How to safeguard your work: tips for recognizing and avoiding publishing industry scams
In the expansive realm of publishing, there exists a sobering reality: the presence of scams that can exploit the hopes and dreams of...
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MUST-HAVE PUBLISHING RESOURCES FOR AUTHORS
The saying “you don’t know what you don’t know” is so true when it comes to publishing, whether it’s self-publishing or traditional publishing. Authors are writers first and foremost. They know the craft of writing but it’s all the other steps—revising and editing, publishing, and marketing—that can be daunting, even to the most seasoned among them. This blog post compiles more than fifty links to vetted publishing industry resources. And it's still growing! (updated May 2024)
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Jun 284 min read
The post-proofreading checklist for self-publishing
Proofreaders aren't just eagle-eyed typo hunters. For many indie authors, proofreaders can often be a valuable resource for navigating...
Jun 143 min read
Top 3 book opening mistakes (and how to fix them)
Every write knows that a strong opening to their book is crucial for engaging readers. It's the first impression, the hook, that either...
Dec 22, 20235 min read
Top 3 questions I receive about publishing
(I'd like to say that I'm writing this blog post for the benefit of readers, but really, I'm writing it for me.) These are the top three...
Dec 8, 20235 min read
Writing in third person
Limited vs. omniscient narration Third person narration is a literary style where the narrative is told from the perspective of a...
Nov 17, 20234 min read
Dialogue tags & action beats
Formatting attributes of speech alongside action in fiction I've written about the basics of formatting dialogue here. This blog is a...
Oct 6, 20233 min read
Editorial passes vs. rounds
"Passes" and "rounds" are common terms used in book publishing, but their meanings can often become confused. There are, in general,...
Sep 8, 20233 min read
Query Letter 101
A query letter is a formal letter that a writer sends to literary agents or publishers to introduce themselves and their work with the...
Aug 11, 20236 min read
Elements of a successful book: reviews
In this final post in the Elements of a Successful Book blog series, I'm talking reviews—what they are, different types, how to get them,...
Jul 20, 20232 min read
Elements of a successful book: metadata
Metadata feels like a nebulous term, and for many writers, it’s components seem hard to pin down. However, it’s vital that your book has...
Jul 6, 20235 min read
Elements of a successful book: the back cover blurb
You’ve written your book and edited the heck out of it, and you don’t want to deal with it anymore. Sounds about right? But then you...
Jun 22, 20233 min read
Elements of a successful book: title
Book titles and subtitles feel pretty basic—every book has a title (at least), and I don’t think it’s controversial to say that your book...
May 25, 20235 min read
Elements of a successful book: content
Dive in with me as I explore the commonalities between successful books no matter how they were published, what genre they are, or...
Apr 15, 20235 min read
US copyright and permissions
What every writer should know Confusion about intellectual property, copyright, and permissions abound in the self-publishing world. It...
Apr 1, 20234 min read
Client story: manuscript review
I’ve received quite a few questions about my new manuscript review service. First, I want to say, no, this is not a review like you might...
Feb 16, 20235 min read
More on vetting editors: work samples
Finding a best-fit editor for your project can be a chore. There’s a sea full of editor-fish but not one of them are alike! A writer must...
Nov 10, 20223 min read
Lowering editing costs
In the editing world, time really is money. Editors have to strike a balance between setting a rate they can live on and completing work...
Oct 27, 20223 min read
Style sheets
One of the first things I learned about that was new to me as a freelance proofreader and editor was style sheet creation. Yet, it’s...
Oct 22, 20226 min read
Finding a reputable editor
In an unregulated industry that primarily takes place over the Internet, scammers abound. Indie authors often save for professional...
Sep 29, 20224 min read
Investing in your writing career
Independent authors are faced with many decisions during the self-publishing process, not least of which is determining what type of...
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