writers tend to misuse it or include too much.

Giving away your work isn't a problem if you've developed a strategy around it, and know how to turn new readers into fans.

Author and editor Victoria Zackheim discusses (among other things) the art of marketing when published by a press with a limited budget and the keys to successful personal essays.

For me, the hardest thing about being online is remembering what I think and the "why" that I'm working for. The multiplicity of voices can make you forget your center.

Nielsen offers specific figures on how ebook sales have affected print sales in adult fiction, adult nonfiction, and juvenile categories.

Amazon says that Kindle Select participation is healthy, and that the Kindle Unlimited ebook subscription service is leading to more reading and sales.

Note from Jane: Today, I'm pleased to announce the series 5 On by author Kristen Tsetsi. 5 On asks established, traditionally published

Nielsen offers fascinating insights into how the children's market is driving growth in the overall publishing industry.

Why you should ensure you have as many stories on submission as possible.

In a 30-minute video interview, I discuss the basics of author platform.

I was delighted to be a guest on Stephen Campbell's podcast, The Author Biz.

I've revisited my No. 1 post on how to get published—adding more advice and instruction.

At conferences, I'm often asked by writers if they "have what it takes" to be a successful writer. I usually interpret that question as: "Do I have talent?"

This 101 guide describes best practices for authors using Facebook for book marketing, with tips on when you should set up a fan page.