I’d always heard that landing a Bookbub deal could really help with marketing your book.

I’d tried a couple of times before with no luck. But recently, I submitted my historical fantasy, The Curse of King Midas, and was selected for a BookBub Featured Deal.

But there was a catch—it wasn’t for the U.S. market. My deal was for international readers only.

When I realized that, I wasn’t so sure about moving forward. I did some research and then decided to go for it.

In this article, I’ll discuss my experience, share my results, and tell you whether it was worth it.

How Much Does a BookBub Featured Deal Cost?

Cost is one of the biggest factors in deciding whether to apply for a BookBub deal. Prices vary depending on several factors:

• Your book’s genre
• The price of your book during the promotion
• Whether your deal includes the U.S. or is international only

For my deal, I promoted a fantasy novel at $0.99 (the second-lowest pricing tier available, after “free”). My international-only deal (which included the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia) cost $196.

The price would have been significantly higher if I had been selected to include the U.S. Since this was my first experience with Bookbub’s featured deals, I was kind of glad to have been chosen for international only. It gave me a chance to see what the deal would do for me without spending as much as a U.S. deal would cost.

The trade-off between price and royalties is important to consider. A lower-priced book will sell more copies but yield lower earnings per sale. (At 99 cents per book, I earned only about 30 cents per copy, for example.) Plus, the Bookbub featured deal costs less.

A higher-priced book (you can go up to $4.99) means fewer sales but greater royalties per copy. It also means a higher price for the Bookbub deal, though. (You can find the prices here.)

I’ve also heard that you have a better chance of being selected for a Bookbub deal as an indie author if you price your book on the lower end of the spectrum.

I opted for the $0.99 price point because my primary goal was to increase readership rather than maximize immediate earnings—and I wanted to improve my chances of being accepted for the deal.

What Was My Goal with This Bookbub Featured Deal?

My main objective was to introduce more readers to The Midas Legacy series before the release of Book II in June (2025). I wanted to get my book into as many hands as possible so new readers could discover the series. I was hoping to earn some of my money back, but I wasn’t overly concerned with breaking even or turning a profit from this deal alone.

Results from My BookBub
Featured Deal

BookBub estimates that a deal like mine (in the fantasy genre) could result in between 10 and 2,250 copies sold. Thankfully, I sold more than ten! Considering my book remains relatively unknown to the general fantasy audience, I feel pretty good about the results.

My BookBub email went out on February 12th, and by the end of the next day (February 13th), here were my total sales:

• 124 copies sold (all ebook)
• Amazon: 102 copies
• Draft2Digital: 22 copies
• Total royalties earned: $46.93
  • Amazon: $36.40
  • Draft2Digital: $10.53

By the end of the day on February 15th, I had sold 50 copies total on Draft2Digital (all international buyers), bringing my Draft2Digital earnings up to $23.24. Additionally, I sold eight more copies on Amazon (not counting U.S. sales), adding roughly $2.40 to my total Amazon royalties (I’m not sure how the exchange rates may affect this).

Updated Totals:

• Total books sold (excluding U.S.): 160 copies
• Total royalties earned: $62.04

(A few more sales trickled in later on that I didn’t include here.)

Since this was an international-only deal, I’m counting only UK, Australia, and Canada sales. I did have some U.S. sales at the same time, as I ran a concurrent 99-cent deal in the U.S. to take advantage of the opportunity. (I sold nearly 200 books with the deals combined.) I’m not counting those sales here, though, as they were not due to the Bookbub international deal.

Was My BookBub Featured Deal Worth It?

Based on my primary goal—introducing more readers to my series—I’d say yes, it was worth it.

Did I make all my money back? No. I spent $196 and earned $62.04 in direct royalties, meaning I recouped about 31% of my investment. But that wasn’t the only metric I was tracking.

Here’s why I still consider this deal a success:

1. New Readers Found My Book – 160+ new people in international markets now own my book. Some of them may read it, love it, and go on to buy Book II when it releases in June. That’s my hope, anyway!
2. Potential Long-Term Impact – I’ll be watching to see if I gain new reviews, email subscribers, or follow-up sales in the coming months.
3. Exposure in Key Markets – The UK, Australia, and Canada all performed well. These are valuable markets for fantasy books, so getting my foot in the door was beneficial.

Would I do it again? Possibly! If I see strong engagement from the readers who picked up my book, I’d consider another international deal—or, ideally, a U.S. BookBub deal to see how it compares.

If I do get another chance, I think I may go for a higher price point. One drawback of the 99 cents is that many readers will purchase, but then not read the book. They’ll leave it to languish on their ereaders. A higher price point may result in fewer sales, but inspire purchases from readers ready to read—though I’m not certain on this.

If you’re a writer considering a BookBub international deal, I hope my experience helps you decide whether it’s the right move for your books!

Note: Get more articles, free reports, and free chapters of Colleen’s award-winning books when you sign up for her motivational newsletter for writers!

COLLEEN M. STORY - Resident Writing Coach

Colleen M. Story is a novelist, freelance writer, writing coach, and speaker with over 20 years in the creative writing industry. In addition to writing several award-winning novels, Colleen’s series of popular success guides, Your Writing Matters, Writer Get Noticed! and Overwhelmed Writer Rescue, have all been recognized for their distinction.

Colleen offers personalized coaching plans tailored to meet your needs, and frequently serves as a workshop leader and motivational speaker, where she helps attendees remove mental and emotional blocks and tap into their unique creative powers. Find out more about our RWC team here and connect with Colleen below. Free chapters | Master Writer Mindset

The post I Tried a BookBub Featured Deal—Here’s What Happened appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Depending on where you are on your writing journey, you may be finding out that writing your book is just the beginning of your journey as a writer. Finishing a book is a huge accomplishment, requiring significant time, energy, focus, and love. Job number one in a writer’s life is getting that darned book finished, polished, and then out into the world. But the reality in today’s market, whether you publish traditionally, use a hybrid publisher, or publish independently (Self Publish), you as the writer will have to get involved in spreading the word so that readers can find your book.

Yes, I’m talking about marketing and promotion. Even if you’re with a big publishing house, it’s rare these days to get a ton of budget or support for your book’s promotion, especially if you’re new on the scene. This comes as a shock for many new writers, who’ve watched umpteen Hollywood movies depicting huge book tours and lines down the block assembled to meet an author. The reality is more like calling around to see if bookstores will let you do a signing, and then wiling away hours, hoping that shoppers will stop to talk. 

Many writers find the idea of marketing their books terrifying, thinking that dancing on social media, or spending a fortune on ads and hoping for the best are the only options to get potential readers’ attention.

“But Suzy…” I hear from writers when I ask what their plan is for marketing. “I hate public speaking, and I see you doing it but it’s just not for me.”

The good news? You don’t have to do any of the things I do. There are dozens of other options.  With my background in building businesses, I’ve always been fascinated with how writers promote themselves and their books, and jump at every chance I get to find out what’s working for writers I meet, and what isn’t. As a result, over the years I’ve personally tried dozens of strategies to reach readers – some that worked, and some that didn’t. I’ve also worked with hundreds of writers who are successfully marketing their books, each with their own special flair.

What Do All These Successful Authors Have in Common?

