The era of rapid trend cycles in publishing
AI's Impact on rapid releasing, a decreased ability to find category arbitrage, and the shift in the balance of Author Ecosystems dominance in publishing.
How to increase new subscribers by refreshing your publication
Over the last few months, I have followed the advice of several prominent Substack experts and redesigned my publication to maximize engagement and findability.
Helped, Heard, or Hugged? Understanding the true intentions behind what somebody needs when they express themselves
Learn how to recognize whether someone wants help, to be heard, or to receive emotional support when they post online, and respond in a way that fosters empathy and connection.
Wannabe Press Income Report - Q2 - 2024
The bleeding, won't somebody please stop the bleeding? Not me, though. I'm not a money doctor or whatever. I can sure throw money at it though, as long as you don't mind blood-stained money.
Daily newsletter testing
In which I keep you updated on the testing and implementation of my daily newsletter, Authoresque.
The new Super Nintendo World at Universal Hollywood is peak late-stage capitalism
Maybe I'm an old man shaking my fist at coulds, but Mario Land hits different than the rest of even Universal, let alone amusement parks, and feels like the start of something ominous.
Craft+Commerce lessons
What I learned from going to my first general business conference after attending 200+ publishing events in my career.
If a tree falls in your front yard...
I can tell you from personal experience that it absolutely makes a sound.
Ditch the Circus Act: Automate Your Indie Author Life (and Get Back to Writing!)
Automation isn't just about efficiency; it's about liberation. It's about giving yourself the gift of time to focus on what you love most: writing. Here's how it can change the game for you.
Creating a sustainable Substack content plan that doesn’t take up a ton of time
You made some awesome content on Substack, now it's time to maximize.
What do we owe to each other?
If it's hard and time-consuming and people often don't even appreciate help, so why do it? Why reach out?
How to network at a conference
I am very good at networking at conferences, probably because I've been to so many. Networking doesn't have to be a heavy burden. It can be light and fun. In fact, it should be.
Fighting the Green-Eyed Monster
Bear with me. I promise that this story of teenage angst has plenty to do with both writing and jealousy.
Wannabe Press Income Report - Q1 - 2024
Who needs a publishing company when you can consult and make more money? Me, I do.
How Wannabe Press is structured
I share the org chart of my company, which is more complex then you might think
WTF happened in the last two weeks...
...and what god can I sacrifice a goat to make amends?
Intuitive brand strategy for writers
Crafting a brand doesn’t follow a one-size-fits-all approach; there’s no magic formula or secret ingredient. Instead, it’s our intuition that often leads us to the most meaningful outcomes.
How to comp subscribers from your previous newsletter to your Substack publication
On April 28th, 2023, I comped 25,000 subscribers from my previous mailing list to The Author Stack. Since then many people have asked me how I did it.
Objectively good and subjectively your jam...
People ask me often how I get over bad reviews and keep going even when people are unimaginably cruel. It all goes back to a simple parsing of semantics we aren't taught in school.
Beyond Bestsellers: Yes, People Still Buy Books
Why I Still Believe in Publishing Despite its Flaws
Selling one million books with international bestselling author Jodi Taylor
Jodi Taylor is the author of the bestselling Chronicles of St Mary’s series, the story of a bunch of disaster-prone historians who investigate major historical events in contemporary time.
Planned serendipity
I always thought that the more successful you got in business, the more rational, logical, and measured you would be. Instead, I've had a journey into chaos.
Notes on Cal Newport's Slow Productivity
I don't take the best notes, but I do have them.