Jane Friedman
Everything writers need to know about AI, copyright, and current case law, in one regularly updated, fact-based guide ...
In this post I regularly update the best resources I know of related to learning to publish an ebook, finding ...
This printable and interactive checklist guides your self-publishing project to completion, to ensure you don't miss any important steps and ...
With new services continually appearing on the market that promise to help writers self-publish or distribute their ebooks, it's imperative ...
This is an introductory guide to the major self-publishing options available to authors today, and how to choose the right ...
The June 2024 bestseller lists are now available at the Hot Sheet website, free to everyone. Here are some points of interest ...
The July 2024 bestseller lists are now available at the Hot Sheet website, free to everyone. Here are some points of interest ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
The January 2025 bestseller lists are now available at the Hot Sheet website, free to everyone. Here are some points of interest ...
Booksellers discuss how BookTok has changed the demographic visiting their stores, and how publishers can better pitch their titles for ...
Authors report payment issues with Diversion Books, a digital publisher that has expanded over the years into traditional publishing operations ...
For writers who approach a newsletter with intention, it’s one of the most powerful—and genuinely scalable—channels available today ...
Substack makes it easy for non-tech people to harness the power of email newsletters, and that's a good thing. Just ...
The Authors Guild has expanded its human-authorship certification program to all authors. It verifies author identity, but not whether the ...
Writing a nonfiction book proposal—a good one—requires not only sharp clarity about your idea, but also how that idea, in ...
Book proposals come together much more easily when the author has confidence and clarity on their target audience ...
I spoke with the head of the book department at LA-based Kaplan Stahler Literary Agency about working at the intersection ...
I’d love to see you at AWP Conference & Bookfair (March 4–7, 2026, Baltimore). I’ll be exhibiting (Booth 624) and ...
Everything you need to know to start writing a book proposal for your nonfiction book ...
Learn how to pitch your nonfiction book to agents and publishers—whether you're writing memoir, narrative nonfiction, or prescriptive nonfiction ...
I strongly advocate all authors start and maintain a website as part of their long-term marketing efforts and ongoing platform ...
A group of authors, illustrators, agents, and editors have organized an auction to raise funds for those in urgent need ...
A roundup of new publishers, imprints, and agents announced in 2025, as covered in The Bottom Line ...
The author’s historical novel, Finding Flora, was an instant number-one bestseller in Canada which led to rerelease of two previous ...
If you’re pitching a nonfiction book, at some point, an editor or agent will expect you to describe the readership ...
If you want to land a traditional publishing deal, then market conditions—and your position in that market—will affect your chances ...
A roundup of new publishers, imprints, and agents announced in 2024, as covered in The Hot Sheet ...
The year's biggest stories in publishing, from the Anthropic settlement to the demise of NaNoWriMo and more ...
We remember the late Porter Anderson, who in 2015 co-founded (with Jane) The Hot Sheet email newsletter known today as ...
The Arizona law firm has no connection to the Anthropic case, but is trying to skim off authors in the ...
If you have a book idea or manuscript, one of your first questions is probably: How do I find a ...
Indie Author Day is part of the Indie Author Project, a library-backed initiative that recognizes self-published authors ...
An in-depth discussion of hybrid publishing today: what has driven its growth, and what should you know before investing? ...
The Authors Guild is holding a free webinar for all authors (you don’t have to be a member) on Thursday, ...
The landscape is very different today: publications have folded, arts coverage has dried up, and most opinion writing is on ...
Learn how to craft a strong novel synopsis, while avoiding the most common mistakes, including the dreaded "synopsis speak." ...
The Alliance of Independent Authors has launched a survey for writers who self-publish in English and meet certain qualifications ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
As the publishing industry has transformed in the digital age, small press activity has proliferated. Here's how authors can evaluate ...
To mark the 10-year anniversary of this newsletter’s launch, here’s a look at some of the biggest industry changes in ...
A new report on paid-for publishing services, including hybrid publishers, highlights widespread predatory practices ...
The plaintiffs’ attorneys are now collecting contact information from all authors and publishers who may be part of the class ...
Defining a "hybrid publisher" is difficult; you will hear different descriptions depending on who you ask. Here's what you need ...
Everything authors need to know about the audiobook market, including retailers, distributors, and payments ...
I asked literary agent Kate McKean a few questions that have been on my mind about the current state of ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
The query letter has one purpose, and one purpose only: to seduce the agent or editor into reading or requesting ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
Substack's business model relies on you charging readers, but don’t discount the long-term value of what you offer for free ...
The majority of authors will not benefit from paid book reviews, and should invest their time and money elsewhere. Here's ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
Publishers and literary agents know this, even if they pretend otherwise to conveniently reject you and your work ...
If you've given up on the self-publishing route and want to try traditional publishing, then there are several approaches you ...
Marketing your book to bookstores—like marketing your book anywhere else—requires research and shoe leather ...
At the Midwest Writers Workshop, an agent panel gave some wonderful, straightforward advice about how to construct your pitch. You ...
Some agents and editors say that personalizing a query letter can backfire. Others say the opposite—that it's mandatory. What should ...
This new edition dramatically revises and re-envisions how to best help writers understand the business they’re entering ...
Two authors who paid for a hybrid publishing deal reveal what they paid and what they sold ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
A look at how the sources of my income shifted between 2016–2020, with online teaching now earning the lion's share ...
What you earn is about what business model you can envision or build for yourself and whether it's sustainable for ...
Everyone has a meaningful story to tell, but not everyone’s story (or writing) is going to deserve a commercial publishing ...
If you plan to pursue writing as a professional, long-term career, I recommend starting and maintaining an author website even ...
by Tim Dorr / Flickr When it comes to establishing your author website, one of the more confusing topics is ...
Remembering author and editor Susan DeFreitas, whose life was cut short by cancer ...
In the book publishing industry, metadata is accurately described by Ingram as “any data that describes your book—including title, subtitle, ...
A roundup of new publishers, agents, and digital media ventures (book-related) that were announced in 2020 ...
A roundup of new publishers, imprints, agents, and agencies announced in 2021 ...
A roundup of new publishers, agents, and other book-related ventures announced in 2022 ...
