Writing & Publishing

Content writers can stay competitive by keeping their skills sharp and keeping up with what employers are looking for.

Big-name record labels and musicians sell box sets (or boxed sets) and bundles. So do big publishers and authors. Can small, self-published authors do it, too? Yes. But like anything else, there are some things you need to know before diving in.

I've unpublished a number of my Kindle ebooks. Unpublishing your books is an important decision. Here’s what you need to consider.

You can actually make money by writing for just a few hours a day, but it's not easy. Here's what I've learned as a freelancer.

Non-native English writers are often very gifted, but they may find it a bit harder to be successful in the competitive world of writing and publishing. An excellent command of the English language is a must. Experience and self-confidence are equally important.

"I’m going to donate all my self-published book’s profits to charity." I’d suggest simply making a cash donation to your favorite charity instead of sharing your book’s profits. Let me explain why.

Does self-publishing a book on one platform, such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) or IngramSpark, is it okay to publish it n another one, too? And does self-publishing your books on multiple platforms really increase book sales?

One question that I frequently receive (and that pops up regularly in author forums) asks what else can be used to market one’s self-published books other than social media. So, let’s look at book marketing without social media and discuss whether it’s even possible.

Authors who need book design or editing often consider bartering for these services, especially if finances are a concern. Learn when and how bartering works in writing and self-publishing.

This article looks at HubPages and Medium from a writer's perspective. It compares and contrasts their relative merits and draws conclusions as to which is the better platform for online authors.

Many writers aspire to write on a daily basis but just can't seem to make it happen consistently. This article draws on my 35 years of experience to provide 5 practical tips for those who desire to write every day.

The whole subject of fan fiction puts me into a panic. Let me explain why along with what you need to know about the legal and marketing challenges it entails.

Recently, a fellow author brought to light—or rather, created a drama about—something something that touched on a topic writers deal with almost daily: the dreaded “bad review.”

Wondering why copywriters are so expensive? Should you just write it yourself? Here I'll let you in on why hiring writers costs so darn much and why it's worth it to you in the long run.

Let’s explore why authors may feel compelled to rewrite self-published fiction works and whether it’s advisable to do so.

It is normal to feel confused about how to earn from your blog. In this article, we explore a number of techniques newer bloggers can use to earn money with their writing.

Is the book-advertising process different for fiction and nonfiction? The answer is yes and no. I explain.

Blogging is not just fun; it's also very rewarding if you make the right choices. In this article, we take a look at the 10 main reasons why you should start blogging right now.

Revising an article so that it stays fresh and current is important. However, sometimes it can be difficult to know how to revise your article or what specifically to change or update. Here are some of the things I consider when updating my work

Tips are very useful for newer content writers because it is easy to get lost as a beginner. In this article, we will look at nine key content-writing tips that you can apply to your work today to take your career to the next level.

At times, figuring out what to write about may be harder than writing. This article shares some ideas to help you find witing topics.

I have been an online writer for over 10 years and have written over 5,000 articles. Some of them have received thousands of views while others have not had as many. So, what are the reasons some articles get read often while others barely get read?

Getting mass media coverage for self-published books is really, really tough. As a former trade newspaper editor for 15 years, let me share why that is, along with some tips for improving your chances of getting media coverage.

If your goal is to get your message into the hands, hearts, and minds of lots of people you want to influence, self-publishing a book might not be the best way to accomplish that. I explain why.

A question about Amazon best seller rank (BSR) came in from one of my YouTube video watchers. He asked if my Amazon advertising made an impact on my Amazon BSR. Honestly, I don’t know. And, honestly, I don’t care. Let me explain why.

Low-content coloring books and activity books for markets of all ages represent a continuing opportunity for authors interested in self-publishing. Here's what you need to know about publishing them on Kindle Direct Publishing. Examples are included.

