By Shelley Sturgeon

Are you planning to participate in NaNoWriMo this year? If you are, here’s your heads up, it starts in a little more than a week! Depending on your personal circumstances, you may find that you have fewer outside distractions than usual because of isolating in your home during COVID and maybe this is the ideal time to try it?

Still time to submit your e-book covers to our contest for October (that will be published in late November). All the info you need can be found here. Don’t miss September’s e-Book Cover Design Awards post here on this coming Monday (October 26th).

And, check back here next week for our latest edition of Self-Publishing: Carnival of the Indies.

Hang in there! Be well and stay safe!

Timothy Lewis on ALLi’s Self-Publishing Advice Center
TwitterChat: The Top 100 Tools for Authors
“If you’re looking to connect with more people in our industry, joining The Indie Author Twitter Chat is the perfect way to start. Network with other authors and self-publishing professionals, learn new strategies and get answers to your most pressing questions from our guest experts.”

Krystal Craiker on BookBaby Blog
Root Out These Five Writing Mistakes Before You Publish
“Self-editing a piece slated for publishing goes beyond spell-checking your work. These writing mistakes should also be addressed to ensure your writing is clear, vibrant, and effective.”

Michelle Melton Cox on Jane Friedman
What You Can Learn About Platform From a 12-Year-Old
“You can’t build a platform if you don’t put yourself out there. You must put your creative work and ideas into the arena. It feels scary and vulnerable, and it is both of those things. But do it anyway.”

Stephanie Chandler on Nonfiction Authors Association
How to Host a Soft Launch for Your Book on Amazon to Dazzle Potential Readers and Boost Sales
“When you self-publish a book, you have several options for launching it into the world.How to Host a Soft Launch for Your Book on Amazon to Dazzle Potential Readers and Boost Sales You can host a presale on Amazon and promote it for weeks or even months in advance. This strategy can be effective, especially if you have a following of supporters and want to build sales momentum.”

Sandra Beckwith on Build Book Buzz
Indie authors lead the way
“I’ve read several articles detailing how authors are dealing with COVID-19. The word “authors” in these articles nearly always refers to traditionally published writers who are suddenly left high and dry.”

Photo: pixabay.com