J.F. Lawrence

Beta Readers Done Right

We spend months or even years building our narrative world, shaping our characters, and polishing our prose. The question is, will readers see what we do? That's where beta readers come in.

Your Story's Hook

As indie authors, we often find ourselves wearing multiple hats: writer, editor, marketer, and promoter. Among these roles, it's important to discuss your book's hook.

Word Count Freedom

Many indie-publishing authors want to know how long their books "should be." The long and short of it: book lengths don't matter. Stories matter.

Edit For Your Audience

Editing is about much more than fixing typos — it's about shaping the book into a meaningful experience for the reader.

Pre-Orders

Pre-orders can build early momentum, drive engagement, and improve your book's visibility — setting the stage for a strong launch.

Ads After Christmas

The period after Christmas presents unique opportunities and challenges for advertising books — especially for indie and self-published authors.

Author Photo

Your author photo is often overlooked but super important — it's a chance to connect with readers and show the person behind the words.

Drafting to Editing

A look at my process from drafting to editing. Since self-editing is such an important part of self-publishing, let's dive in.

Manage Expectations

Success means something different to every author — from seeing your book on Amazon to Brandon Sanderson–level stardom. Here is how I think about expectations so I can set and reach my goals.

Slow and Steady

Our desire to hit timelines often makes us overlook fully preparing our books before hitting publish. It's more important to give readers an amazing book than to rush.

Don't Do Everything!

If you're an indie author like me, doing everything we "need to do" is far from possible. Doing it all causes burnout — so pick what serves you.

What the Hell is an Author Brand?

An author's "brand" is the overarching identity readers see. Here are my thoughts on building a personal brand — being yourself, consistently.