1. They play to their own interests and strengths. What I love to do may not be your cup of tea—so don’t do it! If speaking and teaching in front of crowds, or talking with strangers is your kryptonite, find another way. You can use your written words to reach audiences by blogging, writing articles, or simply sharing your writing in creative places.  
2. They don’t spread themselves too thin. Pick one or two areas to focus on, and go deep, learning everything you can and giving it your all. If you choose to learn the art of promoting yourself and books using online ads and you focus your energy there, you’ll eventually get great at it. If you start a social media account or a blog on a topic related to your book and post regular content, you’ll attract a community of readers who might be interested in your book. If you try to do all the things, you’ll exhaust yourself, and you will see fewer results, making you wonder if all the hype about “marketing” is worth it.
3. They show up consistently. Once you’ve found a strategy you enjoy and can sustain over time without burning out, do it consistently. These days, I focus on just two things: my Inspired Writing Newsletter for writers, and my Show, Don’t Tell Writing podcast. These are both free weekly content and have grown my community to over 12,000 amazing writers. When you’re first starting out, choose one thing you can do regularly, whether it’s monthly, biweekly, or weekly, and show up consistently. Resist making excuses, or giving up too soon. Over time, your audience will build.
4. They show up as “themselves” when they interact with readers. Don’t be afraid to let your freak flag fly, whether that’s your obsession with Hot Wheels collectibles, poetry, or your relentless pursuit of perfect grammar. The biggest mistake I see writers make is trying to make all their communications with potential audiences so formal that their Voice and Point of View are missing. Readers are interested in knowing what their favorite writers are really like. And the bonus? Being yourself is much easier to sustain over time than trying to be who you think others expect you to be.
5. They promote year-round, not just when they have a new book coming out. Even if you haven’t published your first book yet, the time to start building your author platform to promote your books is now. Get your feet wet as soon as you can, and try things out. It might take you a minute to learn which strategies give you the most joy and result in meaningful interactions with potential readers. But start somewhere. If you have 12 people in your audience waiting for your book when it comes out, that’s better than zero. 

As you explore your options to promote your books and find readers, you’re building a creative life for yourself. The best part is that you get to be creative about what that looks like. By all means, gather inspiration by watching and learning from writers you admire. But don’t try to emulate what they’re doing exactly, or marketing will feel like a chore, and you’ll quit. Instead, notice what those writers are doing that looks doable for you, and what feels exciting for you to try—and then try it.

Not Sure Where to Start?

I’ve compiled this list of 30 Ways to Promote Your Book, along with some thoughts on how I’ve seen each of them successfully implemented. I guarantee there’s at least one on this list that will fit your writing goals, your personality, and your available time for building up your public presence as a writer.

Enjoy!

SUZY VADORI - Resident Writing Coach

Suzy Vadori is the award-winning author of The Fountain Series. She is a certified Book Coach with Author Accelerator and the Founder of Wicked Good Fiction Bootcamp. Suzy breaks down important writing concepts into practical steps to make it easy for writers coming from outside the industry to get up to speed in a snap, so that they can realize their big, wild writing dreams!

In addition to her weekly newsletter encouraging writers, and online courses, Suzy offers both developmental editing and 1:1 Book Coaching. Find out more about our RWC team here and discover how to connect with Suzy and all the resources she has to offer here.

The post Thirty Ways to Promote Your Book appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

The rise of AI-generated books is sparking concern among many. We all know the book market is huge, yet the speed at which new works are being added prompted Amazon to place a ‘3 books per day’ upload limit. I think we all agree that’s more than a little worrying.

It’s frustrating, too. Vying for a reader’s attention has always been challenging, but this new competition has some authors fearing it will soon become too hard (and expensive) to grab the reader’s attention. Dread rises in the form of a question: in this widening sea of books, what are my chances of being found and read?

It’s easy to give over to anger and depression when things change, especially when it feels unfair and unjust. But as authors have always done, we must use our emotions to fuel transformation.

The board has changed. It’s time to change with it.

We’ve weathered disruptions in the book industry before, and while AI is reshaping all industries, as people, one of our biggest strengths is our ability to adapt. Marketing will become more challenging for authors, but we can use our human edge to come out on top. It’s time for us to push ourselves and leverage our strengths, showing readers we have much more to offer them than machines.

Let’s talk about how we do it.

1. Write an amazing book.

Seems sort of obvious, right? Sure, but the real message here is that AI books will only get better in time, so we must continue widening the gap. Readers will have many choices on what to read so our books should be exceptional. To date, many authors have focused on volume to make a living, but moving forward, writing better books will become as important (if not more).

Amazing books in the age of AI should contain something else, too: emotion, insight, and depth rooted in human experience. This is something that machines can’t replicate (although they will try). As humans, we understand how isolating life can be when we experience certain things that stir deep emotions, struggles, insecurities, and vulnerabilities. Who better than us to create authentic characters that our readers can truly relate to and connect with? (Read: How to Leverage Humanity in Stories to Outshine AI.)

2. Embrace authenticity, building trust and connection.

AI isn’t only impacting the book industry–it’s everywhere, with readers being as exposed to it as us. AI curates searches at Google, chatbots claim the bottom right corner of every website. Meta AI bots piss everyone off with their uncanny ability to ignore hate speech but flag that cute picture of someone’s cat as harmful and inappropriate.

Fake social profiles. AI-generated images everywhere.
Every third ad is a new AI tool or service.

It’s the gold rush of AI, but guess what follows? Saturation. People get sick of all things manufactured, simulated, and fake. It’s early still, but a looming saturation is coming. Authors should be ready because, in an increasingly artificial world, people will crave one thing above all else: Authenticity. They will be drawn to human presences, voices, and interactions.

This is an incredible opportunity for authors. By recognizing the universal need for authenticity and connection, they can draw their potential readers in by being someone who shares their human side!

Go deeper with your interactions with readers. Think about points of common ground: What experiences do you and your readers share? Which of your thoughts and perceptions will resonate, making them feel seen and heard? How can you share anecdotes, ideas, sparks of humor, and bits of your personal life alongside discussions about your creative work? What topics and themes in your book suggest areas of common interest? Start some conversations.

It might take practice, but being open and authentic can turn readers into lifelong fans…of you. These relationships are incredible–knowing people are in our corner sustains us when life gets hard. Too, not only will devout readers look forward to the next book, but they’ll want others to discover your books, too.

3. Create a “clubhouse” for your readers.

Adding to the point above, I have always believed marketing is about relationships, not sales. We build strong relationships by caring about others, making them feel valued, and giving them something they need. When this is done right, sales follow naturally.

It’s great to use social media as a way to find potential readers and connect with them, but trying to be everywhere at once is overwhelming. People can become fatigued by social media too. This is why thinking about creating a meeting spot away from the noise of the online world can be a great way to forge meaningful bonds with readers.

Your “clubhouse” can be anything that works for you: an online community or group, a personal newsletter or Substack, a private forum attached to your site, etc. Whatever your clubhouse looks like, don’t bombard folks with promotion. These people aren’t dollar signs and trust me, AI will be targeting them everywhere, trying to sell, sell, sell. So be different. Focus on the relationship: share content they’ll like, ask and answer questions. If you’re communicating through a newsletter, be the person they are always happy to hear from! Your clubhouse should make people feel seen, cared about, and valued.

4. Think we, not me.

As the fight over a reader’s attention heats up even further, we may think we need to isolate ourselves from other authors because they are our competition. Not so. Human authors are our allies.

