To Swear or Not To Swear: Where Are Your Boundaries As An Author?
How do you feel about swearing in your books? Hard no, or appropriate when the narrative calls for it?
Nanowrimo, Stan Lee, The Crimes of Grindelwald and more!
By Marina Ferreira Hello everyone! I have another quick literary round up for you today. Hope you’ve had a great and productive week working on your…
The KWL Cover Contest 2018: Week 1––ROMANCE
By Joni Di Placido As we approach the end of the year, it’s time to celebrate some of the best covers of 2018! We’re going…
A Beginner’s Guide to Setting Up Affiliate Links
By Joni Di Placido Affiliate income is an absolute no brainer for any independent publisher or author. Vivian Arend wrote a comprehensive guide about making the…
KWL EP 124 – Eve Langlais
Kobo Writing Life Podcast Insights and inspiration for growing your self-publishing business, featuring interviews with bestselling authors and publishing experts. In this episode, Stephanie sits down…
5 Children’s Books That You Can Read Again, And Again, And Again
By Dani Di Placido I read an article online a couple of years ago, stating that most American parents read to their children for less than…
What, Why, and How Readers Read: 10 Fun Facts
This one is for those stat-hungry authors among you! A KWL author conducted a reader survey: here are some of the take-home messages.
4 Steps to Starting Your Novel
By Signe Pike “I’m working on a novel” If you’ve ever uttered these words you are most likely acquainted with the particular horrors of trying to…
KWL EP 123 – Shayla Black
KWL EP 123 – Shayla Black In this episode, Stephanie and Laura sit down with New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shayla Black.…
Killing it at the Dublin Murder One Conference
KWL author Robert Craven was invited to do a reading at the 2018 Murder One festival in Dublin. Here he shares some snippets about his experience.
The Best Romance Novels for Fall 2018
Originally posted on Kobo.com There’s a chill in the air, leaves are falling, and we’re layering up with scarves and sweater dresses. But who says that…
NaNoWriMo, Banned Book Sculptures and Double the KWL Podcast Fun!
All the book news you need from the past week!
Go Global with Literary Translation
We’ve partnered with Language+ Literary Translations, a team of experienced translators who specialize in literary genres. Language+ Literary Translations will offer a special discount to Kobo Writing Life authors as part of our partnership.
Ready, Set, WRITE! NaNoWriMo 2018 is kicking off!
NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) began today! Wishing all you NaNoNovelists a fantastic month of writing!
KWL EP 122 – Toronto Public Library
KWL director Chrissy Munroe spoke with digital collections specialists Maria Cipriano and Beth Godlewski, who were informative, engaging and hilarious. Tune in to the podcast on iTunes, Spotify or anywhere you can download podcasts!
NaNoPlanno: Tools for NaNoWriMo Prep
NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month: a frenzy of writing with the goal of producing a 50,000-word novel during the thirty days of November.
Literary Round Up: October 26th
By Joni Di Placido Happy Friday! Before we head into the weekend, let’s recap what’s been happening in the world of books this week! The…
Building Your Street Team
Folsom is one of the many indie authors who has the benefit of a secret weapon—a street team of ardent fans who are devoted to her and, perhaps more importantly, to her ongoing success as a writer.
KWL EP 121 – Behind-the-Scenes Look at Kobo’s New eReader Forma with Ramesh Mantha
In this episode, Chrissy chats with Kobo’s VP of Product and Devices, Ramesh Mantha to learn all about Kobo’s newest eReader: Forma
Publishing (And Pasta!) at the Women’s Fiction Festival in Matera
This literary festival is a unique conference in Europe dedicated to women’s fiction, with a four-day program for authors to learn more about the craft of writing fiction; the book market; the new landscape of both traditional and self-publishing.
KWL Author Takeover #4: Damon Courtney
The Kobo Writing Life team is excited to announce our latest Facebook takeover on October 26th 2018. From 12:00 PM-1:00 PM EST, our takeover host, Damon Courtney from Bookfunnel will be answering all your questions on the Kobo Writing Life Facebook page.
