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On Being a Writer With Skin in the Game
There’s a part of me that is not completely comfortable talking about my writing: the best of it is highly personal, even as it is universal.
How to Build a Writing Group in Your Community
Every writer can benefit from belonging to a community writing group. If there’s not one in your area, here’s how to start one successfully.
Does Your Story Have Flaming Chainsaws?
Your success as a storyteller has to do with your ability to juggle flaming chainsaws.
What Do You Want From Your Writing in 2014—And Beyond?
Your task is to express your goal as a writer in one sentence. Get it right, because it’s the single most important sentence you will ever write. It will sustain you and provide a compass for your entire writing journey.
6 Ways Micro-Publishing Strengthens Your Author Career
Micro-published books are short, tight, and swift. A meaningful discussion of micro-publishing has been pushed aside during the ongoing tug-of-war between traditional publishing and independent publishing (self-publishing). But we are well beyond “everyone is a writer” at this point. We have progressed into “everyone is a publisher,” if they wish to be—and we have been living in this realm for some time already. Fortunately, micro-publishing benefits the industry as a whole by bringing some much-needed simplicity and directness into a publishing equation that is often weighted down by its own complexity and contracts. And it also benefits you, the writer.
How Much Does Author Platform Impact Sales?
Is it possible to successfully publish and sell your e-books—without a platform—as long as you choose the right genre?
The Art and Business of Reader Engagement and Author Platform
Strong reader relationships build unbelievable opportunities. Marketing and promotion ideas usually start by considering what reader relationships you have in place—or can build on. Here is a framework and strategy for building and engaging a readership.
Why I Choose to Both Self-Publish and Traditionally Publish
Since 2009, after the release of my second novel, I’ve been a so-called hybrid author, working with New York publishers as well as self-publishing. I’m often asked why I chose to combine these two seemingly disparate publishing careers, juggling twice the work.
Education in the Digital Age: The Low-Residency MFA
Is a low-residency MFA degree in creative writing right for you? Here’s what you need to know.
4 Ways to Find Readers Who Love Your Work
So you want to find those raving fans, right? Awesome. We’re about to give you the most boring advice possible. You’re probably going to be disappointed that we’re not going to offer you a magic way to get a ton more readers, but unfortunately that’s not how it works. Ideal fans and readers are gained a few at a time, and it takes time to build that bond, even if you experience a sudden and serendipitous burst of exposure.
The 7-Step Business Plan for Writers
Your productivity and growth are a direct result of forming a business plan (and sticking to it); here are 7 steps—plus a template—for creating your own.
Writers: Look for the Majestic Silence
Inevitably there will come a moment when the writer’s gaze stays somewhere—there’s that “majestic silence”—and at that moment, the writer knows to stand still and listen and look.
Is Your Bio Working Hard or Hardly Working?
Learn how to write a better bio note and improve the opportunities that come your way.
Infographic: 4 Key Book Publishing Paths
This infographic breaks down the key 5 publishing paths, their value to authors, the potential pitfalls, and examples of each.
The Difference Between Marketing and Publicity
No one can buy a book they’ve never heard of. So, how do readers hear about books? Everyone likes to say it’s word of mouth, but it’s not possible to tell a friend about a book until you’ve heard of it yourself. That’s where publicity and marketing come in.
Book Marketing 101
It is possible, if not desirable, for an author to launch an effective book-marketing campaign without a publisher’s support or assistance. Mainly, it requires time and energy. Here’s a comprehensive rundown of the main strategies in use today.
My Advice on Hiring and Working With a Publicist
A publicist often helps secure mainstream media coverage, but they also have tremendous value outside of that. Here’s how to effectively work with one.
How a Collection of Stories Comes Together
Laura van den Berg discusses the evolution of how her stories get written and shaped into a collection, or a book.
Thinking Beyond the Book: The Future of Publishing
Read six essays on the future of publishing, as well as ideas on how reading, writing, and editing will evolve.
Self-Publishing: Is It the Most Important Conversation for Traditional Publishers?
Is it possible that all the changes happening in publishing can be encapsulated by a conversation about self-publishing?
Best Business Advice for Writers: September 2013
Best Business Advice for Writers (Sept 2013): a monthly link round-up where I share the best online articles focused on the business of writing and publishing.
Principles of Strong Historical Fiction
What are the rules for what can and can’t be done with historical fiction? How much license can a writer take with the facts?
Why Don’t Publishers Believe in Author Websites?
It’s not unusual for authors to be told by their publishers that author websites aren’t necessary or effective. Should their insight be trusted?
A Call to Disarm Technology & Hype (And Boost Your Writing Productivity)
The internet and other technology keeps us on insanely high alert, ultimately producing an effect where we attend to everything and we attend to nothing (deeply). This high-alert state is producing a fatigue that’s detrimental not only to our psyches and relationships, but also to the quality of our professional output.
Amazon MatchBook: How Publishers and Authors Can Work Together to Sell More
Bestselling author Michael J. Sullivan proposes that publishers give authors permission to send free ebooks to readers who have purchased print editions.
Book Tour Planning 101
Five things to consider as you begin planning book events to spread the word about your book.
Launching an Online Community: Q&A With Author-Entrepreneur Alexis Grant
What does it take to launch a new website and online community? A Q&A with author and entrepreneur Alexis Grant.
Business Is Personal: 5 Common Networking Mistakes
Business is personal. In the long-run game, anyone who treats business as though it is not personal is going to end up stepping on toes and leaving a trail of poor impressions.
The Power of Understatement in Fiction Writing
One of the most useful and powerful devices for the fiction writer is understatement. You tell the reader less so that the reader knows more. Instead of having everything spelt out, the reader is given, in a very careful way, just enough information for the imagination to go to work. From understatement the reader can derive great pleasure and satisfaction.
Best Business Advice for Writers: August 2013
Best Business Advice for Writers is a monthly link round-up where I share the best online articles focused on the business of writing and publishing.
