Wearing Many Hats
When you’re an independent (self-published) author, you wear many hats: writing, marketing, social media presence, and more. You need to find good partners for editing, cover design, beta reading, proofreading, and launching the book. Good news: there’s a wealth of good advice online on all of it. Here’s to those who also enjoy wearing all the hats!
My Articles on Self-Publishing
- Self-Publishing for Heroines – Part 1
- What makes a great first page in a novel
- Poetry’s Consoling Power in These Uncertain Times
- Tips on writing a blurb for your book
- DIY Writing Retreats, or StayWriCations
- Squeezing into a Box — Fitting Into a Fiction Category
Writing Craft
- So You Want to Be a Writer – Comprehensive Listicle of Low- or No-Cost Articles
- Writers in the Storm
- Lisa Cron’s Free Resources
- John Matthew Fox (Bookfox)
- Writer Unboxed
- Women Writers, Women’s Books
- How to Write a Great Love Scene
- 4 Kinds of Great First Lines
Writing Tools & Apps
- Computer Tools & Editing Software for Writers
- Vellum – Book Formatting Made Easy for Mac
- Pro Writing Aid
- Book Brush – Easy Graphics for Authors
Publishing & Book Marketing
- Mark Dawson’s Self Publishing Formula
- David Gaughran – Starting from Zero
- The Self Publishing Show Podcast
- Jane Friedman – Writing & Publishing in the Digital Age
- Dave Chesson’s Kindlepreneur & Publisher Rocket
- Bookbub – 119 Book Marketing Ideas
- Which Publishing Path Is Right for You and Your Book?
- Going Indie? How to Navigate Self-Publishing
- NY Book Editors
- How to Make a Website — basic terms, steps, and resources
- Budgeting for Self-Publishing
Writers Associations and Groups
Women’s Fiction Writers Association, a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization, is dedicated to the community of career-focused writers who create stories about a woman’s emotional journey. They have Facebook pages for members — a virtual, never-ending writer’s retreat. Joining offers rich content on writing and publishing, community and resources.
The Authors Guild supports working authors and protects authors’ rights. Especially helpful for contract advice and legal help.
The Alliance of Independent Authors is a non-profit professional association for authors who self-publish. Their mission is ethics and excellence in self-publishing. They have a self-publishing advice center, campaign for independent authors, and offer members tools and resources. They have a watchdog service.
Please write to me with suggestions! This section of good resources and advice I’ve found for self-published authors is actively growing, thanks to your input. The landscape of self-publishing is ever-changing, and we need to keep learning.