If you’re overwhelmed by this list, you can purchase a compilation of my best advice for first-time authors, Publishing 101: A First-Time Author’s Guide to Getting Published, Marketing and Promoting Your Book, and Building a Successful Career. It is a full-length book (more than 80,000 words) that includes edited and updated versions of the most important blog posts listed below.
Getting Started
The Only Way to Know If You’ll Be a Successful Writer
The Golden Rule of Professionals: Be Specific & Ask Good Questions
You Hate Your Writing? That’s a Good Sign!
How to Avoid Being Fooled by Bad Writing Advice
Should You Hire a Professional Editor?
How Long Should You Keep Trying to Get Published?
Best Advice: Have More Fun (Stop Worrying and Obeying)
The Dirty Secret Behind Writing Advice
3 Questions Every Creative Person Must Ask
5 Attitudes Toward Publishing You Should Avoid
Back to Basics + 101 Guides
Start Here: How to Get Your Book Published
Start Here: How to Write a Book Proposal
Start Here: How to Self-Publish Your Book
The Complete Guide to Query Letters That Get Manuscript Requests
The Complete Guide to Query Letters: Nonfiction Books
How Long Should You Keep Trying to Get Published?
The Key Book Publishing Paths (Infographic)
How to Start Blogging: A Definitive Guide for Writers
Back to Basics: Writing a Novel Synopsis
Writing & Publishing Terminology 101
Getting Published
Start Here: How to Get Your Book Published
Start Here: How to Write a Book Proposal
The Complete Guide to Query Letters That Get Manuscript Requests
The Complete Guide to Query Letters: Nonfiction Books
How to Find a Literary Agent for Your Book
How Long Should You Keep Trying to Get Published?
The Key Book Publishing Paths (Infographic)
Is Your Work Commercially Viable?
The Basic Pitch Formula for Novelists
Back to Basics: Writing a Novel Synopsis
5 Attitudes Toward Publishing You Should Avoid
How Do You Know If Your Agent Is Any Good?
Stop Being Afraid of Posting Your Work Online
How to Get a Book Deal While Avoiding the Slush Pile
Nonfiction Books + Publishing
Start Here: How to Write a Book Proposal
Book Proposals in the Digital Age
The Complete Guide to Query Letters: Nonfiction Books
Memoir
Using the Fallacy of Memory to Create Effective Memoir
When Is Lying in Memoir Acceptable? 3 Key Issues
Back to Basics: Writing & Publishing Memoir
Creating Memoir That’s Bigger Than Me, Me, Me
Your No. 1 Challenge If You’re Writing Memoir
5 Common Flaws in Memoir Projects
Don’t Write a Memoir to Get Revenge
Inspiration + Encouragement (The Writing Life)
The Secret to Finding Time to Write, Market, Promote, and Still Have a Life
5 Things More Important Than Talent
5 Remarkable Prompt & Exercise Books
How Do You Make the Time to Write?
Why Do We Think Talent Ought to Be Rewarded?
3 Ways to Add Meaningful Structure to Your Writing Life
My Secret to Battling Procrastination
Placing Too Much Importance on Passion
Writing Advice for Children and Teens
Publishing Industry
4 Lessons for Authors on the Current State of Publishing
How Publishers Make Decisions about What to Publish: The Book P&L
Reasons to Be Optimistic During the Disruption of Publishing
5 Valuable Charts That Show How Publishing Is Changing
5 Industry Trends Requiring Every Writer’s Attention
The Age-Old Cynicism Surrounding the Dream of Book Writing
Are Literary Journals in Trouble?
The Future of Publishing: 7 Things Authors Should Know
Marketing & Promotion
A Key Book Marketing Principle That Authors Must Learn (or Not Forget)
The No. 1 Component of an Effective Online Marketing & Promotion Strategy
The No. 1 Overlooked Skill for Every Author
What Authors Seem to Forget About Marketing—Especially Those Who Dislike It
How to Sell More Books by Optimizing Your Metadata
3 Things That Come First Before You Tackle Social Media
The Marketing Paradox: Start Small to Get Big
4 Ways to Immediately Improve Your Book Marketing Efforts
How Should You Spend Your Book Marketing Budget?
What is an Author’s Marketing Responsibility With a Traditional Publisher?
A Critical Marketing Secret: Don’t Go It Alone
How Much Has Book Marketing Changed Since 2005?
