The internet is swarming with writing and publishing blogs. Which ones are worth reading?
I dip into lots of blogs, and get inspiring and useful insights every day, but I don’t want to overwhelm you with the list of my 50 favourites! So I had a little think and came up with this Sampler of just four blogs, to help you get started on the self-publishing path.
1. Joanna Penn, www.theCreativePenn.com
Joanna Penn is an Englishwoman who lived in Australia for a while, and that’s where I attended one of her workshops on social media in 2011. (If you ever get a chance to hear her speak, jump at it.)
- Successful self-publisher of both fiction (novels) and non-fiction, who has learned on-the-job. She started self-publishing before ebooks and print-on-demand revolutionised the industry, so she has a useful before-and-after perspective.
- As JF Penn, she has sold hundreds of thousands of copies of her thrillers. Lots of traditionally published authors can only dream of that many sales. She publishes non-fiction as Joanna Penn.
- Her success is meaningful for the rest of us, because it has been achieved by working hard and smart over a period of time, analysing and adjusting and working some more. It’s NOT one of those cases where someone sells a million copies because of freakish coincidences. Her success is repeatable by ordinary mortals.
- She is courageously and generously transparent about the ups and downs of the writing and publishing life. She even shares her sales figures.
Things to look for on this blog:
- My favourites are Joanna’s articles on book marketing, where she draws on her own experience and the experiences of other indie authors. As a start, go to this page of her top marketing posts.
- Extensive use of video and podcasts, for those who’d rather watch or listen than read, and tips for how to start using those technologies yourself.
- Masses of free resources, as well as some great online (paid) courses, if you want to go a bit deeper on certain topics. Wisely, she even has a “Start Here” page to help you find your way through the hundreds of articles on the blog.
2. Molly Greene, www.molly-greene.com
Molly Greene is a writer from Southern California, who has become a friend and encourager since we met on Twitter! She began blogging and publishing later than Joanna Penn, and therefore is dealing with a different set of challenges as the industry evolves. Her blog gives the sense of walking alongside fellow Learners, and the tone is warm and approachable.
- Professional marketing writer turned blogger and novelist, so she’s a capable writer and a savvy thinker.
- Self-published author of both women’s fiction (Mark of the Loon) and the Blog It! guide to blogging.
- One of the most natural and genuine Twitter operators I have seen. She has 25,000+ followers but somehow engages with them more than many other tweeters with large followings manage to do.
Things to look for on this blog:
- Describes problems she has encountered in both blogging and publishing, and shares the solutions she’s discovered — in non-techy and friendly ways. She will interact with your comments and not make you feel silly. Try this post on how to increase blog traffic and gain subscribers.
- Her Twitter advice is always worth listening to, such as this post on how to build a Twitter following.
- She hunts out useful guest posts from experts in such things as copyright law, and other self-publishers who have tried new techniques or social platforms or marketing methods.
- Posts appear weekly, so it’s not a deluge in your Inbox if you subscribe, and pretty much every single post has something useful in it.
3. Joel Friedlander, www.thebookdesigner.com
Joel Friedlander is another American blogger, writing from decades of experience in printing, graphic design, typography and book publishing. He takes extensive knowledge from the “engine room” of old-style publishing, and applies it to the self-publishing process to help authors create something that looks professional — an important part of catching the eye of potential readers.
- A long career in printing, typesetting, design and the traditional publishing process.
- An ability to translate these principles into formats and methods that writers can use for themselves.
- Regular speaker at writing and publishing conferences.
Things to look for on this blog:
- The monthly eBook Cover Design Awards are inspiring when it comes to designing your own covers — I’m always checking them out.
- The monthly Carnival of the Indies gathers up top recent blog posts on a variety of self-publishing topics from around the web. If you have limited time, checking into this carnival once a month is a good place to start.
- Articles on marketing and algorithms and various technical aspects of self-publishing.
- Templates to help you produce a good-looking print book using Word.
4. Michael Hyatt, michaelhyatt.com
Michael Hyatt is the former Chairman and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, one of the largest Christian publishers in the world. He has been a literary agent in the past, and is now an author and speaker. While he mostly inhabits the traditional publishing space, he has done some self-publishing of his own, and lots of his ideas also transfer well to self-publishing. His articles often have a Christian flavour, but still have plenty of good advice for non-religious writers.
