We’re getting awfully close to the beginning of summer, with Memorial Day here in the U.S. just a week away. Maybe that’s why several of my trusted partners have all of a sudden put “on vacation” messages on their voicemail. But you and I, toiling away over an overheated keyboard, need some respite too. So here are the articles I’ve selected for you this week, so kick back, grab a beverage, and enjoy some really helpful reading.

Jane Friedman on Jane Friedman
Do You Need to Rethink Your Website’s Key Elements?
“For 10 years, I’ve been analyzing website traffic—for my own site, for Writer’s Digest (when I worked for them from 2001–2010), and now for the Virginia Quarterly Review…Every site has different traffic patterns, but what I’ve learned is that the homepage is rarely the first page that visitors see. They often end up on a story page from a social media link, or they may visit through a “side door” after conducting a Google search and finding something useful in your archives.”

Kimberley Grabas on Your Writer Platform
Email List Building Series (Part 3): The Set Up, Start to Finish
“This post will hammer out the exact steps you need to take to set up your email list and start collecting email addresses on your website. You’ll not only know how to create–and where to place–your web forms, but have a collection of tools that will help make the task much easier.

Rachel Thompson on Book Promotion . Com
Why ‘Read My Book!’ Doesn’t Work…And What To Do Instead
“Almost daily, I receive requests from authors who want me to read and review their book. This is like throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping it sticks.”

Joe Konrath on A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing
Time to Reform Copyright
“In 1787 the Philadelphia Convention took place between May and September, to address problems in the newly formed USA. The result was the Consitituion, which included Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8: To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries. From this clause came US copyright law.”

Carla Douglas on Beyond Paper Editing
Tips for Posting a Review on Audible.com
“Good news for self-pubs: Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX) has just become available in the UK, making it possible for self-publishing authors there to produce professional quality audiobooks.”

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