3 Publicity Mistakes Debut Authors Make (and How to Avoid Them)
It’s hard to execute book publicity perfectly the first time around, but there’s a lot you can do to give your project the best shot at visibility.
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Take the 2025 ALLi Author Income Survey
The Alliance of Independent Authors has launched a survey for writers who self-publish in English and meet certain qualifications.
Bottom Line August 2025 Bestseller Lists
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books.
Breaking Bread: The Role of Food in Building Character
Food is a powerful storytelling element that can help develop characters, and a great tool for putting ‘show, don’t tell’ into practice.
How to Reconnect with a Draft You No Longer Want to Write
If the manuscript you once felt passionate about has fallen silent, here’s why this may be happening and how to gently find your way back.
Anthology Editing: Advice and Insights from Those Who’ve Been There
A freelance writer who’s curious about becoming an anthology editor interviews those with experience to learn the ins and outs of the job.
Why Fictionalize Memoir?
A writer wishing to bear witness and breathe new life into her family’s stories compares how three authors blended memoir with fiction.
How Publishing Has Changed Since 2015
To mark the 10-year anniversary of this newsletter’s launch, here’s a look at some of the biggest industry changes in the past decade.
Write Where You Know
Whether you choose a real or fictional location, the more detail and depth you can infuse into your setting, the better you’ll draw readers into your story.
Developing Antagonism in Your Story
The more clearly you develop and articulate antagonism in your story, the more your protagonist’s struggle and victory will shine.
The Activist Memoir: How to Write for Change
While many memoirs’ stories are personal, others are social or political—and the best succeed by making readers feel what the author felt.
Important: If you want to be part of the Anthropic class action
The plaintiffs’ attorneys are now collecting contact information from all authors and publishers who may be part of the class.
Why I Won’t Chase the Post That Went Viral
After writing a viral post—about a topic she’s disinclined to dwell on—an author reflects on the worth of chasing that virality again.
How Being a Good Literary Citizen Leads to Stronger Book Launches
In terms of reaching new readers, literary citizenship might prove to be a better investment than any money paid to an online marketing guru.
Publishing Trends Q&A with Agent Kate McKean
I asked literary agent Kate McKean a few questions that have been on my mind about the current state of the industry.
How to Turn Real Family Stories Into Compelling Historical Fiction
The stories we carry from our families may seem ordinary, but fictionalizing them can honor our roots and keep them alive for future generations.
Writing a Newsletter When Your Book Isn’t Published Yet
Even with no book to promote, one author finds that writing a monthly newsletter nourishes her life and craft in surprising ways.
Bottom Line July 2025 Bestseller Lists
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books.
Find Your Ideal Readers by Attending a Genre Convention
After attending a convention in order to connect with readers, one author examines what went well and what she’ll do differently next time.
How a Box of Misprinted Books Became My Most Creative Marketing Tool Yet
Next time you find yourself with a stack of not-quite-right books, instead of trashing them ask: What story can I still tell with these?
Readers Are Fascinated by Truth in Fiction—and It Matters
Books might be marketed as fiction, but it’s the truth and possibility thereof that intrigues us and offers understanding and connection.
Mining for Theme in Children’s Books
A hazard of writing for young readers is the temptation to craft stories with a lesson, when more richness might result from finding your theme.
Author Promotion Versus Book Promotion: Why You Need Both
You might spend half a year promoting a new book, but promoting yourself in order to build an audience is equally important work—that begins now.
The Villain Is the Hero of Their Own Story
Since villains usually consider themselves heroes, they can also go through the same stages heroes do—with some important variations.
Quality Matters More Than Quantity
Many self-publishing authors work with a rapid-release, low-price model—but should that steer the pricing strategy for more artisan books?
The Secret to a Writing Career May Boil Down to Sheer Grit
An artist’s life is unpredictable, so tapping into your inner grit will give you and your career a fighting chance to blossom for years to come.
