The Current State of Bookstores
[Author’s note: I wrote this article right before the Coronavirus pandemic hit the United States. I’ve sat on the article since the outbreak but I’ve decided to go ahead and run it now if only as an historical piece. Time will tell what the “new” current state of the bookseller will be, especially for indie bookstores.]

For those of us writing a book, the act of filling a few hundred pages with quality text is challenge number one. Yet equally time consuming and difficult is getting our book in front of potential readers, who predominately turn to large, trusted bookstores to find their next good read.

And that, my friends, is where the landscape is rapidly changing.Read More

Productivity for Writers: How to achieve your writing goals in a timely manner

Productivity as a writer boils down to taking a seat and putting pen to paper. Typing out your thoughts.  Giving voice to the story in your mind, sharing your opinions, and offering information to others.

While it honestly doesn’t matter where or when you write – after all, you can train yourself to tune out distractions and write literally anywhere – there is something to be said about writing where you feel inspired, relaxed, and confident. Those particular locations Read More

Book Editors: Which Type Do You Need…and When?

What many writers, especially first-time authors, don’t understand is that there are different types of book editors, and which type you need is dependent on where you’re at in the writing process.

Technically, there are five types of book editors, but since the focus of this website is on self-publishing, I’m going to skip acquisitions editors (those who acquire manuscripts for publishing companies) and focus instead on the remaining four types that every independent author should consider. Along with a description of what each type does, I will also mention when they’re best utilized.Read More

Copyright Basics: How to Create, Protect, and Transfer Legal Rights in Your Works

A Guest Post by Patti Jenkins, Hogue Hill, LLP

I often get questions from artists and writers about the legal rights they have in the works they create. Below are responses to questions I am often asked:

  • What rights do I own in a work I have created? How long do those rights last?
  • Do I need to do anything more to protect those rights?
  • What happens when I sell or give away that work?
  • Can I use someone else’s work in my work?

Read More