Covers of Jami Fairleigh's The Elemental Artist series, in a row. On the left, Book One: Oil and Dust; in the center, Book Two: Graphite and Turbulence; on the right, Book Three: Charcoal and Smoke.
The self-publishing author of cozy post-apocalypic fantasy was crowned 2023 Indie Author of the Year by the Indie Author Project ...
/ Author Q&A, Self-Publishing
Image: small blocks the size of dice, and bearing letters on them, are arranged in a row on a tabletop. The first block has "posi" written on one face and "nega" written on another face, while the other blocks bear the letters T-I-V-E. Fingers are poised to flip the first block so that the resulting word could be either "positive" or "negative".
Substack's business model relies on you charging readers, but don’t discount the long-term value of what you offer for free ...
/ Email Newsletters
Image: in the background a woman in business attire is speaking. In the foreground a man who's turned to face the camera is giving a thumbs-down while his other hand holds a sign reading "Not this again…".
Publishers and literary agents know this, even if they pretend otherwise to conveniently reject you and your work ...
Image: a hastily-made sign written in marker on brown paper and taped to a window reads "Sorry we are now closed."
Insufficient sales are the primary reason that imprints close, in addition to greater efficiency and even corporate politics ...
/ Publishing Industry Reporting
Image: an illustration of a row of people whose faces are seen from the side. From their heads emanate a series of white cartoon-style thought bubbles, which morph into a flock of sheep.
It doesn’t bode well for the publishing industry’s future when acquisition decisions are based solely on an author’s past sales ...
Image: a small statuette of a "hear no evil" cherub holding its hands over its ears.
Writing advice is everywhere—newsletters, podcasts, workshops—and it can leave you feeling anxious and unproductive. Here's what to do ...
/ Ask the Editor, Creativity
Image: two white sheets of paper peek out from a brown mailing envelope which is stamped "TOP SECRET" in red ink.
A writer claiming to have solved a well-known true crime case faces credibility hurdles when pitching his manuscript ...
/ Ask the Editor
Screenshot of Fire and Fury, an AI-generated book about the Maui fires by Dr Miles Stones, for sale on Barnes & Noble's website.
Self-publishing authors may end up as collateral damage in the rising tide of AI-generated books appearing at major online retailers ...
Image: flames and smoke erupt from a garbage dumpster.
Amazon and Goodreads must take steps to combat the flood of AI-generated content that will mislead readers and damage author ...
Image: photos of Ariana Godoy, Claudia Tan, and Beth Reekles
Three past winners of Wattpad’s Watty Award discuss their experience of seeing their work adapted for the major streaming services ...
Photos of Rebecca Phelps, Sondi Warner, and Tamara Lush.
Three successful authors who are outside of Wattpad's key demographic discuss why they contribute to Wattpad and how it’s furthered ...
The interior of a bookstore with large plate glass windows facing onto a city street.
Marketing your book to bookstores—like marketing your book anywhere else—requires research and shoe leather ...
/ Marketing & Promotion
A man's hands hold a smartphone with the TikTok logo displayed on the screen.
Here’s how two self-published authors have been successful in their marketing and promotion efforts on TikTok ...
/ Social Media
A professionally-attired man and woman sit at a conference room table, reviewing documents.
Writers often view themselves as without power, but you can’t wait for permission or the “right time” to negotiate a ...
/ Author Earnings & Careers
Photo of Jeff Herman with the following quote: There’s an old Jewish saying, You can only dance at one wedding at a time. I think that sums up why so many writers never hear back from agents.
Jeff Herman is the author of Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents, 29th Edition ...
/ Literary Agents, Queries & Synopses
PRH antitrust trial and author advances
The big dogs will remain the big dogs. Mega advances will still be paid, and it will remain challenging to ...
/ Publishing Industry Reporting
3 Common Pitfalls in Memoir Queries
Memoirists have a lot of leeway in choosing a pitching strategy. But with freedom comes great responsibility, and it's easier ...
/ Getting Published
Man POV looking at Amazon Prime Day shopping deals on Apple MacBook Pro laptop with Safari Internet browser open special discounts and online consumerism shopping
Amazon ads are a valued (and sometimes expensive) tool for authors and publishers to drive book visibility and sales. Here's ...
/ Marketing & Promotion
Why So Many Blogs and Newsletters Aren't Worth the Writer's Effort
Many writers are told to blog or send an email newsletter without much idea of how to approach it. Here ...
/ Marketing & Promotion
Image: Netflix on the screen of an iMac computer.
Well-constructed stories, snappy dialogue, and surprising twists can all contribute to a book’s chance of being chosen for adaptation ...
How to Plan and Host Worthwhile Online Book Events
Learn best practices for online book events, regardless of the platform you’re using ...
