Category: Staff Articles

Writing advice and insights from the staff of Indies Unlimited.

How to Manage a Book Series on Amazon

Ghost Walk and other books my Melissa BowersockBefore now, managing a series (starting a new one, adding or deleting a book, etc.) on Amazon was no easy task. Every time I added a new book to mine, I had to wait the obligatory 72 hours to see if it would automatically update (it never did), then send a message to Amazon to add the book, complete with ASIN of the new book and the web address of my series page. They would respond pretty quickly, telling me the update would take place within another 72 hours, although usually it happened before that. Okay, not a terrible ordeal, but certainly a PITA when I was releasing a new book every 6-8 weeks.

Imagine my surprise when, after my latest request, I got an email from Amazon saying I could update my series page myself! Yea! No more waiting on them. I don’t know why it took them this long to figure this out, but I’m glad they finally did.

Have you written a series? Or have you hesitated to wade into the waters for fear that it would be complicated to market the series on Amazon? Well, wait no more. Now you can do it yourself, have total control, and offer the full package to your loyal readers. Continue reading “How to Manage a Book Series on Amazon”

Are You Editing Your Work with Today’s World of Inclusive Language in Mind?

Years ago, rules for grammar and descriptors were simple, even if a monument to the patriarchy, and even somewhat awkward at times.

But today’s world is changing, and so is the language we use to refer to people. Some things that used to be acceptable are now considered offensive or inappropriate. Many of the changes to our language were designed to make it more inclusive of all members of society. Last year, the American Psychological Association endorsed the use of the singular they. This was not just to rid English of some of its patriarchal leanings, but to acknowledge that people who are nonbinary do not wish to be addressed as either he or she. So exciting was this change that Merriam Webster’s declared they the Word of the Year for 2019 .

So, given that things are changing, how do you, as an author, take these into account in your writing and editing? Continue reading “Are You Editing Your Work with Today’s World of Inclusive Language in Mind?”

Writing with Self-Doubt

writer in self doubt sculptureDo you have self-doubt? Guess what? You’re probably a writer. No, I take that back; you’re probably human. Yes, we all struggle with self-doubt at one time or another. If we didn’t, I daresay we’d have wooden blocks in our heads instead of brains. I believe any thoughtful, contemplative, and — especially — creative person suffers from self-doubt, be it a momentary pause or a lifelong battle. The big question is: how do we deal with it?

Recently I watched one of my favorite movies, Shadows in the Sun. It’s about writers, one young, one older. The older one (Harvey Keitel as Weldon Parish) has not written in twenty years, not since he had a best-seller and then lost his wife. He’s paralyzed by the fear that, along with his wife, he’s lost the world-acclaimed talent he used to have. He sits at his typewriter, fingers poised over the keys, and tears stream down his face. He can’t type even a single stroke. Continue reading “Writing with Self-Doubt”

A New Novel Format: the Netflix Finite Series

man watching netflix series courtesy of pixabayIf you want to be on the cutting edge in popular writing these days, there is a new format quite a few writers are following that you might want to try. In essence, it copies the format of a Netflix finite series. This format is very popular in on-demand TV, so if the market in books hasn’t developed yet, it soon will. The storyline borrows from soap operas, TV series, and Ken Burns-style historical documentaries. Continue reading “A New Novel Format: the Netflix Finite Series”