Book Writing & Publishing

Until somewhat recently, streamlined pre-orders were only possible for traditionally published authors. Now, indie authors can also benefit from pre-orders as well, helping them with:

Building Excitement and Engagement: Pre-orders allow authors to generate buzz and excitement around their upcoming book, encouraging readers to take action before the release date.

Community Building: Offering pre-orders helps authors build and nurture a community by gathering email addresses and establishing a direct connection with readers, which can lead to quicker reviews and word-of-mouth promotion.

Data Collection: Through pre-orders, authors can collect valuable reader data (like email addresses) that is otherwise inaccessible when books are sold through platforms like Amazon. This data allows authors to maintain a relationship with their readers post-purchase and make future marketing efforts more effective.

This episode of Write the Damn Book Already discusses not only the benefits and...

Many indie authors find the idea of creating a publishing house overwhelming. But with the right steps, it becomes both manageable and highly beneficial. Here’s why setting up a publishing house is essential and how to do it.

First, it’s crucial to understand that forming a publishing house is not about creating a giant company like Amazon. Instead, it's about legally separating your personal and professional assets. This separation is vital as an author, because it protects your personal finances from any potential legal issues that may arise. 

While many creatives shy away from the business aspects of publishing, treating your book as a business can help you reach a broader audience. This means embracing some business tasks (even those you might not enjoy, like accounting. Just me?). 

Setting up a publishing house may seem daunting, but it’s simpler than it appears. The key is to create a legal entity, like an LLC, to protect your assets, which isn't...

Indie authors often wonder whether they can change the title of their book post-publication. Yes, you absolutely can! 

You will need a new ISBN, but that's not a terribly big deal. And, because you have a new title and ISBN, you will likely lose all of your online reviews and have to start again.

However, if the possible benefits of the re-title outweigh the downsides, it can be a solid choice. 

I chose to retitle my first book (which is about navigating the first year with twins) when I wrote the third edition. For the first and second editions, the title was Ready or Not...Here We Come! But after over a decade (and having written 3 other books), I had more confidence in my own voice, and with updated content and a more authentic voice inside in the book, it made perfect sense to change the overall "vibe" of the book with a new title: Holy Shit...I'm Having Twins! 

The book was (and still is) my top-selling book, so I didn't make the shift...

 Feeling Overwhelmed Writing Your Nonfiction or Memoir? This Episode is For You!

Do you feel like you have multiple books' worth of material? Are you wrestling with imposter syndrome or struggling to organize a mountain of thoughts? 

My work with authors typically focuses on two key genres: transformative nonfiction and inspirational memoir (yes, I made up these terms).

Transformative Nonfiction aims to guide the reader through a specific journey. It's infused with personal stories that help the reader relate and feel connected to the author. 

Inspirational Memoir, on the other hand, shares the author’s personal experiences to inspire and resonate with readers, but in a way where the author is unattached to how (or when) the reader is inspired (or whether they're inspired at all!).

Feeling stuck? 

Start by identifying your core message and the first step in your journey.

Remember, it’s about sharing the steps of your story, not prescribing a...

Click here to check out the Publish A Profitable Book / Publish the Damn Book Already course (currently 25% off with code AUTHOR25).

Click here to access Kindlepreneur's free barcode generator tool.

Understanding the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is crucial for indie authors. But new authors often wonder what the heck it is and feel a bit "silly" asking! 

In short, the ISBN is a unique identifier for books, similar to the UPC for products. It allows books to be easily tracked and purchased globally and enables indie authors' work to be more easily discovered by a larger audience, including libraries, bookstores, and online retailers.

But still, new authors are left with questions such as:

1. Why do I have to have an ISBN?
2. Where do I get them (and how much will they cost?)
3. Should use a free one from Amazon/KDP?
4. Do I only need one for each book?
5. Does an ISBN provide copyright protection? 

This episode clears it right up! 

Mary Jones' book, The Goodbye Process (July 30, 2024, Zibby Books), is, in four words, hard to put down. Her raw, vivid descriptions of characters and experiences alike quickly pierced my soul and extended my bedtime!  

In this episode, Mary and I discussed her love of the short story form, some (perhaps surprising truths about writing and organizing short stories/essays, thoughts on beta readers, the querying and submission process, and our mutual love of "Days of Our Lives."

CONNECT WITH MARY

Book: The Goodbye Process

Instagram: @maryjoneswriter

X: @maryfjjones 

Threads: @maryjoneswriter

Website: www.maryjoneswriter.com

WHAT MARY'S READING

All Fours by Miranda July

MENTIONS

I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott 

You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith 

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

I've recently had a key realization about book writing, especially when it comes to writing memoir and non-fiction. 

Many times, people think the writing process will allow them to quickly (and easily) unlock or unravel buried feelings or insights. But this misconception sets an unrealistic expectation and creates potential roadblocks. 

As is the case with therapy (ask me how I know), there’s no set timeline for completing a book, and the process is often more complex and time-consuming than anticipated.

So here's my $0.02 on how to best navigate the unexpected detours that often arise while writing a book you'll be incredibly proud to release to the world.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BOOK WRITERS COLLECTIVE

When it comes to book writing, "I'm waiting for inspiration/motivation" is often code for "I have no idea where this is going and it scares the sh*t out of me so I'll figure it out another day." 

But there are ways around (read: through) this challenge. 

In this episode, I offer some of my favorite tips so that you can get out of "waiting" and into writing!

Looking for more support on this adventure? Check out Write the Damn Book Already or The Book Writers Collective!

WRITE THE DAMN BOOK ALREADY

A program for writing powerful, thought-provoking nonfiction or memoir.

This is for you if you:

Want to write a powerful book, making sure you're avoiding common (and unnecessary) mistakes along the way 

Crave the support of a proven book-writing process as well as knowledgeable guidance and compassionate ass-kicking (when necessary) when the adventure feels “sticky” and you begin feeling unsure of what you’re doing, why you...

Gail Priest is the author of five books (including a trilogy). Her latest, Soul Dancing, was released on April 2024 through Red Adept Publishing. 

In this episode of Write the Damn Book Already, Gail shares her writing process using mind mapping and discusses her approach to marketing and pitching her work.

CONNECT WITH GAIL

Instagram: @gailpriest_author

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGailPriest

Website: gailpriest.com/

GAIL'S BOOKS

Soul Dancing

Eastern Shore Shorts 

Annie Crow Knoll: The Complete Collection:

WHAT GAIL'S READING NOW

A Very Crowded House by Kelly Elizabeth Huston 

Of Lies and Honey by Donna Norman-Carbone 

When the World Goes Quiet by Gian Sardar

NEED A LIBRARY OF AMAZING BOOK MOCKUP SHOTS?

I've used MockUp shots for years to create attention-grabbing images great for social media.

It usually costs $207, but they're offering a 60% discount on lifetime access with lifetime updates....

Drew Linsalata has been my go-to for years when it comes to audiobooks and podcasts as well as any "How do I get the most bang for my buck?" questions when it comes to tech hardware. 

In this episode of Write the Damn Book Already, he helps dissect the why, when, and how of audiobook creation. 

Topics include:

• Gear setup (for under $70)
• The popular mic everyone thinks they should use (but shouldn’t)
• What device to read your book from for best flow and quality
• Recommended audio editing software (that’s free!)
• The truth about the cost of producing an audiobook as well as expected earnings (advertised numbers are a bit misleading)
• How to determine if it’s “worth it” to create an audiobook  
• The biggest misconceptions authors have about audiobooks

CONNECT WITH DREW

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Seven Percent Slower: A Simple Trick for Moving Past...