by Anne R. Allen “Blogging doesn’t sell books.” “Don’t waste your time blogging.” “Make book trailers! Email those newsletters! Spend more time on Pinterest and Instagram! Blogging is so over!” I’m hearing this stuff every day. But I still think a blog is one of the best uses of an author’s time. Even if […]
Mastering the Radio Interview: 10 Tips for Authors from a Talk Radio Host
We’ve got a must-read guest post for you this week. David Congalton, screenwriter and radio superstar here on the Central Coast of California, tells us how to be a good radio guest. Radio is still essential to book promotion in the digital age. Most car-commuters still listen to broadcast or satellite radio and the popularity of […]
Indie Authors: How to Get Visible in Libraries
We’re jazzed to have a visit this week from one of the most respected journalists in the publishing industry. Porter Anderson‘s resumé includes CNN, The Dallas Times Herald, and the Village Voice. He also writes for online biggies like Writer Unboxed, ThoughtCatalog, and FutureBook. He visits most of the major publishing industry conferences worldwide […]
6 Bad Reasons to Write a Novel…and 6 Good Ones
by Anne R. Allen So you think you want to write a novel? You’re not alone. According to a New York Times study done a decade ago, 81% of Americans “think they have a book in them”. With the indie ebook revolution, I’m sure the percentage has grown. Of course, most of that 81% won’t ever write […]
14 Dos and Don’ts for Author-Bloggers
by Anne R. Allen Everybody keeps telling authors we should blog. But for a lot of new authors, the challenge of a blog is daunting. How can we write our books if we’re spending every day blogging? You can’t. And you shouldn’t. If you think you have to blog every day, or even every […]
REALITY CHECK: Mixed Martial Arts For Writers
by Ruth Harris No two ways about it, writers: you ARE going to suffer. How do I know? Because I’m a writer and all of these things—or variations of them—have happened to me. You will get one-star reviews. Your book will be rejected by the editor who “loves” you and your work. The hotshot […]
Paid Reviews: Why Authors Should NEVER Buy Amazon Reader Reviews
by Anne R. Allen Last month the Seattle Times reported that Amazon is suing a bunch of paid review mills. Unfortunately, many paid review sites don’t feel they’re doing anything wrong. A spokesman for one of the companies Amazon is suing said: “We are not selling fake reviews. However we do provide Unbiased and […]
13 Reasons Why You Should Write a Short Story This Month
by Anne R. Allen Mashable reported this week that the buzzword of the moment is “snackable content”—described as “bite-sized chunks of info that can be quickly ‘consumed’ by its audience.” That’s why short fiction is hot. Ditto creative nonfiction essays. But the word hasn’t reached all writers. Recently I saw a newbie writer ask for […]
How to Guarantee Rejection: Top 10 Ways Writers Self-Reject when Querying Bloggers, Editors, and Agents
by Anne R. Allen Having a popular blog has helped me feel a lot of empathy with agents and publishers. That’s because Ruth and I get a ton of queries, too. Most of ours are from authors or publicists who want a blog tour promotion, guest blog spot, or a book review. Some want us […]
How NOT to be a Spammer: A Guide for Authors
by Anne R. Allen Internet spam! Everybody hates it, right? Not only is it annoying, but vigilante groups can be cruel in enforcing anti-spam rules. But here’s the thing: not everybody defines “spam” the same way. I thought I knew what was acceptable on social media. I know that it is social and shouldn’t be be used for direct […]
The 10 Commandments of Highly Productive Professional Writers
by Ruth Harris I’ve known and worked with a lot of professional writers over the years (decades). Some work first thing in the AM, others in the PM, some don’t get started until near midnight. Some write sober, some don’t. Some write on a computer, some on legal pads, and some write on tablets or […]
How Do I Sell My Book? 6 Tips for New Authors
by Anne R. Allen Ruth and I get lots of email from fledgling authors, both indie and trad-pubbed. The majority ask pretty much the same question: “I’ve got great reviews, I’m on social media, and I send out a newsletter—just like [my publisher/agent/a blog guru/this book I read] told me to: why isn’t my […]
How NOT to Sell Books: Top 10 Social Media Marketing No-Nos for Authors
by Anne R. Allen Let’s face it. Authors do a lot of obnoxious things online in the name of “marketing.” I think that’s because the average author isn’t educated in the field and we don’t realize that not all marketing is created equal. Good marketing is not about bullying your customers. It’s about enticing […]
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