WELCOME TO THE INDIEVERSE RESOURCE LIBRARY
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INDIEVERSE RESOURCE LIBRARY
Acknowledgments​
How To Write An Acknowledgment Your Readers Will Love
Paige Duke, April 30, 2018
You may not want to include an acknowledgment in your books, but if you do, wouldn’t you like to write one that will make your readers eager to enjoy what comes next? Click here to read a fantastic example of an acknowledgment by John Scalzi and to learn how to write a great acknowledgment of your own.
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Adaptations and Screenplays
How to Write Your Own Screenplay
By Ali Hale, September 3, 2018
Have you ever daydreamed about writing for the big screen? I know I have! Writing a screenplay that gets picked up by Hollywood could see your story reach millions of people – whereas even bestselling novels often only sell in the tens of thousands. Learn how to write your first screenplay here.
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Storyrocket.com
The Entertainment World is a closed industry and chances are if you don't know anyone on the inside or have a big star attached to your project, your work won't be seen, no matter how amazing it is. Storyrocket.com is a unique marketplace that connects great written works with the Global Production Community with the goal of producing film, TV, theater or web. Click here to learn more.
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Amazon and Kindle
Choosing Amazon Kindle Keywords
by Catia Shattuck, 2018
Choosing the right Amazon Kindle keywords can help your ebook be discovered by readers, leading to more sales. This post outlines how you can find and use great keywords to increase your ebooks online profile!
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What Do Those Stars Mean on Amazon?
Author Christopher Schmitz, September, 2018
From 5 Stars to 1 Star... Here is what each of those Amazon star ratings really mean.
https://authorchristopherdschmitz.wordpress.com/2017/09/06/what-do-those-stars-mean-on-amazon/amp/
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How to Use Smart Links to Increase Your Amazon Sales!
By Rachel Thompson & Mario Schulzke
How would you like to goose up your international sales? Or better yet, start them coming? “As an author, you now have the opportunity for people from all over the world to buy and read your work. Depending on your audience, it’s totally feasible that 20-25% of all your Amazon sales can come from outside of the US. And that’s without even publishing your work in another language." Find out how here!
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KDP Rocket—Book Marketing Research Made Easy
KDP Rocket gives you real data that shows you exactly what Amazon book buyers type into Amazon, as well as how many people search for these things every month. Using KDP Rocket’s Keyword Feature, you will learn:
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What keywords shoppers type into Amazon
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Estimated number of times someone types that keyword into Amazon
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How much money other books are making that rank for that keyword
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How many books are competing for that keyword
Access KDP Rocket’s website here.
Note: This product is a retail software program available for purchase from this vendor at a nominal cost. The Indieverse Resource Library has no ties or affiliation with this company nor its services and neither confines or discourages its use. IRL offers this article for informational purposes only and we do not endorse this product. Product review ratings are available below and on Google.
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Kindle Samurai
Find High traffic keywords within the Amazon Kindle website that guarantee tons of eyeballs will reach your books—Keywords that have low competition. For the first time ever you can now have instant access to the same conclusions that takes bestselling authors time to get. Learn more here.
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Note: This product is a retail software program available for purchase from this vendor at a nominal cost. The Indieverse Resource Library has no ties or affiliation with this company nor its services and neither confines or discourages its use. IRL offers this article for informational purposes only and we do not endorse this product. Product review ratings are available below and on Google.
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KDSPY (Kindle Spy) The Ultimate Amazon Kindle Spy Tool
Browse any category in the Amazon Kindle marketplace and – in the background – KDSPY will 'automatically' reverse engineer the best sellers. When you want more information about a Kindle category, just click on KDSPY and in mere seconds, you'll know the landscape of that category, the potential profit you could make here – PLUS a detailed breakdown of each book's performance. Learn more here.
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Note: This product is a retail software program available for purchase from this vendor at a nominal cost. The Indieverse Resource Library has no ties or affiliation with this company nor its services and neither confines or discourages its use. IRL offers this article for informational purposes only and we do not endorse this product. Product review ratings are available below and on Google.
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KDP Rocket Review: How I Optimize My Amazon Kindle Books for Better Ranking
By FreedomBoundBusiness.com
This article provides a comparative review of KDP Rocket vs. Kindle Spy (KDSPY)—two standalone software programs (not a Google Chrome extension) for PC or Mac that provide keyword research, competition analysis, category analysis (new) and AMS keyword research all from one dashboard. (Similar reviews may be found on Google.) Read this review here.
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KD Spy vs KDP Rocket vs Kindle Samurai
By DaveAMZ
If you’ve ever had the experience of investing your hard earned cash into a product or service which failed to live up to the hype, you know how badly it sucks. It can even cause us to become cynical, doubtful that any products are trustworthy and live up to the hype. Thankfully, help is at hand. We have taken the time to test, explore and review the three big players within the world of Kindle keyword software: KD Spy, Kindle Samurai and KDP Rocket.
https://amzprof.com/best-kindle-keyword-software/
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How to Lend a Kindle Book
By Susie Dumond, October 26, 2018
Did you know Amazon allows you to share certain Kindle books with anyone you want, as long as you have the email address associated with their Amazon account?! You can even build a Family Library... See how here.
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What Is The Best Price For An Ebook/Kindle Book
By Laurence O'Bryan, August 29, 2018
Traditional publishers are pricing their front lists (recently published ebooks) high to stop Amazon becoming their number one channel and the dominant market player. But publishers are also pricing their back lists (books they published in previous years, mostly by well know authors) low, and dominating some of the online channels, to help them push less knowledgeable indies out. How do you know at what price you should set your book? Find out here.
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Apps
Meet Libby—The Library App for Your Smartphone
Download the Libby app to your smartphone, and you can access thousands of eBooks and audiobooks for free anytime and anywhere. Check it out here!
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9 Killer Apps to Promote Your Social Media on Your Website
By Promote Your Site via WIX.com, July 25, 2018
Make your website as social-centric as possible with these awesome, hand-picked apps. More here.
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5 Of Your New Favorite (And Free!) Book Club Apps
By Melissa Baron, August 13, 2018
Running a book club doesn’t have to be stressful or intimidating. Book clubs bring readers together, take you to new genres you’ve never been to before, and provide you with most excellent literary discussions. But let’s face it—sometimes scheduling a meet-up and selecting a book everyone likes is difficult. There are barriers. People are busy. Naturally, there are book club apps for that. Find help to get you started here.
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Authors
The All-Time Bestselling Authors Who Debuted After Age 50
By Jeffrey Somers, November 6, 2017
If you’ve been thinking about writing your first novel in your Golden Years, you’re in good company. Many bestselling authors didn’t publish their first book until well after age 50!
https://www.thoughtco.com/bestselling-authors-who-debuted-after-age-50-4047864
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Author Bios
Writing Your Author Bio? Here Are 10 Great Examples.
By Diana Urban, October 22, 2015
Writing your author bio can be a daunting task, but a well-crafted bio that’s kept up-to-date can help readers learn more about what makes you and your books so interesting. While there is no one-size-fits-all formula, here are some examples of author bios that can provide some inspiration while you’re crafting your own bio.
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Author Groups
5 Great Facebook Groups Indie Authors Should Join Today!
By Jessica Scott
Jessica Scott outlines five essential Facebook groups, including The Indie Writers Cooperative—an Indie author help-group, that every Indie should join right now! Learn more here.
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Author Profile
Strike a Pose: Optimizing Your Goodreads Author Profile Picture
One of the last things writers probably think about when publishing their books is their author photo, and yet it's one of the most important things about your author brand after your name. You don't need to hire a professional photographer to take your portrait—a cell phone camera and some good lighting will do. Here are a few tips for putting your best face forward.
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Blogging
Video Marketing: 7 Alarming Statistics You Need to Know
Do you know that websites that use videos receive 41% more traffic than ones who don’t?! Discover why and how video marketing can boost your brand here!
https://www.wix.com/blog/2018/04/video-marketing-statistics/
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How to Build a Mailing List for Your Newsletter
With your newsletter, you can remind readers who you are and let them know about new releases, deals, and other information about you and your books. Best of all, you own the list, so you can email them whenever you want, and no one can shut it down.
https://mybookcave.com/authorpost/ideas-on-how-to-build-a-mailing-list/
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What Indie Authors/Bloggers Need To Know About GDPR—Bloglovin
If you think you’re done with GDPR, think again! Do you have a Privacy Policy posted on your website? Do you do book review signups on your website? Do you write a blog... have plug-ins... use Rafflecopter? Whether your response to these questions is yes or no, you’d be be smart to check out this fact-checking article from Bloglovin!
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How to Have Your Blog and Write for it Too
Why you need a blog and how to keep it going!
http://www.standoutbooks.com/author-blog-content/
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Is Someone Stealing Your Blog Content?
Because creating a blog worth reading isn’t always the easiest task, some people choose to steal other individual’s or business’s content instead of creating their own. How do you know whether this is happening to you and what do you do about it? Bloggingpro.com has a few suggestions.
https://www.bloggingpro.com/archives/2018/02/15/someone-stealing-blog-content/
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Author's Den
Authors Den (AD) is an online community that provides authors and readers a place to interact. Gain reviews, learn about book awards, set up your author profile and blogs through Authors Den here.
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75 Experts Reveal Their 3 Best Blog Marketing Tips
by Marco Mijatovic, March 9, 2015 (Last update on March 8, 2018)
What works, what doesn’t work, and what you need to do to make these things work—How do the most successful bloggers drive traffic to their blogs? Some of the best blog marketers on the entire internet reveal their Top Three Online Marketing Tips for new bloggers. Click here to learn their tips on how to promote your newly created blog.
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5 Tips for Dealing with Plagiarism Accusations
By FWJ for Freelancewriting.com, June 21, 2018
What to do when you receive notice that the content of your blog was plagiarized. Here are some tips for dealing with a plagiarism accusation.
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177 Ways To Promote Your Blog—75 Experts Reveal The 3 Best Blog Marketing Tips
By Marco Mijatovic & FirstSiteTeam.com, March 9, 2015
Last Updated March 8, 2018
No more complaining that you can’t pull traffic to your blog. Choose from 177 marketing ideas submitted from 59 experts. So many bloggers find it difficult to attract readers and turn them into blog subscribers. These tips really work—Find them here.
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How To Make Money Blogging About Books
By Danika Ellis, July 16, 2018
In the eight years since I started the Lesbrary, a queer women book blog, it has expanded into a part-time job. I now make about 20% of my annual income through book blogging. It took a lot of trial and error to get here, though. I wasn’t able to find a lot of resources about monetizing book blogs, so I thought I would put together a post about what has worked for me, in case it can be of help to anyone else! Here’s how to make money blogging about books, beginning, of course, with how to start a book blog!
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How to Use SEO in an Author Blog
By Catia Shattuck, July 17, 2018
When you use SEO (Search Engine Optimization) in an author blog, your blog will be more discoverable on search engines. So how do you use SEO? These easy steps will help!
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The Ultimate Social Media Image Size Guide
By Wix.com, July 25, 2018
Great news, Indies—Here’s a compiled a list of all the social media image sizes you need to ensure your book covers and banners look spectacular on any platform.
Better Safe Than Sued: 5 Legal Tips for Bloggers
By BloggingPro, July 25, 2018
Most people begin their blogging journey with an intent to share a piece of their life with others. An inspiring and cathartic process with no intentions other than putting their thoughts and ideas out there for others to see and to find. What they aren’t counting on is a legal battle. But for many unsuspecting bloggers, that’s exactly what they get. Here are some tips for avoiding legal trouble while blogging.
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Facebook Releases Latest 'Topics to Watch' Report, Highlighting Key Trends
By Andrew Hutchinson, July 24, 2018
Anyone will tell you that the fastest way to gain traction on social media is to address a popular trending topic, so having a report of current topics is basically indispensable! In their free "Topics to Watch" report, Facebook tells you which conversations have consistently grown over the past 12 months, and even though several of these super-niched topics might never apply to you, if you stumble on one that's a perfect fit, start posting content about it!
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Giving Back To Your Writing Career (How Writing Book Reviews Can Enhance Your Career As An Author/Blogger)
By Carolyn Howard-Johnson, June 20, 2018
Consider Writing Professional Reviews as Part of Your Marketing Plan
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(Excerpted and expanded from the recently released 415-page book in Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s multi award-winning How To Do It Frugally Series of books, How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically)
Because you are a writer, you’ve always known that a review is the best kind of gift. But reviews have other ways of giving back to your writing career. Writing great professional reviews (as opposed to writing more casual reader reviews) will probably entail tackling a slight learning curve. It isn’t as steep, however, as the curves required when you switch genres from, say, experimental genres to literary or poetry. With a few basic guidelines you can write reviews to be proud of for your blog or other online review entities—See how here.
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Iconfinder.com
Who uses icons? Just about everyone. Here’s a source that has a boatload of images—One to 2-million plus!
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Blurbs
Selling a Story by NOT Telling a Story!
By WrittenInsomnia.com
Every author makes the mistake of thinking that you can sell someone on your story by telling them about your story, but nothing could be further from the truth. You have to remember that you have maybe one or two sentences before people get bored by your pitch, so you shouldn’t start off with your story... You start off with a BANG! Discover how to write a brief marketing pitch/Blurb that will WOW potential readers here.
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Delusions of Literacy—Sandra Hurst
So many authors fear blurb and/or synopsis writing. Sandra Hurst of Delusions of Literacy will work closely with you to design a blurb that grabs attention and gets the guts of your story out to your potential readers.
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The fees for this service are in Canadian dollars and are as follows:
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Blurb only—$15.00 Canadian
Synopsis only—$30.00 Canadian depending on length & detail required.
Blurb plus Synopsis—$45.00 Canadian.
All payments are to be directed through Paypal and they will handle all exchange rate conversions etc.
An arc copy of your manuscript is required before a blurb or synopsis can be written.
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As an author herself, Sandra knows how much a bad blurb can affect your sales and she’s eager to help you achieve success. Contact her via email at Skyroad@shaw.ca.
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Book Awards & Contests
Award and Contest Ratings
If you’re an Indie author looking for sound advice on whether a book award service is legitimate or just out for your money, check out this watchdog list from ALLI (The Alliance of Independent Authors) before making your decision to respond! Please feel free to share.