In partnership with Bookstat, we’re thrilled to offer three bestseller lists that showcase what’s selling outside of the Big Five ...
A roundup of new publishers, imprints, and agents announced in 2023, as covered in The Hot Sheet ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
The September 2024 bestseller lists are now available at the Hot Sheet website, free to everyone. Here are some points of interest ...
The May 2024 bestseller lists are now available at the Hot Sheet website, free to everyone. Here are some points of interest ...
The April 2024 bestseller lists are now available at the Hot Sheet website, free to everyone. Here are some points of interest ...
In partnership with Bookstat, we are proud to offer three distinctive monthly bestseller lists. Top 50 Self-Published Ebooks Top 50 ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
The August 2024 bestseller lists are now available at the Hot Sheet website, free to everyone. Here are some points of interest ...
The October 2024 bestseller lists are now available at the Hot Sheet website, free to everyone. Here are some points of interest ...
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books ...
The November 2024 bestseller lists are now available at the Hot Sheet website, free to everyone. Here are some points of interest ...
The December 2024 bestseller lists are now available at the Hot Sheet website, free to everyone. Here are some points of interest ...
photo by André Freitas I recently received the following question from a writer who wishes to remain anonymous: Every new ...
It's the most common question I get: How do you find the time to do everything you do? Until now, ...
Keynoting the Indy Authors Fair (2011) As part of the 2012 Missouri Writers Guild conference faculty, I did a Q&A ...
Today I'm the featured contributor at Writer Unboxed, where I talk about copywriting: The No. 1 Overlooked Skill for Every ...
I received the following question from Jan O'Hara: I have a dilemma to sort out about author names. These are ...
Photo credit: Laura Dobbs I love this insight from Laura Oliver on the writing life, in a post called "Territory." ...
I'm starting to find that the same dilemmas come up again and again when I talk with a group about ...
On the last day of April 2008, I launched my first professional blog, There Are No Rules. Every day since ...
Back in 2008, a smart guy named Brian Solis created the Conversation Prism (above), and wrote a blog post titled ...
[Update: The discussion in the comments—on this site and on some of my other profiles—has made me realize that my ...
A list on my work monitor I love making lists. Big-picture lists, daily lists, grocery lists, checklists … you name ...
Christina Katz I've found Twitter—and many aspects of social media—somewhat tricky to teach. Why? Here are 3 reasons to start: ...
Inside a Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand "The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his ...
Amy Stolls Amy Stolls is the author of The Ninth Wife, a novel just released from HarperCollins as a paperback ...
Facebook is the No. 1 most popular website in the United States in terms of visits, which means it's more ...
Alan Watts I am always sincere, but never serious. —Alan Watts When I started my first professional blog, I struggled ...
In celebration of Labor Day, Open Road Media has produced a video that features writers talking about the jobs they ...
by Sepehr Ehsani Last week, I discussed how you can waste your time trying to get published. You can also ...
From "We Can Measure the Power of Charisma", Q&A with Alex Pentland, Harvard Business Review (Jan-Feb 2010); read full article ...
From "Beyond the Elevator Speech" by Michael Carroll, Shambhala Sun (March 2010) My survey indicates that most of us think ...
From Kenny Moore's blog post, "Losing Your Job? Psychological, Spiritual & Practical Advice." This is the most meaningful discussion I ...
Snippets from "Publish or Perish" by Ken Auletta (New Yorker, April 26, 2010). You MUST go read the full article ...
From "Writing and Winning" by Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker (October 18, 2010). Click here to read the full piece ...
From "Later" by James Surowiecki, The New Yorker (October 11, 2010). Click here to read the full article online. But ...
Jane moderating AWP 2011 transmedia panel I don't think my age is a secret, but just to be clear: I'm ...
When I attended TEDxCincy in October 2010, there was one session where I was furiously taking notes: the session by ...
From Solitude by Anthony Storr: Human beings need a sense of being part of a larger community than that constituted ...
One of the classes I'm teaching at CCM requires me to study up on the history and practice of public ...
From an interview with Clay Shirky over at the Barnes and Noble Review: I’ve always adopted the Bill Burroughs mantra, ...
Here Comes Everybody by Clay Shirky As I was reading Chapter 4 of Here Comes Everybody, I was struck at ...
From Bill Murray interview in Entertainment Weekly (via TerryStarbucker.com): “I just really want to work when I want to work ...
Wonder Women mementoes (displayed in my office) from my dear friend and writer Jeanne V Bowerman There are a few ...
Jane - 1998 in Cambridge, England - maudlin and idealistic youth My job as Writer's Digest publisher often leads people ...
A building in downtown Cincinnati gets demolished No talented person stays at a company for a paycheck or a sense ...
Take a look at 5 charts that reflect current trends in the book publishing industry, and what they mean for ...
Bo Sacks, a magazine industry vet, talks about technology, optimism, and what it’s like to put out a daily newsletter ...
What authors need to know about current marketing practices and emerging business trends in the book publishing industry ...
Traditional publishers are experiencing a slump, and the decline of Barnes & Noble isn't helping. A look at news and ...
A round-up of important 2016 publishing news and trends that will affect authors in the years to come ...
Did you know Amazon’s print book sales grew by 15% in 2016—and the gain was primarily driven by Amazon's own ...
Discussions about the "resurgence" of print and the comeback of independent bookstores amounts to wishful thinking, not an understanding of ...
Here are the latest stories that are causing confusion (and sometimes moral panic) where it's not deserved ...
Print sales for traditional publishers are increasing this year—up by 2.6% compared to the first half of 2016. Ebook sales ...
Issues touched on: Barnes & Noble woes, the maturity of the self-publishing market, Wattpad profits, traditional publishing's problem launching blockbusters, ...
A round-up of publishing industry trend articles, helping freelancers and authors anticipate changes coming in 2018 ...
Broadly, traditional print book sales continue to grow at about 2 to 3 percent per year, but growth is driven ...
The rise of Millennial nostalgia and graphic novels, the decline of political tell-alls and publisher-driven marketing: all of this and ...
As much of the retail world faces crisis, book publishing is positioned to grow in terms of unit sales when ...
