Everyone’s teaching authors how to spot scammers with lists of red flags and warning signs. But none of that works if your mindset is wrong. Because if part of you still wants the “easy way,” you’ll explain away every clue. Here’s why modern scams work — and the one shift that makes you almost impossible to fool.
The Easy Way To… (Get Ripped Off) Read More »
Most authors aren’t confused about how traditional and indie publishing work. They’re confused because they’re emotionally attached to what they want those systems to be. In 2026, choosing between trad, indie, or anything resembling “hybrid” isn’t about legitimacy or dreams of a writing career. It’s about understanding which system you’re willing to depend on — corporations behaving well, or yourself. This is the part nobody says out loud.
Trad vs Indie in 2026, Part III Read More »
If Part I was the brutal, unsentimental comparison of trad vs indie — advantages, disadvantages, and the cold math of each — then Part II shifts gears completely. Part II dives into what modern indie publishing actually looks like in 2026, because most writers still imagine the 2013 version: KU gold rushes, cheap ads, write-to-market hamster wheels, and algorithmic rituals. That world is gone. Today’s indie career is a full business model built on direct sales, diversified income, long-tail backlist revenue, platform resilience, and storytelling that can’t be replicated by AI. If you don’t understand this version of indie, you can’t choose your publishing path intelligently — and Part II lays it out without sentimentality, delusion, or nostalgia.
Trad vs Indie in 2026, Part II Read More »
Traditional publishing and indie publishing aren’t just two different business models — they’re two different belief systems. Trad authors think they’re building a career as an artist. Indie authors know they’re running a business. In 2026, that mindset divide matters more than ever. With AI flooding the marketplace, platforms deep in enshittification, bookstores shrinking, and rights tied up tighter than a banker’s fist, the only way to make good choices is to understand exactly how each system really works — not how you wish it worked. This is the brutal, unsentimental guide to both paths.
Trad vs Indie in 2026 Read More »
We think hitting our goals will make us happy—but for creative work, the real joy is in the struggle. Pressure and constraints aren’t obstacles; they’re the fuel. This post explores why the box is the point, and what to do when it starts to feel too tight.
The Box Is the Point Read More »
When we say that, “discipline is destiny,” this is what we mean—that discipline is both predictive and deterministic. It predetermined that Marcus would not only be a great emperor, but a great man too. Just as it assured that the final chapters for the cautionary tales of history—Napoleon, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, King George
Discipline: The Secret Sauce to Indie Author Success Read More »
If there’s one concept that deserves a sexy reboot, it’s Literary Citizenship. Especially for indie authors! You’ve probably heard the term tossed around a lot, usually when people are talking about supporting other writers, giving back to the literary community, or showing up for the books you love. But how do we make that actually
Literary Citizenship – Time to Make It Sexy Again Read More »
If you’ve never been traditionally published, it can look downright seductive. Like that mysterious, jaded blues singer in a smoky dive bar who has everyone mesmerized, it all seems so magical—until the lights come up and you realize the spell is broken, and so is the illusion.
I’ve been traditionally published. And most of the time, I will say “never again!” and mean it down to my very bones.
But, every once in a while, I’ve wondered if writing a “throwaway” book for a traditional publisher might score me some of the last remaining perks of that world.
The Lure of Traditional Publishing Read More »
Do you ever catch yourself thinking, “I’ll never sell,” or “I’m not talented enough”? If so, you’re not alone. We’ve all been there, doubting our abilities and waiting for some magical moment when we finally get chosen. But guess what? That thinking is backward! If we believe that it’s not our turn, that we’re not
Change Your Story, Change Your Writing Life Read More »
One of the more interesting things about searching anything on Google is the auto-complete function. When you start typing in the phrase you want to search, Google suggests variations of what it thinks you might be searching on, so that you can just click on the full phrase, instead of finishing typing it. Google picks
Indie Publishing Success is Rigged Read More »