Each person who comments with a question and “likes” the Kobo Writing Life page will be automatically entered to win one of two $25 gift cards to the Kobo store.
Literary Round Up: October 19th
Marina here with this week’s Literary Round Up! A few announcements: The Kobo Writing Life podcast is now releasing new episodes weekly! Check out the…
How To Win NaNoWriMo
NaNoWriMo is a fun way to connect with a global writing community and a great way to focus on really prioritizing your writing for 30 days
KWL EP 120 – Camille Mofidi: Translation
In this episode, we sit down with the European Manager of Kobo Writing Life, Camille Mofidi.
KWL EP 119 – Sasha Cottman
KWL EP 119 – Sasha Cottman In this week’s episode, Chrissy sits down with Australian author Sasha Cottman. Sasha talks to us about her first-year…
Literary Round Up: October 12
By Joni Di Placido Welcome to this week’s literary round up! What’s new in the wonderful world of books this week? HUGE thank you to everyone…
How To Build An Author Platform And Why You Need One
By Victoria M. Patton First, what is an author platform? In essence, it’s a way for you to reach your potential readers, fans, followers, and ultimately…
Self-Care Strategies for Authors on World Mental Health Day
While many of us work to keep ourselves physically well and look after our bodies, it’s easy to neglect our mental health. This is a gentle reminder today and every day, to be kind to yourselves and take care of you.
Writer in residence: Learning the Difference Between a café and a cabin
By Vannessa Barnier After working 9-5 for six months, I was itching to get into the woods and wash my hair with dirt. I organize poetry…
Literary Round Up – October 5th
Hello everyone! Marina here with another Literary Round Up! I have some exciting and fun tidbits to share with you about everything that’s been happening…
Why Library Discovery is the Best Discovery
If I could focus on one means of discovery for my books, I’d focus on libraries.
The Best Podcasts for Writers
by Christine Munroe Happy International Podcast Day! These days, it seems like everyone has a podcast (including us!). But there are only so many hours and…
Weekly Round Up: Sept 28th
By Joni Di Placido Hello hello! Thanks to Marina for keeping this going while I was flitting around NYC last weekend! Chrissy is in NINC this…
KWL Podcast EP 118 – Lauren Weisberger and Mackenzie Belcastro
KWL EP 118 – Lauren Weisberger and Mackenzie Belcastro In this week’s episode we bring you not one but two interviews! First, Rene d’Entremont, the director…
Literary Round Up, Sept 21st
News from around the book world this week.
Meet Marina, KWL’s Newest Staff Member!
Hi Marina! We’re really happy to have you on board! Can you tell our authors a little about yourself? Hello! My name is Marina, and I…
Academics Should Consider Self-Publishing—Here’s Why
What I can say is this: Whether through Kobo, or through a different platform, I am absolutely convinced that more professors will soon be self-publishing.
Carrie Ann Ryan is Taking Over!
The Kobo Writing Life team is excited to announce our latest author takeover on September 21st 2018. From 1:00 pm-2:00 pm EST, our author takeover host,…
KWL Podcast EP 117 – Kevin Tumlinson
KWL EP 117 – Kevin Tumlinson In this episode Chrissy interviews award-winning and bestselling author, Kevin Tumlinson. Kevin talks to us about overcoming the stigma of…
Four Unexpected Lessons from My Trip to Australia
by Chrissy Munroe Once upon a time, in 1996, there was an older sister, whose younger sister went to Australia for a soccer training trip, while…
Reflections: The Inner World of a Multi-Genre Author
By Barbara Avon Enter, if you will, the mind of a multi-genre author. Images, ideas and words swirl aimlessly in my mind. A 3 a.m. wake-up…
Literary Round Up!
