Tips for Hiring an Editor
Do you really need an editor? Yes! Absolutely. Without question. Regardless of how good your writing is, you need a professional editor to work with you before you publish. Think of it this way: your
How to Find a Literary Agent
I’m often asked by writers who want to take a traditional publishing route: how do I find an agent? The best answer to that: check out the discussion that has been percolating over at Book
A Smart Attempt to Redefine the Bookstore
If you read last Sunday’s article in The New York Times about Barnes & Noble’s struggles, you know that we’ve lost one in five independent bookstores in the US since 2002. But what if the
Another Book Awards Program for Independent Publishers and Self-Published Authors
In yesterday’s blog, I listed three awards programs I’ve had some experience with and can recommend to independent publishers and self-published authors who would like to garner some kudos for their work. But I forgot
Three Book Awards Programs: Deadlines Soon
One of the difficulties of self-publishing is that the responsibility for getting the word out about your book lies squarely with you. There’s no publisher cranking out press releases, no publicist lining up media tours
Creating an Illustrated EBook
Are you considering republishing your children’s book, cookbook, graphic novel, crafts guide or travel book in digital format? For these kinds of books, the ePub format–which allows words to flow from one page to another
The Future of Book Publishing: Two Predictions
Here’s a prediction: within three years, we’ll see the publishing industry split into two tiers. Bestselling authors will work with traditional publishers–Simon & Schuster, Random House, and HarperCollins. And new authors will prove themselves in
Amazon’s new Kindle Fire takes on Apple iPad
The competition between Apple and Amazon for the hearts and minds of readers continues to be good news for us all. Amazon has just announced a new series of Kindle products that includes the Kindle
Best Writing Advice Ever
“Time is not free–that’s why it’s so precious and worth fighting for.” — Anne Lamott I’m a huge fan of Anne Lamott. Not just because she celebrates “sh*tty first drafts,” but because she explains
The Power of Social Media in Building an Audience
Yesterday when I opened my iGoogle page, “today’s spotlight video” looked something like this. Because I love both soul and gospel music, I clicked on it–and became an instant fan of an unknown singer who