Feeling the urge to just get the book out already? You’re not alone. Authors reach this point for lots of reasons: Here’s what I’ve seen. Rushing the production stage rarely delivers the result authors are hoping for. Publishing isn’t a race. Shortcuts that seem harmless now often show up later
If you’ve decided to write a book, there’s one mindset shift that can make everything feel easier later on. Marketing doesn’t start after your book is finished. It starts the moment you decide to write it. This is one area where I’ve noticed traditional publishing allows for more lead time.
Why familiar book design often serves your readers better When authors want their book to stand out, sometimes they try to get creative with format ideas. Unique trim sizes, unconventional layouts, or unusual design choices can feel like a shortcut to differentiation. From life in the design trenches, what I’ve
One of my favorite sayings is, “The only page that doesn’t need editing is a blank one.” It’s simple, and it’s true. Every traditionally published book goes through professional editing and design. Not because the author failed, but because collaboration makes a good book stronger, clearer, and more enjoyable to
If you’re self-publishing nonfiction, it’s easy to stay inside the indie bubble. You read other indie books, follow platform conversations, and try to reverse-engineer what works. But I think one of the most valuable learning tools often gets overlooked: traditionally published books. Not because traditional publishing is better. But because
Spend any time in self-publishing spaces and you’ll hear this a lot: Traditional publishing is slow, outdated, and unnecessary. And while self-publishing has changed the landscape for authors in important and beneficial ways, we can still learn plenty from the traditional publishing model. Not because it’s perfect.But because it’s built
Getting Paid, Tracking Sales and Making Changes Whew, you made it to the finish line and your book is published! What a great feeling to hold it in your hands and see it for sale online. Take a moment to savor the accomplishment—what you’ve done is no small feat. But
A few months ago, I wrote about three ways to leverage your presence on Amazon, one of which was utilizing A+ Content. Much to my delight, I recently heard from an author who took my advice and did just that. After doing a little happy dance that my newsletter is
At one time or another, most authors dream of seeing their book on a bookstore shelf. So when they learn that IngramSpark distributes to major retailers such as Barnes & Noble and Target, adding IngramSpark to their publishing plan seems like the way to go. Why wouldn’t you want that?
Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat… My brain tried to place the unfamiliar sound as my dog and I walked down the street. The sound grew louder and a car came into view, limping along with two flat tires. Tat-tat-tat… mystery solved. A couple of minutes later, the driver gave up the struggle and pulled