Category: Guest Posts

How Authors Can Be Proactive with Indie Author Day

author hunter gardnerGuest Post
by Hunter Gardner

In March 2014, a dream of mine came true: I became a published author. Bitingduck Press, an independent press outside of Los Angeles, released my young adult novel SCHOOL. and though I had been writing since age sixteen, that was the moment when I felt like I could truly call myself a writer.

While the publisher was very good to me, it became immediately apparent that marketing the book would be primarily my responsibility. There was the Facebook page, of course, and family and friends ready to buy, but with the ever-growing mountain of content constantly piling up in front of the masses, I had no idea how to get my book to stand out.

What I didn’t account for was “on-the-ground” promotion and networking, or working with local libraries. That’s why I wish Indie Author Day had been around in 2014.

Indie Author Day is a great opportunity for authors to bring their ideas to their local libraries and collaborate in a way that builds local community while also putting a spotlight on indie authors and their works. Continue reading “How Authors Can Be Proactive with Indie Author Day”

How to PITCH a Guest Post to a Blog

seattle mariners pitcher COPYRIGHT KS BROOKS all rights reserved 3L0A2946Guest Post
by Ben Steele

So you’ve read through all the advice about how to guest post, you’ve got a lot to write about, and you’ve even researched a little bit of search engine know-how. You’ve learned that you can help the site out by putting relevant keywords in the title of your post and in the subheadings.

You pick your most brilliant idea, and you send it out to the site editor of your favourite blog (only do this one at a time!). But no one is replying to your emails.

It’s probably because you don’t write good emails. Hold on, hold on, I know. You write for a living. You’re an author, a blogger, perhaps an academic or a savvy marketer. You write damn well … But email pitches are a different beast from any of these skills altogether for one, simple reason: Continue reading “How to PITCH a Guest Post to a Blog”

Real Show and Tell for Authors

Author Dale E. LehmanGuest Post
by Dale E. Lehman

You’ve heard “show, don’t tell” so much you’re sick of it. But do you know what it means? Based on numerous discussions I’ve witnessed, many writers don’t. If you can stomach one more spoonful of the subject, I’ll demystify the adage. Plus, I’ll offer a simple writing exercise for honing your showing skills. Continue reading “Real Show and Tell for Authors”

Managing ARC Reviewers

Chris leippi headshotGuest Post
by Chris Leippi

There comes a point in every self-pubber’s journey to the bestseller charts when they realize it’s time to launch their books with some reviews already in place. Those reviews will help boost sales by instilling confidence in readers that your book is worthy of their money and time. On top of that, many major book promotion websites require a minimum number of reviews in order for them to consider featuring it. If you want to start booking these, you’ll need those reviews!

But, how do bestselling authors go about managing all of those reviewers? Are they sending out hundreds of copies, hoping that a small percentage of them will follow through and review? Or, are they keeping track of each individual who requests a copy and following up with them until they write their review? Continue reading “Managing ARC Reviewers”