Michael Goodin / Flickr For 10 years, I've been analyzing website traffic—for my own site, for Writer's Digest (when I

Is there a difference between being an author versus running a business as an author? In this interview with Joanna

The latest issue of my magazine Scratch is now available! The theme is Faith. If you're not a subscriber, here's what

Yesterday, I gave my keynote on Writing for Love (and Money) at The Muse and The Marketplace annual conference, hosted

In a bold and insightful piece by writer Monica Byrne, she discusses how, as an emerging writer, she created a list of

by Sal Falko / Flickr The backlash against Literary Citizenship is underway, and perhaps it was inevitable. For those unaware

For my upcoming keynote talk at The Muse & The Marketplace, I've been immersing myself in histories of publishing and

Over at the latest Glimmer Train bulletin, writer David James Poissant discusses a topic very near and dear to my

There’s a part of me that is not completely comfortable talking about my writing: the best of it is highly personal, even as it is universal.

Today's guest post is by author Tiana Warner (@tianawarner). The Art of Marketing conference in Vancouver was a full day

One of my favorite social media activities is collecting charts and visual data related to book publishing and other media,

On the right: Manjula Martin & Jane Friedman This past week, I was interviewed along with my Scratch business partner,

In an essay about writing a novel with her husband, Beth Ann Fennelly discusses that the process did not lead

Today's guest post is by Frances Caballo (@caballofrances), a social media strategist and manager for writers, and the author of Avoid Social

My latest column at Writer Unboxed tackles serial fiction—and how it's changing writing, reading, and publishing. Here's a little snippet:

I'm delighted to be a recent interviewee at Publishing Trendsetter, where I discuss what I've learned about building a personal

Note from Jane: The following post by Joshua Graham (@J0shuaGraham) is the third in a series sponsored by Nook Press, offering tips and advice

Earlier this week, I was interviewed by Jason Allen Ashlock about my new digital magazine Scratch, and how things have

The most prevalent point-of-view used by writers today is the third-person limited POV (sometimes spread across multiple characters), as well

Today's guest post is by author and freelancer Andi Cumbo-Floyd (@andilit). On one side of the street, they sit next to

Every writer can benefit from belonging to a community writing group. If there's not one in your area, here's how to start one successfully.

Your success as a storyteller has to do with your ability to juggle flaming chainsaws.

Your task is to express your goal as a writer in one sentence. Get it right, because it’s the single most important sentence you will ever write. It will sustain you and provide a compass for your entire writing journey.

Micro-published books are short, tight, and swift. A meaningful discussion of micro-publishing has been pushed aside during the ongoing tug-of-war between traditional publishing and independent publishing (self-publishing). But we are well beyond “everyone is a writer” at this point. We have progressed into “everyone is a publisher,” if they wish to be—and we have been living in this realm for some time already. Fortunately, micro-publishing benefits the industry as a whole by bringing some much-needed simplicity and directness into a publishing equation that is often weighted down by its own complexity and contracts. And it also benefits you, the writer.

Is it possible to successfully publish and sell your e-books—without a platform—as long as you choose the right genre?

Strong reader relationships build unbelievable opportunities. Marketing and promotion ideas usually start by considering what reader relationships you have in place—or can build on. Here is a framework and strategy for building and engaging a readership.

Since 2009, after the release of my second novel, I’ve been a so-called hybrid author, working with New York publishers as well as self-publishing. I’m often asked why I chose to combine these two seemingly disparate publishing careers, juggling twice the work.

Is a low-residency MFA degree in creative writing right for you? Here's what you need to know.

So you want to find those raving fans, right? Awesome. We’re about to give you the most boring advice possible. You’re probably going to be disappointed that we’re not going to offer you a magic way to get a ton more readers, but unfortunately that’s not how it works. Ideal fans and readers are gained a few at a time, and it takes time to build that bond, even if you experience a sudden and serendipitous burst of exposure.

Your productivity and growth are a direct result of forming a business plan (and sticking to it); here are 7 steps—plus a template—for creating your own.

Inevitably there will come a moment when the writer's gaze stays somewhere—there's that "majestic silence"—and at that moment, the writer knows to stand still and listen and look.

Learn how to write a better bio note and improve the opportunities that come your way.

Note from Jane: The following post is the first in a series that will offer tips and advice from successful

This infographic breaks down the key 5 publishing paths, their value to authors, the potential pitfalls, and examples of each.

No one can buy a book they’ve never heard of. So, how do readers hear about books? Everyone likes to say it’s word of mouth, but it’s not possible to tell a friend about a book until you’ve heard of it yourself. That’s where publicity and marketing come in.


It is possible, if not desirable, for an author to launch an effective book-marketing campaign without a publisher’s support or assistance. Mainly, it requires time and energy. Here's a comprehensive rundown of the main strategies in use today.

A publicist often helps secure mainstream media coverage, but they also have tremendous value outside of that. Here's how to effectively work with one.

Laura van den Berg discusses the evolution of how her stories get written and shaped into a collection, or a book.

Read six essays on the future of publishing, as well as ideas on how reading, writing, and editing will evolve.

Is it possible that all the changes happening in publishing can be encapsulated by a conversation about self-publishing?

Best Business Advice for Writers (Sept 2013): a monthly link round-up where I share the best online articles focused on the business of writing and publishing.

What are the rules for what can and can't be done with historical fiction? How much license can a writer take with the facts?

It's not unusual for authors to be told by their publishers that author websites aren't necessary or effective. Should their insight be trusted?

The internet and other technology keeps us on insanely high alert, ultimately producing an effect where we attend to everything and we attend to nothing (deeply). This high-alert state is producing a fatigue that’s detrimental not only to our psyches and relationships, but also to the quality of our professional output.

A Facebook Profile is often a better option than a fan Page for building author platform. It’s simpler and easier to get your content in front of people, takes less time to manage, and will build a tribe or platform faster, especially if you don’t plan to run ads.

Bestselling author Michael J. Sullivan proposes that publishers give authors permission to send free ebooks to readers who have purchased print editions.

Five things to consider as you begin planning book events to spread the word about your book.

What does it take to launch a new website and online community? A Q&A with author and entrepreneur Alexis Grant.

Business is personal. In the long-run game, anyone who treats business as though it is not personal is going to end up stepping on toes and leaving a trail of poor impressions.

One of the most useful and powerful devices for the fiction writer is understatement. You tell the reader less so that the reader knows more. Instead of having everything spelt out, the reader is given, in a very careful way, just enough information for the imagination to go to work. From understatement the reader can derive great pleasure and satisfaction.