No matter how well you write or how big your audience is, you only have a sliver of the potential reading audience. Authors with similar books also have loyal readers, and many are different from your own. Collaborating with authors who write similar, high-quality books can be a win for you both as you’ll each reach new people.

Collaboration is about more than sharing audiences—it’s about creating a sense of camaraderie. Readers will notice and appreciate authors who prioritize relationships over sales pitches. Too, every author has unique experiences, ideas, knowledge, and connections. Joining forces with other authors and sharing what you each know means less trial and error.

5. Educate yourself and watch for scams.

Whenever there’s a disruption, people look for opportunities to monetize whatever has changed. Part of thriving as an author will be staying informed and watching for profiteers selling “easy solutions.”

Self-publishing created a ramp-up in vanity presses, predatory promotional and editing services, and low-skill freelancers looking to bleed authors of their cash. This era of AI will be the same.

If you need AI solutions for marketing, research before investing in courses, ad services, or tools. Look to trusted industry leaders like Jane Friedman, David Gaughran, or the Alliance of Independent Authors for guidance. Don’t fall for pressure tactics, FOMO, or fear-based marketing. And remember, if someone is selling something that seems too good to be true, it probably is.

One area to be especially cautious of is Ads. As the book market becomes increasingly huge, pay-to-play platforms (Meta, Amazon, etc.) are the real winners as people run ads (or more ads) to gain visibility. Likely we’ll see a rise in ‘Ad experts’ pitching their company to run your ads or use their AI tools and platform solutions. Some may be a good investment. Others will drain your pockets. Investigate and talk to other authors. Make sure the ROI is clear.

6. Decide how (and if) you’ll use AI as an author.

AI is a threat and a tool. Creatives (and folks in other industries who had their content scraped without content) are rightfully upset about AI. But it’s here to stay so we will all need to eventually decide if (and how) we’ll use it. This is a moral question and a practical one.

You may decide that while you’re morally opposed to using it to write, you use AI solutions to help you with other tasks–researching, marketing, time management, whatever. Or you are a firm no. But whether you use it or not, it’s important to understand how others are incorporating it, and the impacts this may have on our business.

The Key to Thriving:
Using Your Humanity

AI may be here to stay, but so are authors. We can’t control AI’s disruption over our industry, only how we respond. By focusing on what makes us uniquely human, we can create stories that resonate far more deeply than AI-generated books. Best of all, by simply being ourselves, we can forge genuine connections with readers and fulfill a universal longing for authenticity—an ironic consequence of the rise of AI.

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post How Authors Thrive in a World of AI-Generated Books appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

It’s not easy finding new readers these days.

The secret to drawing just the right readers your way might be finding your niche.

A niche isn’t just your genre—it’s the unique angle, theme, or audience focus that makes your writing distinct. It sets you apart and makes marketing feel natural rather than awkward.

Here’s why having a niche matters and how to get started finding yours.

Why Finding Your Niche is Critical

Many writers I’ve talked to don’t think they need a niche. If you’re selling a lot of books and finding it easy to market, then you probably don’t have to worry about it.

If you’re struggling to market your work, though, and you’re tired of creating “buy my book” posts, a niche might be just what you need.

1. It Helps You Stand Out

Both brick-and-mortar and online bookstores are crowded. Finding your niche helps prevent your voice from getting lost in the shuffle.

Instead of being a fantasy writer, imagine being known for your magical retellings of ancient myths or deeply emotional stories exploring family dynamics. A niche highlights what makes your work unique, making it easier for readers to find and remember you.

2. It Attracts the Right Readers

We all want everyone to like our books, but we know that’s unrealistic. We need to find those unique readers who will be big fans of our stories.

A clear niche helps you focus on readers who are most likely to love your work. The more specific you are, the more likely you will grab the right person’s attention.

For example, if you write cozy mysteries with a culinary twist, you’re more likely to attract readers who adore mysteries and cooking. These readers will enjoy your work and be more likely to recommend it to others.

3. It Simplifies Your Marketing

This may be the best benefit of having a niche.

Marketing books is challenging for writers. Most of us aren’t naturally inclined to be good marketers, and we often feel uncomfortable trying to sell our stuff.

A niche allows us to naturally communicate with readers about what we’re doing. When we talk about our niche, we can focus on what we’re passionate about, and that will be attractive to others interested in the same types of things.

When you know your niche, you always have something to talk about that aligns with your audience’s interests. That means you can stop struggling with what to post about today!

Common Misconceptions About Niches

Myth: A niche limits your creativity.

Truth: A niche actually frees you to focus and grow while still allowing room for future exploration.

Myth: You’ll lose potential readers by narrowing down.

Truth: You’ll gain loyal readers who are genuinely excited about your work and are more likely to support your career.

Myth: Your niche has to be permanent.

Truth: Your niche can evolve as you grow as a writer. Think of it as a foundation you can build on rather than a box to stay inside.

What Happens When You Don’t Have a Niche

When you don’t have a niche, you may fall into some of these traps:

• Scattershot Marketing: Without a clear niche, your promotional efforts may feel inconsistent and fail to resonate with potential readers.
• Lack of Connection: Readers won’t know what to expect from you, making it harder to build a loyal fanbase.
• Missed Opportunities: Writers without a niche often fail to capitalize on the unique aspects of their work that could set them apart.

How to Start Finding Your Niche: 3 Actionable Steps

If you’re convinced that you need a niche, your next question is probably, “How do I find one that works for me?”

Here’s how you can get started.

1. What are you passionate about?

Start by asking yourself:

• What topics or themes do I love exploring in my writing?
• What kinds of stories or ideas excite me the most?
• What feedback have I received about my writing strengths (e.g., dialogue, world-building, character development)?

Write down your answers and look for patterns. For example, if you notice a recurring interest in historical settings and strong female leads, your niche might involve feminist historical fiction. That’s only a start, though. You’ll want to go deeper, so continue with the next set of questions.

2. Define Your Ideal Reader

Think about the type of person who would love your work.

• Who are they? (Consider their age, interests, and values.)
• What do they enjoy in stories? (Genre tropes, themes, or character types.)

For example, you might write for readers who love romance with witty banter and youthful, outcast-type protagonists. The clearer your vision of your audience, the easier it will be to connect with them.

Combine that with what you found above, and you may see that your niche might focus on historical romance with youthful, strong, feminist heroes.

3. Pinpoint What’s Unique About Your Stories

Let’s go a little further:

• Is there something special about your story’s location or setting? (e.g., small-town charm, futuristic cities, or magical kingdoms.)
• What makes your characters stand out? (e.g., age, profession, personality, or cultural background.)
• Do your stories explore recurring themes or ideas? (e.g., redemption, resilience, or found family.)

By identifying these unique elements and combining them with what you found through the other questions above, you can craft a niche that highlights what’s truly distinctive about your work, making it irresistible to the right readers.

Need More Help?

Finding your niche is about aligning your passion and strengths with what readers are searching for. It usually takes time and reflection, but it can be a game-changer for your writing career.

Don’t worry if it doesn’t come together overnight. Your niche will evolve as you grow, and the more you write, the clearer it will become.

Start with the three steps above, and if you’re ready to dive deeper, check out my course, How to Identify Your Niche and Attract the Right Readers, for a proven formula to help you stand out and succeed. For a limited time, WHW readers get 20 percent off the total price with the code, “WHWNiche” at checkout!

Bonus: Free Worksheet

Want to start working on your niche today? Download my free Niche Discovery Worksheet and take the first step toward finding your unique focus!