The biggest bookseller in the United States has suffered a slow decline over the last 10 years. Can the business ...
Amazon has changed, grown, and dominated more than any other company in the book publishing industry. Here are the key ...
The dramatic shifts to online sales makes it critical that publishers and authors adjust marketing strategies and build new skill ...
From paper manufacturing to ocean cargo, books continue to be buffeted by a variety of supply chain challenges ...
Does library lending help or hurt author and publisher income? The debate continues ...
Much remains unknown about NFTs but some in publishing think they might be revolutionary for writers, and indeed the world ...
Publishers need to closely collaborate with their authors if they expect that author's large social media following to sell books ...
Growth in the children’s market continues, especially for series and licensed characters. BookTok emerges as an organic social media boost ...
Well-constructed stories, snappy dialogue, and surprising twists can all contribute to a book’s chance of being chosen for adaptation ...
The big dogs will remain the big dogs. Mega advances will still be paid, and it will remain challenging to ...
Insufficient sales are the primary reason that imprints close, in addition to greater efficiency and even corporate politics ...
Before long, every major publisher will be earning money from AI training, whether through collective licensing or directly with tech ...
From my paid newsletter, here's a recap of the book industry issues and trends I find most notable and meaningful ...
Accessing the library market remains difficult for self-publishing authors, especially those with limited visibility. Here's what authors need to understand ...
Social media is just one component of your author platform, and not necessarily the most important component. It works best ...
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of participating in an online Google Hangout with the Bay Area Bloggers, hosted by Anne ...
I answer a few questions about the publishing industry today, and what I think has changed about the writing community ...
Read six essays on the future of publishing, as well as ideas on how reading, writing, and editing will evolve ...
Read my feature article for Writer's Digest magazine that explores the intersection of literary agents and self-publishing ...
I'm delighted to be a recent interviewee at Publishing Trendsetter, where I discuss what I've learned about building a personal ...
Most writers are aware that the publishing industry is undergoing a range of transformations, new beginnings, failures, and consolidations. But ...
Over a last year, a consistent theme has emerged in my discussions with writers around the country: They feel distracted ...
In the latest Glimmer Train bulletin, there's an amazing piece by Melanie Rae Thon, "The Heart Breaks, and Breaks Open: ...
Today I'm a contributor over at Writer Unboxed, discussing how social media can be used more effectively. My suggestions rely, in ...
If you have Zen or Buddhist inclinations—and you're also in the profession of writing and publishing—you will love this story ...
If you can't portray someone you know personally in a positive fashion, you will probably lose this friend and/or be ...
The personal essay can provide an artful account of earned insight often more useful than years of therapeutic work ...
It's nearly spring, and that means conference season is about to go into full swing! Here's a list of online ...
You're not alone. Being told to build an online presence creates internal conflict for a lot of writers. This is ...
In this latest podcast interview, I discuss understanding your business as an author and expanding your personal brand beyond just ...
I'm a proud contributor to an anthology releasing this week from University of Chicago Press, The Little Magazine in Contemporary ...
The debut author discusses writing an illustrated book for adults, platform building, and listening to the little voice inside ...
I'm a contributor to a new essay collection, WHAT EDITORS DO, edited by Peter Ginna and published by University of ...
Fiction writing, while not closely associated with affecting one's real-life relationships, can indeed have that power and develop one's empathy ...
Publishers and authors can use sophisticated language to describe books—to sound unique, clever and smart. But readers describe books in ...
Loss can make fiction feel like an obnoxious waste of time. And maybe it is. But what if all of ...
The writers who visit you in class, when you're still a student—especially if you're young and impressionable—these writers stick with ...
Silence—or, in fact, just saying less—is an art that can be strategically practiced by authors who seek attention. It is ...
Danielle Lazarin: "At every stage of my work, questions are my most essential writing tools. I use them to move ...
Last year, I began regularly contributing to Publishers Weekly on the topic of independent authorship and publishing. Here's a list ...
Just about every writer would love to have more readers—more readers of their books, their blog, their articles, or whatever ...
The primary function and value of an author website is marketing related ...
Learn how you can prepare for the future of publishing in this free workshop by Jane Friedman ...
Memoirists have a lot of leeway in choosing a pitching strategy. But with freedom comes great responsibility, and it's easier ...
I'm interviewed by Len Edgerly of The Kindle Chronicles ...
Earlier this week, I was interviewed by Jason Allen Ashlock about my new digital magazine Scratch, and how things have ...
Fiction writers: How well do you know your protagonist? While you may have learned the basics of point of view, ...
Do you have a project that confuses you, or feels dangerous? That's what you should write says Mark Wisniewski ...
Consider the story or message you wish to share, rather than focusing on the container ...
I've revisited my No. 1 post on how to get published—adding more advice and instruction ...
Learn how to write a better bio note and improve the opportunities that come your way ...
Today I'm a guest over at Writer Unboxed, where I discuss how finding your unique writing voice is not so ...
You have to target a market. You can't shoot for everyone. That's the topic of my latest post over at ...
Is it possible that all the changes happening in publishing can be encapsulated by a conversation about self-publishing? ...
Violence can be too sanitized, too tamed into a generic, pre-packaged mold, and so it can't yield the kind of ...
Over the last month, I've been talking (and writing) about how to build a business model for career that suits ...
For AWP 2018, I hired a team of writers to help me cover business-related sessions, as part of the launch ...
Writer Jane Delury discusses the importance of showing up and writing regardless of the conditions you find yourself in, no ...
Learn best practices for online book events, regardless of the platform you’re using ...
Novelist Sophie Chen Keller offers an incisive look at what's different about writing a novel for adults when the narrator ...
In a great story, character and plot are inextricable from one another. The seeds of the story conflict lie in ...
A detailed look at how NetGalley's Stuart Evers and Myfanwy Collins went from manuscript to publication, with marketing and PR ...
Author Jay Swanson discusses how he's succeeded with Patreon, which allows fans to pledge monthly financial support to his creative ...
Traditional publishers often center marketing campaigns around community support—sometimes growing an author’s platform in the process ...
Author Kurt Rheinheimer discusses how the most precious vein for material is from just before he knew who he was ...
