Features | Self-Publishing Review

Happy Things For Authors

Let’s not talk about the c-word. Here’s a list of happy literary stuff online to help you get writing indoors again. If you do all of these now, you’re going to be writing tonight, guaranteed.

SPR – Success Stories

Read how famous self-publishers hit the big time in our blog series. Be inspired!

Free Online Writing Courses

Open Culture has curated a massive list of brilliant, properly taught courses for writers including videos and audio tracks on subjects such as Shakespeare, writing about the Civil War, fairies, Japanese culture, and Lord Of The Rings.

Zadie Smith on Writers Dancing

What […]

Cate Baum2020-03-31T09:18:11+02:00March 26th, 2020|Categories: Features|Tags: Writing Tips|

What Amazon’s Slowing of Book Deliveries Means For Authors

Amazon has announced via Seller Central that they will be slowing book delivery to prioritize medical and food delivery in the US and EU markets. Amazon says, “We are temporarily prioritizing household staples, medical supplies and other high-demand products coming into our fulfillment centers so that we can more quickly receive, restock, and ship these products to customers.”

What does that mean for authors and book sales during the COVID-19 crisis?

1. Amazon Customers will be heading for Kindle eBooks instead of paperbacks

There are no health risks for digital downloads. So, many readers will prefer this method in the […]

Cate Baum2020-03-18T11:38:28+02:00March 18th, 2020|Categories: Features|Tags: Amazon News and Tips, Book Formatting Tips|

The Coronavirus Pandemic = Your Chance To Finish Your Book!

A silver lining for all writers out there stuck without transport, concerts, sporting events, shopping malls, and parties?

We’re told to stay at home, not travel, stop seeing each other, and wait for the plague to pass over our roofs…so without all the distractions of weekend barbecues, Little League games, and the TV sports you were going to watch, why not bury those procrastinations you always use and open that Word file and crack on?

Why Now?

Without much else better to do, people are flocking to Amazon to dig into new reads. Take this opportunity and finally get around […]

Cate Baum2020-03-12T11:00:08+02:00March 12th, 2020|Categories: Features|Tags: Writing Tips|

What Do Amazon KDP Terms Mean For Self-Published Authors in 2020?

2020 sees a shake-up to the Amazon KDP Terms, so let’s take a look at the main clauses that affect both authors publishing on KDP and reviewers who leave reviews for Kindle Books. You can find the Terms here (link will geo-locate).

Here are the highlights that may affect you on your publishing and marketing journey:

Publishing Your Book

5.1.2 Content Requirements…”If you discover that content you have submitted does not comply [wth our Program], you must immediately withdraw the content by un-publishing it or by re-publishing content that complies through the Program procedures for Book withdrawal or re-publishing. […]

Cate Baum2020-02-28T05:19:43+02:00February 28th, 2020|Categories: Features|Tags: Amazon News and Tips|

All About Book Reviews and Amazon – A Quick Guide and Rules

What reviews are allowed on Amazon?

There’s been some panic in the self-publishing streets about reviews being removed from Amazon and who is going to get sued for their reviews – and a lot of outrage blogging about Evil Amazon. Here’s a quick guide to why you should stop worrying too much and start understanding the different types of book reviews a little better.

There are three kinds of reviews on Amazon:

1. Customer Reviews

These are the reviews that Amazon is exercising their right, as a private company remember, to investigate more closely. What Amazon is trying to achieve […]

Cate Baum2020-02-21T06:33:58+02:00February 17th, 2020|Categories: Features|Tags: Amazon News and Tips, Book Promotion Articles, Book Reviews|

Self-Publishing Romance – Six Steps To Writing About Love

Six tips on how the best self-published romance writers make it work.

1. Niche it up.

The best romance books are those with a niche, that is, they have a definable sub-genre on Amazon. For instance, cowboy meets farm girl, billionaire meets poor girl, jazz singer meets music student, antiques dealer meets woman with an old mansion. You can also try going with a theme, such as clean and wholesome, time travel, cowboys, or even aliens… look at indie author Linda Cousine’s “middle-aged hottie” niche. It’s menopausal romance in her ‘wit lit ‘style!

2. Make your characters strong and

[…]

Lysa Grant2025-05-12T17:51:12+02:00February 14th, 2020|Categories: Features|Tags: Book Promotion Articles, Publishing Tips and Advice|

How Can I Sell Books In An Election Year?

Our tips for selling books and engaging readers during the 2020 Election.

Whatever side you’re on, selling books this year will be tough. Why? Because people are busy reading about politics and watching TV in a way they do not at other times.

What can I do to weather low sales this year?

Go local. Where in your community would people buy your book despite the Election? If your book is about science fiction or fantasy, is there a games workshop near you, or a science group who would love to hear you talk about your book? Clubs and societies […]

Cate Baum2020-02-21T06:42:38+02:00February 13th, 2020|Categories: Features|Tags: Amazon News and Tips, Book Marketing Advice and Tips|

How To Get Honest Book Reviews in 2020

Here are four simple methods to get honest book reviews in 2020. Authors are always looking for new ways to get reviews for their book, but most want an honest opinion. Attracting readers to buy your book is difficult enough, but getting them to leave a review is even harder.

Use a reader mailing list service. There are only two main services you can rely upon that result in Amazon Verified Customer Reviews (proof the reader actually bought the book) and sales within Amazon’s Review Guidelines. Both services have huge mailing lists of readers who buy, read, and review books. […]