What is an "About the Author" section, and do you need one? If you're an author, you most certainly do! "About the Author" is a brief text that introduces you to readers, much like an elevator pitch but in writing. This is your chance to explain who...
When writing a story, one of the first questions you ask yourself is what kind of story you are writing. Is it a short story, a novel, or a novella? While the first two are quite well-known, you might wonder, "What is a novella?" A novella is a story that falls...
In 2024, it's hard to imagine authors publishing their books in print without considering also releasing them in several eBook formats. According to the Pew Research Center's 2021 study, reading habits are diversifying. While 75% of adults read a book in the past...
There's nothing new under the sun, and all great stories boil down to the same basic plot structure: there's a conflict, it builds up to a high point, and eventually, one way or another, it gets resolved. However, there are different ways to engage your readers....
Color psychology in marketing is used to influence people's emotions and decisions. Brands leverage colors color to capture people's attention and shape their feelings about a product. For example, a bright yellow makes people feel happy and energetic, while a deep...
Do you often base book choices on their covers? You probably do because humans are visual creatures. Even if you decide not to pay attention to the design, you might be intrigued by the title and drawn in by a familiar author's name. A blind date with a book...
Ursula Le Guin has profoundly influenced what it means to be a fantasy writer. What stuck with me from her speech at the Children's Literature Breakfast BookExpo in 2004, while not directly related to fantasy world-building, defines its purpose. She believed that...
A writer's journey can often be isolating, especially without a writer's group for support. It's great to have people to share ideas with, get feedback, or discuss story elements and character development. Self-publishing authors often need more guidance than those...
Creative book cover design involves a tough balancing act. The design must communicate several things: what kind of book it is, its main themes, and what type of writer you are. At the same time, it also should grab potential readers' attention. You might be...
Is it important to maintain consistency in your book series design? Let's have a thought experiment. If someone bought one book from your series, how will they be able to recognize other books from that series in the bookstore? Of course, they can research your name...
Urban fantasy is a unique genre where magic meets the modern world. Urban fantasy book covers open the door to the magical universe within. Your book cover is the first thing a reader sees, and it can sway them to pick up the book or pass it by. Creating excellent...
Formatting your ebook is a key step in self-publishing. It's what turns your finished manuscript into a book that's easy and enjoyable to read on digital devices. After you've finished writing and editing your book, the next big task is making it look good on...