By Joni Di Placido And we’re back, post long-weekend! I hope those of you in North America enjoyed the last long weekend of summer and are…
How to Do Everything
by Dr. Melissa Yi KWL: Hi, Melissa. How come you’re wearing a white coat? Melissa: Because I’m an emergency doctor. I also have one husband, two…
How I Found My Story and Made Sense of My Early Drafts
By Mackenzie Belcastro For eight months, my novel went through a series of identity crises. My high fantasy morphed into magical realism, as I killed my…
The Best Audiobooks for your Labour Day Weekend
By Stephanie McGrath We recently spoke to an audiobook narrator Sean Pratt for an episode of the Kobo Writing Life podcast (listen here) and it got…
KWL Podcast EP 116 – Sean Pratt, Audiobook Narrator
KWL EP 116 – Sean Pratt Join Steph and Joni as they sit down with Sean Pratt, an audiobook narrator who has recorded over 975 audiobooks.…
6 Literary Destinations Every Book Lover Should Visit
By Carmen Giraudy, Kobo Content Operations Manager There are a multitude of bookstore bucket lists available out there, describing the stores serious book lovers should visit…
Literary Round Up: Dispatches from Around The Web
By Joni Di Placido Welcome to the Literary Round Up, a new weekly feature where I’ll share Kobo and KWL updates, as well as any weird…
The Walmart eBook Store is Now Open!
Good Morning Authors! Early this morning, Kobo launched eBooks with Walmart, the world’s largest retailer. Kobo’s CEO, Michael Tamblyn, has more details to share below: Walmart’s…
KWL at Romancing the Capital, 2018
By Tara Cremin The fourth annual Romancing the Capital conference took place in Ottawa on August 2-4th. The conference is the brainchild of New York Times…
KWL Author Takeover #2: Adam Croft!
I’ve been writing crime fiction and psychological thrillers for a decade now, and have been self-publishing for around eight years.
I’m now fortunate enough to have sold more than 1.5 million books all around the world, and I’ve reached the position where I’m able to give something back.
My 30-Year Road Trip to Indie Publishing
It’s a great time to be an author.
KWL EP 114 – Scott Bintz
KWL EP 114 – Scott Bintz In this episode, Chrissy chats to Scott Bintz, the founder of RealTruck.com, a 100-million-dollar e-commerce store from North Dakota. Recently,…
The Wonder Women of Steele Ridge
We’ve all been traditionally published and wanted the control and flexibility that independent publishing would allow us. Traditional publishers don’t tend to be interested in collaborations like our Steele Ridge series, but we had a vision and wanted to make it a reality.
Overcoming Writer’s Block with Automatic Transcription
Here’s the core idea: thinking out loud is often less arduous than writing. And it’s now easier than ever to combine the two, thanks to recent advances in speech recognition technology.
KWL Author Takeover Series: BRYAN COHEN
The Kobo Writing Life team is excited to announce our first author takeover on July 27th 2018. From 1:00 pm-2:00 pm EST, our author takeover host,…
KWL EP 113 – All About EPUBs with Simon Collinson and Ben Dugas from Kobo
KWL EP 113 – All About EPUBs with Simon Collinson and Ben Dugas from Kobo Join Chrissy as she sits down with EPUB experts Simon Collinson…
Where Did Your Writing Journey Begin?
I believe that everyone has a story to tell. Mine began in a library.
A Librarian’s Top Five Tips For Indie Authors
By Joni Di Placido With library distribution via OverDrive now available to all KWL authors, we want to ensure our authors can take full advantage of…
KWL Podcast – Ep. 112 – Lauren Blakely
KWL EP 112 – Lauren Blakely In this episode, Chrissy and Stephanie chat with #1 New York Times best-selling author, Lauren Blakely. Lauren talks about her…
Promoting Your Books (and Career!) Through Multi-Author Boxsets
By Erin Wright In the summer of 2017, I got together with five other Western Romance authors and we decided to put together a boxset…
How Generating a Super-Marketable Hook Has Transformed My Career—Twice
By Adam Croft As authors, we’re all looking for that one change or shift in focus which will take our careers to the next level. I…
KWL Podcast – Ep. 111 – Adam Sockel and Jill Grunenwald from Overdrive
KWL EP 111 – Adam Sockel and Jill Grunenwald from Overdrive In this episode, Chrissy and Steph sit down with Adam Sockel and Jill Grunenwald from…
How to Revise Your Novel
True revision, in which a writer takes apart a book and puts it back together again, terrified me. How could anyone pull it off?
