DISRUPTIVE AND DUMB: Do NOT Lie to Your Publisher About ANYTHING!
When you lie to a business associate, a neighbor, family member, or anyone in the adult world, real life consequences can ensue...…
Angela’s Desk
Large Overseas Book Order? Don’t Get Excited…
Sometimes excitement about an order can cloud common sense.…
And, MORE Complaints About Lulu Press!
A small snippet of what’s to follow: "Do yourself a solid and don't use Lulu publishing." "I've spent in the thousands and can't get ANY help!" "I would never buy from Lulu.com again." "Customer Service is a nightmare." "Do not use Lulu publishing." "Worst experience ever."…
YOUR PUBLISHER WENT BELLY-UP? Six Ways to Get Your Book Back on the Market ASAP! by Angela Hoy
After you get past the shock and anger of your book sales instantly vanishing into thin air, what can you do to get that book back on the market ASAP?…
Why “Free” Publishing Services Can Quickly Go Belly Up, and How They Can Keep Screwing Authors Years Later
Offering something for nothing is a really dumb business model. While working with a "free" company may seem tempting to some authors, these firms typically go belly-up pretty quickly. And, some end up ripping their former authors off for years after the firm's demise...while holding those authors' books hostage.…
If You Receive a Copyright Infringement Notice by Email, Do NOT Click on the Link!!
We received the following FAKE copyright infringement accusation this week via email...…
Lies, Broken Promises, Ignored Correspondence, and More – Top 10 Customer Service No No’s
If you own a professional writing or editing company, or if you're a freelance journalist or book author, or if your company serves writers, or if you're simply in business at all, there are 10 customer service blunders that can be fatal to your reputation and, ultimately, your bottom line. …
When Market Listings Don’t Match Writer’s Guidelines And Other Tricks Of The Bottom-Feeder Publishing Trade…By Angela Hoy
Here are some tricks publishers use to lure good writers to bad publications.…
Top 10 Mistakes New Authors Make When Contacting Libraries – by Angela Hoy
Read advice from a librarian about the common mistakes new authors make when approaching libraries. …
What in the WORLD Did Tommy See in the TREE?! Topic, Common Themes, and Winners of the WritersWeekly.com Spring, 2021 24-Hour Short Story Contest!
After shimmying his way up the tree, Tommy called out, "Oh my gosh! You guys won't believe this!"…
We Honor our Fallen Heroes
Here at WritersWeekly and Booklocker, we honor those who answered the call of their country…
World’s Worst Query Letters and Book Proposals For May, 2021!
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've been savings these for a few weeks now so there are a LOT to entertain you! …
How to Get Social Media Influencers to Promote Your Book
Whether you like social media influencers or not (I do not), the allure of their numbers of followers has not been ignored by marketing firms...…
Is Your Client Feigning Ignorance? Don’t Be a Dummy!!
Something that really gets my goat is when people pretend to be stupid in order to take advantage of me in some way. After being in business for 23 years, I've seen my share of Faux Ignoramuses...…
Should You Pay to Appear on a Podcast?
I was very interested in one podcast series but the narrator's voice had a twangy tone that reminded me of a screechingly bad note on my guitar...…
LAST CHANCE! THIS SATURDAY!! What Will the Spring, 2021 24-Hour Short Story Contest Topic Be?!?!
Will the topic feature include some suspense, some humor, some mystery, or something else? You'll soon find out! We are super excited about this topic!! Grab a fresh cup of coffee, open a window, turn on your laptop, crack your knuckles, and get those creative juices flowing!…
Are Authors REALLY This Desperate for Eyeballs?!
Sadly, some authors will fall for this type of scam.…
World’s Worst Query Letters and Book Proposals For March, 2021!
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've been savings these for a few weeks now so there are a LOT to entertain you! …
Should Writers/Journalists Let Facebook Host Their Websites and Newsletters? No. Here’s Why.