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Awards Profiteers: How Writers Can Recognize and Avoid Them
Be careful applying for Book Awards. In most cases, the slogan “Buyer beware!” is an ample warning!
http://www.accrispin.blogspot.com/2015/06/awards-profiteers-how-writers-can.html
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Readers’ Favorite
Readers' Favorite provides free book reviews for authors and hosts a respected annual book award contest. Upgraded services are available at reasonable fees. Learn more here.
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ATAI—Authors Talk About It
ATAI offers book reviews, a book award contest, manuscript overview services, and webinars for Indie authors. Fees may be charged as appropriate. Learn more here.
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Author's Den
Authors Den (AD) is an online community that provides authors and readers a place to interact. Gain reviews, learn about book awards, set up your author profile and blogs through Authors Den here.
Reality Bites!
Reality Bites is an eMagazine full of new releases, sales, freebies, author interviewsR, series spotlights and features – not to mention, much, much more! Supported Genres include: Steampunk, Horror, Dystopian, Fantasy, Paranormal, Thriller, Fairytale, Mythological, Crime, Supernatural, and Space Opera. Reality Bites accepts submissions from Indie authors for book reviews and their book award contest, as well as marketing materials for promotion by their eMagazine. Fees may be involved. Learn more here.
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InD’Tale Magazine
TJ Mackay, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
InD’Tale Magazine is an eMagazine that features news and reviews for the self and independent publisher. In addition to providing entertaining articles and educational columns, InD’Tales accepts requests for book reviews and/or interviews from Indie authors. Advertising space is available for a fee. InD’Tale also sponsors the RONE Book Awards. Learn more here.
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Meet Libby—The Library App for Your Smartphone
Download the Libby app to your smartphone, and you can access thousands of eBooks and audiobooks for free anytime and anywhere. Check it out here!
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Book Covers
The Ultimate Social Media Image Size Guide
By Wix.com, July 25, 2018
Great news, Indies—Here’s a compiled a list of all the social media image sizes you need to ensure your book covers and banners look spectacular on any platform.
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Book Genres
What Is Cli-Fi? A Beginner’s Guide to Climate Fiction!
By Bloglovin
There’s a new genre in town called “Cli-Fi”—And, authors writing about climate change and global warming are attracting a whole new breed of readers. Learn more here.
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1600 Occult Books Digitized Online
Open Culture’s online library of Occult books.
http://www.openculture.com/2018/02/1600-occult-books-now-digitized-put-online.html
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Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense: Poisons to Feed Your Victims!
By Thoughtco.com
Heads up, Mystery Writers and Masters of the Macabre—Here are 7 poisons that have been used for murder or suicide to include in your next novel!
https://www.thoughtco.com/famous-poisoning-cases-4118225
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40 Romance Publishers That Accept Submissions Without an Agent
By Authorspublish.com
Looking for a traditional Romance publishing house to take on your submission? All of these publishers accept submissions directly from authors. No agent or previous publishing experience required. Read more here!
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Free Online Genealogy Education
By Kimberly Powell, February 3, 2018
Historical Fiction/Romance authors often take great pains to adequately research History so they can properly develop their story and characters. But, what could be more important than knowing your own family history? This article presents several sites that provide free access to genealogical records and information because you never know... Your next novel might just be based on your own family!
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4 Ways to Increase Your Chances of Getting Your Poetry Published
By a Guest Author for Authors Publish, July 4, 2018
Concrete advice to refine your writing skills and increase your acceptance rate.
http://www.authorspublish.com/4-ways-to-increase-your-chances-of-getting-your-poetry-published
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This Is Where To Start With Magical Realism Short Stories
By Mary Kay McBrayer, July 24, 2018
As with any genre categorization, the edges of magical realism short stories are blurry. The term “magical realism” itself seems to be an oxymoron: if it’s magical, how can it be real? The definition, however nebulous, depends on whom you ask. Learn more here.
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10 Tips For Creating Your First Children’s Picture Book
By Michelle Gallant, July 23, 2012
A children’s picture book may seem simple, but creating a brilliant one is no easy task. How do you make yours smart, engaging, and fun — rather than clichéd, saccharine, and didactic? Find out here.
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What Authors Need To Know About Carnivalesque Literature
By Robert Wood, November 26, 2018
Carnivalesque literature challenges authority, traditions, and rules. This is often done by breaking down boundaries of class and position, celebrating the grotesque and forbidden, and reveling in that which is usually derided. It’s a big, debauched party – a carnival – during which the normal rules are flouted with glee. In carnivalesque logic, the rich serve the poor, the ugly are declared beautiful, and religious ceremonies are replaced by burlesque. The resultant environment is often described as ‘upside-down’, since the carnivalesque isn’t about ignoring rules, but rather deliberately breaking or reversing them. Learn more about carnivalesque here.
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Book Groups
Bloglovin.com
Many authors visit book groups to meet their readers. A great author, though, will of course set up her own group, and then use it to impose her unique artistic vision upon her readers.
https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/book-riot-3057080/book-groups-as-imagined-by-great-authors-6274863291
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Oprah’s Book Club—It’s a Tough World for Indie Authors!
Here’s a listing of all the books that made it to Oprah’s Book Club and why most Indie books won’t ever be likely to make the cut.
https://www.thoughtco.com/complete-list-of-books-chosen-for-oprahs-book-club-362582
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Author's Den
Authors Den (AD) is an online community that provides authors and readers a place to interact. Gain reviews, learn about book awards, set up your author profile and blogs through Authors Den here.
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“Book Groups as Imagined by Great Authors”
Many authors visit book groups to meet their readers. A great author, though, will of course set up her own group, and then use it to impose her unique artistic vision upon her readers. Find out how here.
Book Reviews
18 Literary Magazines That Publish Book Reviews
From Author’s Publish—a list of literary magazines accepting book reviews. They review fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translated works and children’s books. Some of them are keen to review works that are not current, or do not receive attention from the national press. Several of these magazines also accept fiction, nonfiction, translations and poetry submissions. Not all of them are open for submissions now, but most are. Many of these pay writers.
http://www.authorspublish.com/18-literary-magazines-that-publish-book-reviews/
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What Indie Authors/Bloggers Need To Know About GDPR—Bloglovin
If you think you’re done with GDPR, think again! Do you have a Privacy Policy posted on your website? Do you do book review signups on your website? Do you write a blog... have plug-ins... use Rafflecopter? Whether your response to these questions is yes or no, you’d be be smart to check out this fact-checking article from Bloglovin!
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Readers’ Favorite
Readers' Favorite provides free book reviews for authors and hosts a respected annual book award contest. Upgraded services are available at reasonable fees. Learn more here.
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ATAI—Authors Talk About It
ATAI offers book reviews, a book award contest, manuscript overview services, and webinars for Indie authors. Fees may be charged as appropriate. Learn more here.
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Author's Den
Authors Den (AD) is an online community that provides authors and readers a place to interact. Gain reviews, learn about book awards, set up your author profile and blogs through Authors Den here.
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Reality Bites!
Reality Bites is an eMagazine full of new releases, sales, freebies, author interviewsR, series spotlights and features – not to mention, much, much more! Supported Genres include: Steampunk, Horror, Dystopian, Fantasy, Paranormal, Thriller, Fairytale, Mythological, Crime, Supernatural, and Space Opera. Reality Bites accepts submissions from Indie authors for book reviews and their book award contest, as well as marketing materials for promotion by their eMagazine. Fees may be involved. Learn more here.
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InD’Tale Magazine
TJ Mackay, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
InD’Tale Magazine is an eMagazine that features news and reviews for the self and independent publisher. In addition to providing entertaining articles and educational columns, InD’Tales accepts requests for book reviews and/or interviews from Indie authors. Advertising space is available for a fee. InD’Tale also sponsors the RONE Book Awards. Learn more here.
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What Do Those Stars Mean on Amazon?
Author Christopher Schmitz, September, 2018
From 5 Stars to 1 Star... Here is what each of those Amazon star ratings really mean.
https://authorchristopherdschmitz.wordpress.com/2017/09/06/what-do-those-stars-mean-on-amazon/amp/
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N. N. Light Author Promotions
Welcome to N. N. Light’s Book Heaven, the home of N. N. Light Author Promotions, a family-run PR firm who caters to busy authors. We’ve been in business since 2015 and pride ourselves on our literary matchmaking abilities. Our followers trust our opinion and if we tell them a book is great, they will often check it out. Many readers discover new authors via word of mouth, especially quality honest book reviews and author interviews. We have the social media reach of over thirty million. We love promoting authors, especially indie authors, and this is a great way to get exposure for you and your book. Getting people talking about your book is an important step to success as an author. We will create enormous buzz about your book, offer advice and our expertise for your benefit.
Fees: Our rates are affordable and we offer a wide range of services for every budget. We even offer a free spotlight called Book Heaven Wednesday. Contact us here.
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The Library Journal
The Library Journal is one of the more prestigious venues to get your book reviewed. Read cover to cover by librarians, if your book is "library friendly", you’ll want to submit your book for review at least 3-months prior to publication. To request a book review, follow the submission guidelines here.
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Giving Back To Your Writing Career (How Writing Book Reviews Can Enhance Your Career As An Author/Blogger)
By Carolyn Howard-Johnson, June 20, 2018
Consider Writing Professional Reviews as Part of Your Marketing Plan
(Excerpted and expanded from the recently released 415-page book in Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s multi award-winning How To Do It Frugally Series of books, How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically)
Because you are a writer, you’ve always known that a review is the best kind of gift. But reviews have other ways of giving back to your writing career. Writing great professional reviews (as opposed to writing more casual reader reviews) will probably entail tackling a slight learning curve. It isn’t as steep, however, as the curves required when you switch genres from, say, experimental genres to literary or poetry. With a few basic guidelines you can write reviews to be proud of for your blog or other online review entities—See how here.
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Chat with Annette Book Review Service
Indie author Annette Spratte accepts requests for book reviews through an online signup service. She will vet the book and decide to review it on the basis of her personal reading preferences. Please do not offer Horror or Erotica. Book reviews will be featured on her blog, A Chat with Annette, and several social media sites at no charge to the author. Indie authors whose books are reviewed by Annette may also be granted an interview which will then be featured on her blog and social media sites at no charge.
Learn more here.
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Book Stores
Bookstore Locator
By Indiebound.org
Find Indie Bookstores by Zip Code or State here.
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5 Ways To Establish A Relationship With An Indie Bookshop
By Ingramcontent.com
Indie Authors—Discover 5 easy tips on how to establish a sound relationship with your neighborhood Indie bookshop.
https://www.ingramcontent.com/blog/how-authors-can-partner-with-indie-bookstores
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Branding
Video Marketing: 7 Alarming Statistics You Need to Know
Do you know that websites that use videos receive 41% more traffic than ones who don’t?! Discover why and how video marketing can boost your brand here!
https://www.wix.com/blog/2018/04/video-marketing-statistics/
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Branded Short Links
Take a tip from WordyNerdBird.com and build your brand with Branded Short links! This blog by Indie Fab Author Joanne Van Leerdam is an Indieverse must-read!
https://wordynerdbird.com/2018/03/05/branded-short-links/
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Mission Statements
Having a Mission Statement is crucial to your success as an individual and as a group! It defines your goals and enhances your ability to achieve them! Here, Indie Fab Author Joanne Van Leerdam—through her blog at WordyNerdBird.com—shows you how to construct your own Mission Statement and reach toward success!
http://wordynerdbird.com/2018/03/27/an-author-with-a-mission/
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The Psychology of Author Marketing
By Guest Blogger Dave Chesson for JaneFriedman.com, June 21, 2018
It’s one thing to know how to setup something technical like an advertisement, an email system, or your book’s sales page on Amazon. However, crafting them so a potential reader will take action is something else. Learn more here.
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Copyright and Trademarks
The #Cockygate Scandal & Why It’s Important To All Indies
By Vox.com via JB Richards, May 16, 2018
Because of my popular #ThisIsHowWeIndie post on my Facebook wall in May 2018, many Indies asked for details on the Cockygate scandal that rocked the Indie Romance writers’ community. This article, “How Author Trademarking Turned The Romance Novel Industry Inside Out”, gives a clear breakdown of the circumstances and the fallout associated with what has now been commonly dubbed by lawyers and the Indie community as “trademark bullying”. Read it here.
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5 Tips for Dealing with Plagiarism Accusations
By FWJ for Freelancewriting.com, June 21, 2018
What to do when you receive notice that the content of your blog was plagiarized. Here are some tips for dealing with a plagiarism accusation.
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How to Tell if Something Is Public Domain -When Copyright Protection Becomes Public Domain
By Mary Bellis, Last update March 15, 2018
Copyrights protect works of authorship, such as writings, music, and works of art that have been expressed tangibly. This also includes movies, video games, videos, software code, choreography, and architectural designs.
Here’s a handy reference guide that will let you know when you can safely use a piece of art, music or other work without permission because it no longer has copyright protection and has fallen into the public domain as well as how long the copyright protection will last.
Courses
Facebook Blueprint—Courses
To build traction on Facebook quickly, you must buy ads—Not the "Boost this post" feature, but the small ad that appears with a photo, headline, and two lines of body copy in the lower right corner of your screen. The secret to making your ads work? Knowing how to target your audience with precision! Facebook Blueprint offers free online training for advertising on Facebook. Its more than 90 elearning courses start with the basics like how to use Messenger, Groups, Facebook Live and create valuable content. Begin your learning experience here!
Editing
Beta Readers/Historical Fiction
Historical Fiction Beta Readers is a Facebook group has that had been created to connect writers of historical fiction with Beta readers. The Beta reader services are provided for FREE.
Contact link: http://www.facebook.com/groups/362016007633715/
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ATAI—Authors Talk About It
ATAI offers book reviews, a book award contest, manuscript overview services, and webinars for Indie authors. Fees may be charged as appropriate. Learn more here.
ProWritingAid - Grammar Checking & Manuscript Editing Software
The most successful people in the world have coaches. Whatever your level of writing, ProWritingAid will help you achieve new heights. Exceptional writing depends on much more than just correct grammar. You need an editing tool that also highlights style issues and compares your writing to the best writers in your genre. ProWritingAid helps you find the best way to express your ideas.
Edit your manuscript using ProWritingAid here.
