It’s very daunting to launch a book in the current climate, but there are opportunities as well. I reached out to one of my favorite book marketing experts, David Gaughran, to talk about how authors can utilize digital ads to reach their first readers, the importance of Amazon metadata, the importance of your newsletter, and […]
Self-publishing
Stephen King’s turning his house into a writers retreat (This week in books)
This week! The books! You still have until 7pm tonight to enter the 6th Stupendously Ultimate First Paragraph Challenge! There is pride at stake. Also prizes. Enter now for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate from your favorite independent bookstore! Meanwhile, the publishing world did not grind to a halt for our contest […]
Have superfans gotten out of hand? (This week in books)
This week in books! First off, thank you so much to everyone who chimed in with feedback on our community. One thing I learned: people didn’t really know about the discussion forums! Oops. I’m going to endeavor to make those more visible going forward. But seriously, thank you to everyone who chimed in. (And I’d […]
How authors make money
Yes, yes, we all want to write books that move people and change the world. But, uh, how exactly do authors get paid? Read on, friends. Here’s how authors make money. In this post I’m going to cover all the different ways authors make money from their books: Traditional publishing Advances Royalties Subrights (through a […]
How to write good jacket copy
One of the most important tasks you’ll tackle when you’re self-publishing is coming up with a good description that will make someone want to buy your book. Here’s how to write good jacket copy. Writing good copy starts with preparation. It’s important to know where your jacket and marketing copy will live and craft your […]
How will you publish your work in progress? The results!
So. How are people planning to publish their work in progress? How does that compare to years past? Let’s get to it! Our starting place was 2013, where the percentage going traditional-only was 22% and self-publishing die-hards were 10%. That largely held in 2014… The biggest change in 2015 was a rise in the number […]
