photo by Professor Bop / Flickr

What Is a Developmental Editor and What Can You Expect?

photo by Professor Bop / Flickr Today's guest post is excerpted from Perfect Bound: How to Navigate the Book Publishing
Episode

4 Things I Learned From Writing on an Emerging Mobile Story Platform

Today's guest post is by Los Angeles–based writer Kathryn Stanley (@kathrynstanley_). About six months ago, Pocket Gems, a mobile game
Self-Publish or Perish: Why I Made the Leap from Traditional Publishing to Indie

Self-Publish or Perish: Why I Made the Leap from Traditional Publishing to Indie

THE Funky Man / Flickr Today's guest post is by New York Times bestseller Eileen Goudge (@eileengoudge), whose newest novel,
Why Design Matters for Your Author Website

Why Design Matters for Your Author Website

Photo by Andrea Costa / via Flickr Today's guest post is by literary agent Maria Ribas (@maria_ribas); check out her
Jane Eyre Detail

The 4 Different Types of Conflict in Dialogue

Today's guest post is by author K.M. Weiland (@KMWeiland), author of the newly released Jane Eyre: Writer's Digest Annotated Classics.
Why I Left My Mighty Agency and New York Publishers (for now)

Why I Left My Mighty Agency and New York Publishers (for now)

Olivander / via Flickr Note from Jane: Today I'm beyond honored to feature bestselling author Claire Cook (@ClaireCookwrite), who has
Both Sides Now: A New York Editor and Author Goes Indie

Both Sides Now: A New York Editor and Author Goes Indie

Today's guest post is by author Leslie Wells. I’ve been on both sides of the publishing desk—as an acquiring executive
taxes for authors

What Every Self-Published Author Needs to Know About Taxes

U.S. tax code encourages new businesses by permitting entrepreneurs to offset losses from one business from other income as long as the owner has a serious intent to operate the business at a profit.
Steven de Polo / Flickr

How to Write a Competitive Title Analysis

The following post has been excerpted and adapted from The Author Training Manual by Nina Amir, recently released by Writer's
On Being a Writer With Skin in the Game

On Being a Writer With Skin in the Game

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.
The Art of Marketing Conference

7 Things I Learned from the World’s Best Marketers

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

How to Build a Writing Group in Your Community

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.
What Do You Want From Your Writing in 2014—And Beyond?

What Do You Want From Your Writing in 2014—And Beyond?

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.
by ChaoticMind 75 / Flickr

6 Ways Micro-Publishing Strengthens Your Author Career

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.
single career

Why I Choose to Both Self-Publish and Traditionally Publish

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.
Low-Residency MFA in creative writing

Education in the Digital Age: The Low-Residency MFA

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

4 Ways to Find Readers Who Love Your Work

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.
business plan for writers

The 7-Step Business Plan for Writers

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.
Colleen Gleason covers

The Importance of Your Book Cover: Achieving the Right Fit

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

The Difference Between Marketing and Publicity

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.

Photo by fatllama / Flickr

A Call to Disarm Technology & Hype (And Boost Your Writing Productivity)

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.
5 Reasons to Use a Facebook Profile (Not a Page) to Build Platform

5 Reasons to Use a Facebook Profile (Not a Page) to Build Platform

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.
Kindle Matchbook

Amazon MatchBook: How Publishers and Authors Can Work Together to Sell More

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

Book Tour Planning 101

Five things to consider as you begin planning book events to spread the word about your book.
by Emily Barrera / Flickr

Business Is Personal: 5 Common Networking Mistakes

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.
© Salim Photography/

The Power of Understatement in Fiction Writing

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.
Photo by boinink / Flickr

Is Crowdfunding Right for You? 5 Questions

Today's guest post is by Justine Schofield, the communications coordinator for Pubslush, a crowdfunding publishing platform. You’ve probably heard of
Photo by Emily White / Flickr

4 Big Pitfalls in Story Openings

Learn about four of the biggest pitfalls in story beginnings: false suspense, prologues, dream sequences, and too much backstory.
The workspace of Frances Kazan

The Collapse of a Writing Routine—and How It Was Restored

The widow of Elia Kazan writes about the disruption of her writing routine, and how it was eventually restored.
Getting Lucky

