There are plenty of good reasons to self-publish, but not all are profit-oriented or even rational. Before you invest in…
Since time immemorial, clichés have sneaked in the door when we least expect them to. They're low-hanging fruit for writers…
Book cover design tells the story of the story. It must convey the spirit and intentions of the author authentically,…
This article discusses the pros and cons of traditional publishing. Abandon your biases, study the business of publishing, and choose…
Writers often ask about the difference between "straight" or "dumb" quotation marks and traditional printers' quotes, commonly referred to as…
If you’re not using your Word Processor’s Track Changes function, you’re missing out on one of the best writing tools…
Tom Morkes published The Perfect Book sales Page on his blog. I'm usually the first person to reject formulaic approaches…
Many self-publishers start their book projects with unrealistic expectations and misunderstandings about how publishing works. A huge industry has arisen…
This article explains how to produce and market a professional quality audiobook using Amazon ACX. Through ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange),…
Here's an addendum to Publishing Scams and How they Work. I wonder why so many authors, after spending thousands of…
This article explains the tab ruler found on every word processor and typesetting application. Understanding the simple and elegant split…
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…
The word "that" is often abused. "That" is a perfectly useful pronoun but it's often the useless fat that slows…
As a graphic designer, I see numerous parallels between the values that create engaging imagery and the values that create…
Part 1 of Book Cover Design: Judging a Book by its Cover critiqued "professional" covers taken from Amazon's Editor's choice…
Few subjects arouse more passion among writers and designers than the debate over how many spaces should follow a period.…
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…
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…
The word processor has placed new burdens on writers to understand how to use italics, big and small capitals, dashes,…
Book reviews are critically important. Have you ever read a book hoping it would get better, only to find that…
Indie publishers complain that the mainstream publishing establishment acts as a "gatekeeper." Many readers rely on big publishing houses to…
Indie publishers are everywhere and so are indie bookstores, but apart from their names, the two have little in common.…
This section on dashes, hyphens and dots goes beyond typographic aesthetics to explore how we can communicate more effectively as…
The notion of real publishing as opposed to self-publishing and the stigma surrounding it is obsolete. I have no objections…
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…
If you're hoping to have mainstream bookstore distribution, using a Vanity Press may present some obstacles. Book buyers will likely…
Transcript Dave Bricker (00:07) Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence business? This is Speakipedia Media…
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