Do you have a favorite blog or two? You know, a blog that consistently teaches you something new or provides information on topics that self-publishers need to know to succeed in today’s competitive indie market?
I subscribe to quite a few blogs, but the ones below are those that I couldn’t do without.
TheBookDesigner.com Joel Friedlander
Who doesn’t look forward to learning what’s new on this blog? Joel continues to write his own posts once a week and host a monthly Carnival of the Indies and a book cover contest, which he judges. A team of contributing writers fills out the rest of the month with information on publishing, editing, ebooks, and marketing. Writer’s Digest consistently names TheBookDesigner.com among the 101 best websites for writers. It also received an award from the Alliance of Independent Authors as a top website for self-publishers.
Jane Friedman
A true publishing expert, Jane Friedman is the former publisher of Writer’s Digest. Jane teaches workshops, publishes The Hot Sheet with Porter Anderson, and writes about publishing, platform, and a variety of tech issues. Jane writes some of the most intelligent and current posts in publishing.
BookWorks
BookWorks helps its members “prepare, publish and promote” their books. Its blog features a variety of industry experts including techy expert Carla King, legal expert Helen Sedwick, book marketing Penny Sansevieri, and others.
Writer Unboxed
Hosted by Therese Walsh and Kathleen Bolton, Writer Unboxed has been publishing posts for the past ten years. Writer’s Digest named this blog among its 101 Best Websites for Writers consistently between 2007 and 2016, and in 2016 it was named a Best of the Best. You’ll find insightful posts from Porter Anderson, Jane Friedman, and others.
Anne R. Allen
If you’re looking for pithy – even searing – writing on issues of top concern to self-published authors, you’ve got to read Anne R. Allen. Also a winner of the Writer’s Digest’s 101 Best Websites for Writers award, Anne and her guest bloggers write on today’s hottest issues and generate tens upon tens of comments from this blog’s aficionados. Read it to learn how to use social media, discover whether Facebook ads really work for writers, how to get more blog traffic, and more.
TheCreativePenn.com by Joanna Penn
No list would be complete without the inclusion of Joanna Penn’s blog/podcast show notes. Technically, she no longer hosts a blog but instead uses the show notes from her podcasts. So, think of it as a modern-day blog. However you wish to categorize her blog, she covers all of the hot issues of the day and interviews top professionals, including Mark Coker, Jane Friedman, Roz Morris, and the founders of companies serving authors. She also delves into some issues that face indie authors in their careers.
Dan Blank
Dan Blank is a blogger, instructor, mastermind leader, and consultant whose blog is difficult to categorize. One week he’ll write about how to make social media fun again and another week he’ll write about creativity. His perspective is always fresh, and I’m left feeling, “Why didn’t I think of writing about that?” He’s definitely a leader in today’s writer’s market.
Penny Sansevieri
Known as @bookgal and the head of Author Marketing Experts, you’ll have a chance to hear Penny speak about her specialty, book marketing, at most writer’s conferences around the country. An expert on Amazon and unique positioning of books, Penny knows the industry and she shares her wealth of knowledge freely on her blog.
Digital Book World Daily
Today’s world is digital, and this blog keeps authors up to date on a variety of related issues. Recent posts by Daniel Berkowitz included the following topics: how to get reviews, what you need to know about advance review copies, book covers, how indie bookstores drive discoverability, blog tours, and an SEO guide.
Alliance of Independent Authors
With director Orna Ross at the helm, the Alliance of Independent Authors fulfills its mission by educating self-published authors on topics ranging from writing, editing, how to get a global reach for your books, metadata, and more. If you’re a self-published author, you’ll learn a lot by consistently reading this blog.
Did I fail to mention one of your favorite indie author blogs? Please continue the conversation in the comments below and be sure to mention your favorite blogs.
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Frances Caballo is an author and social media strategist and manager for writers. She’s written several social media books including The Author’s Guide to Goodreads and Social Media in 30 Minutes a Day. Her focus is on helping authors surmount the barriers that keep them from flourishing online, building their platform, finding new readers, and selling more books. Her clients include authors of every genre and writer conferences. Learn more about Frances, and sign up for her free email course, at SocialMediaJustforWriters.com.
