The first six issues of Indie Author Magazine (IAM) are now available on Amazon. You can order the Kindle version which is text-only or the paper version with all the design. You can also get IAM on Apple and Android apps: www.indieauthormagazine.com.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Successful indie authors often take that first step with an outline, taking their nebulous ideas and making them real — but how?
You might cringe at the thought of stifling the creative process. Or, you might be the author that geeks out at the opportunity to break out a tool and start organizing right away.
Whether you’re a Plotter or Pantser — or some combination of both — you’ll learn what bestselling authors do to take the first step.
? In this inaugural issue of Indie Author Magazine…
? Learn the top outlining methods successful indies use, and which will work for you.
? Explore the difference between the Snowflake Method and the Skeleton Draft.
? Delve into the software high-earning authors use to streamline their writing process.
In this issue of Indie Author Magazine, you’ll learn all about outlines, and meet Featured Author Gail Carriger, creator of the Heroine’s Journey. She shares her thoughts on selling over a million books in print, and how she’s transitioned to self-published over the last decade.
Besides the in-depth topic articles on outlining, we have over a dozen more articles for you!
- Read reviews of top cover design books for indie authors
- Peruse Podcast Picks you need to bookmark and listen to every week
- Learn the technology tools the top-selling authors use (plus tutorials!)
- Discover Ten Mystery Tropes and how you can satisfy sleuthy readers.
- Recognize how to be sure your cover matches your genre – and gain the trust of readers
- Ask yourself these five questions before going wide (and what is WIDE, anyway?)
- Implement these Ten Tips for INSTAGRAM top earning authors use
- Uncover how to write accurate fight scenes — the devil is in the details!
- Download new apps you can use for starting a healthy habit regimen
- Use this checklist to refine your definition of success as an indie author
First drafts are the toughest part of the process. They’re rough, they’re messy, and they’re necessary – because you can’t edit a blank page.
So how do you keep going when you hate every word you’ve written?
Don’t be just another “aspiring author” — it’s time to finish.
? In this issue of Indie Author Magazine, you’ll learn how to optimize your first draft process and join the ranks of working indies.
? How to conquer the muddy middle of your first draft… and finish strong.
? How to use dictation software like the most productive authors.
? What writing software can make your first draft a joy instead of a slog.
In this issue of Indie Author Magazine, you’ll learn all about first drafts, and meet Jami Albright, our featured author. She’s hilarious, relatable, and shares her story of pouring literal blood, sweat and tears into her first book — a runaway hit.
? Besides the in-depth topic articles on first drafts, we have over a dozen more articles for you!
- How do top-earning authors leverage collaboration? Read their strategies!
- Discover what readers of Urban Fantasy expect and how you can satisfy them.
- Learn how to design your own author logo without spending a dime.
- Implement Ten Tips for Clubhouse – the new app indies use to share their secrets
- Do you know how to effectively kill a character with poison? Learn how to get away with murder.
- Uncover why hydration is key to imagination — and what apps work
- Get serious about Scrivener – read the shortcuts that pros use to master this popular tool
- Read reviews of top first draft books for indie authors
- Peruse Podcast Picks you need to bookmark and listen to every week
- Learn the technology tools the top-selling authors use (plus tutorials!)
? BONUS: Learn what thought-leader Kevin McLaughlin has to say about Amazon’s new serialized fiction marketplace, Kindle Vella. Is it the new killer app? ?
For indie authors, the saying, “Don’t Judge a Book By Its Cover” can kill your book sales.
The wrong cover can make or break your entire project – it can be the kiss of death and drive your rank straight to the dungeon. Worse, you may not even know why.
? In this issue of Indie Author Magazine, we reveal the ways indie authors can avoid these mistakes.
Read this month’s cover design articles to learn what successful indies know:
? How to choose the right cover art and ensure you have the legal right to use it.
? How to find the perfect designer and what to ask before you hire them.
? The free tools you can use to create your own cover like a pro.
In this issue of Indie Author Magazine, you’ll learn all about covers, and meet Andrew Dobell, our featured author, and a talented cover designer. He shares insight that can save you time and money when it’s time to create your own covers.
