There are those who say that authors should release a book simultaneously in digital and paper form. Their argument being that everyone who wants to read your book should be able to. If they want to give you money, why make them wait? Well, I’ll tell you. Every new format is a chance to promote your …
I absolutely believe in the muse. Not literally a daughter of Zeus, but the creative inspiration that comes from “out there.” Muse is as good a way to describe it as any. Sometimes she comes as an idea appearing in your mind like a bolt of lightning. Sometimes she draws your attention to something: a news …
These tips are from my new book B.Y.O.P. Be Your Own Publisher. It’s available right now on Amazon for a buck-fifty. Download it here. I don’t believe writer’s block exists. You’re blocked? You “can’t write?” Bullshit. You just don’t want to write. You’re sure it’s crap and you’d rather feel sorry for yourself and eat …
I always have a stack of index cards close to hand. They are useful for writing down phone numbers, grocery lists, character names, brilliant ideas, quick notes, or possible book titles. You can even use them to get something out of your teeth or provide a nasty paper cut. With a blank wall, a stack …
Is your book a one-off, or the start of a series? Ask yourself these questions… 1) Can your protagonist carry a series? Is he interesting and relatable enough to headline more stories? What do your reviews tell you about your main characters? 2) Will book two take place immediately after book one with book three …
1) Be strategic about the timing. Link your free promo to an event like Mardi Gras, the Daytona 500, Pi Day or whatever makes sense for your book and genre. 2) Give yourself ample promotion time. Set the dates a month or more in advance so you can pitch your promotion to free book sites. …
When doing research for your book (and I’m talking strictly about fiction), you basically have three choices: Do it yourself, outsource it or crowdsource it. Crowdsourcing is putting a question to a crowd and collecting the answers. It’s best for single questions and not subject matter braindumps. I have solved many technical issues in my …
I’ve been blogging about my trials and errors in this writing thing for a couple years now. From a post about discovering Kindle Direct Publishing and unearthing a long-lost novel, to crowdfunding a research trip, I’ve shared the journey with my blog readers. If you’ve found my writing tips interesting or helpful, I’m collecting them …