When children cannot find themselves reflected in the books they read, they learn a powerful lesson about how they are ...
There are many analogies drawn between writing and sports: exercising your creative muscles, learning to go the distance, pushing up ...
Think in terms of "telling details": details that let the reader see your characters while also revealing something about their ...
Watch my 30-minute talk on how to bring together the art and business sides of your career in a way ...
Jeff Herman is the author of Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents, 29th Edition ...
Agent Laurie McLean discusses the platform and book launch strategy for author/musician Simon Curtis ...
The key to winning BookTok content: authenticity ...
In conversation with Joanna Penn, I discuss digital publishing trends and what authors need to know as they head into ...
Learn what it means to see and read the world in terms of narrative design ...
Writers may desire advice on how to better balance their writing lives and be productive, but few prescriptives are one ...
When you’re starting out as a freelancer, it can be tempting to say yes to every project. But, as in ...
Sharing your in-progress book cover on social media to solicit meaningful direction is like throwing a bomb into the creative ...
One of the hardest things to do—for any individual, organization, or business—is to define a vision and strategy. It involves ...
I was delighted to be a guest on Stephen Campbell's podcast, The Author Biz ...
Learn about the likelihood of securing a traditional book deal after self-publishing ...
To create a story that feels as if it could leave the page: That's the dream of many writers. But to ...
What are the rules for what can and can't be done with historical fiction? How much license can a writer ...
Tomorrow, I'm moderating a panel at BEA's uPublishU on Social Media 201, featuring: Porter Anderson L.L. Barkat of Tweetspeak Poetry ...
Three successful authors who are outside of Wattpad's key demographic discuss why they contribute to Wattpad and how it’s furthered ...
Tapas, a new digital publishing platform, has led to meaningful earnings and readership for independent artists and writers in less ...
It's now possible to fill every lunch hour and evening with book clubs and book festivals and live readings and ...
If there's something at the heart of the story that still interests you, that keeps pulling you back, that still ...
Writer Katherine Vaz discusses an assignment that is given to every student at her university: to write about "the most important thing ...
Focusing on the smallest thing you can accomplish: this is the magic trick to making progress or getting unstuck. ...
Even a well-published and successful author can have a difficult time finding a home for a memoir. Margaret McMullan discusses ...
Any accomplished writer is also a reader—and usually a reader first. For the writer who is the least a bit ...
Writer Anthony Doerr once told me something his father told him, and I'll paraphrase it poorly here: You're going to get your ...
Do you write write according to your own internal motivations or creative impulses—with the intention to create serious art—or do ...
This week, I was a guest on the Create If Writing podcast, discussing traditional and independent publishing ...
For beginning fiction writers, focusing on place is one of the easiest ways to improve stories that aren't quite working ...
A Q&A with Matthew Bounds, who within two years went from no social media at all to millions of followers ...
A brief but super-powered lesson from one of our recent webinars about the how to avoid overly coy and "mysterious" ...
Get links to my latest interviews and Q&A sessions where I discuss the publishing industry as well as marketing and ...
When writers talk about where their ideas come from, the answers are as varied as wildflowers ...
In my latest post over at Writer Unboxed, I discuss what writers need to know if they're considering video as ...
Doug Seibold, the founder of Evanston-based Agate Publishing, is doing his part to foster publishing careers in America’s heartland ...
The Summer 2014 issue of Scratch (my magazine for writers) is now available. Inside, you'll find a roundtable I hosted on book ...
My latest interview, with advice for writers on websites, blogging, social media, and marketing, is now live over at Social ...
Laura van den Berg discusses the evolution of how her stories get written and shaped into a collection, or a ...
A publicist often helps secure mainstream media coverage, but they also have tremendous value outside of that. Here's how to ...
The most prevalent point-of-view used by writers today is the third-person limited POV (sometimes spread across multiple characters), as well ...
When I hear professional publicists offer advice to authors, one theme that comes up again and again is: start where ...
Is it better to have a long or short book description on Amazon? What should go in the first line? ...
Whenever you produce titles fast, you're making trade-offs ...
I'm delighted to announce that I've been working with The Authors Guild on the creation and release of their new ...
We order; we catalogue. It is, simply, what the human mind excels at ...
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating – in work, in play, in love. The act frees you ...
Sometimes endings are designed to satisfy, answering the questions posed along the way. Endings that allow you to leave as ...
In my latest column for Publishers Weekly, I discuss the potential of online education for book marketing, particularly prior to ...
I'm proud to have a feature in Writer's Digest magazine on how to monetize your website and blog. I detail ...
How a self-publishing poet achieved visibility for her book—and landed a book deal with traditional publisher Andrews McMeel ...
Join me for a live training to learn to write sales copy that’s as impressive as your story; you'll improve ...
You can find depths of meaning in the shared language and goals you've developed with the writers around you ...
The problem is not whether print will survive, but how literary publishing adapts to a world where to publish something ...
A couple weeks ago, I advised young writers to have patience—with themselves, with the publishing process, and with their development ...
Author Gigi Rosenberg describes how she redesigned and relaunched her author website primarily on her own, only hiring assistance at ...
How do you balance work on your art with work on yourself? ...
The Indie Author Project identifies the best self-published fiction by state; thirteen states participate so far. This year's national winner ...
Voice: It's either there in the writing or it's not. And some writers haven't developed or "found" their voice yet ...
Rejection is rarely personal—but it still hurts. So what do you do? ...
My website (JaneFriedman.com) has been named a 101 Best Website for Writers by Writer's Digest ...
A smart and strategic author should evaluate their platform strength on three levels: (1) ability to reach new readers, (2) ability to ...
When a character "change" feels beautiful, it's because the character has confirmed what we've hoped or suspected all along. Maybe ...
In a thought-provoking post over at Glimmer Train, Josh Weil talks about Chekhov's rule: If you bring a gun into the story, ...
In an essay about writing a novel with her husband, Beth Ann Fennelly discusses that the process did not lead ...
In a 30-minute video interview, I discuss the basics of author platform ...
Why you should ensure you have as many stories on submission as possible ...
Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist ...
"The way in is something I've always struggled with. To write, I need to enter a whole other state of ...
