As the year winds down even us publishing folk get distracted by holiday shopping, shoveling snow, trying to find parking at the mall, and all the other wonderful ways we spend our time the last couple of weeks of the year. But this seems like a perfect time to catch you up on two of the best online resources for self-publishers.
Self-Publishing Review
Right after I first started blogging on TheBookDesigner.com, I received a tweet from Henry Baum at the Self-Publishing Review asking to reprint my article on understanding the ISBN on his blog. Henry ended up using the article as his first guest post.
Here’s how Henry describes Self-Publishing Review:
The Self-Publishing Review is an online magazine devoted to self-publishing: book reviews, publisher reviews, interviews, news, opinion, and how to’s for the self-publisher.
The aim of this site is to legitimize self-publishing – not just as a fallback plan, but as an avenue that’s increasingly necessary and useful in a competitive publishing industry. If the site has a manifesto it is to improve the culture around self-publishing.
Over the holidays Henry is busy refurbishing his site and will be adding social media functions to promote the community aspect of Self-Publishing Review. He is also the principle of Backword Books.
I’m honored to be a Contributor in 2010 to Self-Publishing Review. When the overhaul is done, watch for an article about the intricate history of one of my favorite typefaces, complete with noble families and murder most foul. I’ll include a link here once the article is up, but don’t hesitate to check out SPR if you aren’t familiar with it.
Publetariat
I’m very pleased and honored that April L. Hamilton, Indie Author and founder of Publetariat, has invited me to be a Contributor, and the first two articles of mine reprinted from TheBookDesigner.com have been posted there.
Here’s how April describes Publetariat:
Publetariat is an online community and news hub built specifically for indie authors and small, independent imprints. Who needs another online writers’ community? If you’re an indie author or a small imprint, you do. There are plenty of online sites and communities for writers, but none of them serve all the specific wants and needs of indie authors and small imprints.
When you’re an active indie on one of those other sites, it’s only a matter of time before more traditional-minded site members start belittling and dismissing you and your work because “you weren’t good enough to get a real publishing contract,” or some similar nonsense. This is a place where you will never again have to defend your choice to go indie, because everyone here has either done the same thing or supports your decision to do so.
Publetariat is a remarkably useful site for everyone interested in writing and independent publishing, and April is certainly one of the most passionate and thoughtful advocates for the indie publishing “movement.” If you’ve never visited, you’ll be amazed at how much useful information you can find there.
You’ll see more of my articles on Publetariat in the new year.
Go over and subscribe to these wonderful resources now, while you’re thinking of it. You’ll be glad you did.