COLLEEN M. STORY - Resident Writing Coach

Colleen M. Story is a novelist, freelance writer, writing coach, and speaker with over 20 years in the creative writing industry. In addition to writing several award-winning novels, Colleen’s series of popular success guides, Your Writing Matters, Writer Get Noticed! and Overwhelmed Writer Rescue, have all been recognized for their distinction.

Colleen offers personalized coaching plans tailored to meet your needs, and frequently serves as a workshop leader and motivational speaker, where she helps attendees remove mental and emotional blocks and tap into their unique creative powers. Find out more about our RWC team here and connect with Colleen below. Free chapters | Master Writer Mindset

The post How to Find Your Writing Niche and Connect with the Right Readers appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Welcome to 2025…and say hello to a brand new Writers Helping Writers® bookstore!

Like many other authors, Becca and I have switched to a Shopify storefront so we can provide a better experience for everyone wanting to buy direct.

We’re excited about this upgraded storefront, both for the flexibility to eventually branch out to offer things beyond books –workshops, on-demand webinars, packets, etc.– and the fact that it is a vast improvement over the system we’ve had to use to date.

But first, what does “Buy Direct” mean?

Buying direct means instead of purchasing a book from an etailer like Amazon, Kobo, or Apple (who take a big chunk of each sale) you buy from the author’s website. This helps the author because when more book revenue lands in their pocket, they’re closer to making a livable wage. And when they do, it gives them the freedom to write more books, offer discounts, and more. So buying direct is a win-win for the author and readers.

But buying direct also has other benefits, like…

Buying Direct can better protect your books

A problem with buying a digital copy from someone like Amazon is they have control over that book file, not you. If it disappears from your Kindle library due to a glitch, syncing issue, or because they decided you did something wrong, getting it restored can be hard (or impossible). When you buy a digital book from our store, our partner Bookfunnel always keeps your book safe and accessible. You own the book.

Buying Direct means early access

Our bookstore will allow us to offer new releases before they are available elsewhere. Often Becca and I have a new book in hand for weeks prior to a book launch but we have to wait for the official release date. Now, we can pop a new guide into our store when it’s ready and minimize waiting.

Buying Direct keeps you in the loop (and saves you $$$)

Right now our store is set up to offer digital formats (ebook and PDF), but print is coming! And we’re looking to expand to other things as well. If you sign up for store notifications we’ll pop a quick message into your inbox whenever a cost-saving bundle, special workshop, on-demand webinar, discount, or something else becomes available. (But that’s it–no ‘hard sell’ stuff. That’s not us.)

Buying direct is a great way to support an author you care about, and Becca and I want to thank you for considering our Writers Helping Writers Bookstore when you’re looking for writing help. Thank you!

So, ready to check out our new store?

Visit the link above and take this celebratory discount code with you: WHWTHANKSYOU

This one-time code is a buy one, get the second ebook single at a 50% discount. You’ll see a place to enter the code when you checkout. (And a tippy tip: if you sign up for store notifications, you’ll get a bonus code that discounts your entire order a further 10%!) Add that second code at checkout to use both in the same order.

We’d also love your feedback. We’re just getting stared and have improvements in mind, but you guys are the pros here. You know what you need to see when deciding to buy a book, and we’d love your ideas on what might make this store better. If you’d like to leave us impressions or suggestions, zip over here. (It’s anonymous.) And thank you!

Don’t forget to redeem your buy one, get one code by January 15th, 2025, and happy writing!

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post Meet Our New Bookstore (& Save 50% off a Thesaurus!) appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

It’s time for our favorite round-up: Black Friday Deals for Writers! We love finding ways to save you money because we all need to know how to stretch a dollar in this industry.

Investing in the right tools can help with success, so hopefully you can take advantage of some of these current and upcoming deals (including a sweet little discount from us).

Writing, Editing, Publishing & Marketing Deals

Publisher Rocket ($30 off Publisher Rocket + a Free Course)

Your book deserves to be read! Join other authors using Publisher Rocket to sell more books by optimizing keywords, categories, and ad campaigns. This deal runs from November 28th to December 3rd.

ProWritingAid Annual & Lifetime Subscriptions (Save 50%)

ProWritingAid is the essential toolkit for storytellers, helping you to craft your story and bring it to life. Real-time feedback and in-depth analysis will show you how to strengthen your story, give your characters depth, add impetus to your plot and so much more. This deal runs from Nov 18 – Dec 3rd.

Fictionary Storyteller (or Bundled with Storyteller Live) 40% off

Fictionary’s StoryTeller Software and Live Courses offer a comprehensive process to improve story structure, pacing, character development, and settings. StoryTeller Software: Visualize your plot, identify key story arc scenes, and ensure a satisfying resolution. StoryTeller Premium with Fictionary Live!: Enjoy unlimited writing courses, live instruction, weekly editing tasks, and personalized feedback. Save 40% on subscriptions between Nov 18- Dec 12th.

Novlr Writing Software (30% off any subscription)

Novlr is the first writer-owned creative writing workspace that lets you focus on what’s most important; your words. The smart design is distraction-free, writing streaks and goals keep you motivated, the advanced analytics provide insights into your best writing times, and automatic cloud syncing keeps your work safe. Ready to be more productive? Use the code BLACKFRIDAY24 to save on all subscriptions until December 31st.

Write | Publish | Sell (40% off Instagram for Authors Course)

​Instagram for Authors is a power-packed course providing authors with the tools they need to successfully use Instagram to market and grow their author platforms. Save 40% by using the code 40OFFIGBF at checkout until December 2nd.

K.M.Weiland’s Products for Writers (Save 25%)

Save 25% off K.M. Weiland’s popular writing resources, including her books on plot, character, and story structure. Take it a step further with interactive workbooks (including the Outlining Your Novel Workbook software), and the Creating Character Arcs and the Shadow Archetypes courses. Her Archetypal Character Guided Meditations can also help you dive into your characters’ minds and dream up new story ideas. Deal valid November 18th – December 2nd.

BookFunnel Mid-List & Bestseller Plans (Save $50)

The fundamental tool for your author business, BookFunnel delivers reader magnets, delivers direct sales ebooks & audiobooks, and helps authors reach new customers through group promos and author swaps. Take advantage of our best-in-the-industry support and take $50 off an annual subscription to our Mid-List Author and Bestseller Author plans from November 25th to December 2nd.

Atticus Software (Free Course with Purchase)

Transform your writing journey with Atticus.io—the all-in-one powerhouse for book writing and formatting. Forget juggling multiple tools; Atticus brings you a sleek, intuitive platform that takes you from draft to publish-ready masterpiece effortlessly. Get a free Publishing for Indie Authors course with each purchase between November 28th and December 2nd.

Getcovers (25% off cover design packages)

On a tight budget for a book launch? Getcovers is a book cover design company that provides book cover design packages for a shockingly low price – just $10-$35, depending on the package you choose. Use the code BLACKDEALS at checkout from November 25th to December 2nd.

Book Brush Social Media Management (2 bonus months with a 6-month plan)

Your schedule is jam-packed and Book Brush services can help lighten your load with your choice of two all-inclusive social media plans: Meta Plan: We’ll manage your Instagram and Facebook, creating eye-catching graphics and reels to build a strong, branded presence in the author niche and keep your fans engaged. Video Plan: We’ll produce 15 custom reels each month for your TikTok and YouTube channels, tailored to capture your unique style and audience. Get this 8 for 6 deal by booking a consultation call by Dec 6th.