Over at Glimmer Train, author and editor Kate Gale discusses the importance of stakeholders in your writing life—just as a ...
Inevitably there will come a moment when the writer's gaze stays somewhere—there's that "majestic silence"—and at that moment, the writer ...
What does it take to launch a new website and online community? A Q&A with author and entrepreneur Alexis Grant ...
Do you find yourself writing descriptive passages meant to "wow" the reader? Later, do you find that such passages amount to ...
Once again, I'll be speaking at the annual Writer's Digest Conference in New York City this coming weekend. They have ...
I'm the featured guest on the new Backmatter podcast from Leanpub, which is focused specifically on the publishing industry and its ...
If you dream of a full-time freelance writing career, don't be discouraged by the largely negative messages about how difficult ...
Sarah Miniaci at Smith Publicity and Kristina Radke at NetGalley review the marketing and publicity strategies that can help increase ...
Which approach is right? Write only for yourself and in service of your vision OR write with an intended readership ...
Jane Friedman interviews author Bethany Joy Carlson about effective crowdfunding campaigns for authors ...
However you decide to publish, it’s unwise to rely on someone else to build your career, or to be responsible ...
Full-time author and speaker Scott Berkun discusses his book marketing experiences as both a traditionally published author and self-published author ...
A group of literary authors have launched a limited edition box set of novels. How did they make the collaboration ...
Publishers rarely see any money in anthologies and frequently reject them. But one author was still able to find a ...
Jane discusses building a digital presence, querying 15 years ago vs. now, agents vs. self-publishing, crowdfunding, and the future of ...
In the latest issue of Writer's Digest to hit the newsstands (May/June 2012), you'll find my feature article on "The ...
Knowing your audience is key to book marketing and sales success ...
Historias Visuales / via Flickr From a recent op-ed at the New York Times: Writers may always have worried about ...
The Fall 2014 issue of Scratch is now available. Inside, you'll find a feature interview with New York Times bestselling author Austin ...
I'm often asked, "How much time should I spend on writing and how much on building my platform?" It's a ...
I regularly round up and comment on book marketing advice that have writers buzzing. Here's what sparked discussion in 2017 ...
It's sometimes easier to cut a piece of writing if you can't see how to fix it. Just remove the ...
In the literary fiction world, it's often taken as an article of faith that writing is an intrinsically important activity ...
A big mistake authors make is assuming that the influencer needs to read a copy of the book—or have a ...
For every 45 minutes that you write, do 15 minutes of something else. But there's one catch ...
Sometimes a story demands more than just a plot. You may want to create a context, a descriptive background that ...
Writer's Digest (October 2014) In the most recent issue of Writer's Digest magazine, you'll find my feature article, "The Evolving ...
Best Business Advice for Writers is a monthly link round-up where I share the best online articles focused on the ...
Earlier this week, I was the featured interviewee over at Andrea Hurst's Authornomics series. I answer questions such as: What's ...
Writing is rewriting ...
How do you write fiction with characters who are mysteriously human, who evoke empathy and compassion from the reader? Is ...
Best Business Advice for Writers is a list of the best online articles focused on the business of writing and ...
Best Business Advice for Writers is a monthly link round-up where I share the best online articles focused on the ...
You can be a beautiful and gifted writer yet fail to craft a compelling narrative. Joshua Henkin, in the latest ...
I just discovered this wonderful article, "Steal This List," by Janis Hubschman (featured in the latest Glimmer Train bulletin). It ...
Some of you may have heard about the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), a new organization supporting self-published authors. I'm ...
In the latest Glimmer Train bulletin, Joe Vastano has a lovely essay on how writers have to acknowledge the duality ...
Yesterday was my regular contribution to Writer Unboxed. I discussed how some independent authors are putting their work out there ...
The self-publishing author of cozy post-apocalypic fantasy was crowned 2023 Indie Author of the Year by the Indie Author Project ...
There's a very famous piece of advice from Anne Lamott that occasionally makes the rounds on social media. She says: ...
There's growing unrest surrounding the proliferation of free and cheap books, particularly ebooks. The reasons for sharp discounts and giveaways ...
Much of writing advice boils down to: add more conflict. But don't forget how happy lives can involve compromise and ...
Write about the things you can't forget, the things that keep you up at night ...
All writers have to find a way to deal with the internal negative voice that tells them their work is ...
Novelist Cai Emmons discusses how a van tour to meet booksellers in person helped her overcome her timidity toward book ...
Is there a difference between being an author versus running a business as an author? In this interview with Joanna ...
Fiction writer Rowena Macdonald says she finds writing dialogue much easier than constructing a plot ...
I often hear writers say they're struggling to find their voice or their style. So it was unexpected to read ...
Today I'm over at Writer Unboxed, discussing the types of attitudes that make me want to issue red-flag warnings to ...
My dad once told me I could do or be anything I wanted. Apparently that's the same thing author Patricia ...
Here’s how two self-published authors have been successful in their marketing and promotion efforts on TikTok ...
Author Melissa Yancy shines a new light on what failure brings to the writing life—and it isn't the usual reflection ...
The way we write can define (and transform) the way we live. Author Sage Cohen believes ferocity is our best ...
Writers can be like misers with their money when it comes to ideas—and ultimately that behavior can prevent you from ...
Sometimes that first draft is never going to become a final draft. That doesn't mean it's a waste, though ...
Reader analytics measures the strength of reader engagement with a book. This data helps publishers more effectively market and promote ...
Author and editor Chuck Sambuchino discusses promoting books, the talent writers need, and good writing advice ...
The visionary independent publisher discusses how to make money from writing, why books are not culture, and why it isn’t ...
Author Darien Hsu Gee discusses writing and publishing across multiple genres, going back for her MFA at age 50, and ...
The latest issue of my magazine Scratch is now available! The theme is Faith. If you're not a subscriber, here's what ...
One writing and publishing adage I've always believed in: "Writing is rewriting." Fiction writer Amina Gautier's approach is similar. For ...
Over the holiday weekend, C.J. Lyons, a bestselling hybrid author, launched a new initiative called Digital Book Day, partly in ...
In a bold and insightful piece by writer Monica Byrne, she discusses how, as an emerging writer, she created a list of ...
