If you’ve been watching the self-publishing world over the past few years, then you’ve heard a lot of buzz about direct sales. Selling books straight to your readers: without middlemen, without delays, without splitting royalties with giant retailers. This can feel like the holy grail of indie publishing. And it is pretty great. Here’s why: […] The post How Email Promos Can Fuel Your Direct Sales Success appeared first on Written Word Media.| Written Word Media
If there’s one universal truth for indie authors, it’s this: some months feel like you’re riding the royalties rollercoaster, and other months… well, let’s just say you’re grateful for that free coffee punch card. While book sales may be your bread and butter, relying solely on one source of income can leave you vulnerable to […] The post An Indie Author’s Guide to Diversifying Income Streams appeared first on Written Word Media.| Written Word Media
Discover how to build a book package that sells with expert tips from James Blatch. From genre clarity to ad alignment, learn how to turn browsers into buyers.| Written Word Media
Discover how ProWritingAid’s Manuscript Analysis works for nonfiction. See my real results, what I fixed, and whether it’s worth the cost.| SelfPublishingwithDale.com
So you’ve written a book; maybe it’s your first, maybe your fifteenth. Either way, your author platform is the secret sauce that transforms your work from: ❌ “I hope someone finds this…” ✅ “I know exactly who’s going to love this.” Whether you’re a seasoned scribe or just dipping your quill into the publishing pond, […] The post Why Every Author Needs a Platform (Yes, Even You) appeared first on Written Word Media.| Written Word Media
Romantic suspense author Aleatha Romig shares how she uses Freebooksy, Red Feather Romance, and consistent promo stacking to boost visibility, grow her readership, and keep her backlist earning. The post Behind the Pen Case Study: Aleatha Romig on Finding New Readers with Consistent Visibility appeared first on Written Word Media.| Written Word Media
0 0 0 0A strategic guide for indie authors who want to turn browsers into buyers, and fans into evangelists. You’ve written a great book (or five). You’ve even run a few promotions. Maybe you’ve started to see a trickle of sales or built a modest mailing list. And yet… you’re still wondering: “How do […]| Written Word Media
As with Part 1, this post was inspired provoked by a post on another blog. That post asks whether indie authors should refrain from publishing in order to give their fellow authors’ works a better chance of being discovered in an environment of too many substandard books. Citation: Joel Bresler, “Are Authors Obligated to Anyone … Continue reading Indie Author Culture. Part 2: Our Obligations| Story Empire
Unfiltered Laterpress review for indie authors. See how it compares to Amazon KDP, what works, what doesn’t, and why more authors are taking notice.| SelfPublishingwithDale.com
0 0 0 0We know there’s a lot of buzz about AI right now, and for good reason. AI can be a powerful tool for authors. But here’s the good news: whether you’re experimenting with AI or sticking to trusted tools, there are plenty of small, smart ways to make your marketing more manageable. The […]| Written Word Media
Discover how authors are using Kickstarter to fund books, build community, and test marketing—all with expert tips from crowdfunding pro Russell Nohelty. The post Crowdfunding for Authors: How to Kickstart (Literally) Your Next Book appeared first on Written Word Media.| Written Word Media
0 0 0 0The Self Publishing Show Live, aka the biggest indie author conference in Europe, made its return this year with a fresh new format and the same amazing energy it’s known for. This show has a reputation for being one of the most inspiring and useful events in the indie publishing world, and […]| Written Word Media
I am delighted to join the Story Empire team, and I hope readers will find my first post enjoyable and interesting. Do you call yourself an indie author? A while ago, I read a post by a fellow blog…| Story Empire
Discover how ProWritingAid helps authors write tighter, clearer sentences that keep readers engaged and boost book quality.| SelfPublishingwithDale.com
You’ve written the book. You’ve polished your blurb. You might even have your launch plan sketched out. So now what? If you’re wondering whether a press release should be part of your indie author marketing strategy, you’re in the right place. Press releases have been around longer than eBook promotions and TikTok dances—but that doesn’t […] The post An Indie Author’s Guide to Press Releases appeared first on Written Word Media.| Written Word Media
Discover how author Aurora Winter views marketing as an essential part of the creative process, shares her approach to staying motivated, and explains why bundling email promotions works best to get her books in front of readers.| Written Word Media
