How to Evaluate Small Publishers—Plus Digital-Only Presses and Hybrids
As the publishing industry has transformed in the digital age, small press activity has proliferated. Here’s how authors can evaluate their offerings.
Tag Archives: e-publishing
How to Self-Publish in France
More books are translated in France than in any other country: 1 out of every 6 books has been translated from a foreign language, many from English.
How to Turn a Microsoft Word Document Into an Ebook (EPUB)
Word doesn’t export to EPUB, but you can still produce an editable file quickly, without buying software or using a “meatgrinder” conversion.
Start Here: How to Self-Publish Your Book
This is an introductory guide to the major self-publishing options available to authors today, and how to choose the right service for you.
How to Publish an Ebook: Resources for Authors
In this post I regularly update the best resources I know of related to learning to publish an ebook, finding the right distributors and services, and staying on top of changes in the industry.
How to Get Your Book Distributed: What Self-Published Authors Need to Know
The most important thing any author needs to know about book distribution is that more than half of all book sales (regardless of format) take place online.
Q&A with Pronoun: An Increasingly Competitive Ebook Distributor
Pronoun works with independent authors to distribute their ebooks to the five major online retailers: Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Google Play. Pronoun charges authors nothing upfront, and doesn’t take a cut of ebook sales either.
Is Amazon Exclusivity Right for You?
There are advantages to selling ebooks only through Amazon, and makes most sense for authors who are just starting out or who are relatively unknown.
Looking Back at 2016: Important Publishing Developments Authors Should Know
A round-up of important 2016 publishing news and trends that will affect authors in the years to come.
A Round-Up of My Columns for Publishers Weekly
Last year, I began regularly contributing to Publishers Weekly on the topic of independent authorship and publishing. Here’s a list of all my columns so far:
My New Series of Columns on Self-Publishing
I’m writing monthly for the IngramSpark blog, which is focused on the concerns of self-publishing authors and small presses.
Should You Self-Publish or Traditionally Publish?
Should you self-publish? There is no single right answer to this question—it’s always situational. It depends on you, your book, and your career goals. This post outlines the key questions you should ask.
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.
Join Me to Discuss the Rise of the Writer-Entrepreneur
Next week, I’m participating in the Book to Course Virtual Summit, a free event hosted by Teachable. I’ll be discussing the rise of the writer-entrepreneur.
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 […]
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.
The Self-Publishing Checklist: Editorial, Production, and Distribution
This printable and interactive checklist guides your self-publishing project to completion, to ensure you don’t miss any important steps and to help you hit your target pub date.
5 Industry Issues for Authors to Watch in 2016
The most important publishing industry headlines and stories that every writer should keep an eye on in 2016.
Geek Out With Me: LIVE Chat on Product Hunt!
Join me to discuss digital media tools and publishing this coming Thursday (December 10) at 3 p.m. Eastern, at the Product Hunt site.
It’s Here! My Great Course on How to Publish Your Book
I am thrilled to announce that my 24-lecture series on how to publish your book is now available from The Great Courses.
How Authors Can Find Their Ideal Reading Audience
Writing coach and author Angela Ackerman discusses techniques for identifying and connecting with your target reading audience.
5 Observations on the Evolution of Author Business Models
As publishing becomes increasingly digital-driven, how are the business models for authorship changing?
Self-Publishing Beyond the Book: Serializing, Podcasting, and Merchandising
How an indie author turned a story concept into a full-fledged multimedia universe, including a live blog, illustrated journal, merchandise, and podcast.
What Authors Can Learn From Startups
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.
The Business of Self-Publishing Children’s Picture Books: Two Literary Agents Weigh In
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.
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.
Indies & Audiobooks: An Alternative to ACX
If you don’t like the terms offered by Amazon’s ACX for selling your audiobook, you do have an alternative. Author Lee Stephen explains the path he took.
Serial Fiction: How It’s Changing Publishing
My latest column at Writer Unboxed tackles serial fiction—and how it’s changing writing, reading, and publishing. Here’s a little snippet: Both serials and fan fiction have been around a long time (since Dickens, remember?). If these forms are being reinvented and rediscovered because mobile- and tablet-based reading is growing, this may mean the strategic author […]
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.
How Much Does Author Platform Impact Sales?
Is it possible to successfully publish and sell your e-books—without a platform—as long as you choose the right genre?
Self-Publishing: Is It the Most Important Conversation for Traditional Publishers?
Is it possible that all the changes happening in publishing can be encapsulated by a conversation about self-publishing?
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.
WRITING ON THE ETHER: Is Publishing’s Star System Cuckoo?
In Writing on the Ether, Porter Anderson looks at the revelation of J.K. Rowling’s pseudonym for The Cuckoo’s Calling and implications for publishing.
Infographic: 5 Key Book Publishing Paths
This infographic breaks down the key 5 publishing paths, their value to authors, the potential pitfalls, and examples of each.
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. I asked her to tell the story of self-publishing her memoir, which ultimately led to a traditional book deal from Seal. Most authors don’t give any credence to luck, but they lie. Luck has so […]
Do Publishers Need to Offer More Value to Authors?
Last month, I gave a 15-minute presentation in Berlin, Germany, called The Future of the Author-Publisher Relationship, as part of an innovative publishing think-tank event called LitFlow. To accompany my talk, I wrote a 2,500-word article. In a nutshell, I suggest that—given the changes happening in the industry—traditional publishers will need to be more author-focused […]
Is the Author Solutions Acquisition a Good Thing for Authors?
Yesterday, news broke that Pearson (parent company of Penguin) had acquired Author Solutions for $116 million. Read the basics here. Just to make sure we’re all up to speed: Pearson is one of the Big Six publishers. Author Solutions (ASI) is the world’s leading provider of self-publishing services, primarily dealing in print-on-demand (POD) publishing and […]
When Self-Publishing Is More Useful As a Marketing Tool
The turning point of my long-term publishing plans came when I realized I have very little in common with author Joanna Penn. Have you heard of her? I started following Joanna on Twitter because she always shared great writing links, but I also began to follow her self-publishing story. She wrote a novel, released it […]
E-Book Statistics For Authors to Watch
This weekend, I’ll be speaking at the Writer’s Digest Conference about e-publishing. I’m in the process of updating my slides and information about e-book sales—which can be a confusing and murky issue since the reporting of such sales is not as standardized as print book sales (yet). Meaning: You can not only find various data […]
A Model for Crowdsourced Publishing
Today’s guest post is by Scott Vankirk (@mightyscoo). As much as we (aspiring authors) tend to get joy and satisfaction vilifying The System, the problem is not really the publishing houses nor the agents that feed them, nor their unhelpful rejection letters. The problem is the sheer number of us. Just about everyone has something […]