I’ll tell you how: step by step, little by little, just like you wrote the book.
Ten Great First Lines
The opening of the novel is so important. It’s your pick-up line; you need to catch your reader’s attention, and hold it.
Never Too Late: Writing in Retirement
By Patricia Sands At sixty-three, when most people are settling into retirement, my unanticipated career as a writer began. I refer to this as my rewirement.…
KWL at RT Booklovers 2018
By Tara Cremin Last month, thousands of romance writers and fans converged for the annual Romantic Times Booklovers Convention. What most people didn’t know upon…
KWL Podcast – Ep 110 – Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant
KWL EP 110 – Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant Join Chrissy and Stephanie as they sit down with Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant, the…
KWL Dashboard Update: Free Download Tracking
You asked for it – and now you have it! Free download tracking is now easier than ever in the KWL dashboard. Here is what you need to know about this exciting update.
Balancing Work, Life and Motherhood
It can be so easy to lose sight of what makes you, you, when you’re a working parent. Figure out what makes you happy, and do what you have to do to make time for those things.
My Title Was Rejected From a Kobo Promotion – Why?
By Elyse Daniels, Global Audiobooks Merchandiser *If you don’t yet have access to the Kobo Promotions tool and your titles are uploaded directly through…
KWL Podcast – Ep 109 – Katja Meier
KWL EP 109 – Katja Meier In this episode, Stephanie and Joni interview author Katja Meier about her memoir Across the Big Blue Sea. Katja discusses…
Now is the Time to be the Writer You Want to Be
There has never been a better time to be an independent author. Powerful platforms like Kobo have made it possible for us to write the stories we want to write and put them before a huge audience that, twenty years ago, wouldn’t have been available to us.
KWL Dashboard Update: Downloadable Sales Reports Are Here!
Rejoice, dear authors, for great news is here! We want to make KWL as easy as possible for you to use. Over the years, our authors …
DIY: Designing Your Own Book Cover
By Peter Staadecker Peter Staadecker is a KWL author and illustrator whose book The Twelve Man Bilbo Choir has been shortlisted for the 2018 Kobo Emerging Writer…
How I Became an Author in Retirement
by Michele Sabad We define ourselves in various ways, depending on time, mood, inclination. Many of our identities are stable throughout life. I am a woman.…
KWL Podcast – Ep 108 – Vivica A. Fox
Vivica Fox Actress, producer, TV host, business owner and newly minted author Vivica Fox sits down with Rene at Kobo HQ in Toronto to talk about…
Turning a Passion into a Podcast: Adam Croft and Robert Daws—Partners in Crime
There aren’t many jobs in which you can meet up with friends and colleagues for a beer or a coffee and discuss the best way to dispose of a dead body.
5 Ways Travel Writers Earn Money From Their Craft
The most successful travel writers today are not writing for magazines on the newsstand or books on a store shelf.
KWL Podcast – Ep 107 – Sarah Wendell
In this episode, Stephanie and Cristina sit down with Sarah Wendell. Sarah is a writer, blogger and podcaster and chats to us about running her successful romance book blog and podcast.
Kobo Writing Life Podcast – Episode 106 – Maxwell Alexander Drake
In this episode, Chrissy Munroe interviews award-winning author and creative writing instructor Maxwell Alexander Drake.
The 5 Traits That All Successful Authors Share
Great authors are seldom born; instead they’re moulded, sculpted and polished over time.
Marie Force: Building a Self-Publishing Empire
My life was changed forever by self-publishing, and I’ll always be thankful for the opportunity to take control of my career.
KWL goes to Canada Reads
This week, the KWL team was lucky enough to be part of the live studio audience at CBC’s Canada Reads, Canada’s annual Survivor-style battle of the books!
Kobo Writing Life Podcast – Episode 105 – Ariel Bissett
KWL EP 105 – Ariel Bissett In this episode, Stephanie McGrath interviews popular YouTuber Ariel Bissett. Ariel gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look into the life of…
Indie Publishing: Making Time and Everything Else Your Friend
For me, becoming an independent publisher (nice ring, right?) has given me back the happiness and joy I used to receive from writing.
