Social media isn’t a new fad in marketing. Gone are the days when having a platform was optional for authors. Today, it’s an absolute necessity, whether self-published or traditionally published. In fact, having an established social media presence is now a crucial factor when it comes to securing representation or publishing deals. But where to even begin? With so many platforms to choose from and endless ways to use them,...

Social media: a necessary evil in today’s world.  There are great aspects of social media; like allowing us to connect with people we might not meet otherwise or even building businesses. And who doesn’t love a good meme or hilarious TikTok? On the other hand, social media can have negative connotations or effects It can become addicting, and it is too easy to fall into the “comparison” trap. Between conversations...

In Katlyn’s blog post last month, she discussed the benefits of reclaiming your book rights from a publisher. This week, she shares how to move forward with the new life of a book with reverted rights.  If you are one of the lucky authors who has been able to successfully revert your book rights, the prospect of publishing it on your own can seem daunting. Now that you’re faced with the...

For any author who has received a publishing contract, you know you’re signing away a lot of rights. For some, that might be a good thing. You’re too busy with your life to be bothered with a lot of the details and just want to see your books in bookstores. Or, you’re an author wrapped up in the idea of “validation” that the gatekeepers of publishing accepted your work. Neither...

Aspiring novelists typically know they need a completed manuscript to land an agent or publisher, and certainly to self-publish their book. What they aren’t sure about is whether they need a social media presence and what it can or can’t do for them. So today we’re answering your #trending social media questions. Let’s go! Do I need to have a social media presence to get a book deal? Nope. In...

Mastering the elevator pitch is a must for published and unpublished authors alike. Put simply, an elevator pitch is a quick set of sentences that describe your novel and intrigue the listener. If you were to enter an elevator with an interested literary agent, for example, how would you describe your manuscript in the time between entering and exiting the elevator?  This pitch is an excellent marketing tool to have...

Indie authors promoting self-published works and writing-related blog content have probably learned that SEO (Search Engine Optimization) isn’t exactly a science—but it’s certainly not intuitive, either. It’s that perfect blend of human behavior, algorithms, good choices, and luck that gets Google’s attention. Even with top-notch keyword choice and placement, you’re unlikely to rocket to the number one search result. SEO strategy isn’t a fast-paced game, it’s The Tortoise and the Hare: Slow...

As most literary agents will tell their writers, a platform can help your career if done well. But first things first: what is a platform? A platform is simply equated to your ability to reach an audience. Imagine if a person with a following of 2 million women wrote a women’s lit book. How much more eager would publishers be to publish it knowing there’s potential buy-in they don’t have to pay...