When Writing Means Business

The trade publication for indie authors — news, strategy, and craft for every publishing path: self-published, hybrid, small press, and trad.

The Latest Issue

Issue #58 - Building Your Author Business Your Own Way

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‘My Business Is Like a Breathing Organism’: Katie Cross on Following Her Readers

Sara Rosett Shares How She’s Built a Cozy Career in Indie Publishing

Writing the Next Chapter: Theresa Goodrich on the 'Gut-Punch’ Diagnosis that Gave Her Permission to Stop Waiting

From Screenplays to Storefronts: How Deborah Wilde Turned Snark into a Sustainable Author Brand

The Quiet Empire: How Annabel Chase Made Her Brand, Not Herself, the Face of Her Business

How Adam Beswick Turned Six Figures into More than a Fantasy

Marketing, craft, publishing tech, and the business of books

Transmedia (Audio, Merch, Special Editions + Alternate Income Streams)

28 articles

Letters from the Creative Director

6 articles

Guest series

1 article

The Latest in
Indie Publishing

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Kindle Unlimited Payouts Near $5 Billion: This Week’s Publishing News

Kindle Unlimited’s cumulative payouts to participating authors are expected to pass $5 billion when October’s figures are announced. Plus, IAM articles from this week, upcoming Indie Author Training webinars, Edit Out Loud, and more publishing news.

ALLi Exclusive: Why Every Indie Author Needs an AI Policy

Earlier this month, ALLi director Orna Ross wrote about AI accusations dividing the writing community. Here's what more than 1,200 indie authors said in ALLi's recent AI survey and how to share your own position on AI.

Joseph Alexander on Building a Sustainable Indie Publishing Business

At Fundamental Changes, a smaller release schedule reflects a bigger decision: choosing the work, people, and obligations the successful music publisher wants to sustain.

Publishing Wide, Your Way: Wide for the Win Summit Teaches Authors How to Build Their Own Mix

Wide is not all or nothing. Speakers at the October summit showed how to choose the mix of retailers and formats that fits a catalog, with numbers authors can use before their next release.

Kindle Unlimited Is Now Kindle+: This Week’s Publishing News

Amazon has renamed Kindle Unlimited as Kindle+ and added more audiobooks to the subscription. Plus, ACX’s December 31 payment deadline, IAM’s articles from this week, upcoming Indie Author Training webinars, and more publishing news.

Author Inklings: Learning from Your Launch

You can learn a lot about improving your next launch by studying the previous one. Columnist Susan Odev details how a publishing postmortem can give authors a clearer look at what parts of their process worked and what to change for book 2.

Evan Gow on Author Mailing Lists and the Business of Reaching Readers

StoryOrigin’s founder built a business around the work authors do between writing a book and selling it to readers. His tools aim to make room for reader relationships that last.

AI Tech Summit Sign-Ups Are Open: This Week’s Publishing News

From one summit to the next! Sign-ups for Indie Author Training’s next summit are open, and replays from last week’s summit are available now. Also check out this week’s IAM articles, ALLi’s SelfPubCon26, and more publishing news.

Phil Marshall and the Work Behind AI Audiobooks

Spoken’s co-founder wants to put a full voice cast within independent authors’ reach. His own novel shows it’s possible—and that, even with AI, a finished performance still includes a human touch.

Ask a Book Coach: How Do I Make Readers Care About My Characters?

Readers don’t have to like your book’s main character, but they do need to care about them. Book coach Rona Gofstein explores the difference between the two and offers advice on keeping your readers invested.

‘My Business Is Like a Breathing Organism’: Katie Cross on Following Her Readers

How Self-Publishing Led Katie Cross from Pediatric Charge Nurse to Her Forever Career

Last Chance to Tune in for the Wide for the Win Summit: Publishing News This Week

There’s still time to sign up before today's Indie Author Training summit starts! Plus, a look at next month’s summit, IAM articles you may have missed, and events happening around the industry.

Author Inklings: When the Launch Confetti Settles, What Comes Next?

Your book is out in the world. It’s time to start the next story—but that may be easier said than done. Columnist Susan Odev offers tips for finding your writing rhythm again with book 2.

Narrator Shares Eight Tips for Selling More Audiobooks Without Stress

After noticing authors struggle to sell audiobooks—and burning themselves out in the process—award-winning narrator Christa Lewis wrote a marketing guide to make it easier.

StorytellerOS Updates Social, Sales Studios: Publishing News This Week

StorytellerOS releases updates, Draft2Digital announces Smashwords Store preorders, and a look at what Meta One means for authors. Plus, check out IAM articles and webinars you may have missed.