My dear Gentle Reader,

This one if for authors/writers who are interested in publishing & marketing their books.

This post is part of my occasional FAQ series where I endeavor to answer questions I get asked all the time. (Mainly so I have a perma-link to point people at in future.)

Below I list the blogs and podcasts I find most useful as a hybrid author (traditional publishing, yes but those related to indie and self publishing). I recommend picking episodes/posts based on topic. But also, no matter your path it’s a good idea to pay attention to things that work for any author.

(I keep this list as updated as possible, since I also use it as a resource for myself. But this is the internet, they do fade FAST. )

10+ Best Blogs for Authors

1. The Blood-Red Pencil
2. The Book Designer – cover art stuff
3. Build Book Buzz – mostly business, specifically sales & marketing
4. Elizabeth Spann Craig – craft & business
5. Fiction University (was The Other Side of the Story) – bit of everything (cards on the table I have written articles for them before – volunteer, unpaid)
6. Just Publishing Advice for Writers and Authors – mostly broad strokes author business stuff
7. Kindlepreneur – all business, Amazon bias
8. Kristine Kathryn Rusch – mostly business, self publishing bias
9. Nathan Bransford – mostly craft and industry gossip/monitoring
10. ALLi Self-Publishing Advice Center –  what it says on the tin
11. Smart Blogger – specifically if you have an author blog, although SEO hacking tips can help with your author newsletter
12. Writer Beware – probably the nation’s foremost author watchdog operation
13. Writer Unboxed – mostly craft and inspiration
14. Written Word Media – craft & business

I consume blogs via Feedly every morning with tea, as if they were a newspaper or more… a salacious gossip rag. 

20+ Best Podcasts For Authors

Some of these are podfaded, but you can still pick back eps by subject and dive in, so leave the links live.

1. Publishing Rodeo – if you want to be traditionally published as an SF/F author, this podcast is for you. Protect yourself. If you ask me a question about debuting in trad, these days I will point you here. Frankly? It wigs me out a bit because their conversation reminds me of my early days. So much has changed, so much remains the same.
2. The Allusionist – a podcast about (mostly) the English language from one of the worlds most lovely voices
3. AskAlli: Self-Publishing Advice Podcast – obviously this is self publishing focused but in this day and age, even if you are traditionally published you’ll like end up self publishing something at soem point, this is a great all around resource for that (all genres including non-fic)
4. The Author Biz (podfade)
5. The Book Marketing Action Podcast
6. The Blogging Millionaire – specifically if you have an author blog, although SEO hacking tips can help with your author newsletter, so this is one of those that is publishing industry tangential (odds are, if you found this blog post but you aren’t already a fan of my books, the hacks from this podcast were in play)
7. Bound By Books
8. Call Number with American Libraries
9. The Creative Penn – indie & futurist focused
10. Go Publish Yourself from IngramSpark (podfade)
11. The Every Day Novelist – scifi, indie, craft focused
12. Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)
13. Kobo Writing Life Podcast
14. Murverse (Ditch Diggers & I Should Be Writing podcasts) – traditional publishing sf/f bent
15. Novel Marketing
16. Open Book Besties (podfade)
17. Pencils & Lipstick – romance focused
18. Print Run Podcast – 2 agents’ perspective, traditional publishing only
19. The Rebel Author podcast
20. The Sell More Books Show
21. Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing – industry insider
22. Science Fiction & Fantasy Marketing Podcast (podfade)
23. The Self Publishing Podcast (podfade)
24. Self-Publishing Advice (from ALLi)
25. The Smarty Pants Book Marketing Podcast (defunk but some good backlist)
26. SPA Girls Podcast – from New Zealand, romance focused, fun group of personalities and author business approaches
27. The Sell More Books Show – weekly updates and industry round ups, probably the one on this list that I personally find the most useful (since Six Figure Authors faded)
28. The Writer’s Mindset
29. Write About Now
30. Writers, Ink (author interview focused)

Gail consumes her podcasts using Overcast.

Gail’s pinterest board Writer Education is full of more recommended resources for authors.

10 More Installments of Gail talking about publishing?

1. 10 Things About Publishing This Author Wishes Everyone Knew
2. 7 Tips for Getting Over Writer’s Block
3. What is an author style guide? How about a style sheet?
4. How to Write (and Not to Write) an Author Bio
5. The Pros & Cons of Cons
6. 7 Side Effects of Being a Full Time Author
7. Pen Names, Cover Art & Reader Betrayal
8. Plot Versus Pace (Why That Book Sucks)
9. Learn to Let Go of the 10%
10. Writing Humor

Yours,

Miss Gail 

Find my books 

Direct | Amazon | Kobo | Bookshop.org | B&N | Apple | Foyles | Mcnally Robinson | Angus Robertson

Here’s a printable Downloadable Checklist of ALL my books!

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BOOK DE JOUR!

• Tired of the hero’s journey?
• Frustrated that funny, romantic, and comforting stories aren’t taken seriously?
• Sad that the books and movies you love never seem to be critically acclaimed, even when they sell like crazy?

The Heroine’s Journey is here to help.

Multiple New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger presents a clear concise analysis of the heroine’s journey, how it differs from the hero’s journey, and how you can use it to improve your writing and your life.

DAILY DOSE

Your Tisane of Smart . . .

Gender Neutral Pronouns: Singular ‘They’

Your Writerly Tinctures . . .  

15 Productivity Apps to Help Keep Your Writing Goals on Track

Quote of the Day:

“She reads books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live.”

~ Annie Dillard