Business of Publishing

What do you do when a book you love was written by a problematic author? Here are six concrete strategies for reading ethically without burning your whole TBR to the ground.

Use the book marketability matrix to find out where your writing lands—and where you want it to go. Good writing and commercial success aren't mutually exclusive, but they don't always come together either.

What is a Creative Commons license—and should you use one for your writing? Learn the difference between open access and free access, all 6 CC license types, and what open access means for federally funded research.

Book returns can cost self-publishing authors real money—but most don't know how the system works until it's too late. Learn how returns work with IngramSpark, KDP, and brick-and-mortar bookstores before you decide how to publish.

What goes on a book cover—and why? Learn the anatomy of professional book cover design, from front cover to spine to back cover blurbs, with insider tips for both traditionally published and self-publishing authors.

Wondering if Kindle Unlimited is worth it for your self-published book? Learn how KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited work, how royalties are calculated, and what to consider before enrolling your e-book.

Before query letters, agents, or book covers: every writer needs to complete their first draft before they can pursue getting published.

Writers make three common comparisons that quietly destroy their confidence — comparing their drafts to published books, to peers in their writing group, and to writers at a similar age or stage. Here's why those comparisons are unfair, and two useful comparisons you can make instead.

An author website helps readers find you, showcases your bibliography, and gives journalists and event organizers a place to pull your bio and press photo. Here's how to build one from scratch — what pages to create, what to put on them, and which platforms make it easy even if you're not a web designer.