Shut Up and Write the Book by Jenna Moreci
(.99 ebook sale at Amazon)

Shut Up and Write the Book is a step-by-step guide to crafting a novel from your first spark of an idea to the final edit. Enjoy bestselling author Jenna Moreci’s no-nonsense guidance and saucy sarcasm as she walks you through every step of the writing process. Grab it on Amazon for $.99 from November 27th to December 2nd. (affiliate link)

Novel Factory Software (Save 30%)

The Novel Factory app is designed to help writers turn their ideas into fully developed, captivating novels. With powerful planning tools, in-app guidance, and a simple, intuitive design, it’s everything you need to bring your story to life—from first draft to final edit. Save 30% on an annual plan with code BLACKRIDAY2024 between November 18 to December 2nd.

Last but not least, a story support tool that helps you write friction that stands out from the rest:

One Stop for Writers 6-Month Plan (Save 35%)

Ready for a game-changer? Look no further than One Stop for Writers, your ultimate storytelling companion. Designed by story experts Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi, these groundbreaking tools help you craft characters with true depth, devise fresh plots, and construct immersive worlds that your readers won’t want to leave.

Your One Stop Toolkit includes:

SHOW-DON’T-TELL DESCRIPTION DATABASE (Containing 18 Thesauruses)
CHARACTER BUILDER
CHARACTER ARC BLUEPRINT
TIMELINE TOOL
STORY AND SCENE MAPS
WORLDBUILDING SURVEYS
IDEA GENERATOR
TEMPLATES AND WORKSHEETS
THE STORYTELLER’S ROADMAP
INSIGHTFUL CRAFT TUTORIALS, TIP SHEETS & MORE

Say goodbye to writer’s block, telling, and frustration. One Stop for Writers supports you at every step as you plan, write, and revise, so only your best writing makes it to the page. Use the code BLACKFRIDAY24 to unlock a 35% discount for our 6-month plan.

We hope you find a few things on this list that help you on your journey. Happy writing & saving!

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post 2024 Black Friday Deals for Writers appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

By Eleanor Hecks

Whether you publish traditionally or independently, getting the word out about your books requires a lot of work and monetary investment. Social media is an obvious choice for promoting your writing because you can zone in and target your reader base.

You also don’t have to spend a fortune for a chance to succeed. However, knowing which social media platforms work best for your particular genre can be a bit trickier.

Making the situation even more complex is the fact that many authors cross genres with their work. For example, a writer might create a science fiction novel with some elements of romance. Effectively branching out into other genres’ communication channels can expand your reader base and bring you more sales, catapulting you onto bestseller lists.

Fantasy/Paranormal/Science Fiction

Out of the thousands of writers in America, fantasy and paranormal writers have a very narrow niche in which to attract readers. Promoting your books where your target audience spends the most time is crucial to success in a saturated marketplace. For this genre, the best places to promote include:

• Reddit: The amount of fantasy and sci-fi conventions available for readers of these genres proves that people who love fantasy often enjoy engaging with other fans. These readers want to discuss the complex worlds authors have built in-depth. Finding a communicative audience is easy if you join the right subreddit — for example, r/Fantasy, r/horrorlit and r/scifiwriting all boast large communities on the platform. Be careful about how and where you post as some subreddits frown on any type of self-promotion.
• Discord: Discord is a platform with a chatroom format that makes it perfect for encouraging readers to chat about your fantasy worlds or roleplay as your characters. You can even create your own section to directly interact with your readers.

Mystery/Suspense

Mystery has several subcategories, such as cozy, suspense, true crime and hard-boiled. Figuring out where you fit can help you narrow down the best places to market your writing.

• Facebook: The largest demographic of mystery readers are those over the age of 65, so it’s important to build your community around platforms that older readers navigate towards. Since Facebook is the most popular social platform among this age group, it’s beneficial to join Facebook groups aimed at mystery readers. Be sure to read the group rules to make sure you are allowed to self-promote. Once you get a feel for the group and participate in some other posts, it’s okay to share your own special offers and new releases.
• YouTube: YouTube is the second most popular social media platform frequented by older adults, so you might consider marketing your writing towards YouTube’s vast reader community. As of 2024, YouTube attracts around 2.49 billion active users each month. Consider creating a thrilling video trailer for your book or film a series of live or uploaded book readings for your audience.

Romance

Romance is one of the most varied genres with subgenres such as historical romance, sweet, steamy, suspenseful and inspirational. Finding the right place to promote your books may boil down to tapping into reader emotions.

Romance is a genre marked by emotion, so your social media efforts should likewise pull at readers’ heartstrings and create emotional bonds with your audience. Since emotion often has the most significant impact on customer loyalty, doing so could help you develop lifelong readers who anticipate every future romance novel you release.

• Instagram: The age range of romance readers is especially broad — while the average age range is between 35 and 39 years old, half of frequent romance readers are ages 34 and below. Thus, it’s important to find a social platform that appeals to a wide audience. Instagram is one such app in the top social platforms among both millennials and Gen Z readers. Posts could be aesthetic images that encapsulate the vibe of your novel or a video sharing your book’s synopsis.
• TikTok: In recent years, many romance authors have turned to TikTok’s #BookTok community to spread the word about their books. A short video clip that plays like a movie trailer can attract readers. Look at the types of posts going viral, which hashtags the users included and try different tactics to attract new readers.

Horror

If you think of Stephen King when you hear the horror genre mentioned, you aren’t alone. However, there is a huge range of possibilities you might have as a horror writer. Some books focus on realistic crimes while others add paranormal or supernatural elements.

• X (formerly known as Twitter): The Horror Writers Association has a strong presence on X, so it makes sense you’ll find a lot of posts and engagement from horror writers. Keep posts short and to the point. Also, because of horror’s particularly political nature, X is a great place to keep up with current events and trends related to your work.
• Goodreads: Goodreads is an Amazon-owned platform that allows readers to review books and interact with authors in the form of polls and discussion threads. You’ll find numerous groups dedicated to the horror genre in particular, such as Horror Aficionados and Paranormal and Horror Lovers, which makes the platform a particularly good place to market your writing and communicate with fans.

Children’s/Young Adult

Knowing where to reach younger audiences for your books can be a bit tricky. If you write picture books, you’re promoting more to the parents than the kids. However, young adult novels can be taken directly to Gen Z.

• TikTok: A vast audience of millennial parents and young adult Zoomers frequent the video-based app. This audience is also the most likely to buy a product directly from a social media app, so a sponsored post or TikTok Shop ad could go a long way with this target market.
• Snapchat: Millennials, in particular, seem to enjoy Snapchat’s immediacy. While you will have to promote a bit differently on Snapchat’s platform than on others, if you can gain a following with engaging content, you’ll make regular sales by adding details on there.

Pssst…Mindy popping in to say that there’s an amazing, rapidly growing kidlit community on BlueSky–plus gatekeepers such as teachers and media specialists! If you’re new to BlueSky, check out these helpful tips.

Finding Your Niche

Creating a personal brand as an author takes time and trial and error. Try different platforms and ideas until you hit the ways that drive the most traffic to your books. Over time, you’ll grow your reader base and wind up selling more books each time you release something new.

