Jeanette the Writer

DIY MFA’s Virtual Open Mic!

I sat there shaking, my finger hovering over the button. This was it. Possibly the first of many, or perhaps a bad experiment that would fail after one round. Regardless… I pressed the button. That was my first video post as a writer. I had been writing blogs, but they felt rushed and didn’t seem… Read more »

E.J. Wenstrom

Building a Community of True Fans for Authors

J.K. Rowling…Stephen King…Danielle Steel…What author hasn’t dreamed of reaching this level of mega-fame with their own work? What author hasn’t sighed as we remind ourselves how unattainable it is?  Because, of course, these names are the exception, not the rule, and rely on the conversion of many factors, including a little luck.  But I have… Read more »

Manuela Williams

Five Tips For Writing An Author Bio That Stands Out

Whether you’re writing a short paragraph to include in the back of your newly finished novel, or are revamping your website’s “About Me” page, it’s important that you don’t skimp on your author bio. An “About” page is one of the most visited pages on a website, second only to the homepage. And if your… Read more »

#5onFri: Five Tips for Post-Publication Survival and Success

Congratulations! You’ve published your book—now what? You worked very hard to get here—sitting on your own, writing, rewriting, and submitting for publication—surviving rejection and persisting. It’s time to buckle up again though, because post-publication may be bumpy, even overwhelming at times. Here are five tips to help smooth your way. Take a deep breath. Exhale…. Read more »

The Privilege of Building an Audience to Serve

“Platform is about cultivating and serving an audience.” I first heard book coach Chad R. Allen make this comment a few months ago. Now, Chad knows a thing or two about platform and books. He’s a former acquisitions editor, with over twenty years of experience in the publishing industry, as well as a writer, blogger,… Read more »

How (and Why) to Market Yourself

When I talk to other writers about my experiences with my small press, or about small presses in general, I often get questions about how much they help to market my books. My press offers a reasonable amount of promotion support, especially compared to what I’ve heard from some other authors. But even so, I… Read more »