The hottest Self-Publishing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Have you ugly cried this week? I hope so. (Plus: my thoughts on Taylor Swift's book.)

How to Glow in the Dark ā€¢ 679 implied HN points ā€¢ 18 Oct 24
šŸ“š Literature Publishing Self-Publishing Authors Books Celebrity
  1. It's okay to feel your emotions deeply; sometimes crying is part of processing those feelings.
  2. Taylor Swift's upcoming self-published book is shaking up the publishing industry by bypassing traditional methods.
  3. This move could encourage traditional publishers to rethink their strategies and invest in diverse authors instead of focusing only on mega-celebrities.

Unbelievable! How She Secured Her Dream Book Deal (and Went From Unemployed to Published by Penguin)

Kristina God's Online Writing Club ā€¢ 1498 implied HN points ā€¢ 23 Jun 24
šŸ“š Literature Authors Publishing Writing Self-Publishing
  1. Veronica Llorca-Smith, who started writing seriously just two years ago, became a published author with Penguin Random House after self-publishing her first book.
  2. She published four books in one year, including bestsellers, by focusing on consistent writing and utilizing different platforms for marketing.
  3. Veronica cleverly pitched her book idea to Penguin after researching their needs, showing that taking initiative and being strategic can lead to success.

#8: How to Blow $250 on Ads For Your Self-Published Book

Shades of Greaves ā€¢ 412 implied HN points ā€¢ 12 Jan 24
šŸ’¼ Business Self-Publishing Advertising Book Sales Marketing Strategies Data Analysis
  1. The author tried investing $250 in ads for their self-published book but didn't see good returns, highlighting the challenges of advertising for self-published authors.
  2. Despite spending on ads, the author sold very few copies through Facebook and Amazon, underscoring the risk of not getting desired results from advertising efforts.
  3. Data from the failed ad campaigns is seen by the author as a way to learn and refine future advertising strategies, showing the importance of using past experiences to improve future marketing efforts.

The Doc Web

escape the algorithm ā€¢ 718 implied HN points ā€¢ 15 May 23
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Internet culture Self-Publishing Digital Platforms Community Building Expression
  1. A doc created can easily transition from a private space to a public domain with a simple click of a share button.
  2. Google Docs is more than just a word processor; it forms a unique, vast network known as the 'Doc Web' with subtle yet powerful publishing capabilities.
  3. The widespread accessibility and simplicity of Google Docs as a publishing tool can challenge traditional power dynamics and lead to unconventional forms of expression and shared knowledge.
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How to Write a Novel

Political Currents by Ross Barkan ā€¢ 31 implied HN points ā€¢ 24 Dec 24
šŸ“š Literature Writing Tips Self-Publishing Novel writing
  1. Writing a novel doesn't require a detailed outline. It's more about moving from scene to scene and discovering the story as you go.
  2. Keep writing even if you're unsure about the plot or ending. It's important to finish the work and worry about the details later.
  3. You should write for yourself and not focus on markets or trends. A novel is an expression of your creativity, and it should feel meaningful to you.

Make self-publishing great again

The Leftovers ā€¢ 219 implied HN points ā€¢ 20 Nov 23
šŸ“š Literature Self-Publishing Criticism Classic literature
  1. The preconception that traditionally-published books are inherently better than self-published ones is flawed; both avenues have their own strengths and weaknesses.
  2. Gatekeeping in the literary world may not always be based on merit, leading to snobbish attitudes towards self-published works.
  3. The way a book is released does not determine its greatness; classic works like those of Proust and Dickens were self-published and have stood the test of time.

Diary Entry #1: Early Numbers

Shades of Greaves ā€¢ 216 implied HN points ā€¢ 20 Oct 23
šŸ’¼ Business Entrepreneurship Publishing Marketing Self-Publishing Book Sales
  1. Social media followings are crucial for authors as publishers consider the 'platform' when deciding on book deals.
  2. Self-publishing a book involves challenging odds, as most books sell fewer than 300 copies in their lifetime.
  3. Tracking and analyzing book sales data is essential for authors in understanding promotional tactics' effectiveness and areas for improvement.

I Wrote a Book!

Shades of Greaves ā€¢ 157 implied HN points ā€¢ 16 Oct 23
šŸ“š Literature Self-Publishing Book promotion Book launch Writing process
  1. The author has published a book called 'Spoilers: Essays That Might Ruin Your Favorite Hollywood Movies', which has had an exciting reception.
  2. The author is actively promoting the book through events like book launches, signings, and readings.
  3. The author plans to share insights and data on the self-publishing process in a series called 'The Numbers', aiming to help other self-published authors.

