Books Are Dead

Why Books Are More Than Books: The Power of Intellectual Property

A valued patron recently pointed me toward a video by a YouTuber called the Nerdy Novelist. He's been in the newpub scene for the better part of a decade now and frequently rubs elbows with some of the bigger players. According to him, the advent of A.I. is forcing authors…
December 19, 20241 Comment
Brandon Sanderson BackerKit

Sanderson’s Flaw: The Trouble With Constantly Dynamic Characters

Brandon Sanderson is widely respected as a meticulous world builder, an innovative storyteller, and a prolific writer. Over the past two decades he's made his name as a crafter of ultra-refined magic systems and dynamic characters. But no methodology is flawless, and new writers can learn just as much from…
December 17, 20247 Comments
Left Behind Christian Fiction

Why Christian Authors Shouldn’t Write “Christian Fiction”

Christian authors these days often have a hard time discerning how to base their stories on the foundational morals of Christendom without writing "Christian fiction". "What's wrong with Christian fiction?" you ask? The fact that such a genre label is deemed necessary illustrates the problem. And it's no help that…
October 11, 202421 Comments
Differentiation

To Build Your Audience, Differentiate Your Brand

Everybody knows that the book market is saturated. That means a major challenge facing authors is standing out from the crowd. In an environment where readers are spoiled for choice, building a long-term audience requires differentiating your brand. Let's examine why differentiation matters and how to make it work for…
October 10, 2024No Comments
What Authors Can Learn from McDonald’s

What Authors Can Learn from McDonald’s

When you're trying to make a name for yourself as an author, it's tempting to aim for creating a single masterpiece that will set you apart from everyone else. But from a marketing standpoint, the better long-term strategy might be to focus on producing consistently good work. One of the…
October 9, 20243 Comments
Catapult launch

Newpub Strategies: How to Launch Your Book

On occasion I raise the velvet rope and give regular readers samples of the insider newpub strategies normally reserved for patrons. Today's de-paywalled post offers pro advice on perhaps the most important yet least understood parts of publishing. Launching a book successfully as an indie author requires careful planning and…
October 8, 20242 Comments
Why Not Every Fantasy Story Needs a Magic System

Why Not Every Fantasy Story Needs a Magic System

In recent years, the rise of intricate, well-defined magic systems—exemplified by Brandon Sanderson’s work—has led many aspiring authors to believe that a detailed set of rules governing magical abilities is essential for crafting compelling fantasy. While Sanderson’s approach to magic has proven highly successful, not every fantasy story benefits from…
October 4, 202424 Comments
Social Media Circus

Online Carnies and the Social Media Circus

There's just 1 week left to take back dark fantasy and reap the spoils. So back my grim adventure novel Lord of Fate on Kickstarter. Folks have been raking muck for attention since we left the Garden of Eden. Human nature is a) constant and b) fallen, so stirring up…
September 17, 20245 Comments
Higurashi - Business v Passion

Business Type x Passion Type

One central aim of this blog is helping writers learn to find readres. You can become one of mine by backing my dark fantasy novel Lord of Fate, now funding on Kickstarter. Ryukishi07, the creator of hit light novels such as Higurashi and Umineko, has given interviews in which he's highlighted…
September 9, 20243 Comments
Pie

Authors: Grow the Pie or Die

A speech that's become infamous in science fiction circles is Michel and Wolheim's "Mutation or Death." While the change it argued for was socialism, it did have a point from a business perspective. To paraphrase Major Motoko Kusanagi, stagnation is slow death. Business models must grow and adapt to thrive,…
August 29, 2024