Using AI to Explore Scientific Realism and Build Story Bibles for Fiction Writing
A sci-fi writer explores how AI can help keep her scenarios grounded in reality and maintain a story bible for world-building consistency.
I Won a Writing Award. Does It Matter?
Even awards that offer only bragging rights, but no prize money, can telegraph something important: your work matters to readers.
What Does It Mean to Write and Publish a Viral Article?
What happens when thousands or millions of people read your work? There will be those that love it, hate it, and everything in between.
Plot, Character, or Situation: Your Story’s Entry Point Determines Next Steps
Knowing which facet most drives the story you want to tell can help you determine next steps and avoid the most common manuscript missteps.
Bottom Line June 2025 Bestseller Lists
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books.
Using a Workshop Experience Inventory When Workshops Go Wrong
If a workshop ever left you feeling defeated, reflecting on it in a systematic way will get you back to writing sooner and with more confidence.
After My Second Book Died on Submission, I Took These 4 Crucial Steps
The publishing road is full of potholes and detours, even if you get a book deal. That’s why it’s important to find joy in the writing itself.
What Isn’t Said Still Screams: Writing Subtext in Horror Fiction
Emerging writers often focus on plot and action—both essential!—but the true pulse of horror comes from what festers just beneath the surface.
How to Subtitle Your Book to Encourage Sales
Whether for fiction or nonfiction, a good subtitle gives a book context and helps to pique a reader’s interest, but writing one can be tricky.
How POV Affects Character Inner Life
Tips from a career editor on how the type of POV you choose affects the way you give readers access to your characters’ thoughts and feelings.
Silence: The New Rejection That’s Expanding in Insidious Ways
When agents and publishers refuse to reply to submissions, is it any wonder that writers end up seeking validation from scammy alternatives?
Pinterest Is My Best-Kept Author Marketing Secret
Pinterest isn’t just for recipes, DIY projects, and home decor—it’s also a goldmine for authors who understand how it really works.
How a Misbelief About Love Can Be a Guiding Light for Your Romance Characters
Understanding what holds your characters back from loving or being loved fully will equip you to write a romance with a compelling arc.
Claiming Headspace for Your Writing Life: Lessons from Aikido
One writer who’s also a martial artist finds that success in either practice requires commitment and courage.
How Writing Romance Has Made Me More Creative
One author learns that putting boundaries—such as genre expectations—around creativity can actually stimulate it rather than inhibit it.
When to Let Go: Recognize the Point of Diminishing Returns in Revision
Embrace the fact that creation is never truly finished—it’s simply released at a point where it can begin its life in the world.
Own the Title of Writer (Don’t Add “Aspiring”)
Consciously thinking about yourself as a writer—rather than an aspiring one—is the first step toward shattering self-limiting beliefs.
Bottom Line May 2025 Bestseller Lists
Three distinctive monthly bestseller lists: top 50 hidden gems, top 50 self-published ebooks, and top 50 self-published print books.
A Novel Blueprint for Building Your Book
One author finds that using digital tools to create a visual story grid is the trick he needs to crystallize his ideas and never miss a beat.
What Happens When We Treat Agents and Publishers as Genuine Partners
If you write material outside your agent’s wheelhouse, don’t be afraid of making an unagented pitch. Each success is a win-win for both of you.
The Power of Connotation in Picture Books
When your manuscript is 500 words or less, a carefully-chosen word can carry both emotional weight and contextual clarity.
5 Reasons a Literary Agent Isn’t Going to Steal Your Story, Make Millions, and Cut You Out
A common anxiety for authors querying their debut is fear of someone stealing their story idea. Here’s why it’s not an actual threat.
3 Keys to a Successful Writing Accountability Partnership
One writer found that regular check-ins with a writing buddy have encouraged both of them to make more progress than ever before.
Don’t Ruin the Mystery: How to Reflect in Memoir Without Giving It All Away
What draws readers into your story is the mystery of how you achieved your transformation, so reflection must be handled carefully.