![Facebook changes rules for book promotion – [ACCOUNT SUSPENDED] :0](https://www.creativindie.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/39507029_10157981144253438_5617771292787736576_n-606x455.jpg)
I’m reposting this news to give it a signal boost – concern was raised by author Katie M. John who shared this image: This is alarming, since so many of us use Facebook as part of our book marketing and promotion strategy. Katie wrote a great summary so I’m posting it here: Okay, I’ve seen the
Recently I’ve been going through an identity crisis. I know what I want to do, and what I’m good at, and what I enjoy. But increasingly I’m becoming less relevant to my audience (“Great Derek, you want to write books and travel full-time. But how can you help ME?”) On the one hand, I’m
I’ve been thinking about story this year. Partly, because I’ve been struggling with selling digital products in a way that’s authentic to my brand. But also, because – as a fiction writer – I SHOULD be good at this stuff. According to Story Telling Made Easy, “every time someone pays you, they’re making...
I heard someone say recently, “there are too many marketers and not enough artists.” As someone deep inside the publishing industry, however, I find the opposite to be true. Recently I went to a writing conference – there were over 500 writers. All of them wanted to be artists: they made the work and now
I started this blog in 2011 and did nothing for a year except read all the books on creativity. It was research for a manifesto, but the more I read, the more fascinated I became with the subject. After another 5 years of freelancing, building digital products and working as a creative professional (my income
This morning I did an interview on writing fiction and we discussed, among other things, whether writing faster books leads to inferior quality and whether writing to market creates inferior art. These are real conversations, and though I would answer “no” to both, I’m often challenged by thousands of passionate creators who...
Inspired by the movie “Limitless” where the protagonist takes a pill called NZT-48, which enhances his cognitive abilities to genius levels, the idea of using smart pills or “nootropics” for boosting productivity and achieving success has intrigued many. Here’s an experiment exploring the world of smart drugs...
This is a guest post by author Miantae Metcalf McConnell – I was so impressed she got her book featured in Oprah magazine, and I asked her to share what that process looked like. Every month O, The Oprah Magazine publishes a list of books that they recommend to their readers, a “Top Ten List”
Recently I’ve been learning about story. Specifically, using story architecture like a Trojan Horse: getting people to pay attention and disarm resistance, so that you can give them enough information to start liking (sympathy) and trusting (credibility) you. Because if they don’t like and trust you, they won’t keep...
Note from Derek: I usually tell authors not to bother with in-person stuff like book signings because it’s too much work, and to focus on online stuff instead… but book signings can be FUN – and doing a signing in Barnes & Noble (or any “real” bookstore) feels more significant, like a milestone or bucket...
I screwed up. Months ago I agreed to be part of a multi-author box set. I usually say no to these, but I have personal relationship with Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich (I even featured it in my PhD Thesis) so I submitted my chapter. The authors all offered a free course or bonus to
Udpate: This is a long, detailed blow-by-blow account of one of my early books launches. I just finished the whole series so at bottom I have a new video about some of the things I’m doing this time around for the series book launch. Make sure you scroll down for the latest tips! I haven’t