- A long career in trade publishing at high levels of leadership.
- A friendly, easy-to-read writing style.
- He has more than 300,000 subscribers, which boggles the mind, but also means his tips on how to develop a platform are well worth listening to.
- A geeky guy who likes to share his new discoveries about how technology is helping him do his job.
Things to look for on this blog
Find his self-publishing articles here: https://michaelhyatt.com/?s=self+publishing
So that’s my Sampler of four blogs to get you started in self-publishing. They are all very different people, and very different blogs, but that’s half the fun! If I didn’t mention your blog, fear not, I still love you. Another time! 😉
It was very hard limiting this Sampler to just four, but I hope these will give you a useful cross-section of information, if you are just embarking on the self-publishing journey.
Also don’t forget you are welcome to check out my free ebook Should I Self-Publish? for more practical tips on investigating your self-publishing options.
Tell us which blogs you love, and why. Help other writers. I love to read your comments!
I’ve only heard of two – Creative Penn and Book Designer. I especially like the Book Designer. I will make sure to check out the other two. If you have time, check out my blog and tell me what you think. http://www.taneekabdasilva.com.
Believing that, “If We Write it They Will Come”
There are a lot of writers who mistakenly believe that self-publishing is an easier and faster way to fame and success. Yeah, um no. And those magic beans are really just beans. Sorry.
Self-publishing is A LOT of work, especially if we are starting out this way. I know Bob Mayer and Joe Konrath lecture writers to do less social media and more writing. To an extent I agree, but here is the thing. These guys were branded traditional authors who could slap New York Times Best-Selling in front of their names when they decided to go it alone. If you can’t slap New York Times Best-Selling in front of your name, prepare for a ton of work.
Very true, Freddie. Self-publishing is a lot of work.
Traditional publishing is also a lot of work.
Really that is very important information ! Thank you for sharing it. We are in same field . For more information please do visit our website.
Creative Penn and The Book Designer definitely ring a bell. If I may, I have a blog too, http://www.self-publishingresources.com/. Fresh articles, tidbits, and news about self-publishing are main the focus on this blog.
I recognized the Creative Penn and The Book Designer, but the other two were new to me. Always great to discover quality blogs in the self-publishing arena.
It’s also interesting how others who are, as you say, friends and encouragers can be of help to us rather than competition.
Dave, I love the way self-pubbers often help others, even though they are direct competition. Who knows if it will always be that way, but I’m enjoying it while it lasts. 🙂
Thanks for this great post!
To enrich the marketing strategies for authors, in addition to what it is mentioned here, I’d like to include the following which I could test with good results:
1. Take advantage of the launch of a new site thebooksmachine.com to give your work a shock of publicity tools and also obtain honest reviews on the platform where you have published your books. The platform has a paid membership but they are offering free memberships for a limited time. I can’t guarantee that they’ll still be available so you should try to take advantage while it lasts.
2. Fill in your author information on Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, etc. It’s really important that we connect to the reader, especially when they don’t know us.
3. Regularly edit and improve the description of your book on those online stores. The description doesn’t just tell what your book is about IT’S ALSO THE READER’S FIRST IMPRESSION. A reader judges your writing based on your description. It’s important not only to inform the reader, you have to seduce them.
4. Create visual support for your book through a website so that when you post on social media you have a visual connection. If you can’t afford the investment in a professional web page, create a blog. There are tons of tutorials.
Well friends, that’s my mini summary of what I have experienced first-hand.
I’m already putting it into practice daily with my book and I’m seeing my sales increase daily.
Stay well,
Amy
Great post, Belinda! Wonderful information on what’s immediately useful for self-publishing on these blogs.
Yes, they continue to be favourite blogs of mine. 🙂
I am a publicist out of Los Angeles and if you google me….you will find I’m real. I take on authors with marketable books, I have very reasonable rates, packages, also per item fees for publicity and marketing of your books. I have the ability to get you the author and your book known around the world via social media, press releases, media interviews in news papers, radio and television. I also have the ability through my connections to have your book on the largest electronic billboard at Times Square in NY….feel free to contact me for review of your books possibilities. rod@rlhtalent.com Rod L. Harrell
Joanna Penn is excellent. I have used her advice in the past. Self-publishing evolves daily. Up-to-date information can be found in my book, A Writer’s Notebook, along with 20 other topics that writers need to move their projects ahead. Help is here, so why work alone? Check out my website for a sample.
http://www.sanmiguelallendebooks.com/writernotebook.html
Great post! I’d read the Creative Penn before, but not the others. They are now added to my weekly blog check.