Even though I've been actively teaching in the university setting for more than 10 years, I've nearly always been in front ...
Here's a lovely way to start your Sunday. With a nod to Women's History Month, Open Road Media has created ...
Your success as a storyteller has to do with your ability to juggle flaming chainsaws ...
Best Business Advice for Writers is a monthly link round-up where I share the best online articles focused on the ...
What's wrong with overly nice characters? To begin with, they're boring. This is because they can't abide conflict, and smooth ...
The funny thing about being any good as a publishing commentator: it requires talking to many others, learning varied perspectives, ...
Chang Kim, Tapas Media For years, serialization has been discussed as a significant area of opportunity for reading and publishing ...
Why are we so curious about authors' own lives in relation to their books, and the ways that they do ...
Do males or females receive higher advances? I look at Publishers Marketplace deals data to find out ...
How to improve the effectiveness of your email newsletter through very specific changes to your sign-up forms and content ...
Best Business Advice for Writers (Sept 2013): a monthly link round-up where I share the best online articles focused on ...
One of the most important goals of any fiction writer is getting the reader to connect on an emotional level ...
Best Business Advice for Writers is a monthly link round-up where I share the best online articles focused on the ...
The SWING author discusses the pre-order campaign for her self-published book, the importance of social media engagement, and more ...
Last Friday, I had the honor of spending a day with the Reddit writing community, where I participated in an ...
Here's an absolutely fabulous and honest piece by Eugene Cross about what it feels like to study writing as an undergraduate/graduate ...
Authors need help with digital book marketing—the kind of help that traditional publishers rarely provide. Co-ops and collectives can help ...
In my many years of critiquing queries, I see the same weaknesses again and again. Here are the biggest issues ...
A round-up of the best and most popular advice on writing craft and technique I've featured since 2010 ...
Amazon says that Kindle Select participation is healthy, and that the Kindle Unlimited ebook subscription service is leading to more ...
Despite the notion that we are voiceless, the challenge of a good creative writing instructor is to teach students that ...
Writers often view themselves as without power, but you can’t wait for permission or the “right time” to negotiate a ...
Today's Q&A is with Ron Hogan. For anyone who's worked in publishing for more than two minutes, Ron hardly needs an ...
If you write fiction, then you don't want to miss the latest Glimmer Train bulletin, which features three wonderful essays ...
How an indie author turned a story concept into a full-fledged multimedia universe, including a live blog, illustrated journal, merchandise, ...
The role and quality of POD (print on demand) is continually misunderstood by authors and the larger publishing community ...
Getting traction for your online presence—especially a new blog—can feel like an impossible task when you're an unknown writer. But ...
Is it better to look for a literary agent first, or to approach editors and publishers? Much depends on the ...
On the right: Manjula Martin & Jane Friedman This past week, I was interviewed along with my Scratch business partner, ...
The biggest career-changing moves I ever made were a combination of: Signing up for Twitter in 2008 & starting the ...
Every month, Glimmer Train releases a bulletin that includes a few brief essays by writers on the writing life. For October, ...
There's a legendary joke about the writing life, often attributed to Margaret Atwood. It goes like this: A brain surgeon ...
I regularly read and report on marketing trends that affect traditionally published and self-published writers. Today I'm sharing the most ...
Every writer I know can identify with the following: I was only halfway through Stuart Dybek's I Sailed with Magellan ...
Learn how to easily study the impact of your social media use on your marketing and promotion efforts ...
Nielsen offers fascinating insights into how the children's market is driving growth in the overall publishing industry ...
Today I'm revisiting a few of the basics of getting published. (There are always people new to the writing and ...
As writers, we can spend so much time "fleshing out" our characters as individuals that we forget about the connections ...
When deciding whether to write for free—or for exposure—here are 5 questions writers should ask ...
The following Q&A is with author Bob Tarte. Bob lives in Michigan with parrots, ducks, geese, parakeets, rabbits, doves, cats, hens, ...
At its core, a query letter is a sales document, and so it’s meant to sell. But opinions differ on ...
Libraries represent a valuable opportunity for a book discoverability and sales, but librarians may not know your book exists without ...
My book, The Business of Being a Writer Second Edition, releases in April 2025. To mark the occasion, I’m offering a ...
Nielsen offers specific figures on how ebook sales have affected print sales in adult fiction, adult nonfiction, and juvenile categories ...
In the past year, I've run two posts specifically related to serial fiction—a guest post by Roz Morris and a ...
My newest book, The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press), takes it on principle that learning about ...
It is a pleasure to share this interview with two authors who are also marketing geniuses, Avery Monsen (@averymonsen) and ...
This past weekend, I attended the World Domination Summit (WDS) in Portland, which attracts 3,000 creative people who are concerned ...
Matera, Italy This week I’m speaking at the International Women’s Fiction Festival in Matera, Italy, which is slanted this year ...
In 2014, I made the leap from conventional employment to a full-time freelance career. Here's how I did it—and what ...
There are few things more obsessed over by writers than word count: required word count, in-progress word count, goal word ...
Right now I'm teaching a senior capstone course that prepares e-media seniors to graduate and enter the workforce. There are ...
Every year, I share hundreds (even thousands) of articles and reports on book marketing. Here, I look back on the ...
At conferences, I'm often asked by writers if they "have what it takes" to be a successful writer. I usually ...
A free email newsletter is the better strategic choice when it comes to long-term career development. Blogging works better for ...
The No. 1 disappointment of published authors is the lack of marketing support from their publisher. Here's how to prepare ...
Yesterday, I gave my keynote on Writing for Love (and Money) at The Muse and The Marketplace annual conference, hosted ...
Today, our problem is not finding more great things to read. It’s finding time to read the great many wonderful ...
Wondering how to sell your screenplay? Learn the most common paths to production for a first-time screenwriter ...
Michael Goodin / Flickr For 10 years, I've been analyzing website traffic—for my own site, for Writer's Digest (when I ...
After working at Writer's Digest for a decade-plus, I saw more than my fair share of writing exercise/prompt books—plus I ...
Asking an editor or agent to sign a non-disclosure agreement is not part of traditional publishing business practice ...