Images: Pixabay Greetings! Liz Gauffreau with you today. I think it’s safe to say that all authors want more people to read and enjoy their books. (I know I do!) However, some readers may enc…| Story Empire
Discover how authors can grow their platform, boost book sales, and connect with readers using YouTube—with zero video experience required.| SelfPublishingwithDale.com
Discover how indie author Linda Tiffin markets her books on a shoestring budget using business cards, craft fairs, and creative giveaways in this inspiring Speaker Series recap.| Written Word Media
0 0 0 0Every spring, IBPA Publishing University gathers indie authors, publishers, and industry insiders for an energizing exchange of ideas, strategies, and inspiration. This year’s conference delivered a vibrant mix of innovation, caution, and opportunity — showing that the indie publishing world is not just surviving but evolving. Rather than summarize each keynote or […]| Written Word Media
If you’re an author trying to grow your audience, YouTube might seem like a mystery. But done right, it can become your most powerful tool for discovery. Done wrong, it becomes just another time sink. After years of trial, error, and thousands of uploads, I’ve seen the same mistakes play out again and again. Let’s […]| SelfPublishingwithDale.com
Learn how to turn your eBook into an audiobook in 2025 with this step-by-step guide covering DIY narration, professional voice talent, AI options, and wide distribution strategies.| Written Word Media
What if everything you built as an author vanished overnight—and you had to start from scratch? Today, I’m walking you through exactly what I’d do, step by step, to rebuild a successful indie author business from zero. No audience. No followers. No shortcuts. Just strategy that works. This is the last part in a twelve-part […]| SelfPublishingwithDale.com
Are you an indie author trying to decide between KDP, IngramSpark, and Bookvault for your next publication? In this comprehensive breakdown, I’ll dive into the costs, quality, shipping speed, and distribution options to help you determine the best platform for your publishing needs in 2025. Introduction to the Comparison When it comes to self-publishing, choosing […]| SelfPublishingwithDale.com
Fifty-two million dollars. That was the record high for the KDP Select Global Fund in January 2024. Compared to the first month of the KDP Select Global Fund at $2.5 million, that’s a 1,980% increase. Despite massive sales growth in KDP Select over the past decade, few authors benefit financially from being exclusive to Amazon […]| SelfPublishingwithDale.com
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing—also known as KDP—has been the center of attention in the world of self-publishing since late-2007. Many authors and self-publishers flock to KDP hoping to fulfil their dreams of author stardom or self-publishing riches. Let’s explore KDP as it stands today and what folks can expect from this platform. I’ll thoroughly explore […]| SelfPublishingwithDale.com
Greetings Storytellers, Diana’s back again with another smokin’ post on the hot topic of punctuation, specifically—the apostrophe! This one’s fairly straightforward . . . though, as usual, I’ve a f…| Story Empire
Greetings, Storytellers! Diana here for Part III of our punctuation review. So far we’ve covered the colon and its neighbor, the semicolon. Now I plan to dazzle you with dashes! G…| Story Empire
0 0 0 0For indie authors, the allure of being labeled a “best-seller” is undeniable. It’s a badge of honor that carries prestige, credibility, and the promise of increased sales. Another facet is that best-seller lists are notoriously opaque about how authors end up there. The criteria used by major lists remain somewhat mysterious, with […]| Written Word Media
Learn how to publish a book traditionally with this easy step-by-step guide. Turn your dream book into a bestselling success!| selfpublishing.com : The #1 Resource For Self-Publishing a Book
Despite the adage to not judge a book by its cover, the truth is that readers do judge book cover images when determining what they might want to read next. Without book cover art that stands out from the rest of the books on a shelf (virtual or otherwise), your book is much less likely […]| The Book Designer
Discover the best traditional and self-publishing companies for authors - and use our quiz to find the best-fit self-publishing company for you.| selfpublishing.com : The #1 Resource For Self-Publishing a Book
Want to learn how to self-publish a book successfully and hit the next bestseller list? Here is a step-by-step guide to acing the self-publishing process.| selfpublishing.com : The #1 Resource For Self-Publishing a Book
KINDLE VELLA Amazon just launched the new Kindle Vella. What is Vella? Stories that are told one episode at a time. It has to be new content (not content that has been made available previously), so there shouldn’t be material that you’re familiar with from the past that gets repackaged in Vella. There should only … … Continue reading →| chrismcmullen
