By BookBaby author Steven Spatz There are a lot of reasons why audiobooks continue to grow in popularity, and the benefits are there for both writers and listeners. Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Leave it to American humorist Mark Twain to best summarize the explosive growth in spoken word media. “If we were supposed to talk more than listen,” said Twain, “we would have two tongues and only one ear.” The numbers show we’re using our ears more than ever, as over 424 million people listen to the estimated five million podcasts produced around the globe. Table of Contents: • Audio blogs and t ..read more

By BookBaby author Michael Gallant These strategies can help you summon a vibrant audience for your next big literary event or book signing. Estimated reading time: 4 minutes In “How To Get People To Your Book Signing,” I shared some ideas on how to increase turnout for your next book signing. Here are more specific strategies to help you grab your community’s interest, grow their enthusiasm, and get them to show up. Table of Contents: • Go for multiple touchpoints • Include all relevant information • Consider social media advertising • Do personal outreach • Plan for last-minute reminders ..read more

By BookBaby author Lee Purcell Getting ready to write a book and wondering how many words you need to pen? Here are some rule-of-thumb insights into how long your book should be. Estimated reading time: 6 minutes How long should a book be? At first glance, this question might appear to be a koan. You might as well ask: If a page turns in the forest and no one is there to read it, does it make a sound? However, looking at the question more deeply reveals some different considerations. In terms of the length of a book, the indie writer can confidently answer, “as long as it takes to tell the sto ..read more

By BookBaby author Scott McCormick There are many reasons to outline a novel, even for those writers inclined to write by the seat of their pants. Here are some practical ideas to get you started on an outline. Estimated reading time: 9 minutes We’re told that writers generally fall into two categories: pantsers and plotters. Pantsers love to dive in and start writing, letting the story go wherever the characters take it. Plotters, on the other hand, prefer to plan out their entire novel before ever typing “Chapter One.” Like I said, that’s what we’re told. In practice, I suspect most writers ..read more

By BookBaby author Janna Lopez Do you want to be a better writer? Maybe you just need to find joy in writing. These five steps can help get you there. Estimated reading time: 6 minutes I want to become a better writer: that’s the number one wish most writers share. Not far behind come things like removing writer’s block, having more confidence, and finishing elusive book projects. As a writing coach and retreat hostess, I’ve helped hundreds of folks defeat writing obstacles and slay their struggles. Table of Contents: • Define what being “better” means to you • Define what stops writing “flow ..read more

By BookBaby author Michael Gallant Creative and thoughtful planning will help you fill the house for your book launch, book signing, or next big literary event. As both a writer and a musician, I regularly see how getting people to come to live events is about more than the quality of art being presented. For better or worse, creatives like musicians and writers must often adopt a marketer’s mindset to help gather the audiences their works deserve. This point was hammered home by a recent Washington Post article entitled “Margaret Atwood, Stephen King rally around new author after no-shows at ..read more

By BookBaby author Andre Calilhanna 2022 may not have been the bounce-back year we had all hoped for, and sadly, the voices of these beloved and esteemed authors will only be heard in the works they’ve left behind. As always, this is not intended to be a comprehensive list or an attempt to highlight “the best” or “most important” writers who passed in 2022. It’s simply meant to pay homage to 12 writers who have written their last, and it’s your opportunity to add a contribution in the comment section in remembrance of the writers who passed who meant something to you. Nancy Milford, 84 Born: M ..read more

By BookBaby author Brian Jud Let’s get your book marketing healthy and thriving this year. Here’s what the doctor recommends… Estimated reading time: 7 minutes There is a marketing adage that says, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Unfortunately, most authors and publishers fail to plan. For example, when asked to define their target market, their response is, “Everybody.” When questioned on how they plan to market to everybody, their reply is to get into Barnes and Noble and then get active on social media. In other words, they plan to fail and open themselves to book marketing plandem ..read more

By BookBaby author Janna Lopez When it comes to unlocking creative flow for the writers I work with as a book coach, I have a 100 percent success rate. How do we do it? By utilizing writing prompts. Estimated reading time: 5 minutes As a writer, when you’re stuck, do you play tricks on your mind to get yourself writing? Do they work, or do you stay stuck? Maybe you stay stuck because you approach the same problems with the same forced solutions, like internal negotiation, mental bribery, emotional begging, or cajoling — doing everything you can to force a stubborn, fearful mind into “creative ..read more

By BookBaby author Lee Purcell Curious about what ghostwriting is and whether or not it’s for you? Here’s a basic overview to give you insight into this prevalent — and sometimes controversial — side of the writing world. Estimated reading time: 7 minutes You know what a writer is, but what is a ghostwriter, you ask? The Merriam-Webster online dictionary succinctly defines ghostwriting as, “to write for and in the name of another.” Making a living as a writer is downright difficult, so the possibility of ghostwriting as an adjunct to your personal writing pursuits might be worth considering ..read more