Sell sheets, also known as one sheets, are often requested by booksellers, award competitions, reviewers, and other industry folks. They are useful tools for people to get quick information about your book and make decisions, such as whether or not to stock your book in their store. It’s important to have all the standard elements on your sell sheet and to make sure they are organized in a structured way. So what exactly do you need to have on a … Read More »

At some point in the life of your story, you’re going to have to write a book blurb. Some writers are convinced that this short description is more challenging than writing an entire novel. How does one condense an 80,000 word story into a 150-250 word teaser? Well, it’s not impossible, and it’s important to try and get it as right as you can—for a number of reasons. Back Cover Showcase Your book blurb is an important attention-getter on the … Read More »

You’ve written a great book, but how do you get reviews on Amazon? The Price of Fewer Reviews As a new author, you pay a tremendous price when you don’t get Amazon reviews. Your books have lower visibility and credibility, since reviews are social proof for potential buyers. Book sales may ultimately suffer as a result. Amazon reviews offer exposure to potential readers and can testify to your book’s quality and content. Reviews are an essential marketing tool. Positive reviews … Read More »

Authors are tasked with marketing their fiction and nonfiction books to a variety of audiences. While being prepared to speak in front of an audience is invaluable, it’s can also be frightening. When it comes to glossophobia, the numbers are clear: Up to 75% of people have mild to severe anxiety when asked to speak in front of a crowd, no matter the size. Fear of “What If” is one of the most powerful experiences someone could face. What if … Read More »

“Hey! I’m working here!” How many times have you yelled that at someone, or wanted to, when they were making noise or had the gall to talk to you while you were writing? But to be fair, how were they supposed to know you were deep in a complex passage of the next great American novel and not browsing social media? (Or were you? Never mind.) The more important questions are: What are you writing? Who are you writing it … Read More »

One thing I struggled with when I was a newer writer was, “What should I write?” I liked a lot of things: science fiction, military sci-fi, science fantasy, steampunk, space opera, contemporary fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, some romance, some horror, some action, some thriller/suspense, even some erotica. Ideas in all these genres bombarded my brain with “Write This Now!” demands. And as a newer writer, I figured I’d dabble in each until I either found something that grabbed me and … Read More »