Most writers know we require editors. The need for editing is drummed into us from the time we venture into our first writing class, blog, or forum. We know if we’re offered a contract, we’ll be assigned an in-house editor, and if we self-publish, we’ll want to hire a freelancer.These days, agents do a lot […]
The Secret to Publishing Success in the Era of Social Media: Teaming with Your Fellow Authors
by Anne R. Allen Jon Stewart said on The Daily Show on August 27, (with heavy irony, of course) “Everybody uses Social Media as a weapon; that’s what it’s for.” He was, as usual, uttering spot-on truth disguised as a joke. Lots of people DO seem to use social media as a weapon, whether it’s […]
The Biggest Mistake New Writers Make and 5 Ways to Avoid It
by Anne R. Allen It’s been an exciting week for the blog. Marketing expert Penny Sansevieri named us to the Top 30 Websites for Indies and blog guru Molly Greene named us to her list of must-read “leaders” in self-publishing. (I’m only recently self-published—and most of my work is still with a small press—but […]
10 Obsolete Beliefs that Can Block Self-Publishing Success
by Anne R. Allen New writers contact us every day, asking questions about everything from how to start their first short story (answer: butt in chair; hands on keyboard) to how to deal with trolls and bullies (don’t respond; walk away; report abuse.)We answer them all—as time permits—but there’s one kind of writer we […]
What Defines “Traditional” Publishing? What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You.
by Anne R. Allen The blogosphere has been full of debate about “traditional” vs. “indie” publishing since the dawn of the E-Age.We’ve also seen lively discussions about the definition of the terms.”Indie” once meant small independent publishers, but since the introduction of the ebook (and Kindle Direct Publishing) it has evolved to mean self-publishing […]
Know Your Genre: Tips and Secrets from the Experts for Writing Bestselling Genre Fiction
by Ruth Harris Romance with a side of horror? Happens in real life—oy!—but not such a hot idea in fiction. Cozy mystery with a soupçon of blood and gore? Only if you want readers coming after you with shoulder-fired missiles. Sci-fi in a gauzy, vintage-y mood? Not unless you want to find an IED in […]
How to Make the Bestseller Lists: Why Categories and Keywords Matter
by Ruth Harris Fiction or non-fiction? Thriller or sci-fi/fantasy? Romance or mystery? Young adult or self-help? Readers know what they like and what they want. Categories help them find what they’re looking for whether it’s the latest in steamy romance, a classic, time-tested bestseller or a gardener’s guide to growing petunias in Petaluma. Basically, […]
Building Platform: What Most Writers are Getting Wrong
by Anne R. Allen Writers know we need a “platform” these days. That means we need to be on Twitter and FaceBook and Google+ and LinkedIn and Pinterest and Tumblr and have a blog with a ton of followers and get 100s of reviews on Amazon and Goodreads and drive ourselves batty keeping up […]
Guest Blogging for Authors: 10 Tips to Help You Land Those Valuable Guest Blog Gigs
by Anne R. Allen Guest blogging is a great way for writers to improve visibility. Most host bloggers will allow you to link to your website and to your book “buy” pages, so the post can both improve your name recognition and sell books. It’s free advertising and boosts your search engine rank. Some authors […]
Six Pieces of Bad Advice New Writers Need to Ignore
by Anne R. Allen A couple of weeks ago, when I wrote a post about writing as a hobby as opposed to a profession (hint: they’re both good choices), I got a couple of comments from new writers who were discouraged to read how much work and dedication it takes to become a professional writer. They […]
Go Global in 2014: How to Get Your Books into the Global Marketplace
A lot of bookish blogs have posted predictions for 2014. But I’m only making one prediction for the new year: writers will need to start thinking globally. Growth of ebook sales in the US and UK has slowed, but the markets abroad are growing fast. Eoin Purcell wrote in the Irish Times last week: “Ebooks outside of the US […]
Author Collectives: The “Third Path” to Publication. Is it Right for You?
Liza Perrat contacted me a few months ago, asking for permission to quote me in a book about her author collective, Triskele Books. I’ve been fascinated by the idea of authors forming their own publishing companies, so I asked if she’d like to guest post for us. I was eager to hear more about her […]
How to Sell Your EBook: Ads, Promo, Marketing—Paid and FREE
Writer’s Toolkit #4 by Ruth Harris The old ways of publicizing books aren’t working so well in the E-Age. In 2011, editor Alan Rinzler famously said, “That $50K space ad in the New York Times? Forget it. It’s only for the author’s mother. The twenty-city bookstore tour with first class airplanes, limousines, and hotel […]
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