Eleanor Hecks is Editor in Chief at Designerly Magazine, as well as a freelance writer who’s passionate about helping other writers of all genres grow their following and community. You can find her work featured on publications such as IndependentPublishing.com and Self-Publishing Review, or connect with her on LinkedIn to keep up with her latest work.

Guest Contributor

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The post Best Communities for Marketing Your Writing appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Most industries are competitive. Athletes go head-to-head for the medal or trophy. Car companies vie for market share as do grocery stores, restaurants, and delivery services. Reality TV show contestants duke it out for prize money, prestige, and in some cases (ugh) roses. And our favorite retail Godzilla, Amazon? They compete with everybody.

Know who isn’t your competition? Authors.

Sure, on the surface, it appears a competition is taking place. After all, look at the sea of books on the market, the sky-high submission piles. Think about how we need to list comparable titles when we pitch our work to agents and how past book sales and current platform numbers carry weight acquisitions decides which author will receive a contract offer.

Is it true that agents only take on certain clients and publishers only publish certain books? Yes. But the “I’m competing against other authors” idea is a sacred cow leftover from a time when keeping authors divided suited a publishing monopoly (that has thankfully been broken).

Other Authors Aren’t Competition, They’re ASSETS.
Here’s Why.

1. Of the bazillion books out there, only a small fraction are ones your exact audience may be interested in.

So, skip any hand-wringing over how flooded the market is — it doesn’t matter. You only need to consider books like yours. And even then, far from being your competition, these books and the authors attached to them can HELP YOU SELL MORE BOOKS. Which brings us to…

2. Your goal is to find your audience. Other authors are a gateway to them.

What now, Batman? Yes, that’s right…your so-called competition has been there, done that and has the t-shirt. They’ve found their readers. In fact, every day they reach more. So, if you do your research and find authors who write books a lot like yours, their readers can become your readers.

In today’s world, authors have online platforms to reach readers no matter where they live, giving you a starting point for finding and connecting with your potential audience. Pay attention to where comparable authors spend their time and you’ll find potential readers. It might be a Facebook group, Instagram, special interest forums, blogs, etc.… Wherever you see authors who write similar books to you spend their time with readers, this is also a good place for you. Start spending time getting to know people in this space.

Don’t jab promotion at people, just join the conversation, enjoy common ground, and build relationships. If this truly is your audience, there will be topics that tie into your books that will be a subject of conversation and because that’s what you write about and are interested in, you’ll have lots to contribute. Eventually it will come out you ALSO write books about X and sooner or later, folks will check you out. And hey, while we’re talking about how established authors in our niche can help us…

3. Each author is a megaphone to their audience, meaning marketing collaborations with certain authors can help you build your readership more quickly.

When you research other authors to find ones in your niche, read their novels. Is the genre, style, and content a match to yours? Is the book well-written? Can you see yourself recommending this book to people?

If the answer is yes, this author may be someone you wish to collaborate with. If your values align, cross promotion will be a win-win. They encourage their readers to check you out and you do the same for them and you both gain new readers. So, find a good author match and think how you can help THEM sell books and gain visibility.

But wait…that doesn’t sound right. Shouldn’t I be trying to sell my own books, not someone else’s?

Glad you asked, because this ties into a truth we all have to bend our heads around:

4. No matter how fast you write, readers read faster.

One dangerous mistake we can make with our readers is to only think about US, not THEM. It’s ALWAYS about them, which means we need to take care of our audience even after they’ve finished reading all our books.

It takes time to release the next book, and in the meantime, our readers need good books to read. If we do nothing to stay in touch, they might forget about us and the next book, but if we make it a priority to give them more of what they love, we stay on their radar. Recommending books we know our readers will love shows we want them to have a great reading experience over and over again, whether it’s our book or not.

So rather than fearing losing our readers to someone else, we should encourage readers to seek out specific authors. Not only does this encourage reader loyalty, it’s also a great way to gain new readers ourselves. How? Because other comparable authors are in the same boat, and they will be looking to recommend books to their readers, too. Reciprocity is something that’s hardwired into us, so if they see us openly pushing people to their books, they will want to do the same in return.  This brings us to a final point:

5. Other authors have a wealth of knowledge we may need.

There’s a lot to publishing and marketing well, and we’re all constantly running into new situations that exposes a gap in our knowledge. Maybe we’ve never tried for a Bookbub and so don’t know the tips and tricks. Or we’re just starting out with newsletters or Amazon ads and have no idea how to do either right. What’s better in these cases – spending a bunch of time and money on research, courses, and trial and error, or talking to another author who is successful in that space and asking them to point us to the right information?

And just as others can use their experiences to help us, we can do the same for them. A rising tide lifts all boats!

Honestly, this is just the tip of the ice cream scoop as far as why authors are assets, so I urge you to think about your own genre and who fits your niche. Reach out to your not-competition. Consider ways you can help them, and how you can collaborate to gain bigger readerships!

What was the best advice another writer shared with you?

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post Authors Are Assets, Not Competition appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

If you’ve never had professional author photos taken—or if it’s been ten years or more since you have—it’s time to do it now!

We live in a visual world. Readers want to see and connect with the author. When you invest in professional photos, you are likely to feel confident about sharing your photo wherever you need to.

Updating Your Author Photos: It’s About Who You Are

I got my first professional author photos taken about 11 years ago. I have used those photos so much! I was surprised at how often I was pulling from my “author photo” folder. It made it clear to me that it’s worth it to invest in this important tool for your author platform.

We authors often feel uncomfortable with author photos. Many of us would prefer to hide behind caricatures or simply avoid photos altogether. But today’s reader is more demanding. They are visual and used to seeing photos. If you don’t have one—or if you use some other alternative—it looks like you’re hiding, and readers will have a harder time relating to you.

You can help yourself feel more confident by getting professional photos, as they are likely to show you at your best.

Several weeks ago, I got my photos taken again. After a decade, I look different, and I didn’t want my photo to be a lot different from who I am in person.

I was afraid I wouldn’t like my new author photos. More wrinkles! Sagging! Ack! But I was surprised to find that I prefer them.

These more recent photos reflect the person I am now. I look at them and think, Yes, that’s me. The older photos, much as I have liked them, seem distant to me now—I’m not that person anymore.

Even if you’re concerned that you won’t like your new photos, I urge you to make that appointment. You may be surprised!

5 Tips to Help You Get Great Author Photos

1. Find a Good Photographer

The right professional photographer can make all the difference in your author photos. Yes, today’s cell phones have better cameras than ever. But that’s not all that it takes to get a good photo.

Today’s photographers are more affordable than you may think. I paid less this time around than last time, and it’s 11 years later!

Check their portfolio first. Look at lighting, locations, and creativity. Once you’ve narrowed it down to your top three, call them and talk to them. Email isn’t good enough. You want to feel like this person knows what they’re doing, and like you will feel comfortable working with them.

2. Choose Your Outfits

Most photographers allow you to use 2-4 outfits in your photo session. I highly recommend you go with at least three. This will give you a variety of photos to use in your branding and increase the odds that you will be happy with at least some of the final photos.

Set out the outfits you’re thinking of using—at least 5-10. Take selfies in each one, then send those to a trusted friend for input. Some of those outfits I thought would look best on me turned out not to be the final outfits I ended up going with.

Look for something that looks good on you. Colors are critical. Choose those that light up your face. The wrong colors can kill a photo shoot!

