The back matter of a book, matters. Did you see what I did there? Every part of a book’s design has a purpose, and the back of the book has a specific one. It is a beautifully formatted catch-all for the extras you want people to know about the book they just read, you as the author, or others who played a role in the book’s creation (directly or indirectly). The back matter of a book is also an easy way to capture your reader’s attention about other products and services you offer while they still have your book in their hands. Once your book is put back on the shelf, you are no longer t ..read more

For thousands of years, stories have followed a simple pattern called “the hero’s journey.” The term was coined quite recently by an American professor, Joseph Campbell in 1949. Campbell noticed that many stories from different cultures follow the same pattern: a hero leaves home, faces problems, solves them, and comes back changed, often with new knowledge or insights.  Dan Harmon, the creator of TV shows like Community and Rick and Morty, simplified Campbell’s idea for TV. He broke down the journey into eight easy steps that would fit well in a short TV show episode.  ..read more

Do you ever wonder how great it would be to have a group of beta readers provide almost instant feedback? Or maybe you’re looking to connect with other writers and share experiences.  If you value online interaction and are seeking a writing community, Wattpad could be the perfect spot for you. Plus, the stories you publish there might even catch the eye of traditional publishers. What is Wattpad? It’s an online platform where writers and readers publish, discover, and discuss stories across various genres, from Young Adult fiction and fanfiction to thrillers and sci-fi. In this article ..read more

What is an “About the Author” section, and do you need one? If you’re an author, you most certainly do!  “About the Author” is a brief text that introduces you to readers, much like an elevator pitch but in writing. This is your chance to explain who you are as a writer—and perhaps as a person—and why your work is worth reading. The “About the Author” section appears in several key places: the back cover of your book, on your author’s website, on your social media profiles, and online marketplaces like Amazon and Goodreads. While each location requires a tailored version of your ..read more

When writing a story, one of the first questions you ask yourself is what kind of story you are writing. Is it a short story, a novel, or a novella? While the first two are quite well-known, you might wonder, “What is a novella?” A novella is a story that falls between a short story and a novel. It typically ranges from 20,000 to 50,000 words, although it can vary depending on genre, publishing standards, and the specific criteria set by awarding bodies such as the Nebula or Hugo Awards. Why does defining a type of story by word count matter for publishing? Historically, novellas were a tough ..read more

When we think about book formatting, we often think more about “typesetting” and how the words are organized on the page, but did you know that any color you add to your book’s interior pages is also considered book formatting? When you’re self-publishing, printing costs can be surprisingly expensive, especially if you’re printing in color. This can be frustrating because higher printing costs will impact what you can comfortably charge on the retail side for each book if you want to make a profit.  To keep color printing costs as low as possible, savvy publishers understand how printing ..read more

Technology. It’s always moving, always shifting, always morphing into something new, but if you know when and how to harness it, you can tame the beast and use it to help you thrive as an author.  Writing a book is not for the faint of heart. Where do you start? How do you know if what you’re writing is good enough? How do you manage your time? These are just some of the questions that can surface before typing a single word on the page. Below we’ll review AI writing tools that can help you write your next novel more efficiently and with less stress.  Whether this is your first book ..read more

In 2024, it’s hard to imagine authors publishing their books in print without considering also releasing them in several eBook formats. According to the Pew Research Center’s 2021 study, reading habits are diversifying. While 75% of adults read a book in the past year, 65% opted for printed versions, showcasing their enduring appeal. Still, the shift towards eBooks is noticeable, with 30% of readers now choosing digital formats, an increase from previous years. And a third of American readers engage with both formats, which points to a wide range of preferences. Offering both eBook and pr ..read more

There’s nothing new under the sun, and all great stories boil down to the same basic plot structure: there’s a conflict, it builds up to a high point, and eventually, one way or another, it gets resolved.  However, there are different ways to engage your readers. The Fichtean Curve is one storytelling method that skips exposition and throws characters right into the action. In this article, we’ll look into what exactly this storytelling framework is, how it’s different from other approaches, and how effective it is. We’ll cover: Introduction to the Fichtean Curve Understanding the Three ..read more

Let’s talk about TikTok book covers. From publishers and book designers to marketers, knowing what makes a book cover sell is part of the job. This means understanding buyer behavior, genre expectations, color theory, and the fundamentals of design as well as current trends. Similar to the rules of professional writing, the rules of design are widespread and well-known. Once you learn them, you can freely create within those boundaries. The formula is not perfect, but if you have all the right pieces in place, you can usually make an educated guess on the best way to go.  But, thanks ..read more