Vella is coming soon. Writers will publish stories in episodes. A single episode may be anywhere from 600 words to 5000 words. Readers will read stories one episode at a time. One neat feature that I like is that the author can include optional notes at the end of each episode. An author might share … … Continue reading →| chrismcmullen
RECENT CHANGES AT KDP There have been several changes to Amazon KDP recently. Have you noticed? SERIES. One interesting change is the introduction of the series page and the series manager. It seems like this new tool isn’t 100% complete yet, but it’s a giant step in the right direction. From the publishing end, it … … Continue reading →| chrismcmullen
BEWARE OF BOOK PIRATES Earlier this year, after publishing a new book, I visited Amazon to check it out. When I finished inspecting the Amazon detail page for my new book, I clicked the link by my author photo to visit my Author Central page. And, boy, was I surprised by what I found. (A … … Continue reading →| chrismcmullen
EXPANDED DISTRIBUTION Amazon KDP now offers two Expanded Distribution channels. In addition to the usual Expanded Distribution channel for the US, they have added an Expanded Distribution channel f…| chrismcmullen
Think about the last time you were browsing a bookstore. The front covers of the books are likely the thing that drew your attention enough to pick up a particular book. But I would wager the first thing you did after making a selection was to turn it over and look at the back cover […]| The Book Designer
Creating a fantasy world map is an important step for many authors writing fantasy or other speculative fiction. A map does more than just show the places in your story; it gives you, the author, a way to further develop the world of your story and characters. And if you choose to include it in […]| The Book Designer
You’ve spent the last however-many months (or years) writing and editing your book and you’re finally ready to self-publish it. Congratulations! That in itself is a huge accomplishment! Now that you’re ready to self-publish, you’re probably wondering about all the steps involved and one thing is likely top-of-mind: coming up with some book cover ideas […]| The Book Designer
If you’re an author who wants to do something a little different with your book cover, I’ve got you covered (pun fully intended). Too often, authors can have rigid ideas about what a book cover should look like. What it should and shouldn’t include. The truth, though, is that custom book covers with all kinds […]| The Book Designer
For self-publishing authors, understanding book design is crucial. It helps you create beautiful books and recognize professional designer work.| The Book Designer
Last year, I drew and wrote one childhood memory a day for 100 days. This year, I’ve been working on publishing it as a book. If you’ve enjoyed following the project when I was making my way through the 100 days, now you can hold a piece of the project as a book. I’ve poured so much effort into the memories and then on the book and the Kickstarter, and now it’s here! IT’S HERE!!! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ailian/100-days-of-childhood-memories-the-book/ I’ve worked on di...| Ailian Gan | >140
Free Chapter From My Upcoming New Thriller | Sean Willson: Author of Dark Nebula and the Portalverse| Sean Willson: Author of Dark Nebula and the Portalverse
In this week’s episode Diego Jourdan Pereira walks us through how he went from a career as an illustrator working in licensing and completely reinvented himself as an author and book designer.| Pencil Kings
Want to attend more writers conferences? Here are 60 incredible events to check out. Featuring conferences for authors, bloggers, and freelancers.| The Write Life
Diving into my childhood fascination with submarines, my upcoming book series, Drowning Earth, aims to explore the hidden depths of these amazing boats along with a mix of sci-fi fun and mythology. Mark your calendars for September 5th, when the Kickstarter campaign launches, offering you a chance to be part of this gripping military science fiction adventure.| Sean Willson: Author of Dark Nebula and the Portalverse
Trying to figure out the best price for your ebook? Learn about different pricing strategies and how to find the right price point now.| Author Basics
As an indie author, it can be tough to figure out what you should be doing and when in relation to your author business. What tools do you need, what programs will really help you move the dial when it comes to writing and publishing your book and what marketing promotion makes the most sense […]| Author Basics
Steve and I get asked a lot about how we use Scrivener to write our books. And it all starts with the research and outlining phases. I’m going to focus mainly on how I use Scrivener to outline a non-fiction book, but if you want to see how Steve uses Scrivener to outline his novels, […]| Author Basics