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Marketing 101: Copywriting Vs. Copy Editing Vs. Content Writing
By Daniel Burstein, June 8, 2018
I’m quite confident of my copywriting skills, I readily admit I am a very poor copy editor … but I’m often mistaken for one since the different words sound so similar.
I bring up this example for the latest in our series of marketing terms posts because I’ve often seen the two terms confused by marketing managers, project managers and the like. Throw in content writing as well, and it gets even more confusing.
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So to help you differentiate between similar roles and find the person with the skill sets you need for your websites, blogs, print ads, direct mail letters, brochures, product spec sheets, catalogs, and on and on, here’s a quick guide. Even if you’re on the marketing technology side and don’t consider yourself a “creative,” it helps to know the people you should call when you need help.
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Lyra Shanti's Author Services
As an Indie author, Lyra Shanti understands how difficult it is to find a trustworthy editor who won't break your bank, so if you’re looking for great service at an affordable price, she is the editor for you!
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Lyra accepts most genres and customizes her services using a flat-rate tier, which means her prices are not based by-the-word like most editors, so they are extra-affordable:
Short Stories (up to 8,000 words): $200
Novellas (up to 40,000 words): $600
Novels (above 100,000 words): $1000
(Prices above include proofreading only. More editing options, such as content/developmental are available at varying rates.)
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Super Deluxe Package!
(Copy, content/developmental editing, proofreading, 1 free revision, and personalized feedback for novels up to 120,000 word count):
Only $1,500!
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** All prices are subject to individual services provided. Prices and editing times may vary, though Lyra will work with an author to keep costs low. All work is processed in a timely manner.
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Let's make your book shiny! Contact Lyra via her website here or by email at lyrashanti@yahoo.com.
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N. N. Light Author Promotions
Welcome to N. N. Light’s Book Heaven, the home of N. N. Light Author Promotions, a family-run PR firm who caters to busy authors. We’ve been in business since 2015 and pride ourselves on our literary matchmaking abilities. Our followers trust our opinion and if we tell them a book is great, they will often check it out. Many readers discover new authors via word of mouth, especially quality honest book reviews and author interviews. We have the social media reach of over thirty million. We love promoting authors, especially indie authors, and this is a great way to get exposure for you and your book. Getting people talking about your book is an important step to success as an author. We will create enormous buzz about your book, offer advice and our expertise for your benefit.
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Fees: Our rates are affordable and we offer a wide range of services for every budget. We even offer a free spotlight called Book Heaven Wednesday. Contact us here.
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Oxford Comma: Yes or No? A Compilation of Opinions and Recommendations
First things first: what is the Oxford comma? Also called serial comma, it is a comma placed after the penultimate item in a list and before the conjunction “and” or “or.” Learn why you should or shouldn’t use the Oxford comma here.
6 Facebook Updates You Can’t Afford to Miss in 2018
How well do you really know Facebook?
The social media platform has undergone a handful of changes in the last few months, but how much do you know about it’s new guidelines? Here are the essential new Facebook updates you should know about in the beginning of 2018.
https://www.wix.com/blog/2018/02/facebook-updates-2018/
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Facebook Releases Latest 'Topics to Watch' Report, Highlighting Key Trends
By Andrew Hutchinson, July 24, 2018
Anyone will tell you that the fastest way to gain traction on social media is to address a popular trending topic, so having a report of current topics is basically indispensable! In their free "Topics to Watch" report, Facebook tells you which conversations have consistently grown over the past 12 months, and even though several of these super-niched topics might never apply to you, if you stumble on one that's a perfect fit, start posting content about it!
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Facebook Blueprint—Courses
To build traction on Facebook quickly, you must buy ads—Not the "Boost this post" feature, but the small ad that appears with a photo, headline, and two lines of body copy in the lower right corner of your screen. The secret to making your ads work? Knowing how to target your audience with precision! Facebook Blueprint offers free online training for advertising on Facebook. Its more than 90 elearning courses start with the basics like how to use Messenger, Groups, Facebook Live and create valuable content. Begin your learning experience here!
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Facebook Pages Can Now Join Facebook Groups
By Matt Binder, September 21, 2018
Great news, Indies—Within Facebook Group settings, a new option has popped up for group owners that enables them to “allow Pages to request to join as group members.” Previously, only personal profiles could join Facebook Groups, and post and comment within them. Learn how to allow Facebook pages into your Facebook group (and how your Facebook page can become part of a Facebook group), as well as what the pros and cons are here!
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File Conversion
The Different Types of Files and How to Use Them
Design Inspiration \ JUL 26TH 2018
When should you use JPEG versus PNG? What’s an SVG file? We created this guide to explain the different types of files and their most common uses.
PDF to Word File Converter
pdftoword.com
Do you quickly and easily need to covert a PDF document to Word? Click here.
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Freelance Writing
How To Create A Freelance Contract
By FWG, August 20, 2018
If you’ve recently landed a new writing gig, your first thought may be “when do I get started?” Before you ever write that first word, however, you need to ensure that your future as a freelancer is secure with a legally-binding freelance contract that protects you and the income you’ve planned on receiving.
https://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2018/08/how-to-create-a-freelance-contract/
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Freelance Writing 101: Starting with No Experience
By FWG, August 27, 2018
So you discovered freelance writing and you want in because it will help you earn extra money. You did what any curious person would do so you typed various keywords online to learn more about the tools of the trade and what websites offer work that will help you hit that target income because really, that’s what it’s about come day’s end. Find all the tips you need to get started on your journey here.
GDPR
What Indie Authors/Bloggers Need To Know About GDPR—Bloglovin
If you think you’re done with GDPR, think again! Do you have a Privacy Policy posted on your website? Do you do book review signups on your website? Do you write a blog... have plug-ins... use Rafflecopter? Whether your response to these questions is yes or no, you’d be be smart to check out this fact-checking article from Bloglovin!
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Goodreads
Strike a Pose: Optimizing Your Goodreads Author Profile Picture
One of the last things writers probably think about when publishing their books is their author photo, and yet it's one of the most important things about your author brand after your name. You don't need to hire a professional photographer to take your portrait—a cell phone camera and some good lighting will do. Here are a few tips for putting your best face forward.
Goodreads Marketing Blog Posts to Help You Plan Your Book Promotions
By Cynthia, June 04, 2018
Looking for help navigating the busy world of book marketing? You've come to the right place! There's a ton of helpful information about effective book promotion for authors right here on the Goodreads Authors & Advertisers Blog. We pulled together an overview of some of our most popular articles to get you started.
https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/1276-best-goodreads-marketing-blog-posts-of-the-year-so-far
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Managing Your Goodreads Author Settings
By Cynthia, June 8, 2018
However you choose to publish, Goodreads will certainly play an integral part in your marketing campaign. To make sure you have all the tools you need, here’s a high-level checklist for things to do as an author on Goodreads. Click here to learn which settings to review and update.
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Graphic Design and Multimedia Services
N. N. Light Author Promotions
Welcome to N. N. Light’s Book Heaven, the home of N. N. Light Author Promotions, a family-run PR firm who caters to busy authors. We’ve been in business since 2015 and pride ourselves on our literary matchmaking abilities. Our followers trust our opinion and if we tell them a book is great, they will often check it out. Many readers discover new authors via word of mouth, especially quality honest book reviews and author interviews. We have the social media reach of over thirty million. We love promoting authors, especially indie authors, and this is a great way to get exposure for you and your book. Getting people talking about your book is an important step to success as an author. We will create enormous buzz about your book, offer advice and our expertise for your benefit.
Fees: Our rates are affordable and we offer a wide range of services for every budget. We even offer a free spotlight called Book Heaven Wednesday. Contact us here.
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Red Cape Publishing, Publishers of Indie Writers Review
Red Cape Publishing offers space within its digital magazine for book reviews and author interviews at no charge. Red Cape Publishing also offers paid advertising space, social media advertising, cover design, business card design & printing, bookmarks, bags, etc. Full details about all services can be found at www.redcapepublishing.com
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The Ultimate Social Media Image Size Guide
By Wix.com, July 25, 2018
Great news, Indies—Here’s a compiled a list of all the social media image sizes you need to ensure your book covers and banners look spectacular on any platform.
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The Different Types of Files and How to Use Them
Design Inspiration \ JUL 26TH 2018
When should you use JPEG versus PNG? What’s an SVG file? We created this guide to explain the different types of files and their most common uses.
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Step-by-Step Guide: How to Design a Stunning Logo for Your Business
By Wix.com, July 25, 2018
You don’t need to be a designer or break the bank in order to achieve a visual mark that’s eye-catching, memorable, and unique. We’ve compiled an ‘all you ever need to know about designing your own logo’ guide that will cover the importance of choosing the right colors and fonts, some best practices, and an introduction to the ultimate online logo maker here.
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Make Your Own Puzzles
PuzzleMaker.com
Are you interested in creating puzzles that incorporate your expertise or depict the themes of your books? PuzzleMaker.com helps you create your own puzzles which give you a fun way to help writing workshop participants remember key points or promote giveaways to author takeover participants. See how here!
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10 Top Tools for Creating Short Videos That ROCK
By Kim Garst, August 19, 2018
Videos are bigger than ever... According to Hubspot’s 2018 State of Video Marketing report, 81% of marketers now use video as part of their marketing strategy, and this is up from just 63% in 2017.
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Fortunately, you don’t have to be a tech or video guru to make amazing videos—Simply use these tools.
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Canva
Create beautiful designs and professional graphics at Canva. Edit from a wide range of public images or choose your own photos to create logos, posters, banners, and more on iPad, iPhone, laptop, or computer here.
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Ten Steps To Perfect Cover Design
A professional-looking book cover depends on your choice of photos and fonts. This article offers several creative book cover examples, plus a list of resources for graphics and fonts. Find out HERE how to have a great book cover!
Income and Royalties
Author Income Surveys Are Misleading and Flawed—And Focus on the Wrong Message for Writers
By Jane Friedman, July 2, 2018
Friedman analyzed the latest author-income survey results and questions their usefulness in improving the fortunes of writers. Are these reports propaganda from writers’ organizations or are they a valid assessment of an author’s earning potential and actual income? What can you expect to earn as a full-time author?
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https://www.janefriedman.com/author-income-surveys/
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Indie Fabs
Lyra Shanti's Author Services
As an Indie author, Lyra Shanti understands how difficult it is to find a trustworthy editor who won't break your bank, so if you’re looking for great service at an affordable price, she is the editor for you!
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Lyra accepts most genres and customizes her services using a flat-rate tier, which means her prices are not based by-the-word like most editors, so they are extra-affordable:
Short Stories (up to 8,000 words): $200
Novellas (up to 40,000 words): $600
Novels (above 100,000 words): $1000
(Prices above include proofreading only. More editing options, such as content/developmental are available at varying rates.)
​
Super Deluxe Package!
(Copy, content/developmental editing, proofreading, 1 free revision, and personalized feedback for novels up to 120,000 word count):
Only $1,500!
​
** All prices are subject to individual services provided. Prices and editing times may vary, though Lyra will work with an author to keep costs low. All work is processed in a timely manner.
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Let's make your book shiny! Contact Lyra via her website here or by email at lyrashanti@yahoo.com.
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Social Media Management
How to Manage Your Instagram Comments!
Kim Garst shares 3 strategies you can use to find, organize, and respond to your Instagram post and ad comments, and provides tips on managing other social media venues quickly and easily. Read Kim’s blog here.
What Is IGTV (Instagram TV) And How Do I Set Up My Own Account?
Instagram just recently launched their own stand-alone video-based app—IGTV—which allows users to upload videos that can be up to one-hour long. Make sure you’re well ahead of the social media market and learn how to create an account and upload your first video here
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11 Ways To Get Creative With Books On Instagram
By Claire Handscomb, July 26, 2018
If you want to jazz up your Bookstagram life, take inspiration from the pros with these fun ways to be creative.
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The Ultimate Guide to Instagram Stories
By Kim Garst, July 2018
Are you using Instagram Stories? Wondering how you can use them more effectively, both for personal and business purposes? This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Instagram Stories.
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23 Hidden Instagram Hacks and Features Everyone Should Know About
By Braden Becker, August 2018
Whether you’re an Instagram novice, or just looking for ways to enhance your profile and posts, you’ll find several invaluable tips here, including 2 ways to access fancy fonts, guaranteed to get you noticed.
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The Most Popular Instagram Hashtags You Should Be Using
By Wix.com, February 1, 2019
Looking to increase your reach and engagement on Instagram? Hashtags are a powerful tool to include in your posts, bio and IG Stories. Find the most popular ones now here.
Legal Issues
#MeToo
Indie Authors Take Note—Publishers are grappling with how to respond to a cascade of allegations of sexual harassment claims against authors as authors struggle to conform. Is your WIP sensitive to survivors and the law? Find out here
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What Indie Authors/Bloggers Need To Know About GDPR—Bloglovin
If you think you’re done with GDPR, think again! Do you have a Privacy Policy posted on your website? Do you do book review signups on your website? Do you write a blog... have plug-ins... use Rafflecopter? Whether your response to these questions is yes or no, you’d be be smart to check out this fact-checking article from Bloglovin!
Fact Check: Are VPNs Legal In Your Country?
Bloggingpro 5/28/18
VPNs, or Virtual Private Networks, encrypt your data to enable you to access the web securely and anonymously by routing your connection through a server and hiding your location and online actions. VPNs provide bloggers with an extra layer of safety — both when on-the-go and when at home — in a number of ways. But, VPN’s are restricted or banned in some countries. Learn whether the VPN providing protection on your website is an issue you need to look into here, courtesy of Bloggingpro.com!
https://www.bloggingpro.com/archives/2018/05/23/fact-check-are-vpns-legal-in-your-country/
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Better Safe Than Sued: 5 Legal Tips for Bloggers
By BloggingPro, July 25, 2018
Most people begin their blogging journey with an intent to share a piece of their life with others. An inspiring and cathartic process with no intentions other than putting their thoughts and ideas out there for others to see and to find. What they aren’t counting on is a legal battle. But for many unsuspecting bloggers, that’s exactly what they get. Here are some tips for avoiding legal trouble while blogging.