Last year, I rounded up some of the best free e-books for writers. That list deserves an update, so once ...
To achieve writing success—especially commercial success—requires an inner drive that pushes you forward no matter what feedback you receive ...
I've known John Warner since my days as an acquisitions editor at F+W Media. He is among the most decent, ...
If you need a place to start, then focus on talking about or posting about others you admire ...
When embarking on a process that is new or unfamiliar, often you don't know what you don't know. A checklist ...
How do you navigate the writing life when you have an intense day job? Does such a thing as work-life ...
Articles about the ineffectiveness of online advertising are a dime a dozen. (See this one and this other one, from ...
How do you treat subscribers after they sign up for your email newsletter? An autoresponder can usefully and effectively welcome ...
A course’s success depends on anticipating and understanding the needs of writing students and producing the outcomes they most desire ...
Before you buy another pen-and-pencil set for that writer in your life, consider some gift options that take their digital ...
The Mall of America residency isn’t going to be an appropriate opportunity for even a majority of writers. But it’s ...
It’s the question I dislike the most from writers, and that I try to avoid answering—because it lays a terrible ...
I think it's fair to say that most of us are not looking to add more social media activity to our lives ...
Every author must have a frank conversation with their publisher about book marketing—the earlier the better. Here's how to approach ...
Many writers are told to blog or send an email newsletter without much idea of how to approach it. Here ...
It's pleasure to bring you this insightful Q&A with writer Sean Platt. As his own website states, Sean Platt writes ...
A growing number of authors with serious literary cred are finding greater financial success—and a welcoming community—in the romance business ...
If you’re considering WordPress as your platform of choice, here’s what you should know as you prepare to build on ...
To sell products and services directly through your website, here are a few services and tools to get up and ...
This is part rant, part advice. I don't write this post as if my needs were everyone's. But it's frustrating ...
While it's not wrong to open in these ways—and a great writer can make even the most pedestrian series of events ...
Wondering why you don't have more blog traffic—or if it's worthwhile to continue your blogging effort? Here are the mistakes ...
What every author needs to know before they hire a publicist, and how to work with one successfully ...
Pitching agents at a writers conference can be a difficult task for the new writer. Here's how to make it ...
![Effective Website [Robert Hruzek / Flickr]](https://janefriedman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/4392981613_0c3c319aa8-288x300.jpg)
by Robert Hruzek / Flickr Every author website should include these elements, whether on the homepage or elsewhere. About/bio page ...
For me, the hardest thing about being online is remembering what I think and the "why" that I'm working for ...
The most important publishing industry headlines and stories that every writer should keep an eye on in 2016 ...
Strong reader relationships build unbelievable opportunities. Marketing and promotion ideas usually start by considering what reader relationships you have in ...
Maistora / Flickr I recently received this very challenging question and scenario from traditionally published author Dr. Liz Alexander. I ...
Here's what I've learned over 20 years about making the most of any writers conference, whether you're an attendee or ...
It doesn’t bode well for the publishing industry’s future when acquisition decisions are based solely on an author’s past sales ...
After last Friday's post, 4 Ways to Immediately Improve Your Book Marketing Efforts, I received a few responses questioning the ...
Here are the most common arguments against teaching the business of writing in an MFA program—and why such arguments are ...
Writing advice is everywhere—newsletters, podcasts, workshops—and it can leave you feeling anxious and unproductive. Here's what to do ...
Here are 10 questions to ask before you choose a Wordpress theme for your site ...
I believe a successful social media strategy is driven by one’s personality and strengths, as well as the qualities of ...
But being able to truly see if you’ve been successful in writing a compelling work requires objectivity and distance than ...
What does it mean to "engage" with a community? And what's the benefit? ...
While it's not easy to launch a book without any kind of online presence, many first-time authors are in exactly ...
Are literary journals justified in charging reading fees? ...
I often advise new bloggers to identify the top blogs or communities for their target audience, and build relationships with those ...
When I was in 5th grade, my mom spent hours working on a middle-grade novel. These were the days before ...
by Sal Falko / Flickr The backlash against Literary Citizenship is underway, and perhaps it was inevitable. For those unaware ...
3 ways to avoid long-term pain and suffering if you're preparing to launch your first author website ...
Here's a word I have eliminated as fully as possible from my information and advice lexicon for writers: passion ...
More than a year ago, I participated in a Q&A over at the Drinking Diaries website, which is a forum for ...
Literary journals have done little to move beyond their gatekeeping function, and cling to a scarcity model that no longer ...
Any self-publishing author can easily make a book available to Amazon, bookstores, libraries, etc. But availability doesn't mean visibility ...
Giving away your work isn't a problem if you've developed a strategy around it, and know how to turn new ...
It's a typical pet peeve of editors and agents: Stories that begin with dialogue. In the latest Glimmer Train bulletin, ...
Is it possible to successfully publish and sell your e-books—without a platform—as long as you choose the right genre? ...
No one used to question the value of a publisher, but now everyone's wondering: What are they good for? ...
What young people need to know about writing and publishing ...
Over the weekend, I was a speaker at the Missouri Writers Guild conference (a terrific group of people and an ...
"Don't allow your wounds to transform you into someone you are not." —Paulo Coelho It doesn't happen often, but every ...
Social media is widely considered necessary by authors and publishers for book marketing. But is it as important as an ...
To maximize the effectiveness of your author website, it's necessary to study the data behind how people find your website, ...
In this talk from the 2013 Midwest Writers Workshop, I explain the process of growing my readership since 2008, then ...
More than 90% of young people say they want to write a book some day. So why does that inspire ...
A few lessons I've learned after more than a full year of full-time freelancing ...
by webtreats / via Flickr Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of speaking at a one-day publishing event hosted ...
If you have a Wordpress-based site, then you know that one of the first choices you have to make (and ...
Whether you’re an emerging author or one that is well-established, it can be challenging to figure out what belongs on ...
If you're preparing to pitch your nonfiction work to agents or publishers, you may have heard about the necessity of ...
Today's post features an item excerpted from A Year of Writing Dangerously: 365 Days of Inspiration & Encouragement (New World ...
Don't you wish someone could tell you if you're wasting your time trying to be a writer? Or if you're ...
