I’ve been running Kickstarter campaigns since 2014, and backing them since way before then. In fact, I just realized I joined Kickstarter all the way back in 2011, even though I didn’t run my first project for 4 more years. Since I started running campaigns, I’ve raised over $70,000 across seven different campaigns from...
I’ve been seeing a lot of memes recently about the little mermaid trailer controversy: some people are upset that Disney’s new live action Ariel will be black – and have used arguments like “mermaids have always historically been white” or “it makes no sense for people under the sea to have more...
There are basically two challenges with writing. The first is knowledge. I see new authors post stuff online like “I’ve decided to write a book, but I don’t write or read books… how do I get started?” The common advice is to start writing; so first time authors just write a book with no guidance and end...
(and What Mistakes to Avoid) Unless you have a Rolodex of highly placed contacts in the online world at your fingertips, when it comes to landing guest posting gigs, good old cold email outreach is one of the most effective ways to get to yes. Now, I’m not talking about paid or sponsored guest posts The 3 secrets to book marketing, and a...
*Scroll all the way down for much better images since the last midjourney update.* Today I’m playing with midjourney for character and book cover design. You’ve probably seen people posting these to Facebook: what you get is extremely high quality concept art – nearly as good as you might expect to pay thousands of dollars...
This news has been making the rounds: a new reality show for writers called “America’s Next Great Author.” Casting calls are in San Francisco, on October 22, 2022. So far from my author friends, it’s been panned as exploitive: a cash grab for great IP or creative content (the fine print on the deal isn’t The 3...
This week I’ve finally been playing with text-to-image AI generators, and it’s been fun. Stunned by the creative artwork some of my facebook friends are creating, I wanted to get on board fast. I’ve been a book cover design and graphic artist for years, so I know my way around Photoshop. Ultimately I gave up The 3 secrets...
Journaling is one of those activities that plenty of people around the world turn to as a way to work out personal problems. It’s a method of self-discovery and working towards personal growth. But did you know that journaling can also be used to effectively boost your business prowess? It’s an ideal habit to form The 3 secrets to book...
I spent today writing four new articles about book marketing and making videos to go with them; I posted them over at marketing for writers but since it’s a new site, it doesn’t get any traffic yet… so I’m posting the links and videos here so you can read them. These are long, in-depth posts. How The 3 secrets to book...
When I was young, I couldn’t hold a pencil “the right way.” It became a challenge every year for my new teachers, until I was 12 or so. They would try various discipline or mechanical measures (rewards, punishments, or little rubber grips that made it much more difficult and uncomfortable to hold a pencil the The 3 secrets...
So you want to be a writer and create content for a consumer niche in your field… writing blog articles with a reputable company. Great – should be easy right? I mean, you’re looking for an unpaid internship just to get your foot in the door; you’re willing to work for free for goodness sake. The 3 secrets to book...
I love occasionally reviewing movies when they talk about creative or artistic themes. Generally, they romanticize the art and increase the conflict, by repeating harmful stereotypes. People – and most wannabe authors – *love* this stuff because it feels inspiring and reinforces their preexisting convictions. But that’s why...
I am constantly asked how to make a living as an author, and so here it is. If you want to have the best chance of being a successful author in 2022 (and beyond), then you should write one of the following genres: romance (including reverse harem, erotica, paranormal, et al) thriller (including crime, mystery,