Turning My Instagram Followers into Book Buyers—and a Movie Deal
Today’s #KWLWonderWoman is seriously inspiring. Katja Meier is a social worker at a refugee camp in Tuscany, working with women who are survivors of human trafficking. She wrote and self-published a memoir about her experiences which has now been optioned for a movie adaptation. Here Katja explains how she used her favourite social media platform, Instagram, to reach out to her audience and market her book.
10 Things Top Kobo Authors Have in Common
Christine will be hosting a free Bublish webinar on Wednesday, March 21 to talk about what’s new and exciting at KWL and what’s driving book sales at Kobo today.
Kobo Writing Life Podcast – Episode 104 – Julia Kent
Join Chrissy Munroe as she interviews best-selling author, Julia Kent here at Kobo HQ.
Exclusive Preview of Holly Evans’ Latest Book!
The Kobo Writing Life blog is getting the first peek at Holly Evans’ newest title, Blood of The Wolf, available for preorder now only on Kobo.
The Queer Eye: LGBT+ Voices in Fiction
When I’m asked why on earth I write gay and bi protagonists, the answer’s really very simple. I’m bi, I grew up around a lot of LGBT+ people, and the majority of my close circle are LGBT+, so I’m doing what writers are told to do again and again—I’m writing what I know.
How I Make a Six-Figure Income From My Writing
I’m in this business for the long term, so I’m always looking to the future and keeping an eye on the volatility of markets. The publishing industry can and does change on a dime, sometimes without notice
Empowering Female Writers Through Self-Publishing
Suddenly, the freedom of self-publishing and my empowerment as a female author were inextricably linked. There was no one to tell us we were unworthy or incapable or shouldn’t do a thing because that thing had never been done.
Not Taboo Anymore: The Rise of Self-Publishing in the Netherlands
The idea of the indie movement is slowly spreading in the Netherlands and I personally think that our 17th century forefathers would be proud to see that their adventurous and entrepreneurial spirit is still alive and well.
What Makes Your Story Unique to You?
I’m talking about writing a book for genre readers that meets trope expectations, elicits emotional reactions, and satisfies the cravings of romantic suspense and thriller readers, but also brings something new that’s missing from the market. A way to make a space for me at the table.
Becoming Sophie: A Unique Way To Engage Your Readers on Social Media
We know that social media is a great way to engage with your readers as an author. But have you ever thought about engaging with your readers as a character in your novel?
Interview with Cecile Bertod (AKA Celia Hayes)
Sandra Lonchamp, our European Coordinator, interviews Italian KWL superstar Cecile Bertod.
Kobo Writing Life Podcast – Episode 103 – Kevin J. Anderson
KWL EP 103 – Kevin J. Anderson Join Chrissy Munroe as she interviews best-selling science-fiction author, Kevin J. Anderson. KJA gives listeners a peek into…
Indie Author 101
Thinking about publishing independently? Our latest #KWLWonderWoman gives her top tips for new authors!
What Makes A Good Author Bio?
Like yodelling on a mountaintop, when I say the words ‘author bio’ I can hear the collective author groan echo from every corner of the globe. Like eating your vegetables or doing your taxes, writing your author bio is unfortunately an inescapable part of literary life.
20 Quirks & Strange Habits of Writers
Do you have any quirky writerly habits? Share yours in the comments!
“I can’t imagine giving up the control I now have over my books and career.”
Some might consider money to be too puerile a reason to choose one option over another (as opposed to the illusive concept of prestige), but we were struggling financially. Really struggling. I’d wake up in cold sweats at night. Writers have to eat; writers’ children need clothes, and school supplies.
Read a Book, Help Find a Cure
KWL author Terry Odell is splitting her February royalties for her novel “Deadly Engagement” with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Kobo Writing Life Podcast – Episode 102 – Sarina Bowen
KWL EP 102 – Sarina Bowen In this episode, co-host Stephanie McGrath interviews USA Today Bestselling and RITA award winning author Sarina Bowen. We ask…
From Chaos to Success: My First Twelve Months as an Indie.
