#selfpublishingtips
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It’s a Beastie Boys World: I Just Live In It. Free Guide!

Oh man, you found the perfect song for your novel. Only thing is, it’s not your song. What’s an author to do? What Can You Safely Use: Song Titles Book Titles TV Show Titles Titles typically cannot be copyrighted. What Can You Not Use Without Checking Copyright First: Song lyrics Quotations from people (famous or…
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Muting, and How to Prevent it From Happening to You on Facebook—Tips for Authors

Introduction This post is about muting or, rather, how to avoid being muted, by your Facebook audience. Let’s dig in…Every author has seen it—the desperate “Like my page!” posts, the relentless book plugs, the awkward event invites that aren’t really events. Although often well intended, these requests are among the fastest ways to get muted…
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In the Spotlight | Dreams of the Return by Alan Bern

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Principles Authors Should Live By on Facebook

Introduction “Rules are not necessarily sacred, principles are.”— Franklin D. Roosevelt Facebook sometimes (or often) feels like shouting into the void, you’re not alone. Many authors struggle with what to post, how often to post, and whether their efforts even matter. The truth is, there’s no single formula. But there are guiding principles that separate…
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Facebook Author Strategy: Pages, Profiles, and What Actually Works

Introduction Few subjects stir more confusion among authors than the topic of their Facebook author strategy and answering the question: Should I create a separate author page, or just use my personal profile? On the surface, a fan page feels more “official.” But profiles often feel more authentic, and in today’s Facebook ecosystem, authenticity tends…
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“You Wrote It. Now Sell It.” Episode 13: Making Time to Promote and Sell Your Writing

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Unpublished Authors: To Build or Not to Build a Facebook Following?

Introduction If you’re an unpublished author, social media can feel like putting the cart before the horse. Should you invest time in building a Facebook presence before you even have a book? The short answer: maybe—but only if it aligns with your goals and genre. Let’s walk through why building a platform before publication sometimes…
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Publisher to Author: “Get on Facebook!” — Essential Strategies for Navigating the Terrain

Introduction It can happen that your publisher, editor, or even agent casually advises you to be on “on Facebook.” For many writers, that suggestion feels less like encouragement and more like a creativity death sentence. After all, you signed up to write books, not craft witty posts every day. So what do you do when…
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“You Wrote It. Now Sell It.” Episode 12: Substack for Writers: Growing Deeper Connections

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Facebook for Authors: Myth, Necessity, or Distraction?

Introduction Facebook has long been a go-to platform for authors seeking to build an online presence. But in recent years new platforms such as Bluesky, Threads, BeReal, and others have emerged, crowding an already busy social media landscape. With so many platforms vying for our attention, it’s totally fair to wonder: Do authors still need…
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“You Wrote It. Now Sell It.” Episode 11: Substack for Writers: A Simple Way to Grow Your Audience

As writers, we’re always asking the same question: how do I find more readers? You might already have a website, maybe a few social media accounts, maybe even a book or two out in the world. But reaching the right people—and keeping them engaged—isn’t easy. That’s where Substack comes in. You’ve probably heard the name…
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“You Wrote It. Now Sell It.” Episode 10: The of Power Networking with a Fellow Writer

Writing can sometimes feel like a solitary journey—but networking ensures it doesn’t have to be. One of the most rewarding steps you can take as an author is to connect with another writer who is at a similar point in their career, works in your genre, and whose work you genuinely enjoy. This isn’t about…
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Our September Author Marketing Meeting: How to Build an Email List That Actually Sells Books

You wrote your book, but you also have to sell it. That’s why Current Words Publishing hosts a monthly author marketing meeting, free for all clients. Each month we tackle a practical, real-world challenge that authors face. Book marketing takes time and persistence. Every author I know faces the same challenge: How do I reach…
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“You Wrote It. Now Sell It.” Cross-Promotion

One of the most powerful tools authors have today is each other. Cross-promotion allows writers to share audiences, build credibility, and expand their reach without feeling like they’re shouting into a void. The key is to approach it as a partnership: you’re not selfishly asking others to share your work, you’re offering to amplify theirs…
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“You Wrote It. Now Sell It.” The Reader Magnet (part II).

Last time, we shared the concept of the reader magnet and its importance in helping expand your readership. If you missed that post, you’ll find it here. As mentioned in part 1, a reader magnet is a free, high-value offering—anything from a bonus chapter to a prequel to an upcoming work or an exclusive short…
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“You Wrote It. Now Sell It.” The Reader Magnet.

A reader magnet is a free piece of content—like a short story, guide, checklist, or novella—that you offer to your audience in exchange for subscribing to your mailing list. Its primary goal is to attract readers, engage them, turn casual visitors into long-term fans, and add stickiness to your site. By giving something valuable up…
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“You Wrote It. Now Sell It.” Practical Marketing Tips for Authors: Elevator Pitch vs Hook

Writing a book is a major accomplishment worth celebrating. But finishing the manuscript is only the beginning of a larger journey—one that includes crafting a strong elevator pitch and doing the work to get your book not just published, but also read. Today’s question: Can you give me the elevator pitch quickly? Quicker than that?!…
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“You Wrote It. Now Sell It.” Practical Marketing Tips for Authors: Market Early and Often

Writing a book is a major accomplishment—and one worth celebrating. But finishing the manuscript is only the beginning of the larger journey: getting your work not just published, but read. Much of an author’s success depends on their willingness to market early and often—transforming your story from something known only to you into a book…
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“You Wrote It. Now Sell It.” Practical Marketing Tips for Authors: Collect Readers

Writing a book is a major accomplishment worth celebrating. But writing the book is only the beginning of a larger journey to seeing your work not just published, but also read. Today’s question: Who is going to read your book? It’s time to collect readers. Take about six minutes with me today to think about…
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Introducing “You Wrote It. Now Sell It.” Practical Marketing Tips for Authors

Writing a book is a major accomplishment worth celebrating. But writing the book is only the beginning of a larger journey to seeing your work published. That’s why we’re excited to launch, “You Wrote It. Now Sell It,” a new video series of marketing tips. This series is designed for writers who want to take…