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How To Create A Freelance Contract
By FWG, August 20, 2018
If you’ve recently landed a new writing gig, your first thought may be “when do I get started?” Before you ever write that first word, however, you need to ensure that your future as a freelancer is secure with a legally-binding freelance contract that protects you and the income you’ve planned on receiving.
https://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2018/08/how-to-create-a-freelance-contract/
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What Authors Need To Know When Writing About Law – Part 1
By Fred Johnson, October 1, 2018
If you’re writing legal fiction, crime thrillers, or any other kind of fiction that deals with legal issues, you'll need to know more about the law than you can learn from watching back-to-back episodes of CSI. After all, the law is complicated, it’s dry, and it changes from country to country and even from state to state. To help you get it right, here’s a short author’s guide to tackling the law.
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Lifestyle
Where To Donate Books You No Longer Need
Kristin McDeavitt, 7/14/18
So it’s finally time to get rid of some books. Whether you’re moving, cleaning, or just sick of looking at a to-be-read pile that will never get done, there comes a time in every reader’s life where they must give away books. Here’s a list of where to donate books (or sell if you need the cash).
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What to Say in Book Club When You’ve Run Out of Things to Say
By Vivienne Woodward, Jul 12, 2018
It takes a lot to get yourself to book club: you have to acquire a book, read that book, and then, most problematic of all: show up to spend time with other people... People you may or may not know well. So, what do you say that will put across your impressions well without sounding like a blubbering idiot? Learn more here.
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How To Make Your Own DIY Book Sleeves (With Photos)
By Lisa Ruiz, July 27, 2018
DIY book sleeves are simple to make, super cute, and make great gifts if you can manage not to keep them all for yourself. Learn how to craft these decorative protective sleeves here.
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A Classroom Library: If You Build It, They Will Read
By Jim Bailey via Wordpress, August 7, 2018
Did you know that students who are able to utilize a well-stocked, diverse classroom library spend 60% more time reading compared to those that don’t? These same students are also more likely to talk about the books they are reading and make recommendations to other students. In fact, classroom libraries are essential in providing students with access to books and motivation to read, and there is a direct link between classroom libraries and reading motivation, reading achievement, and reading engagement. For teachers and students, it’s a win/win scenario. Learn more about building and maintaining a classroom library here.
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101 Classics to Get You Started—A Reading List for Literary Explorers
by Adam Burgess, Updated July 21, 2017
Anyone who is interested in reading classic literature might feel overwhelmed by the number of works categorized as "Classics." So, where should you get started? This list, containing 101 works spanning multiple countries and subjects, is meant to be a "get started" or "find something new" list for anyone on their own “Classics” reading quest.
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5 Of Your New Favorite (And Free!) Book Club Apps
By Melissa Baron, August 13, 2018
Running a book club doesn’t have to be stressful or intimidating. Book clubs bring readers together, take you to new genres you’ve never been to before, and provide you with most excellent literary discussions. But let’s face it—sometimes scheduling a meet-up and selecting a book everyone likes is difficult. There are barriers. People are busy. Naturally, there are book club apps for that. Find help to get you started here.
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Being a Bookworm on a Budget
By Olivia Paez, August 25, 2018
Being a bookworm can be expensive between buying new releases, purchasing a sturdy bookshelf, investing in an ereader (if you enjoy digital books), etc. Avid readers can end up spending a decent amount of money, per year, on various book-related items, but never fear, here are several ways to be a bookworm on a budget.
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The Dear Banned Author Letter Writing Campaign
By S. Zainab Williams, August 28, 2018
Dear Banned Author is a letter-writing campaign hosted by the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. During Banned Books Week (September 23-29), readers are encouraged to write to their favorite banned or challenged authors, sharing what their stories meant to them. The goal of the campaign is to not only raise awareness of books that are threatened with censorship and support authors, but also encourage thoughtful discussions about the power of words and how essential it is to have access to a variety of viewpoints in libraries. Learn more here.
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BookFinder.com
Find cheapest used books, rare books, textbooks, new and out-of-print books, and compare book prices, including shipping, from over 100,000 booksellers worldwide here.
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Time Converter Links
By JB Richards, November 25, 2018
Here’s a link that makes it easy to covert time from one zone to another.
Google Chrome also converts times for any place or date here.
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How to Lend a Kindle Book
By Susie Dumond, October 26, 2018
Did you know Amazon allows you to share certain Kindle books with anyone you want, as long as you have the email address associated with their Amazon account?! You can even build a Family Library... See how here.
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How To Be A Rare Book Collector
By LH Johnson
Learn the top 5 tips on how to start your own rare book collection on a budget here.
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The 3 Best Sites to Learn a New Word Every Day
By Richard Nordquist, September 21, 2018
Whether you read or write, who among you wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to increase your vocabulary?! Here are three sites that will help you do just that!
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50 Amazingly Unique Gifts For Book Lovers (That Aren’t Books)
By Teresa Preston, September 21, 2018
Trying to find the perfect gift for a book lover can be tricky. After all, the most perfect gift is a book, but which book? Almost as good, is some sort of bookish gear, and there are lots of options out there! Here’s a list of great gift ideas for book lovers that aren’t books!
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21 Ways to Organize Your TBR (To-Be-Read) Pile
By Laura Diaz de Arce, September 10, 2018
Whether you’re overwhelmed, underwhelmed, or whelmed, and don’t know how to get a start on all those book recs you have in a stack next to your bed, we’ve compiled a set of possible organization strategies to finally tackle it…or to at least feel productive while you procrastinate reading. Here are 21 ways to organize your TBR pile!
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A Calendar Of Book Holidays To Celebrate All Year Long
By Kelly Jensen, August 29, 2018
One of the ways you can easily up your nerd cred is to be able to celebrate every book-themed holiday throughout the year. Of course, it can be tough to do just that when you don’t know when things like Book Lovers Day or Coloring Book Day might fall. Find your guide to all of the book holidays here.
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Tips to Organize 2019
With the new year upon us, Elizabeth S. Craig offers practical advice for authors who want to get organized, plus a list of the tools she uses to keep track of her goals and deadlines. "The most important thing is to find out what works best for you in terms of staying organized," she says, "and then stick with it." Find out her tips for getting organized HERE!
Magazines
Reality Bites!
Reality Bites is an eMagazine full of new releases, sales, freebies, author interviewsR, series spotlights and features – not to mention, much, much more! Supported Genres include: Steampunk, Horror, Dystopian, Fantasy, Paranormal, Thriller, Fairytale, Mythological, Crime, Supernatural, and Space Opera. Reality Bites accepts submissions from Indie authors for book reviews and their book award contest, as well as marketing materials for promotion by their eMagazine. Fees may be involved. Learn more here.
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InD’Tale Magazine
TJ Mackay, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
InD’Tale Magazine is an eMagazine that features news and reviews for the self and independent publisher. In addition to providing entertaining articles and educational columns, InD’Tales accepts requests for book reviews and/or interviews from Indie authors. Advertising space is available for a fee. InD’Tale also sponsors the RONE Book Awards. Learn more here.
The Hot Sheet
By Jane Friedman
The Hot Sheet is a publishing industry email newsletter for authors. It saves you time by delivering only the publishing news that’s relevant to you, as well as offering context and analysis about the specific developments you need to know.
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Red Cape Publishing, Publishers of Indie Writers Review
Red Cape Publishing offers space within its digital magazine for book reviews and author interviews at no charge. Red Cape Publishing also offers paid advertising space, social media advertising, cover design, business card design & printing, bookmarks, bags, etc. Full details about all services can be found at www.redcapepublishing.com
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Marketing and Promotion
Video Marketing: 7 Alarming Statistics You Need to Know
Do you know that websites that use videos receive 41% more traffic than ones who don’t?! Discover why and how video marketing can boost your brand here!
https://www.wix.com/blog/2018/04/video-marketing-statistics/
How to Write a Hook that Captures Readers’ Attention
By Wendy S. Delmater, December 18, 2017
Readers are dealing with a constant barrage of television, radio, internet, and real life: all vying for their interest. Why should they read your story? Hooks are a simple concept, but complex to pull off. Here's how to succeed.
http://www.authorspublish.com/how-to-write-a-hook-that-captures-attention/
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How to Build a Mailing List for Your Newsletter
With your newsletter, you can remind readers who you are and let them know about new releases, deals, and other information about you and your books. Best of all, you own the list, so you can email them whenever you want, and no one can shut it down.
https://mybookcave.com/authorpost/ideas-on-how-to-build-a-mailing-list/
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Selling a Story by NOT Telling a Story!
By WrittenInsomnia.com
Every author makes the mistake of thinking that you can sell someone on your story by telling them about your story, but nothing could be further from the truth. You have to remember that you have maybe one or two sentences before people get bored by your pitch, so you shouldn’t start off with your story... You start off with a BANG! Discover how to write a brief marketing pitch/Blurb that will WOW potential readers here.
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5 Great Facebook Groups Indie Authors Should Join Today!
By Jessica Scott
Jessica Scott outlines five essential Facebook groups, including The Indie Writers Cooperative—an Indie author help-group, that every Indie should join right now! Learn more here.
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50 Ways To Count Your Google Analytics
By Poynter.org
How can you tell how effective your post is? How many people has it reached? How many responded? Poynter.org takes the mystery out of your Google analytic reports and gives you 50 ways to count your numbers here.
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5 Ways To Establish A Relationship With An Indie Bookshop
By Ingramcontent.com
Indie Authors—Discover 5 easy tips on how to establish a sound relationship with your neighborhood Indie bookshop.
https://www.ingramcontent.com/blog/how-authors-can-partner-with-indie-bookstores
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InD’Tale Magazine
TJ Mackay, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
InD’Tale Magazine is an eMagazine that features news and reviews for the self and independent publisher. In addition to providing entertaining articles and educational columns, InD’Tales accepts requests for book reviews and/or interviews from Indie authors. Advertising space is available for a fee. InD’Tale also sponsors the RONE Book Awards. Learn more here.
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Making Connections: Marketing Tips for Writers
By Richard Billing, March 6, 2018
Marketing is perhaps one of the trickiest parts of the writing process. You’ve just spent months writing a book, the last thing you want to do is slave away on the web trying to unlock the magic code of getting it noticed. Find the most effective ways to gain readers for your writing here.
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75 Experts Reveal Their 3 Best Blog Marketing Tips
by Marco Mijatovic, March 9, 2015 (Last update on March 8, 2018)
What works, what doesn’t work, and what you need to do to make these things work—How do the most successful bloggers drive traffic to their blogs? Some of the best blog marketers on the entire internet reveal their Top Three Online Marketing Tips for new bloggers. Click here to learn their tips on how to promote your newly created blog.
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Choosing Amazon Kindle Keywords
by Catia Shattuck, 2018
Choosing the right Amazon Kindle keywords can help your ebook be discovered by readers, leading to more sales. This post outlines how you can find and use great keywords to increase your ebooks online profile!
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How To Promote Your Book On Pinterest
Cayuga Shattick, March 27, 2018, Updated May 31, 2018
Fun fact! 80% of pins are re-pins, meaning that people on Pinterest are more likely to share your pins than they are to share posts on other social media sites. If you’ve chosen to promote your ebook on Pinterest, check out these tips and promotion ideas!
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How to Use Smart Links to Increase Your Amazon Sales!
By Rachel Thompson & Mario Schulzke
How would you like to goose up your international sales? Or better yet, start them coming? “As an author, you now have the opportunity for people from all over the world to buy and read your work. Depending on your audience, it’s totally feasible that 20-25% of all your Amazon sales can come from outside of the US. And that’s without even publishing your work in another language." Find out how here!
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Marketing 101: Copywriting Vs. Copy Editing Vs. Content Writing
By Daniel Burstein, June 8, 2018
I’m quite confident of my copywriting skills, I readily admit I am a very poor copy editor … but I’m often mistaken for one since the different words sound so similar.
I bring up this example for the latest in our series of marketing terms posts because I’ve often seen the two terms confused by marketing managers, project managers and the like. Throw in content writing as well, and it gets even more confusing.
So to help you differentiate between similar roles and find the person with the skill sets you need for your websites, blogs, print ads, direct mail letters, brochures, product spec sheets, catalogs, and on and on, here’s a quick guide. Even if you’re on the marketing technology side and don’t consider yourself a “creative,” it helps to know the people you should call when you need help.
How to Make Money as a Writer in 2018
By Bloggingpro, June 18, 2018
Making money from your writing is a myth, right? Wrong! From blogging and copywriting to editing and freelancing, there are jobs to suit all different types of writing skill and interest. This article, along with an infographic from Global English Editing, shows you all the options you have as a writer in 2018.
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The Psychology of Author Marketing
By Guest Blogger Dave Chesson for JaneFriedman.com, June 21, 2018
It’s one thing to know how to setup something technical like an advertisement, an email system, or your book’s sales page on Amazon. However, crafting them so a potential reader will take action is something else. Learn more here.
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N. N. Light Author Promotions
Welcome to N. N. Light’s Book Heaven, the home of N. N. Light Author Promotions, a family-run PR firm who caters to busy authors. We’ve been in business since 2015 and pride ourselves on our literary matchmaking abilities. Our followers trust our opinion and if we tell them a book is great, they will often check it out. Many readers discover new authors via word of mouth, especially quality honest book reviews and author interviews. We have the social media reach of over thirty million. We love promoting authors, especially indie authors, and this is a great way to get exposure for you and your book. Getting people talking about your book is an important step to success as an author. We will create enormous buzz about your book, offer advice and our expertise for your benefit.
Fees: Our rates are affordable and we offer a wide range of services for every budget. We even offer a free spotlight called Book Heaven Wednesday. Contact us here.
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Top 27 Social Media Content Ideas
By Kim Garst, June 18, 2018
Are you stuck in a rut when it comes to your social media posts? It’s not easy to constantly come up with new social media content ideas, am I right or am I right?! Sometimes you just have brain cramp when you sit down to post. So if you aren't sure what you should post to get more likes, comments & shares then DEFINITELY check out this article.
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Media Interviews: Accentuate The Positive
By Neil Everton, June 16, 2018
Media interviews can be a big boost to an Indie author looking to promote their career or latest works. But how can you turn a negative question into a positive spin? Learn the secrets of controlling and conducting your interview here.
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3 Ways to Promote Your Book Before Publication
By Therese Walsh, July 3, 2018
Most authors don't start promoting their books until a few weeks before they're available on Amazon. Big mistake. Author Therese Walsh shares her ideas on how and why you should promote your upcoming release at least six months prior to your book’s debut here.
