Just Because My Publisher Did Something Cool
There are a lot of reasons (many of them noble) to buy ebooks — saving trees, saving the ozone, lower cost — but here’s a new one: saving democracy.
There’s a big push on to buy ebooks instead of print books to…[Read More]
Creating the Perfect Book Dedication
Should your book’s dedication be personal, professional, or commercial?
New authors often think dedicating a book is easy, and for that first book it usually is. You dedicate it to “My loving wife” or “My devoted husband.” After all, you want to keep peace in the house. No reason to start a fight over a few poorly chosen words, right?
Of course, you might also dedicate your book to your children, particularly if it’s a children’s book, or a dear parent or grandparent. Perhaps a mentor, teacher, professor. Perhaps a fellow author, or your editor. Maybe your inspiration for the book. Maybe even a celebrity.
Suddenly, your list of possibilities gets very long, particularly if you’re working on a series, or this is your tenth book and you’ve run out of spouses, children, and close family members who should get that big thank you.
So, how you decide who gets your cherished book dedication?
Comedy Sayings That Can Improve Any Author’s Writing
Want to know what stand-up comedy can teach you about writing? There are about as many types of comedy as there are genres of literature. Prop comedy. Political comedy. Observations. … Continue reading
How Putting Together a Picture Book Is Like Managing a Baseball Team
When I was a kid, I was passionate about two things: baseball and reading. There were summers where I barely missed a Phillies game on the radio. I either watched … Continue reading
Being Ready for Unexpected Opportunities — Crashing a VIP Party
Will you be ready if a big moment suddenly drops in your lap? Last week, it was announced that the most famous John Briggs in kidlit sold Holiday House, the … Continue reading
Getting Your Book Published: Labor, Luck or Kismet?
Every time somebody says, “Things happen for a reason,” I say, “Yeah, but it doesn’t have to be a good reason.” I’m not exactly a believer in what you’d call … Continue reading
The Importance of the Book Pre-Order to Authors
Why early success means continued success in publishing. Does it really matter if you order a book online before its official release date? Before its “book birthday” as they say … Continue reading
The Personal Rejection: The Backhanded Compliment of Publishing
Sometimes editors love your book but still can’t publish it. There are two types of rejection letters – the dreaded form letter and the personal rejection letter. The former is … Continue reading
Are You Invested in Your Book?
When you finish writing your book, few people will doubt you’re committed to your writing. You’ve spent months or years putting it on paper, and hopefully poured your heart into … Continue reading
Publishing Isn’t Struggling for the Reasons You Think It Is
Can the publishing model really be defended? A few weeks ago The New York Times ran an article that said the publishing business is struggling because it fails to take … Continue reading
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