I knew self-publishing was going to be tough, but there was one thing I never expected: all the jargon, acronyms, and technical terms. If you’re jumping head-first into self-publishing like I did, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. But remember—self-publishing is a journey. You will learn by doing, not just learning to do. Count this year as a commitment to trying, exploring, and not giving up. This week, I wanted to round up a list of the most common self-publishing terms that you’ll likely run into at various stages in your self-publishing journey. It’s my hope that you can bookmark this li ..read more

You want to become a published author. Maybe you’re on this journey because you have a story to share and you want to share it with someone who needs to hear it. Maybe you want to publish your book for free without agents, contracts, or publishers. Or, maybe you even want to sell your book and create a sustainable passive income stream for you or your family. As the co-founder of BookWorthy (a self-publishing course for aspiring authors), I’ve talked to hundreds of people like you. And I know the story all too well . . . You feel inspired. You’re ready to become a published author. But you’re ..read more

As an aspiring author, there’s a good reason to still publish a print book. But there’s also a good reason to consider skipping print and go digital. If you’re reading this article, it’s likely you’re caught in the middle—unsure which is right for you and your readers. It’s my goal to help. Why you should publish an ebook There’s no doubt that more people are buying ebooks than ever before. We’re becoming a digital culture. And it’s hard to beat the convenience of having all your favorite books in your pocket. People have been able to read ebooks as PDFs for years. But we can attribute much ..read more

If you’re new to self-publishing, you’re starting at a great time. Most aspiring authors like you are choosing to self-publish over any other way. And the self-publishing platforms, tools, and resources keep getting better. So many people are self-publishing that CreateSpace merged with KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) to keep up with the demand. This is great news for self-published authors! KDP is now the best place for self-published authors to publish paperback and digital books. For published authors, this means no more creating and managing print books in CreateSpace and eBooks in KDP. F ..read more

There’s something special about being on the open road. My husband and I often take a long drive as an opportunity to talk about the complexities things of life. And it’s almost like the car’s forward motion keeps the conversation flowing for eternity. It’s in these times that we often share the depths of our heart with each other. We’ve done it ever since we first got married and it continues to be our favorite way to communicate with each other. Having children hasn’t stopped us or slowed us down either. They are always excited to jump in, buckle up, and enjoy the ride. A few months after h ..read more

I’m the kind of person who tends to wear emotions on my shoulder. Expressing myself has never been difficult. And while this may be one of my most significant flaws, it’s also one of my biggest strengths, particularly in my writing. I will never forget the day that, as a young girl, my teacher looked at me, entirely astonished by a story I had written. My words had pulled on a cord deep within her soul. It was this moment that I learned the valuable lesson that my life and my story wasn’t meant to be a secret. My story is meant to be shared. So I started sharing stories about my life through ..read more

When I was 7 years old my single-mother passed away. My two sisters and I were devastated and it flipped our entire world upside down. Our loving grandparents took us in and began helping us grieve. I was a mess. Nightmares plagued me. Her pictures haunted me. And each day was a depressing reminder of her absence. I wanted so badly to heal and move forward but I didn’t know how. Four years after my mother’s passing, my Grandma had an idea. I can remember our conversation as clear as day. She came into my room with a journal and suggested I put my feelings on paper. I wrote my first poem ..read more

“Nobody wants to buy your course.” Those are the exact words I recently read from another online course creator. The phrase hit me like a ton of bricks. I read on. “Nobody wakes up and says ‘You know, I think I’m gonna buy an online course today.’ What people really want are the outcomes and the results that your course can potentially give them,” he wrote. Phew! That was relieving. Aaron, Jennifer, and I have poured out our hearts and souls into BookWorthy. It’s a high-quality course that can help anyone write and self-publish a book that people will read. It’s been our hope from the beginnin ..read more

You’ve probably heard it said, “it’s impossible to make a living as a writer.” Or, “your poetry book won’t pay the bills.” Unfortunately, too many parents, teachers, and mentors encourage the young, aspiring authors around them to go to college and “get a real job” instead of pursuing their dream. That’s why millions of talented writers simply hide in the woodwork, dreaming about the day they’ll get to write for a living. But S.D. Smith says that if you want it, you just have to “swing for the fences.” And if he can do it, so can you. Three years ago, S.D. left a steady job he’d been at for 1 ..read more

My grandmother was a terrific woman. She was the matriarch of the family. The mother of 10 children and the grandmother of 21. And as one of her grandchildren, she felt so close to me. But in her last years, she battled the ugliness of cancer for five months until she passed. As a 15-year old girl, I didn’t know how to process the pain and suffering my grandmother was experiencing. And I dealt with an unimaginable amount of grief. So during a high school English class, I decided to write about this real-life experience. Writing created a whole new world for me as I put my invisible emotions i ..read more