Blog
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Publishing
Promotion
The Five-Year Plan to Become a Professional Author
Discover a five year plan for writing a novel and how it helps aspiring authors build their craft, finish the book, and become a professional author.
Zeitgeist: Christmas Romance vs. Paranormal Romance
Thomas Umstattd, Jr. and Jonathan Shuerger cover highlights from the K-lytics report showing trends in the Christmas and Paranormal romance genres.
Zeitgeist: Female Readers & The Hero’s Journey
Is the hero’s journey story arc different for male and female readers?
The Savvy Author’s Guide to Picking an LLM
Discover which LLMs and AI tools are best for your writing and marketing processes, and how the tools compare to one another.
Zeitgeist: Karens Have a New Acronym A. W. F. U. L.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlBGgx85sX0 Thomas: This is a significant...
A Storytelling Revolution: Inside the World of Serialized Fiction
Learn how platforms like Royal Road and Ream Stories are revolutionizing serialized fiction and offering a path to building an audience.
Is Traditional Publishing Dying? Surprising Trends Authors Can’t Ignore
Explore the trends that will shape the industry and how they will impact authors.
Networking for Authors: How to Build Relationships Without Being Awkward
Many authors feel stuck. They're toiling away in obscurity, and none of their...
Platform
Platform
How to Get Book Clubs to Pick YOUR Book
Authors dream of having a book club pick their book to read and discuss. Find out how to make your book book-club-friendly.
Substack for Authors: An Exciting Opportunity or Just Hype?
Find out the advantages and limitations of Substack for authors with various platform-building strategies.
Trim to Win: Why Saying ‘No’ is Crucial for Publishing Success: A Pruning Story
I have crepe myrtle trees in my front yard that have grown out of control. A neighbor noticed and gave me some tips on how to prune them to a manageable size. I took her advice and pruned the trees aggressively, but soon they were out of control again. Again, my...
Good Brands Vs. Big Brands
Find out if it’s better to create an author brand that is good or big. Discover the difference between the two and which should come first.
How to Start Building a Rejection Proof Platform
No matter how you publish, you’ll need a sturdy platform. Learn which techniques successful authors use to build reliable platforms.
How to Advertise Your Book on Podcasts
Podcast advertising is one of the most effective advertising venues for authors with audiobooks. Heather Osgood offers seven steps to great podcast advertising.
How to Make Money From Your Platform
You can earn money with your platform before your book releases. Dave Jackson shows us how.
Software Guide for Authors
Authors and writers can work smarter, not harder, with these hardware and software tools that will increase your productivity and lead you to success.
Publishing
Publishing
How to Publish on a Budget: Your First Five Years as an Author
Becoming a professional author will cost you. Find out how much and when an author should budget for their writing career.
The Starving Author: How to Market Books When You Have No Money
You have two options if you don’t have money to market your book. Find out how an “expensive option” can be the “budget option” and where to invest your time when you don’t have the money.
When to Quit Writing
Since few writers die at the keyboard, nearly all writers quit at some point, but how do you know when to quit writing? Answer these 5 questions to gain clarity.
From Page to Screen: How to Adapt Your Novel Into a Screenplay
Discover the important differences between writing for the page and the screen and find out how to turn your novel into a screenplay
Why do good books fail to sell while poorly written books fly off the shelves?
Learn the 3 reasons some average books are perennial bestsellers while other well-written books aren’t.
Innovative Indie Marketing with S.D. Smith
Independent authors need marketing tools and skills to be successful. Learn how one indie author reduced his reliance on gatekeepers and sold books directly to his readers.
Effective Book Cover Design
A bad book cover can ruin all your marketing efforts. Learn what makes a good book cover in this interview with a top cover designer.
How to Launch Your Book on a Budget
Is your book launch budget filled with expenses or investments? Learn how and where to spend your time and money to get the greatest return.
Promotion
Promotion
How to Sell More Books With Amazon Ads
Learn six steps to quickly create your first ad to help you sell more books with Amazon ads, and discover how it can benefit your brand.
Marketing 101: Place
Selling your book in the right place is important for maximizing sales. Consider these three case studies and learn 12 online places and 24 offline places where you can sell your book.
From Page to Screen: How to Adapt Your Novel Into a Screenplay
Discover the important differences between writing for the page and the screen and find out how to turn your novel into a screenplay
Black Friday Book Promotion Tips for Authors
Eight tips and three warnings to help you make the most of your Black Friday book promotion and marketing plan.
Why do good books fail to sell while poorly written books fly off the shelves?
Learn the 3 reasons some average books are perennial bestsellers while other well-written books aren’t.
Innovative Indie Marketing with S.D. Smith
Independent authors need marketing tools and skills to be successful. Learn how one indie author reduced his reliance on gatekeepers and sold books directly to his readers.
10 Reasons to Delay Your Book Launch
Find out why you should delay your book launch, how long you should wait, and what to do in the meantime to improve your book’s chances of success.
How to Use Goodreads to Promote Your Book
Goodreads is one of the most effective social networks for authors. Learn how to use Goodreads to connect with readers and sell more books.