It's an exciting time to be a writer. There are so many possibilities. In addition to books, there are podcasts (scripted and non-scripted), audiobooks, and TV shows, and there are more pathways these days to each of these mediums. Book-to-screen deals are not new but TV and streaming have changed the industry. The LA Times has an interesting piece about eight people … [Read more...] about Writing for Different Mediums, and Getting Screen Deals
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Book Promotion and Reaching Readers
There's a lot of strategy that goes into book marketing. Whether you have one book or many, it's helpful to lay your foundation and put a few processes in place, so you can keep building your readership and have an impact. Jane Friedman has a great article about marketing foundations, covering the three basics: have a website, choose which social media to use, and establish … [Read more...] about Book Promotion and Reaching Readers
A Potpourri of Resources
Quick note: If you're in the U.S., today is MLK Day. Now on to the post. I'm a big fan of Jeopardy!, and though I'm a fan of Ken Jennings, I was more sad than I thought I'd be about Alex Trebek's death. Anyway, all this to say, I've been thinking about Jeopardy a lot, and also new beginnings. With that in mind, here's a potpourri of resources, news items, developments, tools, … [Read more...] about A Potpourri of Resources
Guest Post: 4 Important Questions Authors Should Ask Before Querying Literary Agents
By Marissa DeCuir Your manuscript is prepped and ready to go, and now you’re thinking about seeking a literary agent so you can pursue traditional publishing. But where to begin? While there are plenty of helpful articles online about how to find an agent, many how-tos don’t answer some of the nitty gritty questions about what to seek out—and be wary of—during the … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 4 Important Questions Authors Should Ask Before Querying Literary Agents
Guest Post: 5 Fail-safe Strategies for Selling More Books
By Dave Chesson Selling books can be hard. Sure, marketplaces like Amazon have made it easier than ever to list your books for sale, but grabbing readers’ attention is more difficult than ever. In this article, we’ll look at five strategies you can use to sell more books. Strategy 1: Select the Right Keywords When you publish a book on Amazon, you get the opportunity to … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 5 Fail-safe Strategies for Selling More Books
Books Forward Book Marketing Campaign Giveaway
Quick note: This is a very promotional post, which I don't normally do. However, this particular giveaway sounds like a great deal for one lucky author. Good news authors! Books Forward is running a publicity and book marketing campaign giveaway for authors. You've got until October 1 of this year to enter. For more details, head over to … [Read more...] about Books Forward Book Marketing Campaign Giveaway
176 Resources and Tools to Market and Launch Your Book
Trying to figure out a book marketing plan but don't know where to start? Don't worry, I've got you covered with 176 resources ranging in advertising tips, to places to book blog tours, to content marketing, and more. A few of these resources were published in 2019, when the world was different, so you may need to adapt accordingly. Advertising Kindlepreneur course … [Read more...] about 176 Resources and Tools to Market and Launch Your Book
Guest Post: How Much do Americans Spend on Books?
By Maja Talevska Ever since Amazon took over the online space, the total market share for online sales rose from about 5% in the '90s to 12% in 2019, according to stats about online versus in-store shopping. This change has affected the way people shop for books too. Giants such as Amazon have freed the authors from traditional publishing routes and gave them the power to … [Read more...] about Guest Post: How Much do Americans Spend on Books?
Indie Authors: An Overview of Book Reviews
Sure, we all know that getting authentic reviews, and ideally that are 4- and 5-stars, is a key component to a book's success. In fact, you need a certain number of 4-star reviews just to be considered for a BookBub promotion. Because of this, there are tons of resources online that give indie authors advice on how to find reviewers and contact them. Funds for Writers and … [Read more...] about Indie Authors: An Overview of Book Reviews
Indie Authors: Getting Your Book Discovered
With hundreds of thousands of new books being published each year, it's hard for indie authors to stand out. One strategy I've written about before is going permafree, meaning you set one book in a series to permanently free, as a way to entice readers to buy the rest of the books in the series. To add fodder to that idea, M. Louisa Locke writes about how using the … [Read more...] about Indie Authors: Getting Your Book Discovered
79 Resources for Planning, Launching, and Marketing Your Book
You've written your book. Hooray! Now it's time to create a plan and market it. A lot goes in to marketing, so here are 79 resources that can help. Planning Your Marketing "Your Book Marketing Plan Won't Work" on David Gaughran "Scan the Market Before Marketing Your Book" on Self Publishing Advice "How Focused Goals Will Sell More Books" on AME "Why Your Book … [Read more...] about 79 Resources for Planning, Launching, and Marketing Your Book
What Indie Authors Can Learn From Other Industries
As an indie author, it can be fun (and helpful) to learn about what's going on in other industries. Joe Wikert outlined on DBW what publishers can learn from the podcast model, by offering easy subscriptions (which could arguably be similar to subscribing to blogs or newsletters), delivering content on a regular schedule, and delivering related content to your audience. To me, … [Read more...] about What Indie Authors Can Learn From Other Industries
Indie Authors: Where Do You Get Your Industry News?
As an indie authorpreneur, it's important to stay on top of the latest trends, not only in self-publishing, but in the publishing industry as a whole. Here are some sites and blogs that I read regularly. Some of them cover the publishing industry, including news, book deals, and job moves. Others give updates on the indie world, such as Amazon algorithm changes or hot book … [Read more...] about Indie Authors: Where Do You Get Your Industry News?
Marketing Books with Content
Content marketing is a powerful way to get readers interested in your brand. Here are some resources to help you figure out how best to create content that can help you sell your books: Planning Content "7 Ways to Stop Flailing with Your Content Marketing in 2017" on Content Marketing Institute "How to Write a Creative Action Plan You'll Actually Follow" on By Regina … [Read more...] about Marketing Books with Content
The Science of Writing and Reading
It's been a while since I've written any posts related to science on here. There are some really cool articles that have come out, specifically about books. (Hint: Books are good for your health, and can even improve your memory, according to Bustle.) Reading and Your Brain According to the Daily Mail, scientists have found that reading a novel can affect your brain for days … [Read more...] about The Science of Writing and Reading