KN Magazine: Articles
My Ten-Year Journey from Clueless to Getting a Clue
Bestselling author Lois Winston shares her honest, funny, and hard-won insights from a decade-long journey through the publishing world. From scams and setbacks to breakthroughs and bestseller lists, Winston reveals what it really takes to go from clueless beginner to seasoned professional—and how every writer can learn from the clues along the way.
Creating Your Personal and Business Road Map to Success as an Author! – Wrapping Up the Lessons Learned
In the final installment of her craft series, Pamela Ebel ties together the essential strategies for building a successful writing career—reminding us that writing is both an art and a business. From identifying your readership to managing contracts and sustaining long-term goals, this article provides a practical framework for mapping your personal and professional author journey.
This Crazy Writing Life: Some Random Reflections On The Reality of This Crazy Writing Life
In this candid and insightful column, Steven Womack dives deep into the overwhelming realities of the publishing world—from sobering statistics to the evolution of indie publishing. With wit and honesty, he unpacks the frustrations, surprises, and small victories that come with living this crazy writing life.
This Crazy Writing Life’s Conversation with Emma Boyer of Written Word Media
In this insightful conversation with Emma Boyer, Vice-President of Digital Operations & Author Relations at Written Word Media, Steven Womack explores how indie authors can successfully navigate book marketing. From giving books away for exposure to leveraging targeted digital platforms, Emma shares practical advice on overcoming the challenges of indie publishing and building momentum with readers.
Crafting Killer Back Cover Copy
Want readers to grab your book off the shelf—or click “Buy Now”? It all starts with the back cover copy. Learn how to craft compelling blurbs that hook readers using GMC (goal, motivation, conflict) and genre-appropriate voice to boost sales and reader engagement.
This Crazy Writing Life: Amazon Ads Part Three–Don't Forget to Press the Clutch...
In this third installment on Amazon advertising, Steven Womack dives into manual ad targeting, explains the difference between keyword match types, and explores how to avoid getting lost in Amazon's massive category maze. If you're an indie author who wants to take the wheel, this is the roadmap.
This Crazy Writing Life: Dipping Our Toes In The Amazon Part Two — On Swimming Upstream...
In part two of our Amazon advertising deep dive, we unpack campaign architecture, custom vs. standard ads, bidding strategies, and the role of metadata in targeting. If you're ready to move beyond the basics and get serious about promoting your book, this is where the learning curve begins.
This Crazy Writing Life: Dipping Our Toes In The Amazon Part One — Beware The Piranhas!
In part one of “This Crazy Writing Life,” we dive into the complexities of advertising on Amazon, focusing on the platform's ad options, bidding strategies, and tips to boost your indie-pubbing success. Buckle up—it's a wild ride.
Audiobooks
Audiobooks are a rapidly growing format and can significantly expand your audience and sales. This post explores why authors should consider audiobooks, how to produce them, and how to effectively distribute them through platforms like ACX.
Crafting Killer Back Cover Copy
Back cover copy can make or break a book's chance of being bought. Learn how to craft compelling back cover copy that hooks readers and drives sales with these simple steps, using GMC—goal, motivation, and conflict.
This Crazy Writing Life: On Defining a Book By Its Cover
Book covers aren’t just decoration—they’re essential marketing tools. In this installment of This Crazy Writing Life, we explore how covers impact book sales, indie publishing strategies, genre expectations, and why you might want to leave the design to a pro.
Keywords, Descriptions, Jacket Copy
Learn the importance of keywords, descriptions, and jacket copy when publishing your book. Discover how to optimize your book for search engines and write compelling descriptions that hook potential readers.
Set to Sell: How to Effectively Market Your Finished Manuscript to Agents and Publishers
Learn how to effectively market your manuscript to agents and publishers with strategies that include perfecting your pitch, understanding your audience, and leveraging your connections.
The Indie Pubbing Journey Continues—Part Four: Navigating The Distribution Maze
You’ve written and polished your book—now what? This installment of This Crazy Writing Life explores the wild world of eBook distribution, weighing the pros and cons of going wide vs. going exclusive with Kindle Select. A must-read for indie authors navigating the modern publishing maze.
Covers
A great book cover is your first, and sometimes only, chance to make a professional impression. In this guide, Dale T. Phillips explores what makes a cover work, what can doom your book to obscurity, and how Indie authors can compete with the big publishers on visual appeal—and win.
Getting Started In Indie Pubbing (or Good God, what have I gotten myself into?)
Thinking of self-publishing but overwhelmed by the noise? Whether you’re new to the game or a veteran author rethinking your strategy, this guide offers a grounded starting point to navigate the indie pubbing world—without blowing a fuse.
Why Book Signings Aren’t What They Used To Be
Book signings used to be the crown jewel of an author’s life—but times have changed. Join me in the Wayback Machine for a nostalgic trip to the heyday of bookstore events, and a reflection on why today’s signings often don’t measure up.
The Writer’s Playbook: Michael Jordan, Me, and a Poster
Breaking into the writing world isn’t just about talent and hard work—it’s also about timing and luck. A backstage story from the 1988 NBA Slam Dunk contest offers surprising parallels to the writing life and what it really takes to break through.
Productivity
Writing one book is hard. Writing many is obsession. But if you want to succeed as an author, productivity isn’t just about typing faster—it’s about building systems, cultivating habits, and embracing the creative grind. Whether you're a plotter, a pantser, or somewhere in between, this piece explores practical, personal, and inspiring ways to keep the words flowing and the books stacking up.
Submit Your Writing to KN Magazine
Want to have your writing included in Killer Nashville Magazine?
Fill out our submission form and upload your writing here: