Many people aspire to write their own life stories. But let’s face it— not all memoirs are as engaging or moving as the author intended. In fact, it can be difficult to write a memoir that other people actually want to read or consider insightful. Your story must be interesting enough to hold their attention. Fortunately, there are strategies you can use to wri...
October 27, 2020 READ MORE
Is Traditional Publishing Dead?
There was a time when writing a book and actually getting it published was a dream akin to saying “I’m going to make it in the NBA!” or “I’m going to be a rock star!” Then, self-publishing came along. And while it didn’t garner much respect early on, in recent years self-publishing has taken over a major share of the publishing industry. In other words...
October 6, 2020 READ MORE
Publishing Your Private Memoir or Family History Book
You have a story to tell, and you are confident that it’s worth telling. It has characters, drama, and is filled with emotion. The best part is, it’s all true! Now you want to preserve that story for those you love and generations to come. So, what do you do once you’ve finished putting words on the page? You want to publish your story in a tangible book ...
September 22, 2020 READ MORE
7 Steps to Researching Your Family History Online
I have this fantasy of taking an extended trip around the world to discover where my ancestors came from and to meet long-lost relatives. In this fantasy world, I have unlimited time and resources to explore every rabbit hole and track down clues about those who came before me. The reality is that I—along with most people—don’t have the time it would take for...
September 15, 2020 READ MORE
Your Book: 5 Things to Think About Before You Write a Word
If you are like most people, you’d like to write a book someday. But, as anyone who has actually followed through and written a book will tell you, it can be a long and arduous process. If you want to have any chance of succeeding, it is important to plan and prepare first. The more effort you put in up front, the better your chances are of actually getting a dra...
September 8, 2020 READ MORE
The Numbers Behind the Words: Can You Make Money Writing Non-Fiction Books?
We all know an awful lot about something. It’s just the way people are. Your area of expertise might be something useful, like knowing how to fix cars, or it might be something less tangible, say, an obscene amount of knowledge about cartoons from the late 1970s to the early 1980s (ruh roh, Raggy!). Whatever the case may be, chances are that people come to you from...
August 21, 2020 READ MORE
Is a Book Still an Autobiography if Written by a Ghostwriter?
Why do so many celebrities, politicians, and executives turn to ghostwriters to help them write their autobiographies and memoirs? It’s simple: writing a book is hard, time-consuming work. Plus, just because someone holds a position of authority or fame doesn’t mean they are skilled at writing. It makes sense to enlist the help of an expert to get a book written...
June 18, 2020 READ MORE
ISBNs: The Alphabet Soup of the Literary World
Your grocery store cashier picks up your can of chicken noodle and waves it over a little sensor before delivering it to the conveyor for bagging. You know what’s happening: The can is stamped with a barcode that indicates the item and price. Once scanned, this information tells the cashier how much you owe and updates the store on its inventory. But have you ever not...
June 10, 2020 READ MORE
Intellectual Property: Protecting Myself, My Book, and My Sources
Every interesting story has a hook. The challenge is finding what grabs your reader. One sure way to make your story stand out is by using quotes. Why is this effective? Possibly because our human nature makes us curious about others. Quoting experts helps you make a compelling argument. It’s satisfying to read of others who support our opinions, and it’s justif...
April 29, 2020 READ MORE
Traditional Publishing vs Self-Publishing: What’s the Best Way to Publish Your Book?
You’ve written a book—congratulations! But after the initial euphoria wears off, many authors are faced with this looming question: Now what? You want to get your book out into the world—but aren’t sure which is the best way to do so. Should you try to land a contract with a traditional publisher? Or is self-publishing the best way to go? Evaluating Publis...
March 26, 2020 READ MORE
