Resources and tips for the self-published author.

As we move publishing into the future, we must leave some of its bad practices behind. That includes some classic titles and authors.

Publishing works every year to make itself more diverse and appropriate. Though it still has a long way to go, you can bet that includes changing previous ideas of classic and bestselling literature. As readers, we all want to read relatable content that reflects modern world views. Some previously published content is no longer included in that vision. Particularly with children’s literature, we want content that teaches equality, diversity, and inclusion. In order to do that, we have to stop publishing offensive and outdated content. This is the future of publishing that we all wish to see.

 

Writing Tools That Stand The Test Of Time

 

 

This week in publishing…

 

Screams were heard around the news desks as over-excited journo’s read the press release that Dr Suess Enterprises would no longer be publishing his books due to racist content. Of course, if you stopped and thought a bit you would know that some of the reporting must be wrong and you would be right. They are only pulling 6 books from republication… and it’s not the words that are the problem it’s the stereotypes depicted in the pictures. Theodore was a cartoonist first and a stereotype was the fastest way to get across an idea. The world has moved on. Some books haven’t made the cut 70 years later. It makes me wonder what books published now will still be beloved and relevant in the future.

 

A year on from the beginning of the Covid lockdowns and all the Covid books are coming out. Publishing Perspectives looks at the scientists who are bringing out books about the pandemic.

 

There have been rumblings for as long as I’ve been writing this blog about predatory tactics used by unscrupulous publishers preying on the vulnerable newbie writer. Every year you hear of a new shonky player, usually an old shonky player with a new name, ripping off writers. Now the Society of Authors and a few other writer organizations have banded together to target these publishing predators. The first stop should be the large publishing companies that have taken these predators under their wing giving them a smattering of publishing cred.

 

Ruth Harris has a great blog post on the power of the writer’s notebook. What do you choose to write notes on? I was interested to see that writers still go for paper and pens.

 

Steve Potash the CEO of Overdrive has written an interesting thought piece on searching for the perfect library access model. Overdrive distributes ebooks to libraries and they have been having great success with their bulk buys for schools and library districts. These models may be coming to a library near you.

 

Writing Guru Stephen Pressfield recently wrote about a problem he was having. Are you too scared to sell yourself? In these modern publishing times, you have to hustle for your book and your publisher. It is the opposite mindset of the writer.

 

Kris Rusch writes this week about the power of backlist and how the publishing model of velocity out of the gate has hurt some publishers. Will we go back to the way publishing worked before covid? The numbers suggest a very different publishing future.

 

This article popped up in my Twitter timeline. How to format ebooks in Google Docs. I’ve never really explored Google docs… they have some nifty features hiding there in their tools menu.

 

In The Craft Section,

Introducing unique story elements- Becca Puglisi- Bookmark

The key to writing genre stories– Brian Hill

What things is your character hiding– K M Weiland- Bookmark

How to choose scenes for your novel– Mythcreants- Bookmark

Definitions of the anti-hero – Nofilmschool

 

In The Marketing Section,

How to market a book with smart planning– Penny Sansevieri- Bookmark

10 free ways to increase author website traffic– Sandra Beckwith

Infographic -6 ways to increase social media traffic– Barb Drozdowich

How to make eye-catching graphics– Sonja Yoerg- Bookmark

How to boost your backlist sales– SelfpublishingFormula- Bookmark

 

To Finish,

There are many tools that writers would consider essential in the modern-day writer toolbox. I consider that at the very least you need a good computer/word processing program, a great writing craft book to hone your skills, and a list of places that will help you sell your book when it’s finished. So here are two great posts that you can stash away in the toolbox that address two out of the three. A collection of great character tools to boost your plot and David Gaughran’s updated best promo sites guide. David’s YouTube channel is essential viewing.

 

Maureen

@craicer

 

About Maureen Crisp

Maureen Crisp has been writing her weekly publishing roundups for over seven years. She is a traditionally published children's author as well as indie-published. She lives in New Zealand and is heading the team organising the 4th National Conference of Children's Writers and Illustrators. She is currently trying her hand at writing a children’s book series if she can drag herself away from forever tweaking her Mars novel or obsessing over space.