Let's talk about writing, and how to write content (whether it be books, articles, or even marketing copy) that people will want to read. Start with your goals. Kindlepreneur has a great guide on goal setting. The gist is to figure out your big project goal, and then break it down into smaller, more manageable steps. Then create a system so you're accountable for achieving … [Read more...] about Writing Content People Want to Read
An Interview with Heather Dixon, Author of Burlington
Mae Roberts is certain her new life in the suburbs with her family will be everything she's always wanted. That is, until one of the mothers from her daughters' school goes missing. Mae never thought she would fit in amongst the beautiful and rich mothers at Riverpark Elementary. Though, when she's accepted into their clique and they ask her to be a part of their unofficial … [Read more...] about An Interview with Heather Dixon, Author of Burlington
5 Lessons Learned From Roy Chapman Andrews (Adventurer, Author, and Indirect Inspiration for Indiana Jones)
“If we are to understand our world of today we must know its past.” —Roy Chapman Andrews If you know of Indiana Jones, then you know Roy Chapman Andrews: the explorer, adventurer, and naturalist who was indirectly the inspiration for Indiana Jones. Andrews is well known for his expeditions to the Flaming Cliffs of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, where he and his team found … [Read more...] about 5 Lessons Learned From Roy Chapman Andrews (Adventurer, Author, and Indirect Inspiration for Indiana Jones)
Newsletter Deep Dive: Creating, Growing, and Earning Money
Having a newsletter is a great way to build your community. In addition to delivering them valuable content on a regular basis, you can keep them up to date on your projects and any products or services you're offering. Let's dive in. Newsletter Content You can format and write your newsletter in a lots of different ways. NewsletterOperator has 10 examples of newsletter types … [Read more...] about Newsletter Deep Dive: Creating, Growing, and Earning Money
An Interview with Lyn Squire, Author of Immortalised to Death
Death strikes England’s foremost novelist Charles Dickens, his latest tale only half told. Was he murdered because someone feared a ruinous revelation? Or was it revenge for some past misdeed? Set in the Kent countryside and London slums of 1870, Lyn Squire’s Immortalised to Death reveals the ending to Charles Dickens’s unfinished The Mystery of Edwin Drood, while diving deep … [Read more...] about An Interview with Lyn Squire, Author of Immortalised to Death
Finding More Readers with Author Freebies and Landing Pages
By now, you've probably heard all about the benefits of having your own email list. It's a way to connect with readers and fans. You can let people know when you're releasing a new book or having a sale. You can work with your superfans and create a Street Team to help you launch your next book. You can ask readers for feedback, or see if people are interested in your next book … [Read more...] about Finding More Readers with Author Freebies and Landing Pages
An Interview with Stephen C. Pollock, Author of Exits
In a world ravaged by contagion, famine and war, Exits dovetails with the prevailing zeitgeist. Every life is finite. Though circumstance and timing may vary, death remains the one inescapable attribute of the human condition. Awareness of this inevitability and recognition of the transient nature of our biological selves profoundly affect each person’s perspective on their … [Read more...] about An Interview with Stephen C. Pollock, Author of Exits
Communities: Why They’re Important and How to Build One
Communities are important, and they can be powerful. As an author, your community consists of your readers, your fans, people who support your work. In addition to selling more of your work, or having a successful launch, your community can be a great place to share ideas, engage and connect with fans, and give people with shared interests a space to belong. You can build … [Read more...] about Communities: Why They’re Important and How to Build One
A Case Study on Building Community
Having a community is so important. Build up your community, and they’ll build you up in return. By build, I mean nurture, and make your community feel special. I first learned the impact you can have when I worked with the Street team on Shotgun Software, now ShotGrid (SG), production management software for film, TV, and game studios. Everyone on the Street team was … [Read more...] about A Case Study on Building Community
Marketing and Social Media for Writers
There are a lot of ways writers can promote their work and connect with potential readers online. Here are a few tips and resources. Marketing Content "Get the Most From Your Webinars With These 13 Repurposing Ideas" on Content Marketing Institute: Webinars are a great way to connect with interested people and let them know what you're about. And after, you can take parts of … [Read more...] about Marketing and Social Media for Writers
Do You Want To Sell Print Books? A Quick Overview of Considerations and POD Platforms
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
