Publishing

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.

Beware of Scams

The publishing world is full of opportunities, but it's also rife with scams targeting authors at all levels. Here's how to spot and avoid them.

Pre-Orders

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

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.

Vanity Presses

The publishing industry is hard even without the scams. New authors are especially vulnerable to vanity presses — here's how to know who you're dealing with.

What's Publishing Like in 2024?

The path to publication is a labyrinthine journey. Let's chat about whether traditional publishing is worth it in 2024.

Plagiarism & Copyrights

Our freedom as indie authors comes with the responsibility of safeguarding our work against people who would plagiarize and infringe on our writing.

Revising After Publishing

As an indie author, you're in control — which means you can revise your work even after you've published it. Here is why and how to use that superpower wisely.

Setting the Price

All of us authors need a little therapy around one of the hardest parts of being an indie author: setting the price for our book babies. Here are some strategies to help you through.

All-Important ARCs

Self-publishing means navigating a vast and competitive landscape. In the pursuit of literary success, ARC (Advance Reader Copy) readers become a beacon of invaluable support and guidance.

Your Own Publishing House?

For self-publishing tycoons and literary architects weighing whether to set up a personal company to copyright, publish, and promote their books — here are the pros, cons, and how-to of starting a micro-publisher.