Articles & Announcements

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.

Making Money from Your Book: My Best Piece of Advice

By Ali Shaw, Executive Editor In publishing, we talk about book proposals. These are typically for nonfiction books and are basically project proposals that we write in order to pitch the idea to agents and publishers. They help the publishers evaluate the book idea,...

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Crafting Memorable Characters with Depth and Authenticity

Guest Post by Paula Judith Johnson Characters are the heart and soul of fiction, the driving force that captivates readers and draws them into the world of your story. To craft memorable characters, rather than just giving them names and physical descriptions, it is...

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Swap Your Spot: Changing Setting as Generative Practice

When I’m in a rut, creative or otherwise, the obvious solution usually seems to be: get out, go for a walk. A tie-on of the tennis shoes is definitely one of my pet magic tricks for conjuring up a page or two. The time-tested strategy of a new perspective or a change...

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Let’s Talk Spine Design!

by Jenny Kimura, Collaborative Designer Everyone knows that to market your book right, you need just the right front cover image. You might spend hours with your designer going back and forth on the fonts, colors, imagery, and placement. You might want to add a...

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CANCELLED: 1/23 Indigo Monthly Publishing Q&A

TAKE NOTE: The monthly publishing Q&A with Ali Shaw originally scheduled for January 23, 12:00–1:00 p.m Pacific, is CANCELLED. Future sessions will be on Zoom on the fourth Tuesday, 12:00–1:00 p.m Pacific. Mark your calendar: February 27, 2024 March 26, 2024...

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Special Announcement! S2: Small and Self-Publishing Faire

Call for BIPOC  or Differently Abled Authors and Presses! We are dedicated to diversity and representation. We are seeking more BIPOC or differently abled authors and presses. Apply here! Scholarships available. Psssst! This event was designed with Indigo clients and...

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Gifts for Readers. Gifts for Writers. Gifts for YOU!

  ’Tis the season for book recommendations! What are your favorite books of the year? What are you wishing for this holiday season? Here are some to consider (with links to buy on Bookshop.org or Libro.fm, which both support independent bookstores!): National...

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Should I Narrate My Own Audiobook?

By Indigo Executive Editor and Audiobook Producer Ali Shaw Whether you’re a traditionally published author or a totally independent author, it’s worth considering releasing an audiobook version. According to Bookstat, as reported in Publishers Weekly, 188 million...

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4 Tips for Successful Author Entrepreneurship

By Ali Shaw, Executive Editor I often talk with aspiring authors whose main vision is to get the book out. And with the magic of seeing their name on the cover and holding that long-awaited volume in their hands, who can blame them? And, I add, don’t you as an author...

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