When it comes to publishing, self-publishing can be a great option for authors. However, when self-publishing, you have to think of yourself as running a business. That means taking into consideration things like the cost of publishing (editing, design, marketing, etc.) and what the price of your book will be. And when pricing your book, remember to factor in how much other … [Read more...] about Do You Want To Sell Print Books? A Quick Overview of Considerations and POD Platforms
An Interview with J. R. Martin, Founder of The Underdog Press
J.R. Martin is a writer and the founder of The Underdog Press, a new publishing company with the goal of giving voice to marginalized writers and the stories they are trying to share. Read on for an interview with J.R. Q. What’s your background? A. I'm an IT who has worked in IT for the past 15 years. I've been writing longer than that and have done some copywriting as … [Read more...] about An Interview with J. R. Martin, Founder of The Underdog Press
Storytelling and Games
Storytelling comes in all sorts of forms, and often there's overlap between mediums. Take games, for example. Electric Lit shared a story about launching a video game at a bookstore. In 2019, The Strand bookstore in New York had a "live playthrough" to demonstrate Eliza, a game "about artificial intelligence, mental health, and the gig economy, written and directed by Matthew … [Read more...] about Storytelling and Games
Starting and Growing a YouTube Channel
Having a YouTube channel is a great way to reach out to your audience, and potentially earn money. You can repurpose content you've already created in to videos, or create new, short videos for your niche. There's a lot of great advice on how to grow a YouTube channel. Content Marketing Institute highlights having a compelling intro, doing keyword research (YouTube is a … [Read more...] about Starting and Growing a YouTube Channel
Tips for Creating Fiction Podcasts
I'm a fan of podcasting and of writing. And creating fiction podcasts is the best of both worlds. I haven't created my own fiction podcast (yet) but I am rounding up resources and tips for when I am ready to take on the challenge. And if you're thinking of starting your own fiction podcast, these resources should help you too. First, October 30 is Audio Drama Day, which … [Read more...] about Tips for Creating Fiction Podcasts
Guest Post: 6 Tips On How to Write an Amazing Book that People Will Want to Read
By Frank Roselli Are you looking to write an amazing book that people would definitely want to pick from the shelf? A book that is so well written that the readers just can’t get enough? Well, here are my personal insights on the topic. One of the most important things you can do as a writer is to write whatever you feel. You want to enjoy the experience and not worry … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 6 Tips On How to Write an Amazing Book that People Will Want to Read
An Interview with Michael C. Bland, Author of The Price of Rebellion
It’s 2047. Secrets have been revealed. And Washington wants revenge. Dray Quintero learned an ugly truth: the leaders in D.C. are fake. Using his technology, they’ve stolen the identities of those duly elected to Congress and are determined to stay in power. After revealing the dangers of their government-mandated implants to his fellow citizens, Dray joins the already-underway … [Read more...] about An Interview with Michael C. Bland, Author of The Price of Rebellion
Guest Post: How I Go About Making My Wartime Detective Series Historically Accurate
By Mark Ellis Editor's note: Mark shares great tips on how he works on his detective series. Some key takeaways that apply to every writer when doing research include: The internet is a great starting point and useful for specific details, like the weather on a particular day To dig deeper, history books, biographies, and diaries are helpful, as are novels … [Read more...] about Guest Post: How I Go About Making My Wartime Detective Series Historically Accurate
Marketing Funnel Part 6: Sharing Your Story With a Webinar
Editor's Note: This is part 6 of my marketing funnel series. You can read part 5 here. The webinar is pretty much the last step in the marketing funnel, where we want people to consider purchasing our product. In my case, I wanted to help podcasters by offering them an online course. We ended up doing three webinars. The first webinar was months before we officially … [Read more...] about Marketing Funnel Part 6: Sharing Your Story With a Webinar
Guest Post: Do’s and Don’ts of Writing Memoirs and Autobiographies
By Jenny Zimmer Thinking of penning your life story? Excellent decision! But before you dive headfirst into the ordeal, are you sure you know the do’s and don’ts of writing one? I’m certain just the thought of your life enclosed in the pages of a bestseller is exciting, but don’t rush into the process just yet. There’s a lot to learn, and you’ve luckily stumbled upon … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Do’s and Don’ts of Writing Memoirs and Autobiographies
Foreword Reviews, the First Magazine to Exclusively Cover Indie Books, Celebrates 25th Anniversary
25 years is an anniversary worth celebrating. And this year, Foreword Reviews, the premier magazine for reviews of independently published books, is doing just that. Since 1998 when Foreword Reviews was first established, the magazine now: Reaches 36,000 booksellers and librarians annually Sees 300,000 readers perusing reviews online each year Has published more … [Read more...] about Foreword Reviews, the First Magazine to Exclusively Cover Indie Books, Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Guest Post: Five Things To Do Before Querying Agents & Publishers
By Alexandria Brown Well, you’ve done it! You’ve either started writing or just finished writing your novel and you’re looking for its home in a literary agent’s or publisher’s arms. But, before you start sending queries to every lit agent or publisher in existence, there are a few things you need to know! One: Complete Your Manuscript There are times when authors get so … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Five Things To Do Before Querying Agents & Publishers
Guest Post: Life as a Mystery Bookshop Owner and Writer
By Matt Cost I am an author who once owned a mystery bookshop. It was called The Coffee Dog Mystery Bookstore, named after my chocolate lab of the time. I also work very closely with my publisher in marketing and promoting my books. And I read. One could say that I have seen the business of books from every angle. For me, people coming into my bookstore fell into two … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Life as a Mystery Bookshop Owner and Writer
An Interview with Sean Keefer, Author of The Code
It should have been an otherwise uneventful Sunday morning for Charleston attorney Noah Parks. Perhaps a trip to the beach or a run with his new Australian Shepherd, Austin. But with a cryptic voicemail, everything changes. A client has vanished, leaving nothing behind as a clue to where he may be. Neither his family, friends, nor neighbors are able to provide … [Read more...] about An Interview with Sean Keefer, Author of The Code
Marketing Funnel Part 5: Driving Traffic to Your Content with Paid Ads
Editor's Note: This is part 5 of my marketing funnel series. You can read part 4 here. We've covered quiz funnels, SEO, and email lists. Another way to drive traffic to your content (such as a quiz funnel), is with paid ads. For my podcasting quiz, I created paid ads for Google, Facebook, and Reddit, mostly because we saw the most conversations and activity around … [Read more...] about Marketing Funnel Part 5: Driving Traffic to Your Content with Paid Ads