For twenty-five years, or even longer, publishing online has been the most popular way for writers to connect with readers. I belong in the “even longer“ group, and publishing my writing online has become a way of life for me. Today, however, writers face new headwinds from AI-generated answers, unpredictable social platforms, and diminishing organic…
Is Publishing Online Still Worthwhile For Writers? Read More »
You’ve decided on your title, but does your book need a subtitle to help readers understand what your book is about? It’s an option most authors consider when preparing a new book for publishing. However, it’s not always a good idea for every book. A subtitle can clarify and strengthen a book title, or it…
When you self-publish a book on Amazon, you need to select your KDP book categories. You can only select three, so you need to be sure your choices will work well for you. But here’s the catch. Not every category or genre that Amazon lists for you to choose from is a category that has…
Selecting KDP Book Categories – Beware Of Ghosts Read More »
Amazon made a significant change by giving authors and publishers the option to enable no DRM for KDP ebooks for new and existing ebook titles. When a Kindle ebook is published without DRM, verified buyers can download EPUB or PDF versions of the book from their Amazon account. DRM has been a topic of discussion…
You don’t need to learn complex writing techniques to improve your work. Often, the biggest improvements come from making simple writing choices as you draft. Small decisions as you write can make your sentences stronger, clearer, and easier to read. You can always improve a first draft during editing, but developing a few good writing…
10 Small Writing Choices That Make a Big Difference Read More »
Does every author really need an author website? Perhaps the answer was yes a decade ago, but so much has changed since then. Today, readers discover new books and authors in many ways, including Amazon, AI search, social media, newsletters, podcasts, YouTube, and online book communities. If you’re preparing to publish a new book, is…
Many authors choose a pen name to protect their privacy, build a more memorable author identity, or separate different areas of their writing career. But there are many other practical reasons for adopting a different author name. A pen name can be easier to spell, remember, and market than a real name. This can be…
How To Choose A Pen Name And Avoid Common Mistakes Read More »
Some writing terms can be confusing, and the term weak verbs is a good example. The truth is that no verb is inherently weak or strong. Every verb has a purpose. However, some verbs are less descriptive than others, and choosing a more precise verb can often make your writing more engaging. A good example…
How can you find readers for your writing after you’ve spent hours, days, weeks, or even months on a project? Publishing is very easy now for blog posts, articles, short stories, poetry, and books. In fact, it’s almost instant. But that’s only one part of the process. The real challenge is not publishing your writing.…
Should you edit while writing a first draft, or keep pushing forward through errors until the draft is finished? It’s a question many new writers ask, but it doesn’t come with a simple yes or no answer. What is certain is that if you’re hitting the backspace key more often than letter keys, you are…