Multi-genre works can be likened to mixed-media art, which combines multiple materials or styles. They can be experimental and done intentionally to create new forms of expression. However, for some authors, a multi-genre book is a symptom of their awkward motivations and inexperience. I explain.

For authors, paid subscription email newsletters and content monetization platforms can be an additional non-book profit center or income stream. Some authors may even use them in lieu of publishing books or blogs. But are they really moneymakers? Let’s explore the facts and fictions about them.

Creating content with relevant keywords is the way to go for everyone in the world of online marketing and search engine optimization (SEO). In this article you will be introduced to some tools that will help you to identify beneficial keywords and useful topics for your content.

If you want to make more money writing for HubPages, follow these simple tips.

When I receive collaboration offers, I ignore most of them. Some of them are just not legit. Others just want too much. And some are just not a good fit. Let’s discuss how to evaluate collaboration opportunities because some of them are more trouble than they’re worth.

I’ve encountered self published authors who are interested in doing branded merchandise (or “branded merch”) for their books. While there are very economical and efficient ways to do that with print on demand these days, it still may not be worth the effort. I discuss.

There are many dubious opportunities on the Internet, but is Filthy Rich Writer's copywriting academy one of them?

Self publishers come in two varieties: self published authors and authorpreneurs. While they both publish books, there motives are completely different. Find out which one you are.

Readers who privately consume books to avoid judgment from other people about their book choices are "closet readers." Here's what you need to know about the challenges of marketing your self published book to them.

Almost anything is possible when it comes to book printing if money is no object. If you don’t have that kind of cash, then you need to consider your book printing options carefully. I provide insight on some frequently asked questions (FAQ) and comments about book printing for self publishing.

Authors often offer signed copies of their books for their loyal fans. But is offering them more hassle and expense than they're worth, especially for self published authors? I discuss the logistic challenges of offering signed copies.

While self published authors should choose Amazon categories for their books that align with their subject matter, some authors get overly concerned about them. I explain why they shouldn't be.

Writing your book is just the first step in your self publishing journey. Though you might not believe me now, it’s also the easiest part of being a self published author. So let’s see how ready you are for what comes next by taking the quiz.

Pen names, or pseudonyms, can sound like a good idea for building an author brand or identity, preserving privacy, and being able to explore different writing genres. But using them can have an impact, positive or negative, on your book sales and even your life. Find out how.

An author I follow on social media was launching her first self published book. She asked her followers about what to do on book launch day. Was it a regular day? Should there be some celebration or events? Here are some insights and ideas for the day your self published book goes live.

A popular theory says that your next book helps market your last book. True to a point. The danger in this is that authors think that by self publishing more books, they won't have to do book marketing. Sadly, this works against them. So how do you kick the habit of self publishing too many books?

Reader magnets are usually freebie eBooks that self published authors give away in exchange for collecting a reader’s email address and/or contact information. But do they really work to build an email list of fans and book sales?

Want to start getting those new fans into your writing and earn from it? This article discusses my four online writing platforms for aspiring fiction authors—Royal Road, Webnovel, Scribble Hub, and Wattpad.

A self published author was concerned to discover that a new book with a very similar title was appearing before hers in search on Amazon. She feared that this other book would take away her visibility on Amazon and Google, even though hers was published much earlier. Were her fears valid?

This article highlights some ways to make more effective comments when you are reading someone else's work.

Self publishing a co-authored book is really “ourself” publishing. Collaborating on a book can be a fun and fulfilling project between family, friends, or colleagues. But co-authored books add several issues to all the challenges of individual self publishing.

Even though self publishing is easier than it’s ever been in history, as a self published author, you still need to have these non-writing skills.

I get inquiries from self published authors who want to sell large quantities of their books to organizations such as schools or corporations. These are referred to a bulk book orders or volume sales. Here's what you need to know about doing these sales.

There’s really nothing wrong with wanting to memorialize one’s personal or family history through self publishing a memoir or biography. But many of these "legacy" authors don't understand what they're about to attempt. I explain.