How to Increase Your Odds at Getting Lucky

Learn how self-published novelist Ransom Stephens landed a two-book deal with Amazon—without even querying.
Small presses

Better Than Fall Back: The Small Press Option

Some writers think a small press is something you have to make the best of. Yet small presses can often serve as a first—even best—option. Three case studies show why.
Book metadata optimization

How to Sell More Books By Optimizing Your Metadata

One of the biggest challenges in publishing today is discoverability, particularly at Amazon and other major online retailers. You can ensure your book is found more easily by optimizing your metadata—here's how.
5 traps of the imagination

5 Traps of the Imagination John Grisham Helped Me See

I had 7 an overflowing shelf of rejection notices when John Grisham—a friend and neighbor—took me under his wing and taught me his writing secrets.
Finding your readers

How to Connect With More Readers in Just 5 Minutes

If you're having trouble finding your audience, your message may not be connecting with readers on a personal level. Here's how to fix the problem.
Find the right freelance editor

5 Ways to Find the Right Freelance Book Editor

If you’re ready to hire and work with a freelance editor, learn how to find qualified candidates, plus how to properly evaluate them.
Photo by Caro Wallis / Flickr

Submission: 6 Rules of Thumb From an Editor-Turned-Writer

Today's guest post is by writer and editor Jennifer Niesslein (@jniesslein), who is based in Charlottesville, Virginia. I’m experiencing karma.
Red Hot Internet Publicity by Penny Sansevieri

3 Ways to Improve Your Website Design

Today's guest post is adapted from Red Hot Internet Publicity by Penny Sansevieri. Between Los Angeles and Las Vegas there’s
You've Got a Book in You by Elizabeth Sims

To Be Great, Strive to Be Ordinary

The following guest post from Elizabeth Sims is adapted from her newest book, You've Got a Book in You, from
blogging for writers

2 Strategic and Compelling Reasons to Keep Blogging—Plus When to Kill a Blog

Note from Jane: Today's guest post is from Dan Blank (@DanBlank) and covers a topic that was recently addressed on
Pinterest for authors

5 Ideas for Using Pinterest as an Author

How authors, especially novelists, can start using Pinterest in a way that's a natural outgrowth of their work.
Amazon KDP Select

Amazon KDP Select: Is It Worthwhile for Authors?

Should authors take advantage of the Amazon KDP Select program? A comprehensive discussion of who the program is well-suited for, plus best strategies.
Amazon White Glove program

Agent-Assisted Self-Publishing and the 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. All authors should negotiate a contract beforehand that protects their rights and lifetime earnings.
Should writers blog?

It’s Time for (Many) Experienced Writers to Stop Blogging

Author L.L. Barkat argues that writers who already have experience—as well as authors trying to promote themselves—should stop blogging.
The Media Training Bible

5 Things Bad Radio Guests Do (And 7 Ways to Rock on Radio)

Today's guest post is from Brad Phillips (@MrMediaTraining), author of The Media Training Bible: 101 Things You Absolutely, Positively Need
Replacement Child by Judy Mandel

Getting a Traditional Book Deal After Self-Publishing

Today's guest post is by Judy L. Mandel, author of the Replacement Child, forthcoming from Seal Press in March 2013.
Creating Space by Ed Cyzewski

Quality Writing Projects Require Safe Places—And Here Are Five

Today's guest post is by Ed Cyzewski (@EdCyzewski). You may remember him from a previous guest post at this site,
A photograph of several bookstore shelves loaded with books.

Sell More Fiction by Activating the Power of Book Clubs

Today's guest post is by Rob Eagar, author of Sell Your Book Like Wildfire. Book clubs and discussion groups—where millions
Jonathan Cohen / Flickr

3 Steps for Using Prompts to Write Better & Get Published

In January of 2007—as a New Year's resolution—I decided I was a writer. I resolved that I would stop saying
Author website strategy

Is Your Author Website Doing Its Job? 6 Things to Check

Today's guest post is by Laura Pepper Wu, the co-founder of 30 Day Books, a book studio that provides marketing
Stephen King

The Stephen King Guide to Marketing

Today's guest post is by Jason Kong. You may remember him from an earlier guest post here at JaneFriedman.com: Are