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
You Hate Your Writing? That’s a Good Sign!
How Long Should You Keep Trying to Get Published?
The Dirty Secret Behind Writing Advice
3 Questions Every Creative Person Must Ask
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
How Publishers Make Decisions about What to Publish: The Book P&L
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
My Secret to Battling Procrastination
Placing Too Much Importance on Passion
Writing Advice for Children and Teens
Marketing & Promotion
How to Sell More Books by Optimizing Your Metadata
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?
The Strategic Use of Book Giveaways and How They Can Increase Earnings Potential
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?
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
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
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
Websites
The Basic Components of an Author Web Site
Before You Launch Your Author Website: How to Avoid Long-Term Mistakes
10 Ways to Build Long-Lasting Traffic to Your Website or Blog
Building Your First Website: Resource List
Is Your Author Website Doing Its Job? 6 Things to Check
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
Please Don’t Blog Your Book: 4 Reasons Why
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
Should You Self-Publish? 15 Questions
How to Publish an E-Book: Resources for Authors
Agent-Assisted Self-Publishing and the Amazon White Glove Program
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
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