by Dave BrickerExplore this soon-to-be-released Speakipedia AI tool. Load one of the demos and view the AI-generated results. Intro Setup…
There are plenty of good reasons to self-publish, but not all are profit-oriented or even rational. Before you invest in…
Verbs are the engines that move your writing and your readers, but many authors don’t spend enough time choosing the…
Two-word clichés are perhaps the least obvious kind. Unless we’re vigilant, they sneak into our prose, steal color, mask our…
If you’re not using your Word Processor’s Track Changes function, you’re missing out on one of the best writing tools…
Many self-publishers start their book projects with unrealistic expectations and misunderstandings about how publishing works. A huge industry has arisen…
Should you give away books for free? The value of book giveaways can't be assessed by formula. The prevailing mythology…
This article explores ergonomic solutions to writers’ repetitive stress problems. As static as it may seem, writing is a physically…
This article explains how to produce and market a professional quality audiobook using Amazon ACX. Through ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange),…
This article explains the tab ruler found on every word processor and typesetting application. Understanding the simple and elegant split…
Digital typography offers capabilities that printers working with hot lead type and wood type could only dream of. Digital type…
So many writers get discouraged. This stinks. I quit. Others are overconfident. They've always had "a gift for words" so…
In my work with writers, I come across many common technical problems with manuscripts. These usually spring from the best…
You threw a grand party but nobody came. Your novel is so good but you're not selling books. What happened?…
"Passive writing" refers to a specific set of grammatical circumstances where emphasis switches from subject to object. The money was…
How can speakers, indie writers, and self-publishers use a blog to build a platform? This article explains how to publish…
I recently responded to a question in a writers’ forum from an author who was in the process of designing…
What do you think a professional editor's pay scale should be? Assume that a proofreader would be at the bottom…
I recently published a post about the difference between vanity publishing and true self-publishing. Fundamentally, the article defines a publisher…
Nothing screams “amateur” like a poorly crafted book cover. The standards for book design aspired to by trade publishers are…
One question that loops endlessly on writers’ forums is “How can I sell more books?” The question is a natural…
What is true self-publishing? What is the difference between self-publishing and “vanity publishing” or “subsidy publishing?” How do these differ…
After completing the final draft of a manuscript for my fifth book, I wanted a reality check. I hired a…
NITIAL CAPITALS have historical roots in the early days of book design; their use predates the printing press and the…
Indie publishers are everywhere and so are indie bookstores, but apart from their names, the two have little in common.…
The notion of real publishing as opposed to self-publishing and the stigma surrounding it is obsolete. I have no objections…
Use of Small Capitals—uppercase characters designed at lowercase scale—is one aspect of writing and book design that isn’t taught in…
Part 2 of Fundamentals of Book Design explores optical margins, paragraph formatting and spaces. Read about margins, layout and leading…
Editing is one of the first hurdles you’ll encounter as an independent writer. Your fan club is your enemy. Encouraging…
There are plenty of good reasons to self-publish, but not all are profit-oriented or even rational. Before you invest in…
Here's a useful definition. Think of a publisher as an individual or entity that assumes the financial risk for a…
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