You can bet that the minute you post something that Facebook (or any of your readers for that matter) doesn't like, you're going to...…
I Need Your Help Understanding This Cancel Culture Thing (WARNING: Contains “offensive” material not suitable for minors)
Before you think that, by being white, I've never been a "victim" myself, read this...…
WHO’S SCAMMING GRANNY? Snakes That Prey on Elderly Authors
Elderly authors are easy marks for scammers and thieves. Today, I'll share the stories of several (semi-)fictional victims. These represent a combination of horror stories we've heard over the years.…
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)...…
Promote Your OWN Website, Not Your Publisher’s
Author Andy was so excited! His new book was finished and he'd just approved his print galley. It was time to start selling books! His publishing company put his book up for sale on their website and sent him the URL where he could send people who wanted to purchase his book. Andy didn't have his own website or blog, but he didn't think that would be a problem. Unfortunately, it was, on several fronts. And, while Andy and the other authors below are fictitious, the scenarios are based on real complaints we've received from authors over the years. In every case, had the author had their own website or blog, he or she would have lost few, if any, sales. …
WHAT in the WORLD is in THAT BOX?! Topic, Common Themes, and Winners of the WritersWeekly.com Winter, 2021 24-Hour Short Story Contest!
A wedding ring? A mysterious map?? A severed finger???…
Yes, We’re Weird! And, That’s Why We’re Still in Business!!
I was always a weird (um, naughty) kid. I never aligned myself with social norms. I recognized when something was ridiculous, even if "everyone else" was doing it. I would do things differently, despite the fact that...…
Posting “Read-Aloud” of Children’s Books on YouTube – Good Idea or Not?
Aside from the copyright infringement implications, I have a moral problem with this as well...…
Assuming Your Readers are Stupid is Just Plain…STUPID!
If I had a nickel for all of the authors who have told me they didn't think readers would mind a few typos.…
Despite Covid, Print Books Still Outsold Ebooks in 2020
Sales of print books are still higher than sales of ebooks. …
Another Reason to Buy Print Books: Amazon Can’t Take Them Away From You!
While I won't get into the politics of it all (Heaven knows we're all drowning in that stuff right now), this all serves as an important reminder that what we buy electronically may not always belong to us...…
Can You REALLY Trust Your Secretary, Webmaster, or Publishing Consultant to “Sign” Your Publishing Agreement? – by Angela Hoy
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...…
LAST CHANCE! THIS SATURDAY!! What will the Winter, 2021 24-Hour Short Story Contest Topic Be?!?!
As with every Winter contest, you can expect some chill (brrrr!) and maybe some thrill! Or, maybe some suspense, some humor, some mystery? You'll soon find out! We are super excited about this topic!!…
STOP GLUTTONOUS PURCHASING PRACTICES BY BOOKSTORES! Why ALL Books Should be Non-Returnable!! By Angela Hoy
Bookstores have a long history of ordering too many books, and then returning them for credit or a refund, often damaged, bent, and/or dirty, and at the expense of the publisher (or self-published author). At other times, the books are simply destroyed (or sold to a big salvage bookstore), again, at the expense of the publisher or self-published author. Bookstores, like other retailers, should be financially responsible for their own sales forecasts. Period. I just can't find anything in the "returns" equation where the publisher or author should be financially responsible for a bookstore's poor estimation of sales... …
World’s Worst Query Letters and Book Proposals For December, 2020!
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.…
Should You Use Booksniffer to Promote Your Book?
Read what the Alliance of Independent Authors has to say about Booksniffer. …
Amazon is Screwing Over Authors and Publishers ONCE AGAIN!
Why in the world would Amazon let people who'd completely used and benefitted from a product "return" it for a full refund? I know why!…
How to Find Software if You Don’t Want to Pay a Monthly Fee (BONUS: And, My Secret for Finding High-Demand Products During a Pandemic)
When Microsoft, Adobe, and other firms starting offering their software in download-only format, and for a monthly or annual fee, I got really, REALLY mad!…