Besides the in-depth topic articles on cover design, we have more articles for you!
- The top FIVE cover design books for indie authors
- Our Podcast Picks you need to bookmark and listen to every week
- The technology tools the top-selling authors use (plus tutorials!)
- What satisfies Sweet Romance readers? Read this and know.
- What you need to know before you dive into writing serialized fiction (including Kindle Vella, Radish, and others)
- All you need to know about pen names and how to create a secret identity
- Ten Tips for TIK TOK, the app driving 6-figure book sales
- How to expand your author community (even if you’re an introvert)
- Tips for staying healthy and adopting a successful author mindset.
? BONUS: Learn the ways you can conquer your fear of missing out – insights from industry thought-leader Suzie O’Connell.
EDITS. The dreaded red ink of doom. Seeing your marked-up manuscript can kill your enthusiasm faster than a hot knife through butter.
Poorly edited books will drive readers crazy — and leave 1-star scathing reviews. Worse, they can report your manuscript to the retailers, causing them to yank your books completely.
? In this issue of Indie Author Magazine, you’ll learn what freely available techniques bestselling authors use to avoid editing disasters.
Read these articles to learn what successful indies know:
? What the different levels of editing are — and how to determine which you need.
? How to find the perfect editor and what to ask before you hire them.
? What affordable tools you can use to edit your own manuscript. We break them down!
In this issue of Indie Author Magazine, you’ll learn all about editing, and meet Kate Pickford, our featured author, and a powerhouse author, editor, and all-around inspiration. She shares insight that can save you time and money when it’s time to edit your manuscript.
? Besides the in-depth topic articles on cover design, we have more articles for you!
- How do top-earning authors effectively use ARC and BETA READERS?
- Discover what readers of YA and DYSTOPIAN FICTION expect and how you can satisfy them.
- Learn how to bootstrap your editing process without sacrificing quality.
- Implement Ten Tips for GOODREADS – the app that gets a bad rap, but can triple your sales.
- What’s the latest technique for ISBN numbers and how do you protect your work?
- Get serious about editing software – compare the popular tools and choose the one for you.
- Read reviews of top editing books for indie authors
- Peruse Podcast Picks you need to bookmark and listen to every week
- Learn the technology tools the top-selling authors use (plus tutorials!)
? BONUS: How do you conquer crippling criticism? Monica Leonelle shares how you can filter the good feedback from the harmful.
As an indie author, you have many choices for where you can sell your creative work. How do you navigate your choices for retail distribution? Do you go wide directly or via a distributor?
And if you’re already distributing wide, you might be ready to explore expanded formats like audio and direct sales.
? In this issue of Indie Author Magazine, we break down how indie authors can maximize their retail channels of distribution.
Read this month’s distribution articles:
? Where can you sell your work? We break down the different retailers like Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo, Book and Audible.
? How to choose the right distributor like Draft2Digital or Smashwords to simplify your process.
? What indie authors can do to get their books into libraries.
In this issue of Indie Author Magazine, you’ll learn all about distribution, and meet Craig Martelle, our featured author, the powerhouse and leader of the 20Booksto50K Facebook Group and global conference.
Plus, even more articles for you!
- Our sassy advice-giving aunt, ? Indie Annie ? shares sage advice for regaining your writing spark
- We review top distribution books for indie authors from ALLI, Monica Leonelle, and Mark Leslie Lefebvre
- Our Podcast Picks you need to bookmark and listen to every week
- The technology tools the top-selling authors use (plus tutorials!)
- What satisfies Space Opera readers? Learn the tropes that work.
- How to craft better backstories using a card game
- All you need to know about how to navigate conferences successfully
- Ten Tips for BookFunnel, the app that takes the headache out of book delivery
- How to sell direct and expand your online store to include author merchandise like mugs, shirts, stickers, and more
- Tips for kicking Imposter Syndrome to the curb.
- How to maintain historical accuracy without slowing down your book’s narrative
? BONUS: Learn how indie authors at any stage of their career can use the National Novel Writing Month to their advantage from #NaNoWriMo enthusiast Merri Maywether.
