Category: Staff Articles

Writing advice and insights from the staff of Indies Unlimited.

It’s a Wonderful Life

KD Rush

Hell may have just frozen over. Either that or I’m asleep and dreaming. In case of the latter, please don’t wake me. Just let me enjoy the winning lottery ticket for a few minutes more.

When Stephen Hise tracked me down, he threw out an offer that I couldn’t possibly refuse; my own column here at Indies Unlimited, one of the best blogs on the net. To say that this is an honor would be an understatement. In fact, there really aren’t any words that could adequately express how privileged I feel to be included in the same company as the talented staff here at IU.

Even so, and I have to be honest, there was some hesitation on my part. It took a great deal of effort not to immediately jump at this opportunity. I am not an author, yet. My credentials as a writer are lackluster at best, and downright poor compared with the amazing array of talent that Stephen has assembled here. What could I possibly have to offer? Before giving an answer, I had to ask myself a few hard questions. Continue reading “It’s a Wonderful Life”

Book Unfound by Stephen Hise

In the study of logic, there are a number of fallacies one must understand. The purpose of these exercises is to strengthen the mind against flawed reasoning and rhetoric. One of the well-known logical fallacies is called post hoc ergo propter hoc. This Latin term means after this, therefore because of this. In this particular type of logical fallacy, it is assumed that because one action or event follows another that the preceding action or event caused the subsequent one.

Although all logical fallacies are troubling, this one is particularly so because it gives rise to convenient scapegoats. It distracts from, diverts, delays, or prevents getting to the real issues. Continue reading “Book Unfound by Stephen Hise”

How LinkedIn Can Change Your Life

Welcome to LinkedIn
Welcome to LinkedIn

When is a social network not a social network?

Give up?

I’ll tell you: when it’s a commercial, professional, academic, or business network, that’s when.

LinkedIn is all these things and more. People do use it as a social forum, to interact – no doubt about it – but its main reason for existence is its ability to connect people within the same commercial, academic or professional sphere, no matter where in the world they happen to work. Continue reading “How LinkedIn Can Change Your Life”

I Get By With a Little Help From My …

You’re up at 5:30 in the morning. The glow from your cave-like writing space provides a small level of companionship—that, and the voices in your head. If you’re like me, getting up early is not fun. There’s something wrong about being up before the sun. It doesn’t matter though, because you’ve found your passion and this is the only time you have to write. After pounding out a quick 1,000 words, you shift gears and get the kids ready for school or pack up and head to the office for your “real” job.

It’s a scenario that thousands, if not millions, of writers struggle through each day. How do you balance the dream of writing and publishing with the reality of putting food on the table?

We here at Indies Unlimited believe that self-publishing is the way to go. That being said, it’s still good to review what happens on the other side. A recent Author’s Guild Survey reported that the average author earns about $10,000 per year. If you break it down into categories; First time authors make between $4,000 and $10,000 per year, midlist authors range between $20,000 and $40,000 a year and the A-list can make between $60,000 to $100,000 per year. This is not taking into consideration the outliers like a Stephen Hise King or J.K. Rowling. Continue reading “I Get By With a Little Help From My …”