Last month, in a reference to ChatGPT, I made a flippant comment about being a slow adopter of new technology. And generally I am. But I decided to give ChatGPT a whirl to see what all the hubbub was about. To my surprise, I’ve started keeping a browser tab open for ChatGPT, alongside my Chicago […]
Feeling Mucky? How to Get Your Writing U...
When writing, we all get stuck occasionally. Finding a way to explain a confusing concept. Solving a plot problem. Coming up with a topic to write about for a newsletter article when you’d rather be outside playing (cough cough). Each writer has their own preferred ways of getting unstuck, to solve problems and develop new […]
Reduce Book-Related Stress: Add Slack to...
Our client was nervous. With a big book launch event coming up, she was stuck in limbo on the self-publishing platform, waiting for “account approval.” Until then, she was unable to set up her book and order copies of it. After a week of waiting, and with negligible customer support available, “nervous” would soon turn […]
Is the Traditional or Self-Publishing Pa...
One of the first questions I ask potential book clients is which publishing path they want to take: traditional publishing or self-publishing? Many people have no idea which is the better fit for their project—and some aren’t even clear what the difference is. So today’s article is a nice long explainer. Traditional publishing When we […]
Is this your year to write a book?
It’s January, the season of unrealistic goal setting! But, you say, it’s practically February—I’ve already given up on my New Year’s resolutions and lowered my expectations for 2023! Poppycock. The desire to achieve a big goal—like writing a book—is still there. And while finding the time and discipline to write can be a challenge, what […]
Complex Ideas and Creating Clarity for R...
In Moneyless Society: The Next Economic Evolution, client Matthew Holten posits money as the root cause of our biggest problems today—climate change, resource overshoot, inequality—and he suggests that we need to not just change but rather replace the current system. In short, Matt suggests a world without money. This is a complex topic and pretty […]
What type of nonfiction book should you ...
“You have such an interesting story—you really should write a book!” (Aw, you’re blushing.) You should write a book—but what kind of book? I had an author approach me looking for an editor for his memoir. I skimmed the manuscript to see what it was about, whether it was a good fit, and how much […]
Two Easy, Free Book Marketing Tools
This month I have two cool book marketing tools I want to share. They are easy to use and—bonus—free! To be honest, marketing is not usually my favorite thing, but these make it practically enjoyable. Fun even… (Thanks to Tina Larsson of The Folson Group for letting me show off these tools with her newly […]
Beta Readers: The Fresh Perspective You ...
As a writer, you look at your manuscript over and over; at a certain point you can no longer “see” it. Beta readers offer fresh eyes to spot what’s working—or not working—from the reader’s point of view. While beta readers is a catchall term for early readers, you may also run across the terms alpha […]
How to Make Your Book Accessible for Mor...
Earlier this month I attended the Kennedy Center’s Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) Conference, an event designed to build the capacity of arts and cultural organizations to fully engage people with disabilities. I was drinking from the proverbial firehose on the topic of accessibility, but it got me thinking specifically about accessibility in […]
How to Sell Your Book on Consignment
Many indie (self-published) authors focus on online sales, bypassing brick-and-mortar bookstores. It can be easier and cheaper to reach readers directly using social media, targeted ads, and emails than to make the marketing effort needed to get into bookstores. And, you can maintain higher margins with an online strategy. But it sure would be nice […]
Amazon Author Central: Grow Your Audienc...
Amazon is the world’s largest e-commerce search engine. On it, you can find anything(!) and even test possible search terms for your book. But did you know Amazon also offers some of the benefits of social media? If you’re an author, Amazon Author Central is a free marketing tool you should take advantage of. What […]