KDP and IngramSpark: the two big print-on-demand services. Sometimes one, sometimes the other will do, but your best strategy may be to use both. Find out why, and check out several indispensable resources to calculate costs and print options.
Position Your Book for Top Billing on th...
Your book is ready for center stage—edited & formatted with a beautiful cover—but now you need to help people find it. In the second of this two-part series, learn how to work with metadata to train the stage lights on your book. This article covers the basics, including the two main types of metadata and how they work, as well as search algorithms.
Position Your Book for Top Billing on th...
Before publishing your book, consider these 4 front-of-house elements that attract and engage potential readers and make it safe for them to buy.
Why You Should Give Your Book Away (for ...
It sounds counterintuitive. You spend so much time writing and refining. Now someone tells you to give your book away. For free?? Yup. This post tells you why.
Top 3 Investments for Self-Published Aut...
Book projects have a lot of potential costs, some of which might make you a little nervous. If you could invest in only three things as a self-published author, what should those investments be?
Advice for New Authors: Two #1 Lessons
Writing a book sounds exciting, but it’s not a trivial task. Before embarking on your journey, read our #1 piece of advice for new authors, and our #1 caution.
Book Marketing? First, Answer These 4 St...
The number of possible book marketing tactics can feel overwhelming. To decide what’s right for you, go back to your business strategy, goals, and audience. This post lays out 3 case studies that show how your marketing plan could align with your broader business goals.
Creative Satisfaction: Does Your Book Su...
When choosing book projects, consider your business strategy—and your heart strategy. Where do you get creative satisfaction? Why is it important to honor it? And how can you do that if heart and business are at odds? Read on!
Print vs Digital: Three Strategic Reason...
Considering print vs digital? Is publishing an ebook enough? Most of the time I recommend paper books as well as ebooks. Here are 3 reasons why.
Opportunity Cost: What’s the Trade-off f
Opportunity cost calculations abound. We constantly make trade-off decisions concerning money and time. Which is most constrained for you? How do you choose? Here are some considerations.
How to Generate and Organize Ideas with ...
Affinity mapping is a quick way to brainstorm, categorize, and make order of ideas. Use it for books, business planning, or personal priorities. Here’s how, starting with the sticky notes.
Lessons from a Poetry Submissions Party
Submissions, whether for individual poems or book manuscripts, can cause anxiety. Here are some lessons to help lessen the angst and sustain yourself through the process.