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177 Ways To Promote Your Blog—75 Experts Reveal The 3 Best Blog Marketing Tips
By Marco Mijatovic & FirstSiteTeam.com, March 9, 2015
Last Updated March 8, 2018
No more complaining that you can’t pull traffic to your blog. Choose from 177 marketing ideas submitted from 59 experts. So many bloggers find it difficult to attract readers and turn them into blog subscribers. These tips really work—Find them here.
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Red Cape Publishing, Publishers of Indie Writers Review
Red Cape Publishing offers space within its digital magazine for book reviews and author interviews at no charge. Red Cape Publishing also offers paid advertising space, social media advertising, cover design, business card design & printing, bookmarks, bags, etc. Full details about all services can be found at www.redcapepublishing.com
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Goodreads Marketing Blog Posts to Help You Plan Your Book Promotions
By Cynthia, June 04, 2018
Looking for help navigating the busy world of book marketing? You've come to the right place! There's a ton of helpful information about effective book promotion for authors right here on the Goodreads Authors & Advertisers Blog. We pulled together an overview of some of our most popular articles to get you started.
https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/1276-best-goodreads-marketing-blog-posts-of-the-year-so-far
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What “Clickbait” Means & How To Get Around It
By Kim Garst, July 2018
Clickbait” has become a real buzzword lately, and generally speaking, it doesn’t have a positive connotation. We tend to associate the phrase with spammy websites that are looking to get traffic – at any cost.
Whether you’re a business owner, marketer or blogger, it’s important to understand what clickbait is, and how you can avoid creating it. Creating clickbait headlines may be tempting, but it’s just not worth it! Any short-term gains you may make will be greatly out-shadowed by the long-term impact to your reputation.
This post will walk you through everything you need to know about Clickbait.
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Delusions of Literacy—Sandra Hurst
So many authors fear blurb and/or synopsis writing. Sandra Hurst of Delusions of Literacy will work closely with you to design a blurb that grabs attention and gets the guts of your story out to your potential readers.
The fees for this service are in Canadian dollars and are as follows:
Blurb only—$15.00 Canadian
Synopsis only—$30.00 Canadian depending on length & detail required.
Blurb plus Synopsis—$45.00 Canadian.
All payments are to be directed through Paypal and they will handle all exchange rate conversions etc.
An arc copy of your manuscript is required before a blurb or synopsis can be written.
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As an author herself, Sandra knows how much a bad blurb can affect your sales and she’s eager to help you achieve success. Contact her via email at Skyroad@shaw.ca.
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How to Use SEO in an Author Blog
By Catia Shattuck, July 17, 2018
When you use SEO (Search Engine Optimization) in an author blog, your blog will be more discoverable on search engines. So how do you use SEO? These easy steps will help!
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How Does Pinterest Work and Why Do You Need it For Your Business?
By Promote Your Site via Wix.com, July 19, 2018
Pinterest recently celebrated having 200 million monthly users. The network, aimed at helping users discover ideas and find inspiration, has become a force to be reckoned with. We’re about unveil how Pinterest works, how to set up your own account, and why you need it for your business here.
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What Is IGTV (Instagram TV) And How Do I Set Up My Own Account?
Instagram just recently launched their own stand-alone video-based app—IGTV—which allows users to upload videos that can be up to one-hour long. Make sure you’re well ahead of the social media market and learn how to create an account and upload your first video here
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Everything Old Is New Again—The Importance Retro-Promos!
By JB Richards, The Writers Block, July 21, 2018
Has it been a while since you’ published your latest work? Statistics show that the most successful Indie authors are those who publish most frequently and on a consistent basis. As authors release books on a regular basis (no more than a year or two apart for major novels, especially if they’re in a series), they’re much more likely to stay in the public eye and draw sales to their books across the spectrum. But, what if it’s been awhile—perhaps even a few years—since you’ve published, and you feel as though readers have forgotten about your book? What if sales on your current work are starting to run dry? Worse... What if your next major novel has been delayed for some reason and is still months, or perhaps years, away from completion?
Above all, don’t lose hope... There’s a simple solution to help you stay in the center of the Readers’ Arena. If you have an earlier publication that might not have made it to great heights of fame and glory, an old draft that’s drifted off to the wayside and is standing in the shadows—squirreled away in a raggedy old box up in your attic, or a few pieces of teen poetry secreted in an old diary or journal, why not run on the heels of your latest gem and strut your stuff with a retro-promo—A renewed promotional effort on a past release, or the publication and promotion of a long-neglected work? Learn how here.
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9 Killer Apps to Promote Your Social Media on Your Website
By Promote Your Site via WIX.com, July 25, 2018
Make your website as social-centric as possible with these awesome, hand-picked apps. More here.
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5 Design Formulas to Create Standout Social Media Content
By Nicola Appleton, July 26, 2018
Visual content is 40 times more likely to be shared on social media than any other type of content, and creating eye-catching visuals is the most effective way to encourage that all-important engagement on your social media channel of choice. Learn how here.
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11 Ways To Get Creative With Books On Instagram
By Claire Handscomb, July 26, 2018
If you want to jazz up your Bookstagram life, take inspiration from the pros with these fun ways to be creative.
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The Ultimate Social Media Image Size Guide
By Wix.com, July 25, 2018
Great news, Indies—Here’s a compiled a list of all the social media image sizes you need to ensure your book covers and banners look spectacular on any platform.
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Step-by-Step Guide: How to Design a Stunning Logo for Your Business
By Wix.com, July 25, 2018
You don’t need to be a designer or break the bank in order to achieve a visual mark that’s eye-catching, memorable, and unique. We’ve compiled an ‘all you ever need to know about designing your own logo’ guide that will cover the importance of choosing the right colors and fonts, some best practices, and an introduction to the ultimate online logo maker here.
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Facebook Releases Latest 'Topics to Watch' Report, Highlighting Key Trends
By Andrew Hutchinson, July 24, 2018
Anyone will tell you that the fastest way to gain traction on social media is to address a popular trending topic, so having a report of current topics is basically indispensable! In their free "Topics to Watch" report, Facebook tells you which conversations have consistently grown over the past 12 months, and even though several of these super-niched topics might never apply to you, if you stumble on one that's a perfect fit, start posting content about it!
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The Ultimate Guide to Instagram Stories
By Kim Garst, July 2018
Are you using Instagram Stories? Wondering how you can use them more effectively, both for personal and business purposes? This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Instagram Stories.
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Facebook Blueprint—Courses
To build traction on Facebook quickly, you must buy ads—Not the "Boost this post" feature, but the small ad that appears with a photo, headline, and two lines of body copy in the lower right corner of your screen. The secret to making your ads work? Knowing how to target your audience with precision! Facebook Blueprint offers free online training for advertising on Facebook. Its more than 90 elearning courses start with the basics like how to use Messenger, Groups, Facebook Live and create valuable content. Begin your learning experience here!
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The Best Free Publicity Tool You’ve Never Heard Of—USNPL!
By norybirol, August 7, 2015
USNPL.com is a free media database that includes thousands of U.S. newspapers, TV stations, radio stations, and college media outlets. It also links to their social media profiles. The best news... Access to the entire database is free! The only thing you pay for is a list of media outlets and addresses if you want to download them. Learn more about the USNPL database and how you can use it to promote your products and services here.
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Make Your Own Puzzles
PuzzleMaker.com
Are you interested in creating puzzles that incorporate your expertise or depict the themes of your books? PuzzleMaker.com helps you create your own puzzles which give you a fun way to help writing workshop participants remember key points or promote giveaways to author takeover participants. See how here!
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10 Top Tools for Creating Short Videos That ROCK
By Kim Garst, August 19, 2018
Videos are bigger than ever... According to Hubspot’s 2018 State of Video Marketing report, 81% of marketers now use video as part of their marketing strategy, and this is up from just 63% in 2017.
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Fortunately, you don’t have to be a tech or video guru to make amazing videos—Simply use these tools.
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Giving Back To Your Writing Career (How Writing Book Reviews Can Enhance Your Career As An Author/Blogger)
By Carolyn Howard-Johnson, June 20, 2018
Consider Writing Professional Reviews as Part of Your Marketing Plan
(Excerpted and expanded from the recently released 415-page book in Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s multi award-winning How To Do It Frugally Series of books, How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically)
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Because you are a writer, you’ve always known that a review is the best kind of gift. But reviews have other ways of giving back to your writing career. Writing great professional reviews (as opposed to writing more casual reader reviews) will probably entail tackling a slight learning curve. It isn’t as steep, however, as the curves required when you switch genres from, say, experimental genres to literary or poetry. With a few basic guidelines you can write reviews to be proud of for your blog or other online review entities—See how here.
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KDP Rocket—Book Marketing Research Made Easy
KDP Rocket gives you real data that shows you exactly what Amazon book buyers type into Amazon, as well as how many people search for these things every month. Using KDP Rocket’s Keyword Feature, you will learn:
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What keywords shoppers type into Amazon
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Estimated number of times someone types that keyword into Amazon
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How much money other books are making that rank for that keyword
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How many books are competing for that keyword
Access KDP Rocket’s website here.
Note: This product is a retail software program available for purchase from this vendor at a nominal cost. The Indieverse Resource Library has no ties or affiliation with this company nor its services and neither confines or discourages its use. IRL offers this article for informational purposes only and we do not endorse this product. Product review ratings are available below and on Google.
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Kindle Samurai
Find High traffic keywords within the Amazon Kindle website that guarantee tons of eyeballs will reach your books—Keywords that have low competition. For the first time ever you can now have instant access to the same conclusions that takes bestselling authors time to get. Learn more here.
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Note: This product is a retail software program available for purchase from this vendor at a nominal cost. The Indieverse Resource Library has no ties or affiliation with this company nor its services and neither confines or discourages its use. IRL offers this article for informational purposes only and we do not endorse this product. Product review ratings are available below and on Google.
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KDSPY (Kindle Spy) The Ultimate Amazon Kindle Spy Tool
Browse any category in the Amazon Kindle marketplace and – in the background – KDSPY will 'automatically' reverse engineer the best sellers. When you want more information about a Kindle category, just click on KDSPY and in mere seconds, you'll know the landscape of that category, the potential profit you could make here – PLUS a detailed breakdown of each book's performance. Learn more here.
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Note: This product is a retail software program available for purchase from this vendor at a nominal cost. The Indieverse Resource Library has no ties or affiliation with this company nor its services and neither confines or discourages its use. IRL offers this article for informational purposes only and we do not endorse this product. Product review ratings are available below and on Google.
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KDP Rocket Review: How I Optimize My Amazon Kindle Books for Better Ranking
By FreedomBoundBusiness.com
This article provides a comparative review of KDP Rocket vs. Kindle Spy (KDSPY)—two standalone software programs (not a Google Chrome extension) for PC or Mac that provide keyword research, competition analysis, category analysis (new) and AMS keyword research all from one dashboard. (Similar reviews may be found on Google.) Read this review here.
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KD Spy vs KDP Rocket vs Kindle Samurai
By DaveAMZ
If you’ve ever had the experience of investing your hard earned cash into a product or service which failed to live up to the hype, you know how badly it sucks. It can even cause us to become cynical, doubtful that any products are trustworthy and live up to the hype. Thankfully, help is at hand. We have taken the time to test, explore and review the three big players within the world of Kindle keyword software: KD Spy, Kindle Samurai and KDP Rocket.
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https://amzprof.com/best-kindle-keyword-software/
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23 Hidden Instagram Hacks and Features Everyone Should Know About
By Braden Becker, August 2018
Whether you’re an Instagram novice, or just looking for ways to enhance your profile and posts, you’ll find several invaluable tips here, including 2 ways to access fancy fonts, guaranteed to get you noticed.
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16 Social Media Ideas That Worked for Us (and Could Work for You)
By Promote Your Site, August 29, 2018
We took the time to analyze our Facebook posts over the last couple of years, and made a list of our best performing social posts yet. Then, we broke down the type of posts into four different categories. We didn’t do it to brag (although we’re pretty proud), but more to show that it only takes a couple of good ideas and one solid schedule to boost your engagement. Just remember to adapt these ideas to your business’ type and niche, and then sit back and get ready to watch those likes and shares start pouring in! Click here to get started.
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Writing Your Author Bio? Here Are 10 Great Examples.
By Diana Urban, October 22, 2015
Writing your author bio can be a daunting task, but a well-crafted bio that’s kept up-to-date can help readers learn more about what makes you and your books so interesting. While there is no one-size-fits-all formula, here are some examples of author bios that can provide some inspiration while you’re crafting your own bio.
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29 Powerful CTAs that Visitors Can’t Resist
Wix.com, NOV 27TH 2018
Are you struggling to convert web visitors into customers?
Your CTA could be the problem. A cleverly crafted call to action is your key to helping your casual browser take the next step to engage on your site.
Check out these 29 fantastic examples of CTAs to learn what makes them so powerful, plus pick up some tips and inspiration for creating your own high-impact call to action here!
37 Social Media Tools For Writers
By Laurence O’Bryan, August 26, 2018
A selection of the most popular tools for social media are listed below along with their links. This is not a complete list, but hopefully it will help you and inspire you to look for more. And, here’s more good news—Most are FREE.
https://services4authors.com/2018/08/26/36-social-media-tools-for-writers/
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Social Media Marketing 101: The Best Guide You’ll Find
By Wix.com, November 10, 2018
Social media marketing is a key ingredient for market success, yet finding your entrance cue to break into this world is no easy feat. That’s why we made this comprehensive guide to social media. From Facebook and Instagram, to Twitter and LinkedIn, we’ll walk you through the ins and out of how social media marketing works on today’s most popular platforms here.
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6 Things You Should Know About When To Self-Publish
Rebecca Langley, September 24, 2018
What's the best time of year to publish? Should you target the holiday-reading market of summer, the gift-giving readers of winter, or somewhere in-between? Here are some tips to help you figure out the best time of year to release your book to the public.
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Self Publishing: 5 foolproof ways to fail at marketing – and how to avoid them
By Diana Wink
The way you think about marketing will determine your results. This blog takes a look at the 5 greatest misconceptions that make you fail at marketing, and brings back the excitement of promoting your author business.