Valentine’s Day celebrates love. For me, it also celebrates my first twelve months as an indie author. Some fifteen years after writing the first draft…
How to Reach Readers on Kobo
By C.J. Archer C.J. first started publishing independently in 2011 and was an immediate success—making enough to become a full-time author within her first year.…
Eight Tools That Will Help You Start Your Novel
By Joni Di Placido Sometimes the biggest challenge in writing is finding the time and the focus to just sit down and do it. Between the…
Authors On A Train Part II
If there’s one takeaway for me, it would be that I’ve now seen even more proof of how beneficial it can be to come together and collaborate – even if it takes you out of your comfort zone.
The Importance of a Professional Book Cover Design
Your book only gets one chance to make a first impression. And it only gets two seconds in which to make it. Looks shouldn’t count for as much as they do in the literary world, but the sooner an author recognizes their importance, the sooner they’ll be on the road to success.
Are You Using Kobo Affiliate Links?
By Nicole S., Assistant to Vivian Arend Affiliate income can be an integral part of any author’s income. Finding a system that works best for each of…
Romance Writers Don’t Need Your Love—They’re Too Busy Making Bank
If living well is the best revenge, then romance authors are going to be fine. As the brilliant Jennifer Weiner once put it, we’ll just weep into our royalty statements.
Authors On A Train Part I: The Beginning
By Zach Bohannon and J. Thorn Zach Bohannon and J. Thorn are bestselling science fiction and horror authors, and the co-owners of Molten Universe Media. They…
Be Authentic: How To Build Relationships With Readers
By Julie Strauss Julie Strauss wanted to maintain control of marketing and distributing her own titles. She spent considerable time doing research on self-publishing—seeking out articles,…
Kobo Announces Partnership With Walmart
As announced in Tokyo yesterday, Rakuten Kobo and Walmart are entering a strategic alliance, making Walmart the exclusive mass retail partner of the Kobo brand in the US.
Plan To Succeed: How To Give Yourself The Best Start As An Indie Author
by Rachel Amphlett Rachel Amphlett decided to strike out on her own in 2011 after being told by a Big 5 publisher that there was no…
Exclusive Sneak Preview of J. Robert Kennedy’s New Book!
The Kobo Writing Life blog is getting the first look at bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy‘s upcoming title, The Templar Detective and the Parisian Adulteress,…
Hyphens
By Mignon Fogarty Today’s topic is hyphens. Recently a friend was watching the cable channel CNBC and called me over to the TV because the hosts…
Kobo Writing Life Podcast – Episode 100 – Behind the Scenes at Kobo with Featured Author Sarah Woodbury
For our 100th episode, we decided to give our listeners a behind-the-scenes look into Kobo Writing Life and the magic that goes into publishing a new title on Kobo. We follow Sarah Woodbury’s upcoming release The Favored Son, as it makes its way on to the Kobo store and into the libraries of our customers. We also introduce an exciting edition to the KWL podcast, Chrissy Munroe’s newest co-host, Stephanie McGrath!
How To Brief A Cover Designer
by David Gaughran This is an adapted excerpt from the third edition of Let’s Get Digital: How To Self-Publish, And Why You Should by David…
Go Wide, Go Big—Go For It!
KWL is a team of 7 strong women running a major pillar of Kobo’s content catalogue. We LOVE hearing stories about how self-publishing empowers female writers to build booming independent publishing businesses, making enough money through writing to quit their day jobs, and even hire their partners, family members, or friends to support them. Here Julia Kent shares her tips for success.
Renowned KWL author K.L. Slater shares tips for twisty tales
Everybody loves a twist, right?
A great twist is an enticing prospect for many readers in choosing their next read and it is my view, this is never more important than in the psychological thriller.
5 Ways to Make Your Editor Think You are Awesome
By Lisa Lepki As the Editor of ProWritingAid’s blog, I am constantly reading submissions from writers, and few things irk me more than common technical gaffes…
An Editor Is Your Novel’s Best Friend
By Carrie D. Miller If you’ve taken the self-published route, you have a little more than a hint of control-freak in you. I know I do.…
‘Suffragette,’ ‘Editrix,’ ‘Actress,’ and Other Gender-Specific Nouns
Which gender-specific nouns do you still use?