While I might nominate my own blog since I do cover the ups and downs of indie publishing, I’m not going to. There is someone I’ve found far more helpful to me. You should try http://www.rachelintheoc.com for all her helpful tips concerning writing but also concerning marketing and social media. Plus, she’s funny. It’s like an added cherry to all the learning.
Thanks BC. Rachel writes some great articles. And funny is always an advantage. 😉
All the best with your own blogging. I hope you have great success and some wonderful interactions!
Belinda, thanks so much for your lovely write up and for selecting my blog to include in your list, I’m honored.
You’re very welcome, Joel. I particularly enjoy your design-focused posts, but I get a lot out of many of the others as well. Thanks for being so generous in sharing your expertise.
Thanks for this great article Belinda. It is wonderful to benefit from your experience and find some sites to head to straight away. Of course, I’m always visiting yours now that I know about it. The comments above also provide further fodder. I have lots of reading to do!
Thank you for the lovely comments about my blog, Norah. I aspire to be as good as those in my sampler. 🙂 Enjoy — there is so much excellent information out there, freely given by generous people. It has certainly revolutionised my understanding of this changing industry!
Thanks for including my site Belinda, and for your support over the years! Things have changed a lot since I was in Brisbane, and perhaps that’s also a good lesson on the speed of change – we think nothing is happening but then suddenly, I’m coming up to 2 years full-time author-entrepreneur 🙂 You’ve also come a long way too!
It’s a pleasure, Joanna. Your blog is a powerhouse! I always get something useful when I drop by.
I get a thrill when I see how well your writing/publishing career is going, not just for your own sake but also because it makes me think, “Yes, it can be done!” Wishing you many, many more years of success.
Thanks for this list of fab blogs, Belinda. And a massive thank you to Joanna Penn for inspiring me to go down the indie author entrepreneur route! Your blog was my first experience of the indie author community. I love the ‘cooperation not competition’ vibe that’s promoted on the creative penn, and between self-published authors everywhere. The internet has not only empowered us to reach readers directly, but to help each other too! 🙂
You’re welcome, Julie, and thanks for stopping by. My entry to the world of self-publishing bloggers was also Joanna’s site! It’s become a comprehensive resource and an ideas bank in the years since I first discovered it.
I agree with you too about the spirit of cooperation, collaboration and encouragement that we see so often among indie authors. It’s inspiring to see people help each other. Best wishes for your writing endeavours! 🙂
Thank you Belinda, and keep up your own excellent blog too of course! 🙂
I agree with your first three suggestions and I’d like to suggest one more: http://www.BookMakingBlog.com. It’s mine.
I cover a wide range of subjects at least five days each week, and have been posting for nearly five years. Topics include writing, editing, grammar, design, marketing, pricing, advertising, publicity, selecting suppliers and more. I also review books aimed at self-publishers.
I’m a bestselling author and publisher of more than 30 books.
http://www.CreateBetterBooks.com
Thanks for taking the time to stop by, Michael. We’ll check that one out. 🙂
Wow, Belinda! Thank you so much for including me in your wonderful list. I’m honored. I feel like my blog has been an experiment in sharing what I’ve learned, as I’ve learned it – with all my messy mistakes revealed. It’s been great fun, hard work, and has brought me confidence and the support of great new friends like yourself. Thanks again!
Hi Molly, you’re welcome, and it’s easy to tell the truth! I think the fact that you are so bold about revealing your “messy mistakes” is what makes it so useful for the rest of us as we learn. We feel as though you are walking beside us, rather than making us feel inferior in any way. Keep up the good work! 🙂
Love these four blogs, Belinda! Thanks for giving them the exposure they deserve. At BookWorks we especially love Joel’s since he compiles a list of blog posts he really likes at the end of every week, which is a great service.
BookWorks has its own burgeoning blog where we try and give a balanced comment on the self-publishing news of the day, as well as resources and tips we think authors might find helpful across the board!
http://bookworksblog.wordpress.com/
Hi Chance, yes Joel’s weekly rundown is a good one too.
Thanks for giving us the tip about your blog. And thanks for stopping by. 🙂