Topic, Common Themes, and Winners of the WritersWeekly.com SPRING, 2019 24-Hour Short Story Contest!
A violent storm, a blast of cold air, and a furious attempt at escape... Where would YOUR imagination take this topic? …
Angela’s Desk
Well-known Book Publicity Firm Refuses to Provide Book Sales Numbers!
I was spammed by a well-known book publicity firm last week so I took that opportunity to ask them a very simple question. All authors who are considering paying a marketing firm upwards of $1,000 or more should ask the same question...…
COMPLAINTS about Dog Ear Publishing – WOW…
From unanswered emails and phone calls, to non-payment of royalties, to the inability to even order copies, the allegations against Dog Ear Publishing are mounting. Yet, their website is still operating, and soliciting new authors!…
Should You Rewrite Your Entire Book Just Because One So-Called Literary Agent Says You Should?
I vehemently disagree with the agent that a book won't sell simply because it's a memoir.…
DEATH OR ILLNESS OF PUBLISHER? Yet Another Reason to Avoid Publishing Your Book with A Very Small or New Company
I was contacted by another author last week who was in a big bind. His published book was no longer available because: 1. His first publisher got sick and closed up shop; and 2. His second publisher died...…
Karen Wasted a Year Writing a Book She CAN’T Publish
Don't be Karen! Research publishing laws BEFORE writing that book!…
World’s Worst Query Letters and Book Proposals For April, 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. Pull up a chair and prepare for some belly laughs!…
LAST CHANCE! THIS SATURDAY!! What will the Spring, 2019 24-Hour Short Story Contest Topic Be?!?!
Has your yucky, brown snow melted? Are beautiful flowers budding in your yard? Can you believe Easter is FINALLY almost here??? But...all may not be as bright and sunny as it seems! You'll find out what we mean when you see the contest topic in your in-box (and on the WritersWeekly website) this Saturday! Grab a fresh cup of coffee, open a window to enjoy the fresh spring air, turn on your laptop, crack your knuckles, and get those creative juices flowing! WE CAN'T *WAIT* TO SEE WHERE YOUR IMAGINATION TAKES US!…
When Charging a Pain in the (Bleep) Client More Money…is More Than Justified
From Chatty Charles to Indecisive Ian, which clients are you justified in charging more for your services? …
4 Questions to Answer Before Writing “Scathing” Exposés About People
A writer asks, "Can I get sued for writing scathing articles on televangelists?"…
Ebook Sales Continue Their Downward Spiral – Is Anyone Really Surprised?
One major problem with ebooks is the difficulty in giving them away as gifts. Books have long been a beloved gift, both for the gift giver and the recipient. Amazon is the #1 seller of ebooks (of course). If an author (or anyone) "gifts" an ebook to someone (a friend or relative, or even a book reviewer), that person can use that "gift' to purchase whatever they want on Amazon...…
LIES, GUILT, AND COERCION – Dirty Tricks One Publisher Tried When This Author GOT SMART!
These emails were exchanged after the author told the publisher there would be a delay in her signing up...…
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
Don't fall for the 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...…
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!…
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 More Than 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...…