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Facebook Pages Can Now Join Facebook Groups
By Matt Binder, September 21, 2018
Great news, Indies—Within Facebook Group settings, a new option has popped up for group owners that enables them to “allow Pages to request to join as group members.” Previously, only personal profiles could join Facebook Groups, and post and comment within them. Learn how to allow Facebook pages into your Facebook group (and how your Facebook page can become part of a Facebook group), as well as what the pros and cons are here!
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When To Hire A Good Publicist
By Joan Stewart/The Publicity Hound, September 11, 2018
If you're willing to spend the time learning the tricks of the trade, you can do what the publicists do. But that could take months or even years. Sometimes it makes perfect sense to let the perfect publicist do it for you, however you can expect to spend a minimum $1,500 a month for a good publicist—sometimes more, sometimes less. Here are 5 situations when you might want to consider hiring one.
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Ten Steps To Perfect Cover Design
A professional-looking book cover depends on your choice of photos and fonts. This article offers several creative book cover examples, plus a list of resources for graphics and fonts. Find out HERE how to have a great book cover!
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How Not To Do Book Promotion
By Joanne Van Leerdam for WordyNerdBird, January 28, 2019
It takes time, energy and commitment. Sometimes it takes sheer grit and determination, but you’ve got to manage all that without anyone really seeing that part of the job. Learn what not to do when promoting your book here.
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The Most Popular Instagram Hashtags You Should Be Using
By Wix.com, February 1, 2019
Looking to increase your reach and engagement on Instagram? Hashtags are a powerful tool to include in your posts, bio and IG Stories. Find the most popular ones now here.
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How To Get Libraries To Buy Your Book
By Rebecca Langley, November 28, 2018
Why would you want libraries to buy and stock your book? Well, it’s a surprisingly lucrative source of income, but it’s also a marketing masterstroke.
While there are almost 120,000 libraries just in the US, for comparison, there are around 14,000 Starbucks stores and just under 11,000 bookstores. Your work will stay on the shelves longer than in a bookstore, and it’s more likely to be picked up, because there’s no financial risk for the reader who wants to try something new.
As community hubs, libraries frequently host readings and other promotions that benefit them and you.
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Interested in pursuing this route? Click here to learn how to find prospective libraries and to get them to pick your book out of a (very, very) long lineup.
Newsletter
How to Build a Mailing List for Your Newsletter
With your newsletter, you can remind readers who you are and let them know about new releases, deals, and other information about you and your books. Best of all, you own the list, so you can email them whenever you want, and no one can shut it down.
https://mybookcave.com/authorpost/ideas-on-how-to-build-a-mailing-list/
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15 Email Subject Line Tips for Your Author Newsletter
By Mybookcave.com
What can you do to increase the odds of your author newsletter being opened and read by your subscribers? Write a killer email subject line. MyBookCave.com tells you how here!
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9 Killer Apps to Promote Your Social Media on Your Website
By Promote Your Site via WIX.com, July 25, 2018
Make your website as social-centric as possible with these awesome, hand-picked apps. More here.
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Organization and Time-Management
Take Charge of Your Creative Life: The SWOT Analysis
By Dave Chesson, Nov 27, 2018
Do you ever feel like you’re swimming against the tide in your creative life? As authors, we have a vast array of ways to spend our time. Without a properly calibrated creative compass, it’s easy to spend time on urgent, rather than important, activities. One way to regain control and peace of mind as an author is the SWOT framework.
SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. It originated decades ago from Harvard Business School and Stanford University, and has since gained popularity among businesses of all types as well as countless creative individuals. When you understand your SWOT as an author, you can take control over your time, stop fighting fires, and start focusing on the things that will truly help you in the long run. Learn the SWOT management method here.
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21 Ways to Organize Your TBR (To-Be-Read) Pile
By Laura Diaz de Arce, September 10, 2018
Whether you’re overwhelmed, underwhelmed, or whelmed, and don’t know how to get a start on all those book recs you have in a stack next to your bed, we’ve compiled a set of possible organization strategies to finally tackle it…or to at least feel productive while you procrastinate reading. Here are 21 ways to organize your TBR pile!
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Tips to Organize 2019
With the new year upon us, Elizabeth S. Craig offers practical advice for authors who want to get organized, plus a list of the tools she uses to keep track of her goals and deadlines. "The most important thing is to find out what works best for you in terms of staying organized," she says, "and then stick with it." Find out her tips for getting organized HERE!
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How to Declutter and Organize Your Personal Tech in a Few Simple Steps
By Brian X. Chen for NY Times, January 23, 2019
Accessories and data may not take up much physical space, but they contribute to frustration and anxiety. Here are ways to keep e-junk at bay, Marie Kondo-style.
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Spring Cleaning for Your Inbox
By Tricia Drammel for A Small Gang of Authors, January 24, 2019
Are you drowning in emails? Do you have heart palpitations every time you try to confront your out of control inbox? If you’re like many of us, and you have dozens or even hundreds of new emails every day, these simple tips might help you make your inbox more manageable. Click here to get started!
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Personal Assistants
Do You Need to Hire a Virtual Assistant? Here’s How to Tell!
By Kim Garst, September 5, 2018
Are you feeling overworked and underwhelmed? Wondering how to fit more hours in the day? Are you wondering whether adding a Virtual Assistant may be the next move for your business? This article will help you understand just what you need to know before hiring a VA. Click here to learn more.
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Plagiarism
5 Tips for Dealing with Plagiarism Accusations
By FWJ for Freelancewriting.com, June 21, 2018
What to do when you receive notice that the content of your blog was plagiarized. Here are some tips for dealing with a plagiarism accusation.
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How To Promote Your Book On Pinterest
Cayuga Shattick, March 27, 2018, Updated May 31, 2018
Fun fact! 80% of pins are re-pins, meaning that people on Pinterest are more likely to share your pins than they are to share posts on other social media sites. If you’ve chosen to promote your ebook on Pinterest, check out these tips and promotion ideas!
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How Does Pinterest Work and Why Do You Need it For Your Business?
By Promote Your Site via Wix.com, July 19, 2018
Pinterest recently celebrated having 200 million monthly users. The network, aimed at helping users discover ideas and find inspiration, has become a force to be reckoned with. We’re about unveil how Pinterest works, how to set up your own account, and why you need it for your business here.
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Privacy Policies
What Indie Authors/Bloggers Need To Know About GDPR—Bloglovin
If you think you’re done with GDPR, think again! Do you have a Privacy Policy posted on your website? Do you do book review signups on your website? Do you write a blog... have plug-ins... use Rafflecopter? Whether your response to these questions is yes or no, you’d be be smart to check out this fact-checking article from Bloglovin!
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Fact Check: Are VPNs Legal In Your Country?
Bloggingpro 5/28/18
VPNs, or Virtual Private Networks, encrypt your data to enable you to access the web securely and anonymously by routing your connection through a server and hiding your location and online actions. VPNs provide bloggers with an extra layer of safety — both when on-the-go and when at home — in a number of ways. But, VPN’s are restricted or banned in some countries. Learn whether the VPN providing protection on your website is an issue you need to look into here, courtesy of Bloggingpro.com!
https://www.bloggingpro.com/archives/2018/05/23/fact-check-are-vpns-legal-in-your-country/
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Public Relations
How To Deal With Difficult Customers
By Small Business Tips, June 25, 2018
Your customers are your bread and butter. Which is why you need to keep them happy and satisfied at all times. Learn how to turn even the most angry clients into loyal ones, one reply at a time here.
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What Is an Internet 'Troll'? How Should I Deal With Trolls?
By Paul Gil, Updated March 23, 2018
Bullies are by no means a new phenomenon plaguing social media, but it does seem that trolls have been cropping up a lot more on author’s comment threads these past few months than ever before. So, why do trolls troll—And, what can you do to pacify and avoid having conflicts with these social media gluttons? This advice article may help!
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Publishing
When To Query: A Guide to Following Up On Submissions
By Emily Harstone | May 30, 2018
A query letter or a cover letter is usually the first thing you send a publisher to introduce yourself., and if you haven’t heard back from a publisher after a particular length of time, you’re often encouraged to email them a follow up letter asking about the status of your submission. Querying is important as it can prevent your submission from being lost in the shuffle. However, it can also be frustrating for the press if you query too soon and you can damage your relationship with them by doing so. Find out when it’s appropriate to query and when you should not here.
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40 Romance Publishers That Accept Submissions Without an Agent
By Authorspublish.com
Looking for a traditional Romance publishing house to take on your submission? All of these publishers accept submissions directly from authors. No agent or previous publishing experience required. Read more here!
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The Most Common Mistakes New Authors Make When It Comes To Publishing
By Caitlin Jans for Authors Publish, June 28, 2018
For the purpose of this article, new authors are defined not as people new to writing, but as writers new to publishing their work. Publishing your work is a completely different beast than writing. Find out the ins and outs here.
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4 Ways to Increase Your Chances of Getting Your Poetry Published
By a Guest Author for Authors Publish, July 4, 2018
Concrete advice to refine your writing skills and increase your acceptance rate.
http://www.authorspublish.com/4-ways-to-increase-your-chances-of-getting-your-poetry-published
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Red Cape Publishing, Publishers of Indie Writers Review
Red Cape Publishing offers space within its digital magazine for book reviews and author interviews at no charge. Red Cape Publishing also offers paid advertising space, social media advertising, cover design, business card design & printing, bookmarks, bags, etc. Full details about all services can be found at www.redcapepublishing.com
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Lions and Tigers and Agents, Oh My! Listings of Literary Agents
By Alex Coyne, July 12, 2018
Not all authors make use of literary agents to get their work out there. But it helps. If you want to get a way in with certain publishers, if you want to get your fiction read by the overseas market, even if you have high hopes and you’re shooting for a three-novel series or movie deal. Here’s a collection of websites and blogs that provide listings of literary agents looking to represent authors.
Everything Old Is New Again—The Importance Retro-Promos!
By JB Richards, The Writers Block, July 21, 2018
Has it been a while since you’ published your latest work? Statistics show that the most successful Indie authors are those who publish most frequently and on a consistent basis. As authors release books on a regular basis (no more than a year or two apart for major novels, especially if they’re in a series), they’re much more likely to stay in the public eye and draw sales to their books across the spectrum. But, what if it’s been awhile—perhaps even a few years—since you’ve published, and you feel as though readers have forgotten about your book? What if sales on your current work are starting to run dry? Worse... What if your next major novel has been delayed for some reason and is still months, or perhaps years, away from completion?
Above all, don’t lose hope... There’s a simple solution to help you stay in the center of the Readers’ Arena. If you have an earlier publication that might not have made it to great heights of fame and glory, an old draft that’s drifted off to the wayside and is standing in the shadows—squirreled away in a raggedy old box up in your attic, or a few pieces of teen poetry secreted in an old diary or journal, why not run on the heels of your latest gem and strut your stuff with a retro-promo—A renewed promotional effort on a past release, or the publication and promotion of a long-neglected work? Learn how here.
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How to Write a Novel Synopsis
By Wendy Delmater, July 19, 2018
There’s been a lot written on the subject of writing a synopsis, and I may suggest doing certain things a little differently, but the experts all agree on one thing: finish the book first.
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So. Are we done writing the book? Good. Now how do you boil down from 70K to 300K words into a page or two? It’s a little time consuming, but it’s not as hard as it sounds. As long as you know who your main character or characters are, and what the main conflict in the book is, you’re ready to start writing your synopsis. See details here.
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3 Signs Of A Publishing Scam
by Caitlin Muir in Platform Building Tips, Writing Tips, August 2018
No author ever thinks they will be the next victim in a scam. But every year, hundreds of authors fall prey to unsavory publishing houses that bilk them out of their creative work and their money. It often starts off with an email that seems too good to be true. Learn more about what happens and protecting yourself here.
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The Ripoff Report
Have you received a top-good-to-be-true proposal from a Self-Publishing company promising free marketing and promotion services? Are you the victim of a consumer rip-off?
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Ripoff Report is a worldwide consumer reporting website and publication, by consumers, for consumers, to file and document complaints about companies or individuals. Prospective and existing authors can lookup reports concerning various Self-Publishing companies to view their ratings, consumer complaints, and scam reports below.
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Smashwords Unveils New Book Discovery Interface; Surpasses 500,000 Published Books
By Smashwords Blog, November 9,2018
Smashwords, the free ebook publishing and distribution platform that makes it fast, free and easy for authors and publishers to distribute ebooks to the world's largest ebook retailers and library ebook platforms, now has a catalog of more than 500,000 books. It also has a new look. Prior to November 2018, it displayed all new books as they arrived, known as the "firehose." That has been replaced by nine new “shelves,” each organized around a different book discovery theme. Learn more about Smashwords here.
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Switching Literary Agents: Two Agents Offer Advice
By Sangeeta Mehta, Nov 28, 2018
If you’re a writer, how do you know if it’s worth the risk of leaving your current agent? Does past representation impede your ability to find a new agent? Learn how and when switching your literary agent might be best here.
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6 Things You Should Know About When To Self-Publish
Rebecca Langley, September 24, 2018
What's the best time of year to publish? Should you target the holiday-reading market of summer, the gift-giving readers of winter, or somewhere in-between? Here are some tips to help you figure out the best time of year to release your book to the public.
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When To Hire A Good Publicist
By Joan Stewart/The Publicity Hound, September 11, 2018
If you're willing to spend the time learning the tricks of the trade, you can do what the publicists do. But that could take months or even years. Sometimes it makes perfect sense to let the perfect publicist do it for you, however you can expect to spend a minimum $1,500 a month for a good publicist—sometimes more, sometimes less. Here are 5 situations when you might want to consider hiring one.
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How To Self-Publish: The Route To Publication & Tales From Both Sides Of The Fence
By A.C. Melody
This highly informative article breaks down the key differences between some of the different routes to publication, and what to expect. Here are all the figures, stats, and guidance (and a few horror stories) you need to figure out the best options for you.
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How To Get Libraries To Buy Your Book
By Rebecca Langley, November 28, 2018
Why would you want libraries to buy and stock your book? Well, it’s a surprisingly lucrative source of income, but it’s also a marketing masterstroke.
While there are almost 120,000 libraries just in the US, for comparison, there are around 14,000 Starbucks stores and just under 11,000 bookstores. Your work will stay on the shelves longer than in a bookstore, and it’s more likely to be picked up, because there’s no financial risk for the reader who wants to try something new.
