Vanity Presses in Sheep’s Clothing

I’ve self-published a few books (some more successful than others) and even though I may not have a best seller out there I’m pretty happy selling a few hundred books or so, building a following, and if it takes me years to build toward that best seller, then so be it. If I don’t become

For the Teachers: 5 Awesome Websites!

School starts back in a few weeks for me, and I spent the summer attending some really cool conferences (mostly Advanced Placement).  One of the most important things I discovered at these conferences was the websites that the teachers use to enhance their classroom learning environment.  Sure, you could pay some website a lot of

2 A-Z Posts in 1: Plagiarism and “The Fantasy Novelist’s Quiz”

Yesterday I came home to post my new blog post only to find that our DSL service was out of order.  Apparently, a couple of local bumpkins had decided to build a fence and while digging post holes cut directly through the line.  I was bummed because since we live in such a remote location

NaNoWriMo Tip #24: Piecemeal Criticism

When I write, I usually end up invariably creating chapters I did not intend to write when I originally wrote my outline.  Usually, they are on subjects or set in places that I did not originally research or intend to include in the novel. For this, I have the glorious internet to thank.  However, the

Press Releases: Getting the Word Out

One of the most important tools an indie writer has at their disposal is the press release about their latest book.  There are a couple of ways to go about doing this, but the main way that will garner the most attention is by writing a thorough and yet to-the-point release. The press release should

3 Reasons I’m Getting My Own Domain Name

I’ve thought about it for a while, and have decided that on Monday my blog will no longer have the word “wordpress” in my URL.  It will only cost me $18 a year, and here are the benefits I will reap: 1. Professional Image – My blog will no longer be “just another WordPress blog”,