The Problem It isn't big news--getting book reviews has always been an obstacle for self-published authors. And without book reviews, it’s hard (impossible) for self-published authors to get their books discovered on Amazon. But of course, it’s hard to get book reviews if no one can even find your book. Amazon’s rather confusing policies on … Continue reading The New Way to Get Book Reviews: A Look at ‘Pubby’
Ah, the dreaded book cover! A self-publishing author's waking nightmare, right there with eBook file types, ISBNs, and —gasp!— MARGINS! But it doesn't have to be so bad (and in fact, it can be quite fun). In this post I'll go over how to: Find and download your custom Kindle full (front, back, spine) book cover template … Continue reading Easily Create and Size a Full Book Cover for Kindle with Basic Photoshop
As someone whose livelihood revolves around editing, formatting, and publishing books for authors, I’ve also built relationships with a number of illustrators and designers who have artistic talents that I simply … well … don’t. I can rewrite a sentence to perfection, market a book from invisible to ranked, and click my way around Adobe … Continue reading Working with Book Cover Artists and Illustrators
I've been getting a lot of questions lately about AMS ads from authors looking to increase their marketing efforts. Amazon Marketing Services is, as you can guess, Amazon's ad platform for sellers. Although vendors selling products like paper towels have many options under the AMS roof, authors are limited to just a few: Sponsored Product Ads, Headline … Continue reading Amazon Marketing Services: A Guide to the 3 Types of Ads for Authors
Don't panic. This one's not hard. BISAC (Book Industry Standards and Communications) codes basically represent the various subjects used in America's (and English-Speaking Canada's) book trade. Just like your local bookstore, online realtors need a way to organize books into different categories to help us, the readers, find them. Currently, there are over 3,000 BISAC codes. … Continue reading Author’s Guide: Choosing BISAC Codes
I wrote the book...why is it so hard to write the description? Ah, the book description. We've read hundreds of them while browsing online for our next great read, but sometimes when you sit down to write your own marketing materials, it's hard to know where to start. Your manuscript is massive, how can you … Continue reading Author’s Guide: Writing Book Descriptions
The internet has brought us plenty of good things: online shopping, ebooks, and this... But with the internet comes something we at DE call "insta-publish," meaning people tend to send everything out into the void before checking it first. Back when everything was headed for the printing press, writers and publishers alike took a lot … Continue reading Checklist: Proofing Your eBook Before Pressing “Submit”
What's a romantic comedy without a little music? Creating playlists has been a creative exercise for this author for many years. Whenever I find myself stuck in my writing, I pull up my Spotify account, press "New Playlist," and string together a succession of songs that act as my book's very own soundtrack. These songs … Continue reading Writer’s Playlist: Romantic Comedies
Haters gonna hate. For a lot of authors, those first positive reviews will have you sending screenshots and popping champagne before the night's end. It's only human to seek the validation of a good review from an adoring fan. Positive reviews can feed your ego, which make you a happier writer, which can, in the … Continue reading 3 Bestsellers with Worse Reviews than Your Book
The back matters, too. Here's a follow up to our recent post on front matter. What's the difference between a dedication and an acknowledgment? An epilogue and an afterword? Which one comes first? And where do I get to talk about living in NYC with my perfect husband? (We're looking at you, Lauren Weisberger.) Don't fret. … Continue reading “Back Matter” Guide for Self-Published Authors