Diary Entry #5: Correlated Numbers

Shades of Greaves ā€¢ 137 implied HN points ā€¢ 02 Nov 23
šŸ“š Literature Writing Self-Publishing Book events Book Sales Book promotion
  1. Correlation does not equal causation, a lesson learned through analyzing book sales data.
  2. Promotional efforts like interviews, podcasts, and social media posts contribute to book sales, showcasing the importance of multiple strategies.
  3. Self-publishing involves hard work and dedication to drive sales; creative approaches are needed to boost book sales further.

How To Become a Top Writer on Medium in 2023

Kristina God's Online Writing Club ā€¢ 219 implied HN points ā€¢ 24 Jan 23
šŸšŒ Education Writing Tips Online Learning Content creation Social media Self-Publishing
  1. To become a Top Writer on Medium, use the right tags that can actually earn you that status. Avoid tags that are too general or not popular.
  2. I've created a free list of Top Writer tags and a YouTube video explaining my step-by-step process to help you succeed.
  3. When writing, you can use multiple tags to specify your content, but make sure to include some Top Writer tags for better chances.

How I Self-Published My Book In 4 Months

The Uncommon Executive ā€¢ 19 implied HN points ā€¢ 24 Mar 24
šŸ’¼ Business Publishing Self-Publishing Marketing Editing
  1. Decide why you are writing a book - legacy, knowledge sharing, or business marketing are common reasons, not making money.
  2. When considering how to publish, options include traditional publishers, smaller publishing services, or self-publishing on platforms like Amazon Kindle.
  3. From writing to publishing a book, budget for costs like editing, proofreading, design, and consider the timeline - it took the author 4.5 months.

Diary Entry #2: Discovery Numbers (And a Quick Favor)

Shades of Greaves ā€¢ 39 implied HN points ā€¢ 22 Oct 23
šŸ’¼ Business Marketing Publishing Advertising Sales Self-Publishing
  1. The author's book has launched on Reedsy Discovery, a platform connecting authors with readers. Getting support through upvotes, comments, and reviews can help increase visibility for the book.
  2. Paid press opportunities like Reedsy Discovery can cost money but may lead to more book sales and broader exposure. For instance, with a $50 cost, selling 10 books could break even and expand the book's reach.
  3. Free press through interviews, newsletter features, and social media shoutouts has been crucial in promoting the author's book, demonstrating the value of media coverage in reaching potential readers.

A decade of disappointments

Thoughts on Writing ā€¢ 179 implied HN points ā€¢ 24 Nov 21
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Creativity Critique Mindset Self-Publishing Influence
  1. The inspiration behind the Disappointments Diary stemmed from a reaction to the overwhelming positive messages on social media, highlighting the importance of addressing toxic positivity and embracing emotional realism.
  2. The Negative Path to Happiness, as advocated by authors like Oliver Burkeman, suggests that embracing uncertainty and insecurity can lead to a more lasting form of contentment than relying solely on positive thinking.
  3. Navigating the ups and downs of a creative project involves quixotic optimism, distribution challenges, and the contextual nature of optimism, especially in the realms of social media and politics.

I Just Sold My 500th Book. If I Was Allowed to Advertise It Iā€™d Be Rich

Pryor Questions ā€¢ 22 HN points ā€¢ 18 Oct 23
šŸ’¼ Business Publishing Advertising Self-Publishing Monopoly
  1. The author sold 500 copies of a children's satire book, but couldn't advertise due to the Amazon algorithm.
  2. Despite the challenges, organic promotion efforts led to sales from a diverse audience.
  3. The story highlights the struggle for authors in a competitive and heavily monetized online market like Amazon.

New Book! The Pandemic Information Solution

Joshua Gans' Newsletter ā€¢ 0 implied HN points ā€¢ 05 Feb 21
šŸ“š Literature Book release Author Newsletter Self-Publishing
  1. The new book 'The Pandemic Information Solution' is a sequel focusing on information solutions to combat Covid-19 and future pandemics.
  2. The book emphasizes the importance of tests, screening, tracing, and accurate information to navigate and resolve pandemics effectively.
  3. Self-published at a low price, the book is available for pre-order, providing practical solutions for global challenges, and a PDF download is offered for loyal readers.