Ten Bookmarks for Indie Authors
I don’t like chocolate.
There, I’ve said it.
So rather than some guilt-inducing transient pleasure which will probably make you nauseous anyway, my gift to you is a different kind of egg. Unwrap these goodies instead.
When I get lost, confused and start running round in wobbly circles, I need someone to hold my hand and help me understand the shifting new frontier that is independent publishing. My blog readers, I imagine, are balanced, determined individuals who never wobble and would probably pooh-pooh helping hands. Still, I’m going to share some of my favourite resources. Pooh-pooh at will.
ALLi (The Alliance of Independent Authors)
A non-profit, global, collaborative, collective of self-publishing writers, with vast resources of information. Lots of first-hand experience and a powerful force for the publishing community. Publishes daily paper with up-to-the-second news. Example post: http://selfpublishingadvice.org/blog/find-time-for-social-media-eight-tips-for-self-publishing-indie-authors/
Publetariat
Online community and news hub built specifically for indie authors and small, independent imprints. I gleaned so much of my print research here. Example post:
http://www.publetariat.com/publish/al-katkowsky-book-app
The Writing Platform
Website and programme of live events dedicated to arming writers with digital knowledge. Free online resource for all writers and poets emerging, established, not yet published, traditionally published and self-published who are looking for neutral information about writing in a digital age. Rescue remedy for technophobes.
http://www.thewritingplatform.com/
The Creative Penn
A personal favourite, who’ll be delivering her third Zürich seminar this autumn, Joanna Penn shares her breadth of knowledge as an independent author. Writing, publishing, marketing, speaking; she’s got it all going on. Example post: http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2009/08/14/3-steps-to-start-author-platform-building/
Indie ReCon
Last month’s virtual conference for indie writers provided advice and intelligence on EVERYTHING. Seriously, check out the schedule and tell me what they missed. Here, you can find all you need to know.
http://www.indierecon.org/p/schedule.html
Jane Friedman
Outspoken, opinionated and extremely well informed, Jane shares her knowledge on writing, reading and publishing in the digital age. Down to the nitty-gritty, this is one woman you want on your side. Read this:
http://janefriedman.com/2013/03/26/amazon-white-glove-program/
Emma Darwin
Another friend of the Zürich writing community, Emma’s blog is a go-to site for authors particularly curious about the craft. All her posts are useful, but for me, this one resonated like a cathedral bell.
Catherine Ryan Howard
Writer, blogger and coffee enthusiast from Cork, Catherine helps writers with all the questions we are afraid to ask. This post on US tax issues has been one of the most popular and useful pieces of advice ever.
http://catherineryanhoward.com/2012/02/24/non-us-self-publisher-tax-issues-dont-need-to-be-taxing/
David Gaughrean
As well as being the chief source of the information in Catherine’s tax post, David hosts his own blog, Let’s Get Digital. His advice is solid, realistic, practical and indispensable to the contemporary writer. I recommend David’s book to everyone because he been there and done it. Then shared. Look at this:
http://davidgaughran.wordpress.com/practicalities/
Triskele Toolbox
And of course, our own growing bag of goodies on manuscript presentation, time management, indie reviewers, crime and historical research, peer review sites, cover design and more to come.
http://triskelebooks.blogspot.co.uk/p/triskele-toolbox.html
Happy Easter!
jjmarsh 
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