3. Check Your Hair and Makeup

Make sure your hair looks as you want it to before the photo shoot. This isn’t the time for drastic changes. Go with a style that flatters your face. If you need a trim or color, do it a couple of weeks beforehand. Don’t wait until the day before. Give your hair time to settle in.

It’s likely your makeup will need to be different than it was 10 years ago. Don’t hesitate to go to a makeup counter for help if you need to. And don’t go too heavy—makeup that naturally accentuates your features is best.

4. Be Rested and Calm

Nothing messes up a nice photo like fatigue. Schedule your photo shoot at a time when you’re likely to be relaxed (not right after a big event). In the days beforehand, get enough rest, eat well, and exercise. Take care of yourself—it will show in your photos.

On the day of your appointment, block out some time. You don’t want to feel stressed or like you’re running late. You need time to prepare your outfits, get ready, and feel relaxed before you go.

5. Take Your Time Choosing the Photos

Once the photo shoot is done, your photographer will likely email you a “roll” of the raw, unedited images. This is your chance to go through and choose your final photos.

Most photographers include a certain number of images with the photo session. (Mine included 15.) Be sure to check beforehand so you know how they manage this. You can usually get extras for an additional fee.

I’d suggest you take screenshots of those you like (usually photographers prohibit downloading initially), put them in a file, and let them sit overnight. The next day, look at them again and eliminate those you don’t like as much.

Ask one to three other people to weigh in. It helps to get outside opinions, but you don’t want too many. Opinions are subjective, and too many can be confusing. Choose a select few people whose opinions you value and see what they think.

Through a gradual elimination process, a few photos will rise to the top as those you want to use in your author branding.

Use Your New Photos!

Once you have your new photos, update everything. That includes your website, social media channels, and any new books you’re putting out.

My photo shoot coordinated with the release of my new historical fantasy, The Curse of King Midas. That was on purpose, of course! I dropped my selection in the back right before it went to print, and I’ve been in the process of updating everything else since then.

Don’t hesitate to invest in yourself this way. You’re an author—it’s okay to look like one.

Note: Get a free inside peek at The Curse of King Midas here, along with stories from Colleen’s writing life.

COLLEEN M. STORY - Resident Writing Coach

Colleen M. Story is a novelist, freelance writer, writing coach, and speaker with over 20 years in the creative writing industry. In addition to writing several award-winning novels, Colleen’s series of popular success guides, Your Writing Matters, Writer Get Noticed! and Overwhelmed Writer Rescue, have all been recognized for their distinction.

Colleen offers personalized coaching plans tailored to meet your needs, and frequently serves as a workshop leader and motivational speaker, where she helps attendees remove mental and emotional blocks and tap into their unique creative powers. Find out more about our RWC team here and connect with Colleen below. Free chapters | Master Writer Mindset

The post Top Tips to Help You Get Great Author Photos appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Another book joins the family today: The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Stress and Volatility!

Writing authentic emotional reactions can be difficult when a character is the sort to hide what they feel. Whether it’s due to fear, painful past trauma, or personal insecurities, they believe that if they keep their emotions in check, it will save them from being judged, feeling vulnerable, or being viewed as weak.

Sure, self-preservation is common in the real world (don’t we all hide our feelings at times?) but in fiction, it can spell disaster.

Why? Because emotions need to be accessible to readers if we want them to care.

One way or another, our characters need to reveal what they truly feel, and this is where an emotion amplifier can be a handy tool. These states or conditions act as a challenge, conflict, and emotional destabilizer all rolled into one.

Pain, pressure, competition, mortal peril, arousal…these and other amplifiers have the power to increase a character’s volatility, making it nearly impossible for them to emotionally self-regulate. This sets them up for overreactions, misjudgments, and (hopefully) colossal mistakes they will need to fix and learn from. 

A Companion to The Emotion Thesaurus

What began as a small ebooklet is now an expanded second edition that explores 52 unique amplifiers capable of causing physical, cognitive, and psychological strain. In addition to our signature descriptive lists, this companion will show you how to use amplifiers to enhance inner conflict, overturn the status quo, reveal deeper emotions & vulnerability, and create opportunities for your characters to gain self-awareness and personal growth!

A more detailed look at this book
The list of amplifiers covered in this guide
What writers are saying about The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus
Where to find it in print and digital formats or buy direct as a PDF.

Win a Free Workshop!

We are so excited for you to meet this new book we’re doing something fun to celebrate: a workshop giveaway! If you’d like to win a seat in a Zoom webinar where we’ll dive into Emotion Amplifiers and show you their superpowers, enter below.

Giveaway now closed – watch your inboxes!

Psst! Your odds are great – our Zoom room holds 100 seats!

The date and time for this workshop are yet to be determined, but if you win and can’t make it in person, don’t worry. A recording will be available for a limited time.

Enter by May 17th, and good luck!

Don’t forget to let your writing friends and clients know about this giveaway – we’d love to see you all win seats!

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post Release Day: The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus Is Here (& a Giveaway!) appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Are you struggling to write the perfect author bio for your book, social media or website? Then this post is for you! Say goodbye to boring bios and hello to a profile that truly reflects who you are as a writer.

Let’s dive in and unlock the power of an unforgettable author bio … Let’s go!

Why Is an Author Bio Important?

At grass roots level, an author bio is a brief summary of who you are and what you do as a writer. It may seem like just another piece of information to include on your book cover or website, but it holds much more significance than that.

In fact, it can be one of the most powerful tools in your writing career. As writers, our words are our brand. Our readers want to know more about the writer behind the stories they love. An author bio provides them with that insight!

A good author bio gives readers a glimpse into our background, interests, and accomplishments that have shaped us as writers. But why else is an author bio so important? Let’s delve deeper … A good bio:

• Establishes credibility and trustworthiness
• Connects with readers on a personal level
• Provides context for our work
• Acts as a promotional tool
• Useful for our blogs, social media or other sites like LinkedIn or Amazon

Tip #1: Highlight your accomplishments and credentials

As a writer, it can be daunting to condense one’s entire writing career or creative journey into a short author bio. Our author bio is often the first introduction readers have to us and our writing, so it’s crucial to make a strong impression.

One effective way to make your author bio compelling is by highlighting your accomplishments and credentials. This step involves showcasing any notable achievements or milestones in your writing career as well as mentioning relevant educational background or experience.

Here are some examples of impressive accomplishments that you could consider including in your author bio:

• Published Works
• Awards and Recognitions
• Bestseller Status
• Speaking Engagements
• Successful Book Launches
• Media Features
• Positive Reviews from professionals in your genre

Remember, the key is to only include accomplishments that are relevant to your writing career and demonstrate your skills. Including too many vague or unrelated achievements can dilute the impact of those that truly matter. Choose a few of your most impressive accomplishments and highlight them with specific details, rather than listing out every single one.

Tip #2: Add a Personal Touch and Show Your Personality

Your author bio is the perfect opportunity to showcase your unique voice and personality. It’s not just a dry list of credentials, but a chance for readers to get to know you on a deeper level.

Adding a personal touch to your bio can make it more engaging and memorable for potential readers … but don’t go overboard, because that might make you seem obnoxious or hard to work with. The whole point of your bio is to get your name out there in GOOD way!  

Want to see an example of a more light-hearted bio? Then check out MY INSTAGRAM AUTHOR BIO.