Audience Development: Critical to Every Writer’s Future
Giving Stuff Away Is Not a Strategy
The Strategic Use of Book Giveaways and How They Can Increase Earnings Potential
Authors: Don’t Pay Money for BEA Book Promotion
2 Questions You Should Memorize for Networking Events
How to Find and Work with a Book Publicist—Successfully
Are Paid Book Reviews Worth It?
Platform Building
The Art and Business of Reader Engagement and Author Platform
How Much Does Author Platform Impact Sales?
Should You Focus on Your Writing or Your Platform?
3 Numbers That Matter to Your Platform
5 Excellent Tips for Platform Building
The Hardest Part About Developing Platform
Draft Your Platform Action Plan: 5 Worksheets
Are There Limits to Literary Citizenship?
Online Marketing + Social Media
My 5 Philosophies of Social Media
That Overused Word “Community”—But Why We Still Have to Talk about It
Why You Should Join All Social Media Networks
Pay Proper Attention to Your Bio
3 Things That Come First Before You Tackle Social Media
Facebook for Authors: Getting Started Guide
3 Reasons Why a Facebook Page Can’t Replace an Author Website
5 Reasons Why Your Online Marketing Doesn’t Work
A Checklist for Marketing Your E-Book
Please Do Not Pay Money for an Online Ad Until You Read This
You Don’t Have to Blog, Tweet, or Be on Facebook
When or Why Social Media Fails to Sell Books
How to Sell More Books by Optimizing Your Metadata
Build Diversity Into Your Online Presence
Facebook Strategy for Authors: In-Depth Discussion
5 Principles for Using Facebook
The Pros and Cons of Using a Facebook Profile But Not a Page
How I Got a Six-Figure Twitter Following and Why It Doesn’t Matter
Build a Better Author Bio for Twitter
The Secret to Twitter That Can’t Be Taught
Does Twitter Make Sense for Most Writers?
Websites
The Basic Components of an Author Web Site
How to Choose the Right WordPress Theme for You
Before You Launch Your Author Website: How to Avoid Long-Term Mistakes
10 Ways to Build Long-Lasting Traffic to Your Website or Blog
3 Ways to Improve Your Author Website
3 Ways to Improve Your Website Design
5 Keys to Writing for an Online Audience
Building Your First Website: Resource List
Is Your Author Website Doing Its Job? 6 Things to Check
3 Reasons to Have a Website If You’re Unpublished
5 Things That Make Me Stop Reading Your Site or Blog
Your Homepage Is Not As Important As You Think
Build a More Effective Author Website
The Big Mistake of Author Websites & Blogs
Why Don’t Publishers Believe in Author Websites?
Blogs
10 Ways to Build Long-Lasting Traffic to Your Website or Blog
Get Started Guide: Blogging for Writers
5 Keys to Writing for an Online Audience
5 Things That Make Me Stop Reading Your Site or Blog
Please Don’t Blog Your Book: 4 Reasons Why
Why You Should Add E-mail Subscription Service to Your Blog
The Big Mistake of Author Websites & Blogs
Authors: Build Your E-Mail List—Now
Why You Should Add E-mail Subscription Service to Your Blog
Yes, E-mail Still Works for Book Marketing
Are You Committing These E-mail Sins?
5 Ways to Quickly Improve Your Email Newsletter Performance
Email Newsletters for Authors: Get Started Guide
Self-Publishing + E-Publishing
Start Here: How to Self-Publish Your Book
Self-Publishing Checklist: Editorial, Production, and Distribution
10 Questions to Ask Before Committing to Any E-Publishing Service
Should You Self-Publish? 15 Questions
How to Publish an E-Book: Resources for Authors
Amazon KDP Select: Is It Worthwhile for Authors?
How to Sell More Books by Optimizing Your Metadata
Self-Publishing and Traditional Publishing: Enjoy the Best of Both Worlds
Agent-Assisted Self-Publishing and the Amazon White Glove Program
A Checklist for Marketing Your E-Book
The Best E-Publishing Resources
Self-Published Authors Have Great Power, But Are They Taking Responsibility?
How Much Attention Should You Pay to Book Design?
The Future of Self-Publishing Services
Rights & Legal Issues
Are You Worried Your Work or Ideas Will Be Stolen?
When Do You Need to Secure Permissions?
Is It Fair Use? 7 Questions to Ask Before Using Copyrighted Material
Trademark Is Not a Verb: Guidelines From a Trademark Lawyer
Copyright Is Not a Verb (advice from an attorney)
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