Articles
Every month, we send a newsletter to our community featuring upcoming events as well as an article by one of our knowledgeable team members. This page chronicles the articles, but be sure to sign up for the newsletter to get them in your inbox and to be updated about events.
Is Fear Sabotaging Your Self-Published Book?
by Vinnie Kinsella Preparing to put your writing out for the world to judge can be scary. When you’re self-publishing, that fear can be intensified because every decision about the book is a reflection of your tastes. This fear can begin manifesting in your...
read moreAlways Be Prepared
by Ali Shaw, Executive Editor Sometimes, despite all the best planning, something goes sideways at a book event. And sometimes, that something is missing books. But that doesn’t have to mean an unsuccessful event! In truth, this hiccup probably happens more in the...
read moreConference Survival Tips
by Olivia M. Croom I love conferences. I have friends I only see at particular conferences, and every year I learn something new about book publishing after attending the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) conference. #AWP19 in Portland, Oregon, will be...
read more3 Tips for Book Publicity
by Susan DeFreitas, Collaborative Editor and Marketing Strategist The process of publishing independently is often the end of a long road for you as the author, one that may include years of writing, rewriting, revising, and polishing—not to mention the complex...
read moreThe Nitty-Gritty on Permissions
by Melissa Flamson, Owner of With Permission As a copyright permissions consultant, I am often asked what material requires permission. It is a complex issue, so I will share a few basic guidelines. The first step is to determine whether a work is currently protected...
read moreA Productive New Year
By Laura Garwood, Collaborative Editor One of the hardest things about working on your own—whether you’re running a business or writing outside of your day job—is maintaining productivity. And with the new year upon us, many of us are making resolutions to increase...
read moreMeditate First—Write Second
By Ali Shaw, Executive Editor As readers, we know that descriptions are the pulse of the writing, the lifeblood that lets us fully experience a character’s journey. But that doesn't mean that writing powerful description is easy. Use this meditation to infuse your...
read moreTackling Revision: 4 Tips
In this video, Susan DeFreitas helps writers overcome the hurdles of revision.
read moreTitle Tips for Literary Memoir or Fiction
Some authors know their title before they even start writing the book, but if you struggle to find the right title, you’re not alone. Help with the title is one of the most common add-on requests I receive from clients who’ve worked with me for editing. Here are the...
read moreThe Devil’s in the Details
By Laura Garwood, Collaborative Editor So many writers struggle with the vague sensation that their book is a little flat, but they don’t know what to do when people give them suggestions like, “Show, don’t tell,” or that the book needs to be “spiced up.” You are...
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