As community hubs, libraries frequently host readings and other promotions that benefit them and you.
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Interested in pursuing this route? Click here to learn how to find prospective libraries and to get them to pick your book out of a (very, very) long lineup.
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Here Are The Reasons Publishers And Literary Agents Reject Manuscripts
By Fred Johnson, December 12, 2018
Getting published by a traditional publishing house is far from easy. Many writers amass dozens or even hundreds of rejections before their book is eventually accepted, and while many factors influencing acceptance or rejection will be out of the author’s control, it’s important to know why manuscripts are rejected. Armed with this information, you’ll stand the best possible chance. So click here to learn the four main reasons your manuscript might be rejected.
Scams and Scammers
Publishing Scams
Each year, hundreds of authors fall prey to unsavory publishing houses that bilk them out of their creative work and their money. So, how you can tell a scam from a genuine offer?
http://www.authormedia.com/3-signs-of-a-publishing-scam/
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Awards Profiteers: How Writers Can Recognize and Avoid Them
Be careful applying for Book Awards. In most cases, the slogan “Buyer beware!” is an ample warning!
http://www.accrispin.blogspot.com/2015/06/awards-profiteers-how-writers-can.html
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The #Cockygate Scandal & Why It’s Important To All Indies
By Vox.com via JB Richards, May 16, 2018
Because of my popular #ThisIsHowWeIndie post on my Facebook wall in May 2018, many Indies asked for details on the Cockygate scandal that rocked the Indie Romance writers’ community. This article, “How Author Trademarking Turned The Romance Novel Industry Inside Out”, gives a clear breakdown of the circumstances and the fallout associated with what has now been commonly dubbed by lawyers and the Indie community as “trademark bullying”. Read it here.
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5 Tips for Dealing with Plagiarism Accusations
By FWJ for Freelancewriting.com, June 21, 2018
What to do when you receive notice that the content of your blog was plagiarized. Here are some tips for dealing with a plagiarism accusation.
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3 Signs Of A Publishing Scam
by Caitlin Muir in Platform Building Tips, Writing Tips, August 2018
No author ever thinks they will be the next victim in a scam. But every year, hundreds of authors fall prey to unsavory publishing houses that bilk them out of their creative work and their money. It often starts off with an email that seems too good to be true. Learn more about what happens and protecting yourself here.
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The Ripoff Report
Have you received a top-good-to-be-true proposal from a Self-Publishing company promising free marketing and promotion services? Are you the victim of a consumer rip-off?
​
Ripoff Report is a worldwide consumer reporting website and publication, by consumers, for consumers, to file and document complaints about companies or individuals. Prospective and existing authors can lookup reports concerning various Self-Publishing companies to view their ratings, consumer complaints, and scam reports below.
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Your Facebook Account Has Not Been 'Cloned’
By Kristi Gustafson Barlette, October 5, 2018
If you use Facebook with any regularity, you've likely received a message (or 100) from 'friends' warning you that A. “Almost every Facebook account is being cloned”, or B. “I got another friend request from you yesterday...which I ignored so you may want to check your account”.
These messages are not true. Instead, this is essentially a chain letter scam that's spreading like a cold virus at a preschool. Can your account be hacked? Sure... But this is easy enough to check. First, stop spreading these clone messages, and second, learn the truth behind these bogus warnings and how you can both check and protect your Facebook account here.
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Army Of Clones: Author Solutions Spawns A League Of Copycats
By Victoria Strauss for Writer Beware, January 25, 2018
... there’s [not] much dispute that the many "imprints" under the Author Solutions umbrella are among the most negatively regarded of all the author services companies. From the predatory business practicesthat gave rise to two class actionlawsuits, to the huge number of customer complaints, to the relentlesssales calls and deceptive recruitment methods, to the dubious and overpriced"marketing" services that are one of the company's main profit sources, AS's poor reputation is widely known. Along with other factors, such as the competition from free and low-cost self-publishing platforms, this has pushed AS in recent years into steady decline.
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Like AS, the clones rely on misleading hype, hard-sell sales tactics, and a lucrative catalog of junk marketing services. Even if authors actually receive the services they've paid for (and judging by the complaints I've gotten, there's no guarantee of that), they are getting stiffed. These are not businesses operating in good faith, but greedy opportunists seeking to profit from writers' inexperience, ignorance, and hunger for recognition. They are exploitative, dishonest, and predatory.
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Here is a listing of companies that fall under the Author Solutions scam umbrella, including:
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LitFire Publishing d.b.a. Amelia Book Company and Amelia Publishing
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Legaia Books
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Stratton Press
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ReadersMagnet
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Toplink Publishing
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Book-Art Press Solutions
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Window Press Club
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Westwood Books Publishing (formerly Greenberry Publishing), also d.b.a. Authors Press
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BookVenture Publishing
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Okir Publishing d.b.a. ADbook Press and Coffee Press
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Zeta Publishing
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Everlastale Publishing
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https://accrispin.blogspot.com/2018/01/
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Social Media
What Are Hashtags (#) and How To Use Them on Social Media?
Courtesy of WIXBlog.com
http://www.wix.com/blog/2018/02/what-are-hashtags-and-how-to-use-them-in-social-media/
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6 Facebook Updates You Can’t Afford to Miss in 2018
How well do you really know Facebook?
The social media platform has undergone a handful of changes in the last few months, but how much do you know about it’s new guidelines? Here are the essential new Facebook updates you should know about in the beginning of 2018.
https://www.wix.com/blog/2018/02/facebook-updates-2018/
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What Twitter’s New Rules Mean For Authors!
According to The Publicity Hound, “Twitter's new Terms of Service mean three major changes, especially if you have more than one Twitter account or schedule tweets:
1. You are forbidden from posting identical content over multiple accounts.
2. You can no longer perform simultaneous actions such as Likes, Retweets or Follows from multiple accounts.
3. You can no longer recycle your tweets by posting them again and again over a long period of time. If you're paying for a tool that has automated some of this for you, like posting the identical tweet to one account over three months, you could be wasting your money, and you might be flagged as a spammer.”
Read more about these changes here
https://meetedgar.com/blog/what-twitters-new-rules-mean-for-social-media-scheduling/
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How To Promote Your Book On Pinterest
Cayuga Shattick, March 27, 2018, Updated May 31, 2018
Fun fact! 80% of pins are re-pins, meaning that people on Pinterest are more likely to share your pins than they are to share posts on other social media sites. If you’ve chosen to promote your ebook on Pinterest, check out these tips and promotion ideas!
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Social Media Management
How to Manage Your Instagram Comments!
Kim Garst shares 3 strategies you can use to find, organize, and respond to your Instagram post and ad comments, and provides tips on managing other social media venues quickly and easily. Read Kim’s blog here.
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Top 27 Social Media Content Ideas
By Kim Garst, June 18, 2018
Are you stuck in a rut when it comes to your social media posts? It’s not easy to constantly come up with new social media content ideas, am I right or am I right?! Sometimes you just have brain cramp when you sit down to post. So if you aren't sure what you should post to get more likes, comments & shares then DEFINITELY check out this article.
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How Does Pinterest Work and Why Do You Need it For Your Business?
By Promote Your Site via Wix.com, July 19, 2018
Pinterest recently celebrated having 200 million monthly users. The network, aimed at helping users discover ideas and find inspiration, has become a force to be reckoned with. We’re about unveil how Pinterest works, how to set up your own account, and why you need it for your business here.
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What Is IGTV (Instagram TV) And How Do I Set Up My Own Account?
Instagram just recently launched their own stand-alone video-based app—IGTV—which allows users to upload videos that can be up to one-hour long. Make sure you’re well ahead of the social media market and learn how to create an account and upload your first video here
5 Design Formulas to Create Standout Social Media Content
By Nicola Appleton, July 26, 2018
Visual content is 40 times more likely to be shared on social media than any other type of content, and creating eye-catching visuals is the most effective way to encourage that all-important engagement on your social media channel of choice. Learn how here.
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11 Ways To Get Creative With Books On Instagram
By Claire Handscomb, July 26, 2018
If you want to jazz up your Bookstagram life, take inspiration from the pros with these fun ways to be creative.
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The Ultimate Social Media Image Size Guide
By Wix.com, July 25, 2018
Great news, Indies—Here’s a compiled a list of all the social media image sizes you need to ensure your book covers and banners look spectacular on any platform.
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Facebook Releases Latest 'Topics to Watch' Report, Highlighting Key Trends
By Andrew Hutchinson, July 24, 2018
Anyone will tell you that the fastest way to gain traction on social media is to address a popular trending topic, so having a report of current topics is basically indispensable! In their free "Topics to Watch" report, Facebook tells you which conversations have consistently grown over the past 12 months, and even though several of these super-niched topics might never apply to you, if you stumble on one that's a perfect fit, start posting content about it!
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The Ultimate Guide to Instagram Stories
By Kim Garst, July 2018
Are you using Instagram Stories? Wondering how you can use them more effectively, both for personal and business purposes? This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Instagram Stories.
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Facebook Blueprint—Courses
To build traction on Facebook quickly, you must buy ads—Not the "Boost this post" feature, but the small ad that appears with a photo, headline, and two lines of body copy in the lower right corner of your screen. The secret to making your ads work? Knowing how to target your audience with precision! Facebook Blueprint offers free online training for advertising on Facebook. Its more than 90 elearning courses start with the basics like how to use Messenger, Groups, Facebook Live and create valuable content. Begin your learning experience here!
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The Best Free Publicity Tool You’ve Never Heard Of—USNPL!
By norybirol, August 7, 2015
USNPL.com is a free media database that includes thousands of U.S. newspapers, TV stations, radio stations, and college media outlets. It also links to their social media profiles. The best news... Access to the entire database is free! The only thing you pay for is a list of media outlets and addresses if you want to download them. Learn more about the USNPL database and how you can use it to promote your products and services here.
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What Is an Internet 'Troll'? How Should I Deal With Trolls?
By Paul Gil, Updated March 23, 2018
Bullies are by no means a new phenomenon plaguing social media, but it does seem that trolls have been cropping up a lot more on author’s comment threads these past few months than ever before. So, why do trolls troll—And, what can you do to pacify and avoid having conflicts with these social media gluttons? This advice article may help!
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23 Hidden Instagram Hacks and Features Everyone Should Know About
By Braden Becker, August 2018
Whether you’re an Instagram novice, or just looking for ways to enhance your profile and posts, you’ll find several invaluable tips here, including 2 ways to access fancy fonts, guaranteed to get you noticed.
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Iconfinder.com
Who uses icons? Just about everyone. Here’s a source that has a boatload of images—One to 2-million plus!
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16 Social Media Ideas That Worked for Us (and Could Work for You)
By Promote Your Site, August 29, 2018
We took the time to analyze our Facebook posts over the last couple of years, and made a list of our best performing social posts yet. Then, we broke down the type of posts into four different categories. We didn’t do it to brag (although we’re pretty proud), but more to show that it only takes a couple of good ideas and one solid schedule to boost your engagement. Just remember to adapt these ideas to your business’ type and niche, and then sit back and get ready to watch those likes and shares start pouring in! Click here to get started.
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37 Social Media Tools For Writers
By Laurence O’Bryan, August 26, 2018
A selection of the most popular tools for social media are listed below along with their links. This is not a complete list, but hopefully it will help you and inspire you to look for more. And, here’s more good news—Most are FREE.
https://services4authors.com/2018/08/26/36-social-media-tools-for-writers/
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Social Media Marketing 101: The Best Guide You’ll Find
By Wix.com, November 10, 2018
Social media marketing is a key ingredient for market success, yet finding your entrance cue to break into this world is no easy feat. That’s why we made this comprehensive guide to social media. From Facebook and Instagram, to Twitter and LinkedIn, we’ll walk you through the ins and out of how social media marketing works on today’s most popular platforms here.
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Facebook Pages Can Now Join Facebook Groups
By Matt Binder, September 21, 2018
Great news, Indies—Within Facebook Group settings, a new option has popped up for group owners that enables them to “allow Pages to request to join as group members.” Previously, only personal profiles could join Facebook Groups, and post and comment within them. Learn how to allow Facebook pages into your Facebook group (and how your Facebook page can become part of a Facebook group), as well as what the pros and cons are here!
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The Most Popular Instagram Hashtags You Should Be Using
By Wix.com, February 1, 2019
Looking to increase your reach and engagement on Instagram? Hashtags are a powerful tool to include in your posts, bio and IG Stories. Find the most popular ones now here.
Stock Photos
15+ of the Best Places to Get Stock Photos for Your Blog
Looking for stock photos for you’re a book cover, blog, or special project? Here’s a list of both free and paid services to help you bring out the best in your article!
http://www.hollywoodandwine.co/stock-photo-resources/
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Submissions
When To Query: A Guide to Following Up On Submissions
By Emily Harstone | May 30, 2018
A query letter or a cover letter is usually the first thing you send a publisher to introduce yourself., and if you haven’t heard back from a publisher after a particular length of time, you’re often encouraged to email them a follow up letter asking about the status of your submission. Querying is important as it can prevent your submission from being lost in the shuffle. However, it can also be frustrating for the press if you query too soon and you can damage your relationship with them by doing so. Find out when it’s appropriate to query and when you should not here.
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Translation Services
English/German
Spratte Translation Services
Annette Spratte is a bilingual certified translator and Indie author whose books have been published in both English and German. Much like writing itself, translation is an art. Allow Annette to expertly and professionally transport your voice into another language.
Learn more here.
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What Twitter’s New Rules Mean For Authors!
According to The Publicity Hound, “Twitter's new Terms of Service mean three major changes, especially if you have more than one Twitter account or schedule tweets:
1. You are forbidden from posting identical content over multiple accounts.
2. You can no longer perform simultaneous actions such as Likes, Retweets or Follows from multiple accounts.
3. You can no longer recycle your tweets by posting them again and again over a long period of time. If you're paying for a tool that has automated some of this for you, like posting the identical tweet to one account over three months, you could be wasting your money, and you might be flagged as a spammer.”
Read more about these changes here
https://meetedgar.com/blog/what-twitters-new-rules-mean-for-social-media-scheduling/
Webinars and Conferences
ATAI—Authors Talk About It
ATAI offers book reviews, a book award contest, manuscript overview services, and webinars for Indie authors. Fees may be charged as appropriate. Learn more here.