Tip #3: Keep it concise and relevant

When it comes to writing your author bio, one of the most important tips to keep in mind is to make sure it is concise and relevant. As writers, we often have a lot to say about ourselves and our work, but it’s important to remember that a long and rambling bio can quickly lose the attention of readers.

So how do you balance providing enough information while keeping your bio short and sweet? First up, start by identifying what information is essential for your audience to know about you. 

Next, think about what makes you stand out as a writer. What sets you apart from others in your field?

If you want to see a bio that focuses only on professional accomplishments, check out MINE HERE ON LINKEDIN.

By the Way …

Again – as tempting as it may be to list everything in your author bio, try not to overwhelm readers with too much detail! Instead, select a few key accomplishments that demonstrate your expertise and credibility as an author. And don’t forget – always keep these accomplishments relevant to those reading your bio.

Remember that brevity does not mean sacrificing quality. Your bio should still be well-written and professionally presented. Use complete sentences and proper grammar. Avoid slang or overly casual language unless it aligns with your brand or writing style.

BONUS: How Long Should an Author Bio Be?

When it comes to creating a compelling author bio, one crucial aspect that writers often overlook is word count. Many authors either provide too little information or go overboard and include excessive details. However, finding the right balance and sticking to an appropriate length can have a significant impact on how readers perceive you as an author.

So, what is the ideal length for an author bio? If on social media, you may have only a few characters to play with, so limit yourself to how much space you are given. Simple as that!  

In other places, you will have more space. While there isn’t a set standard, most experts recommend keeping it concise and between 100-200 words. This may seem like a small word count, but it’s enough to convey your essential information without losing the reader’s interest.

One of the main reasons for keeping your author bio short is that it allows you to focus on highlighting only the most relevant details about yourself. Remember, readers are more interested in learning about your writing achievements and background rather than your personal life story.

Last Points

So, when crafting your author bio keep in mind …

• Brevity is key
• Don’t sacrifice important information in the process!
• Stick to 100-200 words
• Make every word count
• Focus on highlighting writing achievements and
• Also any relevant background

Concentrate on the above and you’ll create a compelling author bio that will captivate readers and leave a lasting impression.

Good Luck! 

LUCY V. HAY - Resident Writing Coach

Lucy V. Hay is a script editor, author and blogger who helps writers. She’s been the script editor and advisor on numerous UK features and shorts & has also been a script reader for 20 years, providing coverage for indie prodcos, investors, screen agencies, producers, directors and individual writers. She’s also an author, publishing as both LV Hay and Lizzie Fry.  Lizzie’s latest, a serial killer thriller titled The Good Mother is out now with Joffe Books, with her sixth thriller out in 2024. Lucy’s site at www.bang2write.com has appeared in Top 100 round-ups for Writer’s Digest & The Write Life, as well as a UK Blog Awards Finalist and Feedspot’s #1 Screenwriting blog in the UK (ninth in the world.). She is also the author of the bestselling non-fiction book, Writing & Selling Thriller Screenplays: From TV Pilot To Feature Film (Creative Essentials), which she updated for the streaming age for its tenth anniversary in 2023.

The post The Secret To a Compelling Author Bio appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

It’s been a while since our last book as we needed to recalibrate our release schedule from fall to spring (resulting in a year gap), but now we’re back in the thesaurus-making saddle. May 13th is coming fast, so it’s time to dish some details about our next writing guide!

First up…the cover!

As this is an upgraded second edition and companion to The Emotion Thesaurus, we wanted the style of the books to match. This book is now a true thesaurus, packed with incredible help to showcase your character’s emotional state and help readers feel closer to your characters. More on that in a minute.

Next, the back jacket.

THE EMOTION AMPLIFIER THESAURUS:
A Writer’s Guide to Character Stress and Volatility

STRESS YOUR CHARACTERS TO THEIR LIMITS 

Characters who are in control of their emotions rarely slip up, which makes for boring reading. To avoid that pitfall, channel your dark side and introduce stress that will make it harder for them to think clearly. Your weapon of choice? An amplifier. Pain, arousal, dehydration—conditions and states like these make it difficult for a character to emotionally self-regulate, setting them up for overreactions, misjudgments, and (hopefully) colossal mistakes they’ll have to fix and learn from. 

Inside The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus, you’ll find: 

• A deep dive into cognitive and emotional dissonance and how psychological discomfort steers a character’s reasoning and impacts their ability to make decisions
• Information on emotional stress as a trigger for self-awareness and personal growth, which makes amplifiers powerful levers to help steer story structure and character arc
• Lists of body language cues, internal sensations, thoughts, and other descriptives to show the effects of more than 50 amplifiers
• Brainstorming help on how to use each amplifier to generate tension and complication, apply everyday pressure, and make a character emotionally volatile
• Fifty-two bonus writing tips to help you wield amplifiers with skill and precision, taking your scenes from good to great

Push your characters. Give them no quarter. Use physical, cognitive, and psychological strain to force them to face their mistakes, acknowledge their true feelings, and work through the contradictions at the heart of every inner struggle. 

How is this book a “companion” to The Emotion Thesaurus?

When we were building the original Emotion Thesaurus, writers would ask us to cover specific emotions only some were not feelings at all, rather more states of being that had the ability to disrupt and amplify whatever the character was feeling. So, we created a quick mini booklet in the same style as The Emotion Thesaurus for 15 states like Boredom, Pain, and Stress. Now, that mini-guide has been expanded to over 50 states and conditions that will challenge your character’s ability to control their emotions, and it is packed with knowledge on how to use them to create bigger emotional moments that readers will feel part of.

I have the original ebooklet. How is this guide different?

Great question! Our original Emotion Amplifier ebooklet (45 pages) was a bare-bones guide, intended to provide quick help for describing common states like pain, illness, hunger, etc. that are often mistaken for emotions. It contained a brief how-to and 15 entries. This second edition (~200 pages) is a true deep dive into this storytelling element to show you just how powerful amplifiers are. This guide shows you how to use them to destabilize a character’s emotions, generate conflict, support story structure, and most importantly, bring readers inside your character’s emotional experience using common human struggles and internal turmoil. We’ve expanded the thesaurus to cover over 50 amplifiers, and for the first time ever, each entry has three pages of brainstorming material, not two. Because emotion amplifiers are so versatile and perfect for unlocking a character’s psychological state to create intimacy with readers, we couldn’t contain our lists to two pages.

Will there be a preorder?

Sorry, no. We’ve tried a preorder in the past, but a certain online store made a mess of it (costing us hundreds of sales), so we’d rather not have that happen again. But if you’d like a notification as soon as the book is out, add your email here. (If you’ve done so in the past, you won’t need to do so again.)

Are you giving out ARCs?

We do have 50 digital ARCs, and as we do at every launch, we’ll be drawing names from our lovely Street Team who have expressed a desire to review the book, whether they win an Arc or purchase the book.

Do you have a Street Team?

Yes, yes, and YES! The window to join has closed, but I hope you’ll consider joining us for the next book launch!

Can I access The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus at One Stop for Writers?

Yes! We’ll be updating this database closer to May with the additional entries, but you can see the current list of emotion amplifiers here. (If you’d like to poke around & view the entire THESAURUS DATABASE in full, we recommend starting a 2-week free trial.)

Did we miss a question? If so, please ask, and we’ll be happy to answer!

Thanks so much for always supporting us. May 13th will be here soon, and we can’t wait. We hope this book is everything you need and more!

Click here to be notified when this book releases.

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus (May 2024 Release) appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.