I received the following question from published author Lisa Earle McLeod—who I remember first meeting at a Foothills Writers Guild ...
I don’t trust author-income survey results and I question their usefulness in improving the fortunes of writers. Too often it ...
Are you getting the most from professional feedback, or are you inadvertently sabotaging your progress? Look for these patterns in ...
Everything you need to know to start sending an effective email newsletter ...
I'm often asked: How can I be so productive? Or how does one balance creative work and other life demands? ...
On Tuesday, March 5, I found (via Twitter) the following piece by freelance journalist Nate Thayer: A Day in the ...
What authors need to know about the process of getting a book adapted to the big screen ...
Wesley Fryer / via Flickr The chain of events goes something like this: An author's book nears its publication date (or ...
CJ Lyons (@cjlyonswriter) is an award-winning, critically acclaimed New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She practiced pediatrics and ...
I'm very grateful to Joel Friedlander (@JFBookman) for taking time to answer a few questions about book design, especially as ...
Yesterday, news broke that Pearson (parent company of Penguin) had acquired Author Solutions for $116 million. Read the basics here ...
This infographic breaks down the key 5 publishing paths, their value to authors, the potential pitfalls, and examples of each ...
By far, I receive the most questions from writers on copyright, mainly due to this post: When Do You Need ...
It is possible, if not desirable, for an author to launch an effective book-marketing campaign without a publisher’s support or ...
One of my favorite social media activities is collecting charts and visual data related to book publishing and other media, ...
Author Brad Swift asks the following: I have a number of fiction and nonfiction books now available through Amazon as ...
Self-publishing authors may end up as collateral damage in the rising tide of AI-generated books appearing at major online retailers ...
Publishers use a P&L (profit & loss) statement to determine whether a book makes financial sense to publish. Here's how ...
This weekend, I'll be speaking at the Writer's Digest Conference about e-publishing. I'm in the process of updating my slides ...
Jane at 2012 National Magazine Awards (NYC) I had the very good fortune of attending this year's National Magazine Awards ...
Plugins are one of the most wonderful and useful things about Wordpress. Here are some of my favorites for writers ...
This 101 guide describes best practices for authors using Facebook for book marketing, with tips on when you should set ...
As publishing becomes increasingly digital-driven, how are the business models for authorship changing? ...
Regardless of when or why you use Facebook, never consider it a replacement for an author website you own and ...
Writers often ask, "How do I get published?" But I don't like to answer that question until I know what ...
It's almost a running joke. Whenever my manager introduces me at an event, he always starts by saying how many ...
A "clueless ask" is when a well-meaning stranger asks for an investment of a successful person's time and energy. What ...
Before you decide to follow someone on Twitter, what's the first thing you look at? Probably the bio. Let's assume ...
Pop-ups have long been despited by the Internet world, but the difficulty is: They work. Here's how to implement them ...
Passion has become a cheap word. I'm starting to roll my eyes when I hear it. But it hasn't always ...
J Garrattley / Flickr When I tell writers it's mandatory they have a website, those who are unpublished will immediately ...
Every author is told to start an official Facebook page. But what if you stick with your personal profile only? ...
Is social media a waste of time for writers? Is it possible, in the end, to just focus on writing? ...
Chatting with Kay Steinke at LitFlow (Berlin), 2012 Last month, I gave a 15-minute presentation in Berlin, Germany, called The ...
Most authors should not pay to exhibit at industry trade shows like London Book Fair and Frankfurt Book Fair ...
Platform Inventory Worksheet, reduced size Last weekend at the Midwest Writers Workshop, I offered a workshop on author platform building ...
A couple weeks ago I wrote a column for Writer Unboxed, "Should You Focus on Your Writing or Platform?" In ...
I really admire the folks at Goodreads, not just for their site, but also for the data they share with ...
This infographic breaks down the key 5 publishing paths, their value to authors, the potential pitfalls, and examples of each ...
This post was first published in 2012 and is regularly updated. First things first: an author's website, whether it gets ...
by Emilie Ogez / Flickr To some, I may appear productive. But like many, I'm a horrible procrastinator. I try ...
When I see bad book marketing out in the wild, I wish I could do something productive to help that ...
Update (9/15/14): I've written a new post explaining what eventually resolved all of my back pain problems. Like most writers, ...
Should you self-publish? There is no single right answer to this question—it's always situational. It depends on you, your book, ...
As some of you may recall, I’ve been seeking solutions to my chronic back pain, which I assume is partly ...
Synge's Chair (where Irish writer Synge would retreat & write, on Inis Meain) I'll start by saying that I have ...
It's not unusual for authors to be told by their publishers that author websites aren't necessary or effective. Should their ...
The most important thing any author needs to know about book distribution is that more than half of all book ...
Flickr / tq2cute This post really needs no introduction. Let's just get to the rant, in my favored numbered list ...
Pronoun works with independent authors to distribute their ebooks to the five major online retailers: Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, ...
I recently received the following question from working writer Shannon Traphagen: I have been fervently working on my novel (I ...
Many years ago, when I started working for Writer’s Digest, I was put on the self-publishing beat. I started by ...
Don’t you wish someone could tell you how close you are to getting traditionally published? Don’t you wish someone could ...
One of the easiest ways for an author to get a site up and running is to use Blogger or ...
Word doesn't export to EPUB, but you can still produce an editable file quickly, without buying software or using a ...
Amazon and Goodreads must take steps to combat the flood of AI-generated content that will mislead readers and damage author ...
Should you self-publish or traditionally publish? This infographic will help you determine the best choice for you and your project ...
It's been a trend ever since I worked full-time as a book acquisitions editor: Blog-to-book deals. I acquired or oversaw ...
Author platform is one of the most difficult concepts to explain, partly because everyone defines it a little differently. Here's ...
If you need to request permissions from an author or publisher, here are general guidelines, plus a sample letter you ...
A step-by-step guide to finding literary agents, plus how to select the right agent for you and your work ...
How authors can blog successfully for long-term platform and book marketing efforts, with tips for online writing, strong headlines, and ...
If you want to publish your book, here are the steps you should follow to assess your work's potential, then ...