How Going Wide Helped Me Quit My Day Job
by Tracy Cooper-Posey Here’s a question for you: Why did you get into indie publishing?
Are You “Shoulding” on Yourself? An Author’s List of Shoulds
As authors we are constantly under pressure to do so much that we’re left with little time to actually write. How to find that balance and use our time wisely?
The 2018 KWL Reading Challenge
Happy New Year from your KWL Team! We are all very excited about the year ahead and looking forward to working with you on your…
Grammar Girl’s Editing Checklist
by Mignon Fogarty Some time ago, Grammar Girl distributed an editing checklist that turned out to be so popular we decided to make it widely available. Go…
The Best KWL Cover of 2017 is…
Congratulations to J. Robert Kennedy, whose cover of The Nazi’s Engineer was voted the KWL favourite cover of the year! We can’t wait…
Grammar Girl’s Top 10 Language Myths
by Mignon Fogarty We have a special top-10 post to celebrate the end of the year, and—before you argue—read the whole explanation about why each of…
Kobo Writing Life Podcast – Episode 099 – BookBub
The episode you can’t miss: how to sell more books with BookBub.
How to Use Attributives
Dialogue is hard to write and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Getting characters to have individual voices has caused more sleepless nights than too much coffee late in the day. Once the dialogue sounds right and reads right on the page, there is the problem of attributives.
The KWL Best Cover of 2017 Finalists!
Huge thanks to everyone who voted so far! We started with thirty incredible covers and asked you to vote for the finalists. Now we’ve whittled…
Single-Focus Marketing (or How to Write Better Email Newsletters)
We all want to increase our reader engagement, right? More social media comments, more newsletter opens, more purchases. But did you know that offering more choices might actual result in less action from your readers?
Writing Fiction in the Present Tense
By Mignon Fogarty Should you write your novel in present tense? I usually deal with topics that can be widely applied to fiction and non-fiction writing, but…
Author Experience: Judy Ford on Cover Design
Author Judy Ford discusses her experience using the Kobo Writing Life cover design service.
You’ve Got One Chance
I made many mistakes with the original cover of my debut novel, The White Raven. This self-publishing journey has been a series of learning experiences. No matter how much research you do, you’re going to screw up along the way. And that’s okay.
Free Download Tracker – fixed!
Dear authors, you have been very patient with us. Our free download tracker has been broken for too long, and the behind-the-scenes work towards getting it…
2017 Holiday Content Processing
This is a friendly reminder that as the holiday season approaches the schedule for our regular content processing services will be adjusted.* December 19 – Final…
The 2017 KWL Cover Contest: Vote for Your Favourite Science Fiction/Fantasy Cover!
The final category of the KWL Best 2017 Cover is here! Below are our favourite Fantasy and Science Fiction covers. Here’s your chance to vote for…
4 Ways Good Stories Move Us
What’s your favourite book and why? Share in the comments!
What Makes Scotland So Romantic?
In honour of Book Week Scotland, we hear from three American indie authors on why they were inspired to set their books in Scotland.
Multi-Layered Readers and How to Reach Them
When I thought about my readers, I lumped them all into one huge bucket. When I sent an email newsletter to my 500 readers, I couldn’t understand why some didn’t open and others didn’t click. . .As an indie author, identifying your readers offers opportunity to brainstorm new ways to connect with her.
Advice From Scottish Writers: Just Get A Cat
It’s Book Week Scotland, so we’re taking this opportunity to celebrate the books and authors of Scotland!
The 2017 KWL Cover Contest: Vote for Your Favourite Mystery/Suspense Cover!
Time for round two of the 2017 KWL Best Cover contest! This week, we’re asking you to vote for your favourite mystery/suspense cover. The KWL team…
How To Avoid Clichés in Your Writing
Clichés can be a writer’s worst enemy, and the reader usually doesn’t like clichés much either. Writers from Jonathan Swift to George Orwell have ranted against the cliché like it was the Devil tempting an innocent seminary student.