Over the next few weeks at least, it's all about social distancing. I recently posted some tips and tricks I've picked up working from home. This is seems like an opportunity to work on other platforms as an indie author, and creating content for people who are spending more time at home. If you know me, you know I'm a podcaster so this may not come as a surprise. Here's a … [Read more...] about 253 Resources About Podcasting, Audiobooks, and Smart Speakers (All the Audio!)
Publishing
Blockchain and Libraries and Museums
Recently, I took a great free online course to learn more about blockchain, decentralization, and how it affects libraries and museums. The course is available on Canvas Network, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about this technology. Below are some of the things and resources I learned from the course. About Blockchain "Blockchain: how mining … [Read more...] about Blockchain and Libraries and Museums
A Look at the Romance Genre and Publishing
Romance is a huge genre in publishing. So many success stories, especially of indie authors, are around romance writers. It's also a really interesting genre to watch, because it's one of the genres with the most experimentation going on. With that in mind, here are a few romance-related articles that recently caught my eye. History of Romance Erotica An article on Jezebel … [Read more...] about A Look at the Romance Genre and Publishing
Machine Learning Projects (And Some Are For Writers!)
I recently finished my first machine learning project! I was able to follow along with Robin Sloan's writing with the machine project, and I trained a different dataset, to some hilarious results. It was a lot of fun, and now I'm trying to dive more into neural networks and figure out more projects I can try. If you're interested, here are some resources and tools to learn more … [Read more...] about Machine Learning Projects (And Some Are For Writers!)
The Growth of Audiobooks
![By Dieaxtimwald (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://i0.wp.com/digitalpubbing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/BajuWah.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
A while back, I wrote an essay for LARB about reading in the multimedia age. A big part of the essay focused on audiobooks, which are growing in popularity each year. According to QZ, audiobooks are growing more than ebooks. MarketWatch wrote that some audiobooks are selling more copies than their print counterparts, and according to The Digital Reader, "audio can outsell … [Read more...] about The Growth of Audiobooks
5 Classic Books That Are Perfect for Halloween
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Happy Halloween! To celebrate, here are 5 great Halloween-themed books. Sure, most of them are scary, but who can resist Charlie Brown? So here they are, in no particular order. The Shining by Stephen King: "Danny was only five years old but in the words of old Mr Halloran he was a 'shiner', aglow with psychic voltage. When his father became caretaker of the Overlook Hotel … [Read more...] about 5 Classic Books That Are Perfect for Halloween
Women in Publishing
There have been a lot of interesting articles about women in publishing lately. According to Publisher's Weekly, "women represented 74% of the publishing workforce in both 2015 and 2016." However, there's a wage gap between men and women in the industry. In response, a number of women have started their own businesses. The article offers a lot more information, including how … [Read more...] about Women in Publishing
Tips and Tricks and the Latest Updates in Audiobooks and Podcasting
Audio content (audiobooks and podcasts) is growing in popularity. Below are some tips and tricks, and news to get you up to speed on this aspect of the publishing industry. Making and Marketing Audiobooks "Understanding Audiobook Production: An Interview with Rich Miller" on Jane Friedman "5 Ways to Market Your Audiobook Without Ads" on Jane Friedman "ACXU Presents: … [Read more...] about Tips and Tricks and the Latest Updates in Audiobooks and Podcasting
Interactive Stories
With digital storytelling, there are new, interactive, immersive ways to share stories. Here are a few cool examples: StoryNexus: Access hundreds of interactive worlds, from science fiction to romance to historical adventure. You can choose how the story flows, and there are also options for creators. The Cornwall a-book: An Augmented Travel Guide Using Next Generation … [Read more...] about Interactive Stories
Guest Post: The Impact of Cloud Technology on The Publishing Industry
By Joe Peters Many of the changes in the publishing industry have been evident over the years. We’ve seen a significant shift from print to digital, where people are just as likely to read from a smartphone or computer screen as they are to buy a book from their local store. Digital Transformation Makes Publishing Easier The digital transformation of the industry has … [Read more...] about Guest Post: The Impact of Cloud Technology on The Publishing Industry
A Roundup of Publishing News
A lot has been happening in the publishing and writing world. Here is a quick roundup. Publishers and Companies "Microsoft has closed its e-bookstore, and everything you purchased will vanish in July" on PC World: "Microsoft will offer refunds, plus a bonus if you've marked up an ebook." "Epic Launches Original Content Program" on Publisher's Weekly: "Redwood, Calif.-based … [Read more...] about A Roundup of Publishing News
An Interview With Katie (M.K.) Rainey, Editor-in-Chief of Dead Rabbits
I often hear about really cool publishing projects, and one of the recent ones is the launch of Animal Riot Press, a new press that started as a reading series and now aims to provide a creative community and support for authors. Read on for an interview with Animal Riot Press's Editor-in-Chief, Katie (M.K.) Rainey. Editor's Note: Animal Riot Press was formerly known as Dead … [Read more...] about An Interview With Katie (M.K.) Rainey, Editor-in-Chief of Dead Rabbits
13 Apps for Reading and Creating Your Own Content
Apps are great. They're convenient, and there are many that make it easy to create your own content, and of course read a lot of content. Below are a few I've found interesting: Authors: "You get your own custom Authors App. Your App appears in the major Android tablet app stores - Amazon, NOOK, Google Play - with your own custom icon. Plus, when your readers and fans … [Read more...] about 13 Apps for Reading and Creating Your Own Content
Guest Post: 5 Ways Reading Can Change Your Life (And Best Practices)
By Anna Kucirkova This article was originally published on Cornerstone University's blog. You’ve probably heard that reading can be good for you. You may have heard it your whole life. But maybe reading just isn’t your thing. Maybe you enjoy reading, but you have trouble comprehending difficult material from your classes or your workplace. Good news—this article can … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 5 Ways Reading Can Change Your Life (And Best Practices)
Learning New Skills (Courses and Platforms)
As an indie author, there's always something new to learn. It's exciting, but sometimes it's hard to know where to go to pick up new skills. Here are a few platforms and courses I've found useful. Some are more about coding, which can also be useful (for building an author website, or a cool app, or scripting something to help you with your writer's block): Absolute Write: … [Read more...] about Learning New Skills (Courses and Platforms)
