Why do so many bad books sell on Amazon? This is the question many authors are asking these days. There are far more bad books than good books (which is always true of any entertainment field), but what’s different this time is that low-quality stories often seem to sell better than good stuff. “Low-quality” isn’t […]
May 15, 2016 by 66 Comments Writing LifeHow to Write Faster (and Why Maybe You Shouldn’t)
Today, I’m going to be contradictory: first, I’m going to show you how to master a killer skill (namely, how to write faster)–and then I’m going to tell you why you shouldn’t use it. There are two reasons you might be interested in learning how to write faster: 1. Your daily word count is abysmal and you’re […]
January 27, 2016 by 6 Comments Writing LifeThe 6-Part Process to Successfully Self-Publishing Your Book
Today, I’m guest posting over on Cultured Vultures, with the post “The 6-Part Process to Successfully Self-Publishing Your Book.” Here’s an excerpt: I used to be ashamed to admit I was a self-published author. People—even someone as ancillary as the hairdresser—would ask me what I did, and I’d blush and mumble. Half of them probably […]
December 28, 2014 by 51 Comments Marketing Your NovelHow to Pitch Your Novel: What’s the Difference Between Your Story’s Hook and Your Story’s Heart?
Quick! You’ve got less than a minute to convince me your story is worth my time. What do you tell me? You’ve got to pique my curiosity with mystery and potential, while still conveying the bulk of the plot, theme, and general tone. No problem! you say. But when you sit down to actually figure […]
October 10, 2014 by 31 Comments Marketing Your NovelHow to Choose a Book Title That’s Perfect for Your Story AND Good Marketing!
Like every author on the planet, I’ve spent endless hours mulling over creating the perfect book title for my work. One strives, of course, to be both memorable and honestly descriptive of the content. There are also marketing aspects to be considered. The marquee value cannot be neglected since the book, especially fiction, must compete […]
June 27, 2014 by 15 Comments Marketing Your NovelWhy Authors Need to Talk to Their Readers
Sooner or later, authors need to talk to their readers. An author’s success in our digital age depends on two kinds of writing: first, writing your high-quality book, and second, writing content to motivate readers to press the “Buy” button. How do authors balance these two kinds of writing to create success? Successful authors can no […]
June 13, 2014 by 43 Comments Marketing Your NovelAre 5-Star Book Reviews Bad for Sales?
5-star book reviews have become a bane. They are everywhere you look. And it’s understandable—in this age of indie- and self-publishing and platform-building, what better way of garnering attention (and hopefully sales) than the come-hither testament of a glowing 5-star review? Everyone and his uncle seem to have written the next Great American Novel. Perhaps […]
April 25, 2014 by 12 Comments Writing LifeThe 7 Core Competencies Vital to Writing Success
How can you rate your chances of writing success? If you are weak in any area of your seven core writing competencies, you will not achieve the success you need in your writing life. Consider the seven core writing competencies, below, and give yourself an honest grade from one to ten. Core Competency #1: Grammar You […]
February 6, 2012 by 9 Comments Marketing Your NovelHow to Tell if Your Author Photo Is Sending the Right Message
Last night, after I finishing a book, I found myself curious about the author. So I googled for images and found several pix. In the old days, this would be unthinkable. How many of Charles Dickens’s or Jane Austen’s readers knew what they looked like? But nowadays, an author photo is a vital part of […]
April 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment Marketing Your NovelDiscover How You Can Use Promotional Items to Draw Attention to Your Books
We may in the business of selling books, but we can diversify into other products—both for sale and promotion—to make sure we always have something interesting to offer our readers. Following are some ideas for items you can personalize to advertise your book. Bookmarks are one of the most versatile, inexpensive, and dispersible products you […]
