Maybe the goofy image  is what made you look at this article. Images are key to attracting readers to blog and social media posts. But how many of us can afford to buy stock photos? Images abound on the Internet and it is easy to use Google Image Search or another search engine to find what you need and copy it to your own computer. But guess what. You’re probably breaking copyright law if you use images you find that way. You wouldn’t want someone taking … Read More »

Recently in an online writers’ group I follow, an author posted about a bad experience she’d had with a publisher to warn others. Writers were grateful for the warning, but a couple commenters piped up saying that the publisher’s reputation had been well known for years and encouraged writers to educate themselves before signing up with any company. No one wants to fall for a scam that wastes money and precious time and doesn’t yield results. Yes, educate yourself. Great … Read More »

Many authors have virtually abandoned their websites in favor of social media. That’s risky because you can never control what Facebook or any other social media site does with its interface and functions–or your followers. These days Facebook wants Page owners pay for reach.  Only some of your followers see your posts unless you pay to promote them. Social media sites go out of style. (Look around and you can easily see that Facebook isn’t the draw for the younger … Read More »

Every day it seems there’s a new app or other technology being pushed as “essential” for writers. I’m attracted to shiny techie things, and I try just about anything new, although I’m finding it harder and harder to keep up will all the innovations. After trying out the new stuff, I keep coming back to my short list of tried and trues that make my writing life easier. Some apps, with steep learning curves can make life more complicated.  At some … Read More »

In publishing lingo, a book usually contains three major sections: front matter (also called preliminary matter or “prelims” for short), the text, and back matter (or end matter). There are long-standing conventions for content, sequence, and numbering within each section. The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), now in its 16th edition, is the industry source of authority for matters of manuscript preparation and book anatomy. CMOS provides a level of detail I won’t even try to match in a single … Read More »

While the popularity of social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and others continues to wax and wane (remember MySpace?), email remains a popular online activity. Therefore, email should be a key component of your marketing plan. In a previous post, I wrote that your author website should help you build a mailing list because you have more control over your outreach to followers via email than you do in social media. In another, I encouraged you to strategize for “top of the mind awareness” … Read More »