By BookBaby author Scott McCormick Estimated reading time: 7 minutes Wouldn’t it be great if you could write your book, distribute it to online stores, and have it immediately start selling tens of thousands of copies? Unfortunately, that’s not the way it works. There are way too many authors and too many other books out there, and they’re all competing for readers’ attention. Worse still, some of these authors have publishing giants backing them, with thousands upon thousands of marketing dollars to spend in order to promote their favored authors. So, in the face of all that, what can an inde ..read more

By BookBaby author Scott McCormick Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Twenty years ago, it was nearly impossible for independent authors to get their books distributed to stores. Today, thanks to companies like BookBaby, indie authors can sell their printed books and eBooks in the biggest stores in the world. In fact, self-published authors have just as much access to retail stores as their traditionally published peers. If you’re looking to self-publish and distribute your eBook and printed books, this article will tell you everything you need to know to get started. We’ll also discuss our boo ..read more

By BookBaby author Scott McCormick Estimated reading time: 7 minutes Like it or not, social media has become an indispensable tool for writers and authors who want to connect with their audience, build their brand, and promote their work. With billions of daily users across various platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, mastering social media as a writer is essential when you want to thrive in today’s digital landscape. Table of Contents: • Why social media matters for authors • What is the best social platform for authors? • How many social media platforms should I be on? • Which so ..read more

By BookBaby author Philip Kinsher You love cooking and you love writing — so the next step seems obvious, right? But … how do you get your first cookbook or recipe book from a state of initial culinary inspiration to being a published resource for the kitchen? Read on for tips on making your dream a delicious reality and learn how self-publishing with BookBaby can help get you there. Table of Contents: • Develop your cookbook concept • Learn about popular cookbook themes • Determine the number of recipes to feature • Outlining and structuring your cookbook • Food photos and illustrations • Ge ..read more

By BookBaby author Lauren Davish Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Who said TikTok was full of mindless videos? Clearly, they’ve never heard of BookTok. This thriving subcommunity on TikTok has proven itself to be transformative for authors everywhere, highlighting specific books through viral videos. Leveraging the BookTok community has become essential for authors — especially indie authors. Learn how to market a book on social media, including BookTok, to raise awareness and improve book sales. Table of Contents: • What is BookTok? Discover its impact • What makes a BookTok video go viral ..read more

By BookBaby author Lauren Davish Estimated reading time: 5 minutes We’ve talked about the front matter of a book, which includes everything after the front cover up until page one – such as the title and copyright page, dedication, prologue, and more. A book’s front matter helps to introduce the author and the story before it begins. Table of Contents: • What is back matter? • Epilogue • Author’s note • Acknowledgments • Appendix • Glossary • Index • About the author • Marketing via back matter So, now it’s time to dive into the book’s back matter and discover why this part of your book also ..read more

By BookBaby author Lee Purcell Estimated reading time: 5 minutes Book publishing has experienced tectonic changes as the world navigates the digital era. And while some predicted the rise of the eBook would spell the fall of the printed book, too many of us love the heft of books, the finger-feel of paper, the pleasure of wandering the aisles of new and used book shops, the artistry that goes into writing, designing, and publishing printed books. • Views of the marketplace • Postcards from the mainstream • What about the indies? • Audiobooks are big in Sweden • The big picture • Trends in publ ..read more

By BookBaby author Lee Purcell Estimated reading time: 5 minutes Book publishing has experienced tectonic changes as the world navigates the digital era. And while some predicted the rise of the eBook would spell the fall of the printed book, too many of us love the heft of books, the finger-feel of paper, the pleasure of wandering the aisles of new and used book shops, the artistry that goes into writing, designing, and publishing printed books. • Views of the marketplace • Postcards from the mainstream • What about the indies? • Audiobooks are big in Sweden • The big picture • Trends in publ ..read more

By BookBaby author Scott McCormick Estimated reading time: 12 minutes If you want to pursue a traditional publishing deal, then the first thing you need to do is to get a literary agent . Like it or not, agents are the gatekeepers in the publishing industry, as most publishers will not accept manuscripts from un-agented authors. So how do you get an agent? Well, one way is to go to a book conference and meet one and try to talk to them face-to-face. Many times, agents will tell authors they meet at such conferences and workshops that they can send them their manuscript afterwards. Table of Co ..read more

By BookBaby author Janna Lopez Estimated reading time: 7 minutes It’s an honor to offer inspiration, tips, and writing strategies as a webinar presenter. As an experienced writing coach, I help writers ignite clarity, confidence, and connection to their book-writing journeys, forge new pathways toward completion, and realize major dreams. Creating new writing outcomes requires fresh ideas and new approaches to writing. I’ve talked (and written) about how we need to unlearn what we know about writing and re-learn what writing can be — and how this changes the way we connect with words. Table o ..read more