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Website
9 Killer Apps to Promote Your Social Media on Your Website
By Promote Your Site via WIX.com, July 25, 2018
Make your website as social-centric as possible with these awesome, hand-picked apps. More here.
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Step-by-Step Guide: How to Build a Website from Scratch
By Web Design, April 10, 2018
Much like building up your brand, when it comes to designing your website there are a couple of crucial elements you simply can’t overlook. In order for the road ahead (and by road, we mean creating your very own website) to be a smooth ride, we’ve narrowed down a step-by-step guide to learn how to build a website from scratch here!
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The Different Types of Files and How to Use Them
Design Inspiration \ JUL 26TH 2018
When should you use JPEG versus PNG? What’s an SVG file? We created this guide to explain the different types of files and their most common uses.
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The Best Practices to Increase Website User Engagement
By Jennifer Kaplan, August 7, 2018
Your website pages can (and should) be so much more than just a place to display information about your company. They should lead users to do something, like buy your product, subscribe to your newsletter, or share an article from your blog. If you want visitors to stick around and continue to come back, it’s important to make them feel that they have gained something useful there and somehow took action – in a nutshell: that they weren’t simply spectators, but rather players. Engagement is your game, and it begins with understanding the players’ behaviors. Here’s how to make your website interactive.
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29 Powerful CTAs that Visitors Can’t Resist
Wix.com, NOV 27TH 2018
Are you struggling to convert web visitors into customers?
Your CTA could be the problem. A cleverly crafted call to action is your key to helping your casual browser take the next step to engage on your site.
Check out these 29 fantastic examples of CTAs to learn what makes them so powerful, plus pick up some tips and inspiration for creating your own high-impact call to action here!
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Writing Prompts
Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense: Poisons to Feed Your Victims!
By Thoughtco.com
Heads up, Mystery Writers and Masters of the Macabre—Here are 7 poisons that have been used for murder or suicide to include in your next novel!
https://www.thoughtco.com/famous-poisoning-cases-4118225
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Encyclopedia Of Women Philosophers at Open Culture
If you’re looking for a great Writing Prompt, the Encyclopedia of Women Philosophers may be a great place to start your writing journey. Find out more here.
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Spells, charms, erotic dolls: love magic in the ancient Mediterranean
By History of the Ancient World, July 8, 2018
Looking for a great writing prompt or information to insert in your work in progress? How about spells, charms, erotic dolls: love magic in the ancient Mediterranean?!
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25 Unique Traditions From Around The World
National Geographic, August 24, 2018
If you’re looking for a writing prompt for your next epic, a more “traditional” approach may be just the thing... Here are 25 unique traditions from cultures all around the world!
Writing and Research Tips
The Historical Accuracy of One’s Character—Defining Your Character’s World
By JB Richards
Are you looking for tips on how to write a believable character in the context of history? Here are a few indispensable tips that may help you out no matter what your genre!
Discover more here.
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The Top 9 Writing Mistakes & How To Fix Them
By Joan Stewart
Joan Stewart takes you through the most common mistakes authors make in developing their stories and shows you how to fix them here.
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How (And Why) You Should Write An Ensemble Cast
by Robert Wood, April 23, 2018
Writing an ensemble cast is harder than writing a single protagonist for the same reason that catching five cats is harder than catching one: you’re trying to do the same difficult thing multiple times, and the fact that you’ve already succeeded once doesn’t necessarily make the next step any easier – in fact, it could even make it harder. And yet, for all that effort, you can expect a larger reward. Click here to find out how and why you should write an ensemble cast.
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Free Online Genealogy Education
By Kimberly Powell, February 3, 2018
Historical Fiction/Romance authors often take great pains to adequately research History so they can properly develop their story and characters. But, what could be more important than knowing your own family history? This article presents several sites that provide free access to geneological records and information because you never know... Your next novel might just be based on your own family!
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ProWritingAid - Grammar Checking & Manuscript Editing Software
The most successful people in the world have coaches. Whatever your level of writing, ProWritingAid will help you achieve new heights. Exceptional writing depends on much more than just correct grammar. You need an editing tool that also highlights style issues and compares your writing to the best writers in your genre. ProWritingAid helps you find the best way to express your ideas.
Edit your manuscript using ProWritingAid here.
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How to be More Creative and Uncover Your Best Ideas
By Kim Garst, June 2018
Have you ever wondered how to be more creative? Are you convinced that you’re just not the “creative type”? Do you feel like creativity is something you weren’t born with – and you’re somehow missing that gene? This post will give you a bunch of ideas and strategies you can implement over the coming weeks to build your creativity “muscles” and uncover your best ideas!
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Lyra Shanti's Author Services
As an Indie author, Lyra Shanti understands how difficult it is to find a trustworthy editor who won't break your bank, so if you’re looking for great service at an affordable price, she is the editor for you!
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Lyra accepts most genres and customizes her services using a flat-rate tier, which means her prices are not based by-the-word like most editors, so they are extra-affordable:
Short Stories (up to 8,000 words): $200
Novellas (up to 40,000 words): $600
Novels (above 100,000 words): $1000
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(Prices above include proofreading only. More editing options, such as content/developmental are available at varying rates.)
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Super Deluxe Package!
(Copy, content/developmental editing, proofreading, 1 free revision, and personalized feedback for novels up to 120,000 word count):
Only $1,500!
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** All prices are subject to individual services provided. Prices and editing times may vary, though Lyra will work with an author to keep costs low. All work is processed in a timely manner.
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Let's make your book shiny! Contact Lyra via her website here or by email at lyrashanti@yahoo.com.
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How To Write An Acknowledgment Your Readers Will Love
Paige Duke, April 30, 2018
You may not want to include an acknowledgment in your books, but if you do, wouldn’t you like to write one that will make your readers eager to enjoy what comes next? Click here to read a fantastic example of an acknowledgment by John Scalzi and to learn how to write a great acknowledgment of your own.
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595 Power Words That’ll Instantly Make You A Better Writer
By Jon Morrow for Smartblogger.com, Last Updated June 19, 2018
Strong writing evokes emotion. But, using the same words over and over again—like fear, encouragement, lust, anger, greed, safety and forbidden—can bore your readers. Over a period of several weeks, blogging expert Jon Morrow cataloged all the power words that jumped out to him, and he organized them into seven categories based on the emotion you want to create. Learn more here!
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How Research Can Shape Your Novel
By Susan Wingate, July 16, 2018
As I continue writing my latest novel Moon Spyer, I can’t help notice how research can shape your novel. In the past couple of weeks, I’ve done several things regarding research, of which I posted on Facebook. You can see that post below. What I’ve noticed however, is not only how research can shape your novel but also how it can shape your characters. Learn more here.
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Oxford Comma: Yes or No? A Compilation of Opinions and Recommendations
First things first: what is the Oxford comma? Also called serial comma, it is a comma placed after the penultimate item in a list and before the conjunction “and” or “or.” Learn why you should or shouldn’t use the Oxford comma here.
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The Author’s Guide to Melodrama (And What It Can Do for You)
By Fred Johnson, May 14, 2018
Melodrama tends to get a bad rep these days, and not without good reason. It can often come at the expense of those other aspects of fiction that make your book worth reading: deep characters, subtext, complex plotlines, etc. But it doesn’t have to and, even if it does, melodrama can work its own unique magic, making it a style worth paying attention to. Click here to learn how to integrate this divisive and often overpowered style into your own writing.
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Keeping a Writer’s Notebook
By Catia Shattuck
A writer’s notebook is a place where writers can keep ideas, thoughts, inspiration, and research, as well as practice and improve your writing. Here are some ideas for your writer’s notebook.
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20,000+ Names From Around the World!
An invaluable resource personally recommended and utilized by Author/Historian JB Richards herself! This directory includes Baby Names, Pet Names, Sim Names, Story Character Names—Thousands of names from around the world sorted and categorized by country, language, and meaning. Many of the names include a detailed etymology; all include the meanings of the names in their native tongues.
Find them all at http://www.20000-names.com/
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How To Avoid Writing A Redshirt Character
By Robert Wood, May 20, 2018
Sometimes, the best way to prove that someone in your story is dangerous is to have them kill one of your characters. Of course, it’d be a shame to use up a real character just to prove that the villain isn’t messing around, so the next logical step is to create a character just for this purpose. The problem is that these expendable characters can undermine your story if they're done wrong. Click here to learn why they are called “redshirt characters” and discover how you can avoid writing them.
17 Weak Words to Avoid in Your Writing
By Catia Shattuck, July 24, 2018
Want to make your writing a little stronger? Check out these 17 words to avoid!
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The Five Phases Of Writers Block
By Alysia Stevenson, July 26, 2018
As writers, we all know how amazing it feels when an idea pops into your head—You just have to get it out and the words just flow out of your brain, but then a little thing called “writer’s block” happens. Learn the five phases of writers block and get some ideas on how to get your creative juices flowing once again here!
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4 Ways to Overcome the Writing Blues
By Book Cave, September 4, 2018
You’ve tried everything you can think of to overcome those writing blues, including locking yourself in a dark closet with nothing but your laptop and a granola bar. Try the ideas here to get you out of your slump.
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20 TOOLS EVERY WRITER NEEDS
By AR Huelsenbeck, July 21, 2018
Are you ready to get serious about your writing? Set yourself up for success by stocking up on the things you’ll need. Learn how here.
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A Guide to Deep Reading
By Richard Nordquist, Updated September 07, 2017
Are you a skimmer or a deep reader? Deep reading is the active process of thoughtful and deliberate reading carried out to enhance one's comprehension and enjoyment of a text. Contrast this with skimming... simply scanning a read for overall content. Taking the time to digest a piece of writing as you read will increase your retention and understanding. Find out more here.
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Microsoft Word’s Text-to-Speech Feature
Hearing your book read back to you is a great way of fine-tuning your book. You will be surprised at how your ears find many errors, repetitive words, bad dialogue, and even plot flaws that your eyes (and the eyes of others) have often missed. See how to use Microsoft Word’s Text-to-Speech feature here.
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TTSREADER - TEXT TO SPEECH ONLINE
A WEB-APP THAT READS OUT LOUD ANY TEXT (TYPED-IN OR FILES) WITH NATURAL SOUNDING VOICES. FREE, SUPER EASY, FUN AND UNLIMITED.
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10 Tips For Creating Your First Children’s Picture Book
By Michelle Gallant, July 23, 2012
A children’s picture book may seem simple, but creating a brilliant one is no easy task. How do you make yours smart, engaging, and fun — rather than clichéd, saccharine, and didactic? Find out here.
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Giving Back To Your Writing Career (How Writing Book Reviews Can Enhance Your Career As An Author/Blogger)
By Carolyn Howard-Johnson, June 20, 2018
Consider Writing Professional Reviews as Part of Your Marketing Plan
(Excerpted and expanded from the recently released 415-page book in Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s multi award-winning How To Do It Frugally Series of books, How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically)
Because you are a writer, you’ve always known that a review is the best kind of gift. But reviews have other ways of giving back to your writing career. Writing great professional reviews (as opposed to writing more casual reader reviews) will probably entail tackling a slight learning curve. It isn’t as steep, however, as the curves required when you switch genres from, say, experimental genres to literary or poetry. With a few basic guidelines you can write reviews to be proud of for your blog or other online review entities—See how here.
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How to Write Your Own Screenplay
By Ali Hale, September 3, 2018
Have you ever daydreamed about writing for the big screen? I know I have! Writing a screenplay that gets picked up by Hollywood could see your story reach millions of people – whereas even bestselling novels often only sell in the tens of thousands. Learn how to write your first screenplay here.
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Writing Your Author Bio? Here Are 10 Great Examples.
By Diana Urban, October 22, 2015
Writing your author bio can be a daunting task, but a well-crafted bio that’s kept up-to-date can help readers learn more about what makes you and your books so interesting. While there is no one-size-fits-all formula, here are some examples of author bios that can provide some inspiration while you’re crafting your own bio.
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How to Describe Neurodivergent Characters
By Martha Conway, Nov 26, 2018
How do you describe a character with Asperger’s—especially if your story takes place before such a thing had a name? Every writer needs to be able to describe their characters in short, succinct ways that immediately captures that character’s essence. Get tips on writing characters who are on the autism spectrum here.
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What Authors Need To Know When Writing About Law – Part 1
By Fred Johnson, October 1, 2018
If you’re writing legal fiction, crime thrillers, or any other kind of fiction that deals with legal issues, you'll need to know more about the law than you can learn from watching back-to-back episodes of CSI. After all, the law is complicated, it’s dry, and it changes from country to country and even from state to state. To help you get it right, here’s a short author’s guide to tackling the law.
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How to Research Your Writing to Ensure Technical Accuracy
By Dan Koboldt, Oct 17, 2018
Misconceptions pervade popular science fiction. Many, if not most, could have been avoided if the writers spent some time doing research. Learn these valuable tips here.
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How To Outline A Book
By Catia Shattuck, October 15, 2018
Outlining a book can sometimes be like pulling out teeth—your own teeth. But with an outline, you can easily get your book started, identify plot holes, cut out fluff, and reduce writer’s block. Learn how to outline a book here.
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Character Questionnaire for Authors
By Catia Shattuck
To write believable, realistic characters, you first need to know them. Here are some questions you can "ask" the main characters in your books to get to know them better!
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How to Read Faster: A Student’s Guide to Speed Reading
By Susie Dumond, September 4, 2018
Learn the basic tricks of speed-reading from a grad student who earned a 3.9 grade-point average here.
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10 Tips For Creating Your First Children’s Picture Book
By Michael Gallant July 23, 2012
A children’s picture book may seem simple, but creating a brilliant one is no easy task. How do you make yours smart, engaging, and fun — rather than clichéd, saccharine, and didactic? Here’s how!
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Differences Between American and British English Pronunciation, Vocabulary, Spelling, and Grammar with Examples
By Kenneth Beare, Updated January 20, 2019
Between the varieties of English, American English and British English, there are two varieties that are taught in most ESL/EFL programs. Generally, it is agreed that no one version is "correct" however, there are certainly preferences in use, and each can have an impact with unfamiliar readers. Learn the three major differences between American and British English here.