/ Marketing & Promotion
Image: young women looking at a smartphone on which the TikTok app is displayed.
The key to winning BookTok content: authenticity ...
To Everyone Who Wants Me to Read Their Writing and Tell Them What to Do
To achieve writing success—especially commercial success—requires an inner drive that pushes you forward no matter what feedback you receive ...
/ Getting Published
Image: three schoolgirls gathered around a stack of picture books.
Growth in the children’s market continues, especially for series and licensed characters. BookTok emerges as an organic social media boost ...
Yes, Social Media Can Sell Books. But Not If Publishers Sit on Their Hands
Publishers need to closely collaborate with their authors if they expect that author's large social media following to sell books ...
NFTs: What Are They and How Much Should Writers and Publishers Care?
Much remains unknown about NFTs but some in publishing think they might be revolutionary for writers, and indeed the world ...
/ Publishing Industry Reporting
Image: an aisle at a public library, flanked by shelves of books.
Does library lending help or hurt author and publisher income? The debate continues ...
Image: two young Black girls sitting together on a couch, reading a picture book.
The Authors Guild revisits industry efforts to improve inclusivity in publishing ...
/ Publishing Industry Reporting
Image: a loaded container ship on the ocean
From paper manufacturing to ocean cargo, books continue to be buffeted by a variety of supply chain challenges ...
/ Publishing Industry Reporting
2023-2024 Key Book Publishing Paths by Jane Friedman
Should you self-publish or traditionally publish? This infographic will help you determine the best choice for you and your project ...
Ashleigh Renard Q&A quote
The SWING author discusses the pre-order campaign for her self-published book, the importance of social media engagement, and more ...
/ Author Q&A, Self-Publishing
Substack money
Substack makes it easy for non-tech people to harness the power of email newsletters, and that's a good thing. Just ...
Start Here: How to Self-Publish Your Book
This is an introductory guide to the major self-publishing options available to authors today, and how to choose the right ...
The Value of Book Distribution Is Often Misunderstood by Authors
Any self-publishing author can easily make a book available to Amazon, bookstores, libraries, etc. But availability doesn't mean visibility ...
/ Self-Publishing
How to Harness Community to Build Book Sales and Platform
Traditional publishers often center marketing campaigns around community support—sometimes growing an author’s platform in the process ...
/ Marketing & Promotion
Should MFA Programs Teach the Business of Writing?
Here are the most common arguments against teaching the business of writing in an MFA program—and why such arguments are ...
/ Author Earnings & Careers
Where My Money Comes From
A look at how the sources of my income shifted between 2016–2020, with online teaching now earning the lion's share ...
How Much Do Authors Earn? Here's the Answer No One Likes.
What you earn is about what business model you can envision or build for yourself and whether it's sustainable for ...
book sales up in 2020
The dramatic shifts to online sales makes it critical that publishers and authors adjust marketing strategies and build new skill ...
turn Microsoft Word document into ebook EPUB
Word doesn't export to EPUB, but you can still produce an editable file quickly, without buying software or using a ...
Blogging Versus Email Newsletter: Which Is Better for Writers?
A free email newsletter is the better strategic choice when it comes to long-term career development. Blogging works better for ...
/ Email Newsletters
Embracing a Creative Pivot: Q&A with Darien Hsu Gee
Author Darien Hsu Gee discusses writing and publishing across multiple genres, going back for her MFA at age 50, and ...
/ Author Q&A
Common Reasons Nonfiction Books Don't Sell
If you want to land a traditional publishing deal, then market conditions—and your position in that market—will affect your chances ...
/ Book Proposals, Getting Published
Sarah Chauncey
The debut author discusses writing an illustrated book for adults, platform building, and listening to the little voice inside ...
/ Author Platform, Getting Published
Online Book Events: A Necessary Pivot in 2020, But How Do You Compete?
It's now possible to fill every lunch hour and evening with book clubs and book festivals and live readings and ...
/ Marketing & Promotion
Amazon's Importance to US Book Sales Keeps Increasing—for Better or Worse
Amazon has changed, grown, and dominated more than any other company in the book publishing industry. Here are the key ...
/ Publishing Industry Reporting
Everyone Wants Barnes & Noble to Survive. Can It?
The biggest bookseller in the United States has suffered a slow decline over the last 10 years. Can the business ...
/ Publishing Industry Reporting
Traditional Publishing Enjoys Its Best Sales in a Decade—Despite Supply Chain Problems
Book publishing faces a very tight printing market at the same time that sales have increased to levels not seen ...
/ Publishing Industry Reporting
when you need permission - fair use guidelines
If you need to request permissions from an author or publisher, here are general guidelines, plus a sample letter you ...
how to find publishers and agents
If you have a book idea or manuscript, one of your first questions is probably: How do I find a ...