BLOGGERS BEWARE: Re-writing “News” Can Get You Sued…for Libel
Some bloggers are News Rewriters and they, too, can be held liable if they distribute incorrect information (libel, defamation, and invasion of privacy)...…
Angela’s Desk
Topic, Common Themes, and Winners of the WritersWeekly.com WINTER, 2019 24-Hour Short Story Contest!
A boy shivering wanders through a snowy forest after his father told him to take care of his mother and sister. Will he make it back home with food from the traps? Where did our Winter, 2019 contest participants take us??? You won't want to miss the top three winners!…
25 Ways to Create a Publishing Company That WILL GO OUT OF BUSINESS! (And, You Just Might Go to Jail, Too!) by Snarky Angela Hoy
Theft, owner narcissism, employee and author abuse, blatant stupidity, and so much more! Here are textbook examples of why publishing companies fail. …
World’s Worst Query Letters and Book Proposals For February, 2019!
Oh, yes! We know you’re excited!! Today, we’re going to share another installment of our popular column, World’s Worst Query Letters and Book Proposals! We really CAN learn from others' mistakes!…
AUTHORS: Are you a victim of royalty theft? Here are the signs!
Is your publisher feeding you one or more of these ridiculous, unbelievable excuses?…
What is a “Book Re-publisher” and Why Should Authors Avoid Them at All Costs?
Book re-publishers are expanding across the globe. Don't fall for their false praise and promises!…
WSJ Claims Amazon’s “Publishing Business” is NEW…But It’s Over a Decade Old and They Are STILL Having Problems!
Amazon's Self Publishing division is not a new thing. Neither are the dirty tricks they employ...…
Considering Indie Writers Support/Paradon Books? You Might Want to Read These Posts First!
I found the following complaints posted to a variety of websites about Indie Writers Support/Paradon Books...…
UPDATED – 2019 Self-Publishing Price Comparison!
Considering self-publishing? Check out this price comparison featuring 17 of the most popular Print on Demand publishing service providers! …
LAST CHANCE! THIS SATURDAY!! What will the Winter, 2019 24-Hour Short Story Contest Topic Be?!?!
You do NOT want to miss it! Participants RAVE about how much fun this contest is!…
Lots of Imprints and Lots of Complaints! Could You Unwittingly Crawl into Bed with Author Solutions?
The first big Author Solutions lawsuit was denied class-action status so the plaintiffs must sue on their own. But, the second lawsuit, which also seeks class-action status, is still winding its way through the legal system. …
If You Are “Sympathy Pitching” Editors and Publishers, PLEASE STOP! by Brian P. Whiddon, Managing Editor
Believe it or not, I get pitches from writers using these angles almost every day. And, these pitches don’t sell writing any better than they sell cars...…
IS AMAZON REJECTING BOOK REVIEWS FROM YOUR READERS? We Found a Work-Around! by Angela Hoy
We are receiving increasing numbers of complaints from authors about Amazon rejecting legitimate reviews for their books...…
How a Lone Bookkeeper Killed a 49-Year-Old Literary Agency
It feels like we've been watching an episode of American Publishing's Most Wanted. Not many news stories have had me fired up as much as this one!…
Can You REALLY Trust Your Secretary, Webmaster, or Publishing Consultant to “Sign” Your Publishing Agreement?
An author recently asked his webmaster to complete a publishing contract on his behalf (which was, of course, not legally binding). What the author learned later, however, was quite disturbing...…
Did Amazon “Give” Your Buy Button to a 3rd Party Seller and is Your List Price Way Too High? WE HAVE A TIP FOR YOU!
Amazon may still be selling your book directly, and it may very well be in stock at Amazon, listed at the correct price, AND eligible for Prime (free) Shipping! But, where do you find that listing?! We'll show you!…
Do YOU Offer a Unique Service for Authors? May We Promote It??
There are countless editors, cover designers, website creators, and others offering their services to authors online. But, there are other unique services available to authors that may very well benefit them, their book, and their profits in the long-run! Are YOU one of these individuals? Or, are you seeking these types of services? …
World’s Worst Query Letters and Book Proposals For November, 2018!
Oh, yes! We know you’re excited!! Today, we’re going to share another installment of our popular…
ROYALTY REFUSAL? A Charity Gets RUDE After I Try to Fulfill an Author’s Last Wish
I hated to be snarky (actually, I didn't hate it that much) but I had to tell her that...…
WritersWeekly’s 2018 Readers’ Favorites!
Our 2018 Top 25 Articles!…
Topic, Common Themes, and Winners of the WritersWeekly.com FALL, 2018 24-Hour Short Story Contest!
