April showers bring May flowers—and while the first day of May is often seen as a marker that summer is soon to come, it’s also the start of several monthlong writing challenges, such as the Successful Indie Author group’s “May I Write a Novel” challenge. As travel ramps up heading into the summer season, meeting any writing goal can pose more of a challenge, but IAM has several resources for authors on how to keep word counts up while at conferences or in new environments—including this article by Wendy Van Camp on how authors can prepare to meet their word counts while spending a day at the beach.
Wendy Van Camp
Meanwhile, authors continue to face threats from scammers offering marketing or publishing help in exchange for money. Last year, IAM reported on a recurring AI marketing scam in which emails from supposed readers offered marketing help in exchange for money.
Nicole Schroeder
Since then, the scam has shifted tactics. Last month, Writer Beware reported authors have begun receiving fraudulent messages from scammers posing as well-known authors, editors, and other traditional publishing executives. You can read more about the latest scams, and how you can spot them in your own inbox, here: https://writerbeware.blog/2026/03/27/watch-out-for-this-scam-impersonating-editors-at-major-publishing-houses/.
In the October 2025 feature, ALLi Outreach Manager Michael La Ronn cautioned that scams would likely evolve over time as authors learned not to fall victim to them. His advice for IAM readers then remains true in any circumstance, however. “Just like before the age of AI, we would always encourage people to use your best judgment. Use your network,” he said. “If something doesn’t make sense or you’re not quite sure, there are lots of different author communities out there [where] you can ask your question, and I’m sure you can probably get an answer really quickly from other people on whether something is suspicious or not. Let’s lean on each other and use the community as well for these sorts of things.”
This Week's Indie Author Magazine Articles
Whether drafting their first novel or their hundredth, nearly every author understands the feeling of watching a cursor blink on a blank page. Many have come to accept that the writer’s block at the start of a new project or the slump in the middle of a draft is simply part of the process.
But Plotdrive founder Jay Rosenkrantz hopes his platform can prevent the slowdown entirely.
In this week’s Monday Close-Up, IAM staff writer Jenn Lessmann explored Rosenkrantz's AI-assisted writing system designed to help writers maintain momentum by bringing writing software and a range of generative tools into one platform.
Jenn Lessmann
Note: Indie Author Magazine, Indie Author Training, and our other sister sites maintain a neutral stance on artificial intelligence. In our coverage, we seek to provide an objective, informative take on the technology, and we encourage authors to make decisions about whether to use AI platforms based on their personal values and what’s best for their business.
Once you’ve finished your first draft, the first set of eyes to review it will probably be your own. But self-editing can be a challenge. "You remember the brilliant scene you imagined. Your brain helpfully fills in gaps and smooths over rough patches because it already knows the story,” writes Author Inklings columnist Susan Odev. As she begins the process of self-editing her own novel, she shares her tips for seeing your work in a new light.
Susan Odev
Teachings from Indie Author Training
Webinar: “Email Marketing That Turns Readers into Fans (and Buyers)"
Many authors never start an email list because they fear no one will sign up. Others push past that fear, get a few subscribers, then watch engagement stall until sending an email feels awkward or pointless. Opens drop, replies disappear, and the list quietly fades into the background. The real issue is not effort or consistency, but unclear promises, attracting the wrong readers, and expecting trust too early.
Email Marketing that Turns Readers into Fans (and Buyers) lays out a clear, sustainable approach to earning attention, building trust, and turning even a small list into something that supports your author business.
Watch the webinar here: https://webinars.indieauthortraining.com/talks/email-marketing-that-turns-readers-into-fans-and-buyers/
More Indie Publishing News
Here’s a look beyond our pages at the latest headlines and happenings in the publishing world.
- Former CEO of HarperCollins UK Charlie Redmayne has been named the new CEO of independent publishing company Vinci Books, according to an article in The Bookseller earlier this week. Mark Smith, the founder of Vinci Books, is stepping into a role as executive chairman of the board of directors for the company. Read more about the change here: https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=5218#m71220
- Inkers Con 2026, a ten-day digital conference for independent fiction authors, kicks off in just one month. The event runs May 30 to June 12 and includes twenty-four presentations on topics including marketing, business, craft, and advertising; live Q&As, roundtables, and networking opportunities; and access to replays for up to six years.
Interested in attending? Tickets to Inkers Con cost $249, but IAM readers can get $50 off with the code INDIE26. (Note: Indie Author Magazine may make a small commission from your purchase, at no extra cost to you.) Learn more about the event, view this year’s speaker’s lineup, and get your tickets at https://inkerscon.com/2026-digital-conference.
Anything we’ve missed that you think we should cover? Any topics or questions you’d like our team to explore? Let us know at feedback@indieauthormagazine.com. Your suggestion may just make it into an upcoming article.
