As an Indie author, I walk away from New York City and the largest book industry trade show in North America feeling pretty good. The mood was positive, and there was plenty of room for both independently and traditionally published authors. Of course...

Dialogue is a critical component to a great book: it drives action; it reveals character; and it relays facts and information. Writing realistic, compelling dialogue takes skill and practice—and so does punctuating it correctly. Dialogue has its own...

The professional speaking industry allows you to show off your expertise on a subject and be paid to share what you know. Presenting to a live audience, in a video or while being interviewed, provides opportunities to market you, your books, and even...

So you’re looking to engage in the popular world of social media, but need some ideas on how to do so effectively? The social interface known as Twitter offers an opportunity to not only promote your book and build author recognition, but to create connections...

Have you offered a free excerpt on your Facebook page? How often should you change your cover photo? Is your avatar a picture of you or your brand? Self-publishers were among the attendees of a fast-paced 2012 BookExpo America (BEA) session on Advanced...

What is Internal Conflict? Conflict is a necessary ingredient to any good story. Without a struggle between two opposing forces, your main character won’t change and will easily reach their goal. Doesn’t sound like too exciting of a story, does it...

The most effective book marketing plans include promotional efforts through many different channels including online media, traditional media, paid advertising, in-person events, social media, and more. In the world of marketing, there are "inbound"...

Choosing a publishing direction can be difficult. With such a large book market, the available options tend to be confusing and overwhelming. Before submitting work and choosing to pursue a traditional publisher, it’s important that an author researches...