For the past six weeks, we’ve spent every spare moment judging the hundreds of entries submitted for WritersWeekly's most recent 24-Hour Short Story Contest. In case you’re not familiar with our quarterly contest, this is how it works...…
CAN YOU HELP AUTHORS? We are Seeking, Illustrators, Translators, Ghostwriters, Audiobook Creators, and more!
DO NOT pay your publisher for cover design, editing, illustrating, or anything that THEY will own later!…
DON’T BE A SUCKER! When a “Publisher” Offers to Pay Half of Your Publishing Fees, DON’T BELIEVE THEM!
I may sound harsh in this article but I receive SO MANY emails from authors who have left their common sense at the door, and are about to step knee-deep in a big pile of you-know-what.…
World’s Worst Query Letters and Book Proposals For October, 2018!
You do NOT want to miss these gems!!! ;)…
How BookLocker Has Remained Profitable for 20 Years…when so many others have failed by Angela Hoy, WritersWeekly.com, BookLocker.com, Abuzz Press and PubPreppers.com
BookLocker.com has been in the business for 20 years, and has published more than 10,000 titles in that time. We've seen many competitors rise and fall but we're still going strong. We are a lean organization. We keep our costs down while only working with a limited number of authors each year. This enables me (one of the two owners) to work with every single author one-on-one. We break even on setup fees, and earn our profits on book sales so we and each author have a vested interest in the success of their book.…
Despite a Few Readers’ Accusations, WritersWeekly is NOT a Political E-Rag! by Brian Whiddon, Managing Editor
Since 2016, there's been a noticeable uptick in readers criticizing us for posting items that they feel are politically biased. The crazy thing is that we've been accused of being both left-wing, liberal Democrats and bible-thumping, right-wing Republicans...…
Is WattPad a Great Opportunity to Promote Your Writing – Or a Toilet to Flush Your Work For Free??
I have to admit. When I first heard about this business model, my B.S. antenna went up. So, I did some further research, and here is what I found...…
LAST CHANCE! THIS SATURDAY!! What will the Fall, 2018 24-Hour Short Story Contest topic be?!?!
Snapped cornstalks, a fortune teller’s wagon, fiery red braids flying through a cold autumn wind, colorful leaves racing across worn shoes, a hideous, bald doll, a pumpkin contest at the county fair, a fiery cast iron pot, a painting that sucks the living into its canvas, and so much more! See all 18 years of our Fall contest topics!…
10 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW about CreateSpace’s Death / “Merger” with KDP Print, and Why Some Authors are FURIOUS!
Amazon has killed CreateSpace, and renamed it/merged it/replaced it (same thing, no matter which way you wash it!) with "KDP Print." We all knew that was coming. And, between you and me, with all the complaints about CreateSpace posted online, it’s no surprise they wanted to get rid of the name...…
AUTHOR ALERT! HIGHER BOOK PRICES ON AMAZON and NO PRIME SHIPPING! Has Amazon Given Your Book’s “Buy Button” to a Third-party Seller?
Has your book's listing on Amazon recently changed? Have you noticed the following? High list price; No Prime availability; Some unknown firm selling your book instead of Amazon?…
AUTHOR ALERT! Can Your Book’s “REVIEWS” Get You Sued? Yep!
Many publishers, knowing they aren’t legally liable for the content of their authors’ books, nor for their authors’ marketing activities, will not inform those authors of these types of potential problems. At BookLocker, we always treat others as we’d like to be treated so we never hesitate to alert an author when they’re about to make a really, really big mistake.…
AUTHOR ALERT! How Amazon Can Instantly (Poof!) Make Your Book Sales DISAPPEAR!
Authors, consider this scenario: With the click of a button, Amazon has killed your entire, successful career as an author. Your books have all been removed from their site, your unpaid royalties may be frozen, and you can't get any specific details from Amazon... THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING!!…
How to Publish a Book to Boost Your Fundraising Efforts! by Angela Hoy, WritersWeekly.com, BookLocker.com, and AbuzzPress.com
"Should we publish a book for future fundraising, or keep collecting money through donation jars."…
When Drunk Authors Email Potential Publishers (Sigh…) by Ali Hibberts, Director of Publishing Services, BookLocker.com, Inc.
"How do we know when someone is under the influence? It's pretty obvious..."…
SAY CHEESE! Your Photo is as Important as Your Writing! By Brian Whiddon
You spend hours crafting your writing product. How much do you invest in your photo image?…
World’s Worst Query Letters and Book Proposals For July, 2018!
Oh, yes! We know you’re excited!! Today, we’re going to share another installment of our popular…
