In my illustrious 9-year career as a book editor, I have come across a range of authors, some of whom have been serious about their writing career, and others who have been more laid-back and approach writing as a hobby. For the more serious authors,… Read More »How to Purchase an ISBN
When using song lyrics in your book, it’s important to do your homework. If you’re not careful about obtaining permissions where necessary, you can be sued for copyright infringement (yikes).To obtain permission on using song lyrics in your book, you must first determine who is… Read More »How to Use Song Lyrics in Your Book
Before I even begin, I’m going to include a legal disclaimer: I’m NOT an accountant. But in working with my accountant for the six years I’ve been in business, I’ve slowly started to understand how my clients, who can pay anywhere in the range of $1,500… Read More »How to Write Off the Cost of Editing Services
Pen names are becoming more popular than ever for a variety of reasons: they can help your author name be unique and memorable, protect your privacy, or differentiate you from other writers in your genre. But pseudonyms aren’t for every author—there are some things to… Read More »Choosing a Pen Name: What You Need To Know Before Using A Pseudonym
If you’ve written a great book, chances are readers will turn to the very last page to see who, exactly, is this masterful writer. Your author bio should tell a story about you that your readers can connect with. There are two places where your… Read More »How to Write a Smashing Author Bio
Being a book editor means I have edited some incredible books over the years. Unfortunately, not all of the books I have edited have done well in terms of sales, mostly because authors incorrectly assume that if they publish a book, people will immediately know about it… Read More »Why You Should Get Your Self-Published Book Reviewed
What’s the best way to spend a lazy afternoon? Browsing the shelves at a major bookstore like Barnes & Noble, a lot of readers would say. If you’re a self-publishing author, the concept of getting your book on the bookshelves at any nationwide bookseller is a… Read More »How to Get Your Book in Barnes & Noble Stores
Self-publishing your book is not for the faint of heart. While self-publishing has tons of benefits such as bigger royalties and complete control of your rights, it’s also a time-consuming task that will launch you into a whole new universe. The majority of my author… Read More »The Ultimate Checklist for Self-Publishing Your Book
“Even after it’s printed, something will drive me crazy.” I’ve heard this line from somany authors, especially those who are publishing a book for the first time. Many first-time authors find it difficult to stop making minor tweaks on their book, even after it’s been edited.… Read More »No Book Will Ever Be “Perfect”
If you’re a self-published author, it’s going to happen eventually: You’ll get a negative review on your book. What a drag, right? Feelings of self-doubt come rushing in. You might start to wonder where you went wrong and what you could have done differently. This happens… Read More »How to React to a Bad Book Review