The Author Blog

Platform, publishing, and the author's craft.

Practical guides for indie authors navigating the publishing landscape.

Featured article
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Author Platform · Indie Publishing
Why Every Indie Author Needs More Than an Amazon Bio
Amazon knows your book exists. It has no idea who you are. Here's the difference between a listing and a professional presence — and why it matters for every pitch you send.
1580 Creative · 6 min read
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Platform & Presence
Author Platform New
Your Author Bio Is Your First Pitch. Most Authors Write It Last.
Most indie authors treat their bio as an afterthought — something you fill in after the book is done. Here's why that's exactly backwards, and what your bio is actually doing for you.
1580 Creative · 6 min read
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Author Platform New
What an Author Platform Actually Is — and How to Build One Without Burning Out
Every publishing guide tells indie authors to "build a platform." Almost none of them explain what that means in practice. Here's the honest version.
1580 Creative · 7 min read
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Author Marketing New
Social Media for Indie Authors: Which Platforms Matter and What to Actually Post
Every author gets told to be on social media. Almost no one explains which platforms reach readers, what to post, or how to do it without resenting it.
1580 Creative · 7 min read
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Publishing Strategy
Publishing · Indie vs. Traditional New
Traditional vs. Indie Publishing: An Honest Breakdown for Authors Who Are Actually Deciding
Most comparisons are written by people who've already chosen a side. Here's a version for authors who genuinely haven't decided yet — with the real tradeoffs, not the cheerleading.
1580 Creative · 9 min read
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Publishing · Query Letters New
How to Pitch Publishers and Agents Without Wasting Anyone's Time
Query letters get rejected in seconds — not because your book isn't good enough, but because the pitch didn't do its job. Here's what agents and editors actually need to see.
1580 Creative · 8 min read
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Book Launch New
The Indie Author's Book Launch: What to Do Before, During, and After
Most indie authors expect launch day to do the work. It doesn't. Here's what a real book launch looks like, when it actually starts, and what matters most.
1580 Creative · 8 min read
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Author Business · Speaking New
How to Get Booked for School Visits and Speaking Engagements as an Author
School visits are one of the most sustainable income streams for authors — and most indie authors have no idea how to get them. Here's what schools